Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

Feb. 8, 1893. A FAMILT PAPER. 7.TheVyeek.—Oomplioations in Hawaii have assumed a so riouscharacter. A commission is on its way to Washingtonto ask the protection of the United States. Theymake the proposal on behalf of the provisional governmentof annaxationto American territory. BritishintereBts are considerable on the islands. Trouble mayarise between Britain and the United States by prematureaction. Minister Stephens has sent a full reportof the resolution. A provisional government hasbeen formed in face of Queen Lilinokalani. U. S.Minister Stephens has issued an order recognizing thisgovernment as being in possession of the archives, etc.,of the state. The deposed Queen appeals to Britainfor help. The Britisi government through their ambassadorat Washington has received instruction toprotest against the action of the U. S. officials andforces in Hawaii.—Fifteen tr'je bills have been found by the examiningmagistrate in the Panama case. A proposal ismade to introduce a bill in the Chamber of Deputiesimposing severe penalties upon persons making unsubstantiatedcharges against any one in oonnectionwith the scandals.—The Federal Bank of Australia has wound up affairsin consequence of the persistent withdrawal ofdeposits by customers in Australia and England. Paymentis suspended, the liabilities amounting to $10,-000,000 of which one half is due to persons in GreatBritain. Another great building society fraud has beenunearthed in England, by which thoupands of artisansare swindled out of large sums of money. The treasuryhaa issued a warrant for the arrest of J. S. Balfour,M. P., in connection with the frauds, he having fledtoMexico to avoid the difficulties.—Prof. Drummond gives the world a new brochure," The Oity Without a Church." The book is basedon the words of Joha in the closing chapters of Revelations,and the subject is handled with his usual freedomand aptness of illustration. As he puts it, the seerof Patmos "holds up to the world the picture of acity without a church, as his ideal of the heavenly life."Lack of lofi;ie is atoned for by a fulness of fire thatcharacterises all hia works. His conclusion is put ina single sentence, "The great use of the church is tohelp men to do without it."—Dr. George Matheson, the blind preacher ofScotland, gives us an interesting monograph, "Messagesof the old religions." He gives a clear insightinto the old religions nnder which men lived and died.He opens with an instructive account of the religiousinstinct of early man, and the origin of the fetisch.day by a vote of 40 to 39. 20 of the 29 voting againstit being Democrats.—News from Athens report an earthquake whiohgreatly shook the Island of Zante. Many houses inthe town of Zante were wrecked. A prison fell in andwounded many prisoners. Zante is one of the Ionianislands off the west coast of Greece. It is the chiefcurrant, wine and olive producer of Greece. Amongthe Lipari Islands in the Mediterranean, off the coastof Sicily; a severe shock was also felt.—The New York Academy of Medicine passed aresolution in irnqualified language favoring the es­The oommon element of religion is then consideredtablishment of a national quarantine under the managementof the federal government. It declares thatand is declared tobe " the idea of incarnation—that is,the belief in the identity of nature between man andlocal service is inadequate, arguing strongly in favorthe object of his worship," India foreshadows " theof a uniform system under national control. A committeewas appointed to draft a Bill and go to Wash­rhythm of human life ;" Greece gives " the messageof optimism ;" Eome furnishes "the message ofington to see it carried.peace ;" while the Teuton " rises to the growth of theDivine life," Christiarity being the embodiment of" rec )noiliation to the world."REVIEW OF THE WEEK.—T. E. Mnrphy, the young temperanoe reformer, Pebsidbnt Andrews, of Brown University, R, I.,has just concluded fourteen days' mpetings in Meridenwith marked success. Under the inspiration ofhis eloquence BOOO signed the cold water pledge anddonned the blue ribbon. In the city of Newhaven11,000 converts were made for the cause. He goesnow to Hartford and Bridgeport.—At Paris, Texas, Henry Smith, the negro who assaultedand murdered fouryear old Myrtle Vance, paidan awful penalty for his atro"ions crime. The law waslaid aside, shops and schools were closed, and mobsdispersed by the Mayor's proclamation. The citizenstook law into theirown hands, and meted out punishmentto the murderer by burning him at the stake.—The British Parliament met on Tuesday. TheQueen's speech from the throne embodies the policyof Mr. Gladstone and his government, including Irishlegislative independence, to strengthen the empire andafford content to the people ot Ireland. Following itare projects of electoral reform, the shortening of Parliaments,the amendment of registration and one-manvote,along with the establishment of direct publiclocal control of the liquor traffic.—President Harrison has signed a bill whioh authorizesChicago men to build over the Mississippiat New Orleans the largest cantilever bridge in America.In 3 years that $5,000,000 structure will be open.It is to be built of steel with thiee unbrokenspans betweenthe river banks and two piers iu the river.The length of the main channel span will be 1095 feetand the two side spans 757 feet long, with the lowestpart of the super-structure not less than 85 feet abovehigh water. This will make the bridge itself but afew feet less than one half a mile in length.—Typhus fever continues to rage in N. Y. city. Ninenew oases were bulletined in one day. Since the closeof November 200 cases are reported and of these 60have died.—James G. Blaine was buried on Monday. Prayerwas offered in tbe Blaine house by Rev. Dr. Hamlinwho aho conducted a service in the Church of theCovenant. Thereafter the funeral cortege proceededto Oak Hill Cemetery where fhe body was laid to restin a place chosen by himself side by side with his sonand daughter. The President and his Cabinet attendedalong with a large circle of friends.—Ex-Premier Mercier of Quebec states that threefourthsof the people of Quebec favor annexation andthat the same feeling prevails in other provinces.Goldwin Smith, who intends soon to visit Washington,states that the farmers and masses of the peoplegenerally favor annexation, although the wealthierclasses do not. The Canadian question is becominga pressing one. It is said that a rising is expectedsoon. The British officials are fully aliva to the situationand will soon take action to inform the UnitedStates of the true state affairs.—The anti-option Bill passed [the Senate on Tues­preached an eloquent sermon last Sabbath at the 5thAve. Baptist Church, upon the topic, "The Duty ofa Public Spirit." He spoke of the need of young menand women of ample means for political life, to grapplewith the great questions of the present social Ilfe.He said that young men should crave offices so as toput out wicked men. He forgets that politics of todayare in the hands of wire pullers and ring-menand that only followers of a certain calibre can securesuch places of power. Degeneracy in sentiment andoften in character is a consideration of more worth inseeking political offices, than yirtue and honesty.Whiskey dealers and such controllers of unconstitutional,demoralizing agencies are the best instrumentsin the hands of the caucus. To keep merely pure andspecially to avoid contamination, the best policy is tokeep outof the lists of office grabbers. " The bestand most honest men of this country should hold theoffices." These concluding words of President Brownhave a true depth of meaning, because they indicatethat it is only when men come to recognize that honesty,moraliiy and truth are essentials in statesmen—it is only tben that we can hope to have a governmentthat will bravely guide the destinies of this empire.We do not believe in sinning away our own virtue andhonesty, by firstjoining the iniquitous clique, in thevain effort to reform it. " Evil communications corruptgood morals " in the political as well as in thesocial association^. If we cannot enter in by a straightgate that ignores intrigue, if we cannot take with usevery principle of Christianity and ingrave them uponthe portals of our Couno'l Chamber—then like thePsalmist we make the resolve, "I will not go in withdissemblers ... I will not sit with the wicked."* **" Do NOT forsake your church beoause someone injuresyou, for God and his church are not to blame.Do not forsake the churoh because you cannot haveyour own way, for other people should have their waysometimes. Do not shell yourself up in indifferenc*and then complain that the church is unsociable ; for' He that hath friends must show himself friendly.'Be holy and active, and you will be loved, happy anduseful. Seek not great things for yourself, but serveGod faithfully where he puts you." These sentencescontain in pithy brevity, the social etiquette of Christianity.We are reminded of these words as we readof Christian ministers and people walking no morewith the brethren, because of some little misunderstanding,or reverse of ambition. Peevishness maydrive brethren from ohureh fellowship—pettish jealousymay cause men and women to mope over the sadstate of the chui ch in her decline—let it be remembered: So long as God is in the communiou He claimsour p resence.* **The Iribune, in an article devoted to the subjecl ofhorse racing, concluded m these words:" Would it not be well to institute the benevolentexample of Baron Hirsch, who gives away to charitiesevery year every penny that he wins on the tuif ? Ifother prominent racing men will follow this meritoriousand admirable course, the turf will speedilyreach a much higher place in public respeot than itholds at present."We strongly dissent from the doctrine here proclaimed.What lies back of this generous dispositionto help charities ? Behind the turf lie rich stakes,chances of winning as well as of failure, the city poolroomsand the betting rings of the race course, whichfind their natural climax in the saloon and in the dissolutelives of the lottery people.* **"Human soeiety rests on religion. Civilization withontit wonld be like the lights that play in the Northern sky—amomentary flashin the face of darkness ere it again settlesinto eternal night. Wit and wisdom, sublime poetry, andlofty philosoph}, cannot save a nation, else ancient Greecehad never per shed. Valor, law, ambition, oannot preservea people, else Kome had still been mistress of the world.The ^nation that loses faith in God and man loses not onlyits most precious jewel, bnt ite most purifying aud conservingforce."' These words contain a depth of meaning inthe light of events taking place all around ns. The Sabbathsare dishonored by professedly Christian men andwomen. A desperate effort is being made to open theWorld's Fair on Sabbath. It is argued that to clone its gatesis a national obstacle to the best observance of Sabbath,—that a nation through its legislature hae no right to legislateon the Sabbath,—tbat no spiritual law has any right to dictateto the sovereign people of America,—and (hat beingmeant for all the people of every race and creed, infidelityand heathenism mnet stand side by side with Christianity.Eemove Christianity andthe principles due to religion fromonr Constitution aud whit a figmentof vagaries is left.•Were not the strangers in Palestine to keep the Sabbathequally with the Jews? Evidently this nation has lost faithin God and in the Christ King whose glory ie speciallyin back commemorated the this sky nation of national in to the Jesns life! weekly and then Sabbatism. she shall May shine God as bring a star