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Vol. XXIII.
Ealeigh, 1ST. G, "Wednesday, Nov. 6tli, 1878.
Number 43
IN MEMORY.
i'liis poeni. second to Shelley's
v I nul." in beauty ami sweetness of
jnvssioii and rhythm, provoked that
,u irk from the gifted and lamented
iwitii-e that "one could almost wish
, die if he knew such a beautiful
i'liute would be written to his mem
ry :"1
Ou the buou of tho river.
Where the sun unloosed iu quiver.
And the starlight gleamed forever,
SaileU a v8'ellignt and free.
Morning der. drops bung like manna
On the bright folds of her bann-r.
And the zephyrs roio lo lan her
Soltly to the radiant sea.
At the prow a pilot beaming
Iu the nuh of youth stood dreaming,
Aud he was in ylorioas seeming.
Like an angel from above.
Through his hair the soft breeze sported.
And at on ;he waves he floated.
Oft that pilot angel throated,
Wary.ed lays of home aud love.
Tbrough those leaves so brightly flowing,
B id of laurel oloom were blowiug.
And his hand anon were throwing
Music from a lyre of gold.
Swiftly down the stream he glided
Sjft the pirple wave divided,
Oa its cauvas' snowy lold.
Anxious hearts with fond devo'iou
Watched him sailing to the ocean
Prayer that nerT wild commotion
'.Midt the elements would rise.
And h- se-.med some young Apollo,
Charming jjuuiiner winds to iollow,
W'h.le ilia water-nags' corolla
Treiubied ou bis music ;ighs.
Silt those purple w ves enchanted,
Kjliei boa Hie a y liiiiu el
It,- an awl'ul spll tat uu .uted
kvery coui r to tuesliore,
Sijihtsua-ie ruk thu air r n ;umbere1,
Aa.l pale tuarb.e statues uumbeied
Waera the totan-)xters slumbered.
And wake to lite no more.
Then thers rasliel with lightning quickness
O'er this lace a mortal sickutss.
And the dew iu feariul thickness
Oathere 1 o'er Lis temp e fair;
And t .ere swept a dving murmur
Thro-igh the lovely Southern 8uuia.er,
As the beaateou pilo. comer
PerUu-d at thai city there.
-Still rolls on that radiant river.
And the snnnnbt. ds his quiver.
An i-The starlight erreams forever.
On the bo-otn as beiore
But that vesiel's rainbow banner
Greets no more the gay savanna.
And that pilot's lute drops manna
On the purple waves no more.
$ o m m uirantc rt .
For the Advocate.
HE MORAL STATUS OF CHIL
DREN.
Bv request of Bro. lirent we cheer-
ilK- i-i.i.v the following from Hie
'arolina MetUoJist
Messrs Furious : This momentous
tiestion is now creating a little ripple
on tiie suriac? of our theology, and as
hers are venturesome iu attempting to
thorn this l.n.fiind subject in which so
uuh is involved, I will, with your per
ission and l.atience, risk an opinion
i .. doing 1 shall not launch uo far
v.iid the shore for fear of being plung
l into waters too deep for wading; but
ill hold on to the stakes fixed fast by
.--ord of God as expounded by our
.found standard works.
The position assumed is that infants
: in a regenerate state. The question
if thev are, when does it take place ?
it is before the natural birth, then the
.,i,l of God teaches wrongly, for it is
i I : "behold I was shapen in iniquity
i l iu sin did mr mother conceive me.
"..w Watson and Wesley are clear in
...ir expositions upon this subject, and
. . , r r " . 1. . ttZl la Tin
in- ith article oi iauu says, n.
,rrui.tionof the nature of every man
iat naturallv is engendered of the off-
uing of Adam." Rut suppose it is
iid that it takes place simultaneously
ith the natural birth. The word of
..,1 .nnr f.flVrrt.iiallv rebuts this. "The
icked are estranged front the womb,
iey go astray as soon as they are born
I -w - .il
Leak ins lies. Mr. atson says mat
he seeds of the vices which exist in so-
t:ty may be discovered in children m
eir earliest years, selfishness, envy,
Ude, resentment, deceit, lying, and of-
n crueUv. Ioes not this accord witn
o facts of every day observation and
perience? It is a frightful picture,
r those who are regenerate.!. It would
em if they are in a regenerate state
,1 are under the influence of the Spirit,
dnot being capable of exercising
cS.o and faith, they would hold in
,1 not break through all restraints (as
lults who are moral agents and ac
.untable for their acts) but would be
t ,r.rrpls in human shape. Rut alas!
foolishness is bound up in the heart of
" If children are m a regener-
te state before or after the natural birth
tt,oir vears of accountability, which
!,np is not definitely hxed dui aepenu
i.mnnn circumstances, whence come
.11 adult sinners if not from regenerate
f r i i i
ufants? Then there is a learnu uac-
i.lingand their poor parents innst
an aMnnnt for a great tailurewnicn
is s,.Pn to he universal, and after all the
rain;nr. nravcrs and tears, exhibitions
.f depravity will crop out nere anu
h,.,Pand everywhere. JJishop Marvin
avs : "As to -he question whether a
liil.l miffht attain to manhood ana pass
hrongh his probationary term without
in, ws are perfectly safe m saying none
ver do. 'If we say we have not sinned
live make Ilim a liar, and His word is
,ot in us.' The plague spot never fails
Ito amear."
It is not in accordance with common
1
onso that God would do that for an in
fant in which all observation and ex
perience discern no benefit to the child;
for while children remember many
things from earliest infancy fo ohl age,
none ever remember that they were iu a
regenerate state. Purely if it ever took
place they would from birth to ten or
twelve years of age have some apprecia
tion of their happy state from which
they have now so far fallen Rut alan !
how tedious a process it requires to get
the idea of a tJod into their minds, and
after the most careful training, how
many devoted parents must weep bitter
tears over their wayward children. Why j
houldtJod give them that grace which
they have no power to accept or retain,
but must, without an exception, forfeit.
It will be said in answer to this if chil
dren were trained right there would he
no necessity for this. Yes 1 have heard
preachers under the warm impulse of
the moment make this wild declaration,
when they could not adduce a single
instance in which a child has been so
trained, that conversion was not neces
sary. It is true that children of tender
years, do not need, if I may use the ex
pression, as much conversion as old,
hardened sinners, but all must undergo
a chauge of heart.
Since writing the above I noticed two
articles in the Raleigh Christian Advo
''frte, written by Rev. E. A. Yates upon
infant salvation. I confess I am "he-
fogcrcd" from the tenor of his article as
to his position. However I will try
and get at his meaning by giving some
quotations. "May we not attribute to
this mistake, (if it he a mistake) the,
to some of us at leas?., impossibility of
understanding what is really meant by
original sin ? I ask the question with
unassumed diffidence and sincere desire
to look beneath the surface for truth,
has not the whole church been befogged
by this very mistake of not defining and
anauzing the terms original sin, jus
tification and regeneration 9" Now
Rro. Yates hold awhile, and remember
it is quite easy to propound questions
about the most simple things which nei
ther the questioner. nor the questioned
can answer. Anil as to the clearness
of these cardinal doctrines, that depends
very much upon who is befogged, Rro.
Yates or Paul, the father, esley,
Watson, and all of our other good men
who have experienced these doctrines j
and preached them to the millions. I
think that it is Rro. Yates who is be
fogged and not the whole church. The
whole church befogged ! Weil, Rro.
Yates, disperse the fog, get beneath the
surface, snd bring up something new.
I thiuk it would be well for Rro.
Yates to study our JJiscipline and
standard works a little. You will find
by turning to page 14 of our Discipline
this language : "Original sin standeth
not in the following of Adam as the
Pelagians do vainly talk, but it is the
corruption of the nature of every man
that naturally is engendered of the
offspring of Adam, whereby man is very
far gone from original righteousness and
of his own nature is inclined to evil and
that continually." Rro. Yates says in
fants have no corruption, then this ar
ticle is not true and he has made a new
discovery which ought to be inserted in
its stead. Now I take it sin is corrup
tion, and if Christ died for the corrupt,
and if infants are not corrupt, then
Christ made no atonement for them,
and consequently they are not saved un
less they live to years of accountability
and repent. He talks about temptation
being the cause of their sin. This
sounds like the blank paper theory. If
he will compare this wild declaration
with the Pelagian doctrine, he will find
that the master and the disciple agree
pretty well in sentiment, the only dif
ference is, Pelagius defines his position
while the disciple declares without any
attempt to prove his doctrine or posi
tion. Pelagius says "that mankind derive
no injury from the sin of Adam." (The
diaciplo says the same), "that we are
now as capable of obedience to the will
of God as he was; that otherwise it
would have been cruel and absurd to
propose to mankind certain duties with
the sanction of rewards or the denuncia
tion of punishments, and that conse
quently men are horn without vice6 as
well as without virtue." Paul gives us
the solution of the question in dispute.
Romans v-18.
"Therefore as by the offence of one
judgment came upon all men to condem
nation, even so by the righteousness of
one the free gift came upon all men unto
the justification of life." This teaches
by the offence of Adam all are under
condemnation; and the opposite, right
eousness in Christ.the free gift has come
tipon all unto justification of life. I
take it all infants by virtue of the
atonement, (this free gift) arc born in a
justified state, and remain in this state
till they come to years, or dying in infan
cy .then they are regenerated and taken to
heaven. Dr. Whedon says : "But the
justification of all in view of the atone
ment secures the continuity of the race
by which every person comes into the
world in a justified state, that justifica
tion is nnto life that is, results in sal
vation unless forfeited by sin."
O. .).' Brent.
THE MORAL STATUS OF CHIL
DREN". By request of Bro. Yates, we publish
the following in connection with Bro.
Brent's article from The Carolina
Methodist :
Messrs Editors : My good Bro. O. J.
Brent, in the last Carolina Mtthodist,
has an article under the above caption,
in which, so far as a review of my ar
ticles is concerned, I find only one effort
at argument, and that was that I was be
fogged, that I ought to study the Dis
cipline and standards and thon quot
ing the oft-quoted terms "original sin,"
polly-ivants-a-cracker, &c. Let me
thank him for his kindly spirit and ad-
vice, and then simply suggest, that if he
hail studied what I wrote until he un
derstood it, ho would have seen that I
tlid not belive infants were bom in a
regenerate state, that I tried to furnish
a satisfactory expanation of what he
himself believed - that there was a wide
difference between ' my views and the
doctrine of Pelagius.
I heartily paid all defferenco to our
standard authors ; but not regarding
them as infallible, thought it nothing
wrong to seek the rationale of a doc
trine which has all along been set forth
iu terms so general nd vague as to be
hardly undeistood except by Rro. Brent
and a few others. I did not dogmatize.
1 was cautious not to get out of my
present ship until a better one offered
passage. And so I am glad of that;
for now Rro. Rrent sails his splendid
craft right under me. Of course, I get
! Selah !
E. A. Y.
For the Advocate.
INFANTS AND ORIGINAL SIN.
Hespectftilly dedicated to Revs. J. T. Bagwell, C.
31. An.lt rson, E. A. Vales, and others.
11 Y E. I.. PERKINS
A few definitions will do to start
with.
" Orifintil Sin in that whereby our
whole nature is corrupted, and rendered
contrary to the law of God." Rom.
vii.
2'he Jail of man "denotes the loss of
those perfections and that happiness
which man received at his creation, and
the participation of that character
wliich constitutes a sinner." Ecc. vii.
o()ien. 6f 7.
"The total and entire depravity of
the human heart is the result of the
fall of man." Rom. v. 12: 2 iii. 10.
The genu of sin is in the heart of
every child descended from Adam.
That germ will expand with the growth
of the child, unless means are adopted
to prevent its development. Take an
illustration.
The ichneumon fly pierces the body
of the caterpillar and deposits a germ,
that hatches into a grub, and that grub
attacks and destroys the butterfly of the
interior part of the caterpillar. Now
suppose we allow the caterpillar to rep
resent the material nature of man, and
the butterfly within, the spiritual na
ture, and the germ of the ichneumon
fly, the seeds of sin sown in natural
heart. Unless this ichneumon grub is
rendered lifeless, by meant, applied, it
works the inevitable destruction of the
butterfly within; but if the grub can be
rendered lifeless, the fly develops into
life and beauty.
Now the ichneumon of sin has placed
its germ in every heart. The Atone
ment provides for its destruction. It is
a sure remedy if applied in time Ii
the worm is cnished at the start, the
germ of the grub is crushed also, and
not having had time to develop.its work
has not been done. So with the inant,
dying in infancy; the ichneumon has
had no time to develop,. and the spirit
ual butterfly within, unharmed, passes
into its immortal inheritance, and is
forever free from the ravages of sin,
Having committed no actual trans
gression it is not involved in the neces
sity of repentance. The atonement
made provision for the evil, but that
evil was never developed, and Christ
claims the little one as his own, the
purchase of his blood, his right having
never been canceled by voluntary trans
gression, and the germ of sin having
perished with the perishing body of the
mortal worm. As death relieves an
old man from farther temptation, so
death relieves the infant from the de
velopment of the evil. With the adult,
death ends all his trials, with the infant
death prevents the beginning of trials.
Roth enter heaven, because Christ has
purchased them with his blood. At
what moment the evil germ is taken
from an infant, the Bible has never in
timated we have no right to say.
For the Advocate.
MORE ABOUT TIIE CHILDREN.
Messrs Editors: In your issue of the
9th October, 1878, I regret to find a
communication from Rev. E. A. Yates
affirming, as I understand him, that
infants are devoid of "original sin."
By these terms, I mean, that sense in
which the M. E. Church, and I believe
all orthodox churches, intend the nse of
these expressions, and that is, an innate
and sinful nature inherited from their
ancestors.
Bro. Yates is in contradiction of the
clear and indubitablo assertions of Rev.
John Wesley, Rev. Richard Watson,
and, I am told, by an old and eminent
ditine of the M. E. Church, South.that
Dr. Adam Clarke entertained and ex
pressed th9-!tme opinion with regard
to infants being infected with "origi
nal sin."" Indeed, I think all ortho
dox denominations coincide with the
opinions of the above mentioned super
latively eminent christian writers.
In the first letter addressed to you
for publication in yout columns, Brother
Yates declares that "we must break
away from hymn-books and commen
taries." ' This assertion amounts to
nothing in the discussion before us, for
the great men aforementioned did not
deduce their arguments from either
hymn books or commentaries; but di
rectly from the Bible itself, as their
pages abundantly show.
Rro. Yates contends that the Holy
Scriptures do not teach the doctrine
which he denounces as false; but these
learned, able, and pre-eminent ministers,
expressly declare that the oracles of
eternal truth do cbarly teach the "orig
inal sin" of infants.
Now the odds is indeed fearful against
my brother when he is compared to
these ecclesiastical giants in theology.
Now if any one wishes to see the er
roneous opinion with regard to this
matter entertained by brother Yates,
abundantly, triumphantly aud scriptural!-
refuted, lot him consult the wri
tings of the masters of learning, science
and earnest thinking, alluded to iu this
letter.
I therefore conclude that it is unne
cessary to enter the arena of controversy
on this subject, because a reference to
the writers above mentioned will totally
destroy all the errors published in the
columns first mentioned in this com
munication. Veritas.
LETTER FROM BISHOP PIERCE.
Your admirable paper doe not need
my help to give it variety ,and yet a run
ning letter ou things seen, and heard,
and done, may not be without interest to
your readers
First, let me say that during the sum
mer I was strangely out of order lost
flesh and strength, grew feeble and found
it necessary tc abate my labors. When
the time for the West Virginia Confer
ence came I was unable to go. Bishop
McTyeire kindly offered to substitute me.
This was a great relief to my feelings in
this first trial of my official life. As
the Kentucky Conference approached, I
resolved to go. My friends and the doc
tors remonstrated, prophesied evil, and
saw me depart with misgivings. I have
never admitted that my disability was
the result of overwork; such things have
been, but I am not an example in point
Without stopping to define or explain,
my ailments had a very different origin.
Work is wholesome. More preachers
come to naught for lack of it than ever
suffer by excess.
I am happy to say that I steadily im
proved from the hour of my leaving;
did all my work without weariness, and
returned home stronger and with sever
al pounds more flesh upon my bones. By
God's blessing, I shall complete my
District of Conferences. T say this
much to relieve friends who have writ
ten to me, and the papers that have
sympathized with my "reported ill
ness." My last tr:p was exceedingly pleas
ant. The weather was fine,the roads in
good ordcr.my reception among the breth
ren cordial, the social and religious ex
perience all through highly gratifying.
At Shelbyville I was domiciled with
Dr. Wm. Rogers and family. To them
lam indebted for "no little "kindness."
In all my wanderings I have never
found a pleasanter place away from
home. If a cup of cold water has its re
ward, their bountiful tabic and the
prophet's chamber iu their house will
never lack any good thing.
The Conference was protracted by
outside matters, but all of grave inter
est to the Church. We had a long and
spirited discussion on the Kentucky
Wesleyan College, (nee University) its
a lministration, its investments, and its
future prospects. Dr. McFerrin was
there, full of hope and zeal, pressing the
bonds of the Publishing House. The
brethren invested freely, and will do
more as financial' success comes into
clearer vision. The new Editor of the
Great Official (Dr. Fitzgerald made
his first appearance before the Confer
ence, aud won all hearts by his genial
humor and general magnetic attractions.
His subscription list grew daily and his
shining face was the index, of great in
ward satisfaction. He left happy, with
the thought and the hope of 30,000
Bubciibers in the near future. May the
vision crystallize into names and
cish.
Dr. Wilson, the Missionary Secretary,
was present to represent the great
interests committed to him. Grandly is
he doing his work. His speeches are
strong, evangelical and incisive. He is
exploding prescriptive errors and propa
gating new and broader ideas of Mission
work and Church obligations. I say neto
ideas; I do not mean novel speculative
views, but the old original Gospel idea,
new now .because it has been so long for
gotten and so deeply covered up by nar
row local, selfish plans and policies. The
Church mnst wake under his appeals,
grow wiser by his teachings, and with
more Scriptural conceptions of duty will
come i richer liberality. He delivered
two discourses, one at each conference.in
my presence, aud I rejoiced that I lived
to hear them. He. reminds me occasion
ally, both in manner, tone, and style, of
the ascended Marvin.
Bishop Kavauaugh was with me, in
fine health, ready for work. He preach
ed for me on Sunday, and was happy in
his effort. I had promised "certain parties'
to be prudent, and wise brethren advised
me not to tax my nun bora strength by
preaching piematr.ivn , so I took up the
"cross" of siieuccv
Coiifesfriu-e over, spent 'a pleasant day
at Anchorage, the home of Rro. i. W.
Merritt, dined with !!ro. 1 Iohbes, andiu
the evening went to Louisville. Tarried
anight with Bishop K., another with
Bro Harvey. Next, day Saturday
went with Rio D Morton to Russcllvil'e.
On'Sunday tried to preach, felt no harm,
rather improved iu soul ami body.
The mail is closing; I cut short with
the promise of another letter.
G. I'. 1'lKRCK.
JVeslcyun Adoncatf.
RUM AND MKTHODISM.
A traveler who had climbed one of
the Rocky' Mountains, which he sup
posed no other white man had ever as
cended, found on the summit evidence
that others had preceded him in the
diapc
a pac!
carls, a whiskev
bottle, and a Methodist hymn book, ly
ing side by side. A false logic, such as
has made false geology, might have
led tbitj man to tije conclusion that
these three artiels, found together in
the same stratum, w;e appendages of
the same kinds of :'iaracter. A truer
interpretation w,u,d be that wherever
cards and whisky go to destroy, singing
Methodism follows to save. But is it
not a fact, in these days where so many
churches make no use of the discipline
part of the "!I)isuij)!'"ne," that cards ami
rum and th" Mo:l:oitUt nymu-book are
sometimes found together in the same
home or heart ? Are there not some in
our churches whose Bibles are flanked
by bottles ?
These things do not look well togeth
er, and by every power of kind remon
strance and severe di.tcipliiiell who are
in any way partakers in the use or sale
of alcoholic beverages, which are pro
hibited by the Bishop, by science, by
history and by the Discipline, should
either be separated from such use ' and
sale or else from the church on which
they bring reproach. It has been right
ly recognized iu many church trials that
one who rents property for the sale
of intoxicating drinks becomes thus a
partaker in this crime of crimes.
Better lose the silver than get it like
Judas and Joseph's brethren as the
price of blood and bondage. All through
this and other cities such landlord part
nership iu the ruin of our boys and girls
by church members becomes a deep re
proach to the church that allows it to
go unpunished, aud a lofty barricade
between the unsaved and the church
fold of Christ. Let Methodism within
its membership as well as without, wage
exterminating war against the bottle
and the bar. Northicestem thristian
Advocate.
humility"of JESUS.
The life and death of our Lord Jesus
Christ are a standing rebuke to every
form of pride to which men are liable.
Take for instance:
Fride, of birth and rank 'Is not this
the carpenter's son?"
Pride of vealth 'The Son of man
hath not where to lay his head.'
Pride of respectability 'Can any
good thing come out of Nazareth ? He
shall bo called a Nazarene.'
Pride of personal appearance 'He
hath no form nor comeliuess.'
Pride of reputation 'Behold, a man
gluttonous and a wine-biber; a friend of
publicans and sinners.'
Pride of independence 'Many others
who ministered to Him of their sub
stance. Pride of lea-ning 'How knoweth
this man letters, having never learn
ed ?'
Pride of superiority 'I am among
you as he that serveth.'
Pride of success 'He came unto his
own and his own received him not.'
'He was despised and rejected of men.'
Pride of self-reliance 'He went down
to Nazareth, .tno was subject unto
them.'
Pride of ability 'i can of my own
self do nothing ' 'The Son can do
nothing of himself, but what he seeth
the Father do.'
Pride of self-will 'I seek not my
own will, but the will of him that sent
me.'
Pride of intellect 'As my Father
hath taught me I speak these things.'
Pride of bigotry 'Forbid him not;
for he that is not against us is on our
part.'
Pride of resentment 'Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they
do. ' ' Friend, wherefore art thou
come V
Pride of reserve 'My soul is exceed
ing sorrowful even unto death, . Tarry
ye here, and watch with bim.'
Pride of sanctity-i-'This man receiv-
eth sinners and eateth with them.
t r 1 1 . 1 i T 1 1.1 .-1
jOU loroiu mat i siiouiu giory sarye
in the cross, of our Lord Jesus Chrrst,
THE GREATEST WORK.
The greatest work ! And what is
that ? Is it something beyond any one
of the seven wonders of the world ? Is
it bigger than the Coliseum, higher
than the Pyramids, more splendid than
St. Peter's ? Is it wrought in sculp
tured marble, or laid in colors ou the
canvas, or lifted in pillar or architrave ?
What is the greatest work that man
can do ? It is to build up man in the
image of God. It is to make the mor
tal tit for immortality. It is to trans
form the image of the earthly into, the
image of the heavenly- Nothing can
equal in essence, substance, or propor
tion the grandeur of that labor which
eventuates, through prayers and pains,
in training a child to share all the re
galities of a celestial birth, and to come
into the possession at last of an - inheri
tance incorruptible and undefiled. Ev
ery work, of whatever sort, has its be
ginnings in the rudiments or foundations
suited to its nature and needs.
The Sunday-school teacher is, and
must be, a layer of foundations. Nei
ther he nor she may be able to superin
tend the superstructure. But the super
structure always conforms to the foun
dation, Honoo it follows that, as a
rule, "the child is father to the man."
Takingi then, into account the impor
tance of character as it may be shaped
in early years, we do not know of any
work that exceeds or equals in value
that done by the faithful, conscientious
Sunday-school teacher, who ii intent
on winning souls into tho love and ser
vice of Christ. Of courso the spirit and
aim of any worker will rule the result.
Certainly no one does more than is at
tempted. Inferior aims are seen in in
ferior productions.
Happily, in the sphere of Christian
labor, faith is more than genius, love
mightier than learning Jn prayer
there is nameless power. In right
prepFttiun of heart there is a certain
triiu.iph over hindrances secured.
He, then, or she, who will do the work
of God iu the Sunuay-school, needs, first
of all, an enthusiastic and divinely in
spired purpose to lead thi your.g to
Christ. The motive ought to be felt iu
all that is said or done. The hour or
half hour passed in the study of the
lesson should bo a warm, passionate en
deavor to commend the Christ of our
salvation. Listless, weary, and careless
teachers arc criminal triflers with the
most precious interests of time and of
eternity. They are neglecting oppor
tunity. They are perverting a sacred
trust, They are making light of the
most sorions of duties.
The loving and conscientious teacher
is a messenger of heaven. For Christ's
sake, and in His name, he or she is
striving, through every lesson, to pre
pare tho mortal for immortality. To
do so requires forethought, consideration
of personal peculiarities, and a wise
adaptation of methods. Goodness of in
tention is not enough. He that win
neth souls is wise, chooses means to
ends, and observes occasions, so that
words spoken may betas goods fastened
at the right time. The Sunday-school
interest, whatever its bearings on indi
viduals, is clearly enough our great na
tional concern. We do not uadervaluc
secular instruction in our common
schools. But intellectual training will
not save the people. There must be
moral and religious knowledge, feeling,
and conscience among the masses to
guide, rule, and restrain, or our free in
stitutions will fail. Patriotism, then,
uuites with piety in saying that the
greatest work that can be done is in the
Sunday-scnools, where are taught all
that is essential to the right formation
of character needed in every relation.
S S Times.
The New York Christian Advocate
tells tlie following:
"Several years ago Rev. Scott Chinn,
one of our excellent and useful colored
preachers of the Louisiana Conference,
was called upon to manage the collection
at a missionary meeting in New Orleans.
The preceding preacher closed with ade
scription of the angel with the everlast
ing gospel, flying over the earth, when
Scott Chinn arose and addressed the an
gelic messenger as follows: "O, angel
of de mighty wing, flyin' through de
world! You've bin flyin' a long time,
and you've got a long journey yet before
you. You look tired Tarry and rest
wid us awhile. Dis is de Lord's day of
rest, dis is de Lord's house, and we are
de Lord's people. Tarry and rest.'
Then turning to the congregation, the
preacher continued: "De angel is go
in' to stay awhile He is foldin' his
wings He looks like his fedders
was wearin' out. Bring on de new fed
ders for do angel's wings. Bring on de
fedders!'
'This appeal wa? remarked in the
usual fashion of the colored people, who,
with songs and fantastic motions . and
marches, came forward and deposited
at the altar their offerings. Scott Chinn
regarded the gifts for a little while, and
noticing that most of them were pen
nies or, postal scrip, called upon the con
gregation to " stop' singing. He said,
tiildren, stop dat singing. What are
ilese dat you've been bringing? Dere's
nottin' but pin-fcddersl Bring along de
long quills for de angel. Bring de long
nuiils!"
SAVIOR'S DEATH
TENCE.
SEN-
We give the following from the New
York Sun. Our readers must decide
for themselves as to the authenticity of
the sentence. If it is the original sentence
of death pronounced upon our Savior
it is something worth preserving:
"The following is a copy of the most
memorable judicial sentence which has
ever been-pronounced in the annals of
the world:
Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pi
late, Intcndant of the Lower Province
of Lower Galilee, that Jesus of Nazar
eth shall suffer death by the cross. In
the seventeoth year of the Emperor
Tiberius, and on Jthe 24th day of the
month March, in the most holy city of
Jerusalem, during the pontificate of
Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Tilate,
Intel. dant of the province of Lower Gali
lee, sitting to judgment in the presiden
tial seat of the Piivtor, sentences Jesus
of Nazareth to death on a cross, be
tween robbers, as the numerous and no
torious testimonies of the people prove.
1. Jesus is a misleader.
2. Ho has excited the peof lc to sedi
tion. 3. He is an enemy to the laws.
4. He calls himself the Son of God.
5. He calls himself falsely the King
of Israel.
6. He went into the temple fallowed
by a multitude carrying palms in their
hands.
Orders from the first centurion, Quir
riils Cornelius, to bring him to the
place of execution.
Forbids all persons, rich or poor, to
prevent the execution of Jesus.
The witnesses .vho have signed the
cxetion or Jesus are
1. Daniel Bobani Parisco.
2, John Zorbabel.
3. Rapheal RoLani.
4 Caviet.
Jesus t- he taken out of Jerusa'le n
throrph the gates of Tournes.
This sentence is engraved on a pla'c
of brass in the. Hebrew language, and
on its sides are tho following words:
"A similar plate has been sent to each
tribe."
It was discovered in the year 1380, in
the kingdom of Naples, in a search
made for Romsr antiquities, and re
mained there until it was found by the
Commissioner of Arts in the French
army in Italy. Up to the time of the
campaign in Italy, it was piw-erved in
the sacrsity of thee Carthusians, near
Naples, where it waskept in a box of
ebony. Since then the relic has been
in the chapel of Casseria. The Car-
thusiaus obtained by their petitions
permission to keep the plate.
which was an acknowhlgcment of the
sacrafices wliich they made for the
French army. The French translation
was made literally by the members of
the Commission of Arts. Demon had
a fac simile of the plate engraved, which
was bought by Lord Howard, on the
sale of his Cabinet, for 2,800f. There
seems to be no historical doubts as to
the authenticity of this. The reasons of
the sentence correspond exactly with
those in the Gospel."
DR. CHALMERS' DAUGHTER.
In one of the alleys running off from
Fountain Bridge, Edinburgh, a street
crowded with drunkenness and pollu
tion, is the low roofed building in which
this good woman is spending her life to
help men and women out of their mis
eries. Her chief work is with drunkards,
their wives and daughters Some of
the poor women of the neighborhood
who have sober husbands complain
against her, saying :
"Why do you pass us ? Because
our husbands are good, you do not care
for us. If we had married some worth
less sot, you would then have taken tare
of us in our poverty !"
In the Winter, when the nights arc
long and cold, you may see Heien
Chalmers, with her lantern, going
through the lanes of the city, hunting
up the depraved, and bringing then to
her reform meetings. Insult her, do
they? Never They would as soon
think of pelting an angel of God Fear
less and strong in the righteousness of
her work, she goes up to a group of in
toxicated men, shakes bauds with them,
and takes them along to hear the Thurs
day-night speech on temperance.
One night, as she was standing in a
low tenement, talking with the intem
perate father, and persuading hiin to a
better life, a man kept walking up and
down the room, as though interested in
what was said; but finally, iu his intox
ication, staggered up to her and remark
ed :
"I shall get to heaven as easy as you
will; do you not think so ?"
Helen answered not a word, but open
ed her Bible and pointed to the passage,
"No drunkard shall inherit the king
dom of God." The arrow struck be
tween the joints of the harness, and
that little piece of Christian stratagem
ended in the man's reformation. Jicv.
T. JJeWitt Talmage.
The largest Presbyterian Church in
Philadelphia will be, when it is finish
ed, the Collegiate Free Chapel in con
nection with the Alexander Church.
It is a stone edifice, with thick walls,
and will be ready for the roof before
winter. When that point "hall be
reiohed everything will have been
p.iid for.
OUR
ON
Several recent and conspicuous casea
of defalcation among men who have
been recognized as prominent in ortho
dox churches, prompt tho inquiry,
whether there is any lack of fidelity in
preaching the duty of honesty at the pre
sent day. To this, different answers are
made, but strange to say tho most sen
sible and faif view of the subject comes
from the Christian Register, the leadir.g
Unitarian Journal. It says:
Whether certain doctrines tend to ob
scure the sense of right and wrong is
alway a fair question, and we have
doubt that both orthodox and liberal
opinions may be so presented and so
held as to exercise no moral power
whatever But -'you can, not draw
an indicment against the people." Whole
sale reproaches only add to the sum to
tal of injustice by which society fflct.
ed. The attempt to make capital
against a religious denomination or a
political party, by raising an indiscrimi
nate outcry and a mud-storm whenever
an individual member walks crookedly.
is itself a form of a fraud.
We heartily endorse this position, be
lieving that common honesty and con
spicuous virtue are not monopolized by
any party, nor by any church. Relig
ion and morality are ever inseparable,
and certain doctrines of our creeds no
doubt bear an important relation to
right l:ving, but the influence of these
doctrioncs.as our liberal contemporary
suggests, depends on the manitct in
which these doctrines, arc held. As mere
articles of faith they exert little or no
power over the heart and life, and to
those who accept them as simple dog
mas they will be found as destitute of
power as they arc to those who deny
them. Bapt W'tkly.
TIIE HAPPY MAN.
The happy man was bom in the city
of Regeneration, in the parish ol I.-.-pcnt
ance unto Life. He was educatod at
the school of Obedience and now live
;u r;rsever.?ncc. He works at the fac
tory of Diligence, and is noted for his
large estate in the county Christian
Contentment, and does not a little busi
ness of Self Denial. He wears the plain
attire of Humility; but goes to the
Court of the Great King "the holiest
of all" in a garment called the Robe of
Righteousness, He often, at the close
of the day, is found in the valley of
Self-Abasement as he reviews its occur
rences; but he drinks nnto gladness from
the River of Life, and climbs afterward
thebright-visioned mountains of Spirit-ual-Mindedncss;
he breakfasts every
morning on the Bread of Heaven, eaten
in Spirtual Prayer, and sups at evening
on the same with the Sincere Milk of
the Word,, with thanksgiving, and is
blessed with the sleep of Christ's he
loved. YOUR PASTOR'S WIFE.
Remember that your pastor's wife
has a woman's heart. Do not be too
frank and free in criticising her to her
face. She may keep a calm countenance
in your presence, but tho flood-gates
will give way when you leave the house.
Do not be unjust or ungenerous. You
have a small Church and pay a very
limited salary. You think your pastor's
wife should do her house-work without
the aid of a servant. Some of you have
no such assistance. AVhile she is strug
gling to do this, possibly without your
robust health, do not lecture her be
cause she visits so little and does not
attend all the social meetings. You can
readily visit her; but there arc fifty fam
ilies in the congregation to whom she
must pay equal attentions. She heard
your well meant bat sharp criticism, the
other day, and tried faintly to smile aud
respond like a Christian woman ; but
she sauk under the weight of it when
you left, and her husband found her ut
terly discouraged, exhausted by weep
ing, and reclining upon the couch in
quite a high fever. Carry balm when
you visit her, not an irritant I Zioiit
Herald.
EMPTY CHURCHES.
The English Sunday is becoming a
great social problem; and the fiction of
its being kept, as many suppose, in this
country, is being assailed by those who
love and honor the day. Lord Shaftes
bury says that only two per cent of the
working-people attend worship. A very
simple census of the extent of the ac
commodation for worship, the mode of
its allotment, and extent of its nse,
shows that the people worship at other
shrines than those of Christian temples
We do not hesitate to amrm mat me
proportion in our country is largely in
excess of England, It is doing good.
bee use stirring up the pulpit to a deep
er sense of its requiremeiits in order to
cope with the wide-spread desertion of
public worship. The Ajyeal.
Tu eh k arc in England and Wales 0,-
000 places in wliich Methodism has no
preaching room or chnpcl. I-ast year
it was decided to distribute $10,000 be
tween the two conferences: sf:W,95.r
have been promised to lOOrhupels (sixty-three
of which are iu villages), pro
viding additional sittings for 20,33G
hearers.
Subscribe fyj- the Alvo :atb
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