subject, hath not yet so affected us as a people, | of his castigation, they court his society, and though greatly favored on their account, as to crowd to his meetings. INFIDEL AND FICTITIOUS READING. take place in any measure answerable to that ancient decree prophetically set forth by that royal prophet David in his second Psalm, 7th and 8th verses: "I will declare the decree," &c. "Ask, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." When thus brought into the possession of the unerring spirit of truth, shall the rage of heathen, or vain imaginations of the people prevent the vital sap and nourish-minds of our youth and those of riper years. ment of the vine from circulating amongst the branches, or shall not rather the genuine badge of discipleship give some demonstrative marks (though in silent language) of a union in spirit with angels in heaven and shepherds on earth, even glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will unto men? AN INSTANCE OF ITS EFFECTS. The wholesome and soul-reviving truths and instructions contained in many of our religious periodicals, are too much supplanted by secular, fictitious and infidel prints, that are flooding our country in every direction, and poisoning the JOSEPH DELAPLAINE. Extract from E. Howitt's Letters from the United States. This Friend is deemed by many the first minister in the Society, in the United States. I attended the meeting in Pearl Street, (New York,) the day previous to the Yearly Meeting, as he was expected, according to his usual custom, to be there. We went nearly half an hour before the time, but we found the place crowded to excess. Such is the remarkable character of this Friend and his ministry, that whenever he holds a meeting, this is the case. My mind was forcibly impressed on this subject something more than a year since, on being called to stand by the bedside of a dying fellowyouth in the place of my former labors. He was a graduate of Union College-the youngest son of respectable and wealthy parents, residing in Onondaga county, New York. No money or pains had been spared by these indulgent and pious parents, to qualify this "Benjamin" of their old age for future usefulness. But while absent from the parental roof, during his academic and collegiate career, he found access to the writings of infidel poets and skeptics of different ages, in connection with much of the light reading of the present day, in the frequent perusal of which he contracted a taste for this kind of amusement, which strengthened and matured the skepticism of the heart to that extent that the restraints of Christianity were measurably thrown off, and infidelity reigned triumphant. Denying, as he did, the immortality of the soul, of course looser reign was given to the baser Possessed of a strong and intrepid mind, un- passions. And cherishing a roving desire, which enervated by the restraints and modulatious of was also gratified, he soon found himself mingan academical education, he gives no measure or ling in many fashionable games and amusements; direction to the avowal of his sentiments, but and in such hot beds of vice and destruction, the such as he conceives is prescribed by the will of germs of premature disease and death were fast the Almighty. His appearance is simple, old- matured. On returning home, the wreck of fashioned, and patriarchal, and he pours forth in blasted hopes and fondest anticipations, having, his public discourses, in an astonishing and like the "prodigal," wasted his abundance and animated flow of plain, but powerful and pene- ruined his character, he lingered awhile under trating language, a train of argument which the iron hand of consumption's doom seal, lightens, and sentiment that warms upon what- occasionally lamenting his folly, and struggling ever it touches. No person, situation or circum-in vain to be released from the fatal grasp of instance can awe him to the suppression of a word fidelity, which had so strongly environed his bethat he feels inclined to speak. He harkens nighted soul. alone to his own heart's suggestion of his duty, and he does it. That sophistry must be artful, indeed, that eludes his discriminating glance; he seems to grasp in a moment the compass and bearing of the subject, and unravels its intricacies with a perspicuity peculiarly his own. No custom, however sanctioned by its antiquity, or doctrine, however supported by public opinion, ever meets with respect from him, if they originate not in sound reason and sound religion. The professors of other creeds often feel the "I ought to have been a bright and shining giant stroke of his oratorical power, yet they do light in the world. My advantages have been homage to his talents, they venerate his virtues, good, but my life, for the most part, has been and though they have shrunk beneath the terrors dark and dreary, for want of a firm belief in the When about to take his leave of the world, he called the writer to his bedside; having previously sent him a request to preach his funeral sermon from a text of his own selection, (Job 7: 21,) and desired the privilege, through the preaching, of warning his young friends, on that occasion, to avoid the course he had pursuedthe rocks on which he had foundered. Hear him on this point, as I recorded the sentiment from his lips: Christian religion. Had I another life to live, I should pursue a different course; and to all skeptics I would say, the safer side is that of piety and religion. It is now too late with me to recall the past-the experiment is tried; through what scenes I am now to pass is to me unknown. That fearful word eternity rings in Fictitous and skeptical reading has been the Bohan Upas of my soul! Warn the young every where to avoid this whirlpool of destruction-the rock on which I foundered!" my ears. St. Louis Presbyterian. EXTRACTS FROM LEIGHTON'S COMMENTARY ON PETER. "Use a little of the bridle in the quantity of speech. Incline a little rather to sparing than lavishing, for in many words there wants not sin. That flux of the tongue, that prattling and babbling disease, is very common; and, hence so many impertinences, yea, so many of those worse ills in their discourses, whispering about, and inquiring, and censuring this and that. A childish delight! and yet most men carry it with them all along to speak of persons and things not concerning us. And this draws men to speak many things which agree not with the rules of wisdom and charity, and sincerity. He that refraineth his lips is wise,' saith Solomon. "It is an argument of a candid, ingenuous mind, to delight in the good name and commendation of others; to pass by their defects, and take notice of their virtues; and to speak and hear of those willingly, and not endure either to speak or hear of the other; for in this, indeed, you may be little less guilty than the evil speaker, in taking pleasure in it, though you speak it not. And this is a piece of man's natural perverseness, to drink in tales and calumnies; and he that doth this will readily, from the delight he hath in hearing, slide insensibly into the humor of evil speaking. It is strange how most persons dispense with themselves in this point, and that in scarcely any societies shall we find a hatred of this ill, but rather some tokens of taking pleasure in it; and, until a Christian sets himself to an inward watchfulness over his heart, not suffering in it any thought that is uncharitable, or vain self-esteem on the sight of others' frailties, he will still be subject to somewhat of this, in the tongue or ear, at least. "This tongue evil hath its root in the heart -in a perverse constitution there-in pride and self love. An overweening esteem that men naturally have of themselves, mounts them up into the censor's chair, gives them a fancied authority of judging others, and self-love, a desire to be esteemed; and, for that end, they spare not to depress others, and load them with disgraces and injurious censures, seeking upon their ruin to raise themselves. "Whence so many jars and strifes among the greatest part, but from their unchristian hearts and lives--their self-love and unmortified passions? One will abate nothing of his will, nor the other of his. Thus, where pride and passion meet on both sides, it cannot be but a fire will be kindled ; when hard flints strike together, the sparks will fly about.' 'A soft answer turneth away wrath.'" RULES FOR HOME EDUCATION. The following rules we commend to patrons and friends, for their excellence, brevity and practical utility. They are worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and placed in a conspicuous position in every household. It is lamentable to contemplate the mischief, misery and ruin which are the legitimate fruit of those deficiencies which are pointed out in the rules to which we have referred. Let every parent and guardian read, ponder, and inwardly digest: 1. From your children's earliest infancy, inculcate the necessity of instant obedience. 2. Unite firmness with gentleness. Let your children always understand that what you say, you mean. 3. Never promise them anything unless you are quite sure you can give them what you promise. 4. If you tell a little child to do something, show him how to do it, and see that it is done." 5. Always punish your children for wilfully disobeying you, but never punish them in anger. 6. Never let them perceive that they can vex you or make you lose your self-command. 7. If they give way to petulance and temper, wait till they are calm, and then gently reason with them on the impropriety of their conduct. 8. Remember that a little present punishment when the occasion arises, is much more effectual than the threatening of a greater punishment should the fault be renewed. 9. Never give your children anything because they cry for it. 10. On no account allow them to do at one time what you have forbidden under like circumstances, at another. 11. Teach them that the only sure and easy way to appear good is to be good. 12. Accustom them to make their little recitals with perfect truth. 13. Never allow of tale-bearing. 14. Teach them that self-denial, not selfindulgence of an angry and resentful spirit, will make them happy. If these rules were reduced to practicedaily practice-by parents and guardians, how much misery would be prevented-how many in danger of ruin would be saved-and how largely would the happiness of a thousand domestic circles be augmented. It is lamentable to see how extensive is parental neglect and to witness the bad and dreadful consequences in the ruin 'horrible,' and leaves the helpless creatures to of thousands. their fate." In extenuation of the guilt incurred, it is FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. alleged that the parties concerned have a contract PHILADELPHIA, FIFTH MONTH 30, 1857. Among the papers of an eminent Friend, reeently deceased, which have been furnished us, are found original letters from many noted characters in our Society, whose names are familiar. Two of them are published in the present num ber, others will appear in future. DIED, On the 27th of 4th month, 1857, in the 22nd year of his age, FRANCIS WALTON, a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, and son of the late William Walton. To the survivors it was sad to see the bud nipt just as it was expending into manhood, but they have the consoling evidence, that though young in years he willingly resigned all to obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. Just before his close, he said he had seen that it was right he was taken from our midst; that by fervent prayer he had obtained forgiveness for all his faults, and desired his brothers and sisters to be good. with the Coolies; but in effect, the deluded victim is a slave, and not the faintest dawn of hope illumines his dark horizon.-N. Y. Jour. of Commerce. For Friends' Intelligencer. W. W. Moore: Respected Friend,-A friend lately handed me a copy of the Intelligencer of 11th mo. 22d, last, containing an interesting sketch of that worthy ancient Roger Haydock, in which allusion was made to his marriage form of expression used, which was peculiar. At a late marriage which took place at Orchard Street Meeting in this city, the young man was a lineal descendant, and in the evening the original certificate was exhibited, and its diminutive size and primitive appearance formed a striking contrast with the modern one of such caligraphic beauty and finish. Roger's is an antiquated piece of parchment twelve inches square only, "dated At the residence of her son Stacy B. Roberts, this first day of the month called May, in the SARAH ROBERTS, widow of Joshua Roberts, aged year according to the English accompt 1682," nearly 73 years-a member and elder of Evesham written in a plain lawyer like hand, and signed Monthly Meeting, Burlington Co., N. J. The meek- by one hundred and sixteen witnesses. Among ness and gentleness of her spirit endeared her to those these names are several familiar in Philadelphia who knew her, and evinced that her delight was to commune with the Divine Master, and in lowliness-Pemberton, Wharton, Bispham, Garratt and receive his instructions; and we trust she has realized others. Eighteen of the descendants of this the promise, "Where I am, there shall my servant be." distinguished laborer in the truth, all in profession with Friends, were present at the wedding. THE COOLY TRADE. There is a beautiful tribute from Hartshaw Monthly Meeting to the memory of his elder brother John, which, as it may be found interesting in connection with the subject, I take the liberty of transcribing. A late arrival from Cuba brings information that of 1,322 Coolies, comprising four cargoes, designed for that island, four hundred and fifty, or more than one-third of the whole number "spoiled" on the passage; and that the total. "We could not stand acquitted before God number arrived on the island since April, 1855, nor man, to have buried the corpse of this our is 10,534; died on the voyage, 1,789. Of all worthy friend with a few short sighs, and so let We have the nefarious trades in which man ever engaged, his name go with him to the grave. the Cooly trade is among the most horribly re- raised no monument over his sepulchre, but there volting. Its barbarities far surpass the horrors is one due to his worth; his life was of sweet of the "middle passage; and yet those who savour, seasoned with the salt of the covenant, are most active in its prosecution are citizens of and not to go under foot. He was born of rethose nations in which we hear the loudest out-spectable parents in the parish of Standish, in cries in behalf of humanity and freedom. It is time that philanthropists turned their attention to this fearful and growing evil. The following from a late number of the California Chronicle is but too true: Lancashire, in the 12th month, 1640, by whom he was strictly educated in their religion, whose principles he held till about the year 1667, when it pleased the Lord to visit him with his glorious day spring from on high, whereby his under"We hear of these wretched beings dying on standing was enlarged and his heart opened to their passage from Canton to Callao of hunger, believe and receive the truth as it is in Jesus, thirst, and foul disease engendered by close con- and for his testimony to it he was in a few finement, without air or nutriment, in the holds months after committed prisoner to Lancaster of ships. We hear of these unfortunates mur-goal, where he patiently suffered imprisonment dering one another in the agony of their suffer- about four months. A year after his commiting; and yet, although the thing is plain and ment he was called to the ministry of the gospel, palpable, before our very eyes, the civilized, the in which service he was eminently laborious and Christian world shrugs its shoulders, exclaims useful, being endowed with the spirit of wisdom and power; he travelled much on truth's account, | p ies of our men and women. His doctrine was sweet and heavenly, relishing FASHIONABLE WOMEN. Not one of them They nearly all sp ang from plain, strong-minded women, who had about as little to do with fashions as with the changing clouds. In a recent medical work of Dr. W. Hall, on Consumption, the following judicious remarks on the importance of fresh air and exercise in the preservation of health, sum up his views on this point. He relies more upon these, than upon medication, and his remarks are peculiarly important to those whose occupation is sedentary. No remedy known to men has such a powerful and permanent influence in maintaining or regaining health as the judicious employment of cheerful, exertive exercise in the open air; and, if properly attended to in a timely manner, it will cure a large majority of all curable diseases, and will sometimes succeed when medicines have lost their power. If you have actual consumption, or are merely threatened with it; or if, from some of your relatives having died with it, you have unpleasant apprehensions of its lurking in your own body; or whether, from a diseased liver, or disordered stomach, or a dyspeptic condition of the system, the foundations of the dreadful disease are being laid in your own person; or whether, by exposure, by over bodily exertion or mental labor, or wasting cares for the present, or anxieties for the future, or by hugging sharp-pointed memories of the past, or by intemperate living in eating or drinking, or by unwise habits or practices in life, you have originated in your own person, the ordinary precursors of consumption, such as hacking cough, pains in the breast, chilliness, wasting of flesh and strength, shortness of breath on exercise-under all these circumstances, a proper attention to air and exercise are indispensable aids-are among the principal, essential means of cure, and are never to be dispensed with; confinement to the regulated temperature of a room in any latitude is certain death, if persevered in; and if, from any cause, this air and exercise are not practicable to you, except to a limited extent, it is your misfortune; your not being able to employ them does not make them the less necessary, and they have no substitutes. Fashion kills more women than toil or sorrow. Obedience to fashion is a greater transgression of the laws of woman's nature, a greater injury to her physical and mental constitution, than the hardships of poverty and neglect. The slave woman at her tasks will live and grow old, and see two or three generations of her mistress pass away. The washerwoman, with scarcely a ray of hope to cheer her in her toils, will live to see her fashionable sisters all die around her, and the kitchen maid is hearty and strong when her lady has to be nursed like a sick baby. It is a sad truth that fashion pampered women are almost worthless for all the great ends of human life. They have but little force of character; they have still less power of moral will, and quite as little physical energies. They live for no great purpose in life, they accomplish no worthy ends; they are only doll forms in the When the body is diseased, it is because it is hands of milliners and servants to be dressed and full of diseased, decaying, dead and useless parfed to order. They dress nobody; they feed no- ticles; the object of exercise, as well as of medbody; and save nobody. They write no books; icine, is to throw off these particles; medicine they set no rich examples of virtue and womanly does it more quickly, but exercise more safely life. If they rear children, servants and nurses and certainly, if there is time to wait for its efdo it all. And when reared, what are they? fects. Every motion of the body, every bend of What do they ever amount to, but weaker scions of the old stock? Who ever heard of a fashionable woman's exhibiting any power of mind for which it became eminent? Read the biogra the arm, every crook of the finger, every feeling, every breath, every thought, is at the expense, the consumption, the throwing off, of a greater or less proportion of the material body; all mus become impure but to a slight extent as the cold fresh air is constantly coming in at every crevice at the sides and below, while the warm, used air, rises to the top, and is expelled by the more powerful currents from without. cular motion implies friction, and where there is friction there must be loss. In proportion, then, as you exercise you get rid of the old useless and diseased parts of the body, and by eating substantial, plain, nourishing food, you supply new, healthful, life-giving particles in their stead; It is a laborious business to spend hours every therefore, every step you take tends to your res day in exercising, for the mere sake of the exertoration, provided that step be not taken in cise; therefore, if possible, devise means of emweariness or fatigue; for then it prepares the ployment, which will combine utility with your way for a greater destruction of living particles, exercise. The reader's ingenuity may devise rather than a removal of the old. You will never methods of accomplishing this, adapted to his fail to find that whenever you overdo yourself, in condition and the circumstances by which he is the way of exercise, you will feel the worse after surrounded. Some trim, or bud, or graft fruit it. The exercise must be adapted to the strength, trees, work in a garden, cultivate the vine, or and the rule is imperative under all circum- flowers, or plow in fields, free of stumps and stances. STOP SHORT OF FATIGUE. This applies stones, thus requiring no great effort, yet a steady to mental as well as to bodily operations. But one, which can be left off at any moment, and if you say, as many others have said and died, followed more or less energetically, so as to pro"I can't help it," then you must take the con- duce a very moderate degree of perspiration on sequences and responsibility. If you do not use the forehead, without fatigue; others saw wood, the means of health, you cannot be cured. If visit the poor and unfortunate, drive cattle, colyou really and truly cannot use them, that ina-lect accounts, obtain subscriptions, sell books, bility does not alter the necessity of their observ-distribute tracts, ide on agencies. The great ance, nor the effect of their neglect. object is, useful, agreeable, absorbing, profitable employment, in the open air, for several hours. every day, rain or shine, hot or cold; and whoever has the determination and energy sufficient to accomplish this, will seldom fail to delight himself and his friends with speedy, permanent and most encouraging results; and be assured, that these alone are the persons who can rationally expect to succeed in effectually and permanently warding off the disease when seriously threatened, or arresting its progress permanently. Have, if possiblo, an hour's active, cheerful, willing, out door exercise thrice a day; this is many times better than three hours' continuous exercise. If you walk, or leave the house, before breakfast, eat first a cracker or crust of bread. Avoid, during warm weather, in the South and West, and in level or damp situations, the out door air, including the hour about sun rise and sunset. There is no danger usually, even to invalids, in exercising in the night air, if it be sufficiently vigorous to keep off a feeling Invalids are rarely benefitted by dabbling with of chilliness. This should be the rule in all forms medical books, but we think this forms an exof out-door exercise, and is an infallible preven- ception to the general rule. It has no tendency tive, as far as my experience extends, against to bring on a fit of the blues by the suggestion taking cold in any and all weathers, provided it of ghastly forebodings, but it presents every en be not continued to over-exhaustion or decided couragement permitted by the nature of the case. fatigue. Such exercise never can give a cold, Common consumption of the lungs, according to whether in rain, or sleet, or snow, unless there its statements, may be arrested or cured from the be some great peculiarity in the constitution. first appearance of its symptoms to within one or It is the conduct after exercise which gives the two months of its usual termination. The main cold; it is the getting cool too quick, by stand- agency in its cure is the large employment of ing or sitting still in a draft of air, or open win out-door activities involving the breathing of a dow, or cold room. The only precaution needed pure atmosphere, the working off of the diseased, is, to end the exercise in a room or temperature useless, and decaying particles of the body, and uncomfortably warm when first entered, and there, the securing of a good appetite and a vigorous remain until rested and no moisture is observed on the surface. If working or walking cause actual fatigue, then horseback exercise is the next best for both sexes, but if not able, then ride in a close carriage, especially in cold weather, or when there is a damp raw wind blowing. You may in the bitterest, coldest weather, secure for yourself the most favorable of all circumstances for recovery that is, a cool, dry, still atmosphere, by riding several hours a day in a close carriage, well and warmly clad, with your feet on bottles of hot water. The atmosphere of the carriage will not digestion. Not that Dr. Hall opposes the administration of medical remedies in the hands of a judicious physician, but he would, if possible, entice the patient from the depressing influences of a sick chamber to the potent restorative of a pure and sunshiny atmosphere. By a kind of fashionable discipline, the eye is taught to brighten, the lip to smile, and the whole countenance to emanate with the semblance of a friendly welcome, while the bosom is unwarmed by a single spark of genuine kindness and good will.-Washington Irving. |