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POETRY.

PATIENT WITH THE LIVING.

BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER.

Sweet friend, when thou and I are gone
Beyond earth's weary labor,
When small shall be our need of grace
From comrade or from neighbor,
Passed all the strife, the toil, the care,
And done with all the sighing,

What tender truth shall we have gained,
Alas! by simply dying!

Then lips too chary of their praise

Will tell our merits over,

And eyes too swift our faults to see
Shall no defect discover.

Then hands that would not lift a stone
Where stones were thick to cumber
Our steep hill-path, will scatter flowers
Above our pillowed slumber.

Sweet friend, perchance both thou and I, Ere love is past forgiving,

Should take the earnest lesson home,—
Be patient with the living.

To-day's repressed rebuke may save
Our blinding tears to-morrow:
Then patience, e'en when keenest edge
May whet a nameless sorrow.

'Tis easy to be gentle when

Death's silence shames our clamor,
And easy to discern the best

Through memory's mystic glamour;
But wise it were for thee and me,
Ere love is past forgiving,

To take the tender lesson home,-
Be patient with the living.

A SOLITARY WAY.

Proverbs xiv, 10: I. Corinthians ii, 11. There is a mystery in human hearts, And though we be encircled by a host Of those who love us well, and are beloved, To every one of us, from time to time, There comes a sense of utter loneliness. Our dearest friend is "stranger" to our joy, And cannot realize our bitterness. "There is not one who really understands, Not one to enter into all I feel;" Such is the cry of each of us in turn. We wander in เ a solitary way," No matter what or where our lot may be; Each heart, mysterious even to itself, Must live its inner life in solitude.

-Selected.

THROUGH love to light! Oh, wonderful the way,
That leads from darkness to the perfect day!
From darkness and from sorrow of the night
To morning that comes singing o'er the sea.
Through love to light! Through light, O God, to thee,
Who art the love of love, the eternal light of light!
-Richard Watson Gilder, in Tender and True.

SEEK not, ye sons of those who till the soil,
For other fields in life than those ye reap!

Better by far the sweat of honest toil,

The rest of honest labor's tranquil sleep, Than all the bubbles of the worldling's dream

The cares which rack the statesman's anxious brains The uncertain ventures of the merchant's scheme, Or all the doubtful paths for fame and gain!

THE PRESENT DEPRESSION.

A contributor to Christian Register writes thus from Manchester, England:

A few night since, we had Thomas Hughes speaking to us here in Manchester. In the course of his noble utterance, he stated a problem deeper than that which agitates our politicians. From the mint and anise, he descended into the weightier matters of our life. It is the problem that stares us in the face,the problem which we all feel very deeply,-and is enough to convince some of us, at least, that our huge frame, Christian though we label it, is not constructed right. Hughes says: "O ten before within living memory there have been times of depression and stagnation in trade, but never anything like that of the present time. One universal cry of distress is going up from every great trade and industry in the land. And what is that cry? Surely, the strangest that ever went up from any great trading community till now: 'Too much corn. Too much sugar. Too much cotton. Too much labor.' Too much, in short, of every species of wealth; and yet our merchants and manufacturers are being ruined, while two-thirds, at least, of our people are underfed, badly clothed, miserably housed. Does any one believe that this can last? Power is passing rapidly into the hands of those who are underfed, badly clothed, miserably housed. How long, with all their patience, would they respect those huge and unused accumulations of all that they and their children need? How, then, has this come about, and what is the remedy?”

This is the problem, truly and soberly stated by Tom Hughes. For himself, he answered it thus,with an answer that commends itself to every man whose conscience is enlightened of Him who loveth. righteousness and judgeth the people on earth: We have come to this pass "because the nation has forgotten who is the Lord of trades, and so has not obeyed the laws he has laid down for conduct.

"Our fathers would not know thy ways, and thou hast left them to their own. And what have our ways been? A feverish, eager struggle by every man for himself. Free competition was proclaimed as the sole adjuster of supply and demand,- the semi-sacred law of trade; and so every man's hand had been against his neighbor, until the keenest and least scrupulous, instead of the wisest and most upright, men have come to the front, and got the control of almost every branch of industry and trade. Your coach will be over the precipice before you know it, unless the horses can be turned into the right road!"

WHO fathoms the Eternal thought?
Who talks of scheme and plan?
The Lord is God! He needeth not
The poor device of man.

I dimly guess from blessing known
Of greater out of sight;

And with the chastened Psalmist own
His judgments, too, are right.

-J. G. Whittier.

WHEN all is holiday, there are no holidays.-Lamb.

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SALEM QUARTERLY MEETING, held on the 5th inst., at Woodstown, N. J., was very largely attended. The day being pleasant, many strangers from neighboring Meetings were present, but no ministers with minutes. There was, however, much public service, and the power of gospel testimony was perceptibly felt. Amongst those who ministered were Watson Tomlinson, Isaac C. Martindale and others. To gather with Friends religiously, and also to enjoy the social commingling, many had come quite a distance, and the occasion was one of profit.

JONATHAN W. PLUMMER, of Chicago, in the prosecution of his work among the members of Illinois Yearly Meeting, visited 16 families and 58 persons in all, besides holding several meetings.

He was in attendance at Blue River Quarterly Meeting, held on the 28th ult., which was a good meeting; and, after a brief stay in Bloomington, returned home for a short rest before entering further upon his Western mission.

TO STUDENTS OF THE CHAPPAQUA INSTITUTE: Greatly regretting the losses of pupils by fire and through interruption of studies, we are glad to announce the proposed re-opening of the school on Third-day, Third month (March) 10th, 1885; when we hope to continue with the same teachers and the same company of students. Until a new and improved building can be erected, Managers have ar ranged temporarily as follows:

The Mansion and the Dr. Lambert house, on that which will be known by students as the "Lambert" or the "Leeds" property, have been secured, also the Holbrook place adjacent. These houses are surThese houses are surrounded by porticos, the windows extending to the floors, so that there are numerous avenues of escape in case of fire. We are thus in possession of ample accommodation for the work of the School, and pupils who are familiar with the premises will recall the grounds (containing rustic summer houses and a fir forest) as being especially attractive.

We trust, therefore, that as a result of our unfortunate experience, we shall complete the school year amid pleasanter surroundings, continuing the Winter term two weeks beyond the time named in the catalogue. The post office address continues as beRespectfully,

fore.

Chappaqua, N. Y., 1885.

S. C. COLLINS.

THE blind and cowardly spirit of evil is forever telling you that evil things are pardonable, and you shall not die for them, and that good things are impossible, and you need not live for them. And, if you believe these things, you will find some day, to your cost, that they are untrue. Therefore, I pray you with all earnestness to prove, and know within your hearts, that all things lovely and righteous are possible for those who believe in their possibility, and who determine that, for their part, they will make every day's work contribute to them.-John Ruskin.

THE LIBRARY.

By Alfred H. Welsh, A. M.-This excellent work Development of English Literature and Language. from the press of S. C. Griggs & Co., of Chicago, is now before us. The author divides the great subject into seven chapters, considering in the first three chapters the formative period of the language, from time of the Roman Conquest to the days of King the days of the earliest primative inhabitants at the Alfred. The fourth chapter is of the initiative period of which the representative authors are Madeville, Wicliffe and Chaucer. The fifth chapter treats of the retrogressive period of superstition and the debasement of the church of ethics, of science, and of philosophy. The representative author is Caxton.

is represented by More, Sidney, Hooker, Raleigh, The sixth chapter treats of the First Creative Period Spenser and Shakspeare. The Philosophic Period is that of which Lord Bacon and Milton are the high priests. Here ends the first volume. The second volume treats of the developments of the Seventeenth, the steady development of great ideas, of ethics, and Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries,-considering of philosophy up to the present,-ending with Emerson, with whose utterances the writer of this work is heartily and fully in sympathy. We approve this work as convenient in its arrangement, philosophic in spirit, deeply interesting to the ordinary reader, and so far as we have examined it, it appears just and accurate and worthy to be placed in an honorable position in our highest institutions of learning. And we hardly know of any work of its kind more worthy of place in the family and public library.

This brief notice is only the merest glimpse of a book of over one thousand large pages replete with high interest. We may hope in the future to make

extracts from its treasure stores for our columns.

A Natural History Reader and a Geographical Reader. By James Johonnot.-From the press of Appleton & Co. come these two fascinating books which, though prepared as school readers, are delightful summaries of information concerning the world we inhabit and its wonders, and the living creatures, both animal and vegetable, which exist upon it. curately illustrated, they may be approved for FirstSince they are quite new, and are beautifully and acDay School Libraries as well as for the school-room. Excellent type and paper and general elegance of finish are to be noted.

Barnes' New National Readers.-This series of five reading books from the publishing house of A. S. Barnes & Co., will look very tempting to teachers since they also are elegantly printed, artistically illustrated, and furnished with most interesting and instructive literary extracts. Teachers alone can judge if they are superior to other reading books which they have in use. Changes are expensive and should not be imposed on schools without good reason.

ANOTHER School History of the United States comes to us from Butler, of Philadelphia, and William Ware & Co., of Boston.-It is prepared by Horace E Scudder, of Boston, who has aimed above all things to make the book clear, reasonable and attractive.

He has

striven to unfold the logic of events; while brevity is

essential to his purpose.

We see no special fault to find with this book. It is properly illustrated by historic maps, by interesting engravings and by pictures of the colored seals of all the States. But whether it is needed in our schools we cannot be sure, since there are so many excellent works with just about the same scope.

We find the chapters which treat of Slavery and Politics very suitable for the study of our future citizens, and the chapters which give the particulars

of the settlement of New Jersey and Pennsylvania are just to Friends.

THE Series of three School Geographies published by the University Publishing Company, of New York, originally prepared by M. T. Maury, are, we should think, all that Geographies can be; but only the intelligent, practical teacher can be sure which series among the many presented is the most worthy to be introduced into our schools.

FROM Paris we have intelligence of French victories in Tonquin.

THERE is nothing specially favorable to the British arms in the latest despatches from Egypt.

LONDON despatches of the 7th inst. state:

Paris advices to-night state positively that it is an undoubted fact that the Government of Pekin has peremptorily ordered all the Chinese subjects at present residing in France as students to leave France. This and other happenings in the same line indicate to the observant that the condition of the pres

FROM William Ware & Co., of Boston, we have Principles and Practice of Bookkeeping. By Hutchin-ent relations between China and France is more bellicose than son & Parker, a practical Accountant and a practical Schoolmaster. It claims to be plain, practical and thorough, and to be a book both for school and for home studies, and adapted for farmer and mechanic as fully as for the merchant. It seems to be highly approved by many competent authorities. All these to be found at Friends' Book Store, 1020 Arch street.

CURRENT EVENTS.

Domestic.-The Forty-eighth Congress held an allnight session on the 3d and the morning of 4th, passing many important bills and resolutions.

ever. The Parisian papers deny the report that the French troops in Tonquin have been recently allowed by the Chinese ent so seriously entrapped that their position is perilous. The to advance without serious opposition until they are at presChinese reports are to the effect that the entire advance of the French army is at present hemmed in in a remote and almost

unknown region, from which they cannot escape and from which they cannot retire without suffering annihilation.

Baron de Stael, the Russian ambassador to England, in an interview with a correspondent, said: "Gladstone has for years urged the Czar to peace. Why should Russia and England quarrel? Russia has unexcelled rights where she now is. Russia is perfectly willing that England should, if she so desires, annex Afghanistan. If she should do so, then Russia and England would be neighbors. As neighbors they could better, because jointly, engage in the work of civilizing the vast Asian world.”

Congress remained in session after daybreak, and the conference report on the Deficiency bill, and an agreement was reached on the Post-office Appropriation bill. The Naval bill was agreed to later, and an agreement on the Sundry Civil bill followed. In the last hours the Grant Retirement bill passed. The Congress completed all necessary business and ad- Government has sent an emphatic demand to St. Petersburg journed sine die at mid-day.

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Secretary of State-Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware.
Secretary of the Treasury-Daniel Manning, of New York.
Secretary of War-William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts.
Secretary of the Navy-William C. Whitney, of New York.
Secretary of the Interior-L. Q. C. Lamar, of Mississippi.
Postmaster-General-William F. Vilas, of Wisconsin.
Attorney-General-A. H. Garland, of Arkansas.
The first official act of President Cleveland was the
nomination of his Cabinet. His second official act
was to affix his signature to the commission of U. S.
Grant as an officer on the retired list of the Army,

with the rank of General.

We learn with pleasure that, in Baltimore, on the 5th inst., at the night session of the M. E. Conference the sum of $30,000 was raised, which completes the $200,000 necessary to insure the establishment of a Conference Seminary for the higher education of

women.

Foreign.-Despatches from London of the 2d inst. indicate that judicious diplomacy will be essential in order to preserve peace with Russia. Lord Granville has sent a long and important despatch to the Russian Foreign Minister, concerning the occupation by Russian forces of points on the Afghan frontier.

The advices on the 3d indicate that an agreement is effected with the Russian Government on the Afghan frontier question. Neither nation desires war.

THERE have been received in London, despatches from Egypt, stating that the British Garrison at Kas

A DESPATCH from London, of the 8th inst., says: This morning's Observer says: "We understand that the for the withdrawal of the Russian troops on Afghan territory. The despatch partook of the character of an ultimatum."

ITEMS.

vania Railroad Company was demonstrated last week THE wonderful carrying capacity of the Pennsylby the fact that on the 3d and 4th insts. fully 38,000 passengers were carried to Washington by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company from points on that company's lines east of Pittsburg and Erie, including the Northern Central, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore, the Baltimore and Potomac, the Alexandria and Fredericksburg, the West Jersey, and the Camden and Atlantic Roads. Estimating fifty passengers to a car and nine cars to a train, it will be seen that the company sent to the National Capital in those two days something like 760 cars and about 84 trains. "And all this business was done," said Mr. Boyd, "without accident or delay, and without the slightest interference with our regular through passenger traf

fic."-Eve. Bulletin.

DR. CYRUS EDSON has reported to the New York board of Health a case of arsenical poisoning by wall paper in the house of Jay Dowd, 178 Lexington avenue. "The paper had gray and red flowers on gilt ground. A man and his wife, who slept in the room, developed catarrh, pharyngitis, migraine, conjunctivitis, cold extremities, muscular pains and sore joints and swelling of the salivary glands. A seamstress, who worked in the room displayed similar symptoms. In wet weather all the symptoms were aggravated. The paper cost thirty-five cents a roll. It was bought from a Third avenue dealer, who purchased it from a Philadelphia manufacturer."

NOTICES.

MONTHLY MEETINGS IN PHILADELPHIA.

sala has suffered a defeat in a sortie, with_heavy loss. Third mo. 18th, at Race Street, 3 P. M.

The garrison is in danger of famine, and is reduced to 600 and short of ammunition.

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19th, at Spruce Street, 101⁄2 A. M.
19th, at Green Street, 3 P. M.

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"TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO; KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE."

VOL. XLII.

PHILADELPHIA, THIRD MONTH, 21, 1885.

No. 6.

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.

TERMS:-TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE.

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.
JOSEPH S. CоHU, New York.

BENJ. STRATTAN, Richmond, Ind.

Entered at the Post-Office at Philadelphia, Penna., as secondclass matter.

THE PROPHET SAMUEL.

Read at a Conference at Race Street Meeting-house, Third Month 15th, 1885.

To those who read them with interest and with reverent desire to gain light therefrom, the Sacred Scriptures of the ancient Hebrews, are a picture of man's development and of religious evolution,-and they are valuable as 'instruction in righteousness,' since the principles of right have never varied.

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But "the thoughts of men have widened with the process of the suns "-and from period to period of Jewish story-we see mankind broadening from the extreme childishness of primitive ideas, to the gradual attainment of a high moral and religious cult, and to such advancement in civilization as is essential to refinement, to humanity, and those happy conditions which are most favorable to the comprehension of exalted religious ideas. Yet all along the way have arisen lofty characters, beloved of God, revered by their fellow men, who were able, through divine favor, to preach the very word of Deity to the multitude who were yet not sufficiently developed spiritually to commune consciously with the heavenly Wisdom. Mighty are the services of the exalted spirits who have risen above their age and have helped their fellow men to higher levels. We never weary of contemplating their lives, and we dwell with wonder upon their heroism, their devotion and their faith.

Every act of a man—and especially of a great

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spirit" inscribes itself in the memory of his fellows, and in his own manners and face." If he is a prophet and a teacher the influence becomes as vast as it is beneficent. If he is also the ruler, then indeed must the people rejoice, for theirs is an age of peculiar blessedness. assures Again, Emerson us that "Nature seems to exist for the excellent. The world is upheld by the veracity of good men: they make the world wholesome."

Let us go back in thought to the wierd middle age of Israel once more. It is in the later day of the judges, and there is as yet no king in Israel and no regular government able to compel order and that respect to person and property which makes quiet and peaceful living a possibility. The Judge Eli is also High Priest and has especial powers by his union of civil with religious functions. But so inadequate are these powers that his own two sons Hophni and Phinehas are grave transgressors, and the authority of their venerable father is not sufficient to restrain them. Stanley speaks of them as "true examplers of the grasping and worldly clergy of all ages." "Their open profligacy at the door of the Tabernacle is the type of many a scandal brought on the Christian Church by the selfishness or sensuality of its ministers."

In the sanctuary at Shiloh under care of Eli is placed the son of a devout and gifted mother, herself a faithful servant of Jehovah. She has consecrated her darling to the priestly office, under the care and tutelage of Eli. Hannah, the mother of this consecrated child, was the first in the sacred

records who is said to have offered silent prayer. | judgment as did Joel and Abiah. The aged prophet Her song of thanksgiving is the first hymn.

In the solemn hour of the later watches of the night came to the child Samuel the still small voice of the divine call, and the venerable High Priest is warned of impending doom.

It comes. The Ark of God goes down before the Philistine host. The heart-stricken Eli sinks down dead from his place beside the gateway of the sanctuary. "Ichabod," "The glory is departed; for the Ark of God is taken."

It may be noted that the Israelites here felt that the Divine Presence was taken from them. They evidently had no realization of the sacred and solemn truth that with the pure in heart the Divine Presence is always near at hand, and that the Ark was only a type that shadowed forth faintly an eternal truth. After all the instructions of the past experiences of Israel, the conception of the spiritual nature of God was exceedingly crude among the laity. The High Priest, however, could readily perceive the sacred voice, though it came to him through the pure hearted child, who did his bidding in the sanctuary. "And the child Samuel grew on and was in favor both with the Lord and with men "and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground, and all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord."

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This silent, inward, unconscious growth of Samuel, is in accordance with all the most noble Christian philosophy. It is surely the exemplification of a universal truth.

Stanley designates him as "the first instance of a prophet gradually raised for his office from the earliest dawn of reason. His work and his life are the counterparts of each other. With all the recollections of the ancient sanctuary impressed upon his mind,-with the voice of God sounding in his ears, not, as in the case of the elder teachers and leaders of his people, amidst the roar of thunder and the clash of war, but in the still silence of the Tabernacle, ere the lamp of God went out, he was the more fitted to meet the coming crisis, to become himself the center of new institutions."

"In the first child-like response, 'Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth,' was contained the secret of his strength." His heart and mind were early instructed by highest experiences and indeed "the child was father to the man." His days were indeed bound each to each by natural piety and he could declare his integrity to the people, when he stood before them in his venerable age at Gilgal and challenge their judgment, for he had walked before them from his childhood unto that day in which he had, in his priestly function, anointed a princely youth to the royal

office in Israel.

is called upon to install a monarch-thus taking away from his own family a rulership which he had fondly hoped they would have been worthy to inherit. But Samuel, believing it the will of God, does not oppose the demand.

A choice young man of the tribe of Benjamin, taller and more fair than any other, even of his princely tribe, comes to the Seer for counsel in regard to a matter which involved obedience to his father. Samuel receives him with loving courtesy and hospitality; informs him of his worthiness to be the captain and leader of Israel, and while anointing him with oil, gives him the assurance that the Spirit of God would come upon him and give him ability and another heart.

The installment of the new king, the formation of a plan of government for the monarchy, the change from the old order to the new was the work of the aged Samuel, after which he bows to the inevitable course of events and retires gradually to make way for the new order. With tenderest blessing he parts from his people, promising still to be their teacher and spiritual father though no longer their judge, or ruler. The splendid warrior youth was now to be subjected to the supreme test of character: the possession of absolute power. Has he faith and trust in Israel's Jehovah-the Jehovah that loveth righteousness. Does he take heed to those monitions of the spirit which may raise him to a true and divine kingship, and will he look for counsel and the wisdom of deep experience to the great Seer who had anointed him to his high functions, or was he inclined more to rely on sacrificial or ritualistic offerings to propitiate the favor of the Most High, than on simple obedience to the manifest will of God?

Says Geikie: "It was the special distinction of Samuel that with him began the long roll-call of the Jewish prophets, as that name is generally applied.

The prophet is essentially an appearance peculiar to early ages and to the simple state of society before the fulness of revelation has yet been made known. The ancient world at large was marked by its eager efforts to penetrate the secrets of the higher powers which control human destiny. Nothing important was undertaken either in public or private life without inquiring the will of the gods, through seers, diviners, augurs, oracles, or prophets, who claimed ability to satisfy this craving.

But there was a signal difference between the representatives of the heathen gods and those of Jehovah. To the former, the indications of the Divine will were read in the phenomena and occurrences of outer nature and of the animal world; in the whispering of the oak leaves at Dodona, in the flight of birds, in the motions of the entrails of a sacrifice, in the sounds of birds or beasts, or in their unexpected appearances. But in the true religion, this noble instinct was met only by communications made from the unseen God, through the spirit of man, His image on earth. . . Any human power of The popular demand in Israel for a kingly ruler, divination is repudiated, and all disclosures of the was precipitated by the misdeeds of the unworthy purposes of God are due to direct communications sons of the Seer. The elders of Israel were not dis- from Himself. He alone, in fact, can prophesy; the posed to accept the judgeship of men who turned prophet is only His voice among men. The name aside after lucre-who took bribes and perverted | Nabi comes from a root to boil up," " to boil forth"

Grotius has called him the Jewish Aristides, he was to his nation and age, far more than ever Aristides was to the Greeks: not only prophet, judge and statesman, but father.

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