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VOL. XXXV. NO. 48.
Original |)ottrg.
Hymning.
Oh I let me sing of Heaven
While here on earth I stay,
Its glory and its beauty
Inspire my latest lay,
Till its Joys I’m realizing
In the climes of endless day.
w
Tell me not ’tlsjrainspiring
To the minstrel’s head and heart,
Oh! if It fail la firing
To highest powers his art,
Head and heart are unresponsive,
The theme has'done its part.
Its part, what could be higher
Than to show the human race,
The glory of redemption,
■ The riches of Hod’s grace ? . ?
What conld be nobler, grander,
Than Almighty lotc to trace,
From tlio morning of creation,
When the itars sang for joy,
When, tp earth, of Dtps and promise,
Spake the Bow that arch’d the sky;
And, when, the crucifixion
Told, that God for man did die.
And, through that blest atonement
lie made for you and me,
That heirs of his salvation,
We evermore, might be.
And, dwell with Him in Heaven
Through all eternity.
Then, of that glorious Heaven,
Oh ! let mu ever sing,
And of my blessed Saviour
Who life and light did bring,
By the sacrifice on Calvary,
That ones grand offering.
Ves ! though ray song be simple,
Though arth ss be my lay,
Tot, all I have, I'm bringing,
And, while, my Lord I pray
To accept my humble tribute,
He will not say me, “ nay.”
And, then, if my poor hymning,
Some day, when I am gone,
lie’ll bless to one poor sinner—
If one but one is won—
Oh I I’ll rejoice in Heaven,
Over that only one.
Mrs. Martin.
Contributions.
The Four Witnesses.
111. John, the Beloved Disciple.
BY W. I\ HARRISON', D. D.
We have seen how admirably the grace of
God adapts itself to the circumstances and
temperaments of the disciples of Jesu3, in
making Mary and Simon Peter witnesses of
the Resurrection precisely in the manner
calculated to meet their wants. These two
oan never hereafter doubt the evidence of
their senses. Whatever may be their for
tunes, whatever may happen to the little
company of disciples, these witnesses are
prepared to attest the reality of the Resur
rection. The clamorous importunity of
Mary of Magdala is satisfied by a success far
beyond her utmost expectations, and the
wondering sonl of Simon Peter has the sure
ground wTeason, the fall exposition of the
Divine purpose, whereon to repose hereafter
in undisturbed and unquestionable confi
dence.
There remains another of the visitors to
the grave on the morning of the Resurrec
tion, whose character is revealed by a single
stroke of the pen. The character of the
Apostle John requires close and rigid analy
fis if it is to bo understood. By many Bib
lical expositors he is represented as a man of
feminine tendernssi of sonl, and for that
reason an object of peculiar attachment and
love. Endowed with large capacity for
sympathy and communion with ail forms of
human suffering, and exceedingly apt to at
tach himself to any object that possesses
lovely qualities, it is supposed that this
formed the peculiar charm of his character.
But we are confronted with tbo singular
fact that this womanly character, in the
most emphatic manner is called a Bon of
Thunder, lie and his brother .Tames bear
the title “ Boanerges,” given to them by our
Lord himself. It would be difficult to find
any propriety in this name, if John was al
ways a man of quiet, womanly meekness —
and the facts of his life, incidentally stated
in the gospels, fully sustain the justice cf
the title.
That he was unlike Simon I’eter, in many
striking characteristics, is evident. Yet there
was also a no less striking similarity. Their
friendship and attachment, to each other are
frequently manifested. We do not suppose
that this attachment was owing to John’s in
timate relation to the Master. Nor was it
due to the oneness of interest and pursuits
before their call to the apostieship. Asso
ciation in business furnished tho occasion,
bat did not prodace theeanso of this friend
ship. There was sometciug in common be
tween them, something in which their hearts
held a coequal partnership, and this bond
of union, opportunity strengthened, and as
sociation matured.
John was a man whose distinguishing
characteristic was greatness of soul. He had
a burning, fiery zeul in advocating the right,
and his soul-greatness, as if by instinct, per
ceived the right upon its first presentation
to him. He saw, intuitively, the Master’s
character, as that character presented itself
in his works of benevolence and mercy. He
loved Jesus because ho loved truth, and
power for truth’s sake. He admired the
Master, because ho appreciated him. He
did not have a thorough understanding of
the work which the Lord came to do, but
he saw that it was a work whose moral gran
deur and sublimity challenged the admira
tion of the world. Therefore the sayings of
Jesus made a deep impression upon his
mind, and the miracles of the Master de
monstrated the power from on high. If
John was ambitious —if he sought to be first
among the disciples, the Prime Minister of
the new king who was soon to claim the
throne of Solomon—it was because he had
that consciousness of fitness for the place ;
that earnest of power, which is the peculiar
property of genius, He could not be mean,
or cruel, yet he might have been a despot,
a tyrant. Seeing the truth, he is impatient
because others do not see it also, and if
good works are done, if they are not done
by those who follow the Lord, he does not
hesitate to forbid them. True, this is big
otry, but bigotry is zeal without knowledge.
Once corrected, John’s error is never re
peated.
Yet he falls into another. The Master is
on his way to Jerusalem. He dispatches
messengers to make preparation for him in
a village of the Samaritans. “And they
did not receive him because his face was as
though he would go to Jerusalem.” The
old hereditary hostility of the Jews and Sa
maritans shows itself in the surly,
churlish, and offensive manner. These vil
lagers will have nothing to do v~ib those
who recognize the Jews or theu-% oital city.
gtnnthecn gfcmUaw Adtotaic.
They will violat%she rights of hospitality
rather than help a traveler on his wav jp,
the hated capital of Jadah’..
nation is aroused, not so muctf Deoause the
insult is offered to his nation, but because
it is offered to bis Master. He asks permis
sion of the Lord to call down fire from
heaven to consume the perpetrators of the
outrage. The Lord rebukes him in the most
significant terms, and once more the fiery
zeal is checked, and chastened. He has yet
to find out mnch concerning the Spirit of
tho Master. He is not Elias, but a greater
than Elias, therefore Jesus oan forbear.
John must learn that the Son of Man has
come to save men’s lives, not to destroy
them. This lesson learned, the Son of
Thunder has been educated by a discipline
that has pruned away the luxuriant growth
which the native warmth of soul bos genera
ted. Zeal would make him a bigot, but he
has learned that whatever the instrument
may be, a good work must stand upon its
own merits. If it be good, wher
ever found. Zeal woul - make him a dread
ful Avenger of wrong. Bnt he learns that
the Spirit of Ckrist is not a spirit of ven
geance but of mercy. Zeal, coupled with
ambition, would make him an aspirant to
place and power. But he loams that power
comes by suffering, and that the Master of
men mnst first become their servant. He
thinks himself able to be baptized with the
baptism of his Lord—to drink the cup which
his Master drinks, and it is promised to him.
Then, when he drinks tho cup, when he re
ceives the baptism, he shall receive the
power which is their prodnet.
Now we liavo an insight to the character
of John. He is a man of sensibility, yet im
pulse yields to reason. Qaick to feel ; sus
oeptible always to tho promptings of ambi
tion —to the retributions of wrong—to the
vindication of right; he yields to authority,
submits in teachableness to instruction, and
holds his ardent spirit in check. He needs
no repetition of reproofs. His errors cor
rected, he commits them no more. Tbo ex
quisite sensibility which makes him a hero
in action, makes him a greater hero in en
durance. Therefore the Lord loves him.
Not because he is without fault, but because
his faults lean to virtue's side. Not because
he is passive, weak, feminine, gentle—but
because he is strong, vigilant, wayward, yet
docile. The Master loves him, because he
has a great soul, full of glowing, fiery pur
poses, which he holds under reign, and sub
dues. Because this noble nature, thirsting
for distinction, will ohasten its ambition and
becomo the servant of all, for Truth’s sake.
Because this fiery zeal that would burn ita
vengeance into the memory of men, will
modify its flame into the gentle warmth of
charity, and make tho advocate of retribu
tion tho Apostle of Love. In flue, Jesus
loved him, because his great sonl, so keenly
alive to everything noble, and beautiful and
good, when softened down from its erratic
ventures, became a deep reservoir for the
truth which He had to convey to men ; and
every word, and every lesson from tho Mas
ter’s lips fell into rich and fruitful soil, out
which sprang at the last the rich iruitage
in the 'harvest of ages. No other disciple
felt as John felt it, the Messiahship of Je
sus—no other pen could develop as he has
done the doctrine of the Word made flesh
Tho Word —the sign of God’s thought to
men—the sign of God’s thought for men -
the sign of God’s thought rf Mm. What
man may be, the Word in living flesh de
clares—“and we shall be like Him, for wo
shall see Him as He is.”
It is this religion of sensibility—this out
going of the heart after the Truth, that
meets the Truth half way, and takes it home,
and makes it all our own—tbis is the faith
which outruns Peter, and reaches the sepul
chre, yet pauses at the door. The very con
sciousness of coming joy makes it pause.
But when impulsive Peter enters, then John
follows, “ and he saw, and believed." Here,
in a single sentence, nay, in a single word,
is a graphic picture of the man. Simon
Peter wondered —John believed. Out of the
depths ot that soul that had taken into it
self the mysterious sayings and prophecies
of the Lord, Faith springs at the sight of
the grave clothes, and whispers to the wait
ing spirit : the Muster is alive Not in the
grey dawn of realization does he wander in
the twilight with shadowy outlines hovering
over his pathway, but in the broad beams of
the risen sun his soul is warmed, illuminated,
comforted. His longings are satisfied. He
needs not the sight of the living Master to
assure him of the truth, but homeward, in
the calm confidence of a certain' 7 that needs
no bodily presence to strengthen it, the faith
of sensibility reposes on the bosom of peace.
Now, if we desire, to find the secret bond
that united these two men in such close
friendship, we will find it here. They were
both men of impulse. Simon Peter was
governed by the impulse of the intellect
ruling the heart—John by the impulse of
the heart ruling the intellect. Both were
moved to similar actions ; to deeds alike in
outward semblance, but springing from dif
ferent motives. F. ich was honest —each
sincere in his purposes, and this honesty of
motive exhibiting itself in outward ardor
and zeal brought them together as kindred
spirits. Simon was the spokesman of the
company, because his busy intellect was ever
framing its conceptions into words. Joun
was never a speaker unless there was some
thing to be done. One thought his way to
obedience, reverence and supreme allegiance
to the Master—the other felt it. Relatively,
the integrity of John is the greater. Simon
confesses the Truth, but apostatizes from it.
John makes no brave speeches, but remains
loyal to his trust. Simon’s impulse, checked
by the reproof in the garden, sinks into
fear, in the absence of Htans— John’s re
proved, chastened aforetime, stands still,
and waits for the salvation of the Lord. Si
mon cannot be true to the Master when all
the world is leagued against Him, because
he cannot reason the way out of the snare.
John can submit to be bound hand and foot,
feeling that deliverance will come as Provi
dence may choose.
Reader, this is the noblest endowment of
human life. Happy art thou, if this faith
sustains thee ! Simon’s courage may win
the world’s applause, but his fall demands
the world’s sympathy. Too many of us
know from sad experience, the heart of Si
mon Peter. Like him, wo have made many
bold speeches, and pledges of life long loy
alty to Jesus. In the enthusiasm of spirit
ual conquest, we could see our way clear to
final victory. Alas ! when the severo disci
pline of trial came, and the proud world had
our Leader in its toils, we have denied him.
Like Simon Peter, a mere child has driven
us from our citadel of strength, and servants
of Belial have made ns confessors of our
shame. But if, like John, we have treasured
up the truths of prosperous days; if we
have checked the fiery zeal which would
fain break out in deeds ef wrong to secure
the right; if wo have learned, like John, to
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE A COMPANY, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
rifle our own spirit; then, when adversity
comes, and trial oomes, and darkness comes,
we can stand in Gethsemane, helpless, but
hopeful, and though the bitter cross rears its
formidable front, we can endure still — and
when at the last, the grave-clothes of our
sorrow lie as the mute witnesses of the res
urrection of joy, we shall stand in our lot,
and believe.
From tho Nashville Christiaa Advocate.
Letter from Bishop McTyeire.
SANTA BARBARA —GRAPES AND VINES —THE OLD
MISSIONS —LOS ANOELES —LAND OP CORN AND
CHURCH AND EDUCATION —VISIT
TO GOSPEL SWAMP—SOME OF ITS PRODUC
TIONS.
Mr. Editor: My last letter was mailed to
you from Santa Barbara. We anchored off
that old town the evening of Oct. 14, and
went ashore in a boat. The captain of the
Orizaba told ns he had freight to fighter
that would take about two hours, and we
had that mnch time for sight seeing. The
prospect of railroads, and other causes, have,
within a few years giver new life to several
adobe settlements along the southern coast
of California —this one among them. Real
estate has quadrupled in value. Houses for
residence and trade—some of them costly
and tastfnl—have gone up, and the long
rows of adobes, with thratch and tile roofs,
look already like things of the last oentnry.
The old “Mission ” may be seen from afar,
sitting on the hill, two miles from theshorp,
with its towers and facades and bells. To
that, passing by rows of pepper trees, and
the olive-garden, we drove A singular
structure, one hundred and fifty feet long
by forty five wide, with earthen floor and
altars and pictures.rude but striking—estab
fished nearly a hundred years ago—built by
the labor cf Christianized Indians. The
padres tanght them to worship, but not to
read—and -nothing is left. We must ad
mire the zeal that brought the missionaries
here, and tho skill that snbdued the abo
riginal element, and taught it kindness and
innocent industry. The priests received us
politely, and while they were showing us
around,the light of day faded, so we saw not
all we desired. Worshipers do not flock
around the altars as once ; but a live element
is here —a school, in which not a few Protes
tant boys are boarded, lodged and taught
To our regret we could not visit the fa
mous grape vine three miles southward. The
legend is that sixty years ago an Indian girl
rode from Santa Clara Talley, over a hun
dred miles, and, on reaching home, her
switch—a piece of vine—was stuck in the
ground. It is said to be four feet in cir
cumference, and that its fruit supports the
family that owns it. “ How much does it
yield ?” we asked our cicerone “ Thisyear
the crop is short—not more than two tons ;
they have been having so many fandangoe>
under it, andueglected it; but it has yielded
four tons of grapes at a crop ” It was too
dark for our look of iucrednlity to be seen.
Tho Mission-grape is the staple prodnot.
Tho “fathers” understood wine-culture, and
this is the grape patronized by them. It is
hardy and fruitful, and four-fifths of the
vines grown are of this kind. The flamiDg
Tokay, the white Isabel, the black Ham
burg and the Muscat, are larger and more
taking to the eye and more exquisite in
taste ; but I found myself returning to the
Mission-grape with uncloyed zest.
Next morning we awoke in S m Pedro
Bay. Our ship anchored out and passen
gers and freight were taken ashore by light
ers and a small steamer. A railroad twenty
two miles long, brought us, by 11 a m , to
Los Angeles, which, in four years, has been
transformed from an adobe settlement into
a fl< rr*hics>t?-:: v at levrTifl thousand in
habitants, with hotels, stores, bank, and
blocks of buildings, and suburbs that are ad
mirable. The town and county of the same
name, and a quicksand stream called a river,
give the title of Los Angeles Talley, about
seventy-five miles long, ruuning south-east,
and from twenty to thirty wide—a spot for
richness of soil and pleasantness of climate
excelling any I have ever seen.
In the afternoon we rode out to Los
Nietos, twelve miles, wheie Conference was
opened on Wednesday the 16th. Of the
proceedings you have been i.dv.sed. Here
I found myself among old acquaintances
and friends from “the States ” —Rev. Wm.
Moores, and iiis son in-law, Rev. G. E. But
ler, Rev. J C. Ardis, Goodrich, Ed. Bar ■
nett, Dr. HannoD, and their families. In
1868 0 brother Ardis moved hero from Ar
kansas, coming slowly and perilously by
the El Paso route. He got sixty-five acres
of land, and took root instantly. Moved
by his representations twenty families have
followed him. Here is that excellent lay
man, Frank E. Adams, from Texas, brother
Steed and Dr. Edwards, from Arkansas,and
others —a very Southern settlement,in whioh
Georgia, and Mississippi, and Louisiana,
and Alabama, and Tennessee, are lepre
sented During the meeting Mr. B. Harris
and family, formerly of Sumner county,
Tennessee, were present from San Bernardo,
and Col. Sanford and family, worthy con
nections of my friends aud former parish
ioners in Montgomery, Ala. Here are the
two Adamses —Abram and Samuel—preach
ers once in the Mobile Conference, and
preaching yet—and Rev. Cyprian Gridley,
whom I first met in New Orleans when be
ginning my pastorate there. A home-feel
iag awaited me when I thought myself
farthest from tome !
Few persons .from Los Nietos own more
than forty acres. That is enough. They
came here poor, and were not able to buy
more. Most of them have paid for their
limited freehold by its products. It is a
land of corn and wine. The corn-fields run
up to the doors and surround the houses.
The Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and San
tana rivers intersect the valley and afford
irrigation. Timber is scarce. The limbs
of the willow, or cotton-wood, are stuck in
the ground, and, moistened by an irrigating
rill directed along the row, these sticks take
root, and in a year form a live fence. Their
luxuriant branches are lopped off and fur
nish stove-wood, which is the most that is
needed. They are now beginning to im
prove their homes, aud I know of no place
more capable of being beautified—shaded
avenues between the close lying farms form
ing a feature. Their corn yields from fifty
to a hundred bushels per acre—fifty they
count ordinary. The orange, lemon, olive,
pear, apple, English walnuts, fig, pome
granate, almond, and grape, have been
planted, and some of them have brought
forth their first-fruits. They rejoice, above
all, in tbeir climate. Stock is not allowed
to run at large, every cow and horse and
hog is penned or staked out—which is a
grievous thing to those who have been used
to have.their loose stock “ range.” Cotton
has been tried without success—the nights
are too cool for it. Tobacco does better ;
and whenever you see a Mexican or Spanish
settlement the wonder is what they do with
all the peas, (“ frijoles,”) and red-pepper
they are raising
Of the red-clover I saw none south of Or
egon ; instead, they have a species brought
from Chili called alfalfa, and which has
been naturalized here. It grows well in the
Sacramento Valley, but more luxuriantly in
this, Stock are fond of it, green or cured,
and live much on it. Here it yields two
tons per acre, and three crops a year. This
adds up a marvelous fertility—but I under
state what was told me by reliable men, and
what in part I saw. The leaf is more deli
cate than the red clover, the bluish, and its
roots very deep. I brought with me five
pounds of the seed that a friend in Tenne
see might try the experiment.
As our brethren in Oregon have an educa
tional centre at Corvallis, and those in the
Pacifio Conference have one at Santa Rosa,
so these have a Collegiate Institute at Los
Nietos. Professor Cummings has been
superintending it for a year, and they are
fortunate in a continnanoe of bis services.
Measures were taken at the last session of
the Conference fora SIO,OOO building. They
have sixteen acres of land—a most eligible
site—ten acres of which was presented by
a generous citizen, brother Steel. We have
in this Los Nietos neighborhood what would
be regarded elsewhere as a model commun
ity. Old-fashioned Methodism is estab
lished among them. Tbeir camp meeting
in September was attended by large crowds
for many days, and the conversions wan
many,
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1872.
After Conference, in company with our"
host, F. E. Adams, and Brother Asa Ellis,
of Elmonte, who, beside* his excellent com
pany, gave ns his carriage and horses for
fonr days, we went on a farther visitation
and and exploration of the Talley. Twenty
miles brought ns to An heim, a German
town of one thousand inhabitants. They
are wine-growers principally. I saw no
otrurch of any sort among them; neat build
ings and shops, live fences, water from the
Santana running here and there at their
wifi. The vintage was over, and the grape
stems thrown upon the roads and crossings
looked at a little distance like tan bark, as
we sometimes see it strewn along walks.
Eight miles westward is Anaheim Landing,
and there our steamer, the next week, took
on fifty-seven pipes of wine.
Seven miles south of Anaheim is Santana,
a smaller village. Here Brother* Tichenal
and Johnson, lay members, met ns, and we
preached at night to a good congregation
in tbe school-house. As the next session of
Conference is to be held here, the friends
and brethren expect to have a church-house
ready for it; and I think they will, and that
no mean one. When I say toe preached, I
mean, as wag our enstoa, that Dr. 8.
preached and I exhorted, or vice versa.
Next day. Oct. 22, the company, now In
creased by our two hosts and Dr Green
leaf (formerly of Yazoo, Miss.,) went around,
seeing the fruits of the earth, and calling on
the neighbors. These people have no flue
stock to show yon, nor factories, nor ma
chines, mor great houses—but simply the
fruits of the earth. These aro sufficiently
entertained and sufficiently wonderful. I
must draw on my memoranda, taken on the
spot; Called on W. N. Tedford—6o acres—
came here 1869—bought land at sl2 per
acre on credit—wouldn’t take SIOO Native
of Lincoln county, Tennessoe—lived in
Miseonri. This neighborhood called Gos
pel Swamp, say three miles by four: only
two families in G. S. when Tedford came;
now forty five. Last year, off of five acres,
measured 133 bushels average per acre.
Sold to anew comer two acres of corn in
the field for 802 50 per acre—corn at 50
cents per bushel. Says it is a great deal
harder to gather a crop than to make it.
Brother Tedford, when we came upon
him, was engaged with his boys and a
“ hand ” or two digging and housing pota
toes. Near by was his pumpkin-patch, and
and as he raised the biggest last year, he
proposed to the company to walk in and
weigh one he should select. The ropes
were put under it, secundum artem; it
weighed 177 pounds. “Here’s one,” said
somebody, “that will beat that.” Weight
only 150. “This one looks like it was
thicker though, but not so big on the out
side,” said somebody else, with his foot on
a specimen. It weighed 162.
Happy in the ownership of forty-six acres
adjoining is Levi Fickas, an honest Missou
rian, limping from ths effects of Confede
rate sympathy. Let us see what Fickas oau
show us, after paying our respect to Mrs.
TANARUS., and eating watermelons and ©antelopes.
Passing along the narrow road separating
oorn-fields and alfalfa plots, I agreed with
the company in reckoning twenty-five bar
rels to the acre; though in “the States” I
I have seen standing oorn reckoned at fif
teen barrels, and doubted always. Here it
stood thick, three, four, five, aud six stalks
in a hill, vying with each other in tallness
and robustness. A cluster of four stalks
had seven ears; standing erect on the ground
and reaching np with my walking-oaue, full
stretch, I could touch only two of the seven
ears. One was a foot above my reach; I
pulled down that and brought it along for
my agricultural friend above alluded to,
with some of those pumpkin-seed.
Mr. F showed us a heap of fine Irish po
tatoes —the second crop of thisyear; vari
ous kincrs'or pulse, cabbages, tomatoes, etc
but to the pumpkin. It was weighed with
the same steel yards, and drew down 199
pounds. Pull it out one notch more! No—
the lever drops at that, and Tedford is look
ing on. Its circumference, 8 feet around
sfom aud blossom, and 6)4 feet the other
way. CultiDg off the vine squarely a haud
breadth above the root, I found its shortest
diameter to be 2)4 inches. Returning, we
pass the beet-crop. One (oei-d planted in
May) measured at the earth 3 feet around;
and 12 inches above the earth 3)4 feet
around. Mr. F. and a lad had made the
crop—ploughing the corn but onoa after
planting. Hired bands were helping to
gather it.
This region lies lower than the village of
Santana, and employs no irrigation; water
from the mountains seeps under it, and in
stead of ruining from above, it rains from
beneath. They prefer it should not come
doicn at all. There has been no rain fall for
months, and the surface of the ground is
dusty; but by scraping with the foot mois
ture is reached. In the settlement was an
artesian well, 42 feet deep, aud pouring out
o considerable volume of water. 11 feet high,
through a thre<-inch pipe A-i ‘her arte
sian well of 24 !eet de:>th was thing an
humbler business. It seems easy to got
ih*m. Oar ordinary falls cf mu would
render this land uninhabitable. One would
expect it to be sickly, but with mountain
air on one side and sea-breezes oa the other,
they claim to eDjoy health, and their looks
agree thereto.
My notes are not exhausted, aud this let
ter m quite too long. Is there not another
side? Where are the shades of the picture?
I must write again. We have an appoint-
for preaching to night at Richland—
six miles toward the foot-hills. H. N. M.
Recreant Ministers.
We clip the following from a Western sec
ular paper:
The churches of all denominations have
been sadly grieved in the last year or two
by the falls into grievous sins of one or
more of their popular ministers. So far as
we remember no church of any size has
been exempt in this particular, or has aught
to boast of over their brethren of other
churches. Many shallow reasoners have
jumped to the conclusion that religion will
be almost extinguished in our land, and all
confidence ia the clergy be destroyed by
these sad occurrences. According to the
last oensus of the United States there were
forty-eight thonsand six hundred and eighty
ministers of all rorts —Protestant, Jewish
aud Romish in our country. Now if they
bad fallen in the same proportion with the
twelve apostles under our Lord’s immedi
ate supervision, there would have been no
less than eight thousand and thirteen ol
them who bad fallen in the past three years,
and yet one hundred, if not a less number,
would include all who have fallen within
that time. Whenever ene falls now, his fall
in all its aggravations, and often far beyond
ts real enormity, is proclaimed by every
newspaper and telegraph line in the whol.
eonntry. It was not so twenty-five or thir
ty years ago. ‘“But,” said a young cox
comb the other dry in our hearing with a
curl upon his lip, “the preachers are get
ting to be the worst men in the land.” “ Not
so fast,” said we, “ young frieid.” “Take
forty-eight thousand doctors, or lawyers,
and apply the same strict test of moral con
,;uct to them that you do to the ministers,
every time one of them gets drank, or is
otherw so guilty of immoral conduct, put
his name in tho newspapers, and telegraph
him all over the world, and you would not
have room enough in the newspapers, were
they ten times as large as they are, for one
in ten of the tales of scandal that would fill
them.”
We say, after a long and intimate acquain
tance with hundreds, yes we might say,
with thousands of ministers of all churches
ad sects in our land, wo have found the
ermt mass of them neither impnre nor in
temp -rate.
The Judgment. —There is a machine iD
the Pa ik of England which receives sover
eigns as a mill receives grain, for the pur
pose of determining by wholesale whether
they are of foil weight. As they pass through,
the machinery, by unerring laws, throws all
that are light to one side, and all that are of
full weight to another. That process is si
lent but solemn parable to me. Founded,
as it is upon the laws of nature, it affordn
the most vivid similitude of the certainty
wbl'h characterizes the judgment of the
gr'atday. There are no mistakes or par
tialities to which the light may trust; the
only hope lie* in being of standard-weight
before they go ln.^Arno*.
Cbriat Is All.
I entered once a home of care,
For aire and penury were there,
Yet peace and joy withal;
I asked the lonely mother whence
Her helpless widowhood’s defence.
She told me Christ was all.
I asked beside a dying bed,
Where a sweet Infant drooped his head.
Waiting far Je?us’ call.
1 marked his smile, ’iwaasweet as May;
And as his spirit passed away.
He whispered, “Christ la all.”
I aaw the martyr at the stake.
And not fierce flames his failli conld shake.
Or death his.sonl appall;
X as .ed him whenoe such strength was given,
Ha looked triumphantly to heaven.
And answered, “ Christ is all.”
1 saw the gospel herald go
To Afrio'a sand and Greenland’s snow,
To save from Satan’s thrall;
Nor hope nor ti’e he counted dear;
’Midst want and perils owned no fear;
He felt that Christ was all.
I dreamed that hoary time had fled,
And earth and st* gave np their dead,
And fire aiasolved this ball;
1 aaw the church’s ransomed throng,
I heard the burden of their song,
p? ' ’Twas “ Christ is all in all.”
Then come to Jesns—eome to-day;
“Come,” Father, Son aud Spirit say ;
The Bride repeats the call;
Come, Ho has blood for all your stains;
Como, He ha* balm for all your pains;
Como, He Is all in all.
Watchman and Jiffiee'or.
Tlie Waldense9.
, Since light has dawned upon benighted
italy, these pious and remarkable people are
beginning to attract the attention of the
Christian world and many are inquiring into
their history. The leaders of this sect claim
an unbroken succession of pastors from the
days of the Apostles down to the present
time, but Herzog and Dieckhoff, who have
examined into their early history, say they
cannot be traced farther back than the XII
century. We beg leave to differ from these
learned men. Roman Catholic historians
admit that they existed as early as the ,1Y
eentHry, aud that they were the pests of the
Roman Catholic Church.
Peter Waldo was not tho founder of this
sect; he merely joined them in 1160, and
b came one of their leaders. We find thes
people all along the history of the church,
-and everywhere despised, oppressed and
pkrseoMt-ed until new, when, for the first
t;|hs in fourteen hundred years, they are
permitted to worship God according to the
dictates cf their own consciences. These
pious people have been the witnesses of
Jesus in every ago of the Christian church ;
they have always been true to the cardinal
doctrines of the cross; they liavo always
borne testimony to tho errors and us r,,a
tions of Rome ; they are known on the
pages of history by a great variety of names,
just as in our own day those who prohs* a
living, an experimental Christianity, are
called, by way of contempt, Pietists, Puri
tans and Methodists. The pious have, in
ail ages, been stigmatized by names which
carried with them reproaches and sneers,
but iu our age these terms of reproach have
loot their point. No mac now need be
ashamed to b called u Pietist, a Puritan,or
u Methodist; these phases of Christianity
car no more bo put down, either by ridi
cuid or peisecutiou. Thank God for the
triumphs of the truth ! Thus, iu the IV
century, those pious Christians who be
lie- ed in the teachings of Lucifer, Bishop
of Cagliara, were branded as heretics and
followers of the Devil, because Lucifer was
one of the names of the Satan ; und yet
th. y were more orthodox than those who
pe, -leeuted them Wnenever any sect dif
teiLd from the Church of Rome it was, of
danced an -heretical, '•and even
now ths Church of Route denounces all
Protestants as heretics. We must, there
fore, be careful how we receive the te.iti
rnony of Romanists concerning the sound
ness or unsounduess of the sects that have
sprung up by the side of their errors. They
buvo always condemned those who were
sounder iu the faith than themselves. Thus
the Waldenses have always been held up by
the Romanists us great heretics. Thus the
Duke of Savoy was assured by the priests of
R >me that the children of the Vaudois were
ail monsters and as black as negroes. He
Sent for a Vaudois baby aud found it as
nice aud white as his own !
It ia interesting and instructive to look
back upon the pages of history to see the
various reproachful terms applied to Chris
tiana who believe in experimental religion,
Ceisus, one of the earliest opponents of
Christianity,calls the Christians “atheist,”
aud Porphyry says they were a disloyal set
of fellows, aud Suelonious says they were a
turbulent crowd, always disturbing the peace
of the empire—not a word of truth in either
of these charges. These men were all filled
with prejudice against Christians. 'Fhemost
common term of reproach given to true
Christians, whs Cilkarii, i. a , “ The Pure,”
because they believe in moral purity of life
In England they were called “Lolards,"
i. e.\ Faakn singers, a word no doubt derived
from the German. “Lallan,” which means
to sing in a low, plaintive vice. Some de
rive it from a pious man, Walter Lollard,
who was burnt at Cologne in 1815, but I
think this is a mistake, as the name of this
good man in Latin was Walterus Lollard us,
there being no article in Latin, it may be
translated, “ Walter the Lollird,” or “Wal
ter the Psalm-singer.” In France the pious
were called the “Poor men of Lyons in
Holland they were called “ Beggars they
were called ia Italy and Spain, and France
and Germany, Huguenots, Albigenses, Vau
dois Picards and Bohemia they were called
Hussites, Bohemians, Moravians and Bul
garians.
There are many interesting and impor
tant points in theology sett ed by the VVal
denses. such as baptism by pouring, infant
membership in the church, the purity of
ministers, and the congregational form of
church government; all of which they say
has been handed down to them from the
times of tho apostles. They have preserved
the Holy Scriptures pure and unadaltf-rated,
and have, ia every age, prevented the Ro
manists from corrupting the inspired text
God has led those people in a wonderful
manner. He has led them through fires aud
floods of tribulations, and at last has brought
thei to the desired haven of religious lib
erty and peace.— Lutheran Observer.
Methodist Indebtedness to Ger*
many.
Nothing Is more highly prized by Meth
odism than its hymnoiogy, but some of its
best hymns are Wesley’s translate -s from
Zmzeudorf Gerhard, Lange, Deszler, Ter
->teegen, Rothe, Richter, and other dis
tinguished German hymn-writers. Weolten
speak of our purity of doctrine, but if this
is owing in any measure to our standards
iVesley’s Sermons and his Notes on the New
Testament —we must thank Germany for
the latter, which are in the main a transla
tion of Beagel’s Gnomon , the work of a Ger
man pietistio Lutheran clergyman. . . .
Aug H. Frauke, the successor of Spener,
was one of the few writers whom Wesley
recommended to his preaoh-rs ; while he
hims f, soon after his return from Germany,
translated and published his book on the
Fear of Man. If we turn to the other great
held of Methodism—America —we find the
-*me debt, for Philip Embury, Barbara
Heck, and the company that emigrated to
America in 1760, aud who, with later
emigrants, commenced Methodism there,
belonged to the German colonists, who, to
the number of nearly it 000, had settled in
the year 1709 in Ireland. And then, when
Methodi-m was taking root in America, and
Coke and Asbury laboring with such dil
igence at the close of the last eentnry, their
principal advisers (as had been the case
under other circumstances with Wesley in
England) were Germans. Aud if we judge
from the founder of the German Rection of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Nast,
aud his literary labors, especially the Com
mentary he is now writing on the New
Testament, we may cherish the expectation
that We shall in the future be still more
indebted to Germany, when her scholarship,
learning, and research are consecrated to
God on the altar at Me hodism. Nor has
Germany been an unc< ncerned spectator of
the Mtbodist movement in England.
Two years after Hm> 8 n’s work on Wesley
and M etbodism was ■ üblished, in 1791, it
was translated and published In Ifelle; and
in 1795 a separate and independent history
of Methodism and its leaders was published
in Bavaria ; distinguished Germans, in 1816
and 1825, for example, visited England to
become more intimately acquainted with
Methodism for themselves ; while extensive
revivals were brought about by means of
Methodist writings and visits.— Watchman.
flow to Hare Good Teachers.
Superintendents can have as good teach
ers in their schools as they really want.
They usually do have such. If teachers are
not what they ought to be, and the superin
tendent realizes it, and he wants them im
proved, or better ones secured in their
places, he should feel the responsibility on
himself to have just what is wanted. He is
in his present place for the very purpose of
getting good teachers, and of bringing them
steadily to a higher standard of character
and work. If they are not they sbonld be,
he is to blame, if he retains them, and they
do not improve.
He cannot expect to havo them come to
the highest standard at once, nor all to
gether ; nor should he peremptorily dismiss
those who are below the right measure and
likely to remain so. One by ons. and in
one thing at a time, they are to be brought
np or dropped off. If he wants them at
teacher’s meeting, and they do not come,
he mnst seek them personally, and bring a
steady and gentle pressure to bear on th? m
until they attend regularly. If they are in
the habit of leaving their classes unprovided
for iu occasional absences, and he wants
them to always secure a substitute—to be
approved by himself—before they leave their
place for a single Sunday, let him have that
point so clearly understood with each of
them, that an tv xplained failure will be
recogized as a iiful disregard of the unva
rying rule of iho school. If they do not
study their i h .one, or visit their scholars’
homes, or pray for and with those of their
charge ; or in auy other way they foil to fill
the place of a faithful teacher, as he under
stands their duly, it is for him to undertake,
prayerfully, and in faith in God (for whom
he stands in this Sunday-school work) the
instruction of his teachers personally as to
what is their duty, and the bringing them
to the performance of that duty. In this
process, those who are unlikely to be good
teachers will inevitably drop out. The pres
sure on them for progress, and for conform
ity to a right standard, will be such that
they will withdraw from the school, rather
than yield or longer resist. When a vacancy
occurs, it is for the superintendent to look
up another teacher—the best he can get,
being most auxious to get one who is likely
to gain and grow.
But the trouble fo, that not all superin
tendents really want good teachers. Too
many of them do not think much about the
way in which their teachers do their work ;
or they fail to count themselves responsible
for their teaohers’ well doing.— S. S. World,
How K The Rich Fool Died.”
A New Hampshire farmer lived upon a
farm a few miles back from the village con
taining tbe postoffice and store. He was
noted for being a hard worker and for being
“ close ” In his dealings, and was supposed
to be in but moderate circumstances. He
became unwell, and the physician, calling
upon him one day, found that the disease
had made such progress as to render speedy
death certain. He informed his patient of
the fact, counseling him that if he had any
disposition of his property to make previous
to his death to atted to it quickly. This
announcement seemed to astound the sick
man. It was evident that he did not know
what to do. Being warned of the very brief
,time before him he ent one of J*ts children
'to the barn, instructing, him to bring a
stocking which he would find under a certain
sill. The boy did as requested, and the
father took the stocking and emptied it upon
the bedquilt beforo him. It contained gold
coin. He then directed the boy to a corner
of the attio, where he found another stock
ing. The contents of this were poured upon
the bed —it was gold. The boy was thus
sent to various places until the treasure was
collected and poured in a glittering pile
upon the counterpane The dying man laid
his hands upon it, feeling over the coins. As
he did not seem to realize tho necessity of
completing his arrangements, the physician
again said to him, “If you have any dispo
sition to make of this, or if you have any
directions to give yonr family, you had bet
ter attend to it at once, as your time is
short.”
Still his fingers were busy with the coins
and though his family were dear to him,the
separation from his toil earned treasure
seemed the more painful. Despite tbe re
peated urging of friends, he gave his family
no parting counsel, aud made no disposition
of his property. Death overtook him with
his bund* still spread over the gold he was
forced to leave.
The incident, carries its own moral —“ let
not vour affections he set oa things of this
world. ” — Christian Weekly.
Beautiful Extract.
A Sabbath school superintendent wishing
to have a great commemoration of the happy
Christmas time built up tier after tier iu the
spacious cathedral and arranged trees be
tween them, hanging cages of canaries among
the fragrant branches. Over the cages hr
suspended blankets. When the time arrived
and the children filled aisles and transept,
anti the charmed spectators crowded the
galleries, ull at once the blankets were li t *d
and the sunlight, the warmth, the frag)ait
trees, woke up the slumbering birds, who
broke fourth in tuuehil song, filling the
space with delicious music. To complete
the charm, the children raised their harmo
nious voices, and gailerv on gallery swelled
the great volume of melody as it ascended
in that grand song
“All hail ths power of Josua’ name!”
(Jurist is building tier on tier in the tem
ple of the heavens, where he iH suspending
the caged birds of melodicns voices among
the invisible groves of the tree of life. Soon
will the high day ainvo, the angel’s trum
pet sound, and the blankets of the grave be
raised, and tho warmth, and light, and
beauty of heaven will waken every tuneful
power, and the assembled angels and arch
angels will sing with the redeemed and as
tonished saints,
“ All hail the power of Jesus’ name!”
filling the whole heaven with one volume of
unequaled song, great as the voice of many
waters and of mighty thunders, harmonious
as the concert of ten thousand harps.—
Bishop Thomson’s “ Evidences of Revela
tion.”
lienven.
There every bouse is a palace, every step
a triumph, every stroke of the bell u wed
ding pt-al, every day a jubilee and every
hour a rapture. Tho reunions of heaven,
too, will be better than all our conceptions
of them. How glad we are to meet a friend
in some foreign land, when we have crossed
the seas ; but when we have crossed the sea
of death, and meet the friends of years gone
by, how delighted we shall be. Now when
we see a friend after a lapse of ten or twelve
years, and notice the increasing wrinkles
and new marks of sorrow aud disappoint
ment, we exclaim : How you have changed!
But when we see these friends in heav n.
with all the marks of sorrow gone, theD
shall we say indeed : Howyou have changed!
Here good byte and farewells fill the air ;
childhood lisps it aud old age answers.
Good-bye ends the banquet and closes the
Christmas chant; but not so in heaven.
Weloomes fill the air, but no good-byes.
The group there is constantly being aug
mented. Our friends are joining it; Jor
dan's waves roar so hoarsely that we oannot
hear their voioes from the other side. We
call to them but get no answer, and unbe
lief says they are dead, but the Bible tells
us no ! They are waiting for onr coming.
We shall grasp their hands at last in the
glorions reunion of heaven.— Rtv. 'l. D.
Talmadge.
Argument fob Religion. —The strongest
argument in favor of religion, as addressed
to men, is that of a pure and holy life.
Logic which can establish a system infalli
bly may fail to convince a man, but the
pious life of a devoted follower of Jesus is
moxe than he can Withstand. The most
violent infidels have acknowledged the pow
er of religion on men’s lives. In reading
Panl, we are made to trust his logic, because
we see the effect of what he teaches upon
himself. That great, noble, self-sacrificing
hero of the faith, proves by his character
that religion is a power and blessing. Logio
is good. The system of theoiogy, upheld
by consistent reasoning, is of great value.
But it is only when argument is illustrated
by a beautiful life that it is powerfully con
vincing.
Relation of Children to the Church
In several of the Sunday-school Conven
tions which we have lately attended, the re
lation of children, and particularly cf bap
tized children, to the Church has been the
subject of earnest disonssion. It is a very
noticeable fact that only a small proportion
of the members of the Sabbath-school are
also members of the chnroh, although a ma
jority of them are, doubtless, the children
of professedly pious parents. What has oc
curred in their Christian nurture, that so
large a proportion of these regular and
cheerful attendants upon one of the most
familiar means of grace, where kind per
sonal religions instruction is constantly
given, and where fervent prayers are con
tinually offered in their behalf, that their
susceptible young hearts should be still in
disposed to a closer relation to Christ aud
His Church? We wonder that this ques
tion, now that tho census of the Sunday
school has become as large as that of tho
Church, has not been more persistently and
anxiously asked. It is of infinitely greater
consequence than “uniformity in lessons,”
or “ blackboard exercises, ” or “ singing in
Sunday schools.” With all our long expe
rience and varied forms of instruction, we
have not, at this moment, anything in the
average Sunday-school that approaches the
character of Christian nurture. We are
seeking, with considerable success, to mako
our sohools attractive to the young. We
multiply our papers and library hooks. We
have festivals and excursions. We are se
curing perhaps more cultivation on the part
of instructors, but not a hand’s breadth
nearer the fellowship of the Church have
we drawn the children of onr schools. We
are still strangely waiting for revivals and
extraordinary means of grace to bring the
children nnder the provision of the gospel;
just as if Christian parents aud teachers
were not the divinely appointed agents to
secure this very end. We permit, just as of
old, the children to wander away into the
paths of sin and unbelief before we pnt
forth any very decided effort to save them;
and we really place a higher value upon
their repentance and trust in the Saviour,
after they have become sufficiently involved
in the sinfol habits to make the struggle
severe and demonstrative, than upon the
ready and tender yielding of tbe will to the
early invitation of Jesus to “ little children.”
We are painfully working upon the super
structure of tho spiritual edifice before we
have effeotually laid its great foundation
stone.
There is less excuse for us as denomina
tion, as we have an admirable disciplinary
plan, which, if faithfully followed out,
would make a wonderful and blessed refer
mation and revolution in this matter. This
admirable little Christian manual directs
the baptism of all young children coming
under pastoral supervision, as the eubjeots
or Christ’s mediatorial grace, and then
commands the enrollment of them as pro
bationers, to be watched over, not simply
by their parents, but by their pastors.
Jesus did not neglect the little ones; can the
same be said of his orphaned disciples? Do
the ministers fail to hear the Lord’s com
mand—suffer the Hide children la coma unto
• Mat -In bear many churches when t-hesv
children “are ten, or even younger,” as di
rected by the Discipline, do tne pastors
gather them into religious classes with
“ suitable leaders, male or female ” —the lat
ter ordinarily by all means —that they may
be instructed in the “nature, design and
obligations of bapt.sm and the truths of re
ligion necessary to mako them wise unto
salvation and to exhort and encourage them
to an immediate consecration of their hearts
and lives to God”—unbaptized children
“ not to be excluded from these classes?"
What parent or minister ever urges baptism,
if it has been omitted iu infancy? Who
ever says anything about it, if it has been
administered ? Where are these infaui
spiritual classes in existence in the Church?
Then, when these children have “attained
an age sufficient to understand tbe obiiga
tions of religion, and give evidence of piety,
they shall be admitted into full member
ship, by publicly assenting before the
Church to the baptismal covenant, and aho
to the usual questions on doctrines and dis
cipline, the Manual directs. When was this
ever done, except after a distinct and fresh
process of penitence and faith—a new strng
gle, as if all previous Christian nurture had
been of no service? When is effort made to
recognize the early and simple trust of little
children, and to bring them info tho ehei
tering folds of the Church? Some parents
do this; thank God for it! It is not an en
tirely strange sight to see a whole house
hold, including little hoys und girls, knee!
together at the sacrament table—a sight
that angels might melt over, aud a scene
which does, without doubt, touch the Mas
ter’s heart.
But wuy should these instances be rare?
Why should not the Sunday school take the
p!aco of parents when these foil in tbeir du
ty, aud bring the children, at once, no*
simply to the class and catechism, but to
Jesus; and draw them, as may readily be
done in their sweet crudnlity, under fht
light and grace of ihe Holy Spirit, into t.h<
inner fellowship of the Church? They
ought to be formal church members as early
as they are members of the Sunday-school,
and after that they should be nourished by
the “ sincere milk of the word ” up into th
stature of perfect men and women in Chris!
Jesus.
The responsibilities of early church mem
bersbip will be a most wholesome restrain 1
and guide for them. We need not feur their
falling away. This will be less probable it.
tbeir case, if properly and persevering!.'
trained, than in the instance of older per
sons. Tho religions habits they now c-nto
upon will harden every day into nnalterabh
courses of conduct.
It is a shame for the Church to sigh anr
wor.der over the condition of her childhood.
There is nothing surprising about it. Sh<
does not bring her liule children, when sh
can, to Jesus: und when they are old, am
she pines to do so. she has lost all her pow
er over them. This question of the early
recognition, by church fellowship, of lilts
ohildien coining to her altars for instruc
tion, is the great and most important ou
at th*- moment, overshadowing every other
Let this be talked about iu conventions;
but above all, let it be made a matter ol
personal experiment, by parents aud pas
tors.— Zion’s Herald.
The Tuneful Voice. —A German, wkosi
sense of sound was exceedingly acute, \va
passiug by a church a day or two after L
had landed in this country, and the soun<
of music attracted him to enter, though In
had no knowledge of onr language. Th
music proved to be a pteceof uusa psalun d>
sung in the most discordant fashion, an
the sensitive German would fain hav.
covered his ears. As this was scarcely civil,
aud might appear like insanity, his ms
impulse was to rush iq*o the open air, an
leave the bated sounds behind him. "Bu
this, too, I feared to do,” said he, "lee
offense might be given ; so I resolved t
endure the torment with the best fortiiud
I could assume ; when, lo ! I distinguisheo
amid the din, the soft, clear voice of
woman siugiug in perfect tune. She mad'
no effort to drown the voices of her com
panions, neither was she disturbed by thei'
noisy discord ; but patiently and sweetly
she sang in full, rich tones ; one after an
other yielded to the gentle influence, and
before the tune was finished all were in
perfect harmony."
It is in this way, a quiet and pure lib
brings other lives under its gentle sway. I:
uses no words of protest against prevailing
discord, but sings on its own sweet, song of
obedience and faith and joy, until others
feel and thrill with its power.
Pbayef. and religion are inseparable ; as
much as there is of one, so much is there of
the other,
P. M. KENNEDY, D. D., EDITOR
WHOLE NUMBER 1929
Miscellanea.
One of the Baptist Missionaries atßannab
sent SIOOO to the church edifice fund of the
Home Missionary Society. The field abroad
is yielding returns to the home work.
The cotton mills in the Southern States
now have 150,000 spindles in operation, and
aro paying from ten to twenty per cent,
dividends on capitals ranging from SIOO,OOO
to $1,230,000.
A son of the Prime Minister of Thibet,
who has been for some time nnder tho
instruction of Moravian missionaries, has
professed conversion and been received into
the church, being baptized under the name
of Nathaniel.
Benevolent Bequests. The ' lato Sir
David Baxter, of Scotland, who loft an est ate
valued at $600,000, left $275,000 to the Free
church, $200,000 to the University of Edin
burg, and SIOO,OOO to found a Mechanics’
Institute in Dundee, for instruction iu the
mechanical arts.
Wonderful Develoumext.— ln 1830, Cali
fornia produced 17,000 bushels of wheat,
and was ranked as the 29th wheat-producing
state. In 1860 it ranked as the 12th, having
raised over 5,900,000 bushels. In 1872, her
crop is estimated at 30,000,000 bushels,
placing her far ahead of any other state.
Tiie Episcopal Society for the increase of
the ministry, held its nineteenth anniversary
in Brooklyn recently. Tho contributions
for the year were $28,923. The expend itnres
were $40,199, leaving a debt of $11,235.
One hundred and seventy-six students from
forty-two dioceses reseived assistance.
In Memokiam. —The decendants of F.ov.
Jonathan Edwards have erected a monu
ment to his memory in Stockbridge, Mas.-.i
chnsetts. It is of red Scotch granite, twen
ty feet in height, and presents a fine appear
ance. It is placed upon the publio square,
west of the cemetery.
The election for President of Mexico
resulted in the most unanimous choice of
Lerdo de Tejada. The votes against him
were very few and scattering. A programme
of the coarse the President proposes for
himself has been made public, and may bo
condensed into this phrase : “Little politics
and mnch administration.”
A New Dictionary. —The Government of
India have ordered for distribution among
the learned natives 250 copies of the San
skrit-Euglish Dictionary, by Professor Mo
nier Williams, just published at tho Univer
sity Press, Oxford. The various missionary
societies have also applied for a considerable
number of copies for the use of their ser
vants in India.
The one hundred and fourth anniversary
of the dedication of John street, church,
New York, was observed with interesting
services October 27th. Dr. J P. Newmau
preached in the morning, and Dr. J. M.
Reid, Missionary Secretary, occupied the
pulpit in the evening. Both sermons are
highly spoken of. Two thousand dollars
were contributed towards the support of the
gospel in the old cradle of Methodism.
Gavazzi has closed his labors in America
and returned to Italy. The churches he
addressed have responded liberally to bi3
ciill for help iu promoting evangelical reli
gion in his native land, and under the
influence of his eloquent appeals have ex
perienced anew glow of zeal for the spread
of the Gospel in the world, frhich will bo
productive of important results. His last
sermon, preached in Brooklyn, was from
the words, “ Faith without works is dead.”
The Highest Bridge —The Baltimore
Bridge Company have successfully bridged
a mighty ohasm in the Andes, of Peru, oil
the line of the Lima and Oroga railroad.
The viaduct crosses the Agua de "Verrugas,
-a mountain torrent at tho higho-t of 12,000
feet above the sea, by four spans, three of
which are 110 feet long, and the central one
125 feet, resting on piers built of wrought
iron columns, which are respectively 145
feet, 252 feet, and 182 feet high.
The censures which the Baptist papers
have pronounced upon Mr. Pentecost for Ins
open communion views, do not meet the
unqualified approval of the ministers of that
church. Rev C. D. W. Bridgeman, D. D.,
of Albany, New York, and Rev. Reuben
Jeffrey, D. D., of New York, have written
articles in which the utterances of the Bap
tist papers are rebuked. Theso gentlemen
do not agree with Mr. Pentecost-, but they
vindicate his rights as a Christian and his
fidelity as a minister.
Mrs A. Burkhalteb of New York has
signified to the Board of Directors of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadel
phia her purpose to endow a professorship.
She proposes to pay at the rate of $2,000
annually, as interest on tho sum appropri
ated. until such a time as the principal—
-330,00 be paid ; and designates Rev.
C. W. Schaeffer of Germantown, Pa., already
connected with the institution, as the first
incumbent of the professorship. The Board
in accepting it express their desire to have
the professorship called th® ‘Bnrkbalt’r
Professorship,’ in case it he agreeable to its
founder.
Romish Missions. — The-Propaganda, or
Society for the Propagation of tho Fui u,
whioh has its headquarters at Rome, receiv
ed in the year 1871 a little more than
million of dollars. Only fifty-five tho ua-.u
dollars of this sum was collected outsi ;• of
Europe. We ara surprised to Hud that
more was expended iu Asia than in any
other part of tho world, nearly one half of
the whole sum collected having been spent
oa that continent. One hundred and eighty
seven thousand dollars came to America,
bat this does not at all mdioate the amount
-pent, by Rome in the extension cf tbe
Church in this country. The real <. .te
which is purchased every year would r
exceed this sum. From her own people in
this land she gathers vast sums of money,
which she expends in founding churches',
alleges, convents aud schools, in every eilv
md town in the States and Territories.
Her rural parishes are few in number.-
Presbyterian.
The Euphrates Valley Railroad.— Of
the progri ss of this interesting enlerpii
ihe Levant Herald announces that the Grand
Vizier has commissioned M. Presstl, tho
veil known engineer, to undertake the sur
vey of the ground for a line of railway from
Tripoli, on the coast of Syria, to Bagdad,
tid a’preliminary step has already been
akon in the dispatch to Tripoli of two c.':-
lerienced engineers, Messrs. Schcmik and
-jehut.t—the former of whom took an u O ,o
,art in the pioneeiing work of the Ronniel
iu hue. The object is to obtain au accurate
■rofessional tracing of the route devised by
ne Grand Vizier, iu substitution of the
lines previously proposed for connecting
the Mediterranean with the Persian Gulf.
The line now suggested by Midhat Pasha
will cover a distance of about 550 miles,
commencing at Tripoli, on the Syrian coast,
tossing by way of Palmyra, aud erosMifg
he Euphrates ; thence traversing Meso >-
amia and the Tigris, aud terminating at
Ragda where it would meet tho Persian
>nif line, as originally planned.
The Gospel in Mexico —For three cot-t
--unes no Protestant Christian effnt was
iade for the people of Mexico During
hose centuries the Roman Church fortified
rst-lf with immense convents, inquisition
•uildings. Jesuit colleges, aud count!-.,s
magnificent stone churches were bud. in
hat rich Spanish colony, while a vast tinny
f friars, Jesuits, and other satellites of
R >me, crowded its cities aud villages. A
Republican partv was organiz'd there in
1821. and in 1857 it triumphed over the
ttuomu Ohtireb patty, and proclaimed libeitv
to worship God, suppressed the convents,
aud sold tho convent property for educa
tional purposes. This was a great reform
movement., and glorions have been its suc
cesses. Many priests have been converted,
ind are now preaching Jesus to the people,
and some of the best churches iu the coun
try are now used for Protestant worship. A
good work of grace is in progress through
out the country. Rev. II C. Riley, D. I>..
whose labors have greatly contributed to tho
advancement of this good work, recently ?•'
ministered the sacrament of the Lord’s Bup
per in an ex-papal eburob, to 400 communi
cants, converts from Romanism, assisted in
the administration by four converted Ron en
pric-6ts. Mightilv does tho Word of { ~.1
there prevail. The American and Fore ten
Christian Union is now directing this
movement, and has been greatly blessed in
itrf labors to enlighten and save the people.