Newspaper Page Text
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Associate Editor.
Volume 37.—New Series Vol. 26.
CHRISTIAN INDEX.
PUBLISHED EVERT WEDNESDAY MORNING
At MACON, Ga.,
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
ffor tlie Georgia Hajttfst Contention.
The Dead!
The dead are everywhere !
The mountain aide, the plain, tne wood pro
found ;
All the wide earth—the fertile and the fair—
Is one vast burial ground !
Within the populous streets,
In solitary homes, in palaces high,
In pleasure domes, where pomp and luxury meet,
Men bow themselves to die.
The old mm at his door ;
The uuweaned child murmuring its worldless
song;
The bondmen and the free, the rich, the poor,
All—all to death belong 1
The sunlight gilds the walls
Ot'kingly sepulchres, enwrought with brass ;
Aud the long shadow of the express falls
Athwart the common grass.
The living of gone time,
Ra.lded their glorious cities by the sea ;
And, awful in their greatness, sat sublime,
As if no change could be.
There was the eloquent tongue ;
The pod’s he.irt, the tage’a soul was there ;
And loving women, with their children young,
The faiihlul and the fair.
These were, but they are not;
Suns rose and set, the earth put on her bloom,
Whilst mau submitted to the common lot,
Went down in to the tomb.
And still, amid the wrecks
Os mighty generations passed away,
Earth's honest growth, the fragrant wild flower,
decks
The tomb of yesterday.
And in the twilight deep,
Go veiled women forth, like her who went,
Sister of Lazarus, to the grave to weep,
To breathe in low laments.
The dead are everywhere;
Where'er is love, or tenderness, or faith ;
Where’er is pleasure, pomp, or pride, where’er
Life is or was, is death !
CONTRIBUTIONS. £
—jj
Letter from Wm. H. Olaxk.
SECOND ARTICLE ON BAPTIZING POLYGA
MISTS.
The fact that the polygamy question
has generally been ignored by the re
ligious world is no mean proof that po
lygamy itself may not, under all cir
cumstances, be necessarily an e_yil. It
is evident to my mind that the ques
tion has not been thoroughly discuss
ed and decided, from the two-fold fact
that thcußptlou of the Apostolic church
es is pot’ sufficiently clear, and that
the'subject involves oue of the nicest
points in moral philosophy—whether
what is wrong in one mau is necessari
ly sin in another placed under wholly
different circumstances. Nothing is
more easy in discussion than for a man
to express his surprise at the ignorance
and want of foresight iu his opponent.
And it happens in this case that the
conservatives on the question have not
only to be thus taunted, but have to
meet a prevailing prejudice, in the
public mind against polygamy, aris
ing in part from our peculiar situation.
The ultraist6 ignoring the trne issue
of the question, place the decision on
the ‘per se , make this the “ sine qua
non” and claim the victory on their
ultraistn and strong indignation, txei
te 1, as they say, by the violation of
the clear and unmistakeable com
mands of God. As such reasoning as
this is not necessarily logical and de
cision, let us bring the question to its
proper issue, and ascertain if even
then there can be a unanimity of sen
timent.
Whatever God disapproves or com
mands not to be done is sin ; we are
told by our Saviour that in the begin
ning God made man and woman, male
and female—and they twain shall
be one flesh ; and that Moses, be
cause of the hardness of the hearts of
tho people, permitted them to put
away their wives, but in the begin
ning it was not so. Consequently to
have a plurality of wives was a viola
tion of the divine purpose, and of course
was sin. Notwithstanding this there
was, under the old dispensation, even
before the leadership ot Moses, polyg
amy in some form, and recognized by
one cf the first men of the time, as
correct and legitimate. The reason
of the permission given by Moses was
specific —treason that seemed to con
tinue in full force even to the new
dispensation. Yerily, this is a hard
question. Zook at it. logically yon
would say a sin in itself, and yet a
man, one after God’s own heart—one
of the most righteous that ever lived
—indulged in this sin to a great ex
tent, and yet was accepted of the
Lord. These are the facts in the case.
Let those who would write columns
and even books on the subject, see the
subject in a nut-shell.
The question, however, may be view
ed in another light, when applied to
those living under the new dispensa
tion. To all nations and countries
.which have been favored with the light
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
of the gospel—a system that recon
structs the marriage relation, or places
itjustasit was in the beginning, it
would be a high and grievous sin to
tolerate even the thought of polyga
my. But it may well be doubted
whether the same remark is applica
ble to those who from time immemori
al have been accustomed, by the laws
of the country, to this system of mat
rimony as a time honored institution.
I would ask the question, whether or
not, people thus situated, may not be
considered as holding the very same
relation to the new Dispensation as
did the polygamists of the Old. And
I would answer, that this involves the
real question at issue—a question that
in my humble opinioil, can only be
determined by Apostolic precedent.—
Now what was the course adopted by
the Apostles, similarly situated to our
missionaries of the present day? As
to the question ‘per se’ there is no end
to its discussion ; and should it con
tinue, I fancy our supply of Waylands
and Paleys would be sufficient to stock
the next few centuries. If our logi
cians and theologians would fairly
meet the issue as narrowed to a single
point, determine the action of the
Apostle Paul. It is admitted by all
at that time there were polygamists
admitted into the church either with
or without a plurality of wives. What
saith the scriptures ? Paul in writing
to Timothy says “A bishop then must
be blameless the husband of one wife.”
He does not say a wife, but one wife,
thereby implying that there were in the
church at the time those with a plu
rality of wives, which a fact was of
itself sufficient to deprive them of all
right to the office of bishop, whatever
may be said to the contrary notwith
standing. So we are forced to the con
clusion thatthe Apostles on this subject
acted as they thought best according
[to the circumstances of the case. And
:..ow having reached the practical part
TTfthis subject I propose in my next
and last article to give my views as to
the course proper to be pursued by
our missionaries, and to state what we
may expect from the working of the
subject, let the decision be what it
may.
Strictures on Aots 10:36. -.
I think a wrong turn of thought is
given in this translation, although it
is one maintained by many high names.
A more natural train of thought, I im
agine, can be discovered by a close in
spection of the passage.
Let it be remembered that for the
first time the Gospel was preached to
any but Jews. To his great surprise,
Peter discovers and comprehends clear
ly that it was entirely agreeable to
God’s will —in fact his intention that
to other than Jews the Gospel was to
be preached.
Os this he was convinced by there
things, the vision on the housetop and
the angel’s appearing to Cornelius and
the spirit’s intimation to him to accom
pany the men to Caesarea, all intima
ting and pointing to one thing—name
ly, Peter’s preaching to the Gentiles.
He had doubtless had intimations to
that effect before (Matt. 8:11,12 —Jno
10:16 and 12:32—Mark 16:15, 16—
Matt. 28:19, 20, vide passim.) But
now he clearly “perceived” it. So he
says : “Os a truth—most assuredly do
I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons. lam fully satisfied that the
Gospel is not to be confined to my
own nation.” He had once thought
so, and it required visions to convince
him of the contrary.
He does become convinced and says:
“ Truly I perceive that God does not
respect persons or nations—intima
tions are given, proofs presented, in
structions vouchsafed to me that I must
preach to others than Jews.”
Peter does not even yet seem clear
ly to understand that to all of every
nation, no matter how ignorant or
wicked, the Gospel might be preach
ed. He seems simply to have come
to the positive conclusion that they,
who were not Jews, who believed in
and worshipped God and performed
works of righteousness—(such as pray
er, fasting and giving alms) —were ac
ceptable to God ; and to them might
the message of peace and reconcilia
tion be delivered—that message which
had hitherto been sent exclusively to
the children of Israel—even that mes
sage which God had sent by his ser
vants, especially by the Apostles, pro
claiming the glad tidings of peace and
reconciliation through Jesus Christ
who is Lord of all, that is, who, by his
merit and mediation is the Saviour—
the Redeemer of all—of all who are
saved ot every nation under heaven.
I think the connexion gives a right
—nay, renders it necessary, to inter
pret the phrase, “he is Lord of all” as
applied to Christ, not parenthetically,
bat as being supreme Lord of the gos*
OBGAIT or THE 3^A- I>TIS,:r OOH’V’EHTIOH Or THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
pel dispensation —head over all things
to the church.* (Eph. I:22—Rom.
10:12.)
To govern Tov Xoyov by oioocts necessi
tates the very awkward construction
of the common version. It renders
it necessary to pnt it in apposition or
make it synomynous with gnP*, which
cannot be done without great violence;
and it also renders it necessary to put
our 05 sun -ravrwv in a parenthesis
which is not only unnecessary but im
proper. For that expression is a cli
max reached a sort of reason given by
Paul.
It were better to alter the punctua
tion and let verse 35 be continued to
the end of verse 36. “ But in every
nation, he that feareth him and work
eth righteousness, is accepted with him
—(is acceptable to him—in reference
to—conformably to—)4hat word which
God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching (proclaiming the glad tid
ings of) peace by (through) Jesus Christ
—he (this one who) is Lord (Saviour)
of all—(therefore of you.)
In this sense rov Xoyov may be consid
ered in the accusative absolute or gov
erned by xa<ra understand, in connex
ion with the phrase Sextos uwru sfn.
Because Christ is Lord of all, seems
to Paul a warrant that he should pro
claim to all the good u|j|jys ot salvation
through him. ;
This phrase is the conclusion of as
noble an exordiuf* as one would wish
to see. Having finishedyit, Peter pro
ceeds to address bis audience in parti
cular. These were” npt but
persons who had in Pales
tine and who imist some
thing of He
says to them, “ Cannot, under
the circumstance bufcs;know some
thing of that report which was spread
abroad and talked ®of throughout all
Judea concerniug'Jesus of Nazareth,
how God anointed him %ith the Holy
Ghost,” &c.
It is noticeable that be supposes them
simply informed of some of the chief
incidenrs in the life of Christ. He
does not, at all, give them credit for
knowledge of Jesus as a Saviour—
knowledge of the way of eternal thro’
him. If they had really known before
r*WTl*tiou thro’ Christ,
(the Lord of all), alluded to in verse 36,
where was. the necessity of sending for
Peter ? Why must the angel appear
and direct, the vessel be let down from
heaven to instruct and the spirit speak
to guide and incite, if that very thing
which Peter was to communicate—
namely, that peace might be had with
God through Chrisf—diad been before
known to Cornelius* aud his friends ?
Why must Peter come. and, declare
that it was Christ wfa&’“tf : R 8 ordained
of God to be the judge otihe quick
and the dead, that in his name, who
soever believeth in him, shall receive
remission of sins,” if Cornelius knew
that before ? Peter was ‘ sent for to
preach the glad tidings of peace thro’
Christ who is Lord and Redeemer of
all kinds of people and he did preach
it; had Cornelius known that, Peter’s
embassy had been useless.
Hence I am constrained to think the
common version incorrect in its ren
dering of the original ; and the new
version is therefore subject to the same
objection. ?
In both the sense of one of the no
blest and most dignified sentences in
the New Testament is destroyed.
SIGMA.
Letter from a Father to his
NEWLY-CONVERTED SON IN COLLEGE.
I advise you to join the church the
first favorable opportunity. I believe
you ought to do so, for several good
reasons:
First, we are commanded to repent,
believe and be baptized; we cannot
receive the latter in scriptural form,
unless we join the church, therefore to
fully obey all of God’s requisitions this
step is positively necessary. Now my
son guard yourself against that erro
neous belief that some are falling into,
to-wit: “That baptism is essential to
salvation, and therefore is a saving
ordinance.” This is not so, as I be
lieve ; but it is a very important duty;
and how much duty a man can neg
lect, and yet get to Heaven, is not
for me to decide ; but I do say that is
a dangerous experiment , that will re
sult in no good! Peter informs us, that
baptism is “ answer of a good con
science toward God.”
The thief on the Cross was saved
without it, but he was excusable on
other ground than that of mere wan
ton, wilful neglect.
Second, it throws a shield around
us, raises a harrier between us and
the sinful world outside, and encour
ages and aids us to persevere in our
religions duties, and to honor God,
strengthen his cause, and guide others *
MACON, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1858.
in the right path by letting our “fight
shine.”
Third, it admits us to the communion
or Lord’s supper, for this is a church
ordinance and only reached through
the door of the same. Yes, it is in this
way, that we are allowed to celebrate
the death and sufferings of our Lord
in this world. In it is said,
“ For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s
death till he come.” The Apostle
says, “We are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life”—we
must reach the sacrament through this
channel. Going undgj. the water is a.
fit emblem of his burial, coining up out
of it, is an emblem of his- resurrection
from the grave and ascension to hea
ven.
Fourth. We should by our godly
walk and conversation, evince to all,
that we are and have been partakers
of Divine and saving grace.
You say in youl letter that “you
would like to lcuow how to repay God
for his goodness.” Well, the best way
to doit, isby-Bimply taking up your
cross and doing whatever is required
at your hands, in his word and will to
man. The Jews of old, offered beasts
in sacrifice for sins, &c., aud they were
accepted ; but when Christ came, a
new Dispensation dawned upon the
earth, and now we must present our
-bodies a living sacrifice, holy and ac
ceptable unto the Lord, which is our
reasonable service* We are to glorify
God by bringing forth fruit meet'ffor.
repentance ; that Ik, we are so to act
in harmony with profession, as to show
the marks of a Christian.
The devil will attempt to deceivoyou
in many ways. Ife will intimate that
your conversion is false, and that you
are too young to join she church, it is
time enough, &c.—but Christ says,
“ Seek ye first kingdom of God
and his righteousness”— 1 “ work while
it is called to-day.” Delay not to do
your duty, when conscience warns you;
it is dangerous to trifle with so sacred
a thing as duty. Gad .will chastise
his disobedient q*ld!ron. Again,.
can repay dry helping i/io j'jsle
to cany oh the-.giorious work of salva
tion ; so let us be up and doing, and
what our hands find to do, do with all
our might. Tipje is rolling us swiftly
on to the grave where no w r ork can be
done !I am glad see that you have
such a clear vfeWyf your duty, and a
disposition to.vpm-form it—may God
give you wisdom to act right.
You must wat&b well as pray, for
the devil is going about as a roaring
lion , seeking wMhn he may devour.
Your associates ifell try you in many
ways. Be respectful to them, but shun
those who persist. i|.i trying to lead you
back again into tipi old paths of sin.
Do not get disparaged, remember
that your Saviour, bore a great deal
and never murmured. Take him as
your pattern ; helis worthy for us all
to imitate. You.must shun tempta
tion, for we are all liable to go astray
under its influence. David with all
his wisdom and goodness, on one oc
casion, w-as led far away from the path
of duty. Be humble and faithful to
God, and forget not to pray. Prayer
is the channel through which all our
blessings come ; God has commanded
it at our hands, and when we pray, we
yield obedience to liis commands ;
and we are always blessed in the dis
charge of duty. Let me advise you to
keep up secret prayer, night and mor
ning, in your closet. It is said, that
it is only when the Christian prays that
he lives and grow in grace. Now in
conclusion, I want you to help me pray
for the rest of the family, that they
may all be brought into the Ark of
safety by turning to God and from
tlieir evil ways, ere it be too late. —
He has promised that those w T ho “seek”
shall “find.” Farewell for the pres
ent. Your affectionate father,
Sept. 1858. A.
Dialogue.
M. —Did you go to church to-day,
bro. P?
P. —No, sir; I went to meeting.
M —Well, is not thatthe same thing?
That is what I meant.
P—We ought to say what we mean.
I often go to meeting and could not
say I had been to church.
M.—That is strange ! Will you ex
plain it ?
P.—Certainly. I went to meeting
this morning—the meeting of a few
brethren and sisters—but the church
was not there. The house is not the
church. The church is composed of
people, believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and they have built that house
to worship in. Only a small part of
the church was at the meeting, and I
thought I could not say in truth that
I had been to charch.— La. Bap.
SELECTIONS.
“She’s Rich.”
•‘You ought not speak so about her;
she’s rich!”
“You must be mistaken—she always
dresses so plainly. She would certain
ly make more show if she were really
rich. How do you know ?”
“I have been intimately acquainted
with her family from infancy.”
“Well! who would ‘ever take her to
be rich ? She goes to church in plain
merino, and neither wears jewelry nor
crinoline I Do you know how much
she is worth ?
“Ho, not exactly, Thomas; but I
know she is worth enough to be a prize
to any of you young fortune hunters, if
you were worthy of her?”
“Do you suppose she is worth twen
ty thousand ?”
” “More?”
“Fifty thousand ?”
“More than that.” “Yes, more than
a million—there is no estimating her
worth.”
“Are you in earnest Uncle John?”
“Surely I am.”
“Uncle John will you forgive me for
speaking so slightly of her. I really
begin to think she is beautiful. She
must be mine ! Will you assist”—
“Stop! stop. She will never be
yours.”
“Why, uncle, is she engaged ? I’ll
fight for her!”
She is not engaged that I know of;
but she would not marry you, if yon ■
had millions.”
“Why, Uncle ?”
“To be plain with you, Thomas, she
has too much sense. She knows you in
tend to marry a fortune, and she knows
that you are in the habit of speaking
lightly, if not contemptuously, of vir
tue and religion.”
“But I’ll amend and join the church.”
“Ho, no yourself that trouble,
if you have no higher motive. You
would not succeed. Lest I may slight
ly deceive you, Thomas as, I will tell
you partly in what her wealth con
sists.”
uncle; J*tom sjpioua to know,
q>lace ebe
has health. 1 That of itself were a for
tune, in this age of grunting, pale, snuff
dipping wives. You make fun at rud
dy cheeks, you’ll know better, by and
bJ
“In the second place, she is ingen
ious, industrious and frugal. Here is
another fortune, for any worthy young
man, rich or poor. She knows all
about kitchen and household matters,
and is nojt too proud to work. You are
after a fortune, with a money spend
ing machine attached. She is the for
tune and its ornament.
“In the third place, she is intelligent
and refined—well educated in the best
rudiments of our literature, eschews
novels and all the Frenchy trash of the
day, reads, her Bible, attends Sunday
Schools as a teacher and pupil. Is that
enough? Will you not give it up that
she is rich indeed ?”
“Yes; but I thought she was rich in
money, or something estimated by dol
lars and cents ?”
“Well, estimate her worth in dol
lars and cents, if. you please and tell
me the sum.”
“ I don’t know that I can.”
. “Ho; I see your ardor is quite aba
ted, since there is no money in her
patrimony. But I have not told you
all yet, nor the most material item in
this young lady’s fortune. She is ami
able and sweet tempered. This many
a poor man in the land would think
another great fortune, if he only had
a morsel of bread with it.”
“Well, uncle, that is the extent of
this strange fortune which”—
“Ho; the most material item, one
which gives a special value and beau
ty to all her possessions, in the pearl
of great price. That is a guaranty of
the genuineness and safety of every
thing else. That will cast its lustre
upon her own pathway, and that of
those around her, as long as she lives.”
Fate of the Apostles.
St. Matthew is supposed to have suf
fered martyrdom or was slain with the
sword at the city of Ethiopia.
St. Mark was dragged through the
streets of Alexandria, in Egypt, till he
expired.
St. Luke was hanged on an Olive
tree in Greece.
St. John was put into a cauldron of
boiling oil, at Rome, and escaped death.
He afterwards died a natural death at
Ephesus in Asia.
St. James the Great was beheaded
at Jerusalem.
St. James the Less was thrown from
a pinnacle or wing of the temple, and
then beaten to death with a fuller’s
club.
St. Philip was hanged up against a
GEORGIA TELEGRAPH STEAM POWER PRESS.
pillar, at Hieropolis, a city of Phry
gia.
St. Bartholomew was flayed alive
by the command of a barbarous king.
St. Andrew was bound to a cross,
whence he preached to the people till
he expired.
St. Thomas was run through the
body with a lance, at Coromandel; in
the East Indies.
St. Jude was shot to death with ar
rows.
St. Simon Zealot was crucified in
Persia.
St. Matthias was first stoned then
beheaded.
YOUR SOUL!
Reader, your body is very important.
Meat, drink, clothes, money, are all im
portant things. But you have one
thing which is more important still.—
What is that? It is your soul.
1 our soul is eternal. It will live for
ever. The world, and all that it con
tains, shall come to an end: “ The
earth and the works that are therein
shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
The angel’s voice shall proclaim one
day, that “ time shall be no longer.”—
Rev. 10:6. But that shall never be
said of your soul.
Try, I beseech you, to realize the
fact, that your soul is the one thing
worth living for. It is the part of you
which ought always to be first consid
ered. No place, no employment is good
for you which Injures your soul. Ho
trifend, no companion deserves yeur
confidence who makes light of your
soul’s concerns. The man who hurts
your person, your property, your char
acter, does you but temporary harm.
He is the true enemy who contrives to
damage your soul.
Think for a moment what you were
sent into the world for. Hot merely to
eat and drink, and indulge the desires
of the flesh; not merely to work and
sleep and laugh and talk and enjoy
yourself, and thinkof nothing but time.
Ho; you were meant for something
higher and better than this. You were
placed here to train for eternity. Your
body was only intended to be a house
for your immortal spirit. It is flying
in tlm facet n£ God’s purposes to do as
many do— to make the soul a servant
to the body, and not the body a ser
vant to the soul.
Reader, the day will soon come when
the soul vrill be the only thing men
will think of, and the only question they
will care for will be, “Is my soul
saved 1” On, BE WISE IX- TIME. AT
TEND TO YOUR SOUL.
THE STIHG OF DEATH.
In a biographical notice, giving an
account of the last days of a good man
who was distinguished for liis serene
and lofty faith, he is reported as say
ing, “I appear to suffer but I do not.
It seems as if some angel were stand
ing by me, lie bearing all the pain, and
this poor body of mine only exhibiting
the outward signs of it.” A striking
instance of the same kind occurred not
long since within our own knowledge.
A lady of exalted piety was suffering
from protracted and fatal sickness, and
at certain intervals there came on
spasms and convulsions, giving exter
nally all the symtoms of intolerable
agony. Once, when these spasms were
evidently coming on, and her friends
were bending over her with anxious
faces, she looked up with a sweet and
tranquil smile, and said, “Do not be
troubled about me. You think I suf
fer extremely ; but Ido not. I know
not how it is, but somehow, when these
convulsions come, there comes with
them a sense of the Divine presence,
an inward power, that takes upon it
self the burden of my sufferings, and
these spasms are only in appearance.”
Sir H. Havelock and ms Servant
Girl. —He had been conducting a de
votional service, in company with his
household, amongst whom was an Irish
servant girl. She was melted to tears
by the fervency and unction of his
prayer, and as she arose from her
knees, addressed him with much emo
tion. “Oh, Misther, dear, you’re not
fit for a soldier. It’s too tender-hear
ted you are. Sure you was born a
praist, and a praist it is you ougli to
be.”—Life of Havelock.
Dr. P. was very absent-minded. Pray
ing with his eyes open, as was his hab
it, at a “neighborhood meeting,” he
chanced to see a friend just arrived, in
the company ; when to the surprise of
everybody, he crossed the room, and
extended his hand, exclaiming with a
voice of pleasure, “O ! how d’ do ?.’—
not seeming aware at all of the eccen
tric movement. —Sprague’s Annals.
The working days in Switzerland
are from fourteen to nineteen hours.*-
Wages, for children five cents per day;
women, from sixteen to thirty; men,
from forty to fifty.
Number 40,
SINGULAR BALLOON INCI
DENT.
On Friday last a man named Wilson
made an assention from the Fail-
Grounds, at Centrallia, Ills., in a bal
loon belonging to Brooks, the aeronaut.
He descended about eighteen miles
distant, at the farm of a Mr. Harvey.
After the grappling iron had been
made fast, Harvey, to amuse his chil
dren, one a boy aged about four years,
and the other a girl'of eight years plac
ed them in the basket car and permit
ted them to ascend several times as
high as the rope would allow. Unex
pectedly the grappling iron |Jipped
from the father’s hand, and the balloon,
with its precious freight, was wafted
out of sight. The distress of the pa
rent knew no bounds. The peril of his
children he considered imminent, for
borne into some dense forest, where
they would be overtaken with hunger
before they could be found, or perhaps
descend into some lake or stream and
be drowned ? As soon as it was possi
ble an Extra was issued at Centralia,
and the whole neighboring country
placed on the alert to watch for the
balloon and children.
Saturday morning at day-break, a
farmer near Hew Carthage, forty-three
miles distant from Mr. Harvey’s place,
discovered the balloon suspended in
the air, attached by grappling rope to
a tree in his yard. lie immediately
hauled the balloon down, and found
the youngest child asleep in the bot
tom of the basket, and the eldest care
fully watching over her little brother.
They had been wafted about by dif
ferent currents of air throughout the
night, and had come to a halt but a
little while before they were relieved.
The story the girl told was that as
the balloon ascended she cried piteous
ly to her father to pull it down. She
said she passed over a town where sho
saw a great many people, to whom sho
likewise appealed at the top of her
voice. This place was Centralia. Tho
balloon was seen to pass over there,
but the people little imagined it car
ried two persons in such danger. Iler
little brother cried with cold, and the
heroic gix*l took off her apron, covered
him and got him to sleep. In hand
ling the ropes she happened to pull one~
which had the effect of bringing tlie
balloon down, and although not under
standing the philosophy of the move
ment, she was quite content to keep
the valve open, so long as by so doing
she found she approached the earth.
The youthful aerial voyages were in
the balloon about thirteen hour's and a
quarter. It may easily be imagined
that among the neighbors where they
landed they were the objects of much
curiosity and interest. The girl's pre
sence of mind and loving consideration
for her brother, may well entitleher to
remembrance, while the incident it
self was of such a remarkable charac
ter that we opine it will not soon bo
forgotten in that section.
The boy and girl were conveyed home
as soon as practicable, and it is need
less to say were received with out
stretched arms.
THE DUTIES OF A DEACON.
Brother J. Otis, Editor of the “Wes
tern Recorder, in a recent leader on
this subject, introduces the following
sentiment. We agree with him decid
edly, and fully believe that the scrip
tural ground for the sentiment will bo
perfectly clear j ust as soon as tho ec
clesiastical terms are plainly transla
ted. ‘ J.
“The great object of which the Dea-’
cons|were originated and are necessary,
seems to be, to assist the ministry in
the oversight of the flock. If it were
the case now, as in primitive times,
that widows belonging to the Church
were supported by the Church, it
would, of course, he the duty of the
Deacon to attend to them and see that
their wants be supplied. Whatever
necessity may exist for labor in tho
supervision of the interests of Church,
apart form the ministration of tho
Word, has been acknowledged by man
to be enjoined upon the Deacons.”
“Henry Ward Beecher is great at
taking up colections. At the old John
street church, on one occasion, they
wanted to make an extra raise. Mr.
Beecher eloquently addressed the new
converts and finally asked those who
had experienced religion in that church
to hold up their right hand. early
all the right hands were raised instan
taneously up. “How,” says Mr Beech
er, “put that hand in your pocket
when the plate is passed round.”
After the plate had been extensively
circulated, Beecher, to his great sur
prise, saw no money passed into the
plate; but every man in the congrega
tion, stood motionless as a statue, with
his right had in bis pocket!