She Christian gulvratt,
TEKMS.
T!u Ummwtuk Auvooatk is famished to utwcrj
It. rs it t2."" annum in alvauce. If payment be
J, HyeJ six months, f 3.50, oiceojy,irix months, $1.26
OTJK CORRESPONDENTS.
iMUnii:ii.intliii3 f.;r rijlilioatum should be con-fully
wiittor, ;ind on hut nn alio of thoi ehoot. All letters
v,r th! o.tlco should be addressed to tUo Editor.
otjbTagents.
jl !hf tui.t'ttn. and Local 'preachers In the r-oamla
ofihf N.Mtii v':iioUna Conference arc our snthomed
Au'elltS.
HOW TO KEMIT.
In rii-,l!ne rao:n-y, all amounts should be SClil In
rr-;sw:v.l K'ttT,jt office order or check. The cost
,,i -p.giytriitii in, or Tost Offleo order can ba deducted
i, ,,m the .vnount ill hnnd. If money 19 sent otherwis
thn herein nix-cittcJ it will be at the genders rlat.
Ordinal
I'r tho Advocalo.
T4
Kv. ! 1 -i itl att'l i:r lo mo,
"t"l't -ni'-st wi'l'""ine !.!
i ,i:-l I iuiiso on U's ;-ni' by,
tit ill- iW''f0M"9 jM-ufiivtj nuiir;
I .'.'.!:'' ' .ii.C totK'S fill Ot! intliC I'H',
1.;t.;1v 'riK- I-y magic powvr ;
U :T l '! tt-U nif true,
AUr.y i'.Mr.tiiiii - -sun that vol or tt-Ioiijca to
I .tacnou Ihy voice
Ami li.y si!.i:t m' irUt, so ran-;
Mil.:! Liu;i Tii"So nzurc tvS
( i-i-u r- v.ihu u.i fait ;
r.vnu'st in thy Ma-tor's tMWjf,
7 !;to v. Mfssiiit-s rrownM,
:ali:::j t'.tuit thy joys itun '
i 5our it -sires iVuiuI
T;10vi to t'.y woik
: y - e, au-1 i:tiih, and h"ic!
Tl I.i
. r., Jmu- lS7:i.
o in m u n i t a t c $ .
For the Advocate.
SO FEABrri.!
why akk xr.
Ti..
tnrm spirit h;id awakened the
fk-enhig waters of Ci ennesarcth into
fjauiiag fury and madness. The
waves v. iro beating high into tko rock
vcsatl, exciting dismay in the
l-rt-aats of the atorm toesed crew. In
their extremity, the tomSod disciples
s inght the interposition of the Master
in their heha'f. The pwer of man
hid tailed, and lie alone could re
'ni.ke the miuds and calm the troubled
wntevs. 3Iiw tiguiScant the question
'A the Masts r, 'How is it that ye have
lo faith'?' L'-aving the Scripture
narrative, I t-hall now proceed to
urite a lew words, as I set out to do,
fur the bencii!. of timid and fearful
.jLnrcLmeu.
We Lave in the Methodist Church
.-onie ft-w numbers who are .o very
can' ions they eeau to be afraid to
..vow thtir principles, lest it might
(xoife tho feelints of mtmbera of
ij-Lcr pursassiona to le' it bo known
tuat they buiiove in the doctrines and
usegi? of the church of their choice.
Such are mere drones in the hive of
iltfthudism, and totally unreliable
and unlit for warf uro with the pre
vailing envrs and vices of the age.
WLiltf I am not disposed to regard
Methodists as infallible iu judgment,
nor to s. net ion and encourage an il
1'bvrnl or dogmatic ppiiit, I am in
ciined to think Paul was right when
m sai l to Lis Roman brethren, Lat
every man be fully persuaded in bis
own mind.' Church relationship im-
lies tie idea of forethought and ex
f.!!UL;i:i'j.i into the rules and doc
tii:.es of the church to which persons
attach th.melves. St. James ERys,
'A 'loubic minded ni-m is nn3table in
nil lis ways.'
Lung iu a little village in North
Carolina on one occasion, as was my
custom, on S.tbbath morning I at
tiudeJ divine service. The speaker
was an Itinerant minister, and an-
Louuted his test: ' For God so
wvid tLe vorld that he gave his only
s:ii, that wLosocver believeth in him
sliould not pcri&h, but have everiast
life. His arguments and doduc
ticus wcra lucid and forcible, and to
it-t laiuds of many, conclusive and
uLanbwcrub'e. He was enunciating,
hs every true minister of the gospel
sloulj do, what he believed toTae the
iruis of the Bible. As the congre
Rition was composed of many who
did not fully endorse TauTa declara
fc'jn, that 'Jesus was crowned with
ghry and honor, that he by the grace
of God fchould taste death for every
kwi-;' some thought, perhaps, anolh-
-rtrst and suLject might have been
prLsenttd on that occasion, le63 calcu-
iittd to awaken the prejudice and ex
t the feeling, of those entertaining
''i idea of a limited and partial
atonement fc r sin. What an idea for
a clurchman to ent.rtain! What
r:tiht has an ambassador for Christ to
S(--tct Lis teit and shape his discourses
6Ult ho peculiar notions and secta
r'an prejudices of men ? It is hia duty
to preach tLe Word to preach the
'-"'jctrine of a crucified, risen and as
Saviour, though to the JewB a
stumbling block, and to the Greeks
foolishness. It is, nevertheless, 'the
Ptr of God unto nalvation to every
thatbelieveth.'
ky bhould not a minister of
nst, dculin
ig vith the present and
Vernal ii
-.erests of man. thouerh snr
jonnded, like Paul while standing in
e midst of Mar's hill, by the do
ttes cf thirty thousand gods, fear,
proclaim the great and world
i(le iruth that 'God commandeth all
en every whore io roptIlt?. Others
'hehtveand teach that our kind
co&,pasbioua.e Futlier rain
,rts' llre brimstone, and a hor
",ettipeft, ujjou defenseless souls
Ui ylilm bevond tho limits of
Itt''T btfortl lhe creation of man;
was!or.lae' 1 glory iu the faith and
' e 'sscitmg.aud kouI cheering reve-
nHPTHTT A TO
VOL. XIX.--NO. 25.
Ialion, inscribed on the pagoa of Holy
Writ, to arrest the attention and glad
den Hi heart of man along life's
pathway to smdying felicity, that 'God
is no reppc-ctor of persons, but in
every nation ho that fearelh God, and
worketh rihteoubEeos, is accepted
with him.' Others may base their
hopes of salvation on tho partial love
and forbua' auco of God, bnfc I bolievo
Paul was performing a high and a
?acrod duty when he preached the
druiiitiefuf Vt,p j Kuci toward Gi"l,
and faith toward our Lord Jteai
Christ.'
The Church of Christ in her war
faro with the power ;f darLntRS reeds
it pure crJigh'encd niciubi-r:.Idp, stand
ing up consifitcnUy and nrtflly to their
pinciilbs; and has but little use for a
politic ministry litiiiJly crouching to
the errors, and dallj ing with the eviltj
and vices of the
When theso
weein:r brethren aeccmitanicd St.
Paul unto tho ship when he v. as about
to lewe them, he told them he had
not shunned to declare unto them 'all
the counsel of God.' Such should be
tho purpose of every minister of tho
Gospel, to keep back nothing that
might be profitable unto his hearers.
Suppose his audience should be com
posed of persons of difieront pursua
sions, and some should be a little in
clined to find fault if, regardless of
their peculiar notions and prejudices,
he should proclaim iu their ears the
world wide truth, that 'God sj loved
the world, that he gave his only bo
gotteu son, that whosoever bolieveth
in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. 'Toll them it is the
language of inspiration written in
ineffaceable characters on the pages
of Holy Writ, for man's comfort, con
solation and hope, through all com
ing time. That it has strengthened
the faith, and cheered the heart of
many a Christiau pilgrim journeying
toward his heavenly home, with his
name cast out as evil, amid tho scoffs
and derisions of persecuting foes.
That it is a soul enrapturing truth
emanating from the lip-i of our boned
cent UrciUor, and sinning out, from
the eternal throne to purify, illumi
nate, elevate the affections of man's
soul, and direct his eye of faith to the
ever enduring glory and brightness of
eternal day
Teli me not of a temporizing mem-
bersnip, nc r of a ministry shrinking
from a fearless and faithful promga
tion of what they believe to be the
teachings of the Bible. Why should
a young David, with his arm nerved
for the ccnllict by tho God of battles,
permit an uncircamcisel Philistine to
terrify and defy tho armies of the liv
ing God ? And why should not even
he bo told by Ged'a faithful messen
ger in ms ernnu nionieu s, tnoucru
robed in the royal regalia of his glory
and his greatness, 'Thou art the man?'
Why should not the heart3 of lords
and cf princes bo brought to rellection,
and a vile and wicked Bolshazzer bo
made to tremble vith fear, and his
knees to smite together, with the soul
awakening announcement. "Thou art
weighed in the balances, and art
found wanting ?'
Whilo it is our duty, as far a3 pos
sible, to live peaceably with aU men,
lat me say to you my over cautious
and timid brother, tho wholesome
teachings and restraints of Gospel
truth are not to bo ignored, nor the
spirit of inquiry with regard to the
things which make for our peace be
hushed in the mind of man, for the
deceptive calm and quietus cf moral
decay and death. Brotherly love and
kindness does not consist in letting
the inmates of a burning mansion
sleep on in unawakened quietude, to
be engulfed and crushed beneath the
smoking ruins. Tho efficacy of
Bethesda's healing waters lost none
of their virtues, though troubled by
the angel of mercy. Tho ercor3 and
vices of man are to be looked at, how
ever hateful and appalling, in the
great mirror of Gospel truth. And
St. James says, 'who so looketh, and
continueth to look, lie not being a for
gotful hearer, but a doer of the work,
tbi3 man shall be blessed in his deed.'
When St. Paul was about to suffer
martyrdom for his adherence to the
Drinciples of the Christian religion, he
wrote to Timothy that the time would '.in
come when men vouia not enaure
sound doctrine, but said he, 'preach
the Word' To all who are too much
inclined to pursue a yielding and tem
porizing course, I would Bay do not
be ashamed nor afraid to avow and
defend your principles. If you be
lieve in the doctrines and usages of
your Church say eo, and let the world
know that you are walking prudently
and circumspectly, consistent and
valiant soldiers of the cross. What if
the heathen should rage, and tho peo
ple imagine a vain thing; must the
light of truth cease to illumine the
mind, awaken the conscience, and re
prove the world of em, of righteous
ness, and of judgment? Let the
Word of the Lord have free course
and bo glorified in the correction of
error, the mental and moral illumina
tion and clovation of man, and in
building up the saints of the Most
Hit h in their iuosi xioiy wau
Oxonian.
Oxford, N. C.
-LLJJL ViJL Ky -U JLJJN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF
For the Ailvoca'o.
ED1KBORO' AADEH1V, MOXT
OOItlCItV CO., IV. V.
The fourth session of this institu
tion, under the efficient management
of R. H. Skeen, Esq , was closed, by
a public exhibition,-on the 29th ult.,
with & brilliant party at. night.
The day was char and beautiful,
and notwithstanding tho grassy crops,
tho spacious building was densely
crowded, at .ya early hour, by tho
young and tho old, all aiMone to
hear and to see the exercises of the
day.
The Academy is a large and hand
some building, and was decorated
with evergreens and flowers, olegaut
ly and tastefully arranged, by the
ladies of the vicinity, which gavo the
buiidiDg a pleasing aspect. At 10
clock, the exercises commenced by
the reading of a composition by Miss
Delia F. Ingram, entitled tho Intro
duction in which the name of every
pupil in school was mentioned in a
very ingenious and pleasing manner.
Speeches were then made by two
little girls, Henrietta and M, F. An
drews.
Speeches were then mado by tho
following youths, viz: G. W. Ilearne,
J. M. Luther, W. L. Andrews, H. G.
Scarbro', S. D. Ballard, Montgomery.
Jno. M. Overton, Richmond; C. W.
Wooley, Jr., Montgomery; B. F. Lit
th, Richmond; and three little boys,
B. S. Ldbetter, Lola P. Skeen, and
Wm. Watkins, who all acquitte J them
selves handsomely.
The speeches wore interspersed oc
casionally with dialogues and instru
mental music, which gaye life and
animation to the crowd.
The following young ladies read
compositions, viz: MissD. F. Ingram,
Ella Livingston, Ida M. Robinson,
Delila Zachary, and S. F. Wood.
At 12 o'clock, a recess was taken
for dinner, which was amply provided
for the occasion, after which the crowd
soon reassembled to hear the remain
ing exercises.
After vocal and instrumental mu&ic,
speeches were made by M. H. John
son, Randolph; Charlie B. Ingram,
Edenboro; W. S. Ballard, Montgom
ery; W. C. Ingram, Randolph; E. F.
Barringer, W. T. Hearne, W. G. De
berry, W. Gaines, A. D. Scarbro',
Montgomery; and A. W. Capel, Rich
mond, with dialogues and music, as
in the morning.
The Valedictory was delivered by
Miss S. Fannie Wool, of Montgom
ery, in a very graceful, foeling, and
happy manner, causing many, young
and old, to shed tears.
Tho declamation by the young men
was very excellent, and each one ac
quitted himself very handsomely,
whilo a few evinced a high order of
talent for oratory, and all reflected
honor upon themselves and their
teacher, and showed very clearly that
they had been well trained, and that
the Principal had done his work
well.
The subjects for declamation and
composition were tastefully selected,
and appropriate to tho occasion, and
every thing demonstrated that taste,
culture and morality were consulted
from beginning to end, in short,
every one present was highly grati
fied and pleased with the exercises of
the occasion.
Affer the valedictory, the Rev. T.
A. Boon, being called upon, delivered
a very neat and appropriate address.
Tho exercises were then closed with
the announcement that there would
be a social party at night at the
Academy.
Tho Principal, R. H. Skeen, Esq.,
has proved himself to be an accom
plished and energetic educator, and
those having sons and daughters, (for
it is a mixed school) need not fear to
entrust them to his care.
Edenboro" Academy is in tho south
ern part of Montgomery, in a healthy,
intelligent and moral community.
It was established previous to the
war, and has been under tho manage
ment of Major W. J. Montgomery, J.
W. Eving, Esq., Maj. L. D. Andrews,
and now under the present Principal,
R. H. Skeen, Esq. Board can be had
the vicinity at from $8 to $10 per
session. The next session opens the
1st Monday in July.
Spectator.
Some men at Lousville were betting
on the weight of a large mule, when
one man, who was a good judge of the
weight of live stock, got behind the
mule and was measuring his hind
quarters, when something appeared
to loosen up the mule. Just before
the expert died he gave it as hia opin
ion that if the mulo vyaa as heavy all
over as he was behind, he must weigh
not far from 47,000 pounds.
As an old lady got out of a crowded
coach she exclaimed, 'Well, that's a
relief, anyhow ?' To which the dri
ver replied, ej eing her ample propor
tions, So the 'osses think, mum.
REV. J. B. BOBBITT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
RALEIGH, N. O., WEDNESDAY, JUNE
For the Advocate.
TITHES.
Mr. Editok: I write to day npon
tho subject of Tithes. If there is one
man in or out of tho Church who does
hia whole duty upon this subject, I
would pay a handsome sum to Eee
him. People do not do their duty,
because thwy do not knoro it; and
mauy are willingly and designedly
( icnoraat. becauai knowledge here
stands in direct antagonism to our sel
fish propensities. 'Last Sabbath our
beloved Presiding Elder preached a
masterly sermon upon the text, Ye
cannot serve God and mammon He
showed the secret moral cause of onr
'Cattle Plague,' 'Hog Cholera,' Fresh
ets, &c., fce., and urged tho people to
ffivo tithes of all their incomes. That
night, a money-loving father in good
circumstances, and his son-in-laft',
who also owns rich bottom-lands, but
whose lands wore greatly injured by
the recent, freshets, were housed in
close and earnest conversation upon
the subject of the Elder's sermon.
Hear their reasoning and conclusions,
and thoy, too, among the leading
Methodists of tho Circuit: Tho father
speaks. 'Well, sou, what do you think
of the E dor'd doctrine to day ?' Son.
'Well, I suppose it is true. The Jews
paid a tenth of all they wade, and I
suppoaa we ought to do it.' A long
sigh escapes the old man, and he con
tinues: 'I think I pay more than the
ten! h already. My mill brings me in
about 3G0 bushels wheat, and ISO
bushels corn per year. This would be
worth about $510 for the wheat, and
$12G for the corn; making in all $GGG
per year. But son, I pay the miller
the tenth of all we get for grinding;
and then I paid $1,200 for th mill,
and I claim the interest on that $1,200
at 10 per cent, which makes $120.
This amount I shall deduct from my
farm as overpaid on the tithe ques
tion. So they'll got nothing from my
mill. Well, I raised last year on the
farm 120 bushels of wheat, and 400 of
corn. True tho wheat is worth $180,
and tho corn $200, making 330 from
the farm; but, you mast remember, I
paid the tenth out of the wheat for
threshing true, I threshed it myself;
but I count it all the same; and then
I paid old Tom and Jim each G bush
els of corn meal at $1 25 per bushel,
and one middling bacon each, weigh
ing as much as ten pounds each, for
making my corn. Now, count it up
son, and see how much is my income.
My farm was worth $380. I overpaid
$120 too much on my mill. The ba
con at 25 cents per poand would be
$5. The corn at $1.25 per bushel is
worth $15. This makes $140. Now
take $140 from $3t?0, and you have
$240. Well, I am steward, and you
may count $10 for my time and trou
ble of waiting on the preacher's but i
ness. Then I paid $G0 tax this year,
and certainly you will allow me the
interest on my land. It was assessed
at $2,000. The interest upon that is
$120. Deduct these amounts and it
leaves my income $50. Well, I paid
the preacher $5, and the Elder $1.
So you see, my dear son, I have paid
one dollar more than the tenth of my
income I' and the old man smiled tri
umphantly and smacked his mouth as
if he were ready for heaven in five
minutes. The son speaks: 'But fath
er, you have taken no account of
two fine colts and those three calves
which came this year.' 'O, no; 1 don't
claim them. I intend to givo the
colts to Philip, and tho calves to
Jane.'
And so it goes, my dear Editor, all
over our land. This old money loving
Church member was due to God not
less than $100, and he paid $G. God
Almighty sent a flood in May and
took away the $94, and more which
he should paid.
More anon.
Convixced
Rev. Dr. Fowler preached a re
miniscential discourse at the Centen
ary M. E. Church, Chicago, April 20th,
from the text 'There is a lad here that
hath five barley loaves, etc ' In the
course of which he said;
'I think the woman is present at
whose home I made my first pastoral
call, and when I rapped at the door,
she asked me who I was. I told her
my name that was all I had and
that I was sent here by the Confer
ence. Says Bhe: 'Do you know, I am
just as mad as I can be, to think that
the Conference should send such a
mean looking little boy as yoa are?'
That was my first pastoral visit. She
told the tiuth exactly; and yet,
through all the years, she has been a
good friend. I do not think I was
more put out about it than I would
have been if I was in her place; not
half as much as she would have been
if she had known as much about the
case as I did.
Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice
pays to virtue.
ADVOCATE
METHODISM IN
For the Advocate.
Tom Foolery on a Stroll.
There are persons in this world
tht compel intelligent and good peo
ple to treat them different from what
they wish to treat respectable or res
pectful people. Of this class Solomon
speaks when he say, 'An3wer a fool
according to his folly, lest he be wise
in his own conceit.' It is not bandy
ing words with them, but letting them
lead; provided always their leading
es no harm. They have a complaisant
feeling toward themselves, when they
say or do something that has some
thing of the clown about it. It does
them much good to see that their
clownish wit makes gentlemen smile,
adant. Sometimes such characters
get into the ministry which is a
highly respectable position. The po
sition puts them in(o the best society
that belongs to their branch of tho
Church. Almost all tho Churches
have their large gatherings of minis
ters, &c, called Conference, Preeby
tery, Synod, Association, or Conven
tion. This laat is more peculiar to
that very small, in numbers and influ
enceEpiscopal Church. This branch
of the church has wiore men belonging
to the class referred to by Solomon
says, 'Answer according, &c., than
any other denomination has.
No .v Tom Foolury when he went to the
Convention in Fayetteville, and in his
missionary speech regaled the bishops.
Wiq priests ! the world and tho Meth
odists, by making this following and
most powerful and convincing argu
ment in tavor ci a liberal missionary
contribution from tho good people o;
Fayetteville. He, Tom Foolery, said,
'We go to places sometimes where
there is no church, and we have to
hold forth in the Methodist meeting
house.' All of this speech was made
in th3 Episcopal meeting housa in
Fayetteville. Tom may make his
speeches and call our Churches meet
ing houses if ho pleases to do so, and
in our goodness wo will let him 'hold
forth' in them. Henceforth, lot all
uv.-starta thai, mr-ke such speeches,
clown like, to make silly people laugh
at more silly speeches, bo known and
titled, Tcm Foolery. And may God
have mercy upon their souls, if they
have any.
Bex Ellett.
Hickorynut Plains.
KNITCLSG AT THE COMMUN
ION. A CORKESrOXDLNT WRITES:
The general invitation given when adminis
tering this sacrament closes thus, '-Meekly
kneeling upon your knees;" Now, has the
minister the right to add, ''If any do not
wish to kneel t hey may sit up while taking the
elements'''
The kneeling which follows the invi
tation f akes place while tho confession
and the prayers following are said
That is not the time to tell people that
they can receive the.com amnion stand
ing or sitting which is allowed, ac
cording to a rubric at the eui of the
Office for tho Lord's supper. We do
not know in what posture the disci
pies received the elements at the time
of institution of the Lod s supper.
They reclined at tho paschal-supper
though when tho passover was insti
tuted the Israelites celebrated it
standing. Wheatly thinks the dieci
pies received the eucharist in a pos
ture of adoration; but probably they
received it in tho posture in which
they had just eaten the passover. It
seems from Euncbins (Eccl. His. vii.
9) they stood in the East at the recep
tion cf the elements. We have com
muned with Germans (Reformed and
Lutheran) in that posture. Bat the
ancients did it with silenco, downcast
eyes, bowing in the posture of worship,
The Greek, Roman, Lutheran (Eu
rope), snd Anglican Churches com
mune kneeling. The pope, howeve
receives bitting so do Dissenters ia
England and the Presbyterins (with
whom we have communed in that pos
ture.) Sitting at the reception is said
to have been introduced by the Arians-
Methodists sit during the administra
tion, except when the confession and
pryers are recited, and when they in
turn receive the elements. To us thi
custom is edifying. We accompany
the reception with special exercises
of prayer and faith that we may real
ize the thing signified, and kneeling is
ancillary to such acts of the soul. Of
course, none but pseudo-Catholics
ever dream of rendering adoration
to the elements when kneeling at the
table. But the posture is of little im
portance and so we dismiss it, sim
ply remarking that ministers would
do better in trjing to remove scruples
with regard to the established mode
than to give any encoragement to
them Nashville Advocite.
Sydney Smith, the caustic wit of the
English Church gives the following
epigramatic decription of Puseyism,
(and its (successor, Rituaism.) 'A sys
tem of posture and imposture, of cir
cumflexion and genuflexion, of bow
ing to the East, and bowing to the
West, with any amount of man-mil-lenery,
and other tomfooleries.,
NORTH CAHOLINA-
25, 1873.
OBEATPBEACUIMflAJID'n.U VtT,: k w, ... . ,
GREAT PREACHERS!
Great preaching, in the popular
sense, as the phrase goes, is a great
evil. The sermons of what are called
great star preachers do no good per
haps I should say they do more evil
than good. Who is awakened and
converted by the great popular ser
mons of the day? Who goes away to
repent aad pray after hearing one of
these splendid sermons, as they aao
called? The people are entertained,
and vio with each other in praising
the preacher. The entiro vocabulary
of adjectives such as magnifbxnt,
superb, grand, sublime, overtohelming,
brilliant, superlatively magnificent,
and the like is exhaused in bestow
ing commendation npon the 'great ef
fort;' but who is cut to the heart as a
guilty sinner? Who bemoans hia de
fection as a backslider? Who relaxes
his grasp on his money as an avaricous
church member? Who feels that his
pride, cr ambition, or world liuess, or
greed of gain, or sensuality, or selfiVh
netis, is sharply reproved by the truth
as it is in Jesus? Who goes away hum
ble and displeased with himself? No;
tho predominan :- feeling is one of ad
miration of the preacher-admiratiouof
hia fine style, his word-painting.his ex
quisitely modulated voice, hh elegant
I periods, his acquaintance with litera
ture, philosophy, science, art, history!
It ii not that ho held up the gospel
glass and revealed to the hearer his
impurity, big personal sins, his naked,
ngly deformity as a moral leper his
loathsomeness in the sight cf God. It
is not that ho revealed to the worldly,
formal church member his perilous
condition. No; it is that the mirror
held up flattered each one's selfright
eousnesB, or manhood, or relative vir
tues and excellencies of character.
The people are pleased with them
selves, and, in self compliment, com
mend and praise the preacher. The
evil of such preaohing more than coun
terbalances the good that comes of it.
The preachers themselves, of this class
coruscate and dazzle for a season, like
a greajt comet that emerges from dark
ness in the depths of space, blazes and
glares for a brief interval on the aston
ished eye, and then sinks away again
into tho impenetrable depths of silence
whence they emerged.
The preaching against which this
line of remark is directed is not
to be confonded with the preach
ing which is eloquent, conscience-stir-ring.and
impressive combining every
element of moral grandeur and spiritu
al power v'be power of the gospel; but
against that preaching which has every
thing in it except the gospel, nnd
which is popular and taking with
the multitude because there is no
gofipel ia it. Tho preaching under
reprobative comment is that which
pleases but does not convict;
that which excites and gratifies
the sensibilities, but does not deter
mine the will to renounce sin and ac
cept salvation upm gospel conditions.
It is not tho 'spread eagle, or 'hifalu
tin,' so much, as it is the finished, ele
gant, and really sublime in thought
and style. It ia the sermon in which
every word is carefully selected, and
every sentence like cut crystal, and
every period rounded with the highest
rhetorical finish abounding, it may
be, with new and striking views of
subjects, illustrated with figures of
inimitable beauty, and ornamented
with pictures drawn in faultless word
painting, and delivered with au elocu
tion that is above criticism, and only
lacks an infusion of the gospel to
make it 'the power of God unto salva
tion.' The objection is not that it is
in fine style, abounding in fascinating
pictures of unrivalled beauty, and de
livered in tho most pleasing end win
ning manner; but that it is devoid of
'the truth as it it in Jesus,' and is not
preached 'in demonstration and pow
er,' and 'with the Holy Ghost tent
down from heaven.1 It is one thing
to illustrate the gospel with facts and
figures drawn from philosophy,science,
art, nature, history, and general liter
ature; it is quito another thing to
make these sources of illustration the
staple of the sermon, and to leave
not the gospel altogether. There is a
stupendous amount of tomfoolery dis
played by really clever men in substi
tuting manhood for the gospel in our
day. Eloquent discourses are pre.Am
ed about nothing. The effect of such
preaching is to pervert public taste,
ana to create a wrong standard by
which to determine the value of a ser-
mon.
Itis to substitute the aesthetics
of religion for true, heart-felt religion
itself. It works serious damage to
the spirituality of public religious ex
ercises. In itself, it is positive per
version of the gospel ministry, and
proceeds on a fal e theory as to the
end and aim of prauching. It fosters
the reading of sermons, or the memor
iter, of finished and carefully compos
ed discourses. Popular effect is the
one great thing to be attained. Noth
ing beyond this is cared for by the
A.
WHOLE NO. 973-
sired by the hearers.
t, -'wj UUtB in tit:
I Bhould be wholly misapprehended
if any one were to infer from this line
of remark that anything is intended
against the most carefal, patient, and
thorough preparation for tho pulpit.
Nothing conld be further from my in
tent and meaning. It requires scarce
ly loss thougfit to prepare a direct,
pungent, and instructive gospel ser
mon than to prepare a fine discourse
of the character animadverted on in
th'a article; but it does require mere
piety, more concern of souls, and a
more solemn conviction of the respon
sibilities of the poacher, who must
give account to tho Great Head of the
Church for the manuer in which h
has executed his high commission.
The 'star preachor' wanes and wtars
out; the earnest gospel preacher con
tinuos freBh and in demand while his
life lasts.
Joun E. EDWAUD3.
Richmond, Va., May, 1873.
H.Il.Ci FAULT.
Complaining, finding fault, teems to
be a part of some pooplo's uatuie, and
they have aggravated tho feeling by
habit. They seem to be on the look
out for vexatious, slights and ill-usago,
with which to whip themselves up to
tho growling point. They seem lo
have tho sign hung out. 'Entertain
ment for all sorts of wor ries hero.' No
doubt there are thousands of things
in this tangled world that doserve cen
sure, and the truth bo told every time
But life is too short for so low and un
pleasant a bubincss. If we havo the ca
pacity to abate any of lifo'ailla by find
ing fault with them; or if we can induce
others to abato them by our complain
ing of them, thero is good excuse.
But what we want to talk about juct
new is that querulous, discontented
disposition that broods over disagree
ables with but little aim or power of
mending them. It takes very little
brains to do this.
I once heard an Irishman say cf
another that 'he was never happy un
less he was miserable. I thought at
first it was a regular bull. Yet, when
I have listened to some persons re
hearse the long catalogue of their pet
ty slights and worries, and hawking
their griofs and wots in other people's
hearing, I don't know but the Irish
man came very near telling the truth.
They seem to have a wonderful ecant
for mortifying circumstances and dark
things in general. With thorn there
is so silver lining to tho durk cloud
Their long lane baa no turn. Tho
lean kind are always going to eat up
tho fat ones. How they relish the la
bor of looking out defects in their own
children and neighbor i,in their church,
country, carpets, cci-turns, railroads,
customers, minis' rs, anything. Uhile
yon me admiri'ig, they are hunting
up defects. While ou arc regaled
with the sight and odor of il.iwcis,
thoy are grumbling about weeds.
Some of them are not talkative, but
after yea havo told of what is delight
ful and praiseworthy, they look troub
led as if attacked by rheumatism, shrug
their shoulders, turn up their nos03,
snuff tho air, and say nothing.
No power can satisfy these people.
If every thing was changed so as to
correspond with their plans they would
Btill complain. They would impugn
the motive, or find new defects in the
new arrangement.
You may have seen an intellectual
man who has lived iu the city and
growled over its defocts and miseries
until ho has concluded to move to the
country. What a largo amount of
rhetoric he has used iu telling how
much more unhuppy he was than the
plowboy, the laborer, or the farmer;
how much more pure the air and sim
ple the lifo in tho country. So he
turns farmer. Call on him in a year
or two and hear him talk al out mud,
exposure, perverse flocks and herds,
blasted fruits and crops; hear him
groan about grass, matorial, work,
ack of culture and refinement in
country society; its thousand incouve
nienccs, and the perversity of his hired
help. How he once longed to com
mune with nature unalloyed by city
customs, how he sighed for 'open air,'
how passionately ho desired primitive
simplicity in society. Now he has
full of them. Have his woes all gone ?
Not much.
So, too, a society has a minister who
has had a reasonable amount of sue
cess as i s pastor. Bat the complain
irg ones have carefully looked up all
nis defects, and set them in full and
black array before all listeners, until
it is concluded that a new preacher
must take his place. The new preach
er comes. Are the fault finders tat
isfied? Not long.
I suppose that nearly every man in
this vale of teara haaa spell of grumb
ling now and then. But if it only
comes occasionally it will do but little
harm. It's the perpetual dropping
that wears the granite. If a man, or
woman, has really something to gtu:u
ble about, let him or her, like David,
OFFIUi: Of THE ADVOCATE - OOBNEtt
Or JJ4.EGETT AND DAWSON STS
EALEIGH, N. 0.
BATES OF ADVEBTI8150.
Brae. 1 Mount. J Xok. 8 Mot. M ki. 1 Ta
1 Square, .
i tviuar...
8 Suuiuv,i
4 9t)
9 (Hi '
(to
111 tul
1 mi
15 001,
IS ChlJI
4 (10
6u oiaj
10 Uui
Ifcooj!
IS li
l l!
a& ooil
J'll MOO
puare0.
l 4ft tw
M UVI ft
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Will
1 ColUQlD,
B UO
Adv.l.mei,t, wlI1 t. oaoa tVM
month, witfcoct .daition.l .Ur,,,. , ur mJ
n-.thlT-wlUb..BMu..hrI. M tw.t, .Mt
n inch. Tiront.-n-e per coot. 1. Ud-d t. tk. iImt.
rto for iix-cUl notice In Loe.l ,ulomn.
roar awhile anj then atoD. It i
I tho habit becomea chronic down that
11 is a very undignified nuisnco.
If persona work for you and you
are always telling them that they do
the work wrong, and what you have
not done is ha very thing you wanted
done; jf you are always talking about
their rfrcknra-, stupidity t)r negW,
yo.i take the heart oat of thorn. They
soon seo that whatever they do, it all
comes to th3 same, 'all blamo and m,
praise.' 'What the n3C,' wy they,
of taking pain, and making any par
licutor tit. at; j.,st well take thiriga
!isy, for i 3 fault finding nuy ivwr
IJeucj eye .e; vuu'a, hence t,iu and uu
hnppiuoan made by fault liudtrs.
('. .' Vkn.:(iui Advocate.
Kri'in i!vi!,:
lu-cl of Our I.ii ing
unl O.ir
b.-ml.
HERO!:-! OI-' A Yir.(j liy.
Sews had been rocoivud at head
'quartern at Kinstou in November 18G2,
that two Gonerald of the FoiWal army'
one of them commanding iu North
Carolina, would ou a certaiu day pasa
from Morehcad to Newborn. It was
advisable. iu view of contemplated
movements, to capture tho train, and
secira the oflbers. At 10 p. m , I re
ceived orJers to pioceed at once to
Trenton, tako a clatail of xxxon from
Mjor Notbercutfa conuiund, and, if
possible, on the day named, capture
tho train. A' 2 a in., I reached Tren
ton to find Major Xodiercutt ubucnt
on one of his usual scouting expedi
tions. A Aditing his return at daylight,
Imadcmy3clf c.mfortable, and was
about to indulge in a morning's nBp,
when tho clatter of tho feet of ahorse',
at full gallop, etinsod mo to step to tLe'
door of the Court House to what
was in tho wind. Tho sentinel upon
duty had haitod the rider; fcaJ was
receiving from him a paper to bo de
lit erod immediately to the officer in
command. To my astonishment tho
note here no address, and upon being
opened the blank ra-e all Lt.:i a etioet
or 1-illor paper us that met my eye.
Tho rider, un elderly cauutrvnmn nn
known fo mo, was breathing his jaded
horse preparatory to return, but could
give no other information this: About
1 o'clock a. in., he was aroused from
hia slumbera. and on going tc his door
louud a lady on horseback who gavo
hitu the note, and told Lim to tako if,
at fall speed, to Trenton and give it
to any Confederate officer he should
find on duty there, as it contained
importunt information. Ia a ftvr
moments thereafter, I was in tho pri
vato room of a citizen of Trenton and
his kind wife was warming an iron for
my use. Applied to tho nocmingly
blank theol of paper, heat soon ena
bled mo to seo what I desired. Fos
ter had returned two days sooner than
anticipated, and was to leave that very
ruoruipg, with a f.-rca modt accuratoly
detailed on tho fcheet before me, ou
n expedition, having, iu my opinion,
tho laihoad bridge at Woldoa for ila
objective point. Tho objoct of my ex
pediiion being thus frustrated, I re
turned Immediately to Kinstou. und
gavo the information I hud procured
through the intrepid daring of ouo of
Newborn's daughters, to the officer in
command. Steps wero promptly ta
ken by tho General Commanding tLe
Department, and such an array of
troops waa placod in front and upon
the flanks of tho Federal General ua
caused him rapidly to retrace hid step.
ti... .. . . ..
aiio luujr a uumo apponuoa to that
note has never been told her socret
has been locked ia my breast my au
perior officer respecting my motivo in
desiring to keep it, only requiring my
pieuge that the water wa3 worthy of
credit. I doubt whether tho writer of
that nolo over know into whoso hands
it fell, or the good it accomplish.'.
When I stute that she was a young
lady, tenderly reared and thou in the
ery morning of maidenhood, her
night rido at greit personal risk, to
convey useful information, can be
properly appreciated.
How Cm.Njisi; Ladies Dik ton Lovr.
In Lii 'Far Cathay, Mr. Mo lktmt
sta es that one morning he received a
cardfrom a wealthy young lady inform
ing him that her betrothed Laving
lapsed into au early grave, she had
ma !c up her miad to commit suicide
on a certain day. To Mr. MeJhurtfs
surprise, his official remonstrances
were received with common place ci
vil! ief, and 'on the diy cainod the
woman did deliberately racrilice her
life iu the presence of thousands A
stage waa erected in tho open fields,
with a tented framo over it, from which
w-s suspended a Etrip of scarlet crape;
ono end of this she adjusted round
her nock. She then embraced a little
boy, probably a little brother, pre
sm'ed by a person landing by, and.
Laving let fall a veil over her face.
she mounted a chair aut resolutely
jumped off it, her little clas cd hands
saluting the assemblage an her fast-
failing form twirled round with tho
tightening cord.'