davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
A STRANGE CUSTOM

The hour of public worship has come, the
minister has entered the pulpit, and is ready
to begin the sacred service. Why is it de-
lsyed from moment to moment, until those
in the sanctuary begin to feel uneasy, if not
impatient? The reason is that large por-
ton are lingering out of doors But do
they intend to remain there through all the
time of worship, and thus treat it with dis
respect? Not at all; they would feel hurt
at the imputation. They are only waiting
to be sung into the church; that is their sig
nal for moving. In some places it is almost
a regular practice to sing hymn, not as a
part of the worship, bat it is intended to
take the place Of bell or trumpet to call
the outside congregation within. At other
times the minister after offering the prayer
of invocation, gives out the fist hymn, and
as soon as the singing begins, the various
groups of takers start for their pews, and
come pouring in, by no means mindful, as
they stalk like dragons along the aisle, to
obey the ipjuUctiou--"keep thy foot when
thou gOest to the house of God" By this
they greatly impair the beauty and effect of
the singing. and disturb Others who desire to
make melody il their hearts unto the Lord.
Are members of the church always clear
of this uuseemly practice? This is one of
many strange customs about some of our
churches; yes, about many of them, and
needing, wherever it prevails, the correcting
power of pastoral instruction, remonsrance
and reproof. A firm, kind, patient applica-
ton of these influences, one or all, according
to circumstances, would in a little time effect
a happy change. Complete order and pro
priety at the house of God, has no slight
connection with the prosperity of true re-
ligion. Il requires no argument to show
that all who 90 to the sar ctuary should enter
it IN good time, and not wait to be sung into
the Church.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

In the schedule for the observance of " the week
of prayer" issued by the American Evangelical
Alliance, we find among the objects for prayer,
"the spread of free institutions throughout the
,oOrld By free institutions we suppose are
meant the institutions, that is the form of govern
ment and laws. of the United States. We have
been called upon to pray that these institutions
should spread throughout the world.
Weimagine that, if some of our people tried to
carry out this programme during the past week
when they were enjoying free institutions az
the point of the bayonet, they were no little em
barrassed as to how to frame their petitions. But
granting that every section Of our land could joiO
heartily in the prayer that free institutions
might spread here at home, is it not the height
of impudence for US as a nation to pray that our
form of government should be established in Egg
land, Germany, or Russis2 Are not other en-
hghtened nations as capable to determine what
form of government suits them as are we? And
are we to ask God to overturn stable governments,
with which enlightened nation, are satisfied, and
substitute for them our comparatively untried
free institutiorsP' o, is any friend of republi-
can institutions willing that they be tested in India
China, or among the HotentOts, or in the kingdom
of DahOmey?
five are to be expected all to unite in this con
cert of prayer let US for the future have proposed
only such topics as the Scriptures authorize Z.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
LIFE OF CHRIST By Frederic W. Farrar, D. u
F. r. S, Late Fellow of Trinity College, 70
Vols. New York: P. Dutton & 20. 1874.

LIFE OF CHRIST By Frederic W. Farrar, D. u {,
F. R. S. Late Fellow of Trinity College, &o.
Vols. New York: P. Dutton & 20. 1874.
Mr. Editor,-Some weeks ago friend returning
from New York brought with him as present
which he had received there, copy of the work
the title of which have placed at the head OF this
article. Not having the time just then to read 1t
himself, be placed it upon my table with the re-
quest that | would examine it and let him know
my opinion of its contents. began the reading
Of it one morning after breakfast, thinking that
would take it at the rate of chapter day until
my friend called for it. Dinner-time found me
absorbed in the perusal of its pages, and when
had hurried back from some necessary visits In the
afternoon, the book was again in my hands and the
hour of bedtime won me away reluctantly from
its enjoyment 1t has been my companion day
after day, and now when | have finished the per-
usal and return to the first chapter again. 1t Is as
intensely interesting as before. | do not wish to
enjoy good thing alone, and therefore L beg you
to insert this notice. that my brethren OF the min
istry may know that there is joy in store tor them
when they can possess themselves of this book.
0ne of the striking characteristics Of the day is
the multiplication OF biographies of Christ and
the eagerness with which they are purchased and
read Those who claim that Christianity is be-
coming effete, will have difficulties in explaining
how il is that the great heart OF the reading public
throbs in such sympathy with those who devote
their lives to close study of the Gospel words, and
who bring all the results of modern research to
bear upon the illustration aud unfolding OF the
minute details of the life OF our Lord.
o. all these biographers, none of those whom II
has been my pleasure to examine has presented q
work combining so much soundness and orthodoxy
with so much distincIness and vividness of define
alton, and SO much beauty and fervor of STYLE
He has all the soundness and conservatism of Han
ma, without the diffuseness and tameness OF his
style. He has all the critical acumen of Lange
without his metaphysical abstruseness, and tran
scendentalism. His style is as vivid and pictur
esoue as that of Macaulay or Motley There il
the nameless charm about it which belongs to tht
writings of Buckle and Froude. Those who may
be able to purchase the work will find that in nj
two volumes of the same size upon their shelves
will they have more to interest aud to profit thar
in these. T. D. w.
Tdbb st Munse, Petersburg. Va
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
Presbyterian Conference.


The committees on the part of the Northern aud
Southern Presbyterian churches OF the Uolted
States. appointed by the General Assembly OF the
respective church organizations, met Ihursday
night at Franklin Street Presbyterian church, Bal
timore. The object for which the committees have
been appointed Is to effect a more cordial and fra
ternal union between the two bodies represented
by them.
The committee of the Southern consists OF Rev.
Drs William Brown, of Richmond, Va; Robert
P. Farris, Of ST. Louis B NJ. Palmer, Of New
Orleans, and the Hon. j. A. Iugis, OF Baltimore,
and the Hon. B. NJ. Estes, OF Memphis. The
committee of the Northern Church is composed Of
ten members, as follows Rev. Messrs. Samuel j
Nichols, Henry Darling, Edwin +. Hatfield
Thomas 81 Skinner, Henry j. Vandyke, Eoenezel
Erskine, and Messra Benjamin Whitley. j. K
Morehead, j. w. Edwards, and s. NJ. Breclin
ridge.
The members of tae committee of the Southern
General Assembly were all present at the meeting
OF the Committee of the Northern General AZ
sembly all were present except Rev DR.. Hatfield
and Messrs. Morehead, Edwards and s. NJ. Breck
inridge
The meeting was organized by the selection O
Rev. DR.. Brown, of the Southern Committee
chairman, and Rev. Mr.. Erskine, secretary, None
were admitted to the meeting except the member
Of the two committees, but it is understood yer!
little was done beyond organizing and delivering
faternal greetings on the part of each body repre-
sented. The sessions will probably continue seve
raj days.-Baltin,ore Sun.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13

Dr. Kirkpatrick is giving series Of interesting
lectures in the Presbyterian Church in Lexington,
on Sunday evenings, upon the character OF the
Old Testament.
Bishop Dudley Rev Thomas y. Dudley, d. .,
late rector OF Christ Protestant episcopal church
of Baltimore, who was recently elected assistant
bishop of the diocese of Kentucky, will be con-
secrated as such on January u.
Rev Jahleel Woodbridge was instslIed pastor ct
the church at Wess1n Miss, by a committee OF
the Presbytery Of Mississippi on Sunday 2s'h OF
November.
Church Judicatories The Southern Presbyterian
says:
"As it is one great object in the publication OF
this journal to promote the corporate life and &C.
tiyity OF our Church. We expect in the future as in
the past, to publish fully the proceedings OF our
ecclesiastical bodies not merely or chiefly as gos-
sipy news, but as that which every member OF an
organization needs to know to enable him most eff
ciently to further the great aims of that organl-
zation-to do what we can to make our Church
unit. instead of rome of sand to promote single
ness of action as BELTS 40 organized army instead
of feeble guerrilla warfare carried on by mob.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13

A correspondent of the Neto York Evangelist of
the Northern Presbyterian Church, writes-
what mean is that there has been distur-
bance created at another Mission station in 500
Chow. The Southern Presbyterian Church has q
station about one and half miles from us. on a
very busy street. The missionary, Mr.. DuBose,
lives upstairs, and has street chapel, chapel
for Christians, and school room below. Last
Sabbath afternoon, while services with the native
Christians we're being beld. large number OF
Chinese, perhaps two or three hundred in all, bad
assembled in front of the chapel waiting to get a
sight of the wife of high literary mandarin, who
Becoming impatient of delay, they entered the
chapel, and seeing closed door 10 the rear, some
OF them tried to open it. Mr.. 1uBase came out
among them and tried to quiet them ~ talking
calmly he sad MIR. Helm controlled them in this
way for about an hopr, when some one raised the
cry Go In fight, 20 upstairs! and in they went
to see what va, inside. Some one threw brick
and hit Mr.. DTBose or the forehead, starting the
blood. Mr.. H sm vas kicked and was scarcely
able to rsenterf tn house. The building literally
swarmed, with sySple' h%CoetiDg, yelling, surglng
ipouiripQ for tie child whic' : to be eaten that
day. These missiaoarlss he reputation Of
billing aod nstns .lhingS and Of cutting
out the eves o. tho desa CHR ca for medicine. J
Mrs. DuBose vas in the school room, but when
the people began 70 come in she retired to the up
per story, while the gentlemen endeavored to keep
the people below. Bat no; they we're inside OF the
foreigner house, and they proposed to see what it
contained said one of the crowd: This isn't the for
eigner's countT7, nor Shanghai. This is 500 Chow
Of course the sext move was upstairs. Nothing
could restrain them. They burst open the spare
room door aud examined that room. Tney surged
on through the hall and broke into the store-room.
Another door cro8sed their path, but IS it did not
readily yield TO their blows they went to Mrs. Du-
Bose s room and commenced beating upon it. Mrs.
DuBOse who was alone upstairs, saw that they
would soon burst the door open, SO she iearessly
unlocked it and f,ced the rabbe. Some OF the
people opened the servants boxes and stole their
clothes and little money. 0 hers carried off the
Bibles and hymn books found in the chapel. At
this juncture the constable appeared, with two
friends. He walked up stairs, and seizing the men
by their queues, soon cleared the upper story. Mr.
DuBose in the meantime had gone to the district
yamin and returned with five men. who, wearing
the insignia of authority soon drove the crowd
away. For once Chinese off ,ials acted with
promptness. and thus in the Providence of God
more serious trouble did not ensue. The aft air has
been placed in the hands of officials, and it is
hoped that the matter will be settled without ap
pealipg 10 the Consul in Shanghai All is quiet
now, and the mission work has suffered no inter
RIM
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
How we Should Judge Churches

Several practical lessons may be derived from
our ignorance of what is essential to the existence
Of true church. One lesson is, that we should
Judge churches as individuals charitaby. There
are brethren who assert, with great positiveness,
that Pedobaptist societies are not churches Can
they be certain on this point? Do they know, OF
can they know how much of error is compatible
with churchship? Whoever is able to solve this
question, we are not We believe that Pedobap
fist churches are irregularly formed. We reject
their baptism, and especially their infant baptism,
for reasons which seem to us to be conclusive. We
are opposed alike to prelatical and presbyterial
government But when societies hold the funda-
mental doctrines of Christianity, accept the Bible
as their supreme guide in religious matters, mani.
fest the spirit of Christ, and are jealous for the
salvation OF suSSrs and the glory Of the Redeemer,
who can esq tx, for, iDzboi a soriptursl form Of
government 60 n dc tsissfvsnce OF Christian
Csiasnces, they Srs not churches OF Godf We
should not approve their errors; but rendering
them proper praise for their knowledge, piety zeal
and usefulness we should modestly and lovingly
eudeavor to teach them the way of the Lord
more perfectly"
Once more we should be careful, lest in our con-
fdence that we belong to true church of Christ,
we do not overlook or undervalue the qualities
really essential to its welfare and honor. There is
Danger tnat We, Daptlsto, sudn De betrayed, Dy
this very assurance into false security and a
criminal inactivity. We have no question that our
churches are organized after the apostolic model,
kesp the ordinances as they we're dvinely appoint.
ed and "hold fast the form of sound words. >
We glory in their scriptura order This is we'll
but what will it avail US if we fail by the fervency
of our devotons, the consistency Of our lives and
zeal for the promotion OF Christs cause. to de-
monstrate the excellence Of our principles? If
churches, unscriptural in their organization, and
that have perverted the ordinances of Christ,
abound more in 1.-THE fruit of the Spirit than
churches of apostolic order, will not God bless and
honor the former more than the atter7 The de-
sign of churches, and of gospel ordinances and
ILLUSTRATIONS, is to promote holiness; and they are
valuable only so far as they secure this end.
1t is to be feared that many Baptist churches
while they may be praised for keeping the ordi
nances as they were delivered by the apostles, are
sadly deficient in those graces and good words that
should adorn the church Of Christ In the study
of the Scriptures in the religious training of chill
dren, in family devotions, in deadness to the world
in beraity to the cause of Christ, in integrity, 10
consistency Of department, and in the Spirit of
Christ, they may be far excelled by the members
of churches or societies, if you must call them so,
less scriptural in form and less sound in creed
" Brethren, these things ought not SO to be-
Religious Richmond Herald
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
From the January No. of the Missionary.
Letter from Miss Kirk.
CAMp1NAs. October

CAMp1NAs. October =, 1874.
We all move on out here in the same old fashion,
so there is not much to tell, except that Mr.. DAD
neys arrival cheered us ALL and We are looking for
ward to greater cheer still when DR.. Wilson comes
out. | had letter from him this mail, and ne
expects to come in our summer, which isn't good
for him. Winter, that is the dry season. is the
hest time for Campinas. On September 23d, tue
1rst elder and deacon of the little church out mere
we're elected. The elder Snr. M6galb@s, (tbe one
Lam staying wth) and the deacon, somebody named
gentlemen think the choice of then both excellent,
and what they would have chosen, had 1t been
theirs to choose. The church c-oso freely, now
ever, the gentlemen influenced il no way. Snr.
Magazines know, and think he'll dc They are
to be ordained at the next communion season.
We all of us have toerable shared health Mr..
Morton was in bed some days, maxi ,g us feel like
sheep without shepherd. but 4 lp and nope
will stay up. | am very we'll, +; 80 tired from
the spring weather, but expect est asltude to
pass away when summer really mss. Ne have
had one OF their summer days aisesdy, aud en-
joyed it. never liked spring weather anywhere;
The College is finished, such as sh be now
wish we had money to 90 on. ,sslere are about
one hundred and fifty scholars in a boarjers and
day scholars, boys and girls. Braz 50 and Amer
can. A very we'll behaved set Ia on the whole
they are. | have two classes to fsch English to,
the one class Of big boys in the oilegs, and the
other of little boys and girls in til. chool learn
at least as much Portuguese as t's'y do English,
and it would amuse you to see lrspes ges
into at times, when come to an elik y stock
of Portuguese, aud want very % &sofne.
thing. They arc. most ffNh, s4ft9,
and fill very skiIfuly my I'M
don't find my labors in schooN My trou.
BILE rather is that can't do. To low enough
Portuguese. Dat of school Ia isy learning.
1t seems rather strange to think it is summer
with you, when, although | caIe all it cold, II
was with US our coolest weather are just en-
teriug our spring now and such q never saw.
Broad daylight without SUNSHINE clouds ap-
psrently, yet no suu visible w
October IA The elier and teacon were or.
daiped on Sunday, but did not sse them. had
not been feeling well and did net 60 There If
quite an amount of sickness nov hereabouts.
Measles and small pox are prevalent in the city,
and the coming of the spring here seems to make
every one languid. None of Us tough have been
seriously sick. There are good many cases IN
our acquaintance of sickness. and some Of illness
Our Doctors wife was considered dying last week
and his son did die last night. lie was a bright
promising boy of about fifteen. twill cast gloon
over the whole school, though the change for hin
was all brightness. can only hope that the mea
les will not get among the boys.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
rHE CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE.
ADJUSTMENTS.

The best amusements and recreations are those
in which the mind is brought into exercise as well
as the body, which is not the case with dancing,
neither in card playing In the latter, the cards
are dealt fairly, it is game Of chance if unfairly
it is game of cheating, which it always becomes
ip the hands of the gambler.
For those who seek to amuse themselves in
games, there are the games of checkers and chess
and many others Of kindred nature, that involve
fore thought and planning to reach certain results,
and not only furnish recreation but are an excellent
mental drill.
For larger companies are the games of authors,
ayilude, etc., which are exhiarating and highly in
teresting, and at the same time involving mental
exercise that much tends to strengthen the memory
and sharpen the mind.
Again: the game of croquet combines most of
the things desirable 10 an amusement and has
fewest of the objections 1t gives outdoor exercise,
which is a thousand times more conducive to
health than the exercise of the dance. 1t is game
in which both sexes may most pleasantly join.
1t gives full opportunity for conversation. 1t
requires thought and fore-thought. 1t trains the
nerves and the eye, and may and will, il we re-
ceive them, teach US many valuable lessons of
much use to us in the battle of life, as coolness
patience fortitude and to never despair of success
until the very last moment
None of these games are appropriated by the
gambler none of them have the tendency to lead
the young into the poisonous moral atmosphere
hat too often surrounds the billiard table, the
dance and the theatre.
In short there are amusements, plenty of them,
that answer all the purposes for which amusements
are needed-and they are needed-without having
clingng to them tendency to lead the young into
the ways of danger and paths of death.
Such amusements we should furnish our young
people, and firmly yet kindly forbid utterly the
other kind, and as far as possible convince their
reason of the propriety of our course. Finally We
should remember that amusement is not the bust
ness of life, but that God gave US our life in which
to work and prepare for eternity; and that these
times of recreation are right and proper only as
they rest us, and better fit us for this lifework of
ours Let US then choose proper amusements, and
give them their proper place in our time and
thoughts. -Interior /
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-01-13
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

CHRISTIE AND Parasitic BAPTISM, as exhibited in
the Holy Scriptures and Patristic writings. BY
James w. Dale, D. D. Octave, PIP. $50. Price
SIS, ministers "a.
This volume completes Dr. Dale's series on the
subject of Baptism. Patristic Baptism was orig
nally designed for separate volume; but in order
to bring conveniently together what have important
relations to each other 1t has been Incorporated in
the same volume with Christie Baptism. This vol
ume SMALLER type being used has about double the
matter of one OF the preceding
The writer has completed in a most satisfactory
manner his atgumenl, previous carried most tri
umphanty through three diyi.ons Of the field Of
controversy. The results qt bis tormer inyesaga
tons and discussions the author employs in able
manner in calculation of baptism we meet with
it in the New Testament Nearly all the passages
bearing on the subject are carefully and deliberately
discussed This fact will make this work, to most
readers, the most valuable and interesting of the
series.
In It's polemic aspects the work is excellent. DR..
Dale is always fair and candid and respectful to his
sdversares he shows the absurdity of the INNER
sionist theory, that puts into the symbol of baptism
death, burial, and resurrection and exhibits the
advocates of this theory not only having depart
ed from the teachings of the word of God in the
form of the administration of the Sacrament, but,
what is far more serious, as having in its import
virtually abandoned the baptism which God has or
dained.
This work is especially to be priced for the full
and clear exposition which it contains of real Chris
tan baptism, the baptism of the soul by the Holy
Spirit into Christ We conclude this bret notice Of
a work. worthy of one much more extended, by CO.
plying and heartily endorsing the following extract
from a commendatory letter from the Rev. Stuart
Robinson, D. D.
81 have read Christian Baptism with much profit,
IS well as pleasure to myself have not been able,
through pressure of other duties, to go into critical
examination of several interpretations that
to me, of leading passages of the New Testament,
setting forth the way of Salvation 1t appears to
me that your interpretations evince, in remarka-
Bile degree, self evidencing power that carries
yiction with it. For they certainly relieve these
passages of the obscurity and perpexites that at
tach to them under any other exposition that have
read. Your pathological argument concerning the
ignfcation of Baptize' and Baptism as primari
y denotiug the real spiritual baptism OF the soul,
and emily secondariy denoting ritual baptism, is
scholarly, able, aud overwhelming. Your book
should be in the hands of all our ministry
The work is for sale by j. D. K Sleight, Business
Agent of the Presbyterian Committee of Publication