smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

Shall our Synods remain as now constr
tuted? At present Synods are but large
Presbyteries. But was it always so? Is it
best that they should be as they now are
The meetings of the church sessions are gen.
orally very well attended, and very seldom
is it left to a minority to transact the busl-
ness of this first church court. The Pres
byterieS also are generally very well attend
ed by both ministers and elders, and only In
few cases are the majority of the ministers
absent, and frequently majority of the
elders are present at the Presbytery. So
also it is at the meeting of the General AS
sembly. But when we come to Synods we
find that it is only occasionally the majority
of the ministers are present, and very seldom
do we find majority of the churches rep
resented by their elders. The Synods were,
we think, as we'll if not better attended the
last fall than they have been the past ten
years. Yet it is said majority Of the
Synod of Virginia were absent. So also
South Carolina, and all of the other Syn
DDS, so far as we have seen any report from
them. Indeed, some did not have even one
third present, as Georgia, Kentucky and
Texas.


Now can anything be done to have our
Synods better attended by ministers and
elders? The Lord by Jer. vi: 16, tells us
to task for the old paths, the good way, and
walk therein" cit appears from Rush
worth and Hetherington that according to
the form of Government adopted by the
Westminster Assembly, the Synod was a
delegated body" The Westminster Assem-
bly,, held this view, that Presbyteries should
choose representatives to form the Synod
very much as we now do to form the General
Assembly. Might not the Church in this
way remodel the Synods so that they would
be much better attended e? 1t is sad to say,
that so far as we have been able to learn,
there was not single Synod in our Church,
this fall and winter, that had majority of
the ministers and elders present. This
ought not to be. If any one can point out
way in which this important court of the
Church can and will be as well attended as
the other courts, while constituted as at
present, let it be done; if not, restore the
Synod to the Westminster,-the Apostolic
model. PRESENTER.
Year: 1870

Would you reach the masses with the Cos
pel? Then let ministers "preach the word,
in season, out of season." plainly, attrac-
lively, and with divine JUNCTION; watch for
the impression which the word preached
makes, and deepen the impression by pasto-
raj visits and pertinent conversation. Let
professed Christians 90 out among those who
do not attend church, take an interest in
them, secure their good will by deeds of
kindness, and prevail upon them to come to
the sanctuary; gather the children of the
poor and neglected into the Sabbath School,
make it an inviting place for them, win their
hearts. lead them to Jesus, and then use
them as instruments by which to reach and
save their parents. Much may be done by
a iudicious system of tract distribution, map
ping out parishes into districts, calling
monthly upon every family therein, learn
ing their religious state and leaving with
them tract appropriate to their peculiar
necessities. Pray frequently and fervently
that the blessing of God will attend these
efforts; that his word and grace may be glo'
rifed in the salvation of those who are ready
to perish.
Year: 1870

the hope of our hearts. A great change is
yet to come over the earth-so great that 1t
will be new earth. Sin shall be banished
and righteousness shall prevail. But not
one lot or title of this Word shall be changed.
Only when every knee shall bow, and every
tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father, shall be ex-
hibited in full the infinite harmony of rela.
tion between the Word of God and His
schemes of providence and of grace.


S. L. G.
Year: 1870

We would respectfully request the various
papers of our Church, who are willing that
this subject shall be fully and fairly dis
cussed, with the view of arriving at wise and
righteous conclusions, to give this article a
rlaco in their columns. J. A. L.
Year: 1870

y It never pays to fret and growl
When Fortune seems our foe;-
The better bred will push ahead
aud strike the braver blow.


For luck is work.


And those who shirk
Should not lament their doom,


But yield the play,


And clear the way
That better men havo room.
1t never pays to wreck the health
In drudging after gain,
And he is sold who thinks that gold
Is cheapest bought with pain.


An humble lot,


A cosy cot,
Have tempted even kings,


For station high.


That wealth will buy,
Not oft eontentment brings.
1t never pays. a blunt refrain
Well worthy Of song,
For age and youth must learn this truth,
That nothing pays that's wrong.


The good and pure,


Alone are sure
To bring prolonged sueeess,


While what is right


In Heavens sight,
Is always sure to bless
Year: 1870




him which hotel he was going to, and
on hearing bis answer said;


very well: we may as well go
there too. We we're thinking Of the
Englisherhof; but it is all the same
thins; and as you are an old tray
eler, no doubt you know which is
best.


Rupert was extremely veXed, but
had no excuse to give for making
any change. Mrs. GaisfOrd made q
movement, as if to turn to her hus-
band to make an objection; but she
did not do so, remained looking out
of the window.-She certainly, Rup-
ert thought, had grown harder and
colder than before. When the train
stopped, he was the first to alight,
and helped the ladies with their
sbawls. As he did so, he could not
help saying to Mrs. Gaisford:


we are to meet, it seems, in rail
way-carriages. This has been rather
different ride from our last, Mrs.
Gaisford.'


She had grown paler again as he
spoke, with a cold, naughty look up
on her face; but as he finished she
gave little start, and then the col
or came in a rush to her cheeks.
In another moment her husband
joined her, and they parted, not to
meet again till the table dhote din
ner at the hotel. Rupert Holmes
had thought at first Of leaving at
once; but then he told himself that
she would look upon it as another
triumph, and he resolved to remain,
let it cost what it would. He pur-
posely delayed going in to dinner
until he saw that every one would
he seated, in hopes that there would
rConcludsd or FosytA PCge,l
Year: 1870

A Quincy female tried to beat a clothier
out of a suit of gentlemsn's clothing the
other day. She dressed herself up in them
and proposed to take walk to see how it
would feel but was compelled to strip.
Year: 1870

A Wisconsin paper says: "An Indian
woman passed by our Office the other day
with quarter of venison and two pappooses
on her back, jug of whisky in one hand
and wigwam in the other. How is tha. for
Year: 1870

Some ladies' took q quantity Of lace last week
To Madame Carter OF 20 Union square be repaired
On Friday. Madame missed the lace, and she finally
concluded Mat II had been stolen. She vas In
quandary but had no alternative except to offer
reward oil 800 Tor the recovery OF the lace. al
though II wus worth only t26, since 10 replace II
with new lace would coat even more
Year: 1870

1t is almost certain that the rumOr in Lon
don of the actual conclusion Of an armistice is
untrue; it is not clear that the report from the
same quarter, to the effect that prospects of
peace are brighter now than they have been
at any time since the surrender of Sedan, has
a very substantial foundation. Jules Favre is
going to negotiate with Bismarck in person,
and is going with full warning that it is need
less for him to take the trouble unless he is
prepared to accede to the demands of Germany,
to yield at least portions of Alsace and Lor-
raine, and to offer guarantees that France will
abide by whatever treaty the Provisional Gov
enment may conclude. Meanwhile the
war continues, Bismarck not unreason-
ably deciding that as France has everything
to gain by delay and Prussia everything to
lose, the victOrs should not be asked to pause
in their career until the vanquishcd make sub
mission.


NJ. Favre belongs to that calm and clear
sighted minority of the French people which
recognizes the folly of continuing the struggle.
ana Is eager to make peace on the best terms
.lat can be procured. We presume that
III Undertaking his present mission he is pre-
pareo 10 yield as gracefully as possible TO the
oeihaAd Tor material guarantees, and probably
ne expects 10 be supported by the French peo
PIE But no reason has been shown to believe
that the people have yet reached the sober
second thought which ought to dispose them
to surrender. They are apparently persuaded
that it is still in their power to turn hack the
irresistible tide which is sweeping over thrir
country and closing around the capital II
may be possible for NJ. Favre to make treaty
which the nation will be forced to respccf
Year: 1870

A great many voters have petitOned Con-
press TO abolish the Franking abuse. In one
District alone the Fourth New-Jersey) there
were some Six Thousand signers or more. Inc
petitions did the business with the House. lts
members realized that elections were soon
coming around, and almost unanimously voted
TO end this crying abuse. But Senators are
not directly elected by the people, and nave
longer terms-six years instead OF tWo-Dy
which time they hoped agitation would cease;
and small majority detied the clearly ex-
pressed will of the people, and voted to con-
tinue the abuse. We promised them that the
matter should not be forgotten; nor shall 1t be
if we can prevent. We now appeal to voters
of all parties to question their candidates 1or
Congress, and for the Legislature also, to ascer-
tain whether they do or do not favor the
abolition of Franking, and (as to the Legisia-
ture) whether, they will make this an issue IN
the choice of a U. S. Senator. He who decllhes
tn answer is of course against the reform. Leu
him he so understood and regarded.


At the same time, we ask them, If in earnest
in demanding this reform, to stand by those
Renresentatiyes who were true to them In
zealously opposing this abuse, wherever they
are candidates for reelection. Foremost among
these was HONEST JOHN HILL, who did more
for the reform than any other member OF the
House, and has been its steadfast advocate
ever since his first election Should he be de-
feated in a district where over 5000 voters pc
titioned for the repeal, hostile Senator's anc
Representatives would draw the inevitable
conclusion that the people do not demand II
in real earnest, and there would be faint hope
of repeal by this Congress or the next.
Year: 1870

years. when the unable ruler can be flung into
the receptacle for cast-Of national garments,
and the nation fit another covering on Its
head.


In his salad days, when he was green IN
Judgment, like Cleopatra, IL was very well for
john like her, to demand Caesar to rule over
him. Now that he is man, if he chooses to
bow the knee to an unmeaning Dutch figure
head, instead Of Caesar, it is his own affair.
But we insist that if he keeps up the show OF
monarchy, he should keep it up dccently.
When it was the King who made wars, in the
good old times, when nations plunged them
selves into blood to the lips to avenge some
fantastic slight to the royal person, or to sus-
tain its alliances or family quarrels, there
were both propriety and picturesqueness in the
crowned head at the helm, and its relations to
the people But to keep this plump, good lit
tie woman in the front only to treat her judg-
ment with contempt, and TO lose no opportu-
ity of snubbing her and her children, is a
breach of good sense and good taste. If John
Bull thinks it expedient to maintain this pre-
tense of powerless, tinseled royalty astrIde
of his shoulders, let him play out the play with
spirit and decency, and either treat his pre-
tended sovereign with respect or set her aside
and be done with it. Now, on the contrary 1t
seems to be his effort, by perpetually lecturing
and bullying royalty, to show the world how
Door thing he had chosen to rule over him,
and how purblind blockhead he was to carry
it at all. Or is the solution of the riddle to
be found in the fact that the Englishman can
not exist without grumbling, and keeps a
monarch as wholesome standing grievanee-a
sort of cataplasm to promote digestionf
Year: 1870

The disaster at Laon after its surrender to
Tho Prussians was the work of French artll-
Ierist. who fired the magazine. The insanity
of one man, not the desperation of an entire
garrison, led to the crime, and the crazed indi-
vidual, not the unfortunate nation, is response
BILE for it, If the rash man meditated revenge,
he failed to obtain it, for of the victims of the
disaster only as were Prussians, while 300 were
his French comrades. If the same mad impulse
which led the ambitious youth to fire the
Ephcsian dome inspired the Frenchman to ap-
ply the fatal torch at Laon, it was as vain a
hope of Immortality, for the official report does
not even mention his name.
Year: 1870

but Il ia not easy to sec how he can satisfy
King William on that point unless he can OBJ
tain n direct popular vote The proposal OF
the Provisional Government to summon the
Constituent Assembly at once and surrender
the supreme power into its hands, requires at
least ten days or fortnight for its execution,
but it is probably the only possible
solution of the difficulty. Even though
it should result in the disgrace of the men
now at the head of affairs, there is pa
triotism enough in the members Of the
Provisional Ministry to sacrifice themselves If
necessary for the good of the country, and If
they succeed in obtaining from the Prussians
reasonable terms Of peace, we are confident
that no selfish considerations will prevent their
acceptance The fact that King William does
not refuse to negotiate with any authority ex-
cept that of the Bonapartist regency is the
really important and gratifying feature or
this mornings news, and the most
cheering indication of speedy end
of hostilities. We dare say his Majesty
is persuaded that the first result of the pro-
posed treaty will be the overthrow of the
French Republic and the substitution of q
military dictatorship, followed by restored
monarchy. But France can defeat this expec-
| tation, and, rising superior to its temporary
irritation, draw from these disasters sub
stantal political profit. Wisdom will dictate
to the Constituent Assembly that, accepting
the inevitable results of the war, it devote
itself, in a calm and patriotic spirit, to the
consolidation of the Republic. While
the negotiations proceed, and prepara-
tions are making for eecting the Assem-
bly,, the war must, we suppose, go on. On
the part of the Prussians, however, it is now
a war of sieges and Investments which do
not of necessity, in their present stage, in
volve much loss of life, unless the French
persist in the vain defense of untenable po-
sitions, or in useless attacks upon the invading
| columns
Year: 1870

KINGS IN AND OUT OF THE WAY.


The storm of Kisses with which the names
of the Queen and Prince of Wales were re-
ceived the other day in Hyde Park, by the
multitude, has deeper significance than is at
first apparent. Our cousin John Gas well as
Jean) is discovering lately that this matter of
a sovereign is as irksome an incubus to carry
as was the old wizard to Sinbad when he
rode atop of him so awkwardly, and so clogged
his limbs thercat, that he could neither swim,
ride, nor walk" The present outbreak is
provoked, we presume, by the absolute indif-
ference of the Queen and Prince to the rela-
ton which England holds in the war. and the
fact that mOmentary misstep might plunge
her into the fray. While Napoleon was indus
triOusly shaping the war, which after all acted
as suillotine for himself, Victoria placidly
betOok herself TO the shades of Osborne, and
to the parish schools, and diary-writing, which
is her real business, leaving the Government
to those who understood it. The puppet was
needed, however, to nod and shake her head
at the proper times. The press cried out with
indignation because the Ministers, when they
had determined on a measure, had to post two
or three hundred miles to obtain this wag of
,hC Indu iloui SOOu iltuc NOHdn DcloIe
the measure could become law. Even The
Times grOwled out fierce warning, "regretting
| that, when the fate of half the world may de-
"pend on the loss of an hour, the Queen should
abe out of reach in the furthermost limits
"of the Kingdom" Which is absurdly solemn
shamming enough, in view of the fact that the
Queen or any one of her sons is in all proba-
bility less competent judge in matters of ma
tional concern than the least clever writer who
manufactures the thunder of The Times, and
certainly has less personal power to affect
public action. The cOmmOn-sense in the En-
glish people is melting them to question the
necessity of any longer elevating one family
as symbols of divine prerogative of power
in which nobody now believes-a family,
too, for whose character, mental or moral, the
mass of the people have entertained for gen.
erations but little respect.


The Spectator, enumerating the Queens short
comings, sighs, in conclusion "There is no
remedy, however, but to endure in patience
Jonathan, who chooses a headpiece for the
State almost as often as he does hat for HIM
SELL can afford to laugh at this grim resigna-
ton. Our Chief we choose Theoretically as
the most able man among us, the one who
Dest can VIII, and do, and if he show our
mistake by temporizing with a rebellion, or
talking when in liquor unpleasantly of his
'aiiofS bench or "dead ducks" we know that
'ne hour oi relief strikes regularly every four
Year: 1870

The Government has very properly placed
the screw-steamer Gucrriere mot Courier, ss
the telcgrams had it on Saturday-there rs no
snch vessel at the disposal of the General
Committee to transport the remains OF Admiral
Farragut from Portsmouth to New-York, ana
we trust that all patriotic citizens and all our
local military and naval organizations and
societies will unite in rendering the cere-
monies as imposing and decorous as they can
be made The seamen from the Navy-faTd
and the troops from the harbor fortications
might properly be detailed to parade on ths
day of the landing.
Year: 1870

Mr.. Chief-Justice Chase needed no such vim
dication. in the matter of the trial of Jefferson
Davis, as some friend of his has thought 1t need
full to publish an old private letter to secure. No
man, not blinded by partisan passions, ever
doubted that in this, as in all other judicial
questions, officially brought before him, the
Chief-Justice did precisely and only that
which his judgment and his conscience told
him was his Judicial duty. The letter will
nevertheless be read with the interest which
attaches to everything from the pen of this
distinguished statesman-an interest likely to
be heightened now by the late grossly exag-
gerated reports of his illness.
Year: 1870

The few hopeful partisans of the fallen
empire, who still believe that Prussia is to be
crushed in the pending war, base their con-
fidence now upon tho assumption that while
the German armies are wasting away with
disease before the walls of Paris, and King
William is rapidly using up his material
resources and exhausting the patience of his
people, France will be growing daily stronger
and stronger and converting the raw leyies in
the Southern departments into trained and
formidable forces But this expectation over
looks several important considerations The
resources of France are now far more heavily
taxed than those of Germany. The warllke
material which the Emperor had been collect
ing for years has in great part fallen into the
hands of the Prussians, and great deal more
of it is certain to be captured before long.
The danger of domestic disturbance and tinan-
cial embarrassment is but slight at Berlin, and
is imminent in France. With the removal of
Year: 1870

A Cable dispatch on Friday mentioned the
discovery of a remarkable cataract in British
Guiana, in comparison with which even Niagara
seemed to lose some of its glory. detailed
description of this great natural curiosity is
printed on our second page 1t will be seen
(s42t the telegram somewhat exaggerated its
Year: 1870

A courteous renchman, in re-
ply toa question why ladies were
not Admitted into the Chamber of
Deputies, said that to be a member
it was requisite to be forty years of
age, and it was impossible to
suppose that any lady would reach
that unseemly age.
Year: 1870

ANECDoIE OF THE RoAD.-A
lawyer riding through town,
stopped at cottage to inquire his
way. The lady Of the. house told
him he must keep right straight on
for some time, and then turn to the
right; but said that she herself was
going to pass the road he must take,
and that if he would wait a few
minutes she would show him the
way. /" Well" said he. "bad com.
pany is better than none--make
haste.o After jogging on five OF
six miles, the gentleman asked if he
had not come to the road he must
take. "Oh, yes" said she, q we
passed it two or three miles back
but thought bad company was
better than none, go I kept yon
along with me.n
Year: 1870

A nice little boy in Pittsburg
went to the circus the other day,
and amused himself throwing
stones at the elephant while he was
drinking. When he got through
the boy tried to propitiate him by
offering a piece of gingerbread
Before accepting the cake the ele-
phant emptied about sixty-four
gallons of water, beer measure,
over the boy, and then slung him
into the third tier to dry of. Tho
boy is very Indifferent about cir
cuses now. He says he believes
he doesn't care for them as he
used to.
Year: 1870

GRABBING A Fly IN CHURCH.
The Lima (Ohio) Gazette says :
ga lady in one of our churches
rested her head on the back of the
pew in front, as all devout people
do in time of prayer; but in the
pew before her sat a young man
who neither bowed his head nor
kneeled. A beautiful plume nod
ded and danced upon the head of
the fair one behind him, occasion
ally touching the neck of the youth,
who evidently considered it a fly,
or some other troublesome insect.
For a time he bore the unpleasant
sensation without a murmur; but
at last patience ceased to be a vir-
tue, and from the fash of his ea-
gle eye one could plainly see that
the hour of "that fly" had come.
Instead ofsaying "Shoo fly, don't
bodder me-" cautiously his hand
moved toward the supposed offen-
ding insect; then followed a fran
tic clutch, spring behind him.
Imagine the horror of the youth to
find in his hand the nobby hat of
the fair one, which he had torn so
violently from her head, sadly
disarranging the contour Of braids
and chignon. The lady was
indignant, of course, and the yonth
could have been purchased at an
immense sacrifice about that time.
Explanations and apologies fol-
lowed; the disorganized was put
in order as soon as possible, and
the devotional exercises were re-
sumed,"
Year: 1870

There was an old lady who
lived next door to the navy yard
at Portsmouth in New Hampshire
and who had the misfortune to
be hard of hearing. Last Fourth
of July she sat in her parlor while
the boys of the navy yard fired a
salute of sc heavy guns. AS the
last 6S-pounder went off the old
lady started up in her chair and
called out "COme In.
Year: 1870

A SAYING OF HENRY CLAY
Henry Clay used to say that there
were three classes of people with
whom it was never safe to quarrel.


First-Ministers. For the rea-
son that they have pulpits from
which they could denounce me,
and l had none from which to re-
ply.


Second-Editors. For they
had the most powerful en-
gines from which they could eve-
ry day hurl wrath and fury upon
me, and l had none through which
to reply. And, finally, with wo-
men, for they would have the
last word anyhow.