Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r MALTA. | JL FAMOUS LITTLE ISLAND AND ITS INTERESTING PEOPLE. AHaiulsome-and Ingenious Race? A Mixed Language ? Curious Marriage and Funeral Cos* loins?Knights of Malta. SF the average pupil of the present school generation should be asked for what products the little Island of Malta is famed, the answer would be given without hesi_ _ tancy, "Maltese cats," I and at that point his knowledge, or rather fiV isnorauce, would ' IVao L V/(vr$)Si cease- But there dffl&jzfi is no lexicographer '' E who could add to this bit of information. A search of the records of the cat does not include more than a mere mention of the favorite blue Malta. The annals of Malta tell us of i the Maltese dog, an originally wild type, J which still exists oa the island, but in a . domes cicatei state. These were mentioned by ancient writers And were even found in sculpture, but of the Maltese cat not a word seems td have been men- | ^? tioned by either old of modern writers. | The Knights of Halt* readily occur to W, and of chase we find sufficient fame fcaque&thed in the <y*%iat their a&i. Biiitarj and social prowess. I- Another product cornea to mind to familiarize Malta to us. The fir3t Giipure lace ever made was manufactured on that little islaad, and there was a time when Malta lace was highly prized, the patterns being of classical form and the stroog round thread and open mesh something that defied imitation. In 1863 a lady of raftk living on the island possessed an motent Greek quilt made of a peculiar lace design. An old lace maker named Madonna Ciglia copied it, and then, having "perfected themselves in the art, the Ciglia family began the manufacture of both black and white Guipure. The lace makers of Auvergne hastened to copy it, and made great fortunes out of the fine Guipures originated at Malta. The material used for the black Maltese lace "was the Barcelona silk, which is used in VAXETfA, ISLAJ Catalonia Tor tne maacuiasoi ine nooie Spanish seaoritas. The illustration represents a rare piece of ^ Maltese lace, which was worn upon the ecclesiastical robe of I Hugues Lonbeuz de to*"0 !;*K*Jr |I Verdale, the Cardinal , jy ^ K and Grand Master of | w 1 vMS?\S?e the Knights of Malta, | who died in 1595. The lace is copied from a cast of his tomb, which mag- a Maltese tomb. mficeat monument to his memory is erected in the Church of bt. John at Malta. The arabesque pattern of the Maltese lace fits it especially for sacredotal use. Malta is at this time and tide in the affairs of the world far .from being a barbarous island. But the story of the New Testament recurs naturally to every traveler who stops at the solid little fortress of the sea, with its limestone walls and terraced shores where the population is made up of Greek and Hebrew. Turk and Arab, and the native fisherman, in his goatskin dress, with sailors and soldiers from all the ports coming and going. There is a population of 151,892, exclusive of British troops and their families; 24,000 are English and foreigners. It is said that there is a daily attendance of . pupils at the different schools wnicb numbers some 3000. The arts and trades ar^all well represented. There are twenty-two villages for the use of the artisans and their families. Much native filagree jewel-work finds its way to foreign markets. The Maltese arc an industrious and Ingenious race. The men and women are handsome, well-formed and with the easy pcrace of carnage which belongs to the Orientals. Tne women have small hands and feet, black eyes, only one of which is visible, the other being hidden under the folds of the faldetta, a mantle they wear. k The Maltese language being a mixture of all languages, cannot be deiined. It is full of metaphor, of rare old proverbs and animated expressions. They are dependent upon Italy tor their literature, their own being of the scantiest description. Marriages in Malta aro usually arranged between the youug people by parents. The native custoais are very Interesting, music, flowers and sweets being prominent iu the ceremonies. The mothers of the contracting parties meet to brew a concoction of anise-seed, honov, and other uromatic plants, with which they anoint the bride's lip3 to make her discreet aad submissive. Her husband then presents her with a betrothal ring upon which two clasped hands, signifying fidelity, are engraved, and jis large an assortment of other jewelry as his 3tation in life will allow, while she bestows upon him a lace handkerchief, tied with ribbons, symbolical of purity and chastity. At the marriage | there is a general feasting and rejoicing, i Bells are rung, singers and street musi- | cians announce the coming of tbe pair, and baskets of confectionery art; distributed among the crowd. The ceremony lasts several hours. As thy young couple enter the house ou their return, attendants drop grain and 3mall coin upon their heads to insure their being rich and fruitful. One of the superstitions of the Maltese is the belief that if the bride first steps over the threshold her husband will be in dominion to her, so this mischance is studiously avoided. Their mourning customs are aUo full of interest, and mo3t impressive. Women of death, called Neuicaa, hired for the occasion, ??o about singing plalntfra dirges and chanting moral songs. They wear long black cloaks and their faces are covered. There is much eating and drinking combined with the mourning, but it is all symbolical of the occasion. MAT.TRSE WOMAN. For;ncrly all hones used by the deceased were deprived of their tails. Mortuary Cike3 were given to the friends with boiled wheat, an ancient custom of the Egyptians. A pillow of laurel and orange leaves was interred in the grave as an expiation for sin. A carpet was also spread over the spot to prevent any one from walking over it, a custom refined enough to be used by more cultivated people. The capital of Malta, Valetta, was established in 1566 by John D. Valetta, Grand Master of St. John of Jerusalem, and until the island passed into the bauds of the British, it was under the rule of the Knig hts of Malta, an organization as famous for its military and civic rule, as the successions of the order, the Knights Templar, are for their devotion to peace and social success. Four hundred of these chivalric men are buried on the island in the crypts of St. John's Church. The Maltese cross, a sacred emblem of the Knights Templar, rt> OF MALTA. originated with them as a badge of honor. A peculiarity of Malta floriculture is the poetic fact that the garden soil of the island is brought from Sicily. The roses that grow in it are so fine as to have deserved mention by Cicero. Those famous roses are made iato cushions for use at garden fetes. The gardens themselves are hidden from the unfriendly eye of strangers by terraces and high walls of limestone, but their presence | can be perceived at a long distance by the scent they give to the wiuds. O cfCCCCCCCCCCCCOCCCC* CI c CCCC<^<* c CCC C C c C PC C CCC f r ? * MALTESE LACE. Palms and cacti grow profusely, oranges and other tropical fruits are found there, and there are curious marine plants that are indigenous to that shore which had the honor of giving birth to Veuus. But the sirocco make3 life unbearable with its hot, stinging breath, aud the vellow cliffs which merged into a pallid rosiness of color when the sua goes down, afflict the traveler with ophthalmia, and St. Paul's viper and greeen lizard hide iu the flowers as they did in apostolic days. But perhaps these are the very things that attract the curious to the ''little military hot-house, '* as Byron spitefully called it iu Napoleonic days. A Jelly Palacc lor the World's Fair. The women of California are going to build a jelly palace at the fair?not a shivering, unsteady structure like a new custard pie, but a solid building, with sides of glasses full of jolly, says the Chicago Times. These glasses will be of transparent ind of rainbow hues. The building *ill be thirty-one feet high, surmounted by a gla*s ball, two feet in diameter, full of jelly. The four arched entrances will form a shrine twelve feet square. The frame of the structure will be the lightest possible steel. It will carry plate glass shelves its entire height. On these shelves the bottles coutaing jelly of every color will be arranged. Some of them will be set upright and others horizontally, accord TIXF. JELLY PALACE. ing to the effect3 to bo produced. Iq the dccoration of this novel palace 2644 glasses, 2^ iuche.9 in diameter, will be used; 966 four inches in diameter, and 1048 of assorted sizes, makiag a total <ff 4688. The women estimate that this palac* will cost ?2400, of which $1000 will b for the steel frame. REV. DR. TALMAGE. THK BROOKLYN DIVINE'3 SUNDAY SERMON. Subject: "The Glorious March.* Test: "yair as the moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners."?Solomon's Song vi., 10. The fragrance of spikenard, the flash of jewels, the fruitfulness of orchards, the | luxuriance of gardens, the beauty of Heshbon tish pools, the dew of the night and the splendor of the morning?all contribute to the richness of Solomon's style when he comes to speak of the glory of fie church. In contrast with his eulogiumof the church, !ook at the denunciatory things that are said in our day in regard to it. If one stockholder becomes a cheat, does that destroy the whole company? If one soldier be acoward, does that conaemn the whole army? And yet thera are many in this day so unphilosophic, so illogical, so dishonest and so unfair as to denounce the en/ire church of Goi because there are here und there bad men belonging to it. There are those who say that the church of Uod is not up to the spirit of the day in which we l.re; but I have to tell you that, notwithstanding all the swift wheels and the dying shuttles and the lightning communications, the world has never yet been able to keep up with the church. As high as Grod is above man, so high is tbe church of God ?higher than all human institutions. From . her lamp the best discoveries of th3 world have been lighted. The best of our inventors have believed in the Christian religion?the Fultons, the Morses, the Whitneys, the Perrys and the Livingstones. She has owned the best of the telescopes and Leyden jars, and while infidelity and atheism have gone blindfolded among the most startling discoveries that were about to be developed the earth, and the air, and the sea have made quick and magnificent responses to Christain philosophers. The world will not be up to the Church of Christ until the day when all merchandise bas become honest merchandise, and all governments have become free governments, and all nations evangelized nations, and the last deaf ear of spiritual death shall be broken open by the million voiced shout of nations born in a a ay. The church that Nebuchadnezzar tried to burn in the furnace, and Darius to tear to pieces with the lions, and Lord Claverhouse to cut with the sword, has gone on, wading the floods and enduring the Are, until the deepest barbarism, and the fiercest cruelties, and the blackest superstitions have been compelled to look to the east, crying, "Who is she that looketh forth as the morning; fair as the moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners?" Yet there are people who are ashamed to belong to the churcn of Christ, and if you ask them whether they are in such associations they say, "Yes. I sometimes attend the churcn," instead of realizing the fact that there is no honor compared with the honor of being a membar of the church of God. I look back with joy to the most honored moment of my life, when in the old country meeting house the minister of Christ announced my name as a follower of the Lord. . You wno are floatiug about in the world, seeking for better associations, wny do you not join yourself to some of tne churches? An old sea captain was riding in the cars toward Philadelphia, and a young man sat down beside him. He said, "Young man, where are you going?' "I am going to Pailadelphia to live," replied the young man. ' Have you letters of introduction?'' asked the old captain. "Yes," said the young man, and he pulled some of them out. "Well," said the ?Id sea captain, "Haveu't you a church certificate?" "Oh, yes," replied the vnnnc man- "I didn't suDDOse vou would want to looK at that." ' Ves," said the sea captain, "I want to see that. As soon as you gee to Philadelphia present it to some Christian church, l am an old sailor, and i have been up and down in the world, and it's my rule as soon as i gee into port to fasten my ship fore and alt to the wharf, although it may cost a little wharfage, rather than nave my ship out in the stream floating hither and th:ther with the tide." Oh, men and women, by the tides of frivolity and worldliness swept this way and swept that way, seeking for associations and for satisfactions for the immortal soul, come into the church of Jesus Chrisc. Lash fast to her. She is the pillar and the ground of truth. I propose to speak of the threefold glory of the ehurch as.it is described in the text: First?"Fair es the moon." GoJ, who has determined that everything shall be beautiful in its season, has not left the night without charm. The moon rules th* night The stars are only set as gems in her tiara. Sometimes, before the sun has gone down, the moon mounts her throne, but it is after II Wan nncliunii hori mgatmu cuuu sua awoja uct wu^j/uwwsceptre over island and continent, river and sea. Under ber shining the plainest maple leaves become shivering silver, the latces from shore to shore look lite shining mirrors, and the ocean, under her glance, with great tides come up panting upon the boach, mingling, as it were, foam and fire. Under the witchery of the moon ttie awful steeps lose their ruggedness and the chasm* their terror. The poor man blesses God for throwing so cheap a light through the broken window pane of his cabin, and to the sick it seems like a light from the other shore that bounds tbis great deep of human pain and woe. If the sun be like a song, full and loud and poured forth from brazen instruments that fill heaven and earth with harmony, iiie ini?;u is piaiutive aua sad, standing oeneatb the.throne of God, sending up her soft, sweet voice of praise, wtiile the stars listen and the sea! No mother ever more lovingly watched a sick cradle than this pale watcher of the sky bends over the weary, heartsick, slumbering earth, singing to it a silvery music, while it is rocked in the cradle of the spheres. Now, savs my text, "Who is she, fair as vhe moon?'' Our answer is the church. Like the moon, she is a borrowed light. Sne gathers up the glory of a Saviour's suffer lags, a saviours aeatn, a saviours resurrection. a Saviour's ascension, and pours that lizht op o?iaca and dungeon, on squalid heathenism and elaborate skepticism, iz widow's tears and martyr's robe of flame, on weeping penitence and loud moutheJ scorn. She is the only institution to-day that gives any light to our world. Into her portals the poor come and get the sympathy of a onc9 pillowless Christ, th e bereaved come and see the bottle in which Go,1 saves all our tears, and the captives come, ani on the sbarp corners of her altars dash off their chains, and the thirsty come and put their cup under the "Rock o:' Ages," which poure forth from its smitten side living water, sparkling water, crystalline water from under tha throne of God and the Lamh. Blessed the bell that calls her worshipers to prayer. Blessed the water in which her members are baptized. Blessed be the wine that glows in her sacramental cups. Bleaaed the songs on which het* devotions travel up and the angels of G-od travel down. Ah the moon goes through the midst of the roaring storm clouds unfluibel and unharmed. and comes out calra and beautiful on the other side, so the churc'a of Go 1 naj gone through all the storms of this world's persecution and come out uninjured, no worse for the fact that Robespierre cursed it, and Voltaire caricatured it, and Tom Paine sneered at it, and all the forces of darkness have bombarded it. Not like some baleful comet shooting across the sky, scattering terror and dismay among tile nntHnna hut; nhnrn t.hA lrrnf nowlin? nicrht of the world's wretchsdness the Christian church bai made her mild way, "Fair &i the mooo." I take a step further in my subject? "Clear as tin sun." After a season of storm or lo^, how youare thrilled whan the sun comes out at noonday I The mists travel up hill above hill, mountain abovj mountiiu, until they are sky lost. The forjsts are full oi chirp and buzs and son?; honey makers ou the long, bird's beak pouuding the bark, tho chatter of the squirrel on the rail, the call of a hawk out of a clear sty makes you thankful for the sunshine which makes all the world so busy and so glad. The same sun which in toe morning kindled conflagrations among the castles of cloud scoops down to paint the lily white and the buttercup yellowand the forgetmenot blue. What can resist the sua? Light for voyager on the deep, light for shepherds guarding the flocks aiield, light for the poor who have no lamps to burn, light for the downcast and the weary, light for aching eyes and burning brain and consuming captive, light for the smooth brow of childhood and the dim vision of the octogenarian, lig'lt for the queen's coronet and sewing girl's needle. "Let there be light." Now, says my text, *'WTio is she that looketh forth clear as the sun?1' Our answer I is, the church. You have been going along a road before daybreak, and on one side you thought you saw a lioo, and on the other side you thou ;at you saw a goblia oil the darkness, but waen the sua cam? out you found these w?rj harmless apparitions. And it is the great mission of th9 church of Jesus Christ to come forth "clear as the sun," to illumine all earthly darkaa?, to explain, as rar as posstoie, all mystery, and to make the world radiant in its brightness; and that which you thought -*as an aroused lion is found out to be a slumbering lamb; and the sepulchral gates of yo ur dead turn out to be the opening gate3 of heaven; and that which you suppose! was a flaming swor J to keep you out of paradise is an angel of light to becicoa you in. The lamps on her altars will cast their glow on your carkest pathway and cheer you udtiJ, far beyond the need of lantern or lighthouse, you are safely anchored within tho veil. Oh, sun of the church, shine on until there is no sorrow to soothe, no tears to wipe away, no shackles to break, no more souls to be redeemed! Ten thousand hands of sin have attempted to extinguish the lamps on her aitirs, but they are quenchless, and to silence her pulpits, but tne tnunder would leap and the lightning would flame. The churcn of God will yet come to full meridian, and in that day all the mountains of the world will be sacred mountains, touched with the glory of Calvary, and all streams will flow by the mount of God like cool Siloatu, and ali lakes oe radiant with Gospel memories like Gennesaret, and all-islands of the sea be crowned with apocalyptic vision like Fatmos, ana ail cities oe sacred as Jerusalem, and all gardens luxurious as paradise, with God walking in the cool o the day. Then the chorals of grace wil drown out all the anthems of earth. Thei the throne of Christ will overtop all earthly authority. Then the crown of Jesus wil outflame all other coronets. Sin destroyed Death dead. Hell defeated. The churcl triumphant. All the darknesses of sin, al the darknesses of trouble, all the darknesset of! earthly mystery hieing themselves to their dena. "Clear as the sunt Clear a> the sun P' Further, 'Terrible as an army with ban ners." Take one more step in this subject and say that it you were placed for the defense of a feeble town, and a great army were seen coming over th9 hills with flying ensigns, then you would be able to get some idea of the terror that will strike the hearta of the enemies of God when the church at last marches on like "an army with ba? ners." Yon knnw thoro ia nrvthino. t.Viaf. omitM soldiers' enthusiasm so much as an old Man j a man almost dead, catching a glimpsa of the national ensign, has sprung to his feet and started again into the battle. Now, my friend?, I don't want you to think of the church of Jesus Christ as a defeated institution, as the victim of infidel sarcasm?something to be kicked and cuffed and trampled on through all the ages of the world. It is "an army with banners." It has an inscription and colors such as never stirred the hearts of an earthly soldiery. W e have out banner of recruit, and on it is inscribed, * Who is on the Lord's side?" Our banner of defiance, and on it is inscribed, ,4rhe gates of hell shall not prevail against us I" Our banner of triumph, and on it w inscribed. "Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" and we mean to fclanfc that banner on every hilltop and wave it at thegateof heaven. With Christ to lead us we need not fear. I will not underrate the enemy. They are a tremendom host They com9 on with acutest strategy. Their weapons by ail the inhabitants of darkness have been forged in furnaces of everlasting fire. We contend not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers and spiritual '.Tickedneas in high places; but if God be for us who can be against us? Coma on. ye troops of the Lord I Fall Into line? Close up the ranks! Oo, through burr ing sands and over frozen mountain tops, until the whole earth surrenders to God! He made it; He redeemed it; tie shall have it. They shall not be trampled with boofa, they shall not be cut with sabers, they shall not t>e crushed with wheels, they snail not be cloven with battle axes, but the marching, ani the onset, and the victory will be none the less decisive for that. With Christ to lead us. and heaven to look down upon us, and angels to guird us and martyr spirits to bend from their thrones, and the voica of God to bid us forward into the combat; oar enemies shall fly like chaff in the whirlwind, and all the towers of heaven ring because th j day is ours. I divide this army with banners into two wings ?the American wing and the European wing. The American wing will march on across the v'lds of the west, over the tablelaudy, and come to the ocean, no more stopped by the Pacific than the Israelites were stopped oy the Red sea, marching on until the remaining walls of China will fall before this army with banners, and cold Siberia will be turned to the warm heart of Christ, and over lofty Himalayan peaks shall go this army with banners until it halts at Palestine. The European wing will march out to meet it, and tipanisti superstition shall be overcome, and French infidelity shall be conquered, and ever the Alps, with more than Hanuibal's courage, shall march that ariny with banner?, and up through the snows of Russia, vaster in multitude than the hosts that followed Napoleon into the conflict. And Hungary and Poland, by the blood of their patriots and by the blood of Christ, shall at last be free. And crossing inf.n Aai? the law shall again be proclaimed on Sinai, and Christ in the person of His ministers will again preach on Olivet and pray in Gethsamane and exhibit His lore on Calvary. And then the army will halt in front of the other wing, the twain having conquered all the earth for Gel Wnen the Prussian army came back from their war they were received in 1866 at the gates of Berlin, and a choir stood above the gates, and as the first regiment advanced and came to the gates the choir, in music, asked them what rignt they had to enter there. And then the first regiment, in song, replied, telling over the stories of their conflicts ana victories. Then they marched in, aotl all the city was tuil of gladness and triumph. But oh! the great joy waen the army with banners shall come up to the gates of our King! It will be choir to choir, music to music, ho^anna to hosanna, halleluiah to halleluiah. Lift up your heads, ye everlasting gates, and let them come in. There will be spread the banquet of eternal victory, and the unfallen ones of heaven will sit at it, and all the ransomed of earth will come in and celebrate the jubilee with unfading garlands on 1 1 -11 i AAnnnoatc tneir urows wuiug ul cauui; ,w All the walls ot that celestial ma.uaicq will be a-glitter with shields wou in victorious battle and adorned with the banners of (iod that were carried in front of the host. Harp shall tell to harp the heroism in which the conquerors won their palm, and the church that day will sit quaen at tne banquet. Her wanderings over, her victories gained, Christ shall rise up to introduce her to all the nations ot! heaven, and as she pulls aaide her veil and looks up into the face of her Lord tbe King, Christ sball exclaim, "This u sbe that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the mooo, clear a* the sun anil tarrxbla aa an army with banners!" Large Family, Patsy Dooley was a very poor arithmetician, and was puzzled by a great many Questions of numbers which did not enter other people's heads. One day a new acquaintance remarked in his presence: "I have eight brothers." "Ye have eight brothers?" said Patsy. "Then I suppose every wan o' them has eight brothers, too?" "Certainly." "Arrah, thin," said Patsy, "how manv mothers had the sixty-foor o" re?"" It Is stated that the King of Spain, who is now six years old, and who is & delicate child, already speaks Spanish, French, and German "fluently." No doubt allowance is to be made for the exaggeration which is likely to attend the progress of the eduoacation of the royal pupil, but even when this is done it seems probnlile that the poor little King is being educated to death. It is necessary for a sovereign to know so many things that it is a wonder that any of the race live to reach manhocd without being driven_macL _ , ' ' ,:-y . RELIGIOUS READING. A TENDER CON'SCIENCK. The great end of religious education should he to brino- the conscience under an abiding sense of (Sod's presence. Here is a good illustration iu a little child: "Once, in a Sabbath-school, a very little girl repeated the twenty-third Psalm very well, and so E leased a visitor who was present and eard her, that he kindly took a shilling from bis pocket and said, 'This ia for your little le>son, my child.' The child's eyes flashed with delight on what she never perhaps had iu her possession before. 'Now,' said her frend, 'I see a great many sh^ps open in this quarter, thougn it ia God's day; you must on no account speud that coin today, but keep it till tomorrow. Yon understand, I won't be with you to see you, but there is one who will see you and will find out at once if you break the Sabbath day.' The child was silent, but kept looking up in the speaker's face with her dark, thoughtful eye. 'Who will see you?' he asked after a pause. "Myself will see me,' said the child in an instant, and with a gesture of pride. She did not know how noble her an.wer was; but she gave it clearly and prjraptly. She would disdain to lie or deceive. even when alone. She could never dicgrace herself, though it was only in her own eyes. That was the simple answer, full of troth and honor. Of course, the visitor expected her to say, 'God will ace me!' Perhaps, after all i't came to this, that God was at home in the poor little heart, and she knew no difference between his eye and her own eye. Can each person who reads this say so? Is God at home in your heart, making it so pure and holy that you think it is the most solemn thing to say, when you are tomnteil fr> sin -Mvself will see me.' " ri!. (HA MEIS' DAUGHTER. In one of tae alleys running off from Fountain Bridge, Edinburgh, a street crowded with drunkenness and pollution, is tbe low roofed building in which this good woman is spending her life to help men and women out of their miseries. Her chief work w with drunkards, their wives and daughters. Some of tbe poor women of the neighborhood, who have sober husbands, complain against her saying, "Why do you pass us? .Because our husbands are good, you do not care for us. If we bad married some worthless sot you would then have takeu care of us in ourpoverty." In tbe winter, when tbe nights are long and cold, you mny see Helen Chalmers, with her lantern, going through the lanes of the City, hunting up the depraved and bringing toem out to her reform meetings. Insult her, do they? Never. They would as soon think of pelting an angel of God. Fearless and strong in tbe righteousness of her work, she goes up to a group of intoxicated men, shakes bands with them, and takes them along to bear the Thursday-night speech on temperance. One night, as sbe was standing in a low tenement talking with an intemperate father, and persuading him to a better life, a man kept walking up and down the room, as though uninterested in what was said; but finally, in his intoxication, staggered up to her, and remarked: "I shall get to heaven as easy as you will; do you not think so J-' Helen answered not a word, but opened nor Bible anil pointed to the passage, "No drunkard shall incrit the Kingdom ot God." The arrow struck between tbe joints of the harness. nod that little piere of Christian stratagem ended in the man's reformation. EARLY C0NVER6I0X8. The old-time hesitancy in receiving childreu to the church is fast passing away in the light of careful study and onaervation. Childish piety develops well under the fostering care of a healthy church. A large part of the pastor's work is in caring for these tender plants. They are neglected at the peril of all that is precious in the growth of tbe church. The strong men and women today laboring in tbe positions of large Christian influence, began their experience in youthful days. Few are converted in middle life. The following statistics, taken at a Methodist ministers' meeting in New York, are thrilling; in their testimony to the value of early conversion. Of seventy-six ministers present. Twenty were converted under 14 years of age. Twenty-two were converted between 14 and 16 years of age. Fourteen wei e converted betweed 18 and 21 years of n /I .t. orVlon uniy i ^jcpo iuau uut-wcuwj nuvu over 21 years of age. What grander argument for earnest toil and large faith iu Sunday school, and everywhere among the young! In the Central New York Conference this matter was under discussion, and in answer to tbe question of age at conversion, it appeared that, of 2.W ministers present, the youngest atcon?e?1 aion was only seven, the oldest twenty, tbe average fifteen; not a single man of that great company of Cbrixtian laborers being above twenty when entering the Lord's fold. Early conviction, and early conversion, are the hope and joy of the faithful church. ?[Rev. Samuel H. Virgin. THE HIGHER CALLING. A few years ai?o, a committee of the dominant party in the Legislature of Virgiuir. waited upon Rev. Dr. Plummer, then resident in Richmond, and pastor of one of its churches, but now professor in the "Western Theological Seminary, and inquired whether be would consent to become their candidate for the United States Senate, assuring him that he could be very easily elected, if be would permit his uame to be used by the party. The doctor, after thankinar them for tbe honor intended to be conferred upon him, said to tbem iu his oracular style: ' Gentlemen. I believe you are in tbe habit when yon give up one office to seek another, of aiming to go up higher; are you not?" Thev nil renlied iu the affirmative. ' Well, then," said he, "it is a high honor and very honorable office to represeut the State of Virginia in the United States Senate, but it is much higher one to be an ambassador of Christ to dying sinners, and I can't <orne down from ? minister of the court of Heaven to that of United States Senator.'* A Christian mother in New Hampshire had nine children, and sought their salvation more than their earthly welfare. She taught this and tried to "live out" her teachings. Time passed onward, her children were men and women. In a grave on the north bank of the Ohio is buried one of them, who died in hope of a blessed immortality. In Pennsylvania is a son. said to be a devout elder in the church. In Ohio is another son. the pastor of a church into which he has received several hundred persons converted under his ministry. In Indiana is another son, whose gentle but fervent piety, whose animated and heavenly sermons have been heard in hundreds of Western churches, and whose zeal has iden I titled uim wnn me uc^iuumx auu s. vu> / many (-cores of Home Missionary churclie8 in Indiana and Obio. It is srid tbat every one of tbat woman's children was a hopeful Christian; and that it was a pnrt of the solace of ber old age to tbink tbat all her graudchildren wore growing up uuder the hallowed influences of family piety. Do not trick yourself out in the weeds of vour own repentance, much less in the tigleaves of your own resolutions, but come to God in Jesus Obriat in all tbq nakedness of your siu and everlasting mercy will cover both you and your sins.?[Spurg'eon. Tbe growth of grace is like the polishing of metals. There is first an opaque surface; by and by you see a spark darting out, then a stroug light, till at lengh it sends back a perfect image of the sun that shines upon it?[Paysoii. m Counting th<> Enemy. In the old days of impetuous warfare caution was not regarded as so much a virtue on the part of a military commander as it is at present. In a battle between French and Austrians, in which Marshal Bugeaud commanded the French forces, an officer of ohe staff said to the marshal: "The enemy are advancing. Shall I send a party to reconnoite'r and see how numerous they are?" "No," said Bugeaud, "we'll count 'em after we've beaten 'em." SABBATH SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOB AUGUST 28. Lesson Text: "The First Christian Martyr," Acts Tit, 54-60; Till , 1-4?Golden Text; Acts Til., 00?Commentary. 54. "'W hen they heard these things they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth." The subject of the rage of the council at this time was Stephen, one of the seven who were chosen to serve tables, in orier that the apostles might give themselves waolly to the word and prayer (vL, 2-4). But Stephen was so full of the Holy Spirit and faith and power that God wrougnt great wonders and miracles by him. This led to his being falsely accused and brought before the. council, in whose presence he preached the sermon recorded in this chapter. He had just accused them of being th9 betrayers and murderers of the Just One, and it was this that cut them and ipade them so angry. 55. "But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." He saw not their rage, but be did see Jesus. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus and His grace and glory to the soul that trusts in Him and relies upon Him, and enables the believers to be as one who is deaf to those that are angry because of his testimony (John xvi., 14; Ps. rrxviii., 12, 14). To look up is better than to look within or around tor looking within makes one miserable and looking around tends to distraction, but looking unto Jesus will enable one to run with patience the race set before us. See Isa. xli., 10; R. V., margin, and Heb. xii., 2. Jesus on the cro3s for us gives eternal salvation, but Jesus at the right hand of God speaks of victory over all enemies. Heb. ix., 12; Rev. i.. 18. On steadfastness see I Cor. xv., 58; II Chron. xx., 201. c.; Isa. vii., 9. li A J :jx D-L-1J T CD. AUU BUUf utuiuiu x aco wuo ucftTous opened, and the Son ot Man standing on the right haod ot God." "Son of Man" is a title that Jesus often used of Himself; it is found over eighty times in the Gospels, but elsewhere in the New Testament only here and in Heb. ii., 6; Rev. i., IS; xiv., 14. It 1b suggestive not only of Jesus as perfect man, but also of His complete dominion over the whole earth, as will be seen by a comparison of Pa Tili., and Heb. ii. It is found ninety times in the prophecy oi EzekieL "Heaven opened" is found just seven times in the Bible (Ezak. i.; Math. 11L, 16; John u, 51; Acts Tit, 56; x., 11; Rot. iv., 1; xix., 11). 57. "Then they cried out with a loud voices and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord." Contrast stopping one's ears to that which is evil, as in Pa. xrriii., 13, and to that which is good, as in this case. Compare Math, xiii., 15. Let our prayer be, 'Open Thou mine eyes," "Cause me to hear" (Ps. <rrix., 18; cxliiL, 8). CcVatrast the "one accord" of the wicked, as her*, and the "one accord" of the righteous in Acts ii., 1. 58. "And cast him out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." They judged him to be guilty of blasphemy (Lev. xxiv.,* 16) and thought they were obeying the law, while they themselves were the guilty ones, but they were blinded by unbelief. J esus bad forewarned His followers that they might expect this very treatment (Math, x., 28; Joan xvi., 2). As to Saui, he may poadbly have thought of this very day years afterward when he himself was being stoned for Jesus' sake (Acts xiv., 19), 59. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Whan Jesus was dying He said, - i ?.z. a 1 ".Fatfier, unto mine nanas x coauuoau af spirit/' (Luke xxiii., 46; Ps. xxxi., 5). This * does not look Jike the nonexistence of the person between death and resurrection, or the sleep of the soul as some teach. If any one would be established as to the consciousness and joy of the souls of believers apart from th?f body, let him read and receive Luke xvl, 22-xxiii., 43; II Cor. ., 8; Pail, i., 21, ^3; Rev. vi, 1M1. 60. "And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep." Like his adorable Master, he prayed for his murderers iLuke xxiii., 24). Oar ininstractions are,- "Bove your enemies, bless them that curse you, do (rood to them that hate you, and pray for taem which despite* fully um you and persecute you" (Math, v., 44;. This is impossible to the natural man, but if we are born from above, if we have tbe new heart and the new Spirit (John liL, 7, marein; Ezsk. xxxvl t 26). He in us can do as He aid in Jtwus and Stephen. One of the best daily mottoes for the Christian is "Not 1, but Christ who liveth in me" (Gal. ii., 20), Viii., L "And Saul was consenting unto his death." Hear his own testimony long after as be prayed to the Lord. "When the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consented unto his death and kept the raiment of ttaem that slew him" (Acts xxii., 20). "And at that time there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and tfcey were an sanuereu abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apoatles." The command was to "Go unto all the world." "To be His witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Mark xri., 15; Act* i.. 8), but up to this time they seem to hare confined their testim ony to Jerusalem, hence thU persecution permitted by Gnd to cause them more fully to obey His command. 2. "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him." Stephen was with his Lord, "absent from the body, present with the Lord," but | his body was asleep, even as Jesus said of Lazarus when speaking of his death, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth" (John xi.. 11-14). There was no occasion to lament for Stephen, for to him it was a great gain, but it seemed that the church could ill afford to lose such a witness. 3. "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into everv house, and hailing men and women, committed them to prison." Beyond measure he persecuted the church and wasted it, being exceedingly mad against the Christians (Gal. L, 13; Acts xxvi., 10, 11). He little tbouzht tnat he was all the while lighting against God, as his own teacher, Gamaliel, had said (chapter v., 39). He did not know, thouzh he afterward learned it, that when he touched a Christian he touched the Lord Himself (Acts ix.. 5; Zcch. ii., 8). 4. ".therefore lhey that were scattered * ?t-Kil abroad, went every wnere prravutu^ word." 01.serve that these were not the apostJes who went everywhere evans?elizinir (verse 1) Lut nil believers. It should be so now that all believers everywhere in the office and the store, in the raioe and on the larm, at home an>i abroad, should be able and reauy to tell r,u ocher of Jesus aud His love, His hutniliatio u, death, resurrection, intercession, return, Kingdom aod glory. Then would He soon be made known in all the world aud His kingdom come.?Lesson Helper. The Ostrich. Orientals have a rather curious legend concerning ostriches. All creation, they say, was once summoned together to be divided into classes, and each animal in turn answered to its name. The ostrich, however, on being called on, repudiated the birds altogether, and insisted that it was a beast, because it could not fly. The beasts, however, not at all anxious for its company, would have nothing ~ ?? V*/* .VK/Minc! t h ?i t n/VJ. UU 3?iy OU it, UU UUU f^iuuuu UUUV) seSsinsr beak, feathers, and wings, as it did, it was no relation of theirs. Thereupon the ostrich, which does not appear to have been lacking in self-appreciation, settled the matter j by declaring that it must he an angel. This claim, however, infuri1 ated both beasts and birds, ana tho ostrich, declining to withdraw its pretensions, was obliged to flee into ' the desert, whore, of course, there was no one to contradict it. The bicycle fever has Invaded Sweden. A club of ladiea has been [ organized there, and they are reported I <13 enthuaiaatio. ? TEMPERANCE. ;| COLO WATER. Cloudlets on the summer sky, Palaces and temples fair, Forming in the upper air, What are ye that please the eye? "Water, water, pure cold water,* All the sunny clouds reoly. ,\-4 Meadow?, lovely to the view, Spreading far along and wide, What hath given you waving prida And your robes of verdant hue? ~ "Water, water, pure cold water. .< #J i- A? V . . * Ucui/io i aui auu rrcum^ uon . ^ Giant oak, majejtic tree, Lilting up thy mighty form To the lightning and the storm, Answer, what has nourished thee? "Water, water, pure cold water," Shouts the kingly oak in glee. Rose, thou blush of modest spring; Lily resting like toe swan. Snowy white the waves upon, What hast given the hues ye bring? "Water, water, pure cold water/ Rose and lily sweetly sing. Little lambs upon the lea, Bounding here and there awnr. What is it ye have drunk to-day? Rosy wine to give ye glee? "No, 'tis water, pure cold water," And the lamb leapt joyously. ' Tree and herb and living thing, , All that can makoglad the earth, Since your power and life and worth* And your varied beauties spring; Aided by the pure cold water, Be it in the songs we bring. Where the crystal waters run. Fill the bowl and flli it high. And ring out the joyous cry: "This shall be our drink alone, Sparkling water, pure cold water, Till our days of life are done." ?Temperance Banner. . SHINSLINO HIS Off# HOOF. Cha^ iain McCabe tells a story of a drinking man who. being in a saloon late at nighty beard the wife of the saloon keeper say to her husband: "Send that fellow notne, it la late." "No, never mind," replied the husband, "he 1* shingling our house for ua." This idea lodged in the mind of the drunkard and he did not return to the saloon for six months. When passing the saloon keeper in the street, the lattar said: "Why don't you come around to my place any more?'" "Thank you for your kind hospitality," replied the lormer victim, "I have been shingling my own house.?New York Tribune. BLOOD-8TA.IN1D BXQUZ8T. Under the head of "Bibles and Bear." tba London Star mentions a bequest of ?450,000 to foreign missions and a Bible Society by a millionaire English brewer, of West Sussex, Mr. Douglas Henty, who, besides his extensive brewing property, was also the owner ':3. of ninety "public-housea" or, a* Americans v'j would say, saloons, lie is described as* strong Churchman, "but," says th^ Star, "his inclinations were those of a sportsman. He kept race-boner, and at one time cot considerable figure on the turf." He illofr trates Dr. Rainsford's ideal of the Churchman and the brewer and the saloon-owner (on a large scale) combined. Bat we fear, if the whole truth were known, that the . burden be baa added to home missions te England will far outweigh the help Ua blood-fitainoJ $259,000 *111 render to the Bible Society and missions in foreign lands. ?National Temperance Advocate. \ ZVILS OF THX DEINKINQ HABIT. Rev. J. D. Fulton preached last evening at the Immanuel Baptist Church, Tweotpvthird street and Michigan boulevard. ?ma talk was mainly upon the subject of temperance. Among other things be said: "The might of strong drink is seen everywhere ii> our land. It is mightier than public opinion; it breaks every law of the decalogue. This country might appropriately be called a government of liquor sailers for liquor seller*. "Total abstinence is enjoined by Gkx?s word. I have seen even ministers in the ^ pulpit under its baneful influence, their tongues thick and tbeif senses muddled. Look at Daniel Webster, one of the grandest men the world has ever seen. What might -t he not have done if the curse of strong drink was not upon him? 'It biteth like an adder,' says the Bible. How true the saying is. Look around our streets and in onr I??? /4v4ntr thftptt UUIUD3, UTOU WJD TT V/IUW % . is nothing so terrible to see as & woman drunk. A bartender once told me that his sa:oon could not keep open a month if it was not Tor tbe women's drinking. When a woman is right all is right, bat when she is wrong all is wrong. Strong drink never hurts anybody that never touches it so the best way to reform is to reform."?Chicago Herald. M DRUNKENNESS IN GLASODW. John Burns, tbe labor representative; speaking in London the other day. said that he bad recently been in Scotland assisting Mr. Cunninghame Grab am in his candidature, and on the previous Saturday night, when he ouzht to have been in bed, attar addressing a series of meetings during the day, he, in company with Mr. Cunning ha me Graham and one of the members of tbe Glasgow University, walked about tl? streets of Glasgow until 2 o'clock on tbe Sunday morning. He had seen every phase of life during the years he had been a public man, but never had be seen such sights?no, not even in the worst parts of the east end of London?is came under his observation on that occasion. They estimated that during tbe three hours they walked about tna by-ways and back-ways of Glasgow they saw some 5003 persons?meo, women and children. Of this number 40j were blind, speechlessly drumc. He knew perfectly well wbat he was saying, that all these unfortu| nates were scrambling, dg'ating, cursmgand swearing and making tna place a perfect heli. Another 500 had ha 1 mora drink than was good for them, and he was ashamed to say that of the drunken persons thirty were children under the agj o: thirteen. On all sides they saw puolic houses and shebeen*, and, as a matter of fact, in some quarters mere was uuo puunu uuu^g m juuudvu .? every sixteen bouses. After such a dm^acdful and deplorable state of affairs, what could the opponents ot the direct veto say* He (Mr. Burns) was not only in favor of t&a people having the direct veto, but tney should have power to imprison publicans wno offended. Yes, and imprisoment witn hard labor, too. Accompanied by a stalwart Highland policeman. they were shown some of the most vile dens that the mind of man could conceive. They went into brothels, .t f and in some of these placee, which were v totally unfit for habitation, he paw sixteen people in a room. Upon seeing such a 8tafia of affairs be could not belp exclaiming: "No wonder the people drink." TCMPKBANCK NilWS AST) NOTES. The per capita consumption of intoxicanta in the United States was 15J gallons in la7j and 142 gallons in 1892. A petition signed by 227 opium drunkards has been sent irom Bombay to England, ask ing that the sale of opium oe stopped. On the Bowery. New York, whiak/ cum drunkenness; on Wall street it causes alcoholism ; ana on Filth avenue it causes hoart failure. The judges and the magistrates of Ireland are unanimous in their verdict that at leant seventy-fivj per cent, ot the Nation's crimts is attributable to th'3 use of strong drink. Temperancj co a grasses are to form a a prominent feature of the Worm's Fair. Temperance reform ^will be advocated by both men and women, an i special conventions have been arranged for oacli. Archbishop Ireland and Miss Franc ?s ?. Wulard are the leader.--. Queen Liliuo?alani, of the Sandwich Islands, is an earnest patron of temperance reform. She piys the licence fee tor a- coffec house opened in her capital city by the Women's Temperance IJnton, anu lias banishpd winpq au'i sairituous liuuors from her table aud reeepcious. It is said by tuose within tue pale that overinduigeucs in intoxicating beverage* is lama^'-ably on the increase amon;; fashionable women in England. Freuch, German and I'a ian wouien are, in spite of tUeir wine and beer drinking propcii cities, really mo*9 temperate than En^lisj woni9n. Dr. Robson Rose has an interesting arti&'a on the "Alcohol Question'' in the New Review. in which he says: "Let us regard alcohol as a luxury for most of those who taica L~, as n necessity for sooie persons and a i poison for others; let 113 educate children to 1 do without it, anl let us deal with habitual j drunkards as we do with lunatics." )