Newspaper Page Text
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Withered Hand.
(By Rev. Lansing Burrows, D. I>.)
In the early days of our Lord’s ministry,
so the evangelist Mark tells us, he entered
into one of the synagogues of the Jews,
••and there}was a man there that had a
withered hand.” Does he not often come
into the hallowed sanctuaries now and find
the same affliction ? Perhaps it is not the
withering blight of disease, but none the
less does he tifid, the helpful energies of
many a man destroyed by a worse disease
than that of body. Personal and bodily af¬
fliction may take hold ofthe best of us, and
if the malady allow, the best thing we can
do is to come into the sanctuary with our
trouble, as did this man of whom Mark
speaks. But with the withered hand that
is strong in labor and weak in Christian ef-
ticiencv, mendo not so readilv come
ing healing at the words ofthe great Pliysi-
cian.
The man in the synagogue,—did lie come
only from an idle curiosity to hear what the
miglitv teacher had to say; or from a mat¬
ter of habit, since it was the fashion to go
to the svmigogue at stated times, or in the
Imml ileindulgence of a hope that he
he healed ofhis infirmitv? Possible the 2nd
verse of the 3rd chapter might indicate the
latter, for the .enemies of Christ were seek-
ing to entrap him in violations of ceremo¬
nial law. How that may be we know not.
Brother with a withered hand of Christian
usefulness, how do you come into thesanct-
nary? That is tlie question.
The hand that never gives; the hand that
never heljis; the hand that is always
stretched out for, more blessings and that
tightens its grip on blessings that have been
rendered; the hand that is occupied in
ministering and that never finds aught to
render to another, - is not. that a withered
hand? A man may live and have a wither
ed hand, for lie may he all right otherwise,
Hi- may be very comely and loveable with
liis withered hand. Yea, a man may
Ido of srrent usefulness and have a withered
hand. But it is a sad deformity, neverthe-
All the powers of mind and nil the
e.vcellenciesof heart, may he there, hut
that which attracts tlie gaze of the by¬
stander is the withered and useless hand.
So there he many men who are able to ex¬
pound all doctrine and to argue with the
contentious and self-sufficient., or who may I
he charming in their relations with their
fellow-men, who are useless so far as the
evangelization of the world goes, and that
which is earlier marked in their character
is the withered hand.
How does the hand become withered?
some men are horn with a deformity, and
the hand we speak of may lie powerless be¬
cause of the lack of the divine energy. It
may spring from the want of converting
j tower of the Spirit of God. There
may never have been any life, only a mere
simulation of life, a profession of faith
without any possession of it. < )f course, an
unconverted man does not enjoy giving; lie
is easily persuaded to he an Anti-missiona¬
ry. The first swelling of a converted heart
is the exercise of love, A man must he
something like Christ if lie is to he one of
his. and the easiest imitation of Christ is a
loving, ministering life. I may not find it
easy to he pure and holy; well, let me be
loving and giving. Let me he like Christ
in some way. Some people think they arc
like Christ if they do one or t wo things as
he did,—submitting to Baptism, for ill-
stance, or endorsing what he said; hut a
man must be something if lie is like him.
Giving is hut the outward demonstration
of an inward glowing. The withered hand
in Christian living means a withered heart,
one must have life Di him before he can
love enough to sacrifice.
Perhaps the withered hand lias come from
the blight of prejudice. Some hands may
lie withered and deformed because of acci¬
dent. The Christian hand may have life in
il from the divine springs, hut some un¬
toward liap lias,spoiled its power and use¬
fulness. Some self-opinionated mind lias
made an avguement to prove nothing so
much as his own skill in argueineiit. Some
greedy soul has made an ill-natured remark
about the large quantities of means going
out of the country. Some wit has raised
a laugh at tlie expense of the missionary
enterprise, like that of the story that a man
gave a dollar to get a cent to the heathen.
And the poison has been injected into the
vi ’ins and there is a fever of doubt and un¬
certainty and tlie disease lodges in the
hand and it hecoins withered. The anti-
missionary who argues so cogently as to
his doctrine does not pause to think that
lie is ol'tener poisoning ingenuous spirits
who would he nobly generous if he would
hut let them alone, than honoring God by
shutting up the bowels of compassion
against his fellow men.
1’erhaps the withered hand has become so
l hrough neglect of use. There are strange
tales that come to us from the Orient of
men who, for religion’s sake, stretch forth
their arms until by disuse they fade and
shrivel and become immoveable, rt.is the
persistent use that gives such power and
symmetry to the arm ofthe artizan. The
soul dries up in its carelessness. AY a ter to
become steam must hejcontinually agitated
by tlie application of heat, else, it must be-
i-ome stagnant, impure, worthless, harm¬
ful. The great foe of all spiritual life is
selfish indulgence. The hand that does not
know how te give and help must lie con¬
tent to grow useless. Tlmt is the reason
that there are so many withered hands in
the sanctuary; they have not been taught
to find their use in persistent helpfulness.
Sometimes the hand becomes withered by
neglect through the misconception of its
THE HAPTIST REPORTER: AUG. 15.
own power. Many arnaa is ignorant o
his power, because nothing offers to draw
it out. A man may say: What can I do?
The only answer to that is, only a little.
But he dees not want to do a little; he
wants to do a great deal; and because he
cannot do much, he is content to do noth-
ing, and his hand withers. The drought is
made for want of drops. Be responsible
for vour drop, be faithful with it, and the
drops will precipitate the showers. The
need of missions to-day is not the want of
great gifts, it is the want of little gifts;
The wealthy are doing very well; the stag-
nation is caused by the want of the million
who can give hut little, who are doing
nothing because they cannot do much.
Their hands are withering. We look upon
the common cent as too insignificant, and a
man who gives a cent pickayunish. One
cent a week from the Baptist membership
of Georgia means $05,000 a year. Is that
n °thing/
Brother, have you a withered hand ? a
llal,(l that callnot ° Lve - a hand that k " ow "
not how to help? Brother are you one of
those who feels that no obligation lies up¬
on them to extend the glad tidings of the
Gospel of the Christ who came to save men ?
Brother, are you one of that large number
who last year gave absolutely nothing to
cause that lies so near the heart of your
Redeemer? Look at your hand, has there
been »><> for a year? Come into
the sanctuary upon the Sabbath and look
upon your Lord who gave himself for you.
He may say to you, “Stand forth,” and when
ho says that to you, do not understand it
as a threat of judgement. lit; means to
end heal. And there Is no healing
apart from him. Only tlie Lord of the body
can restore the withered hand. Do not be-
moan your inefficiency; do not conclude that
your case is helpless; do not quickly judge
that »« responsibility hears upon you. Go
toliiin with your withered hand. Many a
man prays for the forgiveness of sins, and
does not think to pray for increased power
01 useiulness. Many a man ilianks God
for blessings, and never asks God to make
''ini a blessing to others. Many a man asks
God to give him a clean heart, and never
asks him lor a strong arm. Are you of
these? Do you ask God to cleanse your
heart and never ask him to heal your witli-
ered hand?
MISSIONS.
By Rev. G. \V. Smith. Mill Ray. Ga.
NO. o.
The period over which I passed briefly in
my last, article, might "ell he called " 11'“
Obscure Period,” because the information
is generally scant. The churches, during
this time were not situated to prepare and
keep a record of their church work, and
much of what they did in this way, was
gathered by their enemies from time to
time, and burned. But enough has been
preserved to prove that the Churches of
Christ in all ages, have been strong advo¬
cates of a preached Gospel to all the world.
Before leaving this period, it would he well
enough to cite the reader to some historical
facts, which might throw some light on the
subject.
About the year 375,“Yalens, the Emperor,
closed the Novations' churches and banished
their minister.” “In the fourth century
Latermil Councils’ canons were made to
banish them as heretics.” These combined
modes of oppression led the faithful to
abandon the cities, and seek refuge in the
country, which they did, particularly in
the valleys of Piedmont. (Hayes' history
Ba ]i. p. 207.) How precisely does these per¬
secutions answer the discription of those in
the New Testament’s times. “At that time
there was a great persecution against the
Church which was at Jerusalem, and they
were all scattered abroad throughout the
region of Judea and Samaria. Therefore
they that were scattered abroad went every
where preaching the word.”
No Anti-mission spirit -in this. They
obeyed the great commission of our Savior,
amidst tlie rage of persecution, and they
planted the Gospel Banner upon the soil of
“Europe, particularly in Bohemia, Moravia,
Switzerland and Germany.” (Hayes' his¬
tory Bap. p. 2(17.) Thus has it pleased the
great Shepherd of the flock, to pass along
from age to age, and from country to coun¬
try with his churches. X'ever for a moment
has he allowed their principles to become
extinct. Could this possibly he done in any
other way than by Missionary effort ? This
is certainly the spirit of Missions, which is
the spirit of the word of God; when pre¬
vented from any cause in one place, go to
another. When prevented in one place
seek another. Does not this course of pro-
ceedure require agreement? They were ev¬
idently of “one mind, of one accord,” and
therefore organized in some way to carry on
the Missionary work. About the year <153,
during the reign of the Emperor Camstaus
II, a young man named Constantine, resi-
dent at Manna nails in Armenia, “was fur-
uished a copy of the Gospel and the Epistles
of Paul by a Deacon of the Christian
Church. ‘ •This he read and obeyed.”
(Ura’phis. Bap. p. 72-711.) “(shortly after
lie removed to Cihassa, where he lived and
labored for twenty-seven years. He became
a diligent and successful preacher. Great
numbers received the truth and were added
to the churches. He died the death of a
martyr.” About the year 810 Sergius, who
became one ofthe most eminent of the
joined the Paulicians. “He was influenced
by a Paulician woman to examine the
Scriptures for himself, which he did. “He
read and thought and prayed and became a
Christian indeed and in truth.” The gen¬
uineness of his conversion was exemplified
by his eminently holy life and incessant
zeal. He traveled over a large portion of
Western Asia, preaching every where and
calling on the people to abandon the follies
of a corrupted Christianity, and worship
God.” He spent thirty-four years in this
way, and marvelous results accompanied
his efforts.” (Cramp history Bap. p. lb.)
“Multitudes were converted, no less than
o»e hundred thousand Paulicians were put
*° death from A. D. 8o<> to 83U. Sergius was
one of the victims.” The Missionary spirit
manifested by those brethren was evidently
the cause.
“During this obscure period in Europe,
we cannot," says Dr. Cram]), “fully gather
from the scattered historical writings, all
the opinions supposed to he held by the re-
formers. It is a curious fact that Italy was
the fountain head of these heresies, power-
lid and as cunning as the Popes were, they
could not preserve their own territory from
the spiritual infection. Now and then the
hidden seed sprouted up and showed itself
above the ground.” (Cramp’s history Bap.
P. «•)
This spiritual infection which invaded the
territories ofthe Topes, was most assuredly
the result of Missionary efforts. This spirit
brought Christ to earth, and led all the
Apostles to sacrifice their lives for the
Cross. The persecutions endured hv all the
churches of Christ during this entire period
proves to a clear demonstration, that it was
on account of the zeal manifested in the
propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Truth the Word of God.
“Had we,” says I)r. Cramp, “the letters
of Sergius, which Befrus Seoul us, says his
followers valued highly, we would lie able to
give full and accurate information concern¬
ing their work.” This, however, is certain,
that a religious movement, springing from
God’s word, and so fully maintained against
all opposition, that two hundred years after
its rise, one hundred thousand of its ad¬
herents were cut olf without destroying the
body. They must have possessed a mighty
influence.” (Cramp’s history Bap. p. 78.)
“I agree,” says Dr. Cramp, “with Joseph
Milner in this case. ■ We have One of those
extraordinary effusions of the Divine Spirit,
by which the knowledge of Christ and the
practice of Godliness is kept alive in the
world.’ Is not this the same divine spirit
by which the knowledge of Christ is con¬
veyed to nil the heathen world, poured out
through tin* Missionaries ofthe present age? i
There is no other way known in the Divine !
"'owl, o'’ bas been revealed to Ills Church, j
by which the world lias or may he diftused \
by the divine spirit, only through human in- [
slrumentality, and that Christ lias devised
the means in his churches during the most
obscure periods of the Christian dispensa,
tion to carry out his purpose.”
1 have only referred to a few instancesdu- \
ring Ill is da rk period of the church, to prove
that God’s plan for carrying on 11 is work
could not lie frustrated, even during these
most perilous times. Many others could he
mentioned, hut if they will not believe God's
word, “They would not believe one though
he were to rise from the dead."
The true Church of Christ, has respected
the laws of his kingdom ill every age of the
Christian dispensation. He has founded
his church on a sure foundation, and he so
securely guards it, that all tlie powers of
darkness combined, “.Shall not prevail
against it." The means for its support are
also securely set forth, and provided, and
will he in all time to come, in despite of all
the anti-mission spirits in tlie land.
Glory to liis name for such bountiful pro¬
visions! What I have said must suffice for
the obscure period.
In my next article I will begin with .Mis¬
sions in modern times. This perhaps, would
have been quite sufficient, with the Bible in
hand, to have satisfied all unbiased minds
on the subject. But some of our anti-mis¬
sion brethren claim priority denomination¬
ally, upon tlie ground that the modern mis¬
sionary effort was unknown to primitive
churches, and their successors. I have
thought it would lie in place to call their at¬
tention to gome of the historical facts rela¬
tive to the churches in carrying out the
spirit of the great commission, in tlie most
obscure periods. I wish to remind them sit
the same time, that their position lias no rep¬
resentation beyond the year 1827, about
which time they departed from primitive
principles, on the subject of missions, and
thereby stand as secessionists to first princi¬
ples on this subject. The Master has com¬
manded ids followers to "preach the Gospel
to every ereatuoe," hence it is a question of
loyalty.
ZEKE JOHNSON S LETTER.
Looking Back—thoughts on Death-
Old Songs—Going to Work.
Where is cousin Jonh? He must he pull¬
ing fodder. Come, Jonh, sharpen your
goose-quill and pitch in. The editor says he
will have plenty of room. I love to read the
letters in the Reporter.
I got to studying the other day about lots
of things; about what I know and what 1
don’t know, and 1 think I don’t know more
than 1 know. Sally says that’s the way of
it, and what she don’t know would make
some big hooks. I have had a sorter sneak¬
ing idea all along, that Sally was smarter
than me, and I think she has the same idea
too. But the wisdom of the Johnson family
never does much harm. When I try to look
hack at my life it makes me feel had. I can
see so many failures; so many years gone
never to return, so many opportunities to
learn, to do good, to grow in grace and use¬
fulness, to do kind acts when I neglected
them, to make hearts glad by a little deed of
love. O how I wish that I could recall some
oflife’sopportunities. I’d try to lie a better
man, a better husband, a better father, a
better neighbor, a better citizen, a better
Christian, (if 1 may claim Hie name). Young
men, I tell you lost opportunities never
comeback. Many of your had habits will
hang to you to the grave. Death is a sad
thought. I was thinking about it yesterday.
Some day, 1 know not when, old Zeke will
die, maybe suddenly, maybe after long and
painful sickness, maybe conscious, maybe
unconscious, I cannot tell. But sometime
ere long 1 must meet the dread messenger.
The physician's help, the tearful prayer will
he vain. The light will fade from these old
eyes, the hand that writes these lines will
he still, the old heart that throbs with the
emotions of a secret prayer for sustenance in
that hour, will cease to move, and I shall ex-
pjore that.country where spirits go. I sup-
pose they will burv me, the worms will feed
on on poor old body, and in a few days the
tears will all he dry and that will be the
pist at 1 mt 1 so far as the world is concerned,
what the reward in that other world will he
1 cannot tell, hut l believe in Jesus Christ
iU1( ]
“1 - have a sweet hope that in heaven above
The Savior is waiting for me;
That ransomed and saved by his mere;)
Mv tvi ”' I i < ( | He’ll he.”
But l tell you, dear reader, if it was not
foi- tlie hope that I have in Jesus 1 would be
a very miserable man. Sometimes I have
anticipations of heaven; I seem to have a
kind of fore-taste of the joys in store for the
p,, jtliful, and this poor old stammering
tongue tries to sing:
“On Jordan’s stormy hanks 1 stand.
And east a wishful eye;
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.”
O, how good these old songs are! 11 ' 1
could sing like some people, I’d weary Sally
terribly. Seems to me that the old songs are
the best or the sweetest. 1 remember hear¬
ing my old mother sing,
U How firm a foundation, ye saints of the
Lord,”
many a time, and when 1 hear that blessed
old song, it moves this old heart and wets
these old eyes with tears. Thank God for
that song, and for putting it into Kirkliam’s
heart.
There are songs for every trial and station
in life. I was at a Methodist meeting once
and the preacher got happy, reckon, and
broke out.
“Dear brother, ain’t you lmppy,
And don’t you want, to go,
To leave this world of trials
And troubles here below?
Lord 1 want more religion
To help me on to Thee.”
Vm , ( . (X ,. S pe01 , Ie wuilt nmre , ,, ml „ e ed
more. Some unknown poet contemplating
death, says,
“<) for the death of those,
That slumber in the Lord!
(), he like theirs’ my last repose,
Like their’s my hist reward!”
But jierliaps tlie tenderest. and most con¬
soling song for us in the contemplation of
our departure from earth, is tlie sweet, sad
lines by .Mrs. Macay,
“Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep,
From which none ever wakes to weep—
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last of foes.
Asleep May in Jesus! O, for me
such a blissful refuge he:
Securely shall my ashes lie,
And wait the summons from on high.
Brethren, (sisters too, especially) I think
if we would all sing more we would get along
better. When Sally sings we always have
a happy day. If all tlie Sallies and Zekes
would sing more and grunt and grow! less
this would he a much better world.
“Singon Ye ransomed your heavenly sinners' way,
Sing rejoicing sing;
In Christ on tlie Eternal every King.” day,
The devil can’t stand a singing church or
Christian. They never have any singing
where lie stays, it is all crying, and sighing
and wailing. O, the terrors of a place where
songs are never heard! God save us from
such a world as that!
1 hope our prospects are better at Cypress
Creek Church; we are going to work pretty
soon. We have lead no conference since my
last.
Zeke Johnson.
MLSSIOXAKY TOUR.
Dear Importer :—Having met Bro. Gelg-
cv at Springfield, and enjoyed several of liis
excellent sermons, with which the church
was highly pleased and by which they feel
greatly henefitted, I started on my,line of
appointments. As Guyton was nearly on
my route, I decided to go and see Bro. T.AY.
Lanier, hoping to learn that his health is
improving, I also hoped to gain more know¬
ledge from Bro. Scnrboro of tlie work before
me, ami thereby catch more zeal in the
cause of Jesus for this part ofhis vineyard,
i could not have gone to a better mail than
Bro. Scarboro. His heart grew warm, and
Ills’eyes were filled with the emotions of his
soul as he talked of these neglected spots;
fields ripe unto harvest without a reaper to
cast in his sickle for tile Lord’s garner. N’or
was he less ardent when lie reasoned on the
subject of temperance. Few, indeed, were
the afternoons of my life that were spent
more pleasantly or profitably.
After prayer meeting l spent the night
with Bro. T. AY. Lanier. If a man’s infiu-
ence is to be measured by his efforts to ac¬
complish something in life, and he of ad¬
vantage to the community and age in which
he lives,Bro. Lanier’s influence is not weak.
On the fourth of July, I crossed the Ogee-
chee and met a small congregation at Union
Fond. Tins church is so small that it can
scarcely he seen with the natural eye. If
some preacher, living sufficiently near, or
serving a church In reach, would constantly
visit and pray with the non-professors living
within a radius of four or five miles of this
place, such labors would soon pro .luce a
magnifying glass through which could be
seen a large, well proportioned a ml prosper¬
ous church.
'The attendance at Cleveland was large
and interest good. There will, ere long,
doubtless he a church at this place.
5
At Excelsior, this energetic, devoted and
noble brotherhood treated me as they are in
the habit of treating Baptist preachers, by
appreciating me and my services, caused
me to appreciate them while I was present,
and on my.leaving gave me a purse to keep
the witch’s old sadde from wearing my
clothes thread-bare on my journey.
At Salem the congregation was small:
but for once, perhaps, the old maxim, “the
fewer, the better share,” was verified, as
those present enjoyed the services.
At Evergreen, having held four services
with these brethren, we said “good bye,” to
meet more new faces at Mt. Zion. To men¬
tion the names of the many excellent breth¬
ren we met, would he too tedious, and to
mention some, would he only to omit scores;
the most worthy one of whom none could de¬
cide.
At Mt. Jazer, the church and people en¬
joyed the meetings, llro. Floyd Williams, a
member of this church and ofthe Executive
Committee, asked me if I could serve the
('11 ion Association as missionary; I was
then hardly prepared to answer. But since,
1 have decided if the Union and Mt. Vernon
Associations will together employ me, as¬
signing my territory in the southern and
western portions of the Union and in the
southern and eastern portions of Mt. Ver¬
non. If these two associations will co-op-
erate with the State Board, and make a
three years’ contract with me at a salary
sufficient to support my family, a wife and
two children, I will move to that territory
and labor in that capacity.
Bro. Patil lo is laboring faithfully and ac¬
ceptably for the Mt. Vernon Association,
hut the field is entirely too large for him.
The Methodists and Advents are stepping
lively; hut the Baptist vineyard is almost
without laborers, because “no man has
hired” them. The month 1 have just spent,
unltiml, in this part- of the vineyard, is In
far the most profitable month of my life.
It is sad that we, the holders up of God’s
eternal truth have failed to he vigilant over
this part of our charge, and the wicked one,
seeing our carelessness, has sent there a re¬
ligion, so called, alas! a diabolical dogma,
rather, that just suits the sinner’s heart.
hut deludes his mind, and instead of saving
condemns his immortal soul. I formed my
conclusion after conversation with several of
( avgyle's followers, whom 1 met in Emanuel
and counties.
But to return to the details of my tour,
At Reidsville, had a pleasant and respect¬
ful audience, to whom I delivered* a inedio-
cral sermon; and, after dining with Bro.
McGee, started for Union Hill, where I met
a congregation full of that gist and vim of¬
ten characteristic of young churches. That
night 1 went near Providence to Mr. James
Usher’s formerly a resident of this (Screven)
county. The next morning I went with him
to his fish trap in the Altanmha, and I saw
liim and his son Eli, take a fish that weighed
twenty-eight pounds. We then hung up a
watermelon that pulled down fifty-six
pounds. About two hours after the next
meal, l told Air. Usher that my. wife’s fami¬
ly suffered from hereditary indigestion, and
that 1 was then fully realizing that 1 was a
member of that family. The four services
held with this church were highly enjoyed.
It was here I met Bro. James Evans and
his son Benjamin, from Screven, who, after
treating me most kindly at their homes ae-
eompanied me to Alilligan's Creek, where
we were met by a small hand of first-rate
and high-toned citizens. That night I met
Bro. Patillo at Long Pond. The next day
we dined at Dr. Aloblev’s. The doctor is of
a reticent and inohtrusive nature,hut a man
of fine sense and very generous. The kind-
ness we received from himself and family.
can hardly die while memory lives. Thence
we went to hold two meetings, one at Union
Hill and one at Alilligan’s Creek. These
meetings were good. The only regret was
that we were compelled on account of other
engagements, to close them too soon. There
were two accessions at Union Hill, and Bro.
Mann’s son and two daughters joined at
Alilligan’s Creek.
Thence to Mt. Vernon. Thence to the gen-
e ral meeting at Pendleton’s Springs. The
(!row d was small on Friday, but much larger
on Saturday. After the sermon it was
moved that we discuss the question: “Is
feet washing an ordinance or an example?
if either, why not observe it?” After a con-
tinned and warm debate, it was resolved
that we adopt the old decision of forty years
ago:
“As regards the washing of the saints’
feet, let every one enjoy liis own opinion, and
observe this example whenever he and one
or more ofhis brethren desire, provided they
do not consider it a church ordinance, as
there is no Scripture to warrant such a con¬
clusion.”
Here I left Bro. Patillo, and after a very
hard drive Sunday morning reached Poplar
Spring at the conclusion of the services, to
announce to the brethren from the various
churches that l would not pass back through
Emanuel and Bulloch as I had said in the
tion Reporter, of August hut would spend the better por¬
in Montgomery county.
It would have afforded me great pleasure
to visit tlie many friends and brethren whose
had acquaintance I formed last year In Emanuel,
not a better knowledge of the destitution
directed me differently. There is a call from
tlie Enal,Bulloch neighborhood of Air. Win. Michael’s near
some Baptist preacher county, which it is to he hoped
I must will soon answer.
and 1 must now stop lease for the sake of brevity,
as home lor my second trip.
Vivian, g <>• J. Thompson.
a.
So Nice.
Several hundred of our subscribers are in
arrears. It would he so nice if all would re¬
new. We kiiuH this is a time when mono
it?) is^soaree, (did you suppose wc didn’tknow
and that is the reason it would he so
uiee to get a few dollars. Cottou is opening
and we are looking for all our friends to
new as soon as they We re¬
urged by a host of brethren can. have been
Reporter weekly; to make tlie
a we have done it, now
what may we expect of you, brethren?
v .tr. * — *~-..