Newspaper Page Text
2
(Dnr Cflrrapmrknts.
For the Index and Baptitt,]
LOTT KR FROM SOFT!! CAROLINA.
The Index—Ser. Dr. Lln, of Montßomerj—i
Season of R*ylvl—Rev. L. H. Shuck, I).l).
Charleston, April 22,1876.
Messrs. Editors —The last number
of The Index came duly to band, and,
as usual, comes freighted with good
things. If there is any difference, it
contains more than its usual number of
interesting items of intelligence and
good news than any recent number
I have seen.
I was especially pleased to learn that
there is some prospect of the Eev. Dr.
Gwin accepting the call to the pastorate
of the First Baptist church of Atlanta.
It has been rny good fortune, while ris
king Montgomery and spending the
Sabbath there, to meet with him and
hear him preach, and need not say I
was delighted with him, and I trust,
was profited by his excellent sermons.
If the Atlanta church should be so
fortunate as to secure his services, they
will be blessed indeed, and 1 know of
no one minister who would be more
likely to advance the good cause in your
city than Dr. Gwin.
Our church and community generally
have enjoyed a season of refreshing
from the presence of the Holy Sp-rit
in our midst, and quite a large num
ber have been converted and added to
the several churches. The meetings
were held under the auspices of the
Young Men’s Christian Association,
and were participated in by churches
of the different denominations. Among
others, it was my great happiness to
welcome into the fellowship of the First
Baptist church, my youngest son, thir
teen years of age, making six of our
number whose names, wo trust., aro
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Our dear pastor, tho Rev. L. H.
Shuck, D.D., is still laboring with us
in word and doctrine, a faithful watch
man on the walls of Zion, and we trust
he will continue to see the work of the
Lord abundantly to prosper in his
hands. S. H.
►
For tho Index and Biiptim.j
DRY ROT IN TIIK fIIIRCII
NO. 111.
Whenenever a church of Christ de
parts from its original purpose or de
sign, so far as to become permeated
with the idea that Ihe organiza
tion is the property of its members, to
be molded and manipulated at will, and
exists for their personal pleasure or
advantage, the canker which destroys
its life has begun its work. When
self is exalted in the place of Christ,
all those evils which have their roots
in selfishness aro apt to prevail. There
aro divisions, sets or cliques, each seek
ing its own —each aiming at supitfti
aey. The rich against tho poor, the
cultivated against tho unlearned, fami
lies connected by kinship (near or re
mote) against other familes similarly
allied, and Btranges! of all, those who
are to the region born assuming supe
riority over those who have come in as
strangers, oven though years of citi
zenship may have elapsed since their
advent. All these absurd pretensions,
which iu worldly society are deemed
lit themes for ridicule, spring up like
poisonous weeds in the church, and
like weeds seem to thrive and grow,
bearing fruit after their kind.
In the political world, corrupt as it
has becogie, a very expressive name
has been adopted to describe those
cliques which are held together by the
cohesive power of self-interest, and so
fearful have been the demonstrations
of their power for mischief, that the
very name has become a term of op
probrium. But the church,'also, may
have its ring or rings. In fact, there
are proably few churches which have
them not. Is a mattei of doubtful ex
pediency suggested ? It is not openly
proposed and discussed, but quietly
talked over in caucus by the ring.
Some set to work secretly to gain over
one and another, until sufficient
strength is thought to be secured to
make it safe, and when that is done, it
is brought up in church meeting on tho
first favorable occasion, and pushed
through according to programme. So
far as the church as a body is con
cerned, the matter is decided before it is
proposed. Woe be to the unfortunate
against whom the power of the ring is
brought to bear. It were better that
a mill stone were hanged about bis
neck and that be were cast into the
sea. Does a ease occur which calls for
the exercise of discipline—discipline
is paralyzed. Tho questiou is not has
a sin been committed which brings re
proach upon Christ’s church, but is
the party accused a member of the
ring, or of one of the rings ; can the
case be inquired into without displeas
ing other parties, and rousing up a
band of defenders resolved to contest
tho matter without regard to right;
determined that no reproach shall at
tach to any one of their set ? On the
other hand, is the party transgressing
one of the power, or obscure members ?
The church is equally powerless. Ev
ery one has his friends, and a precedent
has been established—cases of notori
ous delinquency have been ignored, and
to borrow a rather coarse by-word—
you can’t make fish of one and flesh of
another. So it is tacitly agreed that
the church shall be conveniently blind
and deaf, and the world looks on sneer
iugly and says, “If that isyourChristi
THR CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
anity, I don’t want any of it.” The
nation, the State, or the church
which falls hopelessly under the con
trol of rings, has passed the zenith of
its power, and ere long will have cause
to mourn its departed glory.
To any and every church which has
fallen into such a condition, there is a
plain road pointed out by which to
return. To recognize a departure from
its first love, is the first step, and then
to recognize Christ as its only head—
its only Master. What He commands,
there is happily no difficulty in ascer
taining—to the law and to the testi
timony. When Christ is recognized as
supreme, the church as founded on Him
and existing for Him alone, that His
kingdom may come —His glory cover
the earth —all that stands in opposi
tion will shribk abashed and hide in
obscurity. So shall unity and concert
prevail, and the church under its hon
ored King, shall go forth conquering
and to conquer. L.
For tbe Index and Baptist. |
More Uodly Zeal needed Among the Baptists
on the Coast.
Dear Brethren The churches
and their auxhiliaries are needing the
prayers, as well as other assistance, of
our good brethren everywhere.
We are far behind with our Sab
bath-school interests and plans. Sa
vannah, with its population known to
the readers of The Index, has but one
Baptist church, and membership only
about five hundred, where it does
seam, in all reasonable calculation, we
ought to have two or three successful,
active churches, with as many working
stations, well established, and making
marks for Jesus.
Our lay members ought proudly to
work for the cause of Him who bled
upon the rugged wood, to redeem
them from under the cursing power of
sin and death.
Iq the country, where the churches
only have monthly preaching, and the
houses erected for God’s worship are
closed up three-fourths of the year,
often without a Sabbath-school, and
nothing to draw the members togeth
er from tho time of one monthly meet
ing to the next.
Think of this sad state of things,
and of tho poor missionaries here, who
are trying to establish working church
es among such a fitful people, who will
not keep up a Sabbath-school, nor
prayer-meeting, hut a few Sabbaths,
and then let it die for the want of a
godly zeal and interest.
Then, again, they use so many cun
ning objections to taking The Chris
tian Index. They say they live too
l’ar from the post-office, and the mails
aro too uncertain, yet their private let
ters aro often sent without registering,
or any special restriction upon the
post-master. Wo cannot prevail with
them to take “ Kind Words," because
they have no Sabbath-school, hence no
use for the paper. * N
Many say they prefer the 'Bible to
any other religious literature,.and have
no time to read any other. They lo
not seem to understand that there is
any recreation iu reading a good reli
gious newspaper. Some take this sort
of stand who, iu point of intelligence,
rank fair.
In my way of thinking about it,
these brethren do us much harm.
So you see, upon the whole, we
coast. Baptists need much nursing, to
raise us to men and women.
More at another time. Yours in
Christ, L. Price.
For the Index and Baptist 1
LFITF.It FROII TEXAS.
I’enii, tlie Evangelist’s Work.
Major Win. E. Penn, for over twenty
yours a lawyer, and a deacon of the
Baptist church at Jefferson, who began
about the time of the last Southern
Baptist Convention, to plead publicly
with sinners to become reconciled to
God, has been holding meetings of
wonderful results in several towns above
here and just closed one of revolution
izing character at this place. After a
pressing invitation, (the church had
been holdin'g tri-weekly prayer-meet
ings in reference to his coming, for
about three months, till hope deferred
was making the heart sick,) but in His
own good time, the Lord permitted
him to come, and no child six years old
in this city, can ever forget this great
meeting! Our beloved and honored
brother, does not feel impressed for
ordination, nor does he profess to be a
preacher, but the seals of his ministry
are striking and overwhelming This
“ way ol the Lord,” though regarded
irregular, may tend to waking up un
faithful laborers in the Lord’s vineyard,
and to impress us all with the solemn
fact that “ the end of all things is at
hand,” and in view of the great work
yet to be done, the certainty of God’s
promise to His Son, and the present
plenteousness of the harvest, no laborer
mav longer stand “ all the day idle.”
Brother Penn labors most ardently
and probes to the core, leaving only “ a
refuge of lies” to every theory except
“ heart religion.” To him forms and
ceremonies not divinely authorized, are
“ solemn mockery,” and to be in the
church without the new birth, the
near relation to the unpardonable sin.
The whole number of conversions is
some 130, and the church has deter
mined, if God will, to secure a Scrip
tural pastor. Would that every church
could be caused to ponder this impor
tant Scriptural requirement. Brother
Penn is being now largely blessed in
Anderson, the county site of this
county, ten miles from here.
D. E. P.
For the Index and Baptist.
TBE HOLT SCRIPTURES.
Dear Index —Thereis a positive in
junction laid upon us all in the rou
tine, the duties of life, given by the
Divine command, “ Search the Scrip
tures ; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life : and they are they which
testify of Me.”—John jv : 39. “Walk
in the light of life,” whilst ye have the
light, says Christ—lest darkness come
upon thee,” is the silent voice. It may
be said, that the subject is old, trite,
common.
True, but not yet exhausted, npr will
it ever be. A man may live in a house
without being an architect; so may we
perpetually talk or write about the
Bible, withoutjunderstanding, to the
full extent, any one of the wonders of
its construction, the sepret sources of
its power and beauty. Though cen
turies after centuries have past, the
most gifted intellects have been en
gaged in this worthiest of study
and investigation, and still the true
value of this blessed vblume remains
untold.
Yes, this Book, with Which the care
less infant plays, in whitjh bright child
hood cons its task, and tbe dim eye of
age meets a cheering ligLfc; this Book,
by which the learned become more
wise, and withered hearts find hope;
this Book, whose glorious author is
God himself—the subject, God and
man —the end, salvation .and eternal
life; this Book, fully to" comprehend
and appreciate, in all its breadth, and
length, .and depth, and height, has
never been vouchsaved (to any human
mind, and even the atigfelic mind “de
sired to look into”—l Peter i: 12.
And yet, every serious reader, the
earnest inquirer after truth, however
humble and poor the attainment of in
tellectual culture, may contribute some
thing, if but a mite, to tho common
treasury of thought, or practice the
Gospel’s wholesome rules in living
characters, by precept and example,
and thus, to some extent; help forward
tho grand approximation towards the
glorious Gospel truths. The rays of
light, emanating from tie Holy Scrip
tures to enlighten, cheer, and vivify
tho world, are more numerous, if possi
ble, than all the glittering stars in the
spacious firmament.
The mirror of God’s Word, under
the deep searchings of the heart shines
more bright and clear than the noon
day sun in its splendor. The Saviour
of mankind taught His disciples many
useful and wonderful lessons by para
bles and illustrations, and He plainly
teaches us that men and women are re
warded according to the improvements
they make. To bring to thtußdßjumma
tion of Divine power bef^ST the disci
ples, Peter, JamesjyeldP.hr-, “Jesus
bringeth them up mfo vfthglT moun
tain apart, and was transfigured before
them; and His face did shine as the
sun, and His raiment was white as the
light.” Moses and Elias descended
from Heaven, appeared and talked with
Him. Amazing wonder ! Moses and
Elias stood again among the scenes of
their earthly pilgrimage, in companion
ship, enwrapped in a mantle too bright
for mortal eyes to gaze upon. They
held converse with the Son of God on
the mount of transfiguration, and were
once more carried up in a cloud to
Heaven. Thus was recorded the most
convincing proof that the soul of man
exists in another world, and that the
body of man, without death, is capable
of a change which fits it for a higher
state. Such a change, an apostle as
sures us, shall come over all who are
alive on earth at the coming of Christ,
“in a moment, in the twiukling of an
eye, at the last trumpet.”
These grand truths are recorded to
encourage the Christiau’s faith in the
arduous works of perseverance in heart
culture, to be always alive unto God.
Both layman and minister, male and
female, are to hold up the beacon
“Light" over the errors of a lost world,
ruined by sin and strife. The Gospel
light imparts life and vitality to. the
dead, lifeless soul. The dead soul is
resurrected from death to a warm life
by the power of the Gospel and placed
into new progressive life.
There is a power in a living Chris
tianity which you know can sustain
and beautify the soul with the prayer
of faith, perfecting holiness. Religion
is a reality. Life is a reality, it
concerns every mortal man, the old and
the young, the learned and the un
learned, to strive to be religious.
Striving is the appointed way to
Heaven ; to enter the gates of life —
Luke xiii: 24. The sovereign wisdom
of God, made striving necessary to
salvation. Who knows the way to
Heaven better than the God of Heaven ?
When men tell us we are too strict,
whom do they accuse, God or us ? If
it were a fault, it would be in Him that
commands, aud not in us who obey.
The expectation of death and the ca
lamities of life, should warn us to re
deem our time, seize present opportu
nities for usefulness, and work while it
is called to-day. Search, then, the
Holy Scriptures daily with the prayer
of faith to heart culture, for thou hast
no security but in Christ, and in the
grace which He can sustain and make
sufficient for thee. Reader, strive to
be like your Lo.d. F. C. A.
Washington, Georgia.
—Nothing can be love to God which
does not shape itself into obedience.
For tht Index and Baptist.J
EXIT OF TBE ISRAELITES FROM F6TFT.
Darkness, like a mantle, has fallen
upon the fair domains of mi any Egvpt,
the glorious “gift of the Nile.” ’Tis
midnight hour, hushed and solemn;
nothing disturbs the brooding silence
save the whispering of soft zephyrs, as
they float amid the beautiful palm
groves, or, perchance, the murmured
devotions of some idolatrous worshipper
at the shrine of Osiris. Pharoah, in
regal magnificence, reclining upon his
couch, wearied with the last banquet,
and rejoicing iu the luxuriance with
which he is surrounded, dreams not
that the hand of an avenging God is
raised against him ; but. the hardened
ruler will not long revel in the splendor
achieved through the arduous labors of
an insulted and downtrodden people.
Hark ! what means that sound, that
distressing cry? ’Tis the voice of an
Egyptian mother weeping for her first
born. The lament has pierced the
palace walls, and lo! the fell destroyer,
who is no respecter of persons, has en
tered there also, and stamped his signet
upon the brow of the first born of wick
ed, God-defying Pharoah. But the
sound of mourning ceases not, for in
every house of the Egyptians there was
*ne dead; and while it was yet night,
the faithful servants of God were sum
moned to appear before Pharoah, and
then was their prayer granted, for the
people were sore afraid, and besought
them to get out from their land.
How joyously then do the persecu
ted Israelites begin their march ; free
at last, how gladly do they follow Him
whom they recognize as thtjir laader ;
onward they go over the long, weary
way, but they think not of the trials of
the day, when the cool shades of even
ing fall around them, and we can al
most hear the glad notes of thankful
ness swelled by the freed thousands, as
at each evening hour they realize that
they are one day nearer the promised
goal—the land flowing with milk and
honey.
But the happy Israelites do not cease
their march at nightfall, because of
darkness, for the glorious shekinah
rests over them, guiding them by its
Divine light over whatever may impede
their progress, and when again the
morning light appears, the shekinah is
still there, and the bright, shadowy
cloud is but an angel who bears to
Heaven the prayers of the redeemed
hoast.s. Onward, still onward they go
rejoicing, and laden with the jewels of
gold and silver borrowed of their Egyp
tian bond-masters; at last they are told
by the Lord, through Moses, to encamp
between Migdol and the sea; now they
murmur against their faithful leader,
because they are shut, in by a barren
wilderness ; but listen, what sound is
that mingled with the roar of the wildly
tossing pillows of the sea# The hoars#
murmuring is heard more distinctly,
and, wafted by the soft winds to the
ears of the wondering Israelites, came
tho notes of triumphant martial music ;
the unfurled banners are borne aloft,
upon which is seen the Egyptian in
signia. Consternation seizes upon the
hearts of the fugitives, and they turn
their anxious eyes to the face of Is
rael’s chief, who bids them, in an as
suring voice, “Fear ye not, stand still
and see the salvation of God !”
•Still they come, those mighty hosts
whose shouts of anticipated victory
strike new terror to the hearts of tho
trembling, footsore travelers. Moses,
by the Divine command, stretches forth
his rod over the waste of waters, the
rolling, surging waves flow back, the
order, “forward” is given, and into the
midst of the sea the troubled hosts are
moving, while on either side is a wall
of crystal brightness. The beams of
the shekinah still guides them, but it
is as the frown of au angry God to the
pursuing Egyptians. Safe at last on
the other shore, Moses again stretches
forth his baud, the waters flow back,
and amid the mighty roaring is heard
the death-struggle of defiant Pharoah,
and his horsemen.
Ere we quit the scene another sound
is heard, and we see a lovely Hebrew
woman and her maidens, striking upon
sweet sounding timbrels a song of glad
ness,[and upon Elysian breezes is borne
to Israel’s God the sweet refrain,
“ Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath'
triumphed gloriously ; the horse and
his rider hath He thrown into the
sea!” Ida Lou Murphy.
Cusseta, April 24,1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
THE IMPOSTER “REV.” SAMI EL ANNEAR.
Cincinnati, April 26, 1876.
Publishers Index —l wish to call
your attention to the inclosed cutting
from the Journal and Messenger of this
city, date March 29th, 1876. The party
referred to I hear is now in Selma, Ala.,
and I have sent notite to the papers of
that vicinity for publication, but it
would probably be well for vou, as pub
lishers of a denominational paper, and
be of more effect, to give him a notice
in The Index.
This S. Auuear is a lustful, licentious
brute. I have letters from prominent
ministers and others of our denomina
tion in California, Nevada, Wyoming
Territory, giving accounts of the most
outrageous conduct on his part. He
has only escaped tar and feathers in
some places out there, and perhaps
worse, by sudden departure. He has
letters of commendation from parties
here, but they were obtained under a
false character, and people should be
cautioned against them. Please warn
your Soul hern churches and the com
muaity generally against him.
Respectfully yours,
Joseph Green,
Clerk Walnut Hill Baptißt church.
The Walnut Hills Church have expelled
from membership “Rev.” Samuel Annear.
Tbe church, after a careful investigation, are
satisfied that he has been guilty of flagrantly
immoral conduct since leaving this city, in
various places in Wyoming Teritory, Nevada
and California. They have also discovered
that he of similar conduct while re
siding here, although he succeeded iu conceal
ing it at the time. The church, although in
formed of his course sotpe time ago, delayed
taking the final action of expulsion in order te
give him an opportunity, if so disposed, of
answering the advertisements which were in
serted in the principal denominational papers
of tbe country during a period of three or
four months. No notice, however, having been
taken by him of these advertisements, the
church at the last business meeting unanimous
ly voted to expel him from their membership
and to warn sister churches and the community
generally against him as an imposter. He
usually calls himself a Baptist minister, but
in places where there is no Baptist church he
has been known to pass himself as a Metho
dist. He has lately been ifl Kansas and Ne
braska, but was last heard from in Texas.
Denominational papers, especially those
with Western circulation, and the press gen
erally, are requested to copy this notice and
caution the community against hint.
By order and on behalf of the Walnut
Hills Baptist church.
Joseph Green,
Clerk.
For the Index and Baptist. 1
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
The Index —Its Correspondents—Reminiscen
ces—Pen, the Kevivalist—The Outlook.
Dear Index —Your renewed visits
are intensely acceptable, and your labor
more highly appreciated than I can
express by -words or work. The names
of many of your loved and honored
correspondents excite most delightful
reminiscences, and the improved and
valuable paper is “a feast of fat
things” to an old and infirm friend.
May your shadow never grow less, and
Georgians never forget your ardentand
successful toils for our benefit and the
glory of God. I see with joyous grat
itude that the trenchant pen of brother
Baker still moves. What a monument
of humble greatness ! “The dead line”
applies not to him ; wish I could know
that Georgia Baptists, in particular,
acted towards him accordingly. With
what grateful hearts and liberal hands
should such gifts of God be ever
cherished by His dear children. And
there is dear, cheerful, loving, working
brother “Shotdown,” who laughs as
he writes. Brothers Hornady, Wood,
Warren, and others whom I learned to
love long years ago, when things were
better with me than now.
It is refreshing, renovating, encour
aging to be thus reminded of the life
and times of such brethren, and makes
a worn downand wornout servant of
the glorious and precious Jesus desire
to labor more. ,
Rev. Robert Flemming, of loved and
honored memory, with his small re
maing family is here in green old age.
He sold out in Georgia a year or so,
since, and now lives in this town with a
wealthy son-in-law. His numerous
friends will be pleased to know he is
cheerful and happy, with his noble
heart and mind absorbed by the love
of Jesus. But I must curb my feel
ings.
The great interest in this section is
the wonderful work of God through
His servant, Deacon Wm. E. Penn, of
Jefferson, about which and whom I in
formed you by a recent article. After
seven weeks of earnest and incessant
labor here, resulting in 130 pro
fessions and renewals, about half join
ing the Baptists. He spent three weeks
at Anderson, ten miles off, where 114
conversions were reported, and over 100
serious inquirers at the last meeting.
Then an important matter compelled
him to go home, but for a short time,
for he is closing up his legal profession,
and yielded himself wholly and solely
to the direction of the Master and im
pressions of the Holy Spirit, having
another appointment to meet in a few
days and pressing invitations from va
rious other Baptist churches. The
country for miles around the places he
has been at have caught-the holy fire,
and the prospect is good for wide-spread
showers of Divine grace.
The sectilar outlook is not so hope
ful. Seasons have been unpropitious
to the farming interest, and that being
the great basis business is generally
dull, and hard times increasing.
D. P. E.
Navasota. Texas, April 20. 1876.
English language and literature
seem to be exercising a marked influ
ence on the intellectual growth of Ice
land, at present. Not only is English
studied more than auv other language
by the people generally, if we except
the classical languages and Danish,
but the best of our authors, as Shake
speare and Byron, are the ones most
frequently read.
Ten fellowships, or graduate scholar
ships, have been offered by the trus
tees of the John Hopkins University,
just founded at Baltimore, to any
young man who may care to compete
for them. They are to be awarded for
excellence in the following subjects :
Philosophy, Literature, History, Ethics,
Metaphysics, Political Science, Mathe
matics, Engineering, Physics, Chemis
try and Natural Science. Thd value
of the fellowships will be SSOO each,
payable in three sums.
The receipt of the American Board
of Missions is less, by SB,OOO per i
month, than they were last year. I
fDfemita.
Rev. J. H. Chandler, for thirty
years a missionary in Siam, will repre
sent that country at the Centennial:
The Missionary Herald discusses the
policy of bringing missionary students
from China, India and Turkey, to this
country, to educate them for useful
ness at home.
The National Baptist says : “ One
of the most interesting points regard
ing the schools for colored preachers
and teachers, our Home Mission So
ciety is carrying on in the Southern
States, is the bearing those schools
must have on the evangelization of
Africa. The African tribes can be
reached by none so well as by men of?
their own color. The white preacher j
mast always be regarded as a foreigner]
among them—a man standing apart!
from the mass of the people ; but the i
colored man, though born in another
laud, cam identify himself with the
people. Again, being ot native African
ancestry, the colored man may be ex
pected to stand the African climate
better than the white missionary.
And now, in more than half a dozen
cities of the South, our Home Mission
Society has schools which will train up
a set of colored preachers, who may do
this missionary work. To send out, as a
missionary, the ordinary, ignorant negro
preacher of the South, would of course,
beau unwise proceeding. But from
these schools will go forth young col
ored men of trained minds—men who
can grapple with the languages of
strange peoples—young men who, hav
ing learned their languages, can ex
plain to them the things of the King
dom of God. Many of the voung men
educated in these schools for colored
preachers, will feel their hearts moved
with missionary zeal, on behalf of the
laud of their forefathers, and wjll re
turn to Africa to preach to them the
Kingdom of God.
One young man from the Richmond
Institute has already gone to Africa
as a missionary. Several others are
preparing to follow him. There can be
no doubt that there will go forth from
these Home Mission schools, a steady
tide of missionary work for Africa.
Our Home Mission work, therefore,
has a direct bearing on our Foreign
Mission work. Let every man who de
sires to see Africa evangelized, contri
bute to aid the Home Mission Society,
to train up, in its Southern schools, a
body of colored preachers who shall
do this missionary work.
Ikicnct i (Situation.
An “Elementary Astronomy,” and
an “Elementary Physical Geography.”
by Richard A. Proctor, are soon to be
issued.
* * "" ■ •
$5,650,000 have been appropriated
for educational purposes, in the last
ten years, in Virginia. In the same
time, sums to the amount of $3,400,.
000 have been promised, and in part or
wholly feiven, to colleges and profes
sional schools.
M. Jolly lately read a notable pa
per to the Paris Academy of Sciences—
“ The Will Considered as a Moral
Power and a Therapeutic Means.”
Speaking of the power of the will in
preventing attacks of cough, M. Jolly
said that it is possible to struggle
quite successfully against fits of
coughing—a fact not only as the re
sult of the power of the will, but as a
remedy which, in many cases, cannot
be without importance. It is often
seen that when children suffering from
whooping-cough, are thoroughly pre
occupied with their play, they remain
for hours without feeling the necessi
ty of coughing, whilst they have con
stant paroxysms, when in a state of
repose, or are incessantlp awakened
out of their sleep by the same cause ;
and M. Jolly states that he has not
been surprised to learn that English
medical men have been able to cure
whooping-cough, by distracting the at
tention, and, in some cases, by placing
the patients near the noise of manu
factorios.
Asthma, properly so called, has,
likewise, undergone the salutary influ
ence of a wisely-applied will, whether
in surmounting, by forced respiration,
the spasm of the brouchial tubes,
which have become inaccessible to the
air, or by diverting, by preoccupation,
the morbid exercise of the innervation
appropriated to their exercise. It is to
attain this double end, that Laennec
recommended certain invalids to
read aloud, so as to prolong expiration
and to make inspiration more complete.
Asa means of distracting, he also re
commended the exercise of the senses
even hi the course of the night, when
the fits seemed, as is frequently ob
served, to follow the ephemeral revo
lution. On this subject, M. Jolly re
lates a curious history of a patient
who relieved his paroxysms at will, by
lighting a candle and distracting his
mind, by inspecting the furniture of
his bed-room.
• 9 *
Death is the liberator of him whom
freedom cannot release, the physician
of him whom medicine cannot cure,
and the comforter of him whom time
cannot console.