The gold leaf., 1893-01-05
TURNING A LEAF.


ments OF those who read these lines
how many will be in this world when
the next new year comes? This writer
may have passed away and some other
hand must welcome the strager Of 1894
and give to one and all the wish of a
happy New Year The thing to be done
is to be ready for the final call and the
eternal change, that like Paul, the
Apostle, we may "depart and be ao1fh
Christ"
The Old year was calamtous and
disturbed, and the signs increase that
great events are impending, and that
the "old order changeth." We are
not prophet enough to forecast day
and foretcll what shall happen to
nations ard individuals. If Gods
hand is not on the throttle there will
be (. mighty wreck. Many heart
will lie panied and many a bitter
draught, more bitter than the waters
of Mdrah, must be drunk by millions
of earth's pilgrims to the illimitless
and everlasting beyond.
In the year just closed, the South
ms been much disturbed politically.
Unwisdom, folly, fanalicism, igno-
rarc. have had their little day. God
grant that their reign of chaos is
ended. The South is perhaps in an
improved condition as compared with
4 year ago. 1t is not SO good now
and by very great deal as we desire
it should be. There is a vast amount
and want, and even hunger, and
poverty is in the desolate homes of
many worthy families. The field is
large for the exercise of a generous
philanthrophy and works OF mercy.
The Janus of the year is with US.
When we look back over the past how
many sterile wastes and neglected
opportunities for acts of mercy and
benevolence come up before us. AS
the cunning Wizard Memory throws
its eyes back through the last year as
to years gone before, and evokes the
failures, how, very much there is to
regret. Golden opportunities are
forever gone. Precious time has been
neglected, days went by with nothing
worthily learned-nothing nobly done.
Weeks went by, and perchance a
friend was lost by ,houghtless words
Months went by, and that friend
passed to the profound silence of the
tomb, and then came bitter regret
made more bitter because availless
We have here in this earthly life thai
/ fleets by as swift shadow too few rea
friends to lose a single one by {
thOughtles word or an unkind act.
Friend after friend departs,
! Who hath not lost friend:
| There is no union here OF hearts
! That hath not here an end
Let none depart in bitterness
none unreconciled with his fellow
man. 1t will be indeed a sorrowfu
preparation for the Great Assize t
leave earth with the soul stained anC
Corroded with the rust of hatred anc
malice.
/ 1t is the time for new resolves-fo
turning a leaf, and for works as wei
as promises. May the year 1898, b'
conspicuous and fruitful in the effort
to uplift humanity, to devise new
plans for the amelioration of the suf
fering and poverty of the world! lie
each in his allotted place strive man
fully to help on the blessed work
Sympathy, benevolence, love arr
great qualities and factors, and adorr
the noblest Of Gods creation. lie
all men and women of North Caro-
lima "look not mournfully upon th:
past-it comes not back again." bu
let US nerve for the future resolving t
Illustrate daily the great virtue o
; Duty; and look to the Almight,
Father who made us, and who rule
in the armies of heaven and among
the inhabitants of earth, and rules i
the most perfect equity and love. fo
help, for guidance, for safety from
dangers seen and unseen. Let us "gt
forth into the untrodden Future
with brave, hopeful, believing, trust
ing "manly hearts. "Let the dea,
past bury the dead" and into tha
closed sepulchre let us cast all th'
bitterness and evil thoughts we have
cherished, and hide them from ou
sight Observation-Disclosures Messeage,