INVESTMENT BUILDING SOCIETY. (ESTABLISHED 1851. INCORPORATED 1874.) DIRECTORS. ARBITRATORS. FREEMAN, GEORGE SCOTT, ESQ., 103, Cannon Street, and The LUSK. SIR ANDREW. BART. ALD., M.P.. Colney Park. St Albane Grove, Camberwell, Chairman and Trustee. MCARTHUR, SIR WM., K.O M.G.. ALD., M.P., Holland Park, W. ASH, CHARLES F., Esq., Upper Thames Street, and Derwent House, MANN, JOHN, ESQ, Hornsey Rise, N. Finch'ey, Trustre. TRITTON, JOSEPH, #SQ., Lombard Street. WELCH, Ś. KEMP, ESQ., Streatham. AUDITORS. and North Lynne, Crescent Road, Crouch End, N. MILLAR, W. H., Esq., Cleveland Lodge, New Park Road, Brixton ROBERTSON, GEORGE, Esq., 32, New Bridge St., and Camberwell Hill. Road. WILSON, ROBERT, Esq., 103, Cannon Street, E.C. ROGERS, H. G., Esq., Royal Courts of Justice, and somerleyton SOLICITORS. Road, Brixton. | MESSRS. WATSON, SONS, and ROOM, 12, Bouverie Street, Fleet SILVESTER, H, R., Esq., Kennington Park Road, Trustee. Street, anil Hammersmith. BANKERS. The Business of the Society during the 32 years of its existence exceeds Four Millions. SUBSCRIPTION SHARES, by monthly payments of 10s., 15., or 20s. each, thus providing a profitable investment for savings as they accrue. ADVANCES made promptly upon Freehold and Leasehold Property for long or short periods, either by way of Mortgage or Deposit of Deeds. The Directors are prepared to entertain applications for Agencies. JOHN EDWARD TRESIDDER, Secretary. EVERY THURSDAY-ONE PENNY. “THE FREEMAN” NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED 1853. ENLARGED 1882. THE FREEMAN commences the new year with a largely increased circulation and a more powerful staff, who are resolved to maintain the position of this journal as the most valuable to members of Baptist Churches and Baptist families. No pains are spared to make THE FREEMAN attractive and popular, while, at the same time, worthy of the principles it advocates, and of the Denomination whose interests it has for so many years sought to promote. General Outline of the Principal Contents :Original Articles, by well-known and competent writers, Sunday Readings.-Original Spiritual Papers by somo on all subjects of importance, Religious, Political, or of our ablest ministers, both at home and abroad, are proSocial. These include evided for Sunday Reading. Special and Timely Articles on Denominational Helpful Suggestions and Practical Information Questions, contributed by gentlemen of the highest for Church Officers, Bible-Class and Sunday-School literary ability. Teachers, Conductors and Friends of the Band of Hope Our Denominational Intelligence, early and acrurate Movement, and workers in every department of Christian reports of the news of the Churches in all parts. usefulness. Valuable Notes on the International Sunday Reviews of New Books.--Valuable and discriminating School Lessons, designed to assist the Teacher's prepara. | notices of new and important publications, denominational tion for the class, appear in every issue. or otherwise. The Missionary Field.-In the last issue of every month The Correspondence Column.-Open for the discussion is given a series of notes and comments, which will, it is of all subjects really interesting and important to the hoped, prove specially helpful in connection with Mis Churches. sionary Prayer Meetings. An Epitome of the General and Religious News Baptist Pulpits.--Sermons are given verbatim from time of each week, a Summary of Political Events, and NOTES to time, revised for THE FREEMAN by their authors. AND COMMENTS on topics of general interest. The Publishers will send Prospectuses on application, or, on receipt of the name and address of any non. subscriber, will post a Specimen Cupy of the Paper, ALEXANDER & SHEPHEARD, PUBLISHERS, 21, CASTLE STREET, HOLBORN, LONDON. THE ORGAN OF THE BAPTIST TOTAL ABSTINENCE ASSOCIATION. To Promote Unity in Temperance plan and action in the Churches of the Denomination. 6 N issuing the First Number of “ The iron merchant, and also a Magistrate for Liver BOND OF UNION"we have pleasure pool, Lancashire, and Cumberland. He was 'in presenting our readers with a educated at Birkenhead Park School, and prior portrait of the esteemed President to his becoming a partnerin his father's business, of the Baptist Total Abstinence received a mercantile training in the offices of Association. the well-known White Star Line. In 1868, he Mr. Caine was born at Seacombe, near married the eldest daughter of the Rev. H. S. Liverpool, in the year 1842. His father, Brown, of Liverpool, a lady whose kindness of Mr. Nathaniel Caine, was a Liverpool | heart and deep and true sympathy with temperance and. Christian work, have won for Perhaps the most prominent characteristic her the esteem and regard of all who know her. which has marked his career is that of thorough His politics are defined in the following ness, and we believe that this quality has very quotation from a speech recently made by him largely contributed to place him in the front at a Temperance Meeting in Brixton : “ Politics rank of the social, political, and religious Rewere those things which affected the welfare of formers of the present generation, the people. He was neither a Conservative, nor a Liberal, but a Radical Reformer.". He contested Liverpool in 1873, and again By the Rev. C. H. SPURGEON. may well be proud. From his youth he has taken the deepest interest in all movements which have had for their end the moral and religious uplifting of the masses, and for a period of twenty years was OOK at the poverty of the homeengaged in Ragged School work, first as teacher O Ah me! Do you know it for a and then as superintendent. Every denomination fact that nine-tenths of the pov. has found in him a true friend when engaged in erty of London comes of drunkgrappling with the ignorance, wretchedness, and enness? If men take their wages home, now see the difference. ungodliness of the people. You can almost tell when a man His support was won for the Temperance movement through the perusal of Mrs. Wightman's is a teetotaler if you go into his house. I could “ Haste to the Rescue,” which he bought for the go into the house of such a man blindfold and purpose of filling up an interval of waiting for a almost feel what he is. Don't I remember when | I was a child a nurse who used to come to our train upon one occasion. The influence which was thus brought into exercise on behalf of house, and how she used to go home with the Total Abstinence movement cannot be horror when she heard her husband was on the estimated, for ever since that date he has taken a drink, and how, when she went home, she was prominent part in Temperance advocacy, and his often felled to the ground, and by-and-bye away speeches bristle with facts and arguments which went clock and furniture and all her things till fasten themselves upon the minds of his hearers, she could scarcely go into the open air for want and carry conviction with them. of garments to wear! I remember, as a child, His connection with the Baptist Total Absti wondering how ever a man could drink a clock nence Association dates from its commencement, and his wife's clothes. I have seen enough of when he became one of its Vice-Presidents. In it since, and if it were for nothing else but the the year 1880, however, upon the lamented misery and poverty that this detestable thing decease of Mr. J. S. Wright, M.P. for Not brings upon the families of the people, Christian tingham, who had been President of the men and women ought to brace themselves up Association from the first, Mr. Caine undertook and say, “We, at least, will have nothing at all to fill that position. It was at this juncture that to do with it." the Executive decided to strike out a bolder Look at the sin that is caused by it. What course of action, and if possible to engage the painful memories we have of those we services of a Travelling Secretary who could loved and esteemed, and reposed trust in, who give the whole of his time to the visitation of might have stood, for aught we can see, but Baptist Churches and Sabbath Schools in the that by degrees this monster got the mastery United Kingdom. Mr. Caine at once entered over them! We can tell of some who, accordheartily into the scheme of the Committee, and ing to all outward appearance, did run well. called a social meeting of the friends of the What did hinder them? Churches in their rolls Association at his house, where the plans were must know that there is no more deadly artillaid for extended usefulness; and there is no doubt lery in the adversary's camp than this. Men the position occupied by the Association at the who did not think they ever could become present time is mainly owing to the large-hearted drunkards, and we did not think they could be liberality and personal interest of Mr. Caine. either, and yet sometimes they speak rather Mr. Caine has been President of the Liverpool | thick, and sometimes they do not quite know Temperance Union for 15 years, and is Vice- . what they, irs and is vice. . what they talk about, and by-and-bye they President of the United Kingdom Alliance, the fall by little and little till we have to say, British Temperance League, and the National Temperance League. | From an Address delivered in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. How are the mighty fallen! He that never drinks will never be drunk. I think that A NEW YEAR'S INVITATION. is clear, and there is a good rule we some By the Rev. J. P. Chown, President of the Baptist Union. times urge in our preaching, and that is to "We are anxious to win over to our side the many keep as far off danger as you can, and a good Pastors, Church Officers, Members, and Sunday School moral rule it is for all men. Don't say, “I can Teachers, who may not at present see their way to join the go so far, and I feel quite certain that I should movement... You will be glad to hear that we have never be overtaken as a victim." I have heard a decided majority of the Pastors of our Churches on our Members' List, and nearly every day is bringing in new that frequently said, and have always felt a fear names."--Extract from an Official Letter. of the brother who is quite so sure. * But granted for a moment that you are quite "COME THOU WITH US, AND WE WILL DO THEE GOOD." sure that you have taken out a guarantee that G HE above quotation indicates the line you never should drink too much, don't you sees in which a few words may be said in think we should abstain for the sake of others ? this first number of our new PeriodiI heard one say he thought the blue ribbon was cal which we are anxious to make a the mark of a reformed drunkard. Very good, great power in the interest of our and suppose it is: why, then we shan't get any movement among the churches. It body to take it because they will all be marked shows what ground for gratitude and as reformed drunkards: therefore come along encouragement there is in what has a few of us that never were drunkards, and let already been done, but what need, us go in with them, and if we do so people will also, that the work should be lovingly and not suspect us, and if they do, we are not par vigorously prosecuted to an even more satisfacticular about their suspecting us when we | tory issue, and that this should be entered on at know there is no room for suspicion. But they once. It should be, because the issue of this can't pick everybody out and say, “ He became “BOND OF UNION” marks a new era in our work, a temperance man because his character was and while it is only one of a series, it is congone, he had rather committed himself, and he siderably in advance of any step thus far, and was obliged to take hold of that." I am glad | one that we trust will make a “new departure,” when a man does it for that reason, but I should | in our course of Christian beneficence and prosnot like it to be so that nobody took this step but, perity. The remarkably quickened interest, too, reformed drunkards. This were too heavy a that is felt in all Christian circles in Temperance cross. Here, my friend, let me take one end effort is another reason why we should seek to of your cross, and if anybody points to such a turn the rising tide to account. Many of us man as being “a fool of a temperance man,” | remember times and places in which, not long why, here is another fool. Blessed is he that since, it was not known, but now is acknowis willing to be a fool for the sake of helping his ledged and honoured in a spirit we thankfully poor brother to get his feet well up again after appreciate, and would gladly profit by. The he has fallen, season of the year, also, in which these pages Now you who do not believe in total absti are issued, is the time for Temperance and other nence at all, I am sure I am not going to drive kindred work, more than can be always in the you to it, because, if I did, you would kick out Spring and Summer. The New Year, too, gives and go the other way: but will you do some us a starting point from which we enter upon thing else to help the drunkard ? If our efforts that we trust will make 1884 a record in plan is not good, try yours. We are waiting our calendar that shall be a sign of more and to put on a yellow ribbon, if you will tell us better work than has yet been done, and a a better way by which the drunkard shall token of the Divine blessing by which it has really be kept out of temptation. If you will been crowned. The invitation, therefore, of propose it, we will listen very heartily; but, the olden time is in spirit that which we my dear brethren, is it that some of you do would address to every one as mentioned not like to hear about it because it is a very in the passage at the head of these lines, “ Come sore subject with you? You are almost coming thou with us, and we will do thee good.” round, and if we urge you forward you will back Taking this for our motto, it supplies us with a bit, and so we will not urge you, but when you 1 an invitation. This is what should always be on go home, you will like to think about it ? Won't the part of those who have found an advantage you consider it? We will be glad to see you in which others may share. It is only selfishhere if you do consider it, and when you have ness such as we should all deprecate, condemned matured some specially good plan, come and alike by humanity and the Gospel, that would let us know what it is. I do not see any plan enjoy its blessings alone. In the highest range that is at all feasible for the great bulk of the of action those who know of the feast are to make people, but to turn the cup upside down and it known. The souls that have received the have done with it. Gospel are to tell it abroad. It was in this spirit of Divine beneficence, the Master stood We apply this motto all the more closely up like a living fountain and said, “If any man | because of the course to which, in this case, . thirst, let him come unto Me and drink,” and it invites our friends. It is one that is sound in some of the last words of the Gospel revelation principle. On the Divine ground that we should are those in which “ The Spirit and the Bride keep as far as possible from that by which we say, Come, and whosoever will, let him take the might be deceived and injured, it is so, and the water of life freely." Bible abounds with illustrations and enforceMore than this, the words may be taken as ment of this in almost every part. On the an appeal ; not an invitation only, but that in ground that we should free ourselves from that which it should be laid more earnestly upon the which may prove harmful to the life, though it soul. There are many reasons why it should be should be precious as the right arm or the right in this case with all the affection and earnest eye. Remembering, also, our relations to others, ness possible. The thought of the untold mis and that “it is good neither to eat flesh, nor to chief that is being wrought by strong drink in drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother our dear country. Also of all the evil that has stumbleth or is offended, or is made weak.” sprung from it to the Church of God, in every Self-denial in the service of the Lord is essential, part of its fellowship. The means it withdraws and in this sense, as in most others, it is “twice from all that might be pure and elevating, and blessed," and especially to the man by whom it squanders in that which is only corrupting and is practised. destructive. The Lord appeals to men who The more we know of Total Abstinence, too, “ spend money for that which is not bread,” the more we feel that it is safe in practice. but these spend it on that which is poison, and There are few instances in which this can rags, and bondage, and destruction, and there is be said in the fullest sense of taking intoxinothing in the world for which such a price is cants, of which we are told that “ Wine is a paid as these things. mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever It may be considered more than this, and is deceived thereby is not wise.” The way be used as a remonstrance. There are some in which they have “deceived” and dewho feel they derive no benefit from the use of stroyed those who were most confident, and strong drink, and yet do not give it up; our word those who were strongest in all respects, is a is to them. Others who have no reason to warning to which we do well to take heed. Of assign unless that it is agreeable to the taste and no mere earthly power could it be written that pleasant in social arrangements; and our word so many have fallen, and fallen so grievously, is with them. Others who are strictly moderate, and it is well to follow the example in which but feel that there are times when the appetite we must be safe. is stronger and the use freer than it once was; It is not only safe for us, but beneficent in its and the word is with them. Some who see influence on others. The example is one in what deceptions it has practised, and what ruin which none can be injured, and by which it has wrought, upon others, and they the fairest many may be blessed. It imparts a power for and noblest, and even in their own family blessing others, and gives a desire to use it, circles in some cases; and our word is with them. whose operations to-day are among the most Others who are practically abstainers, but have valued, both in the Church and in the world. never united themselves with those who need Its work in the reclamation of the fallen, their sympathy and help ; and our word is with still more in the training of the young, and in them, by whom we trust the fitting response | all the means that accompany these things, may at once be made. the Divine blessing above all, is that whose The motto implies more than has been said, growing influence in another generation must for it is also a promise, “ We will do thee good.” , be one of the most important factors next This is what is sought in our Societies, that the to Christianity in our well-being at home, and blessing shall by no means end with taking the our work abroad. pledge, but that it shall be followed by all in It follows from this that it is most gracious in which the life may be cultivated and blessed. ! its results. Look at the countless instances The cases are by no means few to our personal in which this will be seen in individuals. Look knowledge in which those who have come thus at the districts in which the means of gratificafar have come further, and the Temperance tion have been absent from men. Look at the Society has been a porch through which they impetus that is being given in various ways to have entered into the Church. There is growing human progress and welfare. Look at what up to be a spirit of Christian fellowshipin connec would be in the most wretched districts if only tion with the movement, that seeks not only to this temptation could be removed. What gather in, but to retain and influence for good resources would be available for means, the those whom it reaches, and it is in that spirit extent and blessedness of which no tongue we use the motto for ourselves. i can tell. Already we are beginning to see it in |