davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
For the Central Presbyterian.
Earthquake Phenomena,
LAURENs, S. O., Nov. 18th. 's6

LAURENs, S. O., Nov. 18th, SO.
MeSsrs EdtorS,-It appears as if earth
quake disturbances are likely to become
the normal condition of things in this
part OF South Carolina During the last
six weeks an indefinite number of trem-
ors in the earth have been felt in this
section of greater or less violence, some
of them of sufficient force to shake the
largest buildings and others amounting
only to well-de6ned throb or slight
trembling. But the strangest develop
ments connected with the whole subject
were observed yesterday in the town of
Laurens. There is house in this town
that has been shaken every day since
last Sabbath, the 7th inst, while the
neighboring houses few rods away ex-
perience no such vibrations. These vi.
brations commence daily about o'clock
P. M. and continue until P. NJ, and
then cease entirely until the next day
about the same hour. These disturb
ances occur as regularly as clock work,
observing the same hours each day as
though they were regulated by some in
telligent operator. Scores of people, the
writer among them, have visited the
house and experienced the shocks and vi.
brations, 80 that there can be no possible
doubt of the truth of these facts. They
begin sometimes with heavy shock that
lasts from one minute to a minute and
half and then these are succeeded by
heavy throbs that Jar the window panes
and shake the chairs on which one is sit
ting The family seem to have become
quite accustomed to their periodical rock
ing, and express no apprehension or de-
sire to vacate the building, although
some of their neighbors are Of different
opinion.
Over fifty distinct shocks, vibrations.
and throbs we're counted yesterday after
noon between the hours Of one and six
o'clock. The strange thing about it is
that these shocks are confined to this one
house, while those near by feel none of
them. 1t has become quite sensation
In town, but no one seems able to give
any satisfactory explanation of it.
E. o. PETERSON.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
Central Presbyterian for 1887.

We ask our present subscribers, our
agents, and the ministers in the churches
to aid us in extending the circulation
of the Central Presbyterian. We do
not ask any one to take the trouble of
introducing the Central Presbyterian
without compensation, and make the
following proposals:
L. Any subscriber who will, with his
own subscription, send the name of u
new subscriber, shall have the paper
sent to the two for $4.
2. We will allow a commission of ST.
for every new subscriber obtained who
pays in advance.
There are hundreds of subscribers
who can, each, easily obtain one or two
new subscribers (some can obtain many
more), and we ask them to make the
fort.
The Central Presbyterian aims
4. To be faltl full representative of orthodox,
evangelical Christianity, and of the principles
Of the Presbyterian Church.
2. 1t aims to keep fully abreast OF the learn
ing and Investigations of the day, while uncom-
promisingly opposing the heterodox teachings so
rife at this time.
8. 1t notices fully every great question that
touches the interest of the Church. or affects
Christianity.
A. Its readers will have the best opportunity
OF seeing the Christian view of these questions.
5. 1t allows and invites free discussion, but
only in the bounds of Christian courtesy.
6. 1t gives a full summary of religious news
from every Presbytery in our Church, and con
tains also carefully prepared summary of re
ligious news from every part of the world.
=. 1t gives choice religious reading carefully
prepared. or selected for the family and for the
children.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
appropriations to October 31st, 1886 !;
leaving balance in the treasury of
S637 with which to begin another year.

The SUDDEN DEATH of Prof. Archi-
bald Alexander Hodge on Friday last
will be felt as calamity to the Church
throughout the country, viewed from
human standpoint, but all things are
well done by the great Master whom
he served so ably and faithfully, and
the Church will bow in humble sub
mission to His will
DIR. Hodge was professor of Didactic
and Polemic Theology in Princeton
Theological Seminary, in which he
succeeded his distinguished father some
ten years ago. He was the eldest son
of DR.. Charles Hodge, and was about
63 years of age. He was, in the be,
ginning of his ministry, a missionary
for two years in India, but returned to
this country on account of i'll health
in 1850, and vas in charge of Lower
West Nottingham, Maryland, until 1855,
when he took charge of the church in
Fredericksburg, Va, where he remain
ed until 1861. In 1862 he was appoint
ed to the chair of Didactic, Historical,
and Polemic Theology in the Western
Theological Seminary at Allegheny.
He was the author of several valuable
theological works, and few men among
the Presbyterians of this country stood
higher as a teacher and writer, or were
more highly esteemed for their Chris
tian character. His death was an
nounced on Saturday in the Synod Of
Virginia, and resolutions expressive of
their deep sense of the loss which had
fallen on the Church, were passed,
which will be found elsewhere in the
report of the proceedings of the Synod.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

The REV. G. U. Pope, D. D., preach
ing at Oxford, on Trinity Sunday, said:
" stand here as witness. As the re-
suit of over forty years of Indian ex-
perience, declare that the influence of
missions in the East was never 80 much
felt as now. l doubt whether there
ever was so wise, so systematic, so
thoughtful conduct of our missionary
work as in the present. The calls are
increasingly loud, the necessity daily
becomes more urgent, the facilities are
hourly increasing. Even the Govern
ment of British India has lately express
ed its gratitude to the 600 missionaries
leboring in India"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

THE Cumberland Presbyterian says:
owe have ten thousand elders in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Not
one half of them are taking the church
paper 1t is not at all strange that
the non reading elders are Indifferent
to the interest of their congregations"
We hope, remarks one ofour contempo-
raries on this, nothing like that can be
said of as large aproportion ofourruling
elders. But here comes the PreSbyte-
rain Observer saying, eve had present
ed to our notice recently an instance
of the case in question in which a score
of pastors, in a particular Synod, were
without any religious newspaper what
ever"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
PRETTY HARD ON PRESB YTE-
RIA NISM.

There is no excusa for Presbyterianism to live
longer 1t has driven all those into in6delity
who can be influenced by its teachings 1t has
told Its last lie against the Catholic Church 1t
has drawn the last hard lines in the face of its
Christ. If 1t had the decency of Judas it would
use what Is left In the missionary fund in the
purchase of halters. We are glad when any
thing untoward happens any branch of Pro-
testantism; but we are particularly grat6ed to
witness the demise OF this sourfaced i'm udent
old-maid offspring of ecclesiastical bastardy
Western Wdtchmen, (Roman Catholic).
There is slight mistake about the
"demise" of this "sourfaced, impudent
old maid offspring of ecclesiastical bas-
tardy."
1t is not dead yet. AS we stated last
week, the Synod of Virginia, which
was organised ninety nine years ago
by ministers and 4 ruling elders, met
here on the 9th inst, representing $50
churches, 226 ministers, and 1,169 ell
ders. The Presbyterians of the United
States are over one million in member
ship, and are probably the most infu-
entail religious body in this country.
The demise" of Presbyterianism is
like the talk of the infidels about the
Bible having outlived its day, when
100000, O00's or more of Bibles are
printed every year.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

suddenly dropped that title, and as
sumed that of an inferior order; and
why, in our day, they are so modest as
to wear the name of "bishop," when
they lay claim TO that OF Apostle
Perhaps it is an act of humility,
creditable remuneration of unwelcome
dignity
But soberly speaking, the difficulty
is to discover the historical basis of this
claim, in the New Testament which
ignores it throughout. History is
record of facts. But here is thing
that is dream, and not fact, mere
assumption that is utterly worthless
without some "text proofs" and that
never before dared to resort to Scrip
ture for its chief support If there is
any feature in the English Church that
depends exclusively upon human tradi-
ton, it is this very claim that its "bish-
ops" are the successors of the print
tive apostles. The ingenuity of all its
ablest advocates has been exhibited in
patrLStjc investigations, with the view
Of proving the claim by uninsptred
ooriterS. The attempt has been fail
ure all along the line. but nothing to
compare with the absolute discontinue
experienced by those who have sought
to secure Scriptural authority for the
assumption.
SO void of the desired information is
the New Testament, that we may con-
fdently affirm the impossbility of con-
structing a plausible argument for the
theory out of its materials; and we
must think that the venerable House
of Bishops did not mean to commit it.
self to an Episcopate founded in that
sort of history. They would not so
stultify themselves. A fair construc-
ton of their language leads to the con-
credible that they had reference to the
chronicles of post apostolic times, and
we hardly know how to account with
due respect for this tenacity for ira
dUional EpiScopate as so much more
fundamental than the liturgy.
If this apostleship is provable from
tradition, as alleged, we would like to
know how many private Christians
possess the means of verifying it, and
with what decency the dissenting ma
jOrity, in our country, can be called
upon to accept the opinions of patristic
experts deeply interested in hereditary
traditions, in direct opposition to the
plain words Of the inspired Ne,o Testa-
ment, which is in every mans posses
sion. The "Episcopate" of st. Paul
and the Book of Acts, is truly historical
to Bible reading people, and they
know, with invincible conviction, that
it was the Office of presbyters who had
spiritual oversight of one flock in one
place, and not that of superior order.
The bishops Of the Now Testament
were ''the elders ordained in every
church." and the Historic Episco-
pate,' recognised in sacred history, is
the Presby terrain institution, to which
the House of Bishops are heartily wei
come. We ask with all earnestness of
these proiessed advocates of new
fraternity, an explanation of what they
mean by history, And if they mean
tradition. then why should such an
Episcopate be a fundamental of faith,
whilst "modes of worship" so long
cruelty imposed upon others, are to be
treated as matters Of compromise
We REFERRED last week 10 the nn.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17


The BAPTIST STATE ASSOCIATION was
in session in Stanton contempOrane
ousIy with the session Of the Synod in
this city. The two bodies exchanged
fraternal salutations.
Mr.. II. X. Elyson, corresponding
secretary, read the sixty-third annual
report of the State Mission Board, from
which it appears that a larger amount
Of missionary service was performed
and a larger number Of converts were
baptized by the missionaries than in
any one Of the past ten years. Forty
nine missionaries were employed-ff
teen west Of the Blue Ridge, fourteen
IN Piedmont and Middle Virginia, and
twenty in the Tidwater districts. The
missionaries occupied 157 stations, bap
tized 1,06l converts, aided pastors in
meetings in which 1,586 professed faith
in Christ, made 9,138 visits to families
for religious conversation and prayer,
organised 30 new Sunday Schools and
10 new churches, completed 8 houses
Of worship, are engaged in building II
others, and sustained 131 Sunday
Schools at their mission stations.
During the current financial year
the Board received $685. 80 or 81.
783 80 more than in 1885. The re.
ceipts enabled the Board to pay all its
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

WE REFERRED last week to the ag-
gressive attitude of Romanism, and to
the recommendation OF the author
ties of that Church to associate rel-
gion and politics. Here is another il
lustration which has has met our eye
since. In an Encyclical Letter of the
Pope in 1885, he used the following
language:
All Catholics must make themselves felt az
al tive elements IN daily political life in the
countries where they live. They must penetrate
wherever possible in the administration Of civil
affairs; must constantly exert the utmost vigi-
lance and energy to prevent the usages Of liber
ty from going beyond the limits fixed by Gods
law. il Catholics should do all In their power
TO cause the constitutions of States and legisa-
ton to be modelled on the principles Of the true
Church. All Catholic writers and journalists
should never lose for an instant from view the
above prescriptions. All Catholics should re-
double their submission to authority and unite
their whole heart, soul body, and mind. in the
defence Of the Church and Christian wisdom.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
1.-THE HISTORIC EPISCOPATE."

The bishops of the Protestant Epis
copal Church in the United States,
have issued the terms upon which they
are willing to eco operate" with other
communions, etc. These are stated
under fear heads, and the fourth is de-
signated above, as one of the essentials
of such recognition and co operation
They likewise say in their preambl
"that in all things of human ordering
or human choice, relating to modes of
worship and discipline, or to traditional
customs, this Church is ready in the
spirit of love and humility, to forego
all preferences Of her own" This
statement almost forces US to conclude
that the Historic Episcopate," which
is made an essential, is regarded as of
divine and scriptural institution. If
so, the history, to which appeal is
made, is inspired history, and not
matter of tradition.
This noble Church is to be congrat-
ulated for having at length apparently
renounced her dependence upon the
Fathers, and other uninspired testi-
mony, and consented to accept the
Episcopate of the Now Testament
But what is this Historic Episcopate"
taught by st. Luke and st. Paul? Is
it to be understood, henceforth, that it
is based upon the tertS in which "bish-
ops" are referred to by that title? Or
are we to seek for it under the desig-
nation of an office to which such title
was not given? If these right reverend
gentlemen wish to be understood, it
would be well for them to explain how
they can build a diocesan episcOpdcv
upon terms that positively exclude it.
For the word "bishop" in the New
Testament demonstrably refers, accord
ing to the New Version, to an officer
in a single congregation or parish.
But the reader knows, of course, that
this is not the sort Of proof contem-
plated in this manifesto. These gen
tlemen will have as little to say as pos
sible Of the " bishop Of st. Paul. They
mean, by the "Historic Episcopate,"
an historic apostleshtPl
The question then seems, how can
they establish the historical character
OF their succession to the Apostles by
New Testament authority, when they
know that no such order as apostles
is menSoned as permanent in the
Church? 1t is rather gratuitous to as
sumo such provision without a whis-
per of inspiration. They may be safe
ly challenged to produce a single text
that, reasonably interpreted, goes to
prove that apOstleship, with governing
power superior to presbyters, was to
be perpetuated under the name of epis.
copacy which belongs to those presby-
ters They have on their shoulders
the onerous task to explain Why the
first SUCCESSORS of the true apostles
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17


WE publish elsewhere letter Civ
ing an account of the proceedings of
the Alabama Synod in regard TO DR..
Woodrow and Columbia Seminary.
We had secured correspondent to
send us the proceedings of the Georgia
Synod, but, owing to sickness, he was
prevented from attending the meeting
of that body. We have, therefore, to
content ourselves with the following
kilograms published in the Dispatch of
this city:
MACON, GA, November II "A Special to the
Telegraph from Sparta Ga. says: The trial of
DR.. Woodrow for heterodoxy is going on before
the Georgia Synod. The Doctor spoke to-day
A resolution was adopted on division last
night instructing the Board of Directors to
meet December 9Th and request Dr. Woodrow
to resign. If be refuses. the Board is directed
to proceed to vacate the chair OF the Perkins
Professorship and to m AXE such arrangements to
hill the same as may appear suitable If not
convicted therefore of heterodoxy, Dr. Wood
row will at least have to resign his professor
ship
MACON. GA, November 13-The Georgia
Presbyterian Synod, at Sparta at midnight last
night sustained the decision of the Presbytery
finding DIR. Woodrow guilty of hereeY in his
evolution belief and trusts Dr. Woodrow to-
day gave notice of appeal to the next General
Assembly against the Synod's decision. Drs
Strlckler and Adams and Colonel Billups will
represent the Georgia Synod at the General As
sembly as respondents to DR.. Woodrows COM
plant.
Three of the Synods, controlling Co
lumbia Seminary, have thus spoken on
this subject, and in very unequivocal
language. The fourth, South Georgia
and Florida, meets on the "a h inst.
The Synod of Georgia, it will be OBJ
served, acted also on the appeal to that
body from the Presbytery OF Augusta,
in which DR.. Woodrow had been ar
raigned in his ministerial capacity for
holding uDscriptural Vows The
Presbytery, however, did not find him
guilty, as stated in the second tel
egram but we infer that the truth of
the matter is, that the Synod reversed
the decision of the Presbytery, and
that DIR. Woodrow has appealed to the
Assembly, and that Synod appointed
Drs. Strickler and Adams and Colonel
Billups to represent that body before
the Assembly.
We call attention also to the action
of the Presbytery of South Alabama,
in which the course Of the Rev. DIR.
Finn was so strongly condemned.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

THE REV. SAM JONES is to begin a
series of evangelistic services in Boston
in short time by invitation of the
Methodist ministers. The Baptist and
Congregational clergy were asked to
join in the arrangement, but after some
consideration have declined.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

SAYS an exchange " Ono of the most
interesting signs of the times in the
Eastern world, is in the progress, al
though slow, of Christian civilisation
in the Holy Land. A colony of Ger
mans from Wurtemberg, called the
Protestant Temple Society, settled
some years ago in the Valley of Jez-
reel, and have been with steady, sturdy
industry planting trees and building
roads, despite the opposition of the
Latin monks of Mt. Carmel above. 1t
is very remarkable that this historic
plain of Esdraelon, the battle ground
Of Palestine for centuries from Barak
to Bonaparte, the plain which Elijah
looked down upon from Carmel, and
Jesus from Nazareth, should in these
latter days be the abode of Protestant
Christians from the land of Luther"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

THIS is the Week of Prayer for
young men appointed by the Worlds
Conference and the American Interna-
tional Convention of Young Mems
Christian Associations. According to
the latest gathered statistics there are
IN the world 1872 Associations. In
America there are 1,O71, with an ag-
gregate membership of 100000, annual
current expenses of s785,OOO and a
total net property, consisting of ninety
buildings, 965 libraries of $50, 900 vol
umes, "a building funds, ETC., of s., O4e,-
178.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-21
The original Weather Prophet.

An almanac maker in London named
Partridge, who flourished in Queen
Anne's time, was the original weather
prophet. Like our cherished Old Proba-
bilities of the Signal Service, he foretold
storms iu March and December, showers
in April and May, hot weather in August
and frosts in December. Dean Swift be-
came disguised at Partridge's preten-
sions, and determined to put him down.
Walking around London one day, he no.
ticed over smiths shop the sign, '1saac
BickerstafI." 1t struck his fancy, and
he stored it in his memory for future
use. In January, 170S, Partridge came
out with his almanac as usual. A few
weeks afterward London was astonished
by the publication of small sheet which
purported to contain the predictions of
Isaac Bickerstaf, astrologer. 1t made a
profound sensation, and the sale was
great. Instead Of the vague and definite
hints at futurity which Partridge's al
manacs contained, it foretold foreign and
domestic events, with the greatest par
ticularity, giving even the hour of the
day when deaths of famous men great
victories and defeats should occur. But
one statement created the most talk; for
at II o'clock on the 29th of March it
was predicted that Partridge; the alma
mac maker, would die. Partridge him
self stoutly denied its truth, but it was
of no use. On the 30th of March another
pamphlet came out giving circumstan-
tisl account of his death, after a sincere
repentance of his sins and a confession
of the worthlessness of his almanac.
Everybody believed he was dead, and
Partridge was never able to convince the
public that he was still alive. 1t broke
up his business, and in few years he
really did die. 1t is pity that the Dean
isn't still on earth to deal with Vennor
and Wiggins. A good dose of ridicule
is probably the most elIectual weapon
which can be used against them, and the
Dean was master of. the art.-Bea: Per-
len P00fo
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-21

There are in the United States thirty
three counties whose agricultural pro-
ducts amount in value toover 81, 900, 900.
OF the thirty-three the State of New
York furnishes fourteen, Pennsylvania
seven, Illinois six, California and Massa,
chusetts two each and Michigan and Con.
necticut one each. OF these rich counties,
Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, leads ali the
rest, her agricultural products, according
to the census of 1880. amounting to
50, 800, 202. 1t is important to know
what is raised in the rich counties, Ian
caster raises vast amounts of tobAoco-
twice as much as any other county in the
United States. The county also raises
vast quantities of corn, oats, wheat, aud
about 40, 900 COWS make enormous quaint.
ties of milk, butter, aud cheese.