The Christian index. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1892-current, October 20, 1892, Page 4, Image 4
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PEACE THROUGH LOVE.
Nothing short of mutual Christian
affection can prevent dissensions in
the church. Such was the senti
ment of the apostle, if we may sup
pose the arrangement of his sen
tences to indicate the order and
connection of his ideas. The com
mandment to mutual love precedes
the counsel against contention,as if to
prepare the way for it and render it
possible obedience to it. “If there
be, therefore, any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship o f the Spirit, i f
any bowels and mer
cies, fulfil ye my joy that ye he like
minded, having the same love, be
ing of one accord, of one mind.’’
This is the language which opens
the door for the requirement that
‘■nothing should be done through
strife or vain-glory,” but that “in
lowliness of mind each should es
teem others better than themselves,’’
(Phil. 2: 13). Was not the former
advice designed to indicate the dis
position, the latter to direct its exer
cise? that to inspire the feeling, this
to define its operations'? the one to
provide the sufficient cause,
the other to announce its legitimate
effect? Doubtless so. It follows
that mutual Christian affection is the
great, the only safeguard of the
Church’s peace. When flames of
dissension threaten to break forth,
this is the true “fire-annihilator,” and
there is no other.
A little thought confirms the view.
If the spirit of affection be a stran
ger to the hearts, its place must bo
tilled by the opposite spirit, enmity,
or at best, the negative spirit,indiffer
ence.And when jealousy whispers its
low suspicions to a people, when sel
fishness throws the apple of discord
among them, when factions begin to
sprout up here and there as mush
rooms after a rain, when the waters
of debate and variance, which always
flow from little springs and springs
underground, are making gradual
way into their midst, —what office
then can indifference or enmity dis
charge? Can they teach sincere sol
icitude for mutual happiness? Can
they school the tongue intoobedicnce
to the law of kindness, or render
the hand open as day to melting
charity,” or do thy brother’s work of
help in the a lief! a spirit of uncon
cern? Never; as easily might a
stone supply the place of bread, or a
serpent fulfill the office of a fish.
Give these unkindly feelings the in
structions of policy, caution and
prudence; let them dread for thern
relves the consequences of their own
development; fix them in the firm
resolve that the shame of their nak
edness shall not appear; even then,
thus warned and checked, they
must, sooner or later, aggravate the
inflamings and outflamings of con
tention, and throw fresh fuel on the
treacherous, fierce fires. For, out of
the abundance of the heart the
mouth will speak; an evil tree must
bring forth corrupt fruit; and a
spirit of malice by sure gradations
obtains vent for itself in a life of
malice, if, therefore, the church
would protect herself from dissen
sion, mutual Christian affection need
leave no space for enmity or indiffer
ence among her sons and daugh
ters.
One cheerful aspect of the case
suggests itself. It has not befallen
us that we should need to ask, “I low
may we secure the existence of
Christian affection in hearts that are
are Christian ? As wisely might we
ask, how shall we so learn the struc
ture and function of the lungs as to
be able to breath? Or, how shall we
acquire a knowledge of the location
and action of the arteries and veins
sufficient to bring about a circula
tion of the blood through our sys
tem? Jf these vital bodily functions
are inseparable from animal life,
not less truly is sincere Christian af
fection inseparable from spiritual life.
Its genus lie in every renewed
heart, and form no obscure element
of the character it received in its
birth from above. They are there
because inherent to the nature of
holiness itself. When the believer
attempts the cultivation of this
grace, then, he should not feel as if
he were setting himself to the purj
suit of a new and unknown princi
ple ; he is not called to create, but
to conserve, to set in order and to
perfect
We may enter on this task of con.
serving and perfecting hopefully,
because the affection, as an element
of holiness, strikes an effectual blow
it the root of human selfishness.
W hen We become the children of
God, there is impressed on ns a
strong and prevailing tendency to
love that which is right for its own
sake; thanks for the sake of its
rightness in itself and of itself. This
tendency, carried to development,
becomes, many times, a joyful.ador
ation of the holiness of God, of that
one only light in which is no dark
ness at all, even though for a season
we turn our eyes away from its as
sociation with benevolence in the
promotion of true and enduring
blessedness for us. So also it be
comes a delight in the moral and
spiritual excellence of others, with
out respect to the question of its in
fluence over our personal interest
and happiness. Here, then, if no
where else, the soul learns to heed
the plea of love to it, though no heed
should be given to the plea of self
from it. And this is as David’s sling
and sword against the Goliath of
Church Dissension.
This tendency puts another hope
ful aspect on our effort to cultivate
Christian affection. It is constituted
for adaptation to the actual state of
things; in other words, it is a love
for that which is right, wherever it
is, and just as it is. The real right,
however small it may be, wins real
love in its own degree; ami the in
termixture of defect and infirmity
cannot estrange it. We know that
the supposition contradicts itself,
but grant its possibility; then, we
venture to say that if Michael, the
archangel, contending for the body
of Moses, could have distinctly re
cognized in the bosom of*his antag
onist, the “archangel ruined,” one
holy principle, he would have looked
on that with pleasure and compla
cency. And our Saviour, we know,
beheld a young man, who could no
more enter into into the kingdom of
heaven than a camel could pass
through the eye of a needle, and
loved him, loved him in spite of his
faults, loved him for the virtues that
were faulty but not loving the fault
iness. If we work after His pattern,
will Ho not help the working?
We engage in this culture of
Christian affection with the energy
of hopefulness from a further con
sideration. The regenerate soul be
gins its new life as it were looking
through the clear and pitying eyes
of God, and learns more and more to
behold every form of moral evil
rather in sorrow than in anger.
Even while it hates its own trans
gressions its mood is to pity and
commiserate the transgressions of
others. It loathes the sin, and yet
loves the sinner. It forbears to
curse the fiend or fiend’s dupe that
tempts, though it deeply abhors the
temptation. It is with that heart as
with God, who looked on the wicked
ness of the world, and hated it; look
ed on the “world” nevertheless, and
loved it! What bulwarks ami battle
ments such a spirit builds and
must build about the church’s
peace.
Let persons who possesses the
traits of character imperfectly
sketched be thrown together; mul
tiply their numbers to an indefinite
extent; diversify their circumstances
into every possible aspect of the so
cial relations; lead their experiences
along all varieties of tried and try
ing paths. Through the whole, if
they see in each other that which is
right, even though it be mingled
with much of defect (an infirmity
and defect which shall excite only
sorrow and pity), they will love each
other without instruction, love each
other by a property inborn through
he new birth, love each other na
turally as regards the nature coming
from above, love each other by the
force and operation of the principles
which are essential to the spirit of
holiness. It was by virtue of this
fact that I’anl wrote to the Thessa
lonians: “As touching brotherly
love, ye need not that I write unto
you; for ye yourselves are taught
of God to love one another.” It is
an instinct of our spiritual existence
an immediate and original impulse
which does not tarry for the slow
and dubious step of argument and
reason. And therefore John unfolds
the great principle that if we have
the genuine love of holines which is
itself largely the holiness of men, it
will move us as certainly to love the
church for its excellencies as to love
God for his perfection. “We know
that we have passed from death into
life because we love the brethren.”
“If a man say I love God, and hat
eth his brother, he is a liar; for he
that loveth not his brother whom ho
hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen.” “If we
love one another God dwelleth in
us, and his love is perfected in
us.”
This love alone is the highway of
the church to peace, and the peace (
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY. OCTOBER 20. 1892.
should be as universe! as the love: it
will be, if the love is rightly cultured.
And here there needs a word of
warning, lest we be understood rath
er to dissuade from effort than to
protect effort against despondency.
If the existence of this Christian af
fection be secure J,o every Christian
in advance of effort on his part, if it
comes to him by the grand change
which makes him a Christian and
does not remain to be brought into
possession by after-thought and af
ter labor, still it is mere possession,
mere existence, which is thus estab
-ished. He should strive to aug
ment the meassure of its power on
his bosom and over his life. Hin
drances obstruct its operation ; many
a chilling frost falls on it, some times
nipping its tender bud, sometimes
killing it to the very root. But that
root lives, and he mast guard it in its
growth again, if need be watering it
with tears. And this culture of love to
the strength of ripe age is the legiti
mate field of his toil and enterprise,
the legitimate and the unbounded
field. Well might Paul pray for his
sons in the gospel, “The Lord make
you to increase and abound in love
one toward another!” So too let
writer and reader mutually pray.
HINDERING THE GOSPEL.
In a true and very important
sense “the word of God is not bound.”
It has behind it, and pledged to its
final triumphs, the omnipotence and i
promise of its author. It shall not
return unto him void, but it shall ac
complish that whereto he sends it.
Can puny man dam the mighty cur
rent of Niagara ? No more can he
prevent the onward flow of the bless
ed voice of salvation. Yet God has
been pleased to commit unto his peo
ple the gospel of reconciliation, with .
the command to declare it to the i
world. Alas, how often are the I
friends of Christ found hindering its
progress !
The gospel has been shamefully
hindered by being perverted. How
fearful are the apostolic denuncia
tions of perverters of the gospel.
Read the burning words falling
from the pen of Paid in Gal. 1 :7-9 :
“'There are some that would pervert
the gospel of Christ. But though
we, or an angel from heaven, should
preach any gospel other than that
which wo preached unto you, let
him be anathema.” The gospel is
the last will of our Lord. He
left it to be observed and preserved
Inviolate, and it is sinful temerity to
alter or evade its plain items. Its
doctrines and its ordinances, every
one has its proper and Christ-ordain
ed place and purpose. The history i
of Christianity is full of warning !
along this line. The brightness of
its pristine glory confounded gain—
sayers. They were constrained by
its beauty, and won by its purity.
Its proud triumphs began to be
bounded only when early corruptions
were engrafted. Its life was buried
in the grave of constantly increas
ing superstition and ritualism.
One familiar with the almost uni.
versal perversion of Christianity in
the beginning of the seventh centu
ry, does not marvel at the rise and
rapid progress of Mahomet. That
“false prophet” struck valiant blows
at the prevailing corruption of Chris
tian faith ami practice. He scorned I
the Christianity of the period, which
gave him birth and training, as a car
icature of the glorious gospel of
Christ, and in some respects preach
ed a purer faith and life to his fol
lowers than that held forth by a su-
- I
perstitious ami arrogant priesthood.
And to-day the corruptions of Cath
olocism have made French, Spanish
and Italian intellect infidel. A po
tent example of the same kind is
seen in the history of New England-
Orthodoxy in the last century grad
ually ignored the fundamental doc
trines of the atonement and a regen
erated church membership, and the
sad consequence was the ruinous
spread of Vnitarianism.
The gospel is hindered also by
our unfaithfulness to duty. Chris -
tian living should be a practical de
monstration and illustration of the
sanctifying power of the gospel.
How tender the word of the Apostle
to the I’hilipplans : “Only let your
conduct be worthy of the Gospel of
Christ.” The very heart of the
writer goes out in loving anxiety for
his children in the faith. Unbecom- j
ing conduct on the part of professors (
of religion is a sad barrier in the .
way of the gospel. We may “hold
the truth in unrighteousness'’—that
is, “hold back,” or hinder, the truth. '
Just in so far as we are unfaithful to |
our duty to God, to the church, and
to the world, “we hinder the gospel.”
The world expects much of Chris
tians. Its standard of the Christian
life is lugh. Wo know its criticisms
and judgments are oft erroneous, its
censures undeserved and unjust.
Yet, to our shame, be it said, we not
infrequently bring reproach ou the
cause of our Master by our conduct.
We should seek to be above re
proach in our lives, exercising ever
a holy influence on those without
the pale of salvation. When a
Christian shows unholy temper, uses
profane or ungodly language, indul
ges in questionable worldly amuse
ments, walks in open sin, overreach
es in trade, or does anything incon
sistent with the purity demanded in
the gospel, he hinders that gospel,
and is a stumbling block in the way
of others.
On the other hand we may have
the exalted honor and privilege of
advancing the gospel, of being “fel
low-helpers of the truth.” Serious
ly consider that you may thus help
the gospel by such study and medi
tation as shall deeply impress the
soul with a true sense of the value of
the truth. The more we value the
gospel the more ardent our desire to
prosper it. Our appreciation of it
will increase with reverent and spir
itual study. Jesus said “Come and
see” to one who inquired concerning
him, and to the captious Jews he
said, “If any man is willing to do
his will, he shall know of the teach
ing.” Sincere sitting at Jesus’ feet
will enhance our spiritual perception
of the excellency of his gospel, and
we shall more and more behold its
perfect adaptation to our moral and
mental necessities. Max Muller
wrote a splendid truth when he
penned this paragraph : “No one
can know what Christianity really is
so well as he who has patiently and
impartially studied the other reli
gions of the world ; and no one can
so truly and sincerely say with Paul,
“1 am not ashamed of the gospel.’ ”
One who thus appreciates the gos
pel should be zealous in “holding
forth the word of life,” by tongue
and deed. Gratitude for grace so
full and free should constrain our
ransomed souls. Having ourselves
been blessed by the gospel, surely
one joy shoidd be to spread its glad
tidings to all the world. Each child
of God should recognize this obliga
tion. Every heart and life should
feel the quickening impulse, and con
secrate time, talent and means to the
“furtherance of the gospel.”
OAHENSLEYISM.
The New York Times tells, in the
following paragraph, who Cahensley
is, and what bis plans and purposes
are:
“Cahensley, as is well known, is
the general secretary of the St. Ra
phael Society. The latter has its
agents in every European port
through which emigrants pass in con
siderable numbers. It is their pur
pose to direct, if possible, the stream
of immigration and to keep the emi
grant loyal to old world traditions.
He is warned against American in
fluences as being dangerous to his
faith. It is the purpose of that soci
ety to centralize, solidify, and isolate
the foreign Catholic emigrants and to
secure them at any cost and by any
means against Protestant and Amer
ican ideas. This accounts for the
largo German and Polish colonies all
over the West and for the refusal of
foreign Catholics everywhere to be
come Americanized.”
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, took
occasion, while discussing the Chinese
Exclusion bill, last Spring, to express
the opinion that “the attempts of
Cahensley made last year to denation
alize American institutions and to
plant as many nations as there are
people of foreign tongues, is a matter
of more profound concern than all
the Chinese questions that have
arisen since 1858.”
M hereupon a National convention
of a Catholic Benevolent Association
held in Dubuque, la., Sept. 20, de
manded a public retraction of Mr.
Davis. He not only refuses to re
tract, but reiterates, with emphasis,
his former statement, and warns the
country of the danger if Cahensley
is allowed to carry out bis scheme.
At a recent congress held in New
ark, N. J., the German-speaking
Catholics of this country endorsed
Cahensley's Society and gave utter
ance to the following sentiments
which plainly show the spirit that an
imates these societies:
“Our public schools are denounced
as ‘abominable in their very nature.’
The English is declared to be a vile
language fit only for cursing and the
demand is made that the instruction
given in the German parochial
schools shall be in the German lan
guage. All Roman Catholic voters
are advised to vote only for candi
dates who are in their view sound on
the school question. Probably these
Eersons will not carry with them all
toman Catholics in their projected
raid on our institutions. They seem
to have come hither to enjoy freedom,
and they propose to stab us to the
heart.”— Religious Herald, Hartford.
It is said that a voice has been
denied to three animals, the
porcupine, the giraffe, and the
armadillo. We wish that there
might be added a fourth, at least
until the elections are over; and
that fourth, the Demagogue ! How
sweet a silence this Quartette of
Muteness would make in all the
land ; sweeter than any music that
could be invented to break it,
certainly so if the inventor were
Wagnerian 1
A BUSY BIRTH-DAY.
It chanced that the account wffiich
Dr. Wm. E. Hatcher, of Richmond,
Va., gave of his recent birth-day has
just fallen into our bands. This ac
count is so characteristic of the man
and the brother, that we place it be
fore our readers, though it may seem
“out of due time
“Personal remarks being now in
order we veture to observe that we
had a birthday last week. We can
not quite say with the colored broth
er when the boys asked him how
many Chtistmases he had seen, re
plied that he could not say exactly,
but he reckoned that ‘he had seen
two or three hundred of them.’ Not
so many birth-days have we celebrat
ed, but wc have had many, and every
one has been a crown of God's love.
We cannot hope for very many more
such days on the earth, but we do
hope fora life which while it has a
beginning will have no end.
“It is our joy to always be busy
on our birth-days, but as our last
birth-day was fearfully hot and as it
was Monday (always a languid day
for a preacher) and as we were sup
porting a formidable carbuncle on the
finger, and as the doctor seemed set
on our being particular we did not
attempt any extensive work. We
merely travelled seventy or eighty
miles on the train, rode over twenty
miles in a buggy and preached morn
ing and afternoon in Caroline, and
went to Hanover and lectured at
night. The rest of the day we lay
around and did nothing.”
If we may be more definite than
Dr. IL, he crossed what was once re
garded as “the ministerial dead-line’’
seven years ago; but this account
shows that death in that shape, if he
has suffered it, is not inconsistent
with a masterful activity in the
sphere of mortal things, such as
might well be the envy even of Her
bert Spencer’s ghosts in the palmiest
days he assigns them. Younger men,
men of more robust physique, and
men who would little like to be sus
pected of taking their ease in an un
due degree, may derive a lesson from
it.
But, alas, no human virtue is per
fect or incapable of being weakened
and worn down for a season, just as
the most fertile soil now and then
bears a scanty harvest; and there is
one point in this account which, we
are frank to say, gives us pause. To
approach it aright, let us recall the
times when, almost weekly we talked
over with the young Manchester
pastor his skeleton sermons for the
Sabbath with no very serious detri
ment to the sermons we hope from
words of ours, seeing the words were
spoken to a man of judgement if not
by one. In the spirit of those old
unforgotten and unforgettable days
we speak, then. Refresh your mem
ory with the usual common places
that as “sands make the mountain
and moments make the year” so from
acts like scrimpest morsels may grow
habits of evil to crash as huge ava
lanches across the path of life, and
then tell us Dr.: that lying around
and doing nothing—to what may it
not grow if you indulge it ? Don't
you, after all your fair promise and
fairer performance, lapse into a cleri
cal lazy-bones like your neighbor—
over in Europe. Remember, sloth is
a fault, is a temptation at least, of
the old; and if you let any traces
of it appear in your walk and way
there are many who will be swift to
argue that the number of your birth
days is getting nearer to the number
of the colored brother’s christtnases
than you care to say anything about.
May their number grow, each mark
ing a year of higher Christian ’influ
ence,until the call to the Upper Sanct
nary rings out after happy and long
delay 1
A MORE HOPEFUL VIEW.
In many of the articles written
for our religious papers a very dis
couraging view of preachers and the
character of their preaching, of the
churches and their condition, of
Christians and their work, is pre
sented. The preachers are not
preaching the gospel, the churches
are asleep, Christians, generally, are
indifferent, while the world is awake,
the devil is astir, and wickedness is
on the increase.
These representations are made
with the purpose of stimulating
preachers, and churches, and Chris
tians to greater activity. They are,
however, more depressing than stim
ulating.
There are more earnest gospel
preachers in the w orld to-day than
ever before. The churches general
ly, are better informed, better or
ganized, and more active than they
have ever been.
There are more consecrated, pi
ous, liberal, individual Christians in
the world to-day than ever blessed
it before. The Spirit of the living
God is as powerful in the conversion
of sinners, and in the guiding,
strengthening, and enlightening of
true believers as He ever was.
The growth of the churches in
numbers and in spirituality is as
great to-day, or greater, than in any
past period of its history. Millions
of Bibles are being printed and the
number is constantly increasing*
There are more people reading and
studying the Bible than ever read
or studied it in the past. There are
more learned scholars expounding
the Bible now than at any previous
time. There are more books and
papers about the Bible than were
ever printed and circulated before.
There is more money given for
the spread of the gospel, for the
founding and support of religious
schools, than was ever given before-
There are more missionaries in
the home and foreign fields to-day
than ever worked in them in the
past.
The Bible is translated into
enough languages and dialects in
common use among men to enable
almost every one who can read to
study the book for himself.
Zion is awaking and putting on
her strength. The world is astir
on the great matter of salvation
through Jesus Christ.
Though the devil U loose, his ad
versaries] numerous, and the world
cursed with sin, and blackened with
crime, yet, God rules, Jesus is in the
midst of His Church, the Holy Spir
it is convincing of sin, of righteous
ness, and of judgment, and the king
doms of this world are becoming the
kingdoms of our Lord and of His
Christ. 'Take courage, and with
songs of praise go on with your
work.
J. W. FEARS.
Walking down Peachtree St. a
few days ago, near the Ist Metho
dist, Church. Atlanta, I saw two
gentlemen standing on the opposite
side, engaged in conversation. They
proved to be two old friends, one
Prof. Williams, Principal of the
Academy for the Blind, at Macon,
the other, J. W. Fears, formerly of
Madison Ga. I went across to where
they were standing, and upon ex
changing salutions, found that they
were both in excellent health. See
ing Mr. Fears reminded me that my
acquaintance with him began in 18-
52, at Madison. It brought to mind
Rev. C. M. Irwin, who was then
pastor of the Baptist Church there.
I told Mr. Fears of Bro. Irwin’s re
cent illness, and also mentioned the
fact that Bro. H. C. Hornady was in
a very low condition of health. He
expressed great regret at hearing of
their illness, at the same time con
gratulated himself upon his own ex
cellent health.
Imagine my surprise then, on see
ing, a few days ago, the announce
ment of his death at Toccoa. It led
me to reflect upon the uncertainty
of life, and of how little even the
healthiest and strongest can count
upon it. Brethren Irwin and Ilorna
dy, who seemed almost .ready to de
part, still remain, while Bro. Fears,
who seemed to have promise of lon
ger life than either, is gone. With
him are connected two other men
who were his contemporaries at
Madison, J. F. Swanson and 11. P.
Zimmerman. They were all mer
chants, the first two, partners in
business. They were all three mem
bers of the Baptist Church at Madi
son, and were active, zealous, warm
hearted Christians. Frank Swanson
became a minister just before the
war, and though ho died early, vet
few men were more useful or suc
cessful. Zimmerman survived until
a few months ago, when he died at
the Providence Hospital, in this City.
He had been at one time a success
ful merchant, was a true, warm
hearted friend, and had been a use
ful member of the church. Fortune
frowned upon him, and his last years
were filled with sadness. Bro. Fears
had been a very successful business
man, accumulating quite a large for
tune. Reverses overtook him also,
yet, he continued measurably suc
cessful, preserved his integrity, was
firm in his Christian principles and
retained the respect and confidence
of his fellow-men until the end.
What a noble band of older men
were grouped around these three
in the church at Madison!
Thomas J. Burney, Jno. B. Wal
ker, N. G. Foster, Benj. Peeples,
Dr. E. Jones, Lelloy Wilson, Jno.
Shields, Mr. Stokes, D. E. Butler,
Ben Harris, Nathan Massey, W. B.
Crawford, Geo. Y. B’own, Brest,
Ga. Fem. CoE, and Prof. Lond. I
must not forget, in passing, my con
temporary and fellow-teacher in the
College the talented, scholarly, mod
est, Henry M. Holtzclaw.
Providence led me back to Madi
son in Dec. 65. Os the men just
named I found still living, and mem
bers of that church, Burney, Walker,
Wilson, Foster, Shields, Butler and
Crawford. David E. Butler was
♦
then the pastor. There, I was or
dained, in the fall of ‘66, Foster.
Springer, Bntler, Stillwell constitut
ing the Presbytery. Os these noble
men all are gone except Irwin and
Crawford. Bro. Irwin still lingers
upon the brink of the river. Dr.
Crawford, though past his three
score and ten, was, when I last saw
him, in vigorous health, still preach
es the Gospel, and, as a physician,
ministering to the bodily sufferings of
bis fellow-men. Os the three of us
who remain, who will go next?
. A few sons of these noble sires
still remain in Madison, one of them
Rev. S. A. Burney is now the pastor
of the church.
The death of Bro. Fears has
these tender memories.
“Boast not thyself of to-morrow.’
I. R. Branham.
One of the papers says that small
pox, typhoid fever, yellow fever and
cholera “were epedemic in former
i years,” but are “really no longer
causes of alarm,” since “their germs
have been discovered and can .be
killed as any common enemy.” It
adds that “science and precaution
have shown their omnipotence :” (a
superfluous form of speech, inas
much as the precaution is itself a
part of the science, so that whatever
omnipotence obtains in the case
must be accredited to science alone.)
These things are said in a very hope
ful strain, but we would hear them
more hopefully if we had not re
cently stumbled on some roseate
dreams of human evolution, pict
! tiring the race as attaining to per
, feet freedom from disease and find
ing in consequence the law of mor
tality abolished. Evon if such a
millennium of science were in store
for the world, language which im
plies that the sky is already flushing
with its dawn must be counted pre
mature. But it is worse than that,
it is altogether illusory : since there
can be no omnipotence in science to
reverse and annul the decree of di
vine omnipotence, “Dust thou art
and unto dust shalt thou return,”
rendering a guilty race no longer
mortal, and making that heritage of
life which is the prize and portion
of righteousness, the possession no
less of “the sinfulness of sin.”
Crowded rooms, a cry of fire, a
shock of panic, a frenzied flight for
life, a narrow passway, the outlet
blocked by a prostrate woman, the
baffled throngs struggling, falling,
trampling, shrieking, groaning, faint
ing. What boots it to the hapless
sufferers that the body through
which the way of escape is obstruct
ed and which becomes .to them an
occasion of wounding and agony and
death, is a body of beauty ? What
ever charms of complexion, of feat
ure, of figure, of posture, of motion,
may belong to it, —can these soothe
their pangs or make the loss of life
glad to them ? As little, when you
follow the lure of beauty to vice or to
worldliness, and find that either of
the two means destruction, can that
beauty extract one fang of the worm
that never dies, or quench one spark
of the fire that shall not be quench
ed forever. You will only hate and
curse the beauty the more, because
the destruction which it cannot al- ■
lay and lighten, it served to clothe
with a deadlier certainty, and by
prolonging and multiplying offences,
plunged the soul into a deeper self
torture and a denser darkness of ab
solute despair.
jSH
ft W F S
Hr. X. B. Hamlen,
Os Augusto. Me., ssys: "I do not r<ynembe»
when I began to toko Hood’s Sarsaparilla; It
?‘ ld 1 itove found It docs
nio a great deal of good in my declining years.
I am 91 Years
'fe?t?v »in5 nd t <ln> ’ ok V nnrl hca,,h I* prr
wetly good. I have no aches or pains about me.
Hood’s Sarsaparilla
ray bowels, stimulates my appetite
and help. iu« IO deep well. I <lou&t If *
was n V‘ d( ’ ,0 ’rll suited to
'!■ “ants of old people.“ L. n Hamlsx
Ehn Street, Augusta, Me., Sept, g.l, 1891. *
H. 00 o PILLS art a mll<l, gentle, painless,
sets and rgclent othartlc. Always reliable.