Earlier text: Notes on GenesisMEETINGS IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
By D. T. BOURDEAU
We have now been in this place over two Sabbaths and first-days, have held nine meetings in all, spoken nine times, visited seven families, besides taking part in social meetings and holding one business meeting. Though the main body of the church had improved in some respects, as an increasing interest in their meetings showed, yet there was a lack on many points. Some were backward in attending, and taking part in meetings; some neglected their duty on Systematic Benevolence; a few were still using tobacco; while there was generally too distant a feeling in the members of the church toward each other, and toward the children and youth. Not that hatred had assumed an active form; but there was evidently a lack of brotherly love and labor for souls which should characterize believers in the last message of mercy. There was a lack of that love and religion that act toward and upon others. Love and true religion are not merely passive, and acted upon; but they work and act, not merely at a distance, but, as it were, in living contact, heart to heart, and even, and especially, when hatred and opposition are brought to bear against them. Religion, with many, has assumed too much of a selfish and passive form; and this is the leading sin which is reproved by the message to the Laodiceans. In our discourses we endeavored to bring out meat in due season; and as a result of our meetings, four of the youth started for the kingdom, and as many or more backsliders commenced to retrace their steps. Some made hearty confessions, and as a consequence, enjoyed more of the Spirit of the Lord than those who were inactive. At our business meeting three were added to the church, Bro. Ben Auten was appointed elder, and among other transactions, the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That we will endeavor to be more punctual in attending, and taking part in our prayer and social meetings, according to the apostolic exhortation, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. x, 25. Resolved, That if any members of this church absent themselves from the meetings thereof for more than four weeks, they be requested to report themselves to the church personally, or by letter to the elder, if sick or unable to attend for other good reasons; and that if they fail to do this, their cases be inquired into by the elder, who shall be expected to labor with them in harmony with gospel order and principles, if they have been negligent. These resolutions are not given as exactly meeting the circumstances and wants of all churches where there has been a neglect on this point; but the great and sacred duty they enforce is binding in every case; and if Bible organization is good for anything, it will make it incumbent on those who are under it and are in church fellowship to labor for those who neglect this plain and important Christian duty; else organization is a mere shell, without heart or life, and we might as well suffer the standard of truth to be lowered on other points, and expect to fail in seeing a people prepared for translation. Resolved, That we will try to pay our s. b. pledges at the end of each quarter, that the s. b. treasurer may be enabled to report to the Conference secretary quarterly, to promote order and punctuality, and that the burdens of some may be lighter (for they will not be heavy if properly borne) than they would be if we paid once or twice a year; and to this end we will endeavor to have the glory of God and the advancement of his cause uppermost in our minds, remembering that as God is supreme, he should have the first place in our affections, and the interests of his cause should be attended to first, in harmony with the injunction, “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.” 1 Cor. xvi, 2. The trouble with many is, they attend to their own interests first, and God has the last and poorest chance to get what is his due. They overlook their duty to God when means come in. They serve themselves first, and put the Lord off, and then they complain they can’t fetch around. Poor excuse this! The worst of robbery, inasmuch as it is committed against Jehovah. How much better it would be to say, I will plan for the Lord first and give him the best of my strength and the first fruits of my labors. Then there would be no difficulty in rendering unto him what is his just due. Resolved, That we very much regret that some members of this church have failed to overcome the use of tobacco, and would hereby kindly and affectionately remind them of their duty to overcome this filthy habit, in order that they may “cleanse themselves of all filthiness of the flesh,” agreeably to a gospel obligation, and improve their health and nervous system; and as they detest this filthy habit, and are desirous to get the victory over it, we would also manifest our appreciation of their humble spirit, and extend to them Christian sympathy and forbearance, promising to aid them by our prayers and encouraging words, and even to assist those temporarily who are poor and must suspend their labors to overcome, as far as they manifest a willingness to suffer and deny themselves for Christ’s sake. This rolls the burdens equally. Those who have to overcome this habit have a struggle before them, especially if they are advanced in years, and have a predominant nervous temperament. But many of such have overcome by the grace of God; and why cannot these? They can, if they are willing to deny themselves; if they will give up work, and grapple the foe in the name of the Lord, and not stop, even though they should get wounded in the conflict, and suffer externally. They “have not yet resisted unto blood in striving against sin.” But Christ did. Remember Calvary. This experience will do you good—will teach you the art of getting supernatural aid, which will be of use to you in other conflicts before you. God and your brethren can help you only as you help yourselves. We were happy to see several of the brethren of Sandyville at our meetings last Sabbath and first-day, and to learn that they were having good meetings at Sandyville, and that one more of the youth had decided to walk in the narrow way, making ten in all. We feel very anxious about the prosperity of these two churches, because they occupy important positions in the cause in Iowa. We would advise the brethren in these places to be very cautious about moving away, to forget the past and press forward individually and collectively; and the Lord will add to their numbers such as shall be saved. If some should fall, others will immediately step in to more than fill their places, and take their crowns. But be merciful, and try to save all. Draw near to the young, and labor to save them. Some of you have not as yet taken the real burden of the young upon you. Press together. Be thorough in examining your own hearts, and overcoming your sins, and greater light and blessings will break in upon you. It will be noticed that we have visited much of late. The reasons are, 1st. We have had more time; and 2d. The cause has demanded it. But it must not be expected that we shall pursue the same course in every place. If we did, we should soon break down. Our burdens have been very heavy for the past five weeks; but we have willingly sacrificed precious strength, because it was necessary; and the Lord has sustained us; and we never intend to spare ourselves when the cause is at stake. But we still wish you to bear in mind that we shall not visit simply for the sake of visiting when we need to rest, or when we must study or write, or bear burdens that many do not know, and never will know in this life. Do you need special help on some points of importance? Let us know it, and you will find us on hand to help you within reasonable and scriptural bounds. Be frank with us, and we will be with you; and then let us under God, and in the fear of God, exercise our judgment and use our liberty to our common spiritual advantage and profit, and to the glory of God. D. T. BOURDEAU.
Knoxville, Iowa, March 25, 1867. REPORT FROM BRO. WHITNEY.
By S. B. WHITNEY
My last report left me at sister Foster’s, in Whitehall N. Y., where I enjoyed a very pleasant, and I trust, profitable interview. She and most of her children are firm on all points of truth, and are awaiting baptism when a messenger shall come that way next. I think they should be visited and a Sabbath spent with them every quarter. They are ready to have their names enrolled in church covenant if such a step shall be deemed advisable. Her husband is much interested in the truth, especially the temperance reform; and although he had not fully decided to keep the Sabbath, he refused to do business on that day; and I think will go with his family. Gave several lectures in a school house near by, which was the first Advent preaching they had ever heard. Feb. 22, came to Middle Grove, in the vicinity of which I spent three Sabbaths. During the week gave twelve lectures in the town of Providence, in a neighborhood where Bro. Taylor held meetings last fall. A good interest was manifested in these meetings. Think they should be visited again.224 March 12, went to Troy where I spent two evenings with the few friends of present truth in that place. Here I also formed an agreeable acquaintance with some first-day Advent friends, some of whom are looking favorably toward the Sabbath. Would also recommend that they be visited again. Returned home the 14th, and spent the next Sabbath with the church here. The 23d and 24th, attended the Monthly Meeting at Bangor, and last Sabbath the 30th, was with the friends in the Thompson neighborhood. These were interesting and profitable meetings. Though the churches and brethren on this district are not without their temptations and trials, yet they are looking forward with a firm purpose to go through, and seem to realize to some extent that the crisis is reached and they must be zealous and repent. May the Lord help them to do this and fully overcome. S. B. WHITNEY.
Grass River, N. Y. Apr. 1, 1867. The Russo-American Treaty.—In another column will be found an article on this subject from the Chicago Journal, giving a very clear idea of the relation of European nations to each other, and the perplexities in which they are involved. Since that was in type, news has been received that the Senate has ratified the treaty with only two dissenting votes. —The Governor of Michigan appoints Thursday, April 18, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer in this State. —The Legislature of Ohio has finally voted in favor of admitting colored men to the right of suffrage. —Governor Oglesby has appointed April 15th—the anniversary of Lincoln’s death—as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer in Illinois. —It now seems probable that the Russian-American treaty will be ratified before the Senate adjourns. —A. T. Stewart’s new palace, in New York city, will cost nearly $2,000,000 when completed. The style of architecture is Corinthian; the best and purest marble is used in it, combined with iron; most of the floors are supported by iron pillars, and the whole will be fire-proof from top to bottom. The main hall, leading to the picture gallery, will be 36 feet wide and 56 feet long, and the Italian marble stairs 26 feet by 29. This home of a merchant prince will far surpass in magnificence any private residence in this country, and cannot be matched by many palaces of kings or emperors. As Mr. Stewart has no children, the wonder is, to whom he will leave his splendid house? —In the course of the physical researches necessary for ascertaining, by the passage of electricity through the Atlantic Cable, the difference of longitude between America and England, it has been found that the time required for a signal to pass through the Atlantic Cable, is 31-100ths of a second. This is equal to a velocity of 6,020 miles a second, considerably less than the speed of the electric fluid through the land lines. —The Russian Government is said to be seriously contemplating to introduce the Gregorian Calender into Russia. This is strongly opposed by the Russian clergy, who declare that the introduction of the Gregorian Calender would be equivalent to recognizing the Pope. Turkey.—A Paris letter asserts that a general organization of the Christians resident in the eastern Provinces of Turkey and Greece had been completed against the Sultan, and that a war, in which the power of the Porte in Europe would be destroyed, was inevitable. Bismarck’s Policy.—It is said that negotiations between France and Holland for the cession of Luxemburg were proceeding favorably when Count Bismarck skillfully succeeded in suspending the bargain by calling the attention of the Dutch government to the existence of certain claims of the late Germanic Confederation on the Ducal government of Luxemburg for unpaid Federal contributions and for different fortifications, and to the fact that Prussia, the legal successor of the Confederation, would consider any disposal of Luxemburg by Holland to a third party as an infraction of those claims. This protest had prevented any agreement with the French government. Indian War of Extermination.—The Montana Post, of March 14th, says that 1,800 lodges of Sioux, numbering three warriors to a lodge, under the chiefs Red Cloud, Iron Plate and White Young Bull, are encamped on Big Horn River, about 35 miles from Fort Smith. The Crows, Bloods, Peguins, Grosventres and Sioux have made peace among themselves and joined in a league against the whites. About 800 lodges were yet north of the Missouri River, but would cross over and encamp near Muscle Shell River as soon as spring opens, and after concentrating their forces, the confederation will wage a war of extermination against the whites. They say the whites have occupied their only hunting ground, that death is inevitable and they prefer it in battle rather than by starvation. The commandant at Fort Smith does not expect to be able to hold his position, and it is thought if reinforcements do not arrive soon, the command will come to Clark’s Fort on the Yellowstone. The Fate of Spain.—In diplomatic circles in Berlin the idea prevails that the attention of the French Emperor is directed not to Luxemburg, but to quite an opposite quarter. He is said to be meditating the dethronement of the Spanish Bourbons, the last branch of that family, so hostile to the Bonapartes, that still occupies a European throne. By all accounts from Madrid it is evident that the government of Queen Isabella are doing their best to facilitate the execution of such a plan. Since the unfortunate pronunciamiento of General Prim, Spain is in a state resembling too closely the last years of Bourbon rule in Naples not to augur a similar catastrophe. As Piedmont anxiously watched the progress of events in Naples in order to step in at the moment when they were ripe for her interference, so Portugal is eagerly expecting the time when the consolidation of the Iberian Peninsula into one kingdom will enable her to take a place among the great Powers of Europe. And as Louis Napoleon stood behind Piedmont, ready to stretch out his helping and protecting hand if it were needed, so he stands now behind Portugal to assist her, and of course, to get paid for his assistance. In what the price of his co-operation will consist is not exactly known; some think Cuba, others the Balearic islands, but all agree that it will be an acquisition sufficiently handsome to allay the mortification felt by the French at the aggrandizement of Prussia and her refusal to allow them “compensation” on the Rhine. London, April 8.—Uncertainty prevails in regard to the future action of Napoleon, and fears that he will adopt a warlike policy, create a wide-spread distrust among business men, and great depression exists in consequence in commercial and financial circles both in this city and Paris. In the House of Commons this evening, Mr. Lowe stated that alarming news had been received in Berlin from Paris, and that the king of Prussia had sent for Bismarck at 2 o’clock Sunday morning. France and Prussia are exchanging sour looks and financial Europe trembles. The agitation communicates itself even to our own stock exchanges. What the commotion is all about, it would be hard to say, though we may conjecture that it has something to do with the rumored negotiations between Napoleon and the king of Holland for the cession of the latter’s Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, an arrangement which would naturally be displeasing to Prussia. Ireland.—Considerable fighting is looked for in Ireland before the Fenian rebellion is finally put down. There are now in the island 60,000 British regulars, with perhaps 40,000 police, marines, etc. The Great Fire at St. Louis.—The fire which destroyed the Lindell House at St. Louis, Saturday night, was discovered about half-past 8 o’clock, and continued raging fiercely till 2 o’clock the next morning. For some time it was thought that the flames would be controlled, but they broke through the roof and inner courts of the building, after two or three hours, and the case was then hopeless. The 400 guests lost nearly all their personal effects, as they waited for a long time thinking that it would not be necessary to remove them. The light of the fire was seen 27 miles from the city. The Lindell was the finest building of its kind in the country, both in the elegance of its architecture and the richness of its interior furnishing. It was commenced in 1857 by a company of St. Louis gentlemen, who were resolved that the hotel of that city should surpass any in the world, and when completed was purchased by Henry Ames & Co. Its actual cost was $1,676,400, and a few statistics will give some idea of its extent: area of plastering, 27 acres; length of bell wire 22 miles; surface of wall brick 38 acres; total floorage, 7 acres; length of carpeting 18 miles. The hotel had a capacity for the accommodation of 800 guests, and all its reception rooms were fitted up in the most thorough and costly manner. It is said that $2,000,000 would be insufficient to replace the hotel and its furnishings, and its loss is a calamity to the city. A meeting of the St. Louis board of trade was held Monday evening to take immediate measures for its rebuilding, and $650,000 was subscribed. The Spiritualists Becoming a Sect.—The Spiritualists started on the basis of absolute individualism, and scouted all ecclesiastical organizations as so much slavery, but they are already fulfilling the prediction that they would yield to the universal tendency and become a sect, like the rest. They have got so far as to talk about yearly settlements of their lecturers on regular salaries. They have Sabbath schools, and all the denominational machinery in full operation, only under different names. They also begin to feel that they have too much neglected worship. The Boston Banner of Light, the most intelligent organ of the new sect, says: “It seems to us that many Spiritualists greatly lack the reverential element. They need a more thorough cultivation of the spiritual, the religious faculties, the devotional feelings. Worship is beautiful. Prayer is exalting. We have no prayer and conference meetings, corresponding to the orthodox churches, where they meet to exercise their gifts. Our religious natures are not satisfied with flights of fancy, or cold philosophy. The apostles of the new faith seem to forget our deep-seated devotional sympathies, neither do they portray as they ought the sad effects of a life of crime and sin upon the future of life. True holiness must ever precede happiness.” The European News.—The shrewdest observers are inclined to believe that the late threatening news from Europe owed its origin mainly to the designs of speculators.225 If this was its source, the attempt was a success, for all classes of securities were greatly affected. Whatever may have been the truth as to this, however, all the circumstances attending this report reveal the delicate nature of the relations existing between France and Prussia. The enormous aggrandizement of the latter power naturally threatens the supremacy of France, and a contest along the frontier of the Rhine, to be followed by a European war, has been and is now imminent. The boldness of Bismarck and the peculiar situation of Napoleon combine to precipitate matters, and the sagacious dread, with reason, a collision that would be most destructive in its results. The late reports by the cable were, therefore, significant, even if exaggerated, and well set forth the feverish apprehensions that exist in the diplomatic circles of the Old World.—Det. Trib. Europe Arming.—The Belgian Minister of War states that France is having 480,000 breech-loading muskets manufactured. The arsenals in Prussia are also actively at work. Austria is having 600,000 muskets converted into breech-loaders. England will have 350,000 similarly converted by the end of the year. Russia is transferring 600,000. Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Belgium are all engaged in the same warlike preparations. The Pullman Line Palace Cars.—The two new sleeping, refreshment and drawing-room palace cars—the “Western World” and “Plymouth Rock”—recently built at the shops of the Michigan Central Railroad in this city, for Pullman’s line of sleeping cars, are now completely finished and ready for use. They were on exhibition yesterday at the Central depot, and a large number of citizens paid a visit to these traveling palaces. They have previously been described in the Advertiser and Tribune, and are equally well adapted to day and night travel. Each car has four large center state rooms and one side state room, the former capable of accommodating six persons each, and the latter four. In addition to these, the car contains six sections, each capable of affording sleeping and traveling accommodations to four persons. The car will thus accommodate 52 persons. The great feature of the car, however, and one which will recommend itself most favorably to the traveling public, is that it contains a cook room where hot meals can be prepared and furnished to the hungry traveler in as good style as can be done in the most fashionable dining saloon or hotel. This room is provided with a cooking range for the cooking of oysters, fish, making coffee, etc. There are also refrigerators on the cars for the preservation of fresh meats, fish, oysters, etc., and in fact every arrangement needed for the comfort and luxury of the traveler is to be found upon them. They will be at once put into use and will run from St. Louis through to New York and return. This will be a great accommodation to passengers, and will make a railroad trip from the far West to the great metropolis, instead of a tedious and irksome journey, a very pleasant and inviting one. How long before people will learn that there is death in the pot? Bro. P. Strong sends us the following startling account of cases of the trichina disease in this State:— I clip the following from the Ionia Sentinel, thinking that it might be interesting to those that hold on to ham and eggs as a choice dish, and encouraging to those that have left flesh eating among the things of the past, and are trying to purify themselves by a healthy diet. “TRICHINA.—A case of supposed Trichina has been exciting our community for several days. It seems that Mr. James Haight, living about four miles north-east of this village, recently procured a ham in this place and after eating of it, I myself and all his family, consisting of a wife and three children, were taken very sick. The wife died yesterday, and one of the children is not expected to recover. The Doctors disagree as to whether it be Trichina or not, but pieces cut from the muscles will be sent to some place where they can be examined with powerful microscopes, and the question will soon be settled.” Since the above was printed, the child spoken of has died, and the examination has been made. Several pieces of flesh taken from the mother, by Drs. Barnes and Thomas were carried to Grand Rapids and examined by microscope. It was found to be literally alive with the trichina worm. I am told that the mother was in such agony just before her death, that she tore her flesh off to the bone. It was but a few days after their eating the ham, before the first subjects were dead, and the rest of the family are in a dangerous situation. Since writing the above, we find the following in the Ionia Gazette. “TRICHINA.—Some four weeks since, a gentleman by the name of Haight, who resides about four miles north-east of Ionia purchased a ham at one of the grocery stores in this village, and took it home and a portion of it was eaten by the family without cooking. About a week afterward, symptoms of that dread disease, trichiniosis made their appearance in one member of the family, and one after another the whole family have been prostrated with it, and in spite of all the efforts of the attending physicians, two, the wife and youngest son of Mr. Haight have died, and the remainder of the family, Mr. Haight and two sons, now lie in a very critical condition. A portion of several muscles, taken from the body of Mrs. Haight, after death, were subjected to microscopic examination on Wednesday last, at Grand Rapids, in presence of several medical gentlemen of that city, by Dr. W. B. Thomas, of this village. Trichinæ was found in abundance. From the number found in the specimens examined it is estimated that a cubic inch of flesh would contain 16,000 of the animalculæ. A further account will be given as soon as the physicians can perfect their investigations.” The pork disease is causing a great deal of excitement here, and pork eating for the present is discontinued by many. There are two cases reported in St. John, supposed to be the trichina disease. Thus we can see that it is rapidly gaining ground, and coming still nearer home. May the Lord help us to reform in our living before it gets within our own houses. The soul goes highest when the body kneels lowest. An Earthquake in Mitylene.
A THOUSAND PERSONS PERISH.
MITYLENE, or Mytilene, is an island of the Grecian Archipelago, belonging to Turkey. It lies near the coast of Asia Minor, and contains an area equal to almost half of Wayne county, in Mich. Its population is 40,000. The principal town bears the same name as its island, and it was there that upon March 6th the awful earthquake occurred. At six in the evening of that day a shock was suddenly felt, lasting eighteen or twenty seconds, followed almost directly by another, longer and more violent. The sea, it is said, heaved and boiled into and out of the ports, and in the little town whole blocks of solid stone buildings reeled and fell together, like houses of cards. The castle, the cathedral, the Governor’s kiosk, the prison, the mosques, and the consular residences all more or less shared the ruin. The dwellings were largely built of squared volcanic stone, taken from ancient edifices; yet they all fell together; nay, the effect of the overthrow was the greater on account of their very solidity. It is said that from 800 to 1,000 persons have perished in the capital of the island, and that as many more have been maimed. Among the island villages there has also been much loss of life; and, whether true or not, it is reported that at one point the earth really opened and swallowed up a whole broad belt of dwellings close by the sea’s edge. It is also related that at this particular point there is a subsidence of the ground, which has let the sea right in, many fathoms deep, over what was formerly a busy and prosperous quarter of the little town. Shocks more or less severe, were felt on the 7th and 8th over a part of the Levant and in some of the Ægean islands. Smyrna, Magnesia, Adramiti, Aivali, Gallipoli, and Constantinople itself have been more or less shaken. But Mitylene suffered the most cruelly; and after the catastrophe the inhabitants all fled from their residences and were obliged to live in the open air, or under tents, stricken down by sorrow and terror. Hunger next came to add to their misery; the calamity had been so sweeping that they had not even the necessaries of life. A French gunboat and an Austrian Lloyd’s steamer landed some biscuits and stores among the despairing people; but the extent of the misfortune is such that only the most energetic action on the part of the Turks at Smyrna and Constantinople can save many of those that are houseless from starvation. Ratification of the Russo-American Treaty.
The Senate hesitates about ratifying the Russo-American treaty. The United States can abundantly afford to pay $7,000,000 for the seacoast, fisheries and hunting-grounds of Russia on this continent, but the Senate is probably afraid that such a step would entangle the nation in the meshes of European politics and that sickening round of war which continually sweeps over that continent. Washington, whose statesmanship was hardly secondary to his military genius, set his face like a flint against interference in the affairs of Europe, and the Monroe doctrine, as it is called, has been steadfastly adhered to ever since. To take any step which would seriously endanger the peace of the nation would be unfortunate, and inexcusable in the extreme. What, it may be asked, is there in the present condition of European affairs to make the perfecting of the proposed treaty between Russia and the United States hazardous on our part? It is probable that another war in Europe is near at hand. The news that comes across the ocean all points that way. Judging from the past, the present complications in the East cannot be settled except at the cannon’s mouth. From the Bosphorus to the Rhine there are unmistakable signs of a terrible storm of blood and harvest of death. The Russian bear is in an agony of suspense to get hold of his share of the estate now held by the sick man at Constantinople. No spendthrift ever watched more eagerly for the death of a rich old miser, for the Sultan now holds the territory most coveted by the Czar. The Crimean war failed to accomplish the object had in mind by Nicholas, but Alexander has been steadily strengthening himself at home and abroad preparatory, it is reasonable to suppose, to another pounce upon Turkey. England and France are weaker now than then. The former is menaced by rebellion in Ireland; the latter lost its prestige in the German and Italian war of last summer. Besides, Napoleon has on hand just now the Paris Exposition, which he wants to get through with before buckling on the armor of war. He is in the show business just now, and if war should be declared before he gets through with that job, he would have a small elephant on his hands. He would be glad to employ the surplus energies of France in a European war, especially if it promised increased French territory a year or so hence, but for the present he would beg to be excused. This fact will make the unfriendly Powers all the more anxious to hasten the day of battle. The different nations of Europe are so interwoven in their interests and jealousies that Luxemburg and Servia, Ireland and Candia, form parts of the same whole. And it is not strange that our statesmen should stop to ask if Russian America, even if ceded to the United States, would not still be linked in destiny with European Russia. Once possess ourselves of it, and we should be obliged to maintain our right to it at the point of the bayonet, if need be. We could not “go back” on our own territory. All our national domain is sacred, and its soil must be protected from the invaders, but, whether it be located at the North pole, or in the tropics, on the seaboard or in the interior, wherever the American flag is entitled to wave, there must no intruders be tolerated. Yet it is well known that Russia and Great Britain are not agreed as to their boundaries, especially of that long strip of seaboard which constitutes the chief value of the cession. It is feared that should we purchase the possessions of Russia in the New World we should get more than we bargain for in the way of British lead and gunpowder. Of course the United States could soon vanquish England, and with Russia for an ally could safely defy all Europe; still it would cost far more money and lives than we care to pay for the bleak land and ice bound water of Russian America. If we cannot perfect the pending treaty without that, we had best leave it entirely alone. We have better use for our sons than setting them up as targets for the bullets of red-coated Englishmen. There are no soldiers in the world worthy to be compared with those of this nation, but good as they are as soldiers they are still better as civilians. An American is not at home upon the battle-field as much as in the work-shop, the counting-room or on the farm. We are a nation that love and improve peace and all its inestimable blessings, and we trust the time will never come when it shall be otherwise with us. No amount of territory is worth a single drop of human blood, especially to a nation already amply supplied with it. While all this is true, we do not share the apprehension that seems to have so much weight with the Senate. The ratification of the treaty which has been already signed would furnish no pretext whatever to England or any other Power to declare war against us, and as that would be equivalent to a declaration of war against Russia, which guarantees to surrender the same to us, we can see no real cause to be afraid of disturbing the peace of the nation. We have the same right to purchase of Russia her possessions on this continent as we had some years ago to buy Louisiana of France, and Florida of Spain. The precedent for the proposed cession has been established, and there is no going back of it. If, however, our Senators see fit to postpone decisive action until the next regular session of Congress, there can be no serious objection to it. The suddenness with which the news was flashed upon the public mind was almost startling. It is barely possible that there would be risk, in the present state of European affairs, in carrying the treaty into immediate effect. Unless, therefore, there is danger, and there probably is none, that the whole scheme will fall through unless at once carried out, delay will be safe and wise.—Chicago Journal. SOCIAL READING IN THE HOME CIRCLE.
This is a reading age. It is an age of “steam” in book-making, as well as in other arts. There is no one who can read, but can find something cheap enough or weak enough, costly enough or strong enough, to suit the purse or the taste. How shall we guard our children and household circles from too much story reading, and induce them cheerfully and voluntarily, to select for their principal reading the substantial and profitable in our literature—that which will give them mental and moral sinew, muscle and bone? We can require them to read certain books, and forbid them the perusal of others, but this is not the whole of the desired end to be sought. It were better far if our dear home circles could have such direction given their tastes as to lead them to seek and love substantial aliment for their hungering minds. It requires tact and wisdom, when the influences set so strongly upon young minds toward a diluted and purely entertaining kind of reading, to bring them to desire, or cordially to pursue, an opposite course. For from that which the mind loves and is attracted toward, it experiences a stronger influence, and while it enjoys more, also profits more in its pursuit. One method among others which might be named, for interesting a family in vigorous and profitable reading, is that of a pleasant family reading circle, where new books and all important reading shall be mutually enjoyed, criticised, and canvassed—different members taking part in reading aloud. Many an otherwise prosy work, which in solitary reading would soon be laid aside with a yawn of weariness and disgust, becomes eloquent with thought, and brimming with interest by a perusal under such circumstances. A book, or a course of reading with which the social life of a household circle has been blended, will live in the reminiscences of after years, glowing with home intellect and affection, as well as with the direct instruction of the printed pages. Its truths shall have the sanction of the dear parents who listened, explained to, and presided over the social group, and silent whispers shall remind the soul of their interest or delight, their admonitions or encouragements in those reading hours, long after the books have grown old and time-worn, and those parents have gone from the scenes of earth. One word here respecting that much-to-be-coveted accomplishment—good reading. Would that it commanded far more consideration in family and school culture. Have we not all experienced the power of the effective and accomplished reader, in listening to the reading of the Scriptures, when, a formerly obscure passage suddenly becomes clear to us, and luminous with the truth it expresses by the emphasis and inflection of some beautiful reader? We can hardly expect our children to become perfect in this branch of culture, but we can secure for them very much more cultivation in the home circle, and do far more to compensate for the deprivation of extensive advantages than we are apt to suppose. Sound reading in the family, with free, kind criticisms from its different members, and a hearty sympathy in the spirit of the matter read, will do much toward forming accomplished readers. Attentive listening to good, public elocutionists will prove a help to the self-cultivated reader. It is wonderful with what an interest any such art will inspire a family, when they mutually pursue it.226 Trying to catch and give the delicate shades of meaning of various authors, endeavoring to modulate and cultivate the voice to varied and expressive tones, and to read so as to command attention and give pleasure, will afford an inspiring and laudable emulation to any domestic group. Try it, young friends, and thus become eye and voice to those whose own are failing them, and while you augment your attractiveness by your own home firesides, you will learn to love the reading that you may, perhaps, at first accept to please your parents, and you, with them, and all the household, become together gleaners in the fields of truth and knowledge, and through this instrumentality be enabled to gather into the soul’s garner a multitude of precious things.—Advocate and Journal.