The Christian index. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1892-current, July 23, 1896, Page 2, Image 2

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2 ©ur yulpit. LOYAL BAPTISTS. BY KEV. J. L. WHITE AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE B Y. P. U. OF GEORGIA AT GRIFFIN. The pledge of the Baptist Young People's Union in part is this: "Relying upon divine help. 1 hereby promise to be loyal to Christ in all things, and at all times; to seek the New Testament standard of Christian experience and life.” There lived in the wilderness of Judah about Jordan a strange and remarkable man. His raiment was made of camel's hair bound about him with a leathern girdle. His meat was locusts and wild honey. He was a preacher, and re proved and exhorted and baptized in the Jordan upon a profession of repent ance. John the Baptist was a great man—great "in the sight of the Lord ” One day while he stood preaching, there came upon the scene a new man. When John saw him he cried out, "Behold the Lamb of God. He is mightier than I. He must increase; I must decrease.” "Then cometh Jesus unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, ana earnest thou to me! Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” Jesus soon drew to himself twelve men whom he ordained, through whom he spoke to the world once for all. Jesus Christ and the apostles in stituted the first Christian church. And the Baptists to-day claim to most near ly conform to that original churcb. Whether out succession has come in an unbroken chain, mattersnot. Whether we cane over land by Holland, or over sea by England, matters not. IFe started and toe are here. Cyrus Field had the cable nearly completed across the Atlantic ocean—and it broke. Still Field kept on at it. Going back to his starting point he began again to lay the cable. He succeeded and now the con tinents are joined by the cable. Christ and his apostles begun the promulga tion of those great truths for which Baptists stand. A link here and there in the course of human events may have been dropped. But the doctrines are here, fully identified, and their glory and power are encircling the earth. An intelligent understanding of dis tinctive Baptist doctrines is the founda tion of all true devotion to our denomi nation. I cannot conceive of a down right, upright, outright Baptist who cannot give an intelligent reason for his doctrinal belief. It is not enough to proudly say, "I am a Baptist, ’ and have no better reason than that grandfather and grandmother, father and mother, were Baptists. Such, however, is the an ewer given by a large majority among us. The ignorance of the principles ana the history of our own denomination is deplorable. Have you heard this story of an old lady in a certain State in the Union? A Presbyterian missionary stopped at her house. He was looking up scattered Presbyterians and he inquired of this good woman if there Were any of that faith in her communi ty. “Well, now, sar,” replied she, ‘my husband is not at home to-day. He is a mighty hunter, though, and so you just go out to the smoke-house yonder when he hangs his hui.j« to dry, and if there is one of the kind of creters you are asking about, you will find its skin out thar You’ll know it, I don’t ” That good woman did not know the difference between a Presbyterian and an o’possum. I suppose you have heard of the young lady who was court ed, and just before the date of marriage arrived, the prospective bridegroom said, “Now, dear, there is something I haven’t told you. but I must. “What is that?” said she. He said, “Well, I am a somnambulist.” “Well,” replied she,-“I am an Episcopalian, but I will go with you once a Sunday anyhow.” We need to know who we are and what we are. No denomination has a right to exist which does not stand for well defined distinctive principles based upon Holy Scrip are. What do Baptists stand for? Have we distinctive principles? Do we know them? The fact that there are great doctrines which differentiate us from all other Protestant denomina tions, and the further fact that these principles are not too well known, is my reason for stating them briefly. DISTINCTIVE PRINCIPLES. 1. Baptists stand for a regenerate membership. Dr. H M. Wharton, at the B. Y. P. U. A. Convention held in Toronto, said: “One may be born a Roman Catholic, a Methodist, or a Presbyterian, but he must be born again to be a Baptist. ” Spiritual life is the basis of our organization. We contend that repentance and faith are pre-requisites to baptism. Is this belief Scriptural? Cnrist declared that he came to set up a spiritual kingdom, and his wonder ful words to N icodemus announce the terms of admission: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” When our Lord gave the great commission he stated the order. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”—placing faith before baptism. On the day of Pentecost they that glad ly received the Word were baptized. When the eunuch saw water, he said: "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart thou inayest.” In Acts 5:14 we read, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and wo men.” All denominations do not follow this teaching of the Bible. Infant sprink ling is a violation, for it reverses the order. One great denomination teach es through some of its leaders, if not all, that the church is a hospital, insti tuted to help a penitent sinner to- Jesus Christ, making sprinkling or pouring and church membership a means to) a salvable state —an evident perversion of the teachings of Jesus Christ, for Christ said, Believe and be baptized: these brethren say, Be baptized and be lieve. Baptists hold that no one has a right to become a member of a visible church until he has entered into the invisible kingdom by the blood of Jesus Christ. 2. Baptists hold sacredly to two or dinances, baptism and the Lord’s Sup per, as given by our Master. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This bap tism, after an intelligent confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is pre-re- S’ ”e to the Lord's Supper. These or ces are not sacraments and do not help one into a salvable state. If sac ramental and meritorious, the doctrine of justification by faith, of sah ation by the blood, is torn up by the roots. It is charged that Baptists make too much of baptism. Just what the Bible does, no more, no less. It is the act of obedience on the part of a regenerate soul, giving the answer of a good con science toward God, not putting away '<! • ■ the filth of the flesh Our emphasis is laid upon the mode and its place and its meaning. Dr. Vedder in “A Short His tory of the Baptists" says: "Noohurch historian whose name is recognized as that of an anthority of the first rank has put his name to any other statement than that in apostolic times baptism was always the immersion of an adult be liever. There is no voice to the contra ry except from men of scant scholar ship, and the question is no longer dis puted by anybody who is worth the at tention of a serious person. ” It is charged that Baptists are narrow and bigoted because tney practice so called "close” communi m. The Bap tistposition in respect to the Lord’s Supper is not peculiar. "There is not. there never has been, a Christian body whose standards authorized its clergy to administer the communion to the unbaptized.” Whenever an individual minister invites all who love the Lord he violates the canons of his denomina tion. The rubric of the Episcopal church says, “And there shall be none admitted to the Holy Communion until such time as he be confirmed or be ready and desirous to oe confirmed.” This is true of the Methodist. Presby terian and Congregational churches, that none are to be invited to the Lord's table other than baptized Christians. These denominations accept any mode of baptism. Baptists accept only im mersion properly administered, and are strictly consistent in their practice Should we hold open communion then there would be none to teach the ordi nances as given by Christ and his apos ties. Loyalty to the truth and to Christ demands that we contend for the immersion of a believer as baptism and that such baptism is a necessary qualifi cation for the Lord’s Supper ; and only the ignorant and unscrupulous can re proach Baptists because of their "close” communion. 3. The independence of the local church There is no such thing as the Baptist Church, referring to the great host of Baptists as a body Baptist church always means a chuich spelled with a small “c,” a local church, whether it has three or three thousand members. Each church is a sovereign body, a complete democracy within itself. Therefore we can never be har assed and dogged by a great heresy trial. The heretic is tried by the local church of which he is a member and ac quitted or condemned, and there is no higher court of appeal. There are no bishopr.es, no hierarchies among us. In the New Testament each church is complete in itself, competent to manage its own affairs. We read of the church or churches at Jerusalem, at Antioch, at Ephesus. It is never the church of As:a, of Judea, or of Italy. Baptists nave accepted this teaching of the New Testament a: their model. Each church is independent and yet all wonderfully harmonious and hearty in co-operation. Wonderful? No, for the common bond is the'word of God. This great principle of independence has revolutionized the world. America has been and is the door of hope to the oppressed nations of the earth. Amer ica is the world’s light-house. A little Baptist church in Virginia was Amer ica s light-house, for it was in its con ference that Jefferson conceived the form of the constitution which is justly a world’s pride. It is therefore true that the world owes its regeneration politically to this distinctive Baptist principle. 4 Religious liberty, and I mean by this, the entire separation of church and State From the days of Peter and Paul to this hour, no Baptist church, no Baptist historian, can be found who ad vocates the interference of the civil government with matters religious. And Baptists alone of all denominations 100 years old, except the Quakers, pre sent an unbroken record in advocacy of this principle of soul-liberty. Our his tory is filled with examples of the grandest heroism shown in defense of this principle. There are many spots in our Southland, sacred, because they mark where our fathers were impris oned and beaten with many stripes for believing and teaching the New Testa ment Baptists should value and jealously guard this precious legacy. Every en croachment upon this soul-freedom and separation of church and State should still be unrelentingly opposed. The in sidious efforts of the Romanists to se cure aid for their schools, either in the halls of representatives or in our cities and towns and villages, are malicious attempts to violate one of the great fundamental articles in the constitution of our commonwealth. 5. Another corner-stone in our belief is, the word of God the only rule of faith and practice. The Bible is * ‘fin ished authority.” The constitution of a Baptist church is the New Testament. Our by laws are the positive and nega tive commands given in the word. When Diaz had gathered together in Cuba a few believers he wanted to or ganize a church. So he wrote to Dr. C. C. Bitting, of the American Baptist Publication Society, for the Baptist dis cipline, or a form by which to constitute a Baptist church. Dr. Bitting s reply was a copy of the New Testament. Bro. Diaz, following the teachings of Christ and his' apostles, founded a model Baptist church. One answer to every question as to, our faith and practice is, the word of the Lord. When twitted for our posi tion on baptism we reply, “Thus saith the Lord." When we are told that the quantity of water is immaterial, we say, “Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” When we are called narrow and bigoted close communion ists, we answer, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” No man, no assemblage of men, has the authority to change the word of God to suit so-called changed conditions. The doctrines were deliv ered unto the saints once for all. In our loyalty to the Bible we should be loyal to truth-seeking. Believing as we do the whole Bible, we are the last people to fear the turning ofn of the light. This howl all over the South for Dr. W. H. Whitsitt’s scalp is ridiculous. Dr. Whitsitt has not attacked a single ut terance of inspired truth. He has called into question the accuracy of cer tain statements in Baptist history. He does not question the scripturalness of our doctrines. He is a Baptist to the core, as loyal as any among us. This ado some are making would seem that they at least believe in the infallibility of profane history,in the divine inspira tion of all Baptist historians. If history is wrong, let it be revised. Turn on the light. Turn on the lightl Welcome the truth. Ido not say Dr. Whitsitt is correct in his state ments. But since he believes them, he has the right to state them and to estab lish them if he can. Should each posi tion Dr. Whitsitt has taken be proven, he has not weakened the Bible. And since our doctrines are biblical and not merely historical, we cannot be affected in the least. The Bible stands. That old book is our finished authority, and our doctrines stand, not on the acts of Roger Williams but on the Acts of the Apostles. These five distinctive principles dif ferentiate Baptists from all other de nominations, and we are called upon to be loyal to these great fundamental doctrines and to teach them in pulpit and THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, JULY 23. 1896. through the press and in our homes. These principles are held in full by no other denomination and so, the high and holy obligation rests upon Baptists to give these to the world, otherwise the whole Bible will never be taught to mankind. CHARITY AND LIBERALITY. In maintaining these peculiar articles of faith let us be charitable, but never liberal. Liberality accepts a mixture of truth with error, charity rejects all error and accepts only the truth. Bap tists love their peao baptist friends. All hold in common many of the great cardinal doctrines of salvation by grace. But whenever the practice and faith fail to be scriptural, the error must be pointed out and condemned. That sickly, silly, sentimental liberal ism which says it does not matter what one believes just so he is sincere, is con temptible bosh. Dr. P 8. Henson uses the figure of a tree to illustrate Chris tianity. "Faith,” says he, “is the root, and doctrine is the trunk, and love is the sap, and practical charity is the fruit. Some people say that the sap is the life of the tree, ana of course it is, and they do not believe in anything but sap—-and they have all gone to sap; and yet if you cut down the stalwart trunk of doctrine, the sap will all go into the ground, and where is your tree and where is your fruit ? This pitiable liberalism which is abroad has opened the door of our churches to all kind of heresies, and in almost any church there are to be found persons who believe much every way. Really the doctrines of Christ and the fathers have become dogmas and he who preaches them is denominated an old Close akin to this kind of liberalism is the growing sentiment that it does not differ what denomination one belongs to—all lead to heaven and. that is enough. You might as well say that it doesn't matter whom one marries just so he is married. Well, there are some people in the world with whom I would very much dislike to live always. De nominational liberalism might end in denominational obliteration. Denomi nations stand for great beliefs, princi ples. If one be a Presbyterian, let him be one out and out; if a Methodist, be one through and through, if a Baptist, be one without apology and with all charity towards all others. Away with the cant that it makes no difference what church one joins. Such talk is born of ignorance of the Bible, or shows a lack of the very valuable fac ulty to entertain an opinion A pastor asked a good sister if she wanted him to read any particular portion of the Scriptures. “Yes,” she replied, “read that place where it represents Moses speaking to Dtvid out of the whale’s belly, saying, ' Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’ ” Men who read and think have a denominational pref erence. A BRIGHTER DAY DAWNING. This is a revival of Bible study and of religious history. And the B. Y. P. U. has brought about the change. Prior to its organization our young peo ple were in the Christian Endeavor, where no distinctive doctrines are taught. So our young people were drifting, becoming very liberal and fall ing in love with everything called Christian, really forgetting what they stood for as Baptists. Just at the right time God put it into the hearts of a few noble brethren in the North to organize a distinct society for Baptist young people, wherelßaptist faith could be taught. The birth of the B. Y. P. U. marked a new era in Baptist history. iThere took place at once a Inaissance of Baptist principle<M history, and, blessed be God, the Wiar wave is sweeping over all the land Now we are the Baptist Young People United and contending for the suprem acy of the glorious principles of the New Testament. For this purpose God raised up our Union, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Esther from among a great number of notable women, was chosen queen. She was crowned for a purpose, namely, to de liver Israel. So this organization of our young people, the faire. t of all the daughters in our churches, is crowned queen, who shall inspire the great Bap tist host of young people in America and the world with loyalty to Baptist prin ciples. THREE NEEDS. 1. Backbone. There are three ele ments in moral backbone : Grace, Grit and Gumption. We believe in grace. Grit is stick-to-it iveness. Gumption is hard common sense. A good vertebral column. We have been indifferent to our posi tion too long. In the little communi ties where there was once a union meet ing house, by and by. when it was dedi cated, it was called by some other name than Baptist. If some overzeal ons a partisans begun to press a little Baptist institution, rather than stand up for our own, we have too often yielded and our schools have been closed or drifted into ot he r hands. lam reliably informed that the historic and famous Wesleyan Female College might have been a Baptist institution, for it originated in a Baptist brain and was started by a Baptist hand. I am not blaming our brethren of other denomi nations. I do not intimate that they have dealt unfairly with us, but Bap tists have slept and permitted the pro cession to move on. The only way for us to increase as we ought is to hold what we have and add all that we can. Let Baptists stand by Baptist institu tions and enterprises. 2. Enthusiasm. John the Baptist was “a burning and shining light ” He was all aglow with enthusiasm. En thusiasm is certainly a result of the baptism of the Holy Ghost which Christ gave. And if we are indifferent and sluggish and lukewarm it is a question whether we have as yet received the Holy Spirit. We hear much about “the blessings of moderation,” “ the glory of conservatism,” “ the dangers of fanati cism.” Surely the last thing in the world that the moral consciousness of Georgia Baptists wants to day is a re frigerator, and that of all things it de sires just now is that all our great host should come face to face with the fact that religion possesses ‘‘a spirit of burning," a holy zeal for truth and goodness. We need, if you please, a healthy Baptist boom. Just now we need to "talk up" and not down, Bap tist institutions and principles. We need to talk up and to lift up Mercer University. Put under her the lever age power of an additional endowment of one hundred thousand dollars. Then we need to drum up students and as loyal Baptists send our sons to her his toric, classic halls. 3. We need a fresh vision of Jesus Christ. We should stand beside the Baptist and hear him say, “ Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world,” and with it ours. Let the thought of what Jesus has done and what he is doing for us and what he is, bow us in unfeigned submission. This vision of our Savior will call us to deeper consecration and thought but “ the voice,” that is all we are, will cry, “ Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” and nothing shall hush the voice until it is silenced behind some -dungeon door like Machaerns, or in death. “Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord, By the power of grace divine; Let my faith look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in thine.” A vision of Christ as conqueror as well as Savior is helpful. The streams of ancient history converged at Calvary and there the river of modern history took its rise. The triumphs of Chris tianity compose modern history. Christ is establishing a kingdom which hath no end. The civilization of Greece, unparalleled in its day, fostered by the majestic Athenian naval force, met an irreparable reverse at Syracuse; in obe dience to the voice of Cato, shouting. “ Delenda eat Carthago," Hannibal, great and heroic and resourceful, was utterly vanquished at Zama; Rome’s mighty legions were mown down in Germany by Arminiu*, and thereafter the proud Roman eagle found no place among the Anglo-Saxon race; Napoleon the great, the brilliant, the moat mag nificent military genius of the world, was stopped in his marvelous career at Waterloo. But the kingdom of Christ outrivals Roman conquests, the mighty growth of English power, and is gradu ally changing the face of the whole earth. He shall be crowned with many crowns Behold him, he is our Leader. The devotion of the French soldiers to the Emperor Napoleon, was the se cret of his great strength. On the memorable field of -Waterloo, writes McCready, where so many brave men fell, one soldier in the French ranks was seen, when his arm was shattered by a cannon ball, to wrench it off with the other and throwing it in‘o theair. he ex claimed to his comrades, " Vive I’em peruer jusqu’a’ la mort.” Such were the men who won many a battle Such suffering was gladly endured because of devotion to their beloved leader Shall not those who are redeemed from sin and hell be more loyal to their Savior and King ? “ Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high your royal banner, It must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory his army he shall lead, Till every foe is vanquished, And Christ is Lord indeed.” What It Involves. BY C. H. WETHERBE. Every young Christian should be taught what is involved in loving Christ It is very easy to say, “I love Christ.” Many young people are told that if they can truly say that they love Christ they are Christians. But it is quite possible for one to have a certain degree of a com mon sort of love for the bare per sonality of Christ, and yet not love him as he demands that one should. One may love abstract loveliness toa certain extent, and yet not love the concrete de mandsand requirements of the subject of that loveliness. Now, the real test of loving Christ, the actual proof of.itg is to be seen in loving to Christ de- mands g&e WT gix£s fGfe for Christ is in word only. And very many people fail to meet this test. They are quite ready to arise in prayer meeting, or in the Endeavor Society meeting, and say, “I love Jesus;” this they call “testifying for Christ,” but it is a very superficial testimony, if not a false one, if it go no fur ther; and, alas, in many cases it does go no further. Genuine heart-love for Christ does not fall shot t of loving to do what Christ's love requires the professed lover of him to do. And Christ is sure to specifically test the profession of one’s love to him. Very soon after one publically avows his love for Christ, he asks him to come out before the world and be baptized. But suppose that the professed lover shall say, “I can be a Christian without being baptized and uniting with any church,” what then? Why, his love for Christ, if he has any at all, is very thin and of poor quality. Christ puts the test of one’s love in this clear, fairway: “If ye love me, ye will keep my com mandments.” Christ said that he loved*.his Father, and as a proof of it he said, “I do always those things which please hipa.” And some of the things which Christ did were very exacting, requiring great sacrifice, stren uous deprivation and deep humil iation. Christ exhibited his love for the Father more in deeds than he did in words, and this we should do. One of the customs of the Chi nese might well be imitated by other nations. On New Year’s morning every man and boy in the Celestial empire, from the emperor to the lowest peasant, pays a visit to his mother. He carries her a present, and thanks her for all she has done for him. This visit, however, is partly in fluenced by superstition, as the Chinese believe that their moth ers have an influence over their entire lives. “It is with narrow-souled peo ple, as with narrow-necked bot tles ; the less they have in them the more noise they make in pouring out. — Pope. “There are but three steps to heaven—out of self, into Christ, into glory.” Guaranteed In writing. Students complete course in % time at J$ expense of other col leges. Ten to 20 placed monthly. Address at once Gkobgia Bubinxss College, Ma con, Ga. IDaprlSt the Any publication mentioned in this de partment may be obtained of the American Baptist Publication So ciety. 93 Whitehall St., Atlanta, Ga. When prices are named they include postage. The Editors of the Christian Index desire to make this column of service to their readers. They will gladly ans ver, or have answered, any ques tions regarding books. If you desire books for certain lines of reading, or desire to find out the worth or pub lisher of any book, write to them. Ezekiah .Gilman Robinson. An autobiography* with various critical statements. Edited by E. H. John eon. Silver, Burdett & Co., Boston. New York. The subject of this biography was an honored and useful Baptist preacher, teacher and leader. Born in 1815, he lived until 1894. It* will at once be seen that this covers a period of remarkable interest. Born in New England, his ac tive life was passed in the South, the West, and again in New England. Dr Robinson’s youth was subject to many vicissitudes educationally, he being the son of a widow and the schools about him not of the best. Once under the teaching of men like Dr. Wayland in Brown University,his mind was aroused to activity and its activity never ceased until he died. His first ministry was in the South, at Norfolk, Va, whence he removed to Cambridge, Mass From Cambridge he went to the new Seminary at Covington, Ky. This institution did not live long but gave great promise, not a little of which cen tered about the professorship of Dr Robinson. After the breaking up of this school by the war, he was for a abort time pastor of the Ninth Street church, Cincinnati, from which place he went to Rochester to become president of the Theological Seminary. Nineteen years were spent here and they were the best of his lite. In 1872 he undertook the S residency of Brown University. Here e labored until 1889. He was now sev enty-four years of age, but he did not stop his work. Lecturing occupied him until at the opening of the Chicago Uni versity he became a professor there, and at the age of eighty-one he died while still actively engaged in his educational work. This is the outline of a most useful career. What Boyce, Broadus and others were doing among us this man was doing in the middle West, first at Covington and then at Rochester. The game task of making bricks without straw was his. It was a period of tran sition in education and in theology. He carried to completion his work at both Rochester and Brown. Great obstacles had to be overcome and they were over come. Both institutions must reckon him among their founders. Like Boyce and Broadus, he also wrought out amid such details of admin'; istration and anxieties of mind a ripe and full scholarship. Like them also this scholarship was always touched with heart traits born of such experi ences in the details of business and mmey transactions and worries. In theology Dr. Robinson was a pioneer. He wrought for aims If. He early became a student of world wide contributions to thought and was conversant with what others were believing. Withall this he was a preacher.. He would walk many miles to preach on and at times wore him- kind. At 1,,,,. writer re to him with pleasure when a boy. He was also a friend to his students. Contact with him was easy and he was loved by all. In the class room he was keen and cutting at times. His personality was most en joying. The man) -sidedness of his powers is seen in the critical estimates of him as given. Among these Dr. Strong's “As a Theologian,” and Mr. Langley’s "As a Teacher of Philoso phy”—are of great value, while many oth- r.< are of surpassing interest. The study of such a life is peculiarly helpful to those of us who are now la boring in the midst of construction. It shows what men can do and the charac ters they can win in circumstances of great difficulty. One takes heart after such a biography and with a renewed purpose takes hold of his duty. Jones’ School History of the United States. I have read with some care “advance sheets” of a “School History of the United States,” by our beloved and dis tinguished brother, Dr. John William Jones. Let me first state frankly what fault I have to find with it. It is one sided. In matter and method it is too evidently a piece of special pleading to be ever regarded as a good, all-round, comprehensive history. But as an off-set to some others many of us have seen, which present certain facts and events of our national story with prejudice and emphasis opposed to our author’s, the book is a wholesome anti dote. The treatment of special points in favor of the South, ana contrary to the current misrepresentations in histo ries written by Northern authors,is well and worthily made. But it is done at the expense of matters quite as impor tant in the history of the whole coun try and without sufficient consideration to the Northern point of view. In this respect the book does not compare favora bly with that,for instance,of Fiske, who, while he looks out mostly from the New England observatory, yet sees at least the Southern side. As a work of art and as a practical text-book of history the book is not well-proportioned. But the facts brought out are worth remembering and studying, and the reader can readily for give a man who makes him think by giving him something to think of, even though the presentation of the facts be a bit one sided. I may also be allowed to express sur prise that the work of so practised a writer should be marred with a number of blemishes in style; and this is the more surprising since we are told that the manuscript passed under the eye of a well-known and accomplished critic. Pet words and phrases abound. “Hand somely repulsed, is one,” "splendidly equipped” is another. On p. 352 (prin ter’s fault) we are told of “straightened circumstances.” Would that these crooked things might oftener be so rec tified, but alas! they are too often straightened and so remain. The spelling of Eskimo is not consistent—sometimes Eskemo, sometimes Esquimaux. We are not allowed to forget that old Vir ginia, .with “princely” or “imperial” or “lavish” generosity gave to the Union the Northweit Territory, out of which several great States were “carved,” be ing told so in almost the same language on pp. 99, 116, 136. On p. 838 I notice a singular inadvertence, in one so well-in formed as Dr. Jones is, in all, even the minutest, details of things pertaining to the war. He speaks of the Confederate flag (1865) ae. the “Stars and Bars.” If I do not greatly mistake, that design was abandoned long before this, because of its resejnblance to the Union flag. Other faults of detail could easily be pointed out; and there is much that careful re- vision and more accurate proof-reading will doubtless correct. On the other hand, the book has great value as a contribution to the history of our country. It gives a strong presen tation of vital facts which are, unhap pily, too often either omitted or misrep resented. The use of the book in our Southern schools would do great good in teaching the young Southerners that their fathers ana grandfathers had vast ly more reason for acting as they did in 1861-‘65 than this or the next generation is ever likely to find out from the com mon run of school histories. Later read ing and reflection would easily and nat urally and healthily correct the one sidedness of the impression received from a study of this work at school, but meantime very important facts would have been lodged in the mind of youth —facta that are not likely to be learned or treasured later in life. Moreover, the book is a pleasant and interesting one to read The very things in which it differs from others of its kind give it a peculiar charm, and the author's hearty and loyal soul shines through and through it. It is a brave and honest book—as was to have been expected—and I hope it will have the wide nse and attentive reading that it richly deserves. E. C. Dargan. The Arena July. Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. Price, 25c., $3 a year The Arena is a free forum for all questions. No doubt any one can read through a number and not agree with half of what is given. It will be equally impossible to not like the other half. In this issue, "Shall we have a National Sanitarium for Consumptives,” “The Keely Cure,” “Woman in Society To day,” and “Are we to Become a Home less Nation” are articles of great worth. Much attention is given to the silver question, while the usual quality of theosophical nonsense is to be found both in essay and story. The wonderful remedy for Catirrb, Bronchitis. Asthma. &c., discovered by Dr J. W. Blosser, the celebrated evan gelist and catarrh specialist, is meeting with phenomenal success. Many of the worst cases in the whole country have been cured and the remedy is coming into extensive use. This remedy is smoked in a pipe, but contains no to bacco He will mail free to any appli cant a trial sample package. His ad dress is 53 W. Cain st., Atlanta. Ga. july 9,4 t. Wisely Directed Ambition. Hon. Chauncey M. Depew tells the story of his visit to the me chanical department of Cornell University. He found at the head of it Professor Morris, who claimed him as a superior officer, giving as a reason that he was an old time worker of the New York Central railroad. “How did you get here?” asked Depew. ST. VITUS’DANCE A Nervoys Disease Characterized by Involuntary and Pur poseless Spasms. It Occurs Most often in Girls; is Often Hereditary, but Articular Rheumatism and Scarlet Fever Predispose to it. From the Chronicle, Chicago, JU. Notwithstanding the poor are always with us, Thanksgiving is none the less a day of rejoicing. Many charities have been dis pensed and through numerous instrument alities the necessities and sufferings of many a worthy person have been relieved. Absent members of households reunite at the old homestead and gathered around the festal board recount the incidents that have taken place and the various blessings that have been vouchsafed them,since they assembled at the last annual meeting by the same fireside. It is a time for memory and for joy. Among the countless families of Chicago there is perhaps, not one to-day that feels a deeper sense of gratitude to the Giver of all good and perfect gifts than Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Collier, of 4904 Armour Avenue. Mr. Collier, who is the electrician at the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad shops in this city came here from Hamilton, Canada, a little more than nine years ago accom .panied by his wife and little daughter, their only child Etta, then aged four. Little Etta was a bright and beautiful girl, but not a very robust one. For the last few years she had been some what ailing, but her condition was not such as to create any uneasiness in the minds of her parents, who almost idolized her. In the school she was regarded as one of the brightest scholars of her class and was the envy of her class-mates. Although but a little over twelve years of age, her intellect was phenomenal. She was possessed, how ever, of a very nervous temperament which is frequently the case with children of her advanced intelligence. Early in the month of June last, owing to a sudde* fright, she was thrown into violent spasms, to recover only to be afflicted with St. Vitus’ dance in the worst form. The consternation of her parents may well be imagined. Os course the best physicians were sum moned at once but their efforts to restore her to her normal condition were devoid of re sults. She continued to grow worse, her appetite wholly failed and commencing with her right arm her whole right side and lower limb became limp, numb, and useless and what little nourishment she was aide to take had to be administered by others. To add to the seriousness of the case she was unable to obtain any sleep whatever. It was while in this deplorable condition hovering between life and death with all the prospects of a premature grave before her, that one day on returning home from his duties Mr. Collier found awaiting him a newspaper, which an old acquaintance in Hamilton, his former place of residence, had sent to him by mail. In the local columns he read of the case of a certain person he had known years be fore having been permanently cured of the complaint of which his own daughter was now suffering, by the use of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People. He had often heard and read before marvellous accounts of the efficacy of this remedy but as no names with which he was personally familiar appeared, he not only doubted but positively disbelieved the statements. But here before his eyes was apparent evidence from one he knew. He therefore lost no time in mak ing assurance doubly sure and as soon as he learned that the story was absolutely true, he lost no time in procuring the Pink Pills for his suffering daughter. This was on the 15th of September. Prior to this date and after consulting doctors of different schools of medicine, he had taken her to the Home opathic Dispensary where her case was dis cussed by all the members of the faculty | who unanimously declared in the presence The Woman, The Man, Andjhe Pill* She was a good woman. He loved her. She was his wife. The pie was good; his wife made it; he ate it. But the pie disagreed with him, and he disagreed with his wife. Now he takes a pill after pie and is happy. So is his, wife. The pill he takes is Ayer’s. Moral: Avoid dyspepsia by using Ayer’s Cathartic Pills. “I fired on the New York Cen tral. I stood on the footboard as an engineer on the Central. While a locomotive engineer I made up my mind to get an edu cation. I studied at night, and fitted myself for Union College, running all the time with my lo comotive. I procured books, and attended, as far as possible, th© lectures and recitations. I kept up with my class, and on the day of graduation I left my locomo tive, washed up, put on the gown and cap, delivered my thesis, and received my diplomas, put th© gown and cap in the closet, put on my working shirt, got on my engine, and made my usual run thatdiy.” “Then,” said Depew, “I knew how he became Profes sor Morris.” That spirit will cause a man to rise anywhere and in any calling. It is ambi tion, but it is ambition wisely directed, aiming not at the goal —for such an ambition produces envy, scheming, discontent, and weakness—but bravely and cheer ily aiming at one’s self, seeking" to make one’s self fitted for high er work. When this is accom plished the opportunity for high er work is sure to come.— Times of Refreshing. No troubles are so great that they cannot be built into th© steps of the staircase by which souls mount up to heaven.—Can on Liddon j of the class that there was no longer any hope to be held out as it was a malady which in this instance at least was incurable. It was therefore with a feeling of utter despair that Mrs. Collier first began to administer the Pink Pills. She says a perceptible change came over the little one before even the second box had been emptied and how after having us*d six boxes her health is entirely restored. In the early part of her illness her intellect was very much clouded. She had become ex tremely dull of comprehension hardly real izing the meaning of words when addressed. Seen to-day in the cheerful home of‘he Col lier’s on Armour Avenue, she is the .person ification of health. Her nervousness has en tirely disappeared, her intellect is bright, keen and active, her strength has returnea and the roses in her cheeks attest to the com plete recovery of her bodily health. She is now ready to resume her music les sons and as soon as the schools open after the holidays she will again take up the studies which she so suddenly left off on that eventful June day. The sister-in-law of Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Lewis, who was present, at the interview emphatically confirmed all that Mrs Collier has said regarding the past and present condition of little Etta, adding* that a famous physician in Hamilton in variably recommends Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills in such cases as this and many others. Mrs. Collier herself has for a number of years been a constant sufferer from a female complaint which so far has baffled the skill of the doctors, and during a period of less, than six months her husband has expended over two hundred dollars in fees for medi cines. She has now begun the use of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills and wlfile it is as yet too early to announce a cure in her case she feels so much improved as to express the be lief that her physical troubles will shortly be of the past. These are some of the rea sons why the Collier family return thanks on this our national day of praise and festivity. The above is a correct statement of facta concerning my little daughter and myself. Mrs. A. Collier. Subscribed and sworn to before me thia 2nd day of December, 1895. Dan Greene, -Notary Public. Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People are sold by all druggists. Thousands of boxes have been disposed of. This was one of the few remedies which was not cut in price during the recent druggists war. This fact shows that the price is within the reach of all. Their cures are positive and* permanent. They are an unfailing specifier tor such'diseases as locomotor ataxia, partial paralysis, St. Vitus’ dance, sciatica, neural gia, rheumatism, nervous headache, palpi tation of the heart, pale and sallow complex ions, nervous prostration and “that tired feeling,” which is a result of the latter. It also is a permanent cure for all diseases re sulting from vitiated humors of the blood r such as scrofula, erysipelas and like diseases; diseases peculiar to women, such as suppres sions, irregularities and all forms of weak ness. The pills build up the general health, thicken the blood ana send it coursing through the veins with renewed life. And one very peculiar thing about this remedy is that there are no unpleasant after effects. Thousands of former sufferers are now re joicing to know that they are cured. Child ren may take them with perfect safety. These pills are manufactured by Dr. Wil liams’ Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. Y., and are sold only in boxes bearing the firm’s trade-mark and wrapper, at 50 cents a box, or six boxes for $2.50, and are never sold in bulk. The public should beware of fraudulent imitations, as many unscrupu lous medicine companies have been making: far interior imitations.