GENESEE EVANGELIST.—WhoIe No. 767.
(ill ten.
BELL-SONGS•
BY ROSE TERRY.—No. 1.
"Funera plunge."
Toll, toll, toll! soar, thou passing bell,
Over meadows green and quiet,
Over towns where life runs riot;
Do thine errand well!
Sing thy message, sad and oalm,
Cold and holy as a psalm,
Hush us with thy knell!
Toll, toll, toll! over wind and wave;
Through the sunshine's sudden fading,
Through the pine•tree's voice, upbraiding,
Where the wild seas rave.
Snow•drifte for the summer wait;
Slumber for the desolate;
Silence in the grave.
Toll, toll,-tolll through the quivering sky;
Chime thy song of wintry weather;
Cruel, through this rapturous ether,
Call the bride to die.
Chill, with thy relentless tongue,
Eyes that smiled and lips that sung;
Bid delight. good.:by. -
Toll, toll, toll! heaven is in the.soundl
Sad alone to souls unready.
The y ' whose lamps were trimmed and steady
Christ rejoicing found.
On thy rolling waves of tone
Float I to the Master's throne.
Life and love abound.
NO. 2.--FULOORA rearm.
Swinging slowly through the thunder,
Thrill the vivid bolts asunder,
Make the storm-wind quail.
Hurl thy challenge, stern defender,
'Fierce against the tempest's splendor,
Past the hissing hail.
Leaping through affrighted heaven,
Swift the wrathful flames are driven,
Flashing death and fear.
Speak, thou bell! with sullen clangor,
Overcry the tempest's anger,
Force the storm to hear.
Unrelenting, burning, streaming,
Red o'er livid oceans gleaming,
Lightnings rend the sky.
Break the thunder's fearful chorus,
Lift thy peal of triumph o'er us,
Floating strong and high.
'Tell the soul thy signal story,
How its own inherent glory
Nature's might shall quell
Ring a pagan for the spirit
Fire nor flood shall disinherit.
Praia() thy makers, bell!
NO. 3.-SABBATA ramp.
Calmly dawns the golden day,
Over mountains pale and gray.
Man, forsake thy sleep and pray.
Come, come, come!
Swinging through the silent air,
Lot the call itself le prayer
Fence thy soul from sin and care.
Come, come, come 1
Like a dream, serene and slow,
Through the dawn's aerial glow,
Hear the restful cadence flow;
Come, come, Dome!
Think that in my pleading tongue,
Thtpugh the dewy brandies swung,
Christ himself this word bath sung:
Come, come, come!
Toil and battle, rest in peace, .
In the holy light's increase,
Weary heart, from iebor cease;
Come, come, come!
Lo! .up.rlsing from the dead,
God's own glory on His head,
His pure lips thy prayers have sped.
Come, come, come!
For the Arnenean Presbyterian.
"BOW TO ENJOY LIFE:" OR PHYSIO.AI
AND MENTAL HYGIENE.
BY WM. M. CORNELL, HI. D.
ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS.- CHAPT ER IV.-LONG
PRAYERS
Scripture Examples--Loss to Presbyterianism
Dr. Emmons' Advice— lfrhitefield' s - Saying--
The Prayer of a President of a College—The
Bell and Me Prayer-difeetiKg—Deacon W. and
Deacon L.'s Prayers.
Perhaps there is no error which clergymen fall
into more frequently than that of making long
prayers. They do it, too, all unconsciously. If
they would turn to " thc oracles, the sure,
word of propheey, the law and` the, teitini*r
they would find many examples of short, but, fells of
long prayers. The prayer of Solomon at the de
dication of the temple, and that of Daniel; in Ba
bylon, are the two longest in the Bible. Yet
either of these prayers can be read in flee minutes.
What are we to think -then of a, minister whose
prayer, on the Sabbath, is ordiniirily from twenty
to thirty minutes? Especially is this 'to be de
plored among Preshyterians, (who have'sometimes
been called the standing order, whether because
they always stand in prayer, or because they,have
stood ever since the days of the apostles, I know
not,) because it is very inconvenient for women
and children to stand so long, and impossible for
the feeble. Whether such prayers have really
had the effect ascribed to them in the following
statement, which is going the rounds of the papers,
I will not say; but it looks quite probable. "Ac
cording to a correspondent of the Presbyterian
Herald, a distinguished statesman once remarked
that the reason why the. Presbyterian Church is
not the largest in the State of Kentucky is, be
cause its preachers make such long' prayers. He
suggests, that rather than drive men away from
church by long prayers, a minister had better do
like old Father Burch, open his eyes and look at
his watch, and know for himself what the length
of his prayer is."
There is no question but that most ministers
sin "ignorantly" in' this matter. A clergyman
once said to the writer, "Was my prayer over ten
minutes long?" I said, "Yes, over twenty." He
seemed really to doubt it. But it was a stubborn
fact.
Within a month, I heard an Elder of one of the
Presbyter' an churches of Philadelphia say, "I do
wish our minister would not make such long
prayers. The people complain exceedingly abou t
it." Some will always think, thellonger, tbe better
the prayer.
Several great men have had the credit of writing
over the doors of their Oudies, "Be short." To
whomsoever this credit was first due, it Is certain
that lie who should write "be short" upon the
door of any pulpit, and make the minister obey
the direction, would be had in grateful remem
c,
* [Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by Wll.
2 . 44 Coaxial, In the Clerk% Olhde of the District Court of the inttrd
Stites B for the Modern District of Psousylreuiaj
knee by the people, and ought to receive the
thanks of the clergy; for, probably, more of the
latter have lost their- parishes on account of their
long prayers and long sermons, than for any other
one cause. "Dr. Emmons (it name known to most
clergymen) was accustomed to say to his theologi
cal pupils, "Never let your prayer exceed ten Mi
nutes in length." "White&ld has been said to
have made use of the following language respect..
ing an American &vine, "Ile prayed me into a
good humor and out again." It 'is to be feared,
the same effect has been produced on others by
long prayers.
I was once present' at an association of minis
ters,. when it was concluded to'spend half an hour
in devotional exercises. The plan was, to bave
three prayers; one for the clergy and the church,
one for the world, and one, especially, for the
young, or for the children of the church. Three
of the fathers were designated to lead in these
prayers. The first was a venerable President of
a-gollege,-and he prayed twenty minutes, and in
his praYer hiNeitieriliiied the Clergy, theclriirch,
the world, the •ehildren, and almost all other
things to be "named in heaven and earth."
So the ether two had but five minutes each, and
were compelled to repeat the same petitions. Yet,
this first named minister was a most excellent man,
and could have been 'trusted on all other points,
but that of long prayers. Habit, of forty years'
strength, was too poiverful to yield to any minis
terial plans, or any laws human or divine. It re
minded me of a question of tho same Dr. Em
mons put to a young clergyman, who had preached
for him in the morning, and whose sermon was
rather scattering. As the Doctor loved system,
he said to the young brother, "Do you ever ex
pect to preach another sermon ?" " Why yes, sir,"
said the young man. "What about?" continued
the Doctor. " Why do you ask that question - ?"
said the youth. " Because," said the keen eyed,
and keener-minded old man, " ' I thought. you
preaChed every thing this morning.",
But it is not my design to repeat what has been
said in previous chapters, and; long sermons and
their makers have already been noticed. I have
been peculiarly pleased with, the "Three; or the
Five minute 'Rule, as it isnow adopted in most of
the large cities, at the noon-tide prayer-meetings.
I know not the origin of such a rale, hut suPpoSe
it. arose from the necessity of the ease; that is,
without it, some two or three lang-winded 'speak
ers would have occupied the whole hour. I con
fess I had rather hear the tintinnabulum cut short
a long Speech than stop a man in prayer. There
,
is a kind of irreverence about it, and, if pecale
would, -or could "out their garments according to
their cloth," or pray according to the time al
lotted to them, I would prefer that the bell should
be removed. But this can never be, as many
"Take no note of time, but' rom its loss."
Such must be admonished of its flight. It'is
curious' to - Witness how some men, with a definite
petition before them, will go round and round it,
4.,04.1949 1 1..41and ehere,,and spend .jiii,the
time
allotted to them, before they come to the point.
New, a bell is just the thing to awaken such per
sons and bring them to their senses, if it be rung
promptly. Usually it is so rung in, Philadelphia,
but not always. I have looked at my match and
seen some leaders of the meeting anew some per
sons to speak fiv/, six; and even eight, minutes,
instead of three. Where this is the case, it would
be better to have no' rule—for a rule, not obeyed
is "worse than naught." I have noticed three
clergymen who have clicked the bell promptly.
These have been Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. John
Chambers, and Rev. Dr. Newton.
Some time since, when attending a similar meet
ing in a distant city, upon speaking of the meeting
here, a brother and father "in Israel" said, he
"wished I would tell the people here, not to ring
that little bell; for, not long since he was here,
and some good brother was rung down in the midst
of a good prayer." But the most noticeable thing
there, was, that they had a similar rule printed and
hung up over the desk, before the people; and yet
three men were allowed to occupy fifteen minutes
each. I think the true hygienic, healthful pre
scription for a good meeting is—have a good rule,
and`stick to it. Let the law be, like that of the
Medea- and= Persians, ''ltaialterable," and let the
chairman of the meeting bear the bell,, asthe ma
gistrate, does . . 4 _the swerd—not in vain." •
In early life it was my -lot to dwell, for a time,
among a people in . "the, land - of, SteadY Habits,"
more than one of whom resembled Moses, in being
," slow'of speech."' They had two-deacons.of this
cast—most excellent men; "the Salt Of the earth."
- The population beingiparse, in the long days of
summer it was difficUlt to get together, at the
weekly evening prayer melting, earlier than eight
o'clock; and, by the time we had sung a hymn
and read a portion of Scripture, fifteen minutes of
the hour for prayer bad elapsed. Then, one of
these good deacons would offer prayer—and be
sure to consume the remaining forty-five minutes.
On one occasion, it was necessary to be absent
a Sabbath. It was not there, as it is in 'the city,
where, if every pastormere prostrated on Saturday
night, a sufficient number of clergymen, without
charge,—made up of. Presidents and Professors of
Colleges, Secretaries and Agents of benevolent so
cieties, Editors of religions newspapers and maga
zines, teachers, itinerating candidates, and ex-pas
tors, whose flocks had grown wiser than their
teachers,—nould be found on Sabbath morning to
supply their places. It was, therefore, concluded
to hold 'a deacon's meeting, which' consisted of the
usual services, substituting only the reading of a
published sermon, instead of the preaching. Upon
my return, inquiry - was made of a shrewd young
lady, the daughter of my boarding host, bow they
got through the Sabbath. "Oki" said sbe, "very
well: Deacon W. led in the long prayer, in the
morning, and he prayed just one hour. Deacon
L. prayed in the afternoon, and, as he did not
wish to be outdone by Deacon W., he prayed an
hour and five minutes."'
Thus much of hygiene and prophylactics for
those who are addicted to offering long prayers.
Rev. DANIEL BURGESS, a dissenting minister
of London, in the seventeenth century, preaching
on the robe of righteousness, said: "if any of you
would have a good and eheap suit, you will go to
Monmouth street, if you want a suit for life, you
will go to.tbe Court of Chancery; b ut if you wish
for a suit whicl4 will last to eternity, you. must go
to the Lord Jesus Christ, and put : pp his robe of
ighteonsuese.
MAMMA,' '''TJIEIi3OA.Y,-.JANTJARY . 24;'..1801.
Por the American Presbyterian,
LETTER •PROM CHINA.
(Concluded.)
VARIOUS lthritObs OF A.,,,d , "8ai1iA 4 Thr.....ci THE VILL
• OF THE OODS AT FUH MAU.
8. PAR - LAH-TENG:--This expression denotes
a very singular method (in some -respects ana
logous to spirit-rapping, as practised 'in the
United States,) of consulting soma god, used
either in a temple or; rnore nommonly,ln a pri
vate house. It is usually performed :in: the even
ing, generally wore as a. matter of friendship
•and - of favor to some one than as a may of darn
ing money on the part of the Operators. A pre
sent of food, or of something else, is often given
'them by the one who invites their assistance.
Two .performers are required besides the one
who desire& to inquire of the god. One of these
two takes his seat on a 'chair before the table
on , which incense and, candles are burning,
placed in front of the idol, or something which
represents The other :taw see& 'snail
_and draws kind-ofon apiece OPY:eirolv't
paper. He then sets • it on firobTrotre^of , the
lighted •candles, and, while burning, moires it,
gently up, and down in front of the person
seated., The object of thin is to expel all de-'
filing influences from' him, and prepare his body
to become the temporary;residence, of the god
invoked. He now Ases from - the chair and re
ceives from his companion one stick of lighted
incense, which he clasps in both hands, and
holds calmly before his breast, while he conti- •
nues to remain standing with his eyes closed and
his back turned towards the, table. The other
person now begins to entwine the fingers of
both of his own hands together in a certain
manner believed to be peculiarly pleasing to
that particular god He soon approaches the
other one, and with a sudden motion throws his
hands, with fingers thus interlocked, out towards
his face, very much as though he was going to
strike him. Trigs motion separates the fingers,
which he again interlaces in a similar manner,
and which he again throws out towards him.
This operation is repeated several times, being
regarded as very efficacious in procuring' a visit
from the god The person whose eyes are shut
during this ceremony, soon gives what is sup
posed to be unmistakable evidence of being
possessed by some supernatural and invisible
,
-polver. His body sways back and forth in an
unusual ,manner. The stick of incense falls
from his grasp, and he begins to step about
with the peculiar stride, and assume the peon
liar attitude and appearance belonging to the
god. This is considered an infallible proof of
the actual presence of, the god in the body of
the 'medium. Sometimes, however, it is said,
some one ofthe attendants of the god comes
in his stead, which is made evident by the me
dium assuming the- attitude appropriate to such
or such an attending spirit. If the individual on
-.whose• account -the presence 'of the god it in
, yelled, insists on haying the principal or master
diVinity himsnirnanie to consult, the medium
after a short time usually assumes the manners
belonging to the god invoked, as. a token that he
has arrived. The suppliant now advances, and
with three sticks of lighted incense in his hands,
bows down on his knees before;the medium and
begs him 'to be seated. After he has seated
himself; the suppliant states the object in re
gard to which he has sought an audience with
the god. A conversation often ensues between
the two parties on the subject, the one profess
ing to give 'the information desired, and the
other receiving it with reverence, humility, and l i
gratitude. Sometimes, however, the god, using
the mouth of the medium, gives the suppliant
a sound scolding for invoking his aid to attain
unworthy or unlawful ends, and sometimes he
positively declines to communicate the desired
information. At the close of the interview, the
medium apparently, falls asleep for a few mi
nutes. On awaking, some tea is given him to
drink, and he soon becomes hinitelf again. rt
is said that very •many adopt this 'method of
learning the way to recover from sickness, and
also to acquire knowledge to be used in a par
ticular kind of gambling t or lottery.
4. KAi int Sr:—This phrase denotes eme-.
thodof consulting the gods by means of a kind
of pen, which traces the oracle on sand.- The
whole, pen consists of two pieces of wood; The
larger piece, which usually it between two and
three feething, is.always.made of willow, peach,
-or mulberry. wood.. ,Italshape is like.taarmer's
drag, or the capital letter V, being cat out of
a very - crooked, brandb, or a branch in connex
ion with ihntrunk of the tree. The front end,
or the point of this Arag-like stick, is 'usually,
perhaps always, earns:tin imitation of, the head
of the Chinese dragon. small piece of hard
vrocid, of one of the three kinds above specified,
about five or six inches long, is inserted-under
the front point, and at right angles to it, giving
the whple utensil the general appearance of a
very small drag having only one front tooth.
When one wishes to consult a god by this
-means, he makes his wish known to some one
'belonging to a society or company established
for the purpose of facilitating such consults
4tion. -These societies are said to be numerous
at Pub Chan. A table is Placed before the
image of the god, or his representative, and
near to it. Ou this table, besides the candles
and incense, •are arranged some fresh flowers
and some tea or wine : some mock-money is pia
vided to be burnt at the proper time. In front
of this able, and further from the idol, is placed
.another table, having upon it' n wooden platter
about three or four feet long by two feet wide,
and several inches deep, which is nearly filled with
dry sand. Atter the incense and the candles
have been lighted, 'the suppliant kneels• down
and states his request with the usual ceremonies.
Having risen from hisinees, some paper charms
are set on fire, and, while burning, they are
brandished over the pen, the sami, and the two
persons who are to hold the pen, for the par
pose of purifying them all. These men, stand
ing with the table which has the platter of sand
upon it between them, and with their backs to
the idol, silently and reverently take hold of the
drag-like utensil, one at each side, in such a
manner that the end of the tooth or the pen
under its front point shall restin the, sand. A
peculiar kind of charm is now lighted and platied
in the censer standing on the table before the
image, in order to
,purify it. Another is burnt
in some place near b & pen or exposed to the
direct light otthe,he s. This is designed to
• ! 4
cause the god to de.sce and enter the pen and
deliver its oracle in wrkg.. If he does not soon
indicate his presence, Another charm is burnt.
His presence is manife4ed by a slow movement
of the point of the p!lti tracing characters on
the sand. After writing a line or two on the
•
sand, the movement ewes, and the characters
there written are -tranyerred to paper. After
this, if the oracle is unfinished, another line is
written, and so on till_ the pen entirely ceases
its motion, which signifies that the spirit of the
god has taken its departure from. the pen. All
that now remains to be:done is to ascertain the
meaning•of the orsele,, e which not unfrequently
is folind to be a difficult task. Sometimes it is
given in poetry, with elusions to ancient times
and, personages, or it ielvritten in some ancient
form. of the Chinese ebaracter not in common
nse, at the= presen ,or abbreviated
rrtmgjug Inufd tes the .oracle, as in an
dient times in ureeetriw a double sense,, or se
veral am! iguops !maniples.. The, suppliant,has
no resource, but to,getihe best meaning be can
from the eoietedrespOte
,of .the-idol he impor
tuned., It is said that*pen of the literary class
are more in the habitotappealing to:the gods
by the use 'of this pietlpil than others.:
I
I deem it unnecesseito, remark on the folly
and the sin, of consulting the gods by the
methods above-partially;described; or on the so
phistries and the deelliptions practised upon
theni •by the operators. May the, pious reader
fail not to pray for this7deluded people. How
long, oh! how long; bfore the true God shall
be worshipped and. served by the multitudes in
this.. pleasant .and fruitful valley, when these,
and, many similar superstitions, will be aban
doned! How. many, must perish before that
joyful time! • SINIK
Fah Chau, China, Oct. 141860.
For tit§ American Presbyterian.
- ,
THE CLAIMS OF: KANSAS AS A -FIELD
FOR: MISSIONARY EFFORT.
Why should Kansas lave the gospel? ,The
general answer to such .an inquiry would be,
and that alone wouldite sufficient, that men
here, as every .where„*ill perish without, it.
The, gospel alone, undeE God, saves men, and
nothing can supply its place.
The loss of the gospel, - then, involves the loss
of everything. Bat are , there not some strong
reasons why Kansai shfilild just now have the
gospel, which really apily . to no, other part of
our country? It is beeause we believe this to
be even so, that vie take! , up our pen,'and desire
to be heard—that we call special attention to
this subject:
We say, then, in .the. first place, the fierce,
and long-continued, will bloody strifes, which
hive made Kansas ji great battle field, and
made our Atakieall-4414t4114-ja4titati
taunt, a by-word, a Italy) ! of reproach, can ne
ver be healed, except byftihat, healing balm which
heals and removes aliother•evils. It is not po
litical measures, or institutions, the triumph, or
the defeat of political Parties, that will give per
mania peace and quietneas to Kansas: There
have been wrongs peipetrated here, and that
withoatnumber, andalmost past description :or
even conception—wrongs which no historian's
page will ever chronicle—wrongs that lo pub
lic documents have treasured up, and no news
paper reports have given to the public; or ever
will, tat, notwithstanding, live and rankle in
the breasts of thousands; and which cannot be
reasoned down, or forced down—which will live
,as long as memory lives - - a.whole generation
must pass away, andeven , then they will not he
forgotten. The gospel that renovated ihuman
hearts; and makes Men - everywhere Christ-like
in forgiVing injuries, can alone wipe out the
recollection of these f - tvilings, and' their effect
upon the public Mind.
Kansas again sends - up 'art imploring cry for
help, and 'yet, even .new, -- thi, famine for the
bread' of life is our most urgent - want The
sudden drying up of all the streams of temporal
prosjYerity, has been to our people, we believe,
a Wholesome dispiptine. It is God's method of
teaching a. peoplendepemience upon the Divine
bounty, when other" meang :of'instruction fail,
-and our people are ,profiting by it. 'We think
it may be safely affirmed at , no time in the
past two years , we have been here, has: there
been so much religious interest—lso many indi
cations of spiritual,good; as now'—and so many.
conversions to God. We see then, we think,
behind this dark Cloud 'of a frowning Provi
dence, the eternal 'Sunshine of divine mercy in
Jesus Christ The famine in Kansas, jiistly so
called, is not an unmitigated eyil, but a great
providential 'movement we tray% to prepare
this peoPle to receive. he gospel. It has, we
believe; made thitt 'entifi e eountry one great har
vest field, and now is to time to - thrust in the
sickle and gather the fruits.
2 But again, Kansas is now passing through
what may be termed the forming period in lei
history. She is laying the foundations for ge
nerations yet to come, and : with, what hands,
and with what materials shall those foundations
be laid, are question's of great importance, and
now to be settled. All the' prominent religions
sects feel the importance of this crisis in our his
tory, and are busy in endeavoring, becomingly,
to meet it. A foundation for a college has-al
ready been laid by our, Congregational brethren
at Lawrence. The Methodists have .already, in
like manner, suitable buildingsaerected, and a
flourishing college in progress at Baldwin City.
The Episcopalians Jhave made, a, very hopeful
beginning, a few miles distant, at Prairie City.
Our denomination, in its feebleness, has, as yet,
done nothing. But shall lye be content to stand
still and fold,var haltds,. while other Christian
denominations are aavali.antat, work r, HaVe
we nothing to do—no .responsibilities to this
people, and to our country, and to our God, to
meet.? We should be ,prepared at once to an
swer these questions, and to co-operate with
others in those great educational and religious
movements; so essential, to the intelligence and
virtue .of this people. The, writer, as the re
presentative of the - church with which be is.con
nected, has been offered-a donation in land, in a
beautiful and, central ;location, of great - .vane,
on the condition 06=w - would receive 4t and
approPriate it to the laying of the foundation
of, an institution of learning. Shall we let such
an opportunity pass by, or pass into other
hands? No. We repeat it, we mat stand in
our lot, and do, as a church, our work for God,
and for all time.
3. There is still another reason why , Kansas
should have the gospel; and why she should
have it now, that grows out of the place she Is
destined to occupy, and the part she is destined
to act, as one of the great States of the North
West. Her position is central—about mid-way
between the Atlantic and Pacific States, and on
the line north and south to be traversed by that
great national thoroughfare that is to bind these
now far off States together. Her climate, is sa
lubrious, her soil - equal, if not surpassing any
other part of the country. The writer has had
abundant opportunities of conversing with men
who, upon the Indian Reservations have been
twenty and thirty years in the territory, and he
finds no recollection of a season like the past.
While, therefore, the adaptation of this terri
,
tory for agricultural purposes may be relied
upon, and the farmer has nothing to fear in
coming here, no country can be better fitted
for raising stock,—especially, we would say, no
part of the entire West is so well- adapted to
raising sheep,=our winters tieing dry, and
mostly free from snow. War and stone
abound everywhere, the latter being in suffi
cient quantities for building and fencing. With
such great natural advantages, Kansas is des
tined, ere long, to become one of the great and
leading States of the North-West. Now is the
time to secure, in the triumph of the gospel, in
its elevating and sanctifying power, a pledge
that this great and beautiful heritage of our
commoircountry shall be for God.
To all our friends at the East, the lovers of
humanity, and the lovers of our, dear Saviour,
we would say, while we tender to you our
grateful acknowledgments for the large:hearted,
aptlntineous benevolence, that comes so freely
and so, largely to supply our wants in this
dark day of suffering and famine, do not forget
that multitudes among ,us are already starving,
'and will continue -to starve for the bread of life.
Here, after all, is our greatest and most urgent
want; and it is one that must seek and obtain
its supply from the States, from Christian
hearts, and churches abroad. We have no
means to help ourselves to sustain the gospel,
to plant churches, to build up seminaries of
learning. We are, without any
,fault of our
own, through God's judgment upon us, incapa
citated, powerless for our own relief. We have
no bread to feed our children. We can scarcely
promise them clothing, or shelter from the cold
winter's blast now upon us. But while we thus
imploringly write to yob for help,• and say give
us bread, give us clothing, it is with greater
earnestness we say give us the bread of life,
The most precious gift you can dispense, had
you-the 'tretores 'Of, the world at your corn
nand 'would 'be the,gospel. # *
For the AmerieartVreshytettian,
A NATIVE lowlsTwy SAND•
WICK
To the Editor of the American* Presbyterian
and Genesee Evangelist:
• D.EAASin,:—When in your-office last February,
I promised to report matters of interest from :this
part of the world, from time to time. I intended
to have begun to redeem this pledge much earlier.
.I found on my return that a two years' absence
from my post had allowed so great an amount of
work to accumulate that .I have not had leisure to
write to you.
During the annual meeting of our mission, held
at Honolulu in May last we were deeply im.
pressed with the importance of taking immediate
measures to raise up from among the people,
men who can take our places, and, when we are
gene,, carry forward the.work we have begun. In
the primitive church, when the, apostle's published
the gospel to a community, and the Holy Spirit
opened the hearts of the people to receive it, there
were, always found among, the ,converts persons
whom they could ordain as pastors and elders of the
flock there gathered. - The. Holy Spirit is infinitely
wise in his operations, and does nothingdefective
ly. All the _works of god.,are perfect. ,Inerever
he creates . a.livire4 being he also provides for its
wants. Tie. new born, .babe, finds food ready pre
pared specially for We'have extensive plains
here at the islands,. which for eight months of the
year are as dry
. ache deserts of Sahara; but no
sooner do the winter rains clothe these plains with
verdure, than we see millions of insects hatched
out ready to enjoy the hounftiful provision of their
great Creator. • They,never came forth during the
arid months. He, who gives them life, does all
things well,
So also we may expect that When He, balls, a
people out: of darkness into the light. and liberty
'of the gospel, He will also provide for their spirit
ual nourishment and growth in grace. Missiona
ries have been laboring in this field for 40 years;
a barbarous people have taken their place among
the civilized nations of the earth; schools have
been established, and aliterature created in 'their
language, the Bible
being the principal book; a
of
larger proportion the people can read and, write
their own lanauage, than can b.e said of any other
nation in the world.
In the various departments of state, of com
merce) and social life, we find the aborigines tic
copying prominent posts, and,wly do we, not find
•
them also filling the various posts iihe church 1'
We feel that the time has come when they ought
to be brought forward. It ought not to be expected
that the American churches shall continue to fur
nish preachers of,the.gospel for this people for 40
years to come. A nation suffering famine may
receive generous gifts from other nations,yet every
nation ordtnarily, provides for its own wants, not
rn'erely the phySical, but also the intellectual and
moral. When the American churches have plant
ed the gospel here, and founded, literary institu
tions, for, training the youth of the nation, then
the nation should-he, considered no longer a
mi
nor,,but,.as having attained its majority, be ex
peetod to take care of itself; and more than this,
it may be expected to join the American churches,
its former patrons,, in
,extending like blessings to
others who are sitting in darkness.
It was, therefore, unanimously resolved, at our
late general meeting, that in order to get in - closer,
contact with the destitution in our whole field,
and to take the most efficient measures to secure
a supply, it is expedient that the pastors on the
four larger islands, viz:: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and
Kauai, unite respectively in such ecclesiastical
organization as shall be deemed best adapted to
accomplish our Object.
In my next I will tell you what we have done
on Maui. Respectfully yours,
Walluhu, Nov. Ist, 1860.
For the American Presbyterian
ALONE;
In what a. little world of his or her own does
every human being dwell! How many hopes and
fears, recollections and anticipations are known in
that world, and entirely unknown out of it! Even
in the most intimate of all relations—that of hus
band and wife—and where ihere is perfect confi
dence and sympathy in that relation—how many
thoughts and emotions must enter into each heart
Which the ether cannot know; or, if it knew, could
net'fully understand. Keble says somewherel
" Not even the dearest friends we have on earth,
know half the reasons why we smile or sigh?
and the experience of every one will confirm the
truth of the sentiment. Thus we may see how
though we are commanded to "bear one another's
burdens;" still, after all our efforts so to aid each
other, "every one• must bear his own burden, : '
and every " heart knoweth its own bitterness."
We must seek to bear each other's burdens, but we
must expect to bear our own—not, however, alone,
for Christ will take the heaviest part and bear it
for us, if we carry them to. Rim.
If we could see this wilderness life as it really
is, it might appear to us somewhat in this light.
Amidst the confusion of innumerable separate paths,
each wide enough for but one person, there would
be but two goals, to one of which every path leads.
The windings of some of these ways are many, and
the termination scarcely seen—yet it can be traced. -
Each one walks in his path alone. That of some
dear one may be so near to his, that two travellers
can join hands and walk together, encouraging and
sustaining each other—but, after all, there is many
an 'obstacle in the way of each, and many a sweet
flower or fruit growing in his path, which the other
cannot see, or share. And each should be very,
very careful, lest he look upon another's path—of
which he can only see a part--as if it were exactly
like his own, and judge of his walk as being at
tended by the same difficulties and the same en
joyments which he finds in his own, because there
is an outward seeming resemblance. The bloom
ing flowers or the obstructing rocks which he can
not, see in, the path of others, may cause a world
wide diffe.rence in their journey.
It would not be fair to criticise a man's walk,
when, we could only see his head, and knew not
what was under his -feet—whether the smooth,
bard beach,. or the thick tangled undergrowth of
the forest ground, or rocks of varied size and shape.
In like manner unless we can know all,the heart.
and life of our fellow-beings, (and this is impossible
while we are veiled in the flesh,) let us beware
Of judging each other's walk and conversation,
lest in, our ignorance and 'near-sightedness we do
another great injustice and wrong. X.
TER LIFE OF TRUST
We have already taken occasion to speak of the
'remarkable Narrative of GEORGE MUELLER, lately
published-under the above title. Its tendency is
' to cultivate the daily exercise and habit of trust
in the Christian heart and life. We have no
doubt our readers - will derive profit and instruc
tion front the extraetiFWe give:
• E,EASON FOR ESTABLISHING THE ORPHAN .
HOUSE.—Through my pastoral labors, through
my.,eprreapondence, and through brethren who -vi
sited 'Bristol, I bai constantly casesjorought be
wat me . •
fore ch proved that oner
°Ude especial
things which the children of Uod - needed in our
day was, to have their' faith strengthened.
My spirit longed to be instrumental in strength
enjno their faith, by giving them not only in
.stances from the word of God of his willingness
and ability to help all those who rely upon him,
. but to show them by proofs that he is the pine in
our day.. I well know that the word 0,. God ought
to be enough; but I considered that. I ought to
_lend a helping band to my brethren, if by any ,
means, by this visible proof to the unchangeable
faithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen their
hands in God; for I remenibered what a great
blessing my own soul had received through the
Lord's dealings with his servant, A. H. Franeke,
who, in dependence upon the living God alone,
established an immense orphan house, which
had seen many times with my own eyes. I there
fore judged myself bound to,be the servant of the
church-of Christ in the particular point on which
I had obtained mercy; namely, im_ts'ifig-abie to
take God by his word, and to rely u . "Pi&-,it:-
This then, was the :primary reason for estab
lishing the orphan house. I-*certainly- did from
. my, heart desire to be:used by G0i1432 ; benefit the
bodies.of poor children, bereaved'Of :both parents,
and seek in other respects, with the' help of God,
to do them :good for this life. also particularly
longed to be used by: God in getting the dear
orphans 'trained up in the fear of God—but,
still, the first and primary object of the work was
and still is, that God might be magnified by the
fact that the orphans under my care are provided
with all they need, only by prayer and faith—
without any one being asked by me or my fellow
laborers, whereby it may be seen that God is faith
ful still, and hears prayer still. That I was not
Mistaken, bas been abundantly proved since No
vember, 1835, both by&the• conversion of many
sinners who have read r='' accounts which have
been published in ednne? .n with this work, and
also by the'abundance of fruit that has followed
in the hearts of the saints, for which, from my
inmost soul, I desire to- be grateful to God, and
the honor and glory of which , not only is due to
him• alone, but which I, by - his help, am enabled
to ascribe to him. 7
bn the 9th of December, 1835 a public meet
ing was held in Thisfol, at which , .Mr. Mueller
disclosed his plans, withopt taking up a collection.
On the next day, he sent to press a statement,
being the Substance of what had be* said at the
meeting—so that he was veryfar • froth discarding
theme of means; but these were theonly mealig
, .
be employed besides earnest, daily prayer, in which
he explicitly stated to the Lord his wants, and
asked for their relief. Frequently, while upon
his knees„ or just after rising , from prayer, the
needed help cattle:, On the 21st of April, 1836,
the Orphan 'house was opened with seventeen
Children.
REMARKABLE ANSWERS T O PRAYER,--,,There
was'given by a brother one hUndred pounds, fifty
, pounds:of which` were previonsly promised, to in
sure the.rent for premises., , is a remarkable
4 fact, concerning this donation, that I had, in De-.
VOL. V.—NO. 22.—Whole No. 239.
W. P. ALEXANDER.
cember of last yern', repeatedly asked the Lord to
incline the heart of this brother to give this hun
dred pounds, and I made a memorandum of this
prayer in my journal of December 12, 1835. On
January 25, 1836, fifty pounds were promised by
him; and on November 5, fifty pounds besides
that sum were given; but it was not till some days
after that I remembered that the very sum for
which I had asked the Lord had been given : when
it came to my mind that this prayer had been
noted down in my journal, and I showed it to the
donor, we rejoiced together; he, to have been the
instrument in giving, and I, to have had the re
quest granted.
*
Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day.
There was not a single half-penny in hand between
the matrons of the three•houses. Nevertheless,
there was a good dinner, and by managing so as
to help one another with bread, etc., there was a
prospect of getting over this day also; but for
none of the houses had we the prospect of being
able to take in bread. When I left the brethren
and sisters at one o'clock, after prayer, I told them
that•we must wait for help, and see how the Lord
would deliver us at this time. I was sure of help,
but we were indeed straitened. When I came to
Kingsdown, I felt that I needed more exereise,-be
ing very cold, wherefore I went, not the nearest
way home, but round by Clareuce place. About
twenty yards from my house I met a brother, who
milked back with me, and after a little conversa
tion, gave me ten pounds to be handed over to
the brethren, the deacons, towards providing the
poor saints with coals, blankets, and warm clothing
—also, five pounds for the orphans, and five pounds
for the other objects of the Scriptural Know
ledge Institution. The brother bad called twice
while I was gone to the Orphan Houses, and had
I now been one half minute later I should have
missed him. But the Lord knew our need, and
therefore allowed me to meet him.
* * * *
Thisis perhaps, of all days, the most remarka
ble as yet, so far as it regards the funds. When
I was in prayer this morning respecting them, I
was enabled firmly to believe that the Lord would
send, help, though all seemed dark as to natural
appearances. At twelve o'clock, I met as usual
with the brethren and sisters for prayer. There
had come in only one shilling, which was left
last evening anonymously at the Infant Orphan
House, and which, except twopence, had already
been spent on account of the great need. Lower
we had never been, and perhaps never so low.
We gave ourselves now unitedly to prayei, laying
the ease in simplicity before the Lord. Whilst in
prayer there was a knock at the door, and one of
the sisters went out. After the two brethren %oho
labor in the Orphan Houses and I had prayed
aloud, we continued for a while silently in prayer.
As to myself, I was lifting up my heart to tho
Lord to make a way for our escape, and in order
to know if there were any other thing which I
could do With a good conscience, besides waiting
on him, so that we might have food for the chil
dren: at last we rose from our knees. I said—
" God will surely send help." The words bad not
quite passed over my lips when I perceived a let
ter lying on the table, which had been brought
whilst we ,were in prayer. It was from my wife,
containing another letter from a brother with ten
pounds for the orphans. The evening before last
I was asked by a brother whether th balance in
band for the orphans would be as great this time
when the accounts would be made up, as the last
time. My answer was that it would be as great
as the Lord pleased. The next morning this bro- .
therwai3 mg:Medty remember the orphans, and to
send to-d,ay ten pounds, which arrived after I had
left my house,
and which, on account of our need,
was forwarded immediately to me.
*' * *
This morning our poverty, which now has lasted
more or less for several months, had become ex
ceedingly great. I left my house a few minutes
after Seven, to go to the Orphan louses to see
whether there was money enough to take in the
vilk, which is brought about eight o'clock. On
my way, it was especially my request that the
Lord would be pleased to pity us, even as a father
pitieth =his children, and that he would not lay
more upon us than he would enable us to bear.
I especially entreated him that he would now be
pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us help.
I likewise reminded him of the consequences that
would result, both in reference to believers and
unbelievers, if we should have to give up the work
because of want of means, and that he, therefore,
would not permit its coming to naught. I more
over again- confessed before the Lord that I de
served not that he should continue to use me in
this work any longer. While I was thus in prayer,
about two minutes' walk from the Orphan Houses,
] met a brother who was going at this early hour
to his hnsiness. After having exchanged a few
words with him, I went on: but he presently ran
after me and
,gave me one pound for the orphans.
Thus the Lord speedily answered . my prayer.
Truly, it is, worth being poor and greatly tried in
faith for the,sake of having day by day such pre
cious proofs of the Ibving interest which our kind
Father takes in everything that concerns ns—and
how should our Father do otherwise? He that
has given us the greatest possible proof of his
love which he could have done, in giving us his
own Son, surely, he will with him also freely give.
us all things. It is worth also being poor and
greatly tried in, faith, if but thereby the hearts of
the children of God may be comforted and their
faith strengthened, and if but those who do not
know God, and who may read or hear of his deal
hn with us, should be, led thereby to see that
faith in God is more than a mere notion, and that
Mere, is indeed reality in Christianity. In the
'ectursnt.of this day there came in still further thir
teen _ •
I'ERAYER,AN _ FORT SUMTER.
The Bald More Asnisican of yesteray has the
following story :
"One of the Baltimoreans who recently returned
from Fort Sumter, details an impressive incident
that took place, there on Major Anderson taking
possession. It is, lirioWn that the American flag
brought away from Fort Moultrie was raised at
Sumter precisely at noon on the 27th ultimo, but
the incidents of that flag raising' have not been
related. It was a scene that will be. a memorable
reminiscence in the lives of those who witnessed it.
A Short time before noon Major Anderson assem
bled the whole 'of his little force, with the work
men' employed on the fort, around the foot of the
flag-staff. The, national ensign was attached to
the cord, and Major Anderson, holding the end of
the lines in his hands, knelt reverently down.
The officers, soldiers, and men clustered around,
many of them on their knees, all deeply impressed
with the solemnity of the scene. The chaplain
made an earnest prayer—such an appeal for sup
port, ennouragement, and mercy as one would
make who felt that ' man's extremity is God's op
portunity.' As the earnest, solemn words of the
speaker ceased, and the men responded'Amen with
a fervency that perhaps they bad never before ex
j erienced; Major Anderson drew the' Star Span
oled Banner up to the top of the staff, the band
broke out with the national air of Hail Colum
bia,' and loud and exultant cheers, repeated again
and again, were given by the officers, soldiers and
workmen. If,' says, th.e narrator, South Caro
lina had at that moment attacked the fort, there
would have been no hesitation upon the part of
any man within it about defending that flag.' "
The - United States Mint.--The ordinary coining
capacity, of the Philadelphia Mint is $7,500,9,00 per
month, which can be increased, by working over
houis, to $10,000,000;