The Contributor: Representing the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual ...

Apostle, as in his defence before Agrippa, so readily suggest. Scarcely less expressive are the representations of St. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and in whose beautiful face artists delight to reflect as much of the divine light as possible; of St. James, St. Matthew and the pensive Thomas. The latter is always made to express incredulity, and in this particular statue his face at once recalls to memory the doubting apostle's saying: "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." In addition to these grand statues is one of a kneeling angel of striking beauty, holding a shell, which is used for the baptism of converts and infants. It is related that a young elder from Utah,

who stood in his stockings six feet two inches, and had never heard of baptism by sprinkling, was much perplexed when the custodian of the church told him that the shell was used as a baptismal font. He observed that it was not large, enough to baptize one of his feet, much less of sufficient proportions "to fulfil all righteousness." De Vallibus.

USEFUL EMPLOYMENT. Live for something; be not idle; Look about thee for employ; Sit not down to useless dreaming. Labor is the sweetest joy.

Folded hands are ever weary,

Selfish hearts are never gay; Life for thee hath many duties; Active be, then, while you may.

THE HOLY

THAT the baptism of the Holy Ghost is essential to salvation, is evident from the Savior's reply to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God." John, iii. 5. The faith of the Saints always has been and always will be perfected by the Holy Spirit. It could not be perfected otherwise, and without a perfect faith there is not eternal life. That all people have the promise of the Holy Ghost is evident from the words of Peter: "Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call;" Acts, ii. 38,39, or, in other words, as many as shall hear the sound of the Gospel, which Gospel is being preached in these latter days with the same promise. Jesus said, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will you give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will you for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will you offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give

GHOST.

the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." Luke, xi. 11-13. Further, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he who seeketh, findeth; and to him who knocketh, it shall be opened." Luke, xi. 9, 10. Then the Holy Spirit is promised to all who ask for it, but it must be asked for "in faith, nothing wavering; for he who wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James, 1. 6.

Eternal life is to know "the only true God and Jesus Christ" whom He has sent. John, xvii. 3. We obtain this knowledge by the revelation of the Holy Ghost. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." John, xii. 26. "Wherefore, I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say [know] that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost." I Cor. xii, 3. That the Holy Ghost is a medium of revelation is further evident from the

words of Jesus to His disciples, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things." John, xiv. 26. Again, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that shall he speak; and He will show you things to come." John, xvi, 13.

So we learn from God's sacred word that the Holy Ghost testifies of Christ, guides into all truth, teaches all things, opens up the future, and reveals God to fallen man whom to know is life eternal. What a glorious blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit. Through it the mind is enlightened and the heart is given understanding; mortal man is lifted above the groveling things of this world and within him is awakened an immortal hope; he is taken back to the beginning, and carried forward to the end; things new are brought out of old, and he is shown things to come; he is enabled to dream dreams, see visions, converse with angels, speak with new tongues, perform miracles, obtain a knowledge of heavenly things and lay hold upon eternal life, the richest boon of heaven.

Reader, are you in possession of this gift? If not, seek to learn God and His will then do it. Repent of every sin, seek a minister who has authority from God to baptize you for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of which we have spoken, for the prom

And let him And let him

ise is to all unto whom this Gospel shall come. Hear what the good Shepherd says: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt., xi. 28-30. Then, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. that heareth say, Come. that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Rev., xxii. 17. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, cali ye upon Him while He is near." Isaiah, Iv. 6. Work "while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work." John, ix. 4. By all means do not put off the work which God requires at your hands, "for what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" C. H. Bliss.

To act upon a determination made in anger is like embarking in a vessel during a storm.

Shall I thank God for the green summer, and the mild air, and the flowers. and the stars, and all that makes the world so beautiful, and not for the good and beautiful beings I have known in it? Has not their presence been sweeter to me than flowers? Are they not higher and holier than the stars? Are they not more to me than all things elseLongfellow.

REMINISCENCES.

Memory, like music, steals upon the car, And wraps us in the visions of the past.

Silence oft is eloquence! and while the
Lip moves not, the heart and soul are bowed
In worship at a consecrated shrine,
Composed of admiration and respect,
Memory holding still her mystic reign,
And gathering the Past into her store;
Till, culminating at a point, the door
Of language is unsealed, and tries to tell
The garnered thoughts, long there as relics lain;
Its rosary too is sacred held, on which

Are daily counted well-remembered

Scenes and forms, gestures, actions, words and looks,

Making palpable ONE who is not dead,
But passed behind the Veil o'ershadowing
Mortal Vision, mortal touch, or hearing!
June! Yes June, the glorious, regal month,
When earth was strewn with flowers, and the

sun

Shone forth in full effulgence, bright and warm

And Spring put on her crown and courtly And One above endorsed His handmaid's

robe

A robe in all the varied colors gay:

With wreaths of beauteous flowers on her head, And gems of morning dew studding each one; In all the rich profusion June displays!

And in her grand and queenly step went forth,
And stretching out her beauteous arms received
Within their circling fold a baby boy!

Just struggling into life! She caught him up,
And printed on his cheek a zephyr kiss;
And said her presence never should depart
From out the atmosphere surrounding him!
Even that the June should be infused
Within his infant soul in coming life!
She'd throw her genial influence around
His earthly path, and smile on him for aye!
His name should indicate immortal youth,
And tho' on earth his years should many be,
He still, through all, should be forever YOUNG!
That age should beautify, and not destroy,
That Time should have the power to renovate,
His eye should not be dim, nor hair turn grey,
His mind illum'd and clear should ever be;
'That wives, and children should from him re-
ceive

The patent brand that made them ever YOUNG!
And that his name should far and wide be great,
Around the circumnavigated globe;

That friends in truth and love should round him cling,

And even foes should feel the mystic charm,
As serpents, dumb, before the charmer lie!

And forth he went upon the earth, and met
A spirit even mightier than his own!
They looked into each other's eyes and saw,
They clasped each other's hand and knew,
That God to them a mission on this earth
Had pre-ordained, and given them to bear
To every nation, every land and clime!
And hence, they laid the rudimental plan,
And carried out the angel's words to them!
And organized Christ's Church on earth,
No more-no, nevermore to be thrown down!
This history all have read-by practice know.
Time rushes on with almost noiseless stream,
And bears us on the bosom of its wave:
Long years have passed-that treasured one i
gone!

The June has come and gone, and come again,
And Memory rises from her thousand cells,
And in phantasma brings the past once more
Like "Banquo's Ghost" before the peering
mind.

And we in thought live o'er the times of old,
And after that, the future rises up!

And REVELATION slightly draws the veil,
And Faith, and Hope, and Love we do behold!
Come forth to bless, and comfort, and sustain
Those left on earth, oft dreaming on the past;
Waiting reunion in the heaven above,
With all those lost on earth-and gone before!
Hannah T. King.

AT REST.

The mother lifted up her voice and wept, saying, "Four little hands, four little feet, four little black eyes, all cold in death!"

And they answered her and said, "Be comforted, your greatest sorrow here, will be your greatest joy hereafter."

Oh Father! Four little fluttering hands

That clasped and fondled my breast,

Are folded away in silence

In their last and dreamless rest.

Four little pattering feet that have left
Their footprints on floor and hearth,
Are taking their way with angels-
Their music is lost on earth.

Four lovely black eyes with their starry gleam
Are closed in a marble sleep!

And all that is left for us to do

Is to sit alone and weep.

Not all! O parents, with grief-stricken hearts,

But raise your eyes to the sky;

And gaze on the beauteous beings
Who are winging their way on high.

Behold the glory! Then attune your cars
To the rapturous welcoming song-
Two souls have finished their mission,
And joined the celestial throng.

Be comforted! God will soften the wound,
And sooth thee with wondrous Love,
So, reaching your Heavenly Home,
Your woes will your happiness prove.

Homespun.

THE CONTRIBUTOR. the origin of many races etc., our know]

MANY and singular are the theories of men respecting the history of the creations of God. The changes that have transpired upon the face of the Earth since its organization affords one of the most prolific themes for scientist and antiquarian to delve in, ponder upon and write about. As knowledge extends of what is to-day, analogy and imagination create wonders for the past. The writings of other ages, long considered fabulous, are being proved by modern scientific developments to have been the utterances of inspiration or well understood descriptions of things as they have existed in fact.

edge of those matters as contained in the Book of Mormon and the revelations of the Lord in these latter times prevent us from accepting. However, the work is an extremely interesting one, prepared with manifest skill and containing very many most valuable facts that should be understood by the people, who wish to keep pace with the progress of thought and the evolution of ideas, which so remarkably characterize the present generation. Mr. Donnelly feels justified after producing the testimony of ancient tradition, the evidences of science, Scriptural and profane history and well connected arguments based thereon, in reconstructing the ancient continent on a very grand and picturesque scale. His work concludes as follows:

"The Atlanteans possessed an established order of priests; their religious worship was pure and simple. They lived under a kingly government; they had their courts, their judges, their records, their monuments covered with inscriptions, their mines, their foundries, their workshops, their looms, their gristmills, their boats and sailing vessels, their highways, aqueducts, wharves, docks and canals. They had processions, banners and triumphal arches for their kings and heroes; they built pyramids, temples, round-towers and obelisks; they practiced religious ablutions; they knew the use of the magnet and of gunpowder. In short, they were in the en

Thus we have through the researches of an able writer, Ignatius Donnelly, the fable of Plato, respecting an ancient continent that occupied a large area of and gave its name to the Atlantic Ocean, substantiated in nearly every detail and reconstructed so adroitly, from the vari-joyment of a civilization nearly as high

as our own, lacking only the printingpress and those inventions in which steam, electricity and magnetism are used. We are told that Deva-Nahusha visited his colonies in Farther India. An empire which reached from the Andes to Hindostan, if not to China, must have been magnificent indeed. In its markets must have met the maize of the Mississippi Valley, the copper of Lake Superior, the gold and silver of Peru and Mexico, the spices of India, the tin of Wales and Cornwall, the bronze of Iberia, the amber of the Baltic, the wheat and barley of Greece, Italy and Switzer

ous phenomena related by the author as
evidence, as to rival the known conti-
nents of the present day in natural re-
sources and productions of every des-
cription, from plants and insects to civil-
ized and educated races of men. That
an ancient island at the mouth of the
Mediterranean existed and is sunk in
the sea, appears to be proved by the
deep sea soundings of late years, that it
was Atlantis as described by Plato and
was inhabited by a superior race of peo-
ple may be true, but that all the conclusions
of the author are fair and correct, in re-
lation to the location of the Garden of
Eden, the home of our primitive parents, i land.

all

EDITORIAL.

is not surprising that when this mig ty nation sank beneath the waves, in the midst of terrible convulsions, with its millions of people, the event left everlasting impression upon the imagtion of mankind. Let us suppose that eat Britain should to-morrow meet with a similar fate. What a wild constenation would fall upon her colonies

ina

upon the whole human family! The rld might relapse into barbarism, deep dalmost universal. William the Conqueror, Richard Coeur de Lion, Alfred the Great, Cromwell and Victoria might Survive only as the gods or demons of la ter races; but the memory of the cataclysm in which the centre of a universal epire instantaneously went down to death would never be forgotten; it would Survive in fragments, more or less complete, in every land on earth; it would Outlive the memory of a thousand lesser Convulsions of nature; it would survive cynasties, nations, creeds and languages; it would never be forgotten while man Continued to inhabit the face of the globe.

"Science has but commenced its work of reconstructing the past and rehabilitating the ancient peoples, and surely there is no study which appeals more strongly to the imagination than that of this drowned nation, the true antediluvians. They were the founders of nearly all our arts and sciences; they were the first civilizers, the first navigators, the first merchants, the first colonizers of the earth; their civilization was old when Egypt was young, and they had passed away thousands of years before Babylon, Rome or London were dreamed of. This

lost people were our ancestors, their
blood flows in our veins; the words we
use every day were heard, in their primi-
tive form, in their cities, courts and tem-
ples. Every line of race and thought,
of blood and belief, leads back to them.
"Nor is it impossible that the nations
of the earth may yet employ their idle
{n
bringing to the light of day
the relics of this buried people.
of the island lie but a few hun-

navies

thoms beneath the sea; and if tions have been sent out from

softe

Porti

drec

exe

time in the past, to resurrect

283

from the depths of the ocean sunken treasure-ships with a few thousand doubloons hidden in their cabins, why should not an attempt be made to reach the buried wonders of Atlantis? A single engraved tablet dredged up from Plato's island would be worth more to science, would more strike the imagination of mankind, than all the gold of Peru, all the monuments of Egypt, and all the terra-cotta fragments gathered from the great libraries of Chaldea.

"May not the so-called 'Phoenician coins' found on Corvo, one of the Azores, be of Atlantean origin? Is it probable that that great race, pre-eminent as a founder of colonies, could have visited those islands within the Historical Period, and have left them unpeopled, as they were when discovered by the Portuguese?

"We are but beginning to understand the past: one hundred years ago the world knew nothing of Pompeii or Herculaneum; nothing of the lingual tie that binds together the Indo-European nations; nothing of the significance of the vast volume of inscriptions upon the tombs and temples of Egypt; nothing of the meaning of the arrow-headed inscriptions of Babylon; nothing of the marvellous civilizations revealed in the remains of Yucatan, Mexico and Peru. We are on the threshold. Scientific investigation is advancing with giant strides. Who shall say that one hundred years from now the great museums of the world may not be adorned with gems, statues, arms and implements from Atlantis, while the libraries of the world shall contain translations of its inscriptions, throwing new light upon all the past history of the human race, and all the great problems which now perplex the thinkers of our day?"

We do not of course, endorse all that is here so eloquently portrayed, but among the undiscovered wonders of the past it appears but reasonable to believe that the story of Atlantis may have a good foundation in fact. The book is published by Harper and Brothers, Price Two dollars. We commend it to the librarians of the Y. M. M. I. A.

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