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r W' « THE LEDGER: GAFENEY, S. C., JULY 5?, 1896. THE MIGHTY HUNTER ARCHERS OF OLDEN TIMES AND GOS PEL ARROWS. Rev. Dr. Tal:n;igy I’rraclics a Valqne and Inspirlns DiMCourfio For Those Who Aro Trying to Do Successful in Spiritual Archery—A Plain Path. Wasiiintitox, Juno 28.—All people who aro trying to do good will find this discourso of Dr. Talmage inspiring as well as unique. Ilis text was Genesis x, 9: ‘ ‘Ho was a mighty hunter before the Lord. ’ ’ lirou^day, hunting is a sport; but in the lands and the times infested with wild boasts it was a matter of life or death wit!) Ihe people. It was very dif ferent from going out on a sunshiny aft ernoon with a patent breechloader, to shoot rcedbirds oh the flats, when Pol lux and Achilles and Diomodos wont out to clear the land of lions and tigers and bears. My text sets forth Nimrod as a hero when it presents him with broad shoulders and shaggy apparel and suubrowncd face, and arm bunched with muscle— ; “a mighty hv.ntor before the Lord.” I tlunk housed the how and the arrows with great success practicing archery. 1 have thought if it is such a grand thing and such a bravo thing to clear wild beasts out of a country, if it is hot a bettor and braver thing to hunt down end destroy those great evils of society that are stalking tho land with. flCECC . _ qro iwd Sharp tusk and quick spring.’ I have wondered if there is pot such a thing as gospel archery, by which those who havo been flying from tho truth may bo captured for God pud heaven. Tho Lord Jesus iti his scr- jnou used tho art of angling for ah lb lustration when ho said, ‘‘J will wmko you fishers of men. ” And PQ l think J have authority for using hunting ps pn illustration of gospel truth, and I pray God that there may l>o many a man to day who will begin to study gospel archery, of w hom it may, after a while, bo said, ‘‘Ho was a mighty hunter be fore tho Lord. ” Conversion. How much awkward Christian work there i; dono in tho world! How many good people there aro wdio drive souls pwny from Christ instead of bringing them to him! All their fingers pro thumbs—n ligious blunderers who up set more than they right. Their gun has a crooked barrel and kicks us it gees off. They c.ro like a clumsy com rade who gees along with skillful hunt ers. At t he very moment when ho ought to bo most quiet, ho is crackling an alder, or falling over a log and fright- cniug away tho game. How few Chris- tin:i people have ever learned tfcp lesson of which I road at tho beginning of this service, how that tho Lord Jesus Christ at tho well went from talking about a cup of water to tho most practical re ligions truths, wdiich won tho woman s soul for G(xl. Jesus iu tho wilderness was breaking bread to tho people. I think it was good bread. Itw..s very light bread and tho yeast had dono its work thoroughly. Christ, after ho had broken tho bread, said to tho people, ‘‘Beware of tho yeast, or of tho leaven of tho Pharisees. ” So natural a transi tion it was, and how easily they all un derstood him! But how few’Christiaq people there aro who understand how tq fasten the truths cf God and religion tp the eouls of men! Truman Osborne, one of tho evangelists who went through fliip country years ago, had a wonderful prt in tho right direction. Ho came to my father’s house one day, and while We were all seated in tho room ho paid, M Mr. Talmage, are all your children Christians?” Father paid, ‘'Yes, all but Do WitL ” Then Truman Osboruo looked down into tho fireplace and began tQ tell a story of a storm that camo on tho mountains, and all tho sheep wore iu tho fold, but there was ono lamb outside that perished in tho ptorm. Had ho looked mo in tho cyo I should havo been angered when ho told tliat story. Dot he looked into tho fireplace, and it was ■o pathetically and beautifully done tlmt I never found any peace until I was suro l was insido tho fold whero the other sheep were. Tho archers of olden times studied their art. They wore very precise in tho matter. Tho old books gave special di rections us to how an archer should go and as to what an archer should do. Ho Tuw* stand erect and firm, his left foot a little In advance of tho right foot. With his left hand homusttako hold of tho bow i^i tho middle, and then with tho three fiugcrR and tho thumb of his right Baud ho should lay hold of tho ar- rq;;/and affix it to tho string—so precise y' was tho direction given. But how j clumsy wo aro about religious work! ^ How littlo skill and earo wo exercise 1 How often our arrows miss tho mark! Oli, that thcro were more institutions established in all tho towns and cities of our land where men might learn tho art of doing good—studying spiritual archery, and known as “mighty hunters before tho Lord!” A Choice of Weapons. In the first place, if you want to be effectual in doing good, you must be very sure of ydur weapon. Thcro was something very fascinating about the archery of olden times. Perhaps you do not know what they could do with the Ikiw and arrow. Why, tho chief battles fought by the English Plantagenets were with tiio long bow. They would take tho arrow of polished wood, and feather it with tho plumo of a bird, and then it would fly from tlio bow string of plaited silk. Tho broad fields of Agincoart and Bolway Moss and Nerillo’s Cross heard tho loud thrum of tho archer’s bow string. Now, my Christian friends, wo havo u mightier weapon than that It is tho arrow of tho gosixsl; it is a sharp arrow; it is a straight arrow; it is feath ered from the wing of thodovoof God’s Spirit; it flies from a bow made out of the wood of the crofcs. As far as I cap estimate or calculate-it has brought down 400,000,(100 souk- Paul know how tq.bring tho notch of that arrow to that fcow string, and its whir heard through tho Corinthian theaters, and through the courtroom, until tho knees of Felix knocked together. It was that arrow that stuck in Luther’s heart when he cried out: “Oh, my sins! Oh, my sins!” If it strike a man in tho head, it kills his skepticism; if it strike a man in the heel, it will turn his stop; if it strike him iu tho heart, ho throws up his hands, as did the Emperor Julian of old when wounded in tho battle, cry ing, “O Galilean, thou has conquered!” In tho armory of the Earl of Pem broke there are old corselets which show that tho arrow of the English used to go through the breastplate, through the body of tho warrior and out through the bnckplato. What a symbol of that gos pel which is sharper than a two edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of body and soul, and of the joints and marrow! Would to God wo had more faith iu that gospel! Tho humblest man, if ho had enough faith in it, could bring 100 souls to Jesns—perhaps 500. Just in proportion as this ago seems to believe less and less in it, I believo more and more in it. What aro men about that they will not accept their own deliverance? There is nothing pro posed by men tliat can do anything like this gospel. Tho religion of Ralph Wal do Emerson was tho philosophy of ici cles; tho religion of Theodore Parker was a sirocco of the desert covering up tho sonl with dry sand; the religion of Renan was tho romance of believing nothing; tho religion of the Huxleys and tho Bpeneors merely a pedestal on which human philosophy sits shivering in the nigbw'dwJJic- scrJr looking Stars, offering no help to the nations (hat crouch and groan at the base, Tell mo where there is ono man who has re jected tliat gospel for another who is thoroughly satisfied and helped and con touted in his skepticism, and I will tako tho car tomorrow and ride 500 miles to seo him. Tho full power of tho gospel has not yet boon touched. As a sports man throws up his head and catches tho ball flying through the air, just so easily will this gospel after awhilo catch this round world flying from its orbit and bring it back to the heart of Christ. Givo it full swing, and it will pardon every sin, heal every wound, euro every trouble, emancipate every slave and ransom every nation. Ye Christian men and women who go out this nfternccn to do Christian work, ps you go into tho Bunday schools, the lay preaching stations and the peniten tiaries n^d the asylums, I want you to feel that you bear in your hand a weapon compared with which tho lightning has no speed, and avalanches havo no heft, and the thunderbolts of heaven havo no power; it is tho arrow of the omnipotent gospel. Tako careful aim. Pull the ar row clear back until tho head strikes tho bow! Then let it fly 1 And may tho slain of the Lord bo many! Good Uu'iiting Ground. Again, if you want to bo skillful in spiritual archery, you must hunt in un frequented and secluded places. Why docs the hunter go three or four days in tho Pennsylvania forests or over Pa quette lake into tho wilds of tho Adiro.,- dacks? It is tho only way to do. Tho deer aro shy, and ono “bang” of the gun clears tho forest. From tho Cali fornia stage you see, as you go over the plains, hero and there, a coyote trotting along, almost within range of tho gun— sometimes qnito within range cf it. No ono cares for that; it is worthless. Tho good game is Ridden and secluded, Ev- pry hunter knows that. Bo, many of tho souls that will bo of most worth for Christ and of most value to tho church arc secluded. They do not como in your way- You will havo to go where they ape. Yonder they aro down in that cel lar; yonder they uro up in that garret. Far away from tho door of any church, tho gospel arrow has not been pointed at them- Tho tract distributor and city missionary sometimes catch a glimpse of them, ns a hunter through the trees get a momentary sight of a partridge or a roebuck. The trouble is, wo are wait ing for tho game to como to us. Wo aro not good hunters. Wo are standing in some street or highway expecting that tho timid antolopo will como up and out out of our hands. Wo aro expecting that tho prairie fowl will light on our clmrch steeple. It Is not their habit If tho church should wait 10,000,000 of years for tho world to como in and bo saved, it will wait in vain. The world will not como. What tho church wants now is to lift its feet from dam ask ottomans and put them in tho stir rups. Wo want a pulpit on wheels. The church wants not so much cushions as it wants saddlebags and arrows. Wo have got to put aside tho gown and kid gloves and put on tho hunting shirk Wo have been fishing so long in tho brooks that run under tho shadow of the church that tho fish know us; that they avoid tho hook and escape as soon as wo como to the bank, whilo yonder is Up per Saranac and Big Tapper’s lake, where the first swing of tho gospel net would break it for tho multitude of the fishes. There is outside work to bo dona What is that I seo in tho backwoods? It is a tent. Tho hunters havo made a clearing and camped out. What do they caro if they havo wet feet, or if they havo nothing but a pine brunch for a pillow or for tho northeast storm? If a moose iu the darkness steps into tho lake to drink, they hear it right away. If a loon cry in tho moonlight, they hear it So in tho service of God we have exposed work. Wq havo got to camp out and rough it. Wo are putting all our caro on the people who como to our churches. What aro wo doing for the thousands upon thousands that do not oomc? Havo they no souls? Are they sinless that they need no pardon? Are there no dead iu their houses that they need no comfort? Aro they cut off from God to go into eternity—no wing to bear them, no light to cheer them, no welcome to greet them? I hoar today soaging up from tho lower depths a groan that comes through our Christian assemblages and through our beautiful churches, and it blots out all this scene from my eyes ttlftay, as by the mists of a great Niagara, for t lunge of +*4 * 411 fill, till U4 ttll ilf IHJvV lihLp^ldt^pJg^thWTiiureli'few lutions ! muuion table! There is so m dropping down into tho fathomless and thundering abyss of suffering and woo. I sometimes think that just as God blot ted out tho churches of Thyatira and Coriuth and Laodieea, because of thcii sloth and stolidity, ho will blot out American and English Christianity and raise on tho ruins a stalwart, wide awake, missionary church that can take tho full meaning of that command, “Gc into all the world and preach tho gospel to every creature. ” Spiritual Archers. I remark, further, if you want to suc ceed in spiritual archery you must have courage. If tho hunter stand with trem bling hand or shoulder that flinchei with fear, instead of his taking the cat amount, tho catamount takes him. What would become of tho Grecnlandei if, when out hunting for tho bear, he should stand shivering with terror or an iceberg? What would havo become of Du Chaillu and Livingstone in the African thicket with a faint heart and a weak knee? When a panther comes within 20 paces of you and it has its eye on yon aim it has sqaattoel for tho fear ful spring, “Steady there!” Courage, O ye spiritual archers There aro great monsters iu iniquitj prowling all around about tho commu nity. Shall we not of tho strength o! ..God go forth and combat them? We not only need more heart, but more back bone, What is tho church of God that It should fear to look in tho eyo nuj transgression? Thcro is the Bengal tigei of drunkenness that prowls around, and Instead of attacking it, how many of ui Or tTii- i^5fii't much invested It) it wo arc afraid to assault it; milliom of dollars in barrels, in vats, iu spigots, in corkscrews, in gin palaces with mar ble floors and Italian top tables, and chased ice coolers and in the strychnin* and the logwood and tho tartaric acid and tho nux vomica that go to make up our “pure” American drinks. I looked with wondering eyes on tho “Heidelberg tun. ” It is the great liquor vat of Ger many, which is said to hold 800 hogs heads of wine, and only three times ir 100 years it has been filled. But, as I stood and looked at it, I said to myself “That is nothing—800 hogsheads. Why our American vat holds 2,500,000 bar rels of strong drinks, and wo keep) 200,- 000 men with nothing to do but to sot that it is filled.” Oh! to attack this great monster of intemperance, and tho kindred monsters of fraud and unclean ness, requires you to rally all yoai Christian courage. Through tho press, through tho pulpit, through tho plat form, you must assault it. Would tc God that all our American Christians would band together, not for crack brained fanaticism, but for holy Chris tian reform. I think it was in 1793 that there went out from Lucknow, India, undci tho sovereign, tho greatest hunting party that was ever projected. There were 10,000 armed men in that hanging party. There were camels and horse! and elephants. On some princes rode, and royal ladies under exquisite hous ings, and 500 coolies waited upon the train, and tho desolate places of Indio were invaded by this excursion, and the rhinoceros, tho deer and elephant fell under |ho stroke of saber and bullet. After awhilo the party brought back trophies worth 50,000 rupees, having left tho wilderness of India ghastly with the plain bodies of wild boasts. Would tQ God that, instead of hero and there a straggler going out to fight these great monsters of iniquity in our coun try, tho million membership of om churches would baud together and hew iu twain those great crimes that make tho laud frightful with their roar and aro fattening upon tho l^odies and ponls of immortal men! Who is ready for such a party as that? Who will bo a mighty hunter for th© Lord? The Game. I remark, again, if yon want to be successful in spiritual archcry yon need not only to bring down tho game, but bring it in. I think one of tho most beautiful pictures of Thorwaldsen is his “Autumn.” It represents a sportsman coming homo’ and standing under a grapevine. Ho has a staff over hif shoulder, and on tho other end of tliat stall aro hnng a rubibt and a brace oi birds. Every hunter brings homo the game. No on<5 would think of bringing down a reindeer or whipping up a stream for trout and letting them lie in tho woods. At eventide tho camp if adorned with the treasures of tho forest —beak and fin and antler. If you go out to hunt for Immortal souls, not only bring them down under tho arrow ol the gospel, but bring them into the church of God, tho encampment we have pitched this side of tho skies. Fetch them in. Do not let them lie out in tho open field. They need our prayer* and sympathies and help. That is the meaning of the chnrch of God—help. O yo hunters for tho Lord, not only bring down the game, but bring it in! If Mithridates liked hunting so well that for seven years he never went in doors, what euthnsiasm ought we to have who are hunting for immortal souls! If Domitiunns practiced archery nntil ho could stand a Loy down in the Roman amphitheater, with a hand out, tho fingers like that, and then the king could shoot an arrow between the fingers without W’ounding them, to what drill and what practice ought not wo subject ourselves iu order to become spiritual archers and “mighty hunters before the Lord!” But let mo say, yon will never work any better' than you pray. The old archers took tho bow, put ono end of it down beside tho foot, elevated the other end, and it was tho rule that tho bow should bo jnst tho size of the archer; if it were Just his sire, then ho would go into tho battle with confidence. Let me say that your power to project good in tho world will correspond exactly to your own spiritual statom In other words, tho first thing in fireparation fo? Christian work U personal consecration, who at some time have been hit by the Gospel arrow. You felt the wound of that conviction, and yon plunged into tho world deeper; jnst as tho stag, when the hounds are after it, plunges into Scroon lake, expecting in that way to escape. Jesus Christ is on your track to day, impenitent man! not in wrath, bn! in mercy. O yo chased and panting * souls! here is tho stream of God’s mcrej and salvation, whero yon may cool yoni thirst! Stop that chase of sin today. Bj the red fountain that leaped from th< heart of my Lord, I bid you stop. If thcro in all this honso anyone who car refuse tho offer that comes from th« heart of tho dying Son of God? Why, do you know that there are, in tho ban ished world, souls that, for that offei you get today, would fling tho crown ol the universe at your feet, if they pos sessed it? But they went out on th* mountains, tho storm took them, and they died. There is in a forest in Germany * place they call tho “deer leap’’—tw* crags about 18 feet apart, between therr a fearful chasm. This is called the “deer leap” because onco a hunter wai on the track of a deer. It came to on* of these crags. There was no escape foi it from the pursuit of tho hunter, anc in utter despair it gathered itself up and in tho death agony attempted te jump across. Of course it fell, and wa! dashed on tho rocks far beneath. Here is a path to heaven. It is plain, it if safe. Jesns marks it out for every mar to walk iu. But hero is a man whe says: “I won’t walk in that path. ] ivill tako my owi^ay/’ Ho comes or untirlTO^^Wfffon^^h^cJiaBHS-^, 11 ^ vidos his soul from heaven. No 1 last hour has come, and ho resolves that ho will leap that chasm, from th* heights of earth to the heights of heav en. Stand back now, and give him fuli swinjt, for no soul ever did that suc cessfully. Let him try. Jump! Jump! Ho misses tho mark, and ho goes down, depth below depth, ‘ ‘destroyed withonl remedy.” Men, angels, devils, what shall wo call that place of awfnl catas trophe? Lot it be known forever as th* sinner’s death leap. a Jolly Asiatic Merchant!. A large number of tho merchants en gaged iu trade gave me one day a sump tuous feast in a fruit garden a short dis tance outside Yarkand. Few people know tho way to enjoy life and make themselves comfortable better than these merchants. Wo first of all sat about under the shade of the trees, white huge bunches of grapes find deliciouf melons and peaches were freshly plucked and brought to us to cat. Then dinnei was announced, and after water foi washing tho hands had been passed round, wo sot to oat dish after dish ol “pillaos” and stews, all beautifully cooked, and we ended up with a pud ding made of whipped egg and sugai and some other ingredients, which it would be hard to boat anywhere. All tho time tho merchants were chaffing away among themselves and were a! gay and talkative as Frenchmen. Yon could scarcely wish for better compiany or more genial hosts. On tho way homo wo had races, each merchant trying to make out that hi* own horso was better than the others. These men aro a curious mixture ol eastern gravity and politeness and boy ish spirits and fun. They will como tc call on you and talk away with the greatest solemnity and deference. You meet them next day out for a burst ol enjoyment, and every sign of gravity i! thrown away and they arc as free and natural and full of life as children.— “Heart of tho Continent.” Ofa, for a cloaer walk with God, A calm ami (wav mly fram« A fight to ahijiu a pot) tho I to the] Tho Home of tho Qaincya In Quincy. There will bo very general gratifica tion in the authoritative denial of th* rumor that tho old homestead of th* Quiucys, in Quinoy, Mass., must giv* way before the march of progress. It still remains iu the Qniucy family, and will be sacredly guarded from the de stroyer’s hand many a year to come. This venerable landmark, sitnatod some 100 yards back from Hancock street, dates book to colonial days, when tho Adamses and tho Quineys kept “open house” for all the dignitaries of those early times. Hero Washington and Lafayette, successive governors of Massachusetts, Boston’s mayors and prominent national, state and municipal leaders were often made welcome. Here were bom and reared two of Boston’* distinguished mayors, tho grandfather and great-grandfatlier of the present mayor, who was himself bom in the only lossfamons Quuicy mansion, which stands near by; here, too, in later dap were entertained right royally illustri ous authors and statesmen, noted di vines, scholars and educators. Ralph Waldo Emerson, E. P. Whipple, Jnmei T. Field, Hor co Mann and scores ol their contemporaries enjoyed its hospi tality.—Boston Herald. The Late William WoodwaHU William Woodward of Baltimore, who recently died iu that city, was nearly 95 years old and was for many years one of tho most prominent and widely known citizens of tho Maryland metropolis. Ho was on influential Epis copalian, and was connected, as teacher and superintendent, with tho 8uodny school of St Peter’s Episcopal chnrch, Baltimore, from 1811 nntil ono year ag*v a period ol 75 yean. In length, of serv ice thi* record is thought to be nnsur- passtxi He cost hia vote for president for John Quincy Adams in 1824 and voted at every national election since. During tho war he was a supporter of tho federal cause and since the war voted tho Republican ticket Tb* Fop* and a Kew C* tech lam. It is said that the pope intends to givo a new impulse to Catholic social ism. Ho is arranging a new catechism, in which the religions sentiments are to insist not only on charity, but on tho rights and duties of working people and those who employ them, and on pri- and public helpu For ( XIII bos long confer mg in (He f THE HAPPY EVENING OF A WELL SPENT Lffl. r “ « Why' Samuel O. Stone, at the Age of Seventy-three Flat Cause For Rejoicing. nirr i i i rri inmn j * ■ l V % & ▼ate provider this purpose. « with • / SAMUEL O. STONE . It is written, “joy cometh in the morning,” but in this instance Itcamc when the sun of life was well adown the western sky, and following such a stormy afternoon as makes the contrast particularly striking. For over a decade and a half the venerable writer of the following communication had battled in vain against that most insidious foe of humanity, heart disease, In an aggravated form. Doctors had given his case up as hopeless and ad vised keeping him quiet till the end should come, but it was his good for tune to find tliat priceless remedy, Dr. Miles’ New Heart Cure, and In the following letter he states the result. Grass Lake, Mich., Dec. 28th. ISA Dr. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind. I have been troubled with heart disease 1~> years or more. Most of i time I was so bad it was not safe for me to go out alone. If overtaken 1 one of my dizzy spells, I would fall, helpless. I hr.d severe palpitation^ shortness of breath, and sudden painful attacks that prostrated me. Tho only thing physicians did for me was to advise keeping quiet. In August last 1 commenced taking Dr. Miles’ New Heart Cure, and be fore I had finished the first bottle. 1 found the medicine was a God-send. I have now used four bottles iu all and am feeling entirely well; I have not had an attack of the trouble for some mouths. I am 73 years of age, and have held a grudge against patent medicines all my life, but I will not allow this feeling to prevent me from giving my testimony to the great cure your valuable remedy has wrought iiTfne. Ido this to show my appreciation of the great merits possessed by Dr. Miles’ New Heart Cure. Very truly yours, Samuel O. Stone. “Died of heart failure.” How many obituary notices contain these significant words. The ravages of heart disease are confined to no locality. Its victims are particularly numerous among the most intellectual and finely organized. It is no respecter of age and its fatal ending comes very sud denly. Timely notice, however, Is always given the person attacked, and if this notice is heeded, as it was in the case of Mr. Stone, and Dr. Miles’ Restorative Heart Cure is promptly taken, almost instant relief will be experienced and a complete cure generally results. S*M fcy all Druggist*. Book on Heart *nd Nerves, Free, by Or. Miles Medical Co.,Elkhart, Ind. Dr. Miles’Heart Cure "'S., mr We, being exclusive dealers and studj line fully, with a long experience, wj abled to buy and sell Better* Ooods, Consisting of a full lino of Furniture, Picturj Frames, Buggies, Wagons, Harness, Stov* Tinware, CoHius, Wood and Metalie Casl Burial Robes, Etc., at V XvO'W'er* Brices Tluin ever heard of before in the history of Gaff- ney. So it is certainly to your interest to Gome <tiitl tdee Us. Carroll, Carpenter & Humphries. Die Gaffney City Land and Improvement Compy, Offer for Sale Building Lot* In this Flourishing Town, oi ry. Also Farms near by and In roach of tho schools of Limestone Spring* and of this place in lots of from 30 to 100 acres on liberal time rates. Also Agricultural Lunds to rent for farm purposes. For full particulars apply to ’ N jB-—AH trespassing on or,‘ MOSES WOOD. Agei of this Comi cutting i