i -----
XXVII. SO. 34.
THE ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
ESTABLISHED 1S55
tf"-" ' J8fVi ! Editor.
RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30, 1882.
II.T.IIUDSO., I. !., Coi-.IMitor
For the Advocate.
NATURE'S WASTEFULNESS.
r.V KKV. E. L. PERKINS.
mong modern skeptics, and writers on
-losticism, it seems as fashionable to ar
'r the wisdom of nature's laws as it is
" arraign the truth of the Bible.
Hence die popular phrase that, "Nature
, ,,N i allon to fill a pint." Nature is
red of wastefulness, and consequently
. author of nature has not shown infinite
v-!sc!om in its construction. Richard A.
ProctL'i', in his work, "Our place among
Winites," allows that the creator of the
v-;ver niav be all-powerful, "but cer
. not all-wise." As proof of this
..v-.r of wisdom, reference is made to the
:rriL.nsc number of failures in carrying to
uiaruritv that which is often begun. Every
erm of life, of eit? er plant or animal, that
Oils t reach maturity, and fulfill its pur
pose, is a failure and a waste of energy,
furnishing new proofs of the fact, that the
founder and bu lder of all things was not
all-wise. Proctor says of the sun's rays,
"more than two hundred and thirty mil
lions of times as great as the portion used
to warm the solar system," is lost in va
cancy. Here seems to be an immense
waste of light-material.
If the sun is constantly being fed by
meteors, and is constantly consuming the
supplies, then wasting them on so large a
scale, where is the wisdom of the arrange
ment? Such are, or have been, the" sug
gestions of those skeptics that pretended
to reason from a scientific stand-point.
In view of such unworthy suggestions, it
is pleasant to notice the statements of Dr.
Siemens, that, "The light and heat of
the sun are produced by the power of that
great orb to attract to its polar surfaces
the heavier gases with which the stellar
5pace is rilled. It sucks in vast quantities of
Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and other gas
eous'kbodies, which, as they approach the sur
face of the sun, are condensed to a degree
which renders them hot, and finally causes
them to burst into flame. There is noth
ing lost in nature, and the combustion of
the gases merely combines them into
aqueous vapor, carbonic oxide, and other
compound bodies, which centrifugal force
would first carry to the sun's equator, and
thence fling it off again into space. Here
they would become attenuated, and under
the influence of the sun's rays would be re
solved into their original elements, ready
to be drawn into the polar surface of the
mighty luminary, and begin the process
all over again."
This theory teaches that those rays of
the sun that "fall into vacancy" are not
wasted, but aid in resolving the elements
for future use. To illustrate this matter
a a partial way: There goes a steamer
across the lake. The waters of the lake,
'much of it,) pass through the wheels and
pass off again. The water is not lost that
vent through the propelling screws. It
becomes quiescent and ready to be used
again and again as the steamer shall de
mand in its repeated trips. So the sun,
its circuit of eighteen millions of years,
gwes the elements time to cool and re
form, ready for use again. Those rays
that are apparently lost in vacancy are
aiding the elements in their preparation
for future usefulness.
This does not indicate any waste of ma
te"al, or any lack of foresight, infinite
Wisdom if you please, in the arrangement.
He who finds fault with the wisdom of na
me's laws, can fall but little short of being
as much of a blasphemer as he who holds
UP the Bible to public ridicule. True
science is showing the fallacy of many
theories, from which such men as Proctor
tave drawn false conclusions, to the dis
paragement of Christianity. The theory
of Dr. Siemens shows that those solar rays
that "fall in vacancy" are useful, as well
as those that touch the plants; that
these is no danger of the sun cooling
dovn for want of material, any more than
there is danger of the steamer on the lake
suffering for the want of water because
much of it is being passed through her pro
Pellers.So in all other operations in natural
"dd: nothing is lost. There is a bountiful
SuPply,and every thing is in demand. What
Sfcems to be an oversupply, or waste, in
ne place, simply meets a demand in an
' 1er; though often one is seen and the
Aer is not seen. The bette we under-
St-- ,1
me operations of nature and the
l
i -I . . .
bv
whirh It A
the more
u"y we shall read the proclamation
"In wisdom thou hast founded them all."
P. S. Since writing the above my atten
tion has been called to the fact that R. A.
Proctor has written an article to show the
impossiblity of Dr. Siemen's theory being
correct. This reminds me also that when
Harvey announced tfie theory of the circu
lation oi the blood the most learned phy
sicians of England wrote essays to prove
the impossibility of Harvey's theory be
ing sustained. The world knows the re
sult. Harvey's success was due to the
fact that he occupied a Christian stand
point. Others, as Servetus and Fabricus,
had seen valves in the bloodvessels, but !
regarded them as nature's superfluities.
But Harvey, believing in an all-wise build
er of the universe, contended that everv
thing had a wise purpose in view; and as
these valves all pointed in one direction
it must be to prevent regurgitation; there
fore he concluded the blood circulated.
Experiments proved it true. And here it
may be suggested that those philosophers
who base their researches upon the idea,
that a wise purpose pervades all the opera
tions of nature, are the only philosophers
whose theories will stand the test of as:es.
Tiue, men may sometimes stumble upon
facts, but the successful worker in the un
explored fields of science will find that his
safe road lies in following the suggestion
that "nature is the work of thought, car
ried out according to design, therefore
premeditated."
For the Advocate.
LETTER FROM IRELAND.
The Primitive Methodist Conference
met this year in Sheffield and elected the
Rev. Joseph Wood, M. A., President of
the Conference. The President of last
year died during his year of office. Mr.
W. is the youngest member who has ever
occupied the chair of the Conference be
fore, and the only M. A. who has been so
honored. He is a man of culture and
took an active part in the Ecumenical
Conference last year. The numerical
strength of this body has been increased
during the year by more than 6.000.
The New Connexion Conference met in
Batley, a Yorkshire town of 28,000 inhab
itants, and elected the Rev. W. Longbot
tom president by an almost unanimous
vote. The body, like your church, desires
to change its name, but as the union feel
ing prevails largely, I think the wisest
thing for it to do would be to join the
Wesleyan body. The President appears
to be unfavorable to union; so is Dr.
Cocker, President of Ranmoor College.
An increase of nearly 1,000 in the mem
bership was reported.
The Irish Methodist Conference as
sembled in Belfast. The first Conference
ever held in Belfast was in 1827 with
Richard Watson President and Jabez
Bunting as his companion from England.
Dr. George Osborn is the present Presi
dent. The membership has been slightly
increased two hundred and four being
added during the year.
A distinguished minister, Dr. W. P. Ap-
pelbe, Professor of Theology in Belfast
College, attended the Conference during
the first three days. On the fourth day he
felt unwell in the Conference room and
returned home, and a. little more than
forty-eight hours after he peacefully passed
away to the rest and coronation of the
skies. His sudden and unexpected death
has cast the shadow of a great grief over
the Conference. To day the Conference
followed his remains to the tomb and
buried him in sure and certain hope of a
triumphant rising again at the last day.
His death has left a vacancy it will be
difficult to fill. He was a ripe scholar, a
devoted minister and a true Christian.
He was conscious to the last, but had no
fear. He knew in whom he had believed.
He had received his appointments for
next year from the Conference, but the
Master required his services in a higher
sphere. Like your Dr. Summers he died
amidst his brethren whom he loved, and
the representatives ot the entire church
were present at his burial. He was forty
eight years a minister.
The General Assembly of the Irish
Presbyterian Church met in Belfast and
adjourned on the day before the Confer
ence assembled. The Rev. T. Y. Killen
was elected Moderator by acclamation. A
considerable decrease in the membership
was reported, which was attributed to emi
gration. Death took one of the ministers
to
of this body away also during its sittings.
The Rev. Matthew Wilson attended du- j
ring the first week and recorded his vote j
on all questions that came up for adjudi- j
cation. On the Saturday he returned j
home to occupy his pulpit on the follow-!
ing day, which he did in the forenoon. j
After dinner he took ill, and before the '
Assembly adjourned, the Moderator an
nounced his death. The workmen die
but the work continues; the stand-bearer
falls, but the banner
priests pass away, but
unbroken.
never furls; the
the succession is
Bextlky.
JUXK 2 0th, lS82.
For the Advocate.
IV If AT THE WAVES SAID TO 3IE. j
I stood on the sands by the sea-shore, j
and listened to the murmurings of the j
waves, which at first was low and indis-
tinct, but as I listened they grew louder j
and louder, until at last it seemed as
though I could hear their voices. And
this is what they said to me: I represent
the human life. At times I am sporting
and playful, merry and glad, joyous and
free, bright and sparkling. Laughing in
my joyous mirth as the happy child,
sparkling like the diamonds in the setting
rays of the sun. Free as the wind, by
which I am often rocked. And as I move
on my way through the world, I strive to
let the bright drops of which I am compos
ed, sparkle and glitter and shine, hoping
thereby to cause the heart of some of earths
sorrowing ones to be more cheerful and
happy. But there comes a time, when the
roar and the wailing of my voice, sends a
chill of dread and horror through the
hearts of the strongest. I am lashed by the
fierce and howling winds of the tempest, I
am driven mountain high by their cruel
power, and am then left to sink down into
the very depths of darkness. .The wailing
of my voice is as the wail of the damned.
And with a power that nothing can resist,
I drive before me all that lies upon my
bosom. I laugh at the puny streng h of
man, and gloat over the ruin I cause. But
hark, there comes through a rift in the
cloud, a voice which is heard above the
loud roar of the storm. It says : "Peace
be still." So that voice comes to the
troubled and sorrowing heart of man, and
at its command, sorrow and sighing flee
away, the darkness of night, and the gloom
of despair flee as black vultures, and hide
in dread and fear from the presence of that
voice. These sad sea waves taught me this
lesson: God holds our destiny in his
hands. He gives us joy and gladness", He
allows sorrow and trials to come, but when
the heart is saddest, and our gloom the
deepest, He will, through a rift in the
cloud, let the brightness of His face be
seen, and will whisper in words of love:
"Peace be still."
S. C. W.
For the Advocate.
TRINITY COLLEGE DEBT.
a layman speaks.
Dear Brethren : When Rev. C. C.
Dodson brought the claims of Trinity be
fore the Conference, with the amount the
College owes, and the number of members
in the M. E. Church in N. C, it struck
me with force that the debt could be paid
very easily. For instance we say the debt
is six thousand dollars and the member
ship 69,000, by a calculation we see that
the amount each member would have to
pay would be eight and sixteen thirds of a
cent, to make it even money we say nine
cents per member; how easy it will be to
raise the money if we go at it in the right
way. I have a plan to offer the lay mem
bership, let one good man of each society
become responsible for the amount his
Church will have to pay, and in less than
thirty days the debt can be paid. Now
brethren, I will be responsible for my
Church. And I ask you in the name of
God to let us raise the amount, and take ic
off of the shoulders of the men who have
carried it until it has almost crushed the
life out of them. Now, Mess. Editors, if you
see proper to publish this allright. if, not
no harm done.
Yours truly,
J. N. S. Doub.
Bethania, N. C,
:
The law of the harvest is to reap more
than you sow . Sow an act and you reap a
habit; sow a character and you will reap
a destiny.
For the Advocate. I
V TRINITY COLLEGE DEBT. j
Bros. Black & Reid : I learn from Col.
Alspaugh, President of Board of Trustees, '
for Trinity College, and also from Dr. j
Craven, that nothing is being realized from j
the Notes and Accounts, put in the hands j
of Dr. Craven, by the action of the Trus-!
tees to discharge the indebtedness of the j
College. Why this is so is simply amaz- j
ing to the friends of the College in view'
of the fact, that the honor and integrity of j
good men is at stake in the matter of pay
ment the College is in peril, the case
must be met, our influence as a denomina
tion, educationally, must be lost if we do
not meet this case. Ten cents per mem
ber, for all the members of the Church in
the bounds of the N. C. Conference, will
pay the indebtedness of Trinity. Certain
ly we can raise that amount,if not we ought
to quit the field as an educational factor.
If all of the P. E's, the men on Circuits
and Stations, will move solidly and prompt
ly, the funds can be obtained; our people
will not fail to come to the rescue, if the
case is properly brought to their attention.
Bro. T. H. Pegram, P. C, of the Forsythe
circuit, and the writer of this each one
pledge our respective charges for this
amount, that is ten cents for all of our
members the money to be sent to Col. J.
W. Alspaugh, Cashier of 1st National
Bank, Winston, N. C. If the money is
not all raised, the several amounts sent
in will be subject to the order of those de
positing. I have consulted Col. Alspaugh
and he warmly seconds this move and so
also of others. Now, Messrs Editors, will
you blow a bugle blast on this subject and
rouse our people to save our College and
our own property; who will respond will
not ad respond ?
Very truly yours, S
C. C. Dodson.
IS
YOUR PltKACHEK.
Give your preacher fair treatment. Do
this for his sake and your own. Do it for
the sake of your children. Do it for
Christ's sake. The most sacred obligation
is involved. The most sacred interests are
at stake. Fair treatment what is it ?
Do not make him a target for your un
friendly criticism. Doubtless he has his
infirmities. He may not be faultless. He
is but a man, and no man is impeccable or
infallible. A cavilling spirit can easily find
something to object to in the best of men.
Even the iron of God did not escape the
scourge of evil tongues. Your preacher
can not excel in every pastoral gift and
erace. The Lord does not bestow all His
gifts upon one man. It will be easy enough
to make disadvantageous comparison of
him in some particular with others. Take
him as he is, and make the most of him.
Vour irlpal mctnrmiorht be a different man
but he does not exist. No man ever suited
xt.m, oot.V Tn tl-.
cveivuuuy. iiciuici tin- io-i.uv, ...
... .1 ?-i 1 Tt-.,
saptist, nor me social aim luvmg juj
could please an evil or perver. e generation
The man who comes nearest your wishes
would be objectionable to another. Re
member that your preacher is a man of like
passions with yourself. A sarcasm stings
him as it would sting you. His burdens
are heavy enough without the weight of
your discouraging words.
Do not forget your preacher's temporal
wants. Do not fall into the error of assu
ming that God will in some way provide
for him without your help. The ravens fed
Elijah in the time of the famine, but the
regular arrangement has always
hppn that thev who preach the Gospel
shall live on the Gospel. Any departure
from this principle results in a secularized
J
ministry and a starved, enfeebled church,
Do not be willing to devolve the duty and
privilege of supporting your pastor upon
others. There is in this matter an obliga
tion of conscience and honor from which
no right-minded Christian wishes it to be
absolved. Tne tax for the support of the
ministry is voluntary, so far as human au -
thori y is concerned, but it is enforced by
thp sanction of God and the impulse ot
the Christian heart. Neglect of this duty is
the cause of the spiritual leanness of many
Christians who might be strong in the
strength of God if they would break the
bonds of stinginess that repress the growth
of the soul, and prevent it from ever be
coming anything but a dwarfed and sickly
thing.
Do not leave him to bear the whole bur-
den of responsibility and labor for the
church. It is as much your church as his.
Your responsibility is as direct as his. Its
measure, in your case as in his, is the
measure of your ability and opportunity,
Give him your co-operation. It is as
much your duty to hear as it is his to preach,
Pray for him. Your prayer will open x
channel between him and the throne of
gce, and between your heart and his
heart. Do not look upon him as vour
nurse, but as your co-worker. Go into the
held with him and labor, you will uct the
right feeling for him as your fellow worker.
Go into the battle with him against sin,
and the spirit of criticism will give way to
that of comradeship which binds fellow
soldiers in bonds of lasting fellowship.
The pastor and people who have been
fused together in the white heat of a gen
uine revival will never cease to feel the
force of the blessed bond of cohesion.
Thousands of miles from these old hills, we
have seen the bosom swell and the eye
kindle at the mention of the name of a
minister of Christ who had led the hosts
of Israel in the mighty revivals that shook
the strongholds of sin and gave the church
prestige and power it possesses to-day. A
praying, working church, in full sympathy
with the pastor's plans, and in full co-operation
with his labors, will be harmoni
ous and happy and prove invincible in ag
gression on the kingdom of darkness.
Your preacher! that is the way to put it.
He is yours for this year at least. Do the
bestyou can for him, make the most of
him. The result will show that in this as
in all other matters, duty and advantage
are inseparable. tlx.
HOME AFFECTIONS.
The heart has memories that never die.
The rough rubs of the .vorld cannot oblit
erate them. They are memories of Jwmey
early home.There is magic in the verysound.
There is the old tree under which the light
hearted hoy swung in many a summer day,
yonder, the river in which he learned to
swim, there the house in v.hich he knew a
parent s protection :.,.y, there is the
room in which he romped with brother or
sister, long since, ales ! laid in the yard in
which he must soon be gathered, over
shadowed by yon old church, whither with
a joyous tn op like himself he has often
followed his parents to worship with, and
hear the good old man who gave him to
God in baptism. Why, even the very
school house, associated in youthful days
with thoughts of ferule and tasks,now comes
back to bring pleasant remembrances of
many an occasion that called forth some
generous traits of human nature. There it
was that he learned to feel some of his
best emotions. There, perchance, he first
met the being who by her love and tender
ness in after life has m : .1 home for
: himseIf. hPP even t.Vwi iha: which his
i cuimnooci Knew, nieyare ernm !eciinrs
,
! Oi
to'
humanity, and those too anions
the
best, that c n find an appropriate place
for their exercises only by one's own
fireside. There is sacredness in the
privacy of that spot which i: were a species
of desecration to violate. He who seeks
wantonly to invade it, is neither mo e nor
less that a villian; and hence here exists
no surer te -t of the debasement of morals
in community, than the disposition to
tolerate in any mode the man who disre
gards the sanctities of private life. In the
turmoil of the world, let there be at least
one spot where the poor man may find af
fection that it disinterested, where he may
indulge a confidence which is not likely to
1. . 1 1 r
j De aousea. ax.
j
j He that hath light thoughts of sin never
had great thoughts ot God.
God is not the author of the dross that is
in us, though His fiery tiial detects and ex
poses it.
j Our path is to be upward fron the start;
. there is no grade downwards on the road
! that leads to God. He calls to us from
1 above.
There is no worship where there is no
joy, for worship is something more than the
fear of God or the love of Him. It is de
light in Him.
The light of a reconciled God, shining
from the cross of our Lord Jesus, gives the
heaven of the redeemed its brightness
j The shadow of that cross makes the outCJ
j darkness of the abode of the lost.