Earlier text: The Concealed SparkTraining Children.
By J. HARE
Family government lies at the foundation of all government. The family arrangement is of God, who ordained it in wisdom. The family, therefore, becomes the first school in which the infant mind is shaped; the nursery, or school in which is received the indelible stamp which shapes their characters through life. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22: 6 The responsibilities of the parent should be well considered by every individual before entering upon them. That the parent will be held accountable, in a great measure, for the character of his child, is evident from the nature of the relation, as well as from the Scriptures. The destiny of the child depends mainly upon the training which it receives from the parent. As clay in the hands of the potter, so are the children given into the hands of the parent to be molded. The Lord commended Abraham on this point. He says, Gen. 18: 19: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” The following texts may be examined with profit: Eph. 6: 4; Prov. 13: 24; 12: 18; 23: 13, 14; 22: 15; 29: 15; Deut. 6: 7–20. Eli’s house furnishes an example of how the Lord looks upon the responsibility of the parent. 1 Sam. 3: 11: “And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house; when I begin I will also make an end. For I have told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.” The fourth chapter gives the fulfillment of the foregoing predictions. And is the Lord the same yesterday, to-day, and forever? Will he judge the Eli’s of this nation as he did Eli of old? Even among the priests of the present time, we might count scores whose sons have made themselves vile, and their fathers restrained them not. This is a peculiar age for slackness in family government, and the sad effects are witnessed throughout the length and breadth of society. Our poor-houses, jails, penitentiaries, and lunatic asylums, are being filled because the children have made themselves vile and their fathers restrained them not. Crime of every kind is sadly on the increase. The god of lust and appetite is bowed down to, and worshiped, more or less, by all classes; but especially are the young being taken by the devil at his will. Fashion, the mightiest among the false gods, is wielding her scepter, and nations are bowing to it. Fashionable gambling, fashionable horse-racing, fashionable drinking, fashionable tobacco-chewing and smoking, and fashionable lying, swindling, and deceiving, in all the arts of trade, fashionable patent-right vending, nineteenth-twentieths of which is a swindle, and other vices and sins too numerous to mention, are becoming fashionable, and hence are indulged in by popular religionists of the present time. And we believe the whole catalogue of crimes may be mainly traced to defects in early training. It is because the children have made themselves vile, and the parents restrained them not. The faithful student of prophecy will scarcely fail to see in the present fulfillment of 2 Tim. 3, a fearful sign of the approaching end. While it is painful to witness this state of things among the masses, both professors and non-professors, it is equally so to witness the defects in family training among Sabbath-keepers, who have come out under the solemn call of the third angel, and have taken their stand on holy ground, expecting soon the returning of their Lord to destroy the wicked and redeem the righteous. Surely, such should have a higher standard for the training of children, than any that have preceded us in the world’s history. But instead of this, we fall sadly below even our grandfathers. Instead of being influenced by the world and popular religionists around us, we should be a pattern for them, training up our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The great tendency of the present age is to infidelity, spiritualism, and many false isms, all of which is the legitimate result of a careless indifference in training the youth. The seeds of truth have not been carefully planted and cultivated, and nurtured in the young heart. The whole Sunday-school system of the present time is better calculated to make infidels than true followers of the meek and lowly Lamb of God. Pride, fashion, and display are kept before the young mind; festivals, celebrations, and exhibitions, are the main incentives; while Christ is only brought in secondarily. Thousands are thus trained in Sunday-schools from week to week, with the Bible in their hands as a familiar book, while, at the same time, they see their ministers, teachers, and parents, living in almost total disregard of the divine teaching, and spirit of the book. One of two conclusions must necessarily follow: Either that their teachers do not believe it themselves, or that it does not mean what it says. If we wish to make infidels of our children, we could not pursue a more successful course than to teach and profess the solemn truths of the Bible, and disregard them in our practice. We shall succeed just so far as works are more potent than words. Parental control is sadly wanting among all classes of society at the present time. There are many fathers and mothers who have but little control over their children. Perhaps the difficulty, in many cases, reaches back to their own training. Having never been properly trained themselves, they are but poorly prepared to train their own offspring. Children should be taken in hand when very young. Just as soon as they manifest self-will, just so soon should that self-will be controlled. Their antics must be noticed by all the family, and every visitor must notice them, and lavish their praises upon them. Thus their vanity is strengthened from the start. I have seen children two or three years old want something. Perhaps the mother could not wait on the child at the moment, when it would fall flat upon the floor, kick, scream, and perhaps hold its breath till it would turn black in the face; and if one such fit did not bring the mother, another would, when the mother would lift it from the floor, call it her little darling, gratify its whims and perhaps hire it to hush crying by giving it candy or something of the kind. All such children govern their mothers instead of their mothers governing them. Many times in meeting, the whole congregation is disturbed by the running of children back and forth across the church. And I have seen some instances where the parents themselves would seem delighted to have the attention of the people called to them. Such things are exceedingly trying to the faithful minister who finds it necessary to stop in the midst of his subject and call the attention of the parents to their children. Such things are disgusting to all well-bred persons, as well as a palpable violation of the sanctity of the house of God. Children should never be taken into a worshiping assembly, unless they are completely under the control of those having them in charge, and should be kept quiet during service. Reverence is lamentably wanting among all classes, and especially among the young. Children speak of old persons as though they were far beneath them, and frequently use some nickname in disrespect to those spoken of. Defective training lies at the foundation of this course. If children are properly governed the first three years of their life, their management will be comparatively easy afterwards. The moral standard should ever be kept before them. They should be carefully guarded against the evil, and encouraged in the right. Many have given evidence of saving faith in early youth; but much depends upon constant and faithful training with regard to this. Thousands will be lost in the great day, who might have been saved, if the parents had done their duty by them. The Catholic church owes its success to the early training of their children. And shall Seventh-day Adventists be less zealous with regard to their children than Catholics? Brethren and sisters, let us, as parents, wake up to the weighty responsibilities resting upon us in this respect. Be assured God will hold us accountable for the influence we exert. Train up the children in the way they should go, and they will not depart from it. But if they make themselves vile, and we restrain them not, remember Eli’s house. J. HARE. Insincere Speech and Action
CARLYLE somewhere says, “Insincere speech, truly, is the prime material of insincere action.” The kind of speech in a man betokens the kind of action you will get from him. The Power of Earnest Prayer
An hour passed in sincere and earnest prayer, or in conflict with, and the conquest over, a single passion or a subtle bosom sin, will teach us more of thought, will more effectually awaken the faculty and form the habit of reflection, than a year's study in the schools with them. Eden Mills, Vermont.
By Albert Stone
On first-day, Jan. 14, being called to attend the funeral of a young man at Eden Mills, at the close of the service I entered the Methodist chapel and was invited by the preacher in charge to preach in the afternoon. The Lord gave much freedom in speaking from Matt. 5:16. The quarterly meeting at Johnson, Jan. 20, was one of much interest to the little church in that place. Brethren and sisters were present from Wolcott, and all seemed to partake of the good Spirit. Four persons, all heads of families, joined the church. The testimonies of the brethren and sisters were well timed and to the point. The church were strengthened and encouraged. Since then, one has made a start to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. On first-day, Jan. 21, by the expressed wish of some at Eden Mills, gave two discourses in the Methodist chapel in that place. Subject, The Future of Spiritualism in the Light of Prophecy. This led us to explain the two lines of prophecy touching the two-horned beast of Rev. 13, and the remnant people of God as brought to view in Revelation, chapter 7, 14, and 15, including the three angels' messages of chap. 14, together with the unclean spirits of chap. 16; the fall of Babylon, and the call of the people of God to “come out of her,” of chap. 18, their final conflict with the beast, and victory over him, of chap. 19. The notice of this meeting being widely extended, several came in from adjoining towns, and the interest of those present, as we proceeded, was such, and the opportunity to develop important truth on new ground, so favorable, that I prolonged my remarks to the extent of three hours and ten minutes, the interest remaining good to the end. As we attempted to depict those dreadful scenes, and show that they must, in all probability, come upon this generation, much feeling was evinced, and many were moved to tears. The result is with Him who has said, “My word shall not return unto me void.” Our meetings with the church of Johnson and Eden on the days of fasting were such as to evince that “God is with us of a truth.” All seemed to feel a sweet, heavenly assurance that the move was of the Lord. Since my last report, my Sabbaths have, for the most part, been spent with the churches, and other days, as far as practicable, in visiting outsiders, conversing, and leaving tracts and pamphlets with such as expressed a desire to read and be instructed. Teachable, inquiring minds are more frequently met with than formerly, and I am glad to believe that the way is preparing for a rich harvest of souls not far in the future. For myself, I wish to redeem the time as far as possible, and would say to all my brethren and sisters, and fellow-laborers in the Lord, Be patient, be courageous, be kind, pitiful, courteous, persevering, and victory in due time will be given through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Locust Grove, Ky.
By D. T. Bourdeau
THE work is progressing in this neighborhood. Owing to other appointments, thrown in evidently to counteract our effort, it will take us longer to give our first course than it otherwise would. For years, the Disciples had mainly occupied the ground, speaking but once a month; but since we have come to the place, the Baptists have made two efforts, and two Baptist preachers have sent appointments for a protracted effort to commence to-morrow night. This is done without consulting us, and without our giving the least hint that we had got through; on the contrary, we have repeatedly said that we were far from closing our lectures, and that when we closed our first course the people would be notified as publicly as they were when we commenced. We give way until next Sabbath, and occupy next Sunday all day, unless some of the preachers are disposed to grapple with our views, in which case we would give them the privilege to occupy a part of the day. Eld. Daugherty, a Disciple preacher, spoke against us a week ago, and kindly offered us the privilege of replying on the spot, which we did with freedom. He speaks again in one week from next Wednesday night, still granting us the privilege of replying. Pray that we may have the Spirit of God to indorse the word. Since reporting last, the entire family of Bro. Barr, who occupies the farm that Bro. Brown of California used to own, have come out on the Sabbath. Three of them prayed with us in brokenness of spirit last Sabbath morning. This was a precious season. This family took us in when we were strangers and the tide was against us. May God bless them, and make them a blessing to others. Vermont.
By A. C. Bourdeau
SINCE my return from Battle Creek, Mich., the second week in January, ult., I have been greatly encouraged to continue on laboring, and doing what I can, by the assisting grace of God, for the furtherance of the cause of present truth. The second Sabbath in January, I met with the church at home. We had a large attendance, and the brethren and sisters were deeply interested and cheered while we dwelt on the progress of the cause, and gave a brief statement of the doings of the recent session of the General Conference and the annual meeting of the Publishing Association. We also spoke of the conveniences we have to print our publications, the large numbers of books, pamphlets, and tracts on hand, our resources to publish more works, the advance steps that are being taken by our people as manifest in the creation of Missionary and Tract Societies; and especially of the fact that favorable openings for the spreading of the truth are rapidly increasing. The hearts of thousands all over the land are opened to receive the truth, and the Macedonian cry is heard from every part of the harvest-field, “Come over and help us.” “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt. 9:37, 38. Jan. 17, I started to go and fill an appointment to hold meetings the next Sabbath and first-day at Grande Ligne, P. Q.; but as I reached Burkshire, Vt., I found that sister Alida I. Kellogg had just died at the residence of her brother, Henry W. Kellogg; and, after some consultation on the point, it was decided that a telegram should be sent to Bro. Piguere, to change the appointment for meetings in Canada. I then returned home and spent a good Sabbath with the church. Sunday, the 21st, accompanied by a goodly number of brethren and sisters from Bordoville, attended the funeral services, which were held in the new Methodist meeting-house in Richford. I enjoyed some freedom on the occasion in speaking to a crowded house of mourning and sympathizing friends. The next day I went to Grande Ligne where I spent four days. I was greatly cheered to find that two more had been led to embrace the Sabbath by reading our tracts and Bro. J.’s REVIEW. These new friends cheerfully entertained me and my team, purchased several of our works that I had on hand, and subscribed for the REVIEW, the Instructor, and the Reformer. May the Lord strengthen those lonely souls, and enable them to endure faithful unto the end, that they may be saved with God’s people at Christ’s coming. The first Sabbath in February, Bro. Bean and I attended the quarterly meeting with the church at East Richford, Vt. The attendance was large. All present seemed to be much interested in the word spoken, and, in the evening after the Sabbath, we enjoyed a profitable season in attending the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The next Wednesday we drove fifty-one miles to the Sweet school-house in Starksborough, and the evening of the same day I gave a discourse to an attentive congregation. We remained in the place six days, during which time we held nine meetings, visited ten families, made arrangements for them to have weekly prayer and social meetings and Sabbath meetings, a Bible class and Sabbath school, and obtained three new subscribers for the REVIEW. Nearly all the new converts to the truth in that section had previously made no profession of religion. Bro. and sister Evans still reside in their midst. It is hoped that a good interest will be kept up in their little meetings. The church in this place had very profitable meetings on the appointed days of fasting and prayer, Feb. 10 and 11; and meetings were continued with increasing interest every evening the following week and the next Sabbath and first-day. On Sunday, the 18th, pursuant to appointment in the REVIEW, a Missionary and Tract Society for the Vt. State Conference was organized. We have reason for gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the good measure of his Spirit that all present seemed to enjoy at this meeting, and for the success that we had in starting this good work in that Conference. We design to complete the work in this State and Canada as fast as Providence permits. Bordoville, Vt., Feb. 25, 1872. Meetings in Wisconsin.
By I. Sanborn
FEBRUARY 3 and 4, I preached three times at Monroe. The meetings were solemn and interesting. The church at Monroe have never been so united, and in the enjoyment of the good work of the Lord since the message was first preached there, as at the present time; and while the influence of the mistakes made by some in the past, are dying away, the influence and power of the truth of the third angel's message is continually gaining influence upon the minds of the candid. On the evening of the 5th of February I commenced a series of meetings six miles north of Monroe, in an entirely new field. The interest increased from the beginning. The professing portion of the community became so stirred up by the Lord's word that they became anxious to have some one come and settle the question; and after I had preached a little more than a week, I gave notice that on the next Sunday, at 10 A. M., we would have a Bible-class, in which I wanted every one to take a part. When the hour arrived, we were happily disappointed to find a full house with George Ely and Dr. Monroe, both strong leading Disciple men; the former one quite a preacher. We first spent one hour in examining all of the texts ever offered in favor of Sunday-keeping, and, finding nothing in its favor, we then spent one hour more investigating evidences in favor of the seventh day. By this time, it was becoming quite evident that the faith of many in Sunday-keeping was getting quite sickly, and in some it was actually dying; but Eld. Ely, seeing the dilemma that the congregation was in, proposed to read an article from the standard Disciple paper which he wrote some time last summer, to settle the minds of some of his brethren in Missouri, in which he tried to show that the Sabbath was Jewish, and that the law was done away, comparing Seventh-day Adventists to Mahometans and Mormons, representing them as dupes following mother White, etc. In the evening, I spoke on the sealing of the law among the disciples. Eld. E. acknowledged that the arguments were too deep for him, but promised to look into them. On Friday evening following, Eld. Sherwood preached a sermon against the law and the Sabbath, which I reviewed with good effect. On Monday evening following, the Methodist people brought Eld. Bushbee (Methodist) from Monroe, considered a champion, and, as a boaster, I question if his match can be found in his denomination of people. I met him in my work at Waterloo, Grant Co., four years ago; he made an effort against the truth there, and utterly failed, the people being judges. So in this case, I could not get him to affirm his faith on the Sunday Sabbath; and, as he111 would stay but one evening, I would not affirm on the Sabbath question; but finally he agreed to speak twenty minutes about with me, without any stated proposition. He led out, dealing largely in sarcasm and misapplications of Scripture, denying that God made the heavens, and earth, and sea, and all that in them is, in six days of twenty-four hour periods; and that the fourth commandment was as faithfully obeyed by keeping Sunday or Monday as in keeping Saturday, the seventh day. I answered, by calling the attention of the candid assembly to Ex. 16, showing that God interpreted to the people the obligations of the fourth commandment by giving the manna on the six laboring days, and withholding it on the seventh day which he declared was the Sabbath day; I also showed the people that the holy women kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, the day before the resurrection of Christ, Luke 23:50; and that God said that the resurrection day, was the first day of the week, and that the day before was the seventh day of the week according to the commandment. I also showed that the day before Pentecost God positively declared to be the Sabbath. These facts took the wind out of his sails; so he began to make assertions about Sunday being the Sabbath, the Lord's day, etc., but failed to give us one text to prove it. We were satisfied, when the investigation closed, that the Sunday Sabbath had lost much of its power and influence over the people, and that the Sabbath of the Lord had gained much respect in the minds of many. Before the Elder left, I offered to discuss the following propositions with him in the Methodist meeting-house in Monroe: 1. Resolved, That the Bible teaches that the seventh-day Sabbath, commonly called Saturday, was made at creation, and is binding upon all men. 2. Resolved, That the Bible teaches that the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, is the Lord's day, and that the Lord's people should keep it according to the commandment. I also offered to discuss the same propositions with Eld. Allen (Methodist). Elds. Bushbee and Allen both refused to discuss the second proposition, but would accept the first. I declined to discuss the first, unless they would the second. It remains to be seen whether they have confidence enough in the Sunday Sabbath to undertake to defend it by the word of God, as their faith and teaching on the Sunday Sabbath is clearly set forth in the second proposition which I have offered to discuss with them. The result of my labor for four weeks in the Parr district, is that from ten to fifteen have commenced to keep the Sabbath. Many others are almost persuaded to keep it, but are hoping that their ministers will yet accept and discuss the Sunday question, and show that Sunday is the Sabbath after all. But after they learn that their ministers have not confidence enough in their Sunday Sabbath to undertake to defend it by the word of God in an honorable Christian discussion, the probability is that many more will embrace the Sabbath of the Lord according to the commandment. See Luke 23:50. Monroe, Wis., March 4, 1872. Saving Faith.
By J. S. Smith
Now in these closing days of time,
God's bold precepts we would keep,
Amid earth's unbelief and crime,
Through faith his blessing we shall reap. When darkness gathers on our way,
And trials we are passing through,
'Tis good to meet, though few, to pray,
And thus our faith and strength renew. When Satan comes in all his wrath,
With armies gathered for our blood,
Those who have overcome by faith,
Shall rule them with an iron rod. A thousand fallen at our side,
Ten thousand too, at our right hand,
We safely in the faith abide,
And view the far-off better land. When plagues, according to the word,
Are coming on the land and sea,
Then by the faith of our dear Lord,
We stand firm, from every danger free. What we do here must soon be done,
To spread abroad the truth and light;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Faith soon will turn to joyful sight. J. S. Smith.
West Wilton, N. H., March, 1872. Chester, N. Y.
By S. B. Whitney
SINCE my last writing, have continued my labors in the neighborhood where I was then engaged; and, as the result, twelve have expressed their decision to keep the Sabbath; and I hope for more. The interest kept up till the close, and, at our meeting last Sabbath, we had fully the number of the average attendance upon the lectures, and deep feeling was manifested on the part of the unconverted. First-day evening, an expression was taken, when a goodly number arose in favor of the Sabbath, and not one for Sunday. Calls for labor are coming in from different directions. A Baptist minister in an adjoining town sent me an invitation to come and preach to his people. I visited him last Monday; was made welcome, and had a very interesting visit; gave him some books, and received from him a voluntary invitation to give a course of lectures in a new church they are just building, immediately after its dedication, which is expected to be about the middle of June. The call for laborers and organization of Missionary and Tract Societies has come none too soon, and may God speed the work. Amen. At the close of the last report made by Bro. Hare, we moved about three miles from Lynn to Plumbfork school house for reasons named in that report. There we labored together, giving about twenty discourses with good interest, and, we think, good success. The finest people in the country are much interested, and it is all their conversation. They say they never saw so consistent a view of the Bible taken as we take. We visited among the people and conversed with them around their firesides respecting our faith. It is necessary in this country to take the people where they live. On the 8th of last month, Bro. Hare left this place for his home in Iowa, and we have adjourned our meetings until the 16th inst. I accompanied him nearly to Franklin Furnace, near the Ohio river on the Ohio side, where we had a very urgent call for labor, and we gave five discourses mostly on the prophecies. I hear since that it created much excitement and interest there and they want to hear more. I will here give an extract from a letter from there, which invited me there, as it is only an example of many such calls for help: “I want you to come over as soon as you get this. I want you to come prepared to preach us a few sermons, or more if you think best. Everybody is anxious to hear you. Come over to Macedonia and give us a few sermons. If you think you can come, I will tell it around, and I think I can get as many together as you can talk to handy. H. McNeal.” It was very muddy while there, but good attendance and interest. Here, on the 13th, we parted, after laboring together for four weeks very pleasantly. I gave eight more discourses at Plumbfork, the last of which was on spiritual gifts. Some have come out on the Sabbath truth, and I think many more will embrace it. The people are slower to decide here than they are in the Western States. After they are convinced, they want time to study and make up their minds. I have sold twenty dollars’ worth of books and given away some. Money being scarce, the poorer class cannot buy books. The ire of the preacher of the Disciple church is aroused to the highest pitch. He boasted and misrepresented our faith so much that I could not endure it any longer, and thought it a duty to defend the cause, in the strength of Israel’s God. The church here would not risk their preacher, but sent over into Ohio for one Bingham. Gave him twenty-five dollars, to use up Advent diabolism. The 9th inst. is the time set. May the Lord give victory on the side of truth. I spend this week preparing for the discussion. Pray for me. S. OSBORN. The Effort in Hillsdale, Mich.
By W. H. Littlejohn
From Feb. 21 to March 5, I labored with the church in Hillsdale. It had never been my fortune to visit that place before, and I found that I had a personal acquaintance with but very few of our brethren who live there. This fact, however, served in nowise to decrease my interest in their welfare, and, from the very outset, I experienced an earnest desire to contribute to their spiritual good. I learned, upon inquiry, that they were brought into the truth a number of years since through the labors of Brn. Cornell and Waggoner, and that since that time they had enjoyed the benefit of but a small amount of ministerial help. Their history, like that of most churches brought out under these circumstances and left to their own resources, has been filled up with trials and perplexities. The sifting process, which is always experienced by churches brought into the truth under the pressure of a series of meetings devoted, necessarily, in a very great degree to theoretic matters, has, as is usually the case, reduced their numbers somewhat. Nevertheless, they are sufficiently strong at present to act a very important part in the community in which they live, had they learned wisdom by the experiences of the past, and were they fully united in the bonds of brotherly love. While with them, I labored to the point of arousing them to the importance of genuine repentance and conversion in view of their previous failures. Nor was I altogether disappointed in my hopes. From the very outset, there was a disposition manifested on the part of all to be in attendance at all the meetings, some coming each evening a distance of from three to five miles. As the meetings progressed, while speaking to them largely upon practical subjects, the Spirit of the Lord attended the word, and gradually the hearts of the people were melted into contrition, which found expression, in many cases, in hearty confessions of wrong. When we left them, it had become manifest that a good work had been wrought, and many remarked, as the best evidence of this fact which could possibly be given, that the same affection which originally existed in their hearts for one another, was beginning to revive. Though the effort made was devoted almost exclusively to the interest of all those already members of the church, all were rejoiced to find that the Holy Spirit had been working upon the minds of those not hitherto having made a profession of religion, and that four young persons of mature years had resolved to enter fully into the service of God. During my stay in this place, I was unexpectedly called to Ransom Center to preach the funeral discourse of sister Phebe A. Wolcott. On Tuesday, the 5th of March, I returned to Allegan with the view of obtaining a few days of rest—the need of which I had begun to feel—expecting to go out into the field once more as soon as duty should seem to require it. A Point Illustrated.
By E. Goodrich
A COUPLE of young men, chums, rather fast young men, but such as society would denominate gentlemen, attended on the occasion of the dedication of a new church in one of our large and wealthy cities. The circumstances that gave rise to the building of the church, and connected with the dedication of the same, were somewhat as follows:— During a political campaign, and while a certain railroad was building, involving the interests of the city, party spirit ran so high that an opulent church, composed of a large membership, became completely divided into two parts. To say that the division was purely the result of political rivalry and railroad interests, would be saying too much; for of a long time, in reality, two parties had existed in the church and the railroad interests, and the political questions only acted as fostering sores, through which the division worked its way out of the body of the church. The one party, quite primitive in their views of religious worship, expenses, outward show, and parade, believed that the old church in which they had worshiped for years was good enough for years to come, and that they were unable to build a new one, and that they ought not to substitute instrumental and choir music for good congregational singing. Of course this embraced the less wealthy members of the church. The other party, the wealthy ones, believed that they were fully able to buy an organ, and to build a new church, and that it was duty to keep up with the spirit and progress of the age. Almost from the first, these two parties had existed in the church. Perhaps it would be nearer the truth to say that at the first most of its members were poor, but soon some became wealthy, and, by inducing other wealthy ones to join the church, they formed a rival party, able with their means and influence to carry out their ends. It was thus that politics and railroad matters found them, and a division was the result. It is but just to say that in effecting a division, a most amicable and satisfactory settlement of all difficulties was had; the primitive agreeing to retain and worship in the old church, while the latter party went off by themselves, with the purpose of building themselves a church, equal, if not superior, to any in the city. The result was a splendid and costly church, with all the improvements and conveniences of the age; and, as a matter of course, it was but fitting that the church should be dedicated in a manner corresponding with itself and those who were to worship therein. Accordingly, the Rev. Mr. C—, from a distant city, was sent for, and, with other popular ministers of the city, dedicated the church. Everything was done in perfect order, the singing, the praying, the instrumental music, the oration by Dr. C—, and all the services of the occasion, so that when the time came, and the house was filled almost to overflowing with the devout, and elite, and fashionable of the city, the entire services, from the brief introductory prayer to the closing doxology, all was a complete success. And, as all earthly things have an end, so the dedication ceased, and the people returned home more than pleased—charmed with what they had seen and heard. But the two young men, introduced in the opening of the chapter, are not to be forgotten; for, on going home to their rooms, the following conversation, or dialogue, took place: FRANK. “I say, Dick, what do you think of that (speaking of the dedication)?” DICK. “It beats anything I ever saw. It was perfectly superb. And indeed I believe they have got the thing just right, and I mean to get religion and join that church.” F. “Pshaw! you are joking, Dick. We are Universalists, and what is the use of joining a church when we are all going to Heaven—those out of the church as well as those in the church.” D. “I know we are Universalists, and are all going to Heaven; but look at the company we are keeping. We are fellowshipping everybody and everything, drunkards, and all the riffraff of the world. To use a figure, we are riding in a second-class car, when it costs but a little more to buy a first-class ticket, and then we have but little more to do than to read the news and talk politics if we choose. And see the advantage and the convenience of the thing. I, for one, mean to join that church.” To some this may read like a burlesque; but it is not. It is but an illustration of the spirit of the age. Many, in their zeal to advance the interests of the religion of Jesus, by making it easy for men to embrace it, have destroyed the simplicity of the gospel. This is no new thing, but an old thing; for in the earlier ages of the Christian religion, when the Pagan was the national religion, as the Christian religion was simple, having but a few forms or ceremonies; and as the Pagan religion was one of pomp and parade, and these rites and ceremonies that were calculated to awe the minds of the vulgar, in order to remove national and Pagan prejudices from the mind, and render the conversion of the heathen easy, many gaudy rites and ceremonies, designed to impress the masses, were from time to time added to the Christian religion. Copious quotations from ecclesiastical history might be given, illustrating the truth of the above; but it is useless. A single extract may suffice. Mosheim writes thus concerning the third century, under the heading, Rites and Ceremonies: “All the records of this century mention the multiplication of rites and ceremonies in the Christian church.” E. GOODRICH. Be of Good Courage.
By Mary E. Guilford
What great reason have we all to be of good courage, and to trust in the Lord; for he has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The worldling, with a heart full of pride and hilarity, may scorn the society of the devoted Christian, whose humble piety is a continual reproach to his aimless life of sin and folly. Even those endeared to us by the ties of nature may separate themselves from us, and leave us lonely and deserted. Yet, amid all this, the faithful, trusting soul can lift the heart heavenward, and enjoy sweet communion with Jesus. He is an abiding friend—an ever-present guest. His beaming smile of love and approbation will make earth's darkest clouds withdraw, and fill the weary, careworn heart with heavenly light and peace. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8 : 28. How comprehensive the language of this text! It takes into consideration every event and circumstance of life. No matter how great our trials, or severe our afflictions, God can overrule them all for our good. We have the assurance that “He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” He chastens us for our profit. He would purify, refine, and elevate, us that we may become partakers of his holiness. May the consolation which this knowledge affords us dispel every murmuring thought from our hearts, and enable us to raise a song of constant thanksgiving to Him “who doeth all things well.” Let us contemplate the goodness of God, the provisions he has made for our happiness, and with fresh courage press on in the heavenly race. Patient, cheerful, submission to the will of our Maker, will lighten our cares, and brighten our pathway to the celestial city. The toils, privations, trials, and afflictions, of this mortal life will soon be past. The morn of a glorious eternity will soon dawn upon the vision of earth's weary, careworn pilgrims. Let us be faithful a little while longer, that we may be among “the ransomed of the Lord,” who “shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.” Isa 35 : 10. With cheerful heart, and courage strong,
Press on; the race will not be long,
Though foes assail, and friends deride,
With love and meekness stem the tide.
When all seems dark—no ray of light—
Still trust in God and do the right;
On his strong arm, by faith rely;
Rejoice and sing, salvation's nigh.