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"Mother," exclaimed the young man, "let me stay with you, for I can live in any log hut where you and father live, but I cannot leave you, so do not mention it."

In April, Samuel, and Mr. Cowdery set out for Pennsylvania. The weather, for some time previous, had been very wet and disagreeable-raining, freezing, and thawing alternately, which had rendered the roads almost impassable, particularly in the middle of the day. Notwithstanding, Mr. Cowdery was not to be detained, either by wind or weather, and they persevered until they arrived at Joseph's.

Joseph had been so hurried with his secular affairs, that he could not proceed with his spiritual concerns so fast as was necessary for the speedy completion of the work; there was also another disadvantage under which he labored, his wife had so much of her time taken up with the care of her house, that she could write for him but a small portion of the time. On account of these embarrassments, Joseph called upon the Lord, three days prior to the arrival of Samuel and Oliver, to send him a scribe, according to the promise of the angel; and he was informed that the same should be forthcoming in a few days. Accordingly, when Mr. Cowdery told him the business that he had come upon, Joseph was not at all surprised.

They sat down and conversed together till late. During the evening, Joseph told Oliver his history, as far as was necessary for his present information, in the things which mostly concerned him. And the next morning they commenced the work of translation, in which they were soon deeply engaged.

One morning they sat down to their work, as usual, and the first thing which presented itself through the Urim and Thummim, was a commandment for Joseph and Oliver to repair to the water, and attend to the ordinance of baptism. They did so, and as they were returning to the house, they overheard Samuel engaged in secret prayer. Joseph said, that he considered this as a sufficient testimony of his being a fit subject for baptism; and as they had now received authority to baptize, they spoke to Samuel upon the subject, and he went straightway to the water with them, and was baptized. After which, Joseph and Oliver proceeded with the work of translation as before.

THEISM VS. ATHEISM.

BY RULON M. OWEN.

[One of the features of the preliminary programs, in this season's work of the Y. M. M. I. A., is the reading of short, crisp, original essays, an exercise which should not occupy more than five minutes and which some associations have found very profitable and interesting The following has been submitted to the ERA as a sample from the Twentyfirst Ward, Salt Lake City. It would be a better sample, if it were shorter.-EDITORS.]

The poet wrote that of all God's creations, man alone has said, there is no God. And yet, man is nearest him, being made in his image and by him given dominion over all the creations of the earth. Men, alone, of all his creation, can reach the glory of the Father's perfection. He alone can receive and understand a testimony of his existence, and yet there are men who deny him.

Is disbelief in God born in man? Experience answers, no; positively, no! Every child born into the world seems primarily to believe in a Supreme Being. That there is an intuitive belief in Deity in all mankind is hardly disputed. Until false teaching, misguided reasoning, or wickedness, beclouds the mind, the soul declares there is a God. It is not uncommon for disbelievers in God to admit that they have once believed in him.

To have God pictured as some creeds do, as a monster, cruel, unmerciful and harsh, visiting immediate punishment upon the sinner, may restrain through fear, the child or youth from sin and evil; but, growing older and more courageous, he ventures upon the dangerous ground where these fears are to some extent proved groundless. He finds that he can sin, but feel no immediate punishment. He concludes that if God exists at all, he is unin

terested in what men are doing. Thus false teaching and misguided reasoning have sown the first seeds of infidelity, and the youth, thinking he has been deceived, feels free from restraint, so far as a divine power is concerned, and naturally develops a tendency toward the gratification of earthly desires and pleasures.

There are a few honorable exceptions, but the greater number of the world's skeptics, infidels and atheists, are composed of disrespecters of law and order, the least desirable of our citizens, and men who gratify human lusts and passions. Their course is marked by a gradual degradation from the time they foolishly say, "There is no God."

Indifference in them is followed by rebellion, and that by sin, profanity, intoxication, corrupt society; and at length the depths of dissipation. Anarchy, in whose breast nestles foul deeds, is the final shrine at which they pay their misdirected homage. The once pure soul now worships at the gates of hell; for the soul, abuse and misguide it as you may, still insists upon being a worshiper, though atheism throw it at the feet of Satan.

Reference has been made to the intuitive belief possessed by all children, and which comes from that Spirit which "enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world;" yet, it would not be true to say that if left without further teaching, the child would arrive at an intelligent conception of the Deity or his purposes. As atheism results from false teaching, so intelligent theism must come from true teaching and research. When man is guided in the truth, he grows to see in life something worth living for. His moral nature develops, becoming strong, as his conception and belief in God is enlarged. Let him understand that God exists, and let his faith develop in that direction, and you need have no fear that he will not observe the law, for he will live above the law. Instead of degradation, his course is a constant advance toward perfection and honor. His path is the path of virtue and morality. He commits no evil, not because he fears a damaging punishment, but because he is striving to carry out in his life the virtues and qualities which he pictures in Deity. He is in every sense a desirable citizen, and theism makes the altar of his worship the throne of God.

There are always exceptions, and we must admit that there

are many whose lives on earth are honorable, and upright, and yet who are not believers in the Supreme Being. What then is the meaning and purpose of life to them? It is a stage, a drama, of which they are the authors and the actors, and when the curtain falls, the end ensues. No future hope, no light beyond, happifies their lives. All through the drama, they labor in gloom and despair, with the thought of darkness and annihilation awaiting them, with no power to avert the impending doom.

Contrast this with the Christian's hope. Life to him is real. From the presence of his Father in Heaven, he has come to do his will; and after performing his part in the drama of earthly life, he expects to return to God where life is more glorious and blissful. While he clings to earth with passionate love, he reconciles himself to death, believing it is by no means the end of light, or the consummation of hope, but the passing into life eternal.

As a disciple of atheism, we have Ingersoll, whose life was clean, whose moral character was noble. Possessed of a brilliant mind, he arose to distinction and honor, yet, at death his infidelity failed him. In reviewing his life, there was no satisfaction, for he had lived in vain; and, as the years advance, his name will be almost forgotten.

On the other side stood our late lamented President. A noble Christian, an honorable statesman, a beloved president and a true gentleman. The inspiration of his being was his belief in God. The motive of his life was the gospel of Jesus as he understood it, and it sustained him to the last. Stricken down by an atheistanarchist hand, bravely he resigned himself, with the hope of a future life; and, by his dying words, "Good-by all, goodby; it is God's way," he will live in the hearts of future generations as long as time shall last.

Atheism at the last made the plaint of Robert G. Ingersoll, "Goodby friends, goodby forever. I will never see you again."

Theism, at the supreme moment, made William McKinley lisp, "Nearer, my God, to thee."

THE CASTLE BUILDER.

BY NEPHI ANDERSON, AUTHOR OF "ADDED UPON," "MARCUS KING

MORMON," ETC.

PART FIRST.

VIII.

CONVALESCENCE.

It was a sad home-coming to Sandstad. Maria had left her isolated and now desolate home, and had taken refuge with her mother and Dagmar, and there her father found her on his return. Harald was yet weak and unable to do hard work. He often went about as if he were dazed or stunned, and when he discovered Maria sitting in some corner, crying, he could not keep the tears back from his own eyes. He had done well at Lofoten up to the time of the great storm. His share was four hundred fish, which, when sold, gave him a considerable sum of money. A large portion of it, he sent to his grandmother, bidding her make such presents to the brothers and Hulda as she thought wise. A small part he placed in the savings bank at Tromso as a begining for a boat of his own, as his uncle had suggested. He mourned for Johan as if he had been a brother. He had not known many intimate associates, nor enjoyed many close friendships. Johan had been much of an ideal to him. Now, something had gone out of his life. To whom could he talk as he had talked to his cousin? Who would laugh at his mistakes, and then good-naturedly show him his error, as Johan had done many times while learning to fish? He sailed over to Johan's deserted home every day when the weather was fair to tend to the one cow Maria owned.

As the spring months came on, the sail across the narrow

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