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^ ' OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS. ? BAPT53T MINISTERS AND LAYMEN HOLD A CONFERENCE And Consider the Whlisitt 91 tter-Tha Conference Thicks Dr. Vfhitsitt Was Misunderstood and Suggests That Condemnatorj Brsolutions Cease. In the interest of harmony aaonj: Baptists, a number of representative pastors and laymen from the different soutoern States, inciudicg such men as Joshua Levering, president of the board of trustees for the Southern Baptist Theological seminary, D-. J. B. Hawthorne, of Nashville, and ex Governor Nprthen. of Georgia, who v -11 1?4-j-. met at ixasnviiie last wees. tu , the Whitsitt controversy, kave issued t an address to the denomica ion urging a cessation of condemnatory r^ss lutions, and a temperate cossideration of Dr. Whitsitt's utterances on baptism which have been the subject of much heated c )ntro versy. These atlemen take the position that Dr. Whitsitt has been misunderrtood, and they ask to be heard on a restatement of the case. Tee controversy so far has been, in ori^f, as follows: In May, 1S96, Dr. Whitsitt's article oa BaDtists in Joimsca's cyclopedia was pub lished in denominational papers. The cjclo-1 pedia had been in print two jears, but for | some reason the statements which afterwards i caused so great a controversy were unao- j ticed. When the article was published just prior to the meeting of the Southern Baptist convention at Chattanooga, the statement by Dr. Whitsiu that the English B?p , tists did not practice immersion prior to the year 1541 was immediately challenged. There was alarge element of thedenomination known as "Landmark Baptists," who 1-elieved and still believe that baptism by immersion had ' been continuously practiced from the times of the apostles. The assertion to the contra ry by tbe president or tne couinera joapusi Theological seminary, which educates nearly all the Baptist preachers in the south was a great shock to these members of the church and they began to express their disapprobaPtion in very emphatic terms. In themeantime more sabject matter was odded to the controversy. Somebody charged that Dr. Whitsitt had plagiarized the work of Dr. Dexter, a Congregationalist, in the cyclopedia article. In defending himself from this charge, Dr. Whitsitt referred to editorials he had written for the New York Independent twelve years before, containing the same statement. Forthwith those editorials were printed, and to the surprise of everyone they were written from an undenominational standpoint and sounded mere like the cold and dispassionate statement of a historian or critical student of denomina tional literature. This did not help matters ! and the controversy raged more violently i - * than ever. The leaders of the opposition were Dr. T. T.-Eaton, of Lonisville, pastor of the Walnnt street Baptist church, and editor of The Western Recorder, and Dr. B. H. Carroll, of Texas. Dr. Whitaitt supported his statements with extracts from historical records in the British museum. The contention of Br. Whitsitt and his friends was that the truth of history should not be gainsaid, and that the article was the only rule of faith and practice ior Baptists, and the question was not affected by practices of the English Baptists of the seventeenth century or anybody else. This was not satisfactory to the opponents of the Whitsitt theory, and the matter was discussed in various associations and conventions and came before the trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary at Wilmington, N. C., during the meeting of the Southern Baptist convention. Dr. B. H. Carroll, of Texas, introduced a radical resolution which looked to an emphatic pronouncement against Dr. Whitsitt* s position, and would, if adopted, have possibly led to his removal from the presidency of the seminary, xne resolution -was rejected by the board asu'the following substitute was adopted: . "The trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary, assembled in their annual meeting, in "Wilmington, N. C., May 6, _ 1897, desire to submit to the Baptists of the south the following statement in regard to the institution whose interests have been committed to their care and management. That we account this a fitting occasion to reaffirm our cordial and thorough adherence to the fundamental articles adopted at the time lrhexi the seminary was established, and to assure those in whose behalf we hold in trust and administer the affairs of this institution of our steadfast purpose to insist that the fundamental laws and scriptural doctrines embodied in these articles shall be faithfully uDheld by those occupying chairs as teachers. 'That we cannot undertake to sit in judgment on questions in Baptist history which do not imperil any of those principles concerning which all Baptists are agreed, but concerning which serious, conscientious and scholarly students are not agreed. We can, Imuo tn prmfirmer? ta- i iiV/nVTVij vv/uuuvuwj v " search, and discussion tlie satisfactory solution of these questions. "That, believing the seminary to hold an important relation to the prosperity and usefulness of southern Baptists, we consider it our duty while demanding of those ia charge of its departments of instruction the utmost patience in research and the greatest discretion in utterance, to foster, rather than repress, the spirit of earnest and reverent investigation. "That, being fully assured that the tender affection which we cherish for this instituVar ntii* fatTland hf?rme>ni.T>Afl by them to us, is shared by the Baptists of the south, we can safely trust them, as we ask them to trust us, to guard its honor, promote its usefulness and pray for its prosperi- j ty." Dr. Whitsitt was invited to make a statement and the next morning read the following: Wilmington, N. C., May 7, 1897. "To the Board of Trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: x "Dear Brethren?I beg leave to return sinceresfc and heartiest thanks for the nobie and generous treatment which you have bestowed upon me. I have only words of affection for every member of the board. After consulting with the committee, I have the loi-owmg 10 say: "1. That in regard to tie articles written &s editorials for The Independent, I have long felt it was a mistake, ana the generous action of the board of trustees makes it easy for me to make this statement. What I wrote was from a pedobaptist standpoint, With a view to stimulating historical research, with no thought that it would injure the Baptists, and with no intention to disparage Baptist doctrine or practices. no Tv.i 4V JLU&i/ Obi LIMITS iii UVUU9VU O clopedia has probably passed beyond my control, bnt it .will be very pleasing to me if I can honorably procure the elimination of what Is offensive to any of my brethren. "3. In regard to the published statement about my advising that a kinswoman of mine ought to follow her husband into the pedobaptist church, it was never my intention to indicate a belief that the family outranks the church of God. I believe that obedience to its commands is above every other human duty, and that people in every ofvnHiticm rtf 1ifc? rtn<yllf. flh?V (rClf? rath fir than man. "4. On the historical question involved, I find myself out of agreement with some honored brethren, but what I have written is the outcome of patient and honest research, and I can do no otherwise than to reaffirm my conviction and maintain my position. But if in the future it should ever be made to appear that I have erred in my conclusions, I would promptly ajjd cheerfully say so. I am a searcher after truth, and will gladly hail every helper in my work. - "5. That I cannot more strongly assure the brethren that I am a Baptis: than, by what I have recently declared -with, reference to the abstract of the principles of the board in the fundamental laws of the seminary. I am heartily in accord -with my Baptist brethren in every distinctive prin_ ciple that they hold. 3Iy heart and life are bound up with Baptists; and I have no higher thought on earth than to spend my days in their fellowship and service in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Respectfully submitted, "Wjlliam H. Whitsitt." These proceedings of the seminary trustees, with Dr. Whitsitt's statement, were read to the Southern Baptist convention then | in session, and spread upon its minutes, but there was no discussion in that bodj on the subject. This did not settle the controversy, i ! Indeed, it has been even more acrimonious j ! sines that time, and a number of local Baptist associations in various southern states have passed resolutions demanding Dr. Whitsitt's removal from the presidency of the seminary. Dissatisfaction is more or less widespread, especially in Kentucky and in the southwest, Dr. ?aton seeping up tne irritation through his editorials in The Western Recorder at Louisville, and Dr. Carroll holding up his end of the fight in Texas. The matter has gone so far that leading Baptists are anxioas to end the controversy and stop the agitation. Hence the Nashville conference, which was the voluntary effort of leading men to bring about better understanding between the opponents in the controversy. The fo.lowing is the address of the conference: Dear Brethren: "We the undersigned Baptists, for the sake of peace an<l good fel' * iowstiip ana in me nope 01 gi.ur.yiy.mg vjou. by promoting the beat interests of oar denomination address the following statement to our bre.hren iu the south: Fir t?We call on all Baptists to join us in daily prayer for the peace and prosperity of our Zion. We have faith in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to guard and guide us as a people. In these days of hurtful contention let us avoid intemperate dis- j cussion and cease the introduction of resolutions provoking controversies in associations and c:nventions,and let us betake ourselves to daily prayer, as one man, that the sovereign Spirit may restore peace according to the | divine wisdom. Second?We regard Dr. Whitsitt a3 a comj petent historian, but we should not, in this I statement, shield him from any fair criticism ! that the English Anabaptists first adopted immersion for baptism in or about the year 1641; and we protest that it is unbaptistic to criticize him as a Baptist for this opinion. For, if we accept said opinion as a test of Dr. Whitsitt's orthodox j, we thereby make a new test of orthodoxy and surrender the timehonored Baptist principle of the Bible, and the Bible alone, our only guide in all matters of faith and practice. And as we depart from this old landmark into this new test, we - i ? i come to tae noiauon ot auomcr uuuui-cu Baptist principle?freedom of speech. For Dr. Whitsitt is avowedly in "hearty accord with bis Raptist brethren in every distinctive principle which they hold." He has net uttered one word contrary to the Bible or Baptist faith; he has simply expressed his opinion about a matter of history. If then, he be displaced for his opionion, it will not be Dr. Whitsitt who is sacrificed, but our old Baptists principle of freedom of speech, JFe do not intend to argue the merits of the case, or to express any preference for Dr. Whitsitt, but to call the attention of our brethren to the fact that these two great Baptist principles of appeal to the Bible nnlw ?r>d freodnm of sDeech are in danser of being lost to us by this attack upon the president of our seminary, if it be successful. It would be a calamitous error to condition faith and fellowship among Baptists upon post-apostolic history or tradition rather than upon the pure word of God, and to restrict freedom of speech by the commandments of men. We sire aware that many brethren, honestly grieved at Dr. Whitsitt's utterances, are proceeding against him in all good faith, and do not intend an attack upon these two ancient Baptist principles. We deeply sympathize with their earnest spirit, but we deplore the fact that their actions will reach beyond their intentions, and if they strike down Dr. Whitsitt, for the causes alleged, they wjill also strike down these two old Jandmarss. wnat is true wnn reierence w the history of English Baptists in 1641 will soon be brought to light, if it be possible to get at the real facts. We would accord brethren on either tide of this discussion full freedom of speech; but we are opposed to either side making their opinions a test of Baptist faith and fellowship; we deprecate the passage of such resolutions by our associations and conventions as tend to es'tablish ihis test of fellowship; and we call on our brethren stand with us as we stand by these old landmarks. Tiird?We do not take up Dr. Whitsitt's <->Tv: irm in rirpindiofi of anv brother or C "V ?r I set of brethren, nor "will we adopt their opinion to the prejudice of Dr. Whitsitt. Neither he nor they cease to be our brethren in full, loyal fellowship because of what they respectively believe about the introduction of immersion in England in 1641. We invoke all parties on both sides to realize afresh that we are brethren. In his statement to the trustees, published in the convention minutes, Dr. Whitsitt says: "In regard to the arti^e? written as editorials for the Independent, I have long felt that it was a mistake." As to the Johnson Encyclopedia article; he sayt: "It will be very pleasing to me if I can honorably procure the elimination from it of whatever i3 offen- J sive to any of my brethren." Again: "Re- J gardmg tne cnarge mat, 1 ezpresseu a wu. viction that a kinswoman of mine ought to follow her husband into a Paedo-Baptist church, it was never my intention to indicate a belief that the family outranks the church of God. I believe that obedience to God's command is above every other human duty, and that people in every relation of life ought to obey God rather than man." Again, in his book on "A Question in Baptist History," he says: "Immersion as a religious rite was practiced by John the Baptist i about the year 30 of our era, and was solemnly enjoined by our Saviour upon all of ; his ministers to the end of time. No other observance was in use for Baptism in New i J.: _ icsttmienL times. inc luwu^U oumvtime3 greatly perverted, L_s been continued from, the apostolic age down to our own. As I understand the Scriptures, immersion is essential to Christian baptism-" These explanations, together with the statement that 1 he would correct, as soon as he could, all that was offensive in his expressions, seems ' to us to challenge the full, hearty and complete acceptance of the most exacting of bis i brethren. We deeply sympathize with those : who have been wounded or prejudiced by ! these controversies, on whichev lie tlisy may be, but, for the sake of the Lord and His cause, let them "seek peace and pursue ] it." The masses of our people, who are not < involved in these unfortunate personalities, can easily and promptly respond to this ap- , peal. Fourth?We invite oux brethren to a con- , tinued confidence in the board of trustees of. ! the seminary. At a meeting of the board in ' Wilmington last May, after a full and free : j conference with Dr. Whitsitt. a satisfactory ' J settlement of the trouble was affected with I practical uanimity, and the following state ment wa3 made to the convention. (See 1 uinutes.) < first?"That we account this a fitting occasion to reaffirm our cordial and thorough < ed at the time when the seminary was es- \ tablished, and to assure those on whose be- , half we hold in trust and administer the af- j fairs of the institution of cur steadfast pur- < pose to require hereafter, as we have in the 1 past, that the fundamental laws and scriptu- ' ral doctrines embodied in those articles shall ' be faithfully upheld by those occupying ] chairs as teachers. j Second?"That we cannot undertake to j sit in judgment on questions in Baptist his- j tory which do not imperil any of those prin- 1 ciples concerning which all Baptists are I agreed, but concerning which serious, con scientious and scholarly students are not agreed. We can confidently leave to j continued research and discussion the sat- i isfactory solution of these questions. 5 Third?"That believing the seminary to j hold an important relation to the prosperity j and usefulness of Southern Baptists, we con- | sider it cur duty, while demanding of those , in charge of the department of instruction the utmost patience in research and the 1 greatest discretion in utterance, to foster rather than repress the spirit yf earnest and reverent investigation." C FourL ?"That being fully assured that the ( tender affection -which we cherish for this institution founded by our fathers and bequeathed by them to us, is shared by the Baptists of the south, v>e can safely trust , them as "we ask them to trust U3, to guard its , honor, promote its usefulness and pray for , its prosperity. "Let us believe that these trustees, men in j + n?PTT7 ATIf? <?0]lT>d iVJ. ITi^uvi-uj ? - ness in the faith, will promptly and faithful- ' ly discharge the obligations set forth in the 1 above statement. Brethren, let us believe * in our brethren. The manner in which ' their report was receiv3d by the Southern 1 Baptist convention led most of the trustees to ] suppose that the matter was settled; and this belief was shared by the denomination J i MI i B=meaa?ivir??wiTinw in-Tr generally. We deplore the reopening of the question, and beseech our brethren to leave the final adjustment of it in the hands oi those trustees, who are sound and courageous Baptists, and who will do the right thing in the rght place. Fifth?We prayerfully exhort our breth-! ren to join us in support of the seminary.It has done and will yet do a great work for us. We ha/e positive knowledge that Dr. Whitsitt believes and teaches every item of Baptist faith as set forth in the fundamental laws of the seminary and the Philadelphia confession of faith. In this connection, as Dr. Whitsitt has been greatly misrepresented in various publications on all the points at issue, we respectfully a3k for the careful consideration of the ac:ompanying paper from his, prepared at the request of this conference. In deep love and affection, without a harsh thought or an unkind word for any Baptist in this broad land, we beseech all our brethren to join us in prayer, sympathy and support for the seminary. We feel assured that if this policy is adopted, it will soon bring all that every honest, loving heart longs for. At the suggestion of brethren Northen and Hawthorne, the undersigned met in Nashville, September 29, 1S'J7, and adopted the foregoing paper: ^ 1 VaWUA** " O - 11UX IUVU) C. P. Gardner, South Carolina. J. S. Kirtley, Arkansas. A. J. Harris, Tennessee. ? S. M. Provence, Florida. Z T. Cody, Kentucky. Joshua Livering. Maryland. I J. B Hawthorne. Tennessee. R. R. Acree, Tennessee. W. S. Ryland. Kentncky. J. B. Marvin, Kentucky. T. B. Thames, Virginia. J. 0. Rust, Tennessee. W, Y. Quisenberry, Tennessee. Po Won TTolm Trtnaa Iv'artf vyCK*. <\sL axvjluo. vvuwj A. J. S. Thomas, South Carolina. W. II. L. Smith, Missouri. G. A. Lofton, Tennessee. J. W. Thomas, Tennessee. J. N. Prestridge, Kentucky. A MISSION OF LOVE. Caro}lne Thorsen Travels the World Over In Qaost of H*r Sweetheart. For four years Caroline Thorsen has traveled America o^ar searching for har sweetheart, Eric Johnson. Thurs day she reached Atlanta, just five weeks behind the man she loves so madly. The story she told to Station Sergeant Braselton this morning at price headquarters is indeed a sad one. Just after the sergeant came on duty a woman, tall and handsome, entered the office. Her skin was fair, her hair light and her figure as perfect as an artist's model. She was dressed in fashiohable attire and was a woman who would attract attention wherever seen. Magnificent diamonds shone upon her fiagers and her appearance was that of a person of hi*h birth. When she spoke it was plain to see that she was a foreigner and a Swede. She told her story 'as plainly as possible, while a tear occasionally fell from her pietty blue eyes. Four years ago Eric Johnson, a youDg Swede, had proposed and been accepted by Caroline Thorsen, and the marriage c;remony was sx>n to be solemnized. He waa a man of wealth, and she, too nad a iortune la ner own right. Three weeks before the marriage was to have taken place Johnson was forced by the death of his father to visit London, where he had large business interests. There was a sad good bye, aad the lover left his bride, that was to b?, with many assurances of a speedy return. Ia Lonaon he was detained beyond the expected time and wrote to his girl sweetheart ?? ? rfoiT V*crrnn 1 /-J Kq . bliab && JUiO oiajr buuxw T? UIAAU U-U iuu^u nitely prolonged she must come to him. Caroline wrote, telling him she would come, and a few days later left her home for London. When she arrived there she was almost p&raljzjd by the information. from his business associates that he had gone to America. Her letter had not reached him, and believing that she cared for another, he had, in a fit of j salousy, left London, taking with him a large sura ? j .. A- ~ 01 money ana reiusing iu leu any uue j of his intentions. The next steamer brought as a passenger to America Caroline Thorsen. She found where her sweetheart had stopped in New York city for a. few days, and had then gone to Buffalo. She followed and there secured a clue that took her to Philadelphia. Again she wts too late, and wert to Baltimore, Richmond and Louisville. Johnson had been in all of these cities, but had left before the sorrowing woman reached them. She heard he had gone to Indianapolis, and went immediately to that place, bat he had, as in other instances, left before she came. She next traveled over Michigan, and then went to Madison, Wis., only to learn that he had been there but had gone. In M&dissn Miss Thorsen was told that ha had gone to Des Moines, lo^a, where she want only to ascertain that he had gone to Nebras ka. She se:vrched thai state over with out finding: any trace of Mai, and men went to Denver. From there she went to Salt Like, then then to San Francisco, and later through Arizona and New Mexico. Tne next state visited was Texas, and then, filled with sorrow, she journeyed to New Orleans. Weary witn her travels, Caroline decided to rest there, and remained in that city until three days ago, when she started for Atlanta. She stopped in several smaller towns on the way and reached here Thursday. She had in all these places visited the police au thorities, the hospitals and ministers in sAar/ih of information. Thursaav morning she went first to police headquarters and told of he? mission, there was no clue to work on and Station Sergeant Braselton was about to refer to tie chief when she suggested looking over the dockets. The sergeant did this, but the name jf Eric Johnson did not appear on any them. Finally the book known as the ' sleeper's book," where the names jf persons are entered who are given in^?inoe faV?R nn. and ?hera on 1 ,w"*"? ? September 10th, was the name?Eric Johnson. The woman gave a scream delight and seizing the book kissed the page v:here the name was written igain and again. She sobbed and laughed and pressed the book to ser bosom in hysterical delight, Dut suddenly the py gave way ;o sorrow. "Where is my Eric now," she asked. The sergeant cculd not tell her. The nan, weary and without means?a wanderer?had come and asued for a sight's lodging. It had bsen given iim onr5 th? npvt dav ha had left to >egio again his journey. He had seen here, though, and the fact that :e was alive five weeks ago gave the voman who lovid hi in hope. "I will fiad him," she said as she urned tearfully from the sergeant's iesk and walked slowly Lorn the >ffice.?Atlanta Journal. Grea. Loss of Life. Three additional survivors of the wreck of the coasting steamer Triton, ivhich went ashore between Dominica ind Mariel, on the north coast of the provincs of Pinar del Rio on Saturday norning last, have arrived at Havana, rhe scramble among the men, women md children when the steamer went ishore, the survivors state was terri ale. When the Triton foundered ihere were 230 persons aboard her, oassengers and crew and so far only 19 of this number have been heard iTOlIl. THE AMISS COLONY. CURIOUS RELIG.'CUS SECT IN NEW YORK STATE. V?ry Severs ia Drtai-Customs Include Feet Wasiilnj; Hid "Triple Immexsous? ot.h A t o During ilia two 3 ears following its origin, in 184$ the Aguish religion thrived and prospered. Like all fanatical organizations of this character, its height was reached in its prime. The number of Awishmen decreases year by year. It v. ill not be a great while uatil the existence of such a sect will be a matter of history only. The few remaining colonies have modified the Amish theology to an extent as to make the original almost uirecogniz able. The Amish are bitterly opposed to all apjoearsnees o' worldliness, and frivolity they abhor. Thuy look up on mcdirn ideas as a detriment to the future welfare of mankind, and all tlforfs for the advancement of civilization they hold in contempt. One of the chief and strictest doctrines is that the men and women must wear the plainest kind of clothing, and woe to the believer who vio iates the teachings of the church. Aionz the oicLui-fcsaue banks of the S&enango river, in Lawrence county, New Yoik, dwells an Atriish community, Tie laws are possibly more rigidly enforced iii this colony than any otter in existence. It is a branch of the origiaal stc;, which settled in the southeastern part cf Pennsvlvauia in 1S4S. They were unable "to secure possession of the entire Buffalo Valley, in Lancaster county, where they had hoped to establish a community of their own, and as a result small ar mies of them emigrated to different parts of the country to carye out lheir own kingdoms. Tg6 Lawrenci county branch took up its present abode more thaa forty years ago, and their only occupation since then has been th.3 cultivation of the soil. Tneir neighbors confess that there are no better farmers in the state. They are skilled in all the arts of agriculture and many of them have become wealthy. Any person who will visit Liwrence county colony will find a thrifty, honest, temperate and industrious class of people, who are progressive in* spite of their unworldly methods. The men's and women's clothine is as plain as it can be. Tiieir atiire'is devoid of buttohs, hooks and eyes being used in their place. Tne men never shave or cut taeir hair. Their coats are shaped in a style which their neighbors call shad bellied. The women dress according to Qaaker simnlicitv. wearing sunbonnets and loose, flowing:, homespun gowns. Is considered a breach of etiquette to wear ornaments of any kind. .Recently the church divided on the'question of hooks and eyes, and a faction of the congregation b?came worldly enough to wear buttons. The more pious brothers and sisters still hold up iheir hands in horror when this breach in tha Amish laws is spoken of. An idea of the rigidity of the Amish laws in reference to dress can be gaired from the following little episode, which for a time caused a sensation in the community: Some years ago Jonathan Kratcher fvAm T .oTxrwartna fn \fiflFin f*r\n r>.. ty. Turee years ago te died, leaving a son, who inherited considerble prop erty. The Lawrence county Amish knew very little about young Kratcher, whose Ciiristian name is Abram, for he left the colony when a small child. Several weeks ago a fine-looking youog man, dressed in the height of fashion, appeared in the colony. He was about 26 years old, wore a mustache, a long cutaway coat, black trousers, a white shirt, red necktie, a shining silk hat and smoked cigars TTo -nacce/3 uni>a(?lcmi7pH ftt. fi i*st. hilt. fiaal.y introduced himself ss the heir of old Johathan Kratcher and claimed relationship with a score or more in the neighborhood. Not one of his tela tives would recognize him and he was avoided generally. So cold did the treatment become that he was obliged to leave the colony. Bat Abrsm thought that by donning the typical dress of the Amish he would be welcomed with, open arms. He went to New Castle, and after considerable difficulty, obtained a regula tion costume, then returned, and adopted the methods of the colony. But it w?S of no avail. He was ban isaed without ceremony. He returned to Miffin county,- but before he went he tried to convince the Amis'a men that he was only trving to play a little pke on them with his worldly ? ? mi i ___ cioiumg. . jl ne j jjko man l go. After a person has once renounced the Amish faith he can never return to the fold again, as the crime is considered too grave for forgiveness. According to tee ideas of the Arnish, this country could get along very well without a government, if the psople adopted and lived strictly up to their doctrines. They have no use for courts, and not since the colony v?as established, half a century ago, is there a record of an Amishman having been -f 1 ~ ueiura a. inuuu&i iujt ? ujiauuuicauui. i Tiiey are rigidly set against law and war processes. They exhaust all means to arraage any dispute with their neighbors, and if they fail they bear the loss that might otherwise have been avoided by legal recourse. Quarrels and contentions, however, are almost unknowo. Tbs Amish religion was a form of the German Baptist, but in the cere mony of baptism it is a peculiar feature of their function that there should be three immersions ins'.ead of one. Everv Sunday srraat crowds assemble on the backs of the Sh6nango to witness ceremonies. There i3 no regularly constituted church, religious observance being held in the homes of the community alternately. An important ceremony during the love feast which is held in the last three or four days of the year is the washing of feet. The msn sit on one side of the room and the women on the other. The men wash the feet of their brothers onH tho mrtmAn the feet nf their sisters. Whiie this is going on, they keep chanting some gospel hymn. The men and women do not live apart, as with the'Dunkards. Couldn't Affjrd to Take a Paper. One of our exchanges describes the man who CDuld not afford to take his home paper as follows: By getting hold of a foreign advertising sheet he ? ? -fi in y-i V%attt fn SpCIIL <$J. YVX'lfclJJg l(U JUUU UUfa JiUTT fcV keep sober, the answer beins: to take a pledge. He also sent fifty 2 cent stamps to find oat how to raise turnips and received a postal card reply: "Take hold of the tops and pull." It was the same person that sent 50 cents to a fellow in the East for twelve useful household articles and received a package of needles He is a near relative to the man who sent $1 to find out how to get rich and received the r.'ply: "Work like the devil and never spend a cent." He is also related to the man who sent $5 to find out how to write without pen cr ink, and the answer was: "Try a lead pencil." He is a twin brother to the man who sent $5 to find out how to live without work, and received the reply printed in one black line on a postal card: "Fish for suckers like we do." A 0 uu i t 3HUULU tu niunttt. The Visible Sapp'y Only "ibout Eqaal to the Woilcl'd Ccm*2d! The New York Sue si} s by far the most interesting asa impo/tant problem of our present commercial situation is the sura of money which is likely to be realized this year from the sale of what is usually our most valuable article of export, cotton. Alone among the great staples catton has net advanced in price. Its value, on the ; contrary, hss declined continuously, the downward movement having prevailed for a longer time without retc tion than ever before, and the price of the article now resting within threequarters of a cent a pound of the low est figure recorded. Lower prices than the prtsent price have been known but once in the history of cotton growing, and this despite the fact that the out lcok for the business of cotton manufacturing in this country is excellent, that. th? <stn?lrs nf r.nffrsri crnn^s on hand have been greatly reduced and that what is known as the statistical position of cotton is very strong. The world's visible supply of cotton, as compiled last week by the Financial Chronicle, was 763,079 bales less than on the same week in Octobsr, 1896; 994 646 bales le?s than on tbe corresponding date 1895, and 807.576 bales less tbau in 1894. As the United States produces nearly all the cotton in the world, about six sevenths of this deficiency is to be credited to the American stocks. The decline in the price of cotton has been caused primarily by the belief that the crop which will come into sight du-ing the cotton year, be^un on September 1, will De an enormous one. It is known that tbe land devoted to cotton growing in this cauntry this year is 24,000,000 acres, an increase of 1,000,000 acres over last year. While the weather conditions have not been entirely favorable during the season, they bave hppn cenerallv po. Nearlv three fourths of the crop has been picked, the operation having been facilitated by the unusual warmth and dryness of the fall months, and there is no doubt whatever that a very large amount of cotton will come upon the market before September 1, 1898. The estimate of its quantity now having the greatest influence upon the trade is that of Mr. Henry Neill, the head of a prominent cotton exporting firm in Liverpool, who has been remarkably fortunate in his crop estimates for the last two or three years. Mr. Neill's "? T7I- 1_ _ House xs an niugusn uue, xutvrng branches in Liverpool and London, and his estimates have weight with Eaglish buyers of cotton. He declares that this year's crop will be at least 10,300,000 bales and many run into something like 11,500,000 bales. If any such unprecedented figures are to b8 realized, the present lc w price of cotton is reasonable. Another depressing infiaense equally as great is the hard times that have come upon t-hia TT'.nnrlicVi cninnflM tVlic hAirior HliP to the plague, famine, and financial troubles in India and other countries where the product of the English looms sold. As two thirds of the American cotton is sent to Europe, the condition of business there has a much more important bearing on the price of cotton tlian does the condition of business here. On the other hand, while it is certain that the crop will be a large one, conservative men in the cotton trade are skeptical about its reaching any such vast quantity as Mr. Neill predicts. The amount of cotton that can be raised from a given quantity of land varies with the character of the soil. In some bottom lands of excsptirnal fertility in Louisiana and Texas a bale of cotton to the acre can be grown. This is practically the maximum amount per acre, the minimum being very remote from this. It is established that the aver age growth throughout the whole of oar cotton belt varies between a bale to two and four teenths acres and a bale to three acres of land, the first named figure being that of a year when the weather conditions were uniformly favorable. Assuming that the average rate of production this year will ce the highest on record, a fipon would be gathered of barelv 10. 000,000 bales. Ellison, a Liverpool statistician of great prestige, who is a leading authority on the consumption of cotton and the world's cotton stocks, estimates the American crop this 5 ear at 9,410,000 bales, other estimates on this side of the water being from 8,0C0,GC0 to 10,000,000 baies. If the crop meets Mr. Neill's expectations it will not onlv be the greatest of cotton crops, but will have been produced with a far greater average yield to the acre than has been shown in the past. It must be said, also, that the amount of cotton which has come into sisrht during the present year thus far does not justify the nrophecy of a yield of from 10,000,000 to 11,000,000 bales. Since the beginning of the cotton year 325,000 fewer bales have corns into sight than last year in the same period wnen the whole year's crop reached but 8,750,000 bales; though it should be added that the early movement is often deceptive, and that the move ment this year is about equal to that -r i on a ? u a nnn nnn ~ f Ui JLOU*, YV11C11 47,*7UV,WU t/aico ui tuic ton, the record crop, was grown. There is no doubt that the government has bsen retarded by the yellow fever quarantining at New Orleans and in many other southern cities. Frosts will probably end the yellow fever, however, within a month from now, and then if the amount of cotton coming forward does not increase considerab.yand remain increased, we be lieve that there will be general discredit of Mr. Neill's estimate. Sooner or later the lucky crop guessers at the beginning of the harvest, whether of cotton, wheat, corn, or any other staple, whatever theii conservatism or however good their means of formirg an opinion, meet their Waterloo. The Financial Ciironicle, our most accurate and trustworthy commercial publication, was in the habit for many years of estimating the cotton crop at the beginning of the season, ana had a fine record of successes in this regard. But the time came when its annual prediction turned out to ba extremely incorrect, and, vsry wisely, it stopped committing itself to such early estimates, w natever oe ine siaie 01 the cotton manufacturing business abroad, foreigners are taking as much of our cotton this year as they did Jast, and the English spinners are really taking more, the exports up to the end of last week amouniing to 709,628 bales, as against 71,499 bales in the same period in 1896, of which 381,781 bales went to England, as compared with 376,762 bales in the former jear. It is conceded genenrally that the minimum amount of American cotton which the world will consume in the coming year is 9.300,000 bales. To imoot thic cnncumntinn nnfi to make up the ce&ciency in the world's nor* ma] reserve stocks of cotton will require, obviously, an American crop tnis year of not less thah 10,000,000 bales. Assuming that the crop reach- ' es that figure, holders of cotton ought to consider whether the price at which '' cotton is now selling is not pretty low for a situation in which demand and ' supply will b? evenly balanced, with the hazards of the new crop year yet to encounter, and with the weliknown : law in operation to tne strong in.nuence of low prices toward an increased consumption i3 so commonly used a staple. Indeed, the question may ' J V ' * CnaMMMBKMMMainMllW 'IBBCM Bgg be raised most seriously, whether the ( nrfttrailinsy nrifia does not discount a rrucb large? crop than the figure nam ed. Thera is now co reason such as there was in the panic of 2894, why growers of cotton should rush their product to market, selling it for what ever it would bring and selling so much of it at so low a figure that in the latter part of the cotton year the price increased more than 2 cents per pound, even with the largest crop on record and before the prospects of another crop were known. As the sue eeeding crop neared its harvest it was seen to be a short one. and another two cent rise occured. There is much matter hera for cotton planters' ihinking. THE EASTERN MILLS Are Being P ashed to the W*ll by Southern Mills. Ia vie w of the proposed visit of New England cotton mill manufacturers to the south the first of next month at the invitation of the Southern and Seaboard Ai* Line systems, and following the figures relating to the cotton mill industry in this country published in The State of a few days ago, the following article on "The mill situation," which appealed in the Boston News Bureau of Wednesday last makes interesting reading: '"Tiie decline in print cloth brings to light a very unsettled condition in cotton manufacturing. Factors in the case are lower priced cotton, south ern mill competition and the falling off of trade. Since July print cloths have declined 143. per yard, while cotton has declined from 8 12 to 612c. per pound. The cotton decline is due to the large ci-op and the fact that the Manchester and other English cotton manufacturing~centres are exporting but few goods to India and other countries, and hence are not large consumers of cotton. "The greatly increased production of the southern mills is a disturbing factor. It may cause difficulties in New England as, unless there is a change in the situation, wages will have to be reduced in order to meet the southern competition. "The latter part of July and the month of August showed great trade activity, and large amounts of gocds were moved, but in September there was a marked falling off in Duslcess which continues very dull. ' The opposite, however, has been the situation among the woolen manufacturers, who are running their mills full. They have secured large advances ia prices, due to favorable protection under the Dingley tariff and the big advance in wooi "Hon. T. Jefferson Coolidge, treasurer of the Amoskeag Manufacturirg company, says: 'The boom has not reached us yet, but I do not see how me wesi can o? as prosperous as it. u> without a demand for our goods soma time. There has bsen no reduction in prices of our goods, for the reason that we did not advance prices duriug July and August. The reason for the weakness in the prices of cotton goods is due to the fact that the consumption of goods is not equal to the production. 41 'Mv own feeling in the matter is that this situation is due to the enormous production of the southern mills, as they make their goods much cheaper than we can, and consequently can sell lower. The bad feature of the situation is that they will continue to increase their production under these circumstances." " 'There is no us9 trying to. shrink from this fact. People shut their eyes aiu iry nut tu occ mc uuc of affairs. "'The labor question as affecting the mill situation is one which may have to be take a into consideration if the south continues to increase production ; wages will either have to be r due 3d in New Englard o: bead; vanced in the south. ' " 'There is no profit in selling the export trade, at present prices, but exports will continue large, as we have f L "J ~ ' ?. lOgci nu ui uur guuua uu ?ui;uu.ui< ux the great production. " 'However, there will be an. improvement in business, as I cannot see how the great prosperity of the west can help but mcrease the consumption of our goods.' ' Mr. Howard Stockton, treasurer of the Merrimack mills, says: 44 kThe decline in cotton is of course largely responsible for the decline in print cloths and cotton goods. Buiiif. knf 4Viio ie nof a rr.nnlli JUCOO id uuu liild 10 UVV M uivuvu when we expect to make large sales. 4 "Southern mill competition has a serious affect upon New England cotton mills, as southern production has increased at an alarming rate duriag the past year, tfcey consumed double the amount of cotton of the previous year. 44 4The wage quasticn has become a factor and reductions may have to be considered by New England manufac turers. It was tbougfct tnat possioiy the increase in production by southern mills would require an increase in labor and wages would be higher, but sach has not been the case yet. " 'The decline jn. print cloths naturally affects cotton goods, as print cloths are taken as a standard in many cases. A great many odd counts are sold on the basis of print cloth prices, especially goods used for printin c and convertine". *' 'Goods now being manufactured are sold in December and January. Actual jobbiDg does not begin until January and goods ordered now by the jobbers are bought on speculation. Tne trade believes tuat by January there will bs a big demand for goods.'" la He a Lunatic or R?gno. A peculiar case has developed at Matthews, N. C., a few miles from Charlotte. Several years ago Pleasant Hill church, near the village, was fVt n ttto a UUTJUCd. XU3 wxjgiu. VJU.%S i^tw n mvj thought to be accidental. About two months ago, the barn of James B. Williamson was burned. And between the tiraes of the burning of the church aid barn, a store bfbn^ing to Fx-ank Abernathy. son of a wellknown preacher, was also destroyed by fire. Abernatby got up considerable excitement about bis store, claiming that he lost over $1,000, and theneighbojs got up a liberal subscription for him. Last week Aoernatfcy eoniessea mat he was responsible ior ail the fires, and wanted to pay for a hog that was burned in Williamson's barn. He had no objection to his confession being made public. The confessions were made as the result of religious excitamen4-, and the people sre at i loss as to whether to prosecute the fellow criminally, or ha?e him sent to a lunatic asyxu ii? Stola ih-s Jadgc'a Hat. Recently a witness in a ca?e that was being tried before Jud&e Bachanan at Anderson stole bis honor's hat cmd iTmhpftlla from the courtroom, ne cessitating the purchase of a new hat, | which was likewise deposited in the same place from which its lamented predecessor had taken its m^sterioui flight. Ten 1 b;?f M pme a ii c_Tragedy. At aboat' .7 ' o'clock ' Wednesday morning, George Young, a farmer, residing two miles south of Blue Earth City, Minn., shot and killed his wife, ( his two boys, aged 2 and 4, and then himself. All died instantly. i I A Dangerous Occupation. Tfct Kansas City Times says the remarkable number of fatalities among railway mail clerks in recent wrecks, call fresh attention to the extreme hszards taken by those public servants It is claimed by those who have taken some pains to gather statistics that the death rate is greater in proportion to numbers than in actual warfare. This seems almost incredible, yet it is apparent to every one who investigates, that of all the positions ia the railwav service, that cf mail clerk is accompanied by the greatest risk. It is generally supposed that the engineer and fireman have the most dangerous pests; but thfy always have at least a moment's warning and are often able to save themselves by jumping. Active preparations are being made among the mail clerks to petition congress for better protection. Those who have the matter in charge are considering various suggestions that may take the form of recommendations. One reform that will probably be asked is that the mail coaches be placed after, instead of before, the baggage cars, the through baggage coach, which is usually unoccupied by baggagemen while the train is in motion, to take the plac9 next to the engine, now invariably assigned to the mail coach. It is also probable that the government will be asked to supply its own cars and to make them of steel, and without platforms, which facilifoloc/?Anin<? ton/1 ifo oca WXJ w WAWWW|/4Ug MUU IVv frightful results. A Terrible Tragedy. A terrible tragedy occurred near Faircloth, Ga., last Saturday. Miss Hurst, the 16 jear old daughter of a wealthy planter, went out driving with a young man named Mack Lewis. Lewi? brought the young lady back dead with a bullet through her heart. He told a story to the effect that after driving some mile3 he and Miss Hurst got out of the buggy to amuse themselves at target practice with a revolver. They had fired several shots each, when in the act of handing the pistol to Miss Hurst ready for firing, Lawis accidentally shot her dead. The young lady was very beautiful aad quite a belle. Same of the people of the neighborhood are said to believe the story, while others are doubtful as to whether it is exactly true. Beyond Lewis's statement, however, there is no evidence. Iodoform Liniment is the "nee plus ultra" of all such preparations in removing soreness, and quickly healing fresh 'cats and wounds, no matter how bad. It will promptly heal old sores of long standing, will kill the poison from *'Poison Ivy" or "Poison Oak" and cure "Dew Poison." "Will counteract the poison from bites of snakes and stings of insects. It is a sure cure for sore throat. Will cure a ay case of sore mouth, and is a superior remedy for all pains and aches. 3old by druggists and dealers 25 cants a bottle. The man with a weight on his leg can't hope to win in the race. 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It is the only medicine of its kind devised fXr fViic a*ia r Kr? ort^ pt. J.V/1 LiiiJ Vii\. ^ Ui puj W Wjr ail VUUVMWVU ?U\4 V<fcperienced physician, and eminent specialist in this particular field of practice. It is tee only medicine which can be relied upon to make the ordeal of motherhood absolutely safe and almost pr.inless. " I cannot say too much for Er. Pierce's Favorite Prescription," writes Miss Clara Baird, of Bridgeport, Montgomery Co., Penn'a. " I feel it my duty to say to all women who may be suffering: from any'tlisease of the womb that it is the best medicine on earth for them to use. I cannot ?'?A V.Cif ^f/1 W1A T4 yiaiow iL tu^iiiv iwi kwvi **. u?v ***? ** any one doubts this give tiiem myjiame and address." Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regulate the stomach, liver and bowels. Of all medicine flealers. jjH| the poison from bites of sna ses, Sfjfg poison ivy, stings of insects, etc I SH It is a positive care for son |9 ^ Mouths, Sore Throat," Erysipelas. 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