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A Religious and Miscellaneous Newsfcuper, devoted to Religion, Morality, Literature, General Intelligence, and the support of the Principles of the Christian 'Church. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. “THE LORD GOD IS A Stftf AND SHIELD.” $1:50 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE. __i_a VOLUME IX. RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, OCTOBER 20, 1852. NUMBER 42. MISCELLANEOUS. From the Olive Branch. HOtf *T0 BE HAPPY. « Oh, I am so happy 1 ” exclaimed a little bright-eyed girl, one pleasant afternoon in early summer, as she came bounding towards mo with all th'e frankness of childhood.- * For sometime I had been a frequent v«ftr at her house, and had ^IwayltiiSBjMdered hjpp.-re markably light-hearted, T^ipy child. BUI- her little factjk was so i adient with joy at this time, I concluded the acquitition of some new tor* must have been the cause. So playfully slrokingftne' golden tresses that floated like so many sunbeams about her dimpled shoulders, I inquired, “ And pray, iff child, what is it that makes you so hap py ?" Her laughing eyes danced with joy, as she an swered, “1 have tried lobe good to-day, and prac tice self-denial, and mamma says, doing that will always Inake me happy.” “But, said I, almost doubting that one so young could understand the meaning of the word, “ what is self-denial ? do you know its meaning ?” “Oh yes, mamma tells me it is giving up something which we want to do, or have, because it is for the best, or will please others. “ And have you been doing some act of kind ness or self-denial, that makes you so happy now?” I inquired. “Yes, l think I have,” she said; “but you must not think I am a vain little girl for telling you ; for 1 have heard mamma say good people never go about telling every pleasant net they do.” « Oh no,” I said, “ I have asked you to tell me, and I hope my little friend is too sensible to feel vain at all, because she has performed only her duty, perhaps.” “Well, the other day, when mamma took little Willie out to ride with her, to see our little cous ins, she promised me when she went again she would take me. And this afternoon was so bright and pleasant,* she said she would give me my promised ride ; but as a friend of hers was going lob, little brother must stay at borne. 1 was all ready to go, and dressed so nice in my hat you trimmed so prettily ; but going down the garden walk, l At Willie erring b tterly because he was * to be left. I ran to mamma, and begged her io let 1dm go in *iny stead. She said I might if I wished it, and kissed me so sweetly, and looked at me so kindly, 1 knew she was pleased with me.” “And do you think you have enjoyed yourself as well as though you had taken the ride with your friends?” I asked. “ Oh yes, I have had a nice play in the garden, thinking now delighted little Willie will be when he gets home, telling what he has seen, and how much better he will love me for letting him go. ^ Just then the^sbUnd.cyLwheels announced the approach of the cardngb, kand the happy child bounded away te meet those she loved. 1 could not help thinking tb myself, if this lit tle one,just upon the Hfresnold of life* could gpjli so much real epJpfmfnTfrom the performance of of one good act. bow gfeat a store of happiness we might garner for ourselves, who are - mingling in life’s busy scenes, and have so many opportu nities for practising self denial and doing good to others. Oh, ye whose plastic hearts are receiv ing impressions for li/e, beware ]><m ye allow the ' ' rer ypr^oui^ s^Ir ex perience, that he who lives only for self, lives in learn by r--■ vaiAk But rather imitate the examples of this lit tle'jm, and loam from her hoW to be happy. £. E. D. THE SOUL WEIGHED AGAINST A jtgA FEATHER. uring a “fjjissitfn of religious interest in •one of oufelargtbitieaf a teW'days ago, a yoang lady belonging to a gay and faslrioimble circle was ■- itt4u<^A4o attendee *£w*ehingro£-ai clergyman, " been ^eminently blessed td the yjwNWMMat^ahd had previously .had attractions of a gay and seduettVeXattal but the to her natural disposition to be formally y reiiihjuished. On this occasion, the faithful monitor within seconded and gave additional force to the warning voice of the man of God, as he held up to her view, her voluntary rejection of God, and the danger of her full and fatal renunciation of hi* ; , authority and love. * " Ny>, this shall never be !” she said within her self. ** I will return unto the Lord. I will begin his service -now.” v / ‘‘But think,'’ whispered the tempter: “you have a beautiful feather in your hat.” » True, (she replied) and it has been very much admired. My beautiful feather has been my pride, during all the season ; and iriany a time has it en-; Crossed my thoughts in the house of God, and ept me from heeding the solemn truths of the Gospel But it shall be so no longer. This time I anaw earnest.” “ But if you become a Christian now, you must lay apide your feather,” argued the tempter. This was>n new thought, and she tried to believe it an erroneous one; but the more she struggled with the suggestion, the more strength did it ac quire, until forced toyield to assent to its j “ Yes, I must give it„np if I become Christian, but how oan I? This beautiful feather in whieh I have so long gloried, and which lj»s made me an object of admiration, and envy to many 1 0,1 cannot let it go.” “ Wait a little,” artfully whispered the enemy of her soul; “ the season is nearly past; then you must of necessity lay it aside.” '* That is a good suggestion,” she said,, not r<f cognjzing the1 malicious instigation; will wear it as dong as I can, and then attend to my salva tion. In this way 1 can save both, my feather and my soul.” Having thus settled the matter, she went home in a®f°re comfortable state of mind. As she was reSHjK anxious to retain her serious impressions, she spent a session in prayer and moditation before retiring for the night. The more she reflected, the more uneasy she became ; but she succeeded in recovering a certain degree of calmness, by re newing the resolution she had previously made of becoming a Christian when her feather could ‘no longer minister to her love of display. She then tried to compose herself to sleep, but during the darkness and stillness of that hour, her thoughts assumed more distinctness, and the voice which was speaking within became toojoud to be stifled. At length it is said in earnest and solemn tones, “ Will you barter your soul for a feather f She lay for a moment pondering the momen tous question, and estimating the," profit of losing her soul, and gaining ” such a bauble. ; -“ It shall never be said that I gave my soul in exChmige for a feather,” she responded; and ris ing from her bed she re lighted her candle. She then deliberately and firmly took the feather from her.hat, exclaiming, “ Thou art lighter than van ity! Thou are but as the small dust in the bal ance, when weighed against my precious, undying soul!” • ,, The contest was oWr : all that stood between I her soul and salvation was now taken away ; and with an humble, belfeviug spirit, s' e went, to the feet of the Savior, and yielded herself to his con trol forever. Probably the cases are rare, in which the strug gle between the claims of God and the objects of its idolatry, is so strongly marked as in this in stance; yet it is always true, that there is some darling object, some idol of the affections, which opposes the soul that is seeking in earnest to work out its own salvation ; and if a correct analysis of the case were made, how often would this obstacle be found no more substantial or weighty than a feather. Christian Observer. bound him wi mitted tile thp A Murderer’s Legacy. “I have nothing more to say, but to warn nil others to ily from temptation. The first thought af crime, if not resisted, may lead to the destruc tion of body and soul. 1 can scarcely realize how that I have commited anything so awful as to stain, my hand In my brother’s blood! Satan seems, when I first yielded to the thought to, have Bound me with chains, and blunted my feel ings, and blinded ray eyes; so that although 1 trietSigam and again to gel loose 1 was dragged to the commission of lny foul offence. Oh! my God, have, mercy on me—as I hope be 1ms—and save my -^oul from Hell! Natiian Crist, z&Lad. iwj. M-«Ars st yiel§^ tortile thought, Satan laiusi Nfst wfiea he first ad l^feut yielded. In that was the %rimev Had^fbl'gone no father, still in heart would he have been af murder®,.before God. The ntSftfent’his soul cpnsented'tq^wd guiltiness, ^he h«PP> longer command,^ver it.,; Pm ii v tied, ag wSfc'i^kan. moral attnRtyaanK*Jn the scale of ^tltit|wMl cupidity. Then was the fj|aiid of Cain cm mlmrow, the ligh^of the first niurderer in’his eye, the’frgpzy in life brain. He could, no moie " >—~J- himsejl than that guilty one could escape Ipp, “Cain, P'ee is thy brothei did he yield? if he had thrust, away that unhappy thought never would lie1 have hung be tween heaven and ear-th, the blue sky and the height gun smiling on his agony. *“ His victim had been to-day rejoicing in life; and he, instead of. sleeping under the heapgil uj h'js Film fife rfhflUU^er’s grave, would have sat by H»s wife miglitV twining her arms about tm neck;, the babescligabing his knee's cIaradTCTur%, kisses. The bright flames dancing from the em‘ bers/ the Singing kettle,, the happy title etcetSras of tho evenii|ir meal, would have been for one Lq^ur, ten . thquapnd times worth the gold that tempted film to crime. And then innocence ! oh, that'white word ! In nocence would have guarded the portals .of his heart. Now, however it. js with him, while the soul and memory live, he can never forget his £U*I .•-? * | Beware then of yielding to the first thought of .Crime. Mothers, so counsel your sons, your ^daughters. With you it rests to guide their feet in that beautiful path under the holy shunshine of purity. Fathers, instead of jesting with your children and shouting with delight at their pre cocious arts of cunning and duplicity, warn them of their consequence^. Encourgo* not the bra vado that shakes the uplifted arm, and makes it fall heavily upon atv offending brother; take these last words of poor Crist; teach your children from this text every morning: Let it be the Alphabet by which they may spell their way from ] dishonor. I “ The first thought of crime, if not resisted,, may \ lead to the destruction of body and soul." “ - M. V. D. From the Ohristlan Observer. Ttrials ot Ministers. “In the world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good eheer : I have overcome the world.” •The ministers of the gospel have their, trials ; andiBometintes they are felt in the- deepest reces ses of the heart. But all who engage in the Chris tian warfare, and become candidates through j grace for the kingdom and the crown, that' endure ,forever, may expect trials—yea, "tribulation." ', The divine Master has said, “In the world ye shall nave tribulation.” This does not mean that a j minister’s trials arise from the world exclusively ; for some of bis sorest trials arise from himself—j and some from the people of his charge, for whom 1 he daily labors and prays. There is a wide dif- j ference, no doubt, in the character of ministers as: as well as in that of churches. None are perfect; * but the imperfections of some are less than those of others. Blit let these trials be as various and multiplied and grievous as they may, the words of the Master are encouraging and refreshing Be of good cheer." Is the minister disappointed by a failure on the part of the church, to furnish the temporal sup port that was promised ? Is it a bare support that’ls promised, merely enough to procure the necessaries of life, even were it promptly and punctually paid ? Often it is much less than this. But is a part of this stinted support withheld ? and does the minister under the pressure of his embarrassments met from day to day with mem bers of his church, who are living at ease, and possessed of means in’abundance,and yet are with holding what they have solemnly promised ? This is certainly a trial. Sometimes payment is de layed till the delinquent believes or profgsses^to believe, that payment has actually been made, and that the claim is not correct. This is adding in sult to injury. Perhaps the collecting agent from prudential considerations, agrees to compromise the matter by relinquishing a part of the claim ; and this, it may be, is the last that is heard of it. The compromise is forgotten as well ns the original promise. This certainly does not make the matter any better. But sometimes it happens that a delinquent member pleads a “non est fac tum !” He had not subscribed it—no, not he ! This, to be sure is not very pleasant; and the dis appointed and defrauded ministsr has some just cause for complaint. It is unquestionably a trial. It becomes necessary for the minister *o labor with his own hands to diminish the expense of supporting his family. It, is then alleged, perhaps by some of his members; that he i9 becoming very worldly-minded ; while in the estimation of others he is degrading his sacred office, andLg£df (eitinghis standing ip respectable societyJ^and4 herhaps these very brethren-are in arrears, they sire making these complaints ! Sometimes it mayhappen. that a garment is worn,Jill its original texture and appearance have undergone an unsightly change; and it becomes; a subject of remark and of grave criticism. "‘0 ! it is a scandal that a minister of the gospel should appear with so shabby a garment!” And at the | same time, it may be, some of these good brethren are withholding the means that are necessary for his*. appearing more genteelty. Under such circumstances, the minister must be either more or less than a man, or he cannot feel comforla. ble. But, perhaps, a door is open in some other gos pel field, and the minister is invited and inclined to eater it. But his dear people love him so wejj, that they cSnnpt consent to give him up. Con sequently .they arouse to action, increase his sub scription, promise g re a te r f punctuality in pay ment, and block up his way? and he declines mo What next ?* The’other field is occupied, lew promisls are forgotten, and the failure _ ^^the new engageraWt- is perhaps more pal if ines^Tminister’s heart to be deceived.in this way. But it is done, not once or twice, it may be oftener. And yet the dear people love their minister so well that they . cannot give him up, Especially when there is a door in another field, jen for him to ente.r it. Jg. ■— ' ■ -rtn’'1 .» matter of sur andufoaiHplatnt, ihajpjfnily visits me so frequent as they forrdwiy >ywere ; and it is thought strange, that the minister'should go with bowed down, and with a sorroyjtll eflOIf “What has come over our minister ? is lib appear so sad ? It is a long time since lie paid us a visit. What can be the mat ter5?” And yet these complaining members, it may be, are doing nothing,, absolutely nothing for their minister’s support and comfort! What is the matter of the minister?! Why he has a broken heart, and therefore his head is bowed down, and therefore his countenance is sad and alas ! he cur.not visit such families without being reminded of the cause of his sadness, Many a minister has gone down to the grave with a broken heart. There are other martyrs besides those who havp perished at the stake and on the scaffold and in the dungeon ! A death is not the less painful and gloomy, because the de»tli-pangs are of long duration! 1 But why despond, thou soldier of the cross servant of the living God? Is thy heart sad, 4 and thj’ head bowed down from day to day ? Yet look around tbee and consider ; thy comforts are not all gone'; thou hast some tried friends, who sympathises with thee, and whose prayers are of fered up, that thy soul may be sustained in the evil hour. God will raise up other friends, if he sees it to behest for thee and for his cause. Soldier of the ®bss! is thy heart still burdened ? Look upward, and hear tjie animating voice of the divine Master,—“In the world ye shall have tribu lation : but be of good chew : I have over come the.world.14 Remember that tribulation is a part of the inheritance of God’s heople and especially of his humble ministers. Gut the conflict will not last forever. While they are in the world, they may expect trials. Their lamentation also may often be, “Who hath believed ?” It may be that the inattentions of the church to j the comfort of their minister, and the withholding of what is promise'd and what is necessary to his support, may be in part at least, the reason why the saving blessiDg of the Lord is withheld from the flock. But let the minister be faithful and leave the result with the Lord. Thank God! ihe conflict will dot last always. The trials of our Lord were unspeakably greater. But he sustained them, passed through them and, triumphed over them. Leaning on his arm, trusting in his word, and walking in his footsteps, his humble ministers and all his true followers may antici pate certain victory. The crown and the song of deliverance are before them. Soldier of the cross be no longer sad and broken hearted. Look up ward ; fasten the hand of faith and hope upon the sky ; and “be of good cheer.” Experience Hvmeneal. Auction.—Hercdoius informs us that among the ancient Assyrians it was customary to bring together every year all the girls who were marriageable ; when the public auctioneer put them up to sale one after another. The most beautiful and amiable were first set np, and were bought as wives by wealthy bachelors at high prices. The money that accrued from the sales was divided among the girls whose persons were less agreeable, or actually ugly ; and men in hum ble circumstances were thus induced to take them to wife out of consideration for their portions. The temper of the limes has so changed since then, and fortune-hunting has become so general a practice, that we fear a revival of the old As syrian custom would hardly answer just now.— We imagine that the bidding would be altogether c^pnod to the ugly ones, or rather their dowries. Singular Incident. The New York Express states that a few Dights ago, a gentleman residing in Barclay street, near College Place, during his sleep at home, was dreaming that he was on the railroad track, and the locomotive was about to run over him, jumped out of the bed and broke his leg,* and was otherwise injured. AN ADDRESS 'Delii’ered at the laying of the Corner Stone of An tioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, June 23d, 1852, by Judge Probasco. Ladies and Gentlemen: As I look upon this “ sea of upturned faces,” I cannot but enquire what great occasion is this? How has the deep spiiit of the people been moved thus to congre gate around these rude stones ? Why have you left your peaceful hearth-stones? Why have you abandoned your fields and busy marts, and why does'the hammer lie still upon the anvil? Are you here to see that stone planted upon its firm foundation, that upon it may rise an edifice gigan tig-in size, and graceful in its proportions? Is it that the eye may be ravished with the beauty of this rich landscape, and all the senses enjoy the charms of nature, now with her vernal glories scarce departed ? No ! Not these alone have brought vou hither. For this temple dedicated to learning may exhibit the grandeur and chaste-, ness of Grecian art—it may command the atten tion, and challenge the admiration of every be holder—its towers may gleam in every morning’s sun light upon these surrounding summits—yet it|chief glory lies not here. What the Greek skive is to statuary, it may be to architecture. She is even more lonely than nature in its form, TjqjrwmHJ ««-»—•—Jjeauty—the soft eye ofjove and.tlw» ermbtenagpe whip.]] ljeapnswith in ■telligence. Nay. .The spirit of the scene is oth er than form. The mind rises from these stones to nobler contemplation. The thoughts dwell upon the objects of this institution. We are here with pomp and ceremony to do homage, not to the insensate stone, but to our spiritual nature. This pageant is but the mode in which we exhibit our appreciation of the immortal mind. These forms are but' the expressions of our ideas of its greatness, its majesty, its glory. Every age has exhibited its estimate of the value of mind. The valor of the barbarian seeks the direction of the more sagacious chief. Civil ized mau, with his cultivated faculties, admires the orate rand statesman, the philosopher and poet. In every period of our lives we Btruggle between light and darkness. Every acquisition of knowl ♦ edge is an effort to let tbe light of truth shine in _ upon the benighted understanding. That man who has so opened his mind to knowledge that its genial beams dry up the resources of superstition, and to whose feeble intellect truth has imparted strength, is in some measure restored to the im age of his Creator. It is because this Institution is founded to dispel man’s gross mental darkness —by education to develope the excellence of his spiritual nature, that we are deeply, interested m such occasions as these. This broad sun-light which envelopes us : does yon sun obey the com mands of its Maker when it sends its gladdening beams to the earth ? Yes, his light is the obe dient minister of His will whose laws are imposed upon all his works. So is the light of intellect to mankind. AH knowledge is the discovery of the laws of the Infinite Jehovah. As this sun-light clothes the forest with foilage, and gives to all things their beauty, and life ; so does knowledge affect the mind: it vivifies and ennobles it. But it has not pleased the Almighty, to make known the knowledge which we seek. The patient work er alone finds it. In the long tide of time, men of genius and industry have been discovering these laws, and combining and comparing them, until the sciences have attained their present perfection. The Astronomer has swept the heavens, and fol lowed the tracks of the stars. And what ia this noble science, but the discovery of the nature and properties of those blazing orbs which fly in end lesafeircles around the sun! What is Geology, but the knowledge which man has acquired of the elemental principles and laws of this magnificent globe we inhabit! Imperfect as is all our knowledge, each science has been the work of years, and has required the labors of the gifted of our race. The sciences have been of slow growth. Fact by fact learned men have noted, and ray by ray has been gather ed. Tlie student now stands upon a foundation of truth ; and as he casts his thoughts to explore the unknown beyond, he feels that his feet are up on no shifting sand, but the solid earth. Colleges and Universities have become the central points of learning. They are emphatical ly as a city set upon a hill—as a light which can not be hid. As scientific truth is God’s law mani fested in his works, and discovered by man, and religipus truth the direct revelaiion of his will. As both proceed from the. same source, there is great wisdom in selecting Jhe teachers of religious truth as the educators of youth. When we reflect how happily science ana religion harmonize; now the developments of the one increase our faith in the other, we cannot but admire the force and truth fulness of the expression—‘‘The undevout As tronomer is mad.” The necessity of this union of religion and learning, is a felt want of the age, aod instead of deploring, I cannot but rejoice, that almost all our institutions of learning are under the guardianship of religious societies. In" this eventful age, which is so surprising in the activity of its means of progress, no one characteristic is more fully exhibited than its edu cational spirit. We have arrived at a point from which we may survey the past, and onward to ex plore the future. If we are borne upon the stream of time, its current bears us upward, and not downward. Ours is a progress ia knowledge, in virtue, and religion. Our lives are full of active thoughts, and great purposes. It is an age in which we are struggling to throw off the author ity of venerated error. It is is a contest between radicalism and conservatism,"in whichJheforroer is mostly victorious. The spirit of the age bids us onward. Let us, from this high wave of the ; nineteenth century.iook backward and mark some educational facts and results, and forward, if wo may discover our duty and destiny. Until within ten centuries,-all the people the earth who were enlightened, were inhabii ing a luminous ring aloBg its coasts, and all yond was thick darkness. So far back do her <. nasties run, that early Egyptian history is inc ible. But she was pioneer in letters. Even her imperishable monuments attest her fc. greatness. Palestine, that country whose’ pe were the favored of the living God—whose piv ots and teachers were of more than huma£|| dom; who began their national existenc lives from slavery; but where the m Prophet now overlooks the land made the life and death of the Saviour of from her have gone forth the guide the enlightened nations ip cia, the mistress of commerce—G alike in arms, ia arts and lette
The Christian Sun (Elon College, N.C.)
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Oct. 20, 1852, edition 1
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