VOL. III.
OXFOED, N. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1877.
NO. 50.
WHAT
THV 4sOI> HAS
IMPAKT.
Why are springs ontliroiied so high,
Where, the uioiiiitiiiTiS kiss the sky ?
’Tis that tlieiKiC their streams may flow
Fertilizing all below.
AVhy have clouds such lofty flight,
Basking in the golden light ?
’Tis to send down genial showers
On this lower world of ours.
Why does God exalt the great 1
’Tis that they may prop the state ;
So that toil its sweets may yield,
And the sower reap the field.
Riches, why doth he confer ?
That the rich may minister.
In the hour of their distress.
To the poor and fatherless.
Does he light a Ifewton’s mind ?
’Tis to shine on all mank'ind.
Does he give to virtue birth ?
’Tis the salt of this poor earth.
Reader, whosoe’er thon art,
AVhat thy God has given, impart.
Hide it iiot within the ground ;
Send the cup of blessing round.
Hast thou power ?—the weak defend;
Light?—give light; thy knowledge
lend.
Rich ?—remember him who gave.
XOree ?—be brother to the slave.
Called a blessing to inherit,
}^less—and richer blessings merit:
(Xive—and more shall yet be given ;
Love, and ser\ e—and look for heaven.
Tim BEIAEVIiirS VICTOUY.
Muller’s
‘ Life of Trust” has
raised the question, whethet' we
may expect the pr.ayer of faith to
be answered, independently of
the use ot means oii the part of
the suppliant. That servant of
God professes to have received
the funds necessary to carry for
ward liis cliaritable tvork, solicit-
inn- them from no man, but from
God onlv.
The Bible, as well ns reason,
proves that God has established
the conuectiou between means
and ends, and required men to
use their own agency, as far as
tliey may, in supplying their
wants. In addition to this, the
help of God is indisjtensable ; aiid
for tills we are to pray. The
Bible teaches that Divine and
human agency are united in the
production of results. “ That thou
qivest them they gather,'’ says the
Psalmist (civ. 28.) In many of
the miracles, even, secondary'
agency' was introduced, as in tliat
of furnishing wine at the marriage
in Cana, of feeding tlie multitudes,
and of opening the eyes of the
blind. The answer to prayer nmy
be as legitimate and palpable in
supplying us with the means of
gaining tlie blessing we seek, as
m bestowing directly' the object
for which we pray, liiere.are
cases, indeed, wliere it would be
impossible to employ any subor
dinate instrumentalities, as wliere
Elijah, on Carmel, prays for rain.
He could only pray and watch.
In such cases, of course, the use
of means is not required.
There is nothing in the experi
ence of the authoj' of the “ Life of
Trust” which goes to impair the
old Christian doctrine on this
subject, that the suppliant must
pray, and watch, and ivorlc by all
legitimate methods, in order that
his pray'ers mav be answered.
Mr. Muller himself, after all,
acted upon this principle, d he
means he used were peculiar, but
potent. He really asked every
Christian man to aid him in build
ing Ills orphan houses, when he
made known the fact, or when it
became known, that he was build
ing them in the name of the Lord,
and for the use of God’s poor and
helpless oims, and that he was
trusting the Lord alone to supply'
the funds. Bv this very' position,
mutely but loudly, lie said to ev
ery man, “ This is purely' a Chris
tian work; it is a privilege to
promote it; how can you witli-
hold y'our gifts from such an en
terprise ? And in proportion as
confidence was felt in the princi
ples of the Bible, and in Mr.
Muller as a true and wise servant
of God, contributions did, natur
ally enough, by the grace of God,
and in answer to prayer, flow in
to his hands. He could scarcely'
have plied the minds of good men
more effectually with motives to
benevolence. He exercised a
trust which, under the circum
stances, God was pleased greatly'
to lionor. But was the hand of
the Lord less visible in providing
the means for building the Tem-
tle, wlieii David liimself offered,
as some reckon, over 60,000,000
pounds sterling, and then called
upon the people to follow his ex
ample, and bring in their offer
ings, wlilcli they did with a simi
lar liberality'? With glad and
joyous hearts they acknowledged
that all they had was the Lord’s,
and that it was by His grace that
they' had been enabled'to offer so
willingly' and abundantly unto
Him. Was it not an additional
bles.sing to David, and to the
people, that God was pleased to
answer his pr.ayer for means, by
making his own appeal to his sub
jects effectual ? lii other words,
is there not a substantial good in
having our own agency' employed
in the work of answering our
prayers; and should we not,
cherefore, exjrect God so to em
ploy it I—Rev. Dr. W. L. Farsons.
thoughtful hand put the candle in
the window. It was far toward
spring, in a terrible February'
storm, when tlie little solitary
candle was sending its blessed
rays as far into the darkness as
tiieir feeble power could reach,
wlien a rap, quick and anxious,
was heard at the door. A trav
eler, with his wife and babes,
perishing with hunger and cold,
having lost the narrow road, after
long hours of wandering upon the
trackless and unmarked prairie,
at length had discovered the light,
and had found shelter and all the
comforts of a happy home.
And the good woman liad found
her reward. It was a little thing
in itself—the simple placing of a
candle in the window—but it was
born of a generous impulse and
faithfully' persevered in, and at
length had saved a family from a
cruel death.
Dear reader, bow much would
be added to human happiness if
we would all have a care for the
little tilings that lie right about
us.
“ Why thus loiHring, thus forever sighing
For the far-otf—Linattjiineil aud dim—
While the beauriful, all around thee lying.
Offers up its perpetual hynm?
Wonlds’t thou listen to its gentle teaching,
All thy restless yearnings it would still,
Loaf and flower and laden bee are teaching
Thine own sphere,though huiuble.firsttofill
Poor, indeed, thou must bo, if around thee
Thou no ray of joy and light canst throw
If no silken chord of love hath bound thee
To some little world through weal and woe ;
If no dear eyes thy fond love can brighten ;
No fond Voices answer to thine own ;
If no brother’s sorrow thou canst lighten
Ey daily sympathy and gentle tone.”
—Selected'
ArKBCA AKJl> ll'S CLAI-tlS.
A CAIVDSLE E.^ TSilE WE3fli>OW.
She was a true woman—a wo
man of sound, practical sense,
with a big heart, brimming witli
woman’s generous and tliouglitful
sympathies. She was no idler,
waiting to do good to some of her
fellow mortals ; but she improved
all the little daily opportunities of
her humble- and narrow life. She
lived in Wisconsin. Her husband
was one of the first settlers of the
State. They had gone far out on
the open prairie and taken up
their half section seven miles from
any neighbor. And in those early
days of Wisconsin it was years
before there were other settlers
within that circuit.
, It was a tempestuous winter
night, the good woman with her
husband and little ones were
gathered about their blazing fire
in their lonely but comfortable
home. The bowlings of the wind
awakened anxieties that disturbed
her woman heart, and every little
while she woidd go to the win
dows and earnestly peer into the
pffohly' blackness that had settled
upon all the prairies.
What, husband, if some belated
traveler should be out on the pra
irie in such a night as this. I will
put a light in the window, and it
may guide some lost one from his
peril to shelter and comfort.
And the lighted candle was
placed in the window, and faith
fully reti-.rned there every night
through all that winter. And the
next winter too—the same kind,
sus. If the gold fields are there,
and if Stanley can show the way
to them, then the Church of
Christ has a new respoiTsibiliiy
thrown upon her. In any case,
Africa is an interesting coiintr3'.
Its teeming population, majestic
rivers, fertile soil, and nearness
to the American Continent,
make it a land of deep interest
to the people of tins countrj-.
Though it has been long re
cognized in its territorial vastriess,
yet little has been known of its
resources and general character.
But as one portion of the world
after another is thrown more
widely open to Christian effort,
tlie question is a serious one,
where the men and the means, to
“ possess the land V The church
dare not be indifferent or idle.
But where are the men and the
monej'? Yet in this and other
Christian lands is seen the aston
ishing spectacle of both men and
means given to sustain, upon the
same ground, within the same
narrow field, churches and minis
ters with different creeds, but all
claiming to be the Church of
Christ, and all teaching e.ssential
ly the same truths concerning the
way of life. Could the principles
of ‘ clmrcb union ’ fully prevail,
men and means would be sent
free to give the Gospel to the
lieathen, and convert the world
within the next generation!—
Chitrch Union.
KEAHING NOVELS.
THE OKPHAN ASVEEltl.
Says a writer: “ Stanlej' prom
ises to- explain to the English
Americans the vast commercial
wealth of the west half of Africa,
and whets anticipation by hinting
that he can point to an area of the
precious metals. It he can do
that—point out new gold fields,
the civilization of that region
witliin the next tliree years is as
sured. Tlie coast fevers, perpen
dicular heat, the cataracts of the
Congo, and the black cannibals,
will have no terrors if there is
gold there.”
Within that short paragraph,
which contains a true assertion,
is food for .much thought. Will
men brave the dangers of the Af
rican jungles, the miasmas of the
African rivers, and the perils
among blood-thirsty savages, for
gold ; and will the souls of these
newly discovered tribes of the hn-
man race be left to perish because
of perils attending the carrying
of Jesus to themf That is the
question for tlie Church to answer.
Again, if gold is there, it will
not be long before thousands of
men from every civilized land
will be on the way to secure this
newly-found wealth. Will the
Church be abreast with human
enterprise 1 When the gold-seek
er reaches his destination, shall
he be met by the religious teach
er, who can offer something infi
nitely better than gold! When
the fearful tide of corruption and
vice accompanies emigration to
this, as to all new fields of enter
prise, will it be stayed by a
breast work of Christian influ
ence! These are all questions
which should rest heavily upon
the minds of the followers of Je-
It is the duty of every good
citizen of the State to contribute
to the support of this institution.
It is the noblest charity in the
State, and is doing more for the
poor and fiiendless children than
all the other means used for their
protection and instruction com
bined. Its management is as
nearly perfect and as generally
approved, as is possible for hu
man institutions. Winter is now
rapidly approkching. Many of
us are arranging for the care and
protection of our dear ones during
the long, cold months that are
just ahead of us. Many are al
ready ai ranging for the comfort
and amusement of their children
during the liolidays. What is to
become of the many fatherless and
motherless little ones at Oxford ?
How are they to live through all
the cold of winter ! Who is there
to minister to their comfort and
joy during the happy hours of
Christmas! What, my brother
and sister, would you like for
others to do for your dear ones if
you were gone and they were
there as orphans !
Let us all, while providing for
our dear ones, remember those
who have no father or mother to
care for them. Send your Christ
mas gifts, either in money, cloth
ing or provisions, to Oxford Or
phan Asylum, Oxford, N. C.—
Biblical Recorder.
Heading novels has become
verj' fashionable, espeoiallj' of
late. They are so interesting and
absorbing to the mind that all
who have formed a regular habit
of reading them are at a loss to
know what to do to entertain
themselves when they have no
novels to read. They lose all in
terest in religious literature, the
Bible included. Some love story,
tragic scene, or romantic adven
ture alone, can interest them.
The habitual novel reader is al
ways dissatisfied. They are .ex
pecting sometimes under some
extraordinary circumstances to
meet with one whom they can
worship, and who can worship
them. Reading novels is very
injurious to the mind. It is thus
that a great many waste their
lives ; lives that should have been
spent in useful service in the
vineyard of the Lord. It is a
shame to the race of human be
ings that one should try to destroy
the mental powers of others for
the sake of a few meager shil
lings ; and 3’et there are thou
sands who are daily doing this.
Those who make it their daily
business to read novels are con
tinually watching for their “fate”
to come across their path, and if
they fail to realize their expecta
tions, they are made miserable for
lile, and all on account of forming
the habit of novel reading. Thei'e
was a 3'oung lady in Marlboro
count}', S. C., a year or two ago,
wljo had formed this wretched
A POMPOUS fellow was dining
with a country fainlh', when the
lad}' of the house desired the ser
vant to take away the dish con
taining the fowl, which word she
pronounced fool, as is not uncom
mon in Scotland. “ I presume,
madam, 3'ou mean fowl,” said the
prig ill a reproving tone. “Very
well,” said the lady a little nettled,
“ be it so; take away the fowl
and let the fool remain.”
habitxjiod continued it until she
entireK'xIost her mind and is now
in the insane asylum. Every
novel she saw advertised she
would get. Thus she would con
sume her precious time, and her
mental and plysical strength. I
warn all habitual novel readers to
beware of the sad fate ot this la-
d}’.—Mollie E. Pittman, in Bibli
cal Recorder.
—A better day will come only
■when men are better, confidence
in men’s honesty better, and all
classes are better educated. Want
of confidence is want of goodness,
in other words, it is a firm belief
in the original and total deprav
ity of our neighbors: and we will
not trust them with our money or
go'ils, because we think they will
either ignorantly lose them, or
maliciously steal them. We have
lived too fast because we are too
proud to live within our means,
too dishonest to confess our pov
erty, too ignorant to work with
our brains, and too lazy to work
with our hands. We were obliged
to have money to keep the wheels
moving, and having no fear either
of God or man before our eyes,
we stole it. Corporations stole
from the cities, congress stole
from the countr}-, states stole from
bankers and merchants stole frota
their creditors, in fact, it seemed
for a time, that everybody stole.
We have come to the end, and if
there are enough honest men left
to bury the dishonest, we may
still live, not otherwise. Tha
pra3'er of every devout patriot
should be “O Lord, give us hon
est men, -ndth eduoated brains.—
national Teachers’ Ilontkl^.
wmmm