davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Every Church Responsible for its Own Chill
dren

The habit of attending divine worship re-
gularly in one place should be formed in
early youth, and every Christian household
should be an unbroken circle there.
AS soon as children are old enough to be
instructed and form habits, they should have
place in the house of God, and be in that
place regularly. Every church is response
BILE for the religious training Of. all the chill
dren whose parents properly belong to it.
1t can not divide its responsibility with
others, and others should not interfere with
its work by encouraging children to come
to their services.
1t would destroy the efficiency of church
if its members were itinerating between three
or four denominations, and had as much in
terest in them all as they do in their own.
Stable Christian character grows best in
one fold. God plants churches where there
is work for them to do, and part belongs
to each member. Those who come into the
church are to be instructed and built up, and
those who are without are to be brought in
and converted. Within each church is ,
nursery-the Sunday School-and this is
part of its service. The children of the
families in the church naturally, and by
divine appointment, belong in that school.
Nothing is gained to the cause of Christ
by taking them to another school. If they
are properly instructed by one teacher, it is
better for them to retain the instruction thus
impaired, and the impression made, than to
have them dissipated by a second teacher
two hours afterwards. The child should be
made to feel that the church is its spiritual
home, and all the churches may we'll unite
in fixing this impression upon their children
by dismissing those from their schools that
belong properly to neighboring church
school. The good of the child calls for this,
and the cause of Christ needs more labor,
time, and money, to gather in the multitudes
who have no church or Sunday School home
than the churches can give, even if they
economize their strength and do not dupli-
cate each others efforts.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
The Work of Ministers.

We have every reason to believe-withoui
exaggeration-tha the amount of writing
done each year by the pastor of large par.
ish, having two sermons to prepare and few
exchanges, is surpassed in the amount pro.
duced by no author-that the number OF
parochial calls made, all requiring tact and
sympathy, equals that of a physician in good
practice-that the amount of general advis
ing done, touching schools, property, quar-
rels, questionable action, and thousand
things, equals that of lawyer with fair
business; and that the other duties, school
visiting lecturing, writing articles, making
brief addresses, serving on committees, and
doing "everybody's work." would employ
another man still-not to speak of the stu
dent function, that which makes our clergy
men the best patrons of our book. stores and
the most thorough readers of our best books.
Few people ever know of these things; fewer
still will stop to think of them.
The hardest part of clergyman's life, as
it is of an editors, is the necessity of pro
ducing without the time to produce. Good
thoughts, whether in the paper, the volume,
or sermon, need time to grow up leisurely, to
mature in calm restfulness, and to be pro
duced when, and only when, they are so ripe
that they need expression. Once in while
We near sermon Ehich We know is the fruit
of leisure; it must have grown, to be the
rounded, balanced thing it is. We feel in
stinctively that such paper could not have
been thrown off at the rate of two week,
with hundred other distractions and cares
added thereto. But there are few or no
ministers who can give their people this
kind of fare; college professors may;
but whether happily or unhappily, our cler-
gymen cannot; they must write on the jump
Sundays whirl in amazing swiftness, and the
weekly grit of thought, sensibility and re.
Election must be ready.
If it were not too delicate and personal a
matter, we could write freely regarding the
tremendous strain upon editors; but that is
foreign to our present task. We merely
want to indicate, from our point of view,
what we think the public should expect and
demand from the ministers of religion how
forbearing men should be to class of edu-
Gated gentlemen, who, although obliged to
wear clothes which do not show the stains of
labor, are among the most intense and un-
weariad workers amnnnst ns
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Bad Business Given Up.

Let me tell you of an instance of the
power of prayer. The owner of line Of
omnibuses kept rum-shop, or drinking
saloon, made money, and wasted his spiris-
ual good in all manner of ways, useless, ir-
religious. His wife went to the prayer.
meetings. She became truly converted
woman. He forbade her going to the prayer
meetings, but she would 60. She kept on
going, though he got angry and said she
must not. Finally he told her she must
leave him or quit going to the prayer meet
ings. He told her something like this:
"Now if you will go up in the chamber and
pray with me, you may pray as much as you
please, but you must not 60 to the prayer
meetings." She said she did not know how
to pray for him or with him, for she had
only just begun to pray for herself. So they
went into the chamber, and he was very
much surprised to hear her pray. That day
everything went wrong. The -naxtmorning
they went into the chamber to pray. 81
thought | would let her pray it out. and by
keeping her from the prayer-meetings l
should break the charm" So they kneeled
down together, and she prayed such prayer
as took deep hold of his heart; as they
rose from their knees, he kissed her, and
went away. His heart was softened, subdued,
and he came humbly at the feet of Jesus,
man. He abandoned his liquor.
selling at once. He witnesses good con.
cnes;on
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
The Best for the Lord.

In letter in the Missionary Link for
May, Miss Britain relates this touching in
cident: During the week CT prayer, observed
in Calcutta by union meetings, a Scotch
clergyman was leading, who had just re-
turned from visit to his native land. He
stated that while there, he preached for a
friend, and told of the sad condition of wo
men in India. A few days after, the pastor
of the church was met in the street by one
of his Pensioners, a poor old, half blind wo-
man, who earned her living by doing errands-
She came up and with bright smile gave
him sixpence, to be used for the mission work
in India. Her pastor said: "No, no, Mag
gle! this is. too much for you to give; you
cannot afford it, She told him she had
done an errand for kind man, who had
given her ninepence instead of coppers, and,
she said, "The siler and the gold is the
Lords and the coppers will do for poor Mag
gle"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

WHILE we are to love all men, and espe.
cally all the brotherhood, it is yet right to
form and cultivate our special friendships.
They ought not to be exclusive and selfish,
much less should they be uncharitable and
censorious. But it is hardly possible for peo-
pie to live without some confding friends.
They want their intimates, with whom they
may consult about their plans, their projects
and business, and most of all, with whom
they can talk familiarly and heartily con-
cerning their souls Jesus, even in the broad
ness of his benevolence, was not opposed to
this; for he had three disciples with whom
he was particularly intimate, and one was
called the disciple whom Jesus loved" who
also clay upon his BOSOM" Peter and
John, though so unlike in temperament,
seemed to be peculiarly sociable, and Paul
spoke of his beloved Timothy as if he held
a place nearest his heart. The only danger
in cur select friendships is, that we let them
grow clannish, and instead of having them
help us love everybody, permit them to teach
us to love only few.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Dancing.

Dancing, as now conducted, is one of the
most prominent sources of sinful pleasure.
This amusementis never useful, and general
ly baneful in its results. 1t is not conducive
to health, with its late hours, its late sup
pers, or its transitions from heated ball
rooms to the damp and chilly air of winter
night. The assertion that dancing is neces
sary to secure ease and grace is simply
nonsense. Grace is native born, and ease
and self-possession are the result of expe
rience. True politeness is the development
of gentle heart and an unselGsh soul. Il
there refinement or maidenly publication il
the lascivious whirlings of the waltz? Th'
school of good manners is the school of fin
feeling.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

the dreadful CONSCIOUSNESS of remaining with
out it, and stir them up to supply them
selves There would rot be vacant church
in our whole bounds, 8 the people were suf-
fciently enlightened to appreciate the gift
of salvation through Iosus Christ Unfur-
nished parlOrs, and scantily supplied tables
in community are proof of poverty, but
an empty pulpit procaims the peoples folly.
With Christian compassion for the desti-
tute l sign myself,
Yours fraternaily, w. E. B.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Whole No. 317,
RIGHT


Low to myself said the word
With deeper thrill through voice and viii
Il rang as with shout
Such power vas in it to be beard.
And from that hour my soul grew still,
its doubt.
A bs tle-ery is in that wOrd
A force to WELD on deadliest field,
Which he who grssps shall feel
As if his hand had drawn sword,
And triumph were forestalled and sealed
With the first battle-peall
A royal word a eOnquering word
Which none could speak with lips so weak
But straight they should grow strong;
As If, unknowng, they had heard
The mighty hosts OF vietors speak,
And echoed the new song
The grand word the eternal word
Given as whereby to glorify
THIS daily work and care,
Building our temples TO the Lord
After the heavenly house on high
Where the city hes tour. square.
80. % heig7L
,.e Will be done below
Oh, Duty, it needs only this,
And thou art named DELIGHT
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

knowledge is to know that We know him no
as indeed he is, neither can know and oul
safest elOquence concerning him is our ST
lence, when we confess without confession
that his glory is inexplicable, his greatness
above our capacity and reach. He is above
and we upon the earth, therefore it behOOv-
eth our words to be wary and few"
N. M. BURKHoLDER.
Old Homestead, near Harrisonburg, Va.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Adroitly Hit.

A correspondent of the Herald and Pres
6yter writing from Minnesota, tells the fol-
lowing:
81 have picked up "a little story which |
think too good reproof for disturbers OF
the peace in churches, to be lost. A presid-
ing elder of the United Brethren Church
was preaching in this same neighborhood,
and was much annoyed by persons talking
and laughing. He paused, looked at the
disturbers, and said, 81 am always afraid to
reprove those who misbehave in church. In
the early part of my ministry made great
mistake. AS l was preaching, young man
who sat just before me was constantly laugh
ing, talking, and making unoouth griTnace5.
1 paused and administered severe rebuke.
After the close of service one of the official
members came and said to me, BRO. -,
you made great mistake. That young man
whom you reproved is an idiot Since then
l have always been afraid to reprove those
who misbehave in church lest should repeat
that mistake, and reproue another idiot. I"
During the rest of that service at least there
was good order.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

-.nU Ian, parrot IKE, repeat great
many things that they had gathered up al
the nunnery, still 1 have yet to meet with
the first thoroughly educated girl among
them. IhOrOughness is not what they are
aiming at. If you want to give your daugh-
ters a shallOsO, superficial education, that
will make them mere butterflies of fashion,
to trill and loll, and dance away the summer
of life, and then exc out miserable old age,
with no resources within themselves, send
them to the school you are thinking of; but
if you want to make them vigorous minded,
independent women, able to take care of
themselves, and make their mark in society,
by shaping the modes of thought and man
ners, and not simply falling in the wake Of
some other minds of more force than theirs,
my advice to you is to send them to some
school more thorough thau any that | know
of, taught by nuns. Their schools are popu
lar, mainly because they are superficial.
Many parents don't want thorough teaching
for their children. The nuns know this, and
pander to their tastes. Hence, their schools
are crowded. had supposed you were not
one Of that sort.
Mrs H. am not 1 want my daugh
ters taught thoroughly, whatever they pre-
tend to learn. l must say, Mrs. A, you
have convinced me that was wholly in the
wrong. My daughters will not be sent to
the nunnery.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

44e Memoir Of Miss Mary Jane Graham,
Of England, BY Rev Charles Bridges, aud
published by Robert Carter & Bro, New
York-priee S175-is another precious tes-
dmony, and ought to be read by every Chris,
tian in the land. To this memoir are ap-
pended several short yet valuable treatises
BY Miss Graham on several Of the leading
doctrines of grace. If it was deemed desi
rable, might not an arrangement be effected
with the publishers, by which a supply Of
these treatises, bound to themselves, could
be furnished! They are written, says
Bridges, sin holy, practical spirit, emf
nently calculated to soften prejudice, to pros
trate the soul in humble thankfulness, and
to enlarge the Christians JOY in God" !
have received much benefit, | trust, in the
reading Of this memoir-in beholding "what
God hath wrought, " in the life of this wO-
man,-and it is my desire that it may be
"sOught out Of all them that fear Him. -
In her study of Gods Holy Word, wherever
He ceased to speak or explain, she ceased to
inquire. And her view of the evil of a
cavilliug temper, which is INDUCED by toe
many Christians, can hardly be better ex
pressed than in the following admirable re
marks Of piOus old writer: Dangerous
it were for the feeble brain of man to wade
far into the doings of the Most High; whom
although to know be life, and JOY to make
IznsaEoa. Of his Name, vet our sonndes
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

HUMBLENEss OF MIND is gained more by
believing in Christ than by dwelling upon
our sins. When we see the "King in his
beauty" we have little desire to behold oul
own deformity.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

nuns, who never dare to think for themselves
on the subject of religion. Their priests
aud clergy dc. all the investigation and think
lug for them. An infallible Pope speaks,
and they must believe, whether what he says
cOmmends itself to their judgments or not.
Believing and trusting blindly, is woman's 5
province, according to them. Having formed
this habit in religion, they naturally fall
into it on all other subjects. Hence, | am
free to say to you that l do not believe
schools taught by such teachers, can ever be
thorough. They must, from the necessity
of the case, be superficial. They may de-
velop and cultivate the memory, and store
the minds of their pupils with great many
useful facts, but as for teaching girls to think
Independently, and reason logically, do
not believe they do it. They can't do it
having never been taught to do so them
selves. I have talked with great pon
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYrER1AN.
SENDING DAUGHTERS TO ROMAN
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
Continued from our last.

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO PROTESTANT
LADIES.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
Fos rEE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
DOCTRIEAL PUBLICATIONS.

In q recent number of the Central Pres
byteriaR, the attention of its readers as vel
as Of our Committee of Publication was
called by a contributor, to the fact of his
possession of a copy of a treatise of John
Bunyan, entitled "The Doctrine of the Law
and Grace Unfolded, which it is believed
has been omitted in all late editions of his
works, aud which is proposed for republica-
ton. The title of this treatise, together with
the name of the author, would seem of itself
sufficiently to indicate its value, and to Jus
tify the movement which has thus been made
for It's rescue from Obseurity. And it is be-
heved that the great popularity of that good
mans works, and his simple and impressive
style, are advantages in connection with the
unfolding Of these important doctrines, of
which We should avail ourselves Indeed
there is that which melts to DEVOTION pc
euliar energy, combined with simplicity and
a deep reverence for every word of God,
irrespective Of marking the
productions Of the old writer's on spiritual
things, which brings the reader into the
closest sympathy with them. It must al
ways be gratifying to the people Of God, to
trace out aud m,dtare upon the pure
thoughts and humbling confessions of these
eminent witnesses for the truth. l doubt
not that the Committee will take the matter
IA habd. It they nave not already considered
it. L, would seem to be the true policy for
cur Church, as was recently observed to me Oy
one Of her faithful ministers, to give first con-
sideraton to the publication Of purely doc
trinal works For until we reach the point
Of foly supplying ourselves, through our
Committee, with a religious literature, other
publications can be procured with less diff
Gully elsewhere.
I have in my possession a small book, of
humble appearance, and of more recent
date, but which l kuow not if l could be
induced to part with wholly, for any reason
able eoasideraiou wish l c,uld place it
in the hahds Of every member Of our Church
1t is a treatise "On the Doctrine of Fl C
tiou, by Rev. Henry RuFner, D. D., Lex
iagton, Va, 1923. There are perhaps very
few copies Of il now to be hal; AID it is de-
sired by more than one that the propriety
of its republication may be inquired into by
the Committee. Like sll other presentations
Of the deep things" Of Gods Word it is
not to be expected that it will be food for
those who come TO sean this depth, filed with
a eaullng spirit, aud with curious and pre-
sumptious questionings. Bat for those who,
with the pious Hooker, Can say, That httle
(of the law Of divine Glyerumeut) which We
darkly apprrhend, we adnr-; the rest with
religious ignorance we hunbly aud meekly
adore -ios those who contemplate these
things IN such a spiritual manner, as that
deep sense Of their own f,ebeuess of mind
only fills them with higher conceptions of the
magni6cenee of God, viii it not be for their
furtheranee in grace, for their establishment,
'heir consistency in walk and con
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
NOTES OF FOREIGN TRAVEL.
-
T,oNDoN .Jnlv 1877

LUNDUN, July, IoII
Even London can be crowded. The HO-
tells are full, the boarding houses are full,
and carriages filed nth travellers are flying
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23

Continued from our last
Mrs. a. Good morning, Mrs. H., am
glad to see You, to continue our talk about
your sending your daughters to the Roman
Catholic school, which we begun last week.
Are vou still in tba potion
Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23

one which we shall adopt whenever we
have occasion to write on the subject is
the following, viz: First, as to their
height, they may be short or tall. Second
ly, as to their weight, they may be light,
heavy or monstrous heavy. Thirdly, as
to their talent, they may be soft, ordin-
airy or strong minded.
Nothing would afford US greater plea
sure than to present an exhaustive trea-
tise on this interesting subject, but time
and space will not permit. We shall,
therefore, confne our remarks to the last
mentioned class, viz: the strong minded
women. However, the reader will do
well to keep the above classification in
view, as we may refer to it at some future
time.
Strong minded women are an anomaly
in nature. They are everywhere present.
They usually make themselves obnoxious
to everybody by their incessant clamor
about things that do not properly belong
to them. Their tongue seems to be hung
in the middle with patent uncomfortable
perpetual motion. Sometimes they marry,
but more frequently they remain single
for obvious reasons.
Formerly their principal weapon OF
warfare was the broom, which they would
WELD with no ordinary degree of dex-
terity. Armed with this weapon, they
would as soon attack the Atlantic Ocean
as a common mud puddle. Mrs. Parting
ton is a fine example, and it is we'll known
that no power inferior to the Atlantic
Ocean ever beat Mrs. Darlington.
More recently they have taken up the
pen, and woe to the man who dares to
venture within stones throw of their
inkstand. They say great deal but
prove little; they usually silence their
opponents, not by argument, but by noise;
they are bold, arrogant, and even BIAS
phemous they will as soon open an ar
gument with the Deity as with college
freshman. No power inferior to the AL
mighty or the Atlantic Ocean has ever
been known to silence them. Women of
this description sometimes figure in the
daily newspapers. No person who makes
any pretensions to eandor ought to argue
with them. We cannot advise any youag
man to marry strong minded woman.
The people here are becoming dis
satisfied with the tone of these letters
One says that some have been too highly
applauded; another that some have been
cruelty unappreciated; while by far the
greater number are clam6rous to see their
names in print. Now, to all these we can
make only one apology. We are mortal
We cannot be everywhere and hear and
see everything. Our brain is already
taxed to its utmost capacity with these
letters, and our nervous system is com
pletely Frustrated for a whole day after
such an effort. If persons who must be
noticed Immediately, will please addres:
letter, stating particulars, to Zero, Til.
N. Y.-no more, no less-their case will
receive as prompt attention as the subject
demands. ZERO.
Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23

ANECDoTE OF HoN. TRUMAN CHIT
TENDEN.-Gov. Thomas Chittenden set
tied in Williston before the commence
ment of the revolutionary war. In 1776,
not regarding it safe to remain there, be
left with bis family for the southern part
of "The Grants" He had one horse, on
which he placed bed and such other
things as he could carry, and sick
daughter. The other members of his
family travelled on foot. His son Tru-
man, then four or five years of age,
bruised his heel, found it painful walking
and asked to ride on the horse with his
sister. His father told him the horse had
all the load it could carry, and be must
walk After repeating the request sew.
eral times and it being refused as often,
Truman told his father that he could not
and would not walk any further. His
father told him that be must leave him in
the woods then to be taken by the Indians,
gave him some bread and cheese and left
him. Truman sat down upon log, ate
his bread and some of his cheese, and re-
fected on the situation. In short time
he began to cry. About this time his
father appeared, and asked him, "What
is the matter, Truman !? what are YOU
crying about ~ Truman replied, in the
tone of crying person, "You did not give
me bread enough to go with my cheese"