"THE LIMIT OF ENDEAVOR" A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rey. C. D. Case, Ph. 9. Btw Mac Dart Von Atteapt far 0dr V.t aim Orsc Batk lor Llvlif aa4 Dvloi. TinooKt.vx. N. Y. The ilev. C. I). Case, Ph. 1)., formerly of the First Uaptist ( hu'rch, Montclsir, N. J., preached on Sun day his first sermon nil pastor oi the Han son Place Baptist Church. His sii'jject was '"I he Limit of K.ndeavor." Dr. Cane said: la the fourth century of the Christian era the Ooths, numbering nearly one mill ion people, men, women and children, came down to the Danube, at that time swollen by many rains, tocscane to the other side, A large fleet of boats und canoes had been provided, and for several days and nights woik went on incessantly, Yet notwith standing the most earnest care scores were awept away in the flood. Centuries before this remarkable occur rence another vast horde of men,' women and children came down to another swollen stream. By count there were over (HH),OUU warriors over twentv years of age, and the entire host numbered about 2,000.000. The valley into which they descended was of peculiar formation. The outer valley was an miles and over in width, hut there wan an inner valley or ravine a half mile anil over in width, and still within this was the river itself varying from twenty to aixty yards in. width. But this river, too. h,id been swollen by many ruins and the melt ing snows farther up its course, and now had overrun its usual bunks and was rush' ing along with rapidity. Strangely enough no bonis had been pre pared for the crossing of this host, and yet, a events proved, not one of the host wns lost in the crossing. Kvidently there was some vast distinction to he made between these two great hosts of antiquity. What was that distinction? May it not be this, the words that Isaiah uses in the forty third chapter and second verse, which may be considered the text of this sermon: "When thou passe th through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." On the part of the Israelites in their crossing of the Jordan some special prepar ation was needed, but not in the procuring of boats. The commander of the army had sent messengers throughout the host, and oommanded all to sanctify themselves, which meant the washing of garments and the abstaining from all that might distract the mind. Similarly Moses had once com manded the people to sanctify themselves to-day and to morrow, and to wash their Sarments and be ready against the third ay; for the third day Jehovah Himself would come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. It was a critical moment for the hosts of Israel. To fail now meant to fail forever. To succeed now meant a promise for the future. "Hereby ye shall know," said Joshua, "that the living God is among you and that .He will without fail drive out Irom tietore you toe innanitants ot tne land. What a nation or a man achieves through God-given strength to-day is an assurrance for victory for to morrow. Suc cess is a handmaid of assurance. "Ye have not passed this way before," said Joshua;, a new leaf in national history hud been turned; a new territory invaded. A new endeavor with the Israelitisli army as with us to-day needed special fuidance. The sacred ark was to precede he people, but far enough in advance to be seen by all that "ye may know," said the leader, "the way by which ye must go." Reverence is needed for divine things, but divine guidance more. The pillar of fire fend the cloud is now superseded by the ark, and it in turn superseded by the Christ, who said to all distiples, "follow Me." In each case the command is not to make the Guide follow you, but you the Guide. Five miles over the river la a walled city. Thousands are watching irom the walls the foolhardy attempt of the disordered hosts. One person, however, alone upon the wall, unnoticed by the many, is looking down with expectancy. That one is Kabul). Shu watches eagerly as the priests bearing the ark by the poles step with measured tread down to the river, wonders as nothing hap pens, starts as the priests seen actually at the very edge, but at la.st her hopes are realized, as the rushing current is stayed by some unseen force and rolls up in n mighty wall, while below the waters hurry away until the last streamlets trickle down - over the stones and leivu luud for the pas sage of the army. What, after all, is the limit of endeavor? 1 Kvidently not reason alone if at all. That Israelite who stays behind and watches the foolish performance from the hill side paces back and forth in his disgust. Such a foolish waste of life! Such a spectacular display. Will Joshua never be done with auch undertakings? Any one might know that that motley herd could not be gotten aafely across that boiling stream. No boats, no possibility of wading, or even ku.;. ; a ,.an't i, Jl,.nA watch, it is done. I heard a teacher in a certain normal school rend in class lor the correction of professor and student what ahe would say to a class of boys and girl about the crossing of tliu Ked Sea by the Israelites. A strong east wind, she said, blew the water down the sea until the Israelites could wade across, and then when the Kgyptians came up the wind harfj changed and drowned all of the Kgyptians in the passage. "And what do you sup pose," said the would-be teacher, "the peo ple thought that God made the waters to So back." That's science for you. But, by the njy, such science is a little out of dale. Kven Huxley declared that Hume's argument against miracles was unscientific aince he maintained as a premise that nothing miraculous or supernatural could occur. As far as science is concerned it is not necessary for us to determine whether thing is miraculous or not, the questiou is, did the eveut occur, and if so, can we lind a cause? Nor is the extent of one's own power an adequate limit to one's endeavor. "Give ye them to eat," said Christ. Impossible. There are 5000 men beside women sad children. It would take sn average man's life's savings to feed them. We have, in fact, enough to give a few men a little to ustaiu them, a paltry live losvea and two fishes, but what are they among so many. Ability says, Ws csnnot feed them. Christ , mvs. Arrange them in groups; make ready. What, then, are the limits of endeavor? One limit is certainly God's command. The Lord commands and the host proceeds and the deed is done. The Bib.e teems with commands. Are they becoming use less? Hits the Bible yet become an obso lete text book? J Joes it need revision? iSome commands appear out-dated; some foolish; sum iiitheolt to obey, let whst He commands He will give strength to per form, sand the word of Cans is the word tu-day. Whatsoever He saitk unto you, -do it. But there is another limit, which is still farther tu the horizon of life, the limit of iod's promises. God's promises sre in Him vea and amen, borne ooe bss said that iod's promises are the Lord's brsnrhes banging over the Water, thst our Lord's .illv, ball-drowned cbildrea may take a grip ot them. Bather are they glimpses of the mountain top. inspiring the traveler to mouut the heights thst he may see the iieavenly realms beyond. Yet all of God's promises have expressed or implied condi tions. Something must be done by us in regard to His commands. Does He say, '1 will give the a crown of lite?" He u.so avs. "If thou art faitbiul unto death. oes He sav. "Thou shalt be saved?" He silso sjy. "if you believe on the Lord Jesus tbrist." Does He say thst He will svouae in uuto as and make His abode with us? lie uiskcs i s Hi.- comliliou, lust ws open the doo.v tt He decline Mat ws shall bear much fruit? He a!.u Jink as the condition that we shall abide m Unu. What, then, shall we do in Hie fai or Cod's command snd promises which thus sot the limit to our endeavor? Crrtstnly accept the limit, sad be satisfied Willi uo less. A command mrsps a duly, and a promise' a privilege. The Christ is lite is ay not by trying nothing but what seems easy, not by failing gixemlly with lb ' jiops that God's fsvor wil pardou ouv nra lect, not by thinking that J is commands sod promises era aot really for us, but by agreeing with General A runt rung: "What sr the Cbiwtiaiis in the world for but to do is impossible?" -rtur ia assenting-ibs fco ideal taw soul most ss osiiainiy accept (be cumplaasntsry ouncluaion lust all sirs agio is of God Power beluoiralb unto in4 (fcursuuVtsttisisorUud. How v pie act as if God had been dcpfscir..rnnrt"a three words are light, life and love; l'atil's are grace, faith and power. It is by tho grace of God. His unmerited favor, reached by faith, a complete trust in Him, that we obtain the power of God. Ami what pow er! When Paul bad reached the lowest depths of Unmans, the seventh chapter, and sees that he nitht sin. and exclaims pa thetically, Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? he can only answer himself with humility anil rejoicing. I thank God, through Jesus Christ our laird. Watch the repetition. "Power," "in the power of the Holy Spirit," "in the demon stration of the Spirit and of power,'' "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in tis;" "that ye may know what is the exceeding greatness ot His power to upward who believe accord ing to that working of His might which He wrought in Christ, when He raised flint from the dead, and made Him to sit at His right hand in heavenly places." But power comes through faith. Watch the priests ns they put their feet in the brink of that swollen stream. What con fidance. How did you know what wns going to happen? Some sny that as we rrow older we gnjn more wisdom and therefore need not accept less and lens the revelation by faith. Great theologians ac ccording to this might live with very little faith, in much the mine spirit it is sup posed by many that as we obtain more and more strength we need less and less of di vine interposition and have less and less need of failh. But "let him that Ntandeth take heed lent he full." As long as we live on this earth there will be new territory ot wisdom und power to reach, and new Jordans to cross. We cannot. Paul de dares, in Galutians, begin by faith and then be perfected in the flesh. Faith as the stretching out of the hand toward t hrist must always be a t hristiuu priv ilege. Taki ako your own condition, if you nrn not a Christian. If you join a lodge you make up your mind after examination that you can keep all of the requirements of the constitution and pledges. You know your own ability and strength. But when you come to Christ, you do not begin by say ing, Can I or can 1 not hold out to the end, taking into consideration the. powers that I now possess. ' Rather you sny. He has promised to keep that which I commit unto Him, and therefore 1 shall hold out. You will make the conclusion of Charles G. Kinney as ho went out into the -woods engaged in a life und death struggle with the Holy Spirit. The voice was saying. "Will you accept now to-day?" lie went out determined to give his heart to Christ before be came out, and he did. But it wus a promise which he laid hold of. That promise was: "Ye shall seek Me and tind Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." His answering faith said: "Lord, Thou canst not lie; i take Thee at Thy word; I do search with all my heart and I know therefore that I have found Thee." And as he continued in prayer the peace of God came into his heart. Then there arc commands and promises connected with your burdens. Christ said, "Do not worry over the morrow." Can we keep from worry? You have read again and again the' words, "Cast toy burden on the Lord and He will sustain thee," but note that the margin of the revised version says as the other reading tor "thv burden" "thut which Ho hath given thee, and ulso notice that God sustains not the burden but "thee." Cast upon God what He has given you to bear and He will bear thee, and in bearing thee the burden will be a blessing, not a curse. Is prayer a furce? Or can tho limit of endeavor in prayer be ulso God's promises? "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, it shall be done unto you." Christ declared to the disciples as they hud stood helpless before the demoniac boy, "This kind Com eth not forth suve by prayer." Beyond the reaches of human strength and wisdom is the domain of prayer-achievement. Dr. David Gregg when he wits pastor in Bos ton presided ut the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, long of Constantinople. In the year 1851 Malimoud hud issued un edict ordering the expulsion of all mission aries from the empire. The British and American ambassadors told them that they must go. William Gadell replied to Ham lin's statement, "Hamlin, the Sultan of Heaven can change this; let us appeal to Him in prayer." Together, like Hezekiuh of old, they spread the edict before tho Lord und prayed all night. The next day Muhmoud died and the edict was never mentioned. Kobert College is the monu ment of the work of Dr. Hamlin. You, to day, are thinking especially of the work before you. How much dure you attempt for God? We must often begin our duty before we feel conscious of the strength. But God gives grace for living and dying both and ulways when wc need it. Thank God, we are co-workers with Him, winch means vastly more than that we are engaged in the same work or the tame kind of work. Christ said, "My Father worketh hitherto and 1 work," showing thst He was simply currying out the work which His Father was doing. But He also said, "My Father, which worketh in Me, He doetu the work." So we mean when we say that. we are co workers with (iod, more thun that we are doing God's work, but thut He Himself is in us "working in us both to will and do of His good pleasure." Professor Peubody, of Harvard, declares thut there are three classes that make problems for us in so ciety, the "can't-works," the aged, sick and defective, who must receive gentle and con tinuous consideration; the "out-of-works," able to work, but temporarily unemployed; the "won't works," the protessionally idle, vagrant, mendicant poor. In the church there are but two classes to make problems; for there are no "can't works," as every one who cannot take a Sunday-achpol class or do some other church service, does work by Christian tes timony and Christian living; first, the "out-of-works," who are willing to work but csnnot lind employment, and for this neglect the church is responsible; and sec ond, the "won't works." and God pity the church that has many of them. Let us rather be the "can works," the "in works," the "will works." And does some one ask .what are th prospects of success? Ijet them listen to Adunirsm Judsou, as he says, "Tell them us much as there is an Almighty and a faithful God, who will perform His prom ises, and no more." Let us believe that we have but two limits to all of our en deavors, God's commands snd God's prom ises. A Holy Ministry. It is life itself, sanctified life, that ! God's holiest snd most effective ministry in this world pure, sweet, patient, ear nest, unselfish, loving life. It is not so much whst we do in this world as what w . that tells in suiritual results and im- I presxions. A good life is like a (lower ever pours out a rich perluiue and tnus J perform a holy ministry.- Dr. J. K. Mil which, 'iinusn ii neuner ion nor sum, yei ler. Oyetsr-Shsll Buffet. A buffet made of oyster sheila would hardly appeal. It would seem, to the average householder, and yet a real dent of Diamond atreet, near Six teenth, baa an oyster shell buffet that bla vlsitora admire more heartily than any other piece of furniture In bli dwelling, aaya the Philadelphia Rec ord. This buffet looks like' mother-of-pearl. The shells In It are beautifully polished, and what gives tba piece Ita chief distinction la the black spots, or yea, upon each ibell. These apots have an effect -upon the shell's silvery pearly surface that la Indescribably striking and barmoulous. The buffet was mad by a cabinet-maker of Wood bury, N. J. The sheila are set aide by aide In oxidised silver, and their back ground, or base, la black walnut wood. It la doubtful if there Is another auch piece of furniture as this lu existence. Utlen'a Ocetf Reecrel. Lat year tba Plymouth collect last elation gave tbe best returns ol My of tew three lab hatoberlea main Ul-.d by ir ioerBaot os the Mew nshMMt ooast, the reeetpU there be Ug nor tfcaa hoU the other to Hether. THE SABBATH SCHOOL International Lesson Comments For February 21. Subject: Jesas and lbs Sabbalb, (Halt, ill., I-M-Goldea Te.il, Matt. xlL, 12 Memory Verses, 4-8 Cam. mestary oa tbe Day's Lessen, I. Plucking corn on fae Sabbath (vs. 1-8.) 1. "At that time." It may be well to note that there is a difference ot opinion here as to time. Some think that Jesus had nt tended the feist of the Passover just preceding this, but this is called in question by the best critics. "Through the corn." To an American reader the word corn suggests the idea of Indian corn or maize . but the word in the text lias refer once to grain, such as wheat, rye or bar Icy. "Began to pluck." They rubbed it in their hiiniU (I.ulce 0:11 to separate the grain from the chaff. This w allowable according to the law (Deut. '2.":S1). but the Pharisees object to their doing it on the Sabhulh day. The plucking and rub bing necessary for this purpose were con sidered by the Pharisees to be sufficiently near to reaping and threshing to constitute them secondary violations of the fourth commandment. '2. "Pharisees saw it." They were watch ing for an opportunity to catch Hun. "Not l.iwlitl." Tins prohibition is a Pharisaic rule not found in the Mosaic law. It was n principle wiih the Pharisees to extend the provisions of the law and make minute regulations over and beyond what Mints commanded, in order to avoid the possibil ity of transgression. .'I. "Have ye not read." To vindicate His disciples Christ referred the Pharisees to a similar rase recorded in their own Scriptures and with which they should have been familiar. "An hungered." Our Lord hero is not arguing for un excuse to break the law, but ior its true construc tion. The mere lormiility of a ritual or strict letter of a positive precept is to yield to the demands of the general good. The necessities of the disciples justified them in doing on the Sabbath what was otherwise unlawful. 4. "The house of Cod." The talterna c'e. "Did eat." Ahimelech. the priest at Noli, gave DuviJ and his companions five loaves of the shewbread fl Sam. 21: 1-7). The law provided that twelve loaves of bread should be put in two piles upon the table in the sanctuary, to remain a week and then to be eaten by the priests only. David, fleeing from Saul, weary and hun gry, had eaten this bread contrary to the letter of the law. "Shewbread." "Liter ally, bread of setting forth, that is, bread that was set forth in the sanctuary. It we also culled 'continual bread' ss being set forth perpetually before the Lord, hence the Hebrew name, 'bread of the presence.' Twelve loaves or cakes were placed in two piles on the 'pure table' every Sabbath. On each pile was put n golden cup of frankincense. See F.x. 25: 30; Lev. 24: 8 8." 5. "Profane the Sabbath." Jesus con tinued His argument by showing thut even the law under certain circumstances pro vided for the doing of that which had been expressly forbidden in the law. On the Sabbath days as well as on other days the priests were engaged in killing, preparing and burning t!.e sacrifices and in perform ing the whole temple service. It was one of the savings of the rabbins that there wus no Sabbath-keeping in the temple. Thus, if all work on the Sabbath profaned the Sabbath, as the Pharisees maintained, the priests were guilty of continual profa nation. "Blameless." Xot merely does the sacred history relate exceptional in stances of necessity, but the law itself or dains labor on the Sabbath as a duty. 6. "Greater than the temple." Inasmuch as the one who builded the house is greater than the house, ( hrist refers here to His own authority and power. The law.-giver is greater thun the law. Christ wus great er than the temple because, I. The temple exists but for Him. 2. it is but a place of assemblv where men may meet with Him. 3. However splendid it is nothing except Ho be there. 4. However lowly the presence of the great King makes of it a heavenly palace. 7. "If ye hud known." A knowledge of the true meaning of God's word will pre vent rush judgment. Jesus here charges His critics with ignorance of their own prophets. "Mercy and not sacrifice." See 1 Sum. 15: 22; Hosea 0: 6. 1 desire mercy. I require mercy rather than sacrifice. It is a protest by the uropliet against the un loving, insincere formalist of his day. ti. "Lord, even of the Sabbath." Jesus now affirms Himself greater than the statute law of Moses; nay. He is greuter thai the Sabbath law established by (iod at the creation. Thus does He maintain Him-elf to be the incarnate Legislator of the world. II. Healing a withered hand on the Suhhath (vs. 9-1.1). 10. "Hand withered." A case of paralysis. Such diseases were considered incurable. "They asked Him." Mark and Luke mention some points omitted bv Matthew. Lulte says, "The scribes and Pharisees watched Iliin wheth er He would heal on the Sabbath clay, that they might find an accusation against Hun." "Might accuse." They did not doubt that He was ab'.e to work a miracle; they expected it, but they intended to make out that His miracles were contrary to the divine law and so immoral. Ihey would then have some ground for say in that He worked miracles bv a diaho.ical power, which charge they did soon begin to make. 11. "He said." Jesus then proceeded to answer them bv drawing an argument from their own conduct. "It it fall. This was a self-evident proposition. Deeds of merry and humanity did not infringe on the Sab bath day. "Pit." Cisterns dug in the earth for the purpose of water, into which unimuls often Tell. 12. "A man better than a sheep." Christ always put an enormous value on man. A man is of infinitely more consequence and value than a brute. If they would show an act of kindness to a sfieep would they not show mercy to a man? "Thus they are taken on their own ground snd con futed on their own maxims and conduct." 1'he truth implied in Christ's question ia pre-eminently scriptural and Christian. It is not a discovery, but a revelation. No tice a series of points in respect of which a man is better than a sheep: 1. His phy sical form and beauty. 2. He ia endowed with reason. 3. He is endowed with a moral nature. 4. His capacity of proxies. B. His sniritual nature and his capacity for knowing God. 6. He is possessed of immortality. "It is lawful." This wus universally allowed by the Jews, them rylves. 13. "StreU-h forth." A remark cole command. The man might have rea soned that Ilia hand was withered and thst he could not obey, but being commanded it was his duty to make the effort; he did so and was healed. Faith disregards ap parent impossibilities where there is a command und promise of God. "itestored whole. A little netore this Cnrist hail claimed divine authority; He now proves that He possesses it. 'these two cases de termine what may be done on the Sab bath. The one was a case of necessity, the other of mercy. Condemned Murderer' Last Wish. "I should like my relatives to bave a photograph of me aa tbey remem ber me four years ago;1 a picture ot me not In the' garb of a felon, nor with my prison number pinned on my breast, but one that will bear upon It no association with my terrible plight. This la all I ask." Hurt Ross, con demned to die for tbe murder of Dep uty Sheriff William J. Ward of Ban Diego, made tbe above request ot Warden Tompklna. It I tbe first time In the annals of San Quentln prtaon that a condemned man ba mad eqoh a request. It was granted by the warden, and a photograph ot lb murderer, let cltlieo's attire, was taken In th prison gallery, and copies will be glvoa to Rom' relative after hi death, Is aecordwoc with hi las wlh 'Uan KrancUtpo Kaamlnar. Lam Chimney' Leng tervl. ' A lamp chimney that bad bea Id a in newpen, w. H.. fatally for more man twenty year m recently. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR NOTES. Februiry 21 "Some Coos' Ways of Uilni tbe Ssbbith. Mark 1:21-34. 8erlpture Veraei. Pa. 5:7: 29:2: 93:1. 2, 6; 132:7: Er.tk. 4:3; Matt. 12:12; I.tiko 4:lti-31; 1S:14-16; Act 13:14-16; 16:13; 18:4. Lesson Thought. The Sabbath Is pre eminently a day of rest rest from sin, and a rest in God. How can we make It bo? Cer. talnly by publics worship and by pri vate meditation and prayer. Any work that la unselfishly good Is proper for tho Sabbath; all that Is mere self-seeking la Improper. Whatever work may be necesnary for our bodily comfort or safety, even though In the work itself there ba nothing; saered, we may feel perfectly tide that God will not regard as a profanation of His holy day. Selectient, O day to sweet religloua thought So wisely g-et apart. Pack to the silent strength of life Help thou my wandering heart. The Old Testament laws of tho Sabbath were negative, and told what men fthoiild not do; Chi 1st tells what men should do, and if we fulfill these precepts, we shall have no time to do what we should not do. The Sabbath Is a door with a double purpose to shut up behind its the worries of the past, and to lead us out Into a new garden of dellghta and prlvllegtw. Christ's example teaches us that wa are to fill the sabbath a full as any other day. Simply refraining from this and that Is not keeping the Sab bath. Idleness is not holiness, The Sabbath Is to give us a chance to do what he likes to do to carry out our character. Tho use we make of It shows whether our charartrr la Christ like or not. Frederick Saunders calls the Sab bath the savings-bank of humanity. If we lay away In it all through our youth and prime, week by week, and year by year, wis shall not be bank rupt lit our old age. Prayer. We do thank Thee. Oh, our Father, for the holy Sabbath day, when, without the interruption and anxieties of worldly pursuits, we may pay our devotions unto Thee, and me ditate upon the holy Word, and do good unto our fellow men. Help us to enjoy a true Sabbath rest, not of Idleness, but of holy service, in Jesus' nar,:e. Amen. EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS. Fcbroary 21- I'slPf tbe Sabbath (Mark I. 21-34. Tho Jews were too strict as to Sabbath observance. God gave It to them for a delight, but they hedged it about with so many foolish and annoying rules that it became repul sive. The early Christians made tht I.Oid's Day one of holy gladness. Then came religious decline when rejoic ing became godless fun. Then the grand old Puritans, repelled by the frivolity and wickedness of the time, swung to the other extreme and kept the Sabbath gloomily. Now we are in danger of swinging back to frivol ity, ii religion, and Chrlstless sport. It we bad to choose between Puritan over-precision and Continental laxity which makes tbe Sabbath the very worldliest or days, what Christian would hesitate' to take the former, dedicated to thought and reverence, the bulwark of our country's purity and religion? But there Is a better way than either. How shall we put Into the Sabbath the bright ness, the joy, the blessing, which shall make our chil dren and our children's children love it as "the golden clasp that bind the volume of the week." The first condition for a proper us of the Sabbath Is to live so near to Chl'4st every day of the week, to bp so deeply consecrated to him. that, your unwavering purpose is to please him In this as In all things. This purpose will help keep the conscience i tender on the subject, will do much toward keeping the vision clear, and will go far toward begetting a happy spontaneity in sabiiatn observance. With this sincere purpose to please Christ, I shall rest my body as far as compatible with higher Interests. That customary toll should cease Is axiomatic. .As certainly as God lias written upon this physical frame, "Bieathe. eat, drink, or die." so sure ly has he Inscribed here. "Tako reg ular Sabbath rest, or break dowu and go to the grave before your time." Really devoted to Christ. I shall, while avoiding needless, ordinary toll, be free to perform works of real mercy or necessity. Christ, did not make bis Sabbath a day for loafing or torpor. All works of beneficent love, all that ministers to "recovery from anguish, and cartles out tbe divine purpose of grace, for body and soul, rescue from danger, healing" of dis ease, reformation of guilt," are sanc tified by the example and words of Jesus. But If sincerely consecrated to blm I shall not make the word "needful" elastic enough to cover any kind of toll which some worldly wish suggests. I shall find a better way than lounging or laboring. RAM'S HORN BLASTS. HKftK s no graft tilde in nelf gratultloli. No so: row is in vain that kills self. There are uo fail ures for the faith ful. Honest toil brings hearty Thanksgiv ing. They who have the (liver have all gifts. It Is the guest who makes til fetst dvine. The good of today must grow into tbe better of fcuiorow. The food that is - eaten without gretitude b.lms no growth. Tbero are no riches In God to the man who hue a god In his riches. Most men keep a better account ot their needs than their mercies. 1 The best Thanksgiving will not ul ways be where the biggest turkey U Some men complain because the sou doe not shine on both aides ot tb house at once. . . 8mouth fi lands vsuslly turn out ta 1 slippery (tux, Othordusy niaaiis to many that ail ball worship to (ioX of their patent-lug. ife&Jtfl&sl eirsclnuit Woribi We fanr.ot tell how uneet must be- " The heavenly speech they uie uhnve; ' What cadences deep m tin' sen. What hnliest jihrae or tone of love. , 4 Yet human speech ha many a wonl Mure sweet thun anael-bp ran mmnd; Foraivenew". grace in Christ the Lord, Mercy, with Inviiui I, indues crowned. They breathe upon our heart like aongs That awell around, below, above: Immortal words on mortal tontines. The words that tell Hod's wondrous love. We cannot want for words to men. While still we strike the mercy chord; Ood giant ns power to speak again The words of life in Christ the Lord! Mrs. Merrill K. Ontex, in New York Ob server. What If riirlst Came tn Our Town? Suppose, one of these brisht morninga, ns you are gniuK about your work ami preparing to in out lor the nmrninn cr rands, a neiuhbor comes to your door with t.u-e all nliiriit with news and tells you: "Did you know? lime you heard that Christ has come to our town" 1 met Him liiite earlv as 1 went to the store tor some thing for breakfast. He told me He would come to my house to-day, and I must hurry home to ninke ready, 1 thouaht you would like to know, for lie may be here, too. He is to speak over nt the church to-night." And with her wonderful news she hur ries onwnrd. And you stand there startled. Can it be true! ( hrisi come to the earth (main? And how did your neighbor know Hun? Yet she inut have, for he is one ot His very own. And Hi tuny come here, tn your own limine, ou look niiickly around. There lies the book you were rending last night. Y ou hastily put it out of sight and the color rises in your cheeks. It is not a book you would like Christ to find you reading. And He is to speak at the church to night. Yes, this is the regular church piayer meeting night. Ah! You had for gotten. For it is also the night of your euchre club, and you were to nave enter tained it. And now? What can you do? The salad is already made, the cream and oysters arc ordered. Your guests will think it strange. Hut what will Christ think? Y ou could explain, of course, that you do not approve of having euchres on Wednes day evening, but this was an unusual tiling because but you do not like to think oi facing ( hrist with excuses. 'I he invitations must be recalled, of ionise. Y'nu hasten to the train to slop vour htt'haud beloie he goes to thp city to his business if possible, and all the way you say to yourself: "Christ is here; Christ has come to our town! There is opportu nity now for men to be saved! That poor drunkard who has tried so hard to reiorni and cannot, that sorrow-sl ricken woman who can tind no cnnilorl anywhere may find it in Him. That sick child who is loomed to a life of miffering may be healed!" 'I hen, ns the thought grows upon you, what it means to have Christ come lo your town, you lorget your horror over your oivn pout ion and how meanlv you will ap pear as His follower when He looks upon you as you really are, and go to eagerly planning bow others may be told of the wonderful news. Your heart sinks at the thought t Ita r He has come on, a week 'lay night, and because every one is so gien over to his own plans and pleasures you leel very certain there will be but a poor showing nt the church to iiigln. not lunie than the usual handful who attend the prayer meeting where Christ is always e peeled of course in spirit. It is a pile He ould not have route on a Sabbath and hail it announced long beforehand. Y'nu would have then done your best to make it known ind urge such and such a on to come to the meeting, and you would have prayed lor a pleasant night that a large audience might be out, and would yuii? Are you sure? Has He not been expected at every meeting for prayer that has been held in Ilia house all these years? H is He not promised to meet there? Have you ever by so much ns a word invited tho-e people to rnme and see Him and learn .hnt manner of person He be? Have you ever put off an evening gathering to go to hear Him Unless it wa more than convenient to do n? Hnvc you hid away the books you have been leading nnd resolved to vcad them no more because you would be shnnied to have Him see you nt such books? Hjve yuii sprend abroad the iieus of His prenence with you and of the won ders He has done for you, even so much as Hie poor Samaritan woman, who testified, ''Come, see a man who told me all that Her I did!" Marcus Duds says: "The disciples wete good men, but they went Into I"viliar judg ing the Samaritans good enough to trade with, but never dreaming of telling them the Messiah was outside their town. Thev uiiisl have been ashamed tn find how mudi I more capable an apostle the wi.man was than lliey. I Hunk llii-v woiml not wonder mother lime that their Lord should con descend to talk Willi a woman. The sini :ile, unthinking, untroubled directness oi a woman mil often bave a mat it I'misiied ivhile a man is meditating some poudernitji ?onlrivan-'e for bringing it to pah.. Let us not fall into tin mistake of the disciples, mil judge men good enough to buy and sell with, but quite alien tn the matters of the kingdom. l')e woman' testimony was enough to excite curiosity. The men, dii her word, came oa to judge for them lelves. What they saw and lies id com pleted their i onvii tion. And they said to the woman, '.Now we believe, not because it thv speaking, ior we have heard for our (elves, and know that this li indeed the Saviour ol the world.' " It is not a fairy tale, nor a parable, nor in impossibility, this supposition ol our topic. "What if Christ should ecme lo ur town?'' He may come. He does come very day. Ho came to you last week in a ipecial answer to pravrr and saved a loved vie Irom death. He lame In you in the lilent watches ol the night when vim com sinned with Hun. and He apoke peace to four soul. You know He is the Chiist. And yet. have you fold others to come and tee? And if (hiist should come in real 'jndily presence to-morrow, would you anil I be ready o'- be ashsmed to meet Him? -'luce Livingston Mill, in the New Vuru Mail and I'.xpreas, Progress Means t:nit. Y'nu cannot expect tu sain wilhoiil efloit tint which cost Chiist all ilia life. - Ham's till! II. HoalUlna Hod's Nearness. How can the sense that the living (iod m near tn our life, that He is interested in it and Milling to help ii. survive in us. il ur life be full of pretty tilings? Absorp tion in trifles, attention only to the mean fi aspects ot lite, is killing more In it la than is killed by aggressive unbelief. Kor if all I man sees of life be his own interests, if ill he sees of home be its connoris, il ill He sees ol religion be the outlines ot his wn denomination, tiie complexion of his preacher's doctrine, the agreeahleuest and taste of bis iellow-woi snipers- to in li a man Uod must always seem lar awav. lor io those things there is no call upon eiibci mind or heart to leel Cod near. Lang True t Her Lever. A New Jersey spinster, aged ninety four, has kept green In ber heart tbe memory of a lover who died seventy year ago. admitting no rival ther nd attributing ber longevity primer lly to her fidelity, and after that to ber all-around aversion to doctor never having bad on called In lno ber debut. If not a mother In Israel be must rank a on of th most re spected old maid thereof, aud has, a record for pridit "tor point It alow an movlug flogr at to a long time t oo one. ess rflE GREAT DESTROYER J0ME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. I s rhe rity anil the Penalty of Drunkenness The Jovial Cup Toasts fate, While , Crime and Ulaenae Attend the Banquet Drinking a Sign of Mental Weakness The drunkard ! n burden to himself snd lo the community. How tolighteu tiie load it. both ends is the problem of the hour. I he jovinl cup tonsts fate, while crime and disease attend the banquet. The start and the finish involve only a question of time. Still. 1 here is enough of pure pitv for thu victim to give hiimaiiitarianisin a fur chince to do benelicent work. The latest evidence ot procr influences in such direction is offered in the recent report of the State Commissioner of Pris ons, The plea is very justly made for greater discrimination in punishments not only (or mere intoxication, but for crime due to drink. The penalties inflicted are markedly un equal. The man of means who takes tiie privilege of being "as ditlnk as a lord ' pnvs the fine nnd suffers no inconvenience, while the poor man. whether he pays or goes to prison, brings actual privation to his laiuily. This certainly should not be. although the law ns it stands ran nuke no special dist im tions to suit indivirlu.il enses. The question of equity is. however, dealt with from another point oi view, which deserves due consideration. The commis sion claims that the oftene should not be treated ns a crime, tint rather as a disease. The idea is by no means a novel one, but is widely entertained by the medical ex perts. The report truly snys- ' Habitual drunkenness arises largely from mental weakness, nnd its treatment should par take of the charai terist irs which the State has deemed wise in other rases of mental nbprration." The man, also, who periodi rally indulges in his sprees is virtually m the same category. Imprisonment or fine, or both, does not cure either class of vic tims, nor has any form of punishment fur mere drunkenness nny strictly deterrent effect. On the contrary, the offenses ngainsl society are ns constantly repeated as are those dependent upon more pro nounced and more easily recognized forms of Insanity. When crime is directly associated tvitb drink it must be proved that the criminal was actunlly insane at the time the deed was committed, and jet who could prove that an intoxicated individual is in any sense a rational being? True, he should not place himself in auch a position, but. rnnaidering that he is suffering from mental weakness, is he not rather to be pitied us a sick man than blamed as an actual crim inal? In any event he should not be jailed with thieves and murderers and be forced to consort with nil other kinds of depraved malefactors. The worst offense ol drunk enness is en no auch level. The rommis sion very wisely suggests that some better method of dealing with these distressing enscs should lie ascertained and adopted. Much good could also be done in pre venting drunkenness by educating the rub lie conceruinc the purely physical penalties of drink. SulTice it to say in this connec tion that no vital organ is exempt from its ravages kidney, brain, heart, liver, stem uch and arteries nil suffer in the long run, nnd there is no disease, chronic or acute, that does no1 owe its increased mortality to strong drink. Kven the sieulv. meth odical tippler, whose saturation limit, ii never reached, is in more dnHger in this re gard than the reckless and periodical de bauchee. No one, however, is ever an ex ample to himself.- Kditorlul in the Nun York Herald, ' 'iZiiu Serious tloking, A writer in the British Journal of In ebriety points the moral thnl the habit moat people lin of treating diunkennest aa ii comic incident has much to do with making the drunkard feel that ! o is not such a bad man after all. The alleged funny columns of the newspapers, the per fnrmiinces at our theatres, even our booki teem with allusions to drink and drink ers as something purely humorous. In the same way domestic friction, dis trust ai d unfaithfulness are .1 chief stock in trade for the professional joker. With rare executions we keep jokes on auch sull ied out of the J'athtinder. but our read ing of hundreds of periodica! every week shows us that n large percentage of "cur rent humor" finds its "point" in some false relation between husband and wife. There is no question that these thingi do great harm. When people nre used to seeing nnd hearing divorces constantly joked about, they in tune actually come to regard the idea as nothing very acrious. and no wonder that with our proverbial irreverence for nil things we have made divorces so common in this country thai the matter has nssumed the importance of s distinct "evil." "Anything for a laugh" is the watch word (it the professional wits, and nothing ia too sacred for them to use ns the bull for ' their maudlin ribnldty. It niav bl your funeral, but it is their "wake.'' So nardened are the men and women of the world lo these coarse plnys on the fraili ties of human nature that they ignore the serious aide of the matter; and so a public sentiment has been worked up which noth ing can shock. It behooves each one ol us as individuals to keep out of this nox ious atmosphere ss much as we can if we would i reerve that greatest of all boons, our self-respect. Liquors Add to Kxtiaiittinn, Aa interesting phase of the Marathon runs conducted by the It. A. A. every April 19 in the careful medical examination of the contestants, both before and after the run. No man is allowed to start un less physically fit, so far aa s physiciau's examination can determine. All the dats observed at both ends of the rsce are care fully recorded, and not merely assure sny medical attention that may be needed, but afford to science a fund of information on tbe phvsiologr of physical endurance in man. In the medical report of the last Marathon run the doctors slate: ''Contestants were .examined as usual before the atari snd after the finish, spe cial attention bring paid to blood pressure and to rerlexes. The results shows that both these vtet-e. in a majority of cases. diminished. The hearts, pulse rates and weighis viere aflected much as in previous years. "Tno cases of severe exhaustion were ob served, in both of whiih alcohol in excess bad been given by trainers and frieudt. It is questionable whether even small amounts ot alcohol aie beneficial to the runners, and it is certain lint lirge amounts - more than one or two ounces are distinctly harnilul lo them; instead of increasing their strength, the free Use of whisky or brandy actually adds lo their l-xhallitioll and depiession." The examine! ere Drs. Kiupp, Thom as, raulkiier. Lsnalies. Ktnersoii, Stmrs, it. Illake and II. Make. - Huston Herald. I'lrtlcult SubJ.iis. Kxcessive drinkers and smoker make very difficult subject lor the administra tion ot anaesthetics, tats III. Hewitt, ol Knglaiid. anaesthetist lo the king. The woist ulcohobc subjects may leqiinr enor mous quantities of the anaesthetic, slid in exlieme cases nil mils oxide (laughing gas) may be practically useless. Huslarss a Teusperaar Helurmsr. All the lailiosds that centre in t hi (sao have prohibited the use of liquor or luiNiccii by employes when on duty. l'ic tii-ally a.i the iiniionunl railroads now concur ill ibi prohibition. Kidiii "Wilb the I'rocrtsioii." ju Kveiylwdy's. A SliaiusTut Het-oril. The total amount of bushel of grain Used iu the distil cries of Illinois, Inst year, wa 8.304.D1S. n id the number of busnelt used in all the States, including llhuoi. was 24,4a7,:iol. Illinois ha nineteen distil leries ,o operation, although twenty-six sie regiatered. The amount ol distilled spirits gauged during the ttvsl year for the whole country ws 4tf.684.0ntM xalloos. oi which Illinois produi-ed V4.763..'n N gallon, or nearly one-loiirth of the totsl amount pros dnced by ad the 8ut. A circular ba been issue by Pan's phy siciSM -rskiig the radical ground that al cohol is sever sad never caii bt vf say ur snstever t tne ergsuum. CHINA'S NEEO OF RAILWAYS 1 h Lack of Them Make frosres Titer Inipollle All recent writer are agreed tba" otie ot the most prf-sslnat needs f Cblun, politically, sitratfgicitlly ami couitncrclnlly. Is the inenns of rnplrl truttxit. Already fulling Into disrepair pr taxed to their utmost enpneity It potiitesteil nrcas, tin- womlcrfitl water ways ot the country do net provide? those facilities which nre necessarj. for tbe development of China's poten ti.il resources. Travel by shallot rivers nnd canals Is Invariably alow, ofteu duiigeroiiM. liay.s nnd weeks) are? consumed in penetrating the Interior, nnd large tracts of country far tl tant from the centres of population arrt uncultivated, or lie vlth their mineral treasures titttoui'bi'd because ot thu lack of communication. Thousands starve finiiiially In on province while there Is nn abundant liarvest In nn mljaceiit province- merely because transport, nt nil time difficult, becomes impossible In theso times of famine. The import trade of China is restricted because the cost of transit, folded to the native custom levies, makes it impossible for forelKnt goods to penctrnte to the far distant in terior. The export trade is limited In like manner, nnd the purchasing power of the people thereby reduced. It Is claimed Viy the advocates of rail ways that improved commtinlcntioii would enable the central government to exercise more f tllcieiit control of the provinces, would enable official to- put down rebellious movements lt their incipient stajxe, pive the govern ment the ability to concentrate qulckl masses of men upon threatened point In times of war, distribute the peopla from congested to less populous prov inces, provide facilities for famine re lief, develop ititcrprovlncial trade, anil create channels for the distribution at cheap rales of foreign koihIk entering tit tbe treaty ports. Engineering Mag !1 7,111". WORDS OF WISDOM: ... f.ittle love Is little righteousness: per fect love Is perfect righteousness. St. Augustine. It seems to be easier for a man to be good for a million titan for a million to lie good for a man. Imgs scent danger sooner than men, nnd their fidelity is more reliable. The King's Messenger. The art of saying' appropriate word lu u kindly way is ope that never censes to please, anil is within th reach of the humblest. first of all, a man should nlway consider bow much he has more than lie wants, and secondly, bow mtieU more unhappy be might be than b really Is. We are in danger cf looking too far for opportunities of doing good nnd communicating. In reaching for the rhododendrons we trample dowu the daisies. Aim nt perfection In everything, though In moist things It is unattain able; however, they who aim nt It end persevere, will come much nearer to it I ban those whose Uiziness nnd despond ency make them give it tip at) unat tainable. Chestertleld. He Got It. A typical instance of the War OfTie methods is furnished by n correspond ent on one of our stations. An officer having occasion for the use of n screw driver made application for tbe supply of that liumble but bandy Implement from the liovernmont stores. Ills ap plication was bandied about In thst usual milliner from officer to ofilrer, nnd finally reached the upper author ity, from whom a reply filtered facte by tbe same devious ways to tbe effect that screwdrivers were only supplied in tool boxes, and not singly. Nothing: daunted, the ottlcer nt once applied for a box of tools, ami after the usual circunilocutionary luetics was Informed that boxes of tools were only supplied to carpenters' shops. Ity this time tho ottlcer, who had quite forgotten what be bad wanted the screwdriver for. bud thoroughly entered Into the spirit ot the campaign, and bis next application was for a carpenter's shop. lie got Ul -Tit-Hits. Hoa; Kill Ml I-up. A Lnke Shore ottlcer, name unknown, because be would not register at the hotel, told a thrilling story last evening of the carnivorous appetite of a num ber of bog In a stock en'. Tbe bog occupied the forward half of the car, nnd Ibe other portion contained twenty eight sheep, the car being divided by a supposedly substantial partition. Tbe ordinary amount of feed wns given to the hogs, but I' failed to satisfy, audi they broke through the partition. Hy the time the train reached Itocky; Itlver, n few miles this side of Cleve land, very sheep in the car bud been) killed nnd the carcasses partly de voured. "The car presented a grewsotn sight." said the railroad mnu, "anil Ik was the strangest thing that tbe train crew ever beard of." Toledo lllade. Well-Hehaved Philadelphia). The unlet ease and good humor with iv b lib the Philadelphia police manage? a crowd have often been commended, mid with Justice; but tbe greatest credit for this belongs to the crowd Itself, or to the community of which Ibe New Yeur crowd very fairly repn. sents the average. It l. to a very targe extent, a crowd of industrious nnd self respecting cllixcns, out for a holiday with Ibeir families, nnd lbe Influence of Ibeir self rest rain t Is felt by the young fellow who are parad ing for Ibeir amusement, and wbn carry through their parts with a so briety and decorum Unit often excite Ibe wonder of strangers In the clty.- Philadelphia Ledger. rropvrlla of In t'aailleaa. The caudle nut is a native of the Ia title Islands, aud the name ia derived from the fact I li.it the kernels are m rull of oil that when dried Ihey r stuck en reed and used a candle. The people of Hawaii, after bavluar roasted these mil and removed th shells, reduce Ibe kernel lo a paste, which I flavored with pepper and salt and is said I be a uiost appeiisluf dlsb. Tbe husk ff tbe nut and tb cum which etude from tbe tree bat medicinal values, while the bumce sbell of Ibe kukul I nwvd to make mm Indelible luk with which Ialt0oiu$ U ' loo
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers