The Aiken recorder. [volume] (Aiken, S.C.) 1881-1910, September 02, 1892, Image 3
KEY. DR. TALMAGE.
THR BROOKLYN DIVINE’S SUN
DAY SERMON.
Subject: “Useful Suffertos.’*
ft
_ T*xr: "It behoved Christ to suffer
Duke xxir., 46.
^There h&Te been scbolsrs who ha vs veu*
toredthe assertion that the pains of onr
Lord were unnecessary Indeed it was a
shocking waste of tears and blood and ag
ony. unless some great eni wsre to be
reached. If |nen can prove that no good re-
flult comes of it, taen the character of Goi
is impeached, and the universe must stand
abhorent and denunciatory at the fact that
the Father allowed the butchery of His only
begotten Son.
We all admire the brave six hundred men
described by Tennyson as dashing into the
conflict when they knew thev must die, and
knew at the same time that* -‘some one had
blunder’d;” but we are abhorrent of the man
who made the blunder and who caused the
sacrifice of those brave men for no use. But
I shaU show you, if the Lord will help me,
this morning that for good reasons Christ
went through the torture. In other words,
“It behooved Christ to suffer.”
In the first place, I remark that Christ’s
lacerations were necessary, because man's
rescue was an impossibility except by the
payment of some great sacrifice. Outraged
law had thundered against iniquity. Man
must die unless a substitute can mterceot
that death. Let Gabriel step forth. He re
fuses. Let Michael the archangel step forth.
He refuses. _No Roman citizsn, no Athe
nian, no Corinthian, no reformer, no angel
volunteered. Christ then bared His heart to
the pang. He paid for our redemption in
tears and blood and wounded feet and
scourged shoulders and torn brow. “It is
done.” Heaven and earth heard the snap of
the i r.son bar. Sinai ceased to quake with j
wrath the moment that Calvary began to
rock in crucifixion. Christ had suffered.
“Oh,” says some man, *T don’t like that
doctrine of substitution; let every man
bear his own burdens, and weep his own
tears, and fight bis own battles!” Why, my
brother, there is vicarious suffering all over
the wond. Did not your parents suffer for
you? Do you not sometimes suffer for vour
children? Does not the .patriot suffer for
bis country? Did riot Grace Darling suffer
for tbe drowning sailors? Vicarious suffer
ing on all sides 1 But how insiguificaut com
pared with this scene of vicarious suffer-
Was it for crimes that I had dona
He groaned upon tho tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown.
And love beyond degree.
Christ must suffer to pay the price of our
re lemption.
But I remark again, the sufferings of
Christ were necessary in order that the
world’s sympathies might be aroused. Men
are won to the right and good through their
sympathies. The world must feel aright
before it can act aright. So the cross was
allowed to be lifted that the world’s sympa
thies might be aroused. Men who have
been obdurated by the cruelties they have
enacted, tbe massacres they have inflicted,
by the horrors of whicu they have been
guilty, have become little children in the
presence of this dying Saviour.
What the swords could not do, what Jug
gernauts could not subdue, the wounded
band of Christ has accomplished. There
are this moment millions of people held un
der the spell of that one sacrifice. The ham
mers that struck the spikes into the cross
have broken the rocky neart of the world.
Nothing but tbe agonies of a Saviour’s death
throe could rouse the world’s sympathies.
I remark again, ’’It behoved Christ to
suffer,” that the strength and persistence of
the divine love might be demonstrated. Was
it the applause of the world that induce!
Christ on that crusade from Heaven? Why,
all the universe was at His feet. Could the
conquest of this insignificant planet have
paid Him for His career of pain if it had
been a mere matter of applause? All the
honors of heaven surging at His feet.
Would your queen give up her throne that
•he n ight rule a miserable tribe in Africa?
Wouu the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne
of thy universe come down to our planet if
it wire a mere matter of applause and ac
clamation?
T or was it an expedition undertaken for
the accumulation of vast wealth. What
could all the harvests and the diamonds of
our little world do for Him whose are the
lories of infinitude and eternity? Nor was
X an experiment—an attempt to show what
He could do with the hard hearted race. He
who wheels the stars in their courses aud
bolds the pillars of the universe on the tips
of His fingers needed to make no experiment
to find what He could do. Oh, I will tell
you, my friends, what it was. It was un
disguised, unlimited, all conquering, all con
suming, infinite, eternal, omnipotent love
that opened the gate, that started the
star in tbe east, with finger of hgnt
pointing down to the manager, that arrayed
the Christmas choir above Bethlehem, that
opened the stable door where Christ was
born, that lifted Him 09 the cross. Love
thirsty at the well. Love at the sick man’s
couch. Love at the cripple’s crutch. Love
sweating in the garden. Love dying on the
cross. Love wrapped in the grave. You
cannot mistake it. The blindest eye must
see it. Tbe hardest heart must feel it. The
deafest ear must hear it. Parable and
miracle, wayside talk and seaside interview,
all the scenes of His life, all the sufferings of
His death, proving beyond controversy that
for our ingrate earth God has yearned with
stupendous and inextinguishable love.
1 But I remark again, “It behoved Christ to
suffer,” that the nature of human gull!
might be demonstrated. There is not a com
mon sense man in the boose to-day that will
not admit that tbe machinery of society Is
out of gear, that the human mini aud the
human heart are disorganized, that some
thing ought to be done right away for its re
pair and readjustment. But the height and
depth and length and breadth and hate and
recklessness and infernal energy of the
human heart for sin would not have been
demonstrated if against the holy and inno
cent one of the cross it had not baen. hurled
in one bolt of fire.
Christ was not the first man that had been
put to death. Taera had been many before
Him put to death, but they had their whims,
the r follies, tueir sins, their inconsistencies.
But waen the mob outside of Jerusalem
howled at the Son of God it was hate against
goodness, it was blasohemy against virtue,
it was earth against heaven. What was it
in tint innocent and loving face o; Christ
that excite ! the vituperation and ths con
tumely and scorn of men? if He hai ban-
t-red them to come ou, if He had laughed
them into derision, if He had denounced
them as the vagabonds that they were, we
could understand their ferocity", but it was
against irioffensiveness that they brandished
their soeare, and shook their hst/, aud ground
their teeth, and howled and scoffed and
jeered and mocked.
Wh it evil had He done? Whose eyesight
had He put out? None; but He given vision
to the blind. Whose child hai He sliin?
None; but He restore 1 the dea l damsel to
her mother. What law had He broken?
None; but He had inculcated obe lienee to
government. What foul plot had He en
acted against the happiness of the rac??
None; He had come to save a world. The
only cruelty He ever enacted was to heal the
sick. The only ostentation He ever dis
played was to sit with publicans and sinners
and wash the disciples’ feet.
The only seltisdness He ever exhibited
was to give His life for His enemies. An l
yet all the wrath of the wor.d surge!
against His holy heart, Hear the reduor
scorn of the world hissing in the pools of
a Saviour's blood! An 1 standing there to
day let us see what an unreasonable, loath
some, hateful, blasting, damning thing is
the iniquity of the bum .a heart. Unloose!,
what will not sin do* It will scale any
height, it will fathout the very depth of hel 1 ,
it will revel in a!l lasciviousness. There is
no blasphemy it will not utter, there are no
cruelties on which it wiil not gorge itself. It
will wallow in filth, it will breathe the air of
charnelhouses of corruption and call the n
aroma, it will quaff the blood of immortal
souls and call it nectar.
When sin murdered Christ on the cross it
showed what it would do with the Lord God
Almighty if it could get at Him. The
prop!let had declared—I think it was Jere
miah—had declared centuries before the
truth, but not until sin shot out its forked
tongue at the crucifix and tossed its sting
into the soul of a martyred Jesus was 1: i -
lustrated, that “the heart is dtceittui aoove
ail things, and desperately wicked.”
Again, “It behoved Christ to suffer,”
that our affections might be excited Christ-
ward. Why, sirs, the behavior of our Lord
has stirred tbe affections of all those who
have ever heard of It. It has been the art
galienee of the world with suoh pictures as
Ghirlandaio’s “ Worshio of the Magi,” Giot
to’s “Baptism of Christ,” Holman Hunt’s
“Christ in the Temple,” Tintorec’s “Agonv
in the Garden,” Angelo's “Crucifixion,"
and it has called out Handel’s Messiah.” an 1
rung sweetest chimes in Young's “Night
fhoughta,” and filled the psalmody of the
world with the penitential notes of sorrow
and the hosannas of Christian triumph.
Show me any other king who has so
many subjects. What is tbe most potent
name to-day in the United States, in France,
in England, in Scotland, in Ireland? Jesus.
Other kings have had many subjects, but
where is the king who has so many admir
ing subjects as Christ? Show me a regi
ment of a thousand men in their army and
I will show you a battalion of ten chons in 1
men in Christ's army.
Show me in history where one man has
given his property and his life tor any ono
else, aud I will show you in history hun
dreds and thousands oi men who have cheer
fully died that Christ might reign. Aye,
there are a hundred m ?n in this house wno,
if needwere^ would step out and die for
Jesus. Their faith may now seem to be
faint, and sometimes they may bo inconsis
tent, but let the fires of martyrdom be kin
dled, throw them into the pit, cover them
with poisonous serpents, pouud them, flail
them, crush them, and i will tell you what
their last cry would be, “Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly!”
Oh, yes! the Lord Jesus has won the affec
tions of many of us. Tuere are some of us
who can say this morning, “Lord Jesus, my
light and my song; my uope for time, my
expectation for eternity.” Altogether lovely
Thou art. My soul is ravished with the
vision. Thou art mine. Come let me clasp
Thee, Come life, come death, come scorn
and pain, come whirlwind and darkness.
Lord Jesus, I cannot give Thee up. I have
heard Thy voice. 1 have seen Thy bleeding
side. Lord Jesus, if I had some garland
pluckel from heavenly gardens I would
wreath it for Thy brow. If I had some
gem worthy of the place I would set it in
Thy crown. If I had seraphic harp I would
strike it in Thy praise. But I come lo:t and
ruined and undone to throw myself at Thy
feet.
No price I bring:
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
Thou knowest all things. Thou knowesx
that I love Thee.
But I remark again, “It behoved Christ to
suffer,” that the world might learn how to
suffer. Sometimes people suffer beciuse
they cannot help themselves, but Christ had
in His hands all the weapons to ounish His
enemies, and yet in quiesconce He enOured
all outrage. He might have hurlei the
rocks of Golgotha uoon His pursuers: Hi
might have cleft the earth until He swal
lowed up His assailants; He might have
called in reinforcement or taken any thun
derbolt from the armory of God Omnipotent
and hurled it soething and fiery among His
foes, but He answerel not ■'gain.
Oh, my hearers! has there ever been in
the history of the world such au example of
enduring patience as we find in the cross?
Some of you suffer physical distresses, some
of you have lifelong ailments and they make
you fretful. So netimes you think that God
has given you a cup too deep aud too brim
ming. Sometimes you see the world laugh
ing and romping on the highways of life,
and you look out of the winaow while seated
in invalid’s chair.
I want to show you this morning one who
had worse pains in the head than you have
ever had, whose hack was scourged, who
was wounded in the hands and wounded in
tbe feet, and suffered all over; and I want
that example to make you more enduring in
your suffering, and to make you say,
“father, not My will but Thine be done.”
You never have had any bodily pain, and
you will never have any bedily pain that
equaled Christ’s torture. “It behoved Christ
to suffer,” that He might show you how
physically to suffer.
Some of you are persecuted. There are
those who hate you. They criticise you.
They would be glad to see you stumble and
fall. They have done uuaccountable mean
nesses toward you. Sometimes you feel
an :ry. You feel as if you would like to re
tort. Stop! Look at the closed lips, look at
the still hand, look at the beautiful demeanor
of your Lord. Struck, not striking back
again. Ob. if you could only appreciate
what He endured in the way of persecution
you never would complain of persecution.
The words of Christ would be your words,
“Father, if it he possible, let this cup pass
from Me; but if not, Thy will be done.” “It
behoved Christ to suffer” persecution, that
He might show you how to endure persecu
tion. , .
Some of you are bereft. It is no random
remark, because there is hardly a family
nere that has not passed under the shadow.
You have been berett. Your bouse is a
different place from what it used to be. The
tame furniture, the same books, the same
pictures, but there has been a voice hushed
there. The face that used to light up the
whole dwelling has vanished. The patter
ing of the other feet does not break up
the loneliness. The wave has gone over your
sou 1 and you have sometimes thought what
you would tell him when he comes back,
i,ut then the thought has flashed upon you,
ho will never come back. , A .
Ah! my brother, my sister, Christ has
sounded all that depth, Jesus of the bereft
soul is here to-iay. Behold Him! He
knows what it is to weep at the tomb, it
seems to me as if all the storms ot the world s
sorrow were compressed into oue sob f and
that sob were uttered ia two words, “Jesus
I P close my sermon with a doxology:
“Blessing and glory and honor an i pow er be
unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb, forever. Amen and amen 1
THE DELUGE.
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON
SEPTEMBER 4.
FOR
Lesson Text: “Philip Preachtni? at
Samaria,” Acts vili., 5-25—Golden
Text: Acts viii.. 5—Com
mentary.
flie Tradition of the Maoris of New Zea
land.
According to the tradit 0:1 in the Nga-
1-tahu tribe of Maoris, men had become
very numerous, and evil prevailed
everywhere. The tribes quarreled, and
wars were frequent. The worship of
Tane was neglected, and his doctrines
were openly denied. Men utterly re
fused to believe the teachings of Para-
whneua-mea and Tupunui-a-utarespect
ing the separation of heaven and earth
by Tane, and at length cursed these
two devout men when they continued
their teaching. Then these two teach
ers were very angry', and got their stone
axes and cut down totara and other
trees, which they dragged together to
the source of the River Tohinga (bap
tism!. They bound the timber together
with vines of the pinta and ropes and
made a very’ wide raft. Then they ma !e
incantations, and built a house on the
raft, and put much food into it—fern
root, kumar (sweet jotato* and dogs.
Next they repeated tin ir incantations,
and prayed that rain might descend in
such abundance as would convince men
of the power of Tane, agid prove the
truth of his existence, and the necessity
of the ceremonies of worship ior life
and for peace, and to avert evil and
death. "J hen these tea hers—with Tiu-
Itete, a female named '' aipuna-Nau,
and other women—got on the raft. Tiu,
who was the priest on the raft, prayed
that the rain might descend in great
torrents, and when it had so rained for
four or five days and nights he repeated
his incantations that it might cease, and
it ceased. The raft was lilted by the
waters and floated down the River To
hinga. All men and women and chil
dren were drowned of those who de
nied the truth of the doctrines preached
by Tane. The legend then gives a de
tailed account of the wanderings of the
raft, and the doings and adventures of
its occupants. Once they saw goddesses
wandering on the face- of the ocean.
These came to make a commotion in
the sea. that the raft might be destroy
ed ami those on it might perish. The
sea was boisterous, tut the raft and its
occupants were not overwhelmed. When
they had floated about for seven moons
Tiu spoke to his companions, and said:
“We shall not die; we shall land on the
earth. ” In the eighth month the rolling
motion of the raft had changed; it now
pitched up and down and rolled. Tiu
then said that the signs of his staff in
dicated that the sea was becoming less
deep, and he declared that that was the
month in which they could land on dry
earth. They did land at Hawaiki—the
place from which the Maoris, a cording
to their Jj-aditions, migrated to Ne»
Zealand.
A lie a mile away looko a good deal
like th« truth.
6. “Then Philip went down to the city of
Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”
By comparing verses 4,12, 25 with this verse
we obtain considerable light as to what was
preached in those days; tbe Word, the Gos
pel, Christ, the things concerning the king
dom; and if we compare chapters ii, 2S; x.,
S6, 32. 43; xvii., 18, 32. we wiil find that their
preaching included repentance, forgiveness,
peac;, resurrection and judgment.
6. “And the people with one accord gave
heed.” Just eleven times in this bcok do we
find the phrase “with one accord” (L, 14; ii., 1,
46; iv.,'24; v„ 12; vii..57; viii., 6; xii., 20; xv.,
25; xviii., 12; xix., 29); and only once else
where in the New Testament is the word
used (Rom. xv., 6, R. V). Seven times in the
Acts it is “one accord” for good, and these
seven make a most profitable study. It is
tbe manifest power of the Holy Spirit.
7. "Many taken with palsies and that were
lame were healed.” These, in addition to the
unclean spirits which were cast out. are a
sample of the miracles wrought by God
through Philip, which constiaiued the peo
ple to cave heed to his words.
8. “And there was great joy in that city.”
This is always the result of receiving Jesus.
Those who believe—chat is, receive—Him
(John i., 12) will be filled with joy and
peace (Rom. xv., 13). aud it is His pleasure
that we should be full of joy (John xv., 11;
xvi., 24).
9. “But there was a certain man called
Simon giving out that himself was some
great one.” The adversary is al ways busy,
and you can always recognize him by the
prominence he gives himself This is the
spirit of antichrist. See Dan. viii., 11. 25;
xi., 36; Luke iv., 6, 7. The spirit of Jesus is
to abase self and honor God (John viii., 28,
cO: xvii., 4>.
10. “To whom they all gave heed, from
the least to the greatest, saying. This man is
the great power of God.” A great following
is no proof that a man is right, nor are few
followers necessarily an evidence that a man
is wrong. Consider Noah. Jeremiah and
•the prophets, and think of Jesus Himself
(John vi., (36).
11. “He had bewitched them with sor
ceries,” So it has been, is and will be till
Jesus comes. Jesus speaks of signs by false
teachers in the Jasc days that shall if pos
sible deceive the elect (Math, xxiv., 24), and
we read in Rev. xiii., 3, 8, of multitudes
worshiping the beast, and in II Thess, it,
7-12 of those who prefer a lie to the truth.
12. “But when they believed Philip preach
ing the things concerning the kingdom of
God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptize’, loth men and women.” The
reception of tne truth is the cure for all de
ception. 1 hay not only heard, but they re-
ce.vei the truth, or rather they received
Jesus, who is the truth (John xiv., 6; I John
v., 11, 12.) The entrance of the wordgiveRi
light (Ps. cxix.. 130.)
13. “Then bimon himself believed also;
and when be was baptized he continued with
Philip.” The power of God is able to breads
the hardest heart. Some doubt whether
this was a real case of true conversion or
not. We shall meet him again, bn: now ob
serve that he believed, was baptized and
continued.
14,15. “Peter and John prayed for them,
that they might receive the lloly Ghost.”
Word having reached Jerusalem of the great
work going ou in Samaria, Peter and John
were sent to help, aud inasmuch as they had
received the word, they give themselves to
prayer that they may now receive the Holy
Spirit.
16. “For as yet He was fallen upon none
of them; only they were baptized in tile
name of the Lord Jesus.” Having believed
and been baptized they were consequently
saved (Mark xvi., 16; John i., 12; iii., 16; v.,
24.) But we are saved to serve an i live
unto God (I Thess. i., 9; II Cor. v., 15), and
for this life and service we need the special
gift of the Holy Spirit, which so few care
about.
17. “Then laid they their hands on them,
and they received the Holy Ghost.” So also
at Ephesus Paul laid his hands on tweive
men who had believed and they receive i the
Holy Ghost and prophesied (chapter xix., 6.
7l. There is evidently a gift of t ie Spirit
for saved people for service of which we
hear comparatively little; and yet there is a
plain command to “Be filled with the Spirit”
(Eph. v., 18). See the way in Luke xi., 13.
IS, 19. “Give me also this power, that ou
whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the
Holy Ghost.” We now return to Simon, of
whom we read in verse 13 that he believed,
was baptized anl continued with Philip
wondering and beholding. And now he of
fers money that he may obtain this power to
confer the spirit. He does not seek power
to serve God in humility (xx, 19i, but
rather seeks to be a great oue and have
power to give.
20. “i'by money perish with thee because
thou hast thought that the gift of God may
be purchased with money.” He did not
know Isaiah iv., 1, nor Luke xi., 13, and
yet he was like a great many even now who
think that by doing so much or giving so
much they can obtain gifts from God. Many
members of churches seem not to understand
the grace of God (Rom. hi., 4; Eph. i., 6, 7)
21. “Ihou bast neither part nor lot in
this matter, for thy heart is not right in the
light of God.” If he had no part in Christ
be was not saved; but if Peter meaut that
he had no part in this gift of the Holy
Spirit, he was just in the condition in which
most of our church members are, and in
reference to serving God his heart was not
right. .
22. “Repent therefore of this thy wicked
ness; and pray God, if perhaps the thought
of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”
Praise God for Hi4 forgiveness and merev
and plenteous rede nption (Ps. exxx., 4, 7;
chi.. 8). He also gives repentance (chapter
v., 31). Notice that thoughts must be for
given, for the thought of foolishness is sin
(Prov. xxiv., 9).
23. “For 1 perceive that thou art in the
gall of bitterness and in the bond of in
iquity.” If he was truly saved it would seem
that he would have peace instead of bitter
ness and rejoice in the blotting out of his
iniquities (Isa. xxzviii., 17; xliii., 25i.
24. “Pray ye the Lord for me that none
of these things which ye have spoken come
upon me.” This request of Simon’s to be
prayed for gives us some encouragement,
out the object of bis request makes us
wonder if we shall meet him. He is not a
comfortable study, and a'.as! lie has many
followers. It is himself from first to last.
25. “Preached the word of the Lord,
preached the Gospel.” Thus did Peter and
John on their wav back to Jerusalem. They
have no thought of themselves, but only a
consuming desire to make Jesus known.
This is the mark of a true disciple.—Lesson
Helper.
~TTm rxnrrcm naxiunai nans 01 tne
dty of New York has Issued a neat
pamphlet giving the most prominent
facts connected with the production
and use of gold and silver in the last
four hundred years, a digest of the
United States coinage act of 1792,
and statistics of coinage, exports and
imports, and circulation in this coun-
tr w «dnce then. Also tables showing
the commercial ratios of values of
gold and silver. The pamphlet con-
ta'us no arguments, either pro or con,
but presents the material from which
may be drawn the foundation of much
reasoning in regard to the merits of
the free coin acre Question.
They Were Just Engaged.—“We
had better be married to-morrow,”
said he. “So soon?” “M'hm, Your
father and I differ in politics, and
there is no t/lling how soon we may
be deadly enemies.” — Indianapolis
Journal.
mtmm
It is announced that Sir Arthur
Sullivan has so far regained his health
as to be able to attend a Wagner
opera. This is good evidence that
Sir Arthur is not only convalescent
but husky.
RELIGIOUS READING.
THE VALUE OK HOME TRAIXIXG.
come things we learn from our parents
will stay by us in later years, however much
the world may encroach upon our hearts and
minds. Tbe fact is. truth has a mighty
force of its own when taught in love. The
child mind U in a plastic state and the im
pressions made by the truth spoken by father
and mother are likely to endure, when love
seala evey word. This fact has a pleasant il
lustration in the following simple event. It
waa related by a Presbyterian minister at a
Sabbath convention in Binghampton, N. Y.
It appears that a Christian family highly
esteemed, in a Western New York village,
removed about two years ago to Michigan.
Guy, an industrious, conscientious lad of
this family, wishing to become helpful to
his parents, was hired by the publishers of a
leading paper to sell the daily issues in that
town. After tbe bargain bad been made,
he was told that he would be expected to
sell on Sundays as well as w'eek days. This
he had not taken into the account, and it
troubled him exceedingly. He was very
anxious to have the situation, but could not
see bow he could spend his Sabbat ns in that
way. He appealed to his parents who very
wisely told him "to think tlie matter over,”
knowing that the principles which they bad
inculcated would lead turn to a correct de
cision.
At first he thought of hiring another boy
to do the Sunday work, hut after a little
thought concluded tins would not be right.
Final.y be determined to give up the posi
tion altogether, and so informed tbe editor
of the paper. “I can’t work ou Sunday,”
said Guy. “Oh,” replied the editor, “I used
to feel so too, but now we all work on Sun
day, and you had better continue with this.’’
“No,” he firmly answered, “if I must sell
papers on Sunday, I’ll stop altogether.” •
This noble stai d taken by the young lad
must have cause I his employer to* think of
earlier days, and perhaps of his own mother,
for lie soon resin tided :
“You need 1 it give up your position.
Keep it and I pr >mise you 1 will stop print
ing a Sunday ed tion of my paper.”
Guy went’aws r delighted, of course, and
the editor has k ;pt his word, a.though his
paper had a larg< circulation.
That is what a boy may accomplish.—
[Wesleyan Met! adist. ’
THE MINISTRY OF SOItROW.
There is nothing from which we shrink
instinctively mooe than from sorrow. We
are too apt to regjurd it as a manifestation of
God’s anger towAd us, and not to remember
that "whom He loveth he chastenetb.” It
may be in the te iderest love that he sends
the sorrow, whicl for the time indeed seem-
eth to be grievous. There is 110 gain, either
spiritual or mat .rial, without cost. The
sculptor could lot free tbe beautiful
statue without repeated blows upon
the rough marble block; the
diamond would b nothing hut a rOugh peb
ble if it were n »t polished into brilliant
beauty: and tber i is much in the human
heart that can on y be developed by sutfer-
ing. This though; ought to help us to suf
fer patiently, sinci painful though the pro
cess may be, it tei ds to our higher develop
ment and growth n grace. For the sake of
becoming better 1 nd purer, as we shall be
come if we bear sorrow ariirht, we can en
dure the cloud wh eh shuts the sunshine out
of our lives for tt i time. There is a higher
thought than this to comfort us. however.
If we suffer, and 1 ‘am through our suffering
how tender ando mpassionateour Heavenly
Father is when h: > children are in trouble,
then we can carr the comfort wherewith
we have been com forted to others in alllic-
tion. and become ninistering angels to those
who sorrow. “\V hoso suflereth much hath
much to give.”
It is not wor h while to suffer, since
through that suffi ring we may be enabled to
give royally to tiu se who neecl our help? It
wc have learned f >r ourselves the sweet les
sons of comfoit, ve can whisper them to
others who have not perhaps learned to
know the Saviour s love. If they know that
you speak from the depths of your own
heart-experience, they will listen far more
readily than if the y think that you are bring
ing them comfort Tom other sources. Surely
the ministry of se tow is a blessed one, al
though we may ^shrink from it at first. If
^od’s appointment for us,
imissively and strive not
but let’ it work out its
vithout murmuring at its
“ess.
ugr
we think of it asj_
we can accept it sv.
to lose its blessing^
gracious ministry
presence.—[A. M.l
RELIGIC
IN THE HOME.
Home is one of Ibe relics of Paradise. It
has had a place infill ages and in all nation
alities. but the Ch
tion of Christ. It
of the dignity of
cration of cbitdh
man love in divi
istian home is the crea-
idea of personal purity,
romanhood, of the conse-
od, of the rooting of hu-
love, of the transfiguring
of human relatio iships in the light of the
eternal world, is t
ity. The spiritua
home has made ii
sweeter spot. A
able gospel. It p
power. It is a t>
ie offspring of Christian-
presence of Christ in tbe
a holier, stronger and
piritual home is a verit-
oclaims, as no sermon can
ever do, what Ch: 1st is in grace and love and
ight witness for Christ.
And poor Robert Burns was not far from
tbe truth when b sang:
To mak’ a happyj fireside clime, for weans
and wife, I
That’s the true pathos and sublime of human
life.
On the subject of “God’s Forgiveness” the
Christian Union has these true words: None
are excluded: “Look unto me, and lie ye
saved, all the ends of the earth;” “Through
his name every one that belicveth on him
shall receive remission of sins.” And the
voice of the Christ says, “Him that cometh
to me I will in no wise cast out.” He not
only pardons tbe sins of the past, but gives
strength to resist present temptations. We
not only receive mercy, but we find grace to
help in time of need. Tbe promise is
conditioned. We must ask forgiveness in the
name of Christ, for none other will avail.
We must come with humility, confessing
our sins. We must prove our repentance
by forsaking our sins. If we have accepted
pardon through Christ, we surely ought,
through him, to “offer up a sacritice of praise
to Goa continually—that is, the fruit of lips
which make confession to his name.” We
ought also to heed his command concerning
the “blood of the covenant which is shed
for many unto remission of _ sins.”
“This do in remembrance of me.” And
still another duty is ours. Like the
starving lepers in the Syrian camp, we
should realize that this is a day of good tid
ings, aud we do not well to hold our peace.
The “exceeding great and previous promises”
are not for us alone, hut for all men. and so
many have never heard even one of them.
“Repentance and remission of sins should
he preached in His name unto all the na
tions.” We have been forgiven much; we
should love much. Let us prove onr love by
our efforts to make known God’s promise of
forgiveness throughout the world.
Luther was so afraid he might love posses
sions that he prayed for poverty, saying: “I
thank Thee. O God, that thou hast made tne
a poor man upon earth.” When the elector
sent him a valuable present he wrote back
in* could not refuse what had been given by
the prince, but begged him to sem’ no more,
as he already possessed thirty dollars and
was afraid he should be numbered with
those whose portion is in this world.
On tbe eve of Napoleon’s departure for
tiis Russian campaign be detailed his schemes
to a noble b*dy so arrogantly that she tued
to check him, saving: "sir. man proposes,
but God disposes.” “Madam. 1 propose, and
dispose too," the emperer haughtily replied.
A few month’s later the disastrous retreat
irom Moscow, and the loss of his crown,
armv and liberty, vindicated the power of
God.
An Important legal contest hiss
been entered upon over the question
whether a telephone can be used by
the mouth only, and whether placing
a sounder at the Instrument and tick
ing off a message by telegraphic sig
nal is an infraction of privileges.
What is the name of that lady
wno sneezes so much?” he asked. “I
don’t know;,” replied his sister; “she
seems very intense.” “I should say
TEMPERANCE.
THE WATER DRINKER’S DAY.
In the old days total abstainers were
scoffed at, and we almost bad to apologize
for drinking water; now we find constantly
people murmuring something like an apology
for drinking wine in our presence. Tbe
change is coming slowly and steadily, and
when we are beginning to be disheartened
in our individual effort, we must look to the
change that is taking place all over the
world, rake courage and thank God.—Canon
Wilberforce.
A STRIKING CONTRAST.
In Mendocino County, Wis., there is a
lumbering village of IKK) population, and
there are thirteen saloons. The pay roll of
the mill company amounts to i90G5 a month.
And of this sum it is estimate 1 that $500),
or more than one-talf, is spent at the sa
loons. On the other hand, at another vil
lage a few miles distant, the pay roll is
$1200 a month, and not a cent of it is known
to go for liquor. The mill company own
the town site and allow no saloons, i’here
sponsibility of corporations an i companies
for safe gttaraing as much as possible the
men in their employ, though obvious
enough, is too little regarded.
INTOXICANTS, POVERTY, VICE, AND CRIME.
I like to put myself on record also as say
ing that all the poverty, all the crime, ani
all the vice which attract publicattention in
Boston among what we call the poorer
closes, may be ascribed to the free use of in
toxicating liquors. I have said a hundred
times, and I am willing to say it again, that
if anybody will take caarge of all the pov
erty and crime which results from drunken
ness, the South Congregational Church, of
which I have the honor to be the minister,
will alone take charge of all the rest of the
poverty which needs “outdoor relief” in the
city of Boston. If that church could satisfy
its conscieuce with as small work as that, it
would certainly relieve its visiting forces
and its treasury of a very considerable part
of the demands now made upon them.—Ed
ward Everett Hale.
MAN’S NATURE IN HIS CUPS.
So with the popular belief that the real
nature of a man comes out when he is in his
cups. Sometimes it does, but quite as often
the real nature of the man is not simply ob
scured, but it is absolutely obliterated, or
as completely changed as if the man had
suddenly received a terrible injury to the
brain through physical violence or disease.
Nine men out of ton, when in their cups,
are silly or lugubriously tedious, no matter
how robust in understanding or vivacious
in intellect they may be when sober. If the
truth comes out in the wine, then silliness
and opacity of mind is the natural state of
mankind. The trutn is that the truth no
more comes out in the wine than the truth
comes out when any other form of transient
insanity or partial paralysis of the mental
powers is produced by another agent taan
alcohoL—Seattle (.Wash.) Post.
LIQUOR IX JACKSON PARK.
“Two saloons havd already been estab
lished inside of Jackson Park where the
great white palaces rise so grandly, and in
toxicants are openly sold to the thousands
of workingmen employed on the grounds.
Just 1 utsiie the entrance on Sixty-tiird
street, within the sacred limits of the Hyde
Park prohibition district, still other places
have been opened, and all kinds of anti-pro
hibitory beverages are retailed over public
bars. Between five and six hundred of the
men employed ou the great Manufacturers’
Building are paid off on Saturday night,
and a trip through Sixty-third street grog-
geries showed how easy it is to accumulate
an alcoholic exhilaration and get rid of hard-
earned wages at the same time. Ground has
been broken for a Moorish palace two hun
dred feet square. It is a reproduction of the
Alhambra, it will have a capacity for one
t M'isand guests, and the right 10 sell beer.”
li^tse manirestations are reported to us by
the Chicago press, and show that the trail
of the serpent is already over the Eden of
the Fair.—Chicago Union Signal.
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS.
The Herald of Health gives the following
startling result of a study of the posterity in
ten families of drinkers and ten families of
non-drinkers.
“The direct posterity of the ten familes of
drinkers included fifty-seven children. Of
these twenty-five died in the first weeks anl
months of their life, six were idiots, in five
children a striking backwardness of their
longitudinal growth was observed, five
were effected with epilepsy, five with inborn
diseases. One boy was taken with cholera
and became idiotic. Thus of the fiftv-seven
children of drinkers only ten, or 17.5 per
cent., showed a normal constitution aud de
velopment. The ten sober families had
sixty-one children, five only dying in the
first weeks; four were affected with curable
diseases of the nervous system; two only
presented inborn defects. The remaining
fifty—81.9 per cent.—were normal in their
constitution and deve.opment.”
This is a striking revelation. Out of fifty-
seven children in ten families of drinkers
only ten showed a normal constitution, the
rest revealing epilepsy, idiocy, inborn dis
eases of various kin is. while out of sixty-
one children of nor-drinkers there were but
eleven that did not snow a normal develop
ment. Think of what this means for the
nation, for the world! We do not need to
assume that these statistics, gleane i from a
comparison ot twenty families only, would
hold precisely true if a careful investigation
were made on an extensive scale; but we
know that the conditions revealed in this
comparison do holi true, in an appalling
degree, wherever the drink habit has fixed
itself.
If there is a living outrage anywhere up
on God’s green earth it is a child born with
such a heritage. It is an affront to nature,
a libel upon God. Nothing more pitiful, no
injustice more cruel, is known among the
among the children of men. Tne custom of
the Hindoo women who threw their children
into the Ganges to be devoured by croco
diles was almost like a har uless c.vilizjd
pastime compared to this widespread cu--
tom of transmitting epilepsy, idiocy and
general constitutional depravity to the cail-
dren of Christian America.—The Voice.
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
Elizabeth, N. J., has one saloon for every
19J persons there.
It is because young men drink that there
are so many old drunkards.
Temperance means the right use of right
things. There'can be no right use of wrong
things.
Toe Nova Scotia Baptists have not one
church where fermented wine is used at com
munion.
The last vestige of the State debt of Iowa
has recently been liquidate 1. Iowa, it will
be remembered, is a Frohioition State.
Out of the 2700 Congregational ministers
mEujlan land Wales at least 16)0 are ab
stainers; of 3;5l stu leuts, 32) are abstainer^.
Temperance reform hss now been made a
plank in the platform of the Woman's
Liberal League of England, and Lady
Henry Somerset is a member of its central
council.
“I know a man,” said Eli Perkins, “who
was meaner than a dog. This man and dog
went into a saloon together, but tne man got
beastly drunk while the dog want ho ne like
a gentleman.”
The figures of the license vote of 1891 in
Boston re'veal many interesting facts. Sixty
precincts voted no license, and in seventy-
two others the majority for license was less
than ten per cent, of the registration.
There is said to lie an abstinence society
in Petersourg with CX) mem >ers, whose
activity has consisted in establishing no le-s
taan eight tea houses in that part of the
city where drinking • places most abouni.
An inebriates’ asy.u n is also contemplated.
Tae Methodist ministers of Iowa have
organized a Haddocc Temperance League
with headquarters-at Jefferson, Iowa. The
object is to raise funds for the enforcement
of the prohioitory law, ani to apply a part
•of the money to the erection of a monument
to the memory of the Rev. George C. Had
dock, who was murdered by saloon men at
Sioux City.
The great enemy or knowledge Is
not error, but Inertness. All that we
want Is discussion, and then we are
sure to do well, no matter what our
blunders may be. One error conflicts
with another, each destroys its op
ponent, and truth Is evolved.
BAKER & CONFECTIONER.
AND DEALER Of
GOODS, SHOES, HOTIOHS AND GROCERIES,
AT ROCK BOTTOM PRICES.
TOBACCO ARD CIGARS in Great Tarietj. Toys, Fireworks, etc., la Stock.
Laurens Street and Park Awanue, Aflcan, S. C.«
The Osceola Hotel,
G. T. ALFORD, Proprietor.
In tJbi© Send of Kfug Street,
CHARLESTON, S. C.
Large and Comfortable Rooms.
RATES, $2.50 FEE DAY.
THREE
ozzoxji’s
POWDER: SAFE;CORATIYE;BEMT1FYIHG. |,2.3.
11 jv —.1 All Druggist!
• )l I F»OZZQ]ftrrg | Vaitcy* Store a
THREE
&
Brunette-
TINTS
WRIGHTS HOTEL
S. L WRIGHT a SONS, Props.
COLUMBIA - • - s, C
ipphed i
' /«li f-irniehed. One ot tbe moet comfortable a. i« ■
Id ih« South.
PEP.
CURES ALL SKIN
AND
BLDOD DI5EA5E5
thyilcian# endorse" P. i». £. asa splendid combination,
»nd prescribe It with great •atUfactlon for the cure* of all
forme and ataget of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary
J R P. R,
Cures scrofulA.
fiyphlHa, Syphilitic RhenmatUm. Scrofuloua Ulcan aad
Sores, Glandular Swellings, Rheumatism, Malaria, old
Chronio Ulcere that have resisted all treatment, Catarrh,
CURES
I10011 Poison
fiki^^lieaseejTcIemaT^Chronlc^ernainJomplainurTBe?
curJal Poison, Tetter, Scald Head, etc., etc.
P. P. P. Is a powerful tonic, and an excellent appetlier,
P. P. P.
Cures* rheumatism
building up the system rapidly.
Ladies whose systems are poisoned and whose blood la in
mn 11 n p u re_ conj[Uon^_due__to_menstrual_h2e£ularliie«^_ara_
RP.P.k
CURES
ALARM
The nicest thing in the world is to
see a young man w ho is good to his
mother.
cleansing properties of P. P. P., Prickly Ash, Poke Root
and Potassium.
/ P. P. P. .
Cures dyspepsia
LIPPMAN BEOS., Proprietors,
Druggists, Lippman’s Block, SAVAfi9 AH, Oiu
For Sale by
j. platt, aike^. s. c.
*To Preach—Toq
Practice. Ia
other worde, wt
will teach you
FREE, and start
you in busineee,
at which you can
rapidly pathcr in
the dollars. We
can and will. If
you plea»e,t*’achl
you quickly how
to earn from #5
to SIO a day
at the s'art, and
more as you go
on. Roth sexes,
ail ages. In nny
part of America,
you can com
mence at h-one,
giving nil youf
time, or spare
moments only,
to the work.
What wc offer it
new and Jt has
been proved
over and ovei
again, that great
pay is sure fo*
every worker.
Easy to lenrn.
No special abilr*
ty required.
Reasonable in-
dusrry only n*'c.
essary for sura,
large aucceett
TVe start yoa,
famishing ev
erything ThfTIa
one of the gr*>at
etrides forward
In useful. Inventive progress, that enriche* all workers. It is
probably the greatest opportunity laboring people have eves
known. Now is the time. Delay means loss. FuM particulars
free. Better write ut once*. Address, CxrKOKOC
ttTIXSOXcft: Co., Box Port*Maine.
KONEI SAVED IS MONEY MADE.
Save 25 to 50 cents ou every dollar you rpend.
Write for our miiRimoib Catalogue, a jOo-pasje
book.comainiut: illustration and si vim? lowest man
ufacturers' prices, with manufacture s’discounts
of every kind ol {roods and *m>plies uianitfaciured
and imported into tbe United States. Groceries,
Household Good-, Furniture, Clothing, Ladies'
and Gents’ Clothing aud Furuixhin-,' Goods, Dress
Goods, White Goods, Dry Goods, Hats, Caps,
Boots and Shoes, Gloves, Notions, Glassware.
Stationery, Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Silverware,
Buggies," Whips, Atrricuitural implements, etc.
ONLY FIRST CLA>S GOODS. Catalogue sent
on receipt ot t;5 cents for expressage. We are rhe
only concern which sells at manufacturers’ prices,
allowing the buyer the same discount t'.at the
manufacturer gives to the whole-ale buyer. VVe
guarantee all goods as represented; if not found
fo, money refunded. Goods sent by exoress or
f-e'isht. with privilege of examination before pay-
. nr A. KAUFEN <i CO.,
122 Quincy street, Chicago, 111.
WE WILL PAY
A salary of *25 to *50 per week to GOOD agt -uj
to represent ns in every county, and sell our general
line of Merchandise at manufacturers’ prices. Only
THOSK WHO WAST stkady kmployment kkbd
apply. Catalogue and particulars sent on receipt
«<S3 «.Ul«A. KARPICS A CO*
^ ^ . . rir
NURSERIES,
TV. O.,
Are known by their jruira, ma the±
are testifying for themmelvem all
through the Southern and horde*
States and giving flattering report^
Every fruit that is known to
ceed in the South is being added
from, au parts of the globe. Over
300 acres in actual nursery steclm
Some of the epecialties are the KeL*
seys, Japan, Baton and Satsumm
Plums. The Lucy Duke Pear and
all the new fruits, as weU as the old.
Evergreens, Shade Trees, Boses and
everything usually kept in a first*
class nursery. Four large Green
houses. Chrysanthemums, CamaM
Hons and many Greenhouse Plants.
Rose growing a specialty. Plan *
from Greenhouse ready to be pu
out in April and May. Descriptive
Catalogue No. 1, Fruit Trees, Vines.
Ac., and Greenhouse Catalogue Xei
2 will be sent free to applicants.
Special rates to large planters. Cow*
respondence solicited.
Address
Pomona Hill Nurseries,
POMONA. N. C.
NEW ARRANGEMENT.
AOGOSTA HOTEL RATES.
SI.50, S2.00 and *2.50 Par Da)
The Bert Table Board Can be Had at S40
Per Week, in Clnbe of 8 or 10.
py Rooms at Very Low Bummer Rate*
Omnibus and Porter at every train.
B. S. DOOLITTLE, Proprietor
LIPPMAN BROS.. Proprietors,
Druggists, Lippman’s Block. SAVANNAH, GA.
For sale by
XV', J. PLATT, Aiken, S. C.
Abbott’
w*-
— Wi8>v*\
v-'-cT
•ermaoatiuiv,
For sale bv
W. J. PLATT, Aiken. S. C.
DM AM DICTMARY S
illlTinil «24.
FOR ONE DOLLAR.
▲ flraS-cUuM (Uc-uoaar* out at imdl
price to «aoour*fe u>« »tu jr of the Ii m—
LaacuM*- is gives KugUsh worde wua ,trs
DequlVadeaU. a; " “
ud Oerouita word, with
l.Utt M
e&nlUowL A very cheep ls»k. Send *
IOOK PUB. MOLSK, 131 Le.otird at..
L CUl, w4jpe a*, st Uteas hooSs*; nturm i