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OCT. 3. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
&ij? fftutatur. 
NATIONAL TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION 
In accordance with a call issued to the “ Teach¬ 
ers of the United States,” many from various parts 
of the Union assembled in Convention, at Phila¬ 
delphia, August 20,1857. The meeting was called 
to order by T. W. Valentine, of New York, who 
read the call, and stated the design contemplated 
by the proposed organization of a National Teach¬ 
ers’ Association. 
On motion, Jas. L. Enos, of Iowa, waB appointed 
temporary Chairman, and Wit. E. Sheldon, of 
Massachusetts, Secretary. 
Rev. Dr. Challen, of Philadelphia, read a portion 
of Scripture and offered prayer. 
D. B. Hagar, of Mass., offered the following reso¬ 
lutions: 
Resolved, That in the opinion of the teachers 
now present, as representatives of various parts of 
the United State?, it is expedient to organize a 
“National Teachers' Association.” 
Resolved, That a committee oi three be appoint¬ 
ed by the Chair to prepare a Constitution adapted 
to such an Association. 
The resolutions were discussed by Messrs. Ha¬ 
gar, of Mass.; Valentine, of N. Y.; Hickok, of Penn.; 
Bnlkley, of N. Y.; Cann, of Ga.; Cnallen, of Ind.; 
Taylor, of DeL ; Wickersham, of Penn.; Barrett, 
of Ill.; Whelan, of Mo.; and Rev. Dr. ChalleD, of 
Philadelphia; all of whom favored the immediate, 
organization of a National Teachers’ Association. 
The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and 
the Chair appointed Messrs, llagar, Cann, and 
Challen, of Ind., the committee to prepare and re¬ 
port a Constitution. 
At 12j o’clock the Convention adjourned. 
AFTERNOON SESSION. 
The Convention met according to adjournment, 
in the Sansom Street, Hall, at 2^ o’clock, and was 
called to order by the Chairman, Jas. L. Enos.— 
The minutes of the morning session were read and 
approved. 
General remarks, relating to education in differ¬ 
ent parts of our country, were made by Messrs. 
Lynch, of DeL; Bnlkley, of N. Y.; Richards, of D. 
C.; Sheldon, of Mass.; Roberta, of Pa.; Valentine, 
N. Y.; and Hickok, of Pa. D. B. Hagar, from the 
committee to prepare a Constitution, submitted 
their report, which was aocepted. The Constitu¬ 
tion as reported, was taken up article by article, 
for adoption. After aa earnest and free discussion 
of the several articles, in which many of the teach¬ 
ers present participated, and some amendments 
having been agreed upon, the following Preamble 
and Constitution was adopted unanimously: 
rilBAMSLE. 
To derate I be diameter and advance the interests of the 
profession of teaching, and to promote the cause of popu¬ 
lar education in the L'uiled .States, we, whose names are 
subjoined, agree to adopt the following 
CONSTITUTION. 
Article I. frame .—This association shall be styled the 
“ National Teachers’ Association.” 
Art. IT. Members .—Any gentleman who is regularly 
occupied in teaching in o public or prirate elementary 
school, common school, high school, academy or scientific 
school, college or university, or who is regularly employed 
ns a private tutor, as the editor of an educational journal, 
or ns a superintendent of schools, shall be eligible to mem¬ 
bership. 
Application: for admission to mninbersliip shall be made 
or referred to the Board of Id lectors, or such committee 
of tbeirowu number they sluill appoint: sad all who 
may be recommended by them, and accepted by a majority 
vote of the members present, s hat I be entitled to the privi¬ 
leges of the association, upon paying two dollars and sign¬ 
ing this constitution - 
Upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors, 
gentlemen may be elected us honorary member's by a two- 
thirds vote of the members present, and ns such shall have 
all the rights of regular members except those of voting 
and holding otliee. 
Ladies engaged in teaching may, on the recommendation 
of the Board of Iiirertors, become honorary members, and 
shall thereby possess the right of presenting, in the form 
of written essays (to lie tead by theFer-etary urany other 
member whom the ,- may select,) their views upon t he sub- 
ject assigned for rti-.ussion. 
Whenever a lurmbeT of this association shall abandon 
the profession of teaching, or the business of editing an 
educational journal, or of superintending schools, he shall 
cease to be a member. 
If one member shall he chargort by another with im¬ 
moral or dishonorable conduct, the charge shall be referred 
to the Roard of Directors, or 6uoh as they shall appoint, 
and if the charge shall be sustained by them, and after¬ 
wards by two-thirds of the members present at a regular 
meeting of the association, the person bo charged shall 
forfeit his membership. 
There shall be an annual fee oi one dollar. If any one 
shall omit paying his fco tor four years, his connection with 
the association shall cease. 
A person eligible to membership, may become n life 
member by paving, at once, ten dollars. 
Art. III. Officer*, —The olheorg of this association shall 
bo a f’resident, twelve Vice-Fremdents, a Secretary, a 
Treasurer, and one Counsellor for each Suite, District or 
Territory ropreirnted in the association. These officers, 
all of whom shall tie elected by ballot, a majority of the 
votes erod being necessary lor a choice, shall constitute the 
Hoard of Directors, and shall have power to appoint smell 
committees from theiv own number as they shall deem 
expedient. 
The President shall preside at all meetings of the asso¬ 
ciation and of tho Board of Directors, and shall perform 
such other duties, and enjoy Bue.h privileges aa by custom 
devolve upon and are enjoyed by a presiding oliicer. In 
liia absence, the first Vlee-l’tosldent in order who is present, 
shall preside; ami iu Uio absence of all tho Vice-Presi¬ 
dents, a nro tempore chairman shall bo appointed ou nomi¬ 
nation, the Secretary putting llie question. 
The Secretary shall keep a full and in# r. record of the 
proceedings of the association ol tho Board of Directors; 
shall notify each member of the association or board: shall 
conduct such correspondence aa the director* may assign; 
and shall have his records present at all meetings of tile 
association and of the Bonrd of Directois. In ins absence 
a Secretary pro tempore may he appointed, 
The Treasurer shall receive and hold in safe keeping all 
moneys paid to the association; shall expend the same in 
accordance with the vote* of the direi tors or of ttie associ¬ 
ation; and sluill I top an exact account of his receipts and 
expenditures, with vouchers for the letter, which account 
he shall render to thn Board of Directors prior to each 
regular meeting of the association; ho shall also present 
an abstract thereof to the association. The Treasurer 
shall give such bonds for the faithful discharge of hia duties 
as may be required by the Board of Directors. 
The Counsellors shall have equal power with tho other 
directors in performing the duties belonging to the board. 
The Board of Directors shall have power to fill all vacan¬ 
cies in their own body; shall have lu charge tho general 
interests of the association; shall make all necessary ar¬ 
rangements for its meetings; and shall do In all their power 
to render it a useful and honorable institution. 
Art. IV. Nee tint ?*.— A meeting shall bo held iu Au¬ 
gust, 1857, after which the regular meetings shall bo held 
biennially. The place and the precise time of mooting 
shall he determined by tho Board of Directors. 
Tho Board of Directors shall hold their regular meetings 
at the place and two hours before the time of tho assem¬ 
bling of tho association and immediately after the adjourn¬ 
ment of the same. Special meotinge may be held n't such 
other limes and places ns tho board or the President shall 
determine. 
Art. V. By-Laws ,— By-Laws not inconsistent with this 
Constitution, may be adopted by a two-third? vote of tho 
association. 
Art. VI, Amendments,—‘ This Constitution may be al¬ 
tered or amended at a regular meeting, by tbe unanimous 
vote of the mem bora present; or by a tivo-thirds vote of 
tho members present, providing that tlm alteration or 
amendment have been substantially proposed at a previous 
regular meeting. 
On motion, a committee of one from each State 
represented in this Convention, was appointed by 
the Chair, to nominate a list of officers, and report 
at the evening session. 
The following were appointed, viz: Wm. Roberts, 
of Pa.; J, F. Cann, of Ga.; Jas. Crnikshank, of N. 
Y. ; D. B. Hagar, of Mass.; Jas. L. Enos, of la.; N. 
R. Lynch, of Del.; J. R. Challen, of Ind.; Thomas 
Granger, of IU.; E. W. Whelan, of Mo.; J. W. Bar¬ 
rett, of Ill.; Z, Richards, of D. C.; and J. D. Gid- 
dinge, of S. C. 
The meeting adjourned at 5 j o’clock. 
EVENING SESSION. 
The Association met at 8 o’clock. President 
Enos in the Chair. 
T. W. Yalentine, of N. Y., was introduced, and 
read a very able and instructive address, prepared 
by Prof. Wm. Russell, of Mass., who waB unable to 
be present This addreaB aetforth the importance 
of this Convention to organize an Association of 
professional teachers, that shall be National in its 
character, 1st As regards wider and juster views 
of education, and corresponding methods of in¬ 
struction. 2d. From the establishment of a Na¬ 
tional Society of Teachers we may justly expect 
great National benefits. 
The address was full of practical and suggestive 
ideas. 
James E. Challen, of Ind., offered the following 
resolution, which was unanimously adopted. 
Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be 
tendered to Prof. Wm. Russell, of Massachusetts, 
for the able and instructive address with which he 
has favored ns on this occasion. 
J, F. Caun, of Ga., from the committee on nom¬ 
ination of officers, reported the following; 
President— Z. UicriABDS, of Washington, D. C. 
Vice Presidents —T. W. Valentine, N. V,; D. B. 
Hagar, Mass.; Wm. Roberts, Pa.; J. F. Cann, Ga.; 
J. L. Enos, la.; T. C. Taylor, Del ; J. R. Challen, 
Ind.; E. W. Wnelfin, Mo.; P. F. Smith,S. C.; D. 
Wilkins, Ill.; T, Granger. Ind.; L. Andrews, Ohio. 
Secretary —J. W. Bnlkley, N. Y. 
Treasurer —T. M. Cann. DeL 
Counsellors —Wm. E. Sheldon, East Abington, 
Mass.; James Crnikshank, Albany, N. YU; P. A, 
Cregar, Philadelphia, Pa.; N. R. Lynch, Middleton, 
DeL; Wm. MorrisoD.Baltimore,Md.; 0. C. Knight, 
Washington, D. C.; Wm. 8. Bogart,Savannah, Ga.; 
Wm. T. Lucky, Fayette, Mo.; A. J. SteveDs, Des 
Moines, la.; Wm- F. Wells, Chicago, Ill.; J. Hur¬ 
ley, Richmond, Ind. 
The above list was unanimously elected by ballot. 
After remarks from several members of the As¬ 
sociation—pledgingiaithfol efforts in behalf of the 
enterprise thus auspiciously inaugurated—the As¬ 
sociation adjourned to meet at the call of the 
Board of Directors, in August, 1858. 
Wm. E. Sheldon, Scc'y pro tern. 
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
Immediately after the adjournment of the Na¬ 
tional Teachers’ Association, the Board of Direc¬ 
tors held a meeting, and after considerable discus¬ 
sion iu relation to the place of meeting for next 
year, it was 
Resolved, That the Association hold its next 
meeting in Cincinnati, <)., on the second Wednes¬ 
day of August, 1858, at 10 o’clock, a. it. 
Mr. Hagar moved that there be six lecturers ap¬ 
pointed for the next meeting, viz: two from the 
Southern, two from the Western, one from the 
Middle, and one from the Eastern States. 
Mr. Crnikshank moved that a committee he ap¬ 
pointed to prepare a list of subjects for discussion 
at the next meeting, and that gentlemen be ap¬ 
pointed to open the discussions. The motion was 
adopted, and Messrs. Crnikshank, of New York; 
Taylor, of Delaware; Enos, of Iowa; W. H. Baker, 
of Georgia; and Hagar, of Massachusetts, were ap¬ 
pointed said committee. 
Mr. Hagar moved that a committee be appoint¬ 
ed to collect educational statistics of the country, 
and report at the next meeting of the Association, 
and that said committee be composed of one from 
each State and Territory. Motion adopted, and 
the following gentlemen constitute the committee: 
D. B. Hagar, Jamaica Plains, Mas?.; M. Woolson, 
Portland. Me.; D. H. Sanborn, Hopkinton, N. H.; 
C. Pease, Burlington, Y:.; J. Kiogsbury, Provi¬ 
dence, IU T.; C. Northend, New Britton, Cr.; J. 
Wilder, New Y'ork city: I. Beckham, Newark, N. J.; 
J. P. Wickersham, Millersville, Pa.; T. M. Cann; 
Wilmington, DeL; J. N. McJiltun, Baltimore, Md.; 
Z. Richards. District of Columbia ; J. Binford, 
Richmond, Ya.; C. H. Wiley, Raleigh, N. C.; C. G. 
Messingcr, Charleston, S. C.: B. Mallon, Savannah, 
Ga.: S. T. C. Swezey, Marion. Ala.; T>. McConnell, 
Florida; Mr. -■, Mis?.; 1>. B. Slosson, Baton 
Rouge, Ls.; T. Fanning. .Nashville, Tenn.; J. B. 
Dodd, Lexington, Ky.: IV. T. Lucky, Fayette, Mo.; 
I. Mayhew. Lansing, Mich.; 1.. Andrews. Gambler, 
Ohio; G. B. Stone, Indianapolis, Itnb; D. Wilkins, 
Bloomington, Ill.; J. G. McMynn, Racine. Wie.; J. 
L. Enos,"Cedar Rapids, la.; J. Penman, San Fran¬ 
cisco, Cal.; W. Baker, Austin. Texas; E. D. Neil. 
St. Paul, M. T.; M. Oliphant, K. T. 
Adjourned sine die. J. W. BrLKLEY, Sec'y. 
—--- 
Stuffing,—S tuffing is an art. An English WTite r 
spoke well when he said. ‘ If children studied less, 
they would learn more.” Many a child who has 
never had its fourteenth summer to sin in, is cob. 
dernned to a srnsll library, a little Atlas, with a 
great world upon its uufortunate shoulders. Study 
remember, repeat; never pausing, never thinking’ 
There's a mnsic lesson at ten, and a drawing lesson 
at three; there ore red kittens in worsted to be 
tantalized by green mice; there's a world to do, 
with needle, pencil, and brush; then it has to bound 
about the States as if it were made of gum-elastic; 
to go up tbe Multiplication Tablo like a kitten np 
a ladder; to take a cold bite of Philosophy and a 
morsel of History, and by and by.it grow? dull, or 
it grows pale—which would you prefer it would 
do?—breaks the promise to the hope, or dies young. 
Which would yon mourn for most? This is making 
old garments out of new doth, but it is not Edu¬ 
cation— B. F. Taylor. 
Education in England.—W e see from a report 
of the Registrar General to Sir G. Gray, just issued, 
that amongst tho marriage statistics no fewer than 
41,816 husbands, and 02,872 wives made their 
ninths, and out of the entire number married du¬ 
ring the year 1855, more than one-half could not 
sign their names. This is a fact which makes ns 
think that tbe authorities had better at once stop 
arguing in favor of or against the voluntary or 
governmental systems of education, and at once 
adopt some system by which all English children 
shall bo educated; and at State education has so 
eminently succeeded here, might not England 
take a lesson iu oar school and follow suit? 
--- 
Mental pleasures never clog; unlike those o 
the body, they are increased by reputation, ap¬ 
proved of by reflection, and strengthened by en¬ 
joyment 
-■*-—*- 
The trials of life are the tests which ascertain 
| how much gold there is iu us. 
GEOGRAPHY OF COSMAS. 
1. Great surrounding oceans. 2. Caspian Sea. 3. River Phi.-on. 4—4. Points of Compass. 5. Mediterranean Sea. 
6. Red Sea. 7—8. Persian Gulf, with the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. 9. River Gihon. 
ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 
False Dogmas in Geography rectified by the Science it¬ 
self.—H ugh Miller, 
In the “ Testimony of the Rocks,” by Hugh Mil¬ 
ler, the author designs to show the well establish¬ 
ed facts of Geology and the harmony of these facts 
with the progressive steps of the Creation as pre¬ 
sented in the first chapter of Genesis. He denies 
the existence of any important discrepancy be¬ 
tween Geology and Revelation, when both are ex¬ 
hibited with all the light of science to which men 
have opened their eyes. He mentions, indeed, and 
with truth, that the object of revelation is not to 
teach natural science of any kind, and that when 
the principles of the science have been attained, 
it will not oppose the language of the Bible, which 
gives a representation of things aa they appear to 
be. The Bible i3 not committed in its teachings 
to any science nor to any form of science. 
False religions, as the different phases otheatben- 
ism, Buddhism, Brahminism, Parseeism, and Ten- 
tonism, have all involved science of Geography, 
Astronomy, &c., in and with themselves, and held 
their principles of science and of religion to be 
equally true and equally tbe gift of their divinity. 
So that if the science is false, the doctrines of their 
religion are also false. Ithas been easy, therefore, 
to destroy confidence in their religion by only 
showing the falsehoods of the science. 
Now, the mistakes made by religionists have 
been chiefly on three departments of science, viz., 
Geography, Astronomy, and Geology, which Mr, 
Miller has illastrated with great force of demon¬ 
stration. It is not necessary to present the absurd 
science in Buddhism, or in Brahminiam; it will be 
sufficient to select the geography of the world, as 
held by Christian men only a few centuries ago, 
and earlier, by such distinguished fathers as Lac- 
tantius and St. Augustine. 
The monk Cosmas, “ as the Geographer of the 
Church,” gave the representation of the earth’s 
known surface, derived from the Bible and obser¬ 
vations, of which the lollowing print is a reduced 
copy from the work of Hugh Miller. Cosmas 
did not hold with the Hindoos that man inhabits a 
world, “flat, like the flower of the water lily, in 
which the petals project beyond each other,” of 
vast extent, “several hundred thousand millions 
of miles, surrounded by several oceans, the near¬ 
est of salt water, one of sugar-cane juice, one of 
spiriiuons liquor, one of clarified butter,” &c., but 
Cosha3 did teach that tho earth is a great rectan¬ 
gular plain, length double the breadth, containing 
inland seas, “ the Mediterranean, the Caspian, the 
Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, and encompassed 
by a rectangular trench occupied by the oceans.” 
It is obvious on this print that to sail westwards 
to come to the parts of tbe eastern world, was 
most absard, and most contrary to this religions 
geography, so that the project of Columbus aad 
others on this point was purely heretical; the earth 
could not be round; the antipodes could not exist, 
and the followers of Copernicus deserved to be 
condemned by the church and by all good and 
true men. 
But how changed are such things. These doc¬ 
trines of Cosmas are banished from the earth — 
The true science of geography has been establish¬ 
ed by facts; and, while the Bible is unchanged, 
the world sees that it is not opposed to or by 
geography. The world has been sailed round a 
thousand times; the antipodes have heeD visited 
as often; a voyage to the west carries the naviga¬ 
tor to the western shores of the great Pacific 
Ocean, even to China. The design of Cosmas has 
been defeated, and our Divine Revelation is not 
held responsible for this absurd or false geography 
of our globe. How Cosmas accounts for the ris¬ 
ing and setting sun will be seen in the next paper. 
Sept. 16, 1S57. C. D. 
IGNORANCE OP PHYSICAL TRUTHS. 
How few men really believe that they sojourn 
on a whirling globe, and that each day and year of 
life is measured by its revolutions, regulating the 
labor and tbe repose of every race of beings. How 
few believe that the great luminary of the firma¬ 
ment, whose restless activity they daily witness, is 
an immovable star, controlling, by its solid mass, 
the primary planets which compose our system, 
and forming the gnomen of the great dial which 
measures the thread of life,the tenure ofemplres,and 
the great cycles of the worlds’ change. How few 
believe that each of the millions of stars—those 
atoms of light which the telescope can scarcely 
descry—are the centre of planetary systems that 
may equal, if not surpass our ova. And how very 
few believe that the solid pavement of the globe 
upon which they nightly slumber, is an elastic 
Crust, imprisoning fires and forces which have of¬ 
ten burst for!h in tremendous energy, and are at 
this very instant struggling to osoape—now find¬ 
ing thoir way in volcanic fires—now heaving and 
shaking the earth — now upraising islands and 
comments, and gathering strength for that final 
outburst which is to usher in the new heavens and 
new earth, “whereiu dwelleth righteousness.”— 
Were these great physical truths objects of faith 
as well as deductions of reason, we should lead 
a better life than we do, and make a quicker prep¬ 
aration for its close.— North British Review. 
-■*-—*»- 
Our tempers are like an opera-glass, which 
makes the object small or great, according to the 
end you look through. 
The man who is proud of his money, has rarely 
anything better to be proud of. 
ORIGIN OP NEWSPAPERS. 
From the first day of the meeting of the Long 
Parliament, may be dated the beginning of jour¬ 
nalism. The earliest English newspaper that has 
been discovered, is a quarto pamphlet of a few 
leaves, comprehending a summary of parliament¬ 
ary proceedings l’or an entire year. It is entitled 
“The Diurnal Occurrence, or Daily Proceedings 
of both Houses in this great and happy Parlia¬ 
ment, from 3d November, 1640, to 3d November, 
1541.” More than one hundred newspapers, with 
different titles, appear to have been published be¬ 
tween this date and the death of the king, and up¬ 
ward of eighty others between that event and the 
Restoration. Occasionally papers were issued 
after the civil war began, limited to local or 
special occurrences: as “News from Hull,” 
“Truths from York,” “Tidings from Ireland.”— 
The more regular newspapers were published 
weekly at first, then twice or thrice a week. The 
impatience of the people soon led to the publica¬ 
tion of daily papers; and Spalding, the Aberdeen 
annalist, mentions that in December, 1652, “ daily 
papers came from London, called ‘Diurnal Occur¬ 
rences,’ declaring what is done iu Parliament.”— 
In the Scottish campaign of 1650, the 3rmy of 
Charles and that of Oliver Cromwell each carried 
its printer along with it to report progress, and, of 
course, to exaggerate successes. It is from this 
circumstance that the first, introduction of news¬ 
papers into Scotland has been attributed to Oliver 
Cromwell.— Wade's England 1 s Greatness. 
UNIVERSAL DESIRE FOR FAME. 
Distinction is 30 pleasing to the pride of mss, 
that a great part of tbe pain and pleasure of life 
arises from the gratification or disappointment of 
au incessant wish t ,r superiority, from the success 
or miscarriage of secret compositions, from victo¬ 
ries aad defeats, of which, though they appear of 
great importance, in reality none are conscious 
except ourselves. Proportionate to the preva¬ 
lence of this love of praise is the variety of means 
by which its attainment is attempted. Every man, 
however hopeless his pretensions may appear to 
all but himself, has some project by which he hopes 
to rise to reputation; some art by which he imag¬ 
ines that the notice of the world will be attracted; 
some quality, good or bad, which discriminates 
him from the common herd of mortals, and 
by which others may be persuaded to love, or com¬ 
pelled to fear Lira. The ascents of honor, how¬ 
ever steep, never appear inaccessible: he that de¬ 
spairs to 3cale the precipice by which valor and 
learning have conducted their favorites, discovers 
some by-path, or easier acclivity, which, though it 
! cannot bring him to the summit, will yet enable 
him to overlook those with whom he Is now con¬ 
tending for eminence, and we seldom reqnire more 
to the happiness of the present hour than to sur¬ 
pass him that stands next to us. 
-♦-»- 
CHINESE MANNERS. 
Tn all the houses of thB wealthy there are two 
raised seats at the head of the reception-room, 
with a table between them. The seat on tie left 
side is considered the seat of honor, and the visit¬ 
or is invariably pressed into it. Scenes which 
seem most amusing to the stranger are always 
acted on au occasion of this kind. The host begs 
his visitor to take the most honorable post, whiie 
the latter protests that he iB unworthy of such dis¬ 
tinction, and in his turn presses it upon the owner 
of the mansion. And so they may be seen stand¬ 
ing in this way for several minutes before the mat¬ 
ter is settled. It is the same way when a man 
gives a dinner; and if the guests are numerous, it 
is quite a Berious affair to get them all seated. In 
this case it is not only the hoBt and the household 
who are begging the guests to occupy the most 
honorable seats, bat the guests themselves are also 
pressing these favorite places upon each other.— 
Hence the bowing, talking, sitting down, and get¬ 
ting up again, before the party can be finally 
seated, is quite unlike anything one sees in other 
parts of the world, and to the stranger is exces¬ 
sively amusing, particularly if he does not happen 
to be hungry— Robei't Fortune. 
• -- 
The Gulf Stream. —There i3 a river in the 
ocean. In the severest drouths it never fails, and 
in the mightiest floods it never overflows. Its 
banka and its bottom are of cold water, while its 
current is of warm. The Gulf of Mexico is its 
fountain, and its mouth i3 in the Arctic Seas. It 
is the Gulf Stream. There is in the world no 
other such majestic flow of water. Its current is 
more rapid than the -Mississippi or the Amazon, 
and its volume more than a thousand times great¬ 
er. Its waters, aa far out from the Gulf as the 
Carolina coasts, are of an indigo blue. They are 
so distinctly marked, that this line of junction 
with the common sea-water may be traced by the 
eye. Often one-half of the vessel may be per¬ 
ceived floating in gnlf stream water, while the 
other half is in the common water of the sea; so 
sharp is the line and the want of affinity between 
these waters; and snch too, the reluctance, so to 
speak, on the part of those of the Gulf Stream to 
iniugle w ith the common water of the sea.— Lieut. 
Maury. 
Too austere a philosophy makes few wise men; 
too rigorous politics, few good subjects; too hard 
a religion, few persons whose devotion is of long 
standing. 
For Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
IN THE CLOSET. 
BY XDWARI. ENOWLHS. 
In Thy presence. Oh, what rapture 
Thrills me on the bended knee, 
And apart from all that hinders, 
Lord, I raise my voice to Thee. 
Through the day that now is ending, 
Thou hast shielded me from ill, 
Even when my heart has wandered 
Out upon the world at will. 
And rejoicing in thy goodness, 
I have fuller proof to-day 
That Thy gifts are not withholden 
From me, when I go astray. 
O, may this continued, mercy, 
That has unto me been shown. 
Break my heart with such contrition 
As I never yet have known. 
-•*---*>- 
For Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
WE LIVE NOT FOR OURSELVES. 
This, with few exceptions, is universally ac¬ 
knowledged, and these exceptions, happily for 
mankind, are like angel visitations. What a scene 
would the great theater of Life present, were its 
actors intent only upon their own happiness, each 
seeking to gratify their own desires and appetites 
regardless of their fellow creatures? Pen would 
fail in portraying the misery and death which in¬ 
evitably would pursue such a course. Language 
would be inadequate for such a task. But, on the 
contrary, what a paradise on earth may be expe¬ 
rienced when living for some useful purpose—liv¬ 
ing to promote the happiness of others as well as 
the benefit of the world? The consciousness of 
doing right will he an abundant reward for all the 
trials endured—it will sweeten “ life’s hitter cup” 
though compelled to quaff its very dregs, and se¬ 
cure a blissful exit to the unknown future, attend¬ 
ed by a “conscience void of offence.” Happy, 
thrice happy ia that mortal who thus passes from 
the present to the unfathomed beyond. 
Let us look for a moment on the placid waters 
of that beautiful lake, as it bears majestically on 
its bosom a proud vessel—a floating palace. It 
has just cast off its mornings, and among the mul¬ 
tiplicity of anxious countenances which throng 
the deck there ia one which particularly attracts 
our attention, who is waving an affectionate fare¬ 
well to the “ loved ones” left behind. How eagerly 
he watches the shores of his native laud, until the 
last faint glimmer fades from his longing gaze.— 
Could one accompany him we should see hope 
glisten in that eye, and its radiance illuminating 
the entire coontenance. Does he live for himself 
alone? We are already eonvined that it was no 
selfish motive that prompted the performance of 
those self-sacrificing labors of love; but that he 
has a high aod nolle incentive to exertion. He 
looks forward with bright anticipations to the day 
when he shall return to meet the chosen partici¬ 
pant of his joys and sorrows with a sufficient com¬ 
petency of “ Mammon's store” that will enable him 
to rise from the lowly vale of poverty to which he 
haB ever been familiar, to the possession of those 
advantages and privileges for which he has long 
been aspiring; yet those he desires not for him¬ 
self, hut for those who are bound by ties the most 
sacred and endearing. 
Go with me for one moment to that elegant 
mansion situated In the suburbs of a beautiful vil¬ 
lage. Here another 30ene presents inaelf for con¬ 
templation. In a superb yet tastefully furnished 
apartment, is a female, and her only child, whose 
brow has been fanned by the zephyrs of but three 
short summers. It would be considered perfectly 
absurd should we ask if that child is living for it¬ 
self alone. Though the object of our attention 
may be unconscious of its signification, yet if 
closely observed for a few moments it will be 
clearly elucidated. While innocently amusing 
herself with those tiny toys, a shade of disappoint¬ 
ment suddenly steals over the brow, bat is as soon 
dispersed by the light of those heavenly orbs 
which are gazing upon her with nnutterable fond¬ 
ues*, as if they would fain penetrate the very 
depbs of chat young and innocent heart, to which 
she replies with child-like simplicity, “ Mamma, I 
love you.” Ah, now the query is explained—the 
problem Is at length solved; while fancy mirrors 
a germ intricately hidden within the sacred pre¬ 
cincts of that heart which needs bat the light of 
love to unfold its delicate petals. Frane. 
ADVANTAGE OF DIFFICULTIES. 
Whilst the consciousness that Scripture con¬ 
tains things hard to be understood, should bring 
ns to its study, in an independent and humble 
temper, the thought that what we know not now, 
we shall know hereafter, should make each diffi¬ 
culty, as we leave it unvanquished, minister to our 
assaranee, that a wider sphere of being, a nearer 
vision, and mightier faculties await us when the 
second advent Of the Lord winds up the dispensa¬ 
tion. Thus should the mysteries of the Bible 
teach us, at one and the same time, our nothing¬ 
ness and our greatness, producing humility and 
animating hope. I bow before these mysteries, I 
knew that I should find, and I pretend not to re¬ 
move them. But whilst I thus prostrate myself, it 
is with deep gladness and exultation of spirit.— 
God would not have hinted the mystery, had he 
not designed hereafter to explain. And, therefore, 
are my thoughts on afar off home, and rich things 
are around me, and the voices of many harpers, 
and the shining of bright constellations, and the 
clusters of the cherub and the seraph, and a whisper 
which seems not of this earth, is circulating thro’ 
the soil. “ Now we see through a glass darkly, 
but then face to face; now I know In part but 
then shall I know even as also I am known.*'— 
May God grant unto us all to be both abased and 
quickened by those things in the Bible which are 
hard to be understood.— Melvili. 
— ■» --- 
Beginning of Sin —If we would put a stop to 
the beginning of sin, we mast begin first where 
sin begins, namely, in the heart and thoughts; 
which the gospel hits subjected to the Law of God, 
as well as the outward actionp, which was the error, 
of the Pharisees, who took care of the outward man 
only. This will make our duties easy. 
I 
