Leipzig, where the philosophical faculty has slowly Is doubt really thrown upon the truth and importresolved itself into three sections, which, while ance of any of the essential doctrines and principles capable of separate action, are not really distinct; of Friends? If valid still, must they not be adapted, and of Bonn, where there are four sections, each with a separate head, but all united under one dean. in their application, to the age in which we live? WE ARE INCLINED TO THINK that the colleges And, lastly, is such adaptation practicable; so that generally are making a mistake in the matter of the Society can and will continue to exist, amidst optional studies. Harvard has gone to great ex- all the fluctuations of opinion and feeling, within tremes in the matter, and now Yale has receded and around it? To the first of these questions our from the wisely conservative position she has occupied, and has given a wide range of elective reply is emphatic : time only shows more and more studies, preserving only the minimum of a prescrib-fully the wonderful advance, to be explained only ed course. It seems to us that this tendency is in by Divine assistance, of the spiritual and moral disthe wrong direction. Very few young men of the cernment of George Fox and his associates, beyond age of college students know what is best for them the age in which they lived, and even beyond the to study. They know, of course, what they want to study, and that generally is what they think will general enlightenment of Christendom down to our One after another, the great "testibe most easy for them. If it be urged that this own time. is an age of specialists, and that these elective monies" which they proclaimed are coming to recourses fit students for their chosen departments, ceive, first the respect, and afterwards the adoption, we are quite ready to admit it. But may there not of earnest people outside of our borders. This has be a question as to whether we do not need, more been most marked in regard to war; the defence of than we need specialists, men who are settled upon a good foundation of general culture? Give us which by professing Christians grows now more men of broad intelligence, of comprehensive views, and more feeble and halting, as well as more and first, and the specialist afterwards. In our judg- more rare. While a contrary movement is going ment, general culture rather than special makes on in the direction of ritualism, it may be believed the best foundation, and the history of the eduthat the number of those who look upon the "ordicated world thus far bears out the view.-Illustrated Christian Weekly. nances" as non-essential to salvation is very much greater, outside of Friends, than it was a few generations ago. All superstitions die slowly; and their THE FRIENDS' REVIEW. survival persists in dark quarters for a long time, PHILADELPHIA, EIGHTH MO. 16, 1884. OUR NEW VOLUME.-A fresh sense of responsibility is felt in entering upon another year of intercourse with our readers and contributors. Incidentally it may be said, that the plural pronoun is here allowable, not merely as an editorial usage, but also because occasionally more than one pen is employed in these columns; and, in all that is said, the prevailing sentiment and purpose of the proprietors of the paper are carefully borne in mind. In the thirty-seven years that have passed since Enoch Lewis first occupied the editorial chair of this journal, many changes have taken place, among Friends as well as in other churches and in the world around us. Some of these changes were probably foreseen by no one; others have been in accordance with natural probabilities. Subjects upon which Friends differed a generation ago are now seldom brought into discussion. Questions whereon all were then nearly united have now come to be matters of anxiety, and even of controversy. Prominently, from time to time, thoughtful minds have had forced upon them these inquiries: even in the midst of a general escape from their influence. Adaptation is a theme on which much has been necessarily said within a few years in these pages. It has been a ground of travail and difficulty, not seldom with painful opposition of views, amongst those of equal sincerity and devotion to the right. Very needful it is, on such a ground, to beware of a use of liberty which becomes an occasion to the flesh. It is also important, thereupon, for all to maintain that charity which thinketh no evil, while every one is, in humble waiting upon the Lord, fully persuaded in his own mind, so that to his own Master he may stand or fall. That a fitting adaptation of all that is essential in the "revival of primitive Christianity" called Quakerism, to our own and to every other age, is practicable, in itself, we most fully believe. How far such endeavors as are being made in our time will be successful, and will last, must depend not alone on this practicability, but on the individual and collective faithfulness (shall we say also wisdom?) of those who constitute the Society, in this and the following generations. While these words are being written, we can but think with pain of the separations, which, in many places, make the name of "Friends" one of ambiguous meaning; and the occurrence of which suggests, if it does not beget, a fear of total disintegration. SUCH are some of the convictions under which "The Friends' Review" has been and is conducted; with much fear of insufficiency to meet the issues coming before us. We need the prayers and sympathy, as well as active help, of all who believe that a paper ought still to be continued, which represents full loyalty to spiritual and evangelical Christianity as exemplified by early Friends, with recognition of the need of its adaptation, under guidance of the Head of the Church, to the changes which proceed from age to age. If it be uncharitable to refer to other papers as representing extreme views, on either hand, it may at least be said that no other journal holds at the present time exactly the position on Society questions which is maintained by The Friends' Review. We believe in conservatism, rightly understood; and we believe also in zealous, aggressive, evangelizing work, under a "holy zeal," which is "according to knowledge ;" but we believe that no church can be or do anything, without Christ as its present, recognized Leader; its all in all. LOOKING BACK to our last and previous volumes, grateful acknowledgment is due to the many writers whose communications have made much more than half of the value of our paper. At some seasons, we have abounded in such favors received. Just now, they are comparatively few; so that we would encourage those who have somewhat to say, likely to interest our readers, to say it, promptly, and briefly, "with their lights burning," so as to stir up the pure mind amongst us. Not often, and never without much regret, do we find it inexpedient to use a manuscript sent. The maxim is universally accepted amongst editors, and should be understood by contributors, that declining an article means no judgment whatever on its quality, but only as to its availability at the time and for the publication to which it is sent. Generally, if the writer could be at the editor's standpoint, he might form the same conclusion. We desire a much more extended correspondence than we have latterly received. If the whole, especially of every long letter, is not always used in our columns, the intelligence so conveyed is still valuable and acceptable. Sometimes that which is not printed deserves our thanks quite as much as anything that is published. Our wish is to be in friendly communication, as far as possible, with the length and breadth of the Society of Friends, and with others in sympathy with it. ONE MORE TOPIC remains for remark. We need the active efforts of all who desire to increase our circulation. With every endeavor to keep expenses at their lowest limit, they are still large in proportion to our receipts. It will be a very great favor for subscriptions to be paid promptly, in advance; and early remitted, when collected, by our Agents. At this time it is proper to recall our needful rule, that all clubbing arrangements, at less than our full rate, hold good as such only in advance; that is, for the first three months of the year for which they are made. After that time, every subscription is counted at our full annual charge; otherwise we lose more than we can afford by such reductions in the amount received for the paper. Were The Friends' Review merely a business enterprise, conducted for monetary gain, these appeals could hardly be made without loss of self-respect. Its purpose being only to serve the cause of truth and to be useful, it is otherwise. We are assured of the resolve of many Friends that our journal shall continue to be sustained; our desire to day is to ask of them renewed effort to increase its success, and thus its usefulness. MACOMBER.-In Westport, Mass. Eleventh month 8th, 1883, Abby G. Macomber, widow of Caleb Macomber, aged 75 years, 11 months and 22 days. TABER.-On the 5th of Seventh mo., 1884, at the residence of his son, Frank Taber, near Salem, Ohio, Moses Taber, formerly of Vassalborough, Maine, in the 86th year of his age; an esteemed member of Salem (Ohio) Monthly and Particular Meeting. COMSTOCK.-Eighth mo. 3d, 1884, at his home in Rollin, Lenawee county, Michigan, John T. Comstock, husband of Elizabeth L. Comstock, in the 78th year of his age. After the enjoyment of a period of almost unbroken health for 40 years, this dear Friend was thrown from a buggy, through the horse taking fright, when three miles from home, on his way to attend our Quarterly Meeting at Adrian. After 19 days of severe suffering he breathed out his life into the hands of Him who gave, and Him who redeemed it, having frequently expressed his unwavering faith in his Saviour. TEMPERANCE NOTES. BRITISH PROGRESS.-A large part of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the western part of the Dominion of Canada have prohibition by local option, while Prince Edward Island, with 100,000 people, has absolute prohibition. In England there are two thousand parishes under prohibition, with large districts in London, Liverpool, and Birmingham, and the large manufacturing towns, Saltaire in Yorkshire and Bessbrook in Ireland, with a district of country containing sixtytwo and a half square miles in County Tyrone. Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have absolute prohibition for one-seventh of each week, and the question of suppressing the liquor-traffic is now engrossing the thoughts of a large majority of the people of the United Kingdom more than any other question of public policy. THE LONDON Lancet, regarded as a high medical authority, but not at all given to temperance "fanaticism," calls attention to the evils arising from the use of alcohol during hot weather, and says: "The first important thing to be observed in great heat is temperance-temperance in all things. Heat gives rise to feelings of exhaustion; this leads to the drinking repeated doses of alcohol in some shape or other, than which nothing can be worse. We do not say that a strictly temperate 'man never gets sun-struck; but we do aver that a man who keeps his house and his person, if we may so express it, well ventilated by opening the windows of the former and clothing himself rationally, who attends to the functions of the skin by 'tubbing' regularly, and who lives temperately, is a very unlikely subject indeed for sunstroke." The weight of modern scientific testimony is decidedly against alcoholic beverages for either hot or very cold weather, and indeed against their use at all, in any temperature, by those who would maintain the best condition of physical health. WE quote an important passage from the speech of President Seelye at the Conference of Independent Republicans. It was not received with sympathy, though every word of it is true: "Of the great questions which demand our attention to-day, first and foremost is that of temperance. There is no other question affecting our national life which is comparable in significance with this. There is no other business of such tremendous interest to all our welfare as the liquor traffic. Say what you will about the choice of men, and blame the intemperate classes as you may for yielding to their appetites, it remains true that the liquor traffic is responsible for four-fifths of our poverty, for seven-eighths of our crime, and for a proportion of our disease and vice and wretchedness to say nothing of our taxation-which makes every other instrument of evil almost insignificant. How to treat this appalling source of woe, how to check, how to control, how to make it to cease, is I repeat, by far the most important question in our national politics to day, and I hold it to be very weak in the Republican Party to have ignored it, and very wicked in the Democratic Party to have put such an utterance about it in their platform as they have done.” ONE of the strangest conversions of our day is that of Lars Olsen Smith, of Sweden. From being the "brandy king" of that country, manufacturing and selling for years three-fourths of all the brandy consumed there, and realizing an income of over $250,000 a year, he has become an uncompromising temperance reformer, and is endeavoring to elevate the social condition of his countrymen whom his brandy did much to degrade. His conscience-for he was evidently that rarest of all creatures, a liquor dealer with a conscience-disquieted him as he reflected that he was responsible for three-fourths of the sin, misery, disease and death which resulted from the brandy he sold. At first, having concluded that alcoholism was occasioned largely by AMONG the few peers who voted in the English the fusel-oil contained in alcohol, he erected seven House of Lords in favor of the bill prohibiting rectifying factories for freeing brandy from impurSunday liquor selling in Cornwall, was the Arch-ities: but as the agents of the Gothenburg system, bishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop is an earnest worker in behalf of the people, and his position on the temperance question will go far to shape a healthy public opinion on this subject among his clergy. FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT of the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution, which held its forty-third annual meeting in London, May 27, it appears that the expected claims in the temperance section were 235 for £53,506; the actual claims were 174 for £40, 700. In the general section 332 claims were ex who had the monopoly of the liquor business in Sweden, would not sell his brandy, preferring the impure article, as it was cheaper, he went to work to break them down, and at the end of a year had driven the raw, impure spirit out of the market. · As a substitute for the Gothenburg system, which he declared had developed into a gigantic means of demoralization and jobbery, he drafted a licensing bill fixing the license at $1.500 a year, and making it illegal to charge more than a fixed price, and has thus greatly reduced the number of drinking places in Sweden. He has also used his large wealth in establishing popular savings' banks, building societies, cooperating stores, and public kitchens for supplying cheap and wholesome food to the poor. What a fortunate thing it might be, though the idea is hardly conceivable, if some of our whisky lords or beer barons could attempt to repair the injury they have done to the community by adopting his words: "I think it is better to use the money I have gained in demoralizing and poisoning the people, in undoing, as far as possible, the mischief that unwittingly I created."-Illust. Chr. Weekly. THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON. LESSON VIII. THIRD QUARTER. Eighth month 24th, 1884 THE PLAGUE STAYED. II Sam. xxiv. 15-25 GOLDEN TEXT.-So the Lord' was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. II Sam. xxiv. 25. The numbering of the people, and the events described in the chapter before us are, by some writers, supposed to have taken place before the rebellion of Absalom, and to have given him encouragement to begin it; others place it after the rebellion. The time was unquestionably during the later years of David's reign, at a time of peace and prosperity, for it took nearly ten months (chap. xxiv. 8) to complete the census; and immediately after it David set about collecting treasures and materials for building the temple. (I Chron. xxii.) This was an extraordinary and special numbering, for a simple census of the people was not forbidden. (Ex. xxx. 12-16.) What reason prompted David to order this numbering is not stated, but probably it was a desire to see how powerful the nation was, perhaps with a view to foreign conquest, or for comparison with the neighboring nations--pride seems to have been closely connected with the whole matter. The sin was not David's alone, because it is expressly said that "the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." The feeling pervaded the whole nation. The corresponding account, which differs somewhat in detail, and is also fuller, will be found in I Chron. xxi. 1—27. 66 15. So the Lord sent a pestilence, etc. After the census, "David's heart smote him" (ver. 10), and he acknowledged his sin. The prophet Cad then came to him with a message from the Lord, giving him the choice of three things; three years (I Chron. xxi. 12) of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of pestilence. David's reply shows his character. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man." (Ver. 14.) He would rather trust the Lord than man. Pestilence. A plague of some kind; as cholera, the black death, or some other epidemic. The time appointed. What is meant by these words is uncertain; they are omitted in I Chron. Dan even to Beersheba. Dan, a city in the extreme north of Palestine, Beersheba, one in the south; this expression, which has become pro verbial, means throughout the land. 16. And when the angel, etc. Angels are spoken of as God's ministers or servants to carry out His will, both in the present time and in the hereafter. (Ex. xii. 23; II Kings xix. 35; Acts xii. 23; Matt. xiii. 41.) The Lord repented him, etc. Repent does not mean here regret, but that He changed His purpose, His actions. It is impossible that the Lord could ever, in the ordinary sense of the word, regret what He has done. He is grieved for the sins of men, and the necessity for what He does; but He who sees the end from the beginning, cannot wish He had done otherwise. Upon man's repentance He may change His purpose, or stay His hand. Ex. xxxii. 14; Jer. xxvi. 13, 19; Jon. iii. 10. The threshing-place. The same word as threshing floor in verses 18, 21, 24. They were usually made on high places, where the wind would be likely to blow away the chaff. Araunah's threshingfloor was on Mount Moriah, the hill east of Jerusalem, afterwards the site of Solomon's temple. 17. And David spake, etc. The account in I Chron. xxi. 16 is fuller. I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. The repetition of the pronoun shows how strongly David felt that he himself was guilty; he does not lay any blame upon the people. I Kings viii. 47: Ps. xxxii. 1, 2. These sheep, etc. It was natural for David to call his people his sheep. II Sam. vii. 8; Ps. lxxiv. 1; xcv. 7. True penitence does not excuse sin by trying to blame others. It is, however, clear that the people had sinned as well as David. See II Sam. xxiv. 1. 18. And Gad, etc. Gad was a prophet who had been with David when he was hiding from Saul. (I Sam. xxii. 5.) It is not unlikely that Gad wrote the account in the present lesson. (I Chron. xxix. 29, 30.) He came by the direction of the angel, according to the account in I Chron. xxi. 18. His coming with his message was the answer to David's prayer. (Ver. 16, 17.) 19. Note the immediate obedience of David. 20. Went out. That is, from the threshingfloor. 21. That the plague may be stayed. Before the danger would cease, it was necessary to offer sacrifices. Num. xvi. 46-50. 22. Oxen. Those that were treading out the grain. Threshing instruments. "Sledges or frames armed on the underside with rollers or sharp spikes (see Is. xli. 15), used for the purpose of bruising the ears of corn and extracting the grain, and at the same time breaking up the straw into small pieces for use as fodder." Instruments of the oxen. The wooden yokes. See I Kings xix. 21. 23. All the things, etc. "Render. The whole doth Araunah, O king, give unto the king.". Cambridge Bible. See I Chron. xxi. 23. Give. See Gen. xxiii. 11. Accept. See Ezek. xx. 40, 41; xliii. 27. 24. I will surely buy it *** that which doth cost me nothing. The true spirit of sacrifice. The rich man gave of his abundance-of what he had over-of that which cost him nothing--the poor widow's two mites were her all-her gift was a real sacrifice. Had David accepted the gift, he would have sacrificed nothing. Compare Mal. i. 13, 14. Fifty shekels of silver. A shekel of silver was about 59 cents. The difference between the amounts mentioned here and in I Chron. xxi. 25 is probably explained by understanding that two transactions are referred to; one purchase being for the altar, the other and larger being for the site of the temple. 25. Burnt offerings. For expiation. Peace of ferings. For thanksgiving. The account in I Chron. xxi. 26 adds that the Lord answered David "from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering." So the Lord was entreated for the land. Heard the intercession. II Sam. xxi. 14; II Chron. xxxiii. 13. ་་ "RIVAS, NICARAGUA, April 27th, 1884. Mr. Samuel A. Purdie, Matamoros, Mex. : "Esteemed Sir-In your interesting publication, El Ramo de Olivo,' I have seen announced for sale a new book, 'The Light of the People,' at 75 cents per copy. As I have no means of sending money to you, I have enclosed the value in postage stamps (of Nicaragua), so that if you can make use of them you will please send me a copy of the aforesaid work. "I improve this opportunity to congratulate you, and through you to all your brethren in the cause, for your brilliant efforts to combat without ceasing this terrible cancer of our society, this eleventh plague of Egypt, called Roman Catholicism, not to say pagan moneyism. servant, With the utmost appreciation, your affectionate J. D. GAMEZ. G." "TEGUCIGALPA, (HONDURAS), June 2d, 1884, "To the Editor of El Ramo de Olivo,' Matamoros, Mex.: "Dear Sir-Absence from this capital has prevented my writing sooner. The interesting paper which you edit reaches us with regularity, and has been well received by society here, for the useful reading on the one hand which adorns its columns, but principally for the valiant propagation of its moral and philosophic doctrines. For myself I can say to you that I am delighted with each number which I re ceive, and that I am an adherent in my heart to the principles which form your religious creed. "Be so kind to draw on me at sight for the value of the ten subscriptions for last year, or if that be not possible, let me know if I can remit to you in postage stamps of our Republic. "I have the honor to subscribe myself as your affectionate servant, M. R. DAVILA." We can scarcely derive any revenue from these willing people, for neither bills nor stamps of those republics can be used here, though we can use them to buy books we see advertised in the papers of those republics. Single copies sent to those republics, via Acapulco, cost us 36 cents per annum, or three cents per copy. Even could we get the pay, we could make nothing toward sustaining our paper. When our circulation was limited to Mexico, and I was editor, compositor, pressman and mailing clerk, the paper was not a burden to our mission, and we made no special appeal for its support. It has grown in size, circulation and usefulness. Must it be abandoned for want of funds? If Friends would in giving specially indi cate that they wish their means to be applied to enlarging, beautifying and increasing the usefulness of this paper, it would be gratifying to us. It is read by hundreds of people in the public reading rooms of Central America and in South America, and its usefulness could be more than doubled by an outlay of $200 annually for cuts and postage expenditures. The other branches of our mission work are en. couraging. Luciano Mascorro left two months ago to establish a mission at Santa Barbara, where the priest has married since my visit last winter, in part at least. from reading "El Ramo de Olivo." The new meeting-house at Gomez Farias was used for public meetings on the 13th ult. A series of meetings were kept up for a week. The new comers are well, and studying earnestly. SAMUEL A. Purdie. WHITE'S INSTITUTE, INDIANA. Returning from a necessary absence of some days, Benjamin S. Coppock writes thus of the affairs at the Institute, under date of Seventh mo. 27th, 1884: All the children are well. The farm work is fully up with the season; wheat is threshed, 1600 bushels; flax and oats are cut, and the straw is well filled. We had a fine rain yesterday and day before, so that the proșpect for fall pasture remains good. Maize and sorghum, potatoes and other vegetables have been regularly tilled all the season, and are in good condition. I find potatoes, string beans, onions, cucumbers and blackberries on the table, and like such fare for the children better than too much meat. It is the food they can procure by work at home, now that the buffalo are gone. Joseph Pleas reports as to the condition of the boys during my absence: "They have done well, all of them. I have no complaint; they have worked and have been no trouble." "" Have they done as well as thou expected when thou came here?" Yes, ten times as well. We have plenty of boys ready for everything we turn to,-plowing, tilling corn or vegetables, gardening, harvesting, hoeing, threshing. They did the best kind of threshing-not one of them skulked. They were in demand to help in threshing among our neighbors. We all went to Mississinewa for a picnic two weeks ago, and this afternoon we shall take the boys to town." So he started with 28 Indian boys and did not get back till after dark, Our girls have had unusual advantages this summer to practise cutting, fitting and sewing garments. The Department have informed us that the compensation |