Devoted to Religion, Morality, the diffusion of useful Knowledge, General Intelligence, and the support of the Principles of the Christian Church.
PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.
“THE LORD GOD IS A SEN AND SHIELD.”
% 1 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME VIII.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, OCTOBER 22, 18-51.
NUMBER 20.
THE CHRISTIAN SUNl
PRINTED BY
jt. Wo m&wsm&.
II. B. HAYES, Publinbing Agent.
Edited bt W. B. Wellons, J. R. Holt, H. B. Hayes.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
CflESLEY F. FaUCETTE,
Alfred Isley,
IS. F. Watson,
Tuomas J. Kilby,
R. H. Holland,
J. B. Hinton,
Ai.sey B. Freeman.
Terms. One^dollar per annum, payable in advance
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No paper will be discontinued until all arrearages are
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Any person obtaining five subscribers, and forwarding
the money in advance, shall receive the sixth copy onp
year for his services.
Advertisements, consistent with the character of the
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All communications for the Christian Sun must
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--From the Htorald-of Gospel Liberty.
First Annual Report of the Christian
General Rook Concern.
BY SR. J. R FREESE, GENERAL AGENT.
In presenting this, our Hist annual report, we
have much to be thankful for, and but little to
complain of. It is true, that we have not made
so great progress as we could have desired ; yet
in consideration ol the immense difficulties which
we have had to overcome in planning and getting
into operation this new enterpnze among our peo
pie, 1 think we have cause for rejoicing that it has
progressed so well. Thus far we have been but
laying the foundation-stones for our noble super
structure :—from henceforth we shall commence
to build above ground, ten ,nore annual
announcements shall ha$$ bee&piade we hope to
present our friends with IF Book Concern in full
and successful operation, sending forth its thous
ands and tens of thousands of Christian publica
tions every year, and thereby spreading light and
truth over the world, besides creating for itself a
fund with which to send forth the faithful mission
ary and colporteur on their errands of lore and
mercy.
I have been much disappointed in the amount
and source of assistance in this new enterprize.
Many whom I had supposed would be faithless
and stand aloof from the work, have come nobly
up to my help, and by their kind advice, their in- j
fluence and their money, have greatly assisted in
bringing it to its present position ; while others, of
■whom 1 had eipected much, have done nothing ;
yes, worse than nothing, for their very silence and
inactivity have prevented others from assisting us.
The time will surely come when all such will re
pent of their inactivity! When by the strug
gling of a few and the upholding of many of our
Boo'J; Concern shall have reached a high, honor
able and permanent position then will all those
who have assisted it in its early smugglings look
up with joy and exclaim, I was one of those who
helped to rear that noble structure; while those
who have, and will still continue to withhold their
support will look down with shame and confusion,
sorrowing that they helped not in so praisewor
thy an effort.
I cannot speak in too high terms of the faith
ful labors of our Sub-Agents, each of whom has
been zealously engaged in furthering on the in
terest of our Book Concern: and when it is re
membered that they do their labor gratuitously, I
think all will accord to them an earnestness of
spirit and a love of our Christian cause, imch as
should be felt and manifested by every mfflber of
the church.
There have been a few changes since the first
appointment of our Sub-Agents. One of our
most esteeihed companions—Bro. R. P. Barry of
Boston—has died, and Elder E. Edmunds has
been appointed as his substitute. Some few have
been added. Tlie following-is a list of our Sub
Agents at the present time :
J. E. Brush, No. 4 Chatham Square, N. York
city; E. Edmunds, No. 14 Oxford st. Boston,
Mass.; B F. Carter, Herald Office, Newburyport,
Mass.; Jasper Hazen, Palladium Office, Albany,
N. Y.; N. Summerbell, Cincinnatti, Ohio ; James
Williamson, Herald Office. Springfield Ohio ; Wm.
B. Wellonsi Residence, Suffolk, Va.; Alfred Ise
ley, Residence, Graham, N. C.
1 have had frequent applications from the North,
South, East and West to establish agencies in
particular sections, and in each case the brethren
have very kindly offered to become the Agents
gratuitously ; but owing to the scarcity of funds,
consequent Upton the newness of our enterprize,
I have been compelled to decline nearly all such
applications, although within a few days past 11
have added one other Agent in the person of our
much esteemed brother, David Mann, Esq., of
Harrisonville, Pa., and as soon as our circumtances
will permit we expect to appoint others in sections
remote from the Agencies already established. Of
course it is both our pleasure and interest to have
as many Agents as possible; but, as each Agency
requires more or less of stock on hand, we are not
in a pecuniary condition asvel to much extend
our operations in that way. » |
Several other brethren, besides the regularly i
appointed Agents, have kindly volunteered their
services in selling the publications of our Book
Concern—some of whom have purchased our
publications by the hundred and thousand, and
scattered them by sale and gifts throughout their
neighborhood and State. To all such we return
our very many thanks, and hope that hundreds
of others will volunteer in the same good work.
The following table will show about the amount
of sales up to the time specified—and by whom :
J. E. Brush, from Jan. 13 to Aug. 1, $111,17
J. Hazen, (no report sent in as yet) about 156,00
E. Edmunds, from Feb. 28 to July*l, 43,31
N. Summerbell, from March to Aug., 41,18
W. B. Wellons, from April to Aug., 50,44
James Williamson, “ “ “ 20,88
A. Iseley, (cash sent on acct. of sales) 10,00
B. F. Carter, from April to Aug., 45,64
J. R. Freese, from Jan. to Sep. 624,99
Whole amount of sales to date»z->^wP?' j 103; 61
Of this amount $876,24 has been received in
cash by our General Agent, and $227,37 still
remains in the hands of Sub-Agents and others.
The pecuniary condition of our Book Concern
stands as follows :
Received from sales and Sub Ag’ts, $ 876,24 ,
Paid out in cash and notes, 1217 27
Leaving a balance due me of 341,03
which amount i-. doubly and trebly overbalanced
by the stereo \ pe plates and books on band. Hav- ■
ing received" no itneat.'oires from our Agents, of;
stock on band, it is impossible for us to slate the !
amount of piotits made, but suffice it to say that
our. “ labors have not been in vain.”
We have an assurance on out stock at the gen
eral depository for one thousand dollars. Each
of the Sub-Agents have some slock on hand—
bow much 1 cannot state exactly—on some of
which an insurance has been effected by themselves.
Bro. Summeibell wrote me that be bad insuied
bis, for us, in our name.
In considering the amount of sales great allow
ance must be made for the newness of the enter
prize, and the many difficulties to be overcome by
the Agents. When our people shall have become
more awake their own interest—more concen
trated in their efforts ; and more zealous in spread
ing the great truths they have espoused, then can
the same amount of Agents, and with less labor to
themselves, scatter ten, yea 20 times the amount
within the same short space of time. The amount
of good that has been and will be to accomplished
by our Book Concern, is not to be estimated iu
dollars and cents only ; but in the vast amount
of good that is to be accomplished in the scat
tering of its publications broadcast over our coun
try. Already has it sent forth over 15,000 Chris
tian publications, besides hundreds of a religious
though not strictly denominational character. The
15 000 already scattered will probably be read by
50,000 persons, and who can estimate the amount
of influence that the reading of them may have
upon those into whose hands they happen to be
placed 1 The reading of a single Christian hook
or tract has sometimes been the means of dispell
ing error and making men our true and abiding
friends—who can begin to estimate the good ef
fects consequent upon the reading of thousands
upon thousands.
Our Book Concern, within the past year, Iras
published as follows :
Pocket Edition Ch, Psalmist,
Pew do do
Editions Gen. Convention Report,
“ Lawshe’s Conf. Address,
“ Ch. Hymijs for S. Schools,
“ Plummer’s Debates with
McCalla,
“ Plummer’s Debates with
Burleigh,
“ Plummer’s Disquisition,
“ Ch. Register and Alman
ac for 1852,
** Ch. Psalms—printed by
Elder Ilazen for our
Book Concern,
1000
500
6000
1500
2000
1000
1000
1000
5000
2500:
Whole ain’t published this year, 21,500
In addition to the above, Bros, Philetus Ro
berts and J. E. Brush purchased for our Book ;
Concern 1000 copies of Worcester’s Bible News
in sheets. We had them bound. We have with-1
in the past year received several consignments of
books from publishers and others, all of which has
helped and still helps to make up the assortment
in tke hands of Agents.
Our arrangement ^ith the American S. School
Union by which they agreed to allow us a large
per centage off from the catalogue prices, has j
been of great advantage to our Book Concern al
ready, and will be of still greater advantage in
future. We have received orders for a consider
able quaiutity of Sunday schoolbooks on all ofj
! which they have allowed us the per centage. Ev :
ery Christian Sabbath School throughout the U. I
States should remember to buy their books of our|
Book Concern, as it can be no possible loss to them 1
and will be of decided advantage to us.
The Eastern Publishing Association have with-j
iu the past year transferred their whole stock of;
stereotype plates and books to our General Book
Concern; and» the Ohio Book Association will
probably do the same within the next year. The
Southern Association have pledged themselves
heart and hand in favor of our Book Concern.!
The object is to have one, and only one general
Book Concern, as all agree in expediency of con
centration.
The labor already bestowed on our enterprize,
by our Sub Ageuts and others, should induce a t
responsive effort on the part of every member and j
friend of our cause. To bring it to its present
position has required a vast amount of mental and I
physical effort,—how much I am not disposed to
say, as the whole truth would seem almost in
credible if told. I have myself received more
than three hundred letters (written 319) and
each of our Sub-Agents has had a correspond
ing work to do. I mention this for Ike benefit of
those who have done nothing, hoping that it may
awaken them to a sense of the duty which they
owe themselves, to our Book Concern, to us, and
the Christian cause !
Our greatest need at the present is fundi with
which to drive forward our enterprize. With' a
cash capital now to work upon, it could/in a few
years, create a sufficient capital for itself; but un
less it can receive some present lielp, of course its
usefulness must be greatly retarded/ I have my
self offered to join nine Others in loaning our
Book Concern $2000,00 for 5 yys. at 6 per cent,
interest, at the expiration of which time the money
could be refunded and onr Book Concern have a
capital of at least $5000,00, 6il which to operate.
I would suggest, too, that /very Christian church
throughout the United S/ates should take up a
collection once a rear in/behalf of our Book Con
cern. This would briqg the subject annually be
fore every Christian Congregation, and thus keep
alive the interest which they should feel and mani
fest for our Book Concern ; besides adding largely
1,0 its amount of funds and usefulness. If each
congregation would send us onlv one, three or five
dollars annually it would soon add hundreds and
soon after thousands, to the fund of our Book
Concern.
Of every7Editor, Publisher and Correspondent
of our periodicals I have a request, on behalf of
our Boojt Concern, to make ; namely : that every
one of them will write at least one article in be
half of our Book Concern, explaining the prin
cip.les upon which it is founded—the advantages
to be derived from it, and our duty as a people
to patronize it. I desire, particularly, that every
qne connected editorially with our periodicals, will
Write a review of this report, giving us their opin
ions, suggestions, hopes, fears, <fec., &c. We
shall confidently expect this request, at least to
meet with a response from each, and the sooner
the better.
We thus finish our first annual report and hope
that the facts set forth will induce a great many
who have heretofore stood aloof and doubting, to
come forward and lend us a helping hand. We
need more friends—more purchasers—more mon
ey with which to publish books, and we need,
above all, the continued smiles of a kind Provi
dence, and with such friends and such assistance,
we shall listen to no such word as fail !
Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 1851.
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Christian Sun.
A SABBATH MORNING MEDITATION.
How many interesting events does this blessed
morning bring to our remembrance. Finishing
the grand work of creation, the Almighty creator
of Heaven and Earth, is represented as resting
on the seventh day from all his works which he
had made.
And God blessed the seventh day and sancth
tied it. It is this day, therefore, which brings to
our recollection one of the most sublime and stu
pendous instances of divine Power, Wisdom, and
Goodness. At the mandate of the omnipotent
Jehovah, the Heavens in their exquisite beauty,
divine order, and delightful harmony—the Earth
and its variegated productions—and man the no
blest work of God, with a soul and body curious
ly- combind—all sprung into existence. On this
glad day then, we behold through the volume
of revelation, the beneficent Creator coming fort h in
the glory of his Majesty, and unfolding the perfec
tions of his character, in speaking worlds into exis
tence.
While dwelling upon this awfully interesting
subject, bur minds are suddenly arrested with a
view of that delightful garden of pleasure in
which the first innocent pair were placed. Here
we behold them encircled with a ray of glory. In
the image of God created he them. Man ap
peared as lord of this lower world, while the heav
ens surrounded him with a beam of divine light
and glory, the inferior part of creation—the beasts
of the field, the birds of the air, as well as every
part of inanimate matter; all conspired to man’s
peace and happiness.
How gratifying, could we always contemplate
man in this happy stale. But we have hardly
time to 'ake a survey of the place and its inhabi
tants before we hear the awful sentence of heaven
pronounced against him—we enquire to know
the cause, and ate informed that the Creator’s law
has been transgressed. By whom ? by the very
being who was so highly honored by his Maker.
Plunged into the mire of iniquity, we now view
him under the curse of a violated law. Expelled
from paradise he becomes a fugitive upou the earth,
doomed to eat his bread bv the sweat of his face,
till he return to the ground from whence he was
taken.
But again, this blessed morning brings to our
mind that auspicious event, when the mighty
Redeemer vanquished the powers of hell, and
opened a path for guilty man to come to the
Throne of God.
The third morning had scarcely began to dawn,
when the celestial watch beheld the Saviour of
sinners coming, forth from the dark tomb, and
reviving the desponding hearts of his disciples,
by giving them a demonstration of his resurrec
tion from the- dead. No sooner do our eyes sa
lute the rising Sun of this glad day, than we are
carried in our thoughts to the place of the Saviour’s
burial; where we behold his anxious disciples af
ter/hearing their Lord was risen, collecting with
! speedy steps, and fluctuating hearts, to witness
. the fact.of his resurrection. There stands weep
ing Mary enquiring ; tell me where thou hast laid
him ? and I will take him away. With what
pleasure did she recognize her Lord and Master,
when he said unto her, “Mary?” Did not joy thrill
through her heart while she responded Rabboni ?
receiving the joyful message from her Lord, saw1'’
ing “ go and tefl my disciples aud Peter, tkat'H,
am risen from the dead.”
And now Mr. Editor, if the above lines should
meet your approbation and the approbation of
your readers, 1 will again resume the subject.
Yours to serve God in truth.
W. N. BRAGG.
Wilmington, Sept. 28th, 1851.
For the Christian Sun.
JUVENILE EFFORTS, No. 4.
BV C. H. PLUMMER;
DEATH!
Death—0 ! Death !—thou enemy to the hu
man race. Thy power is omnipotent. No tide of
human events can check thy progress, nor buffet
thy invincible career. The" thousand natural
shocks that flesh is heir to, is consumated by thee.
Before thy power
Kingdoms crumble,
Monarchs quake,
Tyrants tremble,
Sinners shake.
Thy approach is appalling ! The heart that
was so stout in health in defying thy potency, and
so indifferent to tby approach; by disease is
brought to bow in humility to thy sway ; and
yield to thy superior skill in executing the high
mandate of Him, with whom are the fearful issues
of life and death. 0 Jehovah ! What infinite,
inexpressible strength is in thy “ red right arm !”
How puny, frail, Subtil, are the efforts of thy wholly
dependent beings, seemingly made against thy
fixed and unalterable decrees ! In vain may man
attempt to fortify, himself against death. This
were madness.
The youth, whose soul is filled with ambitious
I ardent flame, and to whom this vast earth is but
one
“ Fairy field of fiction, all on flower,”
gazes with an ever anxious eye, upon the handy
work of God displayed in the sublime spec
tacle of nature, sees nought but bliss and fame
before him—whose hopes are elevated and buoy
ant, need spend but an hour among the dust of
the departed ones in the death respository in se
rene meditation, till the heart will be
“ Sickled o’er with the pale cast of thought—”
and shrink within itself. His pristine ambition
will be brought low—yea dwindle with all earth
ly vanities and nothingness, by such a contempla
tion.
Death ! the awful end of all flesh. Most start
ling annunciation. The thought should be suffi
cient to melt all impenitent hearts to penitence,
and lift them to God in reverence and fear,
t In meditating upon this most melancholy sub
ject. we must all be struck as with the unseen
I power; and clearly behold the very startling atti
I tude in which we stand ; and be impressed—sol
emly impressed with the momentous importance
of placing our affections upon God—of living ac
cording to his most holy will!
Happy the man whose thoughts are elevated
far above the withering, wasting, death-produ
cing, life-consuming atmosphere that enclouds the
earth—that belongs to time—and fixed in things
imperishable and eternal, whose anchor of hope
is cast within the veil that now separates visible
things from the invisible.
Man here would find a due exaltation—would
stand upon the lofty summit allotted him—exist
is his truest upright dignity—be conscious of his
spiritual and immortal safety, as in the immediate
presence of God—feel truly happy. By such a
desirable and delightful transformation all things
would assume a lovelier aspect—the landscape
would laugh anew in the development of fresh
beauties—redecked in a clearer, calmer, and se
rener beauty—the arched canopy,of heaven be
come as it were re-illuminated by the light of the
throne of grace dispensing a more dazzling bril
liancy—a richer radiance than was wont to glow
before.
BeholJhim thus renewed, redeemed, regenerated,
recreated—“ old things have passed away, all
things have become new.” This heart in its broad
expanding throb encircles the whole human fam
ily—sects in religion, parties in politics, geograph
ical boundaries of nations are entirely lost sight
of*—and love for all the articulation of every
breath. This is the true interest of his soul. The
ties of a common kindred or humanity entwines
more closely around his heart, now the sane
seat of the holiest affections—than the ivy w
the oak.
His, is now the victory over the fear of death
—and death itself. Said the pious songster of the
night thoughts,
“We die a thousand deaths in fearing one.”
When he shall be summoned to stand in the
presence of the great Judge, he can exult in hav
ing obtained a triumph over the greatest of all
foes-—the “ King of Terrors,” and meet his fate
without a murmur. Strong is the sustaining faith
of the promises of God—he can exclaim in his
expiring moment,
“ Oh Death where is thy sting—
Oh Grave where is thy victory!"
Philadelphia, Penn.
For the Christian Sun.
THE TRIAL.
When a man violates the laws of ij>e-tsnd, and
stains his hands with the blood of Jds fello w-man,
| be is arrested and brought-Jbefdfe a court of jus
! tice—witnesses are introduced, the trial commen
ces and the witnesses are examined. They are now
to tell “ the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth.” And if the evidence in the case
is strong enough,'* the man is condemned, and the
.day of execution is appointed. The dayvanives,
and the man is executed.
Now the question arises, was the sentence just?
It depends on circumstances. If the man did
not violate the law, the witnesses were false ones,
the sentence and execution was unjust, and the
innocent suffered- But on the other hand. If
the naan did violate the law, the sentence was
just and the execution just. And why? Be
cause the law was violated, and the penalty of the
violated^ law had to be carried into effect. If the
law had no penalty annexed to it, it would be use
less.
Some might ask, is there any one to be blamed
for hanging the offender ? Answer—no one but
the offender himself. It was not the jury nor
1 the judge, nor the executioner that hung him ; it
: was his own conduct and the law\ Who then
. is to be blamed •? No one except the man. If .
a mau will wilfully violate the law of the land,
it is but just that the penalty of the law be en
forced.
Now reader, I have spoken of the law of man,
and if that law will punish the offender, what will
the perfect law of God do ?
We have a code of laws not made by thg unit
ed wisdom of men, or by any imperfect assembly,
but by the great and powerful Law-giver of Heav
en. We have that code of laws that was framed,
not at the capital of a State, nor at the capital of
these United States ; but at the Throne of the
Eternal jehovah. Yes, God has given his crea
ture man, laws to govern and direct him through
this life, and those laws have their penalty annex
ed. “ The soul that sinneth it shall die.” “The
wages of sin is death.”
Sin is a violation of the law of God, and the
penalty annexed is death. ~ If man will violate
the law, and sin against God, he will be .brought
to trial. There is no possible way of escape.
When a man violates the laws of the land, he
sometimes can fly beyond the confines of its do
minion, and there dwell in quietude and safety.
Not so with the sinner. He may fly to the utter
: most parts of the earth, and feel safe, yet, justice
overtakes and arrests him, and will bring him to
trial. His case will be examined, every point will
’ be thoroughly investigated by the impartial Judge.
The man will be found “ guilty,” and th'e execu
tion will take place. "The Judge of all the
1 earth ” will “ do right.”
Now who is to blame in his case? Is the
Judge that condemns and passes the sentence to
blame? No. Who then is to blame? The man
who wilfully and repeatedly violates God’s law,
damns himself. It is nothing but justice to man,
and the violated law, for God to pass the sentence
of death upon him.
Man may think it unju&t to be brought to trial
for his life, after he has violated the law of the
land. But suppose he was logo unpunished, and
mingle in society as ever, why society itself would
| cry out against him. We just as well have no
law; or in the language of an eminent lawver :
“ Go first and throw down your temples of jus
tice ; burn up your law-books, and let murder
stalk abroad in the land.”
We may pity and sympathize with the man,
yet justice demands he shall be punished. Verily
it may look hard for man to die the second death,
yet if he violate the laws of heaven, it is but just
for him to die. It would be unjust for God to
| suffer such a one to enter the celestial world, after
having a fair tdaland foupd_guilty. If God was .
to suffer cjne to go to heaven, it seems to me the
angels would gather around the Throne, and cry
for justice.
There is a beauty in the law of the land that
we admire. It is just—knows no distinction. Oh,
then! how we ought to admire the law of the
Lord. “The law of the Lord is perfect,” it is
| just. God is just, and will deal justly with the
offender. Reader, I admonish you to obey the
law of the Lord, and in that day wTien you shall
have to stand at His bar, and pass through a tho
rough trial for the deeds done in the body ; and
if you have obeyed His commandments and walked
uprightly, it will go well with you, and you will
not be condemned to death. But you will hear
the welcome plaudit of “ Well done good and
faithful servant, enter thou into the jovs of thy
Lord.” M. B. BARRETT.
Littleton, Va., 1851.
For the Christian Sun,
Bro. Hates: It has been a long time since I have
written for your excellent.paper. In the multitude
of business and appointments, and attending Con
ferences, I have delayed writing until now. After
I left Va., I spent a pleasant time in Western Pa.,
preaching to the churches in that section of coun
try. We had some meetings of interest, though
there were no additions during my stay there.
After I closed my appointments with these kind
brethren, we took passage on a Steamboat and in
one day and night we arrived safely in New Lis
bon Ohio, and met with good brethren and friends
to receive us into their houses. After spending
several weeks there in company with Elder A. C.
Hanger and other ministers of our people, we made
arrangements to attend the Mt. Vernon Christian
i