davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
How Faith may be Increased

"Faith" (said Mr.. George Muller) ais
confidence that God will act according to
what He has declared in His Holy Word.
1t is reliance on Gods word through the
assurance that He will act truthfully. 1t
is based altogether on His character 1t
is not any impression, whether strong or
weak. We believe because God has
spoken, and not because we have impress
sions. Neither is it any degree of feeling
or emotion. 1t has nothing to do with
probabilities. Faith begins where pro-
liability ends. Many go under cloud
when they might be in clear light, be-
cause they are looking at their own i'm
pressions or feelings, or are weighing pro-
liabilities
Chow then may it be increased?
"Q.) Welcome all the trials of faith
1t grows by the exercise trial gives. But
if we do not welcome the discipline, we
get little from it but the suffering. To
repine at atliction is to miss the most
ennobling Joy, to incur needless distress,
and to lose faith-culture besides.
-"(2) Seek acquaintance with God as
Ee is revealed in the Bible. Trust will
be spontaneous if we really know Him.
The notions of God which the world, and
even many in the church, entertain are
not true. Mr.. M. repeated three times,
very solemnly and tenderly God is the
most lovable of beings. lis this the Ian
guage of your inmost soul? If not, you
are not acquainted with God as He is re-
vealed in Scripture. Seek, above all, to
know God, so that you shall from your
inmost soul say, Though he slay me, yet
will trust in him Ps. tx; 10: They
that know thy name will put their trust
in thee. If one is really acquainted with
the God, not of the world nor of many in
the church, but the God of the Bible, he
is so satisfied that he will not complain
of anything, but will rejoice in ali. 1
say deliberately, from my knowledge of
tens and tens of thousands of Christians
in all parts Of the world, that many of
them are not acquainted with the God of
the Bible. Ny soul longs to have others
know what l have found by getting ac-
quainted with Cod"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15

The London Spectator, reviewing the
Rev. Edward Sells The Faith of Islam,'
says: 1.-The Koran is believed by Mus
Inns to occupy unique position, and to
stand apart from all other inspired writ
ings. 1t is held to be an objective re-
velation of the Divine Will that is to
say, God did not simply illumine the mind
of the prophet and made it the vehicle
of the ideas which He wished to convey
to man. Every word of the Koran was
composed in Heaven and dictated to
Mahommed, word by word, in the Arab
language, by the tongue of the angel
Gabriel. Mr.. Sell quotes Ibn Khaldoun,
an authoritative Mahommedan writer,
in support of this statement. OF all the
divine books, says this eminent Mus
sulman authority, the Koran is the only
one of which the text, words and phrases,
have been communicated to a prophet
by an audible voice. 1t is otherwise
with the Pentateuch, the Gospel, and the
other divine books the prophets received
them in the form of ideas. This, adds
Mr., Sell, expresses the universal belief
on this point-a belief which reveals the
essentially mechanical nature of Islam.
The Koran thus claims to be a divine
revelation in a sense different from all
other sacred books in the belief of every
Mahommedan, that not only the thoughts.
and ideas are of divine origin, but the
very words and their arrangement were
communicated to the prophets as they
were coined and composed in the mint of
Heaven. 1t follows, of course that to
ask Mussulman to alter in the slightest
degree anything sanctioned by the Koran
is to ask him to commit what would be
IN his eyes an objectionable impiety.
The Koran, it must be remembered
deals, in contradiction to the Gospel, with
precepts rather than with principles.
Principles admit of indefinite modification
and development, and therefore Chris
tianity can adapt itself to every variety
OF place and circumstances. But book
which lays down positive rules that are
held to be binding in the strictness Of
the letter to the end of time, is mani
testify a perpetual barrier against the
progress Of civilization among all who
believe in it. The Koran is, in fact the
stereotyped expression of the knowledge
and notions of semi arbarous Arab of
the seventh century and every word of
II being considered the last expression
of the divine will, the consequence is that
the Mussulman world is forever bound
hand and foot in the letters of an I'M
changeable barbarism."
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Redeemed Sinners.

Who gave Himself for us that He might
redeem us from all iniquity and purify
unto Himself a peculiar people? What
then, was His object? To redeem us, to
buy us back from bondage, to save us by
the payment of ransom price, not only
from the punishment of sin, but from its
power, from its pollution, from its foul
and hideous embrace, no less than from
its sword and from its chains. 1t was to
set US free from sin itself that Christ re-
deemed us; not from some sin, but from
all sin; not that we should still remain,
or afterwards fall back under the domin-
ion OF the very tyrant from whose power
he redeemed us, not that we should mere
ly exchange one hard master for another,
or for many; no, He "gave Himself for
us, He laid down His life for us, He died
upon the cross for us, that He might re-
deem us from all iniquity." Nor was
this deliverance from sin as we'll as pun
ishment intended merely for our advan
tage, but for His. He had an end to &C.
complish for Himself. He died to purify
us, not merely that we might be pure and
therefore happy, but also to purify peo-
pie for Himself; possession of His own,
a church, body of which He should be
the head, kingdom of which He should
be the sovereign. Over none but puri-
fed and holy kingdom could He conde-
scend to reign. Of none but a purified
and holy body could He be the head.
justification would have done but half
the work for which Christ died; His end
would not have been accomplished if He
had not redeemed us from iniquity as
we'll as condemnation, if He had not pu-
rited people for Himself, for His own
use and His own honor; people in their
measure like Himself, His own exclusive
ly, His own forever, His inalienable right,
His indefeasible possession, His peculiar
people. '-Dr. d. Il. alexander.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Influence of Calvinism on Scots
men

In recent essay the Hon. I. Wash
burne, OF Portland, Me, wrote of the in
Huence of Calvinism on the world as fol-
lows: That Calvinism has been mighty
power for good, an indispensable factor
In the civilization of the world and the
progress of mankind, cannot I think be
well doubted. 1t planted freedom in
Scotland it raised up the republicans of
the Commonwealth in England it sent
the Pilgrims and Puritans to these
shores; it gave America her indepen-
dence, and the elements of character
which make it possible for her to pre-
serve it, and protect the liberties which
have been planted on her soil.
Now it was on this lofty trust, this
sublime faith, that the hearth-stones of
Scotland were laid, and that her immor-
tai poetry was born. A nation without
faith, which holds nothing and believes
nothing that 1T does not taste or handle,
or which it cannot reason out step by
step, is not a nation for legend or story
or vision, for religion, in word, for poetry;
for welding that sword of lightning
ever unsheathed," which, as Shelley tells
us, consumes the scabbard that would
contain it. Such a nation may be great,
strong, prosperous, and thousand things,
but it has no place for the home of the
heart, nor for the inspiration of the poet,
the unacknowledged legislator of the
world" In it legend is cold, and tradi-
ton barren. It's Preside is steam radi-
ator, and not the blazing log Of Algidus.
Now, to prevent misapprehension, let
me repeat that this tribute to the religion
Of Scotland as a mighty influence, not
alone upon the poetry of that coun-
try but upon the civilization of the world
does not imply that there are not grave
| errors in the deduction and doctrines (for
Of this | say nothing which men have
gathered from its fundamental idea-tbe
sovereignty of God. When men lament
and scold its severe and awful dopmas.
let them not forget this central and eter-
nal truth to which it fastened with more
than hooks Of steel and if thew make
better use Of it than the old time Calvin
ist, let them thank him that he has pre-
served it for them and for such use. and
however they may differ otherwise, let
hm hold with equal grip that faith with
out which religion is but pretence, and
poetry plaything.
Now, with this religion, the Scotchman
became at once the most practical of men
and the most poetical Of the sternest
manner, and Of the tenderest affection
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Theological Seminaries in the
United States.

These 1873 institutions are under the
patronage and control of the various de-
nominations as follows: The Baptist have
eighteen, with Oil students; the Roman
Catholics have seventeen, with $50 stu
DENTS the Episcopalians have sixteen,
with 272 students; the Presbyterians
have fifteen, with 665 students; the Luz
therans have fourteen, with 4O1 stu
dents; the Methodists (North) have thir-
teen, with AS students; the Congrega-
tlonallsts have eleven, with 378 students;
the Christians or Disciples have five, with
81 students the Cumberland Presbyte-
rlans have three, with 100 students the
Universalists have two, with SO students;
the Methodists South have two, with IS
students the Free VIII Baptists have
two, with A students the Reformed
(German) have two, with 33 students ;
the United Presbyterians have two, with
30 students; the Moravians have two,
with 80 students; the New Church
(Swedenborgian) has two, with stu
dents; the African M E. Church has
one, with l6 students; the Unitarian
Church has one, with 20 students; the
Reformed Dutch has one, with 33 stu
dents; the United Brethren have one,
with 30 students. The whole number of
professors in all the seminaries is 600,
and of students 4, 738-an average of one
teacher to eight students. The number
of graduates in 1879 was lila little
more than one to each professor, and an
average of less than six to each institu-
ton. In 1926 only seven denominations
had theological seminaries In 1879
twenty-one have them.
The reports in regard to funds are
very imperfect, but show that during
this century, and largely within the
past thirty years, the Christian people
of this land have invested no less than
$l3,851 $50 in buildings and endow-
ments for theological education. The
annual income of the 1873 institutions
from invested funds is fully 1921 $50.
The following are the reports of some Of
the most literally endowed: Princeton
N. j, 81 100000; Union, N. Y, 81 ,O5O,-
0O0 Andover, Mass, 100000; Yale
| Theological Department., $75O,OO0; Au-
burn, N. Y, $583,00O; Allegheny and
Lane, each about $3.50, 900; UBion IVA. J.
100000; Harvard, 100000; Drew (M
Ed, $550,000 New Brunswick Reformed
Dutch), 100000.
The largest library is that of Andover
with 38, 900 volumes. Next comes Union
N. Y, with $4,000; then New Brunswick
with $4,000; then Princeton with 81 600
then Columbia, S. O., with $4,000; Bangor
and Harvard each report $4,000.
Herald and Presenter.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Choosing a Husband.

That woman is wise who chooses for
her partner In life a man who desires to
lind his home place OF rest. 1t is the
man with many interests, with engrossing
occupations, with plenty of people to
fight, with struggle to maintain against
the world, who is the really domestic
man, in the wife's sense; who ENJOYS
home, who is tempted to make a friend
OF his wife, who relishes prattle, who
feels in the home circle, where nobody is
above him and nobody unsympathetic
with him, as if he were in a haven of
ease and reparation The drawback of
home-liie, It's contained possibilities of
lnslpldlty, sameness, and CONSEQUENT
WEAKNESS, IS never present to such a
man. lie no more tires of his wife than
OF his own happier moods. He is no
more bored with home than with sleep.
lie is no more plagued with his children
than with his own lighter thoughts. All
the monotony and WEAKNESS of life he
encounters outside 1t is the pleasure
loving man, the merry companion, who
requires constant excitement that finds
home-life uncomfortable. He soon grows
weary Of it, and considers everything so
very tame and so like fiat beer, that it
is impossible for him, not only to be hap
py, but to feel that he is less unhappy.
there than elsewhere. We do not mean
that the domestic man, in the wife's
sense, will be always at home. The man
always at home has not half the chance
Of the man whose duty is outside it., for
he must sometime be in the way. The
point for the wife is, that he should like
home when he is there; and that liking,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15

ty alike, demand that you should "give
place by subsection" to these temptations,
hno. not for an hour" Seek divine
strength. Seek the renovation of your
nature by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
Put curb upon the appetites of your
carnal nature, and wage uncompromising
warfare against every principle within
YOU, which solicits unlawful qualification,
and thus draws you away into sin. but
fornication, and all uncleanness, and COW
etousness, let it not be once named among
you, as becometh saints; neither filth
ness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,
which are not convenient. For this We
know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idol
ator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ, and of God. Let no man de-
.ceive you with vain words, for because of
these things cometh the wrath eff God
upon the children of disobedience. Be
We not therefore partakers with them. =
Eph v: 3-12 "For the end of these
things is death"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
True Sight.

Let us hesitate before we condole with
a brother who is under the chastisement
of our loving Fathar in heaven. Be care
full how you condole with a man who has
lost his money and saved his good name
or congratulate the man who has made a
million at the expense of his piety. When
a Christian is toppled over from dizzy
and dangerous height, and brought
down to hard-pan,' he is brought down
to the solid rock at the same time in the
Valley of Humiliation he has more of the
JOY of Gods countenance, and wears more
of the herb called "heart s. ease" in his
bosom than he ever did in the days of his
giddy prosperity. Sickness has often
brought to man spiritual recovery
suffering has often wrought out for him
an exceeding weight Of glory. The writer
of this paragraph has lately been led
through very shadowy pathway of trial
but it has never been so dark that he
could not see to read some precious
promises that glowed like diamonds
The adversary tries hard to break our
lamp, and to steal our diamonds in those
dark passage-ways of trial. We need
good eyesight i'll such times of trouble
so as not to stumble, or to lose sight Of
the Comforter or of the bright light which
shines at the end Of the way.-Dr
HI7/Ze1
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
A Poser.

The Rev. Mr. Osborn, in a recent
speech in England, said z" Allusions have
been made to the progress of infdelity
in these times. Some of the lecturers
occasionally meet with their match.
Some times since he heard of man who
went down to Lancashire or Yorkshire,
and delivered lecture on evolution or
development. He endeavored to show
that every form of excellence was devel-
oped from some inferior species of the
same genus, and to account for the exist
ence of man in the same way. He said /:
You go and stand by the side of pool
of water perfectly bright, pure, and clear
go little while after, and you will find
it getting thick go again, and it will be
green and putrid; go again, and there
will be number of little creatures pop
ping about in the form of tadpoles; go
again, and you will see these tadpoles
cutting their capers in shape of frogs.
By that time he had got as far as he
could, and he did as persons sometimes
do when they do not know what else to
do; he said, And so on. Whereupon a
man in the audience got up and said ::
Yes, think l see what you mean but
can you tell us how long we should have
to stand by the pond before we should see
a man pop up?'"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Secret PRAYER.

Oh, sweet and healing is secret PRAYER
when the heart, oppressed with burden
which none but God must know, and
none but God can remove, retires with
him apart, and lays down the load at his
feet and pours all anxieties into his pity
ing bosom, where no eyes but his can
see and no ear but his can hear There
we use pastures, expressions, pleadings,
that might not be suitable in the presence
Of others. There we may lay open those
hidden wants and solicitudes, which we
may not reveal to our dearest friend.
CyPrian has very beautifully described
the benefit and delight which he found
IN retired prayer and meditation: "That
no proiane listener may hinder my mus
lngs, and no domestic olamor drown them.
l Withdraw to a recess in the neipbbor-
ing solitude, where the creeping tendrils
Of the young vines form a shady arbor.
Behold there l obtain feeling of truth
which learning could not give, and drink
IN, from the quick impartings Of divine
grace, stores Of heavenly thought which
long years Of study could never supply"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
CalVinisrn.

The late Henry Bynton Smith, the dis
tinguished theologian and professor, when
a young man and a student abroad, heard
Ranke, the great German historian lee
ture in Berlin, and he writes under date
Of June Both, 1889 "A few days since
heard Ranke His lecture was on the
history of the Reformation He spoke of
Calvin; he is no worshipper Of the Calvin
istic doctrines, but he acknowledged the
greatness Of the man told how in early
life, with almost rough earnestness, he
announced his doctrines in Paris; how he
shaped Geneva after his own spirit; how
he was the head, if not the father of the
reformation in France and Switzerland
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
The American Post-ofice.

The American post-ofice system is one
OF the most useful institutions of which
our Government can boast, and far more
extensive than anyone not connected with
the department would be likely to be-
heve without some little research and re-
lection. Its career of usefulness really
began IN 1853, when the British Govern
ment made Benjamin Franklin, the emf
nent philosopher and statesman, colonial
Postmaster General, with the then sup
posed to be munificent salary of 5000, or
about $300O for himself and his assistant.
Franklin made many improvements and
alterations In rates and routes, and held
the position until 1774, at which time he
was discharged on account of being a
patriot.
In 1884, after the adoption of the consti
tuition of the United States, Congress
established postal system, and Samuel
Osgood, of Massachusetts, was appointed
to be the first Postmaster General of the
new nation. AT the close of the first wear
there were seventy-fve post Offices, and
the total amount OF postage received was
psi 995, giving the Government net in
come OF $5,795. Ten years later there
were 963 offices, and the postage amount
ed to $3.50, 8O4, the net revenue to $685.
oIO. This was certainly a wonderful
increase, but it seems very small in COM
parison with its growth since that date.
On the lst OF June, 1880, there were
AZ, 909 offices, giving employment to co.
4|9 persons, and reached by 11,112 post
routes, having an aggregate length of
o4o,ooS miles. The whole expense of
carrying on this vast business was 1885,
lOl ,82O,38; 866,593,5 72 letters; 276,-
446, TIT postal cards COS, 175, 624 news
papers 90, 472 275 magazines; 300, 845.-
4oO books, circulars, &C., and %. 634,456
articles Of merchandise were transported
Great Britain is the only country
which, in proportion to its population, can
exceed, in It's postal reports, these figures.
With population Of 100000, against
one Of 100000 in the United States. in
1880, l,l28,0OO,0 900 letters and 115.OOO.-
900 postal cards were delivered. If
Americans wrote as many letters in pro-
portion as the British, 1,6lOOOOOOO
would have to be handled.
The history of the postage stamp is
quite interesting. The first one in
America is thought to have been that
used by r. A. Mitchell, the postmaster
OF New Haven, Conn, in 1847. In size
and form it closely resembled the present
Government stamp, and bore the words.
Pad New Haven Post-ofFice cents. E.
a. Mitchell, 2. NJ" 1t was made for the
accommodation Of the citizens, who had
complained to Mr. Mitchell Of the DELAY
sometimes caused by their being unable
to prepay letters except during business
hours, From this little affair the stamp
has become so popular that it is now used
all over the world and exists in about
5000 varieties. -Presbyterian Banner.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15

how his doctrine became that of the whole
Presbyterian Church. and ruled in the
Netherlands. Finally, said he, we may
consider Calvin as the founder of the Free
States of North America. 1t was his
doctrine which shaped the men who left
home and country in order to preserve
their religious freedom In the wilds of
America.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15

we contend, belongs, first of all, to the
active and strong, and deeply-engaged,
and not to the lounger, or even easy
minded man.-Sdturday Revie1O
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15

He was at home alike on Sinai, and by
the cotter's Preside.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1882-03-25
Gently appeared from au American

Mrs. Nancy Hartman, of Mans
field, O., writes: Il have been uh-
der he care of physician during
the past seven years. Sometimes
would feel better. and then again
would feel worse. The past two
Years nothing seemed to help me.
About two months ago my doctor
seemed to be getting discouraged,
and | lay completely bed-ridden- |
grew very nervous; the least noisr
gave me great irritation. he doc
tor, suppose more to get me on
his hands than anything lse, as he
said I would never leave my bed
told me | might try Browns ron
I;itt.rs, mt the same time remark
lug: 1t was good tonic and would
help to keep Inc dive | have used
the remedy about two months, an
have been ant of bed nearly two
weeks, and now help about the
house. 1t has acted like Il miracle
in my case"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1882-03-25
Religious Notice.

Appointments for Covington Circuit:
First Sunday in the month, Coving-
ton. ii q. ~. and p. m.
Second Saturday, Bogue Chitto. II a. m.
Second Sunday, Parkersville, IL a. M,
and Abney's schoolhouse. $40 p. m.
Third Saturday. Sharp's schoolhouse, at
III a. m.
Third Sunday, Vaudeville. II a. M, and
Bayou Laeombe, 4 p. m.
Fourth Friday. Spring Hill, IL a. M,
and Gum Greek, p. m.
Fourth Saturday, Apple Pie Ridge Up. M.
Fourth Sunday, Oak Grove, ii a. m,
and Hickory Grove, p. m.
j. j. LovErT, p. G.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1882-03-25

The Police Jury Committees ap-
pointed to examine the books of
the Tax Collector and Parish Treas
urer. and to examine and lestrny
cancelled warrants in the hands of
the Treasurer, are requested to
meet at the Courthouse on the sec
ond Monday in April, in order to
prepare their reports to the Police
jury, which meets on the second
Tuesday.