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I % DIVISION OF SPOILS. DR. TALiMAOK'S SUNDAY THKMK. ? The Capture of This Round I'lunct fo? Christ Is Not so Much of u Job ms You Might Imagine. <?no shull divide the spoil with tho ftroug."?Isaiah iii., 12. In tho Coliseum at Rome, whoro persecutors used to let out tho half starved lions to eat up Christians, there Is now planted tho figure of a cross. And I rejoice to know that tho upright pleco of wood nailod to a transverse piece has become tho symbol not more of suffering than of victory. It Is of Christ tho conqueror that my text speaks. As a kingly warrior, having subdued an empire*, might divide the palaces and mansions and cities and valleys and mountains amoug his officers, so Christ is going to divide up all the earth and all tho heavens amoug His people, and von and I will have to tako our share if we are strong iu faith aud strong iu our Christian loyalty, for my text declares it, "lie shall divide tho spoil with the strong." The capture of this round nlanet for Christ is not so much of a job as you might imagine, whon tho church takes oft its coat and rol's up its sleeves for the work,as it will. Tboro are 1,GOO,003,000 of people now in tho world, and 450,000,000 are Christians. Subtract 45'),000.000 who aro Christians from tho 1,600.003,000. and there aro 1,180,00 .000 loft. Divide the 1.150,000,000 who are not Christians by tho 450,000,000 who are Christians, and you will llud that we shall havo to averago loss thun three souls each, brought by us into tho kingdom of Cod. to have tho whole world redeemed. Certainly with tho church rising up to its full duty, no Christian will be willing to bring less than three souls Into the kingdom of Qod. I hope aud pray Almighty God that I may bring more than three. I know evangelists who have already brought 60,000 each for the kingdom of God. There are 200,000 people whoso one and only and absorbing business in the world is to save souls. When you take these tilings into consideration, and that the Christians will havo to average tho bringing of ouly throo souls' each into the kingdom of our Lord, all Impossibility vuuishes from this omuipotont crusade. Why, 1 know a Sabbath-school teacher who for many years has beou engaged in training the young, and she has bail five different classes, and they averaged seven to a class, and they were all converted, and live times seven are thirty-live as near as I can calculate. So that she brought her throo into the kingdom of God and ha 1 thirty-two to spare. My grandmother prayed her children iuto the kingdom of Christ, ami her grandchildren, and I hope all her greatgrandchildren, for God remembers a prayer seventy-five years old us though it were only a minute old, and so she brought her three into the kingdom of God and had more than 100 to spare. Besides that, through ttie telephone and the telegraph, this whole world, within a few years, will bo brought ATiiinu compass 01 urn minutes. Resides that, omnipotence, omnipresence aud omniscience are j?ro?*iiiinir in this matter of tho world's betterment, and takes the question of tho world's salvation out of the impossibilities into the possibilities, atid then out of the possibilities into tlio probabilities, an I then out of the probabilities into the certainties. The building of the Union Pacific Railroad from ocean to ocean was a greater undertaking than the girdling of tlio earth with the Gospel, for one enterprise depended upon the human arm, while the other depends upon al:nightiu?>s. Do I really mean all the earth will surrender to Christ? Yes. How about the uninviting portions? Will Greeulaud bo evangelised? The possibility is that after a few moro hundred brave lives aro dashed out among the lOJborgs that great refrigerator, the Polar region, will be giveu ud to the walrus aud bear, and that tho luhubitants will come down by invitation into tolerable climates, or those climates may soften, nbd. as it has been positively demonstrated that the arctio region was once n blooming garden and a fruitful field, those regions may change climate and again ba a blooming garden and a fruitful Held. It is proved beyond controvorsy, by German and American scientists, that the arctic regions wore the first portions of this world inhabitable; the world hot beyond human endurance, those regions were, of course, the first to bo cool enough for human foot and human lung. It was positively proved that tho arctic region was a tropical climate. Professor Hear, of Zurich, says tho remains of flowers have been found in the arctio region, showing it was like Mexico for climate, and it is found that the arctic was tho mother region from which , nil the flowers descended. Professor Wallace says the remains of all styles of animal life are found in the arctic regions, including those animals that can live only in warm climates. Now that arctic region, which has been demonstrated by flora and fauna aud geological argument to have boon as full of vegetation aiul lif?< as mir Florida, may bo turned baek to its original bloom and glory, or ir will bo shut up as a museum of crystals for curiosity soakers once in a while to visit. But arctic and antarctic insomoshapow.il belong to the Redeemer's realm. What about other unproductive or repulsive regions? AH the deserts will be irrigated. the waters will to forced up to the great Am rieandoserl between here and the PaciClo by machinery now known or yet to bo invented. and as Groat Salt Lake City lias no rain and eould not raise an apple or a bushel of wheat in a hundred years without artificial help, but is now through such means one j great garden, so all the unproductive parts of ab the continents will be turned Into bar- J vest Holds and orchards. A linlf dozen Do Less'?ps will furnish the world with all the canals needed and will change the course of 1 rivers and open new lakes, and the great Sahara desert will bo cut up into farms with an astounding vlold of bushels to the acre. The marsh will bo drained of its waters and j cured of its malaria. I saw what was for many years called tho Black Swamp of Ohio, its chief crop chills and fevers, but now, by the tiles put Into the ground to carry off the 1 surplus moisture, transformed into the richest and healthiest of regions. The God who I wastes nothing. I think, means that this I world, from pole to polo, hascometo perfee- < tion of foliage and fruitage. Fortliat reason I be keeps the earth running through space, though so many tires are blazing down in its ' timbers and so many meteoric terrors have ( threatened to dash it to pieces. As soon as I the earth is completed Christ will divide it ' up among the good. The reason He does not divide it now is because it is not done. A 1 kind father will not divide the apple among ' hi* children until the apple is ripe. In ful- 1 llllmt'iit of tli?? New Testament promise, I "The meek shall inherit tlio earth," and the 1 promise of the Old Testament. "IIo shall 1 divide the spoil with the strong."the world ' will bo apportioned to those worthy to pos- I BOSS it. 1 It is not sr> now. In this country eapablo ' of holding, feeding, clothing and sheltering 1.2 it).000,000 people, and where wo have f,0,000.000 inhabitants, wo have 2,000.000 i who cannot get honest work, and with their i families an aggregation of 5.0 0,000 that are 1 on the verge of starvation. Something I wrong, most certainly. In some way there I will ho a now apportionment. Many of the I millionaire estates will crack to pieces on the I dissipations ot ttie grandchildren and then dissolve into tho possession of the masses who now have an insuflieieney. What, you say. will hecorno of tlte expensive and elaborate buildings now devoted to I debasing amusements? They will beeonie schools, art galleries, museums, gymnasiums and churches. Tho world is already getting disgusted with many of these amusements, and n<> wonder. What an importation of un tdenn theatrical stutV we have within the last few years hail brought to our shores! .And professors of religion isitmniziug audi things! Having sold out in the devil, why don't yon deliver tho goods and go over to him publicly, body, mind and soul, and withdraw your name from Christian ( hurches and say, "Know all the world by lUvso pfcsvut-j that i aui ?i patron ol uu cleanness and a child of hell?" Sworn to bo the Lord's. yon are perjurers. If you think these offenses are to go on forover. \ou do not know who tho Lord is. God will not wait for tho day of judgmout. All theso palaces of sin will become palaces of righteousness. They will come into the possession of those strong tor virtue and strong for God. "lie shall divide the spoil with the strong." China and Africa, the two richest portions of the earth by reason of metals and rare woods and inexhaustiblo productiveness, are not yet divided up among tho good because they are not ready to be divided. Wait until all the doors that Livingstone opened in Africa shall bo entered, and Bishop Taylor, with his Wand of self supporting missionaries, havo done their work, and the Ashantis and seuegamiuans .shall know Christ as well as you know Him, and there shall be on tho banks of the Nile and tho Niger a higher civilization than is now to bo found on the banks of tho Potomac or tho Hudson, then Christ will dividoupthat continent among His friends. Wait until Cljiga, which is halt as large as ail Europe, shall have developed her capacities for rico and tea aud sugar among edibles, and her amethyst and sapphire and topaz aud opal and jasper and rosewood and ebony and camphor unci varnish trees among precious woods, and turned up from her depths a half dozen Pennsylvania^ of coal and Irou, and twenty Nevadas of silver, and fifty California* of gold, and her 500.000.000 of people shall be evangelized. Then the Lord will divldo it up among the good. If my text be not a deception, but the eternal truth, then the time is coming when all the farms will be owned by Christlnn farmers, and all the commerce controlled by Christian merchants, and all the authority held by Christian officials, and all the ships commanded by Christian captains, and all the universities under the instruction of Christian professors; Christian Icings, Christian presidents. Christian govoruors, Christian m ayors, Christiau common council. Yet. what a scouring out! What an upturning! Whut a demolition! What a resurroction must precede this new apportionment! I do not underrate the enemy. Julius Cmsar got his greatest victories by fully estimating the vastness of his foes and prepared his men for their greatest triumph by saying. "To-morrow King Juba will be liore with 30,000 horses, 100,000 skirmishers and 300 elephants." I do not underrato the vast forces of sin auil death, but do you kuow wno commanusus; Jobovabjireli. And the reserve corps behind us nre all tho armies ot heaven and earth, with hurricaue ami thunderbolt. Tho good work of tho world's redemption is going on every minute. Never so tnauy spleudld men and glorious womou on the side of right as to-ilny. Never so many good people as now. Diogenes has been spoken of as a wise man because ho wont with a lantern at noonday, saying he was looki 11for an honest man. If he had lurned his lantern toward himself, lie niigat have discovered a crank. Uonest men by the 10,000! Through the international scries of Sunday-school lessons the next generation all through Christendom are going to bo wiser than any generation since the world stood. The kingdom is coming, (lod nan do it. No housowiio with a chamois cloth ever polished a siivcr teaspoon with more ease than Christ will rub off from this world tho tarnish nud brighten it ui> till it glows like heaven, auu tiian tne glorious apportionment. for my text is re-enforced by a score of other toxtc, when it says of Christ, "lie shall divide the spoil with the strong." But." you say. "this is pleasant to think of for others, hut baloro that time I shall have passed up into another existence and I shall get no advantage from that new appointment." Ah. you have only driven me to the other more exciting aud transporting consideration, and that is that Christ is going to divide up heaven in the same way. There are old estates in the celestial world that have been in tho possession of the inhabitants for thousands of year.:, and they shall remain as they are. There are old family rauusions in heaven filled with whole generations of kindred, and they shall never ho driven out. Many of the victors from earth have already got their palaces, aud they are pointed out to those newly arrived. Soon after our getting there we will ask to bo shown ilie apostolic residences, and ask whore doo3 Paul livo nil I John, and shown I he patriarchal residences, aud shall say, "Where does Abraham live or Jacob?" and shown the martyr residences and say, "Where does John iluss live and Uidley?" We will want to sen the boulevards, whore the chariots of conquerors roll I will want to see the garden where the princes whlk. We will want to see Music row. where Handel and Haydn and Mozart and Charles Wesley and Thomas Hustings ami Bradbury have their homes, out of their windows, ever niul anon, rolling some snatch of an earthly oratorio or hvmu transported with the composer. Wo will want to see Revival torace, where Whlteflold aud Nettlotou and Paysou and Rowland Kill ami Charles Finney and other giants of soul reaping are resting from their almost supernatural labors, their doors thronged with converts just arrived, coming to report themselves. Rut brilliant as tho sunset aud like the leaves for number are the celestial homes yet to ba awarded when Christ to you and millions of others shall divide the spoil. What do you waut there? You shall have it. Aii orchard? There it is?twelve manner of fruits, and fruit every month. Do you want river scenery? Take your choice on the banks of the river, in longer, wider, deeper roll than Danube or Amazon or Mississippi, if mingled in one, and emptying into the sea of glass, mingled with lire. Do you waut your kindred back again? Go out and meet your father and mother, without the stafT or the stoop, aud your children in a dance of immortal glee. Do you want a throne? Select it from the million burnished elevations. Do you want a crown? Pick it out of that mountain of diauiouded coronets. Do you want your old church friends o! earth irouud you? Begin to hum an old revival tune, and they will flock from all quarters to revel with you In sacred reminiscence. All [he enrth for those who are here on earth at the time of continental and planetary distribution and all the heavens for those who rr? there. That heavenly distribution of spoils will lie a surprise to many. Here enters heaven [lie soul of a mail \vh? took up a great deal nf room in the church on earth, but sacrificed little, and among his good works selfishness was evident. He just crowds through the shining gate, but it's a very tight squeeze, 50 that ttie doorkeeper has to pull hard to get him in, and this man expects half of heaven for liis share of trophies, and lie would like a monopoly of a'l its splendor iiuit to purchase to;* t:? the suburbs. so that lie could get advantage of tho growth of the city. Well, little by little lie gets grace of heart, just enough to get him through, and to hi 111 is given a second-hand crown which >ne of the saints wore at the start, but exchanged for a brighter ono as he went 011 irom giory 10 giory. add no is pin in III! I il?l house once occupied by uu angel who was hurled out of heaven tit the titno of satan's rebellion. Hight after him comes a soul thnt makes a jroat stir among the celestials, and the angels rush to tlm scene, each bringing to hern iuK/.liug coronet. Who is she? Over what realm on earth was she queen? In what k'reat Dusseldorf festival was she the eantntricc? Neither. She was an invalid who never left her room for twenty years, but she was strong in prayer?and she prayed down revival after revival and peutecost after pentecost upon the ehurches, and with her pale hand she knit many a mitten or tippet for I he poor, and with her contrivances she added joy to many a holiday festival, and now with those thin hands so strong for kindness and with those white lips so strong lor supplication she lias' won coronation and 111thronoment and jubilee. And Christ said to tho angels who have brought each a erowh for tho glorified Invalid "No. not these. Tiiev are not good enough. But in the jeweled vase at the right hand side of >"y ill rone there is one thai I have been preparing for her many a year, and for her every pang I have sei an amethyst, and for In r every good deed I have set a pearl. Ketch it Uv\v nui fulfill tuc iu'jiui c I envo iter long ago in the sickroom, 'Co thou faithful unto duath, and I will give Ihoe a crown,' " But notico that thero is only one Being In the universe who can and will distributp tho trophies of earth and heaven. It is tho Divine Warrior, tho Coinm indor-in-Chief of the Centuries, the Charaniou of Ages, the 1 Universal Conqueror, the Son of God, Jesu?. You will take tho spoils from His hand or never take them at nil. Have His friendship, and you may defy all time un 1 all eternity, but without it you are a pauper; though you had a universe at your command. We are told In Revelation tiint Jacob's twelve sons were so honored as to havo tho twelve gates of heaven named after tliein?over one gate of heaven Naphtall, over another gate of heaven Issachar, over another Dan, over another Gad, over another Z?bulon. over another Judah. and so on. But Christ's name is writton over all tho gates snd on ntmrv ntinnl ,xf !*,? .? *,? IIlo Kaln "'VI 1 J'??l?v? \J 1 IIIJ fs HIIU 11 I v *7 L X Lo UUip, ] His pardon Ills intercession. TIN atonement. i muse or be n toriorn wretch rorever. My Lord and my God, make me, and hII who bear mo this day, and all to whom these words shall come. Thy repenlant. believing. ? worn, consecrate J and ransomed followers foreve.*. What a day it will bo! This entire assemblage would rise to Its feet if you could realize it, the day in which Christ shall, In fulfillment of my text, divide the spolL It was a great day when Queen Victoria. In the midst of the Crimean War, distributed medals to the soldiers who had come home sick and wounded. At the Horsegutfds. In oresonco of the ltoval family. th*iffc<urod men wero carried in or came on crutches ? Colonel Trowbridge, who lost both feotat Inkermann, and Captain Sayer, who had the anklo joint of his right leg shot off at Alma, and Captain Curre, his disabled limb supportod by a soldier, and others maimed and disfigured and exhausted?and with her own hand the Queen gave each the Crimean medal. And what triumphant days for those soldiers when, farther on, they received the French medal, with the imperial eagle, and the Turkish medal, with its representation of four flags?France, Turkey. England nud Sardinia?and beneath It a map of tho Crimea spread over a gun wheol. And what rewards are suggested to all readers of histcy by mere mention of the Waterloo medal, a^.1 the Cape medal, and the Gold Cross modal, and tho medals struck for bravery in our American wars! But how insignificant all these comnarod with the day when the good soldiers of Jesus Christ shall come In out of the battles of this world, and in the presence of all tho piled up galleries of the redeemed and tho unfal'on. Jesus, our Kiug, shall di ? mu ui'i >i?oii. iim moru wuuqum niw gro;ner the inheritance. The longer the forced march the brighter the trophy. The moro terrible the exhaustion the more glorious the transport. Not the gift of a brilliant ribbon, or a medal of brass, or silver or cold, but a kingdom in which wo are to reign forever and ever. Mansions on the eternal bills. Dominions of uufadinc power. Empires of unendinc love. Continents of everlasting lichr. Atlantic and Puoillc Oceans of billowiuc joy. It was a croat day when Aurollan. the Roman emperor, came back from his victories. In the front of the nrocesslon woro wild boasts from all lands, sixteen hundre?i Cladiators richly clad, wacon loads of crowns and trophies presented by conquered cities. Amonc the captives Syrians. Egyptians. Goths, Vandals. Samaritans, Franks, and Zonobia. the beautiful captive queen, on foot in chains of (told that a slave ha i to help her carry and jewels under tho weight of which she almost fainted. And tnen came the chariot of Aurolian drawn by four elopuunts in gorgeous caparison, and followed by tho Roman senate and tho Roman army, and from dawn till day the procession was passing. Rome in all her history never saw anything more magnificent . But how much greater the day when our conqueror. Jesus, shall ride under tho triumphal arches of lieaveu. His captives, not on foot, but In chariots, all tho kingdoms of earth and heaven in procession. The armies oehtdial on white horses. Rumbling artillery of thunderbolts never again to bo uniimbored. Kingdoms in line, centuries In line, saiutly, cherubic, seraphic, nrohangolio splendors in line, and Christ seated on one great rolling hosauna. made out of all halleluiahs of nil worlds, shall cry halt to the procession. And not forgetting even the humh'est in nil the reach of His omninrasenee. He shsll rie? and then and there. His work done and His glory consummated, proceed, amid an ecstasy such as ncitiicr mortal nor immortal over imagined, to divide the spoil. SOUTHERN INOUSTRIES. A Very I)ecl?le<i Revival of Huslneaa Interests Noticeable. Special reports to the Manufacturers' Record from various parts of the South, especially from the Itirmingham region,show a very decided revival in business interests. In addition to the steel mill projected recently by the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Rnilroad Company, the Hrmingham Rolling Mill Company has decided to build a steel mill with a capacity of about 200 tons a day. At the same place a $ 100,000 cotton seed oil mill company, a $100,000 tobacco factory and a large powder mill have been organized during the week, and the negotiations are pending looking to the building there of a 600,000 cottou mill by Northern people. The development of grain facilities at Southern ports continues to attract attention, and contracts have been made for the expenditure of about ?500,000 to include two new cotton compresses, warehouses and other interests near New Orleans, while work has commenced at l'ensucolu on transportation Improvements by the Louisville ,fc Nashville Railroad, including a grain elevator, the aggregate expenditure teing about ?150,000. One of the most extensive water powers in the South tins been capitalized at $2,000,000 with the reported intention of large electrical development and the transmission of electric power in connection with cotton mill outerprises.' Gold mining matters eontinuo to attrnct attention, and in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia considerable capital is being invested in the purchase and development ot gold properties. Among other Industrial enterprises reported for the week were the enlargement of several cotton mills and one or two new mills projected; a $25,000 lumber company in Mississippi; a forty-ton cottou seed oil mill in Texas; a $50,000 Hour mill and a $30,000 compress in the same State. THE NATIONAL DEKT. Ail Increase for April of Over Five Millions. Th?* debt statement issued May 1st, shows ft net increase in the public debt less cash in the treasury during April of $5,345,416.62. The interest bearing debt increased $513,671, and cash in the treasury decreased $1,551,- | 0X7.62. The balances of the several classes of debt at the close of husiuess April 30, were: i Interest bearing debt, $842,312,140; debt on | which interest has ceased since maturity i $ 1,051,700; debt bearing no interest $374,- I 111,400; total $1,218,373,330. I Kxploring Lookout Mountain Cave. Professor Mercer, curator of tho Museum of America and Prehistoric Areheaology ol the University of Pennsylvania, is exploring the great eaves of Tennessee, and has had a i force of men at work In Lookout cave io Lookout Mountain and has made several discoveries ol great value to science. Ho found the jaw of a mylodon, or gigantic sloth; the bones of a peccary and tho jaw of a fossil tapir, besides numerous relics in tho two culture layers on the surface. His work luu extended down to the bed of rock, in foui sections. Six feet wide. The bones will be examined by Professor Kd 1>. Cone before the signilb-ance of the completed work is determined. Professor Mercer will ox ami no several i titer caves lit Tonuesseo und Alabama. THE WOMEN WILL WIN. OHIO METHODISTS WILL ADMIT THEM TO THE CONFERENCE. -# A Complete Victory. All Other QueltloiiH IjoHt M^lit of. The Third Largest Church. ine comerenco or tho Methodists 01 unic, in session at Cleveland, have decided to admit the four women who havo been elected as delegates to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their supporters claim to have gained a substantial victory, and the indications are now that when the question is fought out on the lloor, the women will come out with flying colors. The four district conferences have held meetings and seleetod committeemen to represent their respective districts on tho committee which will report on tho eligibility of women to tho conference. Tho result was a complete victory tot tho women, tho committee now standing 17 to 11, in favor of the unconditional admission of women. Itev. Dr. J. JI. Buckley, of New York city, the leader of the opposition to the admission of women, was selected from the second district and he led the opposition on the floor of tho conference. From the eighth district the clerical representative is llev. I)r. A. G. Kynett.of Philadelphia, one of the leaders of the women's side. Almost all other questions have been lost sight of, and the nusiness of the conference will be unimportant until the woman question is settled. Bishop Foster, of Boston, called the general conference to order. The Itev. Dr. Parker, of Indiana. led the devotionul exercises. He showed his preference for the case of women by praying that God might bless the men and women. It was carried that tho Epworth League committee consist of one delegate from each annual conference, and that the members of this committee be chosen in tho same way usthe standing committees are chosen. The judicary committee will be chosen by the bishops. Bishop Henry W. Warren, of Denver, read the Episcopal address. It contained many recommendations. The address congratulated the church upon its advancement, but said there was much work yet to bo done. The growth of tho church during the past four years has been 380,000 souls, and the Methodist church is now the greatest in numbers in tho world, save the Baptist and Catholic churches Tncludinir uroluitioiicra there ure now in tho church 2.7GG.G2G, there persons. The Sunday schoo's have gained during the four years past 280,858. The woman's foreign society, and tho woman's homo missionary society are very prosperous. The report says tho church is opposed to lntoxicunts, and urges the United States government to so adjust its laws as not to seem to legalize the liquor trullle in States where there is prohibition. The report closed by saying that from all the world came signs of encouragement, and that it was surely marching on to ultimate victory. The conference accepted tho report. ,\VEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE. Prices Reuch tho Lowest Point Ever Known. Dunn A Co.. and Bradstreet, of New York, In their weekly review of trade say: Failures for the week have been 288 in the United States against 231 last year and 31 in Canada against 34 last year. As tho season advances there is more business, but advices indicate that on the whole the prevalent feeling is that the gain is less thau there was reason to expect. While retail trade has been active enough to materially lessen stocks and obligations, and thus to provent a great mnny threatened embarrassments, it has not yet brought enough new business to mills or factories to prevent decreaso of unlllied orders nnd closing of Home works. Hubstantially the same state of things exists in all the great industries, notwithstanding the strong combinations in some, and evidence of inadequate consumption appears in the fact that the general rnago of prices for commodities, farm and mine, us weJl as manufactured products, is nearly 1 per cent, lower than it was May 1st, and the lowest ever known, the decline since October, 1892, being 1G.7 percent. Nor can this be attributed to scurcitv of monev. which is easier mid mow abundant ns the liquidation of many dealers lessens outstninline obligations. Foreign operations have been of no influence in American securities, but shipments of silver have hguiu been large. Stocks have remained practically without change. Some cotton mills have ceased production, including one large printing establishment and stocks on hand still increase, though for brown goods there has beena better demand, and great quantities of ginghams have been inotiug by drives at prices low beyond all precedent. i.arge purchases of lake ore by the principal consumers, contracts securing control of lower phosphorus ore and lower rail rates to Chicago for Counellsville coke in order to compete with Pocahontas coke, arc the main features in the iron industry, but the revival of demand is yet deferred. Higher prices for nails have caused active buying for the woek, but large consumers decline to contract as yet for bars ami the rod combination has fallon through. Midlemeu still sell stool billets at ?19 at Pittsburg against ?'J0 asked by tlio pool, but the stock available is said to be only 90,000 tons. Structural prospects are good, but iu other branches the domnnd Is less active and Bessemer pig is weak at ?18 at Pittsburg. More favorable reports are received from Pittsburg, where merchunts have had the largest week'B trade thus far this season ; Buffalo, whero feeling is one of more confidence and from Atlanta and New Orleans, whero request in wholesale Hues Is more active. At Baltimore wholesalers announce only a fair business and that interior dealers have not disposed of stocks as rapidly as anticipated. The movement of goods from Galveston is not active, but In view of the large Texas acreage of cotton, more confidence is lelt that tail trade will meet expectill lanu There is nn unexpectedly small number of strikes at this senson. In iron and steel there are advances in prices for special grades of pig Iron, due to the output of Luke Superior ores, required for their production, having 1 been practically taken up by a few interest.'. The so-Willed steel trust Is reported extend- j inn its territory. Quotations for Southern ( i pig have been cut. as are those for the lew j ' sales of .Bessemer pig ami billets made by | middlemen. In addition to changes in prices j [of iron and steel, higher quotations are un- j I nounced for coffee, cotton, petroleum and anthracite coal, while print cloths tuid lumber are practically unchanged. Copper is usier, and|wool has been sold at concessions. | Totton goods are depressed, notwithstanding I .ho strength of cotton. Lower prices are noted for wheat flour, vhcat, corn, oats, pork, lard and sugar. The reaction in quotations for slices has brought I rices down to the level of IH'.M, at which the | ' .ictories are fairly busy, jmu have rather j noro confidence, l Total bank clearings amount to $1?S2,000,'00 this week, n decrease from last week of ot quite 3 per cent., and a failing oil as ompared with the corresponding week last ear of lOjierccnt. April bank clenr.ngs re- I ect continued quiet in business, and specuition, the gain being only nine-tenths of 1 er cent, over April, lf'.'i. T11K FIFTY-J'OURTH CON(iKKSS. A Synopsis of the Proceedings of Hotb Houses. THE SENATE. 1 MONDAY. The Senate committee Monday completed the river ami hnrbor appropriation bill and it was reported to the Senate. The com- I mittee reduced or struck out items to an uggregte of ?081,858, and increased or inserted items aggregating ?2.061,080?making a net increase of ?2,029,882, tbe bill now carrying a total of ?12,414,550. XUESDAY. Tuesday the most of the time was occupied in the consideration of the navui appropria- n tiou bill. e Senator Butler introduced a bill appropriating ?25,000 for additions to the public building at Greensboro, lie filed a copy of the grand jury's indictment ot the present inadequate accommodations. Senator l'ritehnrd presented a petition of Newborn citizens praying for u clock tower, clock aud illuminated dial. WEDNESDAY. The statue of Father Marquette, placed by the State of Wisconsin in the National Hull of Statuary in the capitol, was officially presented to, and accepted by, the Senate. After this matter was disposed of the naval npnronriiit Inn bill trim tjiL-on nt? n .1 flin remainder of the day's session was given up fc to political speeches. ' THURSDAY. 'I The Senato Thursday after the routine hus- ^ iltess tuken up tho appropriation bill. The N pending question being the amendment of- c fared by Mr. Gorman reducing tho number of battleships provided for in tho bill from ' four to two, uud the amendment to that h amendment offered by Mr. Quay to increase p the number to six. Tho nuvul bill had the u' undivided attention of tho day. Allen, (Pop.) 0 of Nebraska, predicted the collaVse of tho U l>emocratic and Ilepublican parties, tho for- u mer within three months and tho latter by 0 the 4th of March. 1001, and by Mr. Gorman, a (I)cm.) of Maryland, in enforcement of his * views as to tho necessity of more economy ] n appropriations. tl FRIDAY. 1' Friday's session of tho Senate was enliven- B ?d by two characteristic speeches?u llory U and Impetuous one from Mr. Tillman, Dem- 0 ocrat, of South Carolina, and a temperate B and suggestive one from Mr. Hill, Democrat, t' ot New York. Mr. Tillman, wearing in his necktie an emblem of his last speech in the P Senate, a miniature gold pitchfork, strode up I' and down in the rear of the back seats on 0 the Democratic side of the chamber, gesticu- N luting forcibly and Inveighing against tho r President, the Secretary of the Treasury and *j the bankers and moLey-louders of Wall street ' and threatening the withdrawal of Ills State b from the Democratic column if the (')iieago ^ convention should not declare in favor of u free silver at the ratio of 10 to 1. Mr. Hill's re- v ply to him was dignillcd but sarcastic. Hi'.too, p spoke of the Chicago convention declaring n that ho dhl not believe tlnit Mr. Clevu- ** land was a candidate for the nomination; he * said that he was not pledged to him or to d any member of his cabinet; eulogized Mr. Carlisle for his public services, while crit- * icising him for his interference against the J1 re-election of Senator lilackburn, and 1 closed a long speech by declaring that 11 the policy of the Democratic party should w be "in essentials, unity; in non-esseu- " tials, liberty, in all tilings, charity." n Mr. Gorman's motiou to reduce the num- ,l her of battleships provided for in the bill from four to two (a reduction of ?7,:>00,000 in H expenditure) and it was agreed to?yeas .11; 11 nays 27. Before tho naval bill was takeu up v nr. 1 ui A>omi i nn>i:ii;i, 111 troduced a bill to rauke tho Mexican dollar, ( the Japanese yen and tlio trade dollar equal 1' in. value to tho standard dollar of the United 1' States and a full legal tender to any amount 11 for all debts and demands, public and private * and he made an argument in aupport of it s SATURDAY. Tho naval appropriation bill, which lias b boon under consideration in tho Senate dur- J1 ing the entire week, was pasted Saturday *' and now it will he for a conference com- v mltteo to reconcile the disagreement between K tho two houses. The chief of these is the re- * ductlon of tho number of battle-ships pro- * vided for. Tho House llxod the number at c four, tho Senate at two. The ships are to cost ya,750,000 exclusive of armament. " THE HOUSE. v MONDAY. 1 The House on Monday passed a few pen- J slon bills, and others local to the District of J Coumbin. Representatives Pearson and ' Talbert spoke briefly on the pension bill. The latter defended Southern re-unions. u TUESDAY. ( The first business in order in the House " Tuesday was the vote on the passing of tho J" pension bill, which was taken by yeas and ' nays, at tho demand of Mr. G'rowtlier, Re- u publican, of Missouri. Itresulted: Yonal?7, nays 54. the Republicans and Populists sup- ? porting the bill and the Democrats opposing r it. Bix Democrats, however, voted for the 1 bill. ' * WEDNESDAY. I Tlio House Wednesday debated the expen- j ditures and revenues of the government. Mr. J Walker, Iteputdieau, of Virginia, presented 1 the report upon the eontest of Thorp, He- ' publieun, against McKenney, Democrat, from 1 the fourth district of Virginia, which was ' ordered printed, with concurring views from ' some members of the committee presented : by Mr. Do Armoutl, Democrat, <?f Missouri. 1 The remainder of the day was spent in the discussion of the bankruptcy bill. j TllUltSDAY. ' The House Thursday devoted five hours J to the bankruptcy bill. The principal speak- j ers were : Messrs. DcArnioiiu. Democrat, of Missouri; Tawney, ltepublican, of Minncso- r ta, and llailcy. Democrat, of Texas, against 1 the bill, anil Messrs. Hurton. Republican, of j Missouri; Culberson, Democrat, of Texas; J uml Hav. Kepublican, of New York, in favor ? of the bill The discussion developed the J5 fact that the House was practically in favor of a bill providing for voluntary bank- v ruptcy. c Kill DAT. In the House Friday Mr. Codding, ltepub- B llcan, of Pennsylvania, submitted the unaii- n. Iiiious report of eleeti n committee No. :i in the case of Joshua E. Wilson, Republican, f vs. John L. Mcl.aurin, Democrat, from the J sixth congressional district of South Car- 0 olina, that McLaurin was entitled to I1 his seat. The report was agreed to. }' Mr. Overstreet. Republican, of Indiana, from , the same committee, reported the case of k (Icorge W. Murray, Republican, vs. Wni. El- * iiott. Democrat, from the ilrst district of c South Carolina, tlio committee finding that I1 Murray, colored, who represented the dis- ? trict in the last Congress, was entitled to the seat now. The minority of the committee was given leave to file their views and the K' cum> went to the calendar. A bill was passed lj to admit free of duty artlclesof foreigii man- ^ ufacture intended for exhibition at tlie Nash- J' ville Exposition in IMD7, and to admit persons ~ engaged to cure for the exhibits. *' HATUIIDAY. *' After a debate continuing over five hours the House Saturday, by a vote of 157 to SI passed the bankruptcy bill. It Is substuii- ? tially well-known as the Torey blJI. The House passed without u division, the bill T pa?-s :dt>y tiie Senate yesterday appropriating $75,000 to defray the expenses oi the corn- <j mission to he appointed under the recent treaty with (ireat ltritain. Senator l'ritehard introdlieed a l>ill establishing a soldiers' liomeut Southern I'ines, N. C., for throat and lung diseases and appropriating $'.}OO.OQO. jjo o] tins also introduced a hill to re-estal?lish. the f< old Fayettevllle arsenal, for reclnimibg which 7. $ 100.000 is appropriated by tho hill. The ' arsenal was destroyed by Sherman s arfny. " lie has also introduced a 1)111 to pay 11 1). oi ifryan (Cravencounty) a thirteen-thousand h< dollar war claim, rents of his pin: tntion. e? ?*? ?mmm ?? A Domestic Tragedy. jr At Rosedal, ltussell county; Va., a mail by tho name of Dutton and his son, quur-l nj relied over a money transaction. The father j(( II red several shots at his son, finally a hall took effect in tho son's breast. Ashe fell ho j() shot liif* father through the heart, killing him |,., instantly. The son lived half an hour. SABBATH SCHOOL 7 NTSKNATIONAIj liKSSON FOB MAY 10. itiron Text: "Lessonn on Prayer,' lilike xvltl., U-17 ? Goltldi (Text: J-.uk? xvlll., 115 ?Commentary. Thts is called a lesson on prnyer, but It light bo hotter called a Icssou on how to uter the kingdom of God. The kingdom * mentioned at least seven or eight times iu Ills* chapter and the last part of the preccdiK one. The Pharisees were told that it was tnong them or in their midst, not within Item (chanter xvll., 21. margin or 11. V.), ;>r it could not in any sense bo in such hrifit hatnra nu thuv u?i?rn lmf If wua it* tieir very midst, In the ponton of Ihe King hom thoy wore watching their opportunity ) kill. Chapter xvlit., lu which our lesson i. tolls us who enn and who cannot entor lis kingdom, which is yet to bo set up on iiis oarth. Self righteous Pharisees and Ich idolaters, however moral, and all who ?ve this present world cannot enter this ingdom, out helpless blind beggars and nch as have tho spirit of a little child, thev an enter. Tho condition of things ou earth ill become more and inoro like the days of [oah and of Lot till tho Sou of Man shnll ome. 9. "And IIo epako this parable unto oorlin which trusted in themselves that thoy rere righteous and despised others." Tho rovious part of tho chapter speaks of the ouiiug of the Sou of Man as a time when lod shall avenge His own elect?that is, lis elect Israel, for His olcot church does ot cry for vongeauce, but the redemption f Israel Is always associated with vengence upon her enemies (Isa. xxxiv., 8: xxxv.. ; IxiiL, 4). In verso 8 He asks If there linll J*) any faith on earth or the faith when lis time comes. Tho church having been ikeu to meet her Lord before He comes to venge His elect Israel, it will be a dark me. There will be many trusting in their wn righteousness, hut there will also bean filleted and poor people who will trust in tie Lord (Zoph. ill., 12). 10. "Two men went up into the temple to rav, the one a Pharisee and the other a ubljcan." Tho Pharisees trusted in their wn righteousness. It is written of them In loin, x., 3. that being ignorant of God's ighteousnuss. and feoing about to establish lieir own righteousness they did not submit hcmselves unto the righteousness of God. lur Lord snid to them ilmt they would see Lornham, Isaac and Jacob, all tho prophets, nd many from tho north, south, east and. rest in tiie kingdom of God, bnt they them elves thrust out (Luke xiii., 28, 29). He lso snid that unless one ha?l more rightmii4iiiwm tlifin flint of tho mill l*h;iri ees it would bo impossible to outer the kinplom (Math. v.. 20). 11, 12. This is thojreeord'of the Pharisee's o euiit'd prayer, us piv n by Him who rouds ur hearts, whoso eyes are as a llamo of lire. 'hero is not one petition in it. lie did not sk God for a sitnpli' thinp. but just told God rlmt a poo l follow ho was lit his own estilatiou and how thankful i>o was for it. lie mentioned four thinps that ho did not do nd two thiups that ho did. There were hus just six tliinps in his little talk with God bout himself, and six is the numlJ&tVP.f mau, s COG is the number of the beast, tlt? man , dio will be satnu iuearnnte. There tfas no/ urnillty, no sense of sin, no knowbijCJ^ Ol iodnorof himself, yet he thruipht that he rayed, and no doubt wont awjay feeliup well leased with himself. He as a picture ot multitudes of rollplous people to-day who tteud church ropularly, bliit are no more aved than he was. In tlieiri own estimation liov are not sinners, never wVre. Tliey wore orn children of God by n at u rebirth, orit ot then, they think it was all made > .no by nfant baptism, and now they can tcit you ot rhat they are plad they are not, an l of some ood Jthtngs which they do, and vainly liink that all is well. 'They are followers of Jain, who despised God's way and loved hie iWC. 18. "God bo merciful to rae a sinner.' 'his is the substance of the prayer of the oor despised publican who woul(l not lift ip so much as his eyes to heaven, t ut smote ipon a truly contrite breast, as be stood alar >fT and uttered these words from his heart. Ih had no righteousness, and he know it, >ut he had plenty of sin, and he knew that oo. Ho needed morey, and ho asked for it, nd ho pleaded notlunp but his siu and lod's reuemptlon. His prayer mipht be fenlored, "God bo propitious to mo," or "bo econciled to mo because of atonement." He, ike righteous Abel, acknowledged li s sin iiul looked to ii sncrillce. 14. "1 toll you this muu went iloivu to Illsiouso justified." Tho man who wuutod lothlng and asked for nothing roeolvod lothlug and wont back to Ms house a poor, ielf righteous, lost soul, but tho penitent lublloan who confessed his sin and asked tor mercy received mercy and was instantly lustlfled from all things from which lie could lot be juetilled by the law. lor by tho deeds >f tho law no one can bo Justified. lint tho righteousness of God, even Christ Himself ind all His merits, is freely givey to evyry penitent sinner who comes to Him (Acts dii.. 38, 3D; Horn. iii., Ill 21; x. 4; H.Cor. v.. 21). 15. "And they brought unto Him also taunts thut lie would touch them, but when he disciples saw it they rebuked them." I'ho disciples did not know Him even though buy dwelt with Him. Even James and John iikI to be reproved more than once, and tho light before Ho was crucified He bad to say o another, "Have I been so long timo wi^lt 'ou. and yet bast tbou not known lite, Milling' AH of them seemed to eeusuro Jary s apparent waste of precious ointment. r*.:t Jesus rebuked tliem and commended ler. We need fear no one's censure if oiffy re bavo His approval. Therefore let lis ovet that above all things. 10. "Hut Jesus called them unto Him and aid, KufTer little children to come unto Me nil foibid Ihoin not, for of such is Ihoktng<>m of God." It is not their inuocuuce |It? efers to. for all are born in sin, but they are elpers, dependent, empty, self uuiiousci'oUs, onllding, clinging. They are not wjso 41ml irudent. like the Pharisees, but tiiey are itterly helpless, like tho publicans, and tho per. and the blind men. Tim heirs of tho ingdoin are such its these. Their need is lieir strongest plea, and the great heart Of Oinpassion opens to them. See some <)f tho reelous words to all who. by faith in Christ esus, have beeoino God's true littlb olriiren, in such passages as I Johu ii.. 12, 28, 17. "Verily I say unto you, Wnosdevftr ball not recoivo tho kingdom of God n.mi .tile child shall in nowise outer, llieceju " ln<|ue*tloning confidence in the word that ? spoken anil complete emptiness and need -theso will open tho uoor for t lit* f?iIIii**km of lod. The blind ui<;ii in tup en4 of the hiiptor are the litl 1<* children tflio enter fn, yt such as tho rich young ruler, who in full > overflowing of Mm own possessions, these unnot enter In.?L- sson Helper. UK IIKAI/TII OK THIS COUNTRY. Irlp Win the Most Prevalent IMscuso l.nst Year ?n?l4 Pneumonia j the Next. i In answer to tho general question whether r not the last year has been a healthful oho >r human beings, the estimate from about 5 per cent, of tho counties of tho tinned tat(,s reporting to tho Department of.Agriilturo at Washington, is thut. the, people's ulth was about tho average, while 'J8 per lit. put it below tho average. Hlx hundred id lifty-fuur counties throughout the couny make mention of special diseases, tho ading complaints bcinK Kr'P in 305 count's, or 17 per cent. of the wnole; pneumoii in 223, or 35 per cent.: typhoid fevor 212. or 32 per cent.; measles lit 138, or 21 r I'i'iit.; dipthorln in 78, or 12 per cent; n>? troubles in (>0, or 'J p< r cent., and sofcrt fever in 53, or y i or cent. * / .