davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04

need city missions, but not so much after tn
accepted style. We want devoted laymen
with souls wholly given to God, set on hi
righteousness, and the favor of God as the
supreme good. We want these men thor
oughly furnished for all good works, and
with the whole armour of God.
We want them in the work shop, behind
the counter, in the counting room, at the
bar, at the bed side, in buying and selling,
in keeping accounts, in constructing, in day
labor, in pleading causes, in ministering to
the sick, doing honest work, telling the
truth, revering the right, plying the suffer-
ing, ready to lose, to make any sacrifice, to
bear little or great losses, and suffer mortif-
cations where duty requires it.
We want men in every place by meek
and unaffected but immovable adherence to
duty and to right in the least transaction, the
most common place occurrence of every day
life, to advertise Christianity, to show forth
righteousness. The advertisers Of quack
medicines, the children of this world, teach
US lesson. On let US everywhere, in every
place see that God is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
wherever we go We may honor Him and
make His name to be revered by some occa-
sional passer-by.
Let us apply the prophecy to our daily
matters and make it that the pots in the
Lords house shall be as the vessels before
the altar, and that on the bells of the horses
shall be written Holiness to the Lord.
While agreeing with the main drift of this ar
tice, and conceding all due importance to the sub
ect. the matter of street preaching is encompassed
with no small difficulties Mr.. Moody, whose prac
tical good sense none can dispute, does not favor
it in the modes commonly practiced. Better would
it be- unless in exceptional cases. for all Christians
to be diligent preachers in private way, and by
personal access to the wandering and neglected
classes, bring them to the house of God and if
necessary provide additional places for regular wor
ship.-CEN PRES
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
Resolutions.

If you are child of God will you not
adopt and practise these resolutions?
l. 1 will daily observe secret and family
prayer.
2. will daily and prayerfully read the
word of God.
3. 1 will daily seek hesalvatiOn of sinners.
4. 1 will obey Gods ordinances as taught
in his word.
5. I will cheerfully give of my means to
the cause of God.
6. will do what l can in the Sabbath
school
7. If 1 am offended with brother, will
follow the rule in Matt. xviii: 14-17.
8. will never visit any place of amuse-
ment or social pleasure on which l cannot
first ask Gods blessing.
8. will never use Intoxicating drink as q
beverage.
10. will daily seek to grow in grace.
If you sre not a child of God will you
not adopt aud practise the following resolu'
tions:
1. will no longer neglect my souls sal
vation.
2. will regularly attend divine worship
8. I will pray for myself, and not b'
ashamed of religion.
4. will ask the prayers of others, anC
seek with all my heart,
5. l will forsake every known sin and cas-
myself on the mercy my Saviour,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04

instruction properly devolves; parents, Sab
bath School teachers and ministers of tn
gospel. With all the hostility evinced b!
the writer in the Review, to @ere mental in
struction and culture, neither he nor those
who hold his views, take the ground that nj
child must be introduced to such privileges
till he is pious. Now it will hardly be held
that teaching child to read will hinder the
efforts of religious teachers in the family OF
church, or both. The objections of our writer
would seem to justify very absurd courses
Thus Arithmetics and Grsmmars, Readers
and Spoilers, must be provided with prayers
and hymns to neutralse the bad effects of
mere secular knowledge Indeed the writer
and all who agree with him, to be consistent,
must abandon all efforts to teach their chill
dren the rudiments of secular knowledge.
7. In the design with which this writer
has entered the lists, against public schools,
we may cordially symRathise, however strong
ly we repudiate his course ofremark or ques-
ton the logic and soundpets ot.his discussion.
With him we most cordially unite in urging
on parents, the true teachers of children, and
all engaged in giving them religious inStruc-
ton, to double their. diligence in the good
work, not to repel infdel influences OF knowF
edge, but to bring the knowledge that these
schools give, in subordination to that knowE
edge and true wisdom, which are alone taught
in Gods word and made eficaciouB by Gods
Spirit in leading youth to know Jesus Christ
the great teacher and Saviour of men.
Finally, all human institutions are imper-
feet. No law of general application, what
ever be its benefits, can escape the charge OF
involving some evil. But it is presumptu-
GUS, in the light of the opinions Of some OF
the wisest and best Christian statesman and
philanthropists, for any one to prefer meth
DDS which left one-fourth or one-ftth of our
white population in ignorance, to those which
only need sufficient means to give elementary
instruction to the whole population; and to
do this, on the plea that ignorance is prefer
able to knowledge with its risks and despite
all its advantages for aiding in the inculca-
ton of intelligent religion. Long have we
known that Ignorance and Idleness are pa
rents of vice and misery" and it is new
doctrine for Protestants to advocate, that
IGNORANCE is the mother of devotion or
any characteristic of true piety.
B. M. S.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
AN=zfEayeF'.

1. Those llch embf Fly no desire. They
are formal and lfelessr. The soul will not be
easily paci6ed when it. has a great desire
which cries out for something God alone can
give.
2. Such as are not in earnest Prayer is
real work for life, while yet disclaiming all
personal power to secure it or merit it.
8. Such as are without faith. There are
three grounds for faith in approach to God.
1st. His Covenant. ID. His Promises. Sd.
His attributes. Surely upon one or the
other the confidence Of the petitioner may
rest unshaken.
4. Such as are made with wrath. The
heart which secures favor from God must
love mankind. 1t must put away all wrath
and malice and evil speaking. 1t must for
give and bless as it would be forgiven and
blessed.
5. Such as are connected with disposi-
ton to live in sin. eff | regard iniquity in
my heart, the Lord will not hear me"
6. An unwillingness to do the will Of God
Many a man dares not ask for the coming ir
of the Holy Spirit, lest it reprove him fol
some long neglected duty. If We pray fol
light, we must accept its revelations; fol
strength, the duties it imposes.
z. The lack of praise to God. Thankless
ness shuts God out, is non. conductor o
mercy. We do not praise God half enough
8. Praying to be seen and heard of men
Prayers for human ears have little audienc
in divine ones.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
Wandering Church Members.

What are the reciprocal duties of church
es and their members? Do they not lie in
the direction of the most watchful fidelity till
death ends our earthly responsibility, or it
is known that one has removed from the
watch of particular church, and has been
received to the fellowship of another? Very
many protesting Christians are unknown as
such in their present places of abode, and
their location is unknown to the churches
where their VOWS are recorded. 1t is be-
lieved indisputable that vast injury results
to the negligent person, and that great dis
honor is done to the cause of the Redeemer
by the loose practice of both churches and
members.
Is there remedy? Possibly not in full,
and immediate. Shall the disease be left,
therefore, to work out its great mischiefs un-
checked? Does not relief lie in the exercise
of thorough discipline on the part of pastors,
officers, and church-members? Should not
protesting Chriotian. bs-fuIly informed, and
frequently reminded of their obligation to
take letters of dismission within six months,
or at most, year after removal from the
church of their connection
May not pastors and church officers ex-
ercise greater vigilance in inquiring for ab-
sent members, and by visiting or correspon-
dence, maintain such a watch as shall save
many sad defections, and thus fulfill the vows
assumed in admitting persons to church,fel-
lowship ?-American Messenger.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04

Q this venerable court" to assert, what be-
, lieve every member of it knows to be true
8 that much valuable time is often wasted, and
business retarded by the ventilation Of per.
sona and worthless crotcheis and the con-
fused and wearisome discussion of irrelevant
matter, and frivolous points of order? Can
any one deny that such discussions often
postpone important and practical subjects
to the last hours of the session, and that they
are then hurried through with unseemly haste,
to the detriment of the Synod's influence and
precious interests of the Church? These
charges may be an injurious, we verify believe
they are not an unjust reproach upon this
venerable court. But
Are these vices justly attributed to the
size of the Synod? All deliberative bodies
are liable in some measure to these faults
but they characterize them in the ratio of
their numerical dimensions. The Synod of
Virginia is no exception to this remark
Its gravity, dignity, decorum and Christian
courtesy have. failed p protect it against the
vices which uniformly aflict like bodies. In
fact these very virtues have sometimes ag-
gravated the trouble, and made it tolerant of
elaborate discussions by distinguished indi-
viduals which other bodies of less Christian
courtesy would have summarily, if not rudely
terminated. All large deliberative assem-
blies are confessedly less nimble and more
clumsy and lubberly than small ones. The
simple and sufficient explanation of this diff
ference is the fact that in large bodies there
is greater diversity of opinion, more mem
bers to be heard, more occasions of verbal
disputes, more "mental and moral idiosyn
cracies" to be brought to the surface, and
greater tendency to set speeches, and to make
impressions and regulations than in smaller
ones, where the theatre Of display is confined,
the diversity of views not extensive and the
debates conversational. Under certain linn
itations it is true that few counsellors are
wiser than multitude, and their conclusions
more to be relied on than the compromises
which so often result from the conflicting
opinions of large assembly, and, which ex-
pressing the convictions of no one, are often
treated by all with Indifference if not con-
tempt. These views are so well supported
by observation and painful experience that
in our civil governments the size of the leg
islatve body has become question of grave
Importance, and the State of Virginia by a
constitutional provision has at last laid its
hands upon the evil, reduced the Legis-
lature. I belieySf division would, by
=: :: q: :: :: : :: ; 4
reducing the 81 our Synod in large
degree of the q led to. So much for
the first reasc1 MONTGOMERY.
(I |LUDED.)
Prayers.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
ABIDE Your TIME-Every man must pa

ABIDE Your TIME-Every man must pa
tiently bide his time; not in idleness, in USE
less pastime or querulous detection, but in
constantly accomplishing bis task, that when
occasion com IS he may be equal to it. The
talent of success is nothing more than doing
we'll what you do, without thought of fame.
If that comes at all it will come because it is
deserved, and not because it is sought after.
1t is very indiscreet and troublesome ambi-
tion which cares 80 much what the world says
of US; to be always anxious about the effects
of what we do or say; to be always shouting
to hear the echoes of our voices.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPING.
rEspEalr INSCRIBED TO soaRow1ss HEARgs.

TENDERLT INSCRIBED TO SORROWlNG HEAhtSs
They sleep do not call them dead
The gentle, good, beloved,
Who, weary of earth's care and toll, and strife,
Have sought rest beyond this troubled life.
And dwell not for removed.
Unseen they hnger with Us stiu,
And heavenward guide our feet.
Their kindly words, their smiles, and deeds of love
Live in our mem'ry wheresoe'er we move
A spirit presence sweet!
We do not know how they appear,
With glory round them spread,
We do not know the song they've learned to sing
Nor yet how high they soar on angel wing
We kRO1o they are not dead
When Jesus walked our troubled earth,
And with its stricken wept,
Twas told Him that maid IN death reposed,
And over one he loved the grave had closed,
And Jesus said-"they sleptl"
So when ye lay the gody down
In earth's cold narrow bed,
Resigning them to Christ forever more,
D say, they sleep, "-'' they rest" are gone
before"
But do not call them dead
The toilsome day of life o'erpast,
Its burden, and its heat,
No more as strangers-pilgrims here to roam
At night-fall in their Fathers house, at home
Their slumbers, o how sweet
They sleep D do not call them dead,
Who liUs beyond the sky
A hand Divine hath touched the pallid brow,
And spirit voices whisper even now
The righteous Revsr die
May Oath, 90. NJ. j. LEPs.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04

The Missionary Magazine notices re-
markable movement among the Jews in some
parts of Algeria. An evangelist at Oron
writes that his church, which holds about
three hundred, is thronged every Sunday by
Jews who have publicly professed the desire
to be instructed in the doctrines of Chris
tiauity. The London City Mission, at work
in the great metropolis, is also receiving q
large blessing in its labors among the Jews.
There are in London hundreds of Jews inquir.
ing into the truth of Christianity.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04

s1l SUCH n6SieCg ulu nUb eAieI' DuV
men now As to 65 years of age give to great
extent similar testimony.
2. The public school system of many
States do require attention, at least, to the
daily reading of the Bible. 1t may be per-
functory, or it may be serious and deVout
exercise. But many, and that of Virginia
among the number, pass over the whole mat
ter in their laws Teachers must be men of
good moral character, and the minor morals as
well as greater are required to be cultivated
by the pupils, according to the "Regulations"
of school authorities.
8. Indeed, according to the fundamental
law of our State, her traditions for nearly q
century, and the views of some of her wisest
men, the State has no authority to prescribe
or prescribe religious services, Bible reading
or other religious teaching, in the schools,
any more than in the State Institutions for
higher education, or indeed, (and the anal
ogy is not strained) any more than to pre-
scribe the opening of courts or the Legisla-
ture, with prayer, with or without reading
the Bible. 1t is evident enough, by the ex-
perience of many States, that were such a
course pursued, endless discussions, contro.
yersies, and bitter strife would result. THE
State has, as such, no religious creed She
would claim the right to prescribe, if allowed
the right to prescribe; to say what is the
Bible, if she can say, the Bible must be used
aud to enter the forum of discussion and de.
cison on questions of Canonicty, Integrity
and Inspiration.
a. But it does not follow that the State
may not Instruct her youth, from 8 to 1t
years of age, in the elements of an English
course, as we'll as those from 16 to q, in tht
higher education. She does not undertake
to educate, in the large sense of the word, il
the one or the other. Religious instruction
deemed by all right-minded Christian men
more essential, even for time and its inter
ests, than secular, is not forbidden; but tn
giving of such instruction is left to teacher
and patrons. And the teachers will be, a
they have been in higher institutions, eau
tious, that the instruction shall be religious
without being Sectarian. In fact, as som
investigation, made so far as time and OppOr
tunity have allowed, has shewn, the readin
of the Bible at least, is far more common, a
an opening religious exercise, in our publ
primary schools, than it has been in the pr
l mary private school of past generation.
5. Nor can it be said that the effect 9
omitting all prescription of religious teachin
will be or has been to produce an antdeI ir
. fuence in the schools, or on the pupils. Tn
g State does not prohibit as much religious il
fuence as has ever existed, or such as th
= teachers and patrons choose to provide.
t 6. On the contrary, these schools will al
those on whom the duty of giving religion
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF PRESBYTERIAN
MINISTERS.
BY AN oCToGENARIAN
No. l.

Breyity will be studied in these articles.
They will consist of incidents, rather than
biographical facts. Being possessed of few
books or even notes, memory must play its
part in the performance. An Octogenarian,
cannot be more sgreeabIy employed than in
recalling the remembrance of diVines with
whom he has been associated. They are
men of the olden time, and we have reaped
in fields planted by their labors. Let us not
forget their tolls in extending that system, to
the doctrines and polity of which We are so
much attached.
Of Doctors Muir, Glendy and Inglis seve-
raj sketches have been published. Of the
two last, in the " Port Folio" and of the
three, in "Annals of the American Pulpit. {"
In speaking of them we can only turn schO-
last.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
DIR. MUIR.

DIR. MUIR.
DR.. Muir was born in Paisley, in Renfrew,
which stands on small river which empties
itself into the Clyde, and is a manufacturing
town. His father was colleague to DR..
WitherspoOn. The place is not far from
Eastville, where Woodrow wrote the His
tory Of the Scottish Kirk, and very near to
where Grahame wrote "The Sabbath, his
"Birds of Scotland" and Bible Pictures" :"
Wilson, alias Christopher North, went from
Paisley, and wrote a stern criticism on
Gray's "Elegy," but his style always lacks
the playfulness of Addison, and never reach
es the elegance of Goldsmith. The subject
of our annotations must have left Renfrew
about ITS, for Cupar in Fife, whittier he
went to teach in private family. He was
licensed and perhaps ordained by the Pres
bytery of Cupar. He went to the Bermudas
in 1882, where he preached till 1870, when
he became pastor in Alexandra, on the Po-
tomac, where he died in August, 1920.
DIR. Muir was rather low in stature, but
made fine appearance in his gown and
bands. His cOuntenance was truly amiable.
He was generally grave but sometimes face
tious. We have never known so intense a
reader of the Bible, whether in Latin, Greek,
or English. When preaching he held small
Bible filed with papers, the ends Of which
were on the outside of the Book, to which
he could refer with facility and Immediately
find his proof texts. He had copy of the
Scriptures in sixty-twO volumes, each part
by itself, unless Obadiah, Philemon and
Jude might have been attached as append
ages to larger portions, and possibly Ruth
and some of the minor prophets were served
in the same way. Not long before his de-
mise he determined to pay visit to his Oi(
congregation in the Summer Isles. From
what text viii you preach 2" l enquired.-
"Our fathers, where are they and thC
prophets, do they live forever :" he replied
When about returning home his people &C
companied him to the ship. In addition t,
two volumes of discOurses, DR.. Muir pub
Hshed " The Call, preached at the Ordins
ton of hcentiate. An excellent sermon
Beecher says that las call to preach, wa
given by his father. A new way in which t
be made fisher of men, or angler in tn
brooks around Brooklyn.
DIR. GLENDY.
The Rev. John Glendy was from Colel
sine, in the north of " Erin-go-B -Bragh," @
"Ireland forever" He preached in kir
at no great distance from the Giants Cause
yay. At the close of the last century, Lt
land was not without its agitations; but the
were auelled before the insurrection set o
foot by Fitzgerald and Emmett in 1902. III
i'll success attendant on these risings hS
driven many to seek quiet home in tt
United States, even though not implicated
any act of seditiOn. In times of alarm Il
gift of few vegetables would excite suspiciC
as to the loyalty of the giver. And in OF
late civil war, showing a Confederate soldi
through the woods would endanger the san
suspicion. We are not informed of the exa
time at which the subject of this notice Of
ciated in Virginia, But about 1903 he "
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
DIR. INGLIs.

The. Rev. James Inglis was native of
Philadelphia. In his childhood his Scotch
parents removed to the Knickerboker City,
and the family sat under the Sabbath voice
of DR.. Rodgers. The state of three counties
has done well for Presbyterianism, though
Sussex is about as sandy as the desert of
Arabia. We can recall Davies "Cherry
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
For THE CENTRAL pREsBYrERrAS.
1.-THE DIVORCE OF EDUCATION AND
RELIGION"

Such is the title of an article in tn
Southern. Presbyterian ReUiesO of last April
The writer opens his discussion by yer,
discriminating view of the ineficiency o
mere knowledge, however full and extensive
to secure moral and religious benefits. II
some very striking and apt Illustrations, ht
sets forth its utter uselessness to remove the
cares and anxietieS, or lesson the perplexi
ties and annoyances, which beset men in the
pursuits of business.
l. 1t is, indeed, very evident, that there
is no direct power in knowledge to renew the
will or change the heart. Men may, and do
err, from ignorance; but after all, men gen.
orally know better than they perform. No
man imbued with right views of our estate
of sin can doubt these plain propositions,
and no such person, whatever his views of the
value of instruction for :ho young, will as
cribe to it any intrinsic power to mould
Alright mans moral nature.
II. The design and scope of the article as
stated, p. 226, by the writer, is "to demon
strate that the general progress of knowl-
edge and intellectual training, in the case of
individuals, when divorced from the con-
straining influence of active piety, increases
and intensifeS the evils and miseries incident
to human life" But he proceeds to his dis
Cussion on the assumption, more or less d.
rectly presented or plainly insinuated, PIP.
226-27, 2S2, &C., that the "public school
system" which as ga matter of fact" it is
settled "we are to have in this country,
must mean to produce ga divorce of secular
and religious instruction" p. 235.
III. Now on this view of the writer's scope
and purpose it may not be amiss to offer
few suggestions.
l. A "Divorce" supposeS previous union.
But have Education and Religion" been
heretofore "united" in the private schools of
our country? In this state, such schools
were generally organized by some one pro-
posing to teach, who went around among pa
rents, with an " "Article {" and when a Suffi-
cient number of pupils might have been en-
tered by the parents, he opened the school
and taught what he promised. Or some en-
gentleman induced his neighbOrs
to unite in establishing school, perhaps
both primary and classical. But the reli-
gious character of the teacher seldom claimed
attention and religious services and instruc-
ton seldom distinguished such schools. An
intelligent gentleman has remarked that he
|sttended schools taught successively by
seven teachers. Of them, two were COngre
two were BaptiStS, two PreSby-
mu1MsaRd one ex- Roman Catholic candidate
Priesthood. In not one did he even
81 esyer or any Scripture reading, ex-
OCCASIONALLY, in cases when the New