Newspapers / North Carolina Christian Advocate … / July 19, 1871, edition 1 / Page 1
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u a .our onusnrm mwnw orriui; or the advocate- cobmj k OF HAKGETT AND TA.WS0N Glt. RALEIGH N. C. T':- Hi.isii-. Aov.'i atk U fnripili.-1 Id sul-scri-b :it $-;...n .,-r annum in alv:imv. If I'svnipnt I aemv-.-.i six montli. f '.(, oiie copy, six mntb, f 1.S0 BATES OF ADVERTISING. 1 Month. 3 Min. S Xf . S M.m. 1 Vr CLUB KATES. P.HV. .1. li. I50HIHTT, IS I) IT Oil AND IMJULISIIER. REV- 11 T. HUDSON, ASSOCIATE EDITOU. 1 Souaro. Si . ir. i.-2. I Aii '.I (l SiU;irf. 9 K) : 1A Oil . IS IHI I MM IKMl .' t"l 111 (III'1 18 OH ' SH I 411 III ' Ol nil so mi ' :ii ihi mi .. ui, lim im 3(i (: Ail (HI CO IHI.i li mi! l-'iU (W 6 I'i tK . 0" 2-" Ml, W , I'll.' J i':ir $.(. s. Dili- JC-'ir, I'fv'iiivo 1 :t lime, $1,7.1. V I'ol'mii. I tolimin. TERMS TO KIEACIIERS. All ininiii,- !; will act as airi-nt I n- tin- Ai'voc- ;:; r-.-.-.-ive Hi,- pajic-r at Jt.tHitT annnra. Those Wll" Ii:tv fill: t:i;.-s wilt K- :.ll-vll fifteen nT c.it. on t: :i!''Tis-.-rs s.-t:t t $.."!. Those who send us wv.-n .il.scri!..-!-s I'. r otic year H i;l receive tlic Anvo C r: tot !--K- i.t-nllis lice of chai se. A.liuti.-i'iiicuts will be clianMl onto rv. iy tlnn mouths nUUiiul aUiliual ch.i.-'f. Fur . very ulliti cl.ansc thiTC will Ik.- nn extra rhargu tw.nly ci-uts an inch. TVeiity-ure ct cent, in A'McU to llie aljv. VOL. V.NO. 29. EALEIGH, N. C9 WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1871. WHOLE NO. 233. r.iUs for apt't Ut uoticcf lit Lorl cluma. SK i i.il ouitrarti maJc on rfninni ilili- term. c RISTIAN ADVOCATE. JllIOKVS II A 1. 1.. i.v l. i.. rriiMxs !.ii- i -ic:it I'.-iii-.tcr with pencil in Mini, He pun's every event with colors tlist stainl, '-- Ami a on c-n li c:invnss the last tilitinS fail,J He iiil;iiit'y li:iiL:s it in memory's hull. Wii.-iU.r wc tliink or feel, net or pursue, lie immediately in:il,eS it :i picture most true. Aini onc- tin- s.'-enc passes hi1 cannot recall, t'T the pritnter lias liunj it in memory's hall. We ca-iil.-t f-cvpe h"--Vr mm-h we may try, 4 Mis notii-c to av-.i.l, his presence to fly; lt i v so i.J or h i ! act, ho paintcth tliemall, : Aail luugi-lli the pi -Hires in memory ' hall. I 1 1 , in Mo v, hon thiiikins a per cil so trup, !'.: it ays i n f ist colors the thought I pursue, :..! ofi--n 1 wish that I could hut recall, . ine picture-- ie'v haiiirin in memory's hall. !:... i shall I he compelled ever to see, !. spirit-kiioi ail life has pamted forme I : - II. i " -ti;. , r. iy I'll wish to take from the will, 'ine pi' ttires utiv.-elcoiue ip memory V hall ! 'He ti let nie so hd'or life's pencil to guide, Ti.at !:c v. ill paint nothing I'd wish to hide : 1 et i. inanity !.a.lo ail the colors that lall hi pietr.ri i that ormitm lit memory's hall. :d hen in the spirit-land 1 shall arrive. With every emotion to honor alive, M.ty I there rejoice to Whol.l on the call, W( ct pieanes of life iiu'i in memory's hall. ( o m m n 1 1 1 I $ ft. ' For the Christian Advocate. ltLUIt JACK STATION, IV. C. CU.rCRKACE. l'ciiipil'"'-l from Authentic Documents. li A l'KEACULi;. CHAITKR I. i :T sav of ii, it tutors nature; artificial stntc Li sin these touches, livelier than life." fofiu.; mi account el' the Town and its inhalii t tut - us tlu-y ;iiirar ;tt the jiresetit time The Metliodisi Church Some of its nieni Ix tv intmJueciI-- Conference wire-iiulliiig. ami !'V whom it ins done Kev. Mr. Addi ;iiiiointod to CUiek-Juck A play of htini'H ;it his expense and lnother Do-Little's ch.i-irin AiljoiU'tiiucut of Coiiterence Mr. A'i'iioi"s leuirii home and arrival at his new !;. M i..f labor How he was received and w hat he found in the way of a borne Soul- body tniist ojve God account for the treatment of UN Ministers. Bi.A' k-Jack .SiAiiux, a portion of whose history wc are about to record, was not con-ideic-J, exct-pt by its own members, the mcst important church in tii-j bouu.lsof thoN C. Conference. It Lad notoriety, but it was of an un enviable character; for there were few of (lie ministers who, if they had been cinsultcil, would have consented to be appointed to it. The author of this record feel i that he is doing a work for which the Station will not thank hirn, bat ;s the compilation io made from ohIik n'i'j d'jruDti nU, its truths caunot be .miitri.iycd, and he presents them to the public as such, hoping to do good even to J '.hick Jack by their presenta tion. .Tiie town of IJiack Jack owed much tot tiie genius of Kip Van Winkle for ilE frh.cpy appearance, irregular stret ts, ancient atchitccture, and general di lapidated appearance. I'rogreas was toil a thing unknown, and the hand would have been considered sacn.li gious, that would have attempted to give a modern lo-.k to any of its an cient relics. The population partook largely of the caste of the town itself, and if they could not have prevented tbe desecration, they would have moved away and formed a new settle ment, sooner than have allowed their quiet to be disturbed by the whistle of a locomotive, or the banks of their sacred river to be in any wise altered, by making locks, so that the stream im'riit liifnnio nnvirftble. In fact. some of the more influential citizens took a higher ground against these things than the moving of their an cient and time honored customs and corporation. They said, if God had designed the river should be naviga ble, he would have made it so, but he did not, and had pronounced all his works ' good,' and it would be nothing short of impiety to alter, in any man ner, that of which the Creator had expressed his unqualified approbation. He had given man dominion over the beasts of the Held, and the horse, the male, and the ox were made subject to man, for drawing burdens and transporting men from place to place. Railroads were ' inventions sought out by men and their evils so far outweighed their advantages, (if they Lad any,) that men of piety and in fluence ought to cast the whole weight of their iulluence against them. We will not designate them by the irrelevent title of Old Fogies, or any thing el e, but leave the reader, as he peruses their history, to form his own opinion and designate them by what name he will; for it i3 the piovince of the historian simply to record facts, audit may chance that some of my readers may belong to the same school of thought with the old time folks of Black-Jack Station, and we have no oesire lonreiuaice mem against nam a O Ilia G cr nninrf rt niii nnAA The session of the Annual Confer ence for 1S7-, was to be held in the town of G , a phasant and thriving place with two or more railroads run- ning thiough it, and an industrious population, whose bus' movements added to tho humming of the machine ry in its factories, the rumbling of heavily loaded wagons on Hie rock paved streets, and the inevitable scream, ever and anon, of a locomo tive as it came rushing in, or going out, with its long Irani of cars tilled with merchandise or human freight, gave oiio tho idea of a bee-hive on an extended scale, and was in striking contrast with the sleepy quietude of lllack-Jack. Siimucl Do-Li! tie, a steward and in llucutial man in the latter place, had been elected a lay representative to the Confer nee at G , from tho Dis trict to w hich liis church Ik longed; and as they had to change their pas tor, it was considered all important for brother D. to attend. He was fro quently approached by individuals, and more than once bv She ollicial body, as to what man they wanted, and if they could not get him, wh tt qualifications the one must have who might be sent to them tho next year. Conference, as wel! as Congress, has its lvUj members, and brother Do Little was to spare no paius, but all expense, to obtain the right man. Every thing, said they, depended on it, and the Bishop might just as well leave them without an appointment as to send a man who would not be popu lar, for they could not support him. Thus instructed, and half regretting his election to representative dignity, brother D. reached Conference, and embraced the first opportunity to lay the wishes of his church or rather its demands before the Bishop and his council. Do-Little Lad had no little to do in creating the unanimous desire for Mr. Addison's appointment to the station, and ho now found him self on a difficult sea, just between Scyla and Charabydia, either of which, if he ran against it, would, he thought, be fatal to him the fust to his popu larity, and the last to his pocket. .Mr. A. was the only one of the Conference whose appointment, in (ho prcsen' state of things, could s-itisfy the sta tion, and the Bishop would not make the appointment of so cV'ecmcd a minister to a place proverbial for its covetousucss, unless there were some assurances that a competent support would be given him in return fr the spiritual services rendered them. A man with a wife and four children was, in imagination at least, a fright ful burden to a church accustomed to a single man, and the rcpr jsentativu knew his own contribution for mini:-.-tei'ial support would have to be in creased. lie was sorry now that Mr. A.s name had ever been mentioned in connection with the pastorate of Black Jack, but the tide was 11 iwing and he could not stem it. He was carried along powerless on tlietljo l he had aided so largely in creating and, of course, gave the necessary as surances for ministerial support, ob taining the desired appointment for his church. Many a joke was made, and a good der 1 of wit cut, by the preachers, over Mr. Addison's appointment jokes and wit which the newly appointed minister did not relish, and were, in no sense, complimentary to the work assigned him. "When the Conference adjourned several of his ministerial friends, some of them secretly rejoic ing it might be, that " the starch w is to be taken out of him," approached with a dolerous look and sympathising tone to bid him farewell. Their so lemnity was so well affected that the scene wore the aspect of a funeral, and attracted a considerable crowd around them. The excitement grew in intensity for some time, for many did not know what had drawn them to that particular place. There was no visible cause, save that a crowd were collecting there, and they had by im pulse followed to see what was to be done, or being done. The gathering crowd had, however, taken their part in the drama which was being enact ed, for their coming together, and blocking the isle of the church, had prevented Mr. Addison's escape and held him a prisoner among his icr mentors. Farewell, Addison,' said Mr. Mnke fun. 'The Lord be with you; I never expect to see you again, my brother !' Makefun carried his handkerchief to his eves as he spoke, aud wiped them, as if he weie weeping with inconsola ble grief. ' Do you expect to finish your course before the next Conference?' asked Mr. Addison, in the simplicity of his heart, and rca'ly feeling concerned for his fellow laborer's wellfarc. No, I do not expect to enter glory so soon as that,' replied his friend, still holding the handkerchief to his eyes. What is the matter then ? Are you going to locate ?' Oh,' said he, apparently unable to control his emotions of sorrow, 'you are going to Black-Jack, and I think it altogether unlikely that they will raise enough during the year, to furn ish you with bread and pay return freight to Conference on what the musquitoes may leave of you by that time; and even if by any, not to be looked for event, you should turn up at that lime, you will have become so antiquated your most intimate friends now will not recognize you then, and you will have to form new friendships. Alas, 1113' brother ! Alas, my brother : J Farewell! I am sony you are buiied so soon.' Makefun spoke so rabidly tha! his friend Addison could not say a v-oid, but stood overcome with amazement, and allowed M. to hold his hand till he had finished saying all that he de sired. Do-Little was standing near, ai d tho changes on his face, now the color of whiting, aud then as 'ed as crimson, told his mortification, the justice ( r injustice of which, I bhall not further anticipate the records by now stopping to tell. .Suffice it to say that these jokes, while they angered o Little some, and mortified him more, were not without a wholesome eilect upon him. Conference adjourned, as usual, with a feeling of solemnity generally per vading it. Many changes had been undo, in consequence of which many ministers were to leave kind friends and comfortable homes, for ii-lds of labor where every face would be a strange one, and (unpleasant thought) with probably no place provided fi r their families when they should reach their work. Mr. Addison's ciise was not a solitary one by any mean?, and if the wit of the livelier cues of Lis brethren found in him a better target for practice than some others, it. was because he had hitherto had the best appointments in the Conference, and known to be of such an even temper it would bo hard to rufllc it. The elevation of Mr. Addison to his calling was as great as his abilities, and lie could with truth reply to his friends, 'None of these things move me,7 and it was well for him his piety was of so exalted a type, che I. is fuilh might have failed, and a period been put to a ministry signally ifficient in the past, and destined to be more so in the future. He returned from Con fcrcuce to gather together his i fleets, and set out immediately for his new scene of action. .Sad indeed was the heart of his wife, and scalding tears, which she strove to but could not re press, filled aud blinded her eyes as she turned to look from a Lilt top, oil which the carriage for a moment rest ed, back, it might be, for the last time on the groop of friends she w as leav ing.aud who still stood in the 1 'arson age door waving to her a last farewell. .She had spent three happy years with them, and was now going from JViei ds to strangers strangers whose ineou sidera'ei ess toward their miuistcis, had well nigh made them a rej roach ami a by -word among tiie olhi r churches of the Conference. Did ever a heart pats such an ordeal without bleeding? Could anything but grace ouabloa refined woman to make such a sacrifice without complaint ? We think not; and many a covetous church will be faced by a record similar to the one I am now mak:ng before the bar of Jesus Christ 1 God counts his servant's tears and treasures all their highs, wrung from their ej es and hearts by those who 'withhold more th in is meet' from the Master's cause. .Such characters would do themselves a ser vice would they but ask, what value tho world will have when compared with one tear wrung from a pure heart wronged and wounded in its ac quisition. Four days travel by pri vate conveyance brought them to Clack-Jack, and their reception was what they expected as cheerless as the place's name. The church thought they were doing all that could be asked of them when the stewards rented a house with three rooms for a Parsonage, and had furnished it with two beds, four pillars, and bed-clothing enough for one change, together with a half dozen split-bottom chairs, a secretary, and culinary articles enough to make out on. Tho beds had been in use for two generations, aud become very light; bat wh xt of that, they would, on that very account, be easier to make up ! and the secretary looked as if it might have been Noah's companion in the ark, but 'if the I readier would bo particular with it (as who would not with so venerable a relic) it would do him good service as long as he stayed.' The miuister aud his family entered their home, if I may be allowed to desecrate the name far enough to designate it thus, neither of them ex pressing to the other the mortifica tion they felt. Indeed they had each resolved, before reaching the place, to put the best face, possible, on every thing, and patiently submit to all in conveniences that were really neces sary, secretly hoping to improve their condition as time advanced, and by God's blessing make this hard place a poft one for their successor. They found, probably, a week's pro vision in the panlry, placed there by the .stewards, and the Quarterly Meeting seven weeks off. No one of fered to supply their needs without the m ney. The merchants all did a '.h mnitK-.-x, and over the counters of the sfcre.-i might be seen cards, looking as if they had been recently suspended, vith this inscription on them, -1) ..n't ask me to trust !' Do-Little's s'ore bris'-loJ with the cards as thiek as a company of soldiers' mus-l-. is with bayonets when about to make a charge, and what was the rain ii er lo do? The town seemed to have a dread of him, and the church w is paralized by the burden (?) they had to bear. Supposing the cage of a pulpit v.otild hold the lion, the popu-l.n-e ventured out to hear him on Sunday. They were loud in their commendations of the sermon adjec livcs were wanting for this purpose, but wlu-n the congregation were dis nrssod. only two remained lo greet 'the new preacher.' Do Little honestly thought well of the Preacher, and was disposed to praise him any way; but when he thought of the draft to be made on his pocket, he became per fecily enthusiastic, hoping to make all others think well of him, and as far as pos-viblo relieve the pressure n his pocket ,-(i; men can bear more pres sure en Iheir coiwiviiccs than on their A sit rwards mce'.ing had been called to meet at tho Pa'sonago on Monday night. (To be. Continued j F'ir lliu t'lnisli.m A-lviicalc m iin.imi;. j;i:mcvc! j I e en! ire question of the eligibility .-f children to membership, and conse quently to the lite of Christian Bap tism, rests upon the truth or falsity of this simple proposition. If chil-Jrcn are believers, no class of religionist will attempt to exclude them from the Church of Christ. If they are not be lievers, then certain sects will exclude them. Nov, we assume that they are believ ers, and that the proposition belongs to that el." ss of truths called 'First Principles,' or i xiomatic truths, which need no proof, which really admit of in nc. But lcs wc should bo thought to bo a liiile presumptive, let us explain a little, and probably when the rubbish of long-neglected investigation has been removed, we may see clearly the t rue basis of this subject. Believing or Faith is the hue nor mal state of human souls. Unbelief or Infidelity is an abnormal state of human couls. The former of these stales must naturally result from the eternally peifcel nature of the Creator of human bonis. God is a being of all faith; consequently he could not cre ate an unbelieving soul or intelligent being. A stale of faith in God is the correct nalur.il element, so to speak of men or angels for happiness. A state of unbelief is an unnatural element of men or angel, superinduced by some being or instrumentality antagonistic to the nature of God. The Bible an nounces this normal state of the soul as necessary to salvation. All classes of religionists admit the salvation of infants, no matter how absurd and unintelligible their modes of explana tion as to bow they are saved. It must, therefore, necessarily follow that they are believers. Again, faith is a positivo idea a something real, not imaginary. Un belief is a negative thought not a something, but the absence of a need ed something necessary to man's hap piness. God could not create the soul in this negative state; for to have done so, would have been the same as to have left the most important con stituent clement of the human soul uncreated. The Bible, which is our guide by its inferences as well as its positive precepts, assumes the salva tion of infants. But they cannot be in a salvablo state, unless they are in thij positive state; that is, in a state of faith. Therefore, we are again forced to the conclusion that 'children arc believers.' 'But,' says the opposcr of the eligi bility of children lo the rite of Chris tiau Baptism, 'how can children be lieve? Can yon explain that to me ?' We reply by asking another ques tion: 'Can you explain how God has existed forever ? And yet that ques tion is a self-evident proposition, with out a logical antecedent, and conse quently incapable of proof.' The fact is, no man can disbelieve in the eternity of existence of God. Men may school themselves into the abnormal, negative state of simply wishing there was no God to puni.-di their sins, until they substitute this wish for an nnbelief in His existence, and falsely suppose themselves to be infidels. Cut lest you should conclude that we are hanging all our reasonings in favor of the eligibility of children to the rite of Cluislian Baptism, upon the unstable loops of metaphysical hy pothesis, we wiil turn to the logic lo bo drawn from the writings of the Old and New7 Testament scriptures. And here a wide field opens out be fore us. Wo will simply enter the enclosure and pluck a few flowers from among iho many. Man was created holy. This was what we have elsewhere called ids normal or positive state. He sinned aud was changed into the abnormal or negative stale. These questions no w come up for discussion : 1. Iu what did Adam's sin consist, and how did it affect him ? 2. How did his sin affect his pos terity ? o. What affect did tho atonement of Christ have up -in the unburn pos terity of Adam ? These are questions, Mr. Editor, which, by your permission, wc shall examine as best we may, in the light of logic aud revelation. We believe children are true believers, and we shall essay tho pro A. Too long have wc been charged with tho 'damnable heresy' of infant baptism; and though we profess to be one among the fee blest of all writers, yet havirg no reputation as a writer at stake, and feeling sonrwhat the importance of the subject, we enter upon it with the less trepida' ion. liOUEUT. For tlic t la istian Advocate. Messks. Eoitok: The following ' Literary Notes' were prepared for a paper I proposed editing in my own town, but having abandoned ex ncccs xiate tho cherished project, I take leave to place them at your disposal. I. Theodore Hook was a very remarka ble genius. In some respects, ho was a genius of the highest order. It is quite ti uc he accomplished but little so little, that a judicious British critic speaks of him, as 'that marvellously wasted intellect,' and yet, he gave evidence of splendid and versatile powers, which, if properly directed, would have made for him a very high name among English wort hies, and which would have left the world lit erary largeses from which it would uot hae willingly parted. In the April number of the JJrili.h (Jurrlerhj lleeieiD, there is a pleasant reference to Hook which is worth- of reproduc tion. The wiiter says that 'his great power lay in iqromi!u, if prose or vrse, spoken or written. No man has ever equaled him at a paragraph or a squib, except as to the kilter, Garrick and Coleridge. Nobody was ever so exquisite a conversational wit. And certainly no one has ever possess ed his power of improvisation in Eng lish. He threw ( ft' sttinz i and siropho as fast as a kuife-giiuder's wheel throws sparks. He scintillated al ways. Coleridge, after an eve ling in his com pa i y, declared he w as as great a genius as Dante. IIi-3 felicity was invariable. When lie was improvising at the piano, after luncheon, at his Fullam villa, enter the anciUa, to say Mr. Winter, the lax collector, has called. Ejaculates Hook: ' Here comes Mr. Winter, collector of taxes; I advise you to give liiiu whatever lie axes! He isn't the man lo stand nonsense or lliinimery. For though his name's Winter, his aclioiu :ti o summary !" II. All school boys who studied Latin when the writer was at the 'Academy,' invariably read Ovid, and were highly delighted at his astounding 'metamor phoses.' Now-a-days, modern refine ment and delicacy have grown so morbid, that the charming mytholog ical stories of Ovid are deemed unfit for our schools 'in sp:tc of the great beauty of the versification and the attractiveness of the stories in general to the taste of boys.' Few of the Latins wrote rich melodious verse, and the musical ripple of his flowing numbers stilf echoes down the inter vening years since the dog cared vol ume of Publius Ovidiu3 Naso was our daily companion and task. Every boy remembers his remarkable description of the metamoi'phoses of Chaos into order a description strikingly like the Mosaic account of 'the Earth without form and void;' of his start ling account of man's creation, so like the Bible record, and of the Deluge. But we have not lime lo quote in this place. The other day, we were enjoying some delightful pas sages in King's Translation, when the subjoined, vigorous and graceful ren dering of one of Ovid's grandest descriptions met our eye, which we arc tempted lo lay before the reader. It is in Ovid's noblest vciu, aud the translation is regarded as very happy and just to tho original. Pobjxenais about to be sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles: ' Bosom and throat she liaml yu cannot deem IVyxena would deign to ive a slave! Rather camo death ! Though w ith such sacri fice, Yc win no grace of any God in Heaven ! Yet happier could I die, so of my fat JJy mother knew uot: 'tis that only thought Til it. i.'l' it.-s perlecl welcome slini:- your blew ! Though. lor her tears. ; tile, ami nut ;,.. death, .Should just! ier su-k their shedding. Tlea-e ye, press: Less closely mi me, - -'tis not much to ask, My ghost will Ireelier eem to seel, the .-hades; Am! iiiicoiilaniinak' tiy tho toiiih of man. As maid should die, dismiss me ! Belter so The Poner, w hoe'er lie he. ye ihiuk to please, Will thank ye for uiy hit oil ! if yet one word, The last llir! lips may speak, can touch your hearts, Tis Priam's child, Use daughter of a king, No nameless slave, beseeches ye to grant Her corpse unransumed to her mother's arms: Let tears, not gold, redeem it! Gold enough, She paid;ye for such bargains while she could! She said; Nor in the throng was check nnwet With weeping are her ownthe very Priest,. Whose knife was bui ied in her proffered breast, Unwilling struck: and blinded by his tears.'' III. A great advance has been made in the cri ical :u dining the progress of this century. .Since the Edinburgh lieview was begun by .Sydney Sai ith, and Lords Jcffcry and Brougham, the use of Iho critical apparatus has be come vitfily more skilifuhand sounder, and jusier canons of criticism have prevailed. Any intelligent person, with any thing like cultivated taslc, who wi'l lead Dr. .Samuel Johnson's critical remarks upon Shakspearc's various ploys, itnd then read Hazlett's observation , will see at a glance the immense improvement in judicio's, comprehensive aud sagacious criticism. Dr. Johnson, imq lcstionable great in many particulars, was the worst critic who ever attempted lo interpret the myriad-minded master of creative power. Many of his criticisms are scarcely above contempt, so false aud jejune aud prejudiced are they, llaz lctt, on the other haud.asida from his limpid and eloquent style, was a wri ter of great itcuteness, penetration and ingenuity, raid he has left for the world's admiration tho best examples of fchuk-;perian criticism to be found among English authors. The failure of many of Milton's contemporaries to properly appreciate his magnificent genius, furnishes us with a marked evidence that contemporaries are not always, at least, the best judges of what is true aud nobla in art or sub lime and beautiful in thought iu the productions of their time, and that it is possible for a false taste- to overlook and ignore the merits of the noblest creations of the human intellect. Piobcrt Browning seems lo puzzle and dii Ic the leading critics of tho age. By sjme he is held as a very great master of song; by others ho is placed among the third or fourth rate posts of the world. His 'King aud the B ok,' published about two and a half years ago, is praised by some of the loremosL periodicals as one of the grandest productions of modern times, whilst other eminent oritics have 'damned it' with exceedingly 'faint praise. JNot having read the boos, we cannot venture an opinion, how ever modestly givenj bat only refer to this contradictory criticism, to note the fact, that it is diilijult for con temporaries to to judge writers that their true place in letters cau be satis factorily ascertained, and lo remark that however vast the progress of the laws of criticism over those of tho last cent ury, they arc as yet iu a very im perfect state, or are but very poorly comprehended. Iu Hhickieoud for May, in an article on 'Prolixity,' oc curs some slashing criticism upon 'The Ping and the Book,' a brief pas sage or two from which are here given. 'While they,' his admirers, 'call him the most poetic of poets, we might stylo him, judging from page upon page, the most prosaic; prosaic in pro portion to the prodigious number of words he has taken tc work out an idea.' 'But while to the great bu'k of tho book wc deny the title poetry, we grant its power.' ' To our ears his lines seem Writ to the rumbling ol Lis coach's wheels,' and over very jolting roads too " 'That crabbedness of construction, which .keeps the reader on the heels of thought, and compels a rcpcrusal, not once, but three or four times, before the sense is got hold of. Much of it, too, is written in a composite language, one half the line Latin, the other En glish; while the tone of wh it he gath ers is mostly seliisli and cynical.' Now this is damaging to the repu tation of Browning as a poet, if what ilael ie)vd avers be true. 1'er contra, the .Uheme im and other leaders of opinion, declare ihifc siucu Milton's day, the world has had no poem equal to the 'Ping and the Book.' Longfellow says of critics, that they are 'sentinels in the grand army of letters to challenge every new author,' or it may be added, every new book. Washington Irving calls them 'free booters in the republic of letters.' The Jilael-vood critic seems to answer to both descriptions, and unless Iho future should confirm his did am, he will bo set down with that class who try to despoil genius of its well earned f une. T. B. K. Oxford, N. C, July, 1871. F.ir lln- t'liristinn Advwatc t'OJHI0ITI. or A SCKHO.X. 13 Y tttV. .1. w. Auruxiiinv. No. im. Ok Division Division iu general ought to bo restrained to a small num ber of parts. They should never exceed four or five at most ; generally the best sermons have only two or three divis ions. There are two kinds of divisions w hich may be made in preaching. The first and most common is the division of the text into its parts; the other is of the sermon itself, which is mado of the text. Typical text should bo di vided thus, and a great number of passages in tho Psalms which relate, not only to David, but also to Christ; such should be considered first, lite rally as they relate to David, and then in the mystical sense as they refer to Christ. There arc also tvmcal nas- x. sages, which, besides their literal sense, have lig; r live meanings, rela ting not only to Christ, but to tho church in general, and to believers in particular. For example, Daniel 9, 7: O, Lord, righteousness belongeth lo Thee, but unto us confusion of face as at this day. This text must not bo di vided into parts, but considered in dill'erent views. First, with regard to all men in general, then with regard to the Jewish church in David's time, and finally with regard to ourselves at the present day. So with Hebrews 3, 7: To day if 30:1 w ill hear his voice, &.c. This cannot be better divided than by refering it first to David's time, then to ,St. Paul's time, and fi nally to our own lime. As to tho di vision of the text ilself, sometimes the order of the words is clear aud natu ral, that no division is necessary; then we may simply follow the order of the words. For example, Let your light so shine before nun, that they may see your good works arid glorify your Father who is in leaven Matt. 5, 10. These words naturally form themselves into these propositions: First, tho du ty of all men to set a good example before others Let your light so bhino, &c. .Second, The present effects of good example, See jour good works, finally the results of good example Glorify jour Father, Ac. TI1K OM JIAK.' Beecher preaching on the text, 'Lie not one to another; seeing ye have put oft' the old man with his deeds' saj-s: Old men are the ugliest aud the handsemesl of mortals. If tcicnc, pure, and noble of heart, their beauty is far superior to the mere sparkle of eye and color of cheek that make youth attractive. If they arc mean and sel fish, the old man's face is a corruga tion of snakes The passions have hardened into permanent expression. But of all ugly men, there is not one other half so ugly as that one of whom Pauls peaks: 'Lie not one to another; seeing yc have put off the ohl man, with his deeds.' This old man was the devil of lying. The swarm of lyiug devils must have been immense, sinco there is enough to furnish almost every man with one. And such riders as they are! They ask no saddle, no rein, no scat They can bestride the back, or sit on the shoulder, or mount tho head, and they can ride on the eyelash, or the smooth lip, without clipping or sliding. They nestle in tho hair, swing in the curls, peep out of ribbon bows, hang by the girdle, sit astride of the comb; in short, no circus rider ever was no nimble, so expert, so ari0u3 a3 are thcee lying devils. Each man seems bj' nature to own one. At first the old man is annoying; but he soon breaks in his subject, and soon rides without btiDg perceived. If he only rode for his own pleasure a kind of parasite, sucking his good out of mtn his presence would be more tolcra ble. But his only pleasure seems to consist in Ihc mischief and wickedness which he urges his victims to do. Now and then men get tired of this old man. and slinir him off. Tnis usually happens after some misadven ture into which tho malicious rider has nrrred his dupe But he has been Hung off too often to be troubled by it Iu a few moments he is quietly up, and in his saddle again. At length men not only get used to this load, but come to like it. They do not feel feel easy without their old man. They conceive a high opinion of hi3 fckill and wisdom, and they trust him to se cure success and to extricate them from difficulties; and that too, though every day he is the cause of disgrace to them, and loss and annoyance. But now and then one succeeds in putting off the old man, and it is to be hoped that it is done so as to break his neck. This 'old man deserves no favors. It is the one man that should receive no mercy. But all arc not so lucLy. Men oficu throw him off for a while, and then take pi:y and let liini ride a while. They often carry him over dillienJt laces. They keep him for emergen- cks, and think that they have done well in getting rid of him f : e.t n hall their time. But, ah! how much easier it is to ;o singlo than doul k-! No one who uu not tried it cau nnceivo Low much pleasanter life is with tin- 'old an til titan on! Few men can walk straight line with him on their hint d tiers. To be rid of him i i to save a world of anxious thought and caleuU ion. The Spaniard.-) snv and if I hero is anjthi. g about lying that lltej do not know, it is hardly worth i.imwiug th.it 'a liar should have a good mi iu oiy.' But when once a mutt ha:, learned to speak the truth, every mint with his neighlKjr,' Iu need not bo auxious. Truth always Ivln a cue ! itself. A lie need.s tvo watch, s. uhc for day and one fur night, and then .1 hundred to one it will bo detected. 1UTTI.U O.C'IOI icmm;. Iho Chri.tian Union .say.s: Whe.i or whence did it arise, that when mu dies and goes to heaven all tint family shall s!inud themselves in !eepi -.t black? Ait I the woinii especial vic tims? h'omcwhore Mie cu-tmu must have arisen since the days ol our an cestors the Saxons or Picts mi l Scots, who30 only clothing was painted on ! Is it going fuilher, or will thcio be some resistance and a return to Iho right way? Somo women upend half their lives under crane, a sort of self imposed penance, hot, heavy, un wholesome. Men may wear a badge. of mourning for a I iino, and tin 11 ru eume light clothes and yellow gloves if they will. A man may do this tvliilu his wife continues lo mourn fur hi.-; friends, and decorously swelter under her crape. A few dare lo brao Mis. Oruudy and follow out l.ln ir i-i.nii.- tions by refusing t. j i. l. to lim ab surd demand of custom. Wo think it is gro.ving v.Mrac and worse. A family will wear crape throe j'ears, and black dresses three jears more, for a mother who went s.iaiglit lo heaven, and who Would saj- b thein: 'Mourn not for me.' And s strung i;; tho force of example that, some oi:e. elso must do the. same, or it i.how.s a want of feeling. Now it is no sma.l thing to take away so much lh it i-i bright and cheerful in one' Mir- roundings for so many yearn of Jifi , and submit lo a dress hot, heavy aini inconvenient. There in but mm life to live. Why up iil this ? Tho whole is foolish, wasteful m.d wicked expenses, and is oft n a Lin den that can ill be boiiie by tho o who can by no means nlVurd it, ai d yet daro not ignore a cus'nai It. i. for those who have nioii'-y mi l t-oin- mou sense to set the cximpli; an 1 op pose so senseless a fashion. Pn ci.sely what can bo done by co tccrled action wc do not see. The country is over run now with comini' lees, sot ic! ies , organizations, clubs and ass relations. Wc cannot afford any more, if I hero bo any other way. It is one of I hi wo cases iu which individually a great manj' aic right, and collectively they all go wrong. It is n lime to get tip extra moral courage under tho shock of deep affliction. But 0110 get s no weary o( the mockery and hciiiM-uico of wee, crape, llowera and gay mourn ing! Can't men help women out of this bondago bj- sugg?sting koihu badgo of mourning which shall s-iy, like Iho baud of a man's hat, 'I liavo lost a fiiond?' As it it, iu many ca.a s the dress is a greater trial than tho loss. It is a mere custom; for kihihi nations wear yellow, and .Mvulet blue, which means just as nn.i h, and is more sensible an I less burden some. c:omi:.x timm ;in. Scarcely tor a lihlcmM m.111 will lu-. yet ierailventtiri' l-.r a joiml m.111 : oine nmiiil cveti ilare to die." Righteousness - that is, light living, integrity, stability grand at Ihis is, it docs not draw out sympathy for another. But goodness, uvcrllowing kindness, caie for others, thought of others, the i-pirit that wraps other people not onby in the m antlo of char ity, but in the manllo of hnppiut as Well; the living to make puoplo 11 bout j oil belter, as well ah happier liul wins persons. A man would almost die fur a good person. If- eehn-. Coleridge said that tho atrocities ol the French revolution were lit to uiiho a 'holiday in hell.' John Wesley said: 'I daro no mora fret than curno aud swear.' - A gentleman suid to the great 'luc ciau' with whom he had Lteu dispu ting: 'Dr. Porsou, my ep;ukm of y u is most contemptible.' 'Sir,' returned tho Doct w, '1 uev.r knew an opinion of yo irs that was not contemptible.' It is a great joy of the go3pc! in deed, it is that which makes it go nil that it is for any and every po jr f'u- ner who will oeueve.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 19, 1871, edition 1
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