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PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE METHODIST EPIS COPAL CHURCH, SOUTH RUFUS T. HEFLIN, Editor.
VOL. V--NO. 10.
RALEIGH, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1 860.
$2 a J'ear, in advance.
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171
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o u i u i nXlT
For the X. C. Cu. Advovate.
Inconsistencies.
Mr. Editor It is my private opinion that if
Fortbe N. C Cb. Advocate
Ridgway Letters. No. 5.
QUARTERLY MEETINGS.
There is, probably, no oue feature of Methodist
po'ity, more calculated to promote the welfare of
i t'.ie Church, especially on our circuit work, than
advertising, is i the holding or Guarcer'y Meetings. 1 know there
j are some in the Church, who favor an abolition of
i the " Presiding Eldership," but I am inclined to
j the opiuion, that these views are held, almost ca
j tirely, by city pastors, and town laymen, who are
I unprepared to appreciate the advantages to be de
rived trom the arrangemet in the country.
There certaiurV can be nothing better caleulot-
a man will travel about a good deal, over the j ed to promote a feeling of sympathy between the
world, and keep his eyes wide open, he will see j different parts and appointments of aVircuit, than
manv real laughable " ri,7i-ul',fiis" where at
first there seemed to bo nothing, but a moral in
consistency. It is often the case when we see a
poor. reeling victim of intemperance, thatwecorcv
pare htm to a brute ; and the comparison baa be
come so trite, that it seems to be the only instance
in which human beings resemble animals of a
lower order; but iufatuition of any sort is apt to
bring out the animal in man as some events will
show.
Did you ever see a Methodist dance 7 Such a
creature may seem to De an anomaly, but can be
found within the bounds of civilization, and su':h
areeven now identified wi h the Christian church
Not long since, it was my fortune, though un-
the Quarterly ILxiimj of all the official members
in the capacity of a Quarterly Conference, and
consulting tor the reuera! go-vi.
garuzsdftff&a, VX""pA-i!ctpie, -uiat Sireugth is pro
moted by union.;, but in order to the existence of
this strength, there must be a feeling of unify,
and an operation in harmony. Our fathers ap
preciated the value of the plan, and dared to meet
the responsibilities of its existence. When the
circuits vvre the size of a Presiding Elder's dis
trict, as they now ex'st, and when the churches
were far apart, aud difficult of access, it was not
unusual, but customary for the official members
to ride on horseback a hundred miles, to be at the
Quarterly .Meeting. Iu those days something
designedly, to witness a modern i.-nce after the i was expected to be done upon these occasions
must approve I style; but which, iu my opinion,
fell fir short of the amusement in ipiestion.
We will suppose the prelmioaries arranged, the
sable musicians for the occasion armed with violin,
lanjo, tamborine eve., occupying a command iug
position, aud most inveteratoiy bent distinction .
The dancers were coupled otf very sociably,
forming a real live octagan of about wenty fee:
iu dian'n t:r. ihcn all seemed ready fo. the wo-d.
.S-c-r-a-p-e s-a-ic "from the violin, ruddy
from the bani. and " fiti-f la-
HP " dingo ti.n
dim t-o-r-v-i-r-'i jelled out from African Kings,
was the signal for a very circumspect manoeuvre.
Oue or two advanced a lit'le from their re rent
sway-i menacingly to and fro several time- reel
ed like t il! pines "in a gale dodged a little roil
ed the eyeballs in a most excruciating manner
stared at vacancy recoiled with arched nocks
like the deadly copperhead when about to strike
then retreating, slid back to the starting point,
with an inenable wi si
and closed the uovenieut
c
' l ace ,0"r n-t-r-t n-e-r
' rolled out. from
Africans musical :u tains," aud a mnn er - f
Othirs prepared to oocy, but with a manifest in
crease of malignity -
The. scene reminded one of a pareel of unruly
giese among a drove of h gs, when a long neck,
a semens like hiss, aud a decided intention to
'.-'', will put the honest pig to flight, which done,
til l intruding goose turns up n another How
ever there was no his in; or Itling in this case.
The ). :.:! nt being thought sufficient. Some
might have thought this enoujk of the sort for
rational beings and professing Christians to be
guilty of: but iu.atuation is apt to reach some
pr. r o-t.-ioiis clmax, and of course, did not fail
iu tb.s iiintauce.
After a uuuioer of other orders and evolutions,
something was said by thesable commander which
seeua d to have a powerfully electrical effect ; for
it e. iiebtlv made all har ds do their " clean I 1
Lr," and Bedlam most unquestionably broke
loose. Quick as thought, Uagg ng energies reviv
ed, intelligence beamed from wilted features,
drowv eyes flashed, the couples seized each other
by the bands with a life and dea'h grip, then
the whole cavalcade went tearing round the room
cn a gallop that would have doue amp'e credit to
a stampede of wild horses an the prairies of the ,
western rivers. The scene was wildly terrific.
The areat law of gravity, to whose strength the i
They were often seasons of refreshing from the
presence of the Lord, aud of revival iu tile Church.
But times have changed. Now, it is difficult to
get an official meuid. r to go ten miles, to be in a
Qt. Conference ; indeeii, v. ry few attend, who are
not near enough to return home at night. It you
! appeal to thc.u to know why they are not more
i punctual in their atteudanee, the answer general -:
ly is, tuat they do not like to be from home at
night To be at home, is a mere matter of plea-
sure, aud not of ucessity; but to be at Quarter
ly Meeting is a matter of official luty and we
i shoj.d always perform our duties, before we in
, 1'ulge in our p'ea.-ures. Nothing less than siek
i nes, or some matter of very great emergency,
should prevent au official member from being p;e
. seut iu the Quarterly Conference.
I have often, iu the course of my ministry, been
astonished, that persons in oue part of a circuit
should know so link- of the coudition of the church
upon another part. Often they do not know the
uuiuber of appointments the preacher has I do
not make these remarks in an improper spirit.
I feci that the thing is wrong, and that I ought
to say so. It is the duty of the official members,
at least, to be present at the Quarterly Met
ings. j
Suppose our Quarterly Meetings were properly j
at ten led, who eau tell the good that wuld result, i
Let u- return to the " old paths," and, if it be :
necessary, make so nc sacrifice for the church. i
We are too much afraid, both as preachers and j
people, of incouveuieuciug ourselves a little. We
forget that it is our duty to consecrate our all to j
God, and to promote His glory, at any sacrifice : :
Hereby are ye my disciples, that ye bring forth '
much irui.''
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Did the Divinity Suffer ?
Uf.v. It. T. Uei'Lin: " Thoughts for the
Thoughtful,1' is the caption of an article iu your
issue of Feb. 24, which I will now only give a
passing notice. The subject is, "Cau the Di
vine Nature suffer." Various have beeu the opin
ions entertained unon this subject, by some few
ladies are so much iudeb'ed, owing to the pecu-
liar manner or wearing their dresses, was so en- j
tireiv disregarded and so completely overcome,
that the crinoline and French DeLaines were
jerked about most unmercifully; and, in undu- j
latious vast like a shoreless ocean tumbling round j
the globe," were made to execute a prodigious
number of irregular gyrations about the poiut of .
suspension. A cloud of dust, kicked from the j
solid floor, rolled up and floated iu the (juivering
air, then vanished up the nostrils and down the,
throats of the panting racers. Springing forms '
whose virgin outlires should have been forever i
veiled freiii the gaze of mortal vision, were be-!
reft of civilized protection, and the clowni h stare j
of rabble vulgarians floated over the prospect i
: Modesty i
" IJreak r.p the fountains of your tears, your '
tears. More clo'juont than learned tongu", or J
Ivre of j urest note ! your sunny raiment stain. :
i'al dust upon your head, lament aud weep, aud
utter all your uiuistri.!y of wo '. '
Snace will ir.t suffice to tell of the sufi-sfection
afforded to the harsher sex :" but that such ex- j
hibitions are creditable to innocence, refining in j
t.:ste, edifying t the mind, elevating ia charac- i
ter and purifying to the morals of ,j""y Indus, !
or p -on. olive of mt' grity, enhancing to sobriety, a j
.safeguard to virtue, a refiner of social relations
aud a bulwark of sterling merit for young mm, i
and for both st-xr-9 in every respect, a palladium i
of purity and mental beauty, who can say ! !
Satan has not a n.ore insidious machination
wi h which to leguile innocence, or blast the
fairest scions of youthful piety. As a scctiona
evil, the Church tioes not writhe under a greater
scourge; aud as an argument iu favor of cold, un
godly morality, there is uot a more specious
stepping-stone to the pit of perdition Shall :be
piously trained youth of our land blast the heav
en endowed susceptibilities of their immortal
souls by pandering to the senseb ss appet te of a
moment '! Will Christian parents, as individuals,
or as a church, suffer the Evil One to spread the
pall of moral depravity over the temple of Zion,
and permit one evil star to darken the horoscope
of her destiny forever? CRUSADER.
The Sky and the Weather.
The colors of the sky at particular times af
ford wonderfully good guidance. Not only does
a rosy sunset presage fair weather, and a ruddy
sunrise bad weather, but there are other tints
which speak with equal clearness and accuracy.
A bright yellow sky in the evening indicates
wind ; a pale yellow, wet ; a neutral gray color
constitutes a favorable sign in the evening, an
unfavorable one in the morning. The clouds
a"ain are full of meaning in themselves. If their
forms are soft, undefined and feathery, the weath
er will be fair ; if the edges are hard, sharp, de
finite, it will befoul. Generally speaking, any
deep, unusual hues betoken wind or rain ; while
the quiet and delicate tints bespeak fair weather.
Simple as these maxims are, the British 15oard
of Trade has thought fit to publish teem for the
use of seafaring men.
divines and laymen. In ibis communication 1 oo
not purpose to enter into any course of argument
on the subject. I shall take the ground that, we
have ne:ther reason nor evidence, that the Divi
nity of Christ suffered, when he made an atone
ment for the sins ot men I shall deny the po
sition altogether, and require the proof of such a
strange hypothesis.
As to the argument of I)., " We," says he,
" answer. If Goiijehojse to suffer, he can,'' I irould
i simply remark now, that it may, at least, admit
I of a doubt. " Omnipotence," he says, " can do
i all things that does not involve a contradicti-n.''
i This might be admitted fur argument's sake ; and
i yet, I), would gain nothing by this admission.
' On this subject, what might be done, is one thing,
' aud what was done, is quite another. Let I),
j prove from the word of God, that God, as an
I " Omnipotent" being, either chose to suffer; or,
I that he actually did sulfur, as a divine being.
Will he can he do it. I wait to see.
' As to the argument based upon the " impossi
! bility,"' of the Divine nature. D. thinks it is uot
i " self-pvideut. ;" and why ? because his, and
! hundreds of wiser, stronger and holier minds, do
not see it so." ' llu idreds of minds'' as well as
! D s own " mind'' may be mistaken on this sub
ject ; so that the i-or.trary to his notion may be
the true one, which I doubt not. will be shown,
before I am done with the " Thoughts for the
thought!' ."
As t the argument (?) based upon the actual
sufferings of sentient ings ; that the more per
fect they are, the greater capacity have they for
suffering ; therefore, as God is infinitely perf ct,
his capacity, therefore, must be infinitely greater
to suffer, than beings of more limited capaci ies ;
it is unsound because, 1st, These less perfect
beings, may have this capacity, because their per
fection is uot absolute and iutmile. 2d, Because,
those very beings which do suffer, do so because
they have sinned and ha e brought upon them
selves in their " internal natures" that state of
things and condition of nature, which constitutes
" a want of harmony," between their " internal
natures" aud the perfections of God, and such
" external circumstances," a3 the law of God, and
the claims of Divine Justice. 3d, because the
Bible considers all the sufferings of devils and
men, as the legitimate result of the changed "in
ternal nature" of these, because of transgression,
rendering the 'external cii ttjistances ' so ex
tremely inharmonious. 4th, It follows, there
fore, tha'. the change of the "internal," and mo
ral " nature,'' o devils and men exposes thain
to the ' external circumstances" of God's law
and justice, which are now not iu harmony with
their internal natures"; -bat they uow suffer, not
because of the perfections of their internal na
tures ; but because such a moral change has
come over them, that, what moral perfections they
had before, are now altogether effaced from their
"iuternal nature." And Gth, we arrive at the
fact, that sufferings are the legi imate results of a
moral change in the nature of the being who suf
fers, and consequently: Ttb.Betlre any sufferings
can take place in God, there must not only a
change take place in the volitions of his mind,
but that these violations of mind, produce a change
in the internal nature" of his very essence
When I have leisure, which will be some sever
al mouths, I will take up this subject and sift it
fully.
Yours affectionately.
PETER DOUB.
rayettevillc, N. C Feb., 25, 18G0.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Our Local Tnterprises
The prefeat is an exceedingly interesting and
important period in the history of Methodism,
within the bounds of the North Carolina Confer
ence. Our situation resembles that of a young
man who has just reached his majority, and laid
his p ans for life, but finds himself greatly em
barrassed for want of money to prosecute them to
a successful con-ummation Besides those great
causes, to which the whole Church is committed,
we have several of a local character prominently
before us, upon which depends much of the 6nc.
cess and permanence of our beloved Methodism.
They are well known to ba greatly in need of
funds, and to be entirely dependent upon the h-
borality of our peonle for thet i. ' It is wruattaies
iiic lujuiujg uuiEscitea, exe
Let us consider the matter.
Are these calls accidental, or are they Vtovi
dmtiaVl There is such obvious and absolute ne
cessity for every enterprise the Conference has
undertaken and reeomm uded to the liberaliiv of
; our people, that w e can just as easily see how the
i Church herself can be the result of accident. AJ1
i with one consent say: we eaunot spare the Adco-
cute we can't have a single name erased from
the catalogue of our schools and colleges. We
are, therefore, bound to the conclusion, that every
1 one of them is l-otdtutial. If so, there is no j
discretion left to the Church. They must be sus
j rained. God demtm s that they shall be. He,
in this way, indicates the manner in which the
! Methodists, in the bounds of the North Carolina
Conference, shall met their indebtedness to hi u.
j That there is very great indebtedness, all ackuow-
ledge. Almost every t.me we meet tog-ether to
I worship him. we sing :
I
j ' O ! to Grace, how groat a debtor,
j Daily, i'ui constraint to be ?" &s.
j The grace we so justly celebrate, ha descend-
ed to us through Methodism, as its channel. We
: cannot separate the one from the other. The hu
! man mind has no power of computation with
! wl'ich to calculate the extent of His grace, nor of
estimation to determine its worth to us. Nor can
we discharge our indebtedness to Go " with the
voice of thanksgiving, nor with songs of praise.
" Freely ye have received freely give," is the
command by which all are bound. He reserves to
hiinselt, in kind, apart of all he gives, or its equi
valent in value. He ranks his in the first class
of our debts nor does he. upon any considera
tion, waive that claim. The Jews were required
to devote io his service, the irf and thu firsfrtc'tg
of a!! their increase christians " to lay a.-ide
each week, as the Lord has prospered them."
Tlicrj can be no genniw (irotilMtc where there is
nm corresponding lih'ralify. He who loves
much, will give much in proportion to his ability.
Ail we can ask is. that every one shall render to
God, his due. Ia that case, enough would he re
alized to meet every want of the Church, and of
the world. e cannot doubt, but. there is wealth,
and physical and intellectual enerpy enough, in
i:ie iiureu. to iner every requisition -.'Od nrii.es
upon her. He is incapable of making too great a
demand upon aiy of his people.
Why should any complain that so mv is re
quired, to carry forward the ei.teiprises of the
Church ? Was there ever before, a time of such
prosperity Was there ever a time, when means
multiplied so rapidly in the hands of the people?
Much of this is owing to the teachings and influ
ence of Christianity and with us, as Methodists,
of Methodism. Does it not follow, a3 a necessa
ry consequence, that as Methodism has done so
much for us without the advantages we seek, or
For tho N. C. Ch. Advocate.
A Change of Church Relations.
Every time a pronrnect member, or a talented
minister changes his church relations a great hue
and cry is made. Arnold, the traitor, is raised
from the tomb, and his infamy is held up to pub
lic scorn. And L. Sillnnon Ives, the apostate to
Catholicism, and swm Bishop of North Carolina,
is made the butt of ridicule. But is it just or
generous to. associate thoscy adieus names with
men who are conscientiously- seeking after truth,
and arting consistently wh?n they believe that
they have found it? Why should Jthc ban of l C0UV.y' ,
171 LUllL'J
SELECTIONS.
public ojnion be pla;e
it wrong lor members
feud themselves in p:
.po.u-sueh persons ? Ts
hurch. when thev
...
vt lid raw troru her
c.-host doe-
ovvn nninioiis i
i vrr
: IU Kit
Is the inesiimable rigut of private judgement to
bo denied them ?
But let us glance at some of the arguments
which have been assigned why persons should not
change their church relaions.
1. It in mi tcidenre of in unsettled state t:f mind
and kltucts of purpose. But why so? Is it
not equally as evident diat they are coming to
settled convictions of truth, and stability of pur
pose? But might not the same argument be
I brought to bear upon dl men who change an
opinie-a or practice in reference to any matter
whatever ? Would not this entail upon every one
all the errors ia faith aud practice into which ig
norance or inexperience has led them ? Are men
never to cWij'o an injurious practice, or discard
an erronious doctrine '! Away with such lo ie.
2. It )v'.''.'.s- it m.iii'x J iiii. Suppost- it does.
Ought not the faith of every oner who is in error
to he unsettled ? Ts a turn to he chained clown
by pu! lie sentiment to adhere to an erioueous
faith as long as he lives atid that too, after he
has perceived his mistake? Now the objection is
good fr nothing unless it be assumed that tv.-ry
man's faith is cornet. And this no one will
mantain. One of two things must be true
either one church, in its faith anil practice is ri:hf.
How I was Led into Rest,
T A. A X. I 1 1 1
ThePractice of Eeligion Necessary to, Under- r rh,t , V , 7i!
. ., J God. After being drawn to study and 'Tay to pj
Sana IT. je(j jnt0 so ,es;raDj0 a stato, I was gradual'y and
" Then shall we know, if we follow on to know 8: ceessfully conducted, and will now brieflt hint
the Lord." Jlosea. vi.: 3. the process, not with an eye to obtrude self, but
To understand any .-ubject thoroughly, it is not possibly to profit some inquirer Having attaiu-
enough that we study it theoretically we must eti a consciousness of entire consecration, as my
enter into it and become practically acquainted ruind and heart passed along, I realized more ami
with all its details. There are mvmy things that more that the true solution of spiritual power was
can never be learned from description relations, (not more tritely from spiritual talkers than in-
bcauties, and excellencies, that no language can spired writers) faith. This truth was imprrssive-
wbieh must be seen and telt to be ?p- ly illustrated to my inteilcct and heart by a truly
. Let a man study a subject ever so ! emiuent mental and christian philosopher. Prof.
i closely without practice, ne win una, wnen fie L phani. JMy next ciiseovery was that the c!e
' comes to the practical part, that his knowledge is rnent of faith (and au essential one) which I was
I in many respects imperfect and his theories in- ! most inclined to lack was, I may say, under dc
??.;;,ct. Acd we. accordingly, find that the feetiveness of word signs, " venturing, ' a term
opinion of a man iraciicd!y acquainted with a j which Luther, Watts, Wesley and Dr. A. Ciaike,
j subject is preferred to that of the most learned ! as well as many later christians, have used in
ih orizer. This being a universally admitted regard to deep experience. Therefore the next
fact in other matters, we might reason ably expect step in my case was an act of venturing reliance,
it also to be abmkted in reference to religious without waiting for any kind of feeling, or any
: practice that men would judge of the truth and thing whatever from God, further than what Lis
excellency of religion by experience, and not sat- word and Spirit had already vouchsafed, realizing,
isfy themselves wish merely a superficial view; to use a figure, that I must s'.tp right out into tlie
1 but uo, they frequently pronounce their opinion unseen, without any tokeu of timber or granite
: upon exjn .iie n'fd religion, wUhoi.t e.qieruwe. being laid, more than what ha I already beeu laid
This is as absurd as it would be to pronounce aa to prevent foot falling into an abj-ss ; and further
or'ii'ion upon the laws ofchetnic.il affnity without ! in a strange dejeetiou, in a kind of horror, bord
h'aving any experience of those la ws at all. I er to d -spair, I realized that I must take the faith-
A great deal of complaint has been brought ! step right out agd:i.-t what seemed a premonition
against religion on the ground that it is niy.-'te- ) that it would be of no tise. But as my venturing
rious. Now, we admit that there lire things in faith went forth, the blessing came down. He
reli-ion that lie beyond the reach of our faculties, I was faithful t. at had romised. As true as t o
butat, the same time the practical parts of chris- ' reader lives he will fi;;d the same result if he take
tiatiiiv are plain, it is, indeed, no wonder that t 4110 same course. t it:i tull eoi.secration and full
there is so nsiicn igtioi .hito uj --u uc uuject or j
The Family Opposed to Newspaper!.
The m in that didn't take the papers was in town
.csterdad. lie brought hU whole fi mily in two
lorse wajron. He still believed that Gen. TaT-
if tho
:or was
' Kanst!
where tl
:-,r thirty
tl goiug
t was nilstly counterfeit. The only hard money
in every thing, or all are wrong in something.
The latter, I think, is most probable. But while
all may be wrong in some thiisgs, some are more
deeply in en or than others. Anusuiely when one
finds himself in dangerous error, he should ch nge
both his opinions and his church relations. Shall
the Roman Catholic who is thoroughly disgusted
with his w ier God' a and image woinhip be con
strained to adher to his church relations lest his
faith shoid i bo unsettled? Should the Ilhigh
church. Episcopalian who ignores a wrar.H-ittl
uncut it'll be compelled to (,'ii g to her communion.
us convinced like
A.,
wi'h them, in iheirjprcscnt incomplete: state, that
our success would be much greater, were thev
such as we purpose making them ? They have
! originated in the necessit.es surrounding us.
j They are of importance to those who give, as
' well as those who receive. Let the Publishing
; Committee, and the Editor of tho Adroente, have
j commat.dof a publishing fund, and they as-ure us
; they can send us a far more valuable paper. The
I Schools aud Colleges we are laboring t build up,
are for the people themselves- for tlftdr children;
j where they cau be thoroughly educated and
where their piety and morals, can be guarded with
parental solicitude. We have abundant reason
j to thank God, that tlcy are visited with such fre
j queiit revivals of religiou and that their students
j so generally return homo devote. ly pious. This
is a consideration of t e first importance, to those
I who love the soul of their children. When such
: an iui'iuenee prevails in an institution, it must ue
; cessarily keep down extravagance, whieh is , so
! usual ; and, perhaps, in the course of t-ducatiiig
! one child, enough will be sa ved to cover what the
: parent may be required to give towards building !
it up, while they extend valuable advantages to
! the less favored. j
I If these considerations arc iust, no eonscienli- :
or withhold
rhaU the Caiv
Peter, that "God is no ri s; cctor of persons,"
end that " Jesus Christ by the grace of Cod tast
ed death for 'er man ;" fchall the high An.iriion
who relics upon his own righteousness for falva
tion , shall the Soeinion who denied the Divinity
of the sou of God ; shall tho Universalis! who has
blasted out the very existence of he ; and tdjrl!
the luniiersiotiist who fancies that tlnj only way
to heaven is by water shall each of these be
dimn to adher to thf.e creeo'.-', .ir'f-ar of unset
tling thin faith ? Down with such reasoning.
Now I inaiitain that when any one is truly con
vinced that ho has been iu material error he. is
justifiable iu changing his church relations. That
he should not change from one church to another
for " light and transient causes ;" that he should
not be " carried a! cat Ly every w ind of doctrine,"
is nut only admitted 1 ut strongly mantained ; still
there are many instances in which a change
would bo highly commendable. 'Consistency
is a jewel " Now it is certainly inconsistent, if
uot dishonest, to believe ore thing and profess
another. Every man should profess what he be
lieves, preach what he professes, and practice
w hat he preaches. We are responsible not only
for what we practice, but also for what we pro
fess ; and we should be anxiously solicitoruus that
both are conformable to God's word.
On 2 thing is patent to us all. No church ob
jects to a change of church relations, or a revi r
fcion of faith, when a valuable mend er or aide
minister leaves the fellowship of another church,
and seek communion with her. Then, we hear
nothing of B.ncdici Arnold or Levi Siiiimaa
Ives.
ABRAM WEAVER.
Hon,
hriliiant
A Touching Anecdote.
A. 11, Stephens, for several
quen i,
ud clc
ous persa in
any cause, which looks to the
Church of God : because, t!iere
reason why he should. I likt
eontribi.ti jus from
welfare of the
c'.miot be any
e tlie spirit ot that-
goon sister, who is tho subject ot tiro. ilsou s
last communication. Let every one sit down half
ac hour with his i,wn conscience, and consider
the wants ot the Church, to which, under God, he
owes his own salvation, and that of many dear
ones, and from which he expects consolation in a
dying hour, determine what is uue tu each enter
prise of the Chuch, and forward the amount, at
once, to the proper person to icceive it. This is
the speediest aud most satisfactory manner in
which the thing can be done. It will save a most
unpleasant necessity, that of takiug men " from
their loved employ," and sending them out in
some sort, to the service of tables. It is a pity
the Church wiil suffer agents to be sent out bar
better anticipate them, and supply what is want
ing. It would show much better before the world
and at the bar of God.
I WAN.
Feb 21, 1860.
Good Per Evil.
A young man intending to drown his dog,
rowed into the river Seiue, in Paris, and thiw
him into the water. The poor creature attempted
to climb up the sid of ihe boat, but bis cruel
master always pushed him back with the oars.
Iu doiug this, be fell himself into the water, and
would certainly have been drowned, had not his
faithful dog instantly laid hold of him and kept
ham above water until assistance arrived, when
his life was saved.
Good Deeds.
The good man never dies,
Though his threescore years and ten
May have passed uuheeded by
In the busy marts of men
In the furrowed fiold or grove
Upon mountain, sea, or shore
Still his untold deeds of love
Are a blessing evermore.
cvcral years the
leaner of the .'"outiiern
Uciegaticu lu the House or iieprescntatives, in a
recent address at a meeting in Alexandria for
th- beucQt of tho Orjdiaa Asylum and 'he Tree
Schools of that city, related the following touch
ing anecdote: "A poor iittie boy, in a cold
night, with no home or roof lo shelter- his hea l,
uo paternal or r.iatcrual guardian or guide lo pro
tect or direct him on his v;-y, teaciid at night
fall, the house ni a rich planter who took him in,
who fed. lodged and sent him on his way re
joicing. These kind attentions cheered his heart
and inspired bi o with iresH courage to battle
with the obstacle's of hie. Years rolled round ;
Providence led hiin ou ; ho L,id reached the le
gal profession ; his Lost had died ; the cormorants
that prey ou the su; stane of nun had formed a
conspiracy to get 'from the widow her estates.
She -eiit for the nearest counsel lo commit her
cause to him, end that couvh! proved lo be the
orphan boy years before welcomed and entertain
ed by her deceased husband. Thestimu us of a
warm au 1 teuatious gratltuie was uow add'eu to
the ordinary motives connected with the pro
fession He uudertook her cause with a will
not easily to be resisted ; he gained it; the wi
dow's es at j secured to her in p ipeiuity,and adaed
Mr. Stephens with emotions, that sent a thri 1
h oueh ut de u e, hj.. O pLan Loy tta .d be
fore you !
Baptism.
TUE OPINION OP A LEARNED AND EMtXEXTLY DEVO
TED MISS10NAKY TO THE EAST.
"It is certain that 'dip' in our English version
is never baptize iu the original, as it is impossi
ble to say where three thousand people could be
immersed in a day in Jerusalem Besides, we
do not believe that any living soul ever saw one
man immersed by another ( unless he were a Eu
ropean Baptist) in all the East on any occasion.
We have watched ior the phenomenon in India,
Egypt, Arabia, Palestine ; but never saw a na
tive of those couutries immerse himself.' No
doubt they do dive or duck sometimes; but we
never saw it. They go down to a piece of wafer
sit down in it, and dash it over themselves; or
go io to the shoulders or swim though seldom ;
but diving or ducking must re very rare There
was a tale told, we know not how true, of a Bap
tist translation into Bengalee which, in making
the word 'baptiz mean 'immerse,' got a word
which meant 'to down.' When the people read
of multitudes being 'drowned' by John," the
innocently murmured, 'What a sinner!" Lon
don Quarterly.
tne mjI
religion, for it is but lit tie studied by the m,.,, f
the world, and that little never practiced, tHir
objects engage their attention. H tthoiit taste
for a -libject we cu never expect to ui!,,.r;,t.im
it. It would rather be strange if man without
taste ior religiou, wi-hoot study, without practice,
should attain io (dear views of it. (.'an tte expect
to see all the beauiks in the temple of religion
while scarcely so much as standing or: it.s thresh
old r W hat would we think of a man's com
plaining of his inability to comprehend a scienti
fic treaties, w hen he had begun in the middle of
it V Would we not, tell him to begin with tho
elementary principles, if he ever ex peered to ob
tain a clear view of it? There is au important
connexion existing between the different parts
of seienca ; the study of elementary principles
is absolutely necessary to u d rstand the higher
departments. It is so in religion. We must be-
; gin with its elementary principles. So far, then,
is the ignorance of men from being an argument
; against the clearness of religion. It is a law of
j the Di ine government that in the sweat of our
! brow, mentally anel morally, as well as physically,
we ;diall earn our bread. God never bestows j
upon us auy superfluous light. j
; To the sinner, religion may be dark and mys-
' tenons, but he knows one thing, that he is a stn
: ner, aud that it is his duty to repent. lie has light
erjoug'i to conduct him to the crc;;.l. Wh;;t i;;o; o
: is necessary for his present use? And when he
j lays hold upon Christ by faith, a flood of light is
. poured in upon his dark soul ; he has followed ou
j to know the Lord, yot he has still a great deal to
i learn. For however luminous may be his path,
aud however clear the heavens, he has but simply
entered the kingdom, and knows but little of the
way. His future experience is to make him ac
quainted with the deep things of God. As he
journeys on, he acquires more and still lTioreof
! the love ot tiod, becomes better acquainted wrli
: Christ and more accustomed to the path. Diffi
culties after difficulties disappear, and the circle
of his religious knowledge is perpetually enlarg
ing. His views of God, of Christ, of salvation,
of duty, become more clear and comprehensive.
No limit is to be assigned to the christian's
progress. It cannot be said in reiercnee tohiui ;
thus far shalt thou go, but no farther, and here
let all progress cease. God has placed ill our
hearts the love of the sublime and the holy, and
has bidden us struggle on with the assurance
that there is something higher for us. Darkness
for a season may envelope us, but light will soon
break forth. " The path of the just is the shining
light that shincth more and more unto t -c perfect
day." '-The wise (i.e. the virtuous) shall un
derstand " Deep piety is necessary to enable us
to obtain a profound knowledge of Divine things.
There must be a quick moral sensibility, in order
to appreciate the excellencies of religion. A unity
of purpose must direct our efforts : "If thine eye
be siugle thy whole body shall be full of light."
We are uot for one moment to suppose i hat our
increase iu knowledge is to be limited to the brief
space of human life, or even to any
eternity. On the contrary, we have every reason
to believe thar, our present knowledge w ill contin
ually receive accessions, and in heaven, like stars
before the rising sun. wiil disappear in its supe
rior splendor. " For now we see through a glass
darkly, but then face to face." That is, we see
by means of a mirror an obscurely reji'-ctcdimage,
but th n we shall see by menus of a tiinct ray.
Wo c'oubtlesa increase in the knowledge and love
of God for ever and ever
The human
mind iu the short space allotted to it here can
make the most astonishing progress. We may
begin with the simple nil. a of arithmetics and j
reach the . rofundities if the calculus ; begin with i
the Eug-ish alphabet .nd study the most abstruse j
lang lag ; begin by peddiir g matches iu the streets j
and become merchants wl.ose ships shail visit
every clime. Our prognsss in tlie next world I
will at leastbe as rapid and as astonishing as it is J
in this. Poets not nnfrequently in their discrip- I
tions go beyond the realities of nature. But mo I
imagination, however powerful, can come up to
the realitiesof heaven. From the Beauty of Ho
liness and Sabaih, Miecdl'iny.
faith. all-vetitn,ing fa'th, there can be no failure.
In the exercise of unrestrained, self-ahaiidoiioig
fait.ii, the soul is further from sinning and from
being rebuked for presumption than with Peiei's
depiessing misgivings ou the water A fluid, a
very vacuum would :e as firm as tin ber or granite
in the way of God's appointed means to eet with
in reach of his everlasting arm.
Will the reader try it, or be skeptical, and for
get? Ch. Ad. and Jon rind.
JUNIOR.
! .e bad W;
sharper
of the b
iii-astired
i the mark
' hi hat
butcher's
j he took t
t in" was
i
" varnnn
One of,
: trade for
j carried in
rock it on
tied its m
bara Alb
skin, and
had callei
lood Soa
faces
had given
and it t.isti
tell of to
it a fair ti
We ap;
get lii rn t
' in'ei 1 1 a i
liiu'' wtf
of his f.m
and he
K j iv. rig
Ministerial Popularity.
There are two kinds of this popularity. One
is founded rather upon ability in the pulpit, in 'die
great congregation ; the other upon pastoral faitli
fulnesjs out of if, from house to house. Perhaps
we should say there is a third kind, or rather a
balanced Uuioii of the two, but such exact uuiou
may be too scarce to deserve attention. One or
the other a little predominates in the case of nl
uiost eviry preacher. Now, the point ai nod ct
in this blicf article, is the respectful submission
to the ministerial reader's good sense, of the fact,
that of the two kinds alluded to. the least imp s
ing, the apt-to-be-nndervalued kind, "from house
to house." is the preferable ; and that in the
preacher's aim to be balanced, the care had bettor
I be to secure to the humbler side any deviation
from equipoise. A preachers position for pulpit
j eloquence is accorded more by the hearers' head
than hearts but that tor pastoral intimacy and
faithfulness wdiile visiting from house to house, U
granted rather by their hearts. Heart attractions
are of much the more worth they are more ef
fectively manageable ; and in connection with pe
culiar points of human nature, learned from visit
ing the pe pie, as they cannot be learned from
books, they facilitate a rapid rising in spiritual pul
pit power, if not in fruitless popularity among
' itching ears."
There is a manifest course for the safety of a
preacher's own soul, as well as for the souls of
his hearers. Visiting walks are safer and more
useful than pulpit climbings. notwithstanding anv
oi'Satau's illusive suggestions to worldly ambition.
Let us take heed.
K. K. K.
The Be
of IJllebci
eiioti to
from the '
is!. Habbi
to collect
tions put
lowing: "
tory ef ih
foretold b
tions. the
whether ti
jects f pr
that the pr
omitted in
g. eat ven
lieve. I sai
ing one wl
great a ro
know it is
liOihiieg, 1
ants the p
To this
answer,
nient, but
'resident, and wanted to know
avians" h.-.d taken Cuba, and if bo,
yhil taken it. lie hod sold his com
cei,ts the price being thirty-five but
to denosit the money they tol l linn that
some three cent pieces, und these i'nio
.d " run on him for half dunes. Uno
vs went to a blacksmith tdiop to lo
for a pair of shoes, and unfithcr mfcUo!;
t house for a church. After hanging
ti a meat-book, ho took a feat on the
rta'.l. aud listened to nn auctioneer ho-. i
be a preacher Ho left before ' i!"et
i'.t," and had ni grot opiuion cf the
it
tlie girls took a lot of seed onior.s It
i letter. She had a baby, whic'i fill
a " sugar trough, ' stopping tit f'u ies io
the side walk. When it cried sin stop
tith with a stocking, and Minr Bar
l " The oble-t boy bud c!d a own
..1 . I llM A . !...
was on a husl uen :ni wen, oo
for a glass of " soda nod water, nn 1
ing bis gingerbread an I leaking wry
'JNie shopkeeper mistaking Ins imti'iing.
!iim a mixture of kiI soda and wafer,
d strongly of sn: p. But ' bo' I hern
.1 and water, tn' ho was liouud to rdvo
d."
roiiched the old gentleman and tried to
subscribe, but he would not I teii t-
improvement. and h thought " l ir-
wieked invention and vexation Notii
y ever learned to read, but "'i 'oy,
.-.irli. d so o A nwl.ih', and tht ll went Id
, , ' - . ...
.viti.tv. le.rt I'-'inr.
aversion of a Jewish liabhi.
('. I'r."dr.nnn, formerly Jcwbh
gives the lei owing aeconnf c:
the fel owing aeconnf c: I.v-mmi-
tl.e Chri-uen religion, which w" pet
hris'ian Guatdvil. A year ng a J-W-ame
to Juel.ee from the Ibdv La- d,
lotiev for the poor. Among l' ' qt
lo this ll ab'.t of Palestine wt the ! ,-
We know th't every event in the h's
world, of any 'wp'itiimi . In hem
prophecy. The rise and f ll of na
int oduetion of fyst. ms of r l'gon,
ie or false, have alwar been th" m.'i
lietiom. IIow is it ther fop- jo-.il It.
ipheH, in their inspiration, sl.oidd have
ntioi, of Jesus of azarein. run . tnc
. ctoised by his advent ? C: n you !
1, that all 'Scripture coticcrii-
is accepted as the true Mev-ia i by ft
tion of the world, especially woeii n
written, ' Surely the Ijord God will do
it he reveals bis secret unt j l is serv-
.phets V "
Ir. l? was never able to obtain ?n
'bis led him to search the 0! 1 T ta-
-till only from the Jewis'. t tntidp-dnf ,
und in thrJe mouths lie
State of Morals on the Continent of Europe.
A correspondent of the Bochester American,
i writing from Germany, says there is as much
j intemperance on the continent of Europe as in
j the Uidted .States, the difference being only in
the constitution of the people, and in the fact that
the liquor in general use stupefies instead of nian
deris the victim. He says :
"The fact is, that driuking to excess is the
commonest thing iu the world here and the state
of public sentiment with regard to it is deplorable.
Beer-drinkiug and wine-drinking are universal,
and drinking to excess, in private aud with friends,
is very common indeed. There are multitudes
of all classes w ho habitually stupefy themselves
with drink". In all classes, however, it is only a
good joiie when a man drinks under (he (id le
to condemn tho
con verted,
( 'hritiaii
X
Though
And
Though
And
Ti.ou-h
Iu In
Which .
The- t
We'll l.
Its g!
Ahhou-
Be in
We'll gi
It CM:
For tin
The t
All oft!
All ti
The res!
Deser
The wot
And i
And tie
But ti
An T'n,
I Thr iiior.il sotis.i .lilps nut scorn rrt mmtmnn !., . '
ooriU'U Ol I , ... , i . 1 i . , jau. .......
Oiieiice, nut. laiucr iv upHcuu ii, auu inai, 10') ! I....1 ,1,
i i i .1 . i i - ' IIU' li
lt! circles wnere one wouiu luius a uctter state ot j toned th
things must exist.
"The Princes of the royal family of Prussia
lead the fashions of fie Stato in great measure,
aud they are er.o:or;o;;s h unkards and libertines.
The King himself, who i.s now insane, was, and
1 suppose is, constantly it the habit of drinking
to excess. Aud ie. ro is one of the most shock-
e.nno out a convince..
Christian. Xm-l'i .-.
mid happy
IdriHiite
ie Truth Doth IJever DL
Kingdoms, States and Enron
lvnaties decay ;
cities crumble into dust,
latioiis d:e away ;
"orireoti towers and pi.lac- s
.(i.s -t" l lii ii lie,
. . i .. . .
uce were proudest in tne j . i
nth doth never die.
urn not oVr the silent pti I,
nics are not fled.
Ii its men of high renown
mb. red with the oead.
'eve not o'er what earth 1 m !
not claim a si nil :
i .t. :
wreog alone nam .i ii.-uv ,
uth doth never d.c.
'j past is liing st'll
. . . . .
at is good ana irue ;
hath perished, mid it did
e lo p rlsh too !
.1 rolls ever round and ron i 1,
me rolls ever by,
wrong is ever rooted up,
e truth doth never die !
fall.
I
A Christian King;.
!i paper stab's that
Our present- ideas ot - . et:lt(, tht,,,t V'le,r,.,
future-glory a best are very faint, flic buu.au . fr, thosu who lire only in the sn.il
ot their t.ivor whose groat amoitiou is to toilow
iu their
see ps
AdamCiarie on Dancing.
I long resisted all solicitations of this enjoy
ment, bu' at last allowed myself to bet overcome.
I grew passionately fond of it. And now I lost
the spirit, of subordination, did not love work,
uubibtd a spirit of idleness, and in short, drank
in all the brain-sickening effluvia of pleasure.
Dancing and company took the plaee of reading
and study; the authority of my parents was fear
ed but not lespected, aud few serious impress
ions could prevail in a mind imbined with fri
volity. Yet I entered intonodisreputable assem
bly, and ia no case kept improper company.
Nevertheless, dancing was to me a prevention
influence, an unmixed moral evil. I consider it
a branch of that worldly education which leads
from heaven to earth, from things spiritual to
things sensual, and from God to Satan. Let
them plead for it, who will, I know it to be evil
and only evil. "No man in his senses would
dance, taid Cicero ; a heathen. Shame then, on
those Christians who advocate a cause by which
many sons have become profligate, and many
daughters have been ruined.
.1-1 l ' ....
" 1 he stainting armies ol I'russia and Austria,
composed entirely o, young men, just brought
from the country, with nothing n earlh to do,
idle a great part of the time, exposed to all the
corrupting influences of evil companions, . f the
example of their officers, of the splendid and
e. c'lanting se luetic n-i of metropolitan v.ie what
is to be expected oi them as disseminators of mor
als, when they return h me after their three
years and a half of service? I do not think that
the Prussian eharaater is so irreligious, souubrid
led in its contempt for moral restraint, nor is the
German temperament so volatile and given to
plessure seeking as the French ; but nevertheless
it is certain that the most shocking immorality is
all but universal iu the Prussian army, and I
suppose it is worse in Austria.
"It is astonishing toa foreigner to see how
little church going there is iu Berlin, and how
fcw churches there are for so great, a city I do
not remember the figures, but I think there is
only one church to about lo.OOO inhabitants,
and the churches, with the exception of the
Cathedral and a few others where a great preach
er and fiine music draw a crowd, are never more
tl.au a quarter full. Only a couple of Sabbaths
before I left Berlin, I attended oue of those great
churches, built by Frederick the Great, in the
Gend'aruies Platz. A celebrated preacher was
to deliver the sermon the day I went, and I ex
pected to see the house crowded. The sermon
wa3 an excellent one, full of argument and rich in
earnest, religious spirit, but besides three of us
Americans, only two other men were present in
the great cold church ; the twenty or thirty oth
ers who were there were t.11 women, and tho most
of them old women.
Jesus, but
himself a d
Lord, be fol
the laying
his rjpitiil.
t'd a heart
said in one
"Fur.h.l
grant that
be tratisu.it
landi. it. I
hencefirth
ccive orditi
Church, w
turn, not on
nations of tie farthest regions of llu; jrl.ibo. And
whilst to th su fervent prayers for this thurc'i
and congre; itioc, and for i..y pcopl.; at large. I
superadd nu- heart-felt paitiou, that, thy Lou 1
which in an-ictit times bound the Gu Ipl.io ru-
! lers and peo do iu one united glow of L-.-iy- fji'h
hu- fear, iody still link lh.ui together, until the
arrival of th it great day, when we shall all staud
j before the t! roue of our Divine flcdi-cmi-r, t'
reee ve the f alvation purchased Le m Ly Lii
! precious bleed. I lay the fouudn'.iou htne of
i Christ Chur. h, in the name of tho Father, of tho
; Sun and of tlielloly Ghost."
Two of th
mnnicate the
root, which t
frem the tree
above the sui
A pious ol
dog 'vloreovd
spectacles to
Bible name
licked liissor
t'.e Kin; of
ho has been alllicted wr.h bun im .-.,
eves of his undersiandit-i si culig'i
io'is uot only a believer in tho J.orl
k confessor who is not ashamed to on u
sciplc, nor to defend the c:;ii-.i of hi-
e high and low. On t!i; occasion .f
f the corner-stone of a i.rw thurc'i in
he made some remarks which iddri.
xprrience in t-plriiud thing. II:
luding:
iinoie. I entreat tho Aio-iIdy fi
Vi pure gospe. of hi di ar oti may
c'if.'Oin this c:urcli to till heat lull
i ig my desire and resolve, pint
ll H uioveriaii luissionai i. s shall r--
lion within t'e walls of ;!.'. Christ'
ieh iu y thus In-come a w. 11 of salva-
.... . . .....
V to its own congregation, mii oi i;i.)
ruitAnd Fruit Trees.
p best farmers in the Forth corn-
manner in which they secure cool
fruit; It is alius: They dig at somo distance from
the body of shine favorite treo until t!i ?y find a
icy cut off. The part disjointed
is then turned up so as to appear
ilea. It sendsforth shoots the firstsea-
son.ond heart, in a few years, fruit precisely liko
inai upon ilia parent tree. ict those whoso
trees are decaying, or who wish toincr:.ac god
tt.t.t-.t-.a 1tj .,,.:. 4 V. t t
, a. wj Knia v.jwiuiuub. AI la I Ul UU
hour s work.
lady wa asked why n!ie named her
.' 'Why,' said she tutting on I rr
End the place in her Bible, it is a
here -.Moreover tho do? eauie a i J
I
i