Newspapers / The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, … / Dec. 7, 1883, edition 1 / Page 2
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The Orphans’ Friend. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1883. The Thanksgiving offerings to the Orphan Asylum speak' volumes for the sons and daughters of our good old State. We cannot find lan guage sufficiently adequate to express the grateful feelings to one ard all for their gener ous gifts Like .Gaston, we «ay, “they need but the match to kindle a flame in their hearts,’^ for those who are less fortunate in bounteous gifts. May tliey never know any. thing of the trials that test inen'’8^ouIs. May their lamps never go out, but ever burn with the noble, Christian prin ciples we would wish every North Carolinian to possess, and their future be full of blifctful ariticijiations. C01\^PEEENCB. The North Carolina Annu al Conference of the Meth odist Epi8cq.al Church South, convened ia the town of Statesville on the 22nd No^ vember, Bishop John C Keener of New Orleans pre siding. This is one of the leading religious bodies of the State. It embraces with»> in its jurisdiction the entire territory of North Carolina except the counties west of the Blue Ridge and those nortii of the Roanoke, about twenty in number. The body is composed of over 200 cleri • ccl members and 48 lay del egates. Donald W. Bain, Esq., was elected Secretary, Rev. N. M. Jufney, Assistant Secretary, J. B. Carpenter, Statisti cal Secretary, D. W. Ward, Esq, Financial Secretary and Rev. C, Byrd, Recording Sec retary. Statesville is a thriv ing town on the Western N. C- Railroad, in Iredell county, containing 2500 inhabitants. It entertained the Conference wiili profuse hospitality. The Landmark was issued daily during the session and con tained a full account of the proceedings besides other miitfers of interest. Bro. Caldwell,the editor, displayed much tact in getting out this daily and it had quite a circa latioD. Bishop R. K. Hargrove of Nashville was present as a visitor and made a fine im- pit'Sjion by'his pleasant m>\n ners as well as by his faithful atid earnest preaching. He comes among us to secure re- ci uits for our ministerial work in tlie iar west. A number of the young preachers sig nified tlieir willingness to go. The}' will be duly assign ed to work-in the Conferences on the Pacific coast. Thanksgiving day was properly observed. Bishofi Hargrove preached the ser mon. Our Orphans were not forgotten. A collection was taken up in the Conference room amounting to $77,52. This with amount* realized at oth' r churches in town and fr. m a concert at night, will fo!it up about $340 from St:'!e.sville on Thanksgiving day. Well done! Thanks! One of the attractive f a- tures uj the occasion was the lecture on Friday night by Rev. Dr. Milburu, on Sargent S. Prentiss. Mr. Milburn is an orator of rare gifts. A fine presence, a full round voice, stately and elegant action, and inimitable descriptive p -wers are happily blended in this wonderful man, who is so appropriately called “the blind man eloquent.” The Sabbath services were of an exceedingly interesting character. The day was opened by a Conference love feast at 9 a. m. It was good to be there. Bishop Keener preached at 11 oVock. He is not a great orator, in the popular sense, but for mass iveness and wealth of tnought, facility and strength of ex pression, he is rarely equalled lu the afternoon there was a memorial service. Six of the preachers had died. It was the last tribute of the breth ren to their departed com rades. The churches of the town were open aud the va rious pulpits filled by minis ters from the Conference. The following figures were taken from the statistical re ports : Local Preachers, ’ 238 White members, 72,257 Colored members, 162 Infants baptized, 2,626 Adults baptized, 3,335 S. S Scholars, 45,167 Raised for Foreign Missions, $8727.43 Raised for Domes tic Missions 5047,95 Raised for Church Extension. 2000,00 POISONOUS EEAEINa- The following is an extract from the address of J. G. Pul liam, delivered at Judson College. It furnishes much food for thought: One day when the ‘fast mail’ going West on the Un ion Pacific Railroad stop ped at Omaha, a mail ba^ opened from which there came three rattlesnakes, two ' young alligators and a sting ing scorpion. When our mail t ains come in they bring foes more dangerous than Flori da’s scorpions or Iowa’s rat tlesnakes. Novles, ‘Police Gazette,’and many corruptions in the shape of so called ‘fashionable litera ture,’ are scattered among us like a den of poisonous ser pents turned loose. In Greek mythology the hair of a certain goddess was changed into snakes, and the advancejnent of the present age briitg.s with it corrupting changes in literary produc tions. la South America the anaconda snake swings him self to a limb and catches his prey wliile it is passing, When tiie boys and girls start into society they find a more de.'diyfoe than the anacon da hanging around their paths. Between these ‘fashionable novels’ and rattlesnakes there i* a striking similitude. They are very much alike. First, they are both poisonous. In time of war Indians poison their arrows in the following manner: Two of ihem start out, one carrying a long pole with a piece ot liver on the end; they soon find a rattle snake, and while one worries it with a slick the ot er holds that piece of liver and lets it strike its poison into every part of it. The liver is then placed in the sunshiue and it soon becomes a mass of pois on; into this the Indian thrusts the heads of his arrows; they aie then ready for use, aud when one breaks a man’s skin tho poison is communicated to the entire system. And a person may read novels until their venom has been darted into every part cf the mind. The imagination, judgment, memory, and all the faculties become contaminated, and the mental nature is soon in the condition as that liver into which the Indian thrusts his arrows; and others minds coming into contact with it are liable to be corrupted by the poisonous influences that are sent our. The bite of the rattlesnake produces the same effect upon the physical systen that ha bitual novel reading does up*^ on the mind. After the pain and feverish excitement of snakebite have subsided, re • action takes place, a dreamy inactivity sets in, the individ ual becomes dull and stu pid and is adverse to bodily exercise. And of all that is sluggish, inactive and indo-^ lent it is the mind of a novel- reader just after some excite- ing novel has been completed. In society such minds are like dead trees in a green forest. The individual dreams around like an owl in daylight. If a woman, she imagines a hero in every plow-boy she sees; if a man be grows rapturous over the hair aud eyes of the milk-maid. Thus, they be lieve thet “life is a dream” sure enough, and they float down its stream as contentedly a.s Cleopatra when . she sailed down the Cydnu* to meet Mark Antony. The Masonic Lectures and Lec turers. OEFICIAL INTEaEITI. The following notice of a faithful public officer is clip*, ped from the New York 0&- server. Such confidence is in> dee i rare in these days of po litical corruption. Would that we had more such men in our country. A few days since we receiv ed from a corrrespondent at Norwalk, Conn, a tribute not to the memory but to the character of a citizen of that place, then still living in full health and vigor in his 93d year. It was taken from the Norwalk Gazette, and referred to the fact that the subject of the notice had voted at the recent State election, having refused to be taken to the polls by a committee in a car riage. He walked from his home with a vigorous step and deposited his vote. Two days later we received intelligence of bis death, which occurred suddenly on the 17th inst. The subject of the notice was Eli B. Bennett, who for two consecutive years had been treasurer of the town of Nor walk. Despite all the chan ges of parties, the rise and reign of local factions for more than half a century, Mr, Bennett stood so liigb in per sonal character and in: the esteem of his fellow towns men, that no other man was thought of or desired for the responsible trust of caring fiT the town’s moneyed interests. For year* no bond even would be accepted trom him, and finally he himself insisted from a sense of its propriety in furnishing one, so absolute was his integrity known to be there was not a taxpayer in all Norwalk who esteemed it any thing more than an unimpor tant memorandum of the re sponsibilities of his trust. Not only was his word ever as good Fshis bond, but so high and inflexible was bis honesty and so perfect every man’s trust in him, that a bond from him was deemed a useless formality. If you want to get a Xmas present for your sweetheart go to J. Gt. Hall. In our last issue we stated as the general opinion of all intelligent Masons, that our Masonic Lodges are not what they ought to be; that no in struction in the mysteries, the ritual, and symbolism of the institution is imparted in them; that no mystic lessons of brotherly lovo, morality, forbearance and. charity are taught there; and thatama-^ jority of them present no at traction whatever to an intel ligent, studious, and invesU- gation brother to retain his membership in them; and hence the cause of the wiiole- sale dimission now so lou'Uy complained of- As a renu'dy against this withdrawal, we recommended a reformation iu the working ot lodges That there i the most ample room for improvement in this particular, no one at all ac quainted with the facts of the case can deny. But how is this reformation to be effected! That is a question of the most vital importance—one which should engage the attention of our Grand lodges at the earliest possible moment. Too little attention, it ap pears to us, is paid to the study of the Lectures of Freemasonry in the United States. The lecture.sof Freemason ry, under the veil of allegory, embody all the philosophy and abstruse teachings of the order. Like the rough ashlar in whose wrought dimensions is contained the perfect stone, and the block of marble which hides the life like stat ue to bo developed by the chisel of the skilful artist, the lectures of Freemasonry, when properly explained i. y an in telligent, scientific lecturer, show forth the teachings of the institution in all their simplicity, in all their beauty and in all their truth. And here we come to the important point to be consid ered, How is that degree of intelligence to be obtained by the master or the lecturer that will insure the prop*.r expla nation of the lectures I We answer, that it ean be acquir ed only by the closest and most careiul study of the First Great Light, of the legends and traditions of the order and of the many scientific publi cations of learned masonic writers of the past century and the present. The light shines clearly enough, but tiie darkness comprehendeth it not. The works of Hutchin son, of Prestou, of that Goli- ah of masouic scientific writings. Dr. Oliver, and of Dr. Mackey, contain, under a veil, the whole philosophy oi Freemasonry; and these writ ings, thanks to the Masonic Press, are now within the reach of all our brethren. But it is not every brother who is possessed of that edu cation, natural talents and tastes, which will enable him thoroughly to succeed iu his invesiigation and study of the science of Freemasonry, Like the teachers and professors of other sciences, tbe masonic lecturer should be trained for his profession, and its prac tice should insure him a re spectable aud permanent in come, so that his whole time and his whole attention might be devoted to the discharge of bis masonic duties. He should be a man of the most liberal education, gentlemanly deportment, kindness and af fability of manners, and un* sallied moral character; in : hurt, a model man and ma son. There is not a Grand Lodge in the Union under whose ju risdiction such a brother, with the proper training and facilities, may not be found; and it is, in ouf opinion, the duty of every Grand Lodge to seek out and find him and give him the facilities to be come thoroughily master of hisprofe.ssion, and let his elec tion be for life, oruntil supet- annuated by age, or incapac itated by infirmity. Suppose every Grand, Lodge in tiie United S'ates to have such a lecturer, and him to have un der him and trained by him the requisite number of dis trict lec urer*, to bring uuder their teaching all the Lodges in their respective jurisdict- tions, what a happy result might not be reasonably an ticipated in five years! Ma sonic intelligeoce would then take the place of the igno rance and blindness which now obscure the masonic vis ion, and that “giaut evil” — dimission—which is now rep resented as “a clog to the ma chinery” of Freemasonry, would give place to a healthy, a happy, a united and iatelii- geut membership.—American Freemason- EEMSMBEEINa AND FOEUET- INQ. It is a good thing to be able to remember, but it is no less desirable to be able to forget. Happiest among men is he whose will exercises the strongest control over his memory, for he can bury his cares in oblivion, and record tlie pleasant incidents of his life where “every day he turns the leaf to re-'d them.” Some men can remember nothing. Theirs is a great misfortune, for experience Jis of no use to them They walk in darkness, minus the lamp by which wiser feet are guided, and of course stum ble as they go. There ate others whose lurte it is to re member pleasurably all that good men strives to dis • miBa from their recoileoiou. Their minds are like filters, whieli permit that which is pure and excellent to run through them, but retain wiiatever is coarse and nox ious. There fund of im moral information is iuexhausnUt; but of facts which illustrate the best traits of human na ture, or the wisdom and be nevolence of its Author, ihoir moinories are bare. There is a very large class that cannot remeoiber beue- fits; another, that never for gets wrongs In short, the specialities of memory and of forgetfulness are manifold. Jr DEALER IN Dry Doods, Clothing-, SHOES, lELahs, GENT’S D Millinery, &c OXTOED, N. 0., Nov. 15. Having just returned from a second trip North, aud hav ing secured geeat baegains in a great many goods, I will of fer them to my customers ac cordingly. My stock is nnu- sually large. Call and see at once. A. LANDIS. J.G.HALL ii opening one of the largest and best selected stoc' s of CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY OOODS ever seen in Oxford. My itook embraces nearly every* thing you can ask for. for everybody and TOYS very cheap, Fruits and Confections in abundance. ^“Do not purchase your Ohrirt- mas supplies before you come to see me. O-iGI-.LaialL OXFORD, N. C. largains, GREAT BARGAINS! My entire stock of Ladies’, Misses aud Ohildrea’s T=r A nnpi WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT RE GARD TO COST! : I^*Oall and secure great bar- jaios at and below cost on Whole Stock. HATS ! 25c., 50c., 75c. uad $i.00 that Coat doable that price. Don’t iiiil to call. CASH ONLY. Nothing charged at the prices named. ; TUese goods must and shall be sold,' —ALSO— My- whole stock of JERSEY JACKETS! ^2.25 each, which is priuie New York cost. A. LANDIS. Ai^SO REDUCED PRICES On Dolmans, Cloaks and Jackets. ALSO AT REDUCED PRICES; Blankets, Tweeds and Cassimeres AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES, GltE.nBARIfflSS» Attractive Styles in CHRISTMAS GOODS, In China, Glass and Plated Ware. A. LANDIS
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 7, 1883, edition 1
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