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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. ATLANTA. GA. TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 :®8i.
, TALMAGE’S SERMON.,.
PREACHED YESTERDAY IN CLEVE
LAND, OHIO.
**v. T. DvWttt Talmsge Preachy on the 8nb|*ot!
"Off lh« Track How to Got on A* sin " — In
Which Ho Shows It la Easier to do Wrong
Than It la to do Bt*h< Bto* Etc.
CLEVELAND, O., December R.—[Special.]—
The Rev. T. DeWitt Talmngo, D. D., preached
litre today. Following is his sermon: Subject:
■“Off Track—How to get on again.”
•Text: Proverbs xxiii, 33: “When ahall I
awake? I will aeek It yet again.”
With an insight into human nature such os
no other mnn ever reached, Solomon, in my
text, sketches tbo mental operation* of one who,
having stepped aside from the p ith of rectitude,
•desires to return. With a wish for something
better be said: “When shall I awake? When
shall I come out of this horrid nightmare of Inf
ejuity?” Bur seized upon by nncredicated
habit and forced down bill by his passions he
cries out: “I will seek it yet again. I will try
it once more/'
Our libraries are adorned with an elegant
literature addressed to young men, pointing
cut to them all the dangers and perils of life—
complete maps of the voyage, showing all tho
locks, the quicksands, the shoals. But sup
pose a man has already made shipwreck, sup-
* pose ho is already off tho track; suppose ho has
already gone astray, how la lie to get back/
That is a Held comparatively untouched. 1
propose to address myself this morning to such.
There sro tboro in this audience who, with
every paraion of their agonized soul, are r«idy
to hear such a discussion. They compare them
aelvea with what they were ten years ago, an 1
cry ont from the bondage in whlc'i
they are incarcerated. Now, if
there be any in this house, come
with an earnest purpose, yet feeling thoyaro
.beyond tho pale of Christian sympathy, and
that the sermon can hardly be expected to ad
dress them, then, at this moment, I givo them
my right band, and call them brother. Look
tip. Thero is glorious and trlumphaut hope for
you yet. I sound the trumpet of gospel deliv
erance. Tho church is ready to spread a ban-
S uet at your return, and the hierarchs of
eaven to fall into line of bannered procession
at the news of your emancipation. So far as
Cod may help me, I propose to show what are
the obstacles of your return, and then how yon
otc to surmount those obstacles.
, Tho first difficulty in the way of yonr re*
turn is tho force of moral gravitation. Just as
there is a natural law which brings down to
tho eaith anything you throw into tlio air, so
there is a cerresponding moral gravitation. ' In
other words, it is easier to go down
than it is to go tip; it is
easier to do wrong than it is to do right. Call
to mind the comrades of your boyhood days—
acme of them good, some of them bad—which
most affected you? Call to miud tho anecdotes
that you have hoard in the last five or ton
years—some of them are pare and some of
them impure. Which tho more easily sticks to
your memory? During tho years of your life
you have formed certain courses of conduct—
acme of thero good, some of thorn bad. To
which style of habit did you tho more easily
yield? Ahi my friends, we have to tako but a
moment ot self-inspection to find out that thero
is in all our souls a force of moral gravitation.
But that gravitation may be resisted. Just as
you may pick up from tho earth something and
bold it in your hand toward heavon, just so; by
the power of God’s grace, a soul fallen may bo
lifted toward peace, toward pardon, toward
heaven. Force of moral gravitation in every
eno of us, but power in God's gtace
td overcome that force of moral gravitation.
The next thing in tho way of your return is
tho power of evil habit. I know thero are
those who say it is very easy for them to givo
up evil habits. I do not believo thorn. Hero
is a man given to intoxication. Ho knows it is
disgracing his fiimily, destroying his property,
raining him, body, mind and souL If that
mnn. Icing an Intelligent man, and loving his
'■ roily, could easily give up*that habit, would
bo not do so? The fact that he doos not givo it
up proves it is hard to give it np. It is a very
easy thing to sail down stream, the tido carry
ing you with great force; but suppose you turn
the boat up stream, is it so
• thon to row it?
w rll inclinations in
our hearts, and onr bod habits, wo are sailing
down stnam, but the moment we try to turn,
we put our boat in the rapids just abovo Niaga
ra. and try to row up stream.
Take a man given to the habit of using to
bacco, os most of yon do, and let him resolve to
atop, and he finds it very difficult. Twenty-
one years ago I quit the habit, and I would as
soon dare to put my right hand in the fire as
once to indulge in it. Why? Bccauso it was
anch a terrific struggle to get over it. Now,
let a man bo advised by his physician to give
up the uso of tobacco. He goes around not
knowing what to do with himself. Ho cannot
add up a lino of figures. He cannot sloen
nights. It seems as if tlio world had turned
upside down. He feels his business if going
to ruin. Where ho was kind and obliging ho
Is scolding and fretful. Tho composure that
characterized him lias given way to a fretful
vestleamcse, and he. has become a complete
fidget. What power Is it that has roilod a wave
of woe over the earth nud shaken a portent
In tho heavens? He baa triod to
atep Brooking! After a while
be says: “I nm going to do as I please. Tbo
doctor doon’t understand mv case. I’m going
back to my old habit.” And Iio returns. Every
thing assumes its usual composure. Ills busi
ness hfc-ms to brightcu. The world becomes an
nttrnotivo place to live in. His children, seeing
the difference, hail the return of their father’s
genial disposition. What wave of color has
dashed blue into tho sky, nnd greenness into tho
mountain foliage, and the glow of sapphire into
the sunset? What enchantment has lifted a
world of twenty and joy on his soul? Ho baa
gone bock to smoking.
• Oh! tlio Diet is. ns wo all know In our own
experience, that habit is a taskmaster; as long
. as we obey it, it does not chastise us; hut lot us
' resist and wo find wu are to bo lashed with
scorpion whips and bound with ship cable, and
thrown into the track of bone-breaking juggor-
nauts. During the war of 181*2 there was a ship
act on fire just above Niagara falls, and then,
A WATCH FREE!
ent loose from its moorings, tt came on down I one asked whether this man was from Oregon,
through the night and tossed over the fall. It | * **
was Kind to have bceu a scene brilliant beyond
all description. Well, there are thousau Is of
tncu on fire of evil habit, comingdowu through
tho rapida ‘and through tho awful night of
temptation toward tbo eternal plunge.
Oh! btwr hard it is to arrest them. God only
con ariot them. Suppose a mau after five, or
ten, or twt nty years of evil doing, resolves to
r *|bt? Why, all tho forces of darkness are
allied against him. He cannot sleep nights.
He gets down on his kneos in tho wutuigat
ujid er.es: “God help tno:'’ Jlo bites his lip.
He grinds his teeth. Ho clenches bis fist in a
determination to keep bis purpose. Ho dare
not look at the bottles in tho window of a wine
stcre. It win one long, bitter, exhaustive,
hand-to-hand fight with cnffiimod, tantalizing
and merciless habit. When ho thinks
he is entirely free the old inclinations pounce
upon him like a pack of hounds with*their
muzzles tearing away at the flanks of ono poor
reindeer. In l*arls thero is a sculptured repre
sentation of Bacchus, tho god of revelry. He
is riding on a panther at full leap. Oh, how
suggestive! Let every one who is speeding on
bad ways understand he is not riding a docile
and well-broken steed, but ho is riding a mon
ster, wild and bloodthirsty, going at a death
leap. How many there are who resolve on a
better life and say: “When shall I awake?”
but. seized on by their old habits, cry: “I
will try it ouco more. I will
seek it yet again!” Years ago there were some
Piinccton students who were skating, and the
ice was very thin, and some one warned the
company back from tho air-hole, and finally
warned them entirely to lcavo tho place. But
one young man with bravado, after all the rest
bod stopped, cried out: “Ono round more!”
He swept around and weut down, and was
brought out a corpse. My frlcuds, thoro are
thousands and tcus of thousands of men losin
their souls In that way. It is tho ono rouni
more.
1 have also to say that If a man wants to re
turn from evil practices society repulses him.
Desiring to reform, lie says: “Now, I will shake
off my old associates, and I will find
umpatiionship.” And he appear* at the
church door come Sabbath day, and tho usher
greets him with a look, as much as^osay;
•*\N by, you here? Yon are tho last man I ever
exf octcd to see at church! Come, take this
feat right down by tho door!” instead of saying:
■ Good morning; 1 am glad you are here. Come;
I will give you a flrst-rute seat, right up by the
1 give you a
t” Well, tl
How Every Man and Boy Can
Get a Watch for Christmas.
We have sold nearly 10,000 Waterbury Watches,
They are standard everywhere and a* good time
keepers as any 9100 watch. Our price UIA50 for
the watch and chain, or 13.25 for watch, attain and
But we want to give away 1,000 watches daring
December. We therefore make this offer
FOR DECEMBER ONLYi
first—For a club of ten subscribers, at 91 each,
Ahat is, 910, we will give the sender a watch and
chain free.It will be sent Immediately on receipt of
the 910 and the ten names.
Fccond—For a club of flvo subscribers at 91 each,
and fl.23 added, we will send a watch and chain
to the person who sen<ls the oltia.
NOW HEEt
You bay the watch and chain Loth for H30! For
lOsuUcriscn and 910 you get the watch sad chain
free. For 6 *ut*cri»>cr» and 95 you get tho watch
and chain by adding lf.2S—that is, sending five
autocribere and to.’iV.
Now, every inan and !»y in America can
CRT A WATC H FOB CffRHTIMS FREE,
or at half-price by •loing a little work. Wo posi
tively w II! not have this offer open beyond De ram-
to*. It L. to help everybody get a watch for Christ
mas.
Besides getting the watch as above, every name
you send during Dccem»«r yets your name in
OVB ••CHltI.HTMAS PREMIUM BOX,**
and you may get the 9100 present. Get np 10 eu*-
•mbers—jou certainly gel a watch and chain—and
yon have 10 chances at our splendid Ustof Christ'
mss presents.
the prodigal, not yet dlsrour-
cu, enters a prayer meeting, and somo Chris-
in man, with more zeal than common sense,
rays: “Glad to see you. Tho dying thief was
saved, nnd I snppoao thero is mercy for yon!”
The young man, disgusted,chilled, throws him-
self baik on his dignity, resolved ho never will
enter tho houso of God again. Perhaps not
quite ftilly discouraged about reformation, ho
side* ut» by somo highly respectablo man ho
used to know, going down the street, and imme
diately tbo respectable mnn has an errand down
fome other street! Well, the prodigal wishing
to return, takes tome member of a Christian
association by the hand, or tries to. Tbo Chris
tian young man looks at him, looks at tho faded
apparel and tho marks of dissipation, and in
stead of giving him a wnrra grip of the hand,
oilers him the tip end of the long fingors of the
left band, which is equal to striking a man in
tlie face.
Ob, how few Christian pcoplo understand
bow much force nnd gospel there is in a good,
honest handshaking! Sometimes, when you
have felt tho need of encouragement, nnd some
Christian man has taken you heartily by the
hand, hnve you not folt that thrilling through
cveTy fiber of your body, mind and sonl, an en
couragement that was just what yon needed?
You do not know anything at all about this
unices you know when n man tries to return
from evil conrsea of conduct ho runs against
repulsions innumerable. We say of somo man,
be lives a block or two from the church or
half a mile from the church. Thero are poo-
pie in onr crowded cities who llvo a thousand
milre from church. Vast deserts of indlflbr-
rncc between them and the honso of Gbd. The
fact Is, we must keep onr respectability, though
thousands and tens of thousands perish. Christ
mt with publicans and sinners. But If there
to tbe house of God a man with marks of
dissipation upon him, pcoplo almost throw up
their hands in horror, as much as to say: “Isn’t
it shocking?” How there dainty, fastidious
going to get
into heaven I don’t know, unleas they have an
especial train of care, cushlouod and uphol
stered, each one a car to himself! They cannot
go with the great herd of publicans and sinners.
0 ye, who curl up your fin of scorn at the
fallen, I tell you plainly, if you had been sur
rounded by the same influences, instead of sit
ting today amid tho cultured, and tbo reflnod,
nud tlie Christian.you would have been a crouch
ing wretch in stablo or ditch, covered with
filth and abomination! It is not bccauso yon
urc naturally any better, but bccauso the mercy
of Gcd baa protected you. Who are you that,
(nought up in Christian circles, aud watched by
< htislian parentage, you should bo so hard on
the fallen?
I think men also are often hindered from re
turn by the lact that churches are too anxious
about their membership, and too anxious about
ihcir denomination, und they rush out wlion
1 bey fee a mao about to givo up his sin and re
turn to God. and ask him how ho Is golug to
to baptized, whether by sprinkling or immer
sion, nod wlmt kind of church lie is going to
Join. O, my friends! it ia a poor time to talk
about Presbyterian catechism*, and Kpiscopal
liturgies, and Methodist love-foasls,and liuntUt-
rics, to a mau that is coming out of the dark
ness of sin into tlio glorious light of the gotpcl.
Why, it reminds mo of a man drowuiug in the
mii, and n life boat puts out for him, and the
mnn in the bout nays to the man out of tho
bout: ‘ Now, if I get you ashore, uro you going
to live in uiy Street?’’ First get him arimm.
und then talk u)iout the iion-CAsontiala of reli
gion. Who cares wlmt church be joins, if he
•inly joins Christ and stort* for heaven? U, you
ought to Lave, my brother, an illumined face,
and a hearty gTip for every ono that tries to turn
from liis evil way. Take bold of tho aatne
book with him, though his dissipations shako
the book, remembering that ho that convortoth
a sinner from tlio error of ways shall aavoa
soul from death, aud bide a multitude of sins.
Now, I have shown you these obstacles be
cause 1 want you to understand I know mil tho
difficulties in tbe way; but I am now to tell
you how Hannibal may scale tbe Aina, and how
the shackles tuav be unriveted, ana how the
paths of virtue forsaken may be regained.
First of all, my brother, throw yourself on
God. Go to him frankly and earnestly, and
tell Him these habits you have, and ask Him if
there is any help in all the resources of omnip
otent love, to give it to yon. Do not go with a
Go to God and
for
bl ip! help! help! and if you cannot cry for help
just look and live. I remember in tbe late war
I was at Antietam, and I went into the hoe-
pitals after the battle, and laaldtoamin:
‘Where are too hurt?” He made no answer,
Lot held up bis arm, swollen and splintered. I
raw where he was hurt. Tbe simple fact is,
when a man baa a wounded aoul, all be haa to
do la to bold it up before a sympathetic Lord
and get It healed. It docs not take any long
prayer. Just bold np the wound. Ob, it la no
mmUI thing wbcp a man is nervous, and weak
and exhausted, coming from his evil ways, to
feel that God puts two omnipotent arms around
about him and aays: “Young man, I will aland
And then, as the soul thinks tbe news
goed to be true, and cannot believe it, and looks
up in God’s Croc, God lift* Ilia right
band and • takes an oath, an
i ftdavit, raying: “As I live, aailh
the Lord God, I have no pleasure ia tho death
of him that ditto.”
BleS'cd l.e God for anch a gospel as this!
“Cut tbe slices tbin,” said the wife to the hu«-
J srd, “or there will not be enough to go a?l
around for the children; cut tbe slices thin.”
lilt km d be God there is a full loaf for every one
that wants it; bread enough and to spare. So
tbin allies at the Lord's table. I remember
when the Master Street hospital in Philadel
phia was opened during tho war, a telegram
iinir, raving, “There will be three hundred
wound*d men tenight, be ready to take care of
lit ra,” and from my church there went in
some twenty or thirty men and women to look
alter there poor wounded fellows.
As they came, some from one part
U the land, soma from another, no
nr from Massachusetts, or from Minnesota, or
Iran New York. There was a wounded sol
dier, and the only question was how to tvks off
the rags most geutly, and put on the bandage,
nnd administer the cordial. And when a soul
tomes to God, He done not ask where you
came from or what your ancestry was. Heal
ing for all your wounds. Pardon for all your
guilt. Comfort for all your troubles.
Then also I counsel you, if you want to get
back, to quit all your bod associations. One
unboly intimacy will fill your aoul with m >ral
distemper. In all tho ages of the ehureh th ire
Las not been an instance where a man k ipt
one evil associate and was reformed. Amojg
the fourteen huudred million of the race nat
ono instance. Go home today, open your deal,
take out letter paper, stamp and envelope, and
tlx n write a letter something like this:
“My old companions: 1 start this day for
heaven. Untill am persuaded yon will J
me iu this, foreweU.”
Then sign your name, and rend the letter
with the first post. Givo np yonr bad compan
ions, or give up heaven. It ia not ten bad oom-
.panions that destroy a man, nor five bad com-
t anions, nor three bad companions, but one.
What chance is there for that young man I saw
a lung the street, four or five young mon with
him, halting In front of a grogshop, urging him
to go in, he resisting, violently resisting, u
after awhile they forced him to go in? It was
a cummer night, and tho door was loft oj
m tbe process. They held him I
w put the cup to * *
down the strong drink,
for such a:
1 counsel
Every Christian man is bound to help you. If
you find no other human ear willing to listen
to your story of struggle, come to me, and I
will, by every sympathy of my heart, and every
prayer, nnd every toil of my hand, stand beside
you in tho struggle for reformation; and as I
hope to have my own sins forgiven, and hope
to be acquitted at the judgment seat of Christ,
I will not betray yon. Pint of all, reek God,
then seek Christian counsel. Gathor np all
tbe energies of body, mind and soul, and, ap
pealing to God for ancceai, declare this
day everlasting war against all drink
ing habits, all gaming practices,
all houses of sin. Half-and-half work will
amount to nothing: it must be a Waterloo.
Shrink back now, and yon are lost. Push on,
and you are saved. A Spartan general fell at
tlie very moment of victory, but no dipped his
finger in his own blood and wrote on a rock
near which he was dying: “Sparta has oon-
quered.” Though yonr strugglo to get rid of
sin may seem to be almost a death struggle, yon
can dip your finger in yonr own blood aud
write on the rock of ages: “Victory through
our Lord Jeans Christ.”
O. what glorious news It would bo for some
of there young men to send home to their par
ents in the country there holidays which are
coming. They go to the postoffice 6very day or
two to are whether there aro any letter* from
you. How anxious they aro to hear! You
might rend them for a holiday nresont this sea
son a book from one of onr beat publishing
morrow that you had given yonr heart to God.
I know how it la in tho country. The
night comes on, the cattle stand nnder
the rack, through which buret
the trusses of bar. The horses just having
frisked up from the meadow at the nightfell,
stand kneo-deep in tho bright straw that In
vites them to lie down and rest. The perch of
tho hovel ia frill of fowl, their feet warm under
the feathers. In the old form-house at night
no candle is lighted, for the flamee dap their
hands about the great back log, and shako the
shadow of the group np and down tho wall,
Father and mother alt there for half an hour.
f nothing. I wonder what they are
ng of. After awhilo the fother breaks the
silence and saya: “Well, I wonder where our boy
is in town tonight?” and the mother answers,
“In no bad placed I warrant you; we always
could trust him when he was home, and sinco
he has been a wav thero have been ao many
prayer* offered for him we can trust him still.”
Then at eight o'clock—for they retire early In
try—they kneel down. and commend
yon to that God who watches In country and
in town, on the land and on the sea
Some one said to a Grecian general: “What
was the proudest moment in yonr life?” He
thought a moment, and said, “The proud
est moment in my life was when I sent
word home to my parent* that I had
gained tbe victory.” And the proudest and
most brilliant moment In yonr life will bo the
moment when yon can send word to your par
ents that yon have conquered your evil habits
by the grace of God, and become eternal vlo-
‘ ir. Ob. despiao not parental anxiety.
The time will come when yon will have
neither farther nor mother, and yon will go
around the place where they used to watch
you, and find them gone from the house, and
tone from the field, and mine from tbe neigh-
ioi hood. Cry as loud for forgiveness as you may
over the mound In the churchyard, they
will not answer. Dead! Dead! And then you
will take out the white lock of hair that was
ent from yonr mother’s brow Joat before they
buried lu r.nnd yon will tako the cane with which
your father used to walk, and yon will think
nnd think and wish that yon had done Just as
they wanted you to. and would give the world
if you had never thrust a pang through their
drr.r old hearts. God pity the young man who
he* brought disgrace on his father’s name! God
pity the young man who haa broken his moth
er'* heart! Hotter If ho had never been
I orn, better if in the first hour
of his life, instead of being
laid against the warm bosom of maternal ten-
ricrn&w, he had been coffined and sepulchred.
r i here is no balm powerful enough to heal tho
heart of ono who has brought parents to a sor
row fril grave, and who wanders about through
tbe dbmal cemetery, rending the hair and
' ping tho hands and c ’ “■
Ob, that today, by i
tbe past, and by all the hopoo of the future.
* icld yonr heart to God. May yonr
and your mother’s God bo your
KETHODIST CONFERENCE.
Al'nrtn, Ga., December 1.—[Special.]— 1 The
flirt day’s session was called to order at nine
a. m.. with Bishop H. N. McTyelro, LL. D., iu
the chair
The attendance of the preachers and lay del
egates is very frill. The roll call showed somo
absences. It was wul to hear the silence wiioti
the ustres of Jas. E. Evans and L. J. Davies
were called.
We uote among tho prominent mini iters
present Bev, Dr. W. II. Potter, Hov.
l>r. J. W. Lee, Dr. Glenn. Rev. H. H. Parks.
8am W. Small la expected tomorrow and Sam
Jones in a few days. Rev Dr. J. B. McPorrin.
veterau of Methodism, is also to be here.
Tho committee on application have had
twenty-four young men before them. Bey. J,
B. Ihirker says that they aro of nnusu.il
promise. Among the number we mention A.
C. (.nut roll, Elison B. Cook, formerly a business
man in Atlanta; J. B. Holland, of Monroo
county: Lundy H. Harris, who used to 5e pro-
fearer tn Emory college; J. E. Rosser, H. M.
Strosicr. 8. M. Shaw and 8am W. Small.
The committee of arrangement* under tbe
management of Rev. A. G. Wanllaw, pastor of
8t Johu’s church, bavo given all the nresohors
and delegates elegant home*, and ' all feel at
home. A petition with 230 signatures lias
been sent up for tho return of Bov. A. O.
Wardlaw. He is a young unmarried
man, tho people aro delighted with him,
and the petition for bia return is very compli
mentary. Ho haa had good success since ho
took charge. He haa filled out tho term of
Rev. Warren A. Candler, who was removod to
become asaistaut editor of the Nashvillo Chris
tian Advocate.
The committee of presiding olden yesterday
appointed tho following board to serv o for tho
next four yean:
iioabd or masiomi.
W. n. Potter, C. G. Goodrich, U. J. Adams,
J. 8. Stewart. C. 8. Owens, M. J. Cofer, P. A.
Heard, J. £. England, W. A. Haygood, W. E.
H. Searcy, T. M. Swift, G. W. Duval, Weir
Boyd, J. II. McWhorter, G. W. Thomas and
W. F. Robinson.
SUNDAY ecnOOL BOABD.
W. H.LaPrade, M. H. Dillard, C. A. Evsns,
a A. JamiKon, W. T. Hamby, J. W. Roberts,
W. W. Brinsficld, J. T. Gibson, B. W. Bighatn.
J. H. Mashburn, II. 8. Bradley, J. T. Richard-
►on, O. A. Thrower, J. T. M. Haire, J. O. Bar:
ton, W. F. Parks, M. M. Sessions, J. F. Lowis.
E. B. Benson, A. P. Jones, P. P. Hudson, E. 8.
Roberts, Euclid Johnson, B. M. McIntosh, J.B.
Boyd, J. I*. Oglctrcc.
BOABD or EDUCATION.
B. A. Scale, J. W. Lee, A. G. Wardlaw, M. H.
Edwards, J. B. Robbins, G. 8. Johnson, E. K.
Aiken, B. E. L. Timmons, O. E. Gardner, W. D.
Shea, W. C. Dunlap, J. L. Pleroo, E. W. Ballin
ger, T. C. Hogue, U. E. W. Palmer, Lovick
Pierce, E. W. Coleman, I. K. Shumate, H. II.
Walker, C. B. LaHatto, 8. K. Cook, R. W.
Smith, W. 8,‘Fcatheratone, T. B. Harwell, U.
L. Glaves, J. 8. Stewart, Jr.
The bishop, before taking np the examina
tion of tho characters of tho eldnn, said that
tbe Methodist church was the only one whleb
passed annually on the characters of their min
isters, aud lo when they go o it they paaa with
the seal of tbo church upon them.
Tlio following additional boards and commit
tees have been appointed:
Church Extension—C. A. Evans, W. D. Anderson,
J. M. liowden, W. J. Cotter, W. II. Hewlons, W. A.
Dodge, A.«. Worley, (I. T. King, A. V. Martin, T.
P. WeM mm eland, /. M. Pace, J. T. Waterman.
Pooka and Pcriodirals-W. F. Olenn, P. M. Ry-
bwn, F. (I. Yluahea, B. B. Crow, A. J. Cleveland.
Lccorda of District Conference—R. J. Bingham, J.
8. J ryuu, J. M. White.
Bible cause-A. U. Haygood. W. A. Parks, J. M.
fmiry. J. II. (Iroaran. It. T. Wilkinson.
Ccnlercnce Relation*—I). J. Mjrrirk, D. D. Cox,
M. L. Underwood, W. T. Hamilton, O. W. Yar-
God forever.
A Watch and Chain Pres.
By getting ten subscriber* to Tiib Constitution
at 91.00 each you get swatch and chain free. By get*
ting5 Mibarriben at 91.00 each and adding 91.25 you
IN t a watch and chain. In each case you get one
cl ance for each name in our Christmas Box and
may get the 9100 present Every man and boy In
America ought to have a watch on these terms.
This oiler open only roa PaczMiaa.
Signing the Farm Away.
Fine old hum lor a hundred years
Kept Jn the fomlly name;
Cornfiebis rich with golden ears
Oft as the harvest came;
Crowded bain and crowded bln,
And still tbe loads kept coming .in—
Lolling In fora hundred yean;
And tbe fourth iu the fomlly line
Orchard covered the slopes of the hill;
CMer—forty barrels, they asy.
Kurt in »eaaon to coon from the null.
To be tasted round Thanksgiving*
And they drank as they worked and all
But, while the seasons crept along,
And pessinns Into habits grew,
Tbcirapfctltes^
As ever a drunkard knew.
And they labored less, and they aqsandsasd more,
* hicily lor run at the village store.
'1 ill railed by the sheriff: one Uttar day,
losfon tbe bemeetead form away.
The fother, shattered and scented with ram;
1 be mother, sirk and |«leaad thin,
I'nder the wekbt of her sorrows daasb.
In debt for the bed she was lying in;
cb! I mw the wrecked household around.' her
stand—
And the justice lifted her trembling hand,
licir-ing her. ss In her sed she lay,
To sign tbe homestead form away.
Ah, how she wept, and tbe Hood of tears
y-'wepf flow n her temple* bare!
and the father, already l<owcd with yesrs,
power! lower with despair,
nk! It bad rip * *“
nd all they u
i thr—
losiyn tbe ho<
O. many roenes have f met In my life,
And tnsny a call to pray:
But the >sd<!est of ail was the drunkard s wife,
Hfr-ning the farm away!
rf In all " *
i! cup |i
Worse than fire or flood's
Drunkards signing the forss away!
Hcccnd year—A. C. Thomas, A. W. Williams, O. C.
Bin mono.
Third ycar-J. W. Roberts, D. F. C. Timmons, J.
T. Gibson.
Fourth year—T. R. Kendall, II. J. Kills, J. T. Un
In the able Kunday school address of Rev. A.
CL Haygtod. LL. V., he touched on many diffi
culties in this important flold. He said he wa*
C lad to know that the church now believed an J
new that children could bo converted, and
that they needed to pram the claim* ofthe
children. He spoke in eaustlc tones of the
loose manner in which libraries were aolected
for tbe Sunday schools. He told of a superin
U ndent in the west who askod that plenty of
stories of life among the Indiana, and tho live*
of cowboys be put in for they like them, ho
mid. He likes the system of international
lemons, bnt is opposed to their system of select
ing the lessons. * He thinks It U
unfortunate to jump from oq* part of tbe Biblo
to another, as it gives the children the wrong
Idea of tbe Bible, doc* not show tbo beautiful
relation cxlding between them.
He spoke of the neeeasity not only to secure
the conversion of children, but also that they
should be trained in tho “natnral virtues,” as
the old writers call them. He meant by thorn,
persistence, reliability, fortitude, patience,
courago and such. Ilia words were nttored
with such force, that there were responses from
all parts of the nouse. He held that If children
could rot atay to church service and Sunday
school, they had better miss tho latter, ai lem
iu importance. He Insisted on their boing
taught tbe love of the house 6f God, Hi*
address was powerful, and produced a broozo of
conversation.
Senator Colquitt haa been very regular In his
attendance on the sessions. Ue to known and
loved by nearly all the preachers. A few year-
ago he won the brarta of all by generously pay-
lionarica.
Tlie Booth Georgia Conference.
CuTtfSBRT, Ga., December 5.—[Special.]—
Tbe South Georgia conference convents* with
tbe church In this city on Wednesday. Be
tween two and three hundred member* of the
Methodist denomination will be tho guest of
tlicir brethren here during the week.
A FEMALE COWDOT.
tred, ar
From tbe Chicago Mail.
Mrs. General II. C. Meredith to a handsome
woman, who to probably somewhere In the 40 s.
Bhe sets off her handsome figure with stylish
drears, and has the best apartments that the Grand
Pacific s fiords. But this woman delogat* owns at
Cambridge City, Ind., the finest herd of short-horn
cattle there to In the state, and breeds and Mils,
and pushes her business alongside of the bed
known cattle fanciers in th* country. Bhe can
durum constitutional breeding and high-
beef with any man here. Hhe knows
bow an animal's frame should La
and Just how flat and how round Its b mm
should be; how It* ribs should be sprung; how the
upper loin should slope and how tho lower. Hhe
can tell from Its throat-latch whether the animal
has got a pedigree worth having, and from tbe
shape of Its frame around the heart whether It is
haidy or sickly. Thera Isn’t any man among all
the fomons cattle owners and breeders here who
know three things any better than she, or basmore
prdtgreoe in his head, or who can tell quicker
whether an animal to In the “record” or not, or
whether It could get In tbe “record.”
General Meredith, when he was alive, was on* of
the pioneer fine cattle breeders In the country
lie became rich os tbe erase for high-priced, Im
ported short-boms grew, unlit In th* Iff* and
th* early ’70s be was worth probably 9500000.
He bad the Airdrie*, and paid out 910.000 aa
readily for a bull that happened to be after his
own heart as more conservative men paid out
money for good land* with houses oo them. But
tberenerel went broke when tbe craze subsided.
Hinson foiled after him. but the widow, with all
her style end grace, bad a totter head for busi
ness than either the husband or eon. Hhe took
the herds that were left, and managed them, and.
where both men had failed, she succeeded. Her
Mle a few yean ago was tbe most successful ona
In the country, with one single exception. Her
*l< ek rattle averaged a price that had theretofore
been unheard of. Hhe breeds thir “Wild Eyes,”
and they are known wherever fine cattle are, and
her herd of forty head ia-n her a hsmliomtjwome
every year. The lady read a paper a year ago at
the national convention giving her ezperlence at a
cattle breeder. It was printed everywhere, and
pro! ably was read try more men and women than
all the other papers put together.
General Meredith used to own 910,000 bulls and
ran to fr-jmo calves, lib* handsome widow hat got
ten over that folly. She breads cattl* for mousy.
PARABLES FROM PREACHERS.
Brv. Dit. E. II. BaxNKTT.FIrst Pres.,on the subject
0 giving: “When I was a boy, thero was aspring
at m me olstanco from my father's house, that was
cxbHUBtlem. Its witters flowed freely, genoroutly,
nnd (Mover. 1 often wondered If it went on if it
would not finally exhaust itself. There watan old
1 ump » the yurd from which I had to got water.
It wrt a creaky reluctant pump, into which yon
had to pour about as mueh water, aa you could get
uuiofit. It gronned, aud creaked, wheultgavo up
a di« p. I never suspected that the pump would g»
dry. I went buck not long ago und tho sprtni wa«
flowing as lull and free ns ever, but tho pump wat
dij as a chip. Ho it is with men. Men who givo
easily, and freely, always havo plenty to give.
The> flow like tho fierennlal spring, but tho man
who gives with agrouu, harshly, aud reluctantly,'
finally gets so that he cannot give at all.”
Eidxb Z. T. Hwbkny, Christian Church: “It to a
poor Christian that sits down and whine* when he
is in doubt or trouble. I used to go fox huhtiug,
and frequently tho dogs would lose the tralL The
weak-hearted dogs, when they caiuo up and found
themselves nt fault, would usually go to a tro j and
1 ark at the leaves, or whimpor and whine around.
When a ttaunch dog came up. Instead of resting
where the trail was lost, he would begin to circle
like a Mid on the wing. Ho would go around and
orouml, increasing his sweep, until finally ho
struck the trail again. Then ho would Uft his
voice to tho skies and start off on n true run. The
whiners would nil get up and follow him. Now,
u 1 en jou are in truublo or in doubt, do not bark
up nine. Circle, keep circling, until you catch
the trail again."
Dr. W. K Glf.nn, First Moth: “Ono morning an
old bme:oo‘cd wan cauio to tho door of a rich
fanner in Ih.rris county nnd askod If ho could oc
cupy a descried cabin in a distant corner of the
tmm. The ia nicr looked at him curiously. The
0 U man had no coat, was barefooted and vory
1 < or; lui thero was something In his shining hap-
I y face that caught tho farmor’s fancy, and ho
granted his request. A few mornings alter, ho
went to the cabin to see how tho old man wav get
ting on. Tho cahln was deserted. Ho walked
• own to a branch whoro a spring pearled from
under tho hillside. Ho found tho old mau sit
ting (hero with a crust of brood iu
his hand. This hard crust he was dipping Into
the spring water, softening It ao that he could eat
It.
“ ‘Is that yonr breakfast?' sold tho farmer.
“ 'Yes, and It la all I want.’
“ 'Are you happy on such fare as that f
“ i cifcotly. God I* better to mo than I dosorve. X
only ark fin h!s love, and a crust of bread, pure wa
ter, and the right to live In this beautiful world.'
The farmer went kls way. That night he waa
awakened by a dream which troubled him. He
diccmcd (list the richest man In Harris county
would to dead at tlx o'clock the next morning. Hu
figured up his property and found that he was the
richest man In the county. Ho dropped back to
sleep and dreamed tho some thing again. Ho tho
told his wife about It an!
dropped asleep again. For tho third
time he dreamed that the richest man In Har
ris county would be dead by morning. Thoroughly
alarmed, he sent for a doctor, who arrived at about
five o’clock, and assured him that his health was
perfect, and that ho could not dio at dx o'clock ex
cept by a miracle. Hlx o'clock passed and ho was
Mill alive. An hour later, ono of hi* tausnts carno
to h.m, and said:
'• V e w 1 not work thto morning.'
'* '15 b)? asked tbe fanner.
'"The eld man that you letllvelntbatcabln,died
this morning at six o’clock, and we are going to
bur)* him.'
The meaning of foe farmer's dream was then ro-
vctilcu
hud dii
ceptcd
‘ f DU
DURING TIIE WEEK.
LOCKED ’EM OP AND LEFT.
Denvkb, Col., December 2.—Tho R.elcr
Mountain News, speaking of tho reporte I ab
sconding of Outer Cotton, says: “Rumor* bo-
chim* current upon tho itreeto late last night
Ihftt I. L. Carter Cotton, manager of the North,
l'oudrie Land and Oiual company, and also an
extepaive real estate operator at Fort Collins,
hud - absconded and left creditors for largu
amounts. A statement of facta, a* learned from
a gentleman of standing in financial circles in.
northern Colorado, and who to in a position to
Im>w, to that for somo weeks past Mr. Carter
C otton's numerous creditors havo been bceom-
ng uneasy and were auspicious of hia move
ments and transactions. A week ago, Thurs
day, a number of them carrolled him in hi*
office. After somo talk, Mr. Carter Cotton
nude a pretext to go out, locked bto creditor*
in, and ha* not since been aeon about Fort Col
lins. The creditors got out by olimbin^ 'ovor
the transom. How Outer Cotton got itw.iy ia
not known. Tho next day he won so6a la 'Dcn-
w, nnd hero *11 trace of him ccasod.
Tuesday, November aa—Min Kllse Bethune,
widow ol General Bethuno. has been appointed
custodian of Blind Tom and his ostato George
McNeil will nm as a labor Mndidato as tnsyor ot
Boston... IiwluAGray, dry goods raerahantsof
little Bock, havo failed A strong shock of earth
quake visited Tasltkcnd and causod oouddorablo
damage in tlie Russian quarters.
Wednesday, ficeembor I.—Franco and Mexico
have concluded a treaty of commerce Travelers
In teliium arc much annoyed by the offloera mis
taking tbim for mall thieves .. Sued has began
his fast cf fony days, and he proposes to keep alive
on a mysterious liquor Tho superior of Oblate
lathcis at Montreal has announced that no
Knights of Labor will be allowed to partake of the
merriment.. The republicans nominated Thomas
N. Hart for mayor of Boston. '
Tliumday, December 2.—The Knights of Labor of
Chicago aie making au effort to havo new trial
given to tho condemned anarchist* The gover
nor of Louisians oflers a handsome reward for tbo
attest of the perpetrators of the Won Carroll put-
rage In Tenneieee th* price of (krmlng lands
aie cu the decline Professor MeCally, of Ala
lama, is out in a work of much, value to thoso
w hiring Information of toe coal regions of htostate;
he | uts tbe coal production of Alabama aa having
!inicatcd from 11,000 tons in 1870 to 2,£j0,00J tons
m R>.V...1!ic urgiocs or Mtsslaalppl seem to to
lollcrtllig In the Yasoo valley of that state, imme
of them buying land extensively A strong syn
dicate has fcecured new charters for a Florida ca
nal The dissenting opinion of Judgo Hinton, of
the supreme court of Virginia, Iu the Cluveriu*
• use, is made public to-day; the Judgo to Inclined
to the suicide theory.... The Central railroad de
clare a divldcud of 4 per cent.
Friday, December 3.—A stay of execution has
bom granted at Kt. Louis in tbe case of Maxwell,
murderer of I*.oiler, and the Chinese high binders,
who were t.nder sentence to be hanged on Janua-
ar; 1, until nimutry 1... Morton Frawcn, the cat
tle Kin oMhelwcstcrn states, to negotiating (hr
lands In Canada, on which tn graae his eattlo ..«.
Thlrt) men were Instantly killedan explodoit
Iu Lcmoro crj.lery In Durham, England Tho
Juiy tor Ihereeoud trial of the McQuado case In
New York has been completed.
Petnrday, December 4.—The Matasmnn are
fathering together at Washington, preparatory to
the o|«ning of congress Mrs. Cleveland to report
ed es having been giving sittings to a New York
aniat M .. Cattle blockaded at Chicago by tbe heavy
snow are freezing on tbe trains Great suffering
Is tC’i orted from tbo northwest Iu cousequenco of
the told weather.
Hunday, December 6.—'There to an effort boing
mode for an Increase of taxee; It is proposed to In
creme the rate from three and fifty-one hundredth*
mills to three ninety-five one bnndredths Mu
verine is cot In e statement purporting lo give a
coireel account of bis whereabouts and acts during
the day cf toe murder for which he stands eon-
(limned.... President Arthur's will divides his
p:« petty equally between his children Another
rrank Junr.|»frun the Brooklyn bridge^.fre^
dent Cleveland to confined to the house with rbeu-
moth m Tbe democrat* have a major! y off on -
icon In the lower house of congress The Metb*:.
dints will hold their seoondjccumenical council In
America.
CONSUMPTION CURED.
An old physician, retired from practice,hur.
mp bed pieetd tn bto hands by an &** India
musioirary tbo formal* of a simple vegetable
ro tdy for tbespetdy and permanent cars or
a ueomptren, BrorreblU*. Catarrh, A*tom»
•i'd ell throat end Loop Aff-cuons, alto a ten.
tttve and radical esr for N«nrea« DebMt?
er d all NcrruncGompUlnm, after basing wit
id tie wonderful curative powers la thotsmad
of rates has felt U bit dot? to m«ko it kaeeo
io bis seffrnng fellows Acttu’od bv this m ».
iva and a desire to relieve bamsn ’affirm/, I
sill er nd free of charge, to all who desire D,
tMe rrctre, in German, French or Betltoh.
with foil directions for prepsnof aud arias,
rent by mail bv addressing with itamo. earn
• » tMs toper* w * A* Nojrco, 149 Power's
»»«rk Boeb»»r»r. N. V
"Mabion Booth, a niece of tbe greet tragedian,
Is the heroine •- el u per-tendom In New York for
ngtbearatrpt • > dog-snatcher to take a dog
from her anna end determinedly prosecuting toe.
RUPTURE
lean of tbe Lmlsvllle College of DeutL„.,
vllle, Ky. Full faculties, thorough didactic course,
•nd clinical fkclliries unsurpassed. Building com*
pleird by new addition.
Medical end dental session* commence January
W. and end June 17. For cataio me, addreu Dr.
WM. II. iiOLLlKO, President. Fifth and Market,
Louisville, Ky.. or Dr. A. WII.KK8 SMITH, D I>!
H.. Dean, Fourth and Green streets, LoalsvfUd. Ky.
Mention this paper. wltvst
rVIGOR.SSrS.TKl’MS
, 174 fMM Oa. V. L
BEND FOB OUR ANNUAL
“l.e route Prar Trrri nod Their IBflnagfmeit w
i somt. skwiso xxnnxza
“SINGER
Itsw and iwrfMt. fentoa IRM
trial I _
Brad |
'.sr/nsrs'jgjfisS
he ConstHnUon, Atian ta Os.
.GRINDS®
too percent moronmda
•» I’mVKft Hll.I.Snnd
.^.t!|rcal«nu*ncf‘‘~*' ’
lwtv
into*. Kinton. Pa
MONTH. Agents wauled 00 US
e1l<ugsrt'clealMto* ivorht Ouedimple
_rtrc*s JAY 1IKONHON, l»*.trul», nich.
,, GOOD SALARY ANt>
I* ALL EXPENSES PAID
... . rtp(r»«li,uu.i>Mk pirfomA
iWh.1—|. D..Ul,ilHUwr,,bL. Lucuiu.u,Ot
Mum ihU mw, Uiu.U-wkjlf
c«.
Hojwronmi acid i-nonruATK "
la union. IHnaiM.
Da. D. 8(i.ala, Muncic, lad, myn: “I haro
u»m) It in (»n. of Uliana dlufann. nod tho ra-
wtre nil ihat could bo dMired. It u Til-
-Kand Uarrl. Tobacco."
Ark pvrpin...i«ilir"X.ir1' llarra Tobceeo."
11» i< it, I .nd war T, tea, rich «nd r p». ... n.
if, ft i «e It lb. I ■ at or lb. —mcT «' lb. <w b-
irn.ril.tL I on'l fc-ptl ib«br.nd, M»ud <1. rU
; Tff tt. Traylor TdUcco Ca, Ac dr
rmc.K.a
/gkv matbihohial Papes. ,
if Hi I r lllu»tntto<l. mnUlna f
ffnr-nrly SMI *<t*prOMiiii«iit« from a
TsJ) sssssrssrt S
jjtSkil Sand) 70 LaSalle CL, Chicago, j
time ton papjr. no#J0—wk;4v
W0RK^5. A vii,SS?u«^
fhV. F. O. VIUKRIIY, Augusta, Maine.
Kamo Ihto paper. octl9—wl
iloxpcnses
Agents Wanted.
. *>” TO CIO PAR DAY
G eorgia, faycttk couwty-wiierrvc. r.
M. Mllron, udailnlctmtor of Nnnor P. Un-
nun, rrprt-cnt, lo Ilia court In hlr pctlUnn, dale
fllcd. lhat be hw ftillf «<lin .i)rtr.lc<l Reno, ft
I endnun'e date. Thu Ir, tin r.-i.. to pin. »U
ccnoncawtcroM, kindred nud creditor*, lo rhrirr
pc trie. If on, Ihcr ccn. wby arid ulmlnlitredoc
,horrid not hcdlrcbanoA fn.m hU lulmlnlMmloA
end reedyo Ipllore t* do.ml.Con on Urc Hr* Mon-
day In Kebnury, IW7.
ner 2 wky-foa Ordinary.
Junca—why 1y e o w
VJV, WANT Y0P!J&3«
YV lot in profitable employment toreprceenl
u* in every county. Helary 9ro per mouth end ex-
I ernes, or a large cotunikwkm on a*l«u ir pre^rreL
SuHerersHSHSH
ban. ACCrea ILUTT. CM A rU* Ct . «».(«
10 CENTS
npcni.il.nc«ymrcrlbo imlt*d Kutoc,cod yon
«lll AM hundredc of cample, clrcntan. lurk.
ir cdln. flee, end he weu. rr.cu.cn with Ike c,n til
lK^.^^. , .h7. n id,crtf- l SS , L “h.£/uuI
$3.50 FOR $1.15
YHB urROfOLITAMfleriMa story
Kamo thto paper.
»YO NEW HTYLK KCRAP PICTURES, and It
(Z -fancy Hidden Name Cards, or 40 Newr UoIJ
Bird Mhtr Chromoa. Name oo 10c. Outfit 4a.
... ftwhos .
h swan card to., Nassau, N. Y.
Nam* this paper.
Cfr TO 9H A DAY. BA]
wH'efimireti ‘*’° t
fitth.
Kerne Ihlc paper.
Mer’c deftly Rein It.
wky
nrn tut
"lloiTyi
wkyty
WEAKNESS IN THE URINARY ORGANS
*— umUm* m4 atari l*«4Aoei. a*4
dacl-wkll
MOOY TOR Lrm.K MO.YRY. Tn>
Mendafd hmeycen bahourhi ct from inis
It bia HeeTcctec end licet, ercrwl a wheel
ecu tried on mod hl.h-prlcad bu«rH» Jny one
end he happy. Ubniy bulldlmr. Son x> <1 i’l,
IccciurcL — —T
T he best ib alwata the cheapest, rot
the old n-ttible Mllbum If yon went > eood w»-
I on. Yon a iVneter recrei tt. II. I. Atweier. mw
eeir.JJbnry ITuXidinc. ““ wkly
OB FINK CARRIAGES CAM, OS US. AT LI
brety Building. U. L. Atwater, mealier.
II14NGR OP COMPORT AND JOY. A GOOD
. nad can Aw«Bloan. No hor.e motion. Kne
cor and romfo l cannot be hcoi. t»raean t *;« them
at library Building. 1L L. Atwcter, mauler