VOL. III.
OXFORD, N. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1877.
JOIISI MAVNAKD.
BY AKONYMOXTS.
>T\vaK on Lake Erie’s broad expanse,
One biisiit inidsuniiner day,
Tlie gallant .steamer Oeean Qneen
Swept i>rondl,v on her way.
Bright faces clustered on the deck,
Or leaning- o’er the side,
Watched carelessly the feathery foam
That flecked the rippling tide.
Ah, -who beneath that clou.lless sky,
That smiling bends serene,
Conld dream that danger, awful, vast,
Impended o’er the scene—
Could dream that ere an hour had sped.
That frame of sturdy oak
Would sink beneath the lake’s blue
■waves.
Blackened with fire and smoke?
A seaman sought the captain’s side,
A moment whispered low;
The captain’s swarthy face grew pale.
lie hurried down below.
Alas, too late! Though quick and sharp
And clear his orders came,
No Iminaii effort could avail
To quench th’ insidious iiame.
The bad news quickly reached the
deck,
It sped from lip to lip.
And ghastly faces everywhere
Looked from the doomed shij).
“Is there no hope—no chance of life?”
A hundred lips implore;
“But one,” the captain made reply—
“To run the ship on shore.”
A sailor, whose heroic soul
That hour should yet reveal—
By name .John Jlaynard, eastern born-
'Stood calmly at the wheel.
“Head her south-east!” the captain
shouts.
Above the smothered roar,
“Head her south-east without dehay!
Jlake for the nearest shore!”
No terror pales the helmsman's cheek.
Or clouds his dauntless eye.
As in a sailor’s measured tone
His voice responds, “Ay, ay!”
Three hundred souls—the steamer’s
freight—
Crowd forward wild with fear,
While at the stern the dreadful flames
Above the deck appear.
John Maynard watched the nearing
flames.
But still, with steady hand.
He grasped the wheel, and steadfastly
He steered the shi]! to land.
“John Maynard,” with .an anxious
voice,
The captain cries once more,'
“Stand by the wheel five minutes yet.
And we will reach the shore.”
Through flames and smoke that daunt
less heart
Eesponded firmly, still
XJnawed,though face toface with death,
“ With God’s good help I will!
The flames aiiproach with giant strides.
They scorch his hands and brow;
One arm disabled seeks his side,
Ah, he is Conquered now !
But no! his teeth are firmly set.
He crushes down the pain—
His knee upon the stanchion pressed.
He guides the ship again.
One moment yet! one moment yet!
Bravo heart thy task is o’er!
The pebbles grate Ixmeath the keel.
The steamer touches shore.
Three hundred gratel'id voices rise
In ]>raise to Gol, that lie
Hath saved them from the fearful fire.
And from th’ cngulling sea.
But where is he, that helmsman bold ?
The captain saw him reel—
His nerveless hands released their
task,
Ho sunk beside the wheel.
The waves received his lifeless corpse.
Blackened with smoko and fire.
God rest him ! Hero never had
A nobler funeral pyre !
body the claims of the destitute or
phans of our State, and ask that suit
able ai)propriatiou be made for their
relief as provided for by our State
Constitution, as in our opinion the
indigent orphans are entitled to as
much consideration as adult paupers.
Answer to question 2nd. We do not
not think its operations should be cur
tailed, but enlarged if i)ossil)le.
Answer to question 3rd. Our □ has
contributed since the last annual meet
ing of the Grand Lodge, $12.38. All
of which is respectfully submittted.
J. A. Spencek, 1
Feancis N. Mullen, > Com.
Jno. M. Hinton, )
Franklin, N. C., Nov. 21, 1877.
Bro. J. H. Mills:—By order of Jun.a-
luskee n, I send you the following re
sponse to your inquiries;
To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and
Brethren of Jmialushee □, A”o. 143:—
The committee to whom was referred
the subject of the Orphan Asylum, at
Oxford, N. O., have duly considered
the address of Bro. J. H. Mills, Supt.
of the Orj)han Asylum, directed to this
□ , and respectfully report that tne
address sets forth a fair success for the
past five years, considering the means
at his command, with encouraging-
prospects for the future, and iiropounds
three distinct questions, to which he
expects answers from this to lay be
fore the Grand □. Your committee
conclude that our best report will be
We copy three more of the let
ters received in answer to our
circular because many will wish
to see what other.s have said :
We, the undersigned, having been
appointed a committee by New Leba
non □, No. 314, to report upon and
answer questions relative to the Or
phan Asylum, as requested by J. H.
Mills, Supt.', in his eircular addressed
to our Lodge, beg leave to report as
follows:
Ausw'er to question 1st. 'We fear the
present system of supporting the Or
phan Asylum may not be sufficient to
carry on the work. We therefore sug
gest that the Grand Lodge, at its next
annual meeting, appoint a committee
to wait upon the next General Assem
questions such as wdl be aiipropriate
thereto, and meet the approbation of
the Lodge.
1. “ Ho you prefer any other to the
present plan of supporting the Orphan
Work ?”
Answer: Our position in relation to
the Asylum is so remote, and our
knowledge of its operations so limited,
that we have no suggestions to make
in reference to changes.
2. “ Ought our operations to be cur
tailed or enlarged.”
Auswer: IVe think they should be
so enlarged as to meet the demands of
the indigent within the moans at the
coniniand of the Institution.
3. “ How much hi^ your Lodge cou-
tributed since the last communication
of the Grand Lodge ?”
Answer : Nothing. Our Lodge has
but a small amount of funds, ami our
dues to the Grand Lodge have hereto
fore been quite as strong a draiji upon
our treasury as our resources will jus
tify. Nevertheless we will cheerfully
cooiivratc with our brethren under the
same jurisdiction, in any benevolent
enterprise, for the education and train
ing of our destitute orphans, as far as
we can In justice to the claims of oth
ers of a similar eharacter and nearer
home, and sncli as would not likely
leave their mothers and relatives, and
go so far from home as to receive the
benefits of the Asylum located at Ox
ford. Kespectfully submitted.
H. G. WOODPIN, \ p
J. S. Mooeb,
The foregoing report was unani
mously adopted in open Lodge at its
regular communication in Franklin, N.
C., Nov. 20, 1877, and ordered that the
Secretary forw.ard the same under seal
of the Lodge to Bro. J. H. Mills.
H. G. WoODPiN, Sec.
Fayetteville, N. 0., Nov. 23,1877.
J. H. Mills—Bear Sir and Bro : Y”our
printed circular was received and laid
before our Lodge at its Oct. meeting.
Answer to question 1st: we think
the question of endowment might be
agitated with advantage ; also to ap-
l)ly to the Legislature for State aid,
by the proper persons, might not be
fniitless. We approve the present
plan. Auswer to question 2nd. 'We
prefer to enlarge if possible. An
swer to question 3rd. We forwarded
for the benefit of the Orjihans for the
masonic year just clo.sed $7.50. lam
authorized by the brethren to say
that our efforts in behalf of that No
ble Charity shall be doubled in the
I future ; our Lodge is young and at
present is laboring under a heavy
debt. Tours Fraternally.
Cyeus Muepht,
Sec. Lock’s CreekLodge, No. 333.
bly of our State and urge upon that
L,ABOK FOR FUTCKE BESF ETS.
One of the most eminent and
successful teachers of the present
century once remarked to a pu
pil, who was restive under some
well-merited discipline, “I care
far less as to what you think of
me and my tieatment now than I
do what you will think of me and
my management twenty years
hence.” The teacher referred to
was at the head of one of the old
est and best academies in New
England,—an honor to his cho
sen profession, and highly es
teemed by the community in
which he lived and labored. Sev
eral years have passed since he
was called to his reward, but the
student to whom the remark was
made is still living, and- is ^high
ly respectable and useful mem
ber of the clerical profession.
Tliough at the time the remark
was made, he felt not its force,
he has lived long enough to ap
preciate its truth and wisdom.
There is a lesson in this inci
dent which we would be glad to
impress upon the minds of teach
ers. The lesson is this : “Labor
for the future good and useful
ness of 3'our pupils. Let all your
instruction and discipline have
reference to their usefulness and
happiness as men and women in
coming years.” Probably there
is no class of laborers more
strongly tempted to gain imme
diate results than teachers. When
the release from some difficult
task, or from some well-deserved
discipline will secure the tempo
rary good will of a pupil and the
good opinion of his parents, the
teacher is often strongly tempted
to yield to a momentary pressure
without considering what the ef
fect will he upon the future of
the pupil. In this way many a
teacher of moderate abilities has
gained an ephemeral popularity,
while another of rare powers and
marked fidelity' has, for a time,
failed to secure popular favor.
But in “the long run,” the strictly
faithful and conscientious teacher
will “bear the palm” and receive
true honor and respect.
The true teacher will keep con
stantly in view the highest and
best good of his pupils, and not
allow himself to relax either in
rules of study or discipline, mere
ly for the sake of gaining the im
mediate good will either of pupils
or parents. Let it be remem
bered by the teacher that his pu
pils will' soon become citizens and
that his great and constant duty
is to give them such instruction
and discipline as will tend best
to prepare them for the duties of
good citizens.
If a boy about to go upon a
hunting excursion should be ex
cused by an indulgent father
from taking the necessary ammu
nition on the ground that he did
not like the trouble of carrying it,
he might, for the time, thank his
father for the act of indulgence,
but how will he feel when he
reaches the hunting ground, finds
the desired game abundant and
himself destitute of the necessary
materials for securing the same 1
Will he not feel inclined to cen
sure his over-indulgent father for
allowing him to come without the
needed ammunition ? Most cer
tainly he will, and he will also
feel that his excursion has proved
a useless one,—a failure.
It is the teacher’s high duty to
send his pupils forth into the
community well stored with such
information and discipline as they
will need to enable tliem wisely
and successfully to discharge the
duties and meet the obligations
which await all good citizens.
To the teacher we would say,
—.strive to be strictly faithful in
all your duties. Aim not tor
mere tempoi-ary applause but for
the highest good of your pupils.
In every case let tlie question be,
not how will this or that course
best please pupil or parent,—
hut rather what course will best
meet the approval of pupils when
they' reach the age of manhood.
Strive to have your entire deal
ings with your pupils of such a
nature that when y'ou meet them
as men they will greet y'ou as one
who had been faithful them and
given them such les.sons and dis
cipline as had prepared them to
“act wisely” their parts in life.
Teacher,—your duty is not
simply to perform the “routine”
duties of the school room,—but
so to labor that you will daily do
something, by word or action,—
often moie by action than by'
word,—to prepare your pupils for
the wise and faithful discharge of
the duties of good citizens. How
soon the boy's of to-day will be
come men,—powerful iii their in
fluence for good or evil! Which
is shall he depends largely upon
those who shape their early dis
cipline and education. Teacher,
—don’t forget, that, in no small
degree, you decide what the char
acter and influence of the men
and women of the future will be.
—Charles Norihend, in National
Teachers' Monthly.
THE -WONDERFEE EAHP.
“ Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet.”
A I agged little errand boy was
carefully printing this text on a
gate with a piece of white chalk.
So absorbed was he with his work
that he never noticed a kind
looking old gentleman who, after
walking slowly past twice, re
turned and stood behind him.
‘ M—y,’ said the boy, repeat
ing the letters aloud as he formed
them with care. ‘ F—double e—
t, feet’
‘Well done, little lad, well
done !’ said the old man. ‘Where
did y'ou learn thatf
‘ At the ragged school, sir,’ re
plied the hoy, half frightened,
and thinking the old gentleman
was going to deliver him up to
the police for writing on the
gate.
‘ Don’t turn away; I’m not go
ing to hurt you. What is your
name f
‘ Nicholas ’
‘Nicholas whatf
‘ Nicholas Lambert, sir.’
‘ You are an eriand-boy, I see ;
isn’t that your basket ?’
‘ Yes, sir.’
‘ So you learned that text at
the ragged school. Do you know
what it means 1’
‘ No, sir,’ said Nicholas.
‘ What is a lamp ?’
‘ A lamp ? a lamp ! a thing
what gives light I’
‘ And what is the word that
the text speaks of V
‘ The Bible, sir.’
‘ That’s right. Now, how can
the Bible be a lamp and give
light f’
‘ I don’t know, ’less you set it
afire,’ said Nicholas.
‘ There’s a better way than
that, my lad. Suppose you were
going down some lonely lane on
a dark night with an unlighted
lamp in vour hand and a box ot
matches in your pocket, what
ou 1 you do V
‘ Why, light the lamp, sir,’ re
plied Nicholas, evidently surpris
ed that any one should ask such
a foolish question.
‘ What would you light it for V
‘ To show me the road, sir.’
‘Very well. Now, suppose you
were walking behind me one day,
and saw me drop a shilling, what
would you do ?’
‘ Pick it up, and give it to you
again, sir.’
‘ Wouldn’t you want to keep it
for yourself?’
Nicholas hesitated: but he saw
a smile on the old gentleman’s
face, and with an answering one
on his own he said, ‘I should
want to, sir, but I shouldn’t do it.’
‘ Why not f’
‘ Because it would be stealing.’
‘ How do you know V
‘ It would be taking what
wasn’t my own, and the Bible
says we are not to steal.’
‘ 0,’ said the gentleman, ‘ so
it’s the Bible that makes you
honest, is it ?’
‘ Yes, sir.’
‘ If you had never heard of the
Bible you would steal, I suppose.’
‘ Lots of the boys do,’ said
Nicholas, hanging his head.
‘ And the Bible shows you the
right and safe path, the path of
honesty ?’
‘ Like a lamp,’ said Nicholas,
seeing now what all these ques
tions meant, ‘ is that what the
text means?’
‘ Yes ; there is always light in
the Bible to show us where to
tread. But suppose you kept the
slide over the lamp, would it be
of any use ?’
‘No; there ’ud be no light,
sir.’
‘ Neither will the Bible give us
light if we keep the Bible slide
down. How can you keep the
Bible slide down ?”
‘ By keeping of it shut and not
reading it ?’ said Nicholas, doubt-
fully.
‘ That’s it. Now, my lad, do
you think it worth while to take
this good old lamp and let it light
you right through life ?’
‘ Yes, sir.’
‘Do you think you will bo
safer with it V
‘ Yes, sir.’
‘Why?’
‘ Because, if I’m honest I shan’t
stand no chance of going to pris
on.’
‘ And what else ?’
Nicholas thought for a few
minutes. ‘ If I minds the Bible
I shall go to heaven !’ he said at
last.
‘ Yes, that’s the best reason for
taking the lamp. It will light
y'ou right into heaven. Q-ood-
bye, my lad. Here’s a shilling
for you and mind you keep the
slide up.’
‘ Sir,’ said Nicholas, grasping
the shilling, and touching his
ragged cap, ‘ I’ll mind.’—Baptist
Weekly.
The best way is not to give
your child oral directions as to
the path of virtue, but to -si'alk in
it yourself and take him with
you.
in