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TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS. IPEIR. TJT&. VOLUME XL., NO. 40. Original 'Joctrg. AFFLICTION. “Sweet are the uses of adver-ity.”— Shah spear*. “The j?ood are better made by ill, A-j odors crushed are sweeter still.’*— Jiopera. “To live is Christ, to die is gaio.”— St. Aim/. BY W. P. R. I’m weary with watchU g a sleeper so fair — A beautiful child upon her tick bed ; I’m trusting and hoping and wa’ching in prayer. But anxious and fearful, my thoughts with the dead; Three bright ones have gone—how sal is the past, With its shadows of death and its losses and pain ! But yet in life’s changes, this truth I hold fast— “To live is Christ Jesus, to die is cur gain.” How poor is the world, and how void is this life ! Where Time writes “ 1 ecay ” on all neath the sun; How fleeting the trophies we gain in the strife— The. laurels, the p1e...-ures the joys that ire w- n! But what, though earth’s treasures may never en dure, A.nd life seems a dream that is empty and vain? Yet, faith ir. Col’s goodness may ev ;r reit sure— To Jive is Curia*./or it*,*to die i* our gain, Ifie world is a waste in the light of this line, I live among graves, and my idols are dead; Naught lives but in C irist—He only is mine. Ail joys are fro nll uu—all others are fled: This lesson grows brighter as years come and go. The hopes that wc cher.sited —but could not re tain — The lives that wore precious— departed —all show : To live is Christ, with n* —to die is our gain. My life as a tree, is all b asted and bare, St >rm-shak n—of verdure and blossom bereft ; Though dying, yet living through winters of care. With few vernal hopes on the branches yet left: But still the tree grow*, out of sorrows and woes. And sweet are “ the peaceable fruits ” tha re main ; And so, in affliction, my spirit yet knows : To live is Carnt, in a*—to die is our gain. Oh, hopes of swert lives that were 1 oyoud.v given! Now f.dle l to moulder away in the earth— Ye nourish the grain that is blooming for hciveti. To be garnered immortal in beaut: and worth; Let sickness and sorr w and death reap a while ! The angels shall gather and h irvest the grain : And Faith, looking upward, may say wit . a smile : “To live is Christ, only— to die is our gain.” “Christ for us—Christ with us—Christ in us,” our creed! Life’s title and power—“the light of life” given. Life's uiodel and glory—“the //” th:it we nee I, For l fe that is richer and swo d.er in heaven: The bread and the water of life, and its wine— The strength for ail weakiies-—tha cure for all pain ; Or living, or dying, this knowledge be mine— To live is Christ Jesus—io die is our gain ! For the Southern Christian Advocate. Contributions. FRATERNAL RELATIONS OS' T!IE M. E. tIIIKPII, AND .11. K. rill Itnl, Sill Til. Dear Brother Kennedy : Whilst 1 have hail honest doubts as to the formal move men's of these Churches, looking to for mal arrangements and declarations of fra ternity, I have been unwilling to do or say ought that might really or seemingly be wanting in catholicity of spirit as a Chris tian, and especially as a minister ot the Gospel of peace. But now, that initiatory s’eps have been officially taken in this direc lion, and th ,re seems to be general sat. fac. tion on both sides—there are some excep tions —I venture to suggest, as being prudent, I will not nay wise, that, as a vital element in real, permanent frniernity—noneolh- r is, or can be. desirable—it be arranged, in th< provisions of this Chrisriiu courtesy, that the Methodist Episcopal Church withdraw entirely from the Southern territory, and that the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as equally withdraw from the territory of the C hurch, North. It is obvious to the most superficial ob server that so long as these Churcht s antag onize each other, as at the present, there can be no real peace or fraternity. They will ‘■bite and devour one another.” Besides, why should the Church, North, annually spend thousands of dollars to maintain a meager existence in the South, and why should the Church, South, at the same time, in like matter and with similar results, do likewise? Is not the world open to them both ? And does not the world need their help? With fraternity, "let us hare peace." I incline also to believe that peace would be promoted, and the Gospel greatly ad vanced, by colonizing and consolidating these Churches west of the Rocky Mono tains. This thought seems to me to be in harmony with the Divine administration, in pushing the conquests of Christianity and civilization. Who can venture to predict what grand results, for the good of the Church and the world, would grow out of such a fraternity, and, magnanimity on the part of all concerned, so God liae in its na ture and spirit ? These suggestions are thrown out in no spirit of controversy or capiionsness, but from a deliberate and abiding conviction of their correctness, and a desire to promote the peace and usefulness of the Church of Christ. If they shall receive the approval of the good and wise, I shall be gratified ; bat, if Otherwise, I shall have the salisfuc tion of having done what I believed a duty, and the issuer will be referred to the dis closures of the final day. Jesse Boring. Gainesville, Georgia. A CRITICISM. I beg leave to call attention to an error in the excellent and popular commentaries of I)r. Whedou. In his comment on verse 85, lat chapter of Luke, words •• The Holy Ghost," in the sentence " The Holy Giioat shall come upon you,’ he Bays: “ The deli nite attiele is not in the Greek. The phra e ‘Holy Spirit’ designates not the third per son in the Trinity j for, then, He would be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; bit the same Holy Spirit of Deity which brood ed upon chaos and produced the creation.” To this comment there are the following ob jections : 1. The absence of the article here no more destroys the personality of the Spirit, than its absence before Theos in John i: 1 destroys the personality of God there. The same argument which establishes the char acter ot the Theos of that passage could be applied to the pneuma agion ot the verse in question. 2. The view which he presents of the di vine Spirit brooding over chaos destroys one of the arguments in favor of the divinity of the Spirit, namely, his creative power. Th s argument is used by Biekersteth, “Spirit of Life,” page 14. W ,tson’s “ Institutes,” page 354. 3. The comment as to the Spirit’s being the Father of Christ is contradictory to the standards of the Church. It is contrary to Creed,” which says—“ Who f. and of the llolv Ghost:” the - Ni f ■ And was i-icanmte by me of the V.rgin Mary." Also in controverting th- id-a -hat Christ of God in hia incarnation, says, “Wueu the persons are distinctly of, it is clear that he who produced 1 price the human nature of Christ in the womb of the Virgin, was the third person.” We see from ihis argument of Watson’ the danger ous tendencies of the comment of the learned Doctor. Albert M. Williams. A LEAF FROM THE VOLUME OF 11U 31AN LIKE. A few years ago, it was my privilege, to spend a Bhort time with my esteemed friend, Dr. Littlejohn, whose obituary will be seen in another column. I listened to him with j great plea: ure, when he sketched the early society of upper Carolina, as he had heard i* described by others, or remembered it in his childhood. The following is the substance of a short parenthesis in his narrative: . . . “But, there was an old lady, then living not far from this place, who, I think, did a great deal, to sow the seeds of Chris tian influence about here. Her opportunities for social and religious intercourse were, of course limited. She went to hear the Meth odist pioneer, at his monthly appointment, at the log church, and laid in supplies tor another was a. fj-eat reader to: ‘her B ble. an (Fa liule rooir/of the house ™ her chapel.” ‘‘Are any of her descendants now living near here? ’ “Yes, I am the youngest of seven sons, whom she reared to manhood. Iri her last illness, one of my brothers and I met at her house. ouß day when we could leave her quite comfortable, we rode over to another part ol the plantation, to visit the spot of onr birth. We reached the hill, and found the plum thicket, which we knew was near the spot. But time had so changed everything, that we could not at any moment, stop our horses and say, ‘Here stood our old home stead!’ You see. air, the house, that our fa'ber built for us, had utterly perished, but the Christian training, our mother gave us, remains to this day " But one of the seven now remains. Let the reader breathe one earnest prayer for him, and for all the many living descendants of that good woman of another generation. And let the Christian mother of to day faint not! J. 11. C. Selections. From the Nashville Chrts ian Advocate. LETTER FROM BISHOP MARVIN. NO XXXV. —GOSSIP. On Tuesday, May 1, at 6 o'clock P. M., we embarked in the Steamer Esp“ro, of the Austrian Lloyd line, for Constantinople, tak i"g leave of Beyroot after a very pleasant sojourn of three days. Be it known by all t.ravele 8 that, the Austrian Lloyd steamers do no extra feeding. Their dinner-hour is five, and when they sail at six, as they gen orally do, if a passenger gets his dinner he pays for it extra. Moreover, they take great pants tf> land you at the port of destination just lie fore a meal. In the run of the year a good deal of bread and meat is saved by this clo e sort of economy, and I must say this Austrian bread is worth saving. It is the sweetest bread I have ever eaten. Out capiain is a boriy Italian, a funny, genial fellow, who plays a practical joke on someone every now and then. He takes more pains to get off a poor trick than any man I ever saw. For instance, he fastened thp p’ate of Cook’s dragoman to the table cloth with sealing wax. just before dinner one day, burning a hols in the table cloth in doing it. How he did laugh when the man’s plate was to be changed and the table cloth was lifted with it. The man who can get so much laughter out. of a joke no bet'er than that is to be envied. We have several Turkish officers on board, bound for Constantinople. The war has be gun ; the whole weight of Russia is coming unon the Empire, and Turkey “ expects every man to do bis duty.” Some of the officers of the lower ranks amuse me. Their uniform is blur, and the skirt of the coat is sewed to the body in plaits nearly an inch wide. Brother Hendrix says they remind him of a negro in his master's cast-off coat. Those we have seen are certainly as ungain ly a looking set as can be well imagined. Now and then one makes a show of dressing up, but there is always sure to be something outre. I have seen some quite elegantly dreesed, except that their feet were in slip pers which were down at the heel, with no stockings on. But at Smyrna some officers of high rank got aboard. They are faultlessly dressed in European style and as fine looking men as you will see anywhere. Onp, especially, is a man of very imposing presence, who would be taken for a man of mark in any country, They are very courteous and self possessed. One of them sits next to me at meals. On mv asking him if he spoke English, he sho< k his head and said, “ No.” But we manage by a sort, of pantomime to keep up an ex change of amenities at the table, in whi. h he will never allow me to get ahead of him. I have taken a decided liking to him, which. I imagine he reciprocates. Two things I hope for in connection with this Russo- Turkish war—one is that the Turks may get a good drubbing, for they need it; the other, that, this particular Turk may not get a hole shot through him. Most of our passengers are Englishmen and women. Two of ihem are clegymen of the Established Church. They and their party are the jolliest set on board. They are the only ones who act like snobs. One of the reverend clergymen, especially, puts on airs, and affsets the elegant gentleman in many respects, while at the same time he pays assiduous attention to the ladies, and often sings snatches of humorous songß with grimace and gesture that—well, I will not say it. This gentleman was invited to read pray ers on Sunday,but he had the grace to get his older and better-behaved friend to officiate. After prayers there would have been a ser non but the ship was just landing at Mitylene, and the confusion was so great as to render it impracticable. Nearly all on board are people of good sense and modest behavior —that is, I mean, of the first class passengers—and some of them are men of very large information. The English, so far as our observation ex lends, travel more than any other people, and, with very few exceptions, they are sen sible travelers. They press for it in a plain, substantial way, and do not overload them selves with luggage. They are rea ly to take things as they come, rarely making any ado if they encounter some mishap or have some discomfort to undergo. Oily now and then one is a little snobbish. Perhaps they are somewhat too much given to ordering ser vauts about in hotels and on ships, and once in a while one is noisy and blustering in his way of doing it. One of our snobs, going ashore in a boat at Mitylene, quarreled with the boatman on his return, and fell foul of him with his fists. lam glad to say he was not one of the clergymen. The English ladies knov exactly how to PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & COMPANY, F01; THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. travel, dispensing with all finery and non sensp, dressing in stout goods of sober col ors, and taking things as they come. Two unmarried ladies, not over young, out with out any male friend, taking care of them selves under Cook’s auspices, were in Dr. SchafTs party through Palestine. I ad mired them, not for their personal beauty— for they had none of that —but for their good sense, which they were liberally endowed with, for their unaffected good manners, their remarkable intelligence, self possession and first rate horsewomanhip. They were provided with gentle, but active, and spright ly horses, and were as fearless riders as any in the company, complaining less of fatigue than the men. Tuey sometimes uncon sciously led the cavalcade at so rapid a rate that the venerable Dr. Schaff was compelled to break into an undignified canter to keep from getting lost. He protested that it had never been in his expectations to gallop through Palestine, but he was obliged to do it to keep iu sight of the rest. Oace the spell was broken, and he haj begun to gallop, I half suspected him of enjoying It. Certainty he was not always behind. I am not sure but that with practice he would excel as muchin hor emanship as in Hebrew. I have rarely met with a more genial, enjoyable man. Both companies of us were photographed together amid the ruins of Bialbec. Two negatives were made, in one of which a heavy shadow fell from me upon the Doctor. He consoled himself that the shadow was not upon his head, and I acknowledged that it would be impossible to throw that in tbe shade. It always shines out clear. But I roust get back on board the good ship Eipero. We have on board the Rev. Dr. Post, of the Mission at B-yroot. He is, by the necessities of his position, in a large practice as a physician and surgeon at Bey root. His reputation as a surgeon is all over Syria. Patients come to him for capi tal operations from great distances. He is also Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the Medical Department of the College, and of B tarty in the Scientific Department— wotk enough for one small man; but, like many intellectual men of small stature, he has the nervouß and muscular fibre that can bear almost any strain. Ha can turn off work and stand it like Dr. Summers. He is going to Constantinople with the scientific text-books which have been prepared in Arabic by the missionaries, to show the Gov ernment that the hard work of the Mission looks to the substantial and permanent ad vancement of the Turkish Empire, and to (•quest certain franchises for the College. But I suspect the Government has its hands too full of tbe war to give him much atten tion. Little cares it, at best, about the edu cation of the people, though it does some times grant favors to distinguished men when they apply. At any rate, under whatever auspices of Government, and in spite of all wars, these great labors and educational en terprises, carried on in the name of the Ron of God, will go forward to the happiest issue. In addition to the first class passengers, we have a motley crowd below, ia all styles of dress. European and Oriental, of all col ors, from the fair Greek to the jet-black Nu bian, men and women, distributed about in the most picturesque way ; each individual or group provided with its own mattress and quilts, which serve them to squat on by day and sleep on at night. Tbe gabble they keep up is incessant. Rome of them are re markably fine looking, and some as squalid as dirt and rags can make them. There is not a single native traveling first-class, ex cept the three distinguished officers who came on at Rmyrna, A devout Mussulman is often seen in his devotions. He takes no pains to get out of sight. The “ corner of the street” is as good a place as he wants for prayer. Turn ing his lace towards Mecca he bows repeat edly, touching the ground with his head, and runs rapidly over his set form of words The floors of mosques and chapels for prayer are always covered with mats, and the man who performs his devotions out of doors, so far as I have observed, alwai s spreads down his blanket or cloak, to stand air! kneel and prostrate himself upon. There is always a decent aspect of reverence. I think I have never witnessed an instance of indecent flippancy. Our first landing place was at Larnaka, in the Island of Cyprus. After Paul and Bar nabas had been solemnly and formally set apart to the work of Missions, at An'ioch, they came first to Cyprus. On this island the first missionary trophies were won, though not on this part of it. Bat we were in the neighborhood of those great, events. Just beyond the mountains, to the west of us, was Paphos, where the Deputy, Publius, was nonverted, and where t he sorcerer, Ely mas, was struck blind. Of what a career was that the beginning I We landed and walked through the town, visiting the bazaar, an old church and con vent, and, best of all, a Greek school. In the church I suggested to Dr. Schaff to go up into the story pulpit, and give us a sermon, which he did, but in an unknown tongue. However, it had the merit of being short, consisting of two passages of Scrip ture in Greek, followed by the apostolic benediction. The school was a large one. For our entertainment, the boys—for there were no girls—sang one or two pieces, and one of them recited the Lord’s prayer and the Credo, but in the most rapid snd irrev erent manner. We visited Mr. Cesnola, the brother of the former United States Consul, who was so successful in collecting ant quities here. Besides the two collections that have been s°nt to America, there is a fine one still here, which we saw. Mr. Cesnola received us with great courtesv, and presented each one of u with a specimen. From Cyprus we steered direct for Rhodes, so long the headquarters of the Knights of St. John. Here we saw a specimen of the harbors of a. cient times. Heavy stone walls, built out into the water, affording ample room for the ships of the old time mariners, and sheltering them completely from storms and waves, are still in perfect preservation. But they have outlived their day. Great steamers cannot eater. I was impressed, howevt r.when I went in, in a little row boat, with th> perfect security of the place. There was a brink breeze, and the waves were run ning somewhat, outside ; but within the space protected by these walla the 8-arface was perfectly smooth. The masonry must be of the most remarkable solidity; for, at the very least, theße walls, so perfect, have stood against the waves from the days of the Crusades. We visited such of the castles, barracks, hospitals, and churches of the Knights as are still standing. There are two houses pointed out as the residence* of the Com manders. The buildings are all of stone, very solid, but not of the magnificent pro portion* nor high finish I expected to see. MACON, GEORGIA. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1577. They are in rather a rude style. Coats-of arms appear here and there, in relief, with an occasional figure of Christ, or the Virgin, or a saint; but the carving is not abundant. Yet one cannot but honor the history of those doughty knights, whose chivalry was devoted, however superstitiously, vet, ac cording to the light they had, to the honor of Christ and the glory of his kingdom. They were high souled men, who held for ages this stronghold of Faith, in the Levant, by force and arms, against the power of the inSdel. But they are gone now—gone for ever; forthe Christian civilization has realized a spirit and taken on forms that render such an arm of support and defense impossible. Her battles now are on a different arena, and she has come to know the weapons of her warfare better. They are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. The Church has become more skillful of fence with the sword of the Rpirit, which is the word of Goi. With this she turns to flight the armies of the aliens, end overthrows the info*"V T ‘t ana then, tne Russian maxes the defense of . Christians the pretext of a war, all the world knows that it is but a pretext—‘hat political considerations, a' bottom, determine her course at all times. In the Grecian Archipelago we have is lands in sight all the time, and generally, on our right, the mainland. Cnidos, ICos (Coss), Mitylene, Troas, remind us of that journey of the great, apostle, when he “must keep this feast at Jerusalem.” On Tburs day evening the sun went down directly over Patrnos, which lay just in sight, upon the ho rizon. Patinos! It looks like any other island in the fistance, most truly, for i'g glory is not of its rocks or hills. But of what a drama was it the theatre 1 With what, scenic splendors, with what display of celestial grandeurs, with what coining and going of mighty angels, did God open the unseen world, and disclose tbe future there! The book sealed with seven seals was opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Harps and trumpets, thunders and voices, shook the at mo sphere, and lightnings striped the sky. Bnt the drapery of the vision all passed away, and Patrnos became only as another is land. We landed at Rmyrna. This was the seat of one of the Reven Churches. There was no fault found with this Church. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This was the message of her Lord to her, from among the sublimities of Patrnos. This, also, was the warning, “Fear none of those things which thou shalr, suffer;” tor persecutions were in the near future. “Rome of vou shall be cast into prison, and ye shall suffer tribulation ten days.” Tbe faithful Polycarp did indeed suffer here afterward bearing a glorious tes timony to the last, and loving not his life nnto the death. They have made a poor modern tomb, under a cypress tree, which they point out to travelers as Polycarp’s tomb. It is on an elevation back of the cite. There is an old castle, built, probably, in med rnval times, of stone and fragments of old marble structures, on the spot, they say, wt>e*e the TV 1 rtyc.ft‘t. Rmyrna is now the second city of the Turkish Empire, having a population of 200,000. More than half of them are Greek Christians. There is a large Jews’ quarter. Passing through it we saw many good look ing people, and many signs of prosperity. Two or three fine groves of cypresses and several large gardens add greatly to the beauty of the place. The shops, in the Frank's quarter look for ail the world like small re tad stores in America. The native bazaar is like ull other bazaars in Oriental cities. Viewed from the castle, or from the sea, the city is one of the prettiest we have seen. One thing impresses me —wherever we have seen any decided marks of prosperity we have found a predominant Christian popula tion. Ro it is here in Rmyrna. It was in our plans to run down to Ephe sus bv rail ; but our steamer was a day late, having been delayed by foul weather off Jaf fa, and the captain would not give us time for it. But, as it turned out, we did remain long enough to have made the trip. Thi s was a great disappointment to us, for we had. a great desire to see that cily where the books of the magic'ans were burned. Interesting ruins are still to be seen. It seemed a pity to be so near, and yet not able to meet our expectations. This railroad was constructed and is own ed by an English Company. Foreign enter prise again. Poor Turkey ! She does noth ing tor herself; she has not sufficient li f e, and does not know how. At Mitylene we discharged a good deal of cargo—amongst other things some barrels of petroleum— 1 Refined —Baltimore.” Monday morning we had the “plains of Troy” on our right. It is a beautiful aid fruitful reig on. Of course, we thought of Priam, and Hector, and the wooden horse, and Helen ; hut much more did we think of another and later event. It was at Troy (Troas) that St. Paul, having reached the western extremity of the continent of Asia, had the vision of the man from Macedonia calling to him, “Come over and help us.” It was the voice of God. In that little , ship that sailed by a straight course froMa Troas to Samothracia, and from thence to Neapolis, were the fortunes of Europe and the ages The gospel of Christ contained the seed of the civilization of the Germanic peoples, and on that voyage this one men carried it into Europe. This was its fourth great point of departure. Jerusalem, Jop pa, Antioch, Troas. From each of these successively the word of God started out on anew campaign, and to new conqnests. Some events standby themselves ; others are so related to human affairs that they con tinue to reproduce themselves to the end time. Such was this voyage of the apostle to Europe. It carried into the West that faith which was to type European society, and infuse info it all that wonderful energy which would make it what it is to day. In fact, the gospel contained all that is distinc tive in the Western civilization, in germ. Long time was necessary to bring it into full development—indeed, it is not yet at i*s highest point; but, after being repressed and retarded for ages, its proper issue began to appear in the higher civilization of Europe and America. If all this is true —and it seems to me to be unquestionably so—then St. Paul carried iu his own person across the oEgean Sea, to Europe, the printing-press, the telescope, the cutton-gin, the power-loom, the modern plow, the steam engine, the microscope, the magnetic telegraph, railroads, Kepler, Sir' Isaac Newton, the Herschels, Christopher Columbus, and America. What a cargo for one little ship! When Asia took Mohammed to be its Prophet, rejecting Christ as its Saviour,'it staggered back bai baiism thß>J&d : witnessed the creation and decay of great •v-mpires; but in government, in art, in in ' dustry, in science, in commerce, its only j movement has been in a retrograde direction. ! At one time the Moslem power seemed to ; have sufficient force to subjugate Europe, riand did actually establish its capital on the j west bank of the Bosporus; bnt there was | wanting that inward vitality which would suf j tfice for development; and now at this mo , ment, having given the seeds of civilization , to the West, Asia is receiving back from the the ripened fruit. The tide of life that rolled westward is now, after so many ages, 'returning in a refluent wave upon the shorts leom which it took its first departure. The little of new life that is starting up in the East at this moment comes from Europe and •America. And most deeply is the new life of the West needed here. If we saw men made ..beasts of burden in Japan and China, we have seen the same thing in a worse form ihere. The most fearful burdens are borne jk-- .v- •* •„< _ --■>}, r r j *-■*. pack saddle so constructed as to distri fcfe’te the burden evenly all along the spine. On this the most incredible loads are placed, .and the loaded man, going half bent, ap proximates the very posture of a dumb brute. I saw two men in Smyrna carrying a log that I am sure any six men I ever knew in Amer ica would have found too heavy tor them, ■liven for a rod or two; but these men had it to carry for a great distance. These pack saddles are in common use in Constant! Wbple, and men may be seen staggering Wilder great boxes and barrels along every street. To day I saw three men strain them selves painfully in lifting a bale of cotton upon the back of another, who walked off with it I know not how far. The doom of the laboring man here is not overdrawn in the primal curse. Two words give the sum of his existence—overwork and s,cant pay. jJV'hat horses, and mules, and steam, and wheels, do in America, men do in Asia. The plain of Troy is bounded on the north ,by the Dardanelles —the Hellespont—which £ a long, narrow strait connecting the iEgean *) ‘a with the Sea of'Marniora, which is again connected with the Black Sea by the Bos porus. On the west side of this strip of waters is Europe, wli ch we sighted first at ■the entrauce of the Dardanelles, May 7., Mov. 28, we had landed at Yokohama, and rom that day to this, with the exception of eight or ten days in Egypt, we had beeu raveling inAAsi a period of more than five oponths. What a world in itself this great, continent is 1 so vast in extent, and, in many oarts, teeming so with human life. More ban one-half of the human race live on it 'or its population exceeds that, of Europe, Africa, and America. In some parts of it *&ere was once the highest civilization, but • t this time the most cultivated and enlight i.ned portions of it have a civilization, cer ;ainly, of a very low order. I know there is ft class of literary men who will criticise a i statement of this sort, and affirm that I am applying to them my standard of Civilization, and judging them by th it, and Aat there can be no absolute standard. Of -1~-r " e r~“ r ) r'renfc Tnicdedness, if not great wisdom; but, in truth, they seem to me to be shallow in pro portion to their breadth. Is there not, after all, a positive standard by which all civilization is to be judged? It seems to me so. The general in'c-lligence of the common people, the culiivaiion of the arts and sciences, the comforts and refine jnents found among the laboring classes, architectural elegance of houses, command of the forces of nature, and such knowledge of the la-a of nature as to free the mind from a superstitious feeling with regard to its operations—these, among other things, it seems to me, give a just standard by which all civilization must be tried. Judged by such a standard, there is no civilization of any high order from Yokohama to the Dar danelles. Much has been written about the magnificence of Oriental architecture; but we saw no really elegant archhecture that is not to be traced to European influence, un less a few of the most famous mosques may be excepted, but it is not, by any means, Aertflin that they are exceptions, properly. It is certain that the most celebrated edifices of the Moguls in Indiaowe their magnificence and perfection chii fly to European artists. I have already spoken of the work of the Presbyterian Board ol Missions in Syria. What is called the Turkey Mission is in the hands of the American Board of Commig sioner3 of Foreign Missions. The work in this field has been, and still is, prosperous. It lies in European Turkey and Asia Minor. It. has quite a large number of Churches, widely scattered, with a membership of near 6,000 and a registered Protestant community of 30 000. Registered Protestant community. This phrase sui g-sts a state of things which the American reader will not understand. Every person in Turkey is registered as of some faith, for purposes of the civil and municipal administration —especially the collection of the taxes. Each religious community ia a village - Mussulman, Gieek Orthodox, Greek -Catholic, Maronite, Druse, Protestant—has la chief person through whom the Govern deals with the community. This per son is notified of the amount of tax his com munity is expected to pay. The Government looks to him for it, and he colie ts it as he may choose. But if he one as delinquent, the Government authorities quar ter a soldier in the house until the amount is forthcoming. The soldier makes himself at home, orders whatever he wants, and makes himself as intolerable as possible. The po m tax payer in such circumstances will sell his last she-goat, or borrow money at any rate of interest, to rid his family of the hateful intruder. Before any man has himself registered as a Protestant he has weighed the matter well. Especially as in most cases he will be sub jected to many mortifications and annoyances by so doing, for in most cases there is very pronounced and vexa ious opposition. It. is known that many are very favorably disposed, and, indeed, secretly convincid, who have not yet bad the courage to come out. But as the Protestant communities become strong er, and grow to such numbers in given local ities as to suffice for all social ends, adhesion r*jecomes less and fficult, and the work pro f gresses more rapidly. We have been three days in Constantino r- pie, and have seen and heard much. I am sorry to know that I shall not be able to do |it justice in what I shall write. It would | require several articles to say half I would i like to say, but I presume I shall be able to i give it but one. Indeed, Idq not know but that the readers of the ADvocATE~ara T gr<>w ing weary of my long communications. I have not seen a Southern Methodist paper since I left Shanghai, so that I do not know whether all that I have reached its desti^Hj the fear of God, I commit all to his gra cious hand. To morrow we are to sail for Athens, and take a final leave of this great world, this first home of the human race, which it is certain that 7, at least, have now seen for the first and the last time. E. M. Marvin. Constantinople , May 10, 1877. SOBRIETY OF LIFE. There is no trait of Christian character which the world so persistently misinterprets as sobriety. \ T et it is a most radical element of power in the Christian life. Christian so briety must be chiefly evident in the inde pendence and principle which leads us to absent ourselves from all those amusements and companies of the world where the re straints and proprieties of Christiauity are trampled upon. We may meet men any where in the prosecution of purely secular interests, and in any society or guild where the exercises are purely literary, or social, and where religion is neither recognized nor denied. But if amusement only is sought, and if those methods are employed which rouse the passions, and especially which in troduce us into a descending scale of asso ciations, both as respects ideas and compan ions, the Christian man should not afford the countenance of his presence, or if uuwa rily enticed there, should at once withdraw. And in conversation the Christian man must frequently stop short, feeling that his char acter is compromised if he propels, or even tolerates, the current of spirit and expre* sion which pr. vails. And yet no one is more habitually cheerful, no one is more fund of brilliancy in social discourse, more apt in repartee, or more keen to perceive the ludicrous aspect of men and things. He lives not for amusement, but for labor. He is searching for truth, and he perceives and reveres it. ; he discerns folly, and shuns it, and his soul is al ways in that attitude in which he regards the intrinsic truth or falsity, right or wrong, of men and things which he en counters, and regulates his conduct accord ingly. This in the highest and best sense is sobriety of character, and it is one of the greatest slemenig of power in the Christian: —Michigan Christian Advocate. RE ASON’S LIGHT IMPERFE CT. If the glorious light of the gospel he some times overcast with clouds of doubt, so is the light of our reason, too. But shall we de prive ourselves of the advantage of either, because those clouds cannot, perhaps, be en tirely removed while we remain in this mor tal life? Shall we obstinately and forwardly shut, our e; es against that Day spring from on high that, has visited us, because we are not as yet able to bear the full blaze of his beams? Indeed, not even in heaven itself, nor in the highest state of perfection to which a finite being can ever attain, will all the counsels of Providence, all the height and depth of the infinite wisdom of God, be ever disclosed or understood. Faith even then will b necessary ; and there will be myste ries which cannot be known by him other wise than from revelation, or believed upon any other ground of assent than a submissive .confidence in the divine wisdom. What then, l&nH-vifeMr Mil -weak a4- tide row understanding is sufficient to guide him into all truth, without auy deed of revelation or faith? Shall he complain that, the wavs of God are not like his ways, and past his find ing out? Tru* philosophy, as well as true Christianity, would teach us to be content within those bounds which God has assigned to us, ‘’castingdown imaginations, and every high thing that exaltetb itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into cap tivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”— Lord Lylton. A SUPPLY FOR EVERY NEED. Physicists publicly insist that there must be somewhere a supply for every need which nature reveals. Bear this in mind, and be gin your study of man. Like any other ani mal he has physical wants ; and so the world offers him bed and board, and a field for the exercise of bis senses and instincts. But man has an intellectual nature also, of whicn the physical is only the scaffolding. Science, faithful to its principles, recognizes this fact, and devotes itself to the study ot the laws of this nature and of the supplies which the uni verse offers to its demands. Have we now reached the end of our analysis of human nature? Is this all of man ? Do body and mind complete the inventory? Is the world no more to him than dormitory, larder, gym nasium, school house, workshop, and muse um ? Nay, more than these ; it is a temple; man worships. He lias a moral and spirit ual nature. This nature has its needs, no less distil ct and urgent than those of the body and of the mind. The canons of science are bound to hold that there exists some where a supply for these highest needs. We need God, and a hereafter, and a revelation, and a redemption. Those inspired seers who cried, “ 1 thirst for God, for the living God,” “ 0 that I knew where I might find Him 1” “If a man die shall he live again?” and ‘‘O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” were only articulating the wails of the race of mankind. — Dr. C. D. Doss. GOOD THOUGHTS. Good thoughts are, like sunbeams. They are purifying, warming, and life giving. With out them a mind of necessity becomes shrivel, ed, debased, and distorted. When the image is lost, it becomes the saddest of wrecks. But a good thought, even though there be but one, is like a lump of leaven to him who possesses it; and if it be kept warm by a de sire for better things, it. will exert its whole some influence upon the whole mass of thought. Good thoughts come out from the majestic glory of heaven. They are geinti) lations from the divine mind —sparks to light the human torch Down through the long ages they have fipsl ed, and still are being passed on, and are sparkling with brilliancy in lands so lately dark. God is as lavish with good thoughts as with his love, but the soul-soil is not all receptive. Mind is blinded by sin; and often its “daily bread” falls unheeded, while it fills itself with husks. The “secret, of his presence” only can make most fertile; but each soul must learn (or itself what is this “secret.” Its outward manifestations are being painted every day upon the canvass of the world in the great, drama of life, but eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, this ‘ secret of his pre sence.” Good thoughts lift the mind above the nar row realm in which “self” dwells, and bring it in sympathy with-God and humanity. Thus it excites new desires and capabilities for usefulness, and at the same time, a panacea for own ills. When selfish desiics the mot of o.r tri-e amjjj^^^^^^^^uhreateir snap it „. H he us i ag i ri y ties, and rendering insensible to the woeful wants of i he world. It is nn old and trite saying, “Take care of the dimes and the dollars will take care of themselves;” but it is a far more important truth, that if the children are properly cared for, the “coming” men and women will do more and better work for God than did their predecessors. Good thoughts, well adapted, must be their milk in childhood, and their meat in alter years. No one would set a screen to prevent the glorious sunlight from ever falling upon a child, except through ignorance or evil intent, yet worse than this is done when good thoughts are withheld from it. A child does not have to reach out so very far, after all, to catch a glimpse of the best thoughts, and it will often recipro cate, with one that will sparkle, in its turn. Good thoughts are the mind’s crown; and it beams with brightest luster upon him who las from early dawn of life till its latest Bun gathered and strung and woven them into the web of his own life, and passed of his r,rnnrwJ tanannsna n f/\ nlliaro Ho wIIG Pan “play skillfully” on the mind of a child may bear the echoes thereof when his head is blossoming, his eye growing dim. and the wheel is faltering at the cistern.—Northwest ern Christian Advocate. “I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” It is not ihe labor that issues in triumph that wearies and discourages men, but the abortive labor and unequal warfare which result in defeat; such as ail wage against sin who presume to overcome it without laying hold by faith of the grace of God, which alone bringeth salvation. These invariably meet with failure at every step. They never have victory over sin, and never enter into rest, because they do not avail themselves of the divine help that is offered them. “This is the victory that overcometh” — that gives the rest of triumph—“even our faith.” He who by faith obtains “grace to help in time of need,” doeß not meet with weariness and discouragement in hia conflict with evil. He has daily and constant victory, which takes away all sense of weariness. To the believing, trusting soul, there is rest and peace in the very midst of his battle with the “evil that is in the world,” because always above the din of conflict he hears the Sa viour's voice saying, “1.0, I am with yon ul way;” “Be of good cheer, for I have over come the word;” “My peace I give unto you;” and, “I will give you rest.” Brother men! Are you temptest-tossed and not comforted ‘I heavy laden and weary ? “seeking rest and finding none?” There is rest in Christ for you. Come to Him, be lieve on Him, trust Him with all your heart, and “Ye shall find rest to your souls.” — Methodist. INTERNATIONAL LESSONS. October 7, 1877. Paul at Cassarea. Actsxxi: 8-15 Golden Text.— " Hut none of these things move >ne ; neither count I my life dear unto myself.’’ Acts xx : 24. Topic. — 'The will of the Lord be done." Home Readings. Mond iy, 2 Cor. v: 1-21 Willing to be Absent; Tuesday, Heb. xi 22-40—-Not Accepting Deliverance; Wednesday-Tiitum. iviii - 14-89 “.More Omit Con,,- lr, ltlier U 1„C1 dr . V-vur. tv'; 1-18 —“Always Delivered to Death”; Fri day, Matt, vi: I—21 —‘ Thy Will be Done”; Saturday, Matt xxvi: 20-45 —“ Not as I Will”; Sunday, Ram. v: 1-21 —“ We Glory in Tribulation.” Time —A.D. 58 (Summer). Place —Caesa- rea Ruler. —Nero. Felix governor of Judea. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Connection. —Henceforward we. stu dy no longer Paul’s missionary journey, but his trials,his persecutions,his imprisonments, and his death. Early on his homeward trip he seemed to have had, not, indeed, a clear revelation, but a strong presentiment, of a disastrous fate awaiting him at Jerusalem. While at Corinth, in his letter to the Ro mans, he besought them to strive in their prayers “that. I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea, and that my service which f have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints.” Rom. xv : 31. It is evident from this that he feared the hatred of the Jews and the opposition of the Juda izing bf-lievers of the gospel. The tone of the request sounds almost despondent. In the las! lesson we learned how, though "he did not, know what, specially should befall him. yet that he was aware that, the Holy Spirit intended “ bonds and afflictions ” for him in Jerusalem the same as m other cities. The nearer he came to the city of his desti nation the clearer became the revelation of what was going lo happen. At Tyre some of the disciples, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, warned Paul against going up to Je rusalem. The inspiration of the Spirit., plainly enough, dictated only the informa tion they gave, and not the advice the? prof fered. And yet, through all this, he remain ed steadfast to his purpose and to his feeling of obligation to God. “ None of these things.” indeed, moved him. He went for ward with a Bteadim-ss that was simply he roic. Like Chr at, when the time came for him to be received up, he “ steadfastly set his tace to go to Jerusalem ” Good Society 8, 9).— The disposition of every Christian man to associate with other Christian men is well illustrated tiy his “ finding” the disciples at Tyre and those at Ptoiemais, and by his sojourning at the house of Philip at Caesarea. “ Brethren,” and especially brethren of the faith, like to asaocia e with eacu other. The visit at Tyre had a solemn and affecting close. The disciples there, with their wives and chil dien, accompanied him outside the city, and kneeling down upon the shore, commended ihe apostle to God. It is clear that they did uot expect to see the beloved Paul again. Tue presence of the ehitdren in this farewell service is a pleasant mi: g to note ; for it argues that Paul was beloved by them as well as by their parents, and that they, as well us their elders, were included iu his minigi rations. At Caemrea he had company after his own heart. After his toilsome journeys, his con fliets and his persecutions, his siripes and Ilia imprisonments, and his long, wearying voyage, it is delightful t,o think of h,s enter ing into such a haveu of rest, before the tur moil upon which he soon was launched It wa- a place where, unconsciously, he was laying in strengih for his coming trials. The fir t attrsc ion here, we presume,was Philip, the evangelist. An “ evangelist,” literally, was the bearer of good tidings, and, proba bly, was distinguished from a pastor or teacher, in that he was an itinerant. See 2 Tim. iv:s, where Timothy is exhorted to do the work of an evangelist. Phiiip had been one of the “seven” —all of whom were chosen, according to the directions of the apostles, because they were “ men of honest report, lull of the Holy Ghost and of wis dom.” fhe last that we read of Philip con cerned his wonderful work in Samaria, and his teaching the Eunuch who was on his way to Egypt from Jerusalem. While Philip was laboring with the Ethiopian oil this southward roa.i, at about the same time Saul was journeying ou the one leading northward to Damascus, brea'hing out threatenings and slaughter against all who dared to identify tnemselves with those of * this way.” Years bring the two together, both now of that same way,” and both strong friends. Talking with him could not help but have been a great refreshment to Paul, for Philip was filled with the Holy Ghost and of varied and rich experiences iu the service of the Master. The next attraction were the four daught ers yNto had the gift of prophecy. This was a reajizatiou of the prediction uttered by on the Day of Pentecost, repea'ed r: “And it shall come to pass, iu the saith God, I wili pour oat my |g all flesh, and your sons aud your |f shall prophesy.” Joel ii: 2f^B 17. “To tliejlfi E&nl does nuLalways^wb^*:-.- F. M. KENNEDY, D. I)., Editor J. YV. BURKE, —Assistant Editor A. G. HAYGOOD, I>. D.,—Editorial Correspondent WHOLE NUMBER 2070 frequently, mean to foretell, hut, rather, to teach with inspiration—to deliver messages of warning, of comfort, and of instruction. The root idea of the word is “to boil” or “bubble over,’ as from an inward fountain of inspiration. It is not easy always to tell when itineludes the gift of prediction. Alex ander suggests that in this case it did, and that, like the prophets at Tyre, they also re vealed to him the danger there was in his going up to Jerusalem. This seems not only possible, but very probable, so many having been granted an intimation of his approach ing affliction. We pause just here to note the remarkable fac that there were four daughters that were endowed with the gift of prophecy. The reading would imply that, these were all the daughters and, in fact, all the children he had, and that suggests how the character of the father was perpetuated in his children, how well they had been brought, up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord, and how family prayer and adoration had so en larged their natural receptivity that they could take in thiß gift of the Spirit. Had not Philip been a faithful evangelist, they had not been prophets 1 In an atmosphere like this, no wonder that Paul stayed “many days ” His hurry was over. Contrary 'o hie evnoetation he It and art-'”''-’ - - I'.'l in amplelluii e—,v.r. c„—, aud, now that he was within easy reach of Jerusalem, it was natural that he should tarry where all his needs were so fully met. Tarryii gat C;eaarea was the best preparation for the arena at, Jerusalem. A Warning Rion (10, ll).—Hitherto the thickening warnings have been vague and in definite : now comes Agabus, with a clearer revelation than had been granted to others, and exactly indicates what his trial is to be. His plain prediction of what was to occur was made more iinpresrive by the symbolic act that accompanied it. In a similar way, Isaiah “walked naked aud barefoot three years, for a sign and a wonder upon Egypt and Ethiopia,” to indicate what would lie theconduifin of their inhabitants when the Assyrian king should come and lead them captives. Is. xx: 1-4. See also the C!-ss kindred to the one we are considering, in Jer. xiii : 1-9, when the linen girdle was rot tedin the ooze of the Euphrates, to show how God would cause the strength of Israel to decay, and her pride to crumble. And for other instances of sign prophecy, consult 1 K. xxii: 11 ; Ezek. v: I—4; xii : 1-12, etc. It has been supposed by the majority of readers, that it was Paul that Agabus bound with the girdle. But in the original it is very clear that Agabus hound himself with it. He made tbe act, an objeit lesson, on which Paul could look, instead of one which he could merely feel. The method of Agabus was very similar to that, of the Old festa ment prophets, but in one thing he diverged very widely from them. They would have exclaimed: “Thus saith the Lord”—ftede clared : “Thus saith the Holy Ghost.” The variance contains within itsell all the differ ences between the old and new dispensa tions 1 The prediction of Agabns was not techni cally f Killed. The Jews did not, literally, bind him, and hand him over to the Gentiles. Rpeaking with exact precision, it vas the Gentiles themselves that rescued him from the Jews, and then bound him. 27-33. But although not fulfilled in the exact letter, it was iu the spirit of it, for the Jews compelled his binding by the Gentiles, in order that the latter might save his life. It fully answers the prophecy when one does, or causes to be done, the thing which is predicted of him Faithkullyßtf.au vast (12-16). —This act ed prophecy hi ought upon Paul the great 1 rial of his life. To a nature like his it was far easier to resist the threats of enemies, than the affectionate fears and entreaties of friends. How sorely he was pained is more manifest in the original than in onr translation; for JX ere i'Ai- not: .‘gSC-at, mean re to weep and break my heart,’ ' but, ‘“whit <I,J and breaking mine heart?” The stress was already upon him—he was not fearing that it would come. And now, in order properly to appreciate the heroism that rose above this severe temp tation, let us note the elements that made it almost irresistible. First, there were the foreboding! that had caused him such des pondency, and which had found expression in his letter to the Romans, and in his fare well at Miletus, 'o the elders of the Church at, Ephesus. Second, there was the protes tation of the disciples, at Tyre, against his going—a protestation that must strongly have reinforced his own melancholy presentiments of evil. Third, came the prophesying of the daughters of Phiiip, if we take the view that they predicted his captivity. Four h, was the prophecy of Agahus, set for hin such a way as to shake him from his purpose il any thing would, for Paul was eminently a man of activity, strongly disliking quietude of any sort. And yet the vision that Agabus brings up before him is of himself, bound, lying for many months, and perhaps years, in prison. It takes more courage patiently to endure, than bravely to act. He reached the very climax of heroism in his life, when he silenced his friends with ttie solemn, yet, joyful, decla ration: “I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die, at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Fifth, was the weeping entreaty of his dearest friends Luke was one of the companions who joined in im ploring him to turn aside from his intention. Philip, the evangelist, by implication, was among those of Cassarea who besought him to recall his resolve. These were men whose lightest word would be valued by Paul, and whose weeping solicitations could not but stir his very inmost nature. It was exceed ingly ha and to be firm as against such an as sault, thro lgh his affection l --. What made him so tenacious of his pur pose? Nothing but his own knowledge of his duty. He met their revelations us to what he should suffer with an inward con sciousness. which was, also, a r -velation, that, the Holy Spirit intended him to suffer for the name of Christ. In the ease of Se phen, he had seen how that the cause might receive more impetus from the death ot a good man than from his life. Paul in prison, hy the will of God, could accomplimore than Paul out of prison, contrary to his will. It he did not realize this just at this time he did later, when he wrote to Timothy: “I suf fer trouble as an evil doer, even nn'o bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” 2 Tim. 2 9. The armor, which even the entreaties of friends could not pierce, wa; loyal devo tion *o Jesus, who had met him on the way to Dimascus. Nothing could prevent him from following the command of that Master. For that name he was willmg not only to be bound, but also to die. Paul has not been the only one so tempted. Luther with ahe roism that fully matched that of Paul, when liis friends attempted to persuade him from going to the Diet at Worms, exclaimed, in words that have become almost equally fa mous with those of the apostle: “Although there were as many devils in Worms as there are tiles on the housetops, I will still go thither.” The hard-fought battle was over. The submission of the disciples to what now, very apparently, was the will of the Lord, is almost as remarkable as the apostle's unyield ing persistence in obedience to • he inner man date of the Spirit. It may he well to notice, right here, that the very thing which the Christians at Caesarea thought would take Paul away from them fin ever, and from which they were, therefore, specially anx ious to deter him, was, actually, soon the means of again bringing him back in their midst, a nd giving them two years of uninter rupted intercourse with him. 21: 23. Having submitted to the will of the Lord, they did not sit down in idle resignation, but were helpful iu those little attentions that so well show thoughtful sympathy and affection. VVe need hardly say that, “carriages” is mis translated, and shoti’d be rendered “bag gage.” Turnouts in those days were un heard of. The sense, too, was not “took up,” hut “packed up’’—whether to take with them them, or to leave it stored, is one of those little points on which scholars have differed. We need not concern ourselves with it. Some of the disciples of Caesarea went up to Jerusalem with bravi g whatever fate might be incurred oy being in his company, am brought ot Mnuson, who from the spoken of. i i: 1 1 • ■ i.t K t.