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®nt fttlpit. LKCTCRE TO STCDKITS. University on Georgia, May 23, 1875. BY IIENRY n. TUCKER, CHANCELLOR. Ecclesiastes xn. Reiuembe- now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while th 9 evil days oome not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure injthem; 2. While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3. In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened; 4. And the doors shall be shut in tbe streets, when the sound of the grinding is low. and he shall rise up at the voice of tho bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low ; 5. Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, aud fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shell flourish, and tho grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets; 6. Or ever tho silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at tho fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall return unto God who gave ft. Much of what I shall say in this exposi tory lecture, may be found substantially, though in various forms, in books —in books with which the world is familiar. All that I can claim for myself is, that I have called no man master, and that what I shall say is said in my own way, and that some of the thoughts perhaps may be new. Doubtless thousands have read, and ad mired this chapter, without the slightest con ceptioa of the meaning ol many of its ex pressions. They perceive in them a wild beauty, without being able to define it, aud a mysterious meaning, of which they appre hend just enough to please the fancy and ex cite the imagination, but not enough to in form the understanding. Even when thus imperfectly understood, there is in the chap ter much ol beauty, much ot solemnity, much of pathos, and much of sublimity. I remember once in my early years, read ing a work of fiction, which closed with these words; “The silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl was broken.’’ 1 did not know that the words were taken from the Bible. I had not the slightest idea of] their meaning j but they affected me deeply—per haps to tears. They seemed to me to be a beautiful figure of some heart-breaking catas trophe. They spoke of joys past, aud sor row present, of bright hopes and bitter disap pointments. The loosening of the silver cord figured to me the giving up of some cherished prize; the broken pieces of the golden bowl lay scattered before me as the wreck and ruin of that which was loved. And thus, without the least conception of what was in the mind of the writer, when the words were written, I still enjoyed them. And thus it may often happen that while our conceptions are exceedingly vague and shadowy, they may still be comforting and valuable. The ill-instructed, and the ig norant, may have very dim conceptions of divine truth, and au undefined view even of the saving; truths of the Gospel, and still be the happier and the better for them; aud all of us who love God, are delighted in spirit when we think of Him, aud always elevated in spiritual life by communion with Him, while, at tbe same time, we know that our best ideals ot Him are imperfect and utterly inadequate. But the more we know of Him, the more we appreciate Him; the more we know of anything, the more we enjoy in it that which is enjoyable. As to the chapter before us, the more iatclligeutly we read it, the more we shall see in it to admire, and the more wc shall be impressed by its teachings. The chapter, taken as a whole, is a poetic and allegorical description of old age and death. The decrepitude, the infirmities and the wretchedness of old age, described in lit eral and graphic terms, would surely not ex cite our | erception ot the beautiful; aud the object itself is one which wc should not sup pose would awaken the genius of the poet. does say— Fortunate Senex ! hie inter flumina nota, Et fontes saoros, frigaa captabia opacum, Hinc, alta sub rupe, cauet fronlatorad auras Nee tamen intorea rauco , tua cura palumbea, Nec gemcre acria ccessabit. turtur ab nlmo. But while his address is to the happy old man, his description is of the landscape, aud of rural sounds and pleasures, rather than of the failing powers aud shattered constitution of old age. Shakespeare is more bold, and actually describes the painful sight of a man drivelling in octogenarian infancy, and falling helpless in arim of death— The sixth age, shifts Into the loan and slippered pantaloon, With spectacle* on nose, and poach on side; His youthful hoso well saved a world too wide For his shrunk shank ; aud his big manly voioo Turning again towards childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mero oblivion,' Bans teeth, saus eyes, sans taste, sans every thing. In the vivid description of the Bard of Avod, there is much that is striking, but all is revolting; there is no tenderness, no pathos, no sublimity. Indeed, here is a striking want of that affectionate reverence which is due to the venerable patriarch bowed down by the weight of many years, and like the shock ofcoru ripe for the sickle, and ready to be gathered by God’s harvesters into that great garner house of excellence, prepared fur His saints, and where the mortal has put out immortality. It is interesting to notice the immeasurable distance between the inspirations of genius, and the inspira tion of genius aided from on high. Even as unpiotmsiog a spectacle as that of human life in its last stage, is charmed into beauty, and touches the lenderest heart-strings, and awakens sentiments both deep and delicate, and at the same time inspires emotions of solemn grandeur and majesty by the genius of the royal poet and sage of Israel. Cicero, it is true, in his charming essay De Seneetute, breathes a much more amiable spirit than Shakspeare, and his meditations are as wise, and as comforting as could be expected from a heathen philosopher—nay, more so; and he was probably indebted lor some of his views to these very living oracles which lie before us. But Cicero, while he had the highest order of talent, was not a man of genius; he wm not a poet, he was not a man of God, and, above all, he was not inspired. Ilia extended essay contains not a tithe either of the knowledge or of the wisdom, to be found in these lew lines of Solomon; and to affect the heart it is power less. Tue contrast between his essay and the brief chapter before usjs the contrast be tween knowledge and ignorance ; between diluteness and concentration; between poetry and prose; between the sublime and the commonplace; between pathos and apathy; between solemn and awful warnings that can never be forgotten, and well-souud- Ing but insipid platitudes, which please but for the moment. The essay De Seneclute, THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST December 26. read before this chapter, makes an impres sion favorable to the writer, but not strongly as to his subject. Read after this chapter it makes no impression at all. But now, let us look to the particulars. The expression “while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh,” is a specimen of the parallelisms which characterize Hebrew poety. A favorite method with the Hebaew poets was to repeat a seutiment with varied phraseology. Illustrative of this, is the speech addressed by Lantech to his wives, when he said: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice: Ye wives of Lantech heark en into my speech ; for I have slain a man to my wounding and a young man to my hurt.” Innumerable instances of like kind might be adduced, similar to “while the evil days'oome not, nor the years draw nigh,” when the second phrase is but the echo of the first, ii English poetry, the lines are often made to rhyme in sound. In Hebrew poetry, the rhyme is in the sense. “When the evil days come not and the years draw nigh” is simply a rhyme. The picture of old age, is adroitly relieved of its revoltingness, by the fact that it is a present presentation of the future portrait ure of the person addressed, and not of an other. Btiug thus brought home to the man. and lastened on himself, it disarms ir reverent criticism, and inclines to lenience and forbearance. “When the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shall tsay, I have no pleasure in them.” The description is first brief, and in generic terms, of a period when there is no pleas ure. There is no positiveness in this state ment. It is simply a negation. Old age is represented simply as the period when the enjoyments of life are over. But in the next verse, the statements are more positive, as well as more specific, and the poet speaks of the particulars which are the cause of failing pleasure. “While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened.” In this in direct and delicate way the poet refers to failing sight. He does not mean that the sun and moon and other luminous bodies are actually darkened, ,but only that they seem so to one of weakened vision. Thus with an expertness, known only to genius, is the subjective translated into the objec tive, and tbe actual coudition of the man set forth by the seeming condition of out ward things. Nothing looks to the old as it does to the young. The grass is not so green, nor the sky so blue nor so bright, nor the fiowersso gay, nor the mead so inviting, nor even the sun so glorious, as to the eager aud inquisitive and easily delighted eye of youth. All these objects ol sight lose their charms one by one, until, finally, the very sun may be said to be darkened. “Nor the clouds return atter the rain.” When the rain has ceased, we look for bright skies and sunshine; if the clouds re turn we feel disappointed, and if this should be often repeated, it is apt to superinduce gen eral gloominess and dejection of spirits. Un der this figure, the poet describes the constant ly recurring infirmities and disppointments of declining years. One pain is relieved, and another lakes its place. The clouds return after the rain. One misfortune or bereave ment is endured, and as the sorrow is abont to pass away, there is a moment of hope, but the clouds return, and another affliction is on hand. Thus not only some, but all his “days are dark and dreary.” By a single stroke, the merest touch of the artist’s pencil, he has brought out that, which after using many words of explanation, is not so vivid as when he simply said, “The clouds return after the rain.” "In tha day when the keepers of the house shall tremble.” Under the figure of a house, the human bod/ is referred to, as the habita tion of the soul; and by the keepers of tha house, is meant, the hands and arms, which are its chief protectors and defenders. There is no coarse and bald description of the palsied hands, andshakiug limbs, but uadtr the im age of brave men terror-struck and trembling, is the idea presented to the imagination. ‘‘The strong men shall bow themselves.” The tact is not mentioned in literal terms that, as years advance, the stature diminishes, the joints approach each other by the drying up of the lubricating fluids; the muscles be come fltccid and fail to hold the frame work closely together, and as these and the sinews loosen, the lower limbs become bent outward or inward, the erect attitude of you this gone, and the old man is bowed down. All this is expressed by the royal writer in the words, “the strong men shall bow themselves." “The grinders shall cease because they are few.” The figure is of those grinding at the mill, by hand, in companies, and one after another leaving, until all are gone. Refer ence is had to the teath, which disappear as years advance, until finally the natural prep aration of food for the stomach ceases entire ly. The literal fact is painful to contemplate, the figure used to describe it, is simply sadden ing but not revolting. “And those that look out of the windows be darkened.” It has been supposed that this referss to the eyes, as these are windows which open from the soul to the outer world. But there are two objections to this: 1. Failing sight has been already spoken of, and the present expression is too far from ths first to be considered as its paralellism. 2. It is not the window iltel / that is darksned, but those that look out of them. Hence, I suppose, it refers not to physical but to mental vision. The power of clear conceptions, and conse quently of drawing nice distinctions becomes sensibly weakened in the late decline of life. Men not only fail to me clenrly, but they fail to think clearly; these internal powers of thought are they that look out of the windows upon the objective world, and it is they that are darkened. That this is the proper interpretation, ap pears probable, from the fact, that if thia ex pression does not refer to decaying mental powers, then that peculiar infirmity incident to old age, is left out altogether ; for there is no other expression that refers to it, and it is not to be supposed, that Solouiou would omit so conspicuous an item. “And the doors shall be shut in the streets when the sound of the grinding is low.” It has been said that this refers to the fact that as age advances, men keep out of the streets and are stayers at borne. I do not believe that this iB the correct interpretation. When is it that the doors shall be shut in the streets? It is when the sound of the grinding is low. This shows that the lose of teeth, is wbat cau ses the doors to be shut in the streets. The mere loss of teeth, would not cause one to stay at home; and lor this reason, I think the com mon interpretation is wrong. That which is spoken ot as streets must bare some connexion with the teeth. The expression “doors shut in the streets” then, must mean the failure of something which depends on the teeth. It can refer to nothing else then, than the (towers of digestion; the stomach and bowels being compared to Btreets, and the doors or gates being shut, simply imply that these impor tant viscera, being not supplied with proper material, a-eume abnormal conditions, and cease fo perform their functions. “Aud he shall rise up at the Voice of the bird." Insomnia is a common complaint of the aged. It is the well known habit of such persona to wake early in the morning. Their nights are long and wearisome and they long for the approach of day; and if they fall into light and momentary slumber, they awake at the first chirp of the bird ; and in tropical and semi-tropical climates, the birds begin to whis tle at the earliest approach of dawn. “And all the daughters of music, shall be brought low.” The daughters of music are the voice which produces it, and the ears which en joy it. Uader this delicate figure, representing music as a matron, and the voice of hearing as her daughters, the sacred writer, whose taste is as exquisite as his fancy is inventive, describes the tact, that when other powers fail, the voice, too, loses its power of making melo dy, and the hearing become* dull and inap preciative. "Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high.” The aged are made dizzy by looking down from high places, or from look ing up to them. It is not only fear that they feel, it is something more; it is the nervous ness which shrinks Irom the sight of anything to which the eye is not accustomed. A young man when debilitated by sickness, will for the time, while his nerves are unstrung, be afraid of that which is high; and this condition which is temporary with him in youth, will become chronic when he is old. “And fear shall be in the way.” The great characteristic of age is timidity. Old men fear death and danger in any form, more than the young. One would suppose, that they would care much less for death than the young: and so perhaps they do: but, in the first place, they have formed the life-long habit of cautiousness and care; in the next place they are governed more by their sensibilities than by their judgment; and finally, their weakened nerves can bear no strain, lienee wherever they go, fears are in the way; and sometimes they excite an affectionate smile, when they caution a vigorous and active young man to take care lest he full while walking in a place of perfect safety. “And the almond tree shall flourish.” Here is described the whitened locks of tho man of many years. It is remarkable, that the poet does not compare the white hairs of the aged, to anything that is perishing and passing away, but rather under the figure of the flowering almond, to that which is fresh and blooming aid blossoming into life. “And tho grasshopper shall be a burden.” To the aged and infirm everything is a burden. They are a burden to themselves. Gertai nly they are not capable of enduring fatigue, and such is their dread of cflort, that they shrink from that which even loots like effort. How often the aged parent fails to write to the ab sent, though much loved son, just because he scarcely feels able to write. To such, even so sntult a thing as a grasshopper, would be a berdeu. “Aud desire shall fail.” This is the first specification that is made in literal terms. AU the senses became blunted-all the appetites lose their keenness, the passions din out; all that nervous system which is the avenue of pleasure to the young, is inoperative with the aged, and their chief desire is to be let alone. Instincts which once loudly asserted them selves, are now quiet and ask for nothin) “Because man goeth to liis long home.” This is the grave. It is oompered not to a dungeon, ner to a loathsome place, but to a Home, end not to a temporary stopping place, which has none of the real sacrednesa of home, though it be called by that name, but to a long home, which is a real home, and therefore a place not to be dreaded but to be loved. “And the mourners go abont the street*.” The expression is again literal and refers to the funeral obsequies, whsn mourners walk the Btreeta in lamentation. “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.” The silver cord has reference to the spinal marrow, which is a kind of elongation of the tirain, and which is the great nervous centre of the whole system. When this fails, all fails. Its rupture is cer tain death. Iu isflamalion produces the dis ease known as meningitis. Recent experi ments, are said to show, that it is to some extent, the seat of intelligence. When the brain is entirely removed from some animals, they stdl show some Bigns of intelligent theught, so long as the silver oord is unbroken. It may be that three thousand years ago, Solo mon knew what has been discovered by us within the last few monthp. This spinal mar row called by anatomists madulla oblongata, has the appearance of a silver oord, and hence the figure. The golden bowl, is a kind of membranous basin of a goldsn color, iu which the brain is contained. It is the casket in which the gem of all gems is kept. W hen the cisket is brok en the gem is lost. “Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.” The fountain is the left ventricle ot the heart, whence the blood is pumped out to supply the demands of the system, whence it may he properly called a well or fountain, as it seems io be the source of supply. The pitcher is the aorta, a large artery which first receives the blood from the well. The wheel is that power of contraction and dilation called by anatomists systole aud diastole, which causes the circula tion of the blood. When the pitcher is brok en, that is, if the aorta is ruptured, instauta neons death must ensue ; and such also would be the care if the wheel were broken, that is, if from asthenia or other cause, eilher the con traction or the expansion of the heart should cease. Observe, that in describing the awful phenomena of death, the poet delicately evades a cruel literality, and represents the iacts uuder figures, which, though sadden ing, are not heart rending. Never before, I suppose, and never since has so terrible a castrophe as the bursting ot the heart, or the stoppage of its functions, been described in terms at once so graphic, and so exhaustive, and, at the same time, so softened by tender sentiment, ami poetic imagery, as to deprive them of all severity. We are spared the rude shock which the the statement of the facts would have made, if clothed in harsh words, or even in plain words ; while yet the presentation is more vivid, than if it had been literal. Tuere is not the cold description of the anatomist in scientific terms ; there is not the rudeness of the vulgar, or of the thoughtless ; there is not the coarseness of the unfeeling ; all is solemn, impressive, touching, beautiful, even in ghastly death. None could have done it, but one who was at osce a poet, a genius, a philanthropist and a saiut ; and none can appreciate it, who have not.to some extent at least, oorrcspondfng qualities. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” Here again the kingly preacher-poet, usos literal terms which need not be explained. Now, in regard to the production as a a whole, notice:. Ist. The inimitable and astounding skill of Solomon as a rhetorician, as an artist in words. This little piece of composition alone would have made any man immortal. He has no peer in lipman literature. 2d. Notice his profound knowledge of Ihe demaeds of human nature. The intellectual element calls for plain statements that can be clearly understood. The sensibilities call for that which will assuage the severity of the purely literal; and the sacred writer breathing the spirit of poetry into every line, meets every demand, excelling the | scientist iu exactness and equalling a Se raph in tenderness. 3J. Notice his scientific knowledge. Anatomy is not one of the recent sciences, it is an old sciei.ce revived. Two hundred and fifty years ago Harvey, in England dis covered the circulation of the blood, and the world was startled by his announcement. But Solomon had known all about it three thousand years before. We are elsewhere told that he wrote an extended treatise on botany, describing every plant “from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that spriugetli out of the wall,” and also a trea tise on zoologry, deesribiug every beast ana fowl, and creeping thing, and tho fish of the sea. His philosophy was spoken in three thousand proverbs, and his poems were a thousand and five. 4th. Notice finally, Ilia affecting appeal to youth. He describes to them that old age,and that final catastrophe to which they are has tening as fast as time on its ceaseless,tire!esß wiugs can waft them. He puts before them, in colors glowing enough to startle, and subdued enough to be inviting, the decrepitude, the imbecility, the listlessness the nervelessnoss, the sorrows, the pains of the evil day, when even the grasshopper should be a burden ; and lastly, of the fiual end, aud of the funeral, and the grave and the dust, and of the immortal soul, and of judgment and of God, and by all these things lull of soul-stirring solemnity, he beseeches them not as a mass, but one at a time, say ing : Remember now tiiy Creator in the days of thy youth. Remember that he is your Creator. Remeralier that you are, therefore, responsible to him for the life he has given you. Remember that you are under supreme obligations of gratitude, rev erence, obedience and love. Remember that time is short and that death is certain. Remember, that when old age shall over take you, which it will do apace, your fail ing power will incapacitate you loan radical change ot life. Remember that God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Remember all this. Remember it now—uow while you have the opportu nity. Give your hearta to God now while they are young and fresh, and,at leaat, com paratively pure. Wait not for the evil day, but remember now thy Creator, in the morn ing of life, and at its midday He shall pros per thee, and, when eveuing comes, thy sun shall set on a sky that is cloudless. She lateraationai Sunjay-Sclool Lessons. Lesson ll January 12,1879. TUB DCDHMTION—Fzra tI : 14-29. b. c. 515. CONNECTION. Shalinanezer 721 B. C., conquered Samaria, and put an end to the Kingdom of Israel, car rying the peoplo captive to Assyria. Their places were filled by colonists from Media and Assyria, who, in process of time married Isra elitish women who had been left behind. These people were afterwards called Samari tans. When these Samaritans heard that Zerubbabel was building the temple they requested that they might be permitted to assist. This Zerubbabel and his companions declined. Angry at this refusal these men used every ineaus in their power to hinder the Jews in their work. So effectual was their effort that the year after the foundation was laid all the work on it ceased, and was not resumed for fourteen years. This was the beginning of the feud between the Jews and Samaritans, which lasted for centuries, and resulted in buildi.g a temple on Mount Geri zin. In tho second year of tho reign of Darius, B. C., 520, the buildiug of the temple at Jeru salem was re commenced and B. C., 515 it was completed. OUTLINE. I. The completion, v : 14-15. 11. The dedication, v: 16-18. 111. The passover, v; 19-22. ExroetlON. I. The completion. V. 14. “The elders,” Zerobbabel, Joshua and others. “Builded.” Resumed building. “Through the prophesying.” Those prophets were God’s messengers to arouse the people to the work. “ Ilag’-ga-i ” prophesied in the year B. C., 520, and Zecharish two months later in the same year. Compare llaggai i: 1 with Zech. i: 1. They reproved the Jews for their neglect of God’s house and encouraged them to earnest work to rebuild. See espe cially Hag. chap. 1, and Zech. chap. 8. “ Son” or grandson of Iddo. They builded acoording to the commandment of the God of Israel in Ex. 25 to 30. “Of Cyrus.” See chap. 9: 1-4, “and Darius,” chap. 6: 8-10. “Arlarxerxes.” Same as Darius, it being a title of Persian kings, as Pharaoh was of Egyptians. V. 15. “The month Adar.” The twelfth Jewish month, andcorresponding to the latter part of February and the first part of March with us. “Sixth vear, * * of Darius.” B. C. 515. 11. The dedication. V. 16. “ The children of Israel.” Those be longing to the ten tribes who had returned with the Jews. ” “ The rest.” Those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. “ The dedication.” Devoting the house to God. “ With joy.” A national thanksgiving. V. 17. “Offered.” Burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. Contrast this offering with that at the dedication of Solomon's temple, 1 Ki. 8: 62-64. “For a sin-offering,” a sym bolic expiation for tha whole nation. It said; We are guilty and our lives are forfeited. It denoted that remission of sins was obtained by the shedding of blood. So they dedicated with confession of guilt and with thanksgiving, while they symbolized the coming sin-ofler ing, our Lord Jews. Both the kingdoms of Israel and of Judah had been destroyed, and though most of the returned exiles were of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, yet many be longing to the other tribes had availed them selves of the permission of Cyrus to return. The twelve tribes were once more one people. Wc must not, however, assume that repre sentatives of every tribe were actually present. V. 18, They resume at once regular worship. In the time of David the whole number of priests was divided into twenty-four classes or families, each being required to attend at the temple in succession for one week. 1 Cliron. 24: 1-18. Thus each course was actually employed only one week in about six months. The change of one class for another took place on the Sabbath. At the time of the dedication of the new temple, twenty of the old families were found without representatives, and it was therefore necessary to make anew diatribution in order to get the twenty-four classes. David divided the I,e vites into four great classes. The Ist assisted the priests; the 2d were officers and judges throughout the land ; the 3d were porters and the 4th musicians. The first class was divided into courses which followed each other, each performing ssrvice one week. See 1 Cliron. xxiii: 3-6. Although David thus divided 1 the Priests and Eevites, Moses had assigned to them their rights and privileges. See Nunt. 3: 6-49. 111. The Passover. Y. 19. The temple was finished on the fid day of the 12th month, and the exact time commanded by the law (Ex. xiiixxvi) for keeping the Passover was the 14th day of the 2nd month, or early in April. This was the first of three great festivals in order of him alter the dedication, and this the nation now kept. It was called the Passover because the Lord passed over the dwellings of the Israelites when he smote the first-born of the Egyptians, Ex. xii:.\xvii. It was called also theFeastof Unleavened Bread because only unleavened bread was eaten during its continuance. Ex. xihxv. It lasted seven days. Ex. xii:xviii. A lamb was killed and eaten by every family, and was typical of Christ, the Lamb of God. V. 20. “Purified.” Cleansed according to the method mentioned in Numbers viii:- 6-15. “Killed” by the Levites. In early times the head of each family killed the lamb for his own family. Afterwards it became tbe custom for each man to bring his lamb to the priest to he killed, commencing it would seem at the great Passover of Htz ekiah, IlChron. xxxixvii. \. 21. “All such as had separated themselves.” Probably de scendants of Jews who had not been car ried into captivity, and who had fallen into heathen practices. They now renounced heathen worship and heathen social customs, and their heathen wives. Sec Nell. x:2B 30. “Filthiness.” Idolatry, so-called becauseof the moral and ceremonial pollutions con nected with it. V. 22. “Tbe king of Assyria.” Darius. Assyria had been conquered by the Medes, and bad thus become part of the Medo-Per sian empire. PLAN OP TEACHING. Let the class read the passage, each mem ber getting out for himself the great divis ions . (See Outline.) Relate to the class the connection as given above. Fix the year in which the buildiog jvas finished aud show how many years had elapsed between laying the foundation and finishing the temple and why. Let your scholars tell all they can about the dedication. Do the same us to the I’assover, keeping especially to the ac counts given in the lesson, both ol the Ded ication and of the Passover. Make all your instruction bear Oa this point viz : that all who desire to be God’s people must serve Him in the way He has commanded. OBITUARIES. CRANE.—Died, on tho 23rd of November nit., at her rcsirlenoe, in Wilkes oounty, Ga., Mrs. Patsy Crane, at the advanced age of eighty-foar years She and her husband,Mr. Joshna R.Craue, whom she leavos behind, had lived together sixty-nine years. She was a Baptist for a great while, and an exemplary Christian. She has gone to her reward. B. M. 0. ARNOLD,—Died, at her resmence, in Wilkes couuty, Ga., on the 6tli of December, Mrs. Eunice Arnold. She was about seventy-nine years of age,aud had been a member of tho Bap tist church at Sardis, in said county, more than fifty years, having joined in July, 1828. Hav ing lived the life of a Christian, she died in hope of a bleesed immortality. B. M. C. Elder J. A- Pros tori. Died, in Paris, Texas, Nov. 4th, 1878, of ty phoid feyer, Elder J. A. Preeton, in the forty seventh year of his age. Thus liaspassed away to the region beyond the stormy land, a spirit just, generous, noble aud true. Ho was born in Walton county, Georgia, in 1832 ; baptised in Washington, Georgia, iu 1856, iu a meeting con ducted by Roy. T. C. Toasdale. D. D. Rev. 11. A. Tuppor, D.D., Pastor of the Baptist church iu Washington at that time, and now Correspond ins Secretary of the Southern Baptist Conven tion, baptized him. He studied Theology in Mercer University,then located at Penfield,Georgia, uuder tho tuition of l)r, W. W. Williams. Dr. N. M. Crawford, being President. In January. 1860, he was ordaiuelto the min istry in Washington,Ga., and iu March follow ing he was united iu marriage to Miss Cornelia C. Davis, her brother-in-law, Rev. T. J. Bowou, officiating. On the 18th of the same mouth they left Georgia for the Indian Territory, he being sont out as missionary by tho Georgia Associa tion. The wr broakmg out tho follownig year they returned to Georgia. Again 1872 they re turned to the Indian Territory nuder appoint ment of the same body. Ho was there two years, and failing in a support for his family, he settled in Paris, Texas, Lamar county, about twenty miles off tho dividing line between the Territory and Taxas, whore he opened a school. It was with regret that ho relinquished his field of la bor and only after fair trial. He continued to preach to various churches until his death, serv ing several churches at various times as pastor or supply. In the Ited River Association he was highly respected and influential, and did more than any other man to mantain by fearless ex position of Bcriptural teaching the purity of her churches. ll# devoted himself to teaching os a means of living, and purchased the “Shiloh Academy,” six miles west of Paris, where he es tablished a High School early in 1877, A month before bis death he returned with his family to Paris, hoping the change would benefit him. Elder J. A. Preston was a true man and Chris tian gentleman. His nature was frank, strigbt forward and outspoken. He knew principle only, not policy. Ho was affectionate, quiet, impulsive, ardent, faithful and true. These are not hap-hazzard adjectives, unweighed in their meaning or misapplied in their bearing. They are inspired in the writer by a brotherly fidelity on the part of the deceased, in corroding faults and encouraging in the right. He never fawned for favors, but lived pre-eminently for the puri ty of Zion. He never swerved from what he considered duty for fear, favor or affection. He was a|model husband and fat her,as well as sound theohgian and able Bible expositor. He was a Baptist on liible ground. Hoary customs and denominational usage held no place iu Ins pol ity or practice. The Bible was his authority iu matters of religion. Few men sustained purer lives. He died as he had lived, in full faith of his acceptance with Christ. From the beginning of his sickness ho despaired of recovery, and only regretted leaving his family whom ho loved with fervent tenderness to mourn his loss. On the very first day of lilts illness he called his boys to his bedside, reminded them of how he had tried to raise them, told them his career was almos . ended, and committed their mother to their care. When he saw her weeping ha said : “Don't weep for mo, there is not a cloud that darkens mv horizon—not a shadow between me and Jesus.'’ He sent for his castor,Elder John James,arrang ed for his own funeral, and oven for this obitu ary, and expressed himself as having joyful an ticipations in view of doath On Sunday bo clasped his wife's hand, aud whan asked by her what he wanted, replied: ‘Only to press your hand and say good bye.” When Bhe asked. “Oh what will wo and > without you?” he an swered : “God will take earo of you.” At times he was in a very happy frame of mind, and would repeat part of the 23rd aud 4Gth Psalms, dwelling particularly upon the last verse of the latter : “The lord of liosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." He leaves a wife aud six children, the three older ones being faithful members of the church. As Jesus left his mother to Juhu, so he left his wife to his sons. His trial of leaving thorn was a trial to his affections, not to his faith. Thus has passed from the earth a missionary whoso name deserves to be onroiled in the aiiuals of our Baptist Zion along with the names of Jtid son aud Cary, aud others iu tho far east, and those of Buokner and Murrow and others iu the near west. Iu him was exemplified the lines of a recently deceased poet. "He so lived, that when death's summons camo to join Tha iunnumerable caravan that moves, To The pale realms of shade, whore each shall take Ilis chamber in the silent hails of death. He wont not, like the quarry slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trnst, approached the grave, k 8 ou® who wraps tho drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.” T _ _ —S. A. Ilayden. Jefferson, Tex., Nov. 8, 1873. CLARKE.—Our venerable and beloved Christian bro., Jas. Clarke, fell asleep at his home in Atlanta on the afteruoonof the T2th iustaut, at the ripe age of four soore years, “coming to the grave in a full age like a shock of corn cotneth in his season.” B'-other Clarke was born in Putnam coun ty, Georgia, August 28th, 1798. He was educated under tiie care of the distinguished Dr. Church, (after wards President of Frank lin College), read law in the office of Judge Strong, and graduated from the celebrated law school of Litchfield, Connecticut. His kinsman, the Hon. Mark A. Cooper, and himself, were at the same time admitted to the bar iu the city of Augusta, and a copart nership was at once formed between them for the practice of law in Eatonton. In 1828, Mr. Clarke married Miss P. TANARUS, Wellborn (sister of the late Hon. M. J. Wellborn, of Columbus; and in 1837, he re moved to Lumpkin, Stewart county, where he continued actively in the practice of his profession. The unusual legal acquirements, stirring energy and high principle which he brought into his business in that new and rich county, soon commanded remarkable success, and in a few years he was able to retire from the active duties of his profes sion, to devote himself to planting, the ed ucation of his children, and the religious in terests of Southwest, Georgia. Only on one occasion cau lie lie said to have forsaken the retirement he lovtd—which was when he was called to serve in the great Union Con vention of 1850. In 1859, he removed to Atlanta, a reason able competence enabling him to live in comfort, and to cultivate injquiet retirement, the mental and spiritual graces which made his life a blessing to his family, to society and to tbe church. He was honored bv be ing permitted to live to sou bis children of the third generation gather about him. His death was most merciful. During his last day on earth he converted freely and cheerfully with his children—all of whom were ut his bed side, about his approaching departure, his heart being full of the love of Christ and the precious promises of the Bible. Ilis last words were: “We know that if our earthly home of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a'buildingot God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in tbe heav ens,” and so, with a smile on his face, he passed away. “The end of this man is peace.” A most excellent and tender funeral discourse was preached by Dr. H. 11. Tucker, in the Second Baptist church on Saturday the 14th instant, from the text brother Clarke had himself se lected—John xi:2s; “lam the resurrection and the life,” etc. He was buried according to hisrequest in a wooden coffin. About 25 relatives followed the remains to the grave The fife of this good man was a success rounded and complete. Acute and broad in intellect, modest and courtly in manner, sagacious and brave in action, true and firm iu principle. Brother Clarke was among the few.nohle men remaining of a generation fast passing away. His faith in Christ was hum ble, sincere and vital, with large culture and great fondness for pure literature. The Bible was to him the Book of books, the inspira tion and truth of which could not be ques tioned in his presence. Its divine principles enlightened and guided him through life, and made him eminently a just man. For the death of such a man, under such circum stances, there is occasion for no personal grief. His high example remains to ani mate those who follow after him, so that, when the dread hour comes, we may “Not sore distressed, Bat folding life’s dull garb away, ' Lie down in peace to wait the coming day, And fiad our rest.” fission fDqhuttucnl. STATE ITIISSIONS. Rev. J. H. DeVot'o, D.D., Corresponding Beo lotary. Post offioi— Atlanta, care of The In dex. Hon, Jno. H. James, Treasurer, Atlanta. Missionaries of the State Mission Board. Rev. T. C. Boykin, Sunday-school State Evange list. Rev. J. H. Campbell, D,D., Columbus Factories, and Columbus Association. Rev. \V. D. Atkinson, Black shear and Piedmont Association. Rev. D. G. Daniel, Walthourville and Sunbury Association. Rey. E L. Vaughn, P. O. Cliauncy, Brunswick Railroad. Rev, Alfred Cone, P. O. Blairsvilla. Rev. W. J. Morecock, P. O. Forsyth, Rohoboth Association. Rev. Edward Bailey, between Brunswick and Florida lino. Itov. J. R. Fields, Houston Association. Rev. T. C. Tucker, Dale county, Coosa Associa tion. Rev. A. C. Ward, Brunswick City. Rev. C. H. Htilweli, Cave Springs and Oostana ulla' Association. Rev. D. H. Moore, P. O. Knoxville, Rehoboth Association. Rev. J. M. Wood, Flint River Assoc.all on. and Evangelist. Rev. J. H. Corley, Evangelist and, Superintend ent Colored Mission. Rev. G. B. Mitchell, Messenger to Freedman. Rov. I. W. Lauier, Ogeechoe Dot riot Union Association etc. Rev. E. K. Love, Colored Evangelist to Freed men. Rov. Collins Lyons, Sunday-school Evangelist to Freedmeti. Rev. J. C. Bass, Bethel Assoaiatioa, Evrly and Miller counties. Rov. I. J. Peeler, Mt. Vernon Association. dtev. J. J. Pepkin, Mt. Vernon Association. dtev. J. M. Wood, 24 Mt. Vernon Association. Forelgu missions. Bov. C. M. Irwin, Agent for Georgia. Poat-offieo Atlanta, care of The Index. llev. tl. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Bichmond Va. Home Hlaslonis. Bov. Wm. H. Mclntoh, D.D., Corresponding Secretary, Marion. Ala. Bov. W. N. Chaudoin, Agent for Georgia, At lanta, care of Tits Index, Aged aud Indigent Ministers’ Board. Bev. A, J. Bock, Chairman, Milledgeville, Geor gia. —tf A Sudden Heath. There is something terrible iu the thought of having our friends stricken down at our side, without a parting word of endearment or oottso lation—one moment at our side in the flush of vigorous life, cheering our hearts with their loving sympathy; tho next at our feet, pale with doath, deaf to our cries and heedless of our tears. Every excessively fat person Is in instant danger of such a death. Seven-tenths of the victims of obesity die of heart disease or apo plexy. Allan’s Anti-Fat, the only remedy for obositv, reduces tho weight by regulating tho and igestion and assimilation of tho food. It is per fectly harmless-and its use will insuro, iu every instance, a rftdllflttoitstf weight from two to five l pauudg a weAk. 3