davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
Can we Plead Poverty?

Rev. A. W. Clisby, pastor of the Presby-
terian church of Macon, Ca, preached re-
Gently sermon on practical duties that is
thus described in the Macon Telegraph.
Con Sabbath the pastor of the Presbyte
rian church in this city, in the course of his
very appropriate and excellent remarks upon
the duty of paying honest debts and giving
literally to the Lord, said it had become the
fashion ever since the war to plead urgent
poverty as the excuse for all remissness in
these important particulars. Acting upon
that assumption, much real distress has been
inflicted upon needy creditors and the Church
of God was greatly crippled in its operations
and usefulness.
"But, really, the attendance throughout
the South upon the great Centennial EXPOSE
ton had demonstrated that the above plea
was wholly untenable.
"Even in that worshipping congregation
it had been ascertained that ten thousand
dollars had been expended in visiting the
Worlds Exposition.
"This s all right aud proper, and it was
not only pleasant, but instructive and profit
able, to behold that grand collection of the
products and curiosities of all nations But
the expenditure of such sum most effectual
ly proves that our people are not impoversh
ed And, moreover, if any additional evil
deuce were wanting, it can be found in the
extravaganza everywhere manifested in dress
handsome equipages, and the enjoyment Of
articles Of pure luxury.
"The moral of this was that both the
church and community should now awaken
from their lethargy, and show by the pune
tuality with which all honest obligations were
discharged, and more liberal donations paid
into Gods treasury, that they were at length
truly alive to their spiritual and temporal
responsibilities, and willing to do their whole
duty in the future.
"The sermon of Mr.. Clisby was full Of
opposite truths very forcibly expressed, and
we are sure there were very few present who
could not take home at least moiety Of
what was said"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
From the New York Evangelist
well Meaning but With Very Little
Intellect.

Mr.. Carlyleis now quite feeble physically,
by reason of age, but bis mind retains its
wonted brilliancy, and his memory is still
vigorous, and the flow of his talk is as copl-
Gus, eloquent, and pertinent as ever, as the
following sample will show:
"About thirty years ago book was pub
lished here called the 'Vestiges of Creation.
1t ran quickly through five editions. Men
read it with bated breath in silence, and mar
yelled at its audacity. 1t was like pinch of
snuff, and now whole wagon loads of it are
thrown down in the public highways, and
atheistic sneezing has become the fashion
So called literary and scientific classes in
England now proudly give themselves to pro-
toplssm, origin of species, and the like, to
prove that God did not build the universe.
81 have known three generations of the
Darwins, grandfather, father, and son; athe-
lists all. The brother Of the present famous
naturalist, quiet man who lives not far
from here, told me that among his grand
fathers effects he found seal engraven with
this Legend Oanaa eacOnchis; everything
from clam shell saw the naturalist not
many months ago told him that l had read
his Origin of the Species and other books !;
that he had by no means satisfied me that
men were descended from monkeys, but had
gone far toward persuading me that he and
his so-called scientific brethren had brought
the present generation of Englishmen very
near to monkeys A good sort Of man is
this Darwin, and we'll meaning, but with very
little intellect.
"Ah, it's sad and terrible thing to see
nigh whole generation of men and women
protesting to be cultivated, looking around
| in purblind fashion, and finding no God in
this universe. suppose it is reaction from
the reign of cant and hollow pretense, pro-
Tossing to believe what in fact they do not
believe. And this is what We have got to-.
ALI things from frog spawn: the gospel of
dirt the order of the day. The older l grow
and now stand upon the brink of eter-
nity-the more comes back to me the SEN
tence in the catechism, which learned when
child, and the fuller and deeper it's mean.
ing becomes-'W What is the great end of
man?' To glorify God, and to enjoy Him
forever No gospel of dirt, teaching that
men have descended from frogs through
monkeys, can ever set that aside"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

Rev. DR.. grassy. The Missouri Weekly
Statesman, of last week, contains a notice of
an able discourse preached in Columbia, Mo-,
by DR.. Grasty, on the history and prospects
of the Jewish people. 1t also contains the
following paragraph, entitled "Words of
Thanks -
1.-THE Hebrews of Columbia, even at the risk OF
being criticised for obtruding themselves before
the public ask leave to tender in this manner their
warm and grateful thanks to Rev. DIR. Grasty OF
the Presbyterian Church, for his sermon last Sab
bath the Jews, their wonderful history as peo-
pie, what they we're, are now, &c. His kind words
accompanied by no revilings or injustice, went to
our hearts, and we-a very small portion of the
community here, and far from our native land
thank him thousand times for them; Nav God
bless him. HE HEBREWS.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
The Synod of Texas

Met in Dallas Texas, November lst, and ser
mou was preached BY Rev. j.. Tenney.
Rev Dr. j. w. Miller was chosen Moderator
Rev. j. johnson. and Rev. O. II. Dobbs, Clerks
The Presbytery OF Western Texas reported four.
teen ministers, eight of whom are engaged in teach
ing. Rev. j. r. Schultz had been indefinitely sus
pended They have twenty eight churches, only
two Of which are supplied every Sunday.
Presbytery of Eastern Texas reported twenty-five
ministers and forty-one churches.
Presbytery of Central Texas reported seventeen
minister's one licentiate, and thirty-six churches
Presbytery of Brazos reported sixteen ministers
and twenty-four churches
Ten new churches had been organized in the
whole Synod, and each Presbytery had secured eff
Gent evangelists.
Rev. D. McGregor, of Houston, Texas was
elected director in the South Western University,
GAINESVILLE, Tenn.
Some changes in the boundaries of the Presby-
teries were made.
Rev. S. s. King resigned his office of director in
Austin College, which is now located at Sherman,
and has twenty students, with encouraging pros
pectS
The Texas Presbyterian was warmly commended
to the ministers and church members throughout
the boundaries of the Synod
The next meeting will be at San Antonio.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
Charleston PresbYtery

Met in Beaufort county. s. c., October 18th.
Rev. j. H. Bryson, preached Oh [ Cor. XII q
Three ministers aud three ruling elders were pre-.
sent The Rev. j. d. A. Brown was chosen Mode
ratnr.
Ebenezer church in Charleston was enrolled, and
its elder, Thomas Stenhouse, took his seat as a
member Mr.. T. II. Cunningham accepted call
from the church and will be ordained and installed
December 9th, y P M. Rev. j. d. A. Brown,
Rev. j. R. Dow, and Rev. Dr.. W. T. Junkin to
take part in the services.
The pastoral relation between Rev. j. r. Dow
and Edisto church was dissolved
Rev. William Adams resigned as stated clerk,
and Rev. j. r. Dow was elected to the Office pro
tenn.
1t was deemed inexpedient TO change the Pres
byterial bounds at this time,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

INTERNATIONAL LEssONs.-Our readers
have been indebted to the Rev. W. A. Camp
bell for the excellent expositiOns he has given
from week to week. They will regret to
learn that his services cannot be longer Sc
cured for this paper, as they have been en-
gagged by our Committee of Publication. 1t
is gratifying to know that ne will have wide
field of usefulness in this department, as he
is to prepare the exposition for the Gospel
.SOa0er, a paper published jointly by our
Church and that of the Reformed, and widely
circulated among both.
The exposition in the Central Presbyterian
this week is condensed from pamphlet pub,
lished in Chicago: hereafter they will be
prepared by the editor of this paper.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

ELECTION FOR PRESIDENTIAL the time
of making up our paper for this week, tues
day 14th) both parties claim the election in
their favor. The decision depends upon
what is determined as to the vote in South
Caroline, Florida and Louisiana. If any
one of these States is counted for Tilden his
election is conceded. The course pursued
in counting the vote there, and the result, is
viewed with degree of anxiety and sppre-
hensiOn almost indescribable. Will it lead to
peaceful end, or is it the fOrerunner of new
and terrible troubles? A few days will prob
ably indicate the future. In the meantime
let all men pray that He in whose hands are
the destinies of nations, may inclinet the hearts
of all to whatsoever things are true, and
honest, and just, and pure, and lovely, and
of good report.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

THE intercollegiate 0ratorical Contest came off at
Lynchburg, Va, on the Sth inst. Mr. McCorkle,
the president, opened the exercises in neat and
appropriate Introductory speech, explaining the
objects of the society. He then introduced Mr.
w. Il. Cave of Hampden Sidney, whose subject
was 1.-The Love of Fame"
Mr.. Caves grafton was chaste, elegant, and well
delivered, though his voice was little tremuous
at first. His speech was we'll received and highly
appreciated
The next speaker was Mr.. jarrett, of Roanoke.
He handled his subject of Echoes - in mastery
manner. He was little awkward at first, but
soon gained self-possession His style and voice
was little monotonous
Mr. j. @. Wysor, of Emory and Henry. was
next introduced, and in business like way pro-
ceeded to discuss his subject OF "Our Republic"
His grafton was well received and frequently ap-
plauded.
The speeches were all good, and reflect much
credit upon the young gentlemen who participated.
Mr.. Cave's Grafton was thoughtful, MIR. Jarretts
careful and studied. while Mr.. Wysor's was most
popular. 1t was hard to determine to whom the
medal should be awarded. All agree, however,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

Try THE SPIRITS First Baptist
church of Petersburg, held meeting Oh the
Ssh inst, and expelled the Rev. Morton Muir
ren (so caled) from It's communion. This is
the same man of whom some notice was taken
few weeks ago. He was too confdingly
received as a CongregstionaliSt minister from
New York, by the Presbyterians, and not
suspecting any thing wrong, was invited by
them to supply the p& pit of Rev. DR.. With
erspoon in his absence. Suddenly one Sat
urday night he turned Baptist, and the next
night was baptized by immersion, with no
little rejoicing and flourish in the newSpa-
pers about :" the distinguished Presby terian
preacher" who had become convert. 1t
was announced that he would be forthwith
ordained, (query, if he was preacher at all,
had he not been ordained p but it is under
stood that cooler heads in Richmond judged
there was no necessity for so much hot haste.
We shall not 60 through details of investiga-
tons; but the upshot is that Murrell is un-
derstoOd to be an imposition and fraud
He formerly figured under the name of Mer-
rill, as a Northern Methodist preacher in
Tennessee; fell into disgrace and was ex-
PEELED. Our only reason for spending q
word on him now is to guard other parts of
the Church against such inAictOn as has been
suffered in Petersburg.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

The GREAT CONQUEST. By DR.. F. F. Elhnwood.
We have received from William Rankin, % Centre
Street, New York, copy of this excellent book on
Christian Missions. Rev. Dr. A. Hodge, of Al
legheny City and other distinguished ministers at
the North speak in the highest terms of it. writer
in the N Y Evangelist says:
SIT was prepared in response to the pressing and
repeated requests of several of US who are actual
pastors and Is such concerned in marshalling our
people in this urgent war, and in developing their
intelligent liberality. We felt that We ourselves
needed to be instructed and enthused and we need
ed also suggestions of facts and principles to enable
US in turn to provide for the missionary instruction
of our people. The book DR.. Ellinwood has fur
nished is most admirably adapted to supply the
want we felt 1t consists of great variety of mis-
cellaneous papers on missionary subjects, throwing
a flood Of light, and calling forth In the heart OF
every lover of the Lord and of His cause tide OF
grateful and hopeful interest"
A writer in the Tran$ylUanta Presbyterian COM
mends the book warmly, and makes an excellent
suggestion. AS the great hope for increased zeal
in the cause of Foreign Missions lies in the train
ing of the young to greater activity
knowledge must be impaired to our Sunday
School scholars knowledge on the subject of mis-
sons, of the condition of the heather world, and
OF the revealed duty or the Churcn 10 seno the
gospel to every creature. Such knowledge, IN Or
der to become practically dominant of the future
religious life, must be systematically and abun'
dainty impaired. Desultory, or infrequept in.
struction, no matter how regular, is not sufficient
to secure the result desired. There is such thing
as the Science of Foreign Missions and this sol
euce ought to be taught in all our Sunday Schools.
No greater benefit could be conferred on the
Church than for one who ia competent, like DIR.
Rufus Anderson, or +. f. Ellinwood, to prepare
text books on Foreign Missions adapted for use IN
Sunday Schools and in common schools. The Sci.
ence of Foreign Missions ought to be taught in al
Colleges under the control of the Church, until the
whole mind of our youth should be as familiar
with the history and the science, as with Arithme'
tic and Geography"
1t can be procured at the Mission House, % Cen
tire Street, New York, at 55 cents copy, postage
included.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

erty did not some time threaten to enter the
houses of many of our preachers, simply be-
cause the people are unmindful of their obi
cations, many congregation would be better
served by its pastor.
Is it your pastor that is thus treated, and
are you guilty of starving yourself
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

ROBERT BURNS once observed that he
could not "pour out his whole soul without
reserve to any human being without one day
repenting the confidence" This peril of be-
trayal is one that is inseparable from earthly
friendship. But there is one Friend into
whose ear the whole heart may be poured,
and the secret of the soul ia safe.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

The Bethany Sunday School, Philadelphia, I'm.
der the superintendent of John Wanamaker is
about as remarkable as anything the centennial
visitor finds in that city this year. On Sundays
in such numbers as almost to dispossess the g. ma
tives" The total attendance on recent Sunday
of officers. teachers, scholars and visitors was s.,
AIS, nearly four thousand of whom were visitors.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
Presbytery of East Hanover.

At an adjourned meeting of East Hanover Pres
bytery, held in Norfolk during the sessions OF the
Synod, the Rev. H. NJ. Anderson applied for a
dissolution of the pastoral relation between him.
self and the Holmes church. The church was cited
to appear before Presbytery at an adjourned meet
ing, to be held in the Rooms of the Committee of
Publication, Richmond, on November 23d, at 4
P. NJ, and show cause, if any they have, why the
application Of their pastor should not be granted.
w. A. CAMPBELL, Stated Clerk.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
In THE BIBLE.

In THE BIBLE
The middle chapter and the shortest is Psalm
CXVII.
The middle verse is the Sth of Psalm CIVIL
The word "Jehovah" occurs 6 1855 times.
In THE OLD TESTAMENT.
The middle book is Proverbs
The middle chapter is JOB xxx,
The middle verse is in II Chronicles, the 20tt
chapter and the 18th verse.
The shortest verse is the 18th verse Of Chroni
cles
The word "and'' occurs IS, SAB times.
In THE New TESTAMENT.
The middle book is the II Epistle to Thessalo
mans.
The middle chapter is the 18th Of Romans.
The middle verse is the 18th verse Of the l7tf
chapter of Acts.
The shortest verse is the 35th verse of the It'll
chapter of John.
The word ''and" occurs l0,6S4 times.
The 2lst verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra has il
it all the letters OF the alphabet except j.
The 10Th chapter Of the III Book Of Kings ant
the 37th of Isaiah are alike. Is. 5. ID.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15
The Bible.

The division into chapters was frat made By Car
dinal Hugo, about A. D. 1910. The plan OF Hugo
having become known to Rabbi Nathan in the
fifteenth century, he made Hebrew concordance
to the Old Testament, retaining the chapters, but
improving the order of the verses. The New les
lament was divided into verses, and numbered, A
D. 1915, by Robert Stephens. q learned French
man, who was printer to the King OF France.
1t is said that three years spent in the curl
Gus, but idle calculation of the following tables:
In he Old In the Nel0
TeStnnlenL HestnnlenL IntaL ApOcruphG
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

UNCLE JoE's THANKSGIVING. BY Joanna II.
Matthews. Price $l25 And, HOLIDAY HOUSE
Price $l25. A series of tales by Catherine Sin
clair. are among the recent publications for
young people received from Robert Garter and
Brothers, New York. Through j. d. K. Sleight,
Richmond.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

L1TTELL's LIVING AGE.-Some of the
best selected articles in our paper are ex-
tracted from this excellent periodical, which
gathers them weekly from great variety of
periodicals in this and other countries.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

THE THEORY OF SOUND IN ITS RELATION TO
Music. By Professor Pietro Baserna, of the
Royal University of Rome.
The INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SERIES. No.
XXII Price 81. so. D. Appleton Il Co., pub.
fishers, 55l Broadway, New York. Through
Woodhouse & Parhsm, of this city.
This Series is entirely an American project and
was originated and organized by Dr. E. l.. You
mans, who has spent much time in Europe, ar
ranging with authors and publishers
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-15

AVER Il Sons MANUAL, SECOND EDITION. This
enterprising firm expect to move this week from 7SS
SAMSON Street to the Times Building, South wes
corner Sth and Chestnut Streets Philadelphia. The
entire second floor has been fitted up to meet the
demands of their increasing business The Manual
of which ten thousand copies have been published
is one of the most complete works of the kind We
have ever SEEM and is full of valuable information
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-17
hooI and Church.

Ohio will evpend 5000 in making
an educational exhibition At Philadel-
phia. $1,000 of which will be used in
erecting 3 model school building.
Rev +. q Langley, while preach
ing in the Mission Church, At the cor
ner Of Nassau and Oakland Streets.
BROOKLYN, on the 27th, fell dead in the
pulpit from heart disease.
A Summer school IF Science and
Physical Culture j. being organized in
Indianapolis II viii consist Of twenty
persons. under charge If Mr.. Ernest
Copeland Of Cornell University, and will
make a six weeks trip through Ken
lucky and Tennessee.
Bishop Garrett. Of Northern Texas.
calls Tor two iiinerants in the ..Wild
Southwest" " his Jurisdiction, for work
that will demand special gifts "Scani
income and small sympathy, and po-
lemical distr7Ist and wearing solitude.
and long, lonely journeys. and poor food
and poorer shelter. and lower spiritual
companions hip-these are the enemies
10 he dreaded"
The Protestant Episcopal Diocese
of Iowa ha~ had hard time in getting
a Bishop. II has decided now not 10
cali special convention for the election
II another Clergyman 20 fill the Office.
bur 20 remain without prelaie u the
regular Convention. which meets on the
3Oth ~ MAY. Tn. income If this Office
Is only =. ZOO. and the work is hard. so
the position seems hard one TO I'LL
with exactly the right kind of man.
The SUNDAY honl workers in Iowa.
Minnesota. Wisconsin. Illinois. Mis-
souri,, Kansas. and Dakota have COM
bined to hold au assembly after the
manner Of Chaui,uqua They are to
meet al the Clear Lake Campaigning
Ground, in Iowa. and 70 continue their
work from June - TO July 4. Their ar
Engagements have been carefully made
and the prospects of their success are
good. The Hon Hiram Price. Of Day-
export, Ia i, 'residcn. If the Commit
lee ~ Mans cement:
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-17
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


Schleicher, Of Texas, is the only
German in Congress.
Mary Hewitt, the venerable au-
thoress, is living with her family in
Rome.
1t is stated in ST. Lonis that the Bah
cock trial cost the defendant $25. 600.
storrs was paid - 500 and Porter So
coo.
Col. John W Forney, Centennial
Commissioner in Europe, arrived home
on the 18th ult., after an absence Of
nearly two years abroad.
w. w. Maynard, founder. and for
many years editor of the Council Bluffs
NOnpdreil, died at his residence, in Coun-
ell Bluffs, on the 26th ult.
The young woman who goes around
lecturing under the name Of Bessie
Turner" is declared to be fraud, aud
no relation 10 the genuine Tilton-Beech-
er witness Of that name.
Fifty-four natives of New York are
members of Congress. The three Ne
braska member are all from New York.
OF the nineteen Illinois members but two
are natives IF Illinois.
Mrs. Lockwood, the irrepressible
woman lawyer. has several important
cases pending before the Court Of Claims
81 Washington, bat she can not get re-
cogniiion from the Bench.
Charlotte Cushman was engaged
when Young lady 10 Charles Spauld-
ing. of New buryport, Mass. according
70 the Herald Of that town. The parents
objected. and the match was broken OF.
Neither ever married. Mr.. Spaulding
died several years ago.
In Macready's diary. under date Of
New York, October q, 1913, j. this en-
try: "Thc Miss Cushman, who acted
Lady Macbeth. interested me much.
She has 10 learn her art. but she showed
mind and sympathy with me-a novelty
50 refreshing to me on the stage
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-17

Polk County was visited las; week by
a thunder storm Of unprecedented vio-
lence. A large oak near Bucna Vista,
on the farm of Mr.. Wheeler. was struck
by lightning and entirely demolished,
nothing being seen OF il except small
pieces scattered over the place where il
stood. One piece of the tree went in at
the side Of the barn, tearing four boards
of rs il went, and another struck the
roof Of the barn, breaking one rafter.
The next morning, on going up stairs,
a piece If the tree was found there. II
having been thrown in AT the end of the
house, and with such force that il
smashed a bedstead before stopping,
though the noise the night before was
80 great that the commotion upstairs
was not heard. A piece which, IL is
said, would take three or four able
bodied men 10 lift, was found about a
hundred yards from the spot where the
tree had stood -Portl1Hd { Or. } journal.