Earlier text: The Waifs of SocietyWhich Is the Seventh Day?
By R. F. Cottrell
THERE are many persons who are free to admit that the seventh day is the only weekly Sabbath of the Bible, and who say they ought to keep it, if they could know which day of the week is truly the seventh. Such persons are deceived in regard to themselves; unless they are worse than deceived, that is, hypocritical. If they will only set to work in earnest to find the true seventh day, they will discover that the difficulty is not so great to find the seventh day, as it is to find it in their hearts to keep it. But for the benefit of those who do desire to know the true Sabbath of the Lord, that they may keep it, I will endeavor in a brief way to make it plain. God’s providence is over all the world. His providence and his requirements must be in harmony. If therefore his commandment requires us to keep the seventh day in the order of the creation week, his providence will certainly put it in our power to find the day. Did you ever think that this excuse was an impeachment of the wisdom and justice of the Almighty? It is a serious thing, in order to excuse ourselves from doing what he has commanded, to say that his providence has put it out of our power. This is not his character. As long as his law requires us to keep the seventh day, so long we can find that day, if we will. When the Son of God was on earth he recognized and observed the day that the Jews were then keeping, as the true Sabbath. He knew. Since that time both Jews and Christians have been agreed in the numbering of the days of the week. The Jews, the world over are agreed that Saturday is the true seventh day, and Christians agree with them in this; for the mass of them keep Sunday as the first day, because it is the day of the resurrection of Christ. The few Christians who profess to keep the seventh day are agreed with both. While so many have been, from week to week, keeping one of the seven days as a Sabbath, it is utterly impossible that all should lose the reckoning and still all be agreed from first to last, unless God should work a miracle to make it so. If he has done so, he has not only not cared to preserve a knowledge of the day he requires us to keep, but has wrought a miracle to mislead us, while he still commands us to keep the seventh day holy. Is this the character of the God you worship? Such is not our God. National Debts,
By Wm. Penniman
We have reached the dignity of being third in the list of debt-owing nations, France and England preceding us. The Economist, the chief financial authority of England, makes the following estimate of the great national debt:— | COUNTRY. |
1873. |
1875. |
|---|
| France, |
£748,000,000 |
£900,000,000 |
| Great Britain, |
790,000,000 |
780,000,000 |
| United States, |
433,000,000 |
440,000,000 |
| Italy, |
360,000,000 |
390,000,000 |
| Spain, |
261,000,000 |
375,000,000 |
| Austria, |
306,000,000 |
350,000,000 |
| Russia, |
355,000,000 |
340,000,000 |
| German Empire, |
208,000,000 |
200,000,000 |
| Turkey, |
124,000,000 |
135,000,000 |
| India, |
108,000,000 |
130,000,000 |
|
£3,690,000,000 |
£4,040,000,000 |
“The net increase in two years has been £347,000,000, the annual charge on these, and the obligations of some of the smaller countries of the world is £188,550,000. Nearly all of this frightful aggregate is the cost of war, or of preparations for war. Our own national debt on the first of February, according to the treasury statement, was $2,143,966,000, or something less than the sum named in the table. “Is it at all wonderful, while war absorbs so much of national expenditure, that the education of the people languishes, and millions are steeped in poverty? The time will come when Christian nations will put an end to these immense outlays for purposes of destruction. It cannot come too soon.”—Methodist. The foregoing article from The Church Union, of March 6, 1875, is very significant in regard to the condition of the world. When we consider that “nearly all of this frightful aggregate is the cost of war, or of preparations for war,” we cannot but see how strikingly Joel’s prophecy is being fulfilled: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men; let the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3: 9, 10. When will the people wake up to the fact that we are living in the last days? When will they look through the telescope of God’s word, that they may see the wondrous things which he is doing in these times? Alas! many, the great mass of professors and non-professors, like the disciples of Galileo, refuse to look through this telescope for fear they will see the stars. They will even sound the peace-and-safety cry when the drums of war are beating, and the trumpet is sounding, that is to seal the doom of the world. The most astonishing facts in regard to war preparations, increase of crime, increasing worldliness of professors, &c., will not cause some to give up the pet dogma of the world’s conversion; but, hopeful to the last, they cling to the delusive phantom, seeming to think something will turn up which will bring about the good time. Even the writer quoted thinks the time will come when “Christian nations will put an end to these immense outlays for purposes of destruction.” When will this time come? Echo answers, When? Christian nations never will put an end to these expenses for war; for if the nations were truly Christian, they would never get into them. God will put an end to these warlike operations when he “dashes the nations in pieces,” and when “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” Rev. 11: 15. A Scene in the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
The Examiner and Chronicle for April 15 relates the following:— “One of the little episodes that give variety to the Meeting occurred the other day. Among the attendants at Fulton Street are half-a-dozen men, more or less, who have not committed any sin for several years. They know the exact time when they ceased their wrong-doing. These men speak every time they can get a chance. They never fail to repeat their personal story, and inform the audience how long they have been kept pure. One of this number spoke, and assured the Meeting that he was entirely free from sin, and basked every hour in the sunlight of the Saviour’s smile. Shortly after, a modest gentleman took the floor, and said it was a great comfort to him to know that the Bible Christians were men of like passions with us. They had human infirmities, temptations, trials, conflicts, and victories; and they expected to conquer, not by rapture or enthusiasm, but through the blood of the Lamb. This greatly disturbed our “perfect” brother. He went for the speaker. In violation of the rules, he denounced him as possessing a devilish spirit, as being an enemy to the cross, &c. He refused to come to order at the call of the leader, and was finally sung down—the voice of the excited man rising higher at times than the song. He subsided after awhile, white with temper which he called a holy indignation.” This is a fair illustration of that miserable spirit of self-conceit which always and invariably characterizes these perfectionists. So far as I have known them, this is the spirit with which they are filled. D. M. CANRIGHT. Important Statements.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
I HAVE just finished reading “The Vatican Decrees, with a History of the Vatican Council, &c., by Gladstone and Schaff.” Rev. Philip Schaff, D. D., is the prince of scholars. The following extracts are from his part of the book:— “The dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which exempts the virgin Mary from sin and guilt, perverts, Christianity into Marianism; the dogma of Infallibility, which exempts the bishop of Rome from error, resolves Catholicism into papalism, or the church into the pope. The worship of a woman is virtually substituted for the worship of Christ, and a man-god in Rome for the God-man in Heaven. This is a severe judgment, but a closer examination will sustain it.”—P. 83. “The history of the church is unintelligible without the theory of progressive development, which implies many obstructions and temporary diseases. All the attributes of the church are subject to the law of expansion and growth, and will not be finally complete till the second coming of our Lord.”—P. 86. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROMANISM AND PROTESTANTISM.
“The difference between Romanism and Protestantism on this point is this: Romanism requires proof from tradition first, from Scripture next, and makes the former indispensable, the latter simply desirable; while Protestantism reverses the order, and with its theory of the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, and as an inexhaustible mine of truth that yields precious ore to every successive generation of miners, it may even dispense with traditional testimony altogether, provided that a doctrine can be clearly derived from the word of God.”—P. 91. AUTHORITY OF THE FATHERS.
“Not to interpret the Bible except according to the unanimous consent of the fathers, would strictly mean not interpret it at all.”—P. 106. These are sound Protestant principles; but how readily those calling themselves Protestants go back on them when we come to the questions of the Sabbath, the nature of man, &c. Thank God, we teach no doctrine but what we can read in the holy Bible. D. M. CANRIGHT. Stockton, Cal., May 14, 1875. Passionless Virtue and Fiery Temperament Compared
PASSIONLESS men doubtless usually take more credit to themselves for goodness than they deserve, while fiery men are sometimes judged over-harshly. An old divine says the grace which would have converted John would hardly have kept Peter from knocking a man down. Shelby Co., Iowa.
By John F. Hanson
I LEFT Battle Creek May 14, and arrived at Chicago the same evening. Sabbath and Sunday I met with our Norwegian brethren, and, for the first time, spoke to them with much freedom. Our brethren there need all the encouragement they can get to help them along in the narrow way to Mount Zion. May 17, I started for this place, ten miles south-east of Luzerne, Benton Co., Iowa. I was very kindly received by a Danish family that have been reading our Danish paper for some time, and seem to be partly convinced that we have the truth for the present time. I have now spoken four times to the people, and the interest with the few that meet with us (for there are but few Danish in this neighborhood) seems to be very good. After the close of the meeting yesterday I obtained four subscribers for Tidende, and sold two dollars' worth of our Danish publications. The Lord willing, I shall remain here till the time for the Iowa Conference, after which I expect to meet with the church at my home and also at Crescent City. My address, until further notice, will be Elkhorn P. O., Shelby Co., Iowa. I am of good courage, striving to do the will of my Lord. JOHN F. HANSON. The Commission.
By M. Wood
As our divine Lord was closing up his work upon earth, as prophet and teacher, and was about to ascend to his Father, there in the heavenly sanctuary to enter upon his duties as priest, he gave his disciples this great commission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16 : 15. It is quite evident from the reading of the word of God that the human family should have the glad tidings of salvation preached to them before the second coming of the Son of man; and this commission, given to his disciples was an unlimited one. The world was their field. It is the same to-day. The gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to those that hear, must be preached for a witness to all the world. As the third angel’s message of Rev. 14 : 9-12, is a portion of the word of God, it must be preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. And who is to warn the world of the approaching judgments of God, and the second coming of Christ? Is this work committed to Eld. J. N. Andrews only and a few other preachers, who are acting as missionaries for God? Is it into their hands alone that this work is given? No, thank God, dear reader, every disciple of Christ is permitted to be a co-worker with Jesus. And what did he do? He left the royal courts of Heaven, took upon himself the nature of mortal man, and by personal labors he came close to man, that he might pluck him as a brand from the burning. He withheld not himself. He gave all. He suffered intense agony, and deprivation, and reproach, and hatred, from those whom he came to save. Our Saviour says, I have done all this for you. What are you willing to do for me? I have set you an example; and who will follow the example of his divine Lord in self-sacrifice and disinterested benevolence to save his fellow-men? Nobly did these primitive believers follow the instructions of their crucified Saviour. Those poor despised and persecuted Christians consulted not with flesh and blood. They thought not of their own ease and comfort. They sought not for some pretext whereby to evade the command of Jesus their Lord; but they took their lives in their hands and went forth to execute the orders of the Captain of our salvation. They went forth and preached everywhere. This is precisely what the true missionary spirit leads men to do at the present time. It is said in the same verse that the Lord worked with them. He works with his missionary servants now. God has put his hand to this work. It must triumph, and those who act well the part assigned to them in this great work will witness the glorious triumph of the third angel’s message. This commission, which Christ gave to his disciples nearly two thousand years ago, has never been annulled, and every Christian is a commissioned officer in the army of the Lord. Says Jesus, “Ye are the light of the world.” Who? All Christians are light in the Lord; Eph. 5 : 8; and must shine as lights in the world. Phil. 2 : 15. All their neighbors have an eye upon them. Some admire, commend, and rejoice in them. Others are filled with envy and hatred, and study to destroy them. But Jesus is with his servants to strengthen and sustain them. He leads in the work himself, and clings closer than a brother to his faithful harvesters. And now as repeated calls are being made for volunteers to work under his direction, to rescue souls from ruin, who will obey the call, and enlist under the banner of King Jesus—not for a day, nor for an hour, but for life? Who of us will manifest that true missionary spirit so heroically displayed by the primitive believers? There are thousands and thousands of precious souls who have not so much as heard the sound of the third angel’s message. And Paul says, “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Therefore, those who have the true missionary spirit say, The world shall hear the last notes of warning. The blood of souls shall not be found upon our garments. We will sound an alarm, and herald to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, the solemn announcement of Rev. 14 : 9-12. Where is the Christian heart that can reflect unmoved upon the fact that in a few days millions of our fellow-creatures must stumble over the high mountains of darkness and be lost forever? Surely no person looking and longing for the second coming of Christ can reflect upon this without feeling a strong desire to extend a helping hand, and exert himself as God’s instrument in sending the advent message to the perishing sons and daughters of Adam. If we are truly converted to the truth, we shall feel an individual responsibility resting upon us, and make earnest efforts for the salvation of others. We will not remain inactive nor indifferent to the dangerous position occupied by our relatives, friends, and neighbors, but will use every available means to present the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. We have books, periodicals, and tracts, which even a child may distribute to the saving of souls. May the Lord enable us, individually, to realize the responsibilities devolving upon us as a people entrusted with the most solemn message ever proclaimed to mortal man. May we with brokenness of heart seek God, learn to know his will concerning us, and then with humility hasten to obey, remembering that those who know the Master’s will, and do it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. An Hour of Prayer.
By A. H. Baines
FOR sometime past, my mind has dwelt upon the subject of setting apart one hour of each day for the especial purpose of praying for those who labor in the vineyard of the Lord, and that the Lord may raise up and send forth more laborers. God has given the light of truth to many who like myself have no earthly store, and upon whom bodily infirmities press heavily. We often cry out, What can I do to help forward the cause I love so well? From the usual avenues of labor, such as giving money, going out as tract distributors, or writing for our papers, we are 'out off,' not having the talent for these things; yet we are grateful for blessings received, and long to labor in the cause of truth. No doubt we all have our seasons of prayer for the spread of light and truth; but what I suggest is that this one hour be held as sacred for this one purpose, as money or labor is by those who give them.183 The enemy is working with great power knowing that his time is short. He perplexes the servants of God in various ways, and tries to hinder the work. They need much wisdom, patience, faith, and love. They need strength of body and mind for the work before them. O sister, brother, let us plead with God to open the way before his servants the coming season as never before, and that the Spirit of the Lord may attend the word spoken with great power. If we do with willing hearts whatever our hands find to do, it may be the Lord will strengthen and bless some messenger of truth in answer to our prayers; some one may be led to Christ and join the ranks of the saved in answer to our pleadings. All may not be able to set apart the same hour; but cannot every poor and afflicted Sabbath-keeper give one hour, just one hour each day, to the Lord, to help move on the cause of truth? May God help us to be faithful in our limited sphere, that when Christ shall appear we may hear his sweet voice saying to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Come labor on,
Who dares stand idle on the harvest plain,
While all around him waves the golden grain?
And to each servant does the Master say,
Go, work to-day. Come labor on,
Claim the high calling angels cannot share,
To young and old the gospel gladness bear,
Redeem the time, its hours too swiftly fly,
The night draws nigh. Come labor on,
The laborers are few, the field is wide,
New stations must be filled and blanks supplied,
And let all the people say, Amen,
The call is, Come! Baraboo, May 25, 1875
By I. Sanborn
SINCE my last report, I have spent twelve days at Leon, Monroe Co., where Brn. Decker and Atkinson held a tent-meeting last summer. I held seventeen meetings and the interest increased to the close. Near the close of the meetings I baptized nine and organized a church numbering twenty-three members. I think there are a few others that may yet be persuaded to embrace the truth and unite with them. I am sorry that a tent-meeting could not have been held at Sparta before the camp-meeting. I think it might have done much good. From Leon I went to Lyons, near Baraboo, in Sauk Co., according to appointment in Review, where I met fifty-seven Sabbath-keepers. With many of them, this was the first quarterly meeting they ever attended. Nearly all took part in the prayer and social meeting Sabbath morning. The meetings were all very solemn, and the preaching seemed to deeply impress every heart with the importance of a continual growth in all the graces of the Spirit and in the truth of God. It is only by seeking for a close walk with God that we can gain a moral fitness for successfully carrying on the work of the Lord here and an inheritance in the kingdom of God. Three were baptized, and two more united with the church. A Sabbath-school was organized. All seemed to be much encouraged to press on in this good work. I pray that we all may be kept by the power of God unto the day of salvation. My post office address, until further notice, will be Hurricane Grove, Grant Co., Wis. I. SANBORN. Missouri Preaching Report and New Sabbath Keepers
By L. R. Long
BEEN preaching for the last seven weeks in Brag's school-house in Decalb Co., Mo. Left eighteen keeping the Sabbath. Organized a church of eight members; seven baptized. Shall return soon. Sold sixteen dollars' worth of books. L. R. LONG. Wisconsin Church Visits and Progress Reports
By D. Downer
SABBATH, May 9, visited Modena church, and found them in uncommon unity and love. May 15–17, visited the Arkansas church. They are truly progressing. Several have embraced our faith since the tent-meeting was held there. Several are soon to be baptized. Visited the Burnside church, May 20; most all are yet holding on. One more has joined us there. Am now engaged in a discussion with Eld. Haggard, Disciple. Pray for me. D. DOWNER. Report of the Ky. T. & M. Society.
By S. Osborn
THIS society was organized about the 1st of Jan., 1875. It numbered fifteen members, who were altogether inexperienced. The labor performed is as follows:— Pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed, 22,943; of which two dollars and thirty cents' worth were sold; No. subscribers for the REVIEW, 2; for the Voice of Truth, 1; for Youth's Instructor, 2. We cannot accomplish the work of overcoming by yielding to discouragement, and giving up the warfare, because we are not so successful as we should be in struggling against the temptations of our adversary. Nor can we succeed by laying down the armor because we are overcome in some weak point. We cannot hope to gain anything by such a course. Should we not rather, if we see that we have been overcome by some easily besetting sin, gird on the armor anew and put forth more earnest efforts, that we be not again overcome? Paul says, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It will require earnest, persevering effort on our part and help from above to stand in these perilous times. One reason that we so often fail is because we feel strong in ourselves, and do not plead with God for that help, without which we shall certainly fall. We read that “they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.” There is no danger of being overcome, if we feel our own weakness, and put our whole trust in God. He says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee;” and again we have the promise that we shall not be tempted above that we are able to bear. These are indeed precious promises. Let us take courage and with increased energy and zeal engage in the warfare anew, remembering that we have one that is mighty to help us, and with his help, we shall certainly be victorious. E. A. EDSON. The Patience of the Saints.
By Charles Lee
THE remnant people of God possess, in connection with the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, “the patience of the saints.” This precious quality, which God alone, being himself “the God of patience” (Rom. 15:5), can impart, qualifies God’s people for a sacred observance of his holy law, and fits them to walk in the footsteps of their blessed Saviour. All the trials and troubles which a soul that loves God is subject to tend to develop patience. The person who calmly and contentedly bears all trials that may come, small or great, with a trust in God for victory, never fails to obtain a peaceful and comforting blessing of God; and with that blessing the soul hopefully and carefully goes onward to develop the love of God. Time passes on and new and severe trials come up, but patience bids them all welcome. Friends may turn away, disease and suffering take hold of the entire being, death show itself in all its dreadful colors, but patience holds out her arms to receive all these afflictions without murmuring. The enemy’s stronghold in destroying souls is to rob them of this most important quality. The mind of the worldling is acted upon by exciting scenes and stirring speculations. The nominal Christian is satisfied with pleasing ceremonies and a religious garb, which captivate the eye by a brilliant appearance. Highly ornamented churches, popular and eloquent preaching, and sweet music, give them, from time to time, a foretaste of their imaginary Heaven. Such persons have no use for “the patience of the saints,” and they also give unmistakable evidence that “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” are of but little value to them. The earnest truth-seeker, whenever he loses hold of the eternal Rock of his salvation, finds that it is at the time when patience fails him. As he passes through fiery trials, brought about in God’s providence to cleanse him from impurities, the enemy presents to the mind those trials to come from such sources that others are to blame for them, and he becomes irritable and a feeling of discontent takes possession of the mind, and patience gets her discharge, and fretfulness and uneasiness take her place. Oh, what foul enemies have now entered patience’s work-shop! All their manufacturings are poisonous to the soul, and a bitter gall to others. The Spirit of God cannot unite with these workmen, and faith pines away, till finally by hypocrisy or infidelity it is entirely destroyed. How timely are the Saviour’s words: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” The past year has brought to me many and severe trials which have tried my soul to the utmost. In reflecting over them all I can now see where I have failed. I have forgotten the advice of the apostle: “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2–4. I realize my loss, and will turn to God with a prayerful heart for pardon of my sins, and for grace to henceforth cultivate this noble and most important quality—Patience. Eaton Rapids, Mich.
By E. R. Jones
According to appointment, accompanied by Bro. J. O. Corliss, met with the friends at Eaton Rapids Sabbath and Sunday, May 22, 23. The brethren came in from Potterville, Springport, and other places around, until the large room built by Bro. Lewis for the purpose of holding meetings and adjoining room were full, and there were some at the door and windows. Interest and solemnity characterized the meetings from the very first. Sunday morning, after a discourse on baptism, we went out by a river side, and seven precious souls were buried with their Lord in this solemn rite. The scene was pleasant and impressive. In the evening a church was organized, thirteen covenanting to walk together in fellowship. An elder was chosen and ordained. Systematic Benevolence was arranged to the amount of $47.00 a year. Since the tent was here last September several of those who then received the truth have moved away, leaving their number small. One more fully decided for the truth during these meetings, at the close of which the friends felt that they had received a blessing and were very much encouraged. E. R. JONES. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” Died, of spinal fever, at Williams, Bay Co., Mich., May 3, 1875, Birdie, daughter of F. J. and J. A. Holman, aged six years and eleven months. They sorrow, but not as the world sorrows. They hope to meet her again in the resurrection. Discourse from John. 16: 22. J. O. Corliss. Died, at Trenton, Mo., April 11, 1875, sister Emogene D. Winters, wife of H. Winters, aged 29 years. She died in faith of a part in the first resurrection. Funeral services were conducted by the Baptist minister. L. R. Long. Died, in Portland, Maine, May 21, 1875, Rachel D. Waterman, aged 79 years. Sister Waterman embraced the Bible Sabbath in 1845. She loved the present truth, and we believe she sleeps in Jesus to come forth when the last trump shall sound. E. Lobdell. Died, in Pitcairn, N. Y., April 14, 1875, of inflammation of the lungs, sister Francis Graves, aged 55 years and 3 months. Sister Graves was formerly a member of the Methodist church, but after hearing a course of lectures about two years ago, she became a firm believer in the soon coming of the Saviour and the Sabbath of the Lord, to which faith she strictly adhered until the time of her death. As she possessed great firmness and integrity of character, her friends and relatives, and brethren and sisters in Christ, deeply feel their loss. She manifested great resignation to the will of God during her sickness, and died in the bright hope of soon receiving a crown of everlasting life. Henry H. Wilcox. Died, March 27, 1875, in South Kingston, R. I., Sr. Lucinda B. Tucker, wife of Bro. J. C. Tucker, aged 44 years and 9 months. Sr. T. has been an invalid much of her life and at times a great sufferer; but she bore her sufferings with commendable patience. She joined the Free Baptist church in early life, but about eleven years ago she embraced the third angel’s message, which truth she loved until death. She was a faithful and devoted wife and mother; and strangers were always welcome at her home. Her last sickness lasted about one year, during which time she suffered much. Her husband was with her most of the time night and day, and, with her mother and son, did what could be done for her comfort. But she now rests in hope. May her friends be sustained in their bereavement by the grace of God. Words of comfort by the writer. P. C. Rodman. Young Preachers, Read This.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
HERE is some most excellent advice to preachers, middle-aged as well as young. It is from the Examiner and Chronicle. There is no excuse for a preacher to be ignorant, to go on year after year forgetting as much as he learns, or even more. Nothing but downright laziness is the cause of such a course. Such persons start up occasionally and resolve to do great things; but, alas! it is soon over and nothing permanent is done. Perseverance is what is lacking. I mean to profit by the following article, and I hope others may be profited by it. D. M. CANRIGHT. And of course all this applies to the pastor who has never been through college. He should by himself pursue the college studies. He may find it difficult at first, but the true grit will carry him through, and he may take his stand among scholars. Indeed, education often suffers from men's comparing the lazy college graduate with the studious pastor who has no “sheepskin.” The latter is often the man who has really done the most studying. He is the truly educated man. The educated man is the man who is educated, no matter whether he got his education in a four-story college or in a carpenter's-shop. A college course is only a means to an end—a very desirable means, indeed, but the end has often been reached without it. Therefore, a man who cannot go to college should nevertheless give himself earnestly and systematically to scholastic pursuits. A very small fraction of time each day, sacredly devoted to literature and science, will, in the course of a long pastorate, carry a minister over a vast deal of ground. At the end of a twenty-five years' pastorate, a man who is well started in his studies at the outset ought to have control of the Hebrew and Greek—to have mastered the Latin and modern languages—to be versed in metaphysical and natural science—to be an able historical scholar and to be perfectly familiar with general literature. Does this sound large? An hour a day—half an hour a day will do the business; and if each of the twenty-four hundred sermons this man has preached has had in it what Bible study ought to go into a sermon, he will be familiar with Scripture in every nook and corner. As to the idea that a minister “can't find time”—cannot find half an hour a day for such work—it is absurd. William C. Bryant has edited a New-York daily paper, but managed to “find time” to translate the Iliad; the Earl of Derby was Prime Minister of England, but he also could do Homer into verse; Gladstone, while Prime Minister, kept all the time publishing literary works; and the idea that the pastoral duties of Slab-Hollow are so absorbing that they will allow the incumbent to do nothing outside is absurd. Let him take the time that he spends each day in chimney-corner gossip. Let him get up a little earlier in the morning. Let him employ the half hour between supper and evening meeting, or some other odd time now wasted. Let him take the first half hour when he enters his study in the forenoon, the time he now spends in smoking his pipe and waiting for inspiration. Let him take the last half hour in the afternoon, a time when he is fagged out with sermon-writing, and a little change of work would refresh him; there is many a time which he can devote to this, without infringing in the least on his regular weekly tasks. Indeed, he will find that in the end a regular course of literary study is a saving of time. What consumes time is the pumping of a sermon out of an empty brain. When a man's head is well stored with ideas, it takes comparatively little time to throw those ideas together in the shape of a sermon. An hour a day in study, other than sermon-writing, in the first five years of a pastorate, will save two hours a day in sermon preparation in the second five years. One can write sermons all the easier by having studied something besides his sermons. All his scientific and literary pursuits will be found in the end to be so much grist to his sermon-mill. Again, study may save a pastor from being discarded as soon as he is a little along in years. A young man has certain peculiar elements of acceptability. His voice is clear, his manner is vivacious, his elocution is pleasing, and moreover, he gets credit not only for what he is, but for what he promises to be. Now, if, having lost these advantages of youth, he has secured no marked advantages to put in their place—if he has learned no more of the Bible, if he has gained no larger stock of general information, what wonder that he should be set aside for some man who has those advantages on the strength of which he first succeeded, but which he has now lost. To compare well with the younger man he must have that larger stock of ideas—that larger fund of general information which the young man cannot bear. In fact, a minister should never grow old. He cannot keep the years from passing by, but he can help its being said of him that he has got his growth—that he has told all he will ever have to tell. The oak that is still growing is young, though it has stood for a century. So the pastor of sixty or sixty-five, who is still studying all the while and increasing his stock of information—who can say “I will preach better ten years from now than I do to-day”—people will feel that he is still young, and they will feel the interest in him which was felt when he was just commencing his ministry. Intemperance.—Figures and Facts.
By O. A. Johnson
It is astonishing to see how intemperance is increasing in the United States, and the amount of liquor consumed by this so-called Christian nation, besides the immense quantities of tea, coffee and tobacco, which are also considered by many of our most learned men to be highly injurious to the human system, is amazing. It is sickening and even disheartening to those who are trying to raise the standard of morality to see their fellow-men, who were created in the image of God and made a little lower than the angels, debase themselves so that they appear to be but little above the brute. It seems almost impossible to believe, that more money is paid for liquor than for the necessaries of life; and, besides this, it is impossible for us to form any idea of the amount of suffering and misery caused by this alcoholic demon. I will now give a few figures and facts, which, I believe, are taken from reliable sources. “The United States has 3,000 distilleries, 130,000 liquor shops, 390,000 liquor sellers.” “The amount of whisky consumed is about 75,000,000 gallons; wine, domestic and foreign, 15,000,000 gallons; beer, ale and porter, 222,000,000 gallons; all others, including gin, brandy, rum, &c., 30,000,000 gallons, making our annual consumption of alcoholic liquors about 342,000,000 gallons.” Other authorities claim, that 392,000,000 gallons are consumed annually. This will average about 10 gallons per capita per annum. According to government statistics, the enormous sum of $1,487,000,000 is annually spent for liquors, “being $582,000,000 more than is paid for flour, meat, cotton goods, boots and shoes, clothing, woolen goods, newspapers and job printing, combined (nearly $3 to $1).” In 1867, the amount spent for liquors was ten times the value of all the church property in the United States. In 1870, $90,000,000 was paid for prosecutions, &c., caused by liquor. In the same year there were 400,000 more persons engaged in the liquor business in the United States than in preaching the gospel and teaching school. The tax on liquors amounts to $46,000,000 annually. We have now seen how great a quantity of liquor this so-called Christian nation consumes annually, and how much money is thrown away, yes, worse than thrown away, for this soul-and-body-destroying beverage. Now we will consider how many are thought to be slaves to their appetites and regarded as drunkards. Let facts and figures speak for themselves. There are, it is supposed about “5,000,000 men and women, who daily and constantly go to the saloons for intoxicating drink as a beverage.” There are “530,000 confirmed drunkards.” Among them we find gray-haired men, women, and fair-haired boys. A pitiful scene, indeed! And what is the result of this drinking and intemperance? The result! Figures tell us that 150,000 deaths, yearly, are the direct result of intoxication, besides all the misery and distress the drunkards bring upon themselves and their fellow-men. Thus far we have listened to the tales that figures tell. But figures cannot tell us how many hours of bitter anguish the companions and helpless children have suffered on account of drunken husbands and fathers. They cannot tell us how many agonizing prayers have gone up from their wives and children. They cannot tell us how many severe and cruel blows have been received from their hands. They cannot tell us how many affectionate brides have seen their hopes of a happy future fade, as their husbands, who were the dearest to them of any on earth, yielded to the temptation of strong drink and became drunkards. They cannot tell us how many wives and children have been hastened to their graves, from want of due affection and proper care. It is in vain for us to undertake to describe the amount of suffering and misery caused by intemperance. It is beyond our comprehension. If all the deeds done by inebriates were written in a book, how ponderous would it be! How many things that now are hidden, would it bring to light! How many long and sorrowful tales would it contain! How many distressing and heart-rending scenes would it bring to view! But we forbear adding any more. May the time soon come when God will release his people from this world of evil and reward every one according to his works.