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fWarrtagea
ifaniiston-Jamies: In the Presbyterian
church, Greenville, Ky., June 27, 1912,
by Rev. W. R. Henderson, D. D., Mr.
Newell W. Banks ton, Jr., of Yazoo City,
Miss., and Miss Daisy James, of Greenville.
Ford-Carrolls Mr. Alfred E. Ford, of
Tulso, Okla., and Miss Mary Beth Carroll,
of Edna, Texae, June 26, 11 A. M., at
the home of the bride's parents, in
Edna. Rev. E. M. Munroe, Jr., officiating.
Harvey-McMnrry: At the manse in
Pass Christian, Miss., by Rev. Harvey
MdDowell, Mr. Edward R. Harvey, of
Chattanooga. Tenn., and Miss Mary
McMurry, late of County I^ltrim, Ireland.
Higglnbotham-Wilson: In Mllford,
Texas, July 1, 1912, by Rev. Dr. E. M.
Mfunro, Mr. Thomas CeaWi Higginbotham
and Miss Flora Belle Wilson.
Roberts-Brown: At the home of the
bride's father, Mr. W. A. Brown, BOO
Berkley Ave., Norfolk, Va., on July 17th,
1912, by the Rev. G. B. Hanrahan, pastor
of the Second Presbyterian church of
Newport INVsws, Va., jMr. John Earl
Roberts, of Terre Haute, Ind., and Miss
Henrietta S. Brown, of Berkley Ward,
Norfolk, Va.
Shrivalle-Alford: At the home of the
bride's parents, Chipley, Fla., Tuesday
evening, July 2nd, 1912, by Rev. Clyde
Johnson, Mr. Robert Dessie Shrivalle,
of Savannah, Ga., and Miss Eva Henry
Alford.
nmiB-nunioBn: At s v. m. on June
5, 1912, at the home of the bride's mother
In Long Beach, Miss., hy the Rev.
Hervey McDowell, Mr. Elmer Ellsworth
White, of Pensacola, Fla., and Miss
Clara Augusta MclntOBh, of Long Beach,
Miss.
Ibatflg
Mr. .las. ffloffett Hutcheson at Edna,
Tex., June 21, 1912.
Raffieid: On June 13, .1912, at her
home near Sumter. S. ., Mrs. Susan C.
Raffield, widow of the late Harvey A.
Raffield, In the 81st year of her age.
She was born and reared in Liberty
county. Ga., but was a resident of Sumter
County, S. C., from early life. Five
children survive. She was a charter
member of Tirzah church.
Dillon: At Marianna., Fla., June 4tb,
1912, Robert Daffin Dillon, infant daughter
of John M. and Bessie Baffin Dillon;
June 14th. 1912, Watson Baffin, one of
twins. Infant son of Sidney A. and 01gar
Watson Daffin.
"SufTer little children to come unto
me and forbid them not: for of such is
the kingdom of God."
IN MEMORT OF MRS AGNES R.
JOHNSON.
On the 24th of May, 1912, in her
country home near Johnson's Cross
Roads, Munroe county, W. Va., Mrs.
Agnes Johnson entered into rest at the
advanced age of 79 years.
Born of Christian parents, she was a
child of the covenant and early in
youthhood she confessed her faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ and united with the
Oenterville Presbyterian churoh. She
afterwards transferred her membershlp
to the Lowell Presbyterian church
and died In the communion of that congregation.
She was burled from the old Methodist
church at Cross Roads just adjacent
to her country residence In the presence
of a large congregation of bereaved
relatives and sorrowing friends, the services
being conducted by her pastor,
Rev. J. W. Holt.
Language fails adequately to express
the value at this noble woman. She was
THE PRESBYTER ii
a devout Christian mother, a friend to
the poor and friendless and an inspiration
to the conmmnities in which she
had lived. She loved the church and the
associations of the ministry, and such
was the charm of her spiritual personality
that every one who came into her
presence felt the trill of her Christ-like
SDirit and thp. eentlpnpSR nrift nwoofnoon
of her Christian character.
The church and community are poorer
to-day since she has gone. But we
gladly cherish her memory and her
faith by which she "being dead yet
speaketh." ,
She leaves eight children, six sons
and two daughters to mourn their loss.
All of them are members of the church
and occupy positions of Importance and
trust in the business world.
She was an aunt of (Dr. Cary Johnson
of Union Theological Seminary, Richmond,
Va.
iier nusDana, wm. H. Johnson, one of
Monroe's most worthy and prosperous
citizens, preceded her to the grave many
years, and her body was laid by the
side of his in the cemetery, hard by the
Old Church at Cross Roads to await the
resurrection, for there is no death, only
rest, sweet Test.
Her memory will be cherished in loving
hearts until we shall again see her
face to face.
J. W. Holt.
RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF
mps r j til a pivv trrvrn
MOSELY.
Whereas, God in His Infinite Wisdom,
has seen best to remove from earth to
heaven our beloved president and coworker,
Mrs. Catharine Mosely, who
passed away on July 8, 1912.
Therefore, be it resolved:
1. That, we the members of the
Ladles' Missionary Society of Peak's
church, Bedford, Va., bow in humble
submission to the will of Him whom she
served so faithfully, knowing that now
"She rests from her labors, and her
works do follow her."
2. That we thank God for her example
of holy living, for we know "She
hath done what sbe could."
3. That we extend to the bereaved
family our tenderest sympathy, and pray
that they may hear the voice of their
Heavenly Father saying, "What I do
thou knowest not now, but thou shalt
know hereafter."
4. That a copy of these resolutions be
sent to the family, a copy be sent to The
Presbyterian of the South, and that a
copy be put on the minutes of our
Society. Mrs. Henry Watson,
Mrs. S. F. Patterson,
Mrs. Frank Patterson,
Mrs. James Hopkins,
Mrs. John Ruff.
TIIE EARLY FORMATION OF THE
DRINKING HABIT.
The importance of the early education
of children and youth to habits of sobriety
was shown by a study of 275
alcoholic cases In a Bellevue Hospital
reported in a Bellevue "Medical and Sursrical
Renort. hv Dr Alexander T^mbert.
Of 259 Instances where the age of
beginning to drink was known, 4 began
before 6 years of age; 13 between
6 and 12 years; 60 between 12 and 16; >
102 between 16 and 21; 71 between 21
and 30; and 8 only after 30 years of age.
Thus nearly 7 per cent, began before 12
years of age, or the seventh school
year; 30 per cent, began before the age
ui jo, anu over iwu-iujruB?1. e. per
cent, began before 21 years of age. If
these statistics are representative of
general conditions, they indicate clearly
that preventive temperance work to be
effective must be begun at an early age
and carried on thoroughly through
childhood and youth.
LN OP THE SOOTH
THE PROPOSED BRIEF STATEMENT.
This is one of the important actions
of the recent Assembly at Bristol,
Tenn. It was taken in answer to overtures
from some of the inferior courts
of the Church, in response to the demands
of the people who believe that it
will serve a useful purpose in silencing
some of the cavils of those who think
the present language of the Confession
and Catechisms too antiquated for the
present day, or who think the teachings
or the Church are too equivocally stated,
or who deslre a change In the doctrines,
or who believe that larger concessions
should he made by the Church
to satisfy some who believe that the
so-called "hard things" ought to he
softened down to suit those who are not
able to receive the statements of the
standards as they now stand.
The Committee appointed for the purpose
Is composed of some of the best
and wisest of the ministers and elders
of the Church, and If it be possible for
any set of mftn to produce such a statement
as Is desired and which will satisfy
the people who desire such thtne^, we
may be assured that they will do It.
But it may well be doubted whether
these men. with all their wisdom and
loyal tv to the Scripture and their
knowledge of conditions throughout the
church, will ever be able to produce a
statement of the beliefs and teachings
of the Church that will stand the test,
any better or even as well as the one
we have at present In the Shorter Catechism
It Is a large task that is set before the
Committee, and they will have need of
all the wisdom, and divine guidance and
prayerful study that is possible, If they
are to give us anything that will be In
any sense satisfactory to the whole
Church.
It Is indeed difficult to see how they
are to give us any statement that can
possibly present the same truths In any
clearer light or which shall by its language
convey the same thought In any
way easier to be understood, than Is
found In what we have at present. It Is
true that the men of the Westminster
Assembly were not Inspired, and It may
be possible that the men of the twentieth
century are wiser In some ways
than those of the seventeenth, and It
may be that the statement of the same
truths In modern words may be helpful,
but Is doubtful whether, even In this day
of greater enlightenment and progress,
any decided Improvement can be made
that will stand the test of the ages, and
so universally commend Itself to later
generations, aB the one that has come
down to us.
It is distinctly stated that It Is not thP
intention of the brethren who asked
this that It shall become a part of the
constitution or standards of the Church.
It may then he asked, what Is the use
of It? If there should by any possibility
be any difference in the statement of
doctrine as we have It now, and the one
thflt* t h A mov nrrufn/ta onH
!ir the event of the proposed statement
being accepted, which of these shall he
the authoritative teaching of the
Church? It may be stated that there are
those now who do not accept the present
statement of the doctrine of the Church,
rbe answer is that we do not require acceptance
of all the statements of doctrine
by our people, only those who are
elected to be office-bearers are required
to receive and adopt the Confession and
Catechisms as containing the System of
Doctrine taught in the Scriptures. And
In case of the adoption of the new
statement, there would b6 two sets of '
.< uvM<iiho, BliU II UULU BllUUin lie .lit:
official work of the Church, there would
arise the difficulty of a conflict which
would mpke the last state of things
worse than the present difficulty. This
IJuly 31, 1912 1
a possibility by no means remnt* I
though It yet remains to be seen what
will be the result.
On? of our greatest writers has said
of the Shorter Catechism; "all that could
be done to make it the perfect mirror of
Scripture truth, was done." If that be
true, how can any addition be made to It
which will put the Scripture truth In
any clearer light? How can any statement
be made which will more perfect!*
set forth the truth? It may well be
asked, Has any new truth been discovered
which was then unknown, and
if so what is it?
No charge has ever been made that
the present statement is unscriptural.
or that any teaching of the Scripture
Is omitted. Do those who clamor for
the new statement want to omit any
scriptural statement? Do they wish to
put in anything not found In Scrlpure?
We cannot believe they do either of
these, and if no Scripture Is omitted,
and if no unscrlptural statement is
found, and If It Is admitted that no
omission 1s wanted, and no statement
not found In the Bible Is desired to be
put in, what Is the use, and what is
wanted? Manifestly, nothing but the
change of wording can "be desired. Can
this be done without changing the doctrine?
We think not, and for the following
reasons:
1. ?It has been said by one of our
ablest and most careful writers, that
everything that could be done to make
the present statement the perfect mirror
of Scripture truth was done. This
would Include the words in which the
doctrine was stated. Can that which is
perfect he Improved?
2. No wording which does not change
the doctrine will satisfy those who desire
a change. The dhmand comes In
reality from the outside of the Church,
and at the very foundation, originates
with the enemy of God and his "Word.
3. Because, above and beyond all else,
th n iP/\nfAaetAn am<4 4Va orr?0 oe
iu(j \?viiicoaiuii auu luc oaic^uiouio,
they now stand, are Scriptural and the
Confession and the Catechisms will
either stand with the Scriptures or fall
with them, and when one needs changes
the other also, upon which the standards
are based, will need changing, hut not
until then. Geo. R. Ratchford.
Grassy Meadows, W. Va.
THE TIME FOR TENDERNESS.
Do not keep the alabaster boxes of
your love and tenderness sealed up until
your friends are dead. Fl'l ihelr
lives with sweetness. Speak approving,
cheering words while their hearts
can he thrilled and made happier by
them, the kind things you mean to say
when tlie> are gone say before tkey
go. The liowcrs you mean to send for
their coffins send to brighten and sweeten
their homes before they leave thein.
T* my tvieuds have alabaster bo.\iR
laid away, lull of fragrant perfumes id
sympathy ?.nd affection, wnicli they intend
to break over my head body. 1
would rather they would bring them
out in my weary and troubled hours,
and open them, that I may be refreshed
and cheered by them while I need
them, I would rathr have a plain cofflr
without a flower, a funeral without an
eulogy, than a life without the sweetness
of love and sympathy. Let uB
, . . . _ _ A
learn 10 anoint our friends berorenau"
for their burial. Postmortem' kindness
does not cheer the burdened spirit.
Flowers on the coffin cast no fragrance
backward over the weary way.?Hon.
Tom Ochfltree, of Texas.
Religion does not censure or exclude
iTnnumber'd pleasures harmle?8ly
nursued.
One argument In favor of mlMlonary
work Is the fact that the gospel i? the
one and only thing that will ever brlns
peace on earth.