Newspaper Page Text
, r.
||nr
Written for tha Index and Baptist.]
Truth, Mercy, Righteousness and Peace.
.A. SERMON:
BY REV. W. N. REEVES, OF EUFATTLA, ALA.
Mercy and Truth are met together; Righteous
ness and Peace hare kissed each other. Psalms
lxxxv: 10.
That is a singular passage anil singularly
bold, in which the great Apostle to the Gen
tiles speaks of God's reconciling “ all things ’
to Himself by Christ, “through the blood of
His cross.” Especially when he adds, “whether
they he things on eartli or things in Heaven.”
That God, through the death of Christ,should
ofler reconciliation to fallen man, does not
seem so strange. This doctrine, though “ grand
beyond a seraph’s thought,” has become fa
miliar through the teachings of the Gospel—so
familiar that, to many, it lias lost its beauty
and ceased to attract. We know, however,
that man is in rebellion against the Divine
government, and that an attempt at reconcilia
tion is as compatible with the nature of things
as it is consistent with the Divine character.
The Apostle might, therefore, properly speak
of God’s reconciling unto Himself, through
the death ot His son, “ things in earth ” But
how can Christ, through “ the blood of Hi
cross,” reconcile unto God “ things in Heaven ?”
Is there any need of reconciliation in that
world of light and love? Has its harmony,
too, been disturbed ? Has the spirit of dis
cord entered there? Are there anv jarrings
in that pure and perfect sphere? True, the
spirit of discord once entered there, when tire
angels, that kept not their lirst estate, rose in
rebellion against their rightful sovereign ; but
like stars which shoot from their spheres and
go out in night, they were hurled from the
battlements of Heaven, and are now “ reserved
in everlasting chains, under darkness, to the
judgment of the great day.” To these no
reconciliation is affeied—the proffers of par
don extend not to them. That cry of agony
that burst from Calvary’s bleeding, dying vic
tim, shall reverberate round our world and
ring down the ages, but never will it reach
those miserable and abandoned apostates. Un
der darkness are they kept “ in everlasting
chains.” A starless and unending night has
settled upon them —the doors of a rayless, hope
less prison have fastened them down forever.
What, then, are the “ things in Heaven'' which
God reconciles, “ by Christ, through the blood
of His cross?” Here, in our text, may he
found an answer. This highly figurative pas
sage, rich alike in poetic beauty and Gospel
truth, reveals to us something of the jarrings
and discords that once disturbed that bright
world, tor it points to a time before Mercy and
Truth had met together ; when Righteousness
and Peace had not kissed each other, and then
announces the joyful and perfect and eternal
reconciliation.
Would you catch something of the beauty
that flashes from this precious jem of Gospel
truth—this, one of the brightest jewels that
sparkles in the casket of the skies—you must,
with fear and trembling, but following the
guidance of revealed light, penetrate the
clouds and darkness that surround the eternal
throne. You must enter the council-chamber
of the Most High, in which the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit, before the world,
was perfected—the plan of human redemption.
Far back in the depths of the eternal past, the
voice of God is heard s iyio : “ Let us make
man'in Our image and after out likeness.”
But before man is made, lie who sees the end
from the beginning must prepare for every
possible emergency —especially must he pro
vide a way of salvation for a fallen world.
And now the triune God retires into His coun
cil-chamber to perfect a plan of redemption —
one that shall be consistent with His own attri
butes and at the same time meet the demands
of our fallen nature. The herald angels guard
the entrance, and all the countless multitudes
that move on wings of love through boundless
fields of light, wait without. Clouds and
darkness are round about him ; His pavilion
is dark waters and thick clouds of the skies,
while the inner court is filled with light unap
proachable. But, led by the spirit of grace
and truth, we may now pass those angel guards,
enter through the clouds and darkness, and
stand amid the dazzling splendors that sur
round the eternal throne. Penetrated with a
profound sense of our own unworthiness, an 1
filled with adoring wonder and reverential
awe, let us listen to the deliberations of this
august tribunal. Mercy and truth, righteous
ness and peace, are about to present their con
flicting claims for the arbetrament of Heaven’s
high chancery. That we may understand the
pleadings, let us bear in mind that the ques
tion is: How can God be just and yet save
the sinner? Righteousness and truth urge the
claims of justice and holiness, while mercy
and peace plead in behalf of the sinner. Or,
to use the language of earthly courts, the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit preside; man—
fallen, sinful man—is the criminal at the bar ;
Mercy and Peace are his advocates, while
Righteousness and Truth are attorneys for the
State. All things are now ready, and the all
important deliberations begin —deliberations
in which you and I and all of ns are profoundly
interested. Let us then be silent that we may
hear, and hear that we may be benefited and
blessed.
“ Truth,” the representative of Divine jus
tice, of God’s holy Law, opening the case,
speaks first; and as he rises to address the
court, a multitude of the Heavenly host cry
with aloud voice, saying: “Blessing and
honor and glory and power be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne and unto fhe Lamb for
ever and ever. Holy and just art Thou, O
Lord God Almighty, and sooner shall Heaven
and earth pass away than one jot or tittle of
Thy law.” Catching up the last words of this
grand chorus that rolled through Heaven as
‘“the v lice of many waters,” Truth begins:
“ Yea, Thy Word, O Most Holy and Mighty, is
everlasting and immutable and irrevocable —
sooner shall Heaven and eartli pass away than
one jot or tittle of Thy Lawand Thy Law
declares, “ the soul that sinneth it shall die. ”
Man has sinned—all have gone out of the
way—there is none that doeth good, no, not
one. Nay, man’s very heart is deceitful
above all things and desperately wicked. And
as all have sinned and are sinful, so all must
perish—the whole human family —there is no
way of escape. Thou wilt in no wise clear the
guilty. These are the declarations of Thine
own Word, O King eternal, immortal, invisi
ble. And Thou hast also said that God is not
man that he should lie, nor the son of man
that he should repent. Hast Thou said, and
shall it not be done ? Hast Thou spoken, and
shalt Thou not make it good ? Should now
this euiltv race, or a single individual, escape,
the word of God is forfeited, justice is violated,
and all confidence in the Divine government
is destroyed forever. The law, which is holy
and just and good, demands the life of every
offender —there is no escape —the guilty must
die —man must perish. A world, with all its
inhabitants, may be lashed into nothingness,
but the Word of God must be kept inviolate
and inviolable. Sooner shall the Heavens
and the earth pass away than one jot or tittle
of Divine Law be unfulfilled. Therefore, I
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
leave off as I began—man must perish—the
sinner must die. Thy law declares it, and Thy
justice demands it.”
Thus “ Truth,” with irresistable logic, urged
the claims of the Divine Law—ot eternal jus
tice —and demanded that the whole guilty race
of Adam be swept off with the besom of des
truction.
“ Mercy,” having listened to the short but
seemingly unanswerable argument of Truth,
is ready to abandon the case and give up in
despair. But glancing at the cowering crimi
nal, and remembering the miserable doom that
threatens the whole guilty race of man, is
moved with pity, and, hoping against hope,
rises to plead the desperate cause of a sin
cursed world, and thus the representative of
Divine compassion begins:
“ Most holy and righteous and benevolent
Judge, permit me to present, if not the de
mands of inexorable justice, yet the claims—
the no less weighty of God-like mercy —for
mercy is above the sceptered sway; it, too, is
an attribute of God himself. Bear with tue,
then, while 1 plead the cause of one whom
Truth would consign to all the severities of
justice unleinpered with mercy.
“ But before urging the claims of mercy, may
I not suggest that this sentence for which Truth
pleads seems inconsistent with the purposes of
thv benevolent creation. Moved by a controll
ing desire to witness the happiness of innu
merable intelligences, thou didst create man
in thine own image and after thine own like
ness. Thou hast endowed him with faculties
of unlimited expansion, that he might ever
approach thine own infinite fullness —that he
might rise continually in intelligence, in holi
ness and in happiness. The thought, the act,
was worthy of thyself, for thou art love. But
let now the miserable doom which threatens
the race be visited upon them, and the end of
their creation is not attained —the purposes of
the most high God are thwarted. And shall
the desires ot the Almighty be set at naught ?
Shall destruction be visited upon the works of
God? Shall He create in vain? Has He
begun to build, and shall he not be able to
finish ?
‘“Not only will the Divine purposes not be
attained, but the very opposite will follow.
Let this sentence be executed, ami instead of
man’s being the companion of God, lie will be
the captive of devils; instead of rising higher
an t higher in holiness anil happiness, he will
sink lower and lower in degradation and woe—
lie will he banished into a world of outer dark
ness —cast into a lake that burr.eth with fire
and brimstone —shut up in a bottomless pit
where the smoke of his torment goeth up ior
ever and ever ! Shall the enemy of God and
man he permitted thus to triumph over all the
holy and benevolent purposes of the Creator,
and forever gloat over the misery and woe and
degradation that lie has caused ?
“ And besides all this, why should a whole
race of beings innumerable suffer such wretch
edness as this hopeless woe ? Why should yon
burning lake he crowded everlastingly with
undying creatures? Why should millions of
immortal beings, who, without any fault of
their own, have been endowed with natures
indestructible, sutler the gnawings of the worm
that never dies, and the tortures of the fire
that is not quenched ? Why —O why 1 should
that bottomless pit, so dark, so dread, so unut
terably awful, be filled with immortal intelli
gences who might bask forever in the smile of
God and mingle through eternity with the
holy, happy throng? Spare—O spare the
helpless ruined race 1 O Judge, thou art love—
thou thyself has declared it; then wherefore
inexorable.”
Thus “ Mercy,” with all the ardor of eternal
love, was urging the claims of Divine compas
sion, wbeo there was heard from without,
around, above, beneath, a shout as the sound
of many waters and as the voice of mighty
lliun.lerings, saying : “ Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is
to come, let the whole earth be filled with thy
glory.” And in response a more dazzling
brightness tilled the place, and out of the
throne proceeded lightnings and tliunderings
and voices.
When these had passed by, “ Righteousness,”
the representative of Divine holiness, rose,
and after addressing the Court, thus began :
“ That is not real mercy or wise compassion
that would permit the guilty to go unpunished.
True, at times the voice of pity should he
heard, but that of justice, of equity and right,
is far more imperative. Let hut this one act
of disobedience go unpunished —let this crimi
nal go unwhipped of justice —and who can tell
where the spirit of rebellion will stop. In
stead of securing the happiness of man you
may destroy that of angels. May not some
aspiring archangel, seeing thy laws may be vio
lated with impunity, introduce a spirit of re
volt into this sphere of obedience and love and
happiness ? Thy rightful sovereignty, O King,
must be maintained —thy laws, which are not
only right and good, but benevolent, must be
obeyed—or disorder and discord areintrodueed
into every part of thy universal dominion.
The government of God and the happiness of
His creatures throughout all worlds and ages,
demand —imperatively and inexorably demand
—the punishment of the guilty. Nay, the
very throne upon which thou sittest is based
upon holiness —upon justice and right, upon
equity and truth. Thou thyself hast declared
that‘justice and judgment are the habitation
of thy throne.’ Let then this feat of eternal
justice be disregarded—let man, the rebel
man, the criminal that cowers yonder with
shame and confessed guilt—let him go free
and that throne must totter and fall and thine
infinite empire be overthrown —t* e universe
itself must return to chaos, and chaos to noth
ingness.
“ And who is this that would bring this dis
order and confusion into the limitless realm of
the eternal Sovereign? What claims has man
to mercy ? He was created in the image and
after the likeness of the ever blessed God; he
was placed at the head of the world; all earth
was subject to him ; he was made only a little
lower than the angels, and crowned with glory
and honor and immortality. Not only was lie
thus exalted by creation, but he was placed in
a home the most ;beautiful ar.d beatific —a
home prepared by God himself. Truly, that
home was a Paradise. It was planned and
planted and beautified by Jehovah himself; it
was lovely beyond expression ; it was a place
where angels loved to pause in their holy and
happy flight; amid all the innnmerable worlds
that move in harmony and beauty around the
eternal throne there was not another spot so
lovely; chertibims found delight in the shad
ows of this Paradise, and archangels strolled
with pleasure amid its bowers; nay, it was
visited by God himself, who, in the cool of
the day, walked in the garden. Thus was
man blessed; and in the midst of it all only
one prohibition was placed upon him, and that
one deprived him of no pleasure—curtailed
not a single joy. But notwithstanding all this,
the ungrateful wretch, forgetful of every bounty
and disregarding every manifestation of love,
plucked the forbidden fruit—he dared to defy
the God that made him and so loved and
blessed him. What claims can one so vile —so
lost to every noble sentiment —urge to com
passion? No, let him suffer the penalty. He
sinned knowingly and wilfully —there can be no
extenuation of his guilt; let there be no miti
gation of his punishment.”
Thus “Rightoousmss,” planting himself
upon the everlasting and unchangable princi
ples of justice and equity, urged the claims of
Divine holiness. Ashe ceased, once more all
Heaven rang with : “ Holy, holy, holy art
thou, O Lord God Almighty, which was and
is and is to come; let the whole earth be filled
with thy glory.”
But ere these voices had ceased, “ Peace,”
catching up the strain, began :
“ Yes, thou art holy, O Lord God Onnipo
tent, thou art holy, but thou art also merciful.
Yen, thou art love—thou thyself hath said it.
I beseech thee, therefore, by thy loving kind
ness and by the multitude of thy tender mer
cies, spare—O spare your trembling captive!
True, he sinned, but thou knowest liis flame;
thou rememberest that he is dust; likens a
father pitieth his children so dost thou pity
the creatures of thy hand. Then let thy com
passion be moved tor him who cowers beneath
the glance of‘Righteousness;’ let thy pity be
stirred to its infinite depths in behalf of him
whom the yawning pit is ready to devour, and
whom all hell is moving to receive. Bar not,
I beseech thee, the door of Heaven against
that poor, weak, helpless, almost hopeless cap
tive ; but weak anil helpless as he is, he is
made in the image and after thine own like
ness ; he has capacity for holiness and happi
ness and love, and by and bv lie may mingle
in this holy, happy throng that now surround
thy throne. Then shut him not up, 1 beseech
thee, in the depths of hell —in the dungeon of
despait. True, he is guilty; lie has violated
thy law, and there is no extenuation of his
crime.”
Thus was “ Peace ” pleading with an ardor
divine, when suddenly, at the clear confession
of man’s guilt, the sword of justice leaped
from its scabbard and was gleaming above the
head of the agonized captive. Truth and
Righteousness cry “Cut him down, the soul
that sinneth it shall die.” But Mercy and
Peace, with imploring voice, entreated: “Spare
—O spare the fallen and helpless!” And
thus all Heaven rang with the cries of the con
flicting claimants. There seemed no hope of
reconciliation. Righteousness and Truth could
not yield, while Mercy and Peace, constrained
by pitying love, could hut ph ad for the tremb
ling, imploring captive over whom hung s *
miserable a doom.
in the midst of these jarrings and discords
He who sat upon the throne—the eternal
Father—rose with majesty divine. At once
all was silent. Glancing first at those who
had been urging their conflicting claims, and
then at the poor, trembling criminal, He be
gan: “ Truth and Righteousness, the equity
of your claims cannot be denied. The law is
holy and just and good, anil sooner shall
Heaven and earth pass away than one jot or
tittle of that law be set aside.” Then turning
to Mercy and Peace, He continued : “ With
you, 1 pity the fallen race of Adam ; iJy heart
yearns for them even more than that of a father
over his dying son whom he loves. But how
—O how ! can 1 spare them ? The fiat has
gone forth and the decree is irrevocable— 1 the
soul that sinneth it shall die.’ While I would
spare the sinner, sin must not go unpunished.”
And again the glittering sword gleamed above
the shrinking, cowering captive.
“Yes,” cried Truth and Righteousness,
with one voice, “ cut him down ; why
cumberelh he the ground?” And agaSv
Mercy arid Peace, rushing forward beseech
ingly : “O, do not cut him down ! Spare—
O spare the suppliant,” while with their shin
ing wings they covered his shrinking form.
Thus discord, once more, and jarrings filled
the presence chamber of the Most High. But
again they are hushed and silence fills the
place; lor another who sat upon the throat
the eternal Son, rises. Alt behold IriRM
beaming w ilh till'd love and divine
Turning lir-M" lii-fM ..tiler, lie JH
icy Father, if thou nn.iM-i h dfl
mid still deliver the ruined r.i
mit mu to take tin p!ac> of the '
honor thy Law by a perfect obediciwßßHW
ail the demands of ‘ Truth ’ and 1 Righteous
ness;’and as, without the shedding of blood
there is no remission of sin, I will become flesh
and dwell among men, that the sword of jus
tice may slake its thirst in my veins; 1 will
honin' thee ; glorify thy name, and in my own
body bear the curse of the violated Law.”
Moved with pity for man, and at the same
time filled with love for His Son, the Father
replied: “Yes, though thou art my well
beloved and only begotten Son, I will give thee
to die for a fallen world. Thou, in thine own
body, mayest hear the curse of the Law—in thy
life fulfill its demands, and in thy death meet
its penalty —that 1 may still be just and yet
the justifyer of all who believe in thee. Thus
I may show forth my inexorable holiness, and
at the same time exhibit my love; may pre
serve the Law and yet pardon the repentant
sinner.”
Then, turning to those whose conflicting
claims had filled the Heavenly court with jar
rings and discord, the Son says to “ Truth ”
and “ Righteousness,” “ Present all your claims
against the captive, I will meet them—bring
all your demands against the fallen, rebellious
race of man, I will satisfy them.” To “ Mer
cy ” and “ Peace ”he says: “ Yes, the sinner
shall go free —though he has sinned, he shall
be spared ; I will give my own life a ransom ;
by the sacrificial life and deatli will I redeem
this guilty captive from the curse of the Law
—from the dungeons of death.”
“ Truth” cries, “ It is enough ; let him go
free;’’ and “ Righteousness ” exclaims “ Amen
and amen! “ Mercy ” and “ Peace ” repeat
the glad “Amen!” and all Heaven rings in
glad response: “Alleluia! Alleluia!” Then
Mercy and Truth, no longer at variance, but
reconciled through Christ by the blood of His
cross, meet together, while Righteousness and
Peace kiss each other ; and from those Heav
enly courts there rolls a swelling tide of rap
ture. The herald angels that had waited long
hear at last the glad tidings, and with new de
light they fly on joyous wing through all the
countless multitudes of the Heavenly host,
and as they, fly they cry :
“ Mercy and Truth are met together,
Righteousness and Peace have kissed each
other.”
And from every heart and harp and tongue,
there swells the joylul respons-: “ Alleluia !
amen and amen ! —alleluia! alleluia!” That
grand jubilee chorus is still rolling on as the
sound of many waters, and as the voice of
mighty tliunderings, when down from the
shining court above those herald angels speed
their way—past the sapphire walls of Heaven,
and down —far down through the silvery ether
they haste, that eartli too may thrill with the
new and glorious arcangel. They gather over
where Judea’s shepherds watch their flocks by
night; when suddenly the Heavenly choir
breaks forth —“ Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, goodwill to man !” And now,
for nearly nineteen hundred years, these glad
tidings have been repeated from hill-top to
hill-top, from valley to valley, and from moun
tain to plain; the rivers have rolled on the
swelling, gathering tide; the deep-sounding
ocean has repeated on every shore and to every
island, until already our earth is girdled with
the melody of that sweetest music,
“Mercy and Truth are met together;
Righteousness and Peace have kissed each
other."
We, too, have heard it; it has reached our
ears, blesAd our homes, and gladdened our
hearts. Yeß, the reconciliation is complete;
salvation is now offered to all— freely otfeied to
all —the invitation has gone forth : “Ho every
one that thii steth, come ye to the waters. And
he that hath no money come ; yea, come buy
wine and milk without money and without
price. The spirit and the bride say come, and
let him that hearcth say come, let him that is
athirst come, and whosoever will let him take
the water of life freely.”
Mercy and Truth are met on Calvary ;
Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other
—at the foot of the cross.
MOUNT TABOR.
On Tabor’s lioight a glory came,
And, shrined in clouds of lambent flame,
The awe-struck, hushed disciples saw
Christ and the prophets of the law;
Moses, whoso grand and awful face
Of Sinai’s thunder bore the trace,
And wise Elias, in liis eyes
The shade of Israel’s prophecies.
Stood in that vast mysterious light
Thau Syrian noons more purely bright.
One on each hand—anil high between
Shone forth the godlike Nazarene.
They bowed their lieadß in holy fright,
No mortal eyes could bear the sight,
And when they looked again, behold !
The flery clouds had backward rolled,
And borne aloft, in grandeur lonely,
Nothing was left, “save Jesus only."
Resplendent type of things to be ;
We read its mysteries to-day
With clearer eyes than oven they,
'" The fislier saints of Galilee.
We see the Christ stand out between
The ancient law anil faith serene.
Spirit and letter—but above
’Spirit, and letter both was Love.
~ v lied by the hand of Jacob's God
Through wastes of old a path was trod
By which the savage world could move
Upward through law and faith to love.
And there in Tabor’s harmless flame
The crowning revelation came.
The old world knelt in homage due,
The prophets near in revorence drew,
I.aw ceased its mission, to fulfill
And Love was Lord on Tabor’s hill.
So now, while creeds perplex the mind
And wrauglingß load the weary wind,
When all the air is filled with words
And texts that ring like clashing swords,
Still, as for refuge we may turn
Where Tabor’s shrining glories bum—
The soul of antique Israel gone—
And nothing left but Christ alone.
Miscellaneous.
THE GREAT SALT LAKE.
A Salt Lake City correspondent of
the Chicago Inter-Ocean says :
There seems to be a general impres
sion among strangers that the city of
Salt Lake is located on the margin of
the great Salt Lake, and the tourist on
his arrival here is surprised and disap
pointed to find that it is not. The popu
lar visiting place on the lake is what is
called Black Bock, lying directly west
twenty miles distant from this city, on
tht. old overland mail road going to
ward California. It is a most interest
ing spot to visit, and it is very strange
that out of the many who travel across
the continent desirous of seeing every
thing of interest, there .are so very few
I who will take the time and trouble to
eee this wonderful and beautiful sheet
bf water.
jMhdje size of the lake is about eight
east to west, and about one
B •*! •• i ."in norlU i... soi:Ab.
great reservoir for all
that empty into tbe sur
rounding vallevs, without any known
outlet, except what the gentle rays of
the summer sun can draw up* into the
cloudy strata of the heavens. The
water is exceedingly salty, more so
than any body of water in the world ;
and its buoyancy is fully 100 per cent,
more than that of tbe ocean. In the
crudest manner the Mormons make a
pail of salt from three pails of water,
and buoyancy is very perceptible in
bathing, when the ordinary swimmer
finds he can float as easily and securely
a3 walking on the “sure and firm-set
earth.” Sinking is impossible. The
water in the lake is gradually rising,
and some estimates put it at ten inches
each year.
PI T NOT YOUR TRUST IN BASKS.
The subjoined article from the Farmer's
Journal , contains some sensible and practical
suggestions which we commend to the farmers
of Georgia:
The occurences of ten days in Watertown
have their lessons which every farmer who has
surplus funds to invest should learn. One
private banking firm, G. F. Paddock & Cos.,
failed, owing over $050,000, and another, C. G
Harger A Son, owing over $480,000. It is re
ported that the former will pay only about 15
cents on the dollar, and the latter about 50
eerils. Avery large portion of the indebted
nefs of these firms is to farmers and retired
farmers, who had entrusled their hard earned
savings to the care of these concerns, when
they could just as well have loaned their mon
ey on real estate securities at seven per cent.
it is a strange infatuation which lias seized
the people during the last decade, and led
them to invest in all kinds of wildcat specula
tions, or keep their money in bank, at call,
without security, until they could see an open
ing for some investment promising more than
the legal rate, and in their insane chase aft r
i xtravagant rates of interest to lose sight of
safety and sacrifice the principal. Bonds and
mortgages have lieen a drug and have gone
begging, while Midland and Northern Pacific
K. R, Bonds have been eagerly grasped at.
Is it not time that farmers, at least, should
stop and consider whether it is not better to
assist their poorer neighbors witli convenient
loans at seven per cent., secured by mortgage
on lands they know to be worth double the
amount of the loan, rather than take the chan
ces of speculating with their money themselves,
or entrusting it to others, without securily, for
the purpose of speculation.
No legitimate business in this State will en
able a borrower to pay more than seven per
cent. —indeed the increase of wealth in this
State is only at one-half that rate. It may be
that in special cases in newer States, where
land is increasing in value at a rapid rate,
higher interest may be afforded : hut this is
doubtful. How idle, then, to run away with
the idea that extravagant rates of interest and
safe investments can both be realized.
Farmers, invest in bonds and mart gages
and leave banks and railroads, stocks and
speculations to professionals and wild adventu
rers.
An average of about 450 negroes per
week are said to be passing through
Selina for tbe West.
|ise patrons of
A BRIGHT FUTURE.
Before the agriculturists of the
South there is a bright future. After
a long night of ignorance and reckless
ness, in which sad havoc was made of
the grandest domain on earth, the light
of science has beamed brightly, and our
people, shaking the “poppies from
their brows,” are awaking, resolving,
thinking, comprehending and acting.
Though the Southern white population
have ranked high in the scale of gen
eral intelligence, at all times, they have
been inattentive to the details which
underlie the great and fundamental in
terest of agriculture. This fact was
an immediate and legitimate conse
quence of slave labor. The planter
being, in the days of slavery, the most
independent person in the world;
amassing wealth by the mere applica
tion of unintelligent labor to the soil;
able to transfer, at pleasure, that labor
from exhausted fields to such as re
tained their original fertility ; feeling
the promptings of no necessity for the
critical study and comprehension of
agricultural science; fond of social en
joyment; and, realizing no such over
whelming results as were born in our
late strife, it is not strange that he
should have been remiss in the acquisi
tion of that knowledge which has be
come a recognized necessity.
It is a high compliment to Southern
character, that it so readily and
promptly adjusts and adapts itself to
occurring changes. The desolation
wrought by the war was terrible and
wide spread—sweeping away millions
of wealth from the possession of
Southern men; robbing them of their
slaves and destroying their labor sys
tem ; reducing them from a condition
of wealth and independence to one of
poverty and want. But a hasty obser
vation of the ruin and ashes around
them, and a comprehensive glance
ahead, were sufficient to actuate them
to immediate measures for the recovery
of their losses. With energies aroused,
the work of recuperation was promptly
begun, and the results constitute a
proud record of achievements, which
could have been won only by an extra
ordinary people.
The necessity for white labor brought
to view the further necessity of its in
telligent application and direction; a
knowledge of the components of the
soil; its classification; the peculiar
powei of its respective kinds ; the adap
tation of these to certain products;
the composition of vegetable produc
tions ; their exhaustive qualities upon
the soil; how to restore what they
withdraw in the process of devel
opment, etc. This essential knowl
edge has been sbught for with an
earnest assiduity ' that has already
made our farming population rich in
agricultural intelligence, causing them
to feel that they are working in the
light of unalterable principles, rather
than in the night of ignorance and ac
cident. Auxiliary to this growth of in
telligence, weekly and monthly agri
cultural publications abound, in which
are contained experiments their
results; scientific views and advice;
and all details important to a complete
education of the mind to the great pur
suit of the country. It is true, there
fore, that the period of intelligent ag
riculture has fully dawned, and that it
will grow rapidly, yet steadily brighter,
as our people gather greater knowledge
from its many and increasing sources.
At a most opportune juncture, the
plan of organizing the Patrons of Hus
bandry was conceived, and for the first
time in the history of the world, agri
culture has brought to its aid the pow
erful advantages of a wisely devised
system of co-operation. This has
grearly accelerated the acquisition of
knowledge peculiar to the pursuit,
and is accomplishing wonderful results
in behalf both of the pleasure and
profits of agriculture.
Asa consequence of the growth and
influence of the Order, appropriate leg
islation has been matured, in most of
the Southern States, for the advance
ment of this great interest. There
fore, in our own, we perceive the estab
lishment of the Bureaus of Agricul
ture and Geology, embracing in their
detail of duties a thorough analysis
and classification of our soils. The
good effects of these organized and
working bureaus, which may be called
handmaids to each other, are already
being felt, and will increase rapidly
with the lapse of time.
Our soil and climate are adapted to
a greater variety of staple products
than anv other within our knowledge,
and the amount produced pier acre,
under proper and judicious culture,
furnishes a most satisfactory reward to
the laborer.
With the lights before us, therefore,
we conclude by repeating the declara
tion that there is a bright future before
the agriculturists of the South.
■ ♦
The Commission of Government En
gineers on the Alluvial Basin of the
Mississippi, recommends Government
aid for the purpose of reclaiming these
alluvial lands, and suggests the imme
diate appropriation of $1,500,000 for
Louisiana, and $500,000 each for Ar
kansas and Mississippi, to close the ex
isting breaks and crevasses. A per
manent system of reclamation of these
linds will, the Commission says, require
1 at lea3t $46,000,000.
FIFTH SESSION OF THE GEORGIA SIHK
GRANGE.
About three hundred delegates were
present, and much important business
transacted. Composed, as it was, of
earnest, thinking, practical men, the
good of the Order, and the whole
country, was the chief object sought
to be accomplished. Important meas
ures—looking to the refunding of cotton
tax ; supplying our order with cheap
and reliable fertilizers; inaugurating
a Grange Bank, to be located at Ma
con, Georgia, with branch offices in the
principal towns of Georgia, etc., were
set on foot. We would that every
Patron in the State had been there.
New life and zeal would have been
infused in him —new hopes inspired.
Grand Master D. W. Adams,, of the
National Grange, that solid-looking,
earnest, unassuming and dignified old
Roman Patron, was present, and gave
the impressive and beautiful Fifth De
gree. How can he who witnessed it,
help becoming a better man, citizen
and Patron ?
A reorganization of the Grange was
held, and resulted in the election of
the following officers for the next two,
years:
T. J. Smith Master.
Rev. A. J. Leet Overseer.
•T. B. Jones Lecturer
W. F. Rogers Chaplain.
T. B. King Steward.
R. D. Smith Assistant Steward.
E. Taylor .Secretary.
J. S. Lawton ..Treasurer.
Mrs. T. J. Smith Ceres.
Mrs. M. E. Cain Pomona.
Mrs. - Murray Flora.
-Mrs. E. Taylor Lady Ass’t Steward.
It was known that the retiring Treas
urer was not a candidate for re-elec
tion. There was no brother in the en
tire Order whose faithfulness and
worth the Grange would rather honor.
But we are consoled with the belief
that there is in his successor an
Elisha to catch the parting mantle.
We forbear to give further notice of
this most pleasant, earnest and profi
table meeting of the Grange, as the
minutes of the proceedings appear
elsewhere in this issue. The next ses
sion of the Grange will be held in
the city of Atlanta, in December next.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
Southern Female College,
Lagrange Georgia.
FACULTY.
I. F. Cox, A.M., Professor Mathematics and
Ancient Languages.
Rev. A. It. Callaway, Moral and Mental
Sciences.
C. A. F. VasyuE, A.M., Modem Languages.
J. A. Loso, M.D., Anatomy and Physiology
(Lectures )
Mbs. I. F. Cox, Botany, History, etc.
Prof. H. Schirmachek, Piano, Organ and Vio
lin.
Miss S. C. Cox, Piano and Guitar 11
Miss A. M. Cox, Piano.
Miss M. E. Stakely. Art Department.
The Faculty throughout is composed of practi
cal, earnest teachers of large experience. The
College is abundantly supplied with pianos,
apparatus, mineral cabinets, maps, charts, etc.
The advantages in music and line arts are all of
the highest order. Ten premiums for excellence
in music, drawing and painting have been
awarded pupils of this College at the State Fair
within the last four years.
Board.with washing and lights per annum..slso
Tuition, literary or music, per annum 60
Spring term opens 27th January.
For particulars, send for catalogue.
deel7-3t I. F. COX, President.
I 8 7 S . IK 7 sf.
NORCROSS HIGH SCHOOL
AND
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
A Graded School for the education of both sexes.
Located at Norcross. Gwinnett county, Ga.,
on the Air-Line Ilailroad, twenty miles—
just one hour’s ride—from Atlanta.
The first term of ihe second year of thia Insti
tution will open on Monday the 11th of January.
1875.
Board and tuition have been fixed at rates (
low r as to make this one of the cheapest educa
tional Institutions of the State.
For particulars address,
N. F. COOLEDGE,
declo-2ms. Principal.
Georgia Female College.
WVlltli ACADEMIC YEA*.
THE exercises will be resumed on Monday,
January 4th, with an increased Faculty of
the beet teaching talent. The expenses have
been greatly reduced, making the cheapest Tui
tion and Board of any College in the State.
Expenses for a term—five months—paid in
advance. t
TUITION :
Preparatories ~.,515 00
Collegiates 20 00
Music—special, vocal or instrtmentaL.... 25 00
Painting and Drawing 25 00
Board, fuel and lights 62 50
No charge for tuition in the regular course
against daughters of clergymen living by the
ministry, or against indigent orphans made so
by the war.
The college building bavin g undergone repairs
is now the residence of the President. Any
number of boaaders may find a homo in his
family. For further information address
GEO. Y. BROWNE, President.
Madison, Oa. novl2-2m
Agents wanted for
THE LIFE OF JESUS,
For Young Peofle. A work presenting Christ
to the young in a more interesting and attractive
manner than has ever before been done. Agents
always succeed with it, because parents will have
it for their children. Containing 550 quarto
pages, with 50 full-page engravings.
For territory address H. S. GOODSPEED &
CO., Publishers, 14 Barclay street, New York.
sep3-6m
Piles! Piles! Piles!
CIUEED by a simple and painless remedy.
) Sold in packets, sl, $2 and $5. Cure guar
anteed or money returned. Sent by mail ou rev
ceipt of price. c WELCHMAN & CO., 1
Irwin Station, Union county, Ohio.
jan!4.tf
3