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PACIFIC
4
CHRISTIAN
MESS EK GER,
FRIDAY,
AUG. 29. 1879.
0
PACIFIC
C hristian M essengeb .
T. F. CAMPBELL, E ditor .
Miss MARY STUMP,
OFFICE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29, 1879.
Special Premium.
To every one who will send ustwo
dollars and sixty cents ■ we will send
the M essenger and Household for one
year, or to anyone sending five new
names we will send a copy of the
M essenger and Household free. The
HousehM'vss. monthly journal devoted
to the interests of the American house
wife, and contains 20 pages of original
reading matter, in which are dis
cussed everything that pertains to
home life by some of our best writers
on such subjects. Subscriptions may
begin at any time desired. Do not
fail to enclose the 10 cts. extra, other
wise you will not receive the House
hold, as we are obliged to have it to
pay postage. Please state distinctly
the name, post-office, county and
State, of each one you send that no
mistake may be made.
Subscribers that have already paid
for the M essenger may receive the
Household by sending us 30 cents in
1, 2 or 3 cents postage stamps.
Bro. Bruce Wolverton preached an
eloquent sermon in the church at
Monmouth last Sunday.
* The West Chehalem church has
lately been reorganized with about
fiifty members. Bro. Bruce Wolver
ton has been engaged to preach for
that church one-fourth of his time.
BrO. H. M. Waller has held four
interesting meetings since last re
ported. At Lewisville, at Oak Creek,
at Rock Point, and at Turner’s
Station. Brethren, do not fail to re-
port meetings held in your neighbor
hoods. It is from such reports that
we learn what the church is doing.
Enter College at the Beginning of
the Session.
The prospect for a full and pleasant
session was never brighter, and we
are buoyant with hope.
Send in your students at the begin
ning of the session. The loss of a few
days even may cause the remainder of
the session to drag heavily. A good
start in a race has much to do with
the outcome at the end.
Christian College.
The time is drawing nigh when the
college work of another session must
be inaugurated.
Ten consecutive sessions in the
same number of years have added
their incidents to our experienco of
more than fifteen previous years in
the art and mystery of teaching.
While the work done in these
sessions has not been all we could de
sire, owing in some measure to want
of apparatus, library and other facili
ties convenient in imparting knowl
edge, yet the friends of the school
have great cause of satisfaction in the
large list of Alumni—fifty-four from
1871 to 1879—and in the building
and establishing on a firm basis an
institution of learning in which the
Bible is made the leading text-book.
The outlook for the next session is
very flattering. Many are making
^»cpnry with the view of commencing
at die opening of the session.
m
Many families are preparing to
move to Monmouth to educate.
Normal classes will be organized
early in the session. All those who
wish to avail themselves of these ad
vantages should be in at the opening
.
of the session on the fifteenth of
September.
Send us a new subscriber.
Incidental Effects of the Reform
ation.
In the progress of the reformation
inaugurated by the Campbells of
Virginia and conducted by the cooper*
ation of many great and good men, for
the past half century, much light^has
been elicited and great good has been
accomplished.
Not only has a large community of
intelligent, energetic, pious people
been called forth and organized into
the church of God, but the influence
of the dear and accurate views of a
bread and catholic Christianity has
been felt by every religious denomina
tion in the land.
The spirit ef investigation set on
foot and the severe criticism which
dealtSrith every word, phrase and
sentence used in theology have led to
the more accurate understanding of
many Scriptures and to the repudia
tion of much of “ the language of
Ashdod ’’ which had usurped a place
in the sacred desk.
Many of the religious parties have
been constrained to admit that some
of their practices are without Scrip
tural warrant or divine authority.
Tne best excuse now for using them
is H. W. Beecher’s excuse for infant
baptism—" It works Well in practice.”
It would not do to reject these
human traditions, for if they did
they would destroy all party dis
tinction and let Christians come to
gether upon the basis of " one Lord,
one faith and one baptism.”
It is thought better by the parties
themselves, no doubt, to apologize for
these humanisms under the form of
nonessentials, and to continue to use
them.
The folly and iniquity of these di
visions have been made to stand out
so prominently that every effort, ex
cept Scriptural one, has been tried to ,
effect a union.
The church property, wealth, and
influence of many of these immense
religious establishments, forbid that
they should join in a Christian Union ;
hence the effort to establish an Evan
gelical Alliance in which each may
bring its burden of tradition to be
tolerated by all other members on the
principle of reciprocity.
3
A moment’s reflection satisfies any
one that this is no Christian Union.
It is customary' to claim a spiritual
union in which all are agreed, while
differing on non-essentials. Yet this
is evidently not satisfactory to any
one; for it is in direct opposition to
the plainest teachings of the Scrip-
tures.
The work ®f the reformation has
put the several parties in this unen
viable position that they want to be
let alone.
Joined, like Ephraim, each to his
idols he is willing to let others alone,
if they will not vex him by pointing
out his errors and blemishes.
All these things are working out
good results.
Ti.e great question of Christian
Union is taking stronger hold on the
masses of Christians as the condition
precedent to the conversion of the
world; and they are inquiring whether
it may not be accon^ilished. It was
the one earnest thought in the prayer
of Jesus recorded in the xvii chapter
of John.
Every Christian prays for the
union of God’s children, and the
question forces itself upon him: Why
not work for it ?
,
And when it is discovered that the
only barriers to union are, not the
things'taught in the Bible, but the
.things which are not there at all, he
is ready to scrutinize these to see
whether they are worth the evil they
are producing.
Tradition is thus losing its hold on
the masses and the " old landmarks
of strict partyism are giving away.
The spread of knowledge is tending
to union.
The impetus given to education has
been very great.
The Disciples have more school and
colleges under their control, according
to numbers, than any other people.
They are not more anxious about
an educated ministry, than they are
about an educated laity. They have
been foremost in the common school
work.
Perhaps in nothing have they made
mote marked, permanent and bene
ficial impression on the public, than
in their criticisms which have been
constant with tongue and pen, from
pulpit and press.'
Many words and phrases current in
theology twenty-five years ago have
dropped wholly out of use, or if heard
at all, only in a dark eomer of the
back woods.
Words and phrases stereotyped in
certain denominations, heard in almost
every Sermon, exhortation and prayer,
have been driven from the field and
Scriptural terms substituted in their
place.
Their exegesis of many Scriptures
previously obscured by prejudice and
darkened by partizan influence has
contributed largely to a fuller and
more harmonious text. They have
brought much talents and learning to
bear in all these matters, and the
result has fully justified their labors;
for the religious world has advanced
a pace. And still the work goes on.
To-day there are more and more
highly educated men engaged in this
great work than at any previous time.
We may confidently anticipate noble
results in the future.
Report Your Meetings.
We asked a brother recently why
he did not report his meetings, "To
tell you the truth,” said he, “ I am a
little ashamed to make regular re
ports, because others do not report;
and if my name appears regularly and
no others report people will conclude
that I am over-anxious for my name
to appear in print.”
Such is the excuse of one—perhaps
many ; while others for other reasons,
and possibly some through indifference
or unintentional neglect fail to give
an account of their labors.
Perhaps no question connected with
the paper in its management and con
tents has been so often repeated as
this : ” Bro. Campbell, why don’t you
get the preaching brethren to report
their labors in the paper ? Church
news is the first thing I look for, and
I am disappointed and discouraged
when I find none; for I fear the truth
is neglected and the work of the
Master is languishing.”
iVe have invited, urged and en
treated brethren to send us brief
notes from the field of their labors, or
if time would not permit this much,
say, at least, “ A. J------] preached at
B------ on last Lord’s day. Present, of
the church, five; and of the world,
three.”
If every preacher on the coast
would send in a postal card each
week from which we could make up
a brief summary, it would form the
most interesting column in the paper.
Even monthly reports sent in im
mediately aftei the last Sunday of
each month would keep the brethren
posted as to the progress of the Gospel
on the coast.
There are several prominent breth
ren in the ministry on this coast of
whose labors, for a year past, we
know nothing. We have even lost
sight of their field of labor, and could
not, if inquired of, tell where they are-
How much more pleasant, if we
could all be permitted to rejoice in the
success and triumphs of the Gospel in
the labors of each ? Or if the cause
should languish and failures discour
age, we could sympathize together
and cheer each other in the midst of
depressing circumstances to greater
effort.
Life.
** For m the Father hath life in himself;
so hath ho given to the Sen to have life in
himself.” John v. 26.
And of the Bôn it is said, ** In him was
life ; and the life was the light of mon.”
John i. 4.
1
Here then is the origin and source
of life.
No man can purchase it God is
the fountain, and Jesus the channel
through which it flows to the world-
“ He gives to all life, and breath, and
all things.”
’ .
In the correlation and transmuta
tion of forces life is refractory and
refuses to yield. It can not be
evolved from any other force, iy/r can
it be changed into any.
Its representative, the atmosphere,
is the only thing which man can not
mete out by the yard or pound and
sell.
The body requires nourishment, and
effort is necessary to provide it.
The spirit needs conversion and
sustentation, and active obedience
alone can accomplish these ; but life
is the free gift of God.
Man receives it without money and
without price.
Sleeping or waking, without care
and. without effort, he is constantly
the recipient of this bounty from
heaven.
It is no less true of eternal life
which is declared to be the gift of
God through Christ. No man can
purchase it. It must be accepted, if
enjoyed at all, from God through
Christ.
Man must put himself in position to
receive it. This he does by coming
into Christ. Out of him there is no
life for our world.
The church is his body. Into it we
must enter if we would enjoy eternal
life.
The spirit dwells in the body and
gives it life. It is the spirit that
quickens or makes alive.
This the Father has given to his
Son without measure, that it* might
dwell in his body, the church, and
give life to as many as enter there.
As many as desire life should place
themselves in position to receive it
and God will bestow it abundantly.
Church News.
(From th» Christian Standard.}
—E, J. Hart,of Mattoon III, has
been employing a vacation in Ohio,
by traveling and preaching.
He
speaks encouragingly of the cause at
Mattoon, and promises aid from them
for the Turkish mission. Right.
—J. B. Briney, who favored us with
the light of his cheerful countenance a
few days since, will preach in Flor
ence Boone Co, Ky., the fourth Lord’s
day in August. Let those interested
take notice.
—We regret to learn from Bro. J.
H. Williams, Jamaica Missionary, that
he is compelled to withdraw the ap
pointments made at various points,
owing to the increasing weakness of
Sister Williams. He expected to meet
her in Kansas City on the 12th, and
start at once for Colorado. It, will call
forth the sympathy of many hearts to
know that Sistes W’s health is steadi
ly declining, and enlist their prayers
in behalf of these missionaries who
have done so good a work in -Jamai
ca.
—Walter S. Smith, well known to
our readers, will open a school in Ger
mantown, Ky.. shortly. We will pub
lish the announcement of the Trustees
next week.
—Aaron Prince Aten has accepted
the presidency of Lampasas, Texas.
Correspondents will hereafter address
him at that point
—Prof. E. F. Tayler has removed
his Normal School frdm Anderson
ville to Clinton, Tenn.
—Carroll Ghent has gone from Mar
ion, O., to Columbia, Ky„ to assume
the presidency of the College at the
last
named place.
—It is said that a fourth of all the
—
J. H. Foy is to return from War
foreign missionaries sent out by the
American Board are graduates of Am* rensburg, to St. Louis, Mo., to labor
for the Central Church. J. H. Gar-
herst College,
riso«, of the Christian, is still rustica
ting in Colorado.
General Church News.
(Mwn ths Sunday Chronicle.}
—Of the 515,676 members of the
Church of Scotland, a large majority,
or 296,374, are women,
—Canon W. W. Haw was consecra
ted Bishop of Bedford, assistant to the
Bishop of London, in St Paul’s Cathe
dral, July 25th.
—The Methodist Conference in
Germany and Switzerland, held re-*"
cently at Bremen, reported 75 minis
ters and 11,320 members against 9
ministers and 75 members in 1874.
—A revival of religion is going on
in the Rhine valley, Germany. Many
conversions are reported, there being
200 in Dusseldorf alone. Prof Christ-
lieo is promoting the movement.
—The Baptist Missionary Union
will send out 14 missionaries - in Au
gust and September. All will go to
Asia. Seven go to Burmah, two to
India, one to China and four to Japan.
Six of the fourteen are women.
—A new Methodist paper is to be
published in Boston, to be called the
Methodist Episcopalian. It will be
of a liberal stamp, advocating various
reforms in the Church polity. Dr.
Sherman is to be its editor.
—The next .annual meeting of the
American Board being the seventieth,
will be held at Syracuse, beginning
October 7th, and closing October 10th.
Pres. Magoun of Iowa College will ’
preach the annual sermon.
—The Rev. Luther M. Smith, D. D’,
Chancellor of Southern University,
Greensboro, Aiabama, died recently
He was for many years connected with
Methodist educational enterprises in
Alabama and Georgia.
—The Baptists are organizing a
Woman’s National Baptist Home Mis
sionary Society. It is to be supple
mentary to the American Baptist
Home Missionary Society, and its
field will be in the West, among im
migrants, the freedmen and the In
dians.
_____ —________________ _
—The American Baptists Mist io«
to the Teloogans of India, which last
year had an accession of 10,000 Hin
doos, is about to have another. There
are several thousand Hindoos who,
having renounced heathenism, are re
ceiving Christian instruction and pre
paring for baptism.
—Bishop Herzog, Old Catholic, of
Switzerland, has administered con
firmation to six candidates in Father
Hyacinthe's congregation in Paris.
Dr. Nevin, and another Anglican cler
gyman from Geneva, and two priests
assisted M. Loyson. The chapel was
not more than a third filled.
—The Congregational churches m
Connecticut report a total of 55,852
communicants, showing a small in
crease. There are in the Stats 141
pastorsand 118 acting pastors. The
contributions for charities amounted
to $314,000 or $5 per member, These
is no town in the State without •
Christian church.
California State Meeting.
N apa / July 24, 1879.
Dear Brethem:
We take this method of informing
you that our next annual meeting will
be held at Yountville, Napa Co., com
mencing on Friday, Sept. 19th, at 11
o’clock. Ample camping arrangements
will be provided, as usual, for all who
attend. The table will be under the
management of a Committee of breth
ren, who will furnish eatables at the
lowest possible price to cover the ac
tual expense of furnishing. All who
desire to come and furnish themselves
will find every necessary convenience
for doing so. We request all who can
to bring a liberal supply ef bedding,
as we have assurancet that there will
be a large attendance of brethren and
friends from a distance. Please read
this to your congregation.
E. B. W are ,
Com. on Correspondence.
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