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TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.
PER IST ISTTT:m:.
VOLUME XXXIX., NO. 20.
Original |)oetrn.
THE CROSS —MAN’S HOPE.
BY D. II A.
others tone their mellow harps and sins?
Of Eros and his blind impassioned throng;
Or chanting fierce, electrify each string
With soulful zeal of War’s impetuous song
Till welkin ring.
Let others still invoke their Muse’s aid
To body forth in vital breathing things,
Those airy charms for lower beings made:
Ambition’s fire which empty pleasure brings.
And Fame’s parade.
Let, others still in misanthropic vein
Rail out the hate their household gods inspire,
While answering back with wild and hoarse re
frain
Black demons shout, and Hell’s infernal
choir
Swells high the strain.
Such themes as these may other pens employ.
Mine be the theme which since the world be
gan
Spake h*>nied words and bliss without alloy,
And promised rest and sweet repose to man,
And • ndiess joy.
Oh Triune Sod : Inspire my feeble mind,
And bless to Home this eff >rt made by one
Who loves Thee and the beings of his kind,
And seeks their good, and prays “Thy will
be done ”
In all mankind.
Ere serpent came and spoiled fair Eden’s nest,
Communion sweet obtained ’twixt God and
man ;
Bnt (I k bedience robbed him of his rest,
And conscience smote. From Eden forth
he ran
Like one possessed.
In human brea-ts eternal Hope doth rise,
And vents its yearning for that lost estate
In bleeding beasts and birds for sacrifice,
And hyssop branch, for freedom from that fate
That never dies.
But di->it!i!css souls, in struggling to be free
From that dread doom which Satan’s malice
brought,
Un asy rest on that which can but be
Symbolic shadow of a glorious thought
Of rest with Thee.
Progressing mind and min’s increased desirei
Sought absence from these unsubstantial
th’ngs.
And tuned with Worship’s undiminished tires
To her whose voice of rest supernal sings,
And never tires.
Oh galling bonds by sin and Gentiles bound
On Israel’s sons, the etiosen sons of God 1
How long will ye in festering wounds be
found
On heart and flesh which erst must feel the
rod
Ere grace abound ?
Praise be to Him by whose supreme command
Tiie world was made and ail that thereiD is !
Sin's shadows fade, rolled b ion by angel hand ;
There stands revealed that noble form of Hit
Naught eau withstand. *
The wondering shepherds gaze with upturned
eyes.
'Tii Hr' 'Tit He.' God’s grand Orchestra
sings.
Angelic hosts come thronging through the skies
Ami tune their harps and sweep their silken
strings
Till earth replies.
To that dear spot that wondrous star did plow
Its silent passage through cerulean space;
Adoring Magi in that presence bow.
Celestial brightness shines about that face.
Oh Christ! ' Tis Thou !
Perchance this life just now begun to be
Alas! alas! in ly end in contrast dire.
’Tis true. The Son of man hangs on the tree.
Behold, behold the Son of God expire
In agony!
Well may all nature from her pathway bend
And nature’s God in sobbing tones bemoan:
Well may the Earth that solemn scene attend
And cling to Him whose strange expiring
groan
Tue Heavens rend.
’Tis done! grim death hath lost his venomed
sting;
The mouldering tomb before the conqueror
lei l;
And all the power Satanic hate could bring
Shrank back abashed into that sulphurous
cell
Whence demons spring.
Sin’s angry waves still beat against the &hore,
The murky darkness settles like a pall;
Yet through the gloom, above the sullen roar.
There com s a voice, “ Salvation free to all
Forevermore ”
Let not despair. Oh man of grief and tears,
Consume thy heart Hope soothes thy aching
breast,
While h aven-boru Faith allays thy trembling
fears
And pointing tip —Behold, that emblem blest,
The ecoss appears !
To that dear cross may every sinner hold
And, looking up, behold the Crueifl -d,
Whose pitying glance will make the weakest
bold,
, And bid them plunge into that crimson tide.
Which flowing free, in one strong volume rolled
With cleansing power from out the bleeding
side
The battle’s fought.
Tile victory’s won ;
S Pvatiou’s wrought
Thro’ Christ the Son.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Sing praises O ye heavenly host,
E trth answers back the glad reply,
All glory be to God on high.
Contributions.
THE WESLEY MOM WENT IN WEST
MINSTER ABBEY.
“Truth cru>hrd to earth will rise again.
The eternal years of God are hers.”
I was never more conscious of the beauty
ami truth of the above line couplet, than in
connection with the recent erection in West
minster Abbey, of a monument to John and
Charles Wesley. That par nobile fratnim,
those two godly men and ministers, who had
been proscribed by the Established Church,
persecuted by S'ate officials, and pelted by
s-t-on-mobs, now, assigned their monumen
tal place in England's grandest mausoleum,
and the address on the occasion delivered by
one of the highest prelates of the proud
realm of Great Britain. In connection with
the account in your paper, from an eyewit
ness, of the unveiling of the monument, it
may be also stated from another source that,
in the course of his inaugural address, Dean
Stanley remarked, it was originally intended
that his wife, Lady Stanley, recently de
ceased, should perform the ceremony of un
veiling the monument, and that but for his
great bereavement he would have delivered
a discourse, in the nave of the Abbey, on
the work and character of the Wesleys. *
• ‘ As for me,” said the Dean, in allusion
to his recent loss in the death of his wife,
My position is described in the words
of the poet of Methodism, words with which
you are all fant liar:
My company before is gone.
And I am left alone with Thee —
With Thee all night T mean to stay
And wrestle, till the break of day.”
The many Wesleyan Methodists present,
'iifiiflew €ktrnim . UMiwift
were deeply affected by this allusion It is
remarkable, that John We-tley once used the
same lines in allusion to his bereavement by
the recent death of his brother Charles.
Upon opening a Sunday morning service
shortly after, Mr. Wesley gave out the hymn
“ Wrestling Jacob,” and began reading it.
When he came to the words,
“ My company before is gone.
And I am left alone with Thee,”
he completely broke down, and retiring to
his seat in the pulpit, he buried his face in
his hands and gave way for a few mo
ments to an uncontrollable outburst of feel
ing. It was one of the few occasions of
John Wesley’s long life, when he was over
come by strong emotion.
Yes, “ Truth, it is God, and God is every
where—’’and forever; and truth, though
she wait for her vindication more than a
hundred years, yet will at last obtain it freely
and fully ; as recently she has, when, pro
claimed by one of the most influential voices,
from the highest point of Christian civiliza
tion—the news of it shall reach the world.
With such Catholicism as thine,Dean Stanley,
we say on ! Stanley, on !” and u on” the
great work of the world’s aneedy evaugeliza
tion, in which you so deeply sympathize!
Columbia, S. C. M. M.
THREE OLD PATRIARCHS.
Mr. Editor: I attended a late Term of the
Superior Court of White county, Ga., and
mixed and confered with the people who
were out in large numbers on Tuesday, the
popular day of Court in this section of our
State. The people of this little county are
generally industrious, intelligent, and sober.
Within its borders are the far famed Valley
of Nacooehee, and the Zonah Mountain —
the former the Eden of Georgia; the latter
unique and sublime. But my object is not to
give your readers either a physical or civil his
tory of this county, but briefly to sketch the
history of three old Methodist preachers who
reside there.
Rev. Charles Payne, the eldest, was born
and reared in Virginia, and on the 17th of
February last entered upon the 90th year of
his age. He has lived in what was originally
Habersham, but is now White county, Ga.,
about fifty years, and has been a local
preacher for about forty years. In early
life he was very wicked; but since his con
version perhaps none could show a more
exemplary life. His grand-son, now Ordi
nary of the county, told me that some four
years ago he heard his grand father counting
up his immediate descendants, and that they
then numbered eighty-five—but they
now number over one hundred. Brother
Payne never had a law suit, and was ahv iys
prompt in filling his appointments, until w th
in a few years past, when the infirmities of age
torced him to relinguish them. He is the
uncle of-Rev. L. B. Payne, of South Georgia
Conference.
Rev. John L. Richardson, son of Rev.
Jesse Richardson one of the pioneer preach
ers of (ieorgia. is now in the 83d year of his
age. He professed religion in early life, and
has served the Methodist Church as class
leader, steward, exporter, and preacher, for
more than sixty years. He sometimes now
rides to preaching ten miles or more. His
grand-son informs me that he has been a
subscriber to the Advocate since its first
publication, and that his wife who is now in
her 81st year, preserves them on file with
great care and will not suffer one to be torn
up on any account.
Rev. E. L. Stephens, now in the Tilth
year of his age, by authority of the North
Georgia Conference has charge of Porter’s
Springs Mission, which he serves with great
vigilance and usefulness. He is a Methodist
of the old Wesleyan type. He was several
times in hisyomh-at Father Carvosso’s meet
ings, and had served in the itinerant ranks in
England for many years before coming to this
country. After coming here, he withheld his
credentials and buried his talent for several
years. Afterwards, he reached a point in his
experience, as he told me, where he was con
vince! that he must again preach the gospel
or die immediately. He struggled with this
conviction to a late hour in the night in the
woods by himself, till he yielded consent.
God reconverted him, re-indorsed his creden
tials, and sent him forth an able minister of
the gospel.
These three patriarchs as I have styled
them (and who will question the propriety of
the appellation) are still witnessing to small
and great of their faith in Jesus Christ, and
their hope of a resurrection to eternal life
beyond the grave.
Now, Mr. Editor, it may be thought by
some that the publication of these brief
sketches should have been postponed till
after these worthies have been called hence.
When this occurs I hope an abler pen will
be employed and a more extended biography
will be given. I have written with the con
viction that they are superior to the snares
of vanity, and have simply presented the
example of their piety as an incentive to
the you h of our country to do right that
their lives may be prolonged in the land of
the living. Wier Boyd.
Dahtonega, Ga., May 5, 1876.
Selections.
From the Sew Orleans Christian Advocate
LETTER FROM BISHOP MARVIN.
MARIANA DISTRICT, ALABAMA CONFERENCE.
Mr. Editor: The District Conference of
the Mariana district, Alabama Conference,
was held at Mariana, Fla., beginning April
21. There was a fair attendance of laymen,
and the occasion was one of considerable in
terest. Some of the members came on foot
a distance of fifteen, and two, a distance ol
over twenty miles.
The various interests of the work were un
der discussion, and the state of the Church
pretty fully represented. Upon the whole,
the outlook is encouraging. So I think.
There is some improvement in most repects.
and so long as there is improvetnent there is
hope and assurance of the future.
In Sunday-school work there is, upon the
whole, as much advance aB could be expect
ed uuder the circumstances. There are not
many towns in the district. Indeed much
of it is thinly populated, being just in the
condition least favorable to such work. In
many neighborhoods it is impossibie to find
a man for superintendent who is really com
petent, or teachers who are prepared for ef
ficient service. The preachers are pressing
this matter and getting schools established
wherever it is at all practicable. In several
places the Sunday-school literature of our
Church is used in the schools. But in a large
part of the district there is such want of mail
facilities as to make it difficult to introduce
any periodica! literature. Yet those neigh
borhoods are the very ones where our Sun
day-school papers would do the most good.
Where reading matter is more abundant
it is less prized.
A large proportion of the farming popula
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & COMPANY, HR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
i tion are in embarrassed cireustances. Many
! are very poor. It is not uncommon to see
small plantations, mere patches, cultivated
with one ox. I met on the road a large num
ber of carts drawn by a single ox in shafts-
Many small farmers have no horse nor mule.
From what I hear, it is the rule rather than
the exception that the planters, large and
small, have their wagons, teams, farming
implements, and next crop, mortgaged to the
merchants for this year’s supplies. This is
habitually the ease from year to year. The
average planter is a year behind. This is a
dreadful state of things. The man who buys
on long credit pays enormous prices, and
then interast ou the account besides. He
pays, in the dong perhaps double the
amount to the merchant that he would if he
paid the cash. Thus he is ground to the
earth. The planters who keep out of debt
are making money. The others are becom
ing more and more hopelessly involved.
If I had the ear of the young men of this
country I would say one word, so far as the
affairs of this world are concerned. That
word would be: Keep cut of debt— keep out
of debt — keep oi:t 1 ■ ■■ ' Wear patches
on your clothes seven deep, if need be, hut
keep out of debt. Live on corn bread and
water, if worst comes to worst, but keep out
of debt. Work and keep out of debt. Any
man who will do this will do well in this
country. It is an easy country to make a
living in with industry, economy, and cash
payments.
I have just read a part of this communica
tion to a friend who is familiar with the bus
iness of the country. He says that I have
put it mild when I say the man who buys on
credit pays double. The rate charged, he
thinks, will amount to three or four hundred
per rent, per annum. O ! my friends, keep
out of debt.
About the finances there was a good deal
of discussion. The prospect is good, at least,
perhaps better than in former years. But—.
Why should this ugly disjunctive be forever
in requisition when church finances are un
der discussion '! It is ever so. How long
will this continue?
The disjunctive in the Mariana district in
troduces the sad fact that in many—indeed
mo <t —of the charges, little or nothing is paid
on the preachers’ salaries until the end of
the year. What is the preacher to do the
first ten months of the year? Why, starve,
or, what is worse —go in debt.
Yes, my deliberate advice to the preach
ers is to starve, if going in debt is the alter
native. I have known so many preachers
wrecked in reputation and damaged in char
acter by going in debt that I have about
concluded that it is better to die young and
wi ll a conscience void of offense.
It was stated that the money from the cot
ton crop is afloat in the country until May,
and that, it would be as easy, if the people
were only in the way of it, to pay the preach
er at the beginning of the year as at the close.
From May until the crop comes in there is
no money ; so that what is done must be
done at the close of the ecclesiastical year,
unless it is done at the beginning of it. In
this Conference the ecclesiastical and calen
dar year are nearly coincident, the session
being-in December.
There are many noble laymen in the dis
trict who are striving to do their whole duty.
There are some stewards who pay out of
their pockets whatever the deficiency may
be. After paying a large assessment they
prefer to foot the bill rather than keep ding
donging at others about it. This is noble,
but it would be much, much better if they
would work up the membership at large to
do their duty in this matter.
Bro. Moore has entered upon the duties of
the presiding eldership with fine spirit. The
circumstances of his appointment to this dis
trict were a little peculiar. I fixed upon
him for the place with a confidence that has
not been di appointed. He is looking after
all the interests oft he Church. He has studi
ed the Discipline on the duties of his office.
He never hurries through the business of a
Quarterly Conference, but makes it the oc
casion of a thorough investigation of the af
fairs of the circuits. I am well assured that
the work will improve under his administra
tion My only apprehension, is that he will
allow himself to be too much troubled when
improvement does not keep pace with the
ardor of his hopes.
The preachers are generally at work with
good heart and hope. We had a class meet
ing in connection with the Conference, which
I felt to be a profitable occasion.
It would do you good to see the horses that
some ot the brethren ride. Those that I saw
were decidedly above the average of the pres
ent day. Bro. Green and Bro. Hasty have
horses that are worthy of the best days of
the itinerancy. They know how io select a
horse and how to keep him. They have too
much sense to allow themselves to be traded
out of a first rate horse..
With Bro, E. Dowling I came, in his bug
gy. drawn by the faithful mule Raleigh, to
Ozark, preaching at Greenwood and Newton
on the way. At Ozark I ordained a deacon
and an elder, preached at eleven o’clock, and
started at half-past two for this place, to
take the train at 11.40. After a drive of
thirty-six miles, when within a mile of the
depot, I had the mortification to hear the
train rattling away. At midnight we drew
up our jaded team in front of the hotel. Here
Im for twenty-four hours. The brethren
welcome me, and I am to preach to-night.
E. M. Marvin.
Troy, Ala., April 27, 1870.
“ONLY BELIEVE.”
Many years ago I read a sketch of the con
version of a rough sailor at sea. I was par
ticularly struck with his definition of believ
ing in Christ. It is a puzzling question to
many, and often to anxious inquirers: “What
is it to belive on the Lord Jesus Christ?” or,
“What is the act of saving faith?” Some
find it a difficult question to answer in spec
ific terms. This converted sailor strove,
with untiring zeal, to impart to all his ship
mates the knowledge of the Saviour he had
found. He declared to them that he had
enjoyed more peace and happiness in one
week of Christian life than all the years
which he had lived ever afforded him. “But,
Jim, questioned one, “how did you get this
strarge happiness? What did you do? “Do?”
said Jim; “why, I believed.” “Well, ship
mate, that is just what I want to understand
about. How did you believe ?” “How did
I believe?” repeated Jim, with a puzzled
look. “Well, I don’t know as I can explain
it to you—l quit swearing, but it wasn’t that}
I left oft'drinking grog and chewing ’bacco,
but it wasn’t that-, I believed Jesus Christ
would save sinners, if they asked Him to sin
cerely, and the thought came into my head—
He’ll save me, and 1 was saved; that’s all I
can tell you.” This Beemß to me an admir
able definition or illustration of believing—
an anxious sinner looking 1o the Saviour, and
thinking, while praying for mercy, “Jesus
Christ will save me.—lFafcA. and Reflector,
MACON. GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1876.
THE PARABLE OF THE CARRUt&U,
by bishop e. s. janes, and. and., 11. i. / *
Two families, A. and 8., lived on adjoining
farms in a beautiful neighborhood in the vi
cinity of one of the large and prosperous vil
lages of our country. They possessed ahait
equal intelligence and wealth, and oegaped {
a corresponding social position. Their means |
enabled them to live elegantly and generous- i
ly. At the same time they each parched a
family carriage of the same mauufactu of I
like pattern and of eqqal cost. pu j
Neighbor A. used his carriage whi irer ;
he could thereby promote the comfort, I
or usefulness of his family, or relieve be 1
necessities of ihe dependent and sufferjh*
around him. It was highly appreciated
stormy Sabbaths because it enabled the faL-s
ily to attend the house of God, and render
to Him their devotions. In inclement weatji
er it was employed to carry the children to
school. If there were pooi; and sick per
sons at a distance, who needed charitable
ministrations, it was, in all weathers, at the
service of Mrs. A. to aid her in the work of l
charity and religion. If poor persons died
in the community—* l - —wr alwge
placed at their service OU the occas.on Oi .Tie
funeral. Indeed, whenever it could benefit
the family or the public, it was in motion. It
was understood, by the proprietor, at least,
to be made for service, and not merely for
show.
Neighbor B.’s carriage was always seen at
the church on pleasant Sundays. The chil
dren could enjoy rides in it on bright days.
Occasionally, when it was very pleasant
overhead, and no mud in the road, an inva
lid was given a drive. If a funeral occurred
in a poor, but respectable family, and the
weather and roads were in such a state that
they would not tarnish the varnish of the
carriage, or the gilding of the harness, the
carriage was offered for their use, with very
particular dirt-ctions that it must not be over
loaded or driven too fast, and must be brought
home as soon as the services were ended. In
deed, neighbor B.’s carriage was more a thing
of beauty than a blessing.
About twelve years from the time the car
riages were purchased, neighbor A. was one
day in his carriage-house washing and re
pairing his carriage. It was much soiftSf'’
and worn, and some broken. Neighbor B.
calls on him and finds him thus employed,
and after neighborly greetings, says to him :
“Neighbor A., I believe we bought our
carriages at the same time.”
“Yes, that is my recollection.”
“My carriage looks very different from
yours now.”
“Yes, I know it does.”
“You have abused yours very badly, but
I have taken good care of mine.”
“How have I abused mine ?”
“Why by using it in all weather, amL&jr
so many purposes, and lending it to so many
of your neighbors.”
“I never used it except when my family ©v
some afflicted neighbor needed it.”
“That may be, but, you exposed it to storms
and bad roads, and to overloading.” A
“If the occasion which called for its ngo
came on a stormy.day, I could not help that.
Sometimes the storm created tl\e necegjjSbg
for its use.”
“Well, bat I think you were sometimes
unreasonable in your use of it. There was
the funeral of old Mr. Griffin, when the mud
was so deep and the ruts in the road were so
bad that it strained a carriage badly to drive
it empty, and yet you let that whole family
crowd into- yours, and drive all the way to
the cemetery.”
“Why, Mr. Griffin had to be buried. The
roads were as they were, we could not wait
for them to be better. It was natural all the
children should wish to go to the grave, and
there was no other conveyance for them.
Your carriage was not there, I knew there
was danger of break'ng the carriage, hut I
could not say to either of the children, you
cannot go ; I had rather take the risk. The
ca-riage was injured you see ; that spring
then was bent and I cannot get it hack to
its place again, but I did right. I did as I
would be done by.”
“I dont see things in that light, seighbfliSS
I believe it right to take good care of my
things, and make them last as long as I
can.”
“Neighbor 8., did I not see your carriage
at the blacksmith’s shop last summer?”
“Yes, being kept dry so long the timbers
shrunk, and the tire became loose, and some
of the bolts were lost. I had to have the
tire cut and reset, and some new bolts put
in, and the other ones screwed up and tight
ened,”
“If I remember correctly, I have seen your
carriage at the shop of the trimmer and paint
er, more than once.”
“It has been (here several times. The
varnish would harden and crack, or hy acci
dent get bruised or scratched, and the up
holstering get moth-eaten or torn, and to
keep it nice, I had to have it repaired and
painted and brushed.”
“Don’t you think you have paid as much
for repairs on your3, not withstanding your
great carefulness in its use, as I have for
mine, though you say I have abused it?”
“I suppose I have. But how much
mine looks than yours 1 Why, if mine
ed as dilapidated as yours does, I would net
give it house room. I would sell it for oli
iron.”
“This carriage has been a great comfort
and convenience to my family, and a real
blessing to our neighbors in the days of their
calamities and dependence, and we havei
love for it. My children had rather ride in
it now, than in anew one. I shall fix it up,
and we shall continue to enjoy it as long as if
holds together.” _ r
“That won’t be long; but my carriage wil
be respectable for several years yet.”
“I tell you wbat it is, neighbor 8., if yoti
calculate how much my carriage has be<A
running, when yours was standing in tie
house, you will find my carriage has lasted
much longer than yours, though you msy
use yours a while after mine fails. If you
will consider the kind of work my carriage
has done, in meeting the actual wants of ny
family, and the real necessities of our neigk
bors, while yours has been kept for pleasast
occasions, and nice services, you cannot fail
to see that mine has contributed many times
as much to human welfare, as yours ha.“
Mine has fulfilled a real mission, yours a fan
ciful one. It has cost no more to keep mire
useful than it has to keep yours showy. There
is all the difference between them that exisSß
between a useful implement in the hands of
a skilled workman and a plaything in the
hand of a child.”
DECLARE UNTO US THE PARABLE OF THE CAR
RIAGES.
Two ministers of about equal endowment!,
and educational and social advantages, enter
the Christian pastorate at the same time. A.
enters upon his mission enthusiastically. As
soon as the people become acquainted with
his spirit and habits, they as much expect tp
find him in his pulpit on a stormy Sabbath,
as on ti pleasant one. They feel as
of meeting him in the-prayer-meeting, on a
dark and rainy night, as when the stars
shine. If any are sick and afflicted, or in
want in the community, they know he will
be with them, because he considers it “His
office to search for the sick, poor, and impo
tent, that they may be visited and relieved.”
Se not only ‘-‘Goes to those who want him,
but to those who want him most.” The
mere degraded and abandoned a family or
individual may be, the greater seems to him
the need of his efforts to save them. The
poor inebriate excites his compassion, and
his prayers, and efforts to save him. The
more destitute and forlorn a bereaved fami
ly is, the greater reason there is, in his eyes,
why he should bury their dead, and seek the
welfare of the living, after the funeral is over.
If epidemics prevail, he continues with his
flock. He had rather die at his post, than
to show himself a coward and a hireling when
he wolf cometh. He imitated his divine
aster in going about doing good. He care-
Wy sought, that he might save, that which
lost. He taught publicly, and from
ijSim*— ~to tojuge. He-reused apt to warn
every one, day and night, with tears. As
he had opportunity, he did good unto all
men. He went forth weeping, bearing pre
cious seed.
True, this earnest work and constant ex
posure, sometimes caused him to suffer from
colds, and rheumatism, and fevers, and other
ailments. He sometimes needed the skill of
the physician. These general pastoral servi
ces prevented to some extent what are called
pulpit preparations. He could not come into
the pulpit with elaborate and rhetorical dis
courses. It however gave him another kind
of preparation—it made him thoroughly ac
quainted with the people to whom he was
speaking, and enabled him to rightly divide
to them the word of truth. It filled him with
tenderest, strongest, sympathy, so that he
spake from the heart to the hearts of the
people. He was not spoken of as an elo
quent preacher and a great preacher, he was
considered a useful preacher. The common
people heard him gladly, and the learned
heard him profitably. The people went after
him. They loved him because they saw he
loved them. If it had been possible they
would have plucked out their own eyes and
given them to him. They could not be in
duced to throw the old carriage out of doors
to make room for anew one.
Probably he died a few years sooner than
he would if he had lived an easy, independ
ent life, worked when it was a recieation to
do so, and ceased as soon as it became a tax.
Died ? No 1 He rested from his labors,
ceased to breathe, went away, but how real
was his spirit and influence with the people?
How often and gratefully they spoke of him
in their family circles, and in their social
meetings. Fifty years afier his,decease, as
the obituaries of godly and useful members
were published, how frequently was he re
ferred to as the instrument of their conver
sion. Such men never die. The current of
spiritual power that gushed out of their lives
shall flow on till time is no more. Their
good influence shall rest upon mankind when
Gabriel'-s trumpet is blown.
' B entered upon his ministerial vocation,
determined to win place and position. He
would take care of himself. He health was
too precious to allow of any exposure. His
reputation was too valuable to be impaired
by preaching any but thoroughly elaborated
sermons. He must therefore spend his time
in his study. He could give but little atten
tion to pastoral duties. The sick, and poor,
and dying, must find other ministrations
than his. If it did not happen to interfere
with his studies or convenience, or expose
his health, he would attend a funer.il of a
poor person ; but if it would worry him or
discommode him, they must go to the “little
church around thecorner,” or get some good
deacon or class-leader to pray for them. That
would answer their purpose.
lie however, soon acquired fame. The
most popular churches desired him as their
pastor. Multitudes followed him. He was
a shining and much admired minister.
This career was not without its embarrass
ments. His constant care of his health made
him a hypochondriac. He became dyspep
tic, and nervous, and restless. His people
had to give him vacations, and sea voyages,
and ceaseless attentions to encourage and
inspirit him in his minisiry. But probably
he survived his brother a few years. How
evanescent is his fame. He pleased the peo
ple while he lived, they must have someone
eDe to please them when he is gone. As his
ministry implanted the power of eternal life
in but few of his hearers, there are but few
who have within them a constant reminder
of his usefulness to them. The mirage of reli
gion which they saw when they listened to his
eloquence in the pulpit, has disappeared.
They have no memorial of him. It is the
spiritually useful minister who is remember
ed in the Church.
Which of these ministers lived the longer?
Answer when you learn the results of their
liv s in the day of judgment.
Which secured the greater glory and felic
ity to himself? Answer when you see their
.crowns and hear their songs in hes’-eq.
Which of these ministers will you be like
un'o? Tell God on your knees to uight.—
Daily Christian Advocate.
THE GREAT DEFECT.
The grand infirmity of family prayer, or of
what is sometimes called family religion, is
that it stands alone in the house, and has
nothing put in agreement with it. Whereas,
ifitistohave an honest reality, as many
things as possible should be soberly and de
liberately put in point of religion itself, that
by its very nature it rules presidingly over
everything desired, done, thought, planned
for. and prayed for in the life. It is never
to finish itself up by words, or supplications,
or even by sacraments, but the whole cus
toms of life and character must be in it by a
total consent of the man. And more de
pends on this, a hundred times, than upon
any fervors, or passionate fights, or agoniz
ings. The grand defect will in almost all
cases, be in what is more deliberate, viz.,
in the want of any downright honest casting
of the family in the type of religion, as if
that were truly accepted at the first.
See just what is wanted, by what is so very
commonly not found. First of all, the mere
observance kind of piety, that which prays
in the family to keep up a reverent show or
acknowledgement of religion, is not enough.
It leaves everything else in the life to an
open space for covetousness, and all the gay
lustings of worldly vanity. It even leaves
out prayer, for the saying prayers is in no
sense really the same as to pray. —Contrary
to this, there should be some real prayer,
for the meaning’s sake, and not for the shell
of religious decency, in which the semblance
may be kept. This latter kind, looks indeed,
for no return of blessing from God, but only
for a certain religious effect, accomplished
by the drill of repetitional observance.
There is also another kind of drill some
times attempted m the prayers of families,
which is much worse viz. : when the prayer
is made every morning to hit this or that
child is some manner of disobedience, or
some mere peccadillo into which he has fall
en. Nothing can be more irreverent to God
than to make the honor of prayer a time of
prison discipline for the subjects of it, and
nothing could more certainly set in them a
fixed aversion to religion and everything
sacred. This kind of prayer prays, in fact,
for exasperation’s sake, and the effect will
correspond.—Dr. Bushnell.
REMORSE.
BY J C. LOOMIS.
When, by some sudden flash of rpvelation,
Ye who have walked with head erect and
strong,
Now tread the valley of humiliation,
Self-tried and self convicted of sotne wrODg,
Bome foul act that your better self surprises.
Some cruel, wanton word, or scornful frown,
And conscience, stern, and set, and white, up
rises.
And, like pale Banquo’s spectre, will not
down ;
When thus an Inbred foe, all unsuspected,
fs dragvi and to light one day, unmasked, de
tected
Oh, who shall make your “ wounded spirit
whole ?”
Man’s pardon does not heal the hurt you’ve
gotten
From that vile enemy, before ungu -ssed ;
Stunned and appalled yon moan, “ Am I so
rotten ?
Do other demons ambu3h in my breast ?”
Oh. agony all other pain transcending,
When self re-pect reels, as from moital blow!
Methinks lust spirits, in their doom unending.
More awful depths of anguish never know.
Yet is there One behold 9 your sore contrition.
And ttoops to hear your hearts remorseful
cry;
To rescue such a wretch His blessed mission;
Despair is conquered if but He is nigh.
O ma'chless One! when human ftailty presses,
And foes to grace leap into lif t again.
Snatch us from al! our sins and our distre ses.
And make us Thine beyond recall --amen !
—Zion's Herald.
DEACON LEE.
Deacon Lee, who was a kindly, silent,
faithful, gracious man, was one day waited
upon by a restless, ambitious, worldly
Church member, who was laboring to create
uneasiness in the Church, and especially to
drive away the minister.
The deacon came in to meet his visitor,
who, after the usual greetings, began to la
ment the low state of religion, and inquire as
to the reason why there had beeu no revival
for the last two or three years past.
“ Now, what do you think is the cause of
things being dull here 7"
The deacon was not ready to give his opin
ion ; and after a little thought frankly an
swered: “ I don’t know.”
“ Do you think the Church alive to the
work before them ?”
“ No, 1 don’t.”
“Do you think the minister fully realizes
the solemnity of his work?”
“ No, I don't.”
A twinkle was seen in the eye of the trou
bier in Zion, and taking courage, he asked :
“ Do you think Mr. B. a very extraordina
ry man ?”
“ No, I don’t.”
“ Do you think his sermons in the eyes of
the people are held anything wonderfully
great ?”
“ No, I don’t.”
Making bold, after all this encouragement
ill monosyllables, he asked :
“ Then don’t you think we had better dis
miss this man and hire another?”
The old deacon started as if shot with an
arrow, and ia a tone louder than his wont,
shouted :
“ No, I don’t 1”
“Why, cried the amazed visitor, “ yofl
agree with me in all I have said, don’t you?”
“ No, I don’t.”
“You talk so little, sir,” replied theques
tioner, not a little abashed, “ that no one can
find out what you do mean.”
“I talked enough once,” replied the old
man, rising to his feet, “ for six praying
Christians. Thirty years ago I got my heart
humbled, and ray tongue bridled ; and ever
since that I’ve walked softly before God. I
then made vows solemn as et ernity; and
don’t you tempt me to break them.”
The troubler was startled at the earnest
ness of the hitherto silent, immovable man,
and asked :
“ What happened to you thirty years ago?”
“ Well, sir, I'll tell you. I was drawn into
a scheme just like this of yours, to uproot
one of God'sssrvantsfrom the field in which
lie had planted him. In my blindness, 1
fancied it a little thing to remove one of the
‘ stars’ which Jesus holds in his right hand,
if thereby my ear could be tickled by more
flowing words, and the pews filled w th those
who turned away from the simplicity of the
gospel. I, and the men that led me—for I
admit that I was a dupe and a f >ol—flattered
ourselves that we were doing God’s service
when we drove that holy man from the pul
pit and his work, and said we considered his
work done in B , where I then lived.
We groaned because there was no revival,
while we were gossiping about and criticising
and crushing him, instead of upholding his
hands by our efforts and our prayers, the
very instrument at whose hand we harshly
demanded the blessings.
“ Well, sir, he could not drag on the char
iot of salvation with half dozen of us taunt
ing him for his weakness, while we hung as
a dead weight to the wheels ; he had not the
spirit, as we thought, and could not convert
men ; so we hunted him like a deer, till,
worn and bleeding, he fled into a covert to
die.
“ Scarcely had he gone when God came
in among us by His Spirit, to show that He
had blessed the labors of His dear rejected
servant. Our own hearts were broken, and
our wayward children converted; and I re.
solved at a convenient season to visit my for
mer pastor and confess my sin, and thank
him for his faithfulness to my wayward sons,
which like long buried seed had now sprung
up. Bat God denied me that relief, that He
might teach me a lesson that every child of
His ought to learn —that he who toucheth
one of His little ones toucheth the apple of
His eye.
“ I heard my pastor was ill, and taking
my oldest son with me, set out on a twenty
five mile ride to see him. It was evening
when I arrived, and his wife, with the spirit
which any woman ought to exhibit toward
one who had so wronged her husband, de
nied me admittance to his chamber. She
said (and her words were like arrows to my
soul) — 1 He may be dying, and the sight of
your face might add to his anguish.’ Had it
come to this, that the man whose labors had,
through Christ, brought me into His fold,
who had consoled my spirit in a terrible be
reavement. and who had, till designing men
alienated us, been to me a brother—that this
man could not die in peace with my face be
fore him? ‘God pity me!’ I cried, ‘what
have I done ?’ I confessed my iinß to that
meek woman, and implored her for Christ's
sake to let me kneel before His dying ser
vant, and receive his forgiveness.
“ What did I care then whether the pews
by the door were rented or not? I would
gladly have taken his whole family to my
home forever, as my flesh and blood ; but
no such happiness was in store for me.
“ As I entered the room of the blessed
warrior, whose armor was falling from his
limbs, he opened his languid eyes, and said,
‘Brother Lee! Brother Lee!’ I bent over
him, and sobbed out, “ My pastor 1 my pas
tor!’ Then raising his white hand, he said,
in a deep, impressive voice, ‘Touch not
Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.’
“ I spoke tenderly to him, aud told him I
had come to confess my sin, and bring some
of his fruit to him (calling my son, to tell
him how he had found Christ). But he was
unconscious of all around him ; the sight of
my face had brought the last pang of earth
to his troubled spirit. I kissed his brow, and
told him how dear he had been to me. I
craved his pardon for my unfaithfulness, and
promised him to care for his widow and his
fatherless little ones; but his only reply,
murmured as if in a troubled dream, was :
‘Touch not Mine anointed, and do My
prophets no harm.’
“ I stayed by him all night, and at day
break I closed his eyes.
“ I offered his widow a house to live in
the remainder of her days ; but, like a hero
ine, she said: ‘ I freely forgive you ; but my
children, who entered deeply into their fath
er’s anguish, shall never see me so regard
less of his memory as to take anything from
those who caused it He left us all with his
covenant God, and He will care for us.’
“ Well, sir, those dying words sounded in
my ears from that coffin, and from that grave.
Wheu 1 slept, Christ stood before my dream,
sayiug: ‘ Touch not Mine anointed, and do
My prophets no harm.’ These words fol
lowed me till I fully realized the esteem in
which Christ holds those men who have
given up all for His sake ; and I vowed to
love them evermore for His sake, eveu if
they are not perfect.
“And since that day, sir, I have talked
less than before, and have supported my
pastor, even if he is not a very extraordina
ry man. My tongue shall cleave to the roof
of my mouth, aud my right hand forget her
cunning, before I dare to put asunder what
God has joined together. When a minis
ter’s work is done in a place, I believe God
will show it to him. I will not join you, sir,
in the scheme that brought you here; and,
if I hear another word of this from your
lips, 1 shall ask the brethren to deal with you
as with one who causes divisions. I would
give all I own to recall what I did thirty
years ago. *
“ Stop where you are, and pray God if
perchance the thought of your heart may be
forgiven you.”
This decided reply put an end to the new
comer’s efforts to get a minister who could
make mflre of a stir. There is often great
power in the little word “no;” but some
times it requires not a little courage to
speak it so resolutely as did the silent dea
con.—Christian Messenger.
BIBLE ALBUMS.
“Search the Scriptures” is a divine in
junction which should be respected and
obeyed. There are few Eliphalet Notts liv
ing nowadays of whom it can be said that
they had read the Bible'thfough before the
fourth year of their age. But more to be
commended is a thorough understanding of
the Bible, without any mechanical reading.
One of the many ways of attaining this end
is the introduction of the Bible Album, the
invention of a Mrs. Barbour, ol Edinburgh,
Scotland. The album consists of illustra
tions taken from Scripture and history, Na
ture and art, under which are biblical quota
tions, which serve as explanations. Thus,
beneath the photograph of a London hospi
tal may be written “Blessed is he that con
sidereth the poor,” or at the bottom of a
picture of the savages ou the Island of Mad
agascar may be placed the verse “So the
heathen shall fear the name of the Lord.”
The sight of a church suggests “I will fill
this house with glory, saith the Lord of
hosts.” A table with the Scriptures on it
reminds one of “Seek ye out the Book of the
Lord and read.” A.verse of Scripture may
by a little reflection be applied to almost any
object.
Bible Albums induce the young to study
their Bibles, and they make a pleasant occu
pation for invalids. The process for making
the Album is to cut out pictures from books,
newspapers, and magazines, and, having
found Scripture texts to illustrate the pic
tures, paste them ,in the album putting the
text immediately under the illustraiion.—
The one above all others who has done a
commendable work in popularizing Bible
Albums is Lady Juliana Walker, of London,
the third great-grand-daughter of William
Penn, the Quaker. Besides setting an ex
ample herself, she has induced her friends to
make these albums, and the thanks of pa
tients in the London hospitals have been her
reward. Many, on a sick-bed, who have no
strength or inclination to read the Bible, will
look at a Bible Album, and thus a text of
Scripture may fasten itself in the memory.
THE PROFIT OF ADVERSITY.
It is good that we have sometimes some
troubles and crosses ; for they often make a
man enter into himself and consider that he
is here in banishment and ought not to place
his trust in any worldly thing.
It is good that we be sometimes contra
dicted ; and there be an evil or a lessening
conceit, had of us; and this, although we do
and intend well.
These things help often to the attaining of
humility, and defend us from vain glory; for
then we chiefly seek God for our inward wit
ness, when outwardly we be condemned by
men, and when there is no credit given unto
us.
And therefore a man should settle himself
so fully in God that he need not to seek many
comforts of men.
When a good man is afflicted, tempted, or
troubled with evil thoughts, then he under
standeth better the great need he hath of
God, without whom he perceiveth he can do
nothing that is good.
Then, also, he sorroweth, lamenteth and
prayeth, by reason of the misery he suffereth.
Then he is weary of living longer, and
wisheth that death would come, that he
might be dissolved and be with Christ.
Then, also, he well perceiveth that perfect
security and full peace cannot be had in this
world. —Thermae A. Kempis.
The Methodist camp-meeting ground at
Tarentum Pa., has been destroyed by fire.
The origin of the fire is at present unknown,
but supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
Loss about $50,000; insurance $20,000.
“ Poison kills, as well as a pistoland
the poison of religious error is worse than
the poison of asps.
F. M. KENNEDY, D. D., Editor.
J. W. BURKE, Assistant Editor.
A. G. HAYGOOD, D. D., Editorial Correspondent.
WHOLE NUMBER 1995.
MISCELLANEA.
Tms.excitementon the Pacific Coast abou
the continned immigration of Chinese has
moved a San Francisco minister to preach" a
sermon to show that according to the Scrip
tures the-'Chinese, having been placed by
God in China, had no right to come to this
country.
Cardinal Manning has just fulminated
against theatre going and play-acting. This
is all right; but the cardinal’s motive is be*
lieved to be to head off good Catholics from
going to see Tennyson’s play of “Bloody
Mapy,” which does not show off Roman Ca
tholicism in a very attractive light.
The Free Church in Scotland, which com
menced its separate existence from the Es
tablished church of Scotland, in 1843, is now
as well supported and established as the Es
tablished church itself. Last year it raided
$2,627,120, and since the disruption of 1843
it has raised a total sum of $06,229,075.
The American Bible Society is making ar
rangements for a full exhibition 'if Hib’e? of
ail edition- and languages. Thi British and
Foreign Bible Society wilt u-ti e with tnmr
American co work-r; and it is es imuted
that two hundred versions of ihe Jdihie iu
various languages and dialects'tvili be on ex
hibition.
The Baptist Sunday-school of the Salis
bury Street Church, through its excellent
Superintendent, Mr. T. H. Briggs, Jr., sub
scribed SSO for the building of the Metro
politan Methodist Church in this city. It
was a graceful and commendable act and is
appreciated-by the Methodists of this city.—
Raleigh Advocate.
For a memorial of Isaac Watt*, South
ampton, England, has put up a fine set of
school buildings, costing S3O 000, on the
site of his garden at the rear of “Above Par”
chapel. In that chapel Walts was christen
ed, there his family worshiped, and in the
garden he thought out and prooabiy wrote
many of his now world-known hymns.
A Vienna dispatch states that thirty-four
members of the reichsrath attended a con
ference given yesterday by Senor Marcoor
tec, the Spanish philanthropist, to promote
the principle of the settlement of disputes
among nations by arbitration. A resolution
in favor of calling a European arbitration
conference was adopted.
A manuscript copy of the Koran, copied
by the Caliph Osman, the third atter the
prophet Mohammed, is in the Imperial Li
brary at St. Petersburg. It formed a part of
the library cf Samarcand, is I,2oo‘years old,
aud bears traces of the blood that spurted
on its pages when Osman was stabbed while
reading it.
The government of Madagascar is com
pelled by treaty stipulations to admit French
spirits ; but since the Queen renounced idol
atry, six years ago, it levies its duties in
kind on these imports, and then publicly de
s.roys this tenth part by emptying the bar
rels into the ocean. Here, certainly, is a
conscience that would do honor to a Chris
tian government anywhere.
The Baptist Hand Book Review, publish
ed in England, contains the statistics of the
Church for last year. Among the figures
given are these: The present number of
churches is 2,620, of chapels, 3,354; of pas
tors in charge, 1,867; of members, 263,729;
of Sunday scholars, 372,242. This shows an
increase during the year of 8 churches, 33.
chapels, 8,731 members, and 20,318 schol
ars.
The third annual report of the Centennial
Commission shows an expenditure thus far of
$5,103,063, of which $4,178,101 goes to the
grounds and buildings. Receipts: from
stockholders, $2,132,140; from the City of
Philadelphia, $1,190,084; from the United
States, $500,000; and from other sources
about $2,000,000 more. Deficiencies, it is
believed, will be fully covered by the admis
sion receipts.
At Gaboon, West Africa, recently, a mis
sionary conference was held. It was com
posed of delegates from the Primitive Meth
odist mission at Fernando Po, the Baptist
mission at Cameroons, the Scotch Presbyte
rian mission at Old Calabar, and the Church
Missionary Society’s m'ssion on the Niger.
In all, tbere were twenty-two missionaries,
male and female, in attendance. The Con
ference was so successful that it was re
solved to form a Orauch of th.-, Evangel'cal
Alliance which will meet yearly.
President Barnard, of Columbia College t
New York, formerly P.esidentof the Uni
versity of Mississippi, r.aya the American,
has accepted an invitation from the Faculty
of the Vanderbilt University to deliver an
address at the ensuing Commencement. Dr.
Barnard is one of the most distinguished ed
ucators in this country, and as Cnairman of
the United States Commission to the V ier.ua
Exposition, made a report on University
Education which is recognized as one of the
ablest productions ever written on the sub
ject.
_ Advices from the East state that the
plague in Mesopotamia is increasing. At
Hillah, from April 1 to 7 inclusive, 114 per
sons were attacked with the disease, and 56
died. On April 8 there were 22 attacks and
13 deaths, and on April 9, 31 attacks and 11
deaths. At Bagdad, from April 2 to 8 in
clusive, there were 266 attacks and 169
deaths, ou April 9, 74 attacks and 13 deaths,
and on April 10, 57 attacks and 26 deaths.
The highest number of cases registered tn
any single day was on April 9. Some cases
have occurred iu the military hospitals and
in the garrisons.
Macaulay is reported to (have given the
following opinion of Mrs. H. B. Stowe’s
“Sunny Memories in Foreign Lands:” “A
mighty foolish, impertinent book, this of
Mrs. Stowe. She puts in my mouth a great
deal of stuff that I never uttered —particular-
ly about the cathedrals. What blunders she
makes! Robert Walpole for Harace Wal
pole. Shaftesbury, the author of the habeas
corpus act, she confounds with Shaftesbury,
the author of ‘Characteristics.’ She cannot
even see. Palmerston, whose eyes are sky
blue, she called dark-eyed. lam glad that I
met her so seldom, und sorry that I met her
at all.”
The following advertisement appeared the
other day in a Sussex, England, paper. It
tells its own tale: “To Roman Catholics.—
Seeing it reported that the Roman Catho
lic Bishop of Nottingham has introduced
the use of the penitential whip to his
flock ; and believing that the happy privilege
mentioned is not enjoyed by the Roman
Catholic inhabitants of this otherwise highly
favored town ; and believing, also, that this
practice is according to the teaching of
Scriptures (see Prov. xxvi: 3, last clause),
the Advertiser begs to say that he will un
dertake to engage a strong and able-bodied
man, to administer this refreshing ordinance
to any desirous applicant; he will also guar
antee that it shall be thoroughly well done—
free of charge. Applicants please
E. T. Q., office of this paper.”