"IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE." "And so you strip yourself of comfort, for the sake of adding to this rich merchant's gains?" The widow replied with flushed cheek, "It may seem a light thing to you, but the thought that I am slowly and surely wiping every stain from my husband's honour, is my greatest earthly comfort. Mr. Miner is his last creditor, and, God willing, every cent shall be paid." Her coarser relative responded with an emphatic "fiddlestick," and angrily left her presence. "At last I have it," said a silvery voice, and a sweet face, glad and brilliant, brightened up the gloom. "Only see, mother! ten dollars, all my own; ten more make twenty; so we shall have a nice little sum for Mr. Miner." Tears trembled on the widow's lashes, and glittered on her pale cheek. "It is to be the price of thy life, my precious one?" she thought. "Is the canker worm at the heart of my beautiful flower? Must I give thee up to weary toil, a sacrifice upon the altar of duty? Can it be that God requires it?" Eva knelt at her mother's feet, where she had fallen with all the abandon of a child, her glance fastened to the shining gold. Lifting her glance she met that of her mother, full of anxiety, touched with sorrow. A sudden smile broke over her delicate features. "I was only thinking of the endless things this money would buy-don't look so grave, mamma; such a beauty of a warm shawl for you, and a neat crimson cover for that untidy old arm chair; a bit, ever so little bit of carpet, to put down by the bed, that your feet need not feel this cold floor; and a pretty cap, besides coal, and tea, and sugar, and such nice comfortable things. But never mind," and she sprang to her feet, brushed back her brown curls, VOL. IV.-23 No. 12. and drew on her neat little bonnet,-"never mind, I'll maybe write a book one of these days, that'll make you and I rich. And, dear mother, you shall ride in your own carriage, and maybe those that scorn us now, only because we are poor, may be thankful for our notice. A truce to romance," she gravely continued; "stern reality tells me to go directly up to Madison street, find Mr. Miner, give him this twenty dollars, take a receipt, and then come home and read and sing to my mother." Hurriedly Eva passed from her house along the narrow streets. As she went onward, street after street diverged into pleasant width and palace-lined splendour. The houses of greatness and wealth glittered in their marble beauty under the golden sunlight. Up broad steps, through portals carved and shining, passed the timid steps of Eva Sterne. At first the pompous servant smiled a contemptuous denial; but after a moment, perhaps softened by her childish simplicity and winning blue eyes, he deemed it best not to deny her urgency; and she entered this palace of a rich man's home. Softly her feet sank in the luxurious hall-carpet. Statuary in bronze and marble lined all the way to the staircase. The splendour of the room into which she was ushered seemed to her inexperienced sight too beautiful for actual use, and he who came in, with his kindly glance and handsome face, the noblest perfection of manhood she had ever seen. "Well, young lady," he said, blandly smiling, "to whom am I indebted for this pleasure?" "My father, sir, died in your debt," said Eva blushingly, speaking very softly. "By the strictest economy and very hard work, we, my mother and I, have been able to pay all his creditors but yourself. If you will be kind enough to receive the balance of your account in small sums-I am sorry they must be so small, sir-we can in the course of a very few rich? I wish he knew how very happy he has made us, how much we love and reverence him whenever we think or speak of him, or even hear him spoken of!" years fully liquidate the debt, and then-we shall do wrong, who say that all who are wealthy have have fulfilled my father's dying wish, that every hard hearts. Mother, can it be possible we are so stain might be wiped from his honour." She paused a moment, and said again falteringly, "My father was very unfortunate, sir, and broken in health for many years, but, sir, he was honourable, he would have paid the last cent if it had left him a beggar." Mr. Miner sat awhile thoughtfully, his dark eyes fastened upon the gentle face before him. After a moment of silence, he raised his head, threw back the mass of curling hair that shadowed his handsome brow, and said: 66 "I remember your father well. I regretted his death. He was a fine fellow-a fine fellow," he added musingly; but, my dear young lady, have you the means- -do you not embarrass yourself by making these payments?" Eva blushed again, and looking up, ingenuously replied, "I am obliged to work, sir, but no labour would be too arduous that might save the memory of such a father from disgrace." This she spoke with deep emotion. The rich man turned with a choking in his throat, and tears glistened on his lashes. Eva timidly held out the two gold pieces; he took them, and bidding her stay a moment, hastily left the room. Almost instantly returning he handed her a sealed note, saying, "There is the receipt, young lady, and allow me to add, that the mother of such a child must be a happy woman. The whole debt, I find, is nine hundred and seventy-five dollars. You will see by my note what arrangements I have made, and I hope they will be satisfactory." Eva left him with a lighter heart, and a burning cheek at his praise. His manner was gentle, so fatherly that she felt he would not impose hard conditions, and it would be a pleasure to pay one so kind and forbearing. At last she got home, and breathlessly sitting at her mother's feet, she opened her letter. Wonder of wonders-a bank note enclosed; she held it without speaking, or looking at its value. "Read it," she said, after a moment's 'bewilderment, placing the letter in her mother's hand-"here are fifty dollars; what can it mean?" "This," said the sick woman, bursting into tears, "is a receipt in full, releasing you from the payment of your father's debt. Kind, generous manHeaven will bless him-God will shower mercies upon him. From a grateful heart I call upon the Father to reward him for this act of kindness. Oh! what shall we say, what shall we do to thank him?" "Mother," said Eva, smiling through her tears, "I felt as if he was an angel of goodness. Oh, they "He has bound two hearts to him for ever," murmured her mother. little he thought how Now we need not stint "Yes, dear Mr. Miner! many comforts we wanted. the fire; we may buy coal, and have one cheerful blaze, please God. And the tea, the strip of carpet, the sugar, the little luxuries for you, dear mother; and the time, and a very few books for myself. I declare I'm so thankful, I feel as if I ought to go right back and tell him that we shall love him so long as we live." That evening the grate heaped with Lehigh, gave the little room an air of ruddy comfort. Eva sat near, her curls bound softly back from her pure forehead, inditing a touching letter to their benefactor. Her mother's face, lighted with the loss of cankering care, shone with a placid smile, and her every thought was a prayer calling down blessings the good rich man. upon In another room, far different from the widow's home, but also bright with the blaze of a genial fire, whose red light made richer the polish of costly furniture, sat the noble merchant. "Pa, what makes you look so happy?" asked Lina, a beautiful girl, passing her smooth hand over his brow. "Don't I always look happy, my little Lina?" "Yes, but you keep shutting your eyes and smiling-so;" and her bright face reflected his own. “I think you've had something very nice to-day; what was it?" "Does my little daughter really want to know what has made her father so happy? Here is my Bible; let her turn to the Acts of the Apostles, 20th chapter, 35th verse, and read it carefully." The beautiful child turned reverently the pages of the holy book, and as she read, she looked up in her father's eyes "And to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." “Ah! I know,” she said, laying her rosy cheek upon his hand; "you have been giving something to some poor beggar, as you did last week, and he thanked you, and said, 'God bless you,' and that's what makes you happy." Lina read a confirmation in her father's smilebut he said nothing, only kept repeating to himself the words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."-Olive Branch. adversaries, particularly the overwhelming, perse BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS, cuting power of the Roman hierarchy, which exerted Business Officers of the Board. all its influence to check the progress of our mission. But the great Head of the Church, our blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ, sanctioned our work, and paralyzed the power of Satan; and I am happy to Corresponding Secretary-Rev. G. W. MUSGRAVE, D. D. state that we are at present unmolested, worshipping Assistant Secretary-Rev. R. HAPPERSETT. Address, Mission Rooms, 265 Chestnut st. Philadelphia. LETTERS relating to Missionary appointments, and other operations of the Board, including CHURCH EXTENSION, should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary. DONATIONS and SUBSCRIPTIONS should be sent to the Treasurer; or, if more convenient, to the following per sons: J. D. WILLIAMS, Pittsburgh, Pa. as an organized "German Presbyterian Church." And though we are but five months old, our divine services are well attended; our membership numbers fifty-two heads of families, among whom we have a goodly number of Roman Catholics, who adorn their Christian profession with their conversation and walk in life, and distinguish themselves by their zeal for the advancement of our blessed Redeemer's kingdom. We have a stated prayer-meeting, which is well sustained; our Sabbath-school is WILLIAM RANKIN, JR. Mission House, 23 Centre street, a very good one. It is pleasant to see grown up, New York. A DYING GIFT. The following note will be read, we think, with special interest, as showing how near to the hearts of some of God's children is the cause of missions. The sum appropriated was small, but as she did what she could, it was doubtless acceptable to the Lord, and has received its appropriate and abundant reward. If all would contribute according to their ability, how gloriously, with the blessing of God, might the work be carried forward! MARION, Ohio, November 4, 1853. Executive Committee of Board of Missions: Brethren-Enclosed is ten dollars, being the legacy of Mrs. Jane Kerr, of Salem church, Marion Presbytery, a poor but truly pious lady. It is her dying gift to the Board of Missions, and I have no doubt but it is sanctified as a holy offering by the prayers offered for the spread of the gospel while she was alive. Please acknowledge the gift through the Record, that it may be known that the money has been received. Yours fraternally J. N. SHEPHerd. ENCOURAGING REPORT AND AN APPEAL and even old men and women, who before never saw AN ENCOURAGING LETTER FROM A MIS- Rev. and Dear Sir-The term for which I held a commission from your Board has expired, and the Church in this place is hereafter to be self-sustaining. During the last year, indeed, we have paid to the Board more than we have received, but we hope hereafter, whilst we draw out none, to pay back the amount we have received, and thus extend, through you, to others, the blessing we ourselves have enjoyed. We ask attention to the following statement, respecting a most interesting and important missionary effort among the German population in the city of Cincinnati. The labours of our missionary there have been greatly blessed, and with a suitable place It is now a little more than seven years since I of worship, there is reason to hope that great good came to this place, and became a missionary of the might be accomplished. Will not the benevolent Board. There were at that time 30 names enrolled contribute towards the erection of a church edifice upon our session book, about 19 of whom could be there, and thus remove one of the greatest obstacles since enrolled 101 names, 39 on examination, and found, and were in actual membership. We have with which our missionary has had to contend? 62 on certificate, making in the aggregate 131 memAny contributions to this object may be forwarded bers, 80 of whom are still in the communion of the to S. D. Powel, Esq., Treasurer of the Board of Mis-church. 11 members have died, and many have sions, No. 265 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Rev. and Dear Brethren-At the close of the present quarter I hasten to give a short report of the mission station in Cincinnati among the German population, under the care of the Board. Through the help of God we have been enabled to overcome all the difficulties and prejudices of our removed to other churches. We have built a house of worship at a cost of $2000, and paid for it and the lot on which it stands. I have also organized a church in Camden, eight miles distant, which has seventeen members, and is a very promising field of labour. We have paid $390 to our Boards since August, 1851. I make these statements simply to show what the Board of Missions has enabled us to accomplish on a field which was certainly as unpromising as many that are calling loud for labourers, and was considered by the Presbytery as an exceedingly discouraging field. When I first came here, it was with great effort that they could raise $150. My salary now is $500, and is cheerfully and promptly paid. And this, I am satisfied, is but the common history of many of our churches, where it would have been impossible to originate and sustain an enterprise of that kind, but for the timely aid afforded by the Board of Missions. Allow me to say, in thus closing my intercourse with you, I have ever had the most profound regard and respect for the fathers and brethren who have been officers of the Board during the past seven years; and all my correspondence with them has been of such a character as to impress my mind with the conviction, that they were men whose hearts were full of zeal for the cause of Christ and the interests of our beloved Zion; of real sympathy for the self-denying missionary and his scattered flocks, and who were ever prompt and efficient in the discharge of every duty. E. W. W. A REVIVAL OF RELIGION. The following report, from a missionary in Georgia, will be read with interest and thanksgiving. Rev. and Dear Brother-The time has come for me to send you another report of my labours in my field. I am glad to inform you that it has been with us a harvest season. The seed has brought forth fruit. Last month was a month of especial blessing. About sixty have professed a change of heart, thirtythree of whom have connected themselves with our church. My labours have been exceedingly arduous, but endured with pleasure, for I plainly saw the Lord going before me in the great and good work which he has done for us. The work began to manifest itself on the third Sabbath of last month. It had been going on in secret before, but only in a few cases, and they unknown to me at the time. We had determined to have a three days' meeting in connection with our communion, on the third Sabbath, and I accordingly gave out an appointment for preaching on Friday preceding that Sabbath. I hoped, when the appointment was made, to get some assistance, but was disappointed, and the Friday came, and I had to go through with all the services alone. I preached twice on Friday, twice on Saturday, and twice on Sunday. During the service of the morning on Sabbath, there was deep solemnity, and apparently deep anxiety among some of the non-professing part of the congregation. Especially when we sat down at the communion, it was manifest that some felt, and felt deeply. At night the interest was apparently deeper aid more extended, and we thought best to follow what appeared to be the leadings of God's Spirit, and we appointed a prayer-meeting for the next morning, and preach ing the next night. Monday night we appointed an inquiry-meeting and prayer-meeting for Tuesday morning, and preaching again on Tuesday night. Thus day by day we protracted the services for seventeen days, with only one d: y intermission. During almost all the time I was entirely alone, as far as human aid was concerned, but yet not alone, for God was with me. I commenced the meeting in feeble health, and for more than a week continued it entirely alone, under very great debility. But God upheld me under the duties which devolved upon me, and encouraged my heart by giving me to see the work of the Lord prospering in our midst. There was nothing like excitement. All that were moved to act, gave every appearance of acting because the Spirit had made the truth effectual in convincing the judgment. May they all at the last day be found to have been not only convicted by the Spirit, but by the Spirit led to Jesus, the only Saviour. It has indeed been a refreshing season for our little church. There are some others who, we hope, will yet come out on the Lord's side. May God enable them to find true peace by believing in Jesus! The work has been blessed to our servants; fifteen have been received, and about ten more are desirous of connecting themselves with the church, but concerning them the session are not quite satisfied. We have put them off until I can instruct them, and talk with them a little more. With much respect and love, I remain yours in Christ. A. S. For the Home and Foreign Record. SYNOD OF PITTSBURGH AND MISSIONS. Tho following plain statement of facts, belonging to the history of the Church in our own times, will forcibly illustrate the usefulness of the Domestic Missionary enterprise. The intelligent Christian reader will require no aid of mine in appreciating the illustration, or in stimulating his gratitude to the divine Head of the Church, who hath done the great things for us whereof we are glad. I therefore state the facts, and leave them to the reader's thoughts and feelings. It is just fifty years since the Synod of Pittsburgh was organized. It was then a small body, organized on a field that was mostly missionary ground, being the first Synod formed west of the Allegheny mountains. By gradual enlargement, with the increase and spread of population in the West and North-West, without taking into account the Newschool portion that has been separated from our Church in these regions, it has now expanded to nine Synods, including about seven hundred ministers. Many of the congregations are large, and all of them are sustaining honourably the standard of Christ, in the possession of the true faith of the gospel. This enlargement is fairly attributed to the Domestic Missionary work; for all of it has, in reality, and much of it in form, been accomplished by direct missionary effort. Considering the smallness of the beginning, and the brief period of the operation, of this scheme of expansion, who can repress the exclamation, "What hath God wrought!" The sentiments of gratitude have no competitors for ascendancy in our bosoms, but those of astonishment. The other fact which I state, is equally worthy of admiration and praise. The benign influence of Domestic Missions, conducted by our Church, is seen not only in our own extended country, but also in heathen lands. I have said that the Synod of Pittsburgh was formed fifty years ago. This was in the year 1803. In the year 1831, the work of Foreign Missions, under ecclesiastical direction, was begun in our Church. But where did it begin? In the Synod of Pittsburgh, when it was but twenty eight years old, and still occupied a field that might sands of other churches, who, loving the cause of be denominated Domestic Missionary ground. Here Christ, would hail our ministers as counsellors of originated the entire system of Foreign Missionary God. A good Methodist said to me, "Sir, you are operations that is now conducted by the Presbyte- welcome among us; there is an element in society rian Church, in India, Africa, China, and among here which your Church alone can affect." There the scattered aboriginal tribes of our own land. In are also multitudes who, when they once hear for view of this fact, we are led again to exclaim, in the first time the doctrines of our Church preached wonder and thankfulness, "What hath God wrought!" by our ministers, find them very different from Not only hath a little one become a thousand, and a the opinions which they had formed of them, and small one a strong nation, but gentiles have come to which they had derived from ignorant and prejuits light, and kings to the brightness of its rising. diced teachers, are at once surprised and pleased. There are also very many Presbyterians by education, and in heart, who have united with other Churches for lack of an opportunity of being connected with the Church of their choice, and who, in transferring their membership (as I have sometimes seen them do,) with tears, feel as though they had at last gotten home. I baptized a woman fifty years old, who had enjoyed a hope in Christ for twenty years, and had never been baptized, because she would not receive that ordinance from the hand of other than a Presbyterian minister. I was the only one she had seen within that time. I could relate many incidents confirming and illustrating these remarks. Suffice it to say again, the whole State is open to our Church; she may come in and possess the land. Nor may we only thank God for the past and existing fruits of our Domestic Missionary operations; but we may take courage for the future. The expansive spirit of missions may be expected to have a vigorous growth, and to produce good fruits among the ministers and people of the missionary field, even as it has done in the Synod of Pittsburgh. And we may anticipate from the Synods of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the rest, the emanation of an influence and effort for God and his cause, that shall continue till our land and the world shall be filled with the knowledge of his Son and the great salvation. J. F. M. Allegheny City. LETTERS FROM ARKANSAS.-No. 1. Rev. and Dear Brother-Having laboured for the last eight months in Arkansas as a missionary agent and evangelist, under commission from the Board of Missions, I desire to make known to you, and through you to the Church at large, the condition and prospects of our Church in this wide, destitute, and long-neglected field of missionary labour. The greatest trial to our ministers in this State is the want of an adequate support. Their churches are all small, and, with some few exceptions, poor, and occasionally stingy; though in this latter regard, no worse than churches elsewhere, but perhaps more culpable, because there lies upon them more visible pressing need of liberality. Though, in most instances, our churches are liberal, and our members willing to do what they can to sustain the preached word among them. The Board of Missions also has been forward to render aid whenever asked and required; so that while we are sometimes put to much inconvenience, yet neither we nor our families have ever suffered anything worth complaining about. Arkansas has now a population of something over two hundred thousand souls, scattered over an area of fifty-seven thousand square miles, and extending from 36 deg. 30 min. north latitude to 33 deg. south; so that as to extent of territory, it may be called a second-class State. To meet the wants of this widely extended and increasing population, our Church has now upon the ground thirteen ordained There is another fact upon this subject worthy of ministers and two licentiates. Of these, two are consideration, which is the exceedingly low rates at infirm with age, six are compelled to give much of which real estate is held, and the consequent ease their attention to teaching school and farming to with which a minister desiring to settle in Arkansas sustain their families, leaving only seven unincum- may obtain a home for himself and family. There bered to engage in the work of the ministry. "What are now thrown upon the market ten millions of are these among so many?" Do not understand acres of land, much of it the best land in the that those dear brethren who unite other labours State, at from fifty to seventy-five cents per acre. with those of the ministry are not usefully employ- These lands, though classed as swamp or unploughed. Their influence is felt for good extensively. ed lands, (and as such they will be patented to the They are educating in part, I trust, the future min- State, and by the State to purchasers,) are in realisters of our Church. There are among them those ity, many of them just as good for cultivation as the who furnish instances of patient, self-denying, unre-bear-grass lands near Louisville, Kentucky, or the quited labour, almost without a parallel. Their influence for good would be greatly extended and increased, however, were they enabled to devote their undivided energies to the great work to which they were ordained-the preaching the gospel of the kingdom. As might be easily supposed, there are regions in this State, where the people know absolutely nothing of our Church. It has been my privilege to stand where the foot of a Presbyterian minister had never before trodden, and to preach the gospel where the voice of one had never, until then, been heard; and yet I may say with truth, that the whole State is open to our Church. There are, scattered up and down through its waste places, thousands of young men, who, having been born within her pale, connect her ordinances with the earliest and most endearing remembrances of home. There are thou Wabash, or Little Miami valleys. Abundance of land and scarcity of money makes land cheap; so that a few hundred dollars judiciously expended now would secure a minister a home for life, and place him in circumstances of comparative independence, enabling him to preach the gospel without the fear of want. The life and labours of the late Rev. Benjamin Shaw of Arkansas illustrate the advantages of this State in that respect. He settled at an early day in Chicot county, purchased lands at low prices, was enabled to maintain his family in comfort, preaching the gospel in a destitute region with a zeal and efficiency rarely equalled for many years; and when called in the meridian of life to his rest, left on earth a memento of his having lived, more durable than marble, in the churches gathered by his care, and the moral desert made to bloom as the garden of the Lord. |