The Christian Sun.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30,1380.
D. B. Dunbar,.Proprietor.
Rer. J. Pressley Barrett - - - - Editor.
OUR PRINCIPI.KS.
1. —Tilt Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of
the Church. , .
2. —The name Christian, to the exclusion ot
all party, or sectarian names.
3. —The Holy Bible, or the Scriptures of the
Old and New Testament a sufficient rule of faith
and practice.
4. —Christian character, or vital piety, the
only test of fellowship, or church membership.
5. —The right of private judgement and the
liberty of conscience, the privilege and duty of
all.
NOTICE.
Pastors, look after tbe collection
next Sunday in your church lor the
Education of young ministers. See
to it. Funds are needed. Remember
your promise in the Pastors’ Council.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
Rev. D. F. Jones is up and doing
in his field of labor.
Rev. J. T. Kitchen is one of our
most useful pastors. His churches
are doing well.
The Deep River Conference is
heard from, Rev. P. P. Humble says
the cause is doing well.
Mt. Auburn had a Christmas Tree
for its Sunday-school which was so
successful during the last year.
Justice B. T. Tatem of Berkley was
in Suffolk a few days ago. He is one
of Bro. Butler’s helpers in the Berk
ley church. •
The programme for the District
meeting at Union could not be pre
pared in time to appear in this issue
—we will try to be ready next week.
That was a handsome thing Union
Church, Halifax county, Va., did for
Bro. Manning a few days ago. See
the letter. The Lord will bless them.
What has become of good old An
tioch iu Isle of Wight county, Va!
For some time we have heard noth
ing from her. What is she doing t
W ho can tell us !
A* series of meetings iu the Chris
tian in Suffolk, promise much good.
Several converts already and the
meeting continues. We hope great
good may follow the effort.
It is said the Dead Sea is dead be
cause it is always receiving aud uever
giving out anything. That is why we
have so many dead Christians—they
always receive, but never give any
thing. “How will they squeeze
through the strait gate ? ’
Rev. Juo. T. Ball, the Assistant
Home Mission Secretary, has been in
the field a little over one mouth, col
lectiug back dues on mission notes,
&c. The first mouth’s report gives
us $190 as the results of his efforts.
Now, isn’t that doing well ?
We had the pleasure of meeting iu
Suffolk this week the venerable) Rev.
Robert Rawles. He has spent a long
and useful life in the church of his
choice. We wish him much peace and
happiness, as his sun goes down be
hind the western hillsjof life.
i liev. Jno. T. Ball is now workiug
in the congregation at Hebron. Next
Sunday he will preach at Holy Neck
—and the second Sunday he will be
at lit. Carmel. Look out for him,
brethren. He is coming to see you,
and he wants you to give something
for Missions.
The Editor ofthje Sun will hold
the quarterly meeting at Union (in
Surry; next Saturday and Sunday
aud at Spring Hill the following Sat
urday and Sunday. Bear these ap
pointments m mind, brethren. Be
in place promptly at the hour set.
(II o’clock A. M.)
The Hon. II. T. Moffitfc who was
licensed as a probationer to preach
the gospel wherever the providence
of God may call him at the last ses
sion of the Deep liiver Conference,
report says, is devoted to the work
he has undertaken. He is a noble
hearted Christian, and we wish him
the greatest success.
Bev. Jno. T. Kitchen is expecting
a full attendance at the District
Meeting at Union—Get ready. The
churches composing this District are
Spring Hill, Barrett’s, Ivor, Union
(iii Surry) Johnson’s Grove, Union,
aud Bethany. Each of these church
es ought to send at least two dele
gates. Attend to it at once, pastors.
ltev. Jno. T. Ball desires to return
thanks to Deacou H. T. West of
Spring Hill lor valuable assistance in
his work there, and especially to
Deacon Jno. T. Harris who quit liis
work, took Bro. Ball on his own horse
aud.buggy and went with him ^from
misplace to place, thereby allowing Bro:
’s tired horse time to rest. There
WHAT OF THE TIMES?
OUE PROGRESS.
It may be interesting to our read
ers to take a bird’s-eye view of onr
work—contrasting the past with the
preseut. It is always interesting to
hear the watchman’s report—tokuow
what is going on in the field. We
will begin with the most distant and
end with the home Conference.
Reports from the
GEORGIA AND ALABAMA CONFER
ENCE,
to say the least, certainly indicate no
decline, but rather a tendency to a
quickening of its energies. Within
the next five years, the Lord willing,
we expect to see quite an advance
over its preseut plans of work in the
field of sin—turning sinners tiTGod.
THE VIRGINIA VALLEY CONFERENCE
for a year or more up to last Novem
ber was without ministerial work
men, but the noble hearted laymen
of that Conference took hold, and in
prayer meetings aud business meet
ings kept the body together aud at
work. lu November, 1879, Itev. D.
T. Deans went to the field and took
charge. He is succeeding aud we
have no bad news from the beautiful
Virginia Valley. By the way, it is
one of the most promising fields in
the bounds of the General Conven
tion.
The next in order is the
DEEP RIVER CONFERENCE
in Central -North Carolina. While
this field has been poorly cultivated
since its possession by our people,
there is now a marked evidence of
improvement, and we believe in the
future will be one of the most effect
ive working bodies in the General
Convention. They have quit the
bid way of doing nothing aud now are
at icorh, as we believe in great ear
nestness. It is a rising body of
Christian Workers.
THE NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGIN
IA CONFERENCE.
J- la is Doily is strong and able, D'lt
needs traiuing and development,
which it is receiving at the hands of
many of its earnest ministers and
laymen. The missionary spirit, a
sure sign of growth, is rising rapidly
among this people. They have for
merly contented themselves with the
possession of many valuable country
churches. We believe that they will
not do this loug from this time.
Within the next lew years they will
enter Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro
and other places of prominence, and
establish churches for the worship of
God. A lew years ago little or noth
ing was said about Missions,Education,
ministerial and lay, and the circula
tion of religious literature. How
they occupy most of their time in
considering these and kindred sub
jects in their aunual meetings. With
this state of thiugs stirring the peo
ple under the lead of its most godly
men and ivornen we expect to see
quite a change in the future growth
and usefulness of the dear old North
Caroliua Conference. Her watch
word is Missions.
Now we come to the oldest, if not
the largest,
THE EASTERN VIRGINIA CONFER
ENCE.
A few years ago iu her annual
meetings the main work done was
the adoption of resolutions which
were never to be heard of again, es
pecially after the Conference ad
journed. Her missionary work con
sisted in appointing a committee on
Missions, which reported the arrange
ments the misisters "and churches
had made for preaching lor the en
suing year. Nothing was done to
wards raising mission funds and of
course nothing was done by the Con
ference as a body towards establish
ing new churches, or aiding feeble
churches to have regular services.
Thus we were in no sense au aggres
sivo body. Now, however, quite a
different state of things may be seen
in our annual meetings. A report on
Sunday-schools shows that we have
one active working Sunday-school
Convention, and that every church
in the body has a school.
YVe are supporting quite a number
of young men who are preparing
themselves to preach the everlasting
gospel of the Son of God as ministers
of the
*
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Our missionary interests are cer
tainly far in advance of any thing
previously known in the history of
our church, iu this direction. Our
Conference in its missionary opera
tions has established three new
churches which now are among the
most active churches in the Confer
ence. At this time it is helping a
feeble church which while too poor to
help itself, is situated in a communi
ty where a strong church may be es
tablished, and its missionary officers
are looking at two or three new pla
ces where they hope to have churches
established during the present year.
We have raised iu the last few years
mission funds sufficient to meet all
the expenses incurred iu 1 doing the
work just named, and still leave a
jalatice to our credit, most of which
s iu bank, amounting to between one
ind two thousand dollars. 'Ilie work
too mack lor him, the Fi
nancial Secretary asked for an Assis
tant at our last Conference. Tlie
request was granted. Rev. Jno. T.
Ball of Raleigb, N. C., was cbosen
our Assistant. Bro Ball entered upon
tbe duties of bis office a little more
than one month ago. Up to this time
(Jan.27) we have deposited in bank
$190 as the results of his efforts. To
get this money he had beeu to only
three churches. He is still on the
road and will speud the year in this
work. We need not add that this is
a most encouraging bird’s-eye view
of the field—the work of the Cliris
tirn Church. Bet the pray ers of the
church go up before Cod for his bles
sing upon our efforts.
IS IT FAIR?
We saw recently the following
statement:
“Bro. J. H. H- of V
comity, proposes to pay teu dollars to
sustain a missionary to labor in bis
county and the counties adjoining.
He thinks that section of the state
has beeu neglected.”
Yes, Ten Dollars! Here is a sec
tiou of country—thousands of souls
who are in danger of the judgment—
neglected. A brother sees their dan
ger aud proposes to pay ten dollars to
have the gospel preached unto them.
He gives it to help send the gospel to
the thousands of his section ot the
state. Some think this is quite liber
al. Let us see. He chews tobacco—
it costs him
FIFTEEN DOLLART A YEAR.
(a moderate estimate). Fifteen dol
lars a year to gratify this unnatur
al and injurious appetite. Has lie
not a right to spend fifteen dollars in
this.way ! If lie can spend this much
to gratify his appetite for'tobacco,
ought he not to give even more than
that for the
CONVERSION
of his countrymen t It certainly
seems reasonable. Hoes it not!
Think of it.
Our neighbor A, lives well every
day, but during the year be spends
$100, and sometimes more, for extras
for his Sunday dinners. If he can
afford this to gratify his taste for
good things, ought he not to give
certainly that much for the very im
portant work of preaching the gospel
to his fellow men who are
IN DARKNESS 1
A young man spends $25 din
ing tlie year for ornaments
to adorn his Sunday dress, lie
does this without complaint. It
is alright—it is self, you see.
While he does this, yonder are hun
dreds of young people, sinners, be
cause no man has taught them the
truth. This “dressy young man” is a
member of the church—his young
friends are sinners. If he can give
$25 for ornaments for his person,
ought ho not gladly give that much
during the year for the salvation ol
his
YOUNG FRIENDS?
Here is a young lady—a member of
the church ut spends 8
a season lor ornaments for her bonnet,
ought she not to do with less orna
ment and give $1 a season for the
great work, the glorious work ol
preaching [Jesus and Him crucified
for our salvation ! Heie is a young
boy, 14 years of age. He has tc
work for his parents on a farm,
Though he works for his father, yet
he manages to get a little “pocket
change” to spend for himself. He is
a member of the church, but he
spends it all on himself—most gener
ally to gratify some whim of his. He
claims that Clod for Christ sake has
forgiven.
HIS SINS
—that this was done through the
preachiug of the word to him. Ought
he not to save a part of this “pocket
change” to help in sending the gos
pel to sinners! How can he be a
Christian and not be anxious to aid
in sending the gospel to those who
are in the darkness ot sin!
We give by far too little for the
spread of the gospel among the des
titute. Iudeed it is time we were
more earnestly engaged in behalf of
the salvation of the world. Ah !
brother, sister, what will the harvest
be! When Christ shall make up his
jewels w'ill you bo among the num
ber! We complain of the little we
give for this purpose, while we spend
many times as much to gratify sel
fish whims and passions.
IN THE JUDGMENT
O friend when you see your country
men rushing down the road lo hell,
you will wish you had doue more for
the salvation of men. Thousands of
our own countrymen are dying and
going to hell because we do not do
our duty in sending the gospel in the
hands of faithful ministers to them.
“lie ye doers af the icord, and not
hearers only.”
l'Go work in my vineyard,
Oh ! work while ’tis day,
For the bright hours of sunshine
Are hastening away ;
And night’s gloomy clouds
Are gathering fast
When the laboring time
Will forever be past
Blessed, thrice blessed
Are the diligent few
Who finish the work
They are bidden to do.”
THOUGHTS OF OTHER DAYS.
Wlicn the memory of early life is
awakened by nets of benevolence aud
love, the emotion is most pleasant
and delightful. The experience of
yesterday makes the sentiment prac
tical and effective. Perhaps doubly
so to one in my painful and noxious
situation. The deepest feelings of
my nature were reached and pro
foundly touched when the affection
and love of a whole community (low
ed together for my relief, and com
fort. A large, heavy, well filled box
was brought to my door only one
day ago, which awakened some sur
prise, as we knew not where it came
from, what it contained!, or who sent
it. lint it was plainly marked to me,
so 1 preceded to open it, and there
were hams, Hour, dry goods, money
just, such things as l needed, even
walnuts and pea nuts, which put our
little ones a^Iec and made all happy.
Hut as I begun lo read the labels on
each article aud found the names of
those 1 first learned to love, those
largely composing the first charge of
my ministerial life, my feelings pas
sed their usual bounds, and I lost
control over them for a time. I could
almost imagine that L was standing
again in.the presence of the hun
dreds that once Hocked together and
filled t lie church at Union Halifax
Co., Va., nearly a score of years ago.
Yes, the heart of old Union grew big
with loving purposes, and overflowed
with Christian affection as she pour
ed into the lap of her unworthy
brother the bountiful collections of a
united community. The names of_
those good bietlnen have a force
with me that draws like the magnet.
Let me record some of them, whose
offerings helped till that box. C. H.
Win free, JO. 1'. Tuck, 14. F. Sanford,
Jas. Sanford, Ab. Sanford (colored),
Uavid Apt, S. A. Faulkner, W. A.
Tuck, Jas. Apple, l)r. J. L. Sanford,
Hannah Sanford, Leah Murphry, IS.
N. Wall, P. W. S. Tuck, G. 1). Apt,
Li. A. Vancy, li. II. Tuck, Percy
Tuck, C. Tuck, Major Nelson, L.
W. Overby, Jas. Win free, Wiley
Murry, W. II. liuntin. W. 11. Murry,
John Loftis, Jane Apple and M. L.
Hurley aud wife. Names of blessed
memory. Accompanying the whole
was the following letter which ex
plained the. matter fully.
Ited Bank, Va., i
Jan. 14th iStio. j
Dear Bro. Manning:—The church
at Union, Halifax county, Va, having
decided to present you with a box of
provisions, money &e., as a token of
their love lor you and as a high ap
preciation of your services as their
former pastor, and having directed
uie to write a suitable letter to ao
company the same, expressing their
fraternal greetings. f now with
pleasure proceed to discharge that
duty.
My dear Brother: It affords me
unspeakable pleasure to bear to you,
by way of letter, the fraternal feel
ings, love, and esteem of your former
charge. Notwithstanding it has been
a long time since you administered to
them in holy thing,—since you min
gled your teais with theirs, since you
bowed in prayer with them around
the sacred altar, and the conscrated
fireside, yet I am happy to say that
neither time nor space has separa
ted yon from their memory and affec
tion. Allow me to say that much of
what Uuion church is and the sur
rouuding country is due to your faith
ful and efficient labors while here
among them. And let it ever be a
source of pleasure to you to know
that whatever your condition in life
may be, whether one of sorrow or
joy, that you will always share large
ly 111 the sympathy and prayers, and
if needs be, in the purses pi the good
people around Union. And now with
renewed assurance of the love, confi
dence and esteem of this dear people,
be pleased to accept the tittle offer
ing sent you, by those who have of
ten enjoyed your prayers counsels
and pleaching in the past. With
many good wishes for your welfare
and success in life, and ever praying
that God may restore you again to
health and perfect soundness of body
and make you as highly useful in the
future as you have been in the past.
I subscribe myself your brother in
Christ.
M. L. Hurley.
l’astor.
I simply add may God bless the
members and friends of Union
eliurcii in time and eternity.
J. N. Manning.
VERY SAD.
The following letter will be read
with sorrow. We hope it may find a
prompt response from our brethreu
in the North Carolina and Virginia
Conference and elsewhere. Bro.
Hayes deserves help—let it be liber
ally and promptly given.—Ed. Sun.
Dear llro. BarrettI am deeply
afflicted with dropsy, and am uot
able to attend to any secular business
whatever, to procure a livelihood for
myself, and my aged and afflicted
companion. I wish to say to the sev
eral pastors of the North Carolina
and Virginia Conference, especially,
that we are in need of means of sup
port. Will they please to bring the
matter before their respective church
es, perhaps, they will make some con
tribution to aid us in this our time of
need.
We hereby tender our most sincere
thanks to Itev. W. S. Bong and his
church at Providence, for the mate
rial help already afforded us. May
the Lord reward them a hundred fold.
i'our afflicted brother,
H. B. Hayes.
. ✓
SUPERANNUATED FUND.
What has been the result of the
collections taken up last month for
this purpose? 1 for one am anxious
to know, anti I believe our people
generally would like to hear the re
port of our Treasurer. Not that he
is required by any church law to re
port before the next meeting of the
Annual Conference, yet it would
be quite desirable to know as soon as
possible what success we met with in
the Brst collection recommended by
the Conference. I know our Trea3
urer has his hands full and I Would
not unnecessarily tax him with addi
tional duty. But 1 am of an opinion
that a report would effect to a cer
tain extent the live other collec
tions which are to be taken up dur
ing the year.
All that is desired is the amounts
and from whom received.
E. W. B.
Bet every minister report prompt
ly to Col. Savage, our Treasurer, so
that ho can make a correct report
for the satisfaction of our people.
Brethren, it will not do to trifle in
this matter. Oar cause demands
your prompt attention.—Ed. Sun.
CHRISTMAS TREE AT ML AUBURN.
The Sabbath-school at this place
last yea'' was very successful. It was
largely attended all through the
spring aud summer mouths, closing
in November. The school decided to
have a Christmas-tree for the enjoy
meat of the little children who labor
ed so hard to make it what it shrmia
be—a goodT school. These pleasahF
exercises took place on the 27th day
of December.
The following was the programme
of that interesting occasiou :
1 Call to order—Prayer.
2 Opening Address—Jacob Kim
ball. Hymn, “Heavenly Mansions”
— 1st verse.
3 Welcome—Meredith Bullock.—
Hymn, “Heavenly Mansions”—2nd
ver^e.
4, Sociable Afternoon—Sallie Has
kins, Sue Park, Annie Newman, Ad
die Pasoka!, Florence Atkins, Pattie
Mabry, ii.vinu, ‘‘Jesus Loves Me.”
5. Mrs. C.'s Lecture—Josie Has
kins, James Kimball. Hymn, “Near
er to the Land of Lest.”
C. iteal Gentleman—Henry Flem
ing and Floyd Atkius. Hymn, “Hear
Him Calling.”
7. The Way to Windome—James
Watkins and Mori Watkins.
S. Cireumstauces Alter Cases—
William Fleming, Ed. Peoples and T.
A. Parks. Hymn, “Bringiug in the
Sheaves.
9. When t Am a Man—Emmet
Newman.
10. Don’t' Make a Fuss —Willie
Kimball. Hymn, “Coming of the
Bridegroom.”
11. Fruit of the Spirit—By seven
young ladies and one young tuau.—
Hymn, “Gathering Home.”
Bev. M. L. Hurley, Address—Ab
sent. Hymn, “Angels in the Air.”
12. Appearance of Santa Claus.
13. Distribution of Prizes.
All who engaged in these delight
ful exercises acted their parts well.
They made it a success. All who
were present were favorably impress
ed, both with the youug people and
the school. The school will open
again early in the spring. All are
anxious lor Bro. S. P. liead to serve
them agaiu as superintendent. Hope
he will consent to do so. I heard one
of the first ladies that it has ever
been my pleasure to meet, say that
Capt. 8. P. Head was the best super
intendent that she ever saw. I think
he is in every respect worthy of the
compliment.
M. L. Hurley.
P. S. 1 desire to return thanks to
sisters Mary Bead, Creasy Newman,
Cathriue D. Cole, Ellen Cole, Harri
ett Burroughs, P. Fleming, Bettie
Turner and Bettie Haskins, members
of my Mt. Auburn charge, for valua
ble presents.
M. L. H.
lied Bank, Va.
WHAT IS A REVIVAL?
“These are sound and truthful
words from the United Presbyterian:
“A revival of religion means better
church attendance, fuller prayer
meetings, more devoted service, lar
ger contributions, a deeper earnest
ness in all practical Christian life. It
is not a mere excitement of singing
and exhortation, the effect of which
ends with the exercise.”
And just as a revival of business
manifests itself in greater activity
along all the lines of production and
trade ; so a revival of religion asserts
itself at every point of contact be
tween the Truth of God and our daily
life before men”.—The Covenant.
We are anxious for our people to
learn a lesson. The above contains
the lesson. Study it. Make an ef
fort. Bee if you can not get out of
the old idea that a revival of religion
means simply to attend church one
week yearly, get happy, feel good,
&e. To attend church lor a week, to
be happy and feel good will do us no
harm—wo like those things. Pray
do uot stop there. Go on. A revi
val means more than the excitement
which ends with a protracted meet
ing. If a true revival, it means more
permanent, hard work for the Master.
Learn a lesson, reader. \
'\
* NtWS FROM_THE FIELD.
11 l, ifl up pour eyes, and look mi the Fitldi; Jot,
they are irMe, already to harveol."—Si. John 4:3!^
I bad the pleasure of visiting the
Deep liiver Conference.
I was at Flint Spring Saturday the
18ih, n et a good congregation (it is
a school house). I wcut to Pleasant
Grove on Sunday at 11 o’clock, there
I met a very attentive congregation,
Bro. Y. Brady accompanied me to
Bro. K. A. Mofflitt’s, there, after tak
ing refreshments, we went out to
Shiloh, nnd preached for my first
time at that place. There 1 met Kev.
H. A, Albright. The Deep Kiver
brethren are at woik, ma^the Lord
bless their labors.
S. B. Klafp.
Harley’s Mills, N. 0., Jan. 1<>,
1SS0.—A few days before Christmas
I went ou a- tour to the churches at
Union (Jrove and Shiloh. I spent a
short while with our brother lion. H.
T. Moflitt. lie is alive to the work—
so zealous as almost to forget his
store. While 1 was with him he
talked ranch «f the chhrch and nint
teis of religion. Hro Mottitt is preach
ing at some point nearly every Sun
day. lie is a rising man and will do,
the Lord willing, much for our cause.
1 visited some of the brethren of Uni
on Grove—spent the night with Bro.
Adam Brown, but had to set in my
chair all night on account of my old
disease—the asthma. My health is
still very poor. I received a present
from the family which I prize very
highly for its beauty. 1 am satisfied
the churches are doing well. Rev.
W. It. Brown and lady visited me a
few days ago.. They are iu line spir
its— being very zealous for the cause
of the Master. I believe he will do
much good at Park’s X Roads this
year. We expect to pay his salary
Jeedlaily. Monthly services are held
r 'meeting*in kept up
held twice a month. Those engaging
iu it become more zealous.
I’. 1>. 131’.MItLE.
Pacific, N. C., Jan. 22,1880.—Last
Saturday and Sunday 1 was at Hood
Hope. Onr congregation was good
and attentive. Wo ask yonr readers
to remember this [dace in their pray
ers, it being a community where a
good work of Hod is greatly needed.
The Friday before 1 preached the fu
ueral .sermon of Mr. John Birco, who
died after a few days sickness.
D. F. Jones.
Ballentine's Mill, >T. C., Jan.
10th, 1880.—My health is very bad
although 1 am able to get about a lit
tle. 1 feel that my days are few on
earth ; but I feel that the Lord is with
me to comfort me in my distress.
I want all my friends to pray for
me, that 1 may bear all my atUietions
with patience and Christian fortitude.
1 yet thank God lor good friends
for on Christmas eve 1 received a
handsome “Pounding;” consisting ol
matched; apples, peanuts, sugar, Hows
er, ham, soap, calico, bleaching, but
ter, sausage and a hood for the baby,
God bless my good friends.
J. IS. AuSLEY.
Moffitt’s Mills, N. 0 , Jan. 20,
1880.—Since onr Conference 1 have
attended regularly to the churches
composing the Pastorate of which 1
have charge. My prospects are en
couraging for the present, year. 1
must tell you something. Ou last
j Saturday evening, Jany. 17, Pro. H.
A. Mortitt and W. W. Hayworth
drove up to my gate, came hastily in
to my house and proceeded at once to
open a bountiful store of provisions
and clothing—sent by many dear
friends from Shiloh chinch, each
package bearing the name of the con
tributor. I cannot tell you all [ did
receive—almost every thing needed
in a preacher’s family. Among other
things I found three or four packages
of money. I desire to return my
thanks to the dear brethren, sisters
and friends around Shiloh. May the
Lord bless them. My desire is to
serve them to greater profit than 1
have done heretofore, the Lord being
my helper.
Jno. S. Lawrence.
Who nest from the Deep River
Conference will be foumhd't
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,
Rev. Mr. Colcord—The Chickering
Mall Services—A Splendid Sermon
—A vast crowd in attendance.
One of our New York exchanges
says:
AuoUier great congregation filled
Chickering Hall last Sunday after
noon. Mr. Colcord preached the sec
ond sermon of the series on, Christ
the light of the world, from John
viii. 12. He said :
The text occurs also in the ninth
chapter ol' this gospel. There our at
tention is directed to a poor blind
man. Jesus opened his eyes, saying,
as He put His healing baud upon
the poor sightless balls, “As long as
I am in the world, I am the light of
the world.” The very touch of his
baud was light to the blind- There is
physical sight aud there is spiritual
sight. Spiritual things are spiritual
ly discerned ; and a man without the
light of that world is necessarily as
blind to spiritual truth as is the
sightless beggar to the blue of the
sky and the golden light ^ of the sol
emn stars above him.
It would be mockery for me to lead
a blind mau forth and point him to
the grand old mountains, aud the
splendor of the sunset beyond, and
the distant ships on the sea, and the
plashing waves at his feet, and ask
him to behold the glory of that scene.
No more can I ask a man to behold
the glory of God’s revelation to the
soul until he has received God’s Son,
the Revealer, the ouly light by which
it may be seen. If the beauty of the
great truths of God’s Gospel does
not appear to us, what we wnut is
- »
latter vision,-what we iicodds more
I gilt. As there is no beauty in rose,
of lllly, or autumn leaf, unless light
be present to paint with the brush of
its soft rays the delicate lines an& ^
various shades of color to the eye, so
we dnnuot see the beauty of God’s
(livijier works except by the revela
tion! ofthat Sun thnt is the grand
centra' orb of the spiritual' universe.
VVe saw last Sunday that Jesus is £
tli* light of the world as revealing
tiod. Ho was God manifest in the
tletb. He is also the light of the
world as revealing man to himself.
On the walls of the Delphian temple
was this inseiiption, ‘-Man, know
thyself.” He who enters the temple
of God’s truth ns revealed in Christ,
may read there the snme inscription,
‘■Man, know thyself.” Ttis written
of Jesus that He needed uot thnt any
should testify of man, for lie knew
nliar, was m man ; and when He be
comes the light by which auian looks
into his own heart, that man lor the
first time knows himself. The walls
of* room may be all besmeared with
diet and covered with dust and cob
webs, and it will belittle noticed if
the room is dimly lighted, but flood
the room with light nnd its true con
dition is at once discovered. So n
man may shut himself in the dun
geon of his own heart and believe
that it is pure, but let Christ, the
light of the world, come into that
darkened heart, aud the man will be
constrained to raise the leper’s cry,
“Unclean ! unclean!”
How quickly a man discerms him.
self tfhder the brightness of that
^^Bhiil of Tarsus verlily thought
himself the righteous of the right
eous, when at midday a great light
above the brightness of thesuu flash
ed down upon him, and under the
mid day brightness of the Sun of
Righteousness he saw himself the
chief of sinners. Some Scribes and
Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman
taken in sin. No one of those self
righteous Pharisees thought hiraselfa
sinner when they brought that poor
child to Chiist, sayiug, “Hoses in
the law eommauded that such should
be stoned; what sayest thou!” But
Jesus only answered, “Ho that is
without sii: among you, let him first
cast a stone at her dind convicted
of sin under the piercing r»y» of that
Bight, they went out due by one, be
ginning at the eldest eyen unto the
last. Conscience collared them each,
like a policeman, and marched them
oil one by one. What does that
f light reveal as to our hearts T We
have sinned every one. We must all
confess with Job, aud with Davfd,
ami with Judas, and with the Prodi
gal, “1 have siuued Father, I have
sipned against Heaven and before
thee, and am no more worthy to be
called thy son.” The purpose of
that revelation is to lead us to Christ,
l’he whole Bible was given to show
just two things—man a sinner aud
Chiist a Saviour.
HOW A CHURCH WAS FILLED ON SUN
DAY EVENINGS.
Tlie second service on Sunday in a
certain parish was poorly attended.
People thought they could not come
out twice.
The vestrymen talked the matter
over. Their talk resulted in a pledge
to each other that they would never
absent themselves, willingly from the
evening services, and they would
urge every one they saw to plan for a
second attendance.
The parents talked it over. They
found that their children were not in
the habit of spending the evening re
ligiously or profitably,aDd they deter
mined to sat them the example of an
earnest devotion to spiritual con
cerns. They began going twice a day
the Sunday after.
I be young men talked it over.
They concluded that it was their duty
to attend both services, and to bring
at least oue young mau with them.
The young ladies talked it over.
They thought that if they could go to
a concert or a party at uiglit, it could
not do them any harm to be at church
after sunset. They decided that they
would all go regularly, and take each
a young mail with them.
The minister did not know what to
make of it. He began to flatter him
self that he was a latent Spurgeon.
The atteudauce was iucreasiug every
week. Strangers, seeing the direc
tion of the crowd, followed. It be
came the most popular church iu the
city.—Living Church.
We earnestly hope our people will
adopt this plan. Do try it. Many
fail to go ouce to church ou Sunday.
Those in such a habit have need only
to make an earuest aud well rneaut
effort, and theu it will become a
pleasure to atteud church, lieraein
ber this rule.
We hope the churches will not for
get the amounts they pledged for
Ministerial Education. While ma
king the February collections a good
time to pay these amounts will be
afforded. Bro. Beale needs whht is
due him. Give it your attention.
Several interesting communica
tion? have been crowded out this
week. Let the friends continue their
writing, exercising care in the prepa
ration of articles for the paper.