Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 18, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 2 November 1878 — Page 1

Vol. 9.—No. 18

THE MAIL

A PAFKR FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

"I bope you will excuse me, Mr. Town Talk, for venturing to find fault with anything you have written."— "A Woman's Opinions" in last week's Mall.

Bless your heart, dear madame, do not speak of "venturing to find fault." There is not the slightest danger involved. In fact, T. T. is so proud to know that you read anything which he has written, and think it worthy of two columns in reply, 'that he would be gtad to call upon you personally §nd express his gratitude. But Mr. West fall is obdurate aod turns a deaf ear to all entreaties lor your address. T. T. has been carefully watching for some means by which to identify you, in order that he might know who bis sprightly neighbor in the columns of The Mail is. This reply to T. T. locates you in the Universalis Church, for that is the only one of all the churches of which you speak in any flattenug terms, and with its history and opinions you manifest considerable familiarity. That church is fortunate in having a member so zealous and witty and intelligent. T. T. thinks Of offering himself as a teacher in the Sunday school in order that he may the better pursue his investigations as to the identity of the fair friend who declares that she "shall take the liberty of throwing a little paper wad (so to speak) at yonr (his) bald and venerable head," and proceeds to suit the action to the word. T. T. being a bachelor is somewhat susceptible to such attentions from tbe fair sex. But if be goes on in this strain you will certainly feel that there is danger after all in "venturing to find fault" with him, though of a different nature from what might have been expected. Will you allow T. T. to make few suggestions concerning tbe sound lashing which you gave the churches over his "venerable" back last week As he was the innocent cause of this attack upon tbe churches, he feels it his duty to utter a word in their behalf, j,

T. T. thinks that his fair assailant, if she were to become as familiar with the facts concerning tbe Methodist Church as she is with those concerning her own, would find that its ministers preach upon "conversion," "change of heart," and generally upon the "sin of dancing," with as much plainness and earnestness ss ever. She would fiad that there is very little, if any, change in the use made «f tbe "mourners' bench," that future and endless punishment is still held as firmly and preached as plainly as ever, though possibly not to the exclusion of other themes, or in quite so crude a form, and that the exhortations to "come now, right now, for to-mor-row you may die and go to everlasting torment," are still given, and that six months probation is still required of all who desire to unite with the church. There is no such change in the Methodist church in reference either to practice or belief as to require any obange in tbe creed 00 these points.

The Baptist Churches also bold, and their ministers proaob ss plainly as ever, the doctrines of "repectance," "baptism tor tbe remission of sins," and tbe "divinity of (,'brist," and generally, as firmly as ever require all who would "break bread and drink wine" with them to be Immersed. There Is no need of any change in their creeds in these respects to harmonise them with their preaching.

As for the Presbyterian Church, this fair writer baa been somewhat more for* tunate in selecting her points, though T. T. ventures to suggest that she never beard of a Presbyterian minister who preached or believed tbe doctrine of infant damnation, nor ever heard of anybody who ever did know a Presbyterian minister who so believed or preached, and that a Presbyterian minister so believing or preaching cannot be found in Indiana, and could not have been for along time before she, or Col. Ingersoll, or T. T., was born. Tbe fact Is that this bugaboo is a "relic of barbarism" so far back in the past that It has been long deed and bailed, and no minister or layman is required or expected to give assent to U, or baa been for more than

one century. Foreordination is still held and still preached, and therefore belong* to the creed.

Miss or Ml&tress—as the case may beNew Contributor, after enumerating these points, declares that "It would be safe for a preacher to advooate doctrines nowadays." Now, with due deference, every one of the doctrines Indicated—"infant damnation," with the Presbyterians, and "immersion as saving means of grace," on tbe part tbe Baptist*, excepted—la advocated nowadays, and no congregation flies "in horror" from these preachers. It be true, as she says, that "Hell does ooonpy so prominent a place in Methodist Chureh as It used to," but occupies so much prominence tba^every Methodist preacher assumes its existence, draws motives from it, and frequently preaches it directly. Exouse me, madame, but also in reference to close communion among Baptists, you are mistaken when you say that it "Is almost a thing of the past." Nineteen twentieths of all tbe Baptist ministers and Baptist Churches hold and practice close communion. Ask Brother Henderson if that is not so. Open commulon is tbe exception, and a rare exception allll. And as for endless punishment among the Congregationalists, there is not one Congregational minister in fifty who does not believe it, and preach it in some form. It 1B not made a 00edition of ebdroh membership as formerly, but in the Congregational Churches it is universally believed. They do not believe ia a material hell, or physical torment as represented by Ingersoll, but they do believe in endless future punishment. And possibly New Contributor would find it difficult to name tbe sermon in which Henry Ward Beecber says of endless future punishment, "I cannot believe it. It makes me sick." He may have said this of some form in which the doctrine is held, but be, no longer ago than last month, proclaimed his belief in endless future pucishment, though not in the form in whioh it has generally been held. And as to tbe Reformed Episoopal Church, T. T. thinks it will be news to Bishop Cheeny to learn that he and his followers do not hold substantially the doctrines of tbe old Episcopal Church in reference to the divinity of Christ, future punishment and the like. The Reformed Church rejeots baptismal regeneration, and apostolic succession, recognizes tbe validity of ordination in other denominations, but does not take issue with the old churob on any of tbe points suggested by this correspondent.

1 not

rauah all

of

may 1 not the

It

If Miss or Mistress New Contributor will get the creeds of the Methodist Church, and of the Baptist Church, and tbe Congregational Church, and after reading them, beoome familiar with the preaching in those churches, she will find no doctrine declared in them which would cause the congregations to "fly in horror" from the preacher who proclaimed thera. And even in tbe creeds of the Presbyterian and Episcopal Cbarches she would find very little that is not held to-day. And if she were to beoome familiar with the preachers in these churches she woald find that of none of them in this city, excepting it may be tbe Baptiat, is it true, as she assumes, that "tbe people most subscribe to the creed 'before they enter the church." This is not required as a condition of membership, as can easily be learned by Inquiry. A little familiarity with the creeds and the practices of t£e churches will reveal the astounding fact that there is not so much of "tbe impress of tbe barbaric ages" upon them as Mr. Ingersoll and Miss or Mrs. New Contributor, and a good many other people, think.

T. T. hopes that this little bit of controversy within its columns will not give The Msll the colic. '-p*^

•'A WOMAN'S OPINIONS." MR. KJHTOR I am sorry to be compelled to ask space to correct for a second time a statement, both times by a lady contributor. Permit a firm though respectful protest against the assertion that "the Baptists still insist upon Immersion as a saving means of graoe." The doctrine of baptismal salvation Is not found taught by any respectable representative of our denomination, proaeut or past not by theological seminary, author, editor, accredited preacher, or creed. Our doctrine is just tbe opposite of this, namely, that evidence of Christian character, of holy purpose, most precede baptism. The toast inquiry would have saved thla blander.

Will your correspondent please inform the public In what Irork of any respectable Presbyterian author, present or remote, it is taught that men are saved without regard to their oharaotez? It surely is not in Augustine, Calvin, nor Edwards. The fandamental doctrine of Calvin is "holiness." Many critics of Galvin never took the pains to read a page of his works, judging by such caricatures.

Permit me to add that tnany of as think It will take more than mere assertion to show that those doctrines, which have made Christianity what It is, can be shown either to be obsolete or essentially divergent from the present con­

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2.1878.-

victions of the church. Many no doubt hold them in obscure forms and unsteadily but it innat be remembered that our creed, our literature, and our theological seminaries, whioh uniformly hold the main features of Protestant theology, are sustained by the most wealthy and most cultivated portions of tbe ohurches.

It must be remembered also that for nearly a century a church suoh as your correspondent desires has made an experiment whioh has issued in a failure for though itoontains many good and great men, no ohuroh has ever been full of spiritual power, life, or zeal which did not have for a creed something more than pale negations and beautiful sentlmentaUsnw Yfiry Respectfully, 1 1 C. R. HKNDKRSON,

P**101" First Baptist Church.

Topics of the Times.

n-i'-f-

ASOCIAL WIN.1

They make tbeir pr de In making their diii tier cost much I make ray pride in making isy dinner ooat little.—Thoreau.

There Is asocial sin which is as common as it is culpable. It is the habit of making an expensive display whenever a few friends are invited to a meal. When no stranger is present the board is spread with plain and substantial food but the moment a friend is invited in the table groans with all tbe delicacies of tbe season. There must be cakes of various kinds jellies, preserves, pickles, canned ttults, costly meats, et cetera, until the guest is really surfeited before he has tasted half tbe dishes before him. He knows very well that this is something extraordinary—that the family is not used to this sort of living. He must be of more than ordinary obtuseness if he does not perceive that he has been the cause of muoh labor on tbe part of tbe mistress of the bouse and no little expense. If he is at all sensitive this knowledge does not contribute to his comfert or pleasure. It makes him feel that he is a costly and troublesome guest and to tbat extent perhaps an unwelcome one. He eats the good things before him, it is true but his relish qf them is somewhat dulled by tbe thought of the cost of it all. He wishes in his heart that the banquet were more simple and inexpensive that tbe good lady of the bouse had not put herself out so much on his account. He cannot help thinking either of whether be can afford a similar feast when it comes his turn to exobange seats with tbe host. Very likely be can't afford, but he feels that be must do it anvbow, and this is the great harm of these ostentatious displays. They stimulate rivalry and competition when sach a thing ought never to be thought of. Instead of cultivating, they serve to destroy hospitality. A man will not eat expensive dinners in the house of his friends unless he can give them expensive dinners in return. Said a friend to the writer, not long since: "I went to take tea with him and tbe table was literally loaded down with all the luxuries of the season. The result is that while I enjoy his soolety very much, I will be denied the privilege of it, becanso I can't afford to set suoh tables at my house." Who does not feel the same way? Yon would seem to be treating your friend shabbily if yon invited him to a table spread with plain and simple food after he bad seated you at a banquet of the ohoioeet viands. If we really invite friends to our houses tbat we may enjoy the pleasure of their society, why resort to all this ostentation It looks as if the eating of expensive food were the real object. We should not underrate the beauty of an elegant and well set table. The snowy linen, tbe clean dishes, tbe burnished silver, and tbe perfeetly prepared food, certainly present one of tbe most beautiful pictures of home life. Bat more gratifying to tbe guest is the skill which arranges these most artfully, whioh adds the charm of a bouquet or two of flowers, and throws over all tbe enchantment of a sweet and open-bearted hospitality, than the rich variety tbat Is demanded by the epicure or the gourmand. More hospitality and less food is tbe remedy for the evil.

-^.^^CLUBS. .... In every large city numerous societies large or small memberships exist which do, in a quiet way, a good deal for tbe cultivation of literature and art. Tbey meet at regular Intervals and, while making no noise in tbe outside world, tbey exert no insignificant influence upon public opinion. Tbey are composed of people who aspire to make life something more than a monotonous round of drudgery, and who are endeavoring to weave into its sober woof a few threads at least of brighter colors. To them these occasional meetings with kindred spirits afford a delightful recreation from tbe heavy cares of life. Tbey have different ends and pursue different methods to reach them. Home of them have in view the study of art in its more general sense others, music others, lit. erature in a general or limited way. The influence of these small associations upon public opinion ia for tbe moat part unseen. Bat unseen influences are often

of

.... _sais«tisia

tbe most powerful. We see results but tbe causes wbtob produced them are not so easily discovered. The great forces of nature operate silently and unseen. All through the long winter tbe woods stand still and apparently dead but aomo day In apring they burst forth in the glory of blossom and foliage. Every person of superior eulture in a community becomes a sort of radiating center and sheds intelligence all around bhn. Tbe influence of sach persons operates indirectly upon those who are wholly uneonsolous tbat tbey are being affected by It. It ia thus tbat these small societies for the pursuit of art or science exert an influence greatly out of proportion to tbe numbers composing tbem. Tbey area good tbing good for tbe persons engaged in them and good in their influence on the oommunity at large. It may be added tbat there is no valid reason why these clubs or societies should be limited to large oities why tbey might not be successfully carried on in towns and villages. With a little effort doubtless a sufficient number of personsoould be found in any community to organize such a society for the pleasant and profitable improvement of the long winter evenings. __ y.w -t&ffN.-..

A Woman's Opinions.

BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR.

I read a little article In the Gazette, this week, reflecting upon tbe tcutte of Terre Haute people because tbey did not flock to the Opera House and witness tbe numerous entertainments there presented, and I felt tbat I must take up my pencil in defense of tbe folks who stay at home.

If It were only from lectures and readings that people absented themselves it might be appropriate to criticise their taste, but when lectures, theatres and opera bouffe in moceaSion all fail to attract a crowd, it certainly cannot be attributed to a laok of appreciation, but we must look elsewhere for tbe cause. It can be summed up in a few words high prices of admission and scarcity of money. 14- 4

All kinds of salaries have been reduced, from the minister in the pulpit to the boy that pumps tbe organ, from the highest railroad official to tbe cheapo est workmen on the grade. Every department of business has felt the pressure of hard times, and been obliged to reduce its prices, but tbe entertainments at the Opera House still put up the scale of prices just as they did in flush times, when it was easier to raise five dollars than it is now to get fifty cents. If "Mr. Hosford feels perplexed in regard to the empty houses," he would do well to give a little attention to this phase of the question. Nobody can find any fault with the class of entertainments with which Mr. Hosford has favored us. Tbey reflect great credit upon his judgment, and probably be is not able to control tbd prices of admission, but if he is he might at least try the experiment of giving a first class show with admission fees to correspond with tbe decline in prices of everything else.

All people of intellectual culture enjoy a good lecture, but (taking It for granted tbat every man wishes to pay for himself and companion) the great majority will say: "Well, the times are too bard to pay fl.50 for an hour's enjoyment," so they stay away and satisfy themselves by reading a report in the next day's paper. Lat Tllton, or Wendell Phillips, or any of the lecturers tbat are booked for the coming season, charge an admission of twenty-live or thirty-five cents, and they will have no o*nse to oomplaln that our people are lacking in taste. There is enough musioal cultivation In Terre Hante to fill the Opera Honse on the occasion of a fine oonoert, bat oar musicians, for the most part, are not rolling in wealth, and cant afford to pay from two to three dollars for an evening's entertainment, no matter bow choice it may be, but would be quite willing to sacrifice some luxury perbapa, if they oould have that privilege for sev-enty-five cents or a dollar.

Almost everybody, without ex&ptiOb, enjoys a good theatre. Tbe rich, tbe poor, the high and low, the educated and the ignorant, all can appreciate the phases of human nature aa portrayed on the stage, and there am dozens of men and women who have to practice the most severe self-denial when they know tbat some distinguished actors or ae tresses whom tbey have wished to bear for years, are to be right here, and yet they mast refuse themselves the delight of hearing them. When the man of a family sits down and reflects that to take himself and wife to the theater one evening, would oosfc two dollars, and two dollars would bay twenty pounds of sugar, or eight pounds of coffee, or a sack of flour, or three calioo dresses, or two shirts, and that be mast get these things, and tbat he can do without the play, he gives it up with a sigh, and thinks: "This, like other luxuries, we must leave to the wealthy."

There are many families who feel that tbey can only afford one or two entertainments during the winter, so they lect these, attend tbem, and live on tbeir memory daring the rest of tbe sesson,

whileif the prices ware only a third ss high ^y oould go three times as often. 3om# one suggests that those who want a cheaper seat can go to tbe Family Circle. There are some very nice people who sit hett, and then again there are others who are not to nice, and a man can't always t^U when be takes bis wife and daughteraiap there, Just which olsss tbey may chance to have for aeatmates.

If tbe Kditorof tbe Gazette, or any other editor, for that matter, had to pay two dollars, or two and a half, every time be went to thy Opera House with a friend, he would probably find tbat he hadn't so muoh "taMe" for such things as he thought be hatJi'aud until tbe companies recognize tbe fact that times are bard, and money scares, and reduoe tbeir prices accordingly, they may expect and deserve to play to empty houses,

Hp run MfFMPoi,

When two women get together, they boast of their virtues when two men get together, they brag of ther vices. No woman will admit to another tbat ahe ever did a mean tbing there Is nothing a man likes better in a crowd than to be able to say that he has done something worse than any of the rest. To bear tbe two sexes talk, one would suppose tbat virtue was at a premium among women and at a discount among men.

A woman takes pride In recounting ber good deeds a man keeps bis in tbe background, aa if he were half ashamed of tbem. If you ask a woman, who is opposed to drinking, to take a glass of wine, she will say, "My principlea do not allow it." If you ask a man who is opposed, be will say, "I haj^aheadache and dont care for any."^*

If a woman is accused of any indiscretion, of which she is innocent, she will deny it most strenuously. Accuse a man and be will laugh and say: "O certainly^' and if you ask, "Why don't you say you didn't do it?" he will reply, "Tbey wouldn't believe me half as innocent if I denied it as they woald if I admitted it."

Now, isn't tbat funny? A woman states ber code of morals whenever an opportunity offers a man insists tbat be hasn't any, although he may really be an exemplary citizen. Women admire a sister who permits ber good qualities to shine on all who come in contact with ber men despise a brother who allows his goodness to occupy a prominent place in hia daily walk. They don't object to his being good but only to his bringing his virtues too prominently into notice. I guess it makes the rest ashamed, or what is the reason?

Women can't understand men's ideas about these things. The can't see why, if a man believes drinking is morally wrong, he doesn't say so when asked to take a ^ink, instead of giving some bodily ailment as an excuse. If tbey think gambling is wicked and they oonld not be induced to engage in it why don't they say so when invited to "take a hand," instead of saying they are busy and haven't time? If urged to go out among immoral women why don't they answer that they would be ashamed to visit sach places, instead of pleading "a previona engagement

Why? Well, I don't know exactly why, but I have an idea they wonld be ridiculed and called "green" and "soft" and "pokey" and a "stick/' and knowing thla they prefer to invent some plausible excuse, instead of coming ont with the plain fiats, to make a kind of compromise between their conscience or their sensitiveness. I expect it reqaires a degree.of moral courage to speak the truth in each matters, and that perhapa we ladies would find we did not possess it, should the occasion require it. Bat thank Heaven! we are not often tempted and from tbe seolusion of our homes it is very easy to criticise the actions of those who are exposed to every temptation, beset by every evil,—and this opens a world of thoaghta and incidents, and I jast remember a resolution formed last week to abbreviate these articlea some what, and give Mr. Westfalt an opportunity to put aomething elae on the first page of The Mail. 80 au revolr. Ta-Ta.

People and Things.

The Detroit Free Press learns tbat good mannera wi be fashionable thla

Some people are never satisfied. An editor criticisea Hideo's card because it waa not written in cipher.

Talmage waa disappointed a boot finding vice more aumptoous. No doubt tbey wouldn't let Urn In to tbe palaces of sin, and ao he had to go to the slums.

Rent collecting In these bard timee seems to be a perilous business in Berlin. A colleoter lately applied for leave to carry a revolver, alleging that he was in fear for hia life. "How shall 1 earn a living" is tbe title of an article in a contemporary. Perbapa it never occurred to the writer to go to work. Tbat ia the beet way we know to earn a living.

While a Chicago editor waa amending church, last Sabbath evening, a thief broke into hia home and stole many of

1 sit is. St

Ninth Year

tbe valuables appertaining thereto. This is a solemn warning to such editors ss are inclined to attend church.

A conductor recently discharged from one of the Indiana roads demsnded of tbe general manager the reaaon for cutting off hia head, and was answered, "you take things too easy." The conductor Is still uncertain as to the cause of his discharge. '•. sJ/4. W

Tbe New Orleans Times has a burleaque system of crediting its paragraphs to papers that never printed them. It credits tbe wildest jokes to religious papers, and the Herald and Presbyter has risen to deny the paternity of several floating flaabee of nonsense

Thqre is one darky wtao is anxious to see Butler defeated. He Is porter on a aleeping oar between Washington and New York, and says, "I often meet Butler un the osrs and be gives me a heap of trouble, but In the morning be never glvea ma more than ten cents."

Csstor oil haa been introduced into the Texaa aohools as an Instrument of torture. A teaober in Galveston compelled a boy to take a heavy dose as punishment for smoking, and rubbed caator oil over a girl's lips for swearing. Tbe punishment was effective, but the people swell with indignation, and pronounce it barbarous.

S NW

A young ooaple of Lm Roy, New York, had their wddding day selected and then got into- a squabble over which church the knot should be tied in. He wanted to go to the Presbyterian edifice, becauae it was the tsabionable one of the village, and ahe wanted to go to the Baptist one, for sbe used to ring in tbe rhoir there. The quarrel snapped the engagement

The referee in the divorce oase of Mrs. Beala against ber husband in San Francisco, filed his report in her favor. She

1

waa dying, and it was her earnest desire to die the wife of Mr. Gardiner. Tbat reason for haate was stated to Judge. Wheeler, who obligingly made bis

00n-,

firmatory decision without delsy. On tbe following morning the newspapers contained notices of her divorce from Beala, of her.- marriage to Gardiner, and of her death.

A Fulton, N. Y., man laid his finger on the table in front of a buzz saw to feel the momentum of the air. The saw was going so fast tbat the teeth were not to be seen. His finger was taken off. While he was looking at it the foreman came np with the qaeetioa, "How did yoadoit?" "Why, I put my finger down so," answered he, placing the other forefinger as he tbonght, well away from tbe teeth. To his horror the saw took thatone, too, clean off at the seoond joint.

1

Jamea Thomas, of Richmond, Va., is a millionaire, having made a great fortune out of tobaoco. At the recent marriage of his daughter, the Rev. Dr. Barrows, of Ijouisville, was paid 1,000" and hia expenses to oome to Richmond^ and tie the knot. The bridal outfit,, furnished by Worth, of Paria, ooat 960,000 tbe floral deoorations of the house, on the night nf tbe wedding, |3,000, and other expenses were in the same ratio. The old gentleman has married off fbar daughters in this atyle, and haa one more left af tbe aame sort.

Fefninitemsi

The moat hideona bags and reptiles: seem to be tbe popular ornamenta for bonnets. », ,•«

One lady still remains at Judge Hilton's hotel at tbe original price of seven doliara per week.

Kid gloves have appeared In New York, the backs of whioh are cofered with flowers painted by hand.,

The Burlington Hawkeye knows of Sr woman who calla her husband "Darkest^ Hoar," because he comes jast before morning.

Now is the time when new-msde wives must be very firm. A husband once broken In to building firea is broken forever. §,„ 4

Gnbbina Is a name that makes the heart leap and animates the blood with joy, A London society belle of that name, beautiful and rioh, now leads tbe world of fashion, and/takes the

flatf

.^n

tow. .4 1 There la no prettier sight now than a school girl pioking ber way abstractedly^ along the streeta, eonning ber pbiloeophy lesson, and ever and

anon

stopping

to bury ber little Grecian nose deep into, a mammoth pickle she carries under hen. •P1"00-

I never knew a fashionable woman who didn't think more of a fool than 0% an ap-right, aenslble man," says Talmage. That explains olearly why the fashionable women went back on ua iu tbe daya of oar yoatb, and have ever* treated as with oold Indifference* —Boston Post.

Spanking a baby In a rode, insolent and angry manner, render* a mother liable to proaecution for aasanlt and battery, according to tbe decision of a jwtioe in Lafayette. Tbat waa a jast jadge, and it woald be well for both mothers and babies If thia decision conld be enforced in all communities.