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EST A B LISHED 1799. (S„ E S-
FROM ATLANTA.
Retrenchment—A Bill to Kednce the
Governor’s Salary to s3,ooo—The
Railroad Bill—Appointments.
Atlanta, Ga., January 13,1877.
The campaign of Retrenchment is
fairly opened.
Fry, of Fulton, introduced a bill reg
ulating salaries and reducing all offi
cers pay from the Governor down. The
Governor’s is put at 53,000. The pay
of members is reduced to §5 per day.
Mr. James introduced a bill provid
ing for the issuance of a series of six
per cent, bonds to take the place of all
maturing loads. Thft interest is now 8
and 7 per cent.
Senator Reese introduced a bill mak
ing the stoppage of trains by the strik
ing employes of Railroad Companies a
misdemeanor.
Avery and Warren were appointed
the Governor’s secretaries. No other
appointments made yet. H. W. G.
BY TELEGRAPH
—TO THE—
CONSTITUTIONALIST.
Associated Press Dlepatohcß.
FROM WASHINGTON.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
What the Committees are Doing—
Barnes in Limbo.
Washington, January 13.—The joint
Electoral Committee was in session
until three o’clock.
The report of the Senate proposition,
telegraphed at noon, is credited in
some quarters, with much speculation
as to the leaky members.
Barnes is comfortably quartered in
the room of the Committee on Territo
ries.
Wm. A. Wheeler is here.
David Dudley Field and Judge Law
rence, of Ohio, has been added to the
Committee on Privileges and Powers
of the House.
The New York Dispatch a Wild Specu
lation—lnvestigating Mississippi and
the Oregon Check.
Washington, January 13.—1 tis as
yet impossible legitimately or illegiti
mately to obtain confirmation of the
New York dispatch quoting the
Washington special in reference to the
Seuate Committee’s proposition for
counting the electoral vote. It may be
accepted as a shrewd approximation.
Mr. Orton will appear before the bar
of the House Monday. His present in
tention appears to be to resist to the
extent of ascertaining positively the
rights of customers of the Western
Union Telegraph Company to privacy
of their dispatches.
The Committee on Privileges and
Powers of the House in counting the
electoral vote have examined Secretary
Chandler and Congressman Purman,
of Florida.
Late information warrants the state
ment that the proposition of the .Sen
ate Committee is a wild speculation.
The Privileges and Elections Com
mittee opened the investigation re
garding the Mississippi election. Maj.
Howard, of Jackson, knew of at least
200 colored persons, mostly Republi
cans, who could not reach the polls on
account of the crowd.
Cashier Jordon, of the Third Nation
al Bank, testified that he drew an
£B,OOO check for transmission to Ore
gon, at the instance of Wm. T. Pelton,
Secretary of the National Democratic
Committee. It is supposed the check
was for political purposes, but only
knows that the check was returned
unused.
Samuel J. Tilden is a director of the
bank, and owns £OB,OOO worth of its
stock.
The witness protested against giving
further information regarding persons
interested in the bank. He gave infor
mation regarding Mr. Tilden’s interest
by leave of the officers of the bank.
Committee Work—Secretary Chandler
Testilies before the Committee on
Elections aud Privileges.
Washington, January 13.—Conflict
ing statements having recently been
published in regard to the action of
the Senate committee on counting the
electoral votes, inquiry was made to
day in authoritative quarters, and it
was positively ascertained that al
though some of these publications con
tain detached portions of several of
the many propositions which have been
discussed, noue of them embrace any
complete plan that has been agreed to,
or is likely to be agreed to, by either
the Senate committee or the House
committee.
A member of the joiut committee,
besides authorizing the foregoing state
ment, says ; Various published propo
sitions have been discussed freely by
the committees, and portions of them
may perhaps be agreed to, but only in
connection with other and much more
important propositions, which as yet
have uot been hinted at in the public
press.” He added: “AH publications
up to the present time purporting to
give the results of the Committee’s de
liberations, are unauthorized, and may
mislead the p iblic in regard to what is
being done, or is likely to be done. Nei
ther Committee has formally agreed
upon any plan. Their joint sessions
are being held for the pupose of freely
interchanging opinions, with a view to
arriving, if possible, at some agree
ment, and tin re is hope that some sat
isfactory agreement will be reached.”
The Committees were in joint Bession
to-day for about seven hours continu
ously, except when the two branches
separated once or twice for a brief con
sultation.
It has transpired that Secretary
Chandler is before the Committee of
the House on privileges, powers and
duties of the House in secret session.
Secretary Chandler testified that he
had sent no dispatches in regard to
the use of money, but had with regard
to the use of troops. He declined to
answer whether he.had sent this or these
dispatches at his own instance, but de
clined to answer on the ground that he
was a Cabinet officer. He was given
until Wednesday to consider whether
he would answer.
The power of the committee has
been enlarged and the drift of present
inquiry is into alleged conspiracy to
count Hayes in.
Detective Miller was examined to
day, aud corroborates Major Richards
and Detective McDavitt in regard to
the conspiracy against Congressman
Whitthorne. He implicates Murtaugh
in an attempt to bribe a jury in the
McGarraghan libel suit. MeGurraghau
has a national reputation for his per
sistent fight against the New Idria
Quicksilver Company.
The evidence bears sharply against
Major Richards, his detectives and
police for tolerance of gambling and
social evil.
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
HOW IT MAY BE COUNTED.
The Latest Proposition for a Settle
ment.
New York, January 13. -A Wash
ington special says the proposition of
the Senate Electoral Committee, which
was under consideration at a joint
meeting of the Senate and House Com
mittees yesterday, provides that the
Senate shall on the day for the count
ing of the vote meet with the House in
the hall of the latter body. The
Vice-President shall open all certifi
cates and tellers appointed for the pur
pose shall as usual read the record and
sum up votes, but there are to be
counted in the first place only returns
to which no objection is made. Where
there is one return only from a State,
and that is objected to, the two
Houses will determine whether it shall
be counted, but the concurrence of
both Houses will be required to reject
any vote. Where two returns are
made from one State, the dispute is to
be referred to a commission or tribu
nal, composed of nine members of the
House and Senate and the four jus
tices of the Supreme Court longest in
the service. The niue members of the
House and Senate are to be selected by
the appointment of five Senators and
five Representatives, and the dropping
of one of the ten by drawing lots. The
Justices who would become members
of the Commission by the terms of the
proposition, would be Nathan Clifford,
of Maine; Noah A. Swayne, of Ohio;
Samuel F. Miller, or Louisiana, and
David Davis, of Illinois. This Com
mission is to be authorized to deter
mine all questions of dispute, their de
cision to be fiual. Disputed votes hav
ing been counted in the presenco of the
House and Senate, in accordance with
the decision of the Commission, and
tha whole number of electoral votes
having been summed up by tellers, the
President of the Senate will announce
the result iu the usual form, which will
determine who is to be President of
the United States. Justice Clifford is
a Democratic Justice, Swayne and Mil
ler Republicans. Justice Davis
was also appointed by Presi
dent Lincoln. He has been
known for several years as a liberal
Republican. The bill has not the unani
mous approval of the Senate commit
tee. If reports may be believed, Sen
ators Morton and Freliughuysen gave
very icserved and reluctant consent to
the proposition. It has become clear,
however, that no arrangement could be
made between the two Houses which
would determine positively, ia advance
of the count, who would be elected.
There is no middle ground of compro
mise on which the two Houses cau
come together. There can be no agree
ment, in fact, unless the determination
of the questions in dispute is submtt
tod to some fair and able tribunal
outside of Congress, whose ac
tion cannot be absolutely fore
told. The Senate proposition is
based on the bill passe:l by the Senate
iu year 1800, when all disputes con
cerning tho Presidential oleotions were
yet mere abstractions. The biil au
thorized the appointment of six mem
bers of the Senate and six from the
House to act with the Chief-Justice of
the Supreme Court or, in case of his
absence, the Justice of the longest ser
vice who might be in Washington.
This was to constitute the grand com
mittee to hear aud settle all disputes.
The bill was lost by disagreement be
tween the two Houses. The House
Committee are said to look upon the
proposition with some favor, though
the prospects for a final agreement
can’t be now estimated.
tm 9
JfiS W ORLEANS.
Packard Seeking Aid from the Bayo
net.
New Orleans, January 13. —Packard
has laid before Gen. Auger, Badger’s
failure, by defiance of Pinehback and
the presence of Nicholls’ militia, to ar
rest members of the Republican Sen
ate who remain absent from that
body.
What Gen. Auger Says Packard’s
Legislature Falling to Pieces.
New Orleans, Jauuary 13.— G9n.
Auger says there is no change iu the
situation or in his orders relative to
rival parties.
Senator Breaux, who left the Repub
lican Senate, was stvorn into the Dem
ocratic Senate. Representative Brown,
of Vernon, also left the Republican
House and wrote a letter to the Demo
cratic House. Although he was re
turned as elected by the Returning
Board, he did not believe hejwas elect
ed and would not ask for a seat.
The Democratic Legislature had an
other battle for United States Senator,
but without a choice.
The Senatorial Question—Republican
and Democratic Caucusses— Re
porter* Combination.
New Orleans, January 13. — Judge
Shaw has opened the Superior Civil
Court in the State House building. Ho
has the seal aud minute book of the
Court, while the Nieholls Government
hold the former Court roc m.
The Times extra, referring to the
Democratic Legislature, says the
United States Senatorial question per
plexes the members not a little, and it
seems to be generally understood that
a daily joint baliot is but a mock form
to conform to existing laws. Some of
the members seem to think that in
stead of electing a Democrat, they
would gain more now by selecting a
Liberal Republican. Iu connection
with this subject, it is alleged that
combinations are being effected whero
by James F. Casey, or some prominent
Republican with influence at Washing
ton, will be selected.
Caucusses of Republican and Demo
cratic members are reported, at which
the matter has been freely discussed,
and it is expected that in a few days all
arrangements necessary will have beeu
effected.
FROM MINNESOTA*
Another Shafiy Elector.
St. Paul, January 12.—1n the Senate
to-day, Mr. Wilkinson (Dem.) offered
the following resolution: That the
Committee on Judiciary be instructed
to investigate into the eligibility of the
several Presidential electors, and that
said committee shall have power to
send for persons and papers. The
facts which give rise to this resolution
are that A. K. Tinsett, one of the
Presidential electors, it is claimed, is
not legally a citizen of the United
States.
GOVERNOR COLQUITT.
HIS INAUGURAL.
A Wise and Patriotic Address.
The House was called to order by
Speaker Bacon at half-past eleven
o’clock, and it continued in session
without transacting any business until
noon, when the Senate appeared at the
door and was admitted.
After the Senate was seated, Gov.
Smith and Gen. Colquitt entered the
hall followed by the Judge of the Su
preme Court, Senator Norwood, Gen.
Toombs, Gov. Brown, Dr. Miller,
Judge Lochrane, Judge Herschel Y.
Johnson, Judge Peeples, Judge Schley,
Judge Underwood, Judge Martin
Crawford, Judge Bartlett and the Stat?
officers. As this procession of distin
guished citizens moved up the aisle
the large crowd gave vent to its en
thusiasm in long and continued ap
plause.
President Lester presented Gen.
Colquitt as the Governor elect, when
he arose amid cheers and spoke as
follows :
THE INAUGURAL.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives :
In accordance with the Constitution
and laws of the State, 1 appear before
you to take the oath of office as Gov
ernor of Georgia for the next four
years. No edict of an autocrat con
venes us in this hall to-day; no coer
cion—whether it comes from a master,
or the exigencies of a faction, or the
peril of the State—has forced us to
assemble for this ceremony. But self
marshalled, we are here to witness the
peaceful obange of public administra
tion; the dutiful aud dignified surren
der of power by one public servant,
and the assumption of official respon
sibility by another.
The custom of my predecessors, as
as well as my deep sense of gratitude
to the people, demand from me a few
words expressive or that gratitude,
and indicating, in general terms, the
policy which the times seem to de
maud.
The unprecedented majority which
called me here overwhelms me with
thankfulness. Language fails me in
the attempt to give it adequate ex
pression. It shall bo my effort to prove
the depth of my gratitude by a com
plete devotion to the public interests
committed to me, and by an unremit
ting care that neither the honor nor
the welfare of this beloved Common
wealth shall suffer by the confidence
you have reposed iu me as the servant
of the State. The Executive Govern
ment of a free, great and prosperous
Commonwealth like Georgia, with its
million aud a quarter of intelligent in
habitants, affords for the exercise of
patriotic Statesmanship, a sphere of
honorable public service as exalted aud
comprehensive as the ambition of any
man could desire.
Diffident of my ability, and distrust
ing my own capacity for this high aud
holy service, whilst I solicit your coun
sels and co-operation, I shall reverent
ly invoke the aid of Divine Providence
to enable mo to fulfill tho solemn obli
gations wich I am now to assume.
The allusion to the large majority by
which I was elected—tho largest ever
before given ia the State on a similar
occasion—has been made, not in any
vain spirit of personal triumph, but to
deduce from the magnitude of that
majority two important public lessons.
It exhibited the intense and universal
interest felt by tho masses of our peo
ple in this State, in securing at the bal
lot box the victory of those who are
contending for the liberty and rights
of the citizen and the limitations of the
Constitution. Never before in Georgia
has there been a more profound con
ception of the true principles of Con
stitutional Government, a more wide
spread sensibility to the dangers threat
ening our free institutions, or a more
ardent and conscientious sympathy
with the friends of tfie Constitutional
Union. This noble devotion of our
people to a true Republic of liberty and
law, has pervaded all sections of the
State and animated all classes of our
population. It has given such an ex
pression of sincere confidence in the
legitimate methods of lawful election,
as leaves no doubt of our fidelity to
our constitutional convictions aud the
constitutional modes of giving thwn
utterance and effect.
In the grand popular majority of
the recent Gubernatorial election is
to be read the overwhelming inter
est that Georgians feel in the great
issues now convulsing the country,
and their determined purpose to keep
in alignment with the patriotic millions
of our Northern friends, who are
seeking by the peaceful instrumentality
of lawful suffrage to re-establish good
government under the undisputed su
premacy of the Federal Constitution.
I but speak my own deep-felt senti
ment, and echo the public voice of
Georgia, when I say that in all the
complications of national politics, now
so replete with fevered interest, we
stand in immovable sympathy with the
elected exponent of constitutional lib
erty, retrenchment and reform. We
will adhere to him and his co-laborers
with the fidelity due to the champion
of a righteous cause in every patriotic
endeavor they may make to secure the
honest aud unmistakable will of a large
majority of the American people, con
stitutionally expressed at the polls.
I refer with especial pleasure to the
second lesson of our gratifyiugand un
precedented majority in the Guberna
torial contest, repeated no less decis
ively in the Presidential election in our
State.
As the benefits of local self-govern
ment have been experienced, and the
baleful influence of malicious interfer
ence has been withdrawn, the colored
people have recognized that our home
roiks are their true friends, and hence
they have fraternized and acted with
us politically. Large numbers voted
with us, and swelled the Gubernatorial
and Presidential majorities beyond
all precedent. They have witnessed in
all their material interests the effects
of a good home government, adminis
tered by people wedded with them to
the same soil, and whose interests are
all interwoven with their own. Of no
right has the humblest of them been
deprived. The advancement of the
race in knowledge and in civilization
has been, and shall continue to be, a
special trust and solemn duty. Hence
cordial relations, so natural and neces
sary both to them and to the whites,
are being rapidly and permanently es
tablished, and quiet and peace and
sympathy between the races pervade
the tntire State.
Ihe people of this entire country
have but to look, and they cannot fail
to see how the more powerful race,
AUGUSTA, GA., SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 1817.
when left to its own sense of right and
policy, will treat the colored citizen,
and how, when thus free to act, tho
races feel for each other a mutual in
terest, pursue a common course, and
enjoy a reciprocal prosperity. How
wise were the fathers when they rested
the Constitution upon the solid pillars
of local self-government in the States !
Georgia, gentlemen, is the home of
all Georgians, of every race, color and
condition; her local government is the
government of us all; her future for
weal or woe awaits us and our fami
lies, and the nobler feeling of our
nature, as well as the hard common
sense of the self-interest of all, demand
the united political action of all.
But to pass to other matters of do
mestic policy wherein all Georgians
have a common and vital interest. Not
only were constitutional and pdiitical
liberty talismanic words of power in
the late great contest, but retrench
ment and reform shone conspicuously
on all the banners that heralded the
victory of the friends of constitutional
liberty at the polls. The eyes of ail
Americans look with confidence to
the great reformer just elected Pres
ident, to reform tbe National Admin
istration.
Let us, gentlemen, look at home,
and whilst my own immediate prede
cessor and your individual predecess
ors, have not been unmindful of their
duty, let us remember that times have
changed, aud values of all kinds have
sunk and are still sinking. We must
further retrench, we must reform yet
more. It is our imperative duty to
lighten the public burdens. Twenty
years ago the taxable property iu Geor
gia was over five hundred millions of
dollars. To-day it is only two hundred
and fifty millions. Then the taxation
was only a half a million—to-day it is
a miilion and a quarter. With less
than half the property, we have nearly
three times the taxation. With prop
erty thus depreciated, and continuing
to depreciate as it has done for the
last two or three years, it is clear that
our revenues will diminish in the same
proportion, and our income will not
meet our obligations. These obliga
tions, gentlemon, are sacred.
The interest on our debt, now I
about eleven millions, must and '
will be paid, and our credit at any and |
every sacrifice must be maintained. ■
The current expenses of the State gov
ernment must be promptly met. Our
charitable institutions must be kept up.
In this exigency, we are driven to the
alternatives—retrenchment or increas
ed taxation. The latter must be avoid
ed, if possible. I invite your earnest i
attention to the former, and now en- ]
gage that in all methods which your
experience and wisdom may devise for J
saving the people from increased bur
dens, I will most cordially co-operate
with you. Let us not wait for grand j
occasions or for instances of prodigious |
waste in which to begin our reforming '
economy. If we cannot save large !
sums, let us see to it that the smallest !
leaks, which are wasting the public
treasure, if there he such, shall be,
stopped. In such an industrial death
and financial pressure as we are uow
experiencing, a system embracing small,
economies is not to be dispised or neg j
iected. Rigidly honest expenditure t
tho public administration, State policy!
demands. But, besides this, a
moral effort will be secured by
it, which will be of incalculable benefit.
While we give the whole financial
world tho fullest guarantee of our sol
vency by such a policy, we, at the
same time, place before every house
hold in the State an example worthy of
all imitation. We rebuke, by this ex- j
ample, a wasteful aud ostentations ex
penditure among our people, which as
surely wrecks the substance and pros
perity of the homo as it destroys the
more imposing structure called the
public credit. The counties and muni
cipalities of the State will catch the
inspiration, and we will again see the
day when official probity will be the
universal rule, and taxation never
draw another dollar from the produ
cers’ pocket to be wasted or misap
propriated.
Our work is before us, gentlemen,
and a grand achievement is within our
grasp. That work is tho restoration
of a vast heritage, which a sad fortune
has sorely wasted and damaged. It is
to evoke a thousand splendid re
sources now unutilized. It is to main
tain the proudest and noblest tradi
tions—an honor unsullied—-the status
of as worthy and respectable a con
stituency as exists, and its position by
the side of the most advanced of Com
monwealths. This labor, vast as it is,
exacts no impossible thing at our
hands. With the blessing of Heaven
and tho agencies of clear beads and
pure hearts, it may be accomplished.
Again solemnly invoking tno Divine
aid upon our efforts to serve our be
loved State, I now take the oath of
office.
At the conclusion of these remarks
Gen. Colquitt took the oath of office,
aud was declared by President Lester
the lawful Governor of Georgia for the
next four years.
After the inauguration the Senate re
tired to its chamber, and both Houses
adjourned.
Governor Colquitt was immediately
congratulated by a largo number of
friends. The large crowd slowly dis
persed.. and the imposing occasion thus
passed, with nothing to mar its inter
est or beauty.
CASUALTIES,
Snow Blockake Conflagrations -loe
Gorges Smashing- Steamboats.
SanEMECXADy, January 13.—N0 trains
either way since ten o’clock. * Snow
plows are clearing the track.
St. Catharine, Ont., January 13.
The Willard Yale Manufacturing Com
pany’s works burned. Loss ,8125,000,
Scranton, Pa., January 13.—Rx
change block burned. Loss 8100,000,
including the Young Men’s Christian
Association library, valued at 85,000,
Cincinnati, January 13. —The ioe in
the river started again about midnight,
but soon gorged again. The steamer
Andes was sunk. No other boats were
inj ured. The weather has turned colder,
and if it continues no further move
ment of "be ice is expeoted. The
Andes was; valued at 821,000.
Cincinnati, January 13.—Cold and
cloudy. No further indications of a
breaking of the gorge here. It is
thought the steamer Andes sunk last
night, but can be raised if there is no
further movement in the ioe. fcjhe has
only a quarter cargo aboard, which
can be saved. The damaged stern
wheel steamer, Mary Miller, was forced
aground, but the position of the Andes
protects her from the ice. The
G lien City had a nrrrow escape,
tne ice forcing her hard against the
steamer Telegraph, crushing the fan
tail of Gold City, and pushing her hard
aground. The Ludlow, ferry boat, was
carried away from her moorings and
swept down to the bend south of the
city by moving ice at midnight. It is
that the damage to shipping
will kp over 8100,000,
A FINE SERMON.
We take great pleasure iu piesenting
to our many readers the following ab!e
sermon, delivered by Rev. C. A. Evans,
of this city, at the dedication of
Trinity (Methodist) Church, Atlanta,
Georgia, on Sunday,3lst ult. It breathes
a pure, generous, Christian spirit, and
cannot fail to do mueh to advance the
cause of that Great King whose
zealous servant the author is, and
who, with a godly life and eloquent I
tongue, serves well the Master :
THE DEDICATION SERMON
was preached by Rev. G. A. Evans, of
Augusta.
Texl-I speak concerning Christ and the
Church. Eph 5; 23.
Christ and the church which even
the archangel might covet. His arch
i angelic intellect could be charged with
no greater theme, nor could his celest
ial heart be freighted with a richer joy
than the ministry to man of the mys
teries of redemption. I suppose that
there is no spot of earth so distant
or so drear as to preclude his mission
to its lonely inhabitants to tell them of
“Christ aud his church.’’ I suppose that
there is ho human creature so fallen or
forlorn as to be below or beyond the
attempt of this angelic ministry to
reach. No difficulties would baffle him ;
no dangers dismay him ; nothing
j would divert him ffbm executing the
, grand commission, “Go preach the
gospel to every creature!” Taking foi
j his text tho announcement to the
i shepherds he would make the world
| ring with the tiding, “Uuto you is born
! a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
} Such would be the glory of an angel in
; the privilege which “a man of like
j passions with yourselves” possesses to
day. 1 am here, commissioned to
speak concerning Christ and His
church.
It is a spectacle both singular and
sublime which an assembly of human
beings presents when men meet to give
audience to one who shall speak on
this great question. The spokesman
speaks on behalf of Christ, as if He
ueeded man’s defense 1 He justifies
the ways of God to man, as if suspicion
of quiet or folly beclouded the Al
mignty’s dazzling throne! Ho must
display the glories of the Church and
plead with the sinning human subject
as if all tho condesceulion in the scheme
of salvation came from man, and all its
bliss and glory accrued to God ! Thus
the spectacle is singular, because no
other assemblies discuss such subjects
iu such a manner, and it is sublime be
cause these discussions are of such
trauscendant moment. Indeed, the
general subject matter presented by
tae text is of all-absorbing interest.
The world is constrained to take
notice of the existence of the Church
of Christ, of its vast designs and far
reachiug influence. It cannot be ig
nored. Its institutions rise in every
land; its ministers are scattered abroad
throughout the world; its doetriues
demand and obtain universal audience.
Hence the Church and the religion
which it expounds are the subjects of
both the wisest and wildest specula
tions of the human mind. They eugage
the intensest thought of this" present
age. Noon-tide light begins to pour
upon their pages, aud anxious, earnest
men are gazing eagerly into their de
veloping glories.
This absorbed interest in this mo
mentous question is not peculiar, how
ever, to this age. Other ages have
felt somewhat the same attractions. It
seems that even the prophets did not
fully see the great import of their
own predictions, and grew intensely
anxious to search “the miud of the
spirit” concerning Christ and His
church. They were oouscious of the
siirriug within themselves of the
prophetic fire. Moved by that they
uttered deep sayings concerning the
sufferings of Christ, the glory that
should follow, and the grace of God to
the gentile world. But their own say
ings seems dark to themselves, and
“they inquired and searched dilli
gently” to know their vast significance.
Behoid Isaiah pondering as he writes
the mysterious words, “He was a mau
of sorrow,” etc—over which words the
minister of Queen Candaoe subse
quently pored uutil Phillip “preached
uuto him Jesus.” See Daniel by the
bank of the great river Hiddehel, lis
tening to the revelations erf the angel
concerning tho church and the world
to come, aud wondering what it aii
signified.
So the inspired seers themselves
wero .anxious Inquirers concerning
Christ and His Church.
But is this interest confined alone to
man and time? Have we any basis
tor belief that other audiences than
those like this assembled here to-day
meet to speak and hear concerning
Christ and His church ? I can answer
that question.
I am authorized by Holy Writ to di
rect your attention to yonder group of
angels engaged in earnest thought and
talk. They are part of that host of the
sons of Qbd who shouted for joy when
they saw the earliest worlds fly ol!f from
His Angers and wheel oq in their courses
with rhythmical motion. They have
studied with devout atteotiou the pro
cesses of providence in those creative
Currents, whjoh, flowing through eternal
space, constantly throw off upon their
shores some new work of God. In this
subflme research they haye ascended
step by step the brilliant heights of su
pernatural kuowledge, until their vast
angelic intellects blaze with the beams
that come even from God Almighty’s
throne. Their insatiate thirst for in
formation has been fostered and fed in
the universe of created things. What
ever could gratify or expand their
mighty minds; whatever could en
trance or uplift their celestial imagina
tions they had enioyed through oycles
of ages, they have their dwelling
place amidst exalted mysteries, and
there, on such fields, in such employ
ments, they have lived for a terra of
existence that would seem to our finite
conception an eternity | Can it be that
anything pertaining to man could ex
cite the attention of those angels ?
They bend with the weight of
thought. Observe tbeir kindling eyes
flashing quick successive gleams
of intelligence as fact after fact un
folds. Hear their words of testimony,
their reasoning and their deep con?
jectures. What is it that thus eorapts
angelic attention ? It is our theme to
day ; It is Christ and His church. It
is the mystery of redemption ! The
sweet and wondrous scheme of God in
Christ reconciling the world untQ Him
self ! “Which things the angels desire
to look into." They ponder the plans
of God concerning Christ and His
church. With swift add tireless
tfley ascepd ’"the heights -of this great
argument.” IJp, up higher, higher!
and yet beyond them stretched the
lofty height of wisdom and goodness
of God ib redemption. They dea<||ad
deep, deep into the solemn and silent
iepihs of the great mystery, and gaze
awe-struck on yet profounder depths.
They take the morning’s wings and fly
to fiud the verge of redeeming love;
but oh, there are no limits, no bounda
ries to this amazing mystery “concern
ing Christ aud His Church.” They do
uot “comprehend with all saints what
is the 4 height of love Divine,” and yet
they wonder and worship where short
sighted man turns skeptic and wrecks
his soul on the rock of infidelity.
The text permits very considerable
I range of reflection. Even as it is lim
ited by the context we find the field of
observation ample and varied. It is
introduced by St. Paul in his argument
on the near and tender relation of hus
band and wife, in which he finds many
vivid and beautiful illustrations of the
mystical union that is between Christ
and his church. These views of the
apostle concerning tho relation of the
Divine Twain—intimate, tender, Indis
soluble, eternal—provokes the inquiry
which shall be made to-day, into what
the church was and is, and shall be
through Christ, her living head.
There is a first question concerning
Christ and the church which the words
and structure of the text itself suggests:
A leading inquiry pushes itself fore
most of all othors and presses its
claim on the attention. The question
is concerning tho source of the church
or all ages itself. Whence is it ? Is it
from heaven, or from men ? There is
only one auswer that can bo given to
this question. The answer would seem
arrogaut were it not for the evidence bj
which it is supported; it may sound dog-
matic to tho disciple of material philos
ophy; but it is certainly sublime—“ God
founded the church.” It exists by Di
viue right! It is of heavenly origin !
From the throne of the Highest burst
this light ! From the mount of God
sprang the crystal river of salvation.
Everything connected with the
church seems to have come down from
heaven. Its laws, its forms, its powers
are all from above. The tables of the
law, written by the finger of God, were
delivered into onr hands from on
high. The furniture of tho tabernacle
was made according to form. Angels
brought tbe tidings to the shepherds.
A heavenly light led the Chaldeau
sages to the infant Christ.
And above all its living head came in
an eternal Sonship from the bosom of
the Father, and the Holy Ghost was
sent down from heaven to be its inspi
ration, comfort and joy forever.
There are those who see in certain
words of Jesus to Peter the building
of the church upon a human basis.
But I cannot think that tho Christian
church is founded upon a man, even if
that man be Simon Peter himself. My
own humanity protests against a basis
so frail, so finite, so insecure. I kuow
'of no quality strictly human on which
such a superstructure might be raised.
I know of no platform of merely hu
man traits sufficiently broaJ, firm, and
self-sustaining to be made the proper
basis of a religion for the race. It is
reasonable that an institution which
pertains to time and mateiial thiners
might rise into existence and be sus
tained by human agencies alone. But
for the basis of an institution that per
tains to eternity aud to spiritual in
terests, tfiut embraces in its
scheme the beings and the affairs of
three distiuct worlds, that looks to a
perpetuity that parallels tho ondless
current of eternity—for the corner
stone, the foundation rock of such ao
institution, give me something better
than a man whose breath is in his nos
trils, whose infirmities are his shame,
who is crushed before tua soft tread of
the moth! The original glory of our
manhood had Adam for its corner
stone, and we know the result. Not
only revelators testify, but we ourselves 1
also are witnesses of the fall of that
first temple. Its ruins rot in all hu
man nature, yet othor religions have
been founded in fancy, or policy, or su
perstition, and in their turns have
passed away. Even the Jewish theoc
racy, though given to man from God,!
having Moses and the prophets as its i
groundwork, gave way before that de
struction that sooner or later wastes '
all temporal institutions. But the
Christian Church is indeed founded
upon a Rock, and the Rock is Jesus,
“the Christ, tho Son of the living God.”
Thus the eburh, whether of yester
day, or of to-day, or or tho future,
owes its existence unto Him who loved
it and gave Himself for it. He is its
lire, its power, its hope.
Let me next speak concerning the
three phases of that church, which is
like its divine author of yesterday,
to-day and forovor. Tho church in ali
time is one churob. But it has a Trin
ity of manifestations. It was; it is; it
is to be, It is yesterday, to-day. for
ever. •
L The church of the past—lts hal
lowed form appears amidst the antede
luvian haze, indistinctly outlined by
its siugle rite—the woman's seed, by its
three great names, Abol. Enoch, Noah.
Drawing nearer out or the dimmest
of those far off days, behold this same
divino form appearing in patriarchal
traditions, transmitted from sire to
son, and in altars of sacrifice.
In one land a man of Uz, named Job,
illustrates that church. In another
land a man named Abram was of
that faith. In another land there was
| a prince titled Meichiaeflek. who was
' also a priest of the Most High God.
I And so abroad over the world there
were many then who feared Qod and
worked righteousness, and were accept
ed of Him.
Another stage or two of progress
made by this advancing church brought
it into clear historic light, and we can
look now upon its form and spirit as
they were moulded by the ‘flaw that
came by Moses.” Emerging from pre
historic obscurity and casting off its
ancient austerity, the church put on
splendid ritualistic attire, at robed it
self anew behind the cloud of Sinai
with dazzling glories received direct
from heaven. There was committed to
Jt the or.ides of (fad in trust. Thence it
flashed afar across the untravelled
leagues of time to come, the pledges
and prophecies of a newer and higher
evolution of itself. It become a Zion
beautiful for situation and the joy of
the whole earth. But it was a glory
that must pass away.
Why could not the Mosaic church
remain ? I. Because it was legalistic.
It demanded obedience to the letter of
the law as the ground of salvation,
and Uehce saved no one, but condemned
all. 2. Because It was ritualistic. Ry
sign and ceremony it spited the child
hood of the world, but no other age.
Its types taught tfle untutored, but
they perished when the spiritual truth
appeared in tho fullness of times;
these all belong to the past. Ritualism
is, therefore, out of date. It is an ojd
bottle tflg,t cannot contain the new
Wine. It is an old style that cannot be
restored without killiug those who
adopt it. Paul’s argument aod il
fllustration from the case of tho bpnd
son and the free son of Abraham set
this question. Bays he, the Jem
salem of the past, like Agar, was in
bondage with her children. Both church
and members were slaves to dead
forms. But Jerusalem is above (which
is now), is free ; it is the church of
grace, not of iaw, and is the mother of
us all. 3. This Mosaic church passed
also, because it was not
cosmopolitan, and could not be
come so. It was given to one na
tion, for example. It had no elasticity,
was not missionary and yielded to the
church that is adapted to the race.
4. It was not intended to be perma
nent. Transient itself, it was designed
to usher in a better hope, and lead a
groping world to find its light and life
in Jesus Christ. And so its taber
nacles dissolved—its unsubstantial
pageant faded, and in its place ap
peared another brighter and more
beautiful form of that same church our
dear Redeemer bought with his own
precious blood. The church of to-day!
2. The church of to-day. It is called
for distinction sake the Christian
church. But the church of yesterday
is as much the church of Christ. The
words to-day, as often used in Scrip
ture, apply to the Christian dispensa
tion. Thus, “to-day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts as in the
day of the provocation in the wilder
ness.” And so also Jesus said to the
pardoned malefactor, “to-day, thou
shalt be with me in Paradise that is,
in this very period of my kingdom wh
will be together in glory. So the
church of Christ in this entire age is
tho church of to-day. The night is 1
spent, shadow aud symbol are gone,
the day of grace and truth is come.
I will pass by the earlier hours of i
this church in order that wo may at
once consider questions
that now confront the people of God
and demand attention.
There are great questions concerning
Christ and the church which, in this
present day, particularly press upon
our consideration. They aro issues
that must aud will be fully met. And
if the conflicts over these questions
are the pattering skirmish Are of the
great intellectual and spiritual battle
or Armagedon, we may nevertheless
deploy and face the foe aud enter the
fight without fear. For, when the
smoko of the great fight shall have
rolled away, the field will show that
the great victory is won, and that the
kingdom of our Lord is come.
Arnoug these questions is that of
Christian unity. We are taunted for
our diversity. Our enemies say we
cannot agree. Doos not Christianity,
in its external arrangements for tho
world’s conquest, really seem like the
legions of a grand army in broken or
der rather than like tho same legions
in marshal array ?
When the prophet of Midian, Ba
laam, the son of Beor, bent his gaze
from the heights of Moab and beheld
the Lord’s people camped upon its
plains, he was entranced by his vision
of order, unity and beauty. And he
said, how goodly are thy tents, O,
Jacob, aud thy tabernacles, O, Israel]
as tho valleys are they spread forth, as
gardens by the river, us the trees of
aloes which tho Lord hath planted, and
as cedars beside the waters.”
What generous Chris:iau heart does
not open like the heart of this old
prophet to the beams of Christian
biotherhood . J Who does not respond
with joy to the hope that all the
churches shall beoome one ?
This question of unity arises in many
forms. It is suggested bv many things.
There is a lessening of differences and
distances in our day. Rapidity of tran
sit by means of steam and the flash of
oommunion by the eleotrio agent
shrink the intervening oceans and
shrivel the mountains that have kept
peoples apart. Languages begin to di
minish in number, dialects to disappear
and great tongues to blend. The very
flash of our old controversial fire as
we gave and took tbeologioal blows and
knocks in the dark has revealed to us
that friend was fighting with friend,
and the ory of the wounded made
known a brother’s voice and showed
that fraternal blood had been drawn in
our eeolesiastical battles. Besides
there is work for the church to do that
awaits the necessary unification to ac
complish it. There is a world
wide call for an effective unity
of Christian consecrativo powers; not
Tor uniformity, but for unity; not for
the shadow or the form, but for the
subsiance and tho power. And, for
on“, I bplieve that the church will have
grace to meet this question and solve
it in the faoo of the world. For kin
dred to this question of unity, and very
dependent on its proper settlement, is
i another of transcendent Importance.
It is the union of tho Christian ohurcb
in the work of converting all the world
to Christ. It is tho imposing work of
world-wide evangelism. This is thought
to be the century when the church shall
fully put on the old apostolic spirit.
The twain wings of the prophetio ser
aphim with which “he did fly’’ begin to
expand and the feathers nestle with
tfle missionary desire.
Again; What influence should the
church exert on national life? Must it
pretermit all effort to mould the man
ners or shape the civilization or guide
the legislation of the country, and
yield all right to foster the education
of Children ? In our recoil from the
old error of binding church and state
together, shall we shrink from ali
duties which the church,as such, owes
to society? By its very principles it
guarantees liberty, justfae and peace.
It professes to be a powerful lever in
this human mass. Ought not the peo
ple of God to make themselves felt in
national affaire ? May not they and
their pulpits speak, not as partisans,
but as patriots; not to stir up strife,
but to show the way to peace ?
There is another living question that
is now on many tongues. What shall
be done with tho conflict between the
church and science? It is a marvel
lous thing that this question bas ever
been raised at all 1 (Xu what authority
baa any assumed that there is a con
flict between tho truths of revelauou
and the truths of science. Not on the
authority of revelation, for it affirms
that the heavens declare the glory of
God, and oafis on natural things to
adore His name. N°t on the authority
of nature’s eloquent tongue and varied
testimony, for its discovered laws are
in haimoqy with all revelation, and as
It unfolds its dainty secrets, to the
quest of man they, too, become wit
nesses of the sacred truth. The ohurch
is the relentless foe of sophism, but it
is the unchangeable friend of science.
It is the trustee of all truth. Not one
glorious fact in nature, not one golden
truth in science belongs tc skepticism.
They are all the crown jewels that be
long to the flings and priests of thb di
vine household. AH disoovery in the
broad field of nature will develop the
treasure hidden in the pages of God’s
written word. Ry natural things we
shall from age to age interpret spirit
ual truths more clearf,-. The church
is in no conflict with science and can
never he.
But must | speak of ffie church of
SIX DOLLARS A YEAR
to-day as if it were the inhabitant of
ear.haloue; ustruggicr in the storm
of tune; a debater of great earthly
questions; striving only for temporal
masteries? The church of to-day is
not altogether of the earth. The earth
is not the boundary of the inheritance
of the people of God. They form a
family amidst the masses of mankind
but there is a part of the housetiold of
faith in another home. The greater and
the better part of the church is to-day
in the kingdom of heaven. There
in harmony meet.
Their Savior and brethren transported to
They came and are coming still from
earths four quarters to sit down in
the kingdom of God. An entrance is
ministered unto them abundantly The
crowns have displaced the crosses, and
the pallid hue of care, disease and
death has been succeeded by the sweet
blush of surprise, aud then by heaven’s
perpetual bloom I hear a voice from
heaven saying: Blessed are the dead
who die In the Lord !
\nc who are those that are thus ar
rayed in all the glory of heaven ? Thev
are members of tho bodv of Christ
which is His church. Some of them
you knew well on earth, and did most
dearly love. Some of them went from
the service of this church and from tho
homes of this congregation to their re
wards in glory. They are what you
call “your beloved dead.” Your kin
dred close to you by earthly ties
closer still in this eternal bond. Your
children given, taken to be of God s
family in heaven. Your fathers, your
mothers, who uwuit your comiug. Oh
eternity! Oh, heaven! So far,
near, so full 0 f those we love!
1 look up, aud cau almost f-ee!
Would that the blue veil could
part sometimes and give mo just a
glimpse of the great company of
heaven! I put forth my trembling
hand to push the goideu gates again
and seem sometimes to feel them
yielding to my pressure as if they
were about to awing apart and show
me the very “glory of the Lord.” I
can almost hear, sometimes, the an
thems of rapture which unceasingly
roll, and see “the smile of my Lord
which is the feast of the soul.” Some
times my heart almost breaks with its
longing to be there.
Jerusalem, my happy home
Name ever dear to me;
o lien shall my labors have an end
m hoaveu and ueace and thee!
There happier bowers than Eden's bloom
Nor siu nor sorrow know ’
f thro ’ lude aiul stormy seas
I onward press to thee!
Dailv Constitutionalist, st> per year.
FOREIGN DISPATCHES.
A TOUGH TURKEY.
Probable Failure of the Conference -
Cuban Piracy.
i London, January 13.-All the corros
pondeuts of London papers consider
i the failure of the Conference probable.
I The attitude of tlie Turks is unyie a
nd mg. J u
i Washinotok, Jauuaiy 13.—A telegram
from Havana, dated the 12tb, and re
ceived in this city, says that tho for
ruer bpaaish merchant steamer, Mon
tezuina, captured by Cubau insurgents
near 1 orto Rico, and converted into a
pirate vessel, called the “Cespedes ”
1 has been burned by the Cuban pirates
at the near approach of the Spanish
war steamer, Jorge Juan, that was
giviug her chase. Before the Jorge
Juan reached the burning vessel the
pirates bad fled in boats to the nearest
coast, which is believed to be that of
\ enezuela. The Jorge Juan picked up
and took on board twenty-four of tho
former crew of the Montezuma, cap
tured aud kept as prisoners by the
Oubcins a
Russia Girding Up Her Loins.
Sx. Pelkusbcbo, January 13.—Tho
Czar has written to the Grand Duke
; Nicholas, the Minister of War and va
rious Generals thanking them for tho
I successful exertions to promptly mo
j bilize and concentrate the army.
| St. Petersbcbu, January 13.—The
Oolos says it is believed the Porto Is
simply playing with the
further concessions by the Powers will
1 only increase Turkish arrogance.
Russia s self respect demands that ne
gotiations be prolonged no further,
| but energetic measures, such as Gen!
IgnatkfT recalled, be adopted. The
more determined Russia’s attitude, tho
, sooner peaco will be secured.
Burning of the Steamer Montezuma.
Havana, January 13.—The steamer
Montezuma, captured on the 27th of
November by tho Cuban insurgents,
has been burned on the Honduras
coast by her captors, who escaped.
The Spaniards on board were saved by
a Spanish man-of-war, and have ar
rived at Cienf uegog.
Daily Constitutionalist, $6 per yea r.
FROM BOSTON.
Bulldozing a Steamship.
Boston, January 13.—1n the U. S.
District Court libel was plead by coun
sel for John Maguire, of New York,
owner of the steamer Montgomery,
against the steamer Seminole. Dama
ges were laid at from £58,000 to 300,-
000. Libel is to recover for loss of
vessel by collision with the Seminole
off Cape May. The charge is that the
accident was caused by negligence on
the part of the commsuder of the Sem
inole. An attachment was placed on
the Semffiole, which is still at this port.
Daily Constitutionalist. §0 per year.
The Russian Fleet.
Noufolk, January 13.—The Russian
frigate Soetiaud, arrived here this
morning and anchored near Fort Nor
folk.
Upon her arrival she gave a
salute, which was returned by the
United States steamer Powhattan.
The Soetland is commanded by the
Grand Duke Alexis and is the flag
ship of the Russian squadron, Ad
miral Boutakoff commanding. During
the afternoon, the Grand Duke came
ashore and paid a visit to Baron
Shishkin. The Russian Minister, it is
understood, will not take up quar
ters on shore, but will remain on
board the ship most of the time.
The Grand Duke Constantine is also
on the Soetland. He is about eighteen
years old, and is the second son of the
Emperor’s brother Constantine, and
brother-in-law of the King of Greece.
The other vessels belonging to the fleet
have not yet arrived.
Daily Constitutionalist, SC per year.
Quite a number of the rump states
men are“foolin v ‘round C’lumby. TheUf
purpose cannot be divined.