Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-06-15

HIS BEGINNINGs.-Mr.R Reynolds, AN
Illinois layman, who always has "a
mind to work for Christ, thus describes
MIR. Moody as he first met him in
Chicago shanty:
II went there little late, and the
first thing | saw was man standing
up, with a few tallow candles around
him, holding a negro boy, and trying
to read to him the story of the Prodi-
gal Son, and a great many of the words
he could not make out, and had to
skip. l thought if the Lord could ev-
eruse such an instrument as that for
his honor and glory it will astonish me.
After that meeting was over, Mr..
Moody said to me, Reynolds, have
got only one talent; have no educa-
ton, but love the Lord Jesus Christ,
and want to do something for Him,
and / want you to pray for me. l have
never ceased, from that day to this,
morning and night, to pray for that
devoted Christian soldier"
-O
THE BEST SERMON.-People are al
ways listening to the best sermon they
ever heard AT an advanced age, still
that they started on very poor ones; for
this superlative did not, perhaps, ex-
press the opinion of some other person
equally able to judge. But there are
various kinds'of sermons. There is the
doctrinal one, the biographical, logical,
illustrative, and various other styles;
aDd men speaking of the best will
mean the best of those several kinds.
Then men are in varying conditions
for hearing. If they are full of joy, the
hest one will be glad and enthusiastic.
If they are borne down with sorrow,
their praises are only for the consoling
and sympathetic. Just in so far as the
sermon is suited to the hearer, and is
blest to his edification by the Holy
Spirit, will he find il such as he will
gre atty praise. The really good hear
er will find something hopeful in all
and now and then he will be flooded
with happy emotion.
-O--
WAsHINGToN's DEATH.-Geo. Tick
nor thus describes the way in which
the news of Washington's death was
received: "Hhere never was more
striking or spontaneous tribute paid to
news came of WashingtOn's death
Q799). 1t was little before noon
and l often heard persons say at the
time that one could know how far the
news had spread by the closing of the
shops. Each man, when he heard that
Washington was dead, shut his store,
as matter of course, without cOnsulta-
tion, and in two hours all business was
stopped. My father came home, and
he could not speak, he was so over
come; my mother was alarmed to see
him in such state, till he recovered
enough to tell her the sad news. For
some time every one, even the chill
dren, wore Grape on the arm; no boy
could 60 into the street without it.
wore it, though only eight years old. "
ORIGIN OF CHURCH PEWS.-There
is speck of history connected with the
origin of church pews, which cannot
help but prove interesting. In the ear
ly days Of the Anglo-Saxon and some
of the Norman churches, stone bench
afforded the only sitting accommOda-
ti0ns for members or visitors. In the
year 1919 the people are spoken of as
sitting on the ground or standing. AT
later period the people introduced
lop, three-legged stools, and they were
placed in no order in the church. Di-
rectly after the Norman conquests, seats
came into fashion.
In 1887 decree was issued that none
should call any seat his own, except
noblemen and patrons, each entering
and holding the first one he found.
From 1880 to 1890 seats were more ap-
propriated, a crow-bar guarded the en-
trance, bearing the initial of the own
er. 1t was in 1903 that galleries were
thought of. And as early as 1914 pews
were arranged TO afford comfort by be-
ing baized or cushioned, while the
sides around were so high as to hide
the occupants-ad device of the Puritans
to avoid being seen by the officer, who
reported those who did not bow when
the name of Jesus was announced
Selected.
"SOMEBoDY MUST BE IN."-Here is
little story which tells better than q
dictionary can the meaning of the
word 'disinterestedness.'
The late Archdeacon Hare was once
when tutor of Trinity College, Cam
bridge, giving lecture, when cry o.
Fire was raised. Away rushed his
pupils, and forming themselves into 6
line between the building, which was
close at hand, and the river, passed