noble purposes, until conformity to the example of Christ our Lord, will fill us with a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

But many make a sad mistake here, and are looking to death to accomplish for them what the religion of Jesus Christ, and devotion towards God, were designed to accomplish. They expect to put off discontent and selfishness; hardness towards their neighbors, jealousness and anger, and the evil things which they cherish in their minds and practice in their lives, by dying-and to rise into some vaguely conceived state of celestial blessedness and peace.

This expectation that death will accomplish for men, what the religion of Jesus Christ was designed to accomplish, is a great mistake in our opinion.

There are two worlds, remember-the spiritual and the natural; one interior, the other exterior; and we live in both of them at the same time;-in the outer or natural world as to our bodies and senses; in the inner or spiritual world as to our souls and mental consciousness. Now we dwell as to our bodies in material homes, among visible companions; and at the same time, as to our spirits, in homes not made with hands, among invisible companions, with whom our minds hold in. tercourse. And of what quality are these companions? Ah, that is the significant question! Do they lift our thoughts heavenward, or hold us near the earth? Do they stimulate pride, or teach us lessons of humility? Are they ministers of discontent or resignation? Do they in. spire love of self and the world, or love of God and the neighbor? We do not part company with these companions at death-they belong to our inner habitation: to the dwelling places that we are building for our souls. God cannot take us out of ourselves, for that would be to destroy us. He can only provide for our happiness according to the free determination of our lives, and give of the good

things of His love and wisdom in the degree that we are capable of receiving them. The measure can be no greater, and will be no less. All that we can receive, He will give-for He is the Good Giver.

But Christ is Mediator and Lord after death takes place, as well as before; and the subjection to be secured by him is the

same.

We know of no event, or experience, that will render the work of Christ for us as Mediator and Saviour unnecessary. And that work is the subjection of our soul to His will and love-it is a subjection that is sure to be followed by his abiding in us, and our abiding in him.

And St. John tells us what would follow-such an abiding. He says: "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

This is the religion of Jesus Christ; it is first pure, then peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the person who has it will visit the fatherless and the widow, and keep himself unspotted from the world. The value of such a religion cannot be told. Its constant call is come, come, love and obey through love, that you may find rest and peace and the joy of Christ our Lord.

BEGIN EARLY.

Nothing can be more important to human happiness, than to have the work of moral culture begun early and begun right. A mistake here is often a life lasting source of unhappiness.

Thackeray says a woman's heart is just like a lithographer's stone--what is once written upon it can't be rubbed out. This is so. Let an heiress once fix her affections on a stable boy, and all the preaching in the world will not get her thoughts above oat-boxes and curry-combs. "What

To

is written on her heart cannot be rubbed out." This fact shows itself, not only in love but in religion. Men change their gods a dozen times; a woman never. convert a Sister of Charity to Methodism would require a greater amount of power than you would have to make use of to overturn the pyramids.

This is the secret of many unhappy lives. The woman could not marry the man she preferred above all others--but married one she did not want, rather than remain single through life. As she was situated, her marriage was simply a choice of evils, and she never gets over the disappointment. And as life approaches its evening, instead of being mellowed by love, it is sour and bitter, and filled with fault finding and discontent.

It makes a great difference in the journey of life, whether the traveler starts with the purpose to make the best of verything in his way, or the worst. The safeguards against such mistakes, should be laid in the early education at home. But people make a great distinction where there is no difference whatever. Many a woman who would not refuse to dine with a profligate rake, would consider herself fouly insulted were she invited to take tea with a courtesan; but the difference between the two is, one wears pantaloons and thn other petticoats-the moral is the

same .

Proper moral culture in childhood, would make such mistakes impossible. A remarkable illustration of the effect of neglecting such culture, was recently brought to light in California. The affair was the killing of E. C. Gresham by P. C. McConkey, the latter having discovered that Gresham was his wife's paramour. There is nothing at all odd about this-such triune comedies are as old as the race.

But the curious part of the affair was a letter found on the dead man's body -a letter from Mrs. McConkey. The adulterous wife had heard rumors con

cerning her paramour's lewd life. She writes to him:

"It is with cheeks of flame and a great load upon my heart that I begin this letter... Oh, Mr. Gresham, the knowledge has come to me that you are not moral, and the blow nearly kills me. You, whom I thought so pure, so truly noble! ... Is it possible that there is no such thing as a virtuous man? I begin to think so. My face burns with shame and indignation when I think of you being in the society of those wretched beings, who call themselves women, then come to me with smiles for the kisses that you know come from a pure and loving heart.... You ough to have had enough respect for me to have kept you from those evils. Forgive me if I speak plainly, but it seems necessary to do so under the circumstances. I could not tell you these things face to face. My womanly feelings would not permit it. It seems different to tell you on paper.

The world is too one-sided. Men expect the love of pure women, and yet pollute themselves to the greatest depths of evil. I sincerely hope and pray that what I have heard is not true."

If there is an old fashioned orthodox devil, he must have laughed when the woman penned that letter. A married woman, a wife and mother, who is false to her husband, to her children, to her sex and to herself, sits down and reads her paramour a lecture on morality. Morality" means according to her code, fidelity to her. And this woman speaks of "those wretched beings" as if they would pollute her skirts by a mere touch, yet she who wrote was worse than they. What could her moral education have been? It is very evident that her highest idea of duty, if she really had any, was to have her own way, and enjoy herself as she pleased.

A life built on such a foundation, is built upon the sand. And boys and girls, sent out on the journey of life, with

Such moral ideas, are started for ruin, and no other destination can reasonably be expected.

Had Mrs. McConkey been true to mother and home, to husband and children, her appeal for a pure true life, would have rung down the years to come like a deathless song. And what work can be more noble, than preparing the young by early education, to bless themselves, and the world, by singing such songs.

REASON FOR REJOICING.

We are rejoiced to read the statement, that the residuary legatees, under the will of the late Wm. H. Ryder, D. D., have each received from the executors of his estate the sum of thirty-two thousand three hundred and fifty-six dollars and sixty-eight cents ($32,356.68.)

The institutions are the Universalist Publishing House of Boston, Mass.; the Divinity School of Tufts College; the Divinity School of St. Lawrence University; the Divinity School of Lombard University, and Buchtel College.

This gift from the West to the Universalist Publishing House probably makes the existence of our Western paper-the Universalist-secure for many years to

come.

Now who will do something to make the existence of our Magazine a certainty for the years to come. It has existed for over thirty-three years without donations or contributions, but the gift of a few thousand would make its existence a certainty, and greatly increase its value. Who will aid to make its continued existence a certainty?

THEOSOPHY-WHAT IS IT?

It is defined to be the wisdom or illu mination derived from direct inspiration. It is a name vaguely applied to those religious teachers and writers who profess to have arrived at an unusual knowledge of divine things by meditation and super

human illumination. Its professors call it wisdom religion.

And one of them says: "The Theosophist is not the apostle of a new faith. He does not present a novel creed or a fresh organization. He disclaims any monop. oly of truth, any recent discovery, any Divine commission. He invites no personal following, organizes no Church, enjoins no obedience. He repudiates a crusade against established beliefs or a revolution in the social order. There is nothing alarming or anarchistic in his utterances, however pungently they express the need for change or prompt to instant action. Why? Because he holds that there is enough of truth and motive already known, if only we can be induced to use it."

The head of this new theory, is said by Vanity Fair, of London, to be Mme. Blavatsky. It says: "Mme. Blavatsky is the fountain head of the new religion, the loadstar of those who seek for truth, the High Priestess-nay, the female Pope of Theosophy! Go to No. 19, Avenue road, St. John's Wood. There she sits on a throne, a cigarette in her mouth, a rose in her hand. And her disciples lounge and kneel around her with a worshiping gaze, a raptured smile, competing for the honor of giving her a light, or an ash tray, or of fanning her with an Indian punkah.

IN MEMORIAM.

Passed to the higher life, from her home near South Bend, Indiana, July 22nd, 1890, Mrs. Caroline Matthews, wife of Bro. M. M. Matthews, in the 59th year of her age.

Sister Maithews' maiden name was Crocker, she was the youngest of a family of eight children, but two of whom are living. She was born March 8th, 1832, and was married to Bro. Matthews Aug. 19th, 1849. She was the mother of ten children, six of whom are living; two

died in infancy, and two (twin daughters) in young motherhood. Mrs. Mina Luster died three years ago, leaving a husband and an infant babe, which soon followed her. And Mrs. Madie Whitman, who entered rest June 6th, 1890. Sister Whitman had spent the past year in Colorado with the hope of regaining her health, but failing in this, she was brought back to the home of her childhood and mother, May 30th, and only lived one week after her arrival. But oh! it was such a joy to die at home with father and mother. She leaves a husband and little boy three years old. Little did she think that the dear mother, who had been so tender and loving, would follow her so soon, where there is no parting nor sor

row.

Sister Matthews was a devoted Christian woman. She united with the Universalist Church in 1859, and had taken and read our Magazine ever since. And she often expressed the wish that each one of her children, as they came to have homes of their own, would take the Magazine and read it.

Her funeral services were performed July 24th, at her late home, and a large congregation of friends and neighbors assembled to pay their respects to one they loved, and to mourn her departure. And a procession nearly a half a mile long followed her remains to the quiet city of the dead.

The funeral services were performed by the Editor of this Magazine, assisted by a very Christian brother, Rev. Mr. Wilson. May the good Lord comfort our bereaved brother and his family in the great loneliness is our wish and prayer.

A HEAVY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT. Among the decisions of the Supreme Court of Albany, New York, in 1862, was one in favor of Mr. J. Seabury against Bradford O. Wait, for seven years, sub<scription to his paper. The decision was in favor of the publisher, and the judg

ment and costs, it is stated, amounted to between two and three hundred dollars. The New York Observer, one of the oldest newspapers in the country, said of this dicision; "It is suprising that so few subscribers fully understand their responsibilities to publishers of newspapers. The law which governed in this decision is a law of Congress, and therefore ap plicable to every State in the Union. Many subscribers seem to regard the bill for a newspaper the last to be settled, especially the last which the law will enforce. Responsible mer, even, under trifling whims, refuse to take their paper from their offices, regardless of the pay. ment in the arrears, and when half a doz en more years have been added to the arrears at the time of stopping, think it hard to pay the increased bill with interest and cost of collection."

We will add here, that the law in rela tion to newspaper subscriptions, holding subscribers so rigidly to their responsi bilites as such, is wisely founded upon the nature of the newspaper business The entire interest of the publisher is in littles scattered over the country, it may be thousands of miles, in dues from persons he cannot call upon; and the busi ness could not be carried on unless he had the protection of comprehensive and decisive law.

TEXAS ASSOCIATION,

The Texas Universalist State Association met at Meridian, July 25th, and coutinued in session until the 28th. There was not a large delegation present, but it was decided (we presume on the "mutual admiration" plan) that which it lacked in quantity, was supplimented in quality. Suffice it to say that the enthusiasm and interest continued during the meetings. and.in separating to return to their several homes, each one expressed great satisfaction and pleasure in the meetings, and a determination to be present upon future meetings of the Association and to en

deavor to make them what they should be-help to individual and denominational progress.

Bro. Black, our ministerial brother from Kentucky, captured the hearts of all, and we rejoice that we have such an important accession to the working force for Universalism in Texas. He comes highly recommended, not only from Dr. Demorest, Secretary of the General Convention, but the seinor State Missionary here has received a letter from the State Superintendent of Kentucky, endorsing Brother Black as a noble and consecrated man and an efficient worker, every way worthy of confidence and esteem. Texas may count itself fortunate in securing the loving service of such a man for the spread of liberal christianity. There is need enough of such work in this semi-benighted land. Who can doubt it?

COMMENT.

*

Since receiving the above from a correspondent, we have seen the proceedings of the Association published by the secretray; and find that the Committee on Books and Periodicals submitted the following, which was adopted:

"It is recommeded by the Committee on Denominational Literature that efforts of Universalists in Texas be made the coming year to interest the friends in all commendable ways to purchase our denominational books issued by the Universalist Publishing House. Also to subscribe for our religious papers and periodicals. Especially would we urge our sisters to subscribe for MANFORD'S MAGAZINE, edited and published by Br. T. H. Tabor, West Van Buren Street, Chicago; price $1.50 per year, this being the only family magazine in our denomination and one every way worthy of patronage. We recommend that a short notice to this effect be published in the Universalist Herald, of Notasulga.”

As this report and vote concerns us and our Magazine we are very grateful for it. And if it leads to the increased circulation

of our MAGAZINE among our friends in Texas and the South, it will aid our cause there and help us.

LET IT BE REMEMBERED

"The saloon never enhances values: it pulls them down. The residents of the districts which are menaced doubtless know this, and no such talk will induce them to let up their fight for the maintenance of their rights. Here and there a corner lot, exceptionally well placed for saloon business, might bring more than at present, but the value of the neighboring property would be lowered at once." It is the Chicago Tribune which speaks often of" sniveling prohibitionists" which makes such an admission concerning the effects of the saloon. "The saloon never enhances values. It always pulls them down." It may be said also that it raises taxes, though the license fees are the devil's bribe to induce honest men to permit its existence. Taxes are higher in Nebraska than in either Iowa or Kansas; they are higher in Lincoln than either in Des Moines or Topeka. In 1889 the State taxes on a hundred dollars were in Iowa 25 cents; in Kansas 24 cents, but in Nebraska, the high license State, 63 cents. The city taxes in prohibition Des Moines the largest of the three cities, were 25 ceats on the hundred dollars; in Topeka, the capital of prohibition Kansas, 29% cents, but in Lincoln 481⁄2 cents. Yet the excuse for license is to reduce taxation!

ENDLESS PUNISHMENT. Here is an objection to endless misery. All admit, when they forget their creeds, that there should be an exact proportion between sin and its punishment. Yet the Orthodox church theory denies it in toto. Our sins are finite, but the punishment is said to be infinite; we sin for a day, but the punishment will be for all eternity. Yes, one sin, according to this terrible creed, merits endless woe, but ten thousand sins can merit no longer punishment. Stat