Newspaper Page Text
BY JAS. P. HARRISON & CO.
INDEX AND BAPTIST.
JSpECIAL pORRESPONDENCE,
Tor the Index and Baptist.]
Shall we Send onr Daughters from Heme to be
Edneated —Concluded;
Four, perhaps five, years have pass
ed away and the little girl who went
from us, just entering her teens, to
whom one year seemed an age, has re
turned home transformed into a woman.
The bud has expanded into a blossom;
the interesting change has taken place
away from us ; we can hardly credit our
own eyes when we look upon the mai
den and feel that she is ours; and yet,
not ours either, for we are deeply con
scious of the fact that she is beyond
us; our influence is gone. The period
of susceptibility to that influence we
surrendered to another, and it is now
too late to deplore the fact. College
life, with its varied joys and cares, is
done with. Commencement has come
and gone. She has passed i*s trying
ordeal, and now there comes a calm. Our
Georgia matrons, those who passed
through college life safe from its cor
rupting influences, could, if they would,
testify that of all their duties none
harassed and perplexed them more
than the single one of writing composi
tions. To a timid, shrinking girl there
is no harder task, no worse punishment
than to be compelled to fill a sheet
with thoughts upon a subject of which
the mind seems in total ignorance, and
then, worse than all, have to stand up
and read the crude, illegible effusion
before a sea of bare, open faces. Mod
ern times, however, have changed such
things. Writing compositions for
graduates has been reduced to a busi
ness. There is no longer any dread, as
far as the work itself is concerned. No
matter what the subject, there are
those ready for the work, and arrayed
in the white symbol of purity and in
nocence, the young graduate ascends
the rostrum and blushingly gives to an
admiring audience, as her own, thoughts
which belong to another. Then, if not
before, she is taught her first lesson in
fleet i tin. Is she to blame ? Shall we,
ought we, to be surprised wlien.we find,
upon a close acquaintance, our child’s
moral susceptibilities blunted, her na
ture perverted, so that when we look
for her to do right she does wrong ?
She has studied moral philosophy, but
its pages have been a blank ; she has
committed to memory the golden pre
cept, “Do unto others,” etc., but every
day’s work has contradicted its truth,
and now the last crowning act of col
lege life, the one that covers her young
head with a halo of glory, embodies a
falsehood. It has i lways been a ques
tion of serious import with us, why it
is our colleges insist upon girls reading
their own compositions. If we expect
ed them to continue the practice, and
give regular readings to the public,
there might be some excuse for it, but
when our whole Southern natures, our
customs, ignore and condemn every
thing of the kind in woman, it is strange
that just at the dawn of womanhood,
we will thrust our girls out to perform
an act we never expect, nor desire to
see them do again. But at last college
work is done, and done it is, for time
and eternity ; there is no undoing it;
the consequences must be accepted ;
“as ye sow so shall ye reap.” The
little girl is now a lady, or considers
herself so; what has she learned that
can or will compensate her for the four
precious years spent from home? Du
ring that time one or more little ones
have been added to the home brood,
and perchance, some loved one gone
forever. Many changes have passed
over the home roof; joy and sorrow
have mingled together, and time begins
to leave its mark. Father has grown
a little gray and mother stoops, but
amidst it all the one bright star of that
home,the centre around which its whole
wealth of affection clings, is the absent
daughter; she is going to graduate;
what will she be when she returns, and
how will she look ? Will she meet their
expectations? While every throb of
each heart has been true to her, and
absence has but riveted stronger the
chain that binds them to her, she, on
the contrary, has become in a measure
alienated, and while she longs for free
dom from books and rules, dreads the
dullness And monotony of home life.
Home is the same, but she has changed.
And what has she gained intellectually?
Can she write letters for father and
keep his accounts ? Can she tell moth
er what her butter will come to when
she sends it to town—six and a half
pounds at 37| cents per pound ? When
she writes a little note to some bosom
friend, what a miserable specimen of
penmanship and spelling, and when
asked for music to please the little
ones, her reluctance to play is disheart
ening, not to say disgusting. She has
practiced duetts for the concert so long
that all other tunes have been forgot
ten, and the piano stands neglected.
Mother and father at last have to con
fess their disappointment; they have
The Christian Index.
a graduate it is true, but what can they
do with her ? They have cheerfully de
nied themselves and spent all upon her,
hoping for some fair equivalent in re
turn, and now where is it ? If she had
but come back as she went, a happy,
contented girl, full of life, full of love,
willing and eager to do her part, tin re
would be some consolation, and the
mere intellectual loss might be put up
with. But where is the edutation? In
what does it show itself ?
Freedom from domestic cares, has
given her a repugnance to any and all
kinds of home work; at college, she
slept late and lost her breakfast, now,
she has no appetite for early meals,
and keeps up the bad practice. The
duties of Sabbath-school, and attend
ing worship, are irksome ; she is fond
of having her own way, of retiring
alone to read trifling literature, and
the little ones dare not molest her.
Selfishness has become deeply rooted;
her own comfort is all she desires, and
a few trite /table phrases are all that
remains of the genuine home politeness
she carried away. Ruined in morals,
dwarfed in her affections ; barely acom
mon English education, with asmalter
ing of Latin and Greek, a little French,
next to nothing in music, and we have
our ordinary graduate. Too late, pa
rents lament their error. Some are
wise enough to take the lesson to heart,
and, firmly resolving never to send an
other daughter off, cordially confess
the fact when the season brings round
again the regular college drummer.
Others again foolishly commit the
blunder over. “Hattie,” say they, “cost
us a big sum, and is fit for nothing;
perhaps Lucy will do better.”
There are, refreshing to say, some
happy, beautiful exceptions to this
picture. There are some noble women,
who have put to good use their col
lege life, but true merit was in them ;
they went to learn, and they accom
plished it by diligence and applica
tion, and therefore, were no losers. If,
in discussing this subject, the moral
argument is worth nothing, then Dagg
has written his Manual in vain, and
the science of moral philosophy might
as well be stricken from the college cur
riculum. The first ten or twelve years
of a child’s life, is the time to lay a
foundation for good or evil in the
character; the parents, it is true, have
this important period in their hands,
and it is their time to work—but just
as the structure is commenced the
child is removed, and from this until
eighteen other hands build upon the
foundation, and when her character is
unfolding and developing itself, she is
under altogether different influences.
She is away from home just when she
should be there. During a woman’s
natural life, there is no four consecu
tive years when stronger reasons ex
ist for a girl’s being at home than
from fourteen to eighteen; every
thoughtful mother knows this to be
the case, and yet, to keep pace with
her neighbors, to gratify the vanity of
her child, and of herself too, perhaps,
she yields the precious treasure, com
mitted to her charge, into other hands,
and sowing the wind, as a consequence,
reaps the whirlwind. In nine cases
out of ten, sad and bitter disappoint
ment follows. That parents keep such
knowledge to themselves, and vainly
try to make others believe what they
do not themselves, in regard to the
proficiency of their graduates, affects
the case not in the least. Outsiders
generally know more than the parties
concerned, and when a girl returns
from college with the reputation of be
ing the fastest young lady there, the
poor, deluded parents, perhaps, are in
blissful ignorance of the fact.
To the average girl, colleges and
boarding schools are a positive evil.
Our daughters should be educated, but
if, in order to accomplish this one end,
we ruin, deface, and well-nigh destroy
all that is pure, holy and noble within
them, then it is a bad piece of work,
and better be left undone. Far better
to give them the common rudiments of
learning, enough for evory day use,
then train and fit them for the active
duties of life, as wives and mothers,
with whole, unselfish hearts, pure
minds and morals, as such fitted to
adorn and beautify any station in life,
and to make happy those around them.
Education is not so absolutely neces
sary for women, that, in the attempt to
possess, we must sacrifice every other
consideration. It is a bad bargain,
any way, if the education turns out to
be thorough and genuine, but when all
has been risked, when we make choice
of college life for our girls, and find,
when we count up at the last, a super
ficial education, with all other good
swallowed up ; when we find leaves and
no fruit, then the bargain is a bad one
indeed, and all we can do is to make
the best of it. There’s no undoing it.
Let us, as parents, however, remember
our responsibility. We are stewards ;
we cannot shirk our duties nor obliga
tions. The Master will call us to a
strict account, and no matter what our
means and circumstances may be, we
cannot pay others to do what God re
Literatu.re Secular Editorials Current Notes and News.
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1870.
quires of us. Nothing can excuse us
in His sight; nothing but downright
incompetency, and to Him we stand or
fall. Aunt Edith.
Stockton Place.
For the Index ami Baptist.]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT—SUCCESS*
Dear Index— Through you, let me
say to all the brethren, sisters, pastors,
schools and churches, that have re
sponded new year’s appeal, that
I can not express to you my gratitude
for your kind and liberal responses.
We are co-ivorkers in a common Sa
viour's cause. Sweet relationship to
me, great privilege allowed us both.
God bless you all.
Why have so many not responded,
for whdm I looked for help ? Reader,
will you send me something yet, and
let me have your name on my centen
nial roll of names ? I earnestly ask
all who have not been receipted, but
who have sent me money, to write me
again. I do want every name that
sends me anything, and how I wish all
would.
My heart is rejoiced that my much
cherished desire to have a number of
the churches represented in our State
Convention this centennial year, is al
ready so much of a success. Sevoial
churches are already entitled to one or
more delegates. I will, in due time,
publish a list of all I know to be enti
tled, or who lack but little of it. Do,
brethren in Georgia, send me funds for
Home Missions. But whatever you
send funds for, I will report them to
and through the Convention, so the
churches can be represented on them.
W. N. Chaudoin,
District Secretary.
A REVIVAL.
During Christmas, and a few days
after, ten souls were added to the
church at Mt. Pisgah, eight by bap
tism and two by restoration. Three,
also, were baptized in the settlement
of Mt. Pisgah, and assisted in the con
stitution of Hopeful church last Sun
day. H. T. S.
Montgomery county, Ga., January 6,187 G.
SOm FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Old time has turned another page
Of eternity and truth ;
He reads with a warning voice to ago,
And whispers a lesson to youth.
A year has fled o’er heart and head
Since last the yule log burnt;
And wo have a task to closely ask,
What the bosom and brain have learnt.
Oh! let us hope that our sands have run
Witli wisdom’s precious grains ;
Oh ! may wo find that our hands have dono
Some work of glorious pains.
Then a welcome and a cheer to the merry new
year
While the holly gleams above us :
With a pardon for tiro foes who hate,
And a prayer for those who love us.
We may have seen some loved ones pass
To the land of hallowed rest;
Wo may miss the glow of an honest brow
And the warmth of a friendly breast;
But if we nursed them while on earth,
With hearts all true and kind,
Will their spirits blame the sinless mirth
Of those true hearts left behind ?
No, no, it were not well or wise
To mourn with endless pain ;
There’s a better world beyond the skies,
Where the good shall meet again.
Thon a welcome and cheer to the merry new
year
While the holly gleams above us:
With a pardon for the foes who hate,
And a prayer for those who lovo us.
Have our days rolled on serenely free
From sorrow’s dim alloy ?
Do we still possess the gifts that bless
And fill our souls with joy?
Are the croatures dear, still clinging near?
Do we hear loved voices come ?
Do we gaze on eyes whose glances shed
A halo round our home?
Oh. if we do. let thanks be 'poured
To Him, who hath spared and given,
And forget not o’er the festive board
The mercies held from Heaven.
Then a welcome and cheer te the happy new
year
While the holly gleams above us,
With a pardon for the foes who hate,
And a prayer for those Who love us.
—Eliza Cook.
(•OLD II IST.
best ground Untilled, soonest
runs into rank weeds. Such are God’s
children overgrown with security, ere
they are aware, unless they be well ex
ercised, both with God’s plow of afflic
tion, and their own industry in medita
tion.
—Peace does not dwell in outward
things, but within the soul. We may
preserve it in the midst of the bitter
est pain, if our will remain firm and
submissive. Peace in this life springs
from acquiescence even in disagreeable
things, not in an exemption from suf
fering.
—God’B highest gifts—talent, beauty,
feeling, imagination, power —they carry
with them the possibility of the high
est heaven and the lowest hell. Be
sure that it is by that which is highest
in you that you may be lost. It is the
awful warning, and not the excuse of
evil, that the light which leads astray
is light from heaven. The shallow
fishing boat glides safely over the reefs
where the noble bark strands; it is the
very might and majesty of her career
that bury the sharp rock deeper in her
bosom. There are thousands who are
not lost (like the respectable Pharisees)
because they had no impetuous im
pulses—no passion—no strong enthu
siasm, by the perversion of which they
could be lost.— F. W. Robertson.
For the Index and Baptist. |
ARE OCR METHODS OF COLLECTING FINDS
FOR BENEVOLENT PCRPOSES WRONG.
I.
Solomon tells us that “in a multitude of
counsellors there is safety.” This inspired
statement leads us to hope that we will soon
solve the difficult problem—How can we bes*
obtain funds for religious and benevolent en
terprises ? There has been no dearth of coun
sel on this BUI ject, and the objections to some
features in our present system of collecting
money have been forcibly presented. Every
true lover of Christ’s cause would, doubtless,
welcome any plan for securing benevolent
funds more scriptural and efficient than those
which now prevail; hut, before we repudiate
the methods now employed, we should careful
ly examine whether the objections urged
against them are well founded.
Now, it seems to be taken for granted by
many that one plan of collecting religious
funds has been prescribed, for all churches
alike, in the New Testament. It is assumed
that the direction on this subject given by Paul
to the churches of Gallatin and Corinth, is of
universal obligation. If this assumption be
correct, then the members of every Christian
church must, “on the first day of the week, lay
by in store, as God has prospered them.” To
a large number of Christians engaged in cer
tain occupations this weekly calculation ot
profit and loss would he impossible. Through
a majority of the weeks in the year obedience
to this command would he impracticable in
their cases. Now, the teachings of the Bible
are infinitely wise. They are adapted to the
conditions of men in all the circumstances of
human life, and wherever they are universally
applicable to Christians they are universally
practicable. What is the method of collecting
money for religious objects prescribed by the
New Testament ? It would be difficult to find
any one rule, on this subject, binding all
churches. The church at Jerusalem received
into its funds the entire property of all its
members. There may arise circumstances,
again, when this would be the best plan
that our churches could adopt to promote the
cause of Christ. The members of the church
at Corinth were directed to lay by in store, on
the first day of the week, as God had prospered
them. This church and the church at Galla
tin, so far as we can ascertain, were, at this time,
enjoying temporal prosperity; at least, they
were free from persecution. As they were lo
cated in towns or cities, where each Christian
could pursue his avocation unmolested, and re
ceive his daily wages; it would be impossible
to conceive of a wiser or more con
venient plan than that enjoined by Paul. All
churches under similar circumstances should
act as they were directed to do. But what sys.
tem of collections were given to the poor and
persecuted churches of Macedonia ? Certainly
not that prescribed to the Corintheans. For if
the Macedonia churches had given as God
prospered them, they would have given noth
ing. But, in their deep poverty their liherali
ty abounded, and they gave beyond their pow
er. We know not what plan they pursued, as
it is' unrevealed by the spirit of God. In some
way or other, without any instructions, they
succeeded in raising a large amount of money,
which they beseech Paul “with much entreaty
that he would receive.” There is no one rule,
the n, concerning church collections, which is
of unversal application. In many instances
the method of raising funds in our churches
must be left to the judgment of the members-
But the inquiry may be made, is not this
work oi the church taken out of itß hands
when an agent, after an exciting harangue, or
an urgent appeal, requests a contribution for
the cause which he represents? If the agent
not only makes the harangue, but the contri
bution, too, he certainly would be doing the
work of the church ; or if he forced the Chris’
tians whom he addressed to contribute against
their wills, he would be equally disorderly.
Bat neither of these courses are usually adop
ted. The plans pursued by our religious
agents seem to have the sanction of God’s
Word. Paul, when collecting funds for the
poor in Jerusalem, will be allowed to have
been a model agent. In the prosecution of
his work and under the inspiration of the
Spirit, he writes to the churches the most
stirring appeals. He lays Heaven and earth
under tribute to furnish him with arguments
and motives. The generosity of Jesus Christ,
the generosity of needy Christians, God’s bles
sing upon the generous giver, the scanty har
vest of the scanty sower, the affections of His
converts for Himself —these, and other motives
too numerous to mention, he employs to en
large the hearts of those to whom he appeals.
One of these epistles, read, for the first time, be
fore a church, would have done more to ex
cite and arouse them than a speech upon the
same subject made by Paul. For, even if the
sneer of his enemies that “his letters were pow
erful but his speech contemptible” was untruei
still, an epistle written under the direct inspi
ration of God’s spirit, and heard, for the first
time, by a church to which it was directed,
would have an advantage over any uninspired
address. It would seem to us that such a let
ter, with its breathing thoughts and burning
words, would have been enough. But, as bear
ers of this letter, Paul selects his ablest com
panions, who should go before him to take up
a collection “to make up their bounty and fin
ish the work begun.” If all these means, how
ever, should (ail to secure the desired amount,
he clearly implies that, when he comes, he will
be put to the painful necessity of having “gath
erings.” Why, newspaper articles and pam
phlets would be like pop-guns discharged at
such a persevering collector as this. Nothing
but a folio would be equal to the emergen
cy. Compared with Paul, our agents are men
of great moderation.
Other thoughts upon this subject are reserv
ed for the next issue of the paper.
* j m
For the Index and Baptist.]
CHURCH CHOIRS.
We have always had a reverence for choirs
amounting to awe. We have admired them
at a distance, and when we have ventured to
criticise them, it has been out of their hearing,
and among a circle of confidential friends.
We have acted thus, in deference to the pecu
liar.temperament of musicians. We know that
they belong to a race akin to that of the poet
—genua irriluhile vatum —a race brimful of sen
sibility and sensitiveness. But as we sit to-day
in the quiet of our study, there is coming back
to mind the rememberance of Sabbath days
and Sabbath services made beautiful by sacred
song—days and services in which cares and
burdens have rolled away as we listened to the
simple, touching melodies of the sanctuary.
In our present mood, we are irresistahly drawn
to our choirs, and could not possibly speak or
write, with interest, about anything else.
Now, church music justly holds a prominent
place in Divine worship. Devout emotion
seeks an expression in poetry and song. From
the earliest times these have been the channels
through which religious feeling has flowed.
When, on the shores of the Red sea, the Isreal
ltes were rescued from the power of Egypt,
the voice of a people’s gratitude burst forth in
Myriam’s grand hymn. When Balaam stood
upon Mt. Peor, and overlooked the hosts of
Israel, protected and guided by the mighty
God of Jacob, the sublimity of the scene so
elevated the emotions of this singular man
that he became for the time an inspired poet,
and gave utterance to a song of praise almost
unrivalled in its beauty. And so it has ever
been; the religious feelings, when aroused,
have always sought an outlet in poetry and
music. A church choir, then, occupies a very
responsible position. It is the leader of that
porition of the services which are most purely
devotional.
As the leaders of devotional worship, it
would, of course, be expected that they should
be free from lightness and irreverence in the
house of God. In the congregation which
they serve, God only knows how many anx
ious, troubled hearts are beating beneath the
finery that gives a gay appearance to the Sab
bath assembly. Men and women are there,
who are not what tlxey seem to the casual ob
server. Some of them are weary of the world’s
cares ; some depressed by religious fears; some
secretly struggling against a consciousness of
sin ; some, with the first dawnings of Christian
hope, and some yearning to reach a higher,
purer, holier life on earth. To some of these
no department of church worship may be so
well adapted as that conducted by the choir.
Indeed, there are many craeless hearers,
whose love of music them moi’e open to
serious impression through this medium than
any other. But, how would the spiritual in
fluence of a choir be weakened, if it presented
the appearance of levity and religious uncon
cern ? What preparation for good could be
made upon one who sees that the leaders of
church devotion are a small, chirruping com
pany of people, carefully examining the dresses
of the congregation, and watching, with laugh
ing comments, each new-comer into the church.
The work of the choir is serious, and a want of
serious deportment in its members give to it a
seeming unfitness for the place, and cripples
its power.
But more than this. As leaders of the de
votional service, the members of a choir should
cultivate a devotional spirit. There is as much
difference between hymns sung with unction
and without it, as there is between sermons
preached with or without the conscious influ
e nee of the Divine Spirit. It is true, that one
possessing a melodious voice, and a musical
ear, might inspire others with devotional feel
ings, to which the performer is a stranger.
But, generally, we affect others as we our
selves are affected. A singer whose heart is
touched by the sentiments of a song, will con
vey those sentiments touchingly to the hearts
of the hearers; and, usually, the musician,
who sings without an interest in the thoughts
which he utters, may please by his skill, but
will scarcely awaken any deep and thoughtful
emotion. What a power are some of our sim
plest hymns, when sung by Sankey, and
others we could name. Why ? It will be ad
mitted that these men possess voices of great
sweetness and compass. But that is not the
secret of their power. In our churches there
are other Christians gifted with musical talents
and melodious voices not inferior to theirs ;
but, their spirit of earnest devotion, how many
possess that ? If this spirit was more general
among our church musicians, sweet singers of
Zion would not be so rare. It the members
of our choirs entered upon their work with
devoutness of feeling; if they sung the beauti
ful songs of the sanctuary with melody in
their hearts to the Lord, other hearts would
catch the inspiring warmth, tongues long silent
would unite with them in joyouß praise, and
our Sabbath aesemblies.would often recall that
scene of temple service, when “it came to pass
as the trumpeters and singers were at one, to
make one sound to be heard in praising and
S3 A YEAH IN ADVANCE.
thanking the Lord, (he house was filled with a
cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the
House of God.”
SILENT MUSIC.
I.
Standing to-day by the great church organ,
I thought, how strange, if a thing so grand
Should be forever and ever silent,
Waiting the touch of a master hand ;
Never a sound could the strong lungs utter,
Never an echo of melodies,
Unless the fingers of some musician
Should fall on the snowy keys.
n.
And I thought of the hearts so like the organ’s*
Hoarts that are aching with silent pain,
Because their strings are burdened with music,
And they cannot utter a single strain ;
Ami the world looks on and never guesses
sounds that would bo sweet and grand..
If the master keys could only answer
,*.lO the touch of a master hand.
m.
are sweet aH the angel’s paeans.
Notes as glad as the thrushes sing.
"PL hid m those silent hearts forever
Waiting the master’s fingering.
Stern-faced men and sad-eyed women
Silently walk through this veil of doubt,
W muHi h ° artS BXO brimmin S with Heaven’s
But no hand brings it out.
—Ella Wheeler.
DEATH OF MRS. C. W. UIBN’ER.
Mrs. C. W. Hubner, wife of Charles W.
Hubner, Esq., expired on the 28th inst., at
9:30 A.M., after three months of suffering, in
which she was sustained by her Christian vir
tues, Du: ing her period of affliction she was
not known to utter a word of complaining, but
with faith growing brighter and her love of
God strengthening, she patiently leaned upon
that Saviour who has assured His people that
His grace shall be sufficient for them in every
hour. Conscious almost to the last moment, a
calm resignation pervaded her spirit: Love
had banished all fear of death. She left the
world with “ a peace that passetli all knowl
edge,” and was received into the arms of Jesus.
Her many virtues as wife, mother and friend,
will be cherished by those who now mourn
her departure. She leaves a fond, devoted and
true husband, and three little children, the
oldest a bright boy of eight years, who even
now illustrates the character of his noble
mother; the second an interesting daughter
four years of age ; and the third an infant.
To the grief-stricken father—our friend—wo
extend sur warmest sympathy. We are sad
with him, but, while offering this condolence,
remind him that a few fleeting years will re
store, forever, the happy union which death has
severed.
There is no influence so vital and strong in
turning the thoughts, affections and hopes of
mortals to the final rest of the soul, as the death
of friends; and nothing which tends so much
to impart a realizing and enduring faith in the
theory of the soul’s immortality. •
“ Where the treasure is, there will the heart
be also,” is as true of the treasures that have
“passed over the river,” as of those still linger
ing with us here. Indeed, most persons who
have arrived at the years of maturity may
count more loved ones who have joined the
eternal host, than are mingling in the busy,
restless throngs of this world. These departed
friends were dear while in life, and are more
sacredly cherished since they have been taken
from us. They are treasures beyond the influ
ence of time; undying treasures; holy, pure
treasures; and possess the power to draw our
heads after them, and away from the things of
this world. Not only do the affections follow
these dear ones, but we contemplate a reunion
with delightful hope.
It is impossible for us to consign these de
parted friends to non-existence. We cannot
consent that death terminates their being. For
them we claim immortality, and if they have
been redeemed, an immortality of unutterable
bliss. This theory, therofore, seems to be in
herent in the soul, obtaining illumination and
confirmation in the light of God’s revelation
to man.
As one after another of those most beloved
by us die, link after link is severed from the
chain that binds our hearts to earth and is
added to the chain that joins them to their
treasures in Heaven. Thus our love of this
world grows less, and our longings for the
spirit land mo re intense ; thus it is that the
terrors of death abate, as it is presented injthe
light of a process which will reunite us with
the dear ones who have preceded us to the
realm of perfect joy.
Considering the shortness of mortal life and
the eternal duration of the soul, the period of
this existence is but the twinkling of the eye.
Though we often cling closely to this life and
engage in bitter contests for its possessions and
enjoyments—it is only a brief period of pupilage
—preliminary to the endless existence that lies
beyond time’s narrow borders. He is by far the
most wise who employs it to promote the happi
ness of his eternal state; who leans, by faith, on
the Saviour of mankind while making earth’s
pilgrimage; who by obeying the law of the Gos
pel, awaits, with hope, the glory of final re
demption. J. P. H.
THE SIGHT OF ANGELS.
The angels come, the angels go,
. Through open doors of purer air ;
Their moving presence oftentimes wo know,
They meet us everywhere.
Sometimes we see them; 10, at night,
Our eyes were shut but open’d seem ;
The darkness breathes a breath of wondrous
light,
And then it was a dream !
The King of Burmah has asked for more
Christian teachers.