Christian Messenger. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 30, 1881 Page: 4 of 8
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CHRIS T i AN MB S SB IT GE R.
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tVj SINGER.
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THE PBOi>I(daL SON.
1881.
T&* to be ftoted
about the Prodigal*’Son, is not
about the prodigal son at all, but
abor^ihe oth^r %6f—the elder
8on»Jp$yi^$ t|» moot unlovely
thin^dn thrardrld, selfish, cruel,
over-bearing and intolerable, is
elder-sonishness^ Over in England
it is legally recognized and social-
ly And politically canonized, un-
der the guise of priino-geniture.
Over tfeere socundo-geniture, or
any other than the primo is noth-
ing thana pitiful calamity.
The elder son can say, “all that
my, |ather hath is mine," and the
younger sons are set adrift, legal-
ly and systematically; would-be
prodigals, if only they had any
substance upon which to exercise
prodgiality.
But, after all, this is but a legal
expression of a trait, or feeling,
that finds expression, in some
way, almost everywhere. It is
seen many times in the sacred
precincts of home. The eldest
and biggest, and often the big-
headedest, (I was the fourth)
seems to take peculiar delight in
, “bossing” the younger boy, taking
care that this despotism be as odi-
* ous and exasperating as possible.
Or, failing in this, he avails him-
self of his prerogative to tease,
and worry, fret and plague the
younger children for his own
amusement and their vexation.
In some instances the younger
son feels that he must leave home,
and being tA1 inexperienced he is
apt to go to the bad. We are not
intimate with the elder son in this
parable family, but from our short
acquaintance with him, have no
doubt that the younger, son con-
cluded to pack*up and leave be-
cuse he found it impossible to get
along with him. Of course he
was the very pink, nay nettle, of
propriety, and could not] tolerate
r the boyishness and prankishness
(nobody ever heard of an elder
son being boyish or prankish in
the least) of the younger son. N.
B. there crops out a little elder
sonishness sometimes in the fam-
ily of God, the Church, and prodi-
gals have been sent adrift by the
hardness and unbrotherliness cf
elder'sons.
The next remark we wish to
make about the prodigal son, is
about his mother. There is not a
more ungainly figure nor shiftless
gait than that which the youth
presents in the journey across the
wild, inhospitable border-land be-
tween boyhood and manhood. In
the perilous journey, where there
are so maxfy by-paths, and direc-
tions are so easily confused, the
great, gawky what-is-it, neither
man nor boy, gets usually a great
deal of advice and “directions,”
things which he knows little how
to use. Everybody offers him
large portions of their own expe-
rience, as if this were not about
the most useless to him of all the
second-hand goods in the world.
Now the youth’s chief need in
this most perplexing wilderness
along the journy of life is not ad-
monition, not chastisement, not
rebuke, not lecturing, but leading,
A kindly guide is worth a score
of guide-books, and what he craves
most of all is sympathy and com-
panionship. He is in the grub
state, and the true skin has not
yet received the protection of the
epidermis of manhood, but is as
sensitive (as that of any larva,
which squirms even under a gen-
tle touch* By some sort of A
lapstm naturae just when he needs
love and companionship most he
presents the least lovely and com-
panionable aspect. Often in sheer
desperation and self-defense he
puts on the pachydermatous armor
of recklessness and affected shame-
lessness, which shapes itself in
the always insincere, “I don’t
care.”
At this stage of progress every-
thing depends upon the mother.
If she be wise and womanly
enough to feel her duty and its
delicacy, her privilege and power,
all will be well. Often, however,
she fails to see this and hands
the boy over to the father. Fath-
er may be very assiduous and af-
fectionate in his efforts, but awk-
ward, elephantine and unsuccess-
ful. At the age when prodigals
go forth there is as little affinity
between father and son as between
two positive electric poles. The
youngster craves love and sympa-
thy, but it is the unconscious in-
stinct for woman's love and sym-
pathy. A feeling, (which he nei-
ther understands nor is willing to
confess,) after a time to grow
through gallantry into chivalrous
and manly love, or degenerate in-
lust. Here is the mother’s op-
portunity to save the lad from the
way of the prodigal and the com-
pany of harlots. She alone can
supply the place of guide and
companion till she leaves him at
last safe in the chosen companion-
ship of life. But let her not mis-
take an apron string for a heari
string. Many a mother has tried
to bind her boy with the apron
string, and as many have failed;
but it is a very unboyly boy that
refuses to be held by a mother’s
heartstring twined closely and
tenderly about him. This is nei-
ther gush nor sentiment, and it is
a fact that a big boy of a hundred
and fifty pounds appreciates a
mother’s kiss more than the baby
of twenty pounds. . The' mother
of our parable prodigal was partly
responsible for his leaving home.
But, like many another preach-
ers, we have exhausted our force
and left the text untouched, but
often it is most useful and sug-
gestive to draw the scroll, or floral
margin, and leave the place for
the motto blank.—Evangelist.
OUTER GATE AND INNER
DOOR.
F^L*nroh.-
Dewy. jjpMMMA f; , •
Restricted communion, rightly
interpretted and $nderstfpod,is no
suoh bugbear or monstrosity as
there is so mtf&h attempt to make
it. On the contrary, as held and
practised in our Baptist churches,
it is but the loyal expression of
intelligent and sacred conviction.
Our fathers felt, as have their suc-
cessors through many generations,
that at this very point il* is* that
our distinctive faith is maintained E’en my trusting heart beguile;
? r'
1
God forbid that I should glory
lit the fleeting things of earth;
In its joys, or in its riches,
In its fame, or noble birth;
May t never prize, or ccmn t them
Aught but vanity, and dross;
God forbid that I should glory
Save in Thee, and in the “ Cross!”
When my life seems bright and
hopeful
’Neath the light of fortune’s smile,
Let not transient glare and glitter
T7>’___ i.~__J>_____J. 1___i__.
m
At a full meeting of the War-
ren Avenue Baptist church on
Tuesday evening, the committee
to whom was referred the matter
of close communion made their
report, which was that the last
clause of the ninth article of the
“ Declaration, of Faith and Prac-
tice ” of that church be stricken
out. That article reads as fol-
lows—the part printed in italics
being the portion which the com-
mittee proposed should should be
rescinded: v
“We believe, that baptism and
the Lord’s Supper are ordinances
instituted by Christ, to be contin-
ued until his second coming. That
none have a Scriptural right to
baptism until they profess their
faith in Christ, that the ordinance
can be properly admiristered only
by immersion, and is by Scripture
example, a pre-requisite to commun-
ion at the Lord's table."
The report was adopted, four
persons dissenting at the first vote,
but immediately after, the vote
was made unanimous, no one dis-
senting there from. This is in
age the second Baptist church in
this city, it having been organized
in 1743—nearly a century and a
quarter ago. The utmost harmo-
ny prevailed in the committe and
in the church. It is now certain
that Rev. Mr. Pentecost will re-
or departed from. They have al-
ways—as becometh-no people so
much as ^Baptists—been tplfraat
of exceptions to the role, forbear-
ing and charitable under aSbipe-
what varied interpretation of the
rule itself. But the rule, as a law
of action, has been and is accept-
ed as generally and as loyally as
any other. We can see no reason
why it will not continue thus for
all time to come- Under such de-
partures as this in Warren Aven-
ue, there would soon come a time,
and that too, not far in the dis-
tance, when the mission of the
Baptist denomination as it has ex-
isted for ages and generations
gone by, will have come to a final
end.
Our brethren are coming deeply
to feel that not alone in respect to
the ordinances does the commun-
ion question hold an important
place and position. They see that
it stands sentinel and guard over
other vital matters. Looseness
here, a lax faith and practice lead-
ing to a wide “ open door,” are
seen to work damaging disaster,
more or less widely, in other di-
rections. The kingdom of God is
not coming by the broad sweep of
latitudinarianism, but rather by
the rule and reign of truth and
principle. The only freedom worth
the name is that which comes
from obedience to Choist, our di-
vine law giver. It is in keeping
his commandments that we find
reward, safety, and salvation.—
Watchman and Reflector.
The “laxness” lies further back,
Dr. Olmstead. It is not worth
while to open the gates in the out-
side wall and then undertake to
bar the inside door to save the
fort. You admit the ecclesiasti-
cism, and the official character and
acts of Pedo-baptist ministers
when they immerse, and if they
are good and acceptable so far,
logic and common sense will give
them the table also. Principles,
good or bad, will work themselves
out.—Texas Raptist Herald.
I find the above in my old pa-
pers, and send it forward for the
more recent reflections of Texas
Baptists and others.
Of the score of Baptist church-
es, which have no more fellowship
for each other than for the Pedo-
baptists, or, even the despise,d
nick-named, which of them will
accept this, and which that? And
if one of the twenty could trace
its origin and pedigree back to
John the immerser, which one
would it be? If all of them could,
(and no one of them can,) they
would be welcome to John’s
church, whether they add Baptist
or Immerser. We pjefer the
church of Christ. Mr. Spurgeon’s
mode—open communion,is spread-
ing. Graves’ other extreme will,
perhaps, aid it. Baptists lie^e,
and Baptists there are as different
as almost any two peoples.
While we guard the sacredness
of the Lord’s worship, let us strive
forjthe things that make for peace,
and things wherewith we may
edify another. C. K*
May I deem my gold and treasure
Naught but vanity, and dross;
God forbid that I should glory
Save in Thee, and in the “Cross!’
If around me friends should gather
And their homage should be mine,
Let me not forget a moment
That the glory all is Thine;
Let me not lose sight of heaven,
Lest my soul should suffer loss;
God forbid that I should glory,
Save in Thee, and in the “ Cross!”
Still, through life, whate’er be-
tide me
Let no hope, no joy, or love,
E'er divide my heart,s affections,
Or estrange^it from above.*
All that’s earthly let it vanish
Into nothingness and dross,
God forbid that I should glory,
Save in Thee, and in the “Cross!”
---tm ♦ m-
DAVID LIPSCOMB AGAIN.
and commence todig, aaddb*P in
a few seeds here end there, as I
had opportunity; aad I think if
the world really owfljCefcp!* firing,
by sticking close to it with my
hoe, I could collect the dabixn&e
cottf^jvof the season. TMtfMtilK
the readiest way I can thinfpg||
collect what the world owes. The
fact is, there are so many creditors
of thi£ kind, who claim that the
world owes,{hem a living, that
some of them will lose their debts
as sure as fate, if they do not be-
gin early and work hard to collect
their claims. The world is no
doubt able to pay, prqvided it can
have time. It generally takes the
world about six months to get
arouud, after the claims are pre-
sented and vigorously hoed in; but
the man who delays and dallies
about the matter, will find that,
while the world may owe him A
living, ether people will have col-
lected their claims before him,and
there will be nothing left when he
comes. j- Ijfi
“The sluggard will not plow by
reason of the cold; therefore shglf
he beg in harvest, and have noth-
ing.”—Safeguard. '
David Lipscomb, editor of the
Gospel Advocatefh&s an ugly, mean-
spirited article in his paper, reit-
erating his charge that the editor
of the Messenger is guilty of
falsehood in publishing the state-
ment about the spirits in prison,
which statement was corrected in
the Messenger as soon as it was
found to be erroneous. Bro. Ja-
cob Creath made the mistake, and
our statement was based upon his
article. Any editor in the re-
formation but David Lipscomb
would have been satisfied with our
correction and explanation. But
the editor of the Gospel Advocate
seems determined to have a quar-
rel. His growlish article of a
column contains epithets that
would disgrace the pages of any
genteel Christian journal. This
may be journalistic etiquette up
among the hills of Tennessee, but
it would not be. so considered in
Texas. It may be Christianity
where David Lipscomb lives, but
it would not be so considered out
here in the West, where we go by
the New Testament. We would
rather believe in the spirits in
prison, and purgatory, and half a
dozen other things, than to act the
sore-headed bear among our jour-
nalistic confreres. Again we cor-
rect the statement, that David
Lipscomb believes that Christ
went and preached to the spirits
in prison while his body wa9 in
the grave. Now, if that is not
sufficient, we will correct it again,
and also send the editor a stick of
candy!
THH WORLD OWES ME A
LIVING.’*
-i
The world owes you a living,
does it? Then I will tell you what
I would do. I would go right to
work and collect the debt as soon
as possible, before it gets out-
lawed. I have noticed that it
makes very little difference how
much men owe me, if I do not at-
tend closely to the business of col-
lecting. There are men who owe
me enough to make me richer than
1 have any prospect of being, but
the trouble is they do not seem
likely to pay; and I am of opinion
the world is very much like them
in this respect.
I will tell you what I wouldjdo,
if I thought the world owed me a
living. I would get me a hoe, and
go out somewhere, where I could
get a good chance at the world,
I
m
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■$ *
•k;
CITATION. mm
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
To the sheriff^ or any constable
of Fannin county—greeting:
You are hereby commanded
that, by making publication of
this citation in some paper pub-
lished in the county of Fannin for
four weeks previous to the return
day hereof, yon summon Robert
Lydston whose residence is un-
known, to be and appear before
the District Court, to be bolden in
and for the county of Famfin at
the court-house thereof, in Bon-
ham, on the third Monday in Feb-
ruary, 1882, it being the 20th day
of February, 1882, then and there
to answer petition No. 2319, filed
in said court* on the 25th day of
May, 1881, wherein M.L. Lydston
is plaintiff and the said Robert
Lydston is defendant, and alleging
in substance, as follows, to wit:
That plaintiff and the defendant
were legally married on the 15th
day of August, 1878, and that they
lived together as man and wife for
about one year after their mar-
riage, when defendant abandoned
her and has never returned, and
that since that time he has at va-
rious times violated his marriage
vow, and praying for a decree of
divorce, and for the care and cus-
tody of their two children, for
costs of suit and for fifty dollars
attorneys’ fees.
Herein fail not, but have yoti
then and there before said court
this writ, with your return there-
on, showing how you have execu-
ted the same. T
Witness, G. W. Blair, clerk of
the district court of FannilL coun-
ty- . •
Given under my hand, and
1 the seal of said court, in
Bonham, this the 17th day
of October, A. D. 1881.
GEO. W. BLAIR, Clerk D; C.
Fannin county, Texas.
Carry the News!
BOOTS AND SHOES
If you sell them low,
They are sure to go;
If you sell them high,
Nobody will buy.
Call and see us in our ^
new shop,
Qne door South of W. A. Nun-
nellee’s,
BONHAM, - - - TEXAS.
We work nothin*
but rite best materi-
al. Half-sole all Am.
jr«J boots and shoes * I
ror 76 rts. per pair.
All work Witi-ranted.
Ref illring a special-
ty. Tlumkfli! to my
friends xnU custom-
era for past favors,
anti hoping by close
w attention to boo*
iness to merit a fair share of the
patronage of the citizens of Bon-
ham and surrounding country.
A. D« HAMMOCK
C. KERZERMACHEB.
jrap
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■ i,r„- i.
■Wma
Wm,
[L.S.] th(
Boi
mi
BIG PAY to seU our - RmUsr
Printing Stamps. Samples free. ^
Taylor Bros. £ Co., Cleveland, O
l
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Burnett, Thomas R. Christian Messenger. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 30, 1881, newspaper, November 30, 1881; Bonham, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth904648/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bonham Public Library.