■■ I-.-'--'- ' • I*" The Christian Sun. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23,1877. Editor-in-Chif.f, Rev. J. T. WHITLEY. CORRESPONDING EDITORS, Rep. C. A. APPLE, Suffolk, Va. Rev. W. S. LONG, Graham, N. C OPR PRINCIPLES. f EXTRACT FROM THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES 01 TUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH.] “YVe may well afford , to dispense with al! those doctrines and tenets which set the brethren at variance, and to take the following primary constitution as the ground-work of our organiza tion, viz.: 41 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head oi the Church. The Pope of Rome, or any othei pretending to be head thereof, should be regarded as that man of sin and son of perdition, who c.x alteth himself above all that is called God. 41 2. The name Christian is the only appella tion needed or received by the Church. All party or sectarian names are excluded as being unneces sary, if not hurtful. “3. The Holy Bible, or the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is a sufficient rule ol faith and practice. “4. Christian Character, or vital piety, is a just, and should be the only, test of fellowship, or of Church membership. il 5. The right of Private Judgment and the ibertv of conseiencc is a right and a privilege that should be accorded to, and exercised by, all.” Notice to toiTCSiiomlentg. Articles intended for publication should be addressed to the “ Editor of the Christian Sun, Suffolk, \7a,” and should be mailed so as to rc.»ch us before the Friday preceding the date of their publication. Write in a legible hand, with ink, only on one side of the paper. All anonymous communications will be thrown into the waste basket. No article will be inserted for any one, unless deemed suitable for publication. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. e*. f—S Pleasant Grove, Halifax Co., V.u., NoV§ luber 10, 1877. My Deae Major While I was giving and receiving farewells in the midst of my little family at home last Friday morning, preparatoiy to leav ing for the North Carolina Confer ence, a little darkey thrust his head into the door, and shouted, “lletter hurry-up, sir; lacks only three min utes of train time.” Bo away I hur ried to the depot of the A. M. & O. Railroad, followed by the sable youth aforesaid with my valise on his head. The train got tli^tfc&g- the. lime 1 ar rived ; in fact, my Brothers Apple and Beale had been in some trepido rftfh lest I should get left. But in a few moments tickets had been seeui cd( and our trio were seated in the ele gant car, speeding on t'owanl Peters burg under the care of everybody’s friend, Captain Calvin Hill. On the train we fouud-Rev. It. C. Tuck, of Norfolk county, bound for the same place with ourselves; and, of course, he made a very handsome addition to our party. Here, too, we were greet ed by the honest, genial, lace of Rev; Dr. Ruffuer, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Virginia. In conversation with Dr. Itufiner and others, I was scarcely conscious of bow time passed-, and soou the spires of Petersburg came in sight. After a pause of a few minutes, on we sped toward Burkeville, enjoying the com pany and conversation of Rev. Broth ers Jordau and White, of the Metho dist Episcopal Church, who were on their way to their Conference in ses sion at Lynchburg. At 2 o’cjoek our party of four alight ed at Burkeville, where we expected to have to remain until 2 A. m. the next day, before taking the train on the Richmond amL-Danville Railroad for News Ferry, nelir where the Con ference was to meet. But, just as we stepped from the train on the A. M. & O. Railroad, a freight train on the Richmond and Danville Road came np. Inquiry elicited the fact that, by taking that train, we could reach News Ferry by 8 P. M.^inis affording* us the opportunity of obtaining a good night’s rest. Bo into the “caboose” we penetrated, and somebody said, “Go np stairs.” What! go up stabs in the caboose of a freight train ? Certainly, ■ why not 7 Bending low, passing through a narrow door, and ascending a short stairway, we stood —where V—why, in tin observatory! In that elevated place our eyes could roam every way and see the country as we travelled. And such travelling! Did you ever travel on the R. &. D. It. R. f “Rough,” does not express it. The fact is, we pteachers almost exe cuted ati involuntary dance, under the furious jostling of the car. Not that Bro. Apple actually danced a jig, nor that Bro. Beale executed a “pigeon wing,”—they certainly did not. But they probably came as near [lancing,against their will,as they ever lie in their lives ! Night came on ; nfCIover, we vacated our two story CAMUid entered another with no up Rtuiri®. Finally, at 8 o’clock, we alight*^, at News Ferry, and, having aunouucaft by telegram from Burke ville our dtytniug, were met at the de pot by BtmJB. T. Pierce, a member of Pleasant Oi^vo Church, w ho escort ed us to his ItAe in the village and •oou made us comfortable with a $oo \! supper and a glowing fire. Under tlio hospitable roof of this family, our party spent, the night; and the next morning, in Uro. Boyd’s big wagon, went out to the Church. We arrived at Pleasant Grove at 10 o’clock, to fipd the Conference in session. And now, I will change the style of this article, go back a day, and become a chronicler. The North Carolina and Virginia Christian Conference met at Pleas ant Grove, Church, Halifax county, Va., in its 62d annual session, on Friday, Nov. Hi, 1877, and was called to order by Kev. W. 8. Long, Presi dent of the last session. The following ministers and lay delegates were enrolled as present: Elders.—Solomon Apple, Alfred Apple, J. W. Wellons, W. S. Long, \V. G. Clements, P. V\ Allen, M. L. Hurley, .T. W. Holt, P. T. Klapp. Licentiate—D. F. Jorcs. Lay-Dele gates—B. J. Wicker, J. H. Moring J. T. Ball, 8. T. Covington, 11. A. N. Apple, .T. W. Harden, 15. A. Sellars, G. W. Whitsitt, <1. W. Boyd, J. lv. I Gibson, N. M. Watson, P. II. Apple, H. C. Fulton, W. 11. Buntin, J. A. Jones, 1). II. Fuqnaj^ G. S. Watson, Levi Walker, W. A. McCauley, W. C. Tiuitt, W. A. Sharp, 15. ,T. Black ley, Samuel Ireland, P. J. Kcrnodte, S. M. Holland, Bobei t Hollins, Al fred Moling, J. II. Howard. The temporary chairman proceed ed to lead the body in devotional ex ercises, after which an election was held to fill the otliee of President of the present session. The choice fell upon Hev. W. S. Long. The resignation of Hev. D, A. Long as standing secretary, was read and accepted. Hev. Jeremiah W. Holt was then elected standing secretary, and Bro. P. J. Kernodle was chosen assistant secretary. Conference decided to meet each day at 9 o’clock a. si., and take a re cess at 12 ji., for preaching and din ner ; reassem ble at 2 r. ji., and adjourn at will. On motion, 12 o’clock to morrow, Nov. 17, was fixed upon as the time for the delivery of the annual ser moii, by llev. W. S. Long. Itev. VV. G. Clements, and lay broth ers J. T. Ball and ii. A. Sellars, were appointed a committee to prepare a statistical table, showing the number of Churches and such facts about them as it may be desirable to know. The Kales of Order adopted at the last session, were je-adopted for tlie government of the present session. tt< pie, appointed a committee on Religious Exercises during the present session. The body then adjourned, with de votional exercises by ltev. S. Apple. Second Day. Conference met, with the President in the chair. Devotional exercises were conducted by ltev. W. G. Clem ents. The following new members, arrived and were enrolled : ltev. M. L. Win ston, K. D. Holmes, ltev. J. W. Hatch, M. C. Winston, W. T. Young, Z. N. Apple, J. S. Ashby, ltev. C. A. Boon, ltev. It. C. Tuck. The minutes of yesterd iv’s session were read and approved ; after which reports were read from the following Churches: Morrisville,Lebanon,New Providence, New Elam, Apple’s Chapel, Antioch, Moore Union, Sa lem Chapel, Wake Chapel, Pope’s Chapel, Mt. Bethel, Bethlehem, Ca tawba Springs, Pleasant Hill (John son). ltev. William Slate, of the Baptist Church,was invited to a seat in the body as a deliberative member. ltev. Brothers C. A. Apple, E. W. Beale, and J. T. Whitley, fraternal messengers from the Eastern Virgin ia Christian Conference, being pres ent, were invited to sit in the Confer ence, ns deliberative members. These brethren accepted tlie invitation in short speeches. „ Brothers A. M. Way and G. W. Piunix arrived and were enrolled. A letter was read from ltev. G. A. T. Whitaker, of the Methodist Protes taut Church, who had been appointed a fraternal messenger to this body, but found it inconvenient to attend. ltev. J. W. Welions, and iay-broth ers W. X. Pritchard and A. M. Way were appointed a special committee, to inquire into t he causes of irregular ities on the part' oi some of tho Churches in reference to holding business meetings and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Tlie Conference decided to bold its annual session next year with the Church at Damascus, Orange county, N. C. This Church is not far from Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina. ltev. Alfred Apple was appointed to preach the next annual serruou. Brothers A. Moring, G. W. Piunix, and J. W. Harden, were appointed a committee to examine the records of the local Churches. * Conference then suspended its busi ness, to hear the annual sermon.— Rev. W. S. Long delivered the ser mon, from Ezekiel 3 : 5-7: “For thou j nrt not sent to a people of a strange ! speech and of an hard language, but j to the bouse of Israel * * * surely ( bod I sent thee to them, they would iv. J. W. Welions, ltev. S. Ap ! have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee.” Brother Long makes a tine appearance in the pulpit, has a rich voice, graceful gesticulation, and pleasing, manner. The sermon was thoughtful, pathetic and earnest, and abounded in forcible points. The speaker discussed the mission of the Gospel preacher, under three heads: (1.) To open the eyes of sinners, point them to Christ, and bring them from nature to grace. (2.) To store the minds of men with materials for con viction under the afflictive dispensa tions of God. (3.) To stop the months of sinners under the liual decisions of the Judge-. The large congregation listened with deep attention and doubtless with profit. After the sermon, the congregation repaired to the grove, where t lie wants of the inner man were fully supplied. At the opening of the afternoon session, various ministers .who had been appointed fraternal messengers to other Conferences, were called up on to report, and made their various statements. ltev. J. \V. Holt made his report, as chairman of a special committee appointed at the last session to pre pare a blank form for recording the minutes of quarterly conferences, and also to prepare a form for church reg isters. The report was amended and adopted. The Conference then elected the following fraternal messengers to sister Conferences: To the Eastern Virginia Conference, Rev. Brothers W. G. Clements, S. Apple, A. Apple, M. L. Hurlg.y, W. S. Long, M. L. Winston and I’. T. Klapp. To the Deep River Conference, Rev. Bros. J. W. Hatch, S. Apple, P. T. Klapp, W. S. Long, and M. L. Hurley. To the Virginia Valley Conference, Rev. Bros, i\T. L. Hurley, J. W. Wcllons, and C. A. Boon. To the Methodist Protestant Conference of North Car olina, Rev. D. A. Long, and Rev. J. W. Wcllons. To the Methodist Epis copal Conference of North Carolina, Rev. W. S. Long, and Rev. J. W. Holt. To tlie Cclored Christian Con ference of North Carolina, Rev. Broth ers J. W. Wcllons, M. L. Winston and P. W. Alien. 1 lie committee on Religions Kxer cises aiinoiniceil the following ap pointments for preaching: Sunday, 11 A. M., Il3\\ J. T. Whitley in the Church, and Rev. 1'. T. Klapp at the Academy near by; 2 p. At., Rev. E. W. Beale. Monday, 12 Mi ller, Cr "A. Afipie. The Conference then adjourned un til Monday, !) o’clock A. At. Sabbath morimig darned brilliant ly, and by 11 o’clock a congregation, estimated at from one to two thou sand, had assembled at the Church. Nearly five hundred of these were packed into the Church building, and several hundred others assembled nr tiie Academy building near by. Even after the houses were full, hundreds of people were left outside," unable to get into the doors. The congregation in the Church was addressed by the writer hereof, and the singing was led by Professors Wilson and Moring. Rev. P. T. lvlapp preached to the au dience in the Academy, After din ner Rev. E. W. Beale preached in the Church to a large and solemn congre gation, and Rev. R. C. Tuck preached at the same hour in the Acade my. The services of the entire day were very pleasant, ' A sketch of the proceedings from Monday morning until the close of the Session, will be given next week. Eor the present I lay down the pen. J. T. W. IMPROVING UPON THE NEW TESTA MENT PLAN. The Religious Herald thinks “Bros. Wliitley, Barrett, Beale and Apple, are trj mg to improve upon the New Testament plan of a Church.” Not so, Bro. DiclfTfisoif, but we arc trying, and with success, we think, to im prove iiiion the Baptist plan. We never heard of any person, ment ioned in the New Testament, who was ever called a Baptist except John; and great as lie was, we have very high authority for saying that even the least man it* the Kingdom of Heaven —the Church of Christ ?—is greater Ilian he. Besides, you cannot prove beyond rational doubt that even John was aii-imnier.sionist: . True, we have seen what claims to be an “improved’’ ^version of the. New Testament, in which he is styled “John the Immer ser;” lint we are not responsible for that we suppose ? There is very strong ground for supposing that Raul was never im mersed—though we must confess to a very slender interest in the question as to whether lie was or nbt—and there is still stronger ground for thinking that ho was?not a “Baptist,” and could not, if he were alive, to day, be admitted to the .Lord’s table in any Baptist Church in Richmond.—. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to,preach the gospel” may be the language of a Baptist preacher; but we trow well that a dozen Diogoneses with the best modern electric lamps would hardly find, between sunrise ami mmset, on the tweuty first of i Juno, under a cloudless sky, the “or > tliodox” Baptist preacher, who would > have written these words under cir i cuinstances such as called them forth 1 from the great apostle of the Gentiles, i If a tree is to be judged by its fruits I dear Herald, modern Baptist preach i ers, regard the baptizing part of their i duty as rather more important than : anything else—certainly if you think that too strong, little, if at all, infe i rior to preaching the word itself. So i did not Paul think, if we may take his words in their plaiu meaning, without “that ingenious twisting” to ; which.you are so much opposed when the question of the mode of baptism comes “upon the carpet.” We are very much afraid, for your sake, that Peter was no “Baptist” when he inquired who could forbid water to be brought—why not? Is this not a plain inference ?— that the first Gentile'convorts might be bap tized. Well, we hear of more than one : persoft who was called a CmtiSTi an in the New Testament. The disci ples at Autioch were probably very numerous; and it seems that they were only the first, to be called Chris tians. No doubt—the inference is plain—most other disciples in Apos tolic times were called Christians likewise. If Agrippa had said, Al most thou persuadest me to be a Bap tist,’ Bro. Dickinson would now be crowing over it to an extent scarcely surpassed by the supposed perform ance of that fabulous chanticleer, whose business it was to arouse all the cocks on earth to their duty of heraldiug the dawn. Bat, alas! for Brother D. and oth ers who plume themselves upon hav ing discovered the original and genu ine New Testament plan—name and all, we suppose—Agrippa said no such thing. Paul would have thought him mad,and with much betteujeasouthaii Festus had for suspectinj the sanity of the apostle. For Agrippa, as Paul declared, was not ignorant of those things. Bio. Dickinson is very proud ot a certain gaol key which has turned upon Baptists in a colonial prison of Virginia, in the days when Baptists were not quite so numerous as they are now. This is all very well, per haps, and we suppose that it is much more comfortable to feel proud of our fathers who were martyrs, than to be in the martyrs’ places. But Peter, who must have been a Baptist, if that was the New Testament Church, says: “If any man suffer as a Chris thin, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” Now, why did not Peter, for the com fort of his Baptist brethren that w-jye to lie, say : “If any man sutler as a Baptist, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify himself on this behalf”! This would have been a first-rate text for some of the “memorial sermons” that our Baptist brethren delivered a few years ago when they celebrated their “centennial.” Now we put it to any disinterested party tosay,wheth er this amended text would not have fitted those memorial sermons a great deal better than anything which this “New Testament Church” can find in the New Testament itself? No,^Brother Dickinson, we don’t wish lo improve upon the New Tes tameut; but upon your interpreta tion of the New Testament. We are somewhat in the condition of that fa mous king who, upon being told that the solar system wras constructed upon a certain plan knowp as the Ptolemaic theory,—w herein it was gravely held that the Sun and planets were fixed, as it were upon long bars and cranks, revolving in cycles and episycles, remarked with '<1 ry irony that, if he had been consulted at the creation, he could have given some valuable hints. You come to us with an irrational hypothesis—not at all consistent with the spirit of the New Testament, and having a rather slender appearance of consistency with the letter of it, and toll us that the Bible teaches what you hold. We say we can improve upon your sys tem, and you say we are trying to improve upon God’s plan. We plain ly answer that the New Testament is not to be held responsible for your blind blunderings. No sooner did Galileo begin to discover now planets with his telescope, than people began to declare that other planets were useless, ar.d therefore did not exist. We commend you to the argument of Sizzi for a specimen of reasoning which we consider about as good as your'S. Now, Baptist brethren, and ye oth er brethren who are of the most straitest sect of the sectarians, do you—now do you t—imagine that “ye are the people—the only people—and that wisdom shall die with yon”? No doubt your “baptismal succes siou” all tho way down from the apos tles, is-a very fine thing—in your own eyes. But there is a Priest after the order of Melchizadek, wjjo was not successor to any one, and who wants no lineal successor after him. Ilis ministers are ministers after his or der. They do not receive their pow ers from the imposition of episcopal hands, nor from the plunging of one who baa beeu baptized into a uiytbio lineal priesthood; hot without other spousors than He who made them, and gave them a work to do, they go and do that work, commissioned by no hereditary hand operated by blind and senseless machinery. “But go ye aud learn what that menneth.” A. NOT THE WAY TO RAISE MONEY. A religions contemporary tells a story, with evident relish, as to how a certain deacon raised ten dollars for the benefit, of his Church. A can didate for the Legislature, during the recent canvass in Virginia, stepped into a Church to listen to the sermon, which was succeeded by a collection for some Church purpose. One of the deacous approached the office seeker, with the significant hint, that if he wanted any votes in that community, he must contribute ten dollars. Of course the money was forthcoming. The deacon plumed himself upon his address, the congregation felt proud of their shrewd collector, aud the thiug was thought too good to be kept concealed ; so the story was pub lished in the denominational paper as a valuable bint to other collectors with similar opportunities. We are sorry that the above rela ted incident should have occurred in any Church in Virginia, aud especial ly sorry that any editor of a religious newspaper should have commended the “trick" which was put upon the candidate. If the man chose to give the amount, of course it was not the business of the Church to inquire very closely into the motives of the donor; but rather, in charity, to con clude, if possible, that the money was given from proper motives. But to appeal to a man’s self-interest in the way specified, is certainly very far from whjik seems to us the scriptural teaching upon the subject. In fact, sueli a course was demoral izing in whatever way we may look at it. if the candidate was expected to purchase the favor of the members of that Church by paying money which they ought to have paid them selves, it amounted, morally at least, to a species of bribery utterly unwor thy of a community which claims to cherish purity m the body politic.— What shall we think of meu—Chris tian men—whose votes are given to a fellow-citizen, not because of liis po litical principles and general fitness for a place of public trust, but be cause ho has contributed something to their Church 1 If Christian beuevolence is design ed to do any good to the individual exercising it, must not this good flow from the purity and disinterestedness of the act, rather than from the sel fish motives which were, in this case, appealed to ? For the honor of truth and religion, we hope that no Chris tian man will ask for contributions hereafter upon any similar grounds. God and the Bight are not honored by any such spurious benevolence. A. MURDERED FOR UNBELIEF. An event occurred recently in Bell county, Texas, which should bring a blush of shame to every Christian man in this free land of ours. Dr. S. J. Bussell was taken out and hanged by the neck until he was dead by a mob, because he had declared himself an unbeliever as respects the religion taught in the Bible. It appears that Dr. Bussell took a great deal of pains to make know'll his infidelity, and of ten argued Very earnestly against the divine authenticity of the Bcrip: tures. Threats were made against him, to the effect that if he did not desist from thus proclaiming his .un belief, he w'ould be treated with se verity. But fearless of the couse qneuces, he continued in his former ways until the iudignation of the community culminated in the horri ble crime already mentioned. Certainly, Dr. Itussell was impru dent, as respects his own safety, but. who dare defend the shocking and outrageous couduct of thoSe who, un der the plea of upholding religion, have so shamefully broken the laws of God and man f It is not pretended that the murdered man was guilty of any crime against the peace or moral purity of the community. Du the contrary, the leaders of the mob ac knowledged to the unfortunate man that they had nothing to say against his honesty, and other moral qualities as a citizen, and that the punishment was to be inflicted upon him for his infidelity alone. The mob was com posed of mistaken zealots who had the presumptuous folly to suppose that God had mado them the minis ters of his vengeance, in visiting condigu punishment upon one, whom they regarded as an enemy of the truth. We are told that the leaders of this party were prominent members of the Baptist Church. Of course this is no more a disgrace to tbfe re spectable denomination of Christians calling themselves Baptists than to any other Cbrist<|a organization.— The Baptists in general will no more approve such an act, than would Presbyterians or Methodists. But it is an act which must cause every Uhristiau wan, of whatever flenomi nation, to hang his head with slintue. It is a disgrnco to Bell county, to the State of Texas, to the United States, and to every true follower of Jesus Christ, everywhere throughout the world. No man can more regret than wo do to hear any one .professing senti meuts of unbelief. Wo feel that it is a sad misfortune for any man to im bibe such opinions. If there is any thing that should awake our charity, towards a man, it is to see him an avowed skeptic as to the gicat truths of the Gospel. But if it had been our fortune to have been ushered into eternity on the same night in which Dr. ltussell was murdered, wo would not, even with his sentiments, have exchanged places* with any one of his murderers. It is surely unnecessary for us to point out, at this day, the fact ttiat God’s cause is not to be pro moted by any such inhuman and devilish devices. We trust that the majesty of the law will be vindicated in the prompt and condign punish meiit of these men, who are traitors to their God, and worse than traitors to their country and to religion. A. GLEANINGS HERE AND, THERE. Moody and Sankey are holding re vival meetings in Burlingtou, Vt. The effort to change the name of the Protestant Episcopal Church to “The Church of America” was a fail ure. X Rev. H. A.iBrown has beeu called to the pastorale of the Baptist church in Winston, N" C., and will probably accept. Dr. Talmage in a card in the Chi cago Advance announces this retire ment from the editorial chair of that paper. Rev. B. York, D. D., of Rutherford College, N. C., has recently been elec ted Prysident of a high school in Ar kansas, with a salary of $1200. President Hayes has sent a check for $100 to the ladies of the Grace Street Presbyterian church, Rich mond, to aid them in paying off their church debt. The Literary Societies of Ran dolph Macon College are arranging with Mr. Fisher, the Artist, for a life size portrait of Dr. Duncan. Mr. Fisher knew him well, and paints to life. The Triennial Convention of the Freewill Baptists mot recently at Fairport, N. Y. This body holds to open communion. It has 1,-104 Churches, 1,292 ordained preachers, and 74,821 members. Dr. John Poisal, whose salary was $900, a Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, has resign ed that position and accepted that of private Secretary to Col. Kane, May or of Baltimore, at a salary of $1,000. The Rev. R. W. P. Harrison, D. I)., of Atlanta, but now in charge of the Mount Vernon church (Southern Methodist,) Washington, D. C., has been elected Chaplain of the Lo.ver House of Congress in place of Dr. Poisal, resigned. To Rev. Mr. Lafferty of the Rich mond Christian Advocate belongs the credit for reporting the speeches on the occasion of Presidents Hayes’ visit to Richmond. There was no other stenographer at hand to per form the work of the occasion. Mr. Spurgeon told Mr. Hepworth that the reason he did not visit Amer ica was, that the Scriptures do not allow a man to take a vacation of over forty days, and instances the fact that when Moses came down from the mount he found his flock wor shipping a calf. In a fashionable family in New York the word ‘style’ is often used, and such distinction given to it that the youngest—a child of six or seven —on retiring for the night was heard to make this addition to “Now I lay me down to sleep.” “God bless dear papa and mama, and O, dear Lord, please make us very stylish.” At the funeral of General Forrest the preacher gave a deeply interest ing account of the stern warrior’s conversion to Chiist, in November 187o, and of his triumph over death. Thursday before his death ho said to his pastor, “Tell my brethren and sisters that during sixs week I have lain in my bed and communed with my God. Tell them to take up their cross and follow their Saviour. Tell my old comrades in sin to give their hearts to God and seek a higher, holier life.” Rev. Geo. Muller says ho has been praying thirty-one years for two per sons, and his prayers are not yet an swered. He says: “Thirty-three years ago the fath er of these young men and I agreed to pray for our children. In eigh teen months my own daughter was converted. Five long years passed away, and one of the sons of my friend was converted. Six more years passed, and day by day we waited on God. At the end of sixteen years a second son was con verted, but these two sous of my friend remained unconverted. Thus God trie* our <aith,”v HANDBOOK OF PUNCTUATION. Punctuation is not only an impor tant art, but it is also a matter com paratively little understood. Thor oughly mastered and carefully used, it contributes materially to the clear ness and forco of literary composition; partly understood and carelessly em ployed. it frequently obscures, rather than elucidates, the author’s mean ing. Among the multitudes of men and women who make frequent uso of the pen, in writing business letters, maintaining friendly epistolary cor respondence, and preparing articles for the public press, comparatively few liavo any correct knowledge of the principles of punctuation. Sorno do not punctuate at all, others use no mark but the dash, While still others sprinkle commas lavishly anil indis criminately through their composi tions. Teachers of the rising generation owe it, not only to their pupils, but to the society of the future, to teach carefully the principles of punctua tion. If the (Joining Mail is to be clear-beaded, and make l.is impress upon the world, he must have every available aid to the clear conception and accurate expression of thought. Professor Joseph A. Turner, of Hol lins Institute, in this State, lias pro pared a treatise on tho subject, and it has been issued from the press of J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, under the title, “Handbook of Punc tuation.” Prof. Turner, with whom we have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance, is an alumnus of Itich moml College, and lias taken high rank among the younger literary-men of Virginia, as a profound and accu rate scholar. In this little volume of 89 pages, he has discussed the great principles which underlie punctua tion, and the value and' significance of the various pointiyiii use; and, while not undertaking to lay down specificj-ules to cover all eases, lie has illustrated the best usage by nu merous apt quotations. There is an absence of positivism about the book that we like. Making ample conces sions to those who differ from him, tlie author indicates briefly liis opin ions, and gives reasons for them. 'The book, while not at all exhaustive of the subject, is a valuable addition to tho list of text books on punctuation. We do not know the price, but par ticulars may be ascertained by ad dressing the publishers. TYNDALL AS A THEOLOGIAN. M o tbinl^pp ill shortly appear that Mr. Joseph Cook has got Pro fessor Tyndall “just'There he wants him.” In a “Popular Science” ad dress at Birmingham the professor has repeated the fatal error he onro made at Belfast, and stepped over the line of science to encounter theo logians on their own ground, enunci ating simple, bold, materialistic fatal ism. Of course he has wantonly ex posed himself as a target to all sharp shooters, and will be riddled through aud through with the argumentative tire not only of theologians but of all free lighters. I>o will, no responsi bility, no soul, is his frank, simple doctrine—nothing but chemistry, electricity, and heat (as a mode of motion) imprisoned in the muscular rystem and let loose by a telegram from the brain, which, in its turn, was operoted by some external influ ence. Queer, isn’t it? It lie had found the substance of this doctrine under the title of “predestination” or “doctrine of the will” in the book ol' some theologian, lie would have de nounced it as a hideous, cruel, de moralizing relic of the dark ages— derived from the inhuman and unde veloped psychology of the ancient Jews. Doubtless, however, it is, sci entifically considered, very liberal and “advanced,” and will, very prop erly, be reproduced for general circu lation in the regulation monthlies. Is it possible that there is a little humbug about Professor Tyndall ? Just a little, such as will sometimes linger in a great man even after he has reached the highest pianos of de velopment and evolution ? One is in clined to think, us he gazes upward, that he has, after all, a touch of our little weaknesses, such as brings him wit him Ike reach of our appreciation ; and this address goes far to prove it. The pathet ic way in winch he describes himself as one of the recluses of sci ence, dragged unwilling before the public out of the hermit solitude in which he prosecutes his researches, “nor thirsts for human praise,” leads us sometimes to think that even Mr. Tyndall possesses some of the weak nesses common to those aggregations of matter which we ignorantly term “personalities,” and fancifully endow with “soul,” “seuse,” “thought,” and the like.— Christian Union. Says “Clinton Clyde, in the Rich mond Christian Advocate:The Bap tist Church in the United States in 1770 contained 350 ministers and 28.000 members while the Methodist Church in the United States, in the same year, had 20 ministers and only 5.000 members—whereas the Metho dist Church in 1870 contains 47,421) ministers and 3,183,308 members, while the Baptist Church during the same year, (1870,) contains only 19,517 ministers and-2,472,000 members. Is • this the demoustrutiou that every bo* (V is becoming Baptist inclined 7 i i

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