Earlier text: Early Apostasy in the ChurchAmong the acquaintances of my youth there was one Peter Cox; and I am sorry to say that, from what little stock of patience he may have possessed, he invested none of it in politeness. At all events he did not do it when he entered business. Peter was a builder by trade, and one of the most thorough and faithful workmen in the country. If he undertook a contract, he was sure to perform his part punctually and properly. Still he was not always employed, for many who might otherwise have hired him were repulsed by his uncouth manner of treating them, and sought assistance elsewhere. "Peter," said his wife to him, one evening, "do you know that you have lost a good job by offending Mr. Grayham?" Peter looked up from his paper, and asked her what she meant. "I mean," she replied, "that Mr. Grayham has hired Leavitt to build his new house." "Well, what of it?" said Peter, rather crustily. "Why, I am sure he meant to have hired you to do the job; and that he would have done so had you not offended him." "By not listening to him when he wished to describe the plan for the building." "His plan was a foolish one." "Well, suppose it was; if you had felt it to be your business to tell him so, you might have done it in a polite way." "Bah!" cried Peter with a snap of his finger, "don't talk of politeness in business. If I were to bother myself to be polite to everybody who happened to call on me, I should have my hands full." "I think it would pay," ventured the wife. Peter poohed at the idea; and then told his wife that he wanted to read. About a month after this Peter came home in unusual good spirits. He had been out of work for some time, and he had been rather moody and crusty. His wife noticed the change, and asked him what had happened. "There's a prospect of work," he replied, "we are to have better times in town. Sumner Wilkins, of Byfield, has bought the whole of the water-pond, on our stream, and is going to erect a factory here. I think I'll get the job. They say that Wilkins had rather have some one here to do it, and my friends will recommend me." Mrs. Cox was highly delighted, for she knew that such a job must pay well; and she hoped that her husband might not be disappointed. A few days afterward an order came for some window-blinds; and one afternoon while he was busy at his bench, a man came, and watched him at his work a few seconds without speaking. He was a middle-aged man, rather coarsely clad, and Peter supposed it must be some one who wanted work. "How d'ye do?" said the stranger, as Peter laid aside the slat which he had just finished. "How d'ye do?" returned Peter, in a sort of uncouth grunt. "That looks like good lumber you're working there," remarked the visitor. "It's good enough," was the response. "What is such lumber worth here?" "I don't know;" and as Peter thus answered he took another slat, and began to plane it. "I suppose you buy some lumber, sir?" said the stranger. "I do when I want it," returned Peter, with out looking up from his work. "Is there any in town to be sold?" "They'll tell you at the mill. I don't saw lumber myself." "But you know the value of it," remarked the stranger, with a slight touch of feeling in his tone. "Who told you?" retorted Peter. "I supposed, as you were in the habit of using considerable lumber of various kinds, that you would be a proper one to ask." "Well, sir," said our grouty builder, in his uncouth, unkind, and ungentlemanly way, "it so happens that I have something else to attend to besides keeping the price of lumber for everybody who may happen to want a few boards." "Ah! yes; I didn't know you were so busy," returned the visitor, in the coldest and most polite manner imaginable. "Pardon me if I have interrupted you." And with this he left the shop. Peter Cox had done no more in this instance than he had done a great many times before; but yet he could not put it out from his mind so easy. Somehow it clung to him, and even after an hour had passed he found himself wishing that he had treated his visitor with a little more decency. But it was too late now. Peter got his blinds all made, and then awaited news from Byfield, as it was expected that Sumner Wilkins would soon make arrangements to commence operations. He felt sure of the job, as his friends had seen Wilkins, and recommended him strongly. It would be as good as three dollars a day to him for several months. One morning as Peter came out on the street he heard that Wilkins had got his hands all engaged, and would break ground very soon. It could not be possible, thought our builder. Surely he would have had some notice of such a move. Half an hour after that he was standing at the door of a grocery, when a man drove up in a carriage, and he came into the store. He bowed to one or two who stood there, but gave Peter only a cold look. It was the man who had called at his shop two weeks before, and inquired the price of lumber. He was dressed as plainly as ever, but he drove a splendid horse, and the carriage was a costly one. "Who is that man?" Peter asked, after the stranger had gone. "That," returned a by-stander, in evident surprise, "don't you know him?" "Why that is Mr. Wilkins." "Sumner Wilkins of Byfield, the man who is going to build the factory?" Peter Cox left the room with a sinking heart; and by the time he had reached his shop he was almost sick. What a fall it was. He went home to dinner, and erelong his wife had learned the whole story. She had already learned that the great job had been given to another, and knew why it had been done. "Why didn't he let me know who he was when he came into my shop?" said Peter, in a petulant mood. "That isn't the question," suggested his wife, speaking as considerately as possible. "It would be better, Peter, if you would ask why you didn't treat him respectfully. It seems, from your own account, that he asked a very simple question—as any one ought to answer with pleasure. I tell you, my husband, politeness pays. If you could only overcome your habit of treating strangers so uncouthly, you would be greatly the gainer thereby." For some days Peter Cox was sore and morose. He saw the work commenced on the factory without his assistance, and he feared he should have but little business for some time to come. He had at first been inclined to think very hard of Sumner Wilkins; but when he came to reflect more calmly he thought differently. He could not wonder that the man had been repulsed by his rudeness. It was Saturday afternoon, and Peter was in his shop, doing nothing but thinking, when some one entered. He looked up and saw Mr. Wilkins. "How d'ye do?" said the capitalist. "How d'ye do?" returned the builder. "You are not very busy, I take it," added Wilkins. A quick rough answer was making its way to Peter's lips; but he did not speak it. He recollected himself in season. He had taken a solemn obligation upon himself that he would not allow any more such words to go out from his mouth upon his fellow-men. "No, sir," he replied, as soon as the old spirit had been quelled; "I am not very busy just now." "Perhaps you would like to work for me." "Well," said Wilkins, "I am in want of help, and should like to employ you. I meant to have employed you before; and perhaps you can imagine why I did not. However," he added as he saw Peter's countenance fall, "there's no need of referring to that only for the lesson it teaches. I felt the cut of your rudeness very deeply; and the more so because I could not see wherein I had given any occasion for it." "I was rude," returned Peter frankly; "and as you have intimated, I found a lesson in the result; and I hope I may profit by it." "That's enough, sir. And so we'll let the past go." Wilkins extended his hand as he spoke, and Peter grasped it warmly. "And now," the visitor continued, "let's come to our business. The man whom I engaged to superintend the erection of my mill has so much other business that he would be spared from this; so if you will take it, I will let him go." Of course Peter took it; and when the mill was done, so well and faithfully had he performed his work that he had more offers of valuable contracts than he could possibly attend to. But Peter Cox did not forget the prime secret of this new success. He knew he was eminently qualified as an architect and builder; but this was not all. He also knew that the first lesson he had learned was the most valuable one—that investment he had made was yielding him the greatest interest. And, moreover, the income from the politeness which he had come to possess was not all gross and material. No, no—one of its highest and purest fruits was that which came to his heart, and which remained with him to bless him wherever he went.—Sel. A MAN died a violent death in New York a few years ago, who was known to all the country as a thief, a libertine, a speculative gambler in the most exaggerated degree, and who prided himself on being known as such; yet when he was dead, there was a sudden hush of regret. One person told how fond a son he had been to his old father. Another, how generous was his care for the poor. This man had a story to tell of his jumping from his carriage to help a fallen horse in the road; that, of the pet birds who followed the gambler from room to room of his house, perching on his shoulder, eating from his lips. Even good men were so dazzled by the sunny generosity, the warm sympathy, and genial good comradeship of the man, that they were almost blind, or at least were silent, as to his crimes, until the secular press boldly denounced this false charity, showed its probable effect upon the boys who were just entering life, and labeled the dead man as only a successful, open-handed swindler. Now, the point is, if geniality and generosity are such good qualities as to lend a gloss to a debased and vicious character, why do not good people use them oftener to adorn their real virtues? Nothing is so rare in the world as that unselfish, cordial good fellowship; that quick throwing of ourselves into the interests and feeling of others, which gave to this unprincipled man his magnetism and influence. Nothing is so attractive or powerful with every rank or class. Not beauty, or money, or intellect has its irresistible charm. Simply because the most interesting thing to every man is his own self, and the more concern you show in that, the greater will be your influence with him. Besides this, it is the right feeling to cultivate towards others, and the right manner to show. Many high-principled people do their duty all through life, but with as hard and callous a temper and face as if they were paying a debt which they begrudged every penny.71 They render their full dues perhaps to God and to Cæsar, but in rusty black metal, instead of shining, jingling coin. They march alone along the pathway of life wrapped in their own thoughts and purposes when they ought to be singing in good company. Many girls who lack beauty of face, many dull boys, will read this, who are tempted to envy the beauty or cleverness of their companions, but who do not realize that they have within their own reach a real Aladdin's lamp—a sincere, cordial manner, an unselfish interest in others—which will not only command friends for them, but will brighten their own inner lives as no other gift can brighten them. Poor fainting spirit, still hold on thy way—
The dawn is near !
True, thou art weary; but yon brightening ray
Becomes more clear.
Bear up a little longer—wait for rest—
Yield not to slumber, though with toil opprest. The night of life is mournful—but look on—
The dawn is near !
Soon will earth's shadowy scenes and forms be gone—
Yield not to fear !
The mountain's summit will, ere long, be gained,
And the bright world of joy and peace attained. "Joyful through hope" thy motto still must be,
The dawn is near !
What glories will that dawn unfold to thee !
Be of good cheer !
Gird up thy loins; bind sandals on thy feet;
The way is dark and long; the end is sweet. Items and Notes.
By Editor
—Utah is third on the list of bullion-producing countries, ranking after Nevada and California. —The estimated reduction of the National debt for January is $8,000,000. —News comes from the East of intensely cold weather, the thermometer ranging from zero to 30° below. —Cetewayo is the re-installed King of Zululand. About 5,000 Zulus were present at the ceremony. —Two thousand exemplars of Oregon have sent a petition to Congress asking for legislation to suppress the liquor traffic. —At Odessa, Jan. 30, four steamers, ice-bound in the roads, were blown out to sea in an ice-floe. Their fate is unknown. —The business men of St. Louis have determined to erect a mammoth exhibition building in the heart of the city, to cost $400,000. —The steamship Clyde, from San Francisco, was wrecked on her first trip, near Coos Bay, Oregon. Nine sailors were drowned. —The Berlin Anti-Cruelty Society has secured the prohibition of public performances of tamers of lions and other dangerous animals. —The Committee on Foreign Relations has favorably reported to the Senate, on the bill to abrogate the Hawaiian Reciprocity Treaty. —The Ansonia, a large Italian steamer, has been wrecked on the coast of Tripoli. Twenty of the crew were lost; the passengers were saved. —Accounts from the Canadian Northwest state that settlers in the Bow-river district have lost their herd and head of cattle owing to the severity of the winter. —Defalcating officials are all the rage now. The last one heard from is the Treasurer of Jackson County, Mo., who skipped with $25,000 of other people's money in his pocket. —It is now stated that the date of the coronation of the Czar of Russia is finally fixed for the 27th of May. But the nihilists have not yet expressed their opinion of the matter. —The steamer Agnes Jack from Sardinia, laden with lead, was wrecked near Swansea, Wales. Witnesses of the disaster saw the crew of twelve men swept from the masts. All hands perished. —The Vestnik newspaper says that famine prevails in the Government of Kherzon, Russia. Several peasants have committed suicide to escape witnessing the misery of their starving families. —The Inman pier and the warehouses adjoining, in New York City, were burned on the morning of the first. The loss is estimated at $1,000,000. The fire is supposed to have originated from a laborer's pipe. —The State Treasurer of Alabama has gone away, having appropriated to his own use about $300,000 of the State funds. An examination showed that he had been speculating largely in cotton futures. —A young man was hung by a mob in Winfield, Kan., last week, for a murder committed a short time previous. Just before his execution he stated that he had been led to a life of lawlessness by reading the exploits of Jesse James. —At the annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Vice, Anthony Comstock stated that during the year he had seized six tons of gambling furniture and apparatus and made 118 arrests for offenses against decency. —The Russian Nihilists have given another significant warning. A placard was posted a few days ago in a public garden in St. Petersburg, enjoining people to avoid the places frequented by the Court, lest they should be hurt by anything that might happen. —A dispatch from Vienna, Feb. 1, says: "The conviction is gaining ground that France is on the eve of fresh trouble. The position of affairs is likely to grow worse before it improves. The crisis has thrown France's relations with the Powers into confusion." —Father Gallagher, of Ireland, who has charge of the relief fund, says the people of Donegal are subsisting on food fit only for beasts; that private charity could not cope with the wide-spread distress there; that the Government alone can do it, and that things will very soon come to a crisis. —The men who recently attempted to rob a Central Pacific express train near Montello, Utah, have been captured. There are five of them, ranging in age from 19 to 40 years. They have been committing depredations in Utah and Nevada since last September, when they built their stockade in the mountains. —The effects of the cold weather are seen in Colorado in terrible snow-slides. At Crested Butte, on the 31st ult., a snow-slide carried all the buildings and machinery of several mines a mile down the mountain. Thirty men were buried, twenty of whom were killed. Quite a number of others have resulted in loss of life. —The Secretary of the Interior has decided a question of much importance to settlers on lands within the limits of railroad grants where settlements have been made after the withdrawal of the lands and before the date of definite location of the line of the road. The Secretary holds such withdrawals inoperative against settlers, and that settlers are protected by statute up to the time the line of the road is fixed. —Mace and Slade, who make their living, not with their hands, but with their fists, have been prohibited by the police of New York in that city. Mace thinks it a pity that he can't be allowed to exhibit anywhere in New York, when they gave him a church in San Francisco. The pugilists declare their intention of leaving this unappreciative country. We have not heard that anybody has tried to prevent them from so doing. —Dispatches from London, Jan. 29, say: "The bark Royal Tar, from Philadelphia for Liverpool, was driven into Penarth Road with decks swept and other damage done. Ten bodies were washed ashore near Penarth." "A steamer is supposed to have foundered with all on board, twenty in number, near Port Hall." "A vessel, supposed to be the steamer Black Watch, was sunk off Mumbleshead and twenty-six persons drowned. She was 1397 tons, and belongs to Cardiff. The storm continues." Religious Notes.
By Editor
—The income of the Salvation Army is declared to be $600,000 a year. —The authorities of Neuchatel have prohibited evening meetings of the Salvation Army. —"There are now in the United States 110 theological seminaries, representing fifteen Protestant denominations." —Joseph Cook thinks that the quality of our modern Christianity is not inferior to that of the ancient church. Of course not. Christianity is just the same; the trouble is that there is so little of it. —The Day-Closing League have sent a letter to the president of the Manhattan Railway Company, asking that trains should run not faster than one mile while passing churches at the time of service. —During the Moody meetings in London, Mr. Wilbur F. Crafts given great aid as an evangelist, and said that one of the greatest hindrances to the world is seeing inconsistency in the lives of professed Christians. "Much of what is called Christianity," he said, "is mere sanctified worldliness." —The pope is about to make a fresh batch of saints. A number of Catholic priests who in the past have suffered martyrdom, it is claimed for the faith, are to be canonized. The Monitor says that after the lapse of several centuries the church has decided to honor the memory of these martyrs by elevating them to the celestial dignity. Which of us, we suppose, that the church will now allow to enter Heaven. —In New Zealand the Mormons are said to be exercising the wisdom which Catholics have exhibited the world over. The church agents have exhibited the foresight to look out for good sites for meeting-houses and to buy in advance, and apparently to buy large lots of ground before prices have advanced with the growth of population. By the time they are ready to build the church buildings they are able to sell a part of the purchase for enough to pay for building.—Examiner. —The Protestants in Madrid have been obliged to build a hospital for Protestant patients, converts from Catholicism, because the Priests in Catholic hospitals were constantly importuning them to confess. Mr. Fliedner says he followed two sisters in the largest hospital in Madrid from bed to bed. They carried a large basket of tracts and linen. At each bed they asked if the patient had confessed; if the answer was in the affirmative he was provided with clean linen; if the contrary, he got nothing. —It is a novel thing to see a secular paper defending the Bible against the attacks of a minister of the gospel. Rev. Heber Newton, of New York, an "advanced," liberal preacher, holds that the Bible must be criticised just as is any ancient author, and that the books of it have been edited and changed to answer the purposes of different generations. The New York Herald says: "Biblical criticism is a subject which only men of learning can intelligently discuss," and that "questions of such a grave matter must be shaped by the best thinkers, not by the second best," and that "Mr. Newton's position is not a fortunately chosen one." It then adds: "In this controversy we have heard particular fears for the Bible. It has taken care of itself so long that we do not expect any immediate danger to it. It is like good wheat bread—you may rail at it as much as you please, but when you are down-right hungry you are always glad to get it." Good for the Herald. WYRUCK.—Died, after a short but severe attack of throat disease, near Grangeville, Tulare Co., Cal., Jan. 23, 1883, Mrs. N. J. Wyruck, aged 42 years, 4 months and 19 days. She accepted present truth about five years ago, and though much of the time circumstanced so as to attend the church but little, she maintained a careful Christian walk before her family and the community. She was an active missionary worker, maintaining her work faithfully, and using her spare time in acts of charity among her neighbors. Her family, to whose interest she was thoroughly devoted, have suffered an irreparable loss, and they mourn her loss as only few can mourn. The unusually large concourse of people who assembled to pay their tribute of respect to her memory and to weep with the bereaved friends, listened with deep interest to words of instruction and comfort from the text “Thy dead men shall live.” Isa. 26 : 19. The Christian’s hope was especially set forth, and it appeared indeed precious as we felt fully assured that if faithful we shall meet the departed one in the kingdom of immortal glory. May God grant the bereaved companion and children and other mourning friends grace to live humble Christian lives so that theirs shall be an unbroken family around the heavenly throne. Services conducted by the writer, assisted by Eld. M. C. Israel. G. D. BALLOU. HEALDSBURG COLLEGE.
By S. Brownberger
Instruction given in Ancient and Modern Languages and the Physical Sciences. Common Branches Thoroughly Taught. Special Training for Teachers. This Institution has met with almost Unparalleled Success in the short time since its incorporation. - The Instruction is very Thorough and Practical.
- The Discipline is Rigid yet Parental.
- The Strong Moral and Religious Influence finds its equal in no other Institution of the kind.
- The Expenses of Students for Board, Tuition, etc., come within the ability of all.
- The Methods employed in the class-room, and the Professional Instruction, afford special advantages to those desiring to teach.
While its courses embrace all the higher Collegiate Branches, which are taught in the most thorough manner, especial attention is given to the Common Branches. One of the prominent features of Healdsburg College is the effort to impress upon its students the claims and benefits of morals and religion. Any one of known evil habits, who is exerting a pernicious influence upon his fellow-students, is not tolerated in the school. The tuition ranges from $2.25 to $6.00 per month. Board in private families and in the college boarding-house ranges from $3.00 to $3.50 per week, with room completely furnished. Besides the regular class drills in the different branches, there is given occasional instruction concerning methods and general school management. Is connected with the College to accommodate those children whose parents desire to place them under the instruction and moral influence of the school. The Spring Term begins January 3, 1883, and closes May 29, 1883. After a vacation the Fall Term opens July 25, 1883.
Address, S. BROWNSBERGER, A. M., President,
Healdsburg, Cal. RURAL HEALTH RETREAT.
By H. H. Chase
THIS beautiful resort is well known to hundreds of Californians, who have made it their home during a portion of the year for several years. It has lately been refitted, and valuable improvements have been made. With a full corps of competent physicians and helpers, it presents attractions to invalids that are found in no other Sanitarium in California. Every variety of bath can be given. It is most beautifully situated on the mountain-side, two and one-half miles from St. Helena. The little valley which it overlooks is a gem, and the surrounding mountain scenery is such as can only be found in California. Experienced tourists affirm that there is no finer place in the State. The water is pure, and the climate mild. Address, H. H. CHASE, M. D., St. Helena, Cal. THE RELIGIOUS AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION;
OR, THE SABBATH, THE SUNDAY, THE CHANGE, AND THE RESTITUTION.
THE object of the proposed Constitutional Amendment, together with the authority for it, is fully canvassed. The views of the leaders of the parties both for and against the Amendment are fairly given in this book. The present agitation of the SUNDAY LAW makes this book especially interesting and instructive at this time. 380 pp. Bound in cloth. Price, $1.00. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. Irreverent Revivalists.
By Editor
OUR opposition to the methods of the Salvation Army, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Hammond, and some others, is not because they are new, or contrary to custom, but because they tend to light views of sacred things. We are willing to give them credit for honesty of purpose, and admit that, although deluded, they do accomplish some good; but we think that the good is more than counterbalanced by the evil. The names of God and Christ are repeated unnecessarily, and in the most flippant manner. To us it sounds like profanity, and shocks our sensibilities more than does the vulgar profanity of the street, owing to the source from which it comes. And we are not alone in this view. The Pittsburg correspondent of the New York Examiner, writes concerning the work of the Salvation Army in that place, as follows:— “Their success is limited, and it is a question whether their presence in this city, and at least a majority of the cities of the Union, is not a positive evil. The youth are being accustomed to hear sacred words and names shouted and sung in wretched doggerel to low airs, and a general demeanor in the conduct of worship which shocks their sense of propriety. “The reported conversion of a few reprobates fails to satisfy us, in view of the immense cost at which such results are secured, in the general irreverence which is encouraged and propagated by the methods employed. The whole system on which these meetings are conducted is false. . . . It certainly grates upon the ears to hear new apostles but recently lifted out of the slums and gutters, and alas! in many instances soon to return thither, addressing reputable citizens as sinners and the sons of perdition. These scenes, like the display at the foot of the gallows by murderers reported converted at the last moment, are a parody on the doctrines of grace.” THE Iowa Supreme Court has decided that the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution, adopted by a large popular majority last June, is invalid, and that the next Legislature cannot correct the mistakes of its predecessor. Notwithstanding the fact that four out of five judges concurred in this opinion, which no doubt is correct legally, that does not seem to us to be a just judgment which contravenes the expressed will of the best people in the State, simply because a clerk was careless in transcribing. There is often a great deal of difference between law and justice. Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation.
By Editor
THE favor with which this valuable book is meeting is highly satisfactory. One edition is nearly exhausted, and another will soon be printed. There are but few agents in the field, but they are doing well. There is work enough for many more. None of the best territory has yet been taken. One agent, who took what was considered the very poorest territory in the State for such a book, has sent in over three hundred orders. He has averaged thirty orders a week while canvassing. This demonstrates the fact that the book will sell, and that agents can do well with it. We want some more reliable men to push its sale. Young men who desire a good field of missionary labor will find it here. There is no better work in which they can engage.