The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-13

Sc.
DAY Is BREAKING.-Quite discussion has
been going on recently between the clergymen
Of one of the northern religious denominations,
and the papers say that in the course ofthe dis
cussion, the following propositions have been
laid down by one of the writers-well under
stood to be the best biblical in the Union, and
second to none in the world Against any one
who denies them, he pledges himself to bring
the most abundant proof. How strikingly do
such facts contrast apostolcally with modern
preaching: ..5 5.. .7 s7ssH
|. The apostles everywhere met domestic
slavery as an institution existing throughout
the Roman empire. They nowhere pronounce
it as sin per Sc. The treat it as relation
which christian men may sustain without guilt,
while, at the same time, they give no sanction
to any crueties, or bad disposition, or oppres-
sive acts, whether of positive ill-treatment, Or
indolent neglect, that may characterize this or
any other social or political institution.
2. They have shareholders among their con-
verts, known as such These Shareholders they
never command to set free their slaves; they nev
er even assert that it is their duty; much less do
they ever denounce them for not doing so. In
stead Of this, they always take occasion from
the fact, to instruct them in the duties which
are peculiar to this relation, and can have no
existence without it.
/ 8. They had also slaves among their con-
verts, known to be such. These slaves they
never tell to run away, never aid IN their es-
cape. On the contrary, they instruct them IN
the duties that belong to this state of subsection
duties that can have no force or meaning
aside from its recognition. 4 g ss gs5
4. They had among their converts both mas
ters and slaves as members of one christian
church. They make this the occasion Of in
culcating upon each that higher responsibility
of fidelity to each other which grows out Of
their mutual christianity, without limiting even,
that this new spiritual life necessarily destroyed
the old social or political relation. The apostle
sees no inconsistency in addressing them as
despots, and at the same time as brethren in
the Lord-thus presenting that peculiar bible
idea which the blinded modern abolitionist
seems entirely incapable Of fcomprehending.
5. The apostles met, not only with slaves and
Shareholders, but also with abolitionists. This
class of men are more ancient than they fancy
themselves to be. Even in the apostollcal times
there were jealous philanthropists or "human
rights men who told believing slaves that they
ought not to obey believing masters. Such
preachers the apostle strongly condemns. He
draws picture of them which is as true to the
life in the nineteenth century as in the first
"From such,' he says to the missionary Tim
othy, "withdraw thyself;" while there is not a
sing gle example in the new testament Of christ
ian communion being denied to the STAKEHOLDER.
| ORIGIN OF LEAP YEAR.-When Julius Ce-
sar, that old Roman filibuster, Of whom you
may have heard, undertook to reform the COM
putation of time, he ordained that the year
should consist of 365 days, except every fourth
year, which should consist of 366 days-the
additional day to be reckoned by twice count
ing the 25th of February, which was the sixth
| calend of March. Hence the name, from the
4 Latin words bis, twice and sextilis, sixth. The
calends (whence our calendar or first day o
the mouth were reckoned backwards to the
ides, thus: the first day of March was the frs
caend; the 28th of February was the second
calend of March, February 9th the third ano
SO on. .- .-....r rr
The Julian year. which by this rule was
reckoned at 365 days and six hours, was found
not to be accurate, but to exceed the length ot
the solar year by II minutes, which error would
in 131 years, amount to an entire day. 1t wa.
therefore, corrected ty pope Gregory, in 1852,
who retrenched eleven days from the Julian
omputation-being an access or gain over the
solar time. Out of this correction has grown
the distinction between old style and new style.
| n wi i,,tr in
to Germany in 177o, and by act of parliament
into England 1855, just one hundred years
ago, the Cd day of September, Co. S., of that
year being reckoned as the 18th IN. S.. un-
der the Gregoran system. Although the Bis
sextile is retained with its obsolete import, we
intercalate the goth of February every fourth
year for leap year, and for still greater accu-
racy, make only one leap year out of foureven
century years. The years 1900 and 1900
were not leap years; nor will A. D.. 1900 be
reckoned as one; but the year 1000 will be
bissextle. And that's the way leap year be-
came to be an institution
er ~ -1>-~-~~~-o~~~~~-~~~- .=-a'r.t
We take the following from the Houston (T. J
Courier. 1t is an arithmetical curiosity, inter
esting to the general reader, and important to
accountants: .-.-......5. a 4. --.s5 -....u-
The numeral nine has certain very peculiar
property, knowledge Of which will be of i'm
portance to accountants and cash-keepers. 1t
is this:-When an error has arisen from any
transpositlon of figures, the difference between
such transposed number of figures is uniform
ly multiple Of the numeral nine. For instance
suppose that an error occurs in bringing out a
trial balance or cash settlement of the amount
in question, or that the sum short or over can
be divided by nine without any remainder,
there is strong probability that the mistake
has been made by transposing figures; at any
rate, if such mistake takes place by reason of
transposition, the sum in question will divide
by nine without remainder. To illustrate this
further, if 81 has been put down 49, the error
will be l8, or twice 8 exactly; if 322 be set
down 223, the error will be SO, or eleven times
8, and SO on between any transposed numbers.
This class Of errors is very common. .4-
-~-o~I~-~~~-~~~~~U~-@~V--
FIRST THINGS IN KENTUCKY first al
manac ever published in Kentucky was by the
Messrs. Bradford, Of Lexington, in 1888. The