and labour for your good, we remain,
Your affectionate friend,
THE EDITOR.
P.S.--Scatter abroad our _Friendly Words_, 1s. 6d. per hundred, post
free. All are pleased to receive them.
AN EXPLANATION.
In inserting the article, "The Fish that Swallowed Jonah," in last
month's GLEANER, we had no idea of controverting the testimony of
Scripture, but merely to show that the quibbles raised by sceptics, as
to the truth of a whale being able to do so, are at least very silly.
God could very easily prepare a whale for such a purpose. But, as sharks
are included in the term used in the original by Christ, the word
"fish," as in Jonah, would be quite as correct.
THE EDITOR.
PRIZE ESSAY.
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF OUR FIRST PARENTS, AND ITS RESULTS.
In the Bible it is said that Adam was formed before Eve, and that they
were both placed in Eden, where there was one tree of which God said
they might not eat. It is also said that Adam was not deceived, but the
woman, being deceived, was first in the transgression (1 Tim. ii. 13,
14).
Probably the woman was by herself when the tempter came to her in the
likeness of a serpent, and told her that she would not die if she
partook of the fruit which God had commanded her not to eat; but if they
took of it they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. With this
saying the tempter succeeded in getting the woman to take the fruit of
the tree of which God told her not to eat, for she looked upon it as "a
tree good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to
make one wise" (Gen. iii. 6), and she wanted to be as God. All this was
instilled into the heart of the woman by the tempter, and God being left
out of her thoughts, she now takes of the fruit of the tree, eats of it,
and gives to her husband, and he also eats of it.
Such was the fact of disobedience, which was most heinous in the sight
of God. Thus they both fell from that happy state by this one act of
disobedience, and were no longer allowed to remain in paradise. Their
life was forfeited. Man became dead in sin, and was placed at a great
distance from God, no more in paradise, but under the power of the
prince and ruler of this world. The result of this act of disobedience
has filled the earth with pride, self-will, and violence; for all the
vice and misery that have ever been known in this world, have been the
result of disobedience. All that descend from Adam are born in his
fallen image, are sinners against God, and judgment has come upon all
men to condemnation. But "where sin abounded, grace has much more
abounded," since Christ, the Seed of the woman, has come, as God said,
and has bruised the serpent's head, that as "sin has reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. v. 20, 21), who hath abolished death, and
"brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel" (2 Tim. i. 10);
and by His act of obedience unto death, even the death of the cross,
believers are made righteous in Him--"For if by one man's offence death
reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of
the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ"
(Rom. v. 17).
JAMES HERBERT COLLINS
(Aged 11 years).
_Commissariat Office, Cork._
[Very good Essays have also been received from Ada Cannings, Leonard
Lucock, Bessie Hills, E. B. Knocker, W. E. Cray, W. A. Tooke, and R. A.
Stevens.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Loss of All
Things for Christ."
The subject for February will be, "Why was Saul Rejected of God?" and
the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of "The
Life of John Newton." All competitors must give a guarantee that they
are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their own
composition, or the papers will be passed over, as the Editor cannot
undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent
direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the
first of January.]
IF aught good thou canst not say
Of thy brother, foe, or friend,
Take thou, then, the silent way,
Lest in word thou shouldst offend.
Interesting Items.
M. DE LESSEPS declares that the Panama Canal will be opened in July,
1890.
SINCE the beginning of her reign, Queen Victoria has been paid
approximately L30,000,000 by her subjects.
THE daily consumption of needles in America is said to be 4,200,000,
most of which come from Redditch, England.
THERE are 3,100 Smiths enrolled in the city directory of Philadelphia.
There are 250 John Smiths and 310 William Smiths.
CAPTURE OF A SWORD FISH.--A specimen of the sword fish was captured, a
week or two ago, in Long Reach, Milton Creek, Sittingbourne, by a
bargeman. The fish measured 5 ft. 2 in. from end of tail to tip of
sword.
CAROLINE HERSCHEL, the accomplished partner of her brother's
astronomical labours, never could remember the multiplication table, and
always had to carry a copy of it about with her.
THERE are now in the United Kingdom 1,350 workmen's retail stores,
with nearly one million members, and a capital of L9,000,000,
besides some millions on deposit. The sales last year to members were
over L25,000,000, with L3,000,000 profits.
VALUABLE REMEDY FOR ERYSIPELAS.--One handful of sage, two handfuls of
elder leaves, one ounce of alum. The whole of the foregoing to be boiled
in a quart of iron water from the blacksmith's forge, until reduced to a
pint. To be used as a wash.
THOMAS EMMITT, a man employed on the permanent way of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway, has received intimation that a gold medal will be
presented to him for his bravery in jumping on to a runaway engine at
Blackburn, and stopping it.
IT is said that, in 1887, no fewer than 22,131 human beings died from
snake-bite in India, and the number of cattle killed by snakes was
2,514; 417,596 snakes were destroyed, and 25,360 rupees were paid by the
Government as rewards for their destruction.
THE question of the Sunday opening of libraries is being excitedly
agitated in Bolton. A week or two ago Lord Hobhouse addressed a meeting,
presided over by the Vicar, in favour of opening, and quoted a letter in
support from the Bishop of Manchester. The clergy of the diocese have
organized an opposition, the Vicar standing alone in support of the
opening, and recently, at a large gathering, a resolution against
opening was carried with the wildest enthusiasm, an amendment by a
leading Socialist being defeated.
THE probabilities of there being large coal deposits under London are
discussed at considerable length by a correspondent of the _Times_. The
speculations of geologists on the subject have recently been much
assisted by several deep borings, the principal of which have been those
of Kentish Town.
A BOAT drifted from its moorings off Camia; a fishing village nine miles
from Boulogne, on Tuesday evening, October 16th. An old fisherman, named
Charles Coffier, was the only person on board, and he had nothing to eat
for four nights and three and a half days, when the boat was driven by a
breeze into Hastings.
THE Queen reads, or rather, has read to her, the _Times_ and the
_Morning Post_ every morning. Copies are sent direct to her, printed on
specially thick paper. Her secretary goes through them, marks with a
blue pencil all the important items, and these are then read to her by
the two ladies who officiate as readers.
SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY, MILTON STREET, HOLLINWOOD, LANCASHIRE.--This
was held on October 14th, when two sermons were preached, morning and
evening, by Mr. D. Smith, of Halifax, and an address was delivered by
Mr. J. Holgate, of Burnley, special hymns being sung by the scholars.
The congregations were good, and the services were much appreciated. The
collections amounted to L13 14s. 11d.
C. H. W.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PILGRIMS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.--On Saturday, October
13th, the "Feast of St. Edward, King and Confessor," was celebrated in
all the Roman Catholic churches in London, and with more than ordinary
pomp at that of SS. Peter and Edward (which is dedicated to his memory)
in Palace Street, Westminster, where a Pontifical High Mass _coram
episcopo_ was sung by Dr. J. L. Patterson, "Bishop of Emmaus." At the
conclusion of the Mass, the congregation, which included several persons
who had come from Preston and other parts of Lancashire and different
counties of England for the occasion, formed a procession and wended
their way to the Abbey, where they offered up prayers at the shrine of
St. Edward, King and Confessor. No opposition was offered to the
pilgrims and devotees by the authorities of the Abbey. Where is our
Protestantism gone to?
CHINESE is spoken by 400,000,000, Hindostani by something more than
100,000,000, English by more than 100,000,000, Russian by more than
70,000,000, German by more than 58,000,000, and French by about
40,000,000.
WILL Spain ever be tolerant? The Supreme Court of Madrid has confirmed
the decision of a provincial tribunal condemning a Spanish Protestant to
five days' imprisonment, with a fine of one pound and costs, for having
persisted in remaining with his hat on when he met a Catholic
procession.
AN ARMY OF SPIDERS.--A dangerous spider that is found on the pampas of
Central America, and belonging to the Lycoss species, is thus described
in a letter:--"When a person passes near, say within three or four feet
of its lurking place, it starts up and gives chase, and will often
follow for a distance of thirty or forty yards. I came once very nearly
getting bitten by one of these savage creatures. Riding at an easy trot
over the dry grass, I suddenly observed a spider pursuing me, leaping
swiftly along and keeping up with my beast. I aimed a blow with my whip,
and the point of the lash struck the ground close to it, when it leaped
upon and ran up the lash, and was within three or four inches of my
hand, when I flung the whip from me. The gauchos have a very quaint
ballad which tells that the city of Cordova was once invaded by an army
of monstrous spiders, and that the townspeople went out with beating
drums and flags flying to repel the invasion, and, after firing several
volleys, they were forced to return and fly for their lives."
THE WHALE HUNT AT SPITHEAD.--The little coast villages of Bembridge and
Sea View, in the Isle of Wight, were thrown into quite a commotion on
Friday, September 21st, by the appearance of a huge whale, between
thirty and forty feet long, off the mouth of Brading Harbour. It was
observed to be swimming about early in the morning, and the little
steamer _Island Queen_, which runs between Southsea and Bembridge, had
an unpleasant meeting with the creature. Much to the alarm of the
passengers, the whale would "keep company," and for some time it was
dangerously close to the little vessel. It furiously lashed the sea with
its tail, and commenced to "blow," the result being that the captain,
who was on the bridge, and many of the passengers were deluged with
water. No harm, however, was done, and the steamer eventually got clear,
the whale swimming out to sea. Later on it again put in an appearance,
but by this time the islanders were ready for it, and a large number of
fishing-boats, watermen, and others put out. The creature was
surrounded, and was at length shot. It was then towed on to Sea View
beach, where it has been visited by some hundreds of people. At high
tide the whale was partially covered. Its dimensions are as
follow--length of fish, 35 ft.; girth, 20 ft.; length of mouth from
point to top of jaw, 7 ft.; length of fins, 4 ft. each; width of tail, 8
ft.; supposed weight, 10 tons. Estimated value of a sperm whale, L100.
The whale has been purchased by Mr. G. Drover, of Cowes.
CHIMNEYS.--In the year 1200 chimneys were scarcely known in England. One
only was allowed in a religious house, one in a manor house, and one in
the great hall of a castle or lord's house; but in other houses the
smoke found its way out as it could. The writers of the fourteenth
century seem to have considered them as the newest invention of luxury.
In Henry VIII.'s reign the University of Oxford had no fire allowed, for
it is mentioned that after the students had supped, having no fire in
the winter, they were obliged to take a good run for half an hour to get
heat in their feet before they retired for the night. Holinshed, in the
reign of Elizabeth, describes the rudeness of the preceding generation
in the arts of life. "There were," says he, "very few chimneys; even in
the capital towns the fire was laid to the wall, and the smoke issued
out at the door, roof, or window. The houses were wattled and plastered
over with clay, and all the furniture and utensils were of wood." In
1639 a tax of two shillings was laid on chimneys.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE POST OFFICE.--"How can one get admitted to the
General Post Office, and what departments are best worth seeing there?"
asks "A Country Cleric." Admission to that remarkably interesting
building, the General Post Office, can be had on application to the
Secretary. A banker's reference is necessary. The sight is one well
worth seeing, and should on no account be missed by country visitors to
London. Visitors are admitted at six in the evening, and are shown over
the telegraph department. Here may be seen the pneumatic tubes, through
which messages are received from many parts of London. Into this office
run wires from Belfast, Edinburgh, and all parts of the United Kingdom,
and the whole system is explained by an expert. Crossing the road one
then enters the Post Office itself. Here one sees the "blind men," as
they are called, at work deciphering illegible addresses; and men and
machines stamping postmarks at the rate of from one hundred to three
hundred a minute. But in order to see the Post Office properly, two or
three visits should be made. Not one person in a hundred has any notion
of the peculiar experiences of a letter between the times of its postage
and receipt.
Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny.
THE LITTLE GLEANER.
An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of Religious and General Instruction for
Children.
The Editor seeks as much as possible to make this Magazine both
interesting and useful to its readers, and hopes that all true friends
of the young will try to secure for it a still wider circulation.
* * * * *
Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny.
THE SOWER
Is well adapted for general circulation, since it aims to spread abroad
the pure truth of the Gospel of Christ.
Seeing how very industriously the abettors of error sow their tares,
lovers of truth, with equal or greater industry, should sow that truth
which is "able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in
Christ Jesus."
The Editor earnestly solicits all who desire the spread of Bible truth
to help him in this work by increasing the circulation of THE LITTLE
GLEANER and THE SOWER.
Two, four, six, or more copies of the above Magazines post free of
the EDITOR,
117, High Street, Hastings.
London: HOULSTON AND SONS, Paternoster Buildings.
* * * * *
FRIENDLY WORDS.
This is a little work of four pages, GLEANER size, which we publish
monthly, for the purpose of supplying friends with a sheet of short
readings, which will suit many who do not care to read page after page
of a magazine or lengthy tract. It has a front-page illustration, which
renders it very attractive in general distribution. We hope our friends
will spread them freely everywhere. "Wherever I distribute FRIENDLY
WORDS, I find they are most heartily welcomed and eagerly read. I hope
they will be widely circulated, and that the Lord will make them very
useful among the masses.--L. T." "I am pleased to see how eagerly
FRIENDLY WORDS are received and read where I distribute them. I only
wish that all who desire the good of souls, would spread them abroad
wherever they can do so.--S." Will other friends kindly try this plan?
They can have a good assortment at a small cost.
Price 1s. 6d. per 100; 3d. per dozen (assorted packets at the same
price). Post free from the EDITOR, 117, High Street, Hastings.
* * * * *
THE ANNUAL VOLUMES of "GLEANER" and "SOWER."
These Volumes are acknowledged to be most admirably adapted for
Presents, where sound and interesting books are desired.
The LITTLE GLEANER, Boards, Illustrated 1s. 6d., or six vols, for 8s.
The LITTLE GLEANER, Cloth, do. 2s. do. 10s.
The SOWER, Cloth, do. 2s. do. 10s.
Sent, at above prices, post free, if ordered of the Editor, Mr. HULL,
117, High Street, Hastings.
* * * * *
Fact Superior to Fiction.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S TREASURY.--Vols. I. and II.
These little Volumes contain a collection of interesting narratives,
setting forth the good old truths of the Gospel, and will, we believe,
help to meet a want greatly felt in our families and schools, as they
supply sound Scriptural reading in an interesting form, without
resorting to fictitious tales. We earnestly commend them to all who seek
the good of the rising race, as books which may, with the Lord's
blessing, be of great spiritual use among the young.
Price One Shilling each, or eight volumes for 6s. 6d., post free, if
ordered of the Editor, Mr. T. HULL, 117, High Street, Hastings.
INDEX.
PAGE
About Swearing, 225
Admiral Pye and the Inquisitors, 231
Aged Pilgrim's History, An, 183
Answer of George III. to Lord Grenville, 66
Answers to Bible Enigmas, 19, 28, 59, 88, 113, 142, 174,
185, 238, 247, 271
Anti-Romish Book, The, 273
"Ask On", 203
Be Gentle, 28
Beware of Thorns, 131
Bible and its Claims, The 222
Bible Class, Our, 20, 44, 67, 91, 115, 140, 163, 188, 211, 235,
260, 275
Bible Enigmas, 41, 66, 91, 106, 130, 165, 174, 213, 235, 255, 273
Bible Subjects, 11, 35, 52, 81, 117, 141, 165, 187, 214, 237,
255, 268
Bible with Pins in it, A, 66
Biblical Discovery, 29
Birthday Wish, 257
Blind Tortoise in the Well, 130
Blind Widow, The, 266
Brand Plucked out of the Fire, A, 228
Brave Rescue, A, 84
Brimstone or Sulphur, 256
Brother's Dream, A, 103
Brought to the Fold, 151
Budding of Hope, A, 51
Bunyan's Death, 272
Caring for the Little Ones, 50
Charcoal Burner's Star, The, 7, 30
Charlie Coulson, the Drummer-Boy, 170
Child and the Emperor, The, 259
Child Heroism, 232
Child's Prayer, A, 22
Cingalese Rock Fortress, A, 154
Clever Boy and Electrical Machine, 114
Cost of a Broken Sabbath, 132
Counting the Cost, 126
Cousin Susan's Note-Book on Father Chiniquy, 56, 76, 101, 152, 201
Covenanter's Escape and Death, The, 146
Day's Work, A, 147
Dear Old Times, The, 124
Denied, yet Answered, 251
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, 220
Dirge of an Englishwoman, The, 57
Divine Guidance, 159
Divine Providence, A, 99
"Draw Me", 83
Drunkard's Will, A, 233
Dutch and their Country, The, 209
Duties of Brothers and Sisters, 259
Edison's Phonograph, 172
Editor's Closing Address to his Young Friends, The, 278
Editor's New Year's Address, 2
Enemies of God and His People Scattered, 40
Experiences in the Arctic Ocean, 58
Explanation, An, 278
Extraordinary Story of the Sea, 272
Facts about Ocean Steamships, 197
Famous Dog, A, 82
Few Words from the Dumb, 108
Fish that Swallowed Jonah, The, 246
Flesh-Eating Plants, 83
Flying Foxes, 180
From Darkness to Light, 34
Fugitive in the Himalaya Mountains, A, 107
Generosity and Love, 185
Good Example, A, 208
Great Events, 242
Great Exhibition of 1851, 196
Heroic Scotch Student, A, 258
He Went Wrong, but He Found Mercy, 269
Hint to Boys, A, 158
Hint to Parents, A, 41
His Title-Deeds, 163
Honouring the Lord's Day, 252
Hopeful Case, A, 195
Hop-Picking.--The Last Pole, 274
House on the Sand, The, 173
How a Great Mistake was Discovered, 39
How to Select a Boy, 153
Hyacinth, The, 219
Incident in the Life of a Barrister, 74
Insecurity of Palestine, 257
Interesting Items, 23, 47, 71, 95, 119, 143, 167, 191, 215,
239, 263, 280
"Is not a Man Better than an Egg?", 204
Jesuit and the Bible, The, 98
"Jesus Loves Me!", 160
Johnnie's Christmas, 271
Juvenile Gems, 127, 148
"Keep the Star in Sight", 65
Kenilworth Castle, 161
Killed by Lightning, 182
Kindness to Animals, 94
Land of Giants, The, 234
"Let No Man Despise Thee", 46
Letter by a Dying Soldier, 194
Lines on the New Year, 5
Little by Little, 179
Little Helps by Large Hearts, 227
Little Johnnie, 255
Little Kindnesses, 233
Little Scotch Granite, 218
Lost and Found, 122
Mankind's Mistakes, 222
"Mary had a Little Lamb", 199
Memoir of Carrie Foord, 175
Memoir of Ellen and Henry Hoad, 248
Memoir of Emma Beesley, 110
Memoir of Mary Stubbs, 78
Model Prayer-Meeting, A, 184
Modes of Travel in Persia, 75
Morning's Walk in a Country Lane, A, 63
Mummy of Sesostris, The, 84
Nails Gone, but Marks Left, 214
Nature her own Surgeon, 224
New Telephone, A, 203
"Nothing to Thank God For", 154
Old Clock's Advice, An, 238
Old Quilt and its Story, An, 12
One Link Gone, 108
One Poor Stone, 62
"Only Once", 4
Orphan Bess, 198
Penny Piece, The, 227
Pharisee and the Publican, 93
Pitcairn Islanders and the Queen, The, 261
Pleading, 273
Points to be Aimed At, 124
Postal Service Statistics, 223
Power of Kindness, 237
Prayer Answered, 112
Precious Blood of Christ, The, 226
Priest and the Lady, The, 162
Priest's Thoughts of Roman Catholic Miracles, 125
Prince Consort's Opinion of Popery, 66
Prize Essays, 21, 45, 69, 93, 117, 142, 165, 190, 213, 237,
262, 279
Prompt Kindness, 106
Queer Fisherman, A, 155
Questions with Answers, 77
Ragged Tom, 139
Rare and Costly Bibles, 202
Receiving the Truth, 137
Red Sea Rock, A, 161
Saved by Grace, 156
Scotch Thistle, The, 55
Scripture Enigma, 10
Sense and Senses of Animals, 131
Singular Cause of Death, 59
Soft Answer, A, 211
Soft Pillow, A, 136
Something about Foxes, 60
Stage-Coach Companion, My, 16
Stand Back, 163
Sunday School Meetings:--
Burwash, Providence, 210
Clifton, 210
Fleckney, Carmel, 210
Gower Street, 138
Greenwich, Devonshire Road, 89
Hand Cross, Zoar Chapel, 186
Hastings, Ebenezer, 42
Trowbridge, Zion, 187
Sympathy, 200
Talking With a Man Seven Thousand Miles Off, 247
Terrible Experience of a Shipwrecked Crew, 268
"The Day of Small Things", 36
"There is No Rest in Hell", 53
"This is the Way; Walk Ye in It", 86
"Thou God Seest Me", 86
Thrilling Scenes at the Forth Bridge Works, 67
Touching Incident, 3
Two Brave Children, 158
Two Ways of Descending, 100
Under the London Streets, 200
Unseen Protection, 173
Value of Work, The, 75
Visit to the Idrian Mines, 87
What a Tract may Do, 26
Wisdom, 113
Wise and Foolish Builders, 90
Wonderful Grace, 15
Words and Deeds, 219
Word to Self-Seekers, A, 69
Word with Power, The, 226
Transcriber's note:
1. Punctuation has been normalized. Inconsistent
hyphenation and spellings have been left as printed.
2. The illustration caption on page 204 is missing text following (see--
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS?" (see
3. Page 231 "having been on a voyage to Spain"--missing word "on"
was added.