The Universalist. [volume], September 18, 1897, Page 2, Image 2

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INDIANA CONVENTION NUMBER.
Special Contributions and Reports.
UNIVERSALI3M AND THE BIBLE.
BY REV.T. GUTHRIE, D. D.
TTMVERSALISM is the doctrine
J of the Bible. The Bible is the
Universalist “Text Book.’ By living
its life and breathing its Spirit its
truth becomes a fact of conscience to
the believer. Tne philosophies
around us may not be true; man with
all his boasted wisdom may be
brought to naught, as he is so liable
to err; but the word of the Lord shall
stand forever.
While the Universalists do not re
gard the Bible as iuerraut, still they
believe that the sacred book contains
an infallible rule of faith and prac
tice; that it contains a revelation from
God, and has such revealed truths as
pertain to the present and the future
as man by his owu unaided wisdom
could never have discovered or even
fathomed. By the truths contained
in the Bible our fathers (Gcd bless
them) have fought our battles and
won our victories and have be
queathe4 to us a doctrine that has
become or is becoming the light of
the world, viz: the 1*atherhood of
God, the Brotherhood of Man, the
triumph of the right and the final
destruction of all wrong. Brethren
of the Universalist Church shun any
innovation the trend of which would
lessen your faith in the grand old
Bible, as it contains all the everlast
ing promises necessary to prove the
doctrine of a world’s salvation.
There are in all denominations
those who call in question the super
natural as contained in the Old and
New Testaments, but who are per
mitted to remain with their respective
denominations notwithstanding their
doubts, skepticism and even infidel
ity. Now let us see whether they
are in touch with Christianity suffi
cient to be entitled to the name
Christian or Universalist.
\\ e do not inherit the name tnr s
tian or Universalist as we do the
name of our parents. To be a
Christian and fully entitled to the
name, we must have faitu in Jesus,
the Christ, that he is the author and
finisher of our faith. To be Christian
we must be a disciple, a follower of
him. His Spirit must be our spirit
—His life our life \\ e must not
consider ourselves his equals, nor
judge as to the correctness of his
statements, for in so doing we might
try to make ourselves his superior.
His statements to us on all occasions
must be considered final and from
which there is no appeal.
Suppose that a student of the New
Testament was to open St. Matthew s
or St. Luke’s Gospel and lead of the
miraculous conception of Jesus, and
also the wonders attending his birth
wherein the angel made the an
nouncement and the Utavenly hosts
joined in the grand chorus, “Glory to
God in the highest, on earth peace
and good will to men;’’ but after
reading and pondering the subject
in his mind he should come to the
conclusion that it savored of the
miraculous or the supernatural and
therefore he would doubt the entire
narrative, would he not commence
his investigation of the New Testa
ment as a doubter?
He turns to the sequel of the
Gospels and reads that the Jews con
spire against Jesus. They bring him
before Pilate and he is condemned
to death. They crucify him, even
the world’s Messiah, and our student
sheds a tear at the atrocity of the
tragedy. He pursues the history
still further and follows him to the
tomb of Joseph and in his thought
wickedness had triumphed, but he is
startled as he reads further and finds
that on the third day Mary of Mag
dalia and others were at the tomb
and found it vacant. He reads fur
ther and finds that two angels in
white apparel were there and one of
them said, “Why seek ye the living
among the dead; he is not here but
is risen.” He once more reads and
ascertains that the once timid dis
ciples after meeting him become as
bold as a lion. But the student once
more stops to consider and finally
says this too savors of the marvelous.
He says that immortality may be truet
but he thinks Jesus went to heaven
after the ordinary way and that he
did not bring life and immortality to
light by his resurrection from among
the dead. By this conclusion we
would see that his doubt had budded
into skepticism and what faith he
previously enjoyed in the Bible had
almost gone.
Once more the investigator turns to
the eleventh chapter of St. John’s
Gospel, aud here reads of a happy
family, a trinity of them, Martha,
Mary aud Lazarus, with whom Jesu
was acquainted and to whom en
deared. But the Saviour for a period
took leave of them and in his absence
Lazarus sickened and died. On his
[This article is printed as a traet for
free distribution in Indiana. Copies can
be procured by addressing Miss Flora U.
Brown. Secretary of the State Convention,
Dublin, lnd.J
return one of the sisters rushed to
meet him and in the depth of her
grief said, “Lord, if thou hadst been
here my brother had not died.” On
this occasion the Savior in his tender
est sympathy mingled his tears with
theirs. He also told Martha that her
brother should rise again. Martha
does not seem to fully comprehend
the Savior, and yet she said that she
believed that “thou art the Christ'
the Son of God.” So the narrative
goes on, till they and friends are at
the grave of Lazarus and the stone
rolled away. By this time Martha
admonished the Saviour that he had
been dead four days, still the Saviour
in his invocation called for Lazarus
to come forth and the dead arose.
There no doubt followed a scene that
angels might look down upon and
rejoice. The brother and sisters and
the Saviour are once more a happy
group. Now after doubting the
wonders attending the Saviour’s birth
and the exciting scenes of the
Saviour's resurrection he now boldly
pronounces this last statement a
myth.
What position would such a per
son occupy in a Christian church?
It could not be said of such that he
believed that the Bible contained a
revelation from God, and that “ God
who at sundry times and in divers
manners spake in times past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in
these last days spoken unto us by
his Son whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom he made the
worlds.”
Finally, brethren, the writer of this
would like to impress on your minds
that Universalists believe in the
B ble; that Christ’s birth was a won- j
der; that God raised the Saviour’s j
body from among the dead; that
after his resurrection he appeared
unto his disciples and that he
ascended from Mont Olivet to angels
and God—that while the Saviour
was on earth he opened the eyes of
the blind; that he unstopped the
ears of the deaf; that he cleansed
the lepers; and that he raised Laz
arus from the dead, and also the
widow’s son at Nain.
The Universalists do not believe
that either the Jewish or the Chris
tian religion was ethnic. They did
not come issuing from many pagan
streams, but came gushing forth
from the fountain of eternal love.
They are as lasting as time and as
enduring as eternity.
WHAT OTHER UNIVERSALISTS
HAVE SAID.
All favors bestowed by the giver of
every good gift, and every perfect gifi
impose corresponding duties and obli
gations on those who receive them. By
what means, let your servant ask, were
your minds enlightened, and brought
out of darkness into the glorious light
of universal love? You auswer, By
carefuily and prayerfully searching the
Scriptures. In what estimation, then,
should you hold these Scriptures, which
have granted you this deliverance from
the gloomy horrors of never-ending
woes? Does the Bible contain the di
vine promise, that, in the seed of Abra
ham, which seed is Christ, all the na
tions, all the families, all the kindreds
of the earth shall be blessed? Does
the Bible teach that the one Modiator
between God and men gave himself a
ransom for all, to be testified in due
time; that God has made known his pur
pose, that, in the fullness of the dis
pensation of times, be will gather to
gether all things in Christ; and that he
worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will? And does it teach us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteous
ly, and godly in this present world?
And do the Scriptures teach us all
things which pertain to life and godli
ness, through the knowledge of him who
hath called us to glory and virtue? If
these things be so, allow your aged ser
vant to beseech you to hold the Scrip
tures in that high regard which corre
sponds with the blessings you receive
from them.—Rev. Hosea Ballou.
The investigations of science lead us, !
in the last analysis of thought, to the
necessary admission that there must
have been from eternity an infinite
fountain of being, comprehending the
sum of all possible existence. Hut it
cannot lift the veil of darkness which
shrouds that mysterious and eternal
existence nor conduct us one line be
yond the mere fact that it is. Here di
vine revelation speaks, and invests the
unknown infinite with the charac'er
and attributes of God, and the most
and best we can do is to accept its utter
ances by faith.’’—Rev. I. D. Williamson,
DU.
"Jesus Christ, • the author and fin
isher of our faith,’ was guided and illu
minated by the Holy Spirit. His soul
was in harmony with the Great Soul of
the universe: hence he said, ' I and my
Father are one,’ ‘ He who hath seen the
Son bath seen the Father also.’ Truth
from the Fountain of truth, flowed into
bis soul as naturally as water flows into
a sponge; hence to do his Father’s will
was his meat and drink; hence the wis
dom be uttered was the wisdom of God.
He is, ther, the Way. the Truth and the
Life—the teacher and Saviour of man.
He is a medium through which God
speaks to. and blesses the world.”—Ben.
Erasmus Manford.
“The gospel-records, which are the
embodiment of the Christian system of
revelation, could not. if a forgery, have
gained a foothold for a day in the gene
ration of which they assign their events.
And even more impossible would it
have been to gain a reception for them,
if they were a work of imposture, bt
any subsequent period. Verily, the
manner and fulness of this Christian
revelation, responding to the soul-tra
vail of the nations; the character of its
doctrines, meeting the constitutional
wants of the human soul,and conferring
infinite honor upon the Creator; and
the form in which the record of the
rove'ation is given us, with all its con
comitants and complications—these con
stitute a three fold cord of irrefragable
proof, which binds the record, the Chris
tian Scriptures, to the heart of Chris
tendom, as the veritable repository of
God’s Word to the children of men. In
reading it, we feel to be sitting for in
slruction at the feet of Jesus, in the
hearing of the voice of the Eternal,
‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. Here ye him’ ”—Rev.
Sylvanus Cobb, D.D.
" The Bible is leaven; and of necessity,
all leaven does its work slowly, atom
by atom. But let any one, friend or foe,
candidly survey the field of the Bible’s
influence, or apply any honest test as
to the extent of leavening power, and
what, unmistakably, does he see? What
transformations! What victories over
darkness and wrong! W’hat console
tioos! What awakenings!
What rough places smoothed, and
crooked places made straight! What
births and growths of finer and loftier
sentiment, of nobler character, of holier
and saintlier living! Account for it as
we may, the fact is indisputable that
wherever the Bible has become most an
element in the popular life, there are
found the most of those fruits which
might be expected to grow from the
seeds of a divine revelation.’—Rev. E.
G. Brooks, D. D.
VALUE OF UNIVERSALISM IN
DAILY LIFE.
BY REV. H. N. BROWN.
We have often heard the remark
“Universalism will do to live by,
but will not do to die by,” But it is
the chief glory of Universalism that
it can be lived. If Universalism is
good “to live by” then surely the
statement that it “will not do to die
by” cannot be true. Thousands
have testified to the fact that it is
the only faith that can stand the test
when death comes. It is beautiful
as a theory, satisfying the reason
and the heart, and illuminating life
and the universe as no other doc
trine or philosophy can. But while
all this can be said of Uuiversalism
as a theory, it is not in this that its
highest commendation is to be
found.
Life is our great concern. What
we are is of higher moment than
what we feel. Universalism abounds
in principles and appeals fitted to
rectify and sanctify character, teach
ing nothing that cannot be made a
rule of action; or that fails, when
appreciated, to be an efficient ele
ment of moral power.
Take the character of Christ, ana
lyze it to its principles, trace its
virtues to their roots, and then tell
me what it is but the flower and
fruit, theincarnation of the spirit and
principles of Universalism. In all
his tender sympathy for man, in all
his readiness to forgive, in all his
devotion to God, and in his heroic
fidelity to duty—in all that assem
blage of qualities and graces which
made him the perfect man that he
was, find one principle acted upon,
one motive responded to, which
Uuiversalism does not supply, en
force and foster, so far as the be
liever yields himself to its power.
Take, for example, Christ’s forgive
ness of his enemies. You know how
marked and beautiful a trait this
was in his character, and how his
prayer, “Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do,” ex
haled with his dying breath, touches
all hearts and completes the seal of
his divinity. And yet what is this
but an exhibition in which as an
image of God, he illustrates what
Universalism affirms concerning the
Father’s love and care, even for the
most guilty; and that can be justi
fied only on the ground that Univer
Balism is true. Actuated by any
such principle as the prevalent
theology affirms with respect to God
and his relation to sinners would
Christ—could he—have prayed that
prayer for his murderers? Never.
It was the spirit of our faith that
yearned in him in that hour of agony.
It was Universalism that beamed
from his upturned face, that spoke
with those parched lips, and that
made that last scene so touching in
its pathos, so sublime in its moral
beauty, and so effective in its moral
power.
Some, who do not know what Uni
ver-ialism is, would think me pre
sumptuous, even blasphemous, in
thus claiming Christ as its represen
tative. And yet I am only saying
w hat no candid and thoughtful mind,
[This article is printed as a tract ftr
free distribution in Indiana. Copies ca
be procured by addressing Miss Flora B.
Brown, Secretary of the State Convention,
Dublin, lud. ]
who will trace actions to their
motives, and resolve life into its
principles, can fail to confess. I shall
be ready to renounce Universalism
whenever it can be proven that it is
not fully represented in Christ, or
that anything but its principles can
claim him as their expression. It was
once said by an opponent of Univer
salism that it has “no oaths of its
own, and that the worst a person,
actuated by its spirit, can say to an
other is‘God bless you.’” This in
tended ridicule is but a noble eulogy.
! It is even as he said; and this fact is
only one of the evidences which pro
claims our doctrine to be his who
said: “Swear not at all;” “Love
your enemies that you may be the
children of your Father in heaven.
I reject the prevalent doctrine for
the reason that it cannot be lived.
Christ did not live it. No good man
or woman, living a godly life, ever
lived it. Only Universalism can be
lived. Think of the common idea of
punishment—of punishment as an
end—and then try it in your family,
in your school, in the prison. You
will soon see that it cannot be en
forced. It cannot ba lived. The
Uuiversalist’s view of punishment is
that it is a means to a glorious end ;
and that it can and will be inflicted
on the sinner until the end is S9
cured, even the salvation of the soul
from sin.
Again Universalism is superior to
orthodoxy, so called, in that it brings
punishment nearer. Suppose our
legislature should enact a law to
prevent theft, making its penalty
death, which is not to be inflicted
until twenty years after the crime
had been committed. And not then
if the criminal will but go to the
Governor and ask his forgiveness.
What would you think of such a law?
With a twenty years’ credit and a
cheap way of escape, the effect would
be to increase crime.
This is exactly what the prevalent
doctrine does by its theory of proba
tion. It is the serpent’s doctrine
that deceived the first pair. The
very first warning to man was, “In
the day thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die.” Right in the face
of this warning from God, the ser
pent preached his first great lie when
he said, “Ye shall not surely die.”
Everyone must see the tendency of
all this. “Woe to them that are at
ease in Zion,” said the prophet of old,
“ye put far away the evil day.” This
is what the church does when it de
nies retribution here and transfers it
to another world. Our doctrine, on
the contrary, brings punishment
close at hand and makes it certain.
Above all, my Uuiversalist brother
or sister, to whom the world looks
for an illustration of the superior effi
cacy of our doctrine, will you fully
appreciate its meaning and the appeals
it urges upon you, and be the pure,
aspiring, morally earnest, and conse
crated man or woman that it is fitted
to make you and that you should be?
Verily, for all purposes of convincing
unbelievers, do I say that Universal
ism is in its principles, and ought to
be in its results, the most efficient
Caristian power; if, by the tone and
quality of your daily life, you prove
that it is so. Do not,I pray you, de
feat the purpose for which the truth
is proclaimed. Do not. think for
a moment that you can advance
Universalism by your talk alone. Let
your daily life testify that it is true.
INDIANA UNIVERSALIST WOMEN
The eighteenth annual session of U
W. A. A. was called to order Sept. 1,
1:30 P. M., at the Central Church,
Indianapolis.
President Mary E. Case of Muncie,
being absent, Rev. J. B. Foeher acted as
chairman. The meeting opened with
prayer by Rev. Henry Groves and siug'
iog. After a few remarks by theacting
president a call was made for written
reports from the secretaries of the L. A.
Societies throughout the state.
Six responded with written reports,
three with verbal. The reports were all
good, especially Indianapolis, Pendleton*
Anderson and Pleasant Hill. The nine
reported all agree to work more earnest
ly in the coming year than in the past.
It seems hardly a fair showing as
■ome three weeks before the Convention
your Secretary sent out thirty postal
cards to the different churches in the
state. It there are only nine Ladies
Aid Societies now in the state let us
hope they will read carefully what the
ladies are doing in the state and organizs
at once that we may have twice nine at
our next annual meeting.
There was a call made for an expres
sion on appointing a state missionary.
Several expressed in favor of it, after
which Sister Lizzie Thompson of Lafay
ette, made a motion to concur with the
State Convention to appoint a state
missionary to work in the interest of the
Sunday-school, Y. P. C. U. and U. W. A.
A., which acted upon resulted in favor
of the motion.
Rev. Margaret Brennan of Muncie
gave an interesting and instructive
address upon "Woman’s Work."
A call for election of officers resulted
as follows:
President, MaryE. Case, Muncie: Vice
President, Mrs. Eva Ballard, Crawfords'
ville: Secretary, Ida M. Hill, Indianapolis;
Treasurer, Mrs. J. B. Posher, Pendleton.
A call was made for annual dues
which resulted in thirty dollars being
pledged.
I he meeting adjourned to meet one
year hence.
Ida M. Hill, Secretary.
INDIANA Y. P. C. U,
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING.
The sixth annual session of the In
diana Y. P. C. U., convened Wednesday
afternoon, September 1, at Central
Universalist church, Indianapolis.
The meeting was called to order bv
the President, R9V. J. B. Fosher and
prayer was offered by Miss Johnson,
President of the Indianapolis Union.
The roll-call showed} five Unions rep
resented (another Union subsequently
reported.)
The session committee were appoint
ed and the annual reports of the State
Secretary and Treasurer were heard and
referred to Auditing Committee.
The reports showed:
No. of Unions in State Union.10
“ organized within the year.4
“ of Unioners.248
“ joined this year.1*30
“ Devotional meetings held.344
Ain't of money expended.$270 75
*' expended for current church
expenses. 131 (33
“ expended for missionary pur
poses. 112 82
No. pages reading matter distrib
uted .7855
“ church members.131
“ joined this year.19
“communicationssentoutbySec
retary.327
Papers, tracts, ect.. sent out by
Secretary—(no. of pages). .1159
No. constitutions sent out by secre
tary. 31
Three Unions have paid dues, both
State and National, in full. Nine (of the
ten) Unions have paid dueB in part. A
balance was reported in the treasury.
Special mention was made of the banner
won at Detroit for the greatest per
cent of increase in membership; also of
the fact that Indiana, Y. P. C. U.. sent
its largest delegations to the last Nati
onal Conventien, at Detroit ’97. Two
amendments were adopted to the Con.
stitution and By-Laws,—one providing
for the recognition of the Junior depart
ment as an auxiliary to the State Y. P
C. U.,—together with the office of Jr.
Superintendent;—the second, making
provision for the amending of the con
stitution by a month’s notice in the
"official call” for the Convention.
Twenty minutes was devoted to an
informal discussion of more efficient
methods for local Union work. The
items especially noted were (1) the
business meeting, (2) local officers work;
(3) Committee work; (4) distribution and
collection of "2 cents a-week envelopes,’’
(5) Post Office Mission (6) observance of
special days,— young people’s day,
Christian Citizenship Sunday, etc.
The following recommendations were
discussed and adopted:
X. Xhat the state secretary be au
thorized to keep on hand a supply ot
leaflets, tracts, etc, (such as are kept in
stock by the National Union) for the
purpose of distributing among new
Unions, or those interested in Y. P. C.
U. matters; and that a sum not less
than $1 be remitted to the National
Union to cover expenses of same.
II. That the Unions throughout the
state, adopt as far as possible, the song
book, “Praise and Thanks," issued by
the National Y. P. C. U., for use in their
devotional meetings.
III. That the Indiana Y. P. C. U.
procure a State banner before the next
annual meeting of the National Union
at "Chicago '98."
DUES.
IV (1) That, for the coming year
each Union be aseessed quarterly at the
rate of ten cents per member, (tive cents
for state work, tiye cents for national
work), these dues to be remitted to the
state secretary for the quarters ending
October 31st, January 31et, April 30th>
and July 31st.
(2) That the newly organized Unions
be asked to pay from time of joining the
State Union.
(3) That the State Union pay to the
National Union its delinquent dues for
the year ending. And that, tor the
coming year the State Union pay to the
National Union our quarterly dues (at
the regular intervals) voted on the mem
bership reported at Detroit ’97 (20G mem
bers) and making up the deficiency from
the state treasury (if funds permit)
whenever local Unions fail to pay in
full.
LOYALTY TO STATE CONVENTION.
VI. That the State Union contribute
to the State Convention, a sum to be
agreed upon, for its ’ missonary enter
prises,” as an expression of its loyalty
and cordial sympathy.
DISTRICTS
VII. (1) That for the strengthening
and mutual benefit to our Unions, that
the Y P. C. U’e. in the state be organ
ized into districts; it being the purpose
that each district shall hold mass devo
tional meetings during the year, at least
as many times bb there are Unions in the
district. (It being supposed that each
Union will wish to act as host once.
(2) That superintendents shall be ap
pointed by theExecutive Board, to super
vise, in general, the Unions in her district
to appoint time and place for the mass
devotional meetings; to correspond with
the Unions in her dis’rict and with the
state president; and to create as great
an interest as possible in the union
mass meetings.
(3) That for the coming year, the V.
P. C. U’e. be districted as follows:
( U&lTinton i Sup’t’s. appt '
No 1 i Pleasant VaPey ( by Ex-B.>aril
(north) i I."transport i Mrs Maite
1 Huateriown i Miller Pleasant
Valley U nlou.
( lu.Panapo'Is I Miss. Hattie B,
No. 2. i I’ •ndleton • John-on
(eentrail , Muucie i (Ind anapolla
• f Union.)
I Mt. Carmel I Miss Edith lr
No t i Fairfield (wiu, (Falrtielil
(south) i Dublin. i Uni n.)
STATE OFFICERS.
VIII. That each state officer shall
have supervision of some spe,r al line of
work. For instance—I. “ It shall be the
special duty of the state president to aid
and encourage the district work—receiv
ing reports from and directing the dis
trict superintendents and renderingsuch
other assistance as he can to promote
the success ot the district meetings.
2. The vice-president shall endeavor
to create a more active interest among
the Unions in the department of Chris
tian Citizenship.
3. The secretary shall endeavor to pro
mote the work of the P. O. M. depart
ment. urging each union in the state to
observe P. O. M. Sunday; also urging
the importance of an active P. O. M.
committee in each Union. The society
shall also solicit subscriptions to “On
ward.”
4 The treasurer shall push the work
ot church extention, endeavoring to
find subscribers in every union in the
state to the " Two-Cents-a-Week for
Missions.”
Each officer shall make a report of the
work accomplished in his special line at
the next annual meeting.
IX. That whenever deemed advisa
ble by the Executive Board—some one of
the state officers may be sent out to organ
ize a union, or give aid to one in need'
In such instance the railroad expenses
of the acting officer shall be paid from
the state treasury.
Resolutions were adopted thanking
the Indianapolis Y. P. C. U. for hospital
ity and courtesies extended. Also to Dr
E. W. Ellis for composing our state song,
than which "none better wbb sung at
Detroit, ’97.”
The following officers were elected:
President, Rev. J. B. Fosher, Pendleton
Union; Vice President, Miss Emma
Rickerd, Mt. Carmel Union; Secretary,
Miss Katharine Brownback, Pendleton
Union; Treasurer, Mr. Jos. M. Taylor)
Indianapolis Union; Superintendent
Jr. Dept., Mrs. Kate Frampton, Pendle
ton Union.
At 7:00 P. M. a “Detroit Echo” service
was held. Short speeches were made on
the ‘‘Personnel of the Convention,”
"Devotional Spirit of Detroit, ’97,”
“The Congress—Sources of Education
to our Youog People, (1) Christian
Citizenship Dep't., (2) Hints Gleaned
from the other Congresses,” by J. E
Heffner, Mr. G. W. Stanley, Misses
Hattie B. Johnson, Rubie Guthrie and
Alice Hill. The "Echo” closed with a
general talk by Rev. J. B. Fosher. The
church was decorated profusely with
state and national colors, Christian
Union and American flags.
The auditing committee reported the
accounts of Secretary and Treasurer
as correct.
The Convention adjourned with the
Mizpah benediction.
Rosk B. Stewart, Secretary.
M[ ncik, Ind.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Pledges on the Cent-a Day plan, duly
signed, were received at the office of the
Financial Secretary, during the month
of July, 1897, as follows:
Boston, Mass.. Roxbury Parish-additional
. l
Beth l. Vc.—additional. 1
St. Jahnsbury, Vt.—additional*. 1
Farmington, N. H. •• . l
Total 4
Receipts during the same period from pay
ments on account of Cent-a-Day pledges:
W atsonvllle. Cal. 50
Cambridge, Mass.—First Palish. 22 14
Ft. Atkinson, Wls. 3 65
Providence, R. I. First Church. 8 65
Chelsea, Mass. 3 65
Marseilles, 111. , 3 65
Boston. Mass.—lioxbury Parish. 7 30
lloruelDvllle, N'.V. 3 65
Farmiugton, N. H. 3 65
Oakland. Cal. S 45
Sau Francisco. Ca1.. 7 30
Philadelphia, Pa.—Church of Restora
tion. 7 44
York. Neb . 3 65
St. Louis, Mo. 3 65
Providence, R. I.-Church of Mediator 3 65
Boston, Mass.- Columbus Ave. Church 25 56
Kansas City, Mo. 3 65
Claremont, N. 11. 3 65
Brooklyn, N. V — Church of our Father 10 95
Medford. Mass. 2 80
Racine, Wls. lo 00
W irren, Mass. 3 65
Standing Stone, Pa. 5 00
Manstield, Pa. . 5 OO
Riverside. Cal. 7 30
Brooklyn. Ill. l no
Hlngbaui, Mass. 3 65
NorthUeld, Vt. 3 65
Muncie, Ind. 3 65
9180 49
Receipts during the same period from other
sources than Cent-a-Day pledges:
Newton, Mass. Individual, for Gen
eral Convention (Western Mis
sions).4.. 100 00
Meriden, Conn. Individual, fur Gen
eral Convention. 55 95
Syracuse, N. V., Parish. General Con
vention . 20 00
Wrentham. Mass.. Individual, for Gen
eral Convention. 5 00
Rev. y. H. Shinn General Misa'ouary.
seivices for July, for Gene:alCon
vention . 50 50
Meredith. N. H . Individual, Weirs
pledge, 1896, for General Conven
tion . 5 no
Somerville, Mass., Individual. We rs
pledge, 1896 lor General Conven
tion. 5 00
Brooklyn, N. Y., First Parish. Individ
ual. for General Convention. 5 00
Dover. Me., Suuoav-School for Gen
eral Conventlou. 1 io
London, Ohio, Sunday-school, for Gen
eral Convention. 50
Kansas City. Mo., Individual. Barre
pledge, 1896, lor General Conven
tion. in oo
Corfu, N. Y’., Income Pur er fund,Gen
eral Convent on. 10 oo
Marshfield, Vt.. Individual, Barre
pledge 1897. for General Conven
tion . l no
Nottingham, N. 11, Parish,for General
Convention. 5 00
Brooklyn, N. V., First Parish. Mission
ary B x (old) for General Conven
tion . 5 oo
Brooklyn. X. Y , First Parish Individu
al, for Genera! Convention (Kan
sas cuy). noo
Brooklyn. N. ¥., First Paalsh Individ
ual, for General Convent on (Suf
folk) . 5 uo
Brooklyn. N. Y ., First Parish Individ
ual lor Ge oral Couveuil in (ex
tra 1 . 05
Dover, N IJ Suudat-school lor Gen
era- Co. Yen turn. 2 00
Lower Salem, Ohio, Par.sh, for Gen
e al Conventlou. 5 00
Buffalo, N. Y. Church ol Messiah, on
acco 1 t Par's 1 yuula Co General
Couveutlou. 10 00
Last Providence. K 1 , Iud.vldual. for
General Convent o 1. 5 00
Hortouville, Vt.. Individual, for Gen
et al Convent on. 100
Ludlow, Vt., Individual, f> r General
Convention. 5 00
Philadelphia, Pa., Individual for Gen
eral Convention. 10 no
Wllliamstown, Vt., Individual Weirs
pledge, 1897, for General Conven
tion . r, no
So. Barre, Vt., Individual for General
Convention. 5 00
Barre, Vt., Individual for General Con
vention . r, no
Oakland, Cal., Individual for General
Convention. 2 0*
$344 10
Receipts during the same period, from pay
ments on ace mat of the Japan Mission:
Red Oak, Iowa, Individual. 11 o*
Boston, Mass., Shawmut Church, In
dividual. r> 00
Canton, N. Y., Individual (1896). 2 00
Seaside, Cal, Individual. 5 00
Bridgeport, Conn. Individual. 30 00
Caieago, 111., st. Paul's Church, Indi
vidual. 40 00
Toledo, Ohio. Individual. 8 00
Pawtucket, R I., Individual. 2 00
Philadelphia. Pa. Church of the Me,
siah, Individual. 5 00
Madison, N. Y., Ladles’ Aid Society.... r, 00
$108 00
Henry W. Rugg Financial Sec’y.
Providence, R. i„ Sept. 1,1897.
SELECTED.
MEMORIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE
AND HER FAMILY.
The house which Mrs. GaBkell's name
has rendered famous stands in Plymouth
Grove, a broad thoroughfare, pleasantly
planted with trees, which leads from the
suburbs into the city of Manchester.
The house is of gray stone, commodious
double-fronted, with a gravel carriage
drive sweeping round to the front door, i
tall trees forming a screen from the
road, with a pleasant garden at the back.
When Mrs. Gaskell first made it her
home, in 1841), it stood in semi rural iso
lation; now houses abound on every
hand, and the tramcars pass along the
road. There still live Mrs. Guekell’e
two unmarried daughters, Miss Gaskell
and Miss Julia Gaskell, ladies who are
keeping up the traditions of their cele
brated house in a delightful manner,
and to whose kindly courtesy I am in
debted for the privilege of becoming ac
quainted with its contents and literary
associations.
Never surely was biographer ana oiug
raphied more closely connected in the
public mind than are Mrs. Gaskell and
Charlotte Bronte. To mention the one
suggests the other. It was during a
visit to Sir James and Lady Kay Shut
tleworth, at Briery Close, near Winder
mere, in the autumn of 1850, that Mrs.
Gaskell first saw the author of "Jane
Eyre,” “a little lady in a black silk
gown,” who sat and "worked away and
hardly spoke.
Before the visit ended the two be
came fast friends, and the following
year Charlotte Bronte paid the first of
her memorable visits to Plymouth
Grove, and henceforth the house and its
inmates have many a kindly mention in
her letters. In 1853 she came again,
and this time passed a week under Mre.
Gaskell’s hospitable roof. It was pleas
ant to sit in the drawing-room where
she had sat, and listen to Miss Gaskell
as she called up her childhood memories
of the visit.
Miss Gaskell told me that the im
pression which she retained of Charlotte
Bronte was of a dainty, birdlike creat
ure, very delicate in appearance, slight
in figure, with tiny hands and feet; very
large gray eyes, eilky brown hair and a
shy, timid manner. At times, when
strangers were not prisei t, and she was
at her ease, she would become quite im
passioned in conversation, using her
hands to accentuate her remarks. Miss
Gaskell recalls hearing Mies Bronte de
scribe the acting of Mme. Rachel,
whom she had recently Eeen in London,
and in order to illustrate some attitude
of the actress Miss Bronte clinched her
fists. The aroused passion which
thrilled through her fragile body, and
the action of clinching the fists, made
a lasting impression on Miss Gaskell,
then a tiny child. She had also a vivid
recollection of Mr. Bronte in his last
years, as she accompanied her mother
to Haworth when, after Charlotte's
death, Mre. Gaskell visited tne moor
land parsonage to gather materials for
the "Life.”
Mr. Bronte was confined to his ro im
at the time, and Miss Gaskell recalls
the vivacious manner with which he
received them and what a picturesque
figure he made Bitting propped up in
bed, his snowy white shirt showing up
his handsome face and fine head. He
talked incessantly, telling story after
story and spinning yarns like a Napier,
full of point and vivid coloring. “It
was easy to understand,” said Mies
Gaskell, "where the Bronte sisters got
their genius from ” Miss Julia Gaskell
had also a story to add regarding Mr.
Bronte. “Wheu my sister and I were
visiting in the otighborhood of Haworth
parsonage,” she eaid, "we had occasion
to go into a little jeweler’s and clock
maker's shop there, and the owner of
i told us that old Mr. Bronte, who was
then in a dying condition, had sent hie
pistol to him to h„ve a new spring put to
the trigger, which would enable him to
tire it off more easily. Mr. Bronte, I
should explain, bud a very violent tem
per and was in the habit of firing off a pis
tol to relieve his feelings; and even in hie
dying state he oo .ld not abandon the
habit, and bad sent to have the trigger
made sufficiently easy for bis weak hand
to press it. He died three days after
this incident was related to us, an I I
believe fi. ed his pistol to the last.”
The anthracite coal production for
June, according to official returns, was
nearly 3,000 000 tor e, tuakirg tor the last
six mouths ab >ut 10.000 000 tone. The
tonnage for 1890 was 43 000,000; 1895,
40,000,000; 1894. 41000,000.
It is a frequent mistake of hop grow
ers to begin picking too early. This
causes a lose of the fullest development
of hop flavor, and also something in
weight.