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ESTABLISHED 1844. ELON COLLEGE, H. 0.. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1899. VOLUME III: NUMBER 34, C^rastiart PUBLISHED WEEKLY. The Organ of the General Convention the Christian Chnrch (Sonth). CARDINAL PRINCIPLES. 1. The Lord Jeeus la the only Head of the ehnrch. 2. The name Christian, to the exclusion of all party and sectarian names. 8. The Holy Bible, or the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, sufficient rule of faith and practice. 4. Christian character, or vital piety, the only test of fellowship or membership. 5. The right of private judgment, and the liberty of conscience, the privilege and duty of all. Reflections. The yellow fever situation at Soldiers’ Home and Phoebus is encouraging. The report still is, “no deaths, and no new cases.” All surrounding towns and cities have raised the quar antine against Newport News, Hampton, and Old Point, and no further trouble is anticipated. Affairs in the -Philippine Islands remain unchanged. The, fighting continues with the same loss ot life on both sides ; and there are no indications of a change for the better. It seems that it might be well for the Government to follow the ad vice of Senator Pettigrew, of South Dakota, who says that, “This Government should recall every soldier in the Philippines immediately, apologize to the world for the error we have made, and turn the islands over to a native government.” Last week a violent hurricane swept over the West Indies and the southern coast of the United States, and great destruction to life and property resulted wher ever it struck. In Porto Rico it is said that 100,000 persons were left destitute, and a famine is imminent. The situation is so serious as to cause an appeal to be made by the United States Government for aid for the suf ferers. Secretary Root, of the War Department immediately is sued an appeal to the mayors of cities of more than 150,000 pop ulation for help for the sufferers ; and later he s»ot out telegrams to the governors of the states for a more general contribution from the people. Every now and then we have unmistakeable evidence of the fact that public sentiment is com ing more and more to be on the side of honesty, morality and sobriety in public officers. It will be remembered that some tifhe ago a movement was set on foot to impeach the mayor of Atlanta on account of certain public and private offenses of an immoral nature. It went so far ,as to result in the City Council’s asking lor his resignation ; but, the other day, the Mayor, after going over the circumstances of the case, closed a written state ment to that body by saying: “As my indiscretions offend they shall cease. This promise made by myself may be construed also as a promise to^our body and to my constituents at large. I make it deliberately, solemnly, with full confidence in my strength and a full knowledge of my weakness.” As a result of this promise of refornl the Coun cil dismissed the committee ap pointed to investigate the May or’s conduct, and all differences have been settled. This speaks well for the efficacy of a high type of public sentiment in At lanta 5 and we trust that just such a sentiment may be manifested in all our towns and cities, and in slate and nation as well. There is yet room for reform in many “high places,” and we long for » the coming of the day when an enlightened and ennobled public sentiment will tolerate no form of vice or corruption or dishon i aty in public places—when only good, true, clean and honest men shall administer our govern ment from the lowest to the highest places. France was again “shaken from centre to circumference” last week by the news of an at tempt to assassinate M. Labori, one ot Dreyfus’ leading attor neys. He was on his way to the court room to defend his client in the new trial now in progress at Rennes, when some yet un known person slipped up behind him, shot him,and then fled. He was not killed, but at the time of this writing his fate is in doubt. Many have been the conjectures as to the motive of the would-be assassin ; but the most plausible theory seems to be that he was only another of the many hot headed French fanatics who never rest satisfied until they have set the country “all agog” by their murderous threats and executions. At first the French papers took a very gloomy view of the probable effects of the in cident, predicting riot, blood shed, and perhaps, civil war, but they are now becoming more hopeful. Whatever else may result from it, there is little doubt but that the incident will strengthen public sentiment in tavor of the unfortunate Dreyfus. France may not have another civil war now; but it she has peace long it will be the result of very careful and judicious manipulation on the part of the Government. In writing ot the unfortunate incident the Balti more Sun closes with the follow ing timely observations: “While it is conceded that the Dreyfus case is rooted far deep er in the national soil than any political or militar y incident in French history for many years, and while it embraces many elements that make it dangerous in the extreme, it is altogether possible that the shocting’of M. Labori may prove the culminat ing point of tragedy, and that however sensational or impor tant its political developments and results may be, it may pro ceed quietly to a peaceable con clusion and one which will reflect credit upon French jus tice and strengthen republican institutions. It is but natural o expect the cowardly and shame ful attack upon Dreyfus’ counsel to stimulate the reaction in favor of the prisoner and to weaken the combination against him and free government. His case is no longer that of the individual only, but of the country as well. It is not he who is on trial, but the republic. It has resolved itself virtually into a contest be tween those who are struggling U0 UUU itlVOV 1U1 pu^uiai luomuuv who favor militarism and imper ialism. The army has long been the god of French idolatry and it has been worshiped alike un der monarchical and under dem ocratic rule. But the Dreyfus case demonstrated that the army was fast becoming not a defen der of national honor, but a men ace to freedom. It is against the continuation of military ty ranny that the champions of Dreyfus are now making their chief fight, and the friends of constitutional liberty in this country can find in the spectacle lessons that they may well take to heart. While intelligent and patriotic Frenchmen are desper ately struggling to curtail the power and influence of the army in civil affairs and to keep it in its proper place, republican America is inaugurating a policy of militarisir which in the end will bear the same bitter fruits that it has borne in France. There it has been fostered and glorified until the army has be come another name for the na tion. The people have been comparitively unimportant, the army everything. The result has been the development of a military tyranny, which has been dominant under every form of gpvernment. The Dreyfus case in its present stage is, as we have said, a protest and a battle against the tyranny, and in that aspect it is a drama with a mean ing as solemn lor us as for the people of France. The question is, will we make the application before it is too late?” COKTRIBUTIONS T!IE PRICE OF SUCCESS. BY PROF. J. T. COBI1, A. B. To the aged the world is a tomb where many of earth’s purest gems lie buried, and where weary hands will soon find a surcease from toil and care. To the thoughtless youth its a play-ground or an art-gal lery where to while away time in life’s fleeting pleasures ; but to the young man its an organism full ot latent powers which take shape, and by opening up vast fields ot usefulness, they invite him where his best efforts may receive that reward, the goal ot man’s ambition, the crown of success. What is more noble than a magnificent manhood animated with a cheerful spirit and over flowing health as he starts out in life filled with a high purpose and a laudable ambition to suc ceed. With energy and deter mination throbbing in his young blood, he cuts his way through all opposition and forges to the front. In this electric age he who would succeed must not only hold his ground ; but make the stumbling-blocks and defeats of the weak and vacillating but his stepping-stones -to the glory which his valor seeks. II ne would succeed ue must pay the price; start with the fixed determination that every statement he makes shall be the exact truth ; that every promise made shall be redeemed; that every obligation shall be kept with the strictest faithfulness; his reputation must be held as a priceless treasure ; he must feel that the eyes ol the world are upoii him, that he must not de viate the least from truth and justice. His energies must not be wasted, his influence must not be simply negative, but a live, burning positive determin ation to be an honor to himself, to his countr)r and his God. So that each moment as it car ries the thread to and Iro in the great loom of time shall weave his destiny from the lustrous warp and splendid woof of each day and every action^ thus pro ducing from the loom of life a character, a fabric without blem ish. It has been said, “there is no success in life without great toil.” Industry saves each moment of time, gives her heart and her hand to her work; she keeps both the eyes and the ears open, always ready to lay hold upon all occasions that present them selves. It is the weaklings who wait for opportunities to come ; the strong man’s opportunity confronts him. It is to seize common occasions and make them great to snatch victory from defeat, to turn blighted prospects into noble achieve ments. If you have true power, the environments which men call unfavorable cannot prevent its unfolding. From the bleak rocky hills of New Hampshire sprang the greatest of American orators and statesmen, Daniel Webster. From the plain fields and the foggy lowlands of Avon came the Shakespearean genius which has charmed the world with poetic eloquence. Let a young man count the cost; let him use his reason and take warning from the many wrecks of life made by gaining wealth, dishonorably for his wealth however great, if procur ed by the sacrifice of principle, he has grasped the shadow for the substance, he Fas given the pearl of great price for a bauble. Better remain in poverty and as the “Immortal Vance” raise our hands to heaven and say “These palms have never been soiled by a dishonest dollar.” You cannot keep a determined man from success. Place im pediments in his way and he take? them for stepping-stones and on them will climb to great ness. Ta! e away his money and his poverty urges him to re double his efforts. Cripple him and he writes the “Waverly Novels” in rapid succession. Lock him up in a dungeon and he composes ih: sweetest of all allegories, the immortal “Pil grim’s Progress.” Bring him up in a log cabin in an •Ameri can wilderness inured to all the hardships and privations oi fron tier lile and in a few years you will find him in the National Capitol, the champion ot liberty, the President ot the greatest na tion on earth. True success is born of economy, vigilance and perseverance. Industry and in tegrity are man’s best capital, for there is no true success in life without a spotless character. James Gordan Bennett said, “It is unfortunate for a boy to have rich parents for if reared in wealth, luxury and splendor and unpsed to the stern realities ot life he starts at a disadvantage. With no knowledge of the com pass, or currents and gales he sails out upon the great ocean of life and is soon lost for not be ing well ballasted he sinks with the first gale.” Some not knowing the com pass are driven by storms, they drift for a while and perish. Others go down battling bravely with the wild sea waves. While still others keep on a full head of steam driving about all the time aimlessly, and will never make their port unless by mere accident. •dui ne wno wouia make nis destined harbor must not only steer straight ahead when the ocean is smooth and the currents and winds serve but must keep his course in the very teeth ol the storm. Though he may be delayed by head winds and counter currents, yet he will al ways head for the port and steer straight for the haven of his des tiny. Whatever may happen to a man of this stamp, even though his sails may be swept away and his masts stripped to Jthe deck, tbough he may be wrecked by the storms of life, yet the needle of his compass will still point to the North Star of his hope. Whatever else may happen to him, he has not lived in vain for even a wreck that migtkes its port is by far a greater success than a full rigged ship with sails fly ing and every mast and rope in tact which drifts by chance into a harbor. For thus in life the world’s greatest benefactors have met with the severest opposition. Galileo could not be turned from scientific research by a bigoted priesthood. Though the fires of persecution burned round him, he was content when through his telescope, the pro duct of his own erection, he could see the heavens revealed and the glory of God’s handi work. oocrates ciranK witnout a mur mur the poisonous hemlock rather than desert his belief in upright morals. These men of truth and honor stand as marvels ot success in life ; rich without money. The world’s best men do not work for gold alone; they labor tor love, honor, truth and justice. Paul was never so great as when he occupied the prison cell. Christ stood for truth and right when all had forsaken him. He even dared to face the frown ing public opinion ot a Jewish populace. He was never so great, so divine, so superior to all that’s mortal as when smit ten, spat upon, tormented, mock ed and crucified by his enemies, He cried in agony, yet glorious ly aud triumphantly, “Father, forgive them, 'ah£y know not what they do!” [Read before the Eastern N. C. Christian Sunday School Convention, and published by request.] Brighter and brighter grows the horizon as the dawn of a new century draws nearer. A few more days and the 19th cen tury, with whatever good and whatever evil it may possess will be recorded with those now past, and we will be launched upon the 20th century, there to improve from the lessons learned today. WOMANS WORK SCHOOL FOB THE Si CENTURY. IT Si IUY BY MISS NANNIE CLEMENTS, Do we wonder what tasks await us ? America’s great statesman, Henry Clay, has said that, “only by the past history of a nation can we judge the future.” During the past century there has been a rushing onward in all the different departments of civilized life. There has been a wild rush for knowledge—science, inven tion, and every phase of the in tellectual world has made rapid progress. Nor has the moral and spiritual world been without advancement. Every day brings a network and with it new and great responsibilities. Here man stands no longer alone, but woman has taken her part of the work, and is doing that which can be done only by her. New fields of labor are opening for her, and as the years and civilization advance, her in fluence becomes greater aud likewise her power tor good in creases. In all the different societies of the church she is an important factor, and especially is there a place lor her in the Sunday school. wnen years ago Kobert Raikes, filled with sympathy for the ignorant, ragged, wretched, cursing cl ildren, who spent Sun days swearing on the streets, first formed the plan of a Sun day school, he engaged four fe male teachers to receive and in struct them. And perhaps to these four women is due the suc cess of the Sunday school today. For to woman is given a sympa thy and manner that will win the confidence of the child, how ever much he may be scared by the trail of sin. How much of the success of the men, whose memory we re vere and honor so much today, an f/\ tKo influonrp nf woman. hood will never be known. Washington, Lincoln and Gar field have all said they owed what they were to their mothers —all God serving Christian wo men. Would Garfield, whose boyhood was spent almost in poverty, have ever accomplished^ the great work he did had it not been for the influence and train ing of his Christian mother? There was no Sunday school to which their mother could take her children that they might learn the ways of right from wrong, but she did not despair. She kept the Sabbath holy and in her own home established a Sunday school, reading and ex plaining the Word of God to her youthful audience. Almost ev ery American child has felt the influence of her labor. 1 he tuture rests in the hands of the young of the present gen eration. What the boys and girls of today learn and live is what the future will be. If they would be true and honest citi zens, they must not only honor truth and right, but must imbibe and reflect something of these virtues. Where then shall these principles be learned? The answer comes, in the Sunday school. Here high ideals are instilled into the mind of the child that will become a part of the child’s life. And it is a part ot the great work of woman to come to the Sunday school and bring and interest these boys and girls in the things that will fit them for a nobler life. There is to be a conscience developed within the hearts of the young of our land. Not a conscience that is warped and diseased on account of an evil development, but one that helps to choose between right and wrong without faltering and without fear. Who is to train this conscience and develop :t into a principle of right? Again we say, the Christian women in the Sunday school. Daniel Webster once said, “Only by leading the children to Christ can the future be made secure.” This is true in everything that we would have succeed. And only by leading the children of our own Christiun land to Christ can we hope to bring to Christ the nations that are stilljn sin. Every day we see more and more the great need of a mis sionary spirit. Every day brings to us the appeals iron foreign lands where a Savior’s love is Unknown. We hear the cry of the suffering, calling loudly for our support and aid, and al ! though many have heeded the call and arc trying to uplift (ali en humanity, there is still a de mand for others. j This missionary spirit can be learned nowhere so well as in the Sunday school, and here is a J grand and noble work for the Christian women of our land, j Her heart should swell with pity for her sister living a wretched life in a land where she bows , beneath the sorrows and burdens j of heathenism ; where she knows , no loving Savior to whom she may go in the dark hours of trouble. Living a life of degra dation, growing old when she is yet in the fresh bloom of life, and at last, having made bright er the path of no other, being rushed into an endless eternity, without a Savior's love. Surely there can be no life more wretch ed than that in a heathen land. Hasten the day when God’s word will be taught to man, woman and child. every x iic gieai vvuxji ius wuaian lor the 20th century in the Sun day school is to instil into the hearts of the boys and girls, who are to make or mar the world’s future welfare, a love lor truth and purity, a desire to uplift fallen humanity, and a longing to tell those in other lands ol Christ. And,.too, thereds a great mis sionary work to be done here in our own land. Think of the thousands and thousands of lit tle motherless children in our cities whose only home is the street or doorstep. Bringing these waifs to the Sunday school, winning their hearts lor Christ, and teaching them manly and womanly virtues is a work to be accomplishes! oy tile womeu (Tur ing the new century. The woman of the new cen tury has a uobic weak before her. Her power to help will be greater than ever before, and ner power to harm-will also in crease. “Every stage ot pro *ress heavenward increases the responsibility of the traveler as a leader and a guide.” Since the woman of the new century will have new respon sibilities, she should stay near to God and be guided by him in every step. Then her path will become a shining light, whereby others may enter the pearly gates. PRIMARY TEACHING. BY MISS VERA P 1<ITCHKTTE. [Read before tho N. C. & Yu Christian Sunday School Convention, and published by request.] ' For the right training of chil dren God has provided three great agencies, viz: the family, the Sunday school and the church. It is the needs and means -of Sunday school training we will notice, “Do little things now,” says a Persian proverb, “so shall big things come to thee asking to be done.” To the primary teacher in our Sunday schools this should be au inspiring thought. Too often is this work neglected or depreciated on account of its apparent littleness, but we should remember “There is nothing too little tor so little a creature as man.” Even if the primary teachers “hannot be as rivers bearing great vessels of blessing to the world, they can be as lit tle springs by the way-side of life singing merrily all d,iy and all night and giving a cup of cold water to every weary, thirsty one who passes by.” “God will take ‘“care of the great things if we do not neglect the little ones.” In the Sunday schools are col lected the poor boys and girls who cannot attend the day schools, because they have to work, and also are collected the children from homes where the Bible is not read and taught by fathers and mothers. It will not be known in this life the good that can be done by giving instruction to children 1 who would be entirely ignorant of Christ and his redeeming love With these truths before us would it not stimulate any teach er to greater zeal and love to gather in the children from ’ homes where vice and immoral ity are withering the possibilities of such children for life. What a responsibility to form a creature, the frailest and fee blest that heaven has made into the intelligent and fearless sov ereign of the whole animated creation, the interpreter and adorer of deity. The primary teachers need to know more and to know it better than any of the other teachers. Not only does it require more thorough knowledge and great er tact to teach the little ones, but the work is more important. It is more important because the possibilities in the child are greater than in the adult. Then a false idea is more readily re ceivedby the child, and will do greater\damage. ijcsiues naving superior equip ment, the primary teacher should h&ve great love for the children and take great delight in the work among them.. - “Of what use is^rf?” people askecLwith a sneer when Frank lin .tqid of his discovery that lightning and electricity are identical. “What is the use of. a child?” replied Franklin**' ^ may become a man.” How much care sb' 4j»*"oe used in looking aftef^ .»dren where there are influerk.es that tend to draw them away from the Sunday school. “Did not Christ shed his blood for them?” Christians have learned by sad experience that it is much more difficult tp retorm men and women who have grown up in sin, and lead them to Christ and a pure life, than to take children wbo have never known the way of corruption and teach them the Bible and the way pfholiaess. iiroraer mat trie best - results may follow the efforts of the primary teachers, whose love for the little ones and their desire^ not to neglect and despise the iittle things of lite, it is neces sary that the proper means be used. There are some general principles which should not be forgotten iu this work. I. They must win the child. The teacher who first makes the child entertain an unholy fear of him has lost His best chance for success in his labor of love for the child. V\ \ou must by gentleness win a place in the little heart—gain his cqufidence—and make the child feel that you are a sincere friend. Then you may proceed. II. They must interest the child. To do this find out what he is interested in and interest yourself in the same thing. If you would teach the young you must appeal to the eye and that continually. The best scientific investigation contends that at least eighty per cent, of what we learn comes through the eye. Maps, charts and blackboards are invaluable in making the meaning clear and in fixing it in the mind. The blackboard should not be neglected because the teacher claims to be no artist. No matter how rude the repre sentation the children will take it in. The influence and educa tive power of pictures cannot be overestimated. The Roman Catholic church long ago learn ed the power there is in the brush and that it has successful ly used that power none can doubt. That the truths of the gospel haj^ thus been perverted should not make us afraid to take the advantage of the power, should only warn us to use them in the proper way. III. They must interest, train and drill the child in divine life. Instruction makes plain—the lesson taught—it does not mys tify the thought. Explain to them the grand and good characters and the blessed truths of the Bible in the simplest language that can be commanded. Simplicity of lan guage certainly pays in teach ing. Children are more easily led to be good by examples of kind ness and tales of well-doing :u [Concluded on Third Paged
The Christian Sun (Elon College, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 24, 1899, edition 1
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