A teacher at the South, writing from Raleigh, N. C., April 1, 1867, thus reports one of his calls among the Freedmen. It shows how matters stood with them during the late rebellion:
At one of my calls, the spirit of freedom moved two “aunties” to talk freely of their former life. “Oh! how different to what it used to be! On our plantation, when the war was going on, there was a great revival, and mistress called the colored people together and told them to pray—to pray mighty that the enemy may be driven back. So we prayed and prayed all over the plantation. But ’peared like de more de darkies prayed, ’de more nearer de Yankees come. Then the missus said, ‘stop all this praying, I wont have it. I believe they are praying for the enemies to come.’ So there was no more praying where mistress could hear it, for long time. Bye-and bye it began again, but then the Yankees were at the very doors, and the rebels hadn’t time to pay ’tention to our prayers.”
“One day my mistress came out to me, ‘Maria, M’ria,’ said she, ‘what does you pray for?’ ‘I prays, missus that de Lord’s will may be done.’”
“But you mustn’t pray that way. You must pray that our enemies may be driven back.”
“But, missus, if it’s de Lord’s will dat de Yankees come, all our praying wont halt ’em, and if it is de Lord’s will to drive ’em back, den they will go back.”
“O Maria, you mustn’t talk so. Don’t you know you could be shot for talking so? You don’t spose, M’ria, that any white folks will care enough about you to make you free? They are white folks, and we are white folks, and what will they care for you? They want to send you to Havany and Cuby.’ But I didn’t believe any such foolishness.”
“And now I be free,” said aunt Ellen, straightening up, “I be free! It ’pears like it couldn’t be. When we used to think about it, it ’peared like de Judgment, sure to come, but a powerful step off. But now it has come—bress God!—bress God.”
An Item.
By J. H. Murray
Bro. Smith: In Review, No. 21, present volume, there is an article entitled “The Worth of a Dollar.” Lest some of the readers of this paper might be tempted to regard that article in the light of religious fiction, of which it is admitted there is altogether too much at the present time, I would say that the Deacon M. spoken of was my own grandfather, Eber Murray, long a shining light in the Baptist church, and who died in 1826, when I was about 10 years old. The article, therefore, is a true narrative.
J. H. MURRAY.
East Walton, Mich.
Once Wrong Always Wrong.
By Jos. Clarke
We do not say it is so; but people are apt to feel so, toward an offender, especially if his position and offence is public.
Now let me say that God has not so decided, but quite the contrary.
Look at the case of Sarah and Hagar. She advised Abraham to marry Hagar. Abraham did so. It was wrong, out of God's order. Next she advises her lord Abraham to put away Hagar. Now Abraham hesitates. Sarah has advised him once to do a wrong act; now he fears to follow her advice, lest it might be the opposite extreme. But notice, God approves Sarah this time, and tells Abraham to follow her advice. It is good; and Sarah was right in her last decision in the matter.
The case of Job too, is an instructive lesson to those who would bear down upon a man because he had once made a mistake; when perhaps the people who bear down hardest, are the ones who need the greatest amount of forbearance exercised toward themselves.
Jos. Clarke.
Correction of Indistinct Credits
Owing to worn type, some of our credits last week, especially in the pledges for the Health Institute were very indistinct. A supply of new type, already ordered, will soon remedy such defects.
Support for the Health Reform Institute
The pledges for the Health Reform Institute last week, amounting to nearly four-and a half thousand dollars, were very encouraging. This liberal amount was subscribed mostly by those who were here upon the ground, to see for themselves what has been done, and what is wanted. If others were here to see likewise for themselves, the practical operation of the Institution, and good work which it is already doing, we doubt not their confidence and liberality would be manifested in a manner no less marked. As they are not here, will they not rest somewhat on the judgment of those who have been, and open their hearts and hands wide to help forward this much needed and beneficent enterprise?
Business Advertisements
BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS. It has been decided by the Trustees to devote from the commencement of the next volume, a limited space under the Business Department, to business advertisements for the benefit of the brethren, at the rate of 20 cents per line for each insertion. This is done to meet a want which some have long felt. Those who appear in this department must be able to give good references as to their standing and responsibility.
W. C. Thurman and the 1868 Prophecy
A statement was made by one of our correspondents a few weeks since, on information which he supposed reliable, that W. C. Thurman had “abandoned his ’68 time and now is positive that the Lord is coming in ’75.” Mr. C., it appears has been called out on this and responds as follows:—
“The evidence was never so clear to me as now, that the 1835 days end in 1868. I know no reason for changing my mind in regard to my expectation of seeing the Lord in that year. The evidence appears more conclusive to me than ever before.”
With all this positiveness, we can only regard the statement of our correspondent as a little premature; for we believe, as we published more than a year since, that as soon as ’68 passes, those who are now so positive that it is the year of the Lord’s coming, will immediately shift to ’75. The evidence will all at once become marvelously conclusive, that he is coming in that year; and they will profess astonishment that they ever should have rested anything on ’68.
The New Volume.
By Editor
ONE more number will complete the present volume. The Review will then be enlarged to 16 pages, and the regular price be three dollars a year. It is time for brethren to be renewing their subscriptions. May we not also commence the volume with quite a list of new subscribers? A little work will secure this. Who will try? The addition of four pages will give room for new departments and a better arrangement and greater variety of matter. This will, we trust, add new interest to the paper the coming volume. It will also call for contributions from every one who is able, however feebly, to use the pen. Who is willing to contribute his or her mite, an argument, an article, a comment, an exhortation, an interesting item, or a sketch of experience, to give life to the paper and help and encouragement to the household of faith?
AN OLD GEM.
By Flavel
JUDGE in thyself, O Christian! is it meet
To set thy heart on what boasts set their feet?
'Tis no hyperbole, if you be told,
You dig for dross with mattocks made of gold.
Affections are too costly, to bestow
Upon the fair-faced noddings here below.
The eagle scorns to fall down from on high,
The proverb saith, to catch a silly fly.
And can a Christian leave the face of God,
T' embrace the earth, or dote upon a clod!
Can earthly things thy heart so strangely move,
To tempt it down from the delights above;
And now to court the world at such a time,
When God is laying judgment to the line?
It's just like him that doth his cabin sweep
And trim, when all is sinking in the deep:
Or like the silly bird, that to her nest
Doth carry straws, and never is at rest
Till it be feathered well, but doth not see
The ax beneath that's hewing down the tree.
If on a thorn thy heart itself repose
With such delight, what if it were a rose?
Admire, O saint! the wisdom of thy God,
Who of the self-same tree doth make a rod,
Lest thou shouldst surfeit on forbidden fruit,
And live not like a saint, but like a brute.—Flavel.