and the spirit of Christ, enabling us to cry “ Abba, Father!" We are then heirs, through this spiritual birth, remembering the Apostle's declaration: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth, until Christ be formed in you." Then, dear friends, when we have the heirship bestowed on us by our obedience "we are no more children of the bond-woman, but of the free," so long as we walk by this light. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." I should transpose the thought that " through our duty to our fellow-men and to ourselves comes our duty to Him," and say by our knowledge and obedience we perform our duty to God, and hence will perform our duty to our fellowmen. Our duty to God is a duty to ourselves. God may give us lesson after lesson, but if we do not improve by his teaching, where is the profit of the lesson? What though his voice speaks to us, if we do not hearken? How are we to know what is gospel, but by the spirit of the gospel, which is by Christ; and what is religion but an obligation to the cause of Christ—this Christ the power of God producing practical Christianity?

All believe that it needs a special qualification to stand as a mouth-piece for God, and if the fountain of the gospel is not bubbling up in us, whence cometh the truth? If the trumpet gives forth an uncertain sound, who shall judge? Who is able to judge? If then our elders have received this qualification to judge of the ministry how shall we know that they judge righteously? Indeed, we all need a spiritual inspiration, by the birth of Christ in the soul, to make us a true church. The life, light and hope of every religious organization depend on the humble obedience to God, and then to experimentally know and to serve Him is the whole duty of man, whether it be as ministers, elders, overseers, or any member of a religious order.

Another paragraph which I would think more instructive to read, is this: "Would not a more profitable life be experienced in our meetings if all were exhorted to an entire surrender to this reverential spirit," and humble watchfulness to God's voice, so that our individual light, being permeated with the true grace, would so equalize all difference, and a secret desire be manifest for the truth. We would then feel a Christian charity spring up, cementing us in the strong bonds of a universal brotherhood, because of the experimental knowledge of the fatherhood. The unity of this spiritual kinship will be understood even though we speak with stammering tongues, or swelling utterances, for we cannot but speak those things which we have felt and known. With Christian love I am your sister in the truth as it is in Christ.

Hoopeston, Ill.

Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL :

MARY G. SMITH.

I HAVE just been reading an article in your issue of Tenth month 24th, under the heading of "Speaking in Meetings" wherein the writer asks "if it would not be consistent with our profession for each member to be encouraged to freely express his or her

thoughts in our meetings. for worship, even if they cannot honestly claim any special qualification or anointing?"

In answering this question I would say our meetings for worship should be for the promotion of truth and righteousness, and for the advancement of a higher life, not only collectively but individually. And while we are thus assembled, waiting upon our Heavenly Father for a knowledge of His will concerning us, and our duty towards Him and our fellowmen, and also for His anointing power to qualify us for that duty whatsoever it might be, our minds may be drawn into a particular train of thought; some passage of Scripture may come more clearly to our understanding than ever before, or our minds may be drawn out on a particular subject and expanded so that we see before us, as it were, an interesting subject for communication, which may be and is intended for our individual instruction. But we need to feel accompanying it the anointing power or qualification; with an impressive command to communicate those views to the people, and if we should attempt to communicate without this it would be as a dead letter, both hurtful to the speaker and annoying to the hearer, because it would be without life or power. I think this would be losing sight of those broad principles the writer speaks of, and running into a form of words without life. I think it would be consistent, whenever we feel qualified, to encourage every one to seek after that anointing qualification and act under its influence, whether it may be to speak in our meetings, or visit the sick, to feed the hungry, or clothe the needy. If we would individually attend to this illuminating power, there would be no need of encouraging people to speak their thoughts in our meetings, and when anything was communicated it would be with life, and have its effect. Even although it might be said in an abrupt way, the motive would be pure, and our meetings would be held with more life.

Ridgway, Ontario.

Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL:

CANADIAN FRIEND.

IN the time of George Fox silent meetings received immediate attention and care, though a perfect meeting is a silent one. When all gathered have self laid low, and their minds centered upon the eternal things of God, then we individually will receive the divine message from the fountain-head. To-day, as in the days of Fox, we have no perfect meetings. We suffer the state of lethargy to come over us which so often prevails over the meeting.

Oh! may we realize the responsibility that rests upon us as we gather together. Thus we in a measure are our "brother's keeper." We can err by looking too high for our calling. To believe that God has personally chosen us "to preach the Gospel," has often been too much for the human mind to bear. 'God is no respecter of persons." This is as true in the ministry as in anything else.

The light of truth like the light of the noonday sun is universal. If we are blind, that is no reason why we should say there is no light.

EFFORTS TO FULFIL THE LAW OF CHRIST.1

AMONG the faithful efforts made in this our day

1

to live up to the requirements of the new commandment given by the blessed teacher—the command of fraternal love-have been many thoughtful attempts to raise up and bless those who have been borne down by heavy labor, not adequately rewarded, by sickness and other afflictions of the body, and by weakness and crimes such as intemperance. Such care for one another is known as alms-giving, and is spoken of as charity. It is recognized by all that the spirit of God in the soul is antagonistic to every vice, and its influence is to promote the growth of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. In the fifth chapter of Paul to the Galatians this subject of Christian brotherhood is powerfully presented.

The great Apostle speaks also in solemn warning to such as neglect the blessed law of love: "All the law in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, walk in the spirit."

That which the great preacher of early Christianity learned from the spirit shining into the heart purified from earthly taint, is as appropriate to Philadelphia in these later days of the nineteenth century, as to Galatia in the earlier days of the first century. "If ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed of one another." Worldly wisdom is thus used to suggest self-interest in a temporal sense as a valid reason for obeying the law of love. Hearts have grown wise as well as tender in our time, and not only in this, but in other great cities, and in small ones too, the best citizens, and the sincere hearted of various confessions turn together in thoughtful consultation as to how we may best fulfil the law of Christ of which we willingly acknowledge the paramount importance.

The Hebrew is at one in this with the Christian, being abundant in the outpouring of pecuniary aid, and equally abundant in that personal sympathy and that outpouring of wise personal help which endears the giver and welds rich and poor, fortunate and unfortunate in one general brotherhood.

We have now the blessed privilege of being able to direct a brother or sister at sorest need to a place of help of the best kind—a help that is not in the least sectarian, but is as broad as humanity-a help which is not merely almsgiving, but includes wise counsel and practical, sympathetic aid in the direction of self-help.

All honor, we may say, to our brethren and fellow-citizens who have been doing this blessed work

1Read at the Conference at Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, Eleventh month 8th, 1885.

in our midst these many days, and have proved the quality of their work by its fruits. The large number of differing professors of religion who have joined hands in a noble work of intelligent charity suggests a far stronger union of the churches than that which consists in liturgies and creeds and prayers. It may be that the desired coalescence may come of the welding of the noblest hearts together in that loving universal brotherhood which comes of the holy spirit impelling them to the same benevolent works of love.

Paul spoke to the Ephesian church in a similar strain (11.; 10) reminding the converts that they were created in Christ Jesus unto good works, and they were ordained of God to walk in them. In these early utterances of the first great teachers of Christianity we have indications of a true and noble unity of mankind which is far apart from any captious restraint of thought. One deed of benevolence, impelled not by fanatic zeal, but by the highest intelligence and the most earnest desire to help mankind to higher levels, will do abundantly more than any merely liturgical compliance to draw mankind into greater nearness of sympathy-to greater warmth of love, to Christ's greater and all-embracing command"Love one another." Does the true disciple see great numbers of his fellow-beings suffering and perishing under the influence of some overmastering appetite that steadily gains force as a deadly sin; will he not by patient labor and pressure for the right strive to reveal the truth to his weak brethren; will he not do his utmost to remove temptation from the pathway of the faltering; will he not reason and present evidences before those in high place, until they shall be wearied into attention, and haply into compliance with the pleadings and prayers of the children of light?

Do the children of the light and of the day see the little ones of the community deprived of the blessings of refinement, learning, holy influences, and needful creature comforts; will they not hasten to provide that which is wanting to supplement and sweeten poor blighted human lives? Will not the mother hearts and the father hearts, following their instinctive influences, that liken them to the Heavenly Father, endeavor to throw arms of love around these, restraining what is morbid and wild; encouraging what is hopeful or promising; and showing forth with winning gentleness the perennial beauty of holiness?

Do the true Christian salt of the earth, to whom have been trusted the ministry of large material wealth, see the homes of the toiling poor, cramped with poverty, chilled with cold, noisome with pestilence, and saddened with unceasing toil; will they not lead these out from their wretched abodes unto nobler and better dwelling-places, see that their hours of labor be duly abridged, see that pure air and wholesome water bring health instead of sickness to the new home sanctuary?

The noble minded Englishman (Farrar)—has very lately reminded us of the thrice memorable words of William Penn-" The meek, the just, the pious, the devout, are all of one religion; and they shall meet

and recognize each other when their various masks and liveries are stripped away."

The same good Archdeacon Farrar, as he came up to the city of London to devote himself to ministerial duties, found that the terrible evils of intemperance had assumed so mighty a destructive power as to rouse all the zeal and fervor of his nature, and awaken every chord of sympathy of his noble heart, joined himself to the then almost despised ranks of the advocates of total abstinence, if so be he might save some who were weak.

From over the seas comes the lamenting cry "The good Lord Shaftesbury is dead." And why do men lament this priviledged noble, born to an earldom, and bearing an ancient and illustrious name? It is because, in the bloom of early manhood he gave himself with rare devotion to practical philanthropy. In his place in the House of Commons, fifty years ago, he insisted that the economic laws of supply and demand must and ought to be interfered with by statute laws for the protection of the working classes and the safety of the State. He pleaded the cause of the poor and needy with wisdom and with fervor worthy of a true Christian in the best sense, till the Ten Hours bill and others of similar character became the law of his land; when Lord Shaftesbury led the way in promoting improved dwellings for the poor, establishing the ragged schools, the shoe-black brigades, and other devices for the uplifting of the degraded and miserable. He sought wisdom in charity-giving not only heart, but intellect, to his works of benevolence. Who shall ask what the religious profession of this good man was? His practice was what we love to call the Christian, and what the sons of Israel will reverently pronounce to be in accord with the great and solemn law of Jehovah. He had the law of God implanted in his heart.

The poet of London Punch thus pays tribute to the noble Jew Moses Montefiore:

"Is life worth living? To the querulous cry
Let this long record, lately closed, reply.

A century of service to mankind! Pessimist cold and cynic blandly blind, 'Tis fitter comment on that query stale Than sneers that pall and arguments that fail. Long in the land his days, whose heart and hand All high and human causes could command. Long in the land his memory will abide, His country's treasure and his people's pride." Who shall ask the great spirit of Montefiore concerning creed and legend? He had known the love of God shed abroad in his heart and the outcome from it has been blessing to his fellow-men. Who shall venture to pronounce an anathema on the soul so noble and so alive to the commandment which the Christ exalted?

And now comes before us a wise benevolence showing us how good is frugality and prudent forecast. The advocates remind us that they assuredly know these things from their own experience, but entreat us to help to reveal to the children of toil, the pathway to a life of comfort which comes by regular savings steadily accumulated year to year where we can be most certainly sure that "no moth nor

rust can corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal."

From lands across the sea comes to us the story of Postal Savings Banks in other countries than our own; and we are all asked to study the subject of Postal Savings and endeavor to induce our legislators this very winter to see to it that before another year there may be means devised as beneficent as the best and noblest statesmanship of England has arrived at, to give permanence to small savings of hard toil. They want to lift all men to self help. This special measure was fifty-four years in procuring its passage through the British Parliament, till at length in the autumn of 1861, three hundred post offices of Great Britain were opened for savings bank business. The national government becomes a father who protects the humble savings of his children, and does it effectually. It spreads the good thing through all the colonies of all her world empire.

Other nations grasped at the offered good. Belgium adopted it in 1870, Japan in 1875, Italy in 1876, the Netherlands in 1881, France in 1885, and later, Russia and Switzerland. Yet later, Austria and Hungary agitated its adoption. Our own land has been meditating on this subject, and it is found our present savings bank system is inadequate to the needs of the very poor-especially to those in localities apart from great cities, and further, it is far less safe than the postal savings proposed.

The subject has recently been presented before us with such clearness and force that we venture to throw it before this body as one of the means of beneficence by which we can benefit laborers and point the path of hope to those in lowliest ways.

The good things done for others must not be the piece of gold tossed in scorn which will be repaid by resentful curses; but it must be the bread broken in brotherly love and tendered graciously, if it is to be the true Holy Supper-the Communion of the Saints, that is to weld into true unity the seeking and sorrowing pilgrims of the earth.

The changes which the best thought of our day perpetually demand, distress those who feel that they have toiled long in the cause of the melioration of man's estate, and feel that now surely has come to them a peaceful period of rest. But lo! one demand follows another-there is no rest. One crying sin falls only that the restless army of progress may attack another and another. "Shall the sword devour forever!" exclaim the Lotus Eaters? And the answer is "Forever more! until the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of God !

For Friends' Intelligencer and Journal. VALUE OF CHARACTER.

S. R.

all the subjects that occupy our thoughts there is none that embraces more than is conveyed in this one word, character. When established on the unchangeable principles of truth and right how it dignifies manhood, and is as a light shining all around him, inviting association without effort on his part to show a superiority; for goodness attracts

the thoughtful and sometimes arrests the despiser. Even children love the sweet influences that flow through gentleness and kindness, and early understand the difference between a smile and a frown. Did love bear rule, what a world of harmonious action we would have. Though opinions might differ, bigotry and superiority would hide their faces, and the meekness and gentleness of Christ till the wide chasm with blessings. Let us take the character of him that fulfilled all his Father's will, and come as near to it as we may, seeking the good of all, and doing evil to none. Next to him the apostles, who counted all things but dross, that they might win the prize set before them, to be one with him in glory in his Father's kingdom. True to their calling, unswerving in devotion, O what characters they maintained and established-Paul for firmness, John for loveand all for faithfulness unto death. O, what holy ardor, what zeal and energy all combined. May we gird on strength in the name of the Lord, and go on conquering and to conquer all that may rise up to oppose, till the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall rule them.

THE

From The Christian Union. CHARACTER.

SARAH HUNT.

HE reasons for the Christian's faith in Christ cannot be stated. They are unverifiable. There are reasons which can be stated, but they are not the reasons. Character is always and of itself its own authentication. We may believe about a man for reasons; we believe in him only for what he is to us. Faith is a spiritual sense, and it is only communicated spiritually; it goes by contact, not by argument. The child cannot tell why he believes in his mother; neither can I tell why I believe in Christ; I can only say, "Come and see." The individual doubter must grow into appreciation of Christ as the world has grown into appreciation of Christ. Love at first sight there doubtless is; but it is neither the healthiest nor the most permanent love.

It is necessary to make this clear at the outset, because I am sure the attempt to authenticate Christ's character by the argument from miracles is a misuse of the argument, and false reasoning always weakens the cause it endeavors to make strong. External evidence may authenticate a commission, but never character. The Bible abundantly recognizes this very simple and self-evident truth, that character must be its own authentication, and that no external credentials can justify a demand on our faith in a person whose character has not justified that demand. "If there arise among you," said the Mosaic statute, a prophet or dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder come to pass whereof he spake to thee, saying, 'Let us go after other gods which thou hast not known, and let us serve them,' thou shalt not hearken unto that prophet or that dreamer of dreams." What is this but saying that no miracle can attest character; that the primary evidence of truth and for truth is the truth itself, of character and for character is the char

acter itself? Christ rarely if ever wrought miracles to convince unbelievers, and rarely if ever appealed to them before unbelievers. He was often asked by them to work a miracle, and habitually refused. He first attested himself to his own by his life, and then verified their faith by his works. When Nathaniel doubted whether any good could come out of Nazareth, Philip gave not only the proper answer, he gave the only possible answer, "Come and see." Goodness cannot be proved, it must be seen. When John the Baptist in prison sent two of his disciples to ascertain whether Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus went on with his ministry and told the messengers to return to their master and tell him what they had seen and heard. The soul must look and then draw its own conclusions; and each soul for itself. If when we see him there is no beauty in him that we should desire him, nothing remains to be said. The thoughtful soul will inquire whether the fault is in the seeing or the seen; the thoughtless soul must e'en be allowed to go its own way.

In no narrow or narrowing sense are we to be or can we be imitators, even, of Jesus of Nazareth. His life was such that his followers cannot, if they would, lose their individuality in following him. That life throws very little light on either specific relations or specific duties. Most of us are engaged in commercial and industrial relations. We have no record of any bargain that Christ ever made. Most of us live in family relations. He was neither a husband nor a father, and almost nothing is told us of the period of his childhood. We are citizens of a free commonwealth. He lived in an age and under a government such that obedience to the constituted authorities was the only duty of citizenship. We cannot walk in his footsteps, as we are often exhorted to do; the figure is a false, though a common one. To follow Christ is not to imitate his actions, but to imbibe his spirit; and the structureless structure of his life happily gives us no alternative. It is not a model in which any life can be cast, and therefore it is an inspiration for all living. That life is equally an inspiration to all races and all nationalities. He belongs to no age, to no country, to no race, and by and by we shall learn that he belongs to no religion. He belongs to humanity and to God.

He who can suppress a moment's anger may prevent a day of sorrow.

NONE can be ministers of Christ Jesus but in the eternal Spirit, which was before the scriptures were given forth.-George Fox.

"WHEN One of the Spartan kings pronounced that commonwealth happy which was bounded by the sword and spear, Pompey, correcting him, said, ‘Yea, rather that commonwealth is truly happy which is on every side bounded with justice.'”

KIND WORDS.-Kind words produce their own image in men's souls-and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and comfort the hearer; they shame him out of his unkind feelings. We have not begun to use them in such abundance as they ought to be used.

WE

RIGHTEOUSNESS.

E have a word to add to many previous utterances of our own, from time to time, in regard to the need there is to endeavor to rise from the mere contemplation of particulars, to broader views derived from the conception of many particulars, and arrive at estimates that are in their nature more comprehensive and more just.

A Friend writes us an objection to an essay recently published in our paper, in which the writer endeavored to show reasons why we should set a high estimate on the early as on the later literature of Ancient Israel. The sins and short-comings of King and Priest of the primative ages, the sons of Israel can well afford to ackowledge, pointing to the ten words as their condensed ethics, and as the sum and substance of practical righteousness; and where the inspired poet and prince falls into grievous sin his penitence and humility exalt the standard of righteousness, and the noble ideal of the chosen race of prophet, sage and patriarch is not degraded.

The writer who finds a divine element in the lawgiver's wisdom who formulated such a righteous code as this for a people sunk in the barbarism and degradation of centuries of slavery, certainly cannot be very far from the truth this time, at least.

Yet we agree with our correspondent in the belief that the divine Being has ever manifested his attributes to mankind of the different households of the earth-as pure hearts were opened to the light which shineth from the Most High-Christ, the Wisdom of God and the Power of God,-Christ the Spirit.

DEATHS.

BONSALL.-At Fernwood, Delaware county, Pa., Eleventh month 3d, Jacob Warner, son of Moses aud Margaret E. Bonsall, in his 21st year.

CREW.-At his residence. Atco, N. J., on the 5th inst., Benjamin J. Crew, in the 58th year of his age.

HAZELTON.-At her late residence, near Mullica Hill, N. J., Eleventh month 6th, Margaret W., widow of William Hazelton, Sr., in her 81st year; a member of Pilesgrove Monthly Meeting, N. J.

PAIST.-On Ninth month 8th, 1885, at her residence in Cambridge street, Philadelphia, of paralysis, Mary Ann Paist, wife of Albert Paist, in the 73d year of her age; a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting; daughter of Jesse and Sarah Jones, of Plumstead township, Bucks county, Pa. In reviewing the character of our dear deceased friend we find much to admire and much to love. She had overcome the temptations of the world.

H. J. H. PENROSE.-On Seventh-day morning, Eleventh month 7th, Morris Penrose, in his 85th year; a member of the monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia.

PICKERING.-At her home, near St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, Eighth month 19th, after an illness of twenty-four hours, Rebecca S. Pickering, wife of Elijah Pickering, aged 84 years and 5 months; a member of Plainfield Monthly Meeting. Her funeral on the 20th was attended by a large concourse of relatives and others. Interment at Friends' burial ground, St. Clairsville. She was a daughter of Josiah and Anne Fox, natives of Plymouth, England.

PYLE.-In Wilmington, Delaware, on Eleventh month 2d., Margaret C., wife of William Pyle, in the 58th year of her age.

SHOEMAKER.-On Fifth-day, Tenth month 29th, 1885, Mary K. Shoemaker, in the 43d year of her age; a member of Westfield Monthly Meeting of Friends, Preble county, Ohio. Of the deceased it may be truly said, none knew her but to love her. She leaves a loving husband and four precious children to mourn her loss.

For Friends Intelligencer and Journal.
VISITS TO FRIENDS IN NEBRASKA.

A CONCERN having rested upon our minds to

make a religious visit among Friends scattered up and down in the states of Nebraska and Kansas, starting on the 23d of Ninth month, I joined my friend Edward Coale, of Benjaminville, Ill, at Peoria. We attended the little meeting held by Friends of that place on Fourth-day evenings and First-day mornings, of each week. We left Peoria on the following morning on the Iowa Central Railroad, passing through Winfield, Iowa, and a little north of Prairie Grove meeting house, through Oskaloosa, to Pickering, and thence to Omaha, reaching Central City, Neb., on the evening of the 25th.

On Seventh day, the 26th, after a pleasant drive of twenty-eight miles across the country from Central City, for which we are under obligations to our friend Edward W. Allen, we arrived at the residence of James Vore, about 5 P. M., (where also resides his father Jacob Vore, ex-Indian agent), three miles southwest of Genoa, in Nance county. Our route lay over mainly a level country, although a portion was quite hilly. From Central City north for several miles the country is nearly level, and we were informed that fifteen years ago, not a spear of grass was to be seen, but a bleak, barren waste. We crossed the Loup River at a rope ferry near the middle of our