MISCELLANEOUS.
M. S. K.—You must make your own choice; we could not lay down any dogmatic rule as to the merits of one Christian community over another. God had an elect people in the Israelites, and to those who did not live up to the Divine privileges they enjoyed, our Lord said it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for them. God has, in His wisdom and goodness, elected you into some division of the Christian Church—His fold on earth—which is composed of many communities (united on the main though differing respectively on the minor doctrines of the Christian faith). You might have been born a Jew, heathen, Mahommedan, Red Indian, or of any other parentage outside the pale of His fold, but you were elected to enjoy special privileges, a knowledge of Divine truth, and all the precious means of grace. Under such circumstances, if you be not devout, your judgment will be the more severe; for, like Esau, you will have thrown away your birthright, and thus your blessing, for you are a responsible being.
Maggie Mary.—We sympathise much with you in the sentiments you express, and the experiences you have had, and we quite agree with you that prayer, offered in faith in the special divine promises to which you refer, will do more for the sick than any human means. Have recourse to the former, and have nothing to do with mesmerism. If you write again, give your address.
Mary L. Saunders is thanked for informing us of the institution of a school at Haldon View, Topsham, Devon, for children of weak intellect. We are gratified to hear that a suggestion of ours caused the carrying out of this charitable plan. The premises are excellent, and there is accommodation for eight pupils. The promoters of the scheme are sisters of the writer, and have a licence.
Gwendolin Marzipan.—The Odd Minutes Society might suit you; sec., Miss Powell, Luctons, Buckhurst-hill, Essex. The particulars will be sent you in print.
Shirley.—See [page 192], Part for January. A man’s money does not go to any brother or sister should he die intestate and leave a widow or children. In the latter case the widow has a third of his property, and the rest is divided equally between his children. Should he die leaving only one child, the widow still has her third and the one child (whether son or daughter) inherits all the rest—that is, two-thirds. His brothers and sisters cannot claim a farthing when he leaves a widow and child, excepting by will.
Ivy Leaf.—James Mason has given a series of articles on the subject of your letter—“Every Girl a Business Woman,” beginning in [vol. viii., p. 118]. No stamp was necessary on the I.O.U. given you as a receipt for your £30 loan to some man. How disgraceful on the part of one of his sex to borrow such a sum of a girl, and require to be sued for its recovery!
Careless One.—Refer to our indexes for our instructions entitled “How to Remove Inkstains from Ivory,” etc.
Black Tom.—1. The girl you name as being hopelessly attached to a man she has never met but only seen at concerts, should be sent away from the foreign town where you both are staying, either to a friend’s house and care or to a good school. The story is of a most humiliating character; she disgraces the sex, the members of which should be sought, not themselves the seekers. Certainly you should not make any such revelations and overtures to a stranger. If she have no self-respect herself, her friends should not betray such a deplorable state of things. It would be like dragging her through the gutter. 2. We could not hazard an opinion on what was your disease. Your writing slopes the wrong way.
Perplexed.—Go to receive the Holy Communion in charity with all, in humility and repentance, with a steadfast resolution, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to amend your life and cherish no wilful sin, nor any omission of duty. Confess your utter unworthiness and accept Christ as your only hope. Thus you will not present yourself unworthily.