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The Atlantic Messenger. EDITOR: HiGHT C. MOORE, New Bern, N. C If' ( ii-dh A monthly Baptist newspaper start ed in May, 1899, as the organ of the Atlantic Association; twice enlarged and improved within a year; in Jan uary, 1902, its field was so extended as to embrace the “Baptist Destituti m ’ of about twenty counties in Eastern North Carolina, the territory lying mainly in the bounds of the Atlantic, Neuse, Wilmington, and Tar River Associations. Terms of Subscription: Single copies, each..25 cts. per year. 25 copies to one address..$3 per year. 100 copies to one address.$10 per year Entered at New Bern, N. C., as sec ond-class mail matter. THE HOLLY AND THE CHRIST. A CHRISTMAS-TKEE TALK TO CHILDBEN. ("liristmas is tlie most ])opular holiday in the world. Xo other approaches it in joy, renown or signiticanee. AYe love to celebrate the fourth of J nly, hecansc on that day our inde]iendcnee was declar ed. AA’e love the tenth of May, localise then we strew flowers n])on the graves of onr dead he roes. \A’’e love the twenty-second of Fc'hrnary, becanse then was Ixirn George Washington, who be came the '‘Father of his country” and was justly styled, “first in war, first in ]ieace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” These holidays are only national, and be yond our borders they are not ob served. But Christmas is cele brated throughout Christendom; its recognition is worldwide,world embracing, world-encircling. "This occasion is frauglit with the keenest pleasures, A"our little vessels have been riding the rough sea of time for the past year, and now you touch again at. this ver dant isle and gather its luscious sweets. "Idle traveller on the sandy desert loves to stop at the oases, with tlieir grass, flowers, shrubs, trees, and s])arkling fountains of pure water. Thus you enjoy this fertile spot in the year’s barren ness. A"ou stop at this beautiful oasis in the dry history of the year and get invigorating refreshments. But it is not. my juirpose to talk about the po])fdarity or the pleas ures of this holiday. It has a deeper significance; it has a wider meaning. AA'"e are told that Christ was born on the twenty-fiftli of December. ITow true that is we cannot tell; we may never know, and it makes no material differ ence. Only gras]) its true intent, and it will foster your love for Christ and deepen your s])iritual- ity. Christmas bears with it the iifinie of Christ, This beautiful tree, thus clothed with splendid at tractions, also has the name of Clirist. Let us, then, learn from the holly some lessons in regard to the Christ. 1. That tree came from the for est. It did not grow here. It was born years ago in the woods. It ]>ut forth its tender bud, grew year after year, became a bush, stood the wintry weather, and be came a tree. But the time came for it to leave its associates of the forest; it was cut down, brought here, and is before you this even- ing. Christ was not a native of this earth. The sands of this world could never yield a flower of such purity; no earthly mine could fur nish a diamond of such lustre; no human being coiild lay sole claim to such progeny. Heaven was his home. Ilis presence there shed radkince over the hills and valleys of bliss. But the time came for him to leave glory, and down, down to this lonely, sinful wmrld he came and lived and died and rose again that we might follow him. into heaven. 2. That tree possesses medicin al properties. Its bark, leaves and berries are used to heal numerous diseases. It is said many ail ments of the human family can l>e cured by these remedies. Christ is the “Balm of Gilead” ; he healeth all our diseases. He is the Fountain open for cleansing. AA"^e can Avash and be Avhiter than snow. lie is the best Physician; the eating cancer of vice, beyond the reach of man, can be checked by him; the le])rosy of sin, incur able by human agency, is within his power. All our wounds and putrefying sores can be cured by him. “ The great Physician now is near, ^ The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to clieer— Oh! hear the voice of Jesus.’’ 3. That tree is evergreen. Many trees drop their verdant foliage in autumn and look dry and dead during the winter months. Xot so with the holly. It stands the storms and tempests of the coldest days. Juttle birds fly to its leafy branches for refuge and feed upon its nutritious berries. (dirist is evergreen: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and foreA’er.” In the sunshine of prosjAerity and in the shadow of adversity he is the same. On the summit of exultant Auctory or in the vale of temporary defeat, he is the same. To us he is cA^er kind, true, loving, sympathetic. From the Avintry blasts of this Avorld Ave can find refuge in him. The hoAvl- ing tem]Acsts may rage and the Avild bilhuvs roll on, but Avhen oirr IHes arc “hid A\uth Christ in God,” Ave are safe, avc are secure. There Ave can eat the bread of life and drink the “sincere milk of the Avord,” ajid find nourishment for our souls. 4. That tree is illuminating. It sends forth, from its candles fas tened here and there to its branch es, light throughout the entire building. It enables us to sec each other; it enables us to see itself. Christ is the “Sun of Righteous ness arising Avith healing in his ings.” His life-giving rays are rapidly covering the entire globe, inspiring the race Avilli faith, hope ami love. He is the Light of the Avorld. He beams into ora* souls, and AA*e are made glad. He shines on our ]AathAvay and Ave rejoice. Before him the nightly shades of gloomy doubt and dark dejection flee aAvay. His kindly influences are melting into pure spirituality the frozen hearts of the nations Avho are unacquainted Avith the SaAuour of men. “The true light noAv shineth.” 5. That tree is beautiful. A^ou admire it. Taste, Avas displayed in its decoration. It is Avorth be holding. The sight of it Avill not soon bo forgotten. Christ Avas the “chiefest among ten thousand and altogether loAm- ly.” There Avas no stain across his life; no sin dwelt in his soul; no pollution corrupted his heart; no im'purities infested his mind. In him Avas no guile. He Avas ab solutely ])ure. His character Avas supremely beautiful. Ills life Avas the quintessence of loA^e, the most heaA*enly principle in all the earth. 6. That tree is gift-l)earing. Here is the most striking resem blance. Atour hearts Avill be glad dened by AA*hat you receive from tliis tree. That is its noblest characteristic, its chief attraction. Take aAvay its burden of presents and it loses its interest. Christ is the greatest gift e\'er received by man. He is the bright est gem of heaven, the most prec ious jcAvel in glory. He is the “pearl of great price.” He is more costly than ten million AAwlds. Atot God gave him to us. He gave himself. The blessings of that gift Ave are realizing to-day throughout, the AAmrld. Then, as you look upon this tree, think of CalvarA*. As you Hhold its presents, consider the supreme .gift to man. As you re- ceiA*e the gifts of the holly, I trust you Avill also receive the Savdour of men, the greatest gift that heav en can bestO'Av upon you. And God grant that Ave may have ■ Christ before us and in us during these holidays as Ave have never ' had him before! May each of us ■ truly adopt the language of the ^ poet: “In the cros.s of Christ I glory, Towering o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.” WHAT IS CONVERSION ? “ Turn 5'e unto Him from whom ye have deeply revolted, O children of Is rael, ”—Isa 31:6 (R. V.) The question I have raised finds ansAver in the text I have chosen. Conversion means,* at bottom, jitst simply “a turning.” Our text informs us as to the nature of the turning. It is tAvo fold: First—turning from a state of re volt; Seconds—turning unto Him from Avhom they had reA*olted. , These are the rock-bottom prin ciples of conversion. Here it is inculcated back in the old dispen sation—long before the radiant coming the Son of Alan. It is a uni\^ersal duty—demanded of all people in all ages. In a, sense, Ave may say that ev ery transgressing Christian is con verted Avhen' he returns to the path of duty. Thus, in our Authorised Version, Jesus says to Peter “When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren.” This refers to his turning again Avith bitter tears from his disgraceful denial of the Lord. But conA*ersion, in its strict and proper sense, refers only to “that first and radical change by Avhich the soatI enters Aipon its state of sa.lvation.” It is the human side of the new birth; the divine side is regeneration. TIiais oaa the vei*y thi’eshold of the iieAV life Ave find God and man Avorking together, each AmluAAtarily, both for the sanre eAid. And I'ight here is a gross lAAis- conception concerAring the plaAi of redemptioAA. Tavo extreme vieAvs are held: on the oire hand there are those Avho think that this change of heart is all of Airan—a mere conversion; oaa the other, there are those avIio AuaiAitaiAi that it is all of God absohAtely—a re- geAAeration AvithoAAt the coaascaaI of the one i-egeAAerated. By these er rors thoAAsaAids have becAi deceived aAid lost. The tA'AAth lies bet.AveeAA these Iavo extreAAies. Iaa the salvation of a soaaI both diviAre and hAAAiraAA agCAAcies aaaaasI be cAArployed. “A fair bA'eeze does not ])ropel the Ams- sel AAAiless AAAaAA spread the sails.” “SAAAishine on the saArd jArodAAces uothiAAg AAAiless uAaiA soav the seed.” So.the S]Aii*it of God AAufailingly operates throAigh and Avith hAAAuaiA iAAsti*AAAnentality in saA*ing AiiaiA. So, then, if man is eA*er born agaiAi, he miAst do his part toAvard tiArAAiiAg the ciArrent of his life. “If he- is ever regeAAerated, it lAAAist be iAA and through a Aiiovement of his OAA'Ai Avill.” So ofteiA is the Avill of AAAaAA appealed to in the Scriptui’es that it seems hardly necessaiy to cite any of the num- ei’OAis passages here. This human part of the soul’s salvation is conversion. Xoav, let us notice it in its tivo relations— turning from sin and tui’niug to God. In other Avoi’ds, ConAmrsion includes rejientance and faith— familiar AA*ords, but alas ! too little understood. The poAvers of the Avhole man must be exercised in oi'der that these two. duties may be perfonn- ed. The psychologists tell us 'that Ave are endoAved Avith the three-fold faculties of intellect, feeling and Avill. We shall see that each of these faculties has a distinct part to play in both re pentance and faith. I—Intellect. The right use of the intellect in- SAAres clear, keen peA'ceptions. It lays the gA’OAAnd-AVork for the graces. Of itself, it is not all-im portant, bAAt it paves the Avay for that Avhich is. The oflice of the intellect Iaa re- peAAtaAAce is AAAerely to recognize oaab’s true coAAditioAA. TIaaas the sinAier sees hiAAAself a sinAAer—a siAAAAer gnilty before God, corrAApt- ed by his iAriqAAities, aiAd helpless Iaa all his defileAAAents. It is read ily seen that this is not. full re- ])eAAtaAAce, bAAt it is aAA AAiAfailiAAg pA'e-requisite or part of repentance. SiAAAilarly, the intellect prepares the Avay for saviAAg faith by A*ecog- nizing the Bible as a true Book. This eAiAbraces AAAOAAtal asseAAt to the tA'AAth of Biblical history, doc trine HAAd pA'ophecy. ReligioAA is AAAore thaAA recogni- tioiA, bAAt Ave AAAAAst A’ccogAAize before we caAA receive. Still, it is AAot to be denied that even this intellecL AAal eleAAAent, siAAgle-hatAded, has done the Avorld a vast Auoral good. BtAt Auore A*eAAAaiAAS to be doAAe. II. —Fea-aa.ing. Here the eAAAotioAAs are stirA’ed. The Avork of the intellect is fol- loAviiAg by a AuoviAAg Avithin the heaA*t—the seat of affectioAA. Iaa this stage repeAttaAAce as- sAAAAAes the forAAA of genAAiAAe sorroAv for siAA. The sinAAer sees Aiot OAAly that he is gnilty btAt that he has siAAAAed agaiAAst a loviAAg aAAd jAAst God, doAAC that A\*hiclA is hateful to God aAAd iiA itself coATAAptiAAg to the last degTce. Oaa! of this perceptioAA spriAAgs the soa’a-oav of heart. Xoav, the sinner is “AAear the kingdom” bAAt still he is AvithoAAt. If he goes AAo fAAA’ther, a glooiAiy roAAAorse aAAd despair Avill be his sad lot. Xotice also AAlaat the feeliAAgs have to. do Iaa oaaa* iiA*f)gress toAvards saving faith. While the iAitellect declares the Bible to be trAAe, tlie stirred CAnotioAAs agree to its aaaos- sage of grace aAAd poAver as applic able to ])reseAAt spiritAAal AAecessi- ties. A great advaAAce has beeAA lAAade, bAAt the saaaaaaaaII has AAot qAAite beeAA attaiAAed. We AiAay say that AvlAile a great AiAaAAy people haA*e religioAA iAAtel- IcctAAally there is perhaps saa equal AAAAAAAber Avho have it extcAAded no fAAA’ther thaAA their eAAAotioiAS. Oh, that all avIao start Avould go oaa to tlAC end! III. ^WlLL. This coAAAAAAaAAds resolAAte actioiA —the last aAAd all-iiAAportant phase of repeAAtaAAce aArd faith to Avhich the other stages, UAAportaAAt as they are, are oaaIa* pA'eparatoA’y. TIaaas, oaa the basis of recogni- tioAA of siAA aAAd soA’A’OAv foA’ it, the Avill rises aAAd AAAaAAifests itself in a dee]A iAAAvard tAArAAing aAvay fronA siAA. The feeliAAgs revolt at its dis- giAstiAAg AAatAire aAAd terrible coAAse- qAAOAAces, aAAd the Avill dcAAAaAAds se- A’eraAAce froAAA it. AAAd iAA the search for pardoAA aAAd cleaAAsins:, the will tAArns to Christ aAAd iAAAjAlicitly trAAsts iAi IHaaa. aCU the faculties of the AAAaAA are givcAA over to Christ aAAd Christ is takoAA withiAA as the life-]Ari]Aci- ple of the soaaI. a\1a, here, oaa this holy groAAnd where the intellect recogAAizes aAAd the feelings are stirred aAAd the will acts—hcA’e, I say, God AAAeets the stA’AAggliAAg soaaI aAAd ca’owaas it with saviAAg joy. TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION PROPOSED. The followiAAg are the featAAres of the teAAAperance legislatioAA pro posed by the iinti-Saloon LeagAAe: 1. Prohibition of sale or AAAaAAAA- fectAAre of intoxicating liqAAors oaaI- side of incoAqAOA'ated towns. Pro hibition of sale of liqAAor in towns of less thaAA 500 popAAlation,wheth er incorporated or not. PA’ohibi- tion of AAAaAAAAfactAAre of liqAAors iAA toAVAAS of less than 1,000 popula tion, w'hether iAAcoA’porated or not. The distinctioAA is Anade betwnen iAAcorporated torvns and AAnincor- porated coAAAAnAAnities becaAAse in- coA’porated tow*ns aA*e orgaAAized and policed. It is made also to protect the AnA’al districts from the salooAA. It is AAAade also to protect the toAVAAS aAAd cities froAu being SAAAU’OAAAAded by saloons. The dis- tiAActioAA is AAAade iAA respect to pop- AAlatioAA AuaiAAly to pAeveAAt the evas- ioAA of the laAv by the incoA-poration of salooAA or distillery settleAAreAAts. 2. Local OptioAA elections in hr- coA’porated toAVAAs of Auore thaiA 500 iAAhabitaAAts at aAAy tiAue AApoAA 30 days AAotice aAAd aapoaa petition of OAAe-third of the qAAalified voters; proA’ided electioAAS shall not take place ofteAAer thaAA once in 2 years. Iaa SAAch eleetioAAs the question of salooAAS or pA’ohibitioAA, or salooAAS or dispeAAsary, or dispcAAsaA’y or prohibitioAA, AAAay be subAnitted as petitioAAers AAAay reqAAest; OAAly one qAAestioAA at aAA election, hoAvever. 3. ProhibitioAA of the importa tion of liqAiors b}^ aAry AueaAAs into ]Arohibited or dispensary territory. I. AVfter JaaIa* 1, 1903, all a.p- plicaAAts for liceAAse to sell or AAAan- lAfacture liqAAors shall pA’esent Avith their applicatioAA petitioAAS m their Hhalf signed by a AAAajority of the qualified voters, save in those toAA'ns aAAd cities iAi Avhich betAvecAA the date of the enactAAAeAit of this lull aAA(l JaaIa* 1, 1903, aiA electioAA shall haA'e beeAA held aAAd caA’ried for saloons. Thes5 ]AA’opositioAAS are clear, and lAced aao cxpositioiA. They look to the siAppressioAA of the sa loon aAAd distillery Iaa the A’AAA*al dis tricts, and to local optioAA electioAAS in the toAVAAS aAAd cities in the AAear fAAtAAA-e OAA a fair aAAd reasoAAa.ble ba sis. There shoAAld AAot be a salooAA iAA aiAA* toAVAA OA’ citv aaiaIoss the lAAa- jority of the ])eople expressly call for it. The ])eoule of Xorth CaroliAAa are caatitled to this. They haA*e loAAg beeAA opjAoscd to the saloon. They have AACver had a fair chaAAce in a strAAggle Avith it. They haAm becAA haiiApercd by the igAAoraAAt A'ote. They haA*e stood in fear of divisioAA. BAAt these thiAAgs aA-e lAOAv passed. AaaJ aaoav that they are ])assed, the General AsseArrhly shoAild freely graAAt the people’s petitioAA for a fair opportunity to grapple Avith the evil that in their loAAg afflictioAA fastcAAed itself AApoAi thcAAA. Especial atteAAtioAA is directed to paA’agraph foAAA’. That calls for the recogAiitioAA oaa the part of the Gen eral AsseAAAbly that the people of Xorth CaroliAAa are Auoral people. The salooAAS aaoav exist not Avith the coAAseAAt of the people of Xorth CaroliAAa, biAt solely becaiAse con- ditioAAs have pA-eA^ented the moral forces of the State from asserting thcAiAselves in electioAAS against the salooAAS. Every iAAtelligent pAAblic AAAaAA iAA the State knoAvs that this is trAAC. It is liAAt reasonable to aslc AAOAV that, the patieAAce of the people be A’CAvarded, and that the true attitude of the AAAajority be recogAAized. Is it AAAAA’easonable to presAAiAAe that the saloons should AAot be opeAAed aaaaIoss it is expressly A'oted by the AAAajority to open thcAAA ? Is it AAAore reasonable to presAAAAAe that the people of Xorth CaA’oliAAa desiA’e the salooAAS—^re- coo-nized as riAiAAOAAS, as the soAirces of all AAAaAAAAer of criAue—^to go on AA'ith their Avork aaaaIcss they vote to the coiAtrary ? To be SAAre, he does A’ioleiAce to the character of the people aa*1ao holds that they favor saloons aArd that saloons AAAAAst exist. AAAAtil they have been A*oted OAAt. One: does not ask a arood man if he loves virtAAe. His character is ansAver. One avIao be- lieA*es iAA the people of Xorth Caro lina Avill say that the people desire the salooAAs closed, and he Avill not ask the people to prove this, biAt Avill bid the salooAA aaacaa to disproAm it. This is just \AdAat paragraph foAAr calls for. It is fair; it is representative; it is reason able; it is only a jAAst rec- ognitioiA of the patience of the AAAoral forces of Xorth Carolina; it presents theAu Avith the oppor- tAAnity that they have long Availed for. J. W. BAILEY.
The Atlantic Messenger (New Bern, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 1, 1903, edition 1
2
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