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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1896-1-16, Page 7A RING ON HIS HAND. REV, DR. TALMAGE ON THE RE TURN OF THE PRODIGAL :stew Lights on a Familiar Story—The Rib- mit fling Ever Flashed on the, .Vision,L1 'That WRiell Our rather Puts on a Per given Soul. Washington. Jan. 5.—In his sermon to. day Rev. Dr. Talmage took for his sub - emit the return of the prodigal son. The text chosen was Luke xv., 2, "Put a ring on his hand." I will not rehearse the familiar story of the fast young man of the parable. You know what a splendid home he left. You know what a hard time he had. And you remember how after that season of Vagabondage and prodigality he resolvou to go and weep out hie sorrows on the bosom of parental forgiveness. Well, there is great excitement one day in front of the door of the old farmhouse. The servants come rushing up and say: "What's the matter? What is the mat- ter?" But before they quite arrive the old man cries i ut, 'Put a ring on his hand." What a seeming absurdity! What can ewe a wretched mendicant as this totem that is tramping on towards the house want with a ring? Oh, he is the prodigal sou. No more tending of the swine trough! No more longing for the pods of the carob tree! No more blistered feet! Off with the rags! On with the robe! Out with the ring l Even so does God receive every one of us when we come back, There are gold rings, and pearl rings, and emerald rings, and diamond rings, but the richest ring that ever flash- ed on the vision is that which our Father puts upon a forgiven soul. I know that the impression is abroad among some peep e that religion bemeans and belittles a man; that it takes all the sparkle out of his soul; that he has to ex- change a roystering independence for an wieleslastical straitjacket. Not so. When man becomes a Christian, he does not go down; he starts upward. Religion multiplies 1 by 0,000 Nay, the multi- plier is in infinity. It Is not a blotting oat; it is a polishing, it is an arbores - seance, it is an efflorescence, it is an irra- diation. When a man comes into the kingdom of God, he is not sent into a menial service but the Lord God Al- mighty from die palaces of heaven calls neon the messenger angels that wait upon ths throne to fly and "put a ring on his band," In Christ are the largest liberty, and brightest joy, and highest honor, and richest adornment. "Put a ring on his hand." I remark, in the first place, that when -Christ xeceives a soul into his love he puts upon him the ring of adoption, While in my church In Philadelphia there came the representative of the Howard mission of New York. He brought with him eight or ten children of the street that he had picked up, and he was trying to find for them Christian homes, and as the lit- tle ones stood on the pulpit and sang our hearts melted within us. At the close of the services a great hearted wealthy man emit() up and said, "I'll take this Melo bright-eyed girl and I'll adopt her as one of nay own children." And he took her by the hand, lifted her into his carriage and went away. The next day, while we were in the ohurch gathering up garments for the poor of New York, 'his little child came back with a brindle under her arm, and she said: "There's my old dress. Per- haps some of the poor children would like to have it," while she herself was in bright and beautiful array, and those who moie immediately examined her said. she had a ring on her hand. It was a ring of adoption. There are a great many persons who pride themselves on their ancestry, and they glory over the royal blood that pours through their arteries. In their line there was a lord, or a duke, or a prime minister, or a king, But when the Lord, our Father, puts upon us the ring of his adoption we become the children of the Ruler of all nations. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that. we should be called the sons of God." It matters not how poor our garments may be in this world, or how scant our bread, or how mean the hut we live in, if we have that ring of Christ's adoption upon our hand, we are assured of eternal defenses. Adopted! Why, then, we are brothers and sisters to all the good of earth and heaven! We have the family name, the family dress, the family keys, the family wardrobe. The Father looks after us, , robes us, defends us, blesses us. We have royal blood in our veins, and there are earowns in our line. If we are his child- ren, then princes and princesses. It Is , only a question of time when we get our -coronet. Adopted! Then we have the family secrets. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him," Adopted! Then we have the famly inheritance, and in the day when our Father shall divide the riches of heaven we shall take our share of the mansions and palaces and temples. Henceforth let us boast no more of an earthly ancestry. The insignia of eternal glory is our coat of arms. This ring of adoption puts upon us all honpr and all privilege. Now we can take the words of Charles Wesley, that prince of hymn makers, and sing: Come, let us join our friends above Who have obtained the Oleo, And on the eagle wings of love • To joy celestial rise. Let all the saints terrestrial sing With those to glory gone, For all the servants of our King In heaven and earth are one. I have been told that when any of the. members of any of the great secret socie- ties of this country are in a distant city and are in any kind of trouble and are set upon by enemies they ha e only to give a certain signal, and the members of that organization will flock around for defense. And when any man belongs to this great 'Christian brotherhood, if he gets in trouble, in trial, in persecution, In temp- tation, he has only to show this ring of Christ's adoption, and all the armed soohorts of heavrn will come to his rescue. • Still further, when Christ takes a Rout Into his love, he puts upon it'a marriage /ring. Now, that is not a whim of mine --Hosea it, 19, "I will betroth time unto me forever—yea, I will betroth the unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies." • At the NV oddin g altar the bridgroom puts a ring upon the hand of thebride, signify ing love and faithfulness. Trouble may • come upon the household, and the carpets may go, the pictures may go, the piano may go—everything else may go. The lest thing that goes is that marriage elite, for it is considered sacred. In the burial hour it is withdrawn . from the hand and kept in a casket, and sometimes the box is opened on an anniversary 'day, and as you look at that • ming you see under itt arch a long procession of pre:eons memorial. Witten the golden oirole of that ring there Is room for a thousand sweet recollections to revolve, and you think of the great con- trast; between the hour when, at the close of the "Wedding March," under the ash - lag lights and amid the aroma of orange blossoms, you set that ring OD the round finger of the plump hand, and that hour when, at the close of theexeaustive watching, when you knewnhat thP soul hail fled, you took from the hand, which gave batik no responsive lasp, fromthat emaciated finger, the ring that she had worn so long and worn so well. • On some anniversary day you take up that ring,and you repolish it until all the old luster comes baok, and you can see in It the flash of eyes that long ago ceased to weep. Oh, it is not an unmeaning thing when tell you that when Christ receives a soul into •his keeping he puts OD it a marriage ring! He endows you from that moment with all his wealth. You are one—Christ and the soul—one in sym- pathy, one in affection, one in hope. There is no power on earth or hell to effect a divorcement after Christ and the soul are united. Other kings have turned out their companions when they got weary of them and sent them adrift from tile palace gate. A,hasuerus banished Vashte Napoleon forsook Josephine, but Christ is the husband that is true for- ever. leaving loved you once, he loves you to the end. Did they not try to divorce Margaret, the Scotch glee from Josue? They said, "You must give up your religion." She said, "I can't give up my religion." And so they took her down to the beach of the sea, and they drove in a stake at low water mark, and they fastened her to it, expecting that as the tide came up her faith would fall. The tide began to rise and came higher and higher, and to the girdle, and to the lip, and in the last moment, just as the wave was washing her soul into glory, she shouted the praises of Jesus. Oh, no, you cannot separate a soul from Christ! It Is an everlasting marriage. Battle and storm and darkness cannot do It. Is it too much exultation for a man, who is but dust and ashes like myself, to cry out this moment, "I am persuaded that neither height no depth, nor princip- alities nor powers, nor things present nor things to oome, nor any other creature shall separate me from the love of God which ,is in Christ Jesus, my Lord?" Glory be to God that when Christ and the soul are married they are bound by a chain, a golden chain, it I might say so— a chain with one link, and that one link the golden Aug of God's everlasting love. I 'go a step further and tell you that when Christ receives a soul into his love he puts on him the ring of festivity. You know that it has been the custom in all ages to bestow rings on very happy occa- sions. There is nothing more appropriate for a birthday gift than a ring. you de- light to bestow such a gift upon your children at such a time. It moans joy, hilarity, festivity. Well, when this old man of the text wanted to toll how glad he was that his boy had got back, he ex- pressed it in this way. Actually, before he ordered sandals to be put on his bare feet, before he ordered the fatted calf to be killed to appease the boy's hunger, he commanded, "Put a ring on his hand." Oh, it is a merry time when Christ and the soul are united. Joy of forgiveness! What a splendid thing it is to feel that all Is right between my God and myself. What a glorious thing it Is to have God just take up all the sins of 'my life and put them in one bundle, and then fling them into the depths of the sea, never to rise again, never to be talked of again. Pollution all gone; darkness all illumin- ed; God reconciled; the prodigal home I "Put a ring on his handl" Every day I find happy Christian peo- ple. I find some of them with no second coat, some of them in huts and tenement houses, not one earthly comfort afforded them, and yet they ars as happy as happy can be. They sing "Rook of Ages" as no other people in the world sing it. They never wore any jewelry in their life but one gold ring, and that was the ring of God's undying affection. Oh, how happy religion makes us! Did it make you gloomy and sad? Did you go with your head cast down? Ido not think you got religion, my brother. That is not the effect of religion. True religion is a joy. "Her ways are ways of pleas- antness. and all her paths are peace." Why, religion lightens all our burdens; It smooths all our way; it interprets all our sorrows; it changes the jar of earthly discord for the peal of festal bells. In front of the flaming furnace of trial it sets the forge on which scepters are ham- mered out. Would you not like this hour to come up from the swine feeding and try this religion? All the joys of heaven would come out and meet you, and God would cry from the throne, "Put a ring on his hand." You are not happy. I see it. There is no peace, and sometimes you laugh when you feel a groat deal more like crying. The world is a cheat. It first wears you down with its follies; then it kiosks you out into darkness. It comes baok from the massacre of 1,000,000 souls to attempt the destruction of your soul to -day. No peace out of God, but here is the fount- ain that can slake the thirst. Here is the harbor where you can drop safe anchorage. . Would you not like, I ask you—not perfunctorily, but as one brother might talk to another—would you not like to have a pillow of rest to pet your head on? And would you not like, when you re- tire at night, to feel that all is well, whether you wake up to -morrow morn- ing at 6 o'clock or sleep the sleep that knows no waking? Would you not like to exchange this awful uncertainty about the future for a glorious assurance of heaven? Accept of the•Lord. Jesus to -day and all is well. If on your way home some peril should cross the street and dash your life out, it would not hurt you. You would rise up immediately. You would stand in the celestial streets. You would be amid the great throng that for- ever worship and are forever happy, If this night some sudden disease should come upon yomit would not frighten you. If you knew you were going, you could give a calm farewell to your beautiful home on earth and know that you are going right into the companionshipof those who have already got beyond the toiling and the weeping, You feel on Saturday night different from the way you feel any other night of the week. You come home from the bank, or the store, or the office and you say, "Well, now my week's w, rk ii done, and so -morrow is Sunday." It is a pleas- ant thought, There are refreshment and reconstruction in the very idea. Oh, how pleasant it will be if, when We get through the day of our life, and we go and lie down in our bed of dust, we Ofin realize, " Well, now the work is all done, and to morrow is Sunday—an everlast- ing Sunday." Oh, when, thou city of my God, Shall I thy omens ascend, Where congregate xis meer break up And Sabbaths have no end? Thera ars people in this house to -day, Who are very near the eternal world. If you are Christians, I bid you be of good (Meer. Bear with you our 'congratula- tions to the bright city. Aged men, who will soon be gone, take with you our love for our kindred in the better land, •and when you see them, tell them that we are soot:Looming. Only a few eriornsermons to preach and hear, pule a few more heart- aches; only a few more toile; only a few more tears. And then—what an entran- cing spectacle will open before us! Beautiful heaven, where all is light; Beautiful angels, clothed in white; Beautiful strains that never tire, Beautiful harps through all the choir; There shall I join the chorus sweet, Worshiping at the &velour's feet. And so I approach you now with a general invitation, not picking out here and there a man, or here and there a woman, or here and there a child, but giving you an unlimited invitation, say- ing," Come, for all things are now ready." We invite you to the warm heart of Christ and the inolosure of the Christian church. I know a great many think that the,, church does not amount to much; that le is obsolete; that it did its work and is gone now, so far as usefulness is con- cerned. It is the happiest place I have ever been in, except my own home. know there are some people who say they are Christians who seem to get along without any help from others, and who culture solitary piety. They do not want any ordinances. I do not belong to that class. I cannot get along without them. There are so many things in this world that take my attention from God and Christ and heaven that I want all the helps of all the symbols and of all the Christian, associations, and I want around about me a solid phalanx of mon who love God and keep his commandments. Are there any here who 'would like to enter into that association? Then be.. a simple, childlike faith, apply for admis- sion into the visible church, and you will be received. No questions asked about your past history or present surroundings. Only one test—do you love Jesus? Baptism does not amount to anything, say a great many people, but the Lord Jesus declared, "He that belleveth and is baptized shall be saved," putting baptism and faith side by side. And an apostle declares, "Repent and be baptized every one of you.' I do not stickle for any particular mode of baptism, but I put great emphasis on the fact that you ought to be baptized,yet no more epmhasis than the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church, puts upon it. Some of you have been thinking on this subject year after year. You have found out that this world is a Poor portion. You want to be Christians. You have come almost into the kingdom of God, but there you stop, forgetful of the fact that to be almost saved Is not to be saved at all. Oh, my brother, after having come so near to the door of mercy, if you turn baok, you will never come at all. After all you have hoard of the goodness of God, if you turn away and die, it will not be because you did not have a good offer. God's spirit will not always strive With hardened, self -destroying, man, Ye who persist his love to grieve May never hear his voice again. May God Almighty this hour move upon your soul and bring you back from the husks of the wilderness to the Father's house, and set you at the banquet, and "put a ring on your band!" SAND STORM ON THE PLAINS. Holes in the Earth Fifty Feet Deep Made By the Wind. Near Cheyenne Wells is a long stretch of level prairie, which suddenly termin• tes in a precipice, making a perpen- dicular demo le of perhaps 50 feet to an- other plain below. In the winter of 1853 a great snow blizzard raged for several days. The snow was driven at a terrific rate before a hurricane of wind, and the buffalo were obliged in self --preserva- tion to turn their backs and run with the wind. Time result was that vast numbers of the buffalo were carried over the precipice and their dead bodies were covered with 20 or 30 feet of snow. For many years people visited the spot to look at the bones which lay in piles ten or fifteen feet high as far as the eye could reach along the precipice, and it was commonly estimated that le0,000 buffalo found a grave on that fatal spot. Sand storms in those days were so destructive that it was not unusual for freighters to lose their entire outfit During the prevalence of a storm no at- tempt was made to move, and drivers cleared the sand out of the nostrils of the horses and oxen, as otherwise the animals were threatened with death from suffocation. A sand storm usually lasted only two or three hours, but its effects were felt for days by men and animals exposed to the fury of the dread- ed blast. A curious phenomenon noticed in different places on the plains was the immense excavating power of the wind In a sand storm. There were areas of three or four acres where the wind scoop- ed out the sand 40 or 50 feet deep and whirled it away in the air. It seemed as il the work began at a central spot not larger than could be covered by a man's hat. In an incredibly short time a round hole would be excavated. The wind then took hold in real earnest, and the probabilities were that an entire sand hill woulld be leveled down in the next thirty minutes.—Denver Field. HER STRATAGEM. The Password She Gave Him Necessitated Carefulness. "What is the matter?" asked one of Mr. Vivvles's boon companions. "You haven't taken the pledge, have you?" "No. But I'm not looking on the wine when it is red in the cup,just the same." "Reformed, have you?" "Yep. You've heard of a Woman's marrying a man with the idea of getting him to stop drinking. It doesn't always work; but it did in my case. lay wife is a stupendously clever woman." "Made you promise, did she?" • "She didn't have to. When I started down -town to -night, she said: "I've lost the latchkey, deer, but it won't make any difference. You ring the bell and I'll let you in." I said, 'All right' 'Only,' she said, 'we'd better agree on some password, so that when you ring I can look out of the window and make • sure it isn't a burglar.' 'Of course,' said I. the password be?' I have it,' she answered, 'It innst'nt be too simple. You just say 'irrepressible reprehensibility' and then I'll come dawn and let you in.' Gentlerneti, if I can't say irrepressible reprehensibility when I get home I don't get in, and, moreover, assume the chances of being taken to be a househreaker. I've sim- ply got to be careful." And he wont over and resolutely seated himself next to the ice -water tank. OUR OTTAWA LETTER THE CABINET CRISIS FULLY DIS* CUSSED IN ALL ITS BEARINGS. The Whole Field Of Polities Overshadowed Tilltliderbort From the clouded Sky --Opinions on the Bolt—Clarke watiace's Aaonyinous Letters ---A Ragged Pediment Left, ---Agreed to Spar Sot Wind"--WID. tile Dowell Cabinet Dis- solve and Laurier be Called 1.713011?--Con- 8ervatiVe CAUCUS - The eloud.that, no larger than a man's hand, began to rise over the Parliament buildings a month ago, now overshadows the whole field of politics. Strong in the confidence of his own security, Sir Mac- kenzie liowell refused to accept the warn- ings from Cardwell and from Montreal Centre, He esteemed the Conservative Goverment secure, because Conservative Governments had been undefeated for eighteen years. Be rolled on the steadfast- ness of his followers in the Cabinet, un- witting that John Haggett led a clique that was determined to compass the polit- ical death of the Premier. It was in the torrid days of last July that Haggart, Montague, Wallace, Wood, Foster and Daly held a caucus. They had given a reluctant consent to the Government's pledging itself to make the introduction of a remedial bill part of the programme for the session that has just begun, They had a full discussion of the plans to be followed, and when Hagg,art stated that he for one would resign should Howell persist in his determination to bring in remedial legislation, the others vowed that they would do likewise. A Thunderbolt From the Clouded Sky, By this time, we all knom what has oc- curred. Clarke Wallace, always a far-seeing politician, left the Government two weeks in advance of his colleagues. The others filed their resignations' last Saturday night. Pressure had been` brought to bear on the Premier. He had been cajoled and threatened, but this determined old man refused to resign the reins of power. He shut his eyes to the handwriting on the wall. Even when the Mail and the Montreal Gazette, the party's leading organs, came out with diplomatically worded warnings, he refused to hear. His belief in his own star was undimin- ished; hia confidence in his own powers was strong. What was the result? The Government's defeat in Jacques Cartier showed beyond peradventure that the French Canadians took little interest in remedial legislation. Their own Lib- eral newspapers deprecated the introduc- tion of the principle of interference with Manitoba The English-speeking mem- bers of the Government said that the time had come for speedy action, and they wrote out their resignations. A thunder- bolt had come out from the clouded sky, and had, rattled ominously the windows of the Premier's office. It was then that appre- hension gave way to certainty, and that a consultation with the Governor-General took place. Opinions on the Bolt. Members who are high in the councils of the Conservative party flocked to Ottawa on Monday. The fact of seven of the Min- isters having resigned had become known, and men who were within reaching dis- tance of the capital sought the scene of the crisis. Here in Otta*a one could hear all sorts of opinions as to the result of the bolt. Followers and .lidmirers of the First Minister denounced Haggart, Foster and company as traitors. "These reen,"„,, they said, "sat in the council chamber last July and agreed that a re- medial bill should be brought down this session. One of them, Foster, from his place in the House of Commons, announc- ed that the members, jointly and several- ly, were pledged to the bringing in of the Remedial bill. Now they riave resigned because they are too cowardly to stand by their agreement." These are the views of Dr. Weldon, the professor of law at Dalhousie College. who represents Albert In the House of Commons. They are also the views, strange to say, of Mr. Clarke Wallace, who declares that the other fellows are a neck of cowards. Mr. Wallace gave me his ideas t n the subject on Tuesday; when he pointed out that, after the Government announcement had been made last July, he had told the House that he would resign the Control- lership of Customs when the 'bill was introduced. Further than this, Mr. Wal- lace tells me that he tendered his resigna- tion to Sir Mackenzie Bowen, last au- tumn. The Premier declined to accept it, on the ground that negotiations with Mr. Greenway were proceeding and that there was good prospect of a settlement being arrived at. When Greenway issued a declaration that under no circum- stances would his Government make any alteration in the ichool law of Manitoba. the Controller decided that the time when he should resign had arrived. Clarke Wallace's Prescience. Truth to tell, I fail to see any flaw in Clarke Wallace's statement of cause. Like the astute politician he is, he saw what was coming, and he left the ship at the right time. Of course, I do not wish to be taken as saying that principle had not much to do with Mr. Wallace's resignation. It was principle that im- pelled him to stand on that platform in Cartier square, in this city, and -tell an audience that he would a andon a five the:emend dollar salary sooner than coun- tenance any coercion of' the Manitobans. What shall we say of Haggai% of Foster, of Tupper and the others? 'Haggart and Wood have resigned,' first and last be- -cause Mackenzie Bowen is determined to Introduce a remedial bill. They know thet they could not, be re-elected if they voted for such a measure.,Fester, In York, NB, would be deeated Over- whelmingly if he went to the netts the representative of the Government 'that had endeavored to interfere with provinc- ial rights. York' is a. strongly Orange ounty.. It was in that riding that the cele bra ted Bathurst school case arose, and it is the county of Hatherst that sends Me. Pitt to lead the Orengemen'. in the legislature of New Brunswick. The Anonymous Letters. As to Montague, his enemies say phat,,he fears exposure 'as, a result of the charges made against him by Sir Adolphe Caron. The' Postmaster -General avers 'that Dr.. Montague Wrote anonymous letters to the Governor-General, charging Sir Adolphe With having accepted a bribe, Sir Adolphe says that he has employed ex- p rts on hand -writing, nho have given their opinion that the chirography of the letters in question Irresponds exactly with that of the ex:Minister of Agricul- t.ire. One of the last things Dr. Monta- gue did. before ho cleared his private, papers out of his Melee in the Department Of 'Agriculture was to make a !statement te a, number of newspaper men, denying any guilt, and stating that at the time the lettere were written he WM ill • and bad been confined to the house hie Many days. Sir Adolphe has taken the matter much to heart. -He sent for Donald licelestersone of Montreal's greatest law- yers,end had a two hours' interview with him. Mr. McMaster, rumor says, has been retained to conduct a prosecution, and further than that, I have been told that an arrest in high circles 'may follow at any time. There is no reason for think- ing that either of the first parties to the affair will be unfortunate enough to be put under arrest. A Bagged _Regiment nett. His enemies have not been slow to hint that Dr. Montague saw trouble immin- ent and resigned therefor. Why, it may be asked, should he do so? His retention or resignation of his portfolio could have no bearing on the question ofhis guilt or innocence. It seems to the unpreju- diced observer that Dr. Montague went, not because he feared the results of the charge made against him by Sir Adolphe, but because he had no confidence in Sir Mackenzie Howell. The seven seceders all had the same reason for leaving the Government. They loft Sir Mackenzie with a veritable ragged regiment of Ministers. Nine vacant chairs yawned around the council table on Monday last. Two of them belonged to nobody, for there were two vacancies in the Cabinet before the revolt of last Saturday. Out of the seven ministers present, Sir Mac- kenzie had one Protestant colleague, T. elayne Daly. All of the others are Roman Catholics; for Ouimet, Caron, Senator Ferguson, John leostigan, Sir Frank Smith belong to the old faith. Never be- fore in the history of Canada was there such a meeting of the Privy Council, The Protestants outnumbered by two and a half to one! Agreed to "Spar' for Wind." What went on behind those well -guard- ed doors we do not know. The old Premier doubtless kept a stiff upper lip, for it is not his custom to quail under fortune's hardest knocks. Had he done so in early life ho would not bave endured to become, by sheet luck, Prime Minister of this country. Joubtless this curious assort- ment of incompetents talked of the possi- bility of filling the vacant positions. They must have agreed to "spar for wind" for they had little to say when they flied out of the council chamber. T. Mayne Daly was in an evil humor. Robed separated himself from his friends, from Haggett and from Tupper, arid had gone oyer to the enemy. But needs must when neces- sity drives. Tom Daly knows that he can not be re-eleoted in Manitoba, He has been a failure as a Minister. Good Conservatives discredit him and say that he should never have been taken into the Cabinet. Daly knows this and seeks a judgeship in the Supreme Court of Mani- toba. Justice Gwynne, of the Dominion Supreme bench, is a very old man, and is to resign. Judge Killam, of Manitoba, is mentioned as his successor. Daly seeks to succeed the Manitoba judrze in the pravincial court. And that is the reason of his remaining in the Cabinet headed by Mackenzie Bowen, Most strenuously will Daly urge his claims before the How- ell Cabinet dissolees If he is unsuccess- ful, he retires from political life a com- pletely ignominious failure. Will the Bowel Cabinet Dissolve? "Before the Bowed Cabinet dissolves" I said. Writing early in the week, I must confess that I see no other prospect open to the Government. The Premier may fill the vacancies, but how can he expect to pass his Remedial bill in the face of the opposition of nearly all or the Protestants in the House. And I do not think the French Grits will vote for the Howell measure. These gentry eagerly desire the day when a Frenchman shall be First Minister in this country. Israel Tarte and others of the Liberal managers are fanning this feeling into a flame, It may be that Sir Mackenzie will be able to fill up the ranks of his Cabinet. And after that there is nothing but a dissolu- tion in sight. Will Laurier be Called Upon? Liberals have hoped that, in the event of Sir Maokenzie's resignation, Lord Aberdeen Would call upon Mr. Laurier to form a Government. Sir Mackenzie, in such a case, would be asked by the Gov- ernor-General to suggest the name of some gentleman who would assume the duty of getting a Cabinet together. Open mistio Liberals say that Sir Mackenzie would revenge himself by nominating Mr. Laurier. Concerning this only one man's opinion is worth anything. That man is Sir Mackenzie Howell, and as yet he has not divulged his intentions to his colleagues, much less to the tap -room politicians who are talking so loudly these times. Conservative Caucus. At to -morrow's caucus of the Conserva- tives the Prime Minister will make his defence. He will go into the canons room well aware that he enters a hostile camp. It is possible that an accommoda- tion may he arranged, whereby five of the dissident Ministers will return, accepting new portfolios, in order to eseape going back to their constituents. But two of the rebels are now and ever will be, Mac- kenzie Howell's bitter enemies. They are John Haggart and Walter Humphries Montague. • Between them and Howell there can be no surcease of strife. From now to the end of the chapter it will be war, red war. A Castle Taken With One Gun. Prof. Henry Drummond gives the fol- lowing illustration of a boy's temptations: "You have heard of the ole castle that was taken by a single gun. The attack- ing party had only one gun, and it seemed hopeless to try and take the castle, but one soldier said: 'I can show you how you can take the castle,' and he pointed the cannon to one spot and fired, and went on all day, never moving the can- non. About nightfall there were a few grains of sand knocked off the wall. He did the same thing the next day and the next, By and by the stones began to come away, and by steadily working his gun for one week, he made allele in thet castle big enough for the army to walk through. NONV., with a single gun firing away at evekyltody's life the devil is try- ing to get in at one opening. Tempta- tion is the practice' of the soni, and if you never have any temptations you will never have any practice. • A boy that at- tends fifty drills inc year is a much bet- ter soldier than -one that drills twice. Do not quarrel with your temptations; set yourself resolutely to face them," Variable, but Good. "It is a curious fact about clam chowd- er," said Mr. Hilltops, "that you never find it in any two places just alike. Everybody seems to have a way of his own of making clam chowder. There must be at least a minion clam chowder receipts, and so far as I have tried them they aro all good."—NY. Sun. RINGS AND RING -LORE, Cromwell's signet ring bore lais CZiU lion rampant, The finger ring was the earliest QM& rpent adopted by man. Every Roman freeman was entitled tor wear an iron ring. Wedding rings were used in Bend 8,000 years before Christ. Augustus wore a ring charm to protest • him from thunder storms. Betrothal rings came into use in L'et- rope as early as the ninth century. The ring of Childerie is still preserved in the Imperial Museum in Paris. After Hugh Capet every French King wore a ring as part of the royal regalia. Rings with bangles attached have been worn in India from the earliest times. Chaucer in more than one place alludes to the thumb ring as common in his time. Roman ambassadors sent abroad wove glad rings as part of their state dress. Early Celtic rings were executed in in- terlaced work, often of very intricate patterns. The state ring of the Pope is set with a large cameo bearing a portrait et Christ. The ring of the Jewish high priest was invested, by tradition, with many mystic powers. Luther habitually wore a small ting, in which the setting • represented a death's head. In many female religious orders tiee ring is used during the ceremony of re- ceiving a novice. When peers are created in Great Britain a ring is used during the ceremony at Investiture. Down to the sixteenth ceneury every physician in Europe wore a ring as a badge of his profession. Greek legends declared that the inye- tic ring of Gyges, the King of Lydia, -- made the wearer invisible. Lorenzo de Medici wore a ring whioh. according to tradition, had once belong- ed to the Emperor Nero. Most of the mediaeval kings wore and used signet rings because they were un- able to write their names. Anglo-Saxon rings were fashioned after knotted cables, the keot being worn on the outside of the hand. In the later Roman Empire, rings, out from solid stone, generally agate or onyx, became fashionable. The serpent ring, or ring made in the shape of a serpent, was a favorite in Rome during the later republic, Until the seventeenth century a ring formed part of the <Alicia dress of every priest in the Roman Church. At various times during the Roman Empire loyal subjects wore in their rings portraits of the reigning emperor. In the tombs of ancient Egypt, dating probably not later than 3,000 B.C., are found gold rings of fair workmanship. Shakespeare's ring, or at least a ring supposed to be his, was found a fens years ago in a meadow near the Avon, Wedding rings of plain gold, without outward ornament or inscription, were in use as early as the sixth century. According to the traditions of the East, Solomon conquered all his enemies through the mystic properties of his ring, NAMING THE GIRLS. Old -Fashioned Names Are the Proper Thing These Days. The most serious problem that now assails the fashionable mother is what name or names she shall bestow on her newly -arrived little daughter, for it has of late become the mode for every young woman to possess as many initials as a royal princess. Happily there has come an active revulsion against the diruinu- tive, and 'tis proper that all girls now be spoken to and of as Anne or Josephine. Catherine or Eleanor, in place of the silly and stupid Annie and Josie, Kitty and Nellie. No more does the well -regulated debutante venture to give her name dis- tinction by unique spelling Edyth, Kathryn, Corah, etc. She keeps her baptismal name pure and simple, and how many a worthy clergyman is filled with an astonishing gratification when as baptism a god- mother announces her little charge as Deborah Patience Susannah .Melville - Jones. The whole of this extensive title is engraved on the cards Mrs. Jones sends out with her own to apprise her friends of Miss Jones' safe arrival. The Deborah and Susannah are careful selections from the Biblical list now so much favored that we hear of baby Esthers, Naomis, Vashtis, Judiths, and Rachels by the score. Patience is In imitation of the Puritan love for naming girls after the virtue% and we have Hope, Peace, Prudence, 'Mercy, Faith, Deliverance, etc., along with the new provision that the mother's maiden surname, as Melville -Jones, be hyphenated with eee child's. When Baby was stet, we gave her Castorie. When sne was a Child, she cried for Castoria. When she became miss she clung to Castoria. When she had Children, she gave them Castor's. • MOST SOCCETSHSEFIli REMEDY FOR MAN OR BEAST. , Readiiiroofs below in its effects and never blistors. 'KENDALL'S SPAVIN CURE. Bezsg„Carman,lienderson Co., Feb. 2i, ,91. ' Dr, 31, J. KE1141)Att CO. ' 'Dear ,Vrs- Pleti.s. send me one Of your Horse ,31OOks and Oblige Ihnvousecla great deal of your ' kendalr, Spavin Cure with, good Somme ; it is a vOnderful medicine. I once had a mare that had an Oceult Sonvitt and five bottles cured her. I keep a bottle on hanctallthatimo, r Yours trUly, (MAR, rowers. , KENDALL'S SPAVIN CUTE.' Dr. B..7. Itztaust. co. c4N1b1c',mo" k31.3,` • Dear Sh,s-1 have used. several bottle, of Your " Spavin Core" with rinxbh. sauces,. I think n dm best liniment...I ever used. , Ware re. moved One Curb, mic Blood anovia and killed two ,Bos)e 8onvine.. hard reeotacaohaea it to SeVerni of. my friends who are Much: pleased with and keep it. Respec tf . S. R. 'RAZ P: 0.,Dmr81.8, For Sale by all Druggists, or acidness DP. 15. J. henespAien ,(10/etPA.rene , • • EN OS C11.1 KIGH PALLS 'VT. . , '