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MISCELLANEOUS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 3, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 19, No. 1.

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MISCELLANEOUS.

By J. CLARKE

Col. McCunn, of the 39th N. Y. regiment, has been publicly reprimanded by Gen. McClellan for improper conduct, and ungentlemanly treatment of another officer, who in discharge of his official duty, demanded Col. McCunn's pass. It seems that Col. McCunn flew into a passion, and in this condition ruined his character as a soldier. Gen. McClellan alludes in his reprimand to the fact that an officer who has no self-command, is not fit to command.
If order is indispensable in the camp, is it less so in the church? And if among soldiers men must have self-control, how much more in the church. And if respect is due there, how much more here. Lately Col. McCunn has been unsparing in his abuse of Gen. McClellan, and has been ordered out of town, or be put in irons. So it must be, turbulent, ungovernable, unsubdued spirits, cannot endure order, here or there.
Some men are all politeness, when securing a friend; but look out, when they have the key turned and in their pockets.
Some are like a certain oppressed race: obsequious to inferiors, but insulting to equals and dependents.
Genuine christianity reforms, polishes, refines, softens, elevates, and makes clean, and decent, the profane; but spurious religion is selfish, and does all from selfish motives.
The parents of Martin Luther flogged him abundantly. To this he ascribes much of his subsequent usefulness. What a pity his parents could not have had a modern lecture on moral suasion!
Some can not confide in a friend unless he enters into all their personal antipathies. He must think just as they do of every one. Christianity is too noble, too liberal, for such confinement. It wants air and freedom. If the dungeon, the rack, the flame, the sword, failed to hold it in check, in vain you fetter it with such hobbies as these. No, eradicate all these sordid, petty strifes and prejudices, and have a noble disregard of the swarms of troubles constantly arising. As the warrior presses to the battle-field, what cares he then (though beset with difficulties) for aught but victory?
People need humanizing. Once a whole people could spend weeks bewailing a friend. Now few find time to attend a funeral.
"My boy noticed it in a moment!" Ah, do you allow your boy to criticise the conduct of his superiors in age? Are children proper judges of moral worth? And should parents allow children to assume the censorship of the church? Parents, teach your children due caution.
What is the use of family worship, where the children are not collected and brought under its influence? One at the barn, another gone to the pasture, &c., &c. Alas! parents do not all see yet. A little more sleep!
Errorists visit, advertise, labor every way, to spread poisonous opinions. Lovers of truth sit still, trusting that the car of truth will propel itself. O, for life, for activity.
A lady investigating the immortality question was told by her minister, "It was investigation that ruined mother Eve." Isa. lvi, 10-12.
A minister's influence should tell at the fireside, everywhere. He needs no clerical starch, but his soul in the work, like Jesus, who was as much Jesus Christ in the market-place, or open field, or in private conversation, as in Pilate's judgment hall. He was Jesus, in the fishing-boat, at the feast, at the funeral. He was cheerful or sad, as occasion demanded; but it was Jesus still.
J. CLARKE.