Gospel Herald, 1859-08-27

              GOSPEL HERALD!
De-voted to Ob.ris
aity, Morality, i
of Sabbath Schools, Social Improvement   T
, Education,
OS,   GOOD   WILL   TOWARD   KIN."
VOL. 16.
DAYTON, 0.3 SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1859.
NO. 17.
SELECT POETRY.
ORIGINALITIES.
OTTE INFLUENCE IMPERISHABLE.
"Our actions—all our Angels are for good
r m:
ndit
Thus has it been wisely said,
is true, not only in the limited sense 01
our own experience, but regarded as
directing' and fashioning other laws
and'other minds. Like the fragrance
of some soothing halm, or the blight
of a dark miasma, our influence
s-pipeads itself among the observing
number of our circle of associates. It
cannot be cheoked in its wide-spreading effects, but will breathe around,
diffusing the lustrous light of virtue,
or tfe« 'Upate poison Of evil to the end
of time. Inconceivably great as is the
efl&etnpon our own select number, it
does not fall powerless here, but will
go on, transmitted from them to others, even until the golden stars of
heaven 'shall fade in the light of the
resurrection morn. Like those plants
whose seeds carried by wind-and wave,
are-dfciifted over plain and river-tintil
they spring up and flourish in a foreign bqSI.' So cause and effect may be
thus widely separated.
Thus it maybe with, an inadvertent
gloom, burning its- image into another
mind, and remaining there until the
end. 6f time, or a careless- word gq'ng
forth arrow-like lea its 'Random flight,
spreading the night- gloom of sorrow,
or .the purplo - twDight ^^appiness.—
The pure gush of holy feeling* may
find an answering echo in some warbling heart, and set in vibfcSJtSfc&B the
chord that had been silent'MHM*r-
less before, or the exhibition of worldly
feelings fall with chilling influea&efc-on
tarts that would have gushed up
warm and bright beneath the skiHfefl
ton-oh.
•• IXfrough the silent power of example
maf appear- to pass unregarded "by
those fey whom it should be' most re^
Warded, it is' not lostj but slumbering
mif awhne, nsay spring'1 up in after
years and bear fruit u»to everlasting
W « ■
Though the efforts to point out to
the votary of pleasure the pure waters
of the river of life be received in coldness, yet a few seeds sown upon the
stony ground may fall in some fertile
nook, and springing, up, wave in shadowy fragrance, robbing that narrow
path of half its thorns.
How often the memory of the kind
feelings and pure example of Borne remembered monitor has come stealing
over our hearts, half persuading us to
forsake the rosy bowers of pleasure,
for the peaceful shades, pointed out to
us even while we were twining its
brightest flowers, and reveling gayest
in its short-lived sunshine, How many
a bright instance on record where one
exemplary life has kindled to nobler
action myriads of others. How many
men as Howard Luther and Wilber-
force stand eminent in history as benefactors of the human race. Such
lives have been those of many earnest
authors of truth. Though speaking
through the medium of their pens,
their writings so deeply imbued with
the living faith, have infused new life
into dead forms, given to the christian
profession a quickened conscience, higher aims and a holier life. How many
minds 'poririg over their pages, 'have
been impressed with that religion
which has for its province the heart, as
well as the intellect have consented to
be guided by the bright glory of revelation, rather than the glow-Worm
light of nature, and adopt the religion
of Christ in preference to that of Plato.
Then, there are others, whose writings,
like the perfume of crushed flowers,
come stealing over the heart, appealing
so irresistably to the deeper affections
of the soul. 3Rich and varied are the
pictures presented, making the mind
replete with images of beauty and
grandeur. In marked' cdntrast to the
beheficent influence of these kindred
spirits stands that of others; Such as
that of Louisa of France. Sers, might
have been a glorious mission, for at
that period the reformation began to
unfold its energies'on the soil of her
sunny France, In hor power it lay to
confirm and establish it, and'thus
spread tbe sunlight'of prosperity over
the glowing bills of her native land.
But there was a sadder alternative, and
to this she resorted. Throwing aside
better feelings, she invoked the spirit
of persecution; set in motion the iron
wheels of the Inquisition, and thus
ages after exterpated it from the soil.
The night-shade of infidelity sprang
up in its stead, and at the present hour
flaunts its noisome leaves in the
bright clear atmosphere of France.—
Thus *we see how good works may be
perpetuated, or'how evil may drift in
desolating power down through the
long lapse of time. It is a forbidden
spirit that kindles within us, when wo
say in- the listless abandonment to circumstances,
No wonder we should tremble as
mftse njion the- wearisome weight of
responsibilities the* thrown upon us,
wfefl*e*w% feel the weakness of ourown
souls, m we strive1 in vain to oast off
the shackles-#ta# keep as etoH wander-
jng1ifi4to*^prinwoae pathof dalliance)'
UBraindifttl - of' any who' might be- in
cited by our example, to pluck the lasting flowers of virtue, rather than the
fading ones of time. Cautions should
we be that the silent harps we wake to
sound, should breathe the Bweet melodies of the better impulses, rather than
the harsh discord of stormy passions,
remembering
Hot only by those whom life-paths
lead through spheres of renown, bat
in a narrower compass what labor can
be accomplished, should not be disregarded.
Here in our own pleasant Sabbath
School, our influence and example,
though seemingly insignificant to some
of us, yet it will ever flow onward,
widening and scattering like some crystal pool. Tbe streamlet that flows
from its narrow bed, apparently unimportant, yet how many thirsts are
quenched as it ever glides onward ob
its beautiful mission.
From those who learn, as well as
those who teach, much will reasonably
be required when the white-robed
reapers shall be sent forth, and the Sea
of Man appear. The position of these
who teach is by no means an humble
one. To them is committed the fashioning of man's faculties, and thoaga
they may not leave their names
"WrOTtgbt ant fn marble by a nations tam
'Those who are pupils owe a debt of
gratitude-for the instructions received
and should ever he resolving to mm
higher yet. Daring to do right. Bev
er hesitating when duty urges forward.
Let our motto be "Excelsior. Inscribe it upon our .banners- Throw
then* cheerily to the breeze, and then
with firm steps move onward and upward, bearing' such banners. Press
forward under Summer suns ana Alpine snows. Letthembe.o«T,-(rindmg
sheets in death, and life's. 6truggle,witli
the exultant,cry,..^#P
And now, adieu! ..;
Elders ana Deacon*
BY
TAIT.
^Primitive Ohnwh h^BWers and
Beacons.    The ^^.nTmodtfed
the "Eldors in eV'
"We purpose to i
among
tion to the same.    «°       ariDg scrip.
ply to servants ot to<- ^ ^m
oral; in a strict »e?5L"uWeB ot <*«■"-
who had charge ***)£,«. hjjjjj
kt were entrusted
«+* be grave, not
tie says, a Deacon musx^ ^6kwin6j
double-tongued^*^
not greedy of fitthy hicre. 1 Tim. 3,8.
If taey were greedy of money, they
would furnish a mean table for the
poor, or turn them off entirely, while
they might appropriate the treasure to
their private use. Not given to drink,
lest they furnish the same to others,
not forgetting to take their libations
out of the fund. Besides miserly Deacons and drunken Deacons, to say nothing about dovMe-tongved Deacons, would
be a scandal to the cause. From the
New Testament, we learn that the
Deacons had a specific work—waiting
on tables provided for the poor; and
that candor, sobriety, and generosity
were the qualifications necessary to
At the present day, Deacons are officers appointed to wait on tbe table at
communion seasons—very different tables from what they were originally
cliosen for. We do not see much similarity between tables of charity and
tables at the commemoration of Christ
in his death. But as charity tables
have passed away—or rather churches
have not new the original standard in
view, the best thing she can now do
with her Deacons, is to have them wait
upon the sacramental table. We do
not object te this, though, if pressed
for a "thus saith tbe spirit," we do not
now think of chapter and verse to the
purpose.
Eiders—"ondained Elders in every
church." We have been in the habit
of making tbe Minister the Elders of
the church! How one man can be a
plurality in the same office, is more
than we can cipher out. It is some
rale (?) of mathematics with which we
are not acquainted. But so it is, practically, among us. We ordain a Minister and call him an Blder—a Presbyter. He is chosen pastor of soma
church, and then the church has one
Elder and plurality of Deacons; and
we take the Bible for our guide 1
. Oar reading says Paul " ordained
Elders in every church." Acts 14, 23,
He called for them, and told them to
take heed, both to themselves and te
all tbe flock over the which the Holy
Ghost had made them overseers—Svis-
«wjw, BiSHOPaics. Acts 20,17-28.—
The church at Ephesus had a plurality
of Bishops, or Elders. These had not
"charge of tables," but of the church.
They looked to her welfare, and exercised authority. These officers were
"•in every church," and regarded essential to a fall organization.   .
In the absence of the Minister, they
bad tbe guiding of the church; in his
presence, he and they acted as a board
of business, lie being chairman.
The question arising out of the
above is this: Is a church fully organized according to ©or creed when it
has not elders?- Oar opinion is that
the New Testament pattern is not filled
while such officers are lacking.
If we riguflr Understand the rule
given us,' the Deacons have charge of
the tables; the Elders have the oversight of fte church. The offices are
distinct. A man may be qualified for
the first, but not for the second. And
tfo man fe fit for either, that covets,
money or covets authority. A grasp-
ing spirit is dangerous in either plaMt
A man that loves power will aboge-ft,
because lie will not have compassion
for the erring  and   the igmorant.—