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Kaleign ! ..JO! am voca e hi BV. J. B. BOBBITT, Editor. PUBLISHED EI THE DJTEEESTS OF METHODISM IN UOBTH OAEOLIJTA. $2.00 PER AOUM, Iff ADVANCE. VOL. XX. NO. 32. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1874. WHOLE NO. 1,020. ' i "' .-, f .-' ts ' I.. ''"j Srlcftc poetry The Seed- 1 ;i seed !; fed, AH'"' Ami n' i. l'-ii- tii-- '' The oj"1 n :i .1 other work ii -. umi uovor know n f .: iii lie i:d Hd mil - ui:!i i'.is d.-w ui trn dew; sliir! Tfif ilaii canm. aim Hu- any. 1K1 '.lie Ul'UKT TV. J i ki-.i av.iv Ai iib ji" no t a t'-w- i;,,.. Inr.u his work one d iV ,r ..inn-ini; ?ui!iuir I v- ..aitdre i s:io vd nun 4 p rl'out. flower; .(1,1,1 iiuiit iu bloom llint vary hour; ,k. 1 caaot ay. la ' ill or lor.- bo cast , l)j:!i ilu ;i:id :n!r. win uo lueir ptn, And vf . v,m rk-s wi.h .1 trusting in; .ui WiH 1'nu! 'hi- tlowei nt last -Hume (faardian. ($ 0 m m u u t c a t c & . for 'he Advocate Shelby District Conference. The Shelby District Conference met in tin-' Methodist Church in the tl)wn of Lincolnton, N. O., at 9 o'clock, A. M, July -3rd, 1ST1- Dr. L.'S. Burkhead, Presiding El der of the District, presided. 15. F. Dixon was elected Secretary. The attendance of ministers and lavmen was unusually good. Verbal reports upon the various in terests of the church were made by the pastors of circuits and stations within the bounds of the District. itiml condition of the church iu v.vs it-ported as improving; the de i,i'tssiou in i taru matters, irom uiiidi the country has been sultermg for some time past, has somewhat af- feotod the financial interests 01 tne church New houses of worship have in,- ..rm'ted in several localities, and the church has been blessed in several n( H. idmvi's with a gracious oui- l-ouring of the Divine Spirit. Special committees were appointed nn flip following subiects, viz: "Our wiJ. 0 m Conference Colleges," the "Diffusion of Religious Literature," Camp Meet ings, and "The Widows and Orphans Benefit Society. The sessions of the Conference were nlArtsanf. and the discussions on the various interests of the church har monious. The various services held were in terestiaj and instructive. The open inf sermon was oreached by Rev. S. '"(5 " heard of Rutherfordton, and the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist pulpits were filled by members of the Conference, and the preaching was pr.vcticil and pointed, and was lis tened to with the closest attention and greatest pleasure by the large congre gations that attended the preaching of the word. A Sunday school mass-meeting was held m tne Methodist Church on Sabbath afternoon, and notwithstand iatr the inclemency of the weather. there was a large congregation pres' tut. Rev. Mr. Johnston, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Lincoln- t jn, and several members of the Con ferenca addressed the meeting. The good people of Lincolnton will hag he remembered bv the members of the Conference for the elegant hos pitalitv and kind treatment which were extended on the occasion. The following reports were adopt ed and ordered to be published in the RiUhfii Christian Ad'-ucote EEPOUT ON COX-t klSKSCE COLLEGES. Tiie special committee to whom was referred the subject of our institutions of learniuer, bejr leave to submit the following: R-:s,lr,'.:l 1st, That in Trinity Col lege, Greensboro Y. College and Da venport F. College we recognize the threw leading educational enterprises 01 our church ra -North Carolina, an that these institutions claim equally our sympathy, co-operation and sup port. lh xolccd '2ml, That we look upon Davenport 1' . College us more espe cially ours, located as it is within our district, peculiarly adapted, m many respects, to meet the wants 01 our people, and that, as such, we ought to mn it a more hearty and cordial support than any other District. Whereas, we believe tho interests of the Methodist Church in N. C. de iiumd that we shall have at least one first class Male College. And whereas, Trinity College has long been accepted and recognizod as the only male College in N. C. under the control 01 the Conference. And whereas this Institution has Rlrao6t, through its entire history en countered more or less opposition un dur various flimsy pretenses which has greatly impeded its progress and hin dered its prosperity. And whereas -we have failed to see aTiy justifiable reason for this opposi un, and believe that there exists none. Therefore JMAwf, Ut. That we stand by sustain Trinity College as an en "Tpiise. worthy of our Church and '-"Wurence, and that we will do all we to promote its prosperity, both in lneans, patronage and influence. AV.W!C7 2, That we utterly disap prove and condemn all efforts either vert or open, on the part of disaf- cted parties, by aspersions and in- uendoes, to disparage the institution and thereby divert both patronage and osources toother institutions beyond our bounds which wo are tinder no obligation to sustain. Jh.Mht1, 3, That it is the duty of every person, oineinlly connected witn Trinity College, who cannot heartily sustain tho institution,to dissolve that connection. (Signed) AV. M. Robkv. Samuel Liuhd. L. J. HOTLK. Rkpout os Benefit Bocitt. The Committee to whom was referred the papers in reference to "The "Widows and Orphans Benefit Socioty of the N. C. Conference," have iih -tured the points of interest presented in the same, and do most heartily endorse the plan and purpose of said society, and recommend the co-operation of this District Conference in carrying out the noble ends therein proposed. The Committee would therefore propose tor adoption tne iouowmg Resolution: llesifli'cd That each Pastor select the name of some proper person in his pastoral charge and forward the same as a suitable corresponding secretary to co-operate with T. C. Williams, the financial Sec, at Warrenton, N. C. (Signed) J onx AY. North, Chm. The following persons were elected Delegates to the next annual Confer ence: Capt M. V. Moore, of Lenoir; M. O. Shorvill, of Newton; Dr. J. AV. Tracv, of Kinprs Mountain, and L. J. Hoyle, of South Fork. B. F. Dixon and J. A. Clay well, Alternates. Shelby was selected as tho place for holding the next District Confer ence. The following resolution were un mimously adopted: liesolced lft, That the thanks of this body are duo and are hereby tendered to the citizens of Lin colnton for the bounteous and elegant hospitality extended to the members of the contorence in throwing open their doors for our entertainment. 2nd, That our thanks be tendered to the Pastors of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches for the use of their pulpits during our Session also to those Railroad orhcials on whoso roads delegates traveled for half fare. B. F. Dixon. REPORT ON UOOKS AND PBRIOblCALB. Your committee on the diffusion of Religious Literature submit the fol lowing report. The diffusion of religious knowledge is fraught with vital importance. In proportion to the extent of religious knowledge will be the vigor of faith, the cheerfulness of hope, tho ardor of love, the depth of reverence and the steadiness of obedience. The fruitful tree of piety is planted in, and draws its nourishment from, the soil of religious knowedge. Good books put in circulation are perpetual and shining lights, guiding the way ward steps of a strayed world back to God. The religious press is a lever greater than that of Archimedes, lift ing the world from the dark vallays of ignorance and oppressive superstition, up into theliealthy and luminous plains of Christian civilization. In view of the facts we recommend that our books and periodicals be broadly circulated oyer the land. The "Raleigh Christian Advocate,' so ably edited and successfully con ducted by Rev. J. B. Bobbitt, claims our first and chief attention. It is North Carolinian in locality, large and beautiful in typography, Methodistic in doctrinal matters, cheap in price, full of choice and instructive articles. It keeps abreast with the first class papers of its kind in diffusing intelli gence, wholesome literature, and the instruction needed by our people in order lo be informed on all religious movements of the age. Therefore Jcexolred, lhat we cordially com mend tho "Raleicrh Christian Advo cate" to all our people and that we make renewed efforts to put a copy in everv Methodist family in our char- ges. Your committee also call special at tention to our Nashville publications. These books are our standard works and ought to be widely circulated. We are gratified to learn.' that about 5G of our preachers have redeemed the Conference promise to purchase $100,00 worth of these books. The circulation of our books has vastly in creased during the last year m our bounds. This is a noble and useful work and enables the preachers to largely augment their usefulness and confer lasting benefits on the purchasers. AVe recommend the "Nashville Advo cate" and the Sunday School papers, as being first class papers of their kind and deserve to be extensively circulated among our people. AVe also recommend a sermon just pub- bKhed bv Rev. Dr. Burkhead, our - Presiding Elder. This eermon is cpaite timely, and is a clear and able discourse on the importance and moral obligation of our people to provide a competent support for the Itinerant ministers who spend their all in serv ing them. AVe trust the preachers, will procure this sermon and scatter it broadcast among the people AVe nrA nfltidfied it will do a great deal of good in enlightening them on this important subject. (Signed) H. T. Hudson, Ch'mn. For the Advoonte. Minutes of K. 0. Looal Ministers' Confer ence- (costinusd) T. A. Dorsey, Deacon; Morgan ton, Morganton circuit, has had 2 regular appointments, haB preached 30 ser mons, has delivered 1 Sunday school lectures, conducted 8 prayer meetings, baptized 25 persons, received 10 mem bers into the church: he is now in his j 70th year, and is still trying to do some work for the Master. J. F. Roberts, Deacon, Laurel Branch, Blue Ridge Mission, had 4 regular appointments, preached 50 sermons, delivered 2 Sunday school lectures, has organized 1 Sunday school, conducted ten prayer meet ings. Isaac N. Mann, Licentiate; Belle voir, Chapel Hill and Haw Hirer Cir cuit, has had 2 regular appointments , has preached 3G sormons, has one ap pointment at a cotton factory, when there is no church lias good congre gations, and a Sunday school. L. Branson, Elder, Raleigh, Eden ton Street Station,has 2 appointments each month, has preached 23 sermoiiK, held 5 prayer meetings, delivered 1 Sunday school lecture, attended 5 Quarterly Conferences, married 4 couples, baptized 2 persons, held 1 communion meeting, has done all he could in the temperance cause. W. P. AA'illiams, Licentiate; David son College, Mt. Zion circuit, has preached 20 sermons, organized 1 Sunday school, lias many calls to preach and lecture at various points; does all he can for the Redeemer's cause. Damon G. Meekins, Deacon; Ken -nekeet, Hatteras circuit, has preached 45 Bermons, delivered 20 Sunday Bchool lectures, has organized 5 Sab bath schools, held 25 prayer meetings, received 2 members into the church has labored with the regular pastor. H. S. Scarboro, Licentiate; Kenne- keet, Hatteras circuit, has preached 40 sermons, delivered 25 Sunday school lectures, organized 5 Sabbath schools, held 25 prayer meetings has labored with hiH pastor. J. A. Reagan, Elder; AVeaverville, Asheville circuit, has had 2 regular appointments, nas preached ser mons, delivered 4 Sunday school lec tures, organized 2 Sunday schools, held 2 praver meetings, baptized 40 persons, received 20 members into the church, is President of AVeaver ville College desires the Conference great success. Jas. B. Ballard, Elder; Troy, Pee Dee Circuit, usually has 3 appoint ments, cannot preach regidarly on account of age and infirmity. Miles P. Owen, Elder; Clinton, Clinton circuit, has had 2 regular ap pointments, preached 44 sermons, de livered 1 Sunday school lecture, re ceived 7 members into the church, baptized 2 persons, filled circuit work 3 months of the year. AVilson Atwater, Elder; Snipes Store, C. & Haw River circuit, has had 2 regular appointments, is very old and cannot preach much still loves to do what he can, is cheerful and confident in Christ. 2 P. M. The Conference met pur suant to adjournment. R. L. Aber -nethy in the chair. Divine services were had by P. H. Joyner. The min utes were read and approved. On motion, the special order was postponed for half an hour. A discussion was had as to the status of our members. P. H. J oy ner, B. York and others made prudent and valuable suggestions, all tending to a closer union of Pastors and itin erants. All agree that the Discipline gives explicit instruction for our con duct as Local Ministers, and ought to be observed by our members. Rev. Geo. B. AVetmore and Rev. P. H. Dalton, visitors, were formally in troduced to the Conference.. Turner M. Jones, D. D., and F. B. Andrews roported by letter. The order of business for the elec tion of officers was announced, and the annual election was held, result ing as follows: P. H. Jovnbr, Pree. R. L. Abebnbthy, J. B. Ballard, A7ice Pres. Solomon Pool, ) L. Bkasbos, Sec. and Treas. On motion of P. H. Joyner it was resolved that each local proacher be requested to take up a collection an nually in each congregation for the benefit of destitute Local Ministers and their families. L. Branson moved that the chair appoint a committee of three on the State of the Conference. Carried. L. Branson, B. York, S. Pool, Commit tee. On motion, S. Pool, B. YTork and S. D. Franklin were appointed a Com mittee on Education. On motion, the Conference ad journed to 9 o'clock to morrow. Benediction by R. L. Abernethy. The Committee on Divine Services announced R. L. Abernethy to preach at night. Saturday, 9 A. M. The Conference met pursuant to adjournment. R. L. Abernethy in the chair. Rev. Goo. B. AVetmore of the Episcopal Church opened with divine services. Minutes were read and approved. Moved by R. H. AYhitaker to strike out, amend P. II. Joynor's roaolution of yesterday; passed so as to read, Jlesoh'cJ, That each Local preacher be requested to take up a collection annually in each congregation for the benefit of the Local Conference, as in dicated in the 4th Article of our Con stitution. The Treasurer's report was pre ¬ sented, and on motion of P. H. Joy ner was approved. A general discussion was entered into in reference to plans of increased usefulness. All were agreed as to the necessity of a high degree of attain- meat, the essential missionary char actor of Local men, and the impor tance of harmonious action with the regular pastors. On motion the Conference adjourn ed to a r. M. R. H. Whitaker delivered an effect ive temperance address, followed by Rev. Geo. B. AYeimoro. President of State Council of Friends of Temper ance. 1'. H. Joyner was announcod to preach at night. 2 P. M. Saturday. The Conference re-assembled at tho hour appointed. Thos. Reagan open ed tho session with reading and prayer. Minutes were read and ap proved. On motion, it was resolved that tho newly elected officers bo installed at the last business meeting of each Con- ference. Dugan C. Johnson, of the N. Conference, was introduced to Conference, and made a feeling dress to the members. The Conference resumed the C. the ad dis- cussion of plans for increased useful ness. R. L. Abernethy moved that a com inittee of three be appointed to recom mend a course of study to the Quar terly Conferences, to apply to appli cants for license. Carried. Commit teo, R. L. Abernethy, B. York, Solo mon Lea. On motion, P. H. Joyner, Solomon Pool and L. Branson were appointed to draw up a memorial on the subject of ministers returned from the itiner ancy to tho localcy, said memorial to be presented at the annual meeting ol 1S75. Report on Temperance presented, and adopted as follows: report os tempeuamcb. The Committee on Temperance beg leave to report tho following: The evils of intemperance are so numerous, and bo flagrantly opposed to Christianity, we deem it hardly necessary for us to make any argument against it; but as ministers of tho cause of Christ it does become our duty to denounce sin in all its forms, and to make use of every legitimate means to drive ii from the world. AVe therefore offer the following res olutions for the consideration and ac tion of the Conference: liesolced, That in the liquor traffic we recognize a foe to Christ, and that as Local Ministers of the M. E. Church, South, in North Carolina, in Conference assembled, we do covenant with each other to use our best en deavors to put it down. lusolced, That we believe moderate drinking to be the nursery of drunk enness, and consequently a sin; there fore we would have our preachers warn their congregations against it, and teach them that the only safety consists in totally abstaining from the use of all intoxicating beverages. liesolced, That we recognize with pleasure and thankfulness the valuable aid which the various Temperance orders of the land have afforded the church and ministry in their warfare against the sin of intemperance, and do heartily recommend that our preachers bo encouraged to co-operate with these orders whorever and when ever they can. Jiesolved, That we do heartily and cordially endorse the action of the recent General Conference of the M. E. Church, South, in making it an ac tionable offonse against the church for members to "make, buy, sell or use Untoxicating liquors as a beverage," and that we will, to the extent of our ability, sustain that action. S. D. F-BANKXET, ") R. H. AVHITAKEB,JCOin Committee on State of the Confer ence reported, which was adopted as follows: The Committee on State of the uonierence report tne interest in creasing from year to year. AVher- ever the itinerants have giyen careful attention to our operations, full sym pathy and cordial co operation have been manifested by them. Many of our members hare been excited to more than double energy in the great missionary work, and indi cations are plain that the hap'piest re- suits will be witnessed in a few years from the convocations and labors of this Conference. AVe respectfully recommend the fol lowing: Jiesolved, That a committee of three be appointed to wait on Bishop Marvin at the next meeting of our Annual Conference, and lay before the Conference, through him, a succinct statement of our operations, at the same time signifying a willingness to receive such advice and co-operation as may bo conducive to the prosperity of the Local Conference, and the highest development of its individual members. B. York, A Solomon Pool, vCom. L. Bbansov, ) L. Branson, R. H. AYhitaker and Solomon Pool were appointed a com mittee. (To be Concluded.) Charlotte Dhtrbt Conference This Conference convened in this place, on the 23rd inst., and was open ed with interesting religious services, conducted by tho Presiding Elder, Rev. Jessie T. Nelson. Rev. M. A7. Sherrill of Monroe Station, preached the opening sermon on tho evening previous. .Nearly bv memuors ot tne Conference were in attendance. J. P. Simpson, was reelected Secretary, and Rev. AY. S. Rone, Assistant. The reports from the several char ges were interesting and edirying, and represented the church (generally) in the District, in a healthy spiritual condition, and giving evidence of a cheering religious progress. The missionary spirit waB largely prevalent among both Preachers and Laymen; and the subject was well considered, and earnestly advocated. More interest than formerly, was felt and manifested in the success of mis sions. The Sunday School was reported increasingly prosperous in almost every charge. There has been great mprovement in the mode of conduct - ing them, and a large accession from the elder members of our Church, to the working force of that great and good cause. 1 he financial exhibit of the District, iriow some improvement in the Sal aries of the Pastors, and in the adop tion and practical working of some more effective measures to assure their payment. Contributions to church purposes and for Parsonages have boen encouragingly liberal. Some of our charges have paid one half and one charge, f of their assessments. This is encouraging. The subject of education generally, was under the direction of an able committee, which reported a large deficiency, an almost criminal neg -lect among our people on that ques tion. There are but few schools in the District, kept and maintained by Methodist teachers, while there arc schools of other Denominations, large ly supported by the patronage of our people. The report of the committee on Periodicals, was well worded, and evinced purpose and spirit, respecting our church papers, especially our one;, the Raleigh Christian Advocate; con cerning which the following resolu - tion was unanimously p assed: Resolved, That while we rejoice in tho present prosperity of the Raleigh Christian Advocate, wo will continue to exert ourselves in its behalf, by bringing i; to the notice and urging its claims upon every family in our several chaarges. The business of the paper was care fully looked after by special appoint ment of the Conference. The services and sessions of the Conference, were eminently cordial harmonious and spiritual. The morn ing prayer meeting from 8 to 9 o'clock was a most happy prelude to tho after services of the day was well attended and spiritually profitable. The Pulpit was vigorous, spiritual and doctrinal; more than usually, rich in experimental preaching, and pro motive of a fervent spirituaitly. It was decidedly Methodistic, and left many good impressions among the people. Never before have we heard so much spoken by ministers and Laymen, of the spiritual power of the preaching at a District Conference. Our Presiding Elder, Rev. Jessie S. Nelson, Avon the good opinion 'and elicited the kind regards and affec tion of the people generally, particu larly of his colaborers and the Lay Delegates. His urbane manners, and zeal and devotion to his master's work, and the interest of our church, made him the efficient, acceptable and suc cessful conductor of our District Con ference. The people of Mount Pleasant were kind and hospitable in their entertain ment of the Conference. Our Lu theran brethren permitted us the use of their beautiful house of worship on Sunday, and showed their appreciation of our ministers by waiting upon two services conducted by Revs Bett3 and Sherrill. Taken as a whole, our Charlotte District Conference, is improving eveiy way. It attracts a large public attention, and provokes much of zeal and devotion on the part of our mem bership. A more affectionate, united, laborious and effective fraternity of ministers, we have never mingled with. Brotherly love prevails Bweetly and universally. Our closing services on Sunday night among the Preachers, after the congregation had retired, were extra ordinary. There was great joy and assured peace present with God's min isters, as several, with great fervor narrated their experiences of the Di vine Presence at the District Confer ence. Some of us will not soon, I opine, forget our parting scene. "Be hold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Jas. P. Simpson, Sect'y. Mount Pleasant, July 29 1874. Selections From the N. Y, Methodist. Posthumous Influence, A KEUMON JSY BISUOP SIMPSON. (Continue.) from last week.) And by it lis, Hkh. ii., 4. b.'iug deud, yt speuketh." Abel tells us it is man's duty to do right, be the consequences what they may. Possibly on some former occa sion Cain may have remonstrated with Abel against his offering, against his mode of worship, making some threat possibly if he should repeat that form of worship; for it is strnge that doing right reproves the doing wrong, AVhy men should hate a man who does right seems strange, but so it is. A light deed shames the wrong; and a true man shames tho false; and false men hate the right. Men will not come to the light, but they hate the light as long as they walk in darkness. Hence, the history all through the world. The martyr spirits were hurri ed out of tho world; the testifying men were tlia objects of contempt. Christ him self, with all tho loveliness of heaven's own glory infused within him and around him, was an object of human hatrod. "He camo unto his own, and his owrn received him not." They hated him. And, said he to his disciples, "If they have hated me, they will hate you also." We must bear persecution. "All that live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution." But though the world may rage, it is manly to do right; to obey God if the world be in arnis, if we lose our position, our bread, our friends, our all. It is our duty to stand by the word of God. Abel stood thore-stood there humbly faithfully. Cain was the elder brother, and Cain was angry when Abel's sac rifice was accepted. God saw his an ger, and yet expostulated with him: "If thou doest well, thou shalt be ac cepted. You have a lamb. Sin, or a sin- offering, as it may be read, lies at the door. You have the lamb; bring its blood and trust in the coming Saviour and all shall be right. You are tho fast-born; your brother is subject to you. Unto you shall be his desire and you shall rule over him. Xou have every attribute of excellence; add to it." But Cain was angry. Not there at the altar did he slay his bro ther, in the presence of God, but walk ing in the field, as though God saw him not, he rose up against his bro ther and slew him, and then said, as if to hide the crime, "Am I my bro ther's keeper?" Now, even that shed blood tells us it is not only manly to do right, but it is safe to do right. A7hat is life here compared with lifo above? Sup pose life does close a few days earlier does not the life above more than compensate? Cares Abel now, fancy you, that he left qarth a few days ear lier than diseasej or accident, or age would have carried him away? AVas he sad when tshining in the courts of glory that he left a world cursed with thorns and thistles? It is not so much to live long as to live well; not s o much to spend many days as to spend the days we have aright; not so much to live for the fame and wealth and applause of this world as to live for God's favor and to dwell in the light of God's countenance; not so much to step on earth's highest points as to be able to step to the platform of glory. And now, from the consideration of this subject, we are prepared to say that true success, true glory, can only be found in working in harmony with God's commands. God has purposes, on earth; eternal wisdom has its plans. Those purposes will be consummate d Men may delay them, but never defeat them. All the powers of darkness combined cannot defeat Jehovah's plans. The enemy may mar, destroy the earthly Eden, but he cannot Boil with his footsteps the heavenly Eden. God will carry out his purposes. Man succeeds when he puts himself in har mony with God's plans. Is it not so with this world of ours? Man tri umphs when in harmony with the laws God has made. The man may go into yonder woods and try to cleave that tree. He can do it only when he works along with the structure God has given the tree. AVhen he plies his mechanical means so as to divide the tree as God has given its growth, then he triumphs easily. Man erects his machinery, but his power is as God gives that fall of water; he works in harmony with it, and his machinery in motion, he prepares his engine, and that evaporized steam propels the machinery. Man rises in nature just as he takes hold of God's laws. Man calls them Nature's laws. Nature! What is nature? God manifesting himself on the material aide; God writing his will on creation. I turn my eyes upward, and these great globes, with all their mighty powers, are but-if I may use the phrase with reverenco-the solidification of God's thoughts. Now, when man can grasp God's thoughts and work in harmony with them, then he performs his choicest work. Yonder sunbeams have been car rying light and power from creation's birth. Yonder sea-weed contain ed its iodine, but not until man found God's thoughts and took the iodine from the sea weed, and threw its vapor over the plate and caught the sun beams, did the sun become for man tne great artist, penciling the images of his friends, giving him landscapes and scenes of beauty. Now, as man in the material world succeeds just as he works in harmony with God's law, so in the intellectual world he must follow the laws of thought; in the moral world he must follow the laws of morality; and as man combines himself with God's laws, follows out God's purposes, he has success; b -comes what God calls him, a co-work- er-a worker together with God. God lays down tho laws. God, if I may use the phrase, furnishes the thread, and lets man put in the filling, weave up the figures, fix the patterns; but ho must do it in harmony with God's laws. IT I 1 -i . i it. j-xow, tne man who studies what is God's will, and joins himself to that will, will be, first, the successful work er, and then will be the eternal work er. He will be the successful worker, for ho has all the advantages of God's power; and if I can work with God, my work will seem to have the ole ments of omnipotence. Yonder moon raises the tides of the sea; but there is this observable, that when the moon draws in the same lino with the sun, whether at new or full moon, the tide is always higher than when it draws at right anglesjwith tho sun. The combination of forces in tho same line gives a much higher result. And so man, co-operating with God, raises his stronth, and the tidal wave rushes over tho lands around him. Then, as I have said, he is the eter nal worker, for God's work is eternal. God never works for to-day. His plans run on and on. The web he weaves is from everlasting to everlas ting. It is to stand in the sight of angels and men, and if I can fill in a part of that web, be it ever so insigni ficant, that will stand to all eternity. It stands as part of God's purpose; it works into God's plans; and he who works for God, who works with God, works for eternity; he paints that which never shall be lost. And oh! this is one of the grand comforting thoughts to us. AATiile on earth we may do something for eternity. Abel thought very little of what he was doing. He had no idea of the ma ss of humanity that should come; of the great triumphs to bo wrought in this world. He stood simply in God's plans; in God's ways; and yet he lives: his name is known in every language; it is uttered by the lips of evey child where the name of Christ is known; and when this world shall be filled with its multitudes of thousands of millions of human beings, when Christ shall reign supreme, there is not a land, there is not a language, there is not a tongue that shall not pro nounce the name of Abel. He joined himself with God's plans, and though the ages have passed, his name is not lost. Is that strange? God has so arrang ed the universe that there is no force ever lost; there is no matter ever lost. It changes form; it never vanishes wholly. It may vanish from our sight, we may consume the wood, but the flame, the vaporized gas, the ashes, are there; they have all the elements of the wood, they remain. AVater may be evaporated; unseen it goes off all around us, but it gathers yonder in clouds, comes down to earth, forms the river, runs to the sea, and returns mysteriously back again to the clouds, elevated to form a perpetual motion. Man cannot make the perpetual mo tion; God does. He lifts the ocean in the little interstices of air, then com bines it with the clouds, and then sends it down again, bo there is a change of the countenance of the mat ter. And we can combine, can alter the f f?m, but no matter is lost. The earth has all the matter it had when God gave it form. And if matter cannot be lost, should thought be lost? thought, far more valuable than mat ter,- thought, that gives man his supre macy; ideas, that govern the world, that mould nations, that form king doms, that overthrow empires, that buret manacles, that change savages into civilized beings, and civilized beings into saints-can such ideas be lost? can thoughts perish? Ah, the thought that leaps out of the bosom of any being, the new thought, the grand thought, has, like its origin, immortality. It comes as from the breath of God, and it is to go on with its power permeating the universe and dominating matter, and it will live. You may kill the human form you cannot crush the human thought. You may chain the body you cannot chain the mind; and the thought is to go on; it cannot be lost. No thought of purity, or virtue, or truth, that God gives us to set afloat in this world, can ever perish. And so of the words we speak: we may utter them and they are gone. AVe may never think of them again; but this universe is a vast atmosphere of waves, and they run on and on and, on and stop and knock at the door, the ear, leaving the human heart to take it in, and on again and on; and if there be a thought worthy to be reiterated, another voice takes it and sends it on. And it is thus that what is vile drops as into the ocean to bo buried out of Bight, and yet not lost; for tho rile has made a stain that, save by the blood of Christ, can never be washed away; but the pure and the true lives on un til its consummation finds its home with the purified in heaven. Now, this is the eternity of working. AVe work on with our thought, and the ! '-bought cannot die. AVe set influen ces at work that cannot fail. Dowe not see that in this world? Tho living things are in connection with the broad, the grand things. Men may build up selfish castles; they have no immortality. A man may build himself a costly homo and inhabit it; he may be the rich man dressed, a? in the parable, in liuo linen, and faro sumptuously every day, and hisfrionds may gather around him, but his castlo does not livo aB his abode, and his raiment is gone, and at his table ano ther sits and there is desolation around his hearth; there is no lifo in simply the man's castlo or his revenue. AVhere did the kings of the world live? AVhere are their abodes? Go hunt for their palaces and their cast les, and they are gone, stone moulder ing upon stone, until all have been gnawed and crumbled by tho tooth of time. to bb continued. THE ARTS- TnE Handel Festival, just,' ended, at tho Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Eng land, is reported to be the most suc cessful celebration yet held. The famous jewels and relics of the Cathedral of Monza are shortly to be exhibited at Milan. These interesting specimens of goldsmith's work, some of the sixth century, consist of the famed iron crown of the Dombards, gift of Pope Gregory the Great to Queen Theolinda, a kind of carcanet or jointedcirclet of gold, loaded with precious stones, and tho santo chiodo , or nail of the cross, whence it derives its name, hammered into a thin fillet of the iron within; her cup of gold, said to be hollowed out of a singlo sapphire (probably glass, as the emer ald of the sacro vatino of Gonoa); her comb of gold filagree and emeralds, and her fan, or flabollum, of painted leather, the handle encrusted with jewels; the Gregorian present of the Gospels enclosed in a rich box orna mented with precious stones, and the cover of an Evangeliary with similar decoration; her pectoral cross of rock crystal, used at the coronation of the Emperor of Germany; and her cele brated chioccia, the hen and seven chickens of gold, with ruby eyes, pik ing up corn, on a kind of tray or pla teau, said by some to bear a symbolic signification, by others to be simply a table ornament. Among the treas ures are also the cross ot King Beren ger; and a silver monstrance resplen dent with diamonds and other preci ous stones. Bask Ball. The Philadelphia Tel eyrajrfi offers some judicious counsels to young men about Base Ball and other Athletic games: "If Base Ball could be kept the innocent pastime it was ten years ago, it should have our Bupport but seeing it as it is, the cho sen summer game of those who spend their winters in the tavern and round the card table, we do not mince words in characterizing it. The frequenters of the professional matches and the whole interest of the game has grad ually centred into contests of this character are found to be regular frequenters. It is not a question of occasional and needful relaxation, but of pernicious time wasting habit. Young men there grow up into the way of idleness and worse. They lose business situations tliroughtha infatuation, and remain out of them through the same cause, for no youth can keep "up" in the game and at tha same time give satisfaction to even the most indulgent employer. And the same general view attaches to all per versions of physical exercise."
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Aug. 12, 1874, edition 1
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