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• WOW9W&T&O BY
AMtS .WILLIAM Ki I*2G-
480 Courtland five.. /Rlapta, Qa.
A MEETING-
There Is something very attractive and
p>ni.in: suggested when we read of
bh there meetlnxa; we know what a por
rr for good there Is In the hands of the
mo* her* of our land, and when they come
together as a band of holy, consecrated
women the benefit to be derived from
the** gatherings U Incalculable. 8* me
months ago one of our consecrated moth
ers—'me shot has for many years had
change of a largo Sunday school class.
Mr-. Henry Leonard—thooght it would
r* *ult in K‘*'d to Interest the mothers
In h»r Sunday school work, and she cr
ganz-ti a mothers* meeting. She Invit
ed first the mothers of her pupil*. but
In a little while others came in. and now
once a month a very delightful meeting
is held fur all mothers who will come. It
Is of the last meeting I wish to tell my
re.v er*. and it may Inspire other mothers
to "go and do likewise.** The subject
wae "Character Ituikiine.** Questions
w« re sent to different persons—mothers.
pr> tcherb laymen and physicians, and
thee were asked to answer them. It was
ready a delightful symposium, and be
llev' ur It would Interest and benefit the
mot-nrs of Woman's Kingdom. I ask«*<i
f; these papers and give th*-m to you
with the »*.:■• < re wish that our mothers
w I uil many a helpful thought from
them, h'irst Question is "What is char-
•• *< oaract er Is model order seen through
the medium of an Individual nature.*
Buch i-« Emerson's definition of what has
been called the 'great- st motive power In
the world.* Character, which, in Its ne
bk.-t ombodtments. exetnplitu-s hum in na
ture a its higlieatjorm and exhibits man
at his best.
—T > ronr-Mcy man at his best, we mu«t
view him in his triune existence, which
com‘<T.'« hts physical, mental and spirit
ual t- Ing. While the latter Is Inexpres
efhlv more Important, we should not min
ify the other component parts of that
w ndet/bl complex creation, for did not
eur tn ornate Ix>rd honor our physical
being by a-suming its liken*ss? An l does
r . • Inspired W”td <!••!.ire that our
bodlrr are. or should be. temples In
wt the .-’"trit of Hod tnay dwell? And
phonld wo not Hew th.-m as talents to be
cited for S" that their numbers can bo
v-d n <»od*s service? So also should
we c redder our mental natures, and
there? re. cultivate them on big s-st Una
«-> r ts from God. making every- p w-r
eld . oth-rw!«e. Indeed, they may work
t > .ir Injury—ln the d. vtl--pment of
1. . haracter. which is the attribute of
-
I; while our physical and ment il
part- may. and should be. allies In the
w rk «•< character building, neither ar*
>l»- «e!y e—entlal. The loftiest sou.
mi • . c - -k- 1. UM
iPt-ll'Ctu i; culture of highest decree may
th a corrupt trt. In a tew
r> . years the fullest emb diment of
Phi-; • health and beauty will have
ret m d to dust. the most brilliant Inlel
l« ts d- * ■ zmt sued With leauty of
uL will no l-'t-.«*-r charm; but
ir . ter with h aspires to godlike at
trtbu ■ Is immortal.
I ’ .ve wat- bed an evergreen he Ige
Witt symmetry of shape (cause of
~. 4 i.. t in training and pruning,
tan- "b fr* sh beauty in the opening spring
B . y limb .ud twig put forth soft
of tender vivid green, and to my
n ,'lt was an illustration of new vir
t acquired in mature age adorning
icrs ti it without them had been
h- admirtde. But let us turn
to a more excellent way. I- t the hedge
,outh be straight and symmetrical,
t neglect be apparent In irregular
e. ivu. and unsightly deadwood; let it
L an attractive thing aiwAys. then win
• . Jded chs-m of Hs vernal mantle
n. a mo-e enhance Ils beauty. So from
» . nlldho >d let this tender training
let the base of a pure, loftj ch ir
-in. '.it-l when the little mind first
it -to act. It can bo done; but whit
- fuln. -a what tact, wh it patience,
w ' raunian wisdom is needed for
nee must b« rnwrought in the
t , temple of a character th.it will
ab 0 in that day.
•1 .WO Le«n asked to Consider t»O
--srotl <■. 1 indu trv. The f irmer Is so
t -» t />• it t tr I-call-d not only
the '-r d it: atote. but the keystone
ft, - •.. crotrtiinc virtue of all.
Tru’n 1- the hi-l« f • true manliness
the *-«art f Christianity—white con
lying Is m ral cowardice, the
nardlv of all vicra- .
* ! d trv Is so Important tn the hapm-
•
In f • garden of Ed. n. ere sin had enter
."t p« pea - ful shades man was given
' his been said that the obje-’t of ed
ucation la not *0 much to govern the
cal as to make Idm a self-governing
betr .- TI '< thought fit worthy of earn
ej. , • ratten. T.» many young moth-
ers It will broaden their ideas of child
training *-n away that should enlarge
the r own hetrts and uplift their oan
character*. It reetsgntaes In him the fu
ture riar »b future eitixen. the future
nmi* apprehends to a greater
derr-a th* Immense, th* Immortal possi
bilities latent ttt the little ones lying on
* H «w can thetm two things—truth and
industry—be made a part of the child®
dalle life?
"I aniwer. ab-veal! let th* mother
China, Philippines, South Africa.
ATLAS OF THREE WARS
TOGETHER WITH THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION
ONE YEAR, ONLY SI.OO.
TMa places In your hands eighteen pages of splendid maps <14x22 Inch*.)
.nd description, of countries of «pe« ial present Interest There are large
ecaie mat* of. China. Philippine islands and south Africa in nn ’’
eral map. covering every portion of the globe. This Is an invaluable and nee
eesary reference work for those wish! « to keep posted on past present and
future htotory-maklng events. There is a special map also showing he ex
pansion of United States territory throuch pur.-h.ise and uars. The atlas is
from Messrs Rand. McNally & Co.. of Chicago, whose imprint is a guaran
tee of faithful details and cotnplete accuracy.
TIU. great atlas with Weekly Constitution one year only |1 (no other pre
mium being given) furnishes you the atlas absolutely free.
Address your orders plainly, with tie $1 to
The Atlanta Constitution.
tHMBIMHIK
herself illustrate these qualities and all
others she desires to Incorporate in her
child's character.
•“The little ones to whom we give mor
life have a right to the very best
training for the life Immortal. No train
ing can equal a mother’s example, no pre
cepts surpass a mother's practice. Orys
tal clear truth In deed, word and thought
In the mother, if she wishes the child
to be true.
Industry as an example, an atmosphere
In the home, will act upon the child's Imi
tative faculty, and the innate energy In
a healthy chtld will aid every tactful
mother. Its little hands will bo busy; let
us see that their activities are construc
tive. and not destructive.
"When our Savior took a little child
In His arms and declared that unless we
became as little children we could not
enter Into the kingdom of heaven, did He
not also mean us to study the inherent
qualities of childhood. Its humility,teach
ableness. love, generosity and trust, and
to conserve, develop, train them. And,
oh. what did Ha mean by his solemn
warning to whosoevxv should offend one
of these little ones? Undoubtedly He
meant that any one who should misguide
or influence toward evil these Impres
sionable young lives would Incur con
d- mnation.
"Mav I not put It mor* strongly and
■hv that one who falls to realize and use
aright the gn at r "P i-sibilitiea involved
In tho training of children cornea under
the sadly solemn sentence, ’inasmuch us
ye did It not?*
'•As to methods that may be used In
Incorporating truth. Industry and other
virtues In the atructure of the child's
dally life, these must bo left to mother
l->v« and mother study of each Individual
disposition, as varied in our human flow
ers as are the forms, the tints, the
perfumes of our garden blossoms.
•’The pr< s< nt day literature abound* In
suggestions along this line. 'The child tn
the midst* Is In strong evidence in pe
riodicals dedicated to th* benefit of Its
laaly. mind and soul. These mav be ju
diciously studied; put better than all. 1*
tbe good old book which C.od has given
us to guide us through the shoals and
quicksands of this life to a better. With
Its pr.'-epts, promises ami prayers In
her heart and life, every mother can be
equipped for h*r high duties. As Bishop
Haygood wrote: To do otir duty to our
child, b arn all you can of Hod's
btaln all you can of C.od's grace.’ Then
p versing sanctified common sense and
r<warding our task as one which might
well eng.tge th* energies and devotion of
•their angels which always do behold the
face of tho Father.’ a mother—blessed and
h-dv name and office—mav build wisely
and well-more wl-ely often than she
knows —stone after *tone into the eternal
structure of Christian character, till i(
ished after tho sinniitude of a palacu.' her
children may enter iuto that city of
winch the iamb la the temple.
'•JllUi. C. B. HUWAIID. bK-
Second Question.
•The relation of the furnishings of the
home to the mental and spiritual detclop
iiu ut o! the child."
Wo are ah creatures of environment.
Our oplnlona. purposes, desires, chut al
tera are ipure or less molded by their sur
roundings. There are strong cliaracK-rs
that move on uninfluenced by the circum
stances in which they are pla-ed; but
these are tut the exceptions to prove tho
rule, ordinalily. how-ver. squalor begets
squalor, culture be sets culture, spiritual
ity begets spirituality.
If adults are thus Influenced by en
vironment. how mu h mure are children,
whore characters are as plastic as putty,
and as receptive as a sponge! Children
are not only pre-eminently creatures of
«nvironnient. but are creatures of imita
tion aiso. They are always on the qui
v.ve, ever ready to learn and Imitate
something setu in others. I nlo: tun.itely,
tiny have mi discrimination and receive
the good and bad alike, and ordinary i:i-
Fpevtion will find good and bad molded
into the child's life.
How cai etui, therefore, should Lio
; ..i,:it b.- to see that tbs smrtruaißSßt of
■ and th *1
ii'ithiug it- it will be such as w.li mar the
Lc-auty of the child life!
The furnishings of the home a;e part
of the environment, and nato th ir Influ
ence on ihe budding character, lime or
space do not permit a full discuss.on of
what should and what should not be in
the home, but »e may express our ideal
of what will produce the l<est results.
The whole should b* simple, but ele
gaii'. without extravagance, without dis
i .ay. This will cultivate in the child a
taste for all that is teautiful in tho
natural and in the spiritual world. The
pictures should be sucii us to draw uul
ail that is ennobling In the child’s His.
No one tiling can exert a stronger influ
ence than the library, and this should
contain standard novels, books of travel,
scientific works ami such works as will
be conducive to a thorough study oi that
greatest of ail books —Hod’s word. From
the library and from the walls should bo
exciud <1 all books and pn tures whose
tendency is in anywls" debasing.
In one sense, the family is part of tho
furnishing; with the example of God
fearing and Ood-s. rving parents bes >ro
hint, th* child's environment Is complete.
May enable the parents to throw
around the children He has given them to
train for Him, such and only su> h, influ
ences as will conduce to their highest
mental and rplrltual development. May
God grant that nothing in any of your
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1900.
homes may mar the beauty of the life He
longs for your child to lead.
Yes. the furnishing of the home may
dwarf and distort, or mav increase and
enoble, the mental and spiritual develop
ment of the child, because tho child is a
creature of imitation and environment.
DR. MARION HAi,U
Third Question.
•The importance of budding tho spir
itual life.’*
"The life Is more than meat and the
body than raiment’* Is a strong and ten
der appeal to tho children of God to trust
their Father in heaven ion all that tnoir
life and bodies need.
The assurance that tho lord gives His
disciples, that they shall not lack loi
teed and raiment, grows out of the fact
that lie clothes the lily ami feeds the
ravens. If He does this for the less valu
able of His creatures, for even the flow
ers, for reasons of our greater worth than
flowers and birds, we are led to confi
dently expect these blessings from His
generous hand. And not merely because
pf our greater relative worth in his sight,
but also because our need is far more keen
ly felt than is the need of birds. Os
course the flowers do not feel the demal
of their wants, nor can the birds very
deeply suffer. But the children of the
kingdom hunger an 4 suffer most of ail
sentient creatures. God's love and OU J
wants conspire to make the relief or
providence quicker and moro complete.
The child’s cry is the loudest appeal to
the mother. .
Now, then. It is because the life Is mors
than meat that we should expect meat,
and tlie body more than raiment that we
should expect raiment. What kind
mother could give her children tujngs
they need little and withhold things they
need most of all? Inability may some
times prevent parents from giving best
gifts; but God is so rich and gracious
that Ho gives the best gifts more readily
than thos* less good. "Covet earnestly
the best gifts.”
There may be a rebuke to mothers in
the uass.'.ge, because, while they all are
so thoughtful about giving their children
food an l raiment, they often forget tho
wants of their soul. Det us help mein to
seek first aid obtain first, the bl' sings
of heaven, and al! other things will be
added unto them.
DR. WALKER LEWIS.
Fourth Question.
"How does the homo Ilf* of the parents
effect th* child’s character?”
The lnfluet.ee of parents exerts itself in
several ways.
Children inherit from th*lr parents cer
tain traits which ar* sometimes easily
detected. If parents can remember how
they were themselves affected by th. so
peculiarities, and what kind of treatment
exerted the greatest influence for goo-1
over them, they will hare in their posses
sion a power of management that cannot
be estimated.
Early teligloua training beginning as
soon ae the child begin* to understand
spoken words exerts a lifelong Influence.
From early teaching* children may w.m
d< r afar, but they almost invariably re
turn to the way.
Barents should be careful never in the
presence oi their children to critntis - min
istei s, but above e'ery thing never t<> give
utterance to any sentence that could be
construed as doubt of God or His word.
The unfeigned faitli that dwelt in i.ois,
tlio grandmother, and Eunice, th* moth
er. dwlt also in Timothy. Exampl - is
the greatest parental lullu< nee. A con
sistent hie bitoie our children is worth
moie than preeept. In fact. It gives to
nil preeept tile greatest force. It will do
no good to teach our children patience. It
We are impatient, it is folly to reprovo
or puid. Ii them for exhibition of ill tem
per. if w* show ill temper before them
or punish them in anger.
Children are imitativi . If w* wish them
to t>e lovely and chrlst-like, we must set
tin in the example.
If we wish t, teach a child to be truth
ful, we must never doubt his word, with
out positive evidence of double dealing.
A parent should always m ike the child
the first care. We should never let any
thing com* between us and our child *n.
Our own should occupy our tli st
thought.
\t’e should set them an example of self
denial. but at tin same time should never
overlord any ,-x 1,11,11 l<<n <>r m-I Itsloiess
their part. Careful study of God's word
and earnest prayer are our strongest
helpers.
PROFESSOR JOSEPH T DERRY.
First Question.
•*Whnt relation does dtr»s bear to the
development of charaetor?"
It would he difficult to suggest n more
profitable thought for tho contempla
tion of mothers than that of "character
building.” God gives ns our minds, otir
characters nre of our own making. It
was always a fascination to me to watch
the building of a brick or stone house.
To se* each brick taken in the builder's
hand and turned first on* side and then
another, and If Imperfect tossed aside,
and another taken tin and fitted
to th* place awaiting It. or an Imper
fect corner cut oft, and then tho whole
c< mepted with mortar- -the building goes
on and when the whole is complct'.', the
house is a thing of beauty.
So It In with the building of the char
acter. Indeed. I would say, always
the mother should be tin- builder; sad.
Indeed, is the lot of th* child who has
no mother to lay the foundation to the
house, or character, for love is the mor
tar that cements tho bricks, and what
comes nearer tho heavenly love than a
mother's?
Nowhere could wo find a more perfect
anfliite 'tural design for the child-tem
ple than that given In I’eter ii. I.
and it would bo well if every
mother would accept It for her pattern.
"Add to your faith vlrturc, to virtue
ktiowleilg*. to knowledge temp'-rane- . to
temperance patience, to patience god
liness and to godliness brotherly kindness
and to broth' riy kindness charity." I
am aware these are call, d spiritual gifts,
and a chain of Christian virtues, but
they are the foundation of character, and
without them tho building must crum
ble and fall.
Come and gaze with me for a moment
upon the most beautiful picture ever pre
sented to human eye-a baby at tho
mother's breast. See tho look of trust
ami love as its wandering eyes look up
ward and the loving little pat of tho
dimpled hand as It touches her lace! Can
angels look upon a lovelier scene? This,
then, is the little immortal whose char
acter the mother Is to build. What a re
sponsibility! Let us follow her awhile. She
has first the child's perfect faith. The
older it grows, the moro it believes in
mother, and that faith can be shared
with God. Then comes the teaching of
virtue. How a mother longs to have her
child know only those things that aro
pure (and to be truthful, for truthful
ness is the corner stone of character.)
As the years go by she adds knowledge.
She delights to see the little mind un
fold and take tn knowledge; how easy
to add to temperance—tern[wrance In all
things; the years are fleeing and tho
building is growing day by day. Patience,
goodness, kindness and love all fit in,
and <ie looks with pleasure upon her
efforts. The girl or boy has now slowly
crept from babyhood to childhood, then
to vouth, and now young woman and
manhood, and w<> look ba*k to s*e how
many things have had effect on the de
velopment of character. Ae could not
touch upon them all. Time would fail
us. 1 was asked to answer this ques
tion: "What relation do s dress bear to
file development of character?’' There
seems to me we could add a. word here,
and have two questions—the first given,
and th*n add tho words "love of dress” to
the second. We will take the list ques
tion:
A proper regard for dress must great
ly Influence for good any character. A
child that has no attention paid to its
outward adorning and is allowed to be
careless In its dress, has its character
weakened, for it must fail to feel that
respect for self that we are all Justifiable
in feeling. You may take a welbdressed
child—l do not mean by that tine clothes,
but well-made, neatly fitting clothes; then
a child whose clothes hung long and
loose—no care has been given to Al
and the child that is well dressed will
show a greater amount of respect
for himself than the other. So it Is with
a woman who pays no regard to her
dress. Her character Is Injured and weak
ened.
A proper regard for dress cultivates tho
love for the beautiful in any child. No
one that can avoid It should select dull
and somber colors for children's clothes,
it affects their thoughts and feelings, but
pretty things delight a child and develops
a bright and sunny nature, which gives
strength to any character.
The love of dress brings many evils;
when a. child is allowed to attach 100
much importance to dress it becomes
vain and frivolous, and so it Is with
grown people. You never saw a man cr
woman who devoted time, energy and
love of dress to the advancing of their
bodies, but you knew they were weak
In character.
This character building Is an inex
haustible subject, from the time you hold
your baby in your arms, and what mother
ever forgets the feeling of the little,
warm mouth upon her breast as the child
draws lite from her being, or does not
thrill at the recollection of the touch of
a chubby hand or the glance of a trust
ing eve? Time mav bring changes—the
baby girl may leave you for the home of
another, the baby boy may wring your
heart with sorrow, but thank God for
the memory of days that were
yours when you began your life’s work
of character-building; and to you moth, rs
let me say. never be discouraged—do
your duty, in the beautiful words of Um
"Tapestry Weavers:”
"We may not see how the right side
looks; „ , ~
We can only 'build and wait.
But looking above for the pattern, no
•builder’ reed have fear.
Only let him look clear into heaven— the
perfect pattern is there.
If he keeps the face of our Savior for
ever and always in s ! ght.
Ills toil shall be sweeter than honey.
His building 1h sure to be right.
"And when his task Is ended, and the
web is turn'd and strown.
He shall hear the voice of the Master;
It shall say to him, 'Well done”
And the white winged angels of heaven,
To bear him thence, snail come down:
And God for Ids waeo shall glv< him, not
Corn—but a golden crown.”
A. C. K.
INQUIRY CORNER.
Mrs. J. It. Irwin. Millerville, Ala.,
wishes the address of some lady in Flor
ida who will send her Spanish moss.
Write to above address first.
"An Old Subscriber, Canton, Miss.—ls
you us«> fresh fruit for "tuttl fruttl,"
put y'our fruit in th., Jar uncorked, one
pound of fruit and half pound of sugar;
the canned fruit use same way.
EXCHANGE LIST.
Miss May Wicker, I'ameron. N. C., will
exchange a pair of white rabbits for an
autohaip in good condition; write first.
Mrs. M. H. Nodi. Flag Fond. Va.—
Shells, coins, medals, jewelry, stamps,
Indian relics, owl, books, guns for C. S.
A. relics, stamps, books, fossils, flint rel
ics or offers.
Mrs. Olivia Nelson. Ozona, Fla., will
exchange u dozen pretty seashells (eoltee
shells or others) fur every four inches
Hqutro goed silk or plush black.
Mrs. 8. E. Godard. Milledgeville, Ga,
has infant's hand-crocheted zephyr sacks
anl shoes to exchange for Coates thread,
anv numl'cr. black or white. On* pair
shoes, ppstpald, for three spools thread.
UiK> su*k for six T .'ts, po. .tid .
.Mrs. J. 1* v.’nile'. Fairview,
will exchange a rainy day puzzle tor a
nice pin cushion.
Ella Carroll. Carp, S. C., will exchange
any song that she has for the words and
mush- ( ,f "Break the News to Mother,”
or "Tho Dying Gill's Message.” Write
with stamp.
-Mis. W. K. Gray. Baird. Miss has
large new stamping outfit to exchange
for an embroidt red linen c< liter pit c- tor
dining table. Also pair of deer antb.-rs
and large plush photograph album fur
best offer.
KINGDOM CORRESPONDENCE.
Mrs. Luna Brotherton, Hico, Ala.—VVUl
Aunt Susie or some of the sisters be so
kind as to give th* name of laird Hob
< rts’s si ond daughter through tho col
umns of The Constitution.
• W ill sonic one answer the above In
quiry)
Mrs. I. W. Rhodes, Alpln*. Ala. —I en
joy reading the Woman's Kingdom. I
thought by writing to The <'onstitutlon
I could find some good lady that wanted
a home, or to hire to me either, to help
me do my work. I have three little chil
dren, myself and husband. 1 would be
so glad to hear from some one at an
early date.
Mrs. Dr. Flowers, Granite Falls, N. C.—
The object of my writing Is to ask you
how to treat my parrot. I have ave-y
tine two-year-old one. She talks moder
ately w< il when hungry. Please answer
In the int» resting i u unins of The Consti
tution how to feed, water, learn to talk
well, general care of the parrot. We like
Tlie Constitution, espelally tho ladies'
columns. 1 am a practicing physician’s
wife and am alone a great part of tho
time.
Charles Macon. Ingl< side, N.C.—Will Mr.
Redding. I’rofessor Massey, Aunt Susie, or
whose ever business it is, give a correct
recipe for cooking and s, asonltig pea
vines for table use? I have heard that if
they are cut nt tho proper stage and
boiled as turnip tops or cabbage they
make a superior disli for dinner. If such
is tho ease the cow peas should not bo
robbed of this virtue, ns it has so many
(Note.—Mr. Redding has referred the
above to me, saying lie had never heard
of such a thing neither ii.ivo 1. WUI
some one who has answer?
To Mothers and Wives—Don’t be dis
couraged In well doing. I have been
watching and praying for forty-sevCiv
years to accomplish the one thing 1 have
done. But yet I have another desire. 1
have children out of Christ, i am still
praying for them and hope they will not
lorget the instructions given them in
their youth. \\ lien they were little things
around mother's knee they never knew
what it was to re’he without saying their
prayers and would pray for their father,
who was a barkeeper, and their little
checks would be wi t witli tears as tli y
would give me their usual goodnight kiss,
and then would kiss me again lor their
father. What I have been watching and
pra> ing for so long was tor their lather.
Now lie has come into the fold, taken up
bis cross and I hope and pray his chil
dren will follow.
Oh, children! don’t forget your child
hood days when around mother's knee.
Though we are all separated now, and
can never be as we once were, let us live
to meet up yonder where there wll be no
inure parting.
1 have been a soldier for the Lord for
fifty-four y ars, and 1 expect to continue
in His service as long as 1 live.
Mothers, pray for your boys. Wives 'it'd
husbands, pray for each other. Don’t
never be discouraged, but hope and trust
on.
I hope these few lines will lie tho means
of reaching tlie hearts of the ones in
tended for and others also, and bring
them to our blessed Christ.
Written by a Friend.
w wfflEa remT
Otir sermon this week Is furnished by
Rev. Samuel M. Smith. D.D., pastor of
the First Presbyterian church of Colum
bia, 8. C. Dr. Smith discusses "The
Catholicity of Presbyterianism,” basing
his sermon upon tho text, "Master, wo
saw one casting out devils in thy name
and we forbade him, because he follow
eth not us," Mark ix, 38. This discourse
was delivered b< fore the Charleston pres
bytery at its spring session. Those who
heard It have been exceedingly anxious
to eee It in print and we are glad to bo
able to reproduce it this week. Says Dr.
Smith:
This man was doing the work of Christ,
and doing it in the name of Christ. No
fault is found with the character of tho
work or with it's spirit; the sole objection
was "he followeth not us,” but this ob
jection is deemed decisive; the rnan who
Is not of our following cannot be recog
nized as a servant of Christ, it matters
not how many devils he casts out. or how
reverent his regard for Christ s name, or
how supreme his reliance upon ( hrists
grace. The matter of ecclesiastical align
ment is paramount; even the most Indu
bitable evidences of the divine favor can
not compensate the lack of it. and tho
most' blessed and glorious results are
neutralized by the want of it; so the
worker that speaks not our shibboleth
must be discredited and she work banned.
"Master, we saw one casting out devils
In Thy name, and we forbade him, be
cause he followeth not us." Here wo
have the very essence of bigotry and our
Lord distinctly rebukes it. enjoining, on
tho contrary, a disposition to bid good
speed to every one who does Christ’s work
In Christ’s name, or what in this ago we
would call a catholic spirit.
There have been of late many charges
of narrowness brought against the Pres
byterian church, and some very odious
comparisons hi the matter of liberality
have been instituted between it and other
churches. In any discussion of the mat
ter, however, it is of ilrstrate importance
to Inquire in what field the liberality
finds its exercise; very much depends
upon what a church is liberal with. It
requires no excessive generosity to be lib
eral with that on which one sets little
value, and the scheme of values thus In
dicated may serve a decisive test of
character. For exampl*, it is possible to
be very liberal with the person of the
Redeemer and permit one to believe ev
erything or nothing wish reference to His
character and offices, and yet allow very
scant liberty of view aw to tho character
•and offices of His earthly ministers. A
man may be utterly Indifferent to the
doctrine of the tfiree persons in the
Trinity, and at the same time bo as
sensitive as a touch-me-not on the three
orders In tho clergy. One may be very,
very broad as to the nature and author
ity of tho Word of God. but narrower
[ than a razor's edge when tho word of
an ecclesiastical counefl Is in question.
You have all doubtb ss s< en much stress
put upon the fact that certain eminent
men who have found th*ir position un
comfortable in the Presbyterian church
have been welcomed cordially into an
other great communion, and this has
b< 'n much emphasized as indicating how
narrow the former is and how liberal the
latter. But none of the writers tor the
press se*in to have deemed It worth their
while to Inquire into tho conditions of
reception accorded the new comer. One
would suppose that having b<‘*n eminent
as a preacher of the gospel for a score
of years, ho would bo rec* ived upon the
simple acceptance of the doctrines of ills
new affiliation and the enrolment of his
name among its ministers. This would
bo in strict accord with his acknowledged
character and his previous record, and
such one would suppose had been the
case were we to Judge from the praise be
stowed upon hl* liberal reception.
j D- t suppose, on th- other hand, that
this eminent minister, apparently so
highly esteemed and ostensibly so cor
dallly welcomed, be required to enter
the ministry of his new connection
through exactly tho same probationary
stages that lie before tlie callowest youth
In school, stages corresponding to our
receiving a candidate under the care of
the presbytery, then licensure, then ordi
nation—in other words, un utter fgnorh g
of twenty years' eminence in lll* 11,I 1, 1
ministry; if such be the condition of bis
reception, we certainly would not feel
that “an. entrance had been ministered
unto him’very abundantly” into his n<w
ecclesiastical fold.
But more than this: Suppose that ev*n
before thus cond'ttoned, this man, for
twenty years eminent tn the gospel m 1-
istry, had been required to Join tho
church afresh. Just as though he had
been never at all even a church ni< inb. r;
required to come just as the veriest out
cast' or pariah of tho street must come,
and be received, as we would call It,
"upon profession of faith" In Christ inf"
the communion of tlie church. Would
vou think such reception remarkable 1. r
very great liberality and breadth of
view ?
I may need pardon for the opinion, but
I must say that if there bo any lib rality
In «uch rect ption I utterly fail to discov
er it. That such treatment shou.d be
trumpeted through the land us liberal, is
only on* of th* many marvels of mod- rn
Journalism. That it should bo used as
an occasion to rebuke tho alleged nar
rowness and llliberality of Presbyterian
ism affords .effective illustration of dense
ignorance or of perverse malice.
So far from there being any justice In
such charges, 1 maintain on the con
trary that u very good showing for
broad, evangelic al catholicity can be
made’in behalf of the Presbyterian
church. In justification of this claim I
Invite attention to tho following partic
ulars:
1.1 would mention its wide and gen
eral distribution.
There seems to be nothing provincial
about it. Os churches generally it may
be noted that they are largely local in
character; their strength is limited In
range, their influence circumscribed;
sometimes very strong, even dominant,
in some one country, but much weaker
in others. They may be said to hive
almost n national character. Where
they are strong, they are predominant,
but everywhere else they ar* very weak.
Tho contrary is remarkably the case
with Presbyterianism. It seems as well
suited to one nation as to another, to
one form of government as to another;
flourishing equally everywhere, It is al
lowed free presentation and untrain
meled propagation. Tho sainted Dr. W.
S. Plumer is reported to have said that
any country will raise Presbyterians
that will grow cornfield peas! It 1 very
strong In republican America, having
a little over two millions of communi
cants on this continent; but It is almost
equally strong in monarchical Great
Britain, having a million and a half
members in the British Islands. It is
also strong In the continent and has
nearly a half million representatives in
dark Africa even. It has its foothold tn
every continent and Its missionaries in
all lands, while its adherents number
thirty millions. It is as widely and
generally distributed over the globe as
any other form of faith and in this
respect richly deserves tho name of
catholic. .
Another mark of Its catholicity may
be found in its system of doctrine.
An examination of its creed tends to
tho conviction that It comprises in one
body of divinity the chief doctrines held
by the majority of Christian believers.
Consider, e. g., tho doctrine of election;
many people erroneously think this doc
trine distinctive of Presbyterianism. It
is true that in this doctrine we part
from our beloved brethren of the Meth
odist church, but we enter a larger fel
lowship. The creed of the Church of
England ami that of her vigorous;
daughter in this country contain this
doctrine. The xvii article of the xxxlx
articles of tho Protestant Episcopal
prayer book Is sufficiently strong to suit
any one but a hyper-Calvinlst. flhe
great Baptist church is Calvlnlstlc, not
to mention the Calvinistlc branch of the
Methodist church. So that a very good
showing may be made for the claim that
the majority of evangelical believers are
subscribers to the doctrine of election.
We differ from the prelatic churches
on the doctrine of orders, but in such
difference wo are again Ln the ma
jority.
While we are at one with our Baptist
brethren on the great doctrines of grace,
we part from them on the sacraments,
but here once more we seem to have
the majority on our side; perhaps four
fifths of Christendom agree with us in
the matters of difference between the
Baptists and ourselves.
When it comes to church government
the ease is not so clear at first blush;
one reason for this Is that sor.ie churches
are Presbyterian in fact without bring
so in form. Were all the bodies govern
ed by presbytery united under the Pres
byterian name they would form a vast
host, possibly equal numerlcaly to those
gathered under the banner of any oilier
term of church government.
In the third place, the Presbyterian
church is eminently catholic in its preach
ing.
Lt is often and earnestly urged that
our church suffers sorely from a failure
to preach more frequently its distinctive
doctrines. 1 believe that the Presbyte
rian pulpit does less denominational
preaching than any other on earth. How
seldom does one hear a sermon from
it on its distinctive doctrines! This ab
stinence has been carried so far indeed
that many of our own people have grown
sensitive to the point of finding fault
with a Presbyterian preacher for ex
pounding and defending strictly Presi j -
tertan doctrine from a Presbyterian pul
pit! It is not ft all unlikely that some
of you now listening to me are actually
criticising mo at this time fur defending
our church from common and groundless
charges. The fact and the frequency of
such unreasonable criticism is of itself
a very practical and a very forcible
evidence of the abounding and uniform
catholicity of its preaching.
1 need not refer in this connection to
the very frequent tender of our pulpits
to the ministers of other churches; this
custom is too common to need emphasis.
: Os course it constitutes a practical rec
' ognition of the ministry and orders of
; these churches.
1 The catholicity of the church appears,
. again, in Its conditions pf member hip.
j 1 have often read discussions in tho
! press which assumed that creed' sub-
I scriptiun was a requisite for membership
tin the Presbyterian church. The church
I has been frequently condemned for mak
• ing doctrine rather than character tho
i test of communion. Such a statement
must be the result either of culpable
! ignorance or of malicious misrepresenta
tion; it has not tlie shadow of excuse
1 for utterance. After a pastoral experi
i ence of some years, I can say that I have
never known an instance in which tests
I for doctrinal soundness formed any part
' of a session’s examination of a candidate
for membership. On the contrary tho
! examination is invariably a practical one
1 concerned only with testing the candi
date's experience of (lie grace of God
1 in his heart. The only condition of mem
bership in the I’resfiyterian church is a
1 personal faith in the Lord Jesus and a
! covenant to follow Him. Surely the en
trance to no church could be broader
( than this.
But we this Catholic spirit most of
i all decided and pronounced in its prad
; cal recognition of ail evangelical churches.
: Here will l»e found a most decisive
test and judged by this test the position
of our church Is clear as the light
1. In its const tution we find an explicit
disavowal of any exclusive claim, it
bears upon its forefr .nt tho repudiation
of bigotry. This 13 worthy of note, so far
as my knowledge extends, the Presbyter-
1 >i<u church stands alone in this, viz: Tn it
it has its catholicity built iuto the very
bidrock of its constitution.
The confession of faith, chapter xxv. 2,
says; "Tile visible church consists of
all those throughout the world, that pro
fess the true religion, together witu th-.ir
children.”
Tht form of government In chapter I.
after defining I’r- sbyterianism, ao is ex
plicity: "This scriptural doctrine of Pres
bytery Is necessary to the perfection of
the order of the visible eburen. but is
not essential to its existence.”
Once more: finally oa this point and
conclusively, we read in the same chap
ter. verse 2: This visible unity of tne
b>'Xy of Chris’, though obscured, is nut
destroyed by its division into different
denominations of professing Christian-;
but all of those which maintain the word
and sacramt nts in their fundamental in
tegrity ar* to ifie recogniz'd as true
branches of the church of Ji sus Christ. ’
Sq speak otir standards in tim.qiliv<jcal
deliberate terms; 1 r-j H-at. i know of no
mud of any other church that ; uts on
record In Its very constitution f rtnal and
ex; ress recognition o£ tho rights of
other chnrhes to bo est< ••rned "true
branches of the ehttr -h of Christ."
2. In the re option of members by letir
from other churches and in the dismls-al
of its own nftnl" rs to connect themselves
w!tb ith<r churches.
A letter fr.m a Methodist or P. r tDt
or any evang Ileal church Is ree ivea
upon the s uno footing as one from a
I’resbytei ian church; a nvniber bearing
such a letier stands upon the same level
exactly w ith one who bears a letter from
on* of our own church, s. Wo dismiss to
other ehur-h' s also in precisely tho terms
wo us* to our own; and we give not mere
ly a certificate of "good and regular
standing." but wo Invariably commend
th* b'-arer cordially to the Christian love
and fellowship of the church to which
the letter goes. , A
3. In Its reception of minsters from
other churches.
Did you ver hear of a’ minister being
receiv'd from another church into our
own without a full recognition of tho
orders "f tho church from w! 1 n*
came? Did you ever hear of a pr*sby
tery requiring a reordlnatl*n? Sapp •-;*
one of our presbyteries were to require
a distinguished minister from some other
denomination to go ..fore 1 church »-
slon and be received in.o t ■ * commun *ll
of the church upon prose- of faith,
what a howl of criticism would at onco
be raised!
The truth Is w* are far more liberal
■with ministers coming to us from other
churches than we are with our own;
the latter we ex imine exhaustively on
a curriculum embracing the who!* nr -
vince of learning, sacred and secular,
whereas, xve ask of the f rm*r only a
few question* concerning his c >rdial ac
ceptance of our doctrines and re -* ve
and enroll him among -our ministers,
whether or no he has ever r*ad 1 w. !
of Greek, knows a letter in the Hebrew
alphabet, or ha* ever heard even of the
council "f Nice!
4. This recognition appear* In m< st
penial form In The sacrament of the
Lord’s sumjer. Do you know of any
church <>n earth that mor- cordbtlb- re
cognizes the brotherhood In Christ at
the communion table? Where do you
hear more clear and cordial Invitation*
to all members of Christ’s body. Irrespec
tive of their earthly name or denomina
tion. Did you ever know a Pres
byterian preacher to fill to
make this tnvitation broad and ch ar? S •
broad and clear that no on* could feel
omitted. It Is not left to general infer
ence. but usually so given that participa
tion In the communi' ii is felt to be as
much a duty as a privilege.
In truth when we consider the four
points Just enumerate.!. It seems that
th* Presbyterian church recognizes the
churchly charact.er of th* sister d< nnml
antions in every practical way possible.
The breadth of Presbyterianism anp*ars
once more In the freedom from sectarian
ism in business relations. Our own pen- :
p.e often complain of a lack of loyalty
hi this respect. You frequently hear
membiTs of the Presbyterian church
engaged In business c*inpl.tin that tb-lr
fellow church members do not give them
their preference in trade; they sometimes
allege that their main support comes
from tl>* rnemb-ra of other churches,
while those of their own church trade
elsewhere.
Again, in some states thcr* are col
lege* for men and college.; for worn, a
under distinctly Presbyterian control. It
Is notorious that such Institute "is o' *n
com’dain that th*y do not command th*
support of the church; th*v 1 -s*rt ov. r
nnd over again that the other den< min:i
tlons are much more loyal ti the!r de
nominational schools than the Presby
terians.
It is a well known fact that s’ate insti
tutions. even In such states as have first
class Presbyterinn colleges, receive a
large patronage from Presbyterian nco
rlo; It will be usually found to b* .1 larg
er nronortional patronage than that from
tiny other church having Its own denomi
national college.
I am not approving or condemning this
Piinkham's
end Lydia £• Pinkham f s
Compound have
restored health and
happiness to scores of
women* This Is a
mere advertising claim,
but a positive fact*
The reason Mrs* Pink~
ham is so qualified to ad
vise women Is because
for 20 years she has been
treating and studying
womans ills* Her ad
dress Is Lynn, Mass*
If you are ill, write to
her for help, as thousands
of women are doing*
flydtalLPinkhaiTi’* Vegetable Compound
relieves painful periods
and regulates menstru
ation* it cures backache,
kidney troubles and all
utersno disorders*
Read the letters from
women appearing regu
larly In ’Ttaper*
Arrest ’ ‘
disease by the timely use of
Tutt’s Liver Pills, an old and
favorite remedy of increasing
popularity. Always cures
SICK HEADACHE,
1 sour stomach, malaria, indiges
tion, torpid liver, constipation
and all bilious diseases.
TUTT’S Liver PILLS
( r«:r>n«itlon on the part ot Presbyterians;
whether it b<‘ ri- r ht or wrong is not the
quest.'-n; I sdmplv not* it as having a
t bearing n the matter of se -
tarian narrowness and bU'.try. The point
to such complaint cannot be justly chai g
ed with an exclusive sectarianism; they
are too broad and independent
Finally: The cathol.e - urit of Pr-sby
terianism t ikes in pract.v.t foi m In
' the liberal support it gives t ■ undei ■ n -
r ■ ..:.:i! nd lilt :i iiiliriboiu! work
of all kinds. ,
. - - Society afforda
pointed. f«»n llustrattoi I hfa .i-.-.in-
mlnation.nl hv its c ns itution . is be
come i . i in
1- » constituency simply )• cause >he young
p ople of th other chunh-s have, with
v- ry few exceptions, been rallied under
■ -s
in their own dtatln tK ch irch so ietl< ;.
Compare the growth of th< Westmjturt i
1 . Witll that . t •!.- ‘
People’s Union or the Epworth
The rison will prove enlightening
on the p-' iit of denoniinationalism.
Ai -in: Ccn■•.■hr n h ory nizations as
th- Young M- Ts Chris! ian Association,
tho American Tract Society and .he like.
Th** treasurers of th« s - *zr*‘v unaeiiomi
n.. ion il s<’>< i;- ; ie3 w‘i! tell that a wry
i:
Tho
same thing is frequently true ot general
■ t"
11 union
efforts tn the support of wMchtho differ*
• in denominations unite, it .s an excep
tion,-! < s. in w i.-h th P- • vterians do
• •
■•- ■ ' *
s. for
V'l •’. >. .mi- .if. :i .! w-"!'. h •
rot
tee of In
| • •--I m< n ■ -1-7- n or i tore, were ap-
... . 1
• schools;
■ I . ■ .. |th ict that
with . ■ n. every mem-
I her of that committee was a Presbyte
rian. ;< i-i yet Blr bloody v■■ a member
.ot wiothw church! At a- jinm-r resort
(last s ,;.>n til. recto: of u very largo
d parish I plea ntly to
i me: - . . , , .v.
■
ers : at catha-
dral in New York i’v
To which I answered:
i a
Presbvti riin chiirc . }.• drop me a
‘ card at my expense”
trl-
! under church control, but ’• ' - i- i a
I work that looks to all the ches lor
K
wen fiiilv known the , : ■ w< ni l oa
lo find >rtionato
! sh;tre of tl •=* burden is • "n«* sib ntly unci
willingly by tho very church which many
i- ople • ■ insider so narrow and bigot <l.
9
n
| ■ • : i . 1-
eti-s would b a revelation.
If v-u -i-iubt th ■ truth of these state
ments search .-.nd sv l,ook Into the
lis’ of cor.irii utors and note the result.
Th<* progress of our discussion then,
w->i'ld sc. rt to show that th- IT sbyteriiin
church may claim to be- catholic in dis
tribution catholic in doctrine. catholiQ
in preaching, catholic In conditions of
membership. Catholic In every possible
recognit n. of thei . ■ ’ in
a I
benevolo!:. <• Such being tho cas-, wo
think al! charges of narrown-‘<s and lack
cf liberality are unjust, and that on tho
conirary our beloved church des--rve= the
rather commendation for in eminent
e itl >Udtj . i atholh ity of do :trine ind
work, of heart and of life.
Bwustlw Kwtf Von Have ilW'-Bji’jtJ
“•“r
A B YBBEB LEAVES HIS HOME.
Razor Handler Deserts a Girl Ho
Married in Huntsville.
Huntsville, Ala.. September 4.—{Spe
cial.)—J«»hn J. Jones, a barber, has dis
appeared from Huntsville and has left a
wife who was married to him about a
year ago. Before leaving Jones went
through his wife's effects and secured
about JUD in money, all that ho could
find. Jones was last s- cii Saturday. Hu
was employed at le-e Williams's barber
shop and asked the proprietor to let him
sleep In the shop Saturday night. Sun
day morning Williams missed several
barber tools, which Jones had evidently
made way with some time during the
night. Jones cam-- to Huntsville nearly
two years ago and for several months
was employed ’ the Antique bar! ' r
shop. He married Miss Buckner, daugh
ter of a hard working m-chanlc of this
city. Since leaving here letters have been
found among Jones's personal effects
showing that be has another wife in
some town in Georgia.
Pr. Hathaway's meth.-! 1- th- only one
which cures Strl ture by means of a pain
less home treatment. J. Newton llatha
wai M D., 22's E South Broad street, At
lanta. Ga.
■tarrlM Cream Beparatore—Profitable Dalrytnc
9