Newspaper Page Text
2
Out Comgpflttflcnto,
For the Index and Baptlat.l
LRTTIR IRON Mt MPIIIS, TEYSESBF.E.
Editors Index—l cirnot well re
sist the feeling that prompts n.e to say
to those of ycur readers, whose ac
quaintance I made during my brief
stay in your great State, that I left it
with feelings of sincere regret. A
stranger by birth and education, know
ing none of your brethren, and having
entertained some undefined prejudi
ces in regard to your State, from my
very youth, I had no desire to make it
mv home. But God only knows the
ways of man. In May ot last tear, I
did go to Augusta, the most beautiful
city in the South. There, unknown
and unobserved, I lived and labored
in my own way, a little over a year.
M> stay was short, my work laborious,
mv departure sad I did not become
acquainted with many of your noble
brethren, made but few friends, and
was intimate with none, outside of my
own little church; and, yet, it seems
to me the severest struggle of life was
to h.ave your State.
That which grieved me sore, was
the leaving my church. My mother is
infirm and old ; I have parted with her;
it was bitter, but not so bitter as this
separation from that dear little church.
True, it was nothing, a little over a
year ago, and true, there was nothing
save hope in the grace of God, to en
courage me, yet I ivouhl love Curtis
church, and to work for it was my de
light. It is the best Baptist church in
Augusta, perhaps the best in the State ;
none in the State has a blighter future.
That Georgia man who tries to “tell
on " the churches, etc., of his State, in
the columns of the Religious iferuld,
it is clear, does not know everything,
else he would have told that long ago.
There are few such men in Augus
ta as Z. McCord, G. H. Burton, R. H.
Land and J. B. Armstrong. They
work for Curtis. I love those men.
Z. McCord is unquestionably one of
the best men in the world, and has a
most promising son. Dr. Shaver, Dr.
Robert, brethren Landrum and Pat
teraon, aie Christian gentlemen, and
my association with them was pleas
ant and profitable.
Brethren out of the city, known to
me, are few. I met your own inimita
ble Mell while on a visit to Athens,
and my unqualified admiration of his
noble chiracter, sterling virtues, good
judgment, sound sense, profound pie
ty and inapproachable gentility, hos
pitality and prudence, wdl never cease
while I live. And your great Tucker,
Chancellor of the State University,
1 remember with pleasure.
I attended the meeting of the Hep
zibah Association last tail. My im
pression of Georgia Baptists was made
then and there Such a spirit among
brethren I had never seen, and I be
lies. to be rare; it was certainly the
spirit of the great Shepherd. There
are noble, eminently Christ-like and
consecrated men of God belonging
to the old Hepzibah, such as Davis,
Kilpatrick, Cain, Cummings, Shivers,
Vtrdery, General Evans, now forever
at rest, and others.
It was my pleasure also to attend
your State Conveniion last spring.
One thing impressed me, worthy of
remark. It was the character of the
preaching on that occasion. Ido not
know where the men who did the
preaching at the Convention live, bit'
my impression was that most of them
were pastorsof country churches,hence
the interest with which i listened to
them. Wherever they were from, I
unhesitatingly say : It was emphatic
ally good preaching It was eminent
ly Scriptural preaching, i. e. the ser
monizing had due regard to homileti
cal laws. L wonder if everybody
knows that a fair country preacher’s
ordinary sermon is better than the av-
stage city preacher’s ordinary sermin.
That statement is not far from the
truth in either direction. But you
know many people in other States, it
not in Georgia, are in the habit oi
thinking that the reverse is true.
I came here, after much prayerful
deliberation, because 1 thought it my
duty to come. 1 love Tennessee. She
did not give me birth, but she gave me
that without which my birth had been
a source ot perpetual anguish of soul,
She gave me an education —that is;
what little 1 have. True, she gave it
to me incidentally, but she gave it. I
can never forget many of the struggles
and triumphs of the days of yore. 1
owe a debt of profound gratitude, and
thank God it is my privilege to con
tribute my little mite to the came of
truth and human progress on the soil
of Tennessee. God help me. and bless
the little I may do.
In my new field 1 feel somewhat
hopeful already. 1 know there are
many good, noble, cultured, consecra
ted Christians connected with my
church. If the Lord will bless us, the
work will go on. That good man,
Deacon R. G. Craig, is a member of
the First church. He is Superinten
dent of our Sunday-school.
I am begging the sympathy of my
brethren in Georgia.
B. R. Womack.
Memphis, Tenn., Oot. St, 1877.
—The Synod of New Jersey at its recent
session at Newark, New Jersey, sustained the
action of Presbytery in condemning preaching
by women.
For the Index nn Kaptlst.|
UlPriZIVt ILL JUTIO.YS.
“ Infants ccmpose parts of all nas
tions, and hence they are to be baptized.’
It may seem so to some who practice
this rite, but when we examine the
Greek text we discover our error. Na
tions is not the antecedent to them, in
neither the 19th or 20th verses of Mat
thew, 28th chapter. Autous, the Greek
word rendered them, is masculine, and
therefore has mathetes as its antecedent
which is a masculine substantive, but
ethnos (nation) is a neuter noun, and
requires-’its relative to be neuter also.
The Greek word mathetes (teach) signi
fies to (disciple'), make disciples and
baptize them—not every one that might
hear their sermons. Jesus says he that
believeth and is baptized— not every
one, for infants are incapable of be
lieving.
“But we read in Mark 7th, and He
brews 9th, ot divers washings, prob
ably of sprinkling and pouring, to suit
the taste of every candidate.” In
M ark, two different words are employed,
viz., nipto to wash the hands, but when
they come from the market baptizo is
used—they bathe themselves.
“But the households named in Acts
must have bad infants in them.’’ Look
around in your neighborhood and you
will find many with no young children
in them. The family of Stephanas
addicted or devoted themselves to the
ministry of the saints; the jailer and
all his house, believed and were bap
tized. It is written that Paul entered
into the house of Lydia “and comforted
the brethren.” How would he look
talking to infants on religious subjects,
and trying to comfort them ?
“But it is said in Isaiah, so shall he
sprinkle many nations.” This is proof
positivo. The Hebrew word there is
nazaw, which signifies to astonish, to
marvel, to cause to wonder, to admire.
The Greek word in the Septuagint is
thaumadzo, and is so employed in the
New Testament, but never to sprinkle.
See Mark i: 20, it is rendered marvel;
Revelations xvii: 8, do marvel; Acts
xiii: 41, wonder ; Luke xxiv: 12, won
dering also in many other places.
Jesus never did sprinkle any one. The
translation in Isaiah is erroneous.
Senex,
For tho Index and Baptist.]
“IIIK COLD l!l\(. A.M) GOODLY APPAREL.”
Among the cares of every day life, l
pause a moment to fulfill a request.
It calls for an article on the undue
honor everywhere paid to wealth. The
theme is large and broad enough to
engage a mightier pen than Lila’s
“ladies’ small size.”
When Christ began his brief earthly
life, it had the humblest of beginnings
Who saw in the houseless babe at the
manger, the wonderful worker of mira
cles, the restorer qtf life, and tke keep-'
er of eternity ? As the years passed
by, and He established His ininiary,
He did not call upon those who were
great in power and riches to give
honor and dignity to His mission.
The poor laborers by the sea-side,
girt in their fishers’ coats, received the
inspiring call, and to them the hea
venly tongues descended. The warm,
personal friends of Jesus were found
in a poor family at Bethany, with
whom He abode in love and pleasure.
When paitaking of Simon’s preten
tious hospitality, Jesus said : “Simon,
I have somewhat to say unto theeit
was to teach him a lesson of true hos
pitality and disinterested love, from
the woman who, in poverty and hu
mility, knelt at His feel.
Poor Lazarus, smitten with plague,
and helpless before the “rich man’s”
dogs, was so honored by God, that
one of his spotless seraphs came softly
down on angelic wing, and bore him
above such degradation, to the peace
ful rest of Abraham’s bosom.
And thus we might continue, almost
without end, noting the “poor men in
vile raiment, who possessed charac
ter and capacity exalted and honorable;
but “my brethren have not the faith
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
Glory, with respect of persons.” The
finer the outside the more honors we
add thereto, and wherefore ? To
night, the One, all-powerful voice, may
say, “ I'hou fool ! this night shall thy
soul be required of thee. Then whose
shall these things be And it is to
this fleeting, passing power that the
wot Id is in bondage. Everywhere it
is seen and felt.
In the race for power and position,
the man ot means soon steps beyond
tne limits ot the poor man. Pockets
and not brains rule upon the throne of
public favor in this “gilded age.”
Ihe rich man and the poor man aie
lying ill. l'o the gate of one, catriages
wend their way ; dainties enough to
sicken a well man are brought to his
side; triends throng the house and
await his slightest wish.
lo the other, where all these are
needed, oh ! shame, they come not.
Perhaps the poor wife, weary, almost
fainting, must watch him still without
relict. Not a dainty, not a comfort
have her helpless hands to offer the
poor sufferer. They die, the rich man
and the poor. In mercy, here drop
the veil between the pomp of the one,
and heart-rendering poverty of the
other scene.
In buildings made and dedicated to
the service of God, this same vile per
formance dwells. The man with “a
gold ring and goodly apparel" is put
in the most conspicuous seat, while
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOTJTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
the “poor man in vile raiment” is
stored away in a corner near the door,
and if possible, they would have hid
den him quite. I once saw mother
and daughter, in all the glory of vel
vet, silk and false curls, shown to a
cushioned pew far up the middle
aisle, while a party of seamen from
the vessels in port, were tucked away in
the gallery. Indeed, I fear if the ver
itable apostles could walk into our
churches in their fishing clothes, we
would ignore them as writers of the
Gospel we preach, and invite them to
a seat in the gallery.
Suppose, oh ! Christians, an unas
suming stranger, bearing about him a
look of poverty and sorrow, came in
to your place of worship, and you
passed him by without a word, leav
ing hirn to sit apart, unnoticed, and
alone. Why the angels would come
down to make the place beautiful, and
a voice from Heaven would cry:
“This is my beloved son !” Would it
be any excuse for us to say, “We did
not know it was the dear Saeiour.”
Yet ye treat His brethren thus, for'
Christ is our “elder brotheV Many
stay away from church rather than be
subjected to such mortifications, and
the cause of religion suffers much
from this want of Christly-ness—the
mark of true brotherhood. Some of
the grandest characters, whose pic*
tures hang on the walls of time, have
fought their way from poverty and ob
scurity to glory. And it is proper
thus; for who is not better for self
restraint, for the lessons learned from
patient waiting and self-denial ? Heirs
of eternal glory, kings and priests to
God, yet not recognized here, because
they have not yet put on their “beau
tiful garments.” Perfected through
tribulations, angels bear them to hea
venly mansions, and the crowns of
life laid up for them.
But, when the end comes, to those
who have locked their millions in
vaults and safes, while little children
cried for bread, and hundreds were
starving, the angels veil their faces
and say, sadly, “in this life they have
had their good things.” Truly it is
“filthy lucre.” Honor it too much no
more. Dear brethren, lay aside this
“superfluity of naughtiness” and in
future let personal met it alone be the
test of excellence, and among those
who have passed through poverty’s
strict school, you will not find it such
a scarce commodity. Lila.
Vino Cottage, October 29. 1877.
Fcr the Ii dex and Baptist.
MOT OH LIT.
Upon reading the severe strictures of
brother S. Boykin, in The Index of
the Bth inst., on my brief article, “An
Evil Connected with Snuday
Schools,” I was reminded, of an iupi- .
ph-rit that joc -wwv-d—m Baptist"
Convention at Thomasville.’ Bro. T. C.
Boykin was speaking on a subject in
which he was deeply interested, and was
repeatedly interrupted by his brother,
until at length, almost despairingly, he
exclaimed, “I wish somebody would
hold Sam”—or words to that effect. If
somebody don’t ‘•hold Sam,” there is
danger of his bruising bis head, (if not
of breaking his neck,) against a wind
mill of his own construction.
The truth is, my “little article” was
not written "inconsiderately” nor “un
advisedly,” but with a painful couvic
tiou of the existence of the evil to
which attention is called. Yet, in pre
paring it, I was careful not to say, nor
even to intimate an opinion, as to
where tho responsibility for that evil
rests. Tho aiticle is now before me,
and cannot, by any fair construction,
be interpreted to mean that Sunday
schools are responsible for it.
Bro. T. C. Boykin’s article on this
subject is well considered and sensible*
both as to the causes of this evil, and
the remedy for it, and, on these points,
meets my cordial approval and endorse
ment. But he had better get somebody
to “hold Sam.” J. H. Campbell.
For the Index and Baptist.]
Fowl Town (Colored) Baptist Association.
Brother Editor— l have just re
turned from a visit to the Fowl Town
(Colored) Association. This body
was organized four years ago, and now
numbers about seventeen churches.
A large representation from these
churches was present, and a spirit of
brother.y love and work manifested
itself during the entire session.
Rev. Willis Warren was re-elected
Moderator, and the writer of this,
Clerk.
Four years ago, I aided in the or
ganization of this Association. Then ,
there were but three or four in their
whole number that could read. I had
to run the machine, telling them how
to make their motions, etc., and writ
ing out their reports.
At this session, between forty and
fifty were present who could read,
while all their reports (and very cred
itable ones, too,) were written by
themselves.
This progress arises, I suppose, for
the most part, from the enforcing of a
resolution which I persuaded them to
pass— that they would, in the future,
ordain no one to the ministry, unless
he could read and write. A number of
their ministers are humble, earnest,
and, I think, good men, who are de
voting all their energies to the im
provement of their people.
But, to the Cnristian who loves the
cause of Jesus, it is pitiful to see the
deep, deep ignorance in which most of
them, preachers and people, are
steeped. I am glad to see that the
brethren, in so many places, are trying
to devote to them more of their time
than they have formerly done.
We are sending men and money to
Africa for its evangelization. This is
right. We ought to do it. God has
a people there. May God put it into
the hearts of his people here to do
much more for the people of that hea
then land.
But, my brethren, here is Africa
right among us. I do truly believe
that there are thousands of them in
our midst, that are as truly without
the Gospel, as are the Ethiopians
themselves. Here and there are a
few men, humble and pious, who can
read, and consequently can lead their
"people aright, bat this is not true of
the great mass of them. They have
nmciL preaching, but it is not the
preaching of the Gospel.
Poor as we are, and poor as most of
our churches are, we cannot do a
deal for them, but, brethren, can
We not do more than we are doing?
By the time we have done our duty to
our own charges, very little time, or
strength remains. But can we not
find some time* in which to benefit
this people? However estrayed they
may have been in the past, they will
heartily receive you now. Let us afi
think of them oftener, and if we reach
the conclusion that we have not been
doing our duty to them, let us do bet
ter in the future.
Fraternally yours,
Wm. H. Cooper.
Albany, Oa., Oct. 30, 1877.
Foy the Index and Baptist.]
MURK MvnnilYGS.
ENCOURAGED BY A CHILD.
“Uncle Shad, I pray for jou and your
labors every night. Your loving little
friend and sister in Jesus. C. K. J.”
“As the shadow of a great rock in a
weary land,” are such words; no less
ptized because they are from a Chris
tian child.
FOUND AT LAST.
Yes, I have been inquiring for several
years for a church, every member of
which bad contributed something, an!
recently heard of one. (Failing to make
a note of it, I am in doubt as to what
church it was. Was it Union Point,
Georgia?) Now for the next. Every
member making a contribution to pas
tor, or missions, or any church work.
FOR THE EYE OF JESUS ONLY.
A contribution of §2 from Crawford
ville, Ga., for the meeting house at
Wichita Agency, in Indian Territory,
and a note accompanying, signed “Sis
ter in Christ.” That sister gave only
for. the Master’s sake. Sister, He saw
yoJPlfor He is still “sitting over against
JbJjkgmsury.” My dear sisters, as you
"TSt ' me ask you ii you have
comributed anything to that house. A
“ Sister in Christ” read brother Holt’s
appeal to the women of the South, to
build a house of worship for the wild
Indians, and she sent ■'s2. Won’t you
at once send me §2, 81, or 50 cents,
with or without your name?
SWEET MEMORIES OP A SUNDAY IN
ATLANTA.
It was the fifth Sunday in September
and the forenoon was spent at the
Second Baptist church, to which I had
been cordially invited by Bishop Spald
ing, and by whose valuable aid more
than a hundred dollars have replenished
the treasury of the Home Mission
Board. Special mention may I make,
of the pleasure of seeing before me
brethren Hitchcock and Kendrick, to
whom I had sustained the relation of
past< r fifteen years ago, when I did not
expect to be alive now. The Fifth
church was visited at night, and I
preached a Saviour “precious to be
lievers,” to a congregation so large,
that many were not comfortably seated,
but the attention was good. Brother
Norcross, the bishop of the Fifth
oh ireh, was holding a meeting of in
terest, and I wanted to remain, but
could uot.
JOHN MTNTOSH AND STONE MOUNTAIN
ASSOCIATION.
The amount due John Mclntosh for
two years as missionary of Stone
Mountain Association, iu Indian Terri
tory, was apportioned according to nu
merical strength, among those churches
that bad paid only in part, and those
churches requested to raise said amount
soon as practicable. Since the Associ
ation adjourned, the Second church of
Atlanta, and Yellow River church have
paid up. Bro. Brittain, the agent of *he
Association to laise the amount, has
sent hie 87. Will the brethren not raise
tlie money as soon as possible ? Send
it to me or him, or leave it at James’
Bank. W. N. Chaudoin,
District .Secretary.
For the Index ami Baptist.!
BAPTIST HISTORY.
[Specimen Extracts from a proposed Work by the
Lev. B. W. Whildeu, Pleasant Hill, Alabama.]
1873 — Florida Baptist commenced
February 13th, in Lake City, (Fla.) by
Rev. li. B. MoCallum. (See 1875,
1876.) Southern Baptist Convention
met at Mobile, Alabama. States rep
resented as follows : Maryland, 4;
Virginia, 11; North Carolina, 7;
South Carolina, 28; Georgia, 24; Ala
bama, 84 ; Mississippi, 45 ; Missouri 3 ;
Louisiana, 5; Texas, 14 ; Tennessee,!
20; Kentucky 12 ; total 257. Georgia
Baptist Sunday-school Convention.
1874 Rev. Dr. Shaver retires from
the editorial department of The Index
of Georgia, in September. A statue to
John Bunvan, presented by the Duke
of Bedford, was unveiled in Bedford on
the 10th of June, in the presence of a
large assembly. Many of the nobility,
members of Parliament, clergymen of
the Established Church, etc., were
present. Death of Rev. J. M. Mell
born, in Columbus, Georgia. (Short
sketch of life to be introduced here.)
1875 — Florida Baptist removed to
Jacksonville (Fla.) in January. (See
1873-1876.) The following periodicals
were commenced this year : Southern
Baptist, Mississippi; Baptist Reflector,
Brownsville, Tennessee ; Baptist Messen
ger, New Orleans, Louisiana; Baptist
Messenger, West Union, West Virginia;
Baptist Battle Flag, (in January) La-
Grange, Missouri, Rev. D. B. Ray,
editor ; Baptist Beacon, lon a, by Elders
Robbins and Roby—a consolidation of
lou'a Baptist and Pastoral Visitor. The
Christian Era, of Boston, (Mass.) is
discontinued, after an existence of 18
years, and united with the Watchman
and Reflector, under the name of the
Watchman. Death of Rev. H. B. Hackett,
D.D., LL.D., Professor in Rochester
Theological Seminary, New York. He
met his class in apparently usual health,
and went home and died in less than
one half hour. Among his works are
—“lntroduction to Study of Gospels.”
and “Commentary on A-ts.” First
edition of the latter was published in
1851. The Baptist Union of Scotland
now consists of 68 churches, represent
ing a membership of about 6,200.
1875 —Iu this year, in the Northern
States, the Baptists were to Congrega
tionalists as 31 to 20 ; the United States
and Canada, as 82 to 20 ; in the United
States, as 116 to 20. (See 1760.) Up
to this year, Southern Baptists had
raised from 1845 for Foreign Missions,
$702,198. (Tupper). (See 1845 for con
tributions previous to 1845.)
1876 —Florida Baptist (Feburarv)
suspended. (See 1873-1875.) Baptist
Banner, of Illinois, suspended. Baptist
Herald, commenced in Lebanon, Miss
souri, by Rev J, G. Lemon. Death of
Rev. Dr. S. W. Lynd, about 80 years of
age, son-in-law of Rev. Dr. Staughton;
he was considerably connected with the
educational interests of the Baptist
denomination. “He was formerly
pastor of the Second Baptist church, in
St. Louis. Missouri. He had lor sev
eral years retired from the active duties
of the ministry, and resided in one of
the Northwestern States. His modesty
prevented him from taking an active
part in business meetings; but his
counsel was greatly valued by his
brethren.” (Religious Herald July,
1876) Deat h of Hon. T. J. Burney,
of Georgia, June 22. He was the
Treasurer of Mercer University for at
least 30 years, and Treasurer of the
Georgia Baptist Convention for the
amc length of time. He held this
latter office at the time of his death.
HedieSnnthe 76t.lvyfo* <v4 hffi age. **He
was a good man.”— (Christian Index,
July 13, 1876 \ Death of Judge Thos.
Stocks, of Georg a, October, 26. (Short
sKeteh of life to be introduced here.)
Number of baptisms in the United
States, 109,684. Church membership
iu the United States, 1,932,385, an in
crease during a year of 117,055. This
increase is, in part, accounted for from
the fact, that several anti-missionary
Associations in Georgia have become
missionary bodies. Western Baptist,
(Arkansas) removed from Little Rock,
in November, toCabet.
K#r Ji Inilex ami Baptist,|
A LKITKK OF COYDOLK.YCK.
Miss Bobbie Terrell —Bereaved
friend, you will excuse me for address
ing you a brief letter of sympathy, in
this way, by permission of our kind
editors, in lieu of an obituary of your
deceased brother. Yours is a sore
bereavement, a bitter cup. Everyone
is inclined to think the same, but in
your bereavement there are reasons
why you may think so.
This was the first visitation of death
to your large and loving home-circle.
“ I never knew what it was before to
even loo s e a friend,” you say. The
first brother or sister to die, the first
child of loving parents !
Then, too, your brt ther was so far
away from the home-circle. Your
words will find an echo in other hearts:
“ And to think, I did not get even to
see him, and such a large family, and
not even father, mother, sister or broth
er to say one kind word.”
Furthermore, the news of his death
came so sudden, with nothing to pre
pare you for if, no intimation of sick
ness ; nothing to awake a fear or sus
picion. So crushing is such a bereave
ment.
And still further, to add to the bit
terness of your cup, as a sister, (and to
parents), his age at death, may be
mentioned —almost twenty one. No
age seems a good one, but some points,
or turns, or eras in life, arc cherished,
and regarded with especial interest,
and for life to be cut short at such
t mes, is particularly sad. My dear
friend, I deeply sympathize with you
and your whole family. I weep with
you. Jesus at the grave of Lazarus
did not tell Mary and Martha not to
weep. He did, however, weep with
them, and we are told that he “ loved
Mary and Martha, and their brother.”
The writer of these lines loved you
and Johnnie, and loves the bereaved
family, which has so often been as a
home to him, and like his incarnate
Redeemer, weeps with the sad, be
reaved —sorely bereaved ones.
Dark, dear sister, as the cloud is,
it has its “ silver lining." Your broth-
er has left you the memory of a pure,
a noble life. A dutiful son, an affec
tionate brother, a sober, moral, Btble
reading young man. The memory of
such a life, is “ like an ointment poured
forth." Had he been wayward or
reckless, how much sorer must have
been your grief, embittered by such
memories.
Then, while you weep over the loss
of such a brother, you should rejoice
that God gave him to you as long as
he did. Was he not a blessing ? Would
you not much rather that he had lived
as long as he did, than not to have lived
at all? Surely, such a brother, such a
child, was a great gift, even for a few
years.
Then, too, you have hope, that “he
is not dead, but sleepeth,” and, if so,
at the proper time, Jesus will “ awake
him out of sleep,” and just as easily,
in Texas, as if he slept in Georgia.
His body sleeps, free from all pain,
and his spirit, “ safe in the arms of
Jesus,” awaits the resurrection morn,
and its immortal, glorified body. Then
rejoice, for now, for the first time, you
can contemplate the sweet, sublime
thought, that “ our family is represent
ed in Heaven.” There is a “ vacant
chair,” at each family gathering, a void
in your hearts, a voice heard no more,
a form missing, but the missing one,
is not a wanderer over land or sea, and,
may be, dissipated, wayward, or
prayerless. No, he is “in the Chris
tian’s home in glory.” Then, rejoice
as you think of Johnnie ; labor, weep,
and pray for those yet this side the
river and out of Christ, that all may
come to Jesus here, and all be taken
to Him “ over there," and so be there
a complete family. God help you and
me to pray for your unsaved loved
ones. W. N. Chaudoin.
THE YAI.TE OF CHKERFILYESS.
I hold the deepest and most unqual
:fied respect for any person who is
habitually cheerful.
Though he be plain to ugliness, and
ignorant to boorishness, or though he
be as poverty, stricken as the proverbial
“ Job’s turkey,” if he is naturally and
thoroughly, and heartily cheerful, he
has more of the true principle of earthlv
happiness, than was ever extracted
from the mines of Ophir.
Under Dickens’ pen the irrepressible
Micawber, became a hero and a philos
opher, not from any marked achiev
rueut or talent, but purely from the
man’s supreme ability to face the most
humiliating reverses with the same se
rene, unruffled exterior.
What sugar is to coffee, so is a cheer
ful man to a neighborhood in which he
lives. While the society of which he
is only a single member, is self-sustain
ing and independent without him, it is
mush the pleasanter fqr being
flavored by (This influence. And who
does not know all about the “world of
good” it does us, when a score of small
annoyances set in a tide against us, to
hear the hearty laugh, and look into the
wholesome face, of our cheerful neigh
bi r.
A talented author once said that “a
cheerful disposition was more essential
than talent.” A sweeping assertion,
but who admires talent iu a human
porcupine? Soundly sensible people
prefer less talent and more geniality.
The man who entertains you for an
hour with a statement of his colds and
headaches, his losses and crosses, and
ends with an excruciatiug report from
the dyspeptic locality is, invariably, a
s ilien, grumbling misanthrope.
Beyond a donbt, laughter is healthy.
Whenever we are thoroughly pleased,
we are, in a measure, nourished. Hence
the old maxim, “ laugh and grow fat.”
All really healthy people a:e likely to
be good-humored, and good-humored
people are quite as likely to be strong
in spirit.
Kind words and smiles, and genial
greetings and good wishes, are seeds
that thrive and bear fruit, each after its
own kind. Cheerfulness is like the
widow s measure of meal—the more
spent the mote remains, and both the
receiver and giver are enriched.
Jovial, sweet-tempered, pure-hearted
people are charitable; they are liberal;
they are not jealous; they are the
sweet, their opposites the bitter ; the
two elements com bine and make asocial
world a bitter-sweet; unfortunately the
flavor of the bitter is the more power
ful.
1 lie mountain is grand, majestic and
subiime; so arc great deeds and achieve
ments. But, as there more hills than
mountains, so are there more little
deeds than great ones in our lives. If
the hills vary our landscape, and bv
culture yield us our dai'y bread, then
are the hills better for us than the snow
capped mountains.
Let our acts of sympathy and love,
our words of cneer and smiles of joy,
lighten others’ burdens, or strengthen
faint hearts; it is better for us to be
kind and gentle, considerate, than that
we had won a fortune.
—President Clark, of the Mas
sachusetts State Agricultural College,
recently returned from Japan. In a
lecture at Amherst, he said, among
other things:
The Japanese are a people able and willing
to (lo right. I never saw a quarrel in Japan,
and never saw or heard of a Japanese student
in America or Japan accused of immorality. I
selected from a thousand young men the stu
dents for the college there, and never knew
. one " iat would willing ly ofiend his teachers.