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THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Yol. XXXII.—No. 31.
CaatribiitioßS.
Sabbath-school Convention.
Heldat Taylor’s Creek, (?a.,«/u»«26fA,1869.
Through the kird invitation of the mem
bers of Tajlor'screek Sabbath-school, there
assembled early in the morning, a consider
able number of men, women and children,
from the various neighboring Sabbatb
ichools and adjoining neighborhoods, for
the purpose of holding a Sabbath-school
Convention.
A procession of Sunday-school scholars,
with teachers and Superintendents, was
formed and marched from the Academy to
the M. E. Church, where being assembled
aod quiet being secured, the Rev. Jno E.
Sentell opened the ezeroises with a Scrip
ture lesson and prayer. After singing, one
of the scholars delivered a neat and appro
priate prelude to the exercises.
The Rev. L. B. Payne who by invitation
wa» present addressed the assembly in a
forcible and instructive manner, proving
that those who had experienced the bless
ings of Sabbath school instruction, were
under moral obligations that they never
could repay. He also, illustrated the ad
vantages of Sabbath-schools.
Then Rev R. N. Andrews .was called
upon, and addressed the children in a short
and interesting manner.
Rev. Jno. W. Farmer, upon being called,
made a few pertinent remarks in favor of
Sabbath schools—stating that as our govern
ment and society were fast tending to de
cay; his hope for the future was placed in
the prosperity of the Sabbath-schools.
After these interesting and instructive
exercises were closed, the Convention or
ganized for business by electing Rev L B.
Payne, Chairman, and I. A. Girardeau as
Secretary. Rev. Jno. W. Farmer, Jno. S.
Norman and J. C. Fudge, in conjunction
with the Chairman were appointed a Com
mittee to arrange business for the Conven
tion, which was then adjourned for dinner,
and all partook of the abundance of good
things prepared for the ocoasion. On re
suming busiuess, the following report from
the Committee to arrange business was
read:
The Committee appointed for the pur
pose of suggesting matter for the consider
ation ot this meeting beg leave to report
the following subjects, viz :
Ist. The best method of opening and
closing Sabbath-sohools.
2d. The best mode of imparting Sabbath
sohool instruction.
3d. The books, requisites and periodicals
to be used in the Sabbath-sohool.
4th. Music in Sabbath-sohools.
sth. The best mode of enlarging and ex
tending Sabbath-3ohools.
The report of the Committee was adopted
and after a short discussion of eaoh subject,
the following resolutions were adopted:
Ist. Resolved, that the following order
of exercises be adopted as far as practicable
in opening and closing Sabbath-schools.
Ist. A short practical lesson from the
Scriptures,—the Superintendant making
such explanatory remarks on lesson read as
he may think necessary or practicable.
2d. Singing, animated and instructive
song or songs.
, 3d. Prayer, brief and pointed. After re
citation of lessons, lively, animation and
encouraging songs; closing with prayer.
2d. Resolved, that eaoh member of this
Convention take a religious journal.
3 d. Resolved, we reoommend to Superin
tendents and teachers, the importance of
sacred musio in Sabbath-sohools.
Ath. Resolved, that we as members of this
Convention use all due means to extend the
influenoe of Sabbath-schools.
5/A. Resolved, that Sabbath-sohools, should
organize themselves into Missionary Socie
ties, one half of the funds collected to go to
Bro. Allen, Missionary to China, and the
balance for enlarging the Sabbath-school
library.
6/A. Resolved, that the minutes of this
Convention be forwarded to the Southern
Christian Advocate for publication.
On motion the Convention was adjourned.
T. A. Girardeau, Sec’y.
Sunday-school Convantion at 'Wes
ton, Qa.
According to previous appointment, a
large number of the citizens of Webster,
Terrell and Randolph oounties, assembled
in Weston, on 9th July, for the purpose of
organising a S. S. Convention for Weston
Circuit.
After some preliminary exercises, consist
ing of music from the choir, led by Dr.
Moore, prayer by Rev. J. W. Mills, and an
address from each of the speakers of the
day, the Rev J. W. Mills was called to the
Chair, and H. S. Bell appointed Seo’y.
Messrs Moore, Moreland, Jackson, Red
dick, Kendrick and J. A. Bell were ap
pointed to prepare business for the meeting.
The Convention then adjourned for refresh
ment, met again in about an hour, and was
called to order by the Chairman.
The Committee to arrange business, sub
mitted the following Preamble and Resolu
tions, whioh were adopted by sections:
Whereas, believing that it is the duty
of the professed followers of the meek and
lowly Saviour, to use all honorable means
to promote the cause of S. Schools; and
believing further, that this glorious cause
can be materially advanced by the perma
nent organization of a S. S. Convention, to
be known as the Weston Circuit S. S. Con
vention, to be held annually, within the
bounds of the oircuit, therefore,
Resolved Ist. That we hereby organize a
S. S Convention, to be known by the above
mentioned name, and that said Convention
shall be eomposed of numbers of aoy and
all S. Schools, within this Circuit, and
suoh others, as may wish to join us in the
promotion of this noble cause.
Resolved 2d. That we proceed at onoe to
the election of President, Vice-president,
and Secretary and Treasurer as permanent
officers until our regular annual meeting.
Resolved 3 d. That the President appoint
a committee of three to draft By-laws and
Rules of order for the government of the
Convention, to report at our next meeting.
Resolved 4/A. That the President, Vice
president and Secretary be appointed a
committee to procure a suitable person to
deliver the regular annual address before
the Convention at our annual meetings.
Resolved bth. That the President be re
quested to give notice by publication, or
otherwise, of the time and place of said
meeting, and especially request the attend
ance of the S. Schools of the oircuit.
Resolved 6/A. That, as we have as yet no
permanent By-laws, our next annual meet
ing be held at Emmaus, on the 3d Wednes
day in Sept., 1870.
C. R. Moore, Chairman.
In accordance with resolution 2d, the
convention proceeded to the election of of
ficers, the result being as follows: N. W.
Dozier, President, N. T. Moreland, Vice
president, and H. S. Bell, Secretary and
Treasurer.
On motion, the proceedings of the Con
vention, together with the Preamble and
Resolutions, were ordered to be forwarded to
the office oi the Southern Christian Advo
cate, Sumter Republican, Dawson Journal
and Cdthbert Appeal for publication.
On motion, the. President was appointed
V Committee to prooure of the speakers of
the day, a eopy of their addresses, for the
So# lb mi Christian Julnotale.
purpose of having as much of 'them pub
lished as maj be deemed expedient.
In "accordance with resolution third,
Messrs. Moore, Reddick and Kendrick
were appointed to draft By-laws and Rales
of Oiaer; aod Messrs. H S. Bell, Jackson
and Baldwin, to prepare a place for opening
aod conducting Sunday-school, both com
mittees to report at the next meeting of the
Convention.
After a few more beautiful songs from
the choir, which elicited the warm applause
of the audience, the Convention adjourned
with the benediction.
H. S. Bell, Sec’y.
The Dawson Journal and Sumter Re
publican please copy.
Obituary of Rev. John B. Gains.
Another workman has been called to his
reward It is with sorrow that I inform
yon that death has taken from ns one of
our very useful and laborious men.
The Rev. John R. Gains, of the N. Ga.
Conference, died in Canton, Ga, 10th
June, 1869. He was born in Abbeville
Dist., S. C., Jan. Ist, 1830; was oonverted
July 1856, and licensed to preaoh Nov.
1859 ; was admitted to the traveling cot?
nection Dec. 1861, and traveled the fol
lowing circuits : Canton, 1862; Lawrenee
ville, 1863 and ’64 ; Alpharetta 1865, ’66
and ’67, and Canton again in 1868 and ’69
—was ordained deacon by Bishop Early
at Columbus, 1863, elder by Bishop Pierce
at Macon, 1865.
Brother Gains was an earnest, good
preacher, one who looked for blessings from
every sermon and often seemed not to know
how to cease exhorting until he saw the
people moved to duty. He was a faithful
pastor, visiting and praying among the
people, and performing all the duties of a
preacher in charge of a circuit. Spiritual
ly minded he had the complete confidence
of the people in his piety.
For some months, the impression seemed
to rest strongly on his mind that he would
not live through the year. Hence he made
some efforts to secure a permanent home
for his large family; bat death came be
fore any such result was accomplished. On
the 11th of May he was taken sick with
typhoid fever, superinduced by too much
fatigue from manual labor in the field, and
followed by labor in the pulpit. Bat
after three weeks the disease seemed con
quered, and his physician pronounced him
out of danger. But suddenly on the night
of the 9th June, a chill seized him, and
on the morning of the 10th, he was a corpse.
Thus, suddenly taken, he had not time or
strength for many words. He had no fears
of death; seemed rather, for himself, to
long for it, although pained to leave his
loved ones alone and unprovided for. Bat
his heart evidently was with Christ in
heaven. It is the common remark of those
who visited him throughout his sickness,
that his home seemed to be in heaven. He
was trustful, ready to leave all hi3 interests
to Him who ‘marketh the sparrow’s fall.'
A good man is taken from our midst.
We feel his loss, his flock misses the faith
ful shepherd who gently led them to pas
tures of heavenly love. He leaves to the
community in which he lived, to his breth
ren in the ministry; to his sorrowing wife
and little ones the noblest legacy sinful
du n odd give, a life ot goodness, exempli
fying the power of Christ to save man up
on earth, and raise him to a home in the
skies. Wm A. Simmons.
A Chapter in the Life of Bishop Soule.
BY BISHOP WIGHTMAN.
Bishop Soule, in a brief memorandum
of his early life, now lying before tie
writer, says: “I have traveled through all
the United States, and most of the border
ing countries. I have lodged many nights
in the habitations of the Indians; and
many more, with earth for my bed and
heaven for my covering; and not a few,
far distant from the habitations of civil
ized men. I have twice crossed the At
lcntic Ocean, and visited England, Ireland,
and France. I have crossed the Gulf of
Mexico six times, and four times the Ca
ribbean Sea, and the North Paoifio Ocean.
I have traveled many thousands of miles by
stages and railroads, and by steamboats on
nearly all the rivers and lakes in the
United States, and some in Europe. I
have seen disasters, and been in perils by
land and sea: have been upset in stages
many times, and in several instances in
stages dashed to pieces, where many bones
were broken. From a sinking steamer, 1
have seen men plunge into death all around
me. I have been in the ravages of the
most malignant cholera and yellow fever,
where the triumphs of death were truly
terrific. But out of every scene of danger
and death I have escaped in perfect safety,
without injury or loss. Surely I have been
the child of Providence ! It would seem
that ‘ man is immortal till his work is
done.’ ’’
Asa specimen and illustration of the
hardships and perils of some of the Bish
op’s journeys, I wish to present to the
reader the following particulars of a visit
made by him in 1833, to the Missouri
Conference, which was held that year in
the Territory of Arkansas. The leading
facts were kindly furnished me, some years
ago, by the venerable Andrew Monroe,
who has been identified for more than forty
years with Missouri Methodism; and who,
in the evening of his days, enjoys the re
spect due to a long and consistent life,
filled up with useful labors.
In tho latter part of August, 1833, Bish
op Soule took the Shawnee and Delaware
Indian Mission Stations en route to the
session of the Missouri Conference. At
these stations he spent ten days of active
service, preaching, visiting, giving counsel
and encouragement, and promoting by his
personal influenoe the good work among
the Indians. These Missions, as well as a
large part of the Arkansas Territory, be
longed to the Missouri Conference at that
time. Thomas Johnson had charge ot the
Shawnee Mission and school, and his broth
er William, of the Delaware. Accompanied
by these brothers and Andrew Monroe, P.
E. of the St. Louis Distriot, the Bishop set
out on his journey. The route lay through
a wilderness.
The outfit of the little party was as fol
lows : Bishop Soule drove a light but
strong carriage, drawn by a pair of fine bay
horses—small, but of the first class in
point of strength and powers of endurance.
Stowed away in his carriage were some nec
essary camp fixtures and bedding, a small
box of tools for purposes of occasional re
pair, and a box of provisions. The rest of
the company had each an Indian pony that
had been raised in the woods, and was ac
customed to live on gras.-.
Setting out from the Shawnee Mission,
a few miles west of the Missouri State-liue,
they reaohed by night the oabin of an ad
venturous settler, and were kindly enter
tained. The close of the next day found
the party at the Old Harmony Mission,
whioh had been established some years be
fore by the Presbyterians, and was then
under the care of the Rev. Mr. Jones. At
this Mission Station they were made quite
comfortable. The next day our travelers
left all the white settlements behind, and
took their course through the pathless
prairies for the Osage village on the Neo
sha, where they found quarters with Dr.
Dodge — one of the earliest missionaries
among the Osages. This exoellent man
had been there many years, and had spent
-much money for the improvement of the
Indians, jrith but indifferent suocess, as he
told Bishop Saule.
The following Jay was quite hot, and the
Jrairie flies were exceedingly annoying;
ut our travelers pushed on, and just after
sunset, without having seen a human habi
tation all day, reached a small water
course, with stunted shrubs growing on its
bfnks. Here they halted. The tent was
pitched; sapper was cooked, and eaten
with keen appetite ; and the little company
enjoyed a quiet and refreshing night’s rest.
The next day’s ride brought them into the
Cherokee country, and they stopped at the
Union Mission, an old station, in charge of
the Rev. Mr. Yale, who received the Bish
op and his company with a Christian hos
pitality, and gathered a congregation and
had preaching. From this station they
traveled down the Neosha to Fort Gibson,
and thence up the Arkansas to the resi
dence of Col. Campbell, the Agent for the
Creek Indians. Here they rested and were
kindly entertained for several days, until
the time eame for holding the Creek camp
meeting. At this meeting, which was
held a few miles south of the Arkar sas
River, Bishop Soule preached with great
unction and power, and mnch to the de
light and edification *of those who heard
him.
The remainder of the journey lay through
the country occupied by the Cherokees.
The Mountain Spring Camp-ground was
the place where the Annual Conference
convened. It was in the mountains of Ar
kansas, some three miles from any human
habitation, and ten from the town of Fay
ette. The Bishop and his party reached
the camp-ground in good time, and in fine
health and spirits. The little band of
preachers—the Conference then numbered
only forty-four effective men—had come
together at that remote point, through
many hardships ; and many were the out
ward discomforts of the meeting. The
people who supported it were for the most
part new settlers, living at considerable
distances, and with limited means. The
tents were low and crowded. It rained in
cessantly, and was very hot. The bedding
became damp, the bread grew moldy, the
meat spoiled. But Bishop Soule seemed
to notice none of these things. He went
deliberately on through the business of the
Conference, his spirit as lofty and his face
as serene and bright as though he were en
joying the magnificent hospitalities of a
session in the city of Baltimore. The men
around him could but feel the inspiring in
fluence wielded by their fearless leader.
They were there, on the outposts of civil
ized life, to concert plans for planting
Churches and preaching the gospel in
these mighty wildernesses of the West.
At their head was the most heroic man of
his time, whose grand spirit surveyed the
whole continent, aod longed to see it every
where obedient to the faith. Never did
the lofty and commanding features of his
character shine more resplendent than at
this Camp-meeting Conference, out there
at the confines of civilization, with many a
dusky Indian face wet with tears, turned
to the rustic pulpit, where “Jesus and the
resurrection” was proclaimed with power
from on high.
After la-ting a week the Canferanoa a<3
journed, and the meeting closed, ’’ Bishop
Soule, with several of the prcaohers, went
to the house of a Brother Reece, a few
miles from the camp ground, to repose for
a night and make preparations for the re
turn trip. The change from wet, disagree
able quarters to a pleasant dry house, was
very refreshing. It would have been well
bad this venerable man, then in the 34th
year of his active ministry, allowed him
self a day or two of the rest and relaxa
tion ; but urgent duties called him to other
scenes of official service, and the next
morning he left his parting prayer and bles
sing with the kind family, and set his face
toward Boonville, Mo., a distance of 300
miles. Good Sister Reece furnished an
ample supply for the provision-box. The
Bishop’s party now had an accession of
two preachers, Brothers Green and Berry
man. It was not long after setting out be
fore the exposures at the camp meeting be
gan to show their results. Bishop Soule
had a chill, and became too sick to drive
his carriage. In this emergency Brother
Greene, who was also very feeble, got into
the carriage and took the reins. The road
was exceedingly rough; and to add to the
trouble, a violent thunder-storm came up,
accompanied with heavy rain, which
drenched the men on horseback. Pocr
Green had a severe ague in the course of
the day; but the Bishop's fever had subsid
ed sufficiently to allow him to resume the
driver’s seat. Thus the day wore away;
and wet and weary, they reached, at even
ing, the house of a Mr. Walker, and found
comfortable quarters. All the following
day they traveled in the rain, and at night
brought up at a so-called house of enter
tainment. This was a log-cabin, 12 by 14
f*et, with a stone floor. The only bed the
house boasted was on a scaffold of rough
boards. The family occupying the shanty
was large, and here was an addition of six
men to be accommodated. The next house
was fifteen miles farther on ; and there was
no help for it, the party must stop. So,
hobbling their horses on the prairie, and
kindling a good fire, they warmed and
dried themselves—none more cheerful or
in better spirits than Bishop Soule. The
hostess, it seemed, took frontier-life easily ;
was very chatty, and entered into a lively
conversation with her distinguished guest,
much to the amusement of the whole par
ty. The man of the house had been out
hunting, and presently returned with sev
eral wild turkeys, one of which was speedi
ly selected, dressed, and cooked—l am sor
ry I cannot chronicle by whioh of the
preachers—probably several lent a helping
hand. The lady of the house was too
much interested in her ohat with the
Bishop to trouble herself with the cuisine.
But it was in good hands; and in due time
the turkey was on the table, accompanied
with some of good Sister Reeoe’s stores
from the provision-box. The supper was
pronounced excellent on all hands. After
family-prayer, the Bishop and Brother
Green had the bedstead assigned them;
the rest of the company sought the softest
place on the floor; and so got through the
night the best way they could.
Resuming their journey the next morn
ing, they halted at noon, made a fire and
prepared some coffee, which the Bishop
enjoyed much. His friends began to hope
that he would soon be well; but not long
after starting, a chill, succeeded by a burn
ing fever, came on; and he was quite ill
when they reached the residence of Mrs.
Robinson, the mother of one of the Mis
souri preachers. Here they stopped. Med
icine was administered to the Bishop, and
before the close of the night his fever had
abated. Being better in the morning—
which was Sunday—the travelers accom
panied the family to ehuroh, several miles
on their way; held divine service; and
then pitched their tent and remained until
next morning, on the ground where the
town of Boliver now stands. Early the
next day, the tent was struck and they get
under way—Bishop Soule feeble but im
proving. In the oourse of the morning the
Johnsons left the party, striking ont
through the broad and pathless prairies for
the Shawnee Mission, their point of desti
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & CO., FOR THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
Macon, Ga., Friday, July 30, 1869.
nation'. A rough and fatiguing ride brougVL
the rest of the company to the house of a
Mr. Williams, who had been with Clark ~
and Lewis over the Rooky Mountains Hero
they slept ou the floor; and the Bishop
had a suffering, restless night. Next morn
ing the woman of the house took an agus
just as she was about getting breakfa*..
This devolved on our friend Monroe the
task of preparing the meal. His hand wa
in. He had played hostler, doctor, nurse
“augur, medicus, magus” —and now he w*s
cook; and sucoeeded in getting up an>
spectable breakfast. The Bishop ate but
little. His symptoms were unfavorable
Nevertheless, the horses were harnessed,
and hoping for the best, they took the road
again. Soon, however, his fever rose tq
an alarming height. They drove through
an open prairie, destitute of water. The
day soon became dreadfully hot, and the
Bishop’s thirst was almost insupportable
Afier some hours a shower of rain fillet',
the wagon ruts, out of which the ooffee pot
was supplied with water several times.
This afforded partial relief. Reaching a
rolling tract of country, they stopped, and
the Bishop’s companions set out in searc
of water, but without success. Return’
they found that he had gotten out of th;.
carriage, and #as stretched on the ground,
suffering intensely from thirst. It was
some time before he could make the 'heo
essary exertion to set oat * again. They
reached a house in a few hours, but tin
family were all sick. The Bishop said he
could go no farther. There was, however
in the house a clean spare bed, to which he
was made heartily welcome. His fever
was high, and he was flighty all the even
ing. In the morning, though much re
duced in strength, his indomitable energy
carried him on. He suffered less than ot
the day before; and a drive of five hoars
brought them to Brother Walker’s, ; n
Cooper county, twenty miles from Boon-.
ville Here this eminent servant of God
found not only desirable quarters with a ’
kind family, well situated, who felt it a
privilege to minister to his wants, but suit
able medical attendance. Dr. Evans, form
erly of Wasnington City, a Methodist gen
tleman well acquainted with Bishop Soule,
was in the neighborhood. He was imme
diately sent for, and promptly took charge
of the ease. Bishop Sonle had been pres
sing on in order to reach the session of the
Illinois Conference. The Doctor satisfied
him that it was a hopeless endeavor. Quiet
ly submitting to what was inevitable, and
thankful that he was in the hands of a
skillful medical adviser, and surrounded by
friends whose attentions were unremitting,
after some little time he became convales
cent.
The foregoing details are interesting, as
showing a pioture of frontier life a gener
ation ago. They' exhibit also a phase of
Methodist preaoher life and character, wor
thy of all respect and admiration. These
adventurous men, constrained by the love
of Christ, and working in the admirable
system of itinerant ministrations, went far
and did much to rescue from heathenism a
population, the germ of fature States; by
toil, suffering, and self-saorifiee, they laid
the massive foundations of public virtue in
the profound convictions of religious truth,
responsibility to God, and eternal retribu
tions, produced by their Dreaching ; and
they Delong to the same oompany ot men
who, in the apostolio age, oarried the gos
pel around and beyond the Roman Em- r
pire. Honored be their memories ! Em
balmed in the affectionate veneration of the
Church be the name of the great leader, a
glimpse of whose life of labor and endu
ranoe the foregoing sketch has presented !
—Nashville Christian Advocate.
From the Memphis Christian Advocate.
Over the River—No. 2
BT BISHOP FIERCE.
My last letter left me shaking hands
with the good people of Mt. Zion. The
district meeting, I am satisfied, will yield
good fruit. I was delighted with the coun
try round about, with the citizens, and with
our chureh prospect*. The whole region
along the base of Croley’s Ridge for eighty
miles, and many portions of the Ridge it
self abounds with fine farming lands. The
common testimony, too, is, that it is as
healthy as perhaps any portion of the State.
The Ridge people, and the Bottom people,
each olaim pre-eminence in this respeot. I
cannot award the premium to either, for
they look alike sound and vigorous to me
It is at least oertain that people may live
and enjoy life either up or down.
A yonng man (Mr. Horner,) came after
me from Jaoksonport, and with him I left
when all the adieus were said. Two miles
ahead I had promised to stop and baptize
a child of Brother Thomas Hare. This
work being finished, we went on to spend
the night with Brother Applewhite, a
brother-in-law of Dr. MoFerrin’s. Here I
found “a lodge in the wilderness” whioh
might tempt a man to linger, who loves the
comforts of this life. It was a good place
to rest, but to save me from rusting for lack
of work, my friends had au appointment
for me at Jacksonport Monday night, forty
odd miles distant. Early in the morning,
with my young friend, l set out, and rarely,
if ever, have I seen such a road. From
L’Anguille to White River, near forty
miles, it is a bottom, or rather swamp, with
a very economical supply of elevations above
water. Long years ago, when this was a
territory, the Governmentcut a path through
“this boundless contiguity of shade,’’ and
in reverence of the powers that be, it has
been “loyally’’ let alone. No man hath
touched it, either to mend or mar. But
few have traveled it, and these will never
repeat it if they can help it. Along here
a man feels lonely, even with a companion.
The immense forest, the unbroken solitude,
the voice «:f the wind wailing with mourn
ful cadence, the stagnant ponds, the wide
lagoons, the everlasting shadows, become
oppressive in their dreariness—one feels
lost, forsaken, forgotten. With a faithful
team, we passed on through mnd and water.
Here and there, at long intervals, I saw the
rotting relies of human habitation, but the
occupants were gone. All was silence and
desolation. One long grave—melancholy
memorial of life and death—brought a
deeper sadness over my thoughts and feel
ings. Who sleeps there ? Perhaps—God
only knows. If the solitary sleeper rests
in Christ, the perished name, the oblivion
of the earth, will matter but little—it shall
be well with him at last.
A long, hard, weary ride, brought us to
our destination about five p. m. Resting
an hour or two —supper over, I was in the
pulpit, with a crowded house before me. I
delivered my soul by a faithful testimony
to the truth. May the word accomplish its
mission. As the people seemed eager to
hear—preached again next morning, and
left for Batesville.
The presiding elder, Brother Dannelly,
met we with his horses and buggy, and
gave me a pleasant ride to Brother Dye’s
where we staid all night, and next morning
went on to the Distriot-meeting. Brother
Dye is an itinerant, and is fixed for travel
ing. He has an eye for a fine horse, and
drives a pair equal to all the exigeuoies of
this country. I have tried them in Bwamps
and mud-holes, up and down mountains,
and onoe in swimming water, and they were
faithful and true’all the time. Long may
they stand on the effective list. I have en
gaged them for a long trip next November.
Batesville is a nice town, well located !
and well -populated. The attendance of
delegates was not large. Wheat harvest
was on hand and this is a farm operation
that will not wait. Yet the congregation
was full day and eight, and a very gracious
influence rested upon the people. We
closed Sabbath night with the Sacrament,
and it was a time of power. We had seven
converts and great rejoioing among the
members. The services were continued by
Brother Plummer, the pastor, and I hope
for great results.
Monday morning, in the rain, with the
presiding elder and his better half, and his
faithful team, I left to fill an appointment
at Fair \ iew—twenty miles ahead, and a
mountain to climb. On the way, we en
countered a stream swollen to the swim
ming point, and were delayed two hours
ere we crossed. During the transit of pas
sengers and baggage, we swam and “cooned
a pole,” crossed and reorossed, single and
double, and finally vehicle and eontents,
animate and inanimate, were all on the other
side. It was a time of incident and adven
ture too tedious to describe. Sister Dan
nelly is a heroine, and is not afraid of deep
water. We were so far behind, I had dis
missed all idea of preaching, but on reach
ing the place, found the people quietly wait
ing, and a sermon they must have. It was
a good time, and I was glad to serve a peo
ple so eager to hear. Peace be with them.
Service over, we hastened on, spent the
night with Brother Mosely, and next day
drove into Searcy in time for preaching
again. I was surprised on a week day to
see a crowded house, and the house was
large. I brought a strong will to the help
of my weary body— spurred up my jaded
mind, and lor an hour and more, tried to
do some faithful work. Heaven save the
seed from the fowls of the air.
Went home with Brother Dannelly, staid
all night, and yesterday he brought me to
“Red Oak,” the place for the Little Rock
District-meeting. Brother Dannelly has
served me kindly and well. I thank him
much. He is “a friend in need.” Peace
to his house, and prosperity within his
gates.
June 24, 1869.
Jerusalem Relics.
A collection of articles, for the most part
| the result us the excavations made by
Lieutenant VVhiren in the East, under the
auspices and direction of the Palestine Ex
ploration Fund, has recently been opened
in London. Most of them are of great an
tiquity and all are instructive as illustrat
ing Bible history and customs. The Lon
don Christian Times gives the following
description :
_ The collection contains four cases of an
cient pottery, one case of jewelry, one of
glass, and two or three others which may
be described as miscellaneous. Some of
the specimens of pottery are in an extraor
dinarily good state of preservation, both as
regards their aspects and integrity. The
patterns of some of the vases arc surpris
ingly similar to those of the common earth
enware teapots which are used at the pres
ent day. The specimens exhibited, which
have been dug up iu the vicinity of Mount
Olivet, Mount Sion, Opbel, Robinson’s
Aroh, under the Tyropean Valley, and in
the rook-cut passage of the Virgin’s Foun
, tain, ara both plain, and glazed. Some of
the little lamps, whioh occupy the greater
‘part of one ease, arc like those in which
oil is burnt in our own day. The eolleotion
of jewelry comprises a horn, ostensibly sil
ver, worn by Druse women, an ’nkstand
and reeds for pens, and also by an arrange
ment which is more suggestive than dis
tinctive, a Samaritan service book. To
carvings from Jericho, catapult balls from
Jerusalem, a separate table is devoted.
Some fragments of charred cedar from
Jerusalem, the carving of which is consid
ered very valuable in an artistic sense, form
eonspiouous objects of interest to the visi
tors generally, while the politician of tho
period will find his bibiieal knowledge re
vived by contemplating relics which at one
time had their local habitation in the Cave
of Adullam. Mosaics from Sharon and
portions of a tesselated pavement do not
afford any high degree of interest in an
aesthetic sense. Among the articles in the
ease appropriated to glass, are some curious
tear bottles, which, we are infoimed, were
u*ed, as their name indicates, by probably
the upper classes of Jerusalem when they
thought fit to indulge in weeping We say
indulge, for the little bottles do not cer
tainly suggest any striking association of
grief.
Os all the groups of articles in the dis
play, the greatest interest of the greatest
number will be directed to that in whioh
the canoe stores employed by “Rob Roy”
daring his recent voyage in the East are
included. In it are his medicine chest,
his toilet implements, a spirit lamp, and
some bread and biscuit, which are des
cribed as “unconsumed stores” of vari
ous exploring expeditions, in juxtaposi
tion with these are a pelican shot by the
enterprising oarsman, and several other sou
venirs of his last eventful visit to the East;
a orab from the sea of Galilee, Dead Sea
apples, roses from Jericho, a little pyx of
manna, fragments of rocks and acaoia wood
from Mount Sinai, and a specimin of fish
skin, supposed to be identical with the
badgers’ skin with which the tabernacle was
covered, constitute, as may be readily un
derstood, a very miscellaneous group of cu
riosities, which recall seme of the most re
markable associations connected with the
history of Palestine.
The names and posit'ons of the places
where articles have been dug out are m de
intelligible to the uninitiated by a large
model and plan of Jerusalem, lent to the
committee by Colonel Sir H. James, R. E ,
F. R. S., Director-general of the Ordnance
Survey. No catalogue of the exhibition
has yet been published, but descriptions
from the pen of Mr. G. Grove, the assidu
ous hon. secretary, have been placed over
the most of the artieles for the instruction
of the visitors.
Lieutenant Warren is burrowing among
the ruins of ancient Jerusalem identifying
localities, discovering the marks by whioh
the ancient builders laid the stones of the
Temple in their proper order, and picking
out the rubbish some curious relics of the
ancient East. Though there may be noth
ing in those relics that immediately informs
the uninstruoted eye, they are worth a visit
as the first fruits of the archaeological har
vest which may be gathered on the historic
soil of the Holy City. The whole of the
exhibition, which is only as yet a small be
ginning, has an interest of its own. It
shows that many of the lost traces of ancient
life may yet be found, and that one of the
best sources of illustration for the Biblical
narratives is the debris of ancient Jerusa
lem, among whioh the Palestine Explora
tion Fund proposes to seek it.
Truth Unchangeable.—“ Take your
time iu weighing the controversy, but when
you have onoe deoided, be not easily moved.
Let God be trne, though every man be a
liar; and Btand to it, that what is accord
ing to God’s Word one day, cannot be con
trary to it another day; that what was true
in Luther’s day and Calvin’s day must be
true now; that falsehoods may shift, for
they have a Protean shape; but the truth
is one and invisible and evermore the same.
Let others think as they please. Allow
the greatest latitude to others, but to your
self allow none.”— Spurgeon.
Hffctrint (grnerience.
Abide With Me.
Abide with me; fast 'all* the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts fUe,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dimwits glories pass away ;
Change and decay in sll around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempters power ?
Who like Toyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloulds and sunshine, Lord, abide with me,
I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;
Ilia have no weight, and tears no bitterness ;
Where is death’s sting, where, grave, thy victory?
Triumph s.ill, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thv Cross before my closing eyes ;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:
Heaven’s morning Dreaks, and earth’s vain shadows
flse;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.— LyU.
Anecdotes of the Wesleys.
Zion’s Herald says : Rev Mr. Wakely
has done the Church and public excellent
servioe in collecting from many sourocs a
mass of anecdotes concerning the Wesleys,
father, mother, sons, and grandsons. Every
kind of incident, illustrative of this famous
family, finds a place here, literary and re
ligious. It is deserving of very general cir
culation, and will be an immense favorite
with Sunday-sohools, replacing their usual
fiction with its bracing illustrations of their
piety and tact and talent.
The following are a few of its moro novel
and important incidents;
Samuel Wesley’s First Parsonage.
—Samuel Wesley, in 1691, was appointed
Rector of the parish of South Ormsby, »ith
a salary of fifty pounds a year and a parson
age. It was a very mean and uncomfort
able abode, butin.it he and Us youthful
wile resided for years, and there five of
their children were born, and most of his
valuable books were written. Mr. Wesley
desoribes it in cheerful verse as follows:
“ In a mean cot c"mposed of reeds rnd clay,
Wasting in sighs th’ uncomfortable day;
Ne*r wnoro the inhospitable Humber roars,
Devourmg by degrees the ne’ghborinc shores.
Let earth go where it will. I’M not repine,
Nor can unnappy be, while heaven is mine
Samuel Wesley and his Dying Par
ishioner —Samuel Wesley visited one of
his parishioners as he was upon his dying
bed—a man who had never missed goiDg to
church in forty years. “ Thomas, where do
you think your soul will go 7” “ Soul!
soul !” said Thomas. “ Yes, sir,” said Mr.
Wesley, “ do you not know what your soul
is 7” “ Aye, surely,” said Thomas-; “ why,
it is a little bone in the back that lives
loDger than the body.” “So much,” says
John Wesley, who related it on the author
ity of Dr. Lupton, who had it from his
father, “ had Thomas learned from hearing
sermons, and exceedingly good sermons, for
forty years.”
Samuel Wesley on Ridicule. —There
wero those in the University who ridiouled
John Wesley. He wrote to his father con
cerning it. He repied in these brave
words: “As to the gentlemen candidates
you write of, docs anybody think the devil
is dead, or so muoh as asleep, or that ho has
no agents left? Surely virtuo can ass >rd to
be laughed at. The Captain and Master
endured something more for us before he
entered into glory, and unless we track His
steps, in vaia do wo Lope to sLaro that
glory with Him.”
Susanna Wesley and her Grand
children. —John Wesley never spoiled a
story for the sake of relatives. In his ser
mon on “ Training Children,” he says:
“ In four-score years I have never met with
one woman who knew how to manage
grandchildren. My own mother, who
governed her children so well, could never
govern one grandchild.’’
John Wesley’s First Extemporane
ous Sermon. —Mr. Wesley was at first a
reader of sermons, and thought he could
preach in no other way. An extemporane
ous preacher will always have the advantage
over a reader of sermons. Could White
field or John Wesley have preached with
such power or pathos as mere readers ? Mr
Wesley related the following anecdote to
Mr Thomas Letts, of Allhallows Church,
Loudon. While he was putting on his
gown in the vestry he said to him : “It is
fifty years, sir, since I first preached in this
church. I remember it from a peculiar
circumstance that occurred at that time. I
came without a sermon, and going up the
pulpit stairs I hesitated, and returned into
the vestry under much mental confusion
and agitition. A woman who was there
noticed that I was deeply agitated, and she
inquired, ‘ Pray, sir, what is the matter with
you ?’ I replied, ‘ I have not brought a
sermon with me.’ Putting her hand upon
my shoulder, she said, ‘ls that all ? Can
not you trust God for a sermon ?’ That
question had such an effect upon me that I
ascended the pnlpit and preached extem
pore, with great freedom to myself and ac
ceptance to the people, and I have never
since taken a written sermon into the pul
pit.”
How to Perpetuate Methodism. —In
1783 the Rev. Robert Miller asked Mr
Wesley, “What must be done to keep
Methodism alive when you are dead ?” Mr.
Wesley gave the following answer: “The
Methodist mast take heed to their doctrine,
their experience, their practice and their
discipline. If they attend to their doc
trines only, they will make the people Anti
mouians; if to the experimental part of re
ligion only, they will make them enthusi
astic ; if to the practical part of religion
only, they will make them Pharisees ; and
if they do not attend to their discipline
they will be like persons who bestow much
pains in cultivating a garden, and put no
fence around it to savo it from tho wild
boars of the forest.”
Wesley and Shakspeare.—Wesley
was a great reader of theology, philosophy,
poetry, and almost everything else. A
gentleman in Dublin presented Mr. Wesley
with a fine quarto edition of Shakspeare.
When Mr. Wesley died it was found that
the margin of this volume was filled with
critical notes by Mr. Wesley himself. The
excellent John Pawson, one of the purest
men that ever adorned the Church, resided
in the parsonage, and had charge of City
lioad Cnapel. He destroyed the book, and
many of the writings of Mr. Wesley, be
cause “ he judged they were not among tne
things which tended to edification.” Alas
for the loss to literature caused by good
John Pawson I
Thoughts of God —.suppose two per
sons equally desirous to gain your affections
—one far distant and not expecting to see
you for a long time; the other always pres
ent with you, and at liberty to use all means
to win your love, able to flatter and gratify
yon in a thousand ways. Still you prefer
the absent one; and that you may keep
him in remembrance you often retire by
yourself to think of his love to yon, and
view again and again the ; mementoes of his
affection, to read his letters, and pour out
your heart in return. Such is now your
case: the world is always before you, to
flatter, promise, and please. But if you
really prefer to love God, you will fix your
thoughts on him, often retire for medita
tion and prayer, and recount the pleasant
gifts of his providence, and especially his
infinite mere/ to your soul; you will read
frequently his Holy Word, whioh is the
letter he has sent you as really as if it were
direoted to you by name.— JPayson,
“Let Th.y Widows Trust in Me.”
From “Fellowship : Letters Addressed to my Sister
Mourners ”
I have hinted at what our fellow crea
tures may do, and what they should avoid.
Now let me endeavor to define what we
may do for ourselves, for no human hand
can really help us. The fight for strength
lies between us and our God. It is He we
want, and He must and will be sought.
And let us remember that in all matters of
practical faith, time, and much time, is
understood; faith only becomes faith by
the test of time—all Soripture promises to
the troubled are in the future tense—im
plying au interval of patienoe and trust in
the supplicant. “Blessed are they that
mourn, for they shall be oomforted”— now
they are comforted.
I take for granted that, however sore the
stroke, there is no rebellion in your heart
—no wondering why you are afflicted. God
must never be questioned. This is the only
form in which wo first submit to the Di
vine will. This submission, it is true, is a
very negative affair—a necessity, not a free
will offering; we must submit to the Great
Giver and Taker. There is no choice for
us left. Thus wo orave (at least I did) for
the mere evidences that God did it. This
avowal in the mouth of a Christian, seems
little better than Atheism; but, as I have
said, the characteristic of the fiery furnaoe
is that the very foundations of our religion
seems to fail us before its fury. And forth
from the depths of the Holy Writ rise the
great anoient, monumental notes, sounding
in our ear, “Behold, he taketh away, who
oan kinder Him 7 who will say unto Him,
What doest thou 7” (Job 9 : 12.)
“He doeth aooording to His will among
the inhabitants of the earth; and none oan
stay His hand, or say unto Him, what
doest thou ?’’ (Dan. 4. 35 )
“I was dumb, I opened not my month;
beoauae thou didst it.’’ (Psalm 34 : 9.)
Ah ! it was no chance or aooident that
has thus shipwrecked us. If God be in
anything, He is in everything. There is
no half-way creed. This great rodimental
fact is, at all events, firm ground in the
floods perpetually rising around us. But
why this intensity of suffering, this unen
durable weight of a lifeless life 7 And
here again a fresh group of inspired words
shino upon us, and how different to the in
terpretation whioh our Job’s oomforters
have put upon them 1 For Soripture never
speaks of our woo being removed, but of
the fruits (of comfort) it is afterwards to
bring forth. It is always suffering first
eonsoiation afterwards. “I waited patient,
ly for the Lord, and (having so done) he
inclined unto me, and heard my cry.’’
(Psalm 40: 1.) “Now no chastening for
the present scemcth to bo joyous, but
grievous: nevertheless afterwards it bring
eth forth the peaceable fruits of righteous
ness to those who are exercised thereby.”
(Hebrews 12 : 11.) And again, “After
that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.”
(1 Peter 5 : 10 ) This suffering is to be
for faith, and therefore comfort is in due
timo to be born of it. This is God’s way
toward us, aud in bearing tribulation, for
an appointed time, without the sense of
Divine oomfort, we are in reality permit
ting God’s will to be entirely fulfilled in
us. This is oomfort —though it be not re
lief—for it is truth. Our posture, there
fore, under agony is to wait; “patient in
tribulation.” This is the grace we can ex
ercise, and Scripture is fertile and preoise
on this point. “Wait on the Lord; be of
good oourage, and ho shall strengthen thine
heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm
27: 14.)
We are now digging a field—no unusual
field in this wear/ life; —we are not to ex
peot suddenly to find a nugget of gold, and
to be able to cease from our toil I no God
fearing husbandman does that; but he
does look tor a natural and blessed harvest
in God’s time, and so may we.
A dear old friend, bereaved like our
selves, gave me in my first months of tor
ture these three precepts. “Be patient—
Trust God—Look not beyond tho day.’’
All these arc waiting precepts, and any of
them, earnestly attempted, is a stay to the
bewildered heart.
And, dear sisters, be not tempted to try
to feel, or talk about “strength and sap
port.” Good people are naturally anxious
that we should give evidence of the faith
that is in us. But they are too hasty for
us at this early period ; suoh asseverations
are only spiritual ‘tours de force.’ Nor be
induced to give assent to that exaggerated
boast that if the lifting of a straw, as the
conventional saying is, could bring the be
loved one back, we would not lift it. Some
poor mourners have not the moral courage
to contradict this, lest they should be
thought wicked. But, far from subscrib
ing to suoh over strained professions, we
know in our heart at this period of our Buf
feting, that if the lifting a house oould re
store them to us, we woula strain every
nerve to do it—though we might not wish
to own as much. In truth we are not
called upon for such unnatural talk. Our
nature is from God, and He does not re
quire ui to force it, or to deny it. We
can say, “the will of the Lord be done’’
when we can say nothing else, and we
know that will to be right and wise, but we
oannot at first feel it to be loving. For
that we must wait until He gives us power
—and He will give it ns.
For next to mere submission, to the mere
necessity of suffering, comes by slow de
grees the more soothing, healing convic
tion that not only Divine Power and Wis
dom havo worked our woo, but a Divine
feeling that wills our good. The solution
to the mysterious contradiction between
God’s love and our anguish—between his
silence and our passionate appeals—is in
taot one of the great arterial truths of the
Revealed system, summed up especially in
ouo ttxt, “For whom the Lord loveth He
ohasteneth, and scourgeth (ah I how true
is the very word!) every son whom He re
ceiveth.’’ He thus compels us to seek
Him, and this, in other words, is His way
of seeking us.— N. Y Observer.
A Fatherless Stanza:
Mr. Webster in his New Hampshire
speech, in 1648, quoted, as from “a prophet
of the day,’’ the following:
“Th« Avon to tho Severn rung,
The Severn to the Sea,
And vickhir* duet shall spread abroad,
Wide as the waters be ”
Wadsworth, in his ecclesiastical sketch
es, has a sonnet with the same sentiment,
and admits that he took it from Fuller’s
Church History. A hymn of Martin Lu
ther contains the same thought. All who
have lately quoted it have obtained it from
Webster’s speech. The translation of the
lines ascribed to Luther runs thus: Did he
compose it 7
“Flung to the heedless winds,
Or on the waters cas>,
The martyr’* avhe.i, washed,
Shall gathered be at last;
And from tha< Beat ered dust,
Around us and abroad,
Shall spring a plenteous seed
Os witnesses for God ”
Length of Sermons. —The question is
asked, How long ought a sermon to bes
Well, that depends on its thickness. We
have heard some sermons so thick through
with solid thought that the preaoher ought
not to stop under two hours. We have heard
other) so thiu that if the preaoher had
ceased talking at the end of fifteen minutes
it would have been of proper proportions ;
so well proportioned, indeed, that it would
hare been remembered otherwise than
E. H. MYERS, D. D., EDITOR.
Whole Number 1762
as a very good sermon. The general run
of sermons should be oat off at the end of
about thirty minutes. If a man takes an
hour, or an hour and a half, he ought to be
sure ho has got a th'ok sermon.
Have meiey upon Mo.
“Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord !’’ How
suitable to every condition in life is the cry
for mercy. It is first an acknowledgment
of the justice of all the evil that has befal
len us. It Is also a confession of our uttor
weakness and incapacity for relieving our
selves. It is next a confession of our faith
in the power of God to give us succor if
he will but undertake our cause.
It is also a declaration that the divine
compassions are so great that whatever our
distress may be, we may safely rely ou him.
Such a prayer befits us in health and in
sickness, in life and in death. No moro
appropriate words ever fell from the lips of
mortals. No man ever promotes his own
oomfort by denying the justice of the suf
ferings ho is oallcd to endure at the hand
of God.
Let sinners always led and say that jus
ioe is against them, and that their hope
for anything good is in the divine mercy.
God’s mercy gets great honor when it
extends great favors to great sinners. We
may safely plead with God to tjiat which
will bo an honor to his attributes.
No small part of spiritual wisdom con
sists in knowing how to behave uudor severe
and complicated trials. Some melt away
under them, aud lose all heart and courage
This is one extreme, and very dangerous.
Others harden the heart and act as if God
was not chastening them.
In all our afflictions it is our duty prompt
ly to enquire, “Wherefore oontendest thou
with me 7” And it is always safe to take
it for granted that a sufficient cause may be
found in our corruptions and iniquities
Ps. vi. 2, 4.
He who knows not how to seek relief in
prayer, is destitute of one of the most im
portant secrets over made known to man;
for “it is not wrestling with trouble within
ourselves, nor venting our grief as natural
men, which oan give us ease, but pouring
out our heart before the Lord, which must
do it. All my desire is bifore thee. ' Ps.
xxxviii. 14.
“No hatred is harder to overcome than
that whioh is based on a wrong done to an
other.”—Plumer's Studies in the Book of
Psalms.
Cornwall Methodists.
“In my primitive districts the miners keep
up the custom of their fathers, tho even
ing funeral, and the singing of a hymn
from the house of mourning to the grave.
The joyous hymn to a spirit-stiring tune
which is in general use on these occasions
is, * Rejoioe for a brother deceased,’ and
fitly on its latest line falls like softer music,
Christ’s words of hope, ‘ I am the resurrec
tion and the life,’ with which the English
burial service opens, and at tho close, tho
hymn, ‘CoW, let us join our friends
above,’ is sung, as the crowd of mourners
passes around the open grave. Alike shove
and under ground, on sea and land, in fish
ing-boats, forecastles, mines, and coal-pits.
Wesley’s hymns on Death, Judgment, and
Heaven are preaching tho Gospel to the
poor, and teaching men to live in the light
of the future. His hymns on heaven have
sometimes produced a thrilling effect* on
those who heard them for tho first time.
Some years ago, the rcoital of one of them
by the counsel in a murder case tried at
Exeter, as having been the last words of a
murdered girl, melted the Judge, the bar,
the jury, and tho audience into tears.”—
Isabella Bird in Sunday Magazine-. -.
Tho Higher Life.
I verily think, now, that Christ hath led
me up to a notch in Christianity that I was
never at before; 1 think all before was but
childhood and children’s play.
Either I know not what Christianity is,
or we have stinted a measure ot so many
ounce-weights and no more upon holiness,
and there we are at a stand, drawing our
breath all our life—a moderation in God’s
way, now, is much in request. I profess
that I have never taken pains to find out
Him whom my soul loveth; there is a way
yet of finding out Christ that I have never
lighted upon. Oh ! that I oould find it out.
If you would be a deep divine, I recom
mend to you sanotifieation.
Sanotiiio&tion will settle you most in the
truth. Oh! His perfumed face, His fair
faoo, His lovely and kindly kisses have
made mo a poor prisoner; sec that there is
more to be had of Christ in this life than I
had believed. We think all is but a little
earnest, a slight afternoon refreshment, a
small tasting whioh we havo or that is to
be had in this life—which is true compared
with the inheritance; but yet I know it is
more—it is the kingdom of God within us.
The Sabbath for the Working-Man.
The Sabbath is God’s special present to
the working man, and one of iti chief ob- *
jeets is to prolong life aDd preserve efficient
bis working tone. In the vital system it
aets like a compensating pond ; it replen
ishes the spirits and elasticity and vigor
whioh the last six days have drained away,
and supplies the force which is to fill the
six days succeeding; and in the economy of
existence, it answers the same as the econo
my of income it answers by savings bank.
The frugal man who puts aside a pound
to-day and another pound next month, and
who, in a quiet way, is always putting by
his stated pound from time to time, when
he grows old and frail, gets not only the
aama pound back again, but a good many
pounds beside. And tho conscientious
man, who husbands one day of existence
every week, who instead of allowing the
Sabbath to be trampled and torn in the
hurry and scramblo of life, treasures it de
votedly up-—the Lord of the Sabbath keeps
it for him, and in length of days and a hale
old age gives it back with usury The sav
ings bank of human existence is the weekly
Sabbath. —North British Review.
Ungodly Choristers.—Tho National
Baptist says: “A few years ago we hap
pened to be preaching, one Sunday even
ing, to a city congregation. To
ward the end of the servieo we were re
quested to omit tho closing hymn—tho
reason being, as we afterward learned, that
the organist was too drunk to remain, and
had been taken off by his friends; and the
choir, thus abandoned, tearing to be called
upon, had a'so left the house ’’ None but
Christians should lead “thoservioe of song.’’
“A Christian life is a pulpit whioh all
may asoeud. It is unbeooming for the
child t<F exhort its unbelieving parent, im
proper for the pupil to direct his toaohor,
or for the servant to rebuke his master.
But by a holy life children can instruct
their parents, scholars their teachers, and
inferiors their superiors, and superiors
their inferiors. Many, through ignorance,
are unable to speak a word lor Jesus, oth
ers oannot meet an objeotor, and others are
disabled by timidity ; but all can preaoh a
most eloquent sermon through the life.
Be strong iu the Lord aad in the power
of Christ, and nothing shall be too hard for
you to overoome. Mountains shall be made
plains, and valleys filled up. All things
shall bo possible to him that believes aud
relies upon that power to which nothing is
impossible. With God all things are pos
sible.