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TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.
FER -AKTISTUiM:.
VOLUME XXXIX., NO. 30.
Original |)octrn.
LIGHT IN DARKNESS.
BY LuULA K. R.
I’m kneeling 6v thy grave, beloved, the shad
ows gently cr< ep
O’er this dear spot where loved ones lie in
peicefnl, hallowed sleep.
There cones no busy sou dof life, no rude and
careless tone*
It is an hour I long have sought with thee and
God alone.
For here, methinks while yonder sun is sinking
in the sky,
’Tis sweet to wander o’er the past a- all its
glories and >e.
Those radiant clouds, so like my life, must lose
their golden light,
And leave thi world as X am left, in dark and
rayless night.
The path is drear. There blooms for me no
tiny way-side flower,
That bids me heed its beauty in this wr tcbed,
lonely hour,
No sun is nigh—no moon—no star—nt^^^t
Lw;-*lt e . > -jfli
meteor’s ray.
Oh, why should Death so ruthlessly invade the
happy cot,
Where Love and Peace harmonious blent, and
all earthly cares forgot V
Oh, why, I cried, in griefs despair, coaid one
whose virtues shone
As sparkling gems, be torn away—while l am
left alone!
Alone! aione! to brave the flood, to stem the
curreut deep ;
To battle on though foe should press and piti
lessly heap
E’en more the mighty burdens that o’eiflow
ray drifting barque—
Oh, Father, light the way for me—’tie cheer
less, drear, and dark !
Come, Hoi) Spirit! Let Thy power illume my
troubled soul ;
Let me but see my Saviour where those thun
dering billows roll.
Oh, give me peace— aye, let me list to whisper
from ibove,
“Be still and know that lam God—l chasten
whom / love ”
i Light! thrilling my sou 1 , a heaven
beaming ray,
It brings the only balm for woe, and bids my
spirit tay
•*Thy will be done!" Poor broken heart—tho*
bleeding in the dust—
Look up, thy God is ever near—in Him put all
thy trust.
O joyful beam! O promised Kest! ye bring
me c >mfort sweet;
My Cross is lighter—once again 1 may my loved
one greet,
Forever mine! Love cannot die—this bles ed
hope is worth
Far more t o me th n all the pomp, and richest
gems of e*ri h
Churchyard Cemetery, Thoi mist on Ga.
Contributions.
THE 0E1) WATEREE CIRCE IT.
The water-courses in the State in the early
day gave names to the circuits of the Confer
ence, hence, Enoree, Bush River, Keowep,
Congaree, Santee, Wateree, meetly ...” -eb
riginal derivation, mark out the travel of the
early itinerants.
As population advanced and ministerial
force increased, and the various charges be
came more contracted, more local designa
tions became necessary to map the various
fields of labor.
This old circuit first appears in the Min
utes in 1809, so continued until 1834, when
with changes throwing all on the west side
of the Wateree river into other charges, it
embraced all on this side in the Wateree Mis
sion and Lancaster Circuit. Waxhaw, or
Pleasant Grove Circuit, running up into
North Carolina, was set off in 1842. In
1864 Hanging Rock Circuit was formed, and
in 1860 Lancaster C. H. was made a station,
and in 1873 Belle Air (now Lancaster Cir
cit) was formed. In 1809 Wm. Capers was
y eacher in charge—his first circuit. He
gives its boundaries then as “ extending from
Twenty five Mile Creek, on the west side
Wateree River, to Land’s Ford, on the Ca
tawba; and on the east side from the neigh
borhood of Camden to within twelve miles
of Charlotte, with twenty-four preaching
places and three hundred miles of travel
every four weeks.”
The pictures given of the state of society
then are certainly not rose colored, and show
plainly the former days were not better than
these. Church people “ running for the
bottle, getting drunk, and turning up jack.”
A free fight at Carter’s Meeting House on
the expulsion of a member, and the drunk
ard cursing in a religious assembly at Lan-
caster village, all seem surprising now. The
Lancaster C. 11. of 1876 differs much from
that of 1809, where wh ; skey and peach
brandy so abounded, that preaching was
postponed until the drunkards had gone
home, in order to avoid what, after all, was
not avoided —the cursing the preacher and
interrupting the service. But a few weeks
ago, at the same place, the writer worshiped
with as intelligent and well-behaved a con
gregation as could be found anywhere. And
yet what an interval —from 1809 to 1832,
some 23 years —before Methodism obtained
here. James Jenkins and J. J.
Allison and L. Rush in 1832 held a two days’
meeting, at which ten whites and thirteen
colored were enrolled as members. A
brother Bramueet was apppoiuted leader,
and in a year or two after a church was built.
Now, the Twittys, Browns, Allisons, Carters,
Connors’, Mayers, Lemons, Hunters, Gra
hams, and others, promise to Methodism a
name and lineage for long years to come.
But this preseut writing has to do with the
past of this old circuit, and yet how meager
the records. All that can be gathered of
interest is, that the first camp-meeting ever
held in the South, was within its boundaries
in the month of June, 1802, at the far-famed
Hanging Rock. That Moses Wilson, one of
the early preachers, lies buried at James
Skinner’s, on Little Lynch’s Creek, whose
name appears in the Minutes as stationed at
St. Mary’s in 1801, and then disappears
without note or comment, wheu in 1802 Jas.
.Tenkius preaches his funeral sermon, declar
ing that a more pious and upright man he
had seldom seen. “He left his little prop
erty to the Conference, but upon Bishop
Asburv’s saying, ‘ The kings of Israel are
merciful men,’ the Conference sent it to
some of his friends who were needy.” How
different from the spirit of the Romish
Church ! Is there any such record in all her
history ? Within its boundaries Jas. Jenkins
married and settled in 1805, on Sawney’s
Creek, eleven miles from Camden, at whose
house Wm. Capers stayed in 1806, meeting
with that strange reception from the old
prophet that had well nigh driven him from
the work. Then, only one other name—a
famed local preacher, rescued from oblivion
—Robert, Hancock, who in 1809 resided near
the Waxaws —and of all the rest, the trials
and triumphs of near a century forgotten
and gone. Nothing remains but to pav, on
record what the journal of the Quarterly
Conference offers from 1841 to 1855.
The Conference of 1841 was as follows:
Hartwell Spain, P. E ; W. T. Hartison, P.
C.; Wiley Horton, E. L. Frasier, D. S.
Sealy, Jacob Carnes, L. P's. Isam House,
John Carnes, S. Beckham, Evan Horton,
Littleton House, James B. Klingle, W. G.
Cox, Adam Wolf, Thos. J. Cauthen, C. L ;
Conrad A. Plyler, Geo Stradford. stewards.
In 1843 J. M. Richardson, J. E. Irby added.
In 1844 James Allen, Lewis Cauthen, James
Creighton, Jos. Carter, Nathan Fail. In
1845 George Bell, James W. Collier. In
1846 J. Ogburn, A. Mayer. In 1847 Archey
Laney, Wm. Tilraons, J. B. Mobly. In
1848 A. J. Cauthen, Ex ; Evan Rollins.
In 1849 George Whitly, Thomas Boon, Geo.
Funderburk. In 1850 Thomas Mobly, Ex.,
R. Rogers, Jos. Bulton, J. J. Turner, J. W.
Walden, Thomas Vincent. In 1852 James
M. Ingram, John Stover, W. C. Cauthen.
1854 John Aaron, Wm. Parker, J. W. Twitty.
P ! ,The churches composing the circuit for
contributions for the year,
were: Salem, $13.65; Ebenezer.
$26.75; Lancaster C. H., $3131; Camp
Creek, $37.80 ; Hanging Rock, 0.75 ; Zion.
0.00; Mount Pleasant, 0.00; S-radford’s,
$20.00; Williams’, $2.50; Public Collec
tions, $13.85. Total $136 26
Traveling Expenses 14 25
$122 01
Paid Presiding Elder 19 25
Paid Preacher in Charge $lO2 70
The amounts contributed for the support
of the Presiding Elder and Preacher in
Charge are as follows:
Preacher Av’r’ge p'r
Year. in Ch’ge. Am’t. member.
1842 David Seale, $304 37 75 cts.
1843 J. R. Pickett, 378 82 75 “
1844 Imperfect.
1845 W. L. Pegues, 207 73 46 “
1846 J. M. Bradley, 272 10 68 “
1847 E. L. King, 410 00 92 “
1848 M.L. Puckett, 323 92 72 “
1849 I). McDonald, 319 46 53 “
1850 Imperfect,
1851 J. A. Porter, 417 31 83 “
1852 I). W. Seale, 399 52 77 “
1853 A. J. Cauthen, 345 12 57 1 ‘
Total amount for ten years’ service $3,-
395.01. Leaving out of the calculation the
presiding elders’ claims, an average of
$339.50. Or to be more minute, the travel
ing expenses average $20.00, and the pay of
Presiding Elders $50.00, leaving for the .-al
ary of the preacher in charge $269.50. Now
for one required to dress genteelly, and to
have some little share of learning, is not the
sum of wages small? Many a shop boy got
more.
That these payments were not heavy on
the churches the following tabular statement
shows:
I ;
i !
Churches. 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 Total.
|
Lancaster C. 11 $39 65 S4B 2 'l $54 Of* s9l 00 S4O 21 5273 18 (
Camp Creek 15 52; 28 84 62 19, 33 00! 42 <8 187 8o
Ebenezer 11 00, 36 25 40 0( 1< 90, 20 11 1 *-5 20
Damascus 8 00 17 00 33 50 33 15, 27 45, 119 10
Hanging Rock 19 37 36 2 5 65 45 3 4 56 ! 53 91 133 03
Salem 48 50 83 21 87 41 83 33; 80 00 382 47’
Tabernacle 8 75 9 10 27 87 10 15 20 00 75 8< ;
Zion 13 94 6 26 20 31 5 30 20 00 65 SO '
Smyrna 1 5 75. 15 00 20 isi
Public Collection 25 00 6 97 19 69 9 80 01 40 .
! $207 73 $272 10 $4lO 50 $323 94'5319 46 I
And this, mark, too, at a time of compar
ative ease and wealth in the country. But
we turn from this dark showing to another
indication of progress, notwithstanding the
impoverished condition of the country. The
work beiug divided into the Lancaster Sta
tion, Hanging Rock, ar.d Belle Air Circuits,
give the following returns, for the support of
Presiding Elder and Pastor :
Lancaster Station.
Preacher
Year. in Ch’ge. Ain't. Average.
1869 C. Thomason, $560 00 $8 48
1870 “ 625 00 10 41
1871 J. R. Little, 560 00 826
1872 “ 580 00 6 51
1873 “ 560 00 6 22
1874 R. L. Harper, 760 00 835
1875 “ 703 00 7 81
Hanging Rock Circuit.
1869 R. L. Duffie, 607 00 153
1870 S. Jones, 605 00 186
1871 ’ “ 532 00 1 48
1872 Wm. Thomas. 585 60 153
1873 T. W. Munnerlyn, 675 00 212
1874 ‘- 695 85 2 17
1875 D. J. McMillan, 705 94 257
Bki.i.e Air Circuit.
1873 J. F. England, 500 00 228
1874 “ 525 00 2 38
1875 “ 300 00 1 06
This shows rapid improvement within the
last twenty years, and gives promise that by
diligent culture, 11 he that plougheth should
plough in hope ; and that i.e that thresheth
in hope shall be a partaker of his hope. If
we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it
a great thing if we shall reap your carnal
things.” C.
WHAT IS A CIRCUIT RIDER ?
Mr. Editor: Will you permit, or rather
assist me, to correct through the Advocate,
a slanderous epithet applied by the vulgar
and ignorant, to the itinerant preacher? Dr-
Bangs informs us in his History of Method
ism, that a class of gentlemen-preachers, o*
an exclusive character, who assume the only
right to administer the ordinances of the
Christian Church, to show their contempt
for our CltU'ch, gave our ministers the insig
nificant title of Circuit riders! Let this vile
slang pass as altogether worthy of the source
from whence it came. But let our friends,
members, and especially our preachers, know
and respect our sacred office. Apart from
its unclassical origin, I object to its use as not
expressive. Do they perform nothing but
ride a circu t? Then they merit the scorn
of all intelligent men. They should be sent
home, and put to some business profitable to
themselves and society. There are other
professional men who perforin their business
on circuits —judges, lawyers, etc. But are
fined community place a prefix, which ex
presses at once their office, and how they
discharge their respective duties circuit
judge, etc. Award to our ministers a simi
lar expression of our calling, and I am con
tent. Say circuit preacher. If there be no
honor due Methodist preachers, from the
Bishops, and D. D.’s, down, there is, or
ought to be, some reverence given them,
growing out of their relation to Jesus Christ,
in whose service they are employed; and
bearing the seal of the Divine approval.
M. A. McKibben.
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & COMPANY, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
COMPLAINTS AND PRESIDING EL
DEBS.
M the Christian Neighbor , published In
Columbia, S C., Dr. Meynardie, discussing
the scope of the question (occurring in the
routine business of a Quarterly Conference)
—“Are there any complaints?’’ says:
“ As the matter now stands, how shall a
complaint a traveling minister be
made to the proper officer —the Presiding
Elder? When and how? lam free to ob
serve that the usual modes are repugnant to
my sense of honor and propriety; the chief
one of which is to button-hole the Presiding
Elder in private, and in the absence of the
minister, to make an ex parte statement,
which may affect his private character and
the reputation of his family ; and yet, when
the minister becomes obnoxious, he must be
complained against, and how and when ?
is the important inquiry.”
This paragraph has the right ring. Covert
and ex parte representations, affecting the
reputation and interests of any one, is an
evil that would not be tolerated in any other
society, except in a despotic "government.
Well might the Doctor sav : “7 urn free to
obserrf that the modes arc repug
nant (t my-sense of hdnor and propriety.”
The Presiding- Elder who practices “ the
chief one” of “the modes’’ consti
tutes himself solicitor, judg?, and jury ; and
the minister is virtually charged,condemned,
and sentenced, without the right accorded to
the humblest citizen, to know whereof he is
accused. If this, the simplest of human
rights, were accorded him, the cause of jus
tice and brotherly love would be better
served. But if this, “ the chief” of “ the
modes” is practiced, a misrepresented and
tt/trepresented preacher suffers not alone —
his family suffers with him. and the Church
through him. If a preacher will do his
duty some will be displeased, and will seek
occasion to pour complaint of some kiud or
auother into the ear of the Presiding Elder.
They who make, and they who receive and
act upon these representations covertly, ap
pear to be guilty of moral cowardice. The
practice of so receiving them encourages
captious complaints, and impairs the true
relation of the preacher and the Presiding
Elder. It has a tendency to make the
preacher sycophantic towards his superior,
because be fears him as one possessing a
secret power that may be used against him
and his family, which must be disarmed by
time-serving deportment. It deters some
from performing unpleasant duties in their
pastoral charges for fear of giving offense
which may result in secret complaints. Jus
tice demands fair, open dealings, between
preachers, Presiding Elders, and people-
The best interests of the Church demand it.
Some Presiding Elders have complained,
that recently covert representations have been
made to the Bishops concerning them, and we
t link their complaint is just. They call it
“stabbing me in the dark.” We sympathise
wi'h vou, brethren, but, whoisresp msible for
such a state oi Wings t Are not those Pre
siding Elders referred to by Dr. Meynardie,
and their predecessors in office of like prac
tice? Did they not set the example of re
ceiviug complaints covertly ? It is human to
imitate our superiors. When has there been
a Conference, for years past, at which some
preacher has not felt that he was “stabbed in
the dark” in the same mode ; though in the
one casp covert representations were made
to the Bishop concerning the Presiding El
der ; and in the other, covert representations
were made to the Presiding Elder concerning
the preacher. Now you know how it feels
yourself.
I am free to say, that some Presiding El
ders are in no way responsible for this prac
tice of covert representa'ion, which has at,
last reached those who are in high places ;
and it is a pity that any of such should suffer
for the acts of others. But this cannot be
said of all.
It is due to justice, to brotherly love, that
we deal fairly, openly , one with another, from
Bishop to layman, and the suspicion and
friction now complained of would pass away.
A. B. C.
THE CUBAN MISSION.
REPORT of superintendent.
Rev. J. P. DePass, President of the Board
i of Missions, I lorida Conference:
Dear Brother: Although the Cuban Mis
sion is sustained by our Foreign Board, it
occupies an outpost of the Florida Confer
ence, and as such, has peculiar claims upon
our Conference Missionary Board.
Flori la has done nothing for it as yet.
Her failure to do so has not been owing to
an indisposition to accompany her prayers
and sympathy with material aid, but poverty
and more pressing demands in other direc
tions, have been an effectual hindrance
Now, a brighter day dawns. The way is
opening tor her to extend a helping hand,
and I am sure there is no one who will take
a more active and ardent, interest in the mat
ter than yourself; hence, I submit to you
this Report, and request that you, as Presi
dent of our Conference Missionary Board,
will take such measures as you may judge
best for the raising of money to aid in budd
ing a Mission Church. Suppose we only
raise a sufficient amount the current year, to
pay for an eligible lot, (one large enough for
a church building and mission school), then
the incoming year we can go forward with
necessary improvements.
I am more than ever impressed with the
importance of this, as a mission-post. Four
years ago I urged its establishment, but un
fortunately, it was delayed until January,
1874. During the latter part of last year
there was a great religious awakening among
the Cubans, and 52 were brought into the
Church. Some were happily converted then,
some have been converted since, some are
still seeking to know Christ as a personal
Saviour, two have died in the faith of Jesus,
six have removed, and alas! a few have
been vascillating, and are drawn away by the
Ritualists.
Being convinced that a mission school was
necessary to the success of our missionary
labors, I took initial steps, looking to the
opening of a small school, the early part of
the current year. At Conference, Bishop
Wightman, and the Presiding Elder, Rev.
A. A. Robinson, gave their hearty approval
to the steps that had been taken, the only
question being, “As to the practicability of
keeping up a mission school school upon an
almost nominal appropriation ?”
The Bishop made us an official visit in
February, and was present at the inaugura
tion of our little mission school on the 22d
of the month. Hi3 coming was most timely.
He was abundant in labors, preaching morn
ing and evening on Sunday, and speaking to
the children in the afternoon. His pres
ence, labors, and episcopal influence among
us, mark an era in the history of Methodism
on the Island.
The school is held in a comfortable room,
capable of accommodating about 50 scholars.
The location is excellent. For this room a
rental of $15.00 per month is paid, out of
MACON, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JULY 25. 1876.
the proceeds of tie school. Neat and dura
ble school furniture has been purchased, and
paid for out of the missionary appropriation
for the current year, and is held as the prop
erty of the Missionary Society. The school
opened with five scholars ; it now has thirty.
Sister Annis B. Pyfrom, Principal, and Bro.
Silvera y Cordova, Assistant, are working
wi h pious fidelity, and with no small meas
ure of self-Bacrifice, to make the school effi
cient and useful. We have purchased for
the use of the school a small Mason and
Hamlin organ, at a cost of $75. It is to be
paid for in monthly installments of $6 until
the debt is liquidated. Some may think
this an unnecessary expenditure. Without,
however, discussing the matter, I will simply
say, that in a community where all the
schools, public and private, Protestant and
Roman Catholic, are supplied with instru
ments of music, to build up a respectable
school without the aid of ins trumental mu
sic would be exceedingly difficult, if not im
possible. Will not some Sunday-school
send us a special missionary contribution to
aid us in paying for this instrument?
(Since the death of brother Ferdinsr
Diez, on the Ad of last December, broth- j
Henry B. Someillan has been employed in
the Cuban Mission. He was licensed to ex
hort in February. He is studious, diligent,
pious, and is anxious-to prepare himself for
the great life-work to which he feels himself
called. He will probably be lieensed to
preach at our next Quarterly Conference,
and contemplates applying for admission
into the Florida Conference at its next ses
sion. We have a service in Spanish once a
week. This service is not largely attended,
but it is profitable. Eight Cubans have re.
cently united with the Chtn-ck, aud there are
unmistakable indica’’./ns of in*, -osiug re
ligious interest -mong them.
We have a Luban department in our Sun
day-school, under the immediate supervision
of brother Sbmeillan. In this department
there are 35 children and 2 teachers, and
there is a gradual and steady increase in the
attendance. Through this means a great
work is being achieved, but we are straitened
for room. The church building is too small.
The Mission needs a separate church build
mg for worship, aud for Sunday-school pur; ]
poses. When aud how can this need be sup
plied ? When I contemplate the embar
rassments under which we labor, the difficul
ties with which we grapple, the studied and
persistent efforts of Romanists and Ritual
ists to circumvent our humble endeavors to
enlighten and save the Cubans, 1 can scarce
ly understand why it is that we “hold on
our way without f Surely God is
with us ! He hi_' pap . pr „ is some tangible
results. Some prl CduliGl o.m has been gar
tiered in heaven, anff’alUer remains, it mey
be, to render “ white unto harvest,” this,
and mv*-,y a distant field in the regions be
yond,
We are here on an Island, midway be
teen Cape Sable and Cuba We rarely ever
see a preacher of any denomination, except
the few who labor in Churches here.
cannot have the companionship of our
brethren, but we claim their sympathy and
prayers.
Why is it that our Church papers have
nothing to say in regard to this missing*?
Bishop Wightman has plead in its behalf,
and Rev. A. A. Robinson, P. E., of the
Tampa District, has, through the columns of
the Southern Christian Advocate, solid'
ted contributions to aid in the building of a
mission church ; but no one of all our
Chnrcb papers has, so far as I have observed,
published an editorial paragraph or line in
relation to the importance of the mission or
its needs ? This has caused us some seasons
of dejection, aye, and grief; but then, we
are so far away from the home-church that
we can only tell our perplexities and dis
couragements to Jesus, which is far better
than to speak of them to the best earthly
friend. Do not misinterpret me. lam not
complaining. I have learned to endure with
cheerfulness for Christ’s sake and His cause.
The privilege of preaching and working for
the salvation of souls is more than royal— it
is Divine.
Respectfully and affectionately submitted,
Chas. A. Fulwood, Supt. Cuban Mlbs.
Key West, June 23, 1876.
LETTER FROM JAPAN.
Yokohama, Japan, June 6, 1876.
Rev. D. C. Kelley, D.D.— My Dear
Brother: —You will see by my address that I
am iu Japan. I arrived here last Thursday,
the lit of this month, and expect to return
on my way to Shanghai to-morrow, the 7th.
Before leaving Shanghai,on the 24th of May,
I had been improving each day, and was ad
vised by our physician and others to come
to Japan for a few weeks. Taking advan
tage of the exceeding low prices from Sban
ghai to Yokohama, I left home on the 24;h
of May, and reached this place on the Ist of
June, and have been kindly entertained by
our kind friends, Dr. Maclay and his excel
lent wife and family, and also by other mem
bers of the Mission at this place and in the
great city of Tokio. At first I felt some re
gret at leaving Shanghai for any length of
time ; but since reaching this place, and see
ing something of the workings of the Spirit
of God upon the hearts of these people, who
seem ready with something more than will
ing hearts to receive the glad news of salva
tion through Christ, I have been glad indeed
that the Lord has directed my steps here to
witness these wonderful movements; and
now I return to China with a heart full of
thankfulness to God, and with a more earn
est desire to press on in the good work of
grace which has been commenced there. For
three days I have been attending the quar
terly-meeting of onr Methodist brethren here,
and my heart has been filled with joy at what
I have witnessed. They have now in Yoko
hama twenty-one communicants, and seven
in Tokio, and a number on probation. Their
prayer-meetings and love-feasts have been
characterized by devotion and earnestness,
and I have bee.u surprised to see how punc
tual they have been in attending the services.
North and South, all over the Empire of Ja
pan, they are embracing Christianity as soon
as they understand fully the message of sal
vation through Christ. At Nagasaki the
Rev. Mr. Davison, of the Methodist Mission,
told me there was a wonderful work of grace
going on about forty miles from that city in
the school taught by Captain Jayne. No
missionary has had anything to do with this
work. Captain Jayne had been sent for
from America to teach the Japanese the art
of war. When he arrived in Japan there
was nothing for him to do in the army, and
he determined to teach school. The result
of this teaching has been that about forty
young men have professed themselves sol
diers of the cross of Christ. One young
man has gone to Yeddo, entered the College
there, and has been baptized. It is hoped
others will come to Nagasaki and unite with
the Church. In this school there was a
young man whose father was wealthy and a
, influence. He laughed to scorn the
i '< cf the Christian, and advised his son to
hav; nothing to do with those who professed
faith in Christ. The son, partaking of the
s ; ',Wt o-’hia father, withdrew from the school,
and commenced violent opposition. This
eot.tinned for for some time. The father,
observing the forbearance and meekness of
those who professed faith in Christ, and the
overbearing, haughty disposition of their
pe-secutors, said to his son, that there must
be some reality, some power in Christianity,
wth which they were not acquainted,and that
he had better return to school and examine
into it. He did so, aud both his father and
"mselfare warm advocates of Christianity,
fbey have prayer-meetings among them
-3‘lves, and great good is expected to result
ij*om the truth thus sown in their hearts.
At Kobe, in the inland sea, I met a cus
tom-house officer, who was on duty on board
of our steamer. Seeing a Japanese book
■tear him I took it up, -and on reading the.
Chinese part of it I found it was a Christian
book. I commenced a conversation with
him in English and found he was a Christian,
•and said he attended Sabbath-school in
I asked him if his father knew he
i was a Christian. He replied, “Yes, my
father also is a Christian, and all the family.”
T told him I was so glad to know he was a
Christian. He said, “I like Christianity
very much. Christian people are all good
people and I hope all the Japane.-e will scoti
become Christians.” Dr. Berry told me the
number taken into the Church at Kobe this
year and during the past winter was fifty
four, and about the same number in Osaka
and Kiota. They have thirty-two missiona
ries, including the ladies in Japan, and their
Board had written they would send all the
men they could spare. Japan is destined to
be a second Madagascar before many years.
Why cannot our Chuich come forward and
help in the evangelization of these people ?
In many parts of the country they are im
bibing principles from ungodly men.
German infidelity and skepticism is entering
into the country, and, like a flood, will over
spread the country, unless Christian people
come forward, and with a holy zeal for the
cause of God defend the faith of the religion
■ tKey profess. Now is the time when action
should be laken. The people are in a tran
sitory state, and ready every where to accept
of Christianity when presented to them. In
stead of the fifty missionaries in Japan there
should be one thousand scattered all over
the country. There are not Christian men
an .-women sufficient to occupy all the places
which are being opened by a wise Providence,
and unless Christian men come and accept
of these openings they will he filled by un
godly men. All Christian missionaries with
whom I have coßverst-d wished me to urge
our Board to send men at once to this field
and establish a Mi-sion here in some part of
Japan. I trust they will not delay taking
action in reference to this field. We trust in
time Japan will send mi.-sionaties to China
I think there is no doubt about this. lam
sorry our Church has not before this estab
lished a Mission in Japan among this inter
esting people. I hope it will be soon, that
we, too, may take part in giving Christianity
to this people. I feel sure that in six months
1 could speak this language, and be able to
work among them. Hoping Lo hear from
you soon, I remain yours in the bonds of
Christian fellowship. J. W. Lambuth.
Selections.
PROFITABLE HOSPITALITY.
Some people express great anxiety lest
their Christian neighbors should be eaten
out of bouse and home by taking in bo many
strangers, preachers, and what not, as they
do. And yet, somehow, they do not often
have the pleasure of following such people
to the almshouse, nor are they often called
upon to relieve their necessities. In some
way or other the Lord seems to remember
the cup of cold water given in the disciples’
name. The widow and her son at Zarephath
might have starved to death if the Lord had
not sent along a free boarder in the shape
of a persecuted prophet, to help eat the last
handful of the widow’s meal, and assure
them that it should not fail till the Lord sent
rain upon the earth. And often a visitor
may bring a blessing, so that in soul or in
body, in business or in purse, the gain from
the visits of the Lord’s servants may far ex
ceed the cost and trouble of their entertain
ment.
Captain McCabe tells in The Christian
Standard the following story of a prominent
and prosperous lawyer whom he congratu
lated upon his comfortable surroundings:
“Well,” said the lawyer, “all my good
fortune began —by inviting a Methodist
preacher home to dinner with me. Sit down
and I will tell you about it. Many years
ago—when this was anew country and very
sparsely populated—there came to the little
settlement where I lived, information that
upon the following Sabbath the Methodist
circuit rider would preach in our place. It
was a rare event to have a sermon, and the
congregation was very good. I was an un
converted man. but, wicked as I was, I could
not help feeling a great regard for those he
roic itineranis who, on poor pay, and poor
fare, planted the Church in this wilderness.
There were but few Methodists in the settle
ment, and after the sermon I watched them
to see if any one would invite the preacher
home to dinner. Some in the congregation
shook hands with him, but after a while I
was left alone with him. He stood leaning
against the rude pulpit with a tired look upon
his face, and I thought I detected, also, a
shade of disappointment.
“There was a hotel in the place, but, in
those days, Methodist preachers had very lit
tle money to pay their way at the hotels.
Without an abounding hospitality the Church
never could have been planted as it was in
this great West. I approached him, shook
his hand, and said, ‘I am a sinner, sir, but
if you will go home with me, my wife and I
will be glad to take care of you.’
‘‘He gladly accepted my invitation. His
horse was soon comfortably in my little barn,
and the preacher was sitting at my table,
and seemed from the first perfectly at home.
As long as he wus on the circuit he was a
welcome guest at our hearthstone. Others
invited him, but he always seemed glad to
get back to our house. A great revival fol
lowed his labors, and among the first fruits
were my wife and myself. We were both
converted and joined the Church, and from
that time to this, all has gone well with me.
That preacher was God’s messenger to us all.
My children were converted early in life.
We made other acquaintances among the
ministry, but there was one whose memory
we always cherished with peculiar respect
and love, and whose name was a household
world.
“One evening I brought a letter from the
post office, addressed to my wife. I threw
it into her lap. She was sitting just where
she is now. Unfolding my evening paper, I
began to read, when I was startled by a sob.
I looked up, and saw that my wife was weep
ing bitterly, and she was still holding that
letter in her hand. In great alarm I inquir
ed what had happened. ‘John,’ she said,
‘George Bicknell has been superannuated at
Conference. His health has utterly broken
down; he never can take another appoint
ment. He has no home, no money, nothing
but the scanty allowance from the Confer
ence fund.’ And then she came over aud
sat down by my side. ‘John,’ she said, ‘you
know what a blessing he was to us. I have
one request to make. You have a house in
this town for rent. Let it be vacated. Let
me furnish it comfortably aud thoroughly. I
will write to him this very day and tell him
all about it.’
“In thirty days the superannuate came
with his family and took possession of their
home. He rallied some, but alter a few
mouths, consumption did its work, and we
all gathered about him to see him die. As
he was going down into the valley, I sat by
his side holding his hand ; fearing he might
have some little, lingering anxiety about his
family, as I saw him looking from one to
another of the little group, I whispered,
‘George, don’t be troubled about them, I’ll
take care of them all.’ The look he gave
me paid me over and over again for all I had
ever done for him, and left the original debt
still uncancelled.
“And so it came that all my earthly pros
perity as well as spiritual, seemed to begin
with that invitation to a weary itinerant to
come home to dinner with me.
“As we separated for the night, two pass
ages from the word of the Lord were chim
ing away in all our hearts. ‘Use hospitality
without grudging;’ ‘Be not forgetful to enter
tain strangers, for thereby, some have enter
tained angels unawares.’ ” —The Christian.
LEANING UPON CHRIST.
One of the last things which Christians
have been wont to learn is that they have no
strength of their own, and that they must
lean wholly upon Christ. As we advance in
the Christian life and test the weakness of
other helps one by one, we become convinced
that Jesus is the only safe support on which
to lean. Wicked men repel the insinuation
that they cannot break the power of evil
habits whenever they choose, and they ridi
cule the failures of those who are trying to
follow Christ. It is only those who under
take to antagonize sin in their hearts that
realize the fierceness of the warfare which
rages in the human soul. They only with
Paul feel constrained to cry out “Who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?”
Only those who lean bard upon Jesus know
the fullness of his love. Jesus is our brother,
and we can trust him as we would our real
brother in the, flesh. A gentleman once said
to a little boy, “how many brothers have
you:” The child stated the number, adding,
“and one in heaven.” His mother inter
posed: “No my son, you have no brother in
hiaven.” “Yes I have,” said the boy.
“Did you not tell me that God was my
Father and that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God? then he must be my Brother in liea
ven.” Jesus is the friend and brother of all
who trust him, and they may lean hard upon
him. The enemy of our soul often attacks
us from a quarter where we least expected it.
Satan approaches us in the garb of an angel
of light, and we entertain him sometime with
out discovering our mistake. We long to be
lifted into a closer communion with God, and
to have our love for his word increased. For
this we agonize in prayer, and contend
against the evil desires of our heart. We
discover that our sterength is failing, and in
our extremity we lean upon Christ and re
ceive the help we need. We exult in our
new found support and cry, “I have done
with doubts and fears, I am through the Val
ley of Humiliation, I have merged into the
higher life.” No matter what is our trial, if
we lean upon Jesus we will receive help.
Some float on the surface of the sea of trou
ble like cork. Some sink at once to the bot
tom like foundering ships. Some run away
and seek to escape their own thoughts. Some
coil themselves up into a stoical indifference.
Some brave trouble and defy it. Some carry
it as a tree does a wound, until new wood
overgrows and covers the gash. A few learn
the divine art of leaning upon Christ, and so
dividing their sorrows as to bear them as a
mysterious joy, so that they suffer gladly,
rejoicing in infirmity, and as it grows darker,
let the light depart from their eyes, that by
faith they may see nobler things than sight
can reach. —Northern Christian Advocate.
CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE IN THE HOME.
We mean the example of a life in which is
found the exercise of all Christian graces.
There may be the family altar, and forms of
prayers ; the Bible and a routine ot instruc
tion. There may also be the example of
outward Church observances,and public pro
fession of religion. All these may exist with
out a Christian example in the real life of
the household. The spontaneity of home—
its sudden unrestrained outbursts of feeling
—how unchristian they frequently are I How
that freedom, which ought to be the open
door to unreserved confidence, and the chan
nel of the purest joys, is often the opportun
ity for free domestic torment. Impatience,
fretfulness, scolding, accusation, criticism,
unkind rebuke, and even jealousy, enter, in
greater or less degree, to mar the peace
whiclf Christianity would give. Sometimes
these evil traits develop themselves and are
allowed to grow, until what is called home
becomes a most fearful tax upon human en
durance. All this exists in homes called
Christian. We cannot conceive it possible
that such should be the case, except as the
absence of the Christian graces from the dai
ly life of the household has been thought a
small offense. This is certainly a most fa
tal mistake. Home is the place of the high
est joys; religion should sanctify them. Home
is the sphere of the deepest sorrows; the
highest consolations of religion should as
suage its griefs. Home is the place of the
greatest intimacy of heart with heart; relig
ion should sweeten it with the joy of confi
dence. Home discovers all faults ; religion
should bless it with an abundance of charity.
Home is the place for impressions, for in
struction, and culture ; there should religion
open her treasures of wisdom, and pronounce
her heavenly benediction. Readers, seek
such a home. —Northern Christian Advocate.
The Good Shepherd. —How beautifully
is the care and compassion of our gentle
Saviour illustrated by the conduct of our
Eastern shepherd. One of my friends trav
eling in Greece, some years since, met three
shepherds with their flocks. These three
flocks numbering two thousand and one hun
dred, were put together ; each sheep had a
separate name ; it would not answer to any
other name nor even to its own name unless
called by its own shepherd. Each shepherd
knew all his sheep, and also all their names.
If he saw one going in a dangerous direction
he called it and it retraced its steps. If the
way was narrow or steep, he walked first and
the sheep followed. It is exactly what the
Bible says of Christ and his flock : The sheep
hear his voice, etc. I am the good shep
herd, and know my sheep, and am known
of mine. I lay down my life for the sheep.
PEACE OF CHRIST.
BY REV S. H. BEALE.
When proudly the waves raise their voices on
high,
And frown In their anger so dark,
The dove o’er the waters then calmly will fly
With emblems of peace to the ark
When hack to their caverns the billows have
fled.
And the tumult of waters shall cease,
The Lord on the cloud for a token will spread
The bow of His promise of peace.
When tempest had swollen Gennesaret’s lake,
Aod raged in its fury abroad,
The trembling disciples in terror awake.
From slumber refreshing, their Lord :
“Oh. carest Thou not that we perish,” they
said,
“Be still 1” and the wild tumults cease,
And calmly, in quiet, each wave bowed its
head,
To Christ’s benediction of “ Peace!”
The terrified band in great dread of their foes,
Had met iu the chamber secure ;
The voice of their Master in sweetness arose,
“My peace shall forever endure.”
The trustful disciple now beare his Lord say,
“My peace I will grant unto thee;
Not given as giveth the world for display—
The peace that proceedeth from Me.
“Whenever My people will hearken to Me,
Their peace like a river will flow.
And righteousness, grand as the waves of the
sea,
A mighty salvation shall show.
Gr-at peace to them all who will keep My com
mand,
And safety when dangers assail.”
These truths of the Lord shall eternally s’and;
And none of His promises fail.
The waves and the billows may over me sweep,
And bear me away on their tides;
But surely my God doth His covenant keep,
My arts in security rides
The future need bring me no shadow of dread.
Nor cause me in terror to start,
Since Peace, the fair angel, her pinions hath
spread,
And warbled her song in my heart.
— Zion's Herald.
THE HEBREWS.
The whole nation of Israel bears witness
to the grace of God and His purposes of
grace. At present the Jew is the monument
of God’s wrath. He has yet to be the mon
ument of His grace. Where sin has abound
ed, grace shall much more abound. His
sins have been scarlet, they shall be as snow.
They have been like crimson, they shall be
as wool. God’s love to Israel seems to be a
love which many waters could not quench,
and which the floods could not drown—a love
“stronger than death and mightier than the,
grave.” Israel shall yet be forgiven. This
is the burden of the prophets; and what a
forgiveness that shall be when God shall re
ceive back to His embrace His long alienated
nation, when Joseph shall fall on the neck
of Benjamin and weep. If He, their rejected
King, wept over Jerusalem’s impenitence,
what will he not do over Jerusalem’s repent
ance ? What shall be that meeting when they
shall look on Him whom they have pierced
and mount, and what shall be that other
meeting when they shall say with one voice,
“Blessed is He that cometh in the name of
the Lord ?” Will not that day be pre-emi
nently the day of grace, and will not that
meeting be the fullest exhibition that ever
has been known of pardon under the law ?
And then there will come the glory—the
glory of Israel and Israel’s land, the glory of
Jerusalem, and the glory of Jerusalem’s King.
—“the King in His beauty;” the glory of
the city and of the King forevermore. Ah !
never then that light again Jerusalem shall
miss I The glory of the “new heavens and
the new earth wherein dwelleth righteous
ness,” will be the fullest unfolding that earth
has seen. The forgiveness of Israel, the for
giveness of the world, is a replacement, not
of Jerusalem, but of all the earth in sphere
of holy blessedness. Ah ! what will -.hat be
to angels above and men below? What will
it be to Him who shall “see of the travail of
His soul and be satisfied ?”
That glory may be nearer than we think.
That King may be just at hand. We know
not; still the old message which has sounded
through the ages speaks to us: “Behold I
cotne quickly.” The breaking up of king
doms, the shaking of earthly things, the
wars and rumors of wars, the overthrow of
error and atheism, the denial of revelation,
the rejection of the blood, the self-will of
men, the idolization of human intellect, the
deification of humanity, the prevalence of
strong delusions —these things are the warn
ings that the great day cometh, not much
longer to be delayed. “He that shall come
will come, and will not tarry.” Men may
say, “Peace and safety,” but sudden des
truction cometh. The unfaithful servant
may say “Where is the promise of His com
ing?” but he will come. And what will that
day of His advent be to the nations of this
guilty earth? What will that day be to Eu
rope with its six millions of armed men,
with its rebellious cities, steeped iR crime
and infidelity ? What will that day be to
Paris, to Berlin, to Rome, and to Babylon
the Great, when in one hour its judgment
comes? What day will that be to Britain
with its abused privileges and rejected Gos
pel ? What will that day be to London,
that city of cities, the like of which we have
not seen —London with its men of all nations
and creeds; London with its churches, and
hopitals, and theatres, and halls of gaiety;
London with its four millions of souls, of
whom so few can say that they know the Son
of God? What will that day be to thee, O
sinner, who hast not found thy way to the
cross, but art still in thy guilt and impeni
tence ? There is still grace for thee ; a long
suffering God waits and yearns over thee.
There is forgiveness for thee. Wilt thou not
take it now; wilt thou not take that forgive
ness this very night ? And if not, then thou
wilt one day know this —that if thou perish
est, thou perishest not because God would
not save thee, but because thou wouldst not
be saved ; not because God would not be re
conciled to thee, but because thou wouldst
not be reconciled to God. — 11. Bonar, D. D.
RELIGION THE GREAT BUSINESS.
Unless I make religion my great and en
grossing concern, I shall be a stranger to all
solid peace and enjoyment. I have at times
caught a glimpse of the comfort which it
yields to the spirit when I merge my will
into God’s will ; when I resolve to have no
will of my own separate from God. I feel
quite assured that this renunciation of self
and entire devotion to God’s service, would
give a simplicity and grandeur to my exis
tence ; would throw an uncluded sunshine
over all my ways; would raise me above the
cares and provocations of this life ; would
enhance even my sensible gratifications, and
superadd those gratifications of a higher or
der which constitute the main and essential
blessedness of heaven. O my God, may it
be thus with me 1 Call me out of nature’s
darkness into thine own marvelous light 1
Give me to aspire after the graces and to
hold forth to my acquaintances and above
all to my children, the example of all right
eousuess. Conform me to the gospel econ-
F. M. KENNEDY, D. D., Editor.
J. W. BURKE, Assistant Editor .
A. G. HAYGOOD, D. D., Editorial Correspondent.
WHOLE NUMBER 2005.
omy, under which I sit, that as Christ died
for sin I may die to it; that as he arose
again, I may rise to newnass of life, and feel
it my meat and drink to do thy will. —Dr .
Chalmers.
MISCELLANEA.
The American Sunday-school Union du
ring its fifty-second year formed 1,236 new
schools, and aided 3,216 other schools in
thirty-one of our States and territories, the
whole having a membership of 228,245.
The three great Presbyterian Churches of
Scotland raised last year for all purposes,
£1,305,036. Of this sum the Established
Church contributed £350,000, the United
Presbyterians £419,965, and the Free Church
£534,450,
Miss Baxter of Dundee, has given SI,OOO
to the London society, towards the purchase
of a suitable building at Amoy, China, for
the training of native ministers and school
masters. lit view of the general intelligence
of the Chinese, and the great respect for
which their system of government
inspires, the London sooiety is desirous of
giving I he native ministers a better education
than has hitherto been the case.
The excavation of the site of the Temple
of the Sun, al. Baalbec, in Syria, has reveal
ed stones used in the edifice that were 60 by
20 feet in length. In answer to the old ques
tion, how these immense masses were moved,
Mr. Pullan, a distinguished specialist, who
has examined them, states that he has no
doubt, whatever, that those simple means,
the roller and inclined plane, were adequate
to the work, and must have been those ac
tually employed.
The portable pulpit of George Whitefield,
which belongs to the American Tract Socie
ty, is on view at the Centennial Exhibition.
It is made of pine-wood, and so contrived
that it can be easily taken apart and put to
gether. Ihe great preacher delivered more
than two thousand sermons from this pulpit
in the fields of England, Wales, and Ameri
ca ; and he once remarked that the gospel
had been preached from it to more than ten
millions of people.
I he North India Bible Society report an
increase ot more titan 50 per cent, in their
sales this year over last. The number of
copies of Scripture circulated in 1875 ,was
36,870; of the Urdu Scriptures, 18,330; of
the Hindi, 15,622. The subscriptions were,
Rs. 2,820 ; the sales at depot, Rs. 3,771 ; the
colportage sales, Rs. 1,262. The committee
are bringing out an edition of 3,000 copies of
the gospel of John in Urdu-Persian, in large
type, for the use of those who are under in
structions in zenanas.
The Woman’s Auxiliary to the Board of
Mi isions of the Protestant Episcopal Church
has, since its formation in 1872, raised $6,000
tor the Domestic Missions ; SIO,OOO for the
Foreign; and $50,000 for the Missions of the
Church among the Indians. In addition to
money collected, boxes of clothing valued at
$116,000 have been sent by the Society lo
the families of the domestic and diosesan
missionaries, and hospital stores, clothing,
etc., to the value of $30,000, have been fur
nished to the Indian Missions.
Dr. DeMarmon, in the New York Medical
Journal, says: “For the last ten years the
use of spirits has: 1. Imposed upon the na
tion a direct expense of $600,000,000. 2.
IDs caused an indirect expense of $700,000,
000. 3. Has destroyed 300,000 lives. 4.
Uue fl ent 100,000 children to th a poor-house.
5. Has committed at least 150,000 people to
prisons and work-houses. 6. Has determin
ed at least 1,000 suicides. 7. Has caused
the loss, by lire or violence, of at least $lO, -
000,000 worth of property. 8. Has made
200)000 widows and 1,000,000 orphans.”
Ins very existence of such a language as
the Sanskrit was denied by the eminent
Scotch metaphysician, Dugald Stewart, who
died as late as 1820. Later it was ascertain
ed that India had a literature 3,000 years old,
and the code of Menu and the Vedas are now
familiar to all scholars, at least by name.
The Sanskrit is usually considered to be a
dead language, though the master-key to all
the present Hindoo dialects. But, in fact,
it is spDken fluently by learned natives all
over Inlia, and the study of this venerable
tongue is made compulsory on all students
destined for the East India Civil Service.
The most flourishing station of the Niger
mission, West Africa, under tile : ’Large of
Bishop Crowther, is Brass, at tfie mouth of
the river. At this place, the C :is i.u 3 have.,
endured bitter persecutions, but i .vc mo e
than held their ground. The new church,
towards which the people had given SI,OOO
in money or kind, was opened last year. Fif
teen persons were baptized on the djy of
dedication, making forty-seven for the year.
Others are coming forward. Among .hose
who were received was a chief, by whose
side, sat his most bitter persecutor in former
years, apparently a converted man.
Origin of Bible Societies.— A young
Welch girl, in 1802, was wont to walk i dis
tance of seven miles weekly, for an opportu
nity of reading the Bible. In one of these
weekly journeys she was met by Mr. Claries,
of Bala, who on learning the fact, wen; up to
London to ask for Welsh Bibles for diitribu
tion. When iu conversation with some friends
on the subject, one—John Hughes—exclaim
ed, Why not establish a society for sending
Bibles to Wales? But if to Wales, why not
to England? If to England, why not to Eu
rope? If to Europe, why not to the whole
world? This small mustard seed has spread
into the British and Foreign Bible Society as
it now is ; and the simple fact of that little
girl’s going seveu miles a week for a Bible,
has led to the wonderful distribution of
74,000,000 copies of the Word of God, in
whole, or in part, throughout the length and
breadth of the world.
Emperor Wiixiam recently gave his chief
court preacher a tremendous dressing down. -
That worthy, instead of preaching Christ and
Him cnicified, preached Queen Louisa'and
her glorified, and gave a glowing account of
her interview at Schwedt, after Jena, with her
sons, tbelatekingand present emperor, whom
she urged in the true Cambyses’ vein to re
deem and avenge their country. The ser
mon moved every one to tears and applause
except the emperor. He waited until the
preacher appeared at the chapel door, dives
ted of his clerical habiliments and ready to
return home, and accosted him with: “No
such scene as you elaborately described ever
took place. The words attributed to her
certainly expressed my mother’s sentiments;
but all that she said to her son was: ‘You
see me in tears. I weep for the sad fate
which has overtaken us. The king has been
mistaken as to the etlicieucy of his army and
its leaders; therefore we have been defeated
and are obliged to fly.’ ” The preacher thus
corrected, could not excuse nor defend him
self. The emperor added: Let me advise
you not again to give a sermon of this sort.
My family and myself go to church to wor
ship God and hear the gospel preached— not
to listen to flattering notices of our
ancestors."