Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

, 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