by boys in city schools. He finds that in two grades of 73 boys from 12 to 15 years old, 31 habitually smoked cigarettes, and only 7 could say they never had smoked. Of 96 boys from 10 to 12 there were 68 smokers, and in the A B C class many had begun the practice. lawful postage thereon, shall entitle the letter to immediate | been investigating the extent to which tobacco is used delivery at any place containing 4,000 population or over, according to the Federal census, within the carrier limit of any free delivery office, or within one mile of the Post Office or any other Post Office coming within the provisions of this law which may, in like manner, be designated as a special delivery office, that such specially stamped letters shall be delivered between 7 o'clock A. M. and midnight; that a book shall be provided in which the person to whom the letter is addressed shall acknowledge its receipt; that messengers for this special delivery are to be paid eighty per cent. of the face value of all the stamps received and recorded in a month, provided that the aggregate compensation paid to any one person for such service shall not exceed $30 per month, and provided further that the regulations for the delivery of these specially stamped letters shall in no way interfere with the prompt delivery of letters as provided by existing law or regulation. NEWS has been received from missionaries at Ru baga, in Uganda, of the death in 10th month last, of King Mtesa, at whose invitation, conveyed to England by Stanley, the Church Missionary Society organized the Victoria Nyanza mission nine years ago. The King is succeeded by Mwanga, a lad who has been in some measure brought under the influence of the missionaries. The comparative freedom from violence and bloodshed with which this change of monarchs has been marked is said to be unprecedented. THE business of the paper manufacturers of Holyoke, Mass., says a despatch from there, has taken a decided boom. All the paper mills in the city and vicinity are running on full time, and orders are coming into many which compel them to draw from their reserve supplies. This revival in business is felt more especially among the mills where fine papers are manufactured. One of the leading manufacturers of Holyoke is quoted as saying that never in the history of stationery has there been such a demand for elegant and fine papers as at present. A VALUED Friend of Richmond, Indiana, sends us this cutting, which gives the reasons for the veto of a Womans Suffrage Bill, by Governor Pierce of Dakota: Governor Pierce of Dakota justified the confidence of all sensible people yesterday by vetoing the woman suffrage bill passed by the legislature in a moment of folly. He finds several good and substantial reasons for his action. In the first place, so extraordinary a question, he thinks, ought to be submitted to the people. As it would be under a state organization. As it is, it is a matter more properly devolving on congress. Should such a measure be permitted to become a law, he rightly believes that its effect would be to seriously endanger Dakota's chances of admission to statehood. He also points out one of the most objectionable features of the bill to be that while it conferred upon women the right to vote, it deliberately debarred them from the right to hold office. In fine, the governor shows very clearly that the measure was crude, ill-Point has been made. It covers a greater area than advised and objectionable in every respect. A striking proof of the high regard in which the opinions of Governor Pierce are held by the legislature was given in the vote of the house sustaining the veto by a majority greater than that originally given to the bill itself.-St. Paul and Minneapolis Free Press. Foreign.-Though the friends of peace still cherish hope that the Anglo-Russian war cloud may yet be dissolved, matters have assumed a much more threatening aspect during the past week. The Globe of London states that a proposal partaking of the nature of an ultimatum, was telegraphed to St. Petersburg, on the 26th of Third month. The same paper is authority for the statement that Earl Granville on the 16th ult., proposed to Russia, that both the Russians and the Afghans should withdraw from the portion of territory which is at present in dispute, and remain outside while the negotiations were going on in London. Russia's refusal to accede to this proposition, caused vast war preparations to be set on foot. ITEMS. LINCOLN COUNTY, GA., will charge $1,000 for liquor licenses on and after the first of next October. IN a small tannery at Grass Valley, the leaves and bark of the manzanita tree are successfully used to make leather. The tannery is experimenting on native barks and trees.-San Francisco Bulletin. THE orange crop of this season, says the Savannah (Ga.) News, has been the largest ever gathered in Florida. One of the Marion county groves alone has yielded upwards of 30,000 boxes, and all the crop is not yet gathered. PEOPLE living along the shore of Lake Ontario, in Wayne and Oswego counties, New York, state that this has been the severest winter known there since 1854. A survey of the ice field on the lake at Sodus ever before known there. There is almost solid ice for two miles out from the shore, and for the first time teams have been able to travel on the ice, while Sodus Bay is almost completely covered with ice of the average thickness of 2 feet. All entrances to the harbor are frozen fast and are covered by huge drifts of snow. The view of the ice and snow upon the lake and bay is one of unusual grandeur, and the scene is visited by scores of people daily.-Trenton Gazette. A Circular Meeting will be held in Frankford Meet ing-house at 3 P. M., Fourth month 5th, under the care of the Monthly Meeting's Committee. The Yearly Meeting Temperance Committee have arranged for holding a Conference in Fifteenth Street Meeting-house, New York City, on Second-day, Fourth mo. 6th, 1885. Meetings will be held at 2.30 P. M. and 7.30 P. M. Carefully prepared papers or addresses will be presented on practical subjects, and the questions thus brought before the Conference will be open for general discussion. A BILL has been passed by the Alabama Legislature requiring all schools and colleges receiving State aid to give instruction in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to showing the injurious influence of spirituous liquors and narcotics on the human sys-timent of the Yearly Meeting. It is very desirable that as large a number of the members of the several Quarterly Meetings as possible should attend, in order that the deliberations of the Conference may represent, as far as possible, the sen tem. SUPERINTENDENT BENNETT, of Piqua, Ohio, has On behalf of the Committee, Jos. A. BOGARDUS, Clerk. "TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO; KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE." VOL. XLII. PHILADELPHIA, FOURTH MONTH, 11, 1885. No. 9. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY AN ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS. COMMUNICATIONS MUST BE ADDRESSED AND PAYMENTS MADE TO JOHN COMLY, AGENT, AT PUBLICATION OFFICE, No. 1020 ARCH STREET. The Paper is issued every week. The FORTY-SECOND VOLUME commenced on the 14th of Second month, 1885, at Two DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS to subscribers receiving it through mail, postage prepaid. SINGLE NUMBERS, SIX CENTS. IT IS DESIRABLE THAT ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS COMMENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VOLUME. REMITTANCES by Mail should be in CHECKS, DRAFTS, or P. O. MONEY-ORDERS; the latter preferred. Money sent by Mail will be at the risk of the person so sending. AGENTS:-EDWIN BLACKBURN, Baltimore, Md. Entered at the Post-Office at Philadelphia, Penna., as secondclass matter. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY part of the LiFE AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE OF RUTH ANNA LINDLEY. This simple and sincere narrative of the deep religious experience of a daughter of the preceding century, and the progressive steps by means of which she attained to the condition of true obedience and consecration to the Divine Will, may be encouraging to others who in these days may also be traveling Zionward by the same well-worn pathway. The date is omitted from the opening of the narrative, but she states further on that she was received into membership, with Friends in 1787, when she was about 22. This paper is published at the request of our beloved and venerated friend Sarah Hunt.-EDS. I trust it is under a degree of the influence of the blessed Truth that I now take up my pen in order to commemorate the tender dealings of an Almighty and most Merciful Father unto me, in the morning of my days, that if I continue in this vale of mortality to future years, my heart may be reverently bowed with gratitude in taking a retrospect thereof. It pleased my Heavenly Father to incline my heart to seek him from my infancy; and about the fourteenth year of my age, I was favored with a remarkable visitation, the beginning of which I was made sensible of. One day, being much interested in a little piece of work, and confining myself to my chamber, many serious reflections presented themselves, and in the evening, sitting in the parlor with my parents, brothers and sisters, I burst into tears. All leaving the room except my dear_mother, she asked the occasion of my uneasiness. I told her I was just thinking if it should please the Almighty to in a fit situation to appear before his great Majesty; call me before the light of another sun whether I was she talked suitably to me and said she had no doubt if I sought properly to be rendered worthy an inheritance in the Kingdom, I should gain it; but I felt for some time. One evening being left alone with great distress that night, and the concern continued my beloved mother, and having some desire of improvement, I asked her what books would be suitable for me to read. She answered there was none more suitable than the Bible. This reply affected me, and she took that opportunity of querying with me what Society I thought I should join. I told her I believed I should be a Quaker. Indeed I saw it clearly to be my duty to leave off several of my flounces and superfluous things, and felt peace in giving up thereto; but through unwatchfulness I lost ground and became again captivated and ensnared in the vain fashions and customs of the world; and my sister being about to accomplish her marriage, several new things were provided for me on the occasion. I put on a cushion, and dressed in the most fashionable style for girls of my age. I joined in all the levity and mirth that was going forward, and was at times much elated; but, alas! that inno 、 cence and calm serenity of mind with which I had been favored while I lived in the cross, to my natural inclination, was no longer in my possession; every enjoyment carried with it a sting, and I felt a void which I cannot express, but which, no doubt, proceeded from the reproofs of my Beloved. Nevertheless I pursued a gay line of life till turned of seventeen, though I had often to return to that season wherein I was favored with religious thoughtfulness, and lament in secret my situation. In the fall preceding the change in my dress, my sister invited me to spend the winter with her in order to introduce me into company. I accordingly went, and frequented the dancing assemblies, theatre, and all places of amusements that were usual. I also learned music, having a master to attend me, and made great proficiency therein, as I had a natural ear and uncommon fondness for it. I promised myself much pleasure, and thought it would fill up my vacant hours which I should have in the country, for from the sensations that attended my mind I did not think I should continue long in the circle I was then in; and through the course of the winter I have since thought I was under a very tender visitation of Divine love though at that time I knew it not; my mind was at seasons so absorbed that even while paying formal visits and surrounded with company I scarce knew what passed, and but few expressions escaped my lips, so that my friends would often tell me that I was extremely silent, and would laugh at me for it. And indeed I was at times almost ready to conclude that there was a great degree of instability in me and natural uneasiness of disposition, for notwithstanding no exertions of my friends, or expense of my parents, was spared to render everything agreeable I was not happy. When under the hands of a hairdresser tears would stream from my eyes. I could not tell the cause, but doubtless it was thy Divine Love, O, my Beloved, operating in me in order that I might become wholly thine. I well remember one afternoon, being engaged in a large party, I went up stairs to dress, and sat before the glass attempting to escape my hair, but not considering what I was about, being deep in thought, it grew late and I was hurried, and not readily finding some of my finery which I wanted to put on it fluttered me, and feeling myself entangled in those things which gave me much pain and anxiety without knowing where to seek relief, I threw myself on the bed in great agony of mind and gave vent to many tears, but after some time I arose and went down stairs and made excuse to my sister who expected to see me in full dress. But, truly, my mind was not in a fit situation to join a large company, thus I strove to hide the real cause. At another time, going with some company to see a pantomine performed, my mind was so abstracted from the objects around me that I could pay no attention to the scene, but felt dejection and distress not easily to be conceived. The last ball I attended was one given by some young men of my acquaintance; my sister had a dance the preceding evening at her own house, and I being much fatigued wished to have excused myself, from going to the ball, but it being a set company, and my friends pressing me to go, I yielded and went, but had not danced more than two or three dances before I again felt deep distress and dismay to cover my mind. I called my brother aside and told him to speak to one of the servants who was in waiting to go home with me, for I was not well and wished to leave the room unobserved; he accordingly did so, and my sister expressing her surprise at my quick return, I pleaded indisposition and soon went to bed. Soon after this I lost an uncle, he dying suddenly, it greatly shocked and affected us. The next Firstday evening, it being the time of the spring meeting, and evening meeting, being held at Pine street, a connection of mine asked me to go to meeting with her; I had frequently in the course of the winter gone in there when my sister would go on to church (we lived but two doors from the meeting-house). She and her husband would sometimes smile and tell me they believed I intended to be a Quaker. I did not know it would soon be the case, but I felt a secret satisfaction in attending their meetings. I generally sat near the door at the back part of the house, lest my gay appearance should attract attention, but in the evening above hinted we had not sat long before a Friend got up and spoke, and as he was rather tedious my companion soon got tired and proposed going, but I chose to stay, and she left me. After some time, dear D. Offley appeared largely in testimony; he mentioned the prospect he had of some youth then present having a great work to do, and spoke so clearly to my state that I was much struck with it, but knew not at that time it was intended for me, and thought how deeply those must feel for whom it was meant; but although I did not at that time take it to myself, I had afterwards cause to remember that solemn testimony and it was a strength to me. and night come to an end. "The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His reproof. 'He divideth the sea with His power, and by His under standing He smiteth through the proud. hath formed the crooked serpent. "By his spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand heard of Him! but the thunder of His power who can under'Lo! these are parts of His ways; but how little a portion is stand?"-Job xxvi, 7th verse, to end. This is as true now as when uttered by Job, that noted man of Uz. From this beautiful and comprehensive view of Almighty Power, confirmed as it is to the outward visible creation, we may still exclaim, with equal truth, "The thunder of His power who can understand?” The great advance in science and knowledge has not lessened the truth of it, and though many continue "to run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased," yet it will still be true. The knowledge of astronomy was understood to some extent in that day, and a number of the stars still bear the same names as given in the book of Job. True, also, the knowledge of nature's laws was work in their day-this that enabled the martyrs to quite considerable; yet, when we contemplate the discoveries that have been made since then-the ascertained means that enable us to walk in our streets in the light instead of groping in the darkness of night, and to read the daily newspaper at our four firesides, made possible by the discovery of gas, by men, at the same time, in different parts of the world, each believing his discovery a secret until the announcements were simultaneously made-then think for a moment how much is needed by the inhabitants of this great country of ours-a country washed The Church of Christ is one, and the members by two mighty oceans that carry on their bosoms the should have charity for one another; each, as we are commerce of nations, the mighty rivers for the trans- called to the work, should stand upon the wall of portation of the products of the inner portion of the Zion, and with trumpet to the lips sound forth the country, the great network of iron rails that now Gospel of salvation, and God will bless our every reach from sea to sea, the grand old mountains with effort. All we lack to become a truly Christian peotheir precious metals, the broad plains that give pas- ple, walking in the light of God's counsel, is obediturage for the flocks and herds that graze upon them, ence to His every command. Then, brothers and the valleys with their verdure and beauty, the grand sisters, let us buckle on the "whole armor of God," forests and their cooling shades, the rippling streams, having the "breastplate of righteousness," and our the singing birds, the fleecy clouds, and the starry" feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of heavens-all remind us of that declaration, "the peace," taking "the peace," taking "the helmet of salvation and the thunder of His power who can comprehend?" sword of the Spirit," let us go on "conquering and to conquer." The wonderful discoveries still to be made, and the advance that awaits us in coming time, depend, as they always have done, upon one thing-every advancement that has been made has been from the one source, God has always talked with His children in a language they could comprehend and understand, from the time He spoke to Adam and Eve to the present, and when we have been obedient to that language of God there has always been an advance from a lower to a higher plane. It was that voice of God in the soul of Martin Luther that enabled him to stand erect before a won dering company, midway upon the stairway, which tradition says led to Pilate's house, as he was ascending on his knees for the purpose of obtaining indulgences for sin, and to utter that wonderful declaration. "The just shall live by faith." And here it is well to note the spirit of obedience to that voice, for history tells us that only a fortnight afterwards those indulgences were made bonfires of in the streets of his own city. It was the same voice that enabled one also to declare a truth that we find verified and fulfilled today. Wickliffe lived and preached a doctrine of reformation; he was permitted to die in peace a natural death, but forty-three years later his teachings were pronounced heresy by those in authority, and his bones were ordered to be dug up from their restingplace and burned, and the ashes scattered in the river Avon. Then these four lines were given to the world: "The Avon to the Severn runs, The Severn to the sea; And Wickliffe's dust shall spread abroad Wickliffe gave the Bible to the common people of England in their own language, Martin Luther to the common people of Germany in their own language; in all these evidences of the past we find every advancement has been by obedience to the voice of God in the soul of man. It was this that inspired Fox, Penn and the Wesleys, and all the early reformers, to do such a mighty May this be our happy experience. For Friends' Intelligencer. PROPHETS AND PROPHECIES. From the earliest ages, God appeared to man and held converse with him. This is one of the first and most characteristic doctrines of the Bible. Over against the dumb gods of the heathen, the God of Israel is represented as a God who enters into human life: rules not only over men, but in them; is not only a King, but a Father; has not merely subjects, but children. In the opening chapters of the Old Testament, he makes man in His own image, and then walks in the garden and talks with him. He warns Noah of the flood and tells him how to save himself and family from the universal deluge. He calls Abraham out of the land of idolatry and holds frequent conversation with him. He appears to Jacob and discloses heaven near at hand. He appears to Moses in the burning bush and promises to be speech to him; He sweeps the strings of David's harp and they produce the melody of the everlasting Psalms; He is Jeremiah's song in the night and Isaiah's song in the daytime. At first God is said to appear to men in human form. As time goes on, he ceases to come in human guise, and comes to hearts in voice unheard and form unseen. But still He appears, nearer to Isaiah than to Gideon, to David than to Abraham. All through the Old Testament men do not see God, but the reflection, of His image on prophetic souls on which He has been photographed. It is full of the gleams and sparks of His presence with men. The prophetic period was the fresh creative youth of Israel and perhaps the most remarkable in Jewish history. It was not outwardly successful, for during its progress the two Israelitish kingdoms were destroyed and the people taken captive. But religion made a great stride forward through the teach ing and influence of the prophets, who insisted that there was no other God but Jehovah, and that He should be worshiped not only by Israel but by all nations. It is incorrect to consider the Hebrew prophets only as persons whose office was to predict future events. They were the national poets of Judea. They were annalists and historians. They were preachers of patriotism, their patriotism being founded on the religious motive. They were preachers of morals and of spiritual religion; the system of morals put forward by the prophets, if not higher and purer than the law, is more plainly declared and with greater earnestness. Their chief subject of study was the law and its interpretation. They were a political power in the State, but they were something more than all this-they were the instruments of revealing God's will to man. As the prediction of future events became part of their duty, this most wonderful office of all came to be reckoned their chief one. We learn that it was by the agency of the Spirit of God that the prophets received their divine communications, but the means by which the Divine Spirit communicated with the human spirit, or the conditions under which they were received have not been clearly defined, they are only indicated; sometimes by direct declaration and manifestation, and at others by visions and dreams. But it does not follow that all prophetic revelations were thus made. Prophecy is in general a modification of inspiration. Inspiration is sight or rather insight. Those men who have the greatest degree of the intuitive faculty are by way of eminence inspired men, such of these as had visions of religious truths were inspired prophets, lawgivers and evangelists, but they differed in their spiritual culture and growth." The state of the prophets at the time of receiving the divine revelation was such as necessarily to make their predictions fragmentary, figurative and abstracted from the relations of time Dr. Arnold says that we should bear in mind that they have a lower historical sense as well as a higher spiritual sense; that there may be one or more than one typical fulfillment of a prophecy, in each of which the higher spiritual fulfillment is shadowed forth more or less distinctly. It would seem that the prophets had not themselves a full knowledge of all they predicted. They were the "spokesmen" of God, the "mouth" by which his words were uttered, or they were enabled to see and empowered to describe pictures presented to their spiritual intuition, but we find no grounds for believing that, at the same time with this miracle, was wrought another, so enlarging the understanding of the prophet as to enable him to grasp the whole intent and purpose of that which he was the instrument of declaring! While the prophets were lifting up their voices against the corrupt religion and the vices of the people," the divine message often became operative, if at all in their own day, only upon individual consciences; and since it was only in that obscure manner, or else at the distance of hundreds of years in the future, that the full and true force of their utterances were exerted; it is evident that the pro phetic office must have been, humanly speaking, one of apparently extreme fruitlessness and discouragement; unpopular to the public, unsatisfactory to its bearer, and only rendered tolerable by the spiritual illumination and exalted faith which were conferred by Jehovah upon those through whom he spoke." During the time of the Judges, the priesthood sank into a state of degeneracy and the people were no longer affected by the acted lessons of the ceremonial service. Under these circumstances, a new moral power was evoked-the Prophetic order. There had not been up to this time any men like Amos and Isaiah. The prophets that Saul met were probably little more than frenzied seers, but a beginning had been made. Samuel, a great teacher and reformer in religion, was the instrument for giving to the prophets a position of importance which they had never before held. While they had existed before his time, yet it was only from him that the succession was unbroken. Samuel founded schools or communities of prophets. Into these were gathered promising students, and here they were trained for the office they were afterwards to fill. In these institutions music was made use of as a medium of inspiration. So successful were they that there seems not to have been wanting a supply of men to keep up the line of official prophets. Generally the inspired prophets. came from these colleges, but not always. The The sixteen prophets, whose books are in the Canon, have that place of honor because they were endowed with the prophetic gift, as well as belonging to the prophetic order. Amos was an exception. word of the Lord came into his soul with such power that he must needs leave his herds and go preach to the people. At first no record was kept of prophetic discourses. From the time of Samuel they had spoken much, but their sayings were short and disconnected and related to passing events, and they were not accustomed to writing. As Israel advanced in civilization and culture, composition was more practised. Dangers now threatened the nation from foreign powers. Its future became complicated and doubtful. Good and wise men asked what would become of their people? They began to see that God was not only mighty but also holy and just. Then arose men who felt themselves sent by God to tell their nation that they were suffering because they had forsaken the commandments of Jehovah. These prophets composed and delivered long and vigorous discourses, and they were written down and preserved. The literary form of most of them is poetical. The lofty grandeur of the prophetic themes and the sublimely imaginative and figurative manner in which these themes are treated, lift the Hebrew prophecies into the very highest rank of poetical composition. These records contain much. historical matter, but in a religious sense, the highest use of them is the best proof afforded, by their predictions and the fulfillment of them, that the Bible is what it claims to be—a revelation of God's will to man. As an evidence of revelation, fulfilled prophecy is as satisfactory as anything can be; for who can know the future but the Ruler who disposes future |