S SUNDAY SERMON : 5 w 8 SA SeHolarly Discourse) By J S Kv. Edward Nil.. ttSSSSSSS3SSSfSSCll ' Brooklyn, N. tf. The Itcv. Edward Nllos preached 'at the White Church Sunday evening from II Timothy 111:5: "Holding.a form of godliness, but bnv Ins denied tUf power thereof." U aid: V That "distance lend pnchnntmenl to the view" Is true of time as well as space. The older we grow, fhe more immaculate appear the imagined days of youth. Christian believers an purer In our eyes in proportion to Oil number of centuries that Intervene. Within the covers of every volume o! sermons, whether written In one age or another, are the well-nigh certain jeremiads over "theHe time of extreme woridllness. unequaled love of money, peculiar Indifference to spiritual things," followed by laudations of the apostolic ago as the golden era of Christianity. A reconstruction of conditions exist ing In those New Testament churches from materials afforded us In the eplstlvs, warrant no such assumption. Heresies then were rampant. Incon sistent lives numerous, backsliders distressingly frequent. The things ol sense mnue coeent appeal. The huskt of the gospel often satisfied to the dis regard of Its kernel. Pnnl's descrip tion of "the last days" was based upon facts about him. As he penned the sentence of our text. he. probably had In mind fellow communicants who held the form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. Since then outward changes have been many, kingdoms have come and gone, languages have died and been born, church order and ritual been met amorphosed. Human nature Is un affected by time or clime. So the New Testament Is not n graveyard, with epitaphs of only antiquarian interest1, but Is photographic of contemporary "heart throbs. In our .Borough of Brooklyn are 150. 079 people holding to the Protestant form of godliness. While statistics are unable to figure out bow many hold to the Protestant power thereof. If form and power were identical, not one of the buildings where divine wor ship Is being held to-night would have a vacant seat and every theatre and hall would be utilized for overflow meetings. The original of "deny" lias as Its root meaning "not to seek." "Hold ing a form of godliness, they have not sought for Its power." The world has much to say about hypocrites. I be lieve the outcry against them Is out of all proportion to their numbers. The conscious hypocrite to-day is a rare bird. I have made frequent hunts or him. Despite the most diligent search, I have seldom found htm. The number of those called hypo crites, who would rightly be catalogued its formalists, is legion. They are not striving to deceive others. They suc ceed In their striving to deceive them selves. Satisfied with the appurte nances, the trappings of godliness, they inquire no further. Attendants upoj the services of the church, mem bers of it. supporters of its outward ac tivities, they fancy themselves to be godly. Branded as Christians, they but feebly apprehend what disrepute they bring upon the name by their in feriority to the real article. Their gullibility Is wrongly taken for by pocrlsy. They submit to the drudgery of religion to pacify troublesome con sciences and impose upon themselves. An important reason for so many lapses from church membership is be cause so many become dissatisfied with a form, yet fail to seek the reality, so give up all. Almost every one in this congrega tion has a form of godliness. You look good. I find little to criticise in what you do, for there Is so little you do on which to base a criticism. The trouble lies in what yon do not. You may hove called me here to predlgest your spiritual food, to relieve you from first-hand study of the Bible, to rep resent your church not only In clnssis but in, the tenement, to be your proxy In heart to heart work for souls, your substitute when the battle is on be tween good and evil, while you go your business nnd household ways dur ing the week and on Sunday enjoy your cushioned pews, criticise the ser mon and singing. The Lord never called me to any like task. If there has been any such tacit agreement I now repudiate It. I am called of God to point out the forms of godliness as means of obtaining its power. The Imperative needs of our Invent ive age have almost bodily transferred to our language the Greek here ren dered "power," in the word dynamo. I believe in forms, just as the railroad engineer believes in the third rail, as he believes in the elevated structure on the Williamsburg Bridge. But the mass of iron is a senseless eyesore un til it is connected with the main line. Even then it Is useless until related to the power liouse, until the power, the tire-fed dynamo, sends forth the electric current, enabling the cars to carry thousands of wage-earners to and from their places of everyday, toll. What private concern would be so in aneA to sink for two years sv.cn a .wealth of money in an enterprise for accumulating rust? The forms of religion are essential as preliminaries to the accessories of power. Churches, ministers, Bibles were instituted and have been perpet uated because divinely ordained and humanly tested to be good for making the kingdom of heaven ,"go" upon earth. In themselves, they have no value. The power of godliness gener ated in Christian lives must electrify them or they are encumbrances. You are commissioned to lead other to Christ. Your commission gives you "power to act." Are you availing your-' self of that privilege? I find no verse in the Scripture which reads "Be good and you will be a Christian." I find reiterated, over and over, "Do good." Christianity Is not colorlessuess. It lias no minus sign. It is ever positive. A negative being is peculiarly abhor rent to Him whose biography is epi tomized by "He went about doing good." "I would thou wert either cold or hot" is His message to such torpid professors. "Because thou art lukewarm, I will spew thee out of My mouth." Better the mistakes, bet ter even the sin that come from activ ity than the flabby absence of either, good or bud. True religion consists not in outward observances, but in in (ward graces; not In semblunce, but in (reality. Becuuse God is a living God, lie has no satisfaction in half-alive paints,. We must not only serve Him In this life; we must also live in His service. The arc lamp unconnected (with the dynamo Is In the way. Your (presence in Ihe church is in tho way wf others, unless the dynamo of power (within you is at work and your light as shining. Ia man may cry' "Church.! Church!" at L every word With no more pieiy than other people, dswrii not ra koniif a religious bird 'BecBuse it kieun a-rtwipx from n.iti'eple. Forms lire bv"iio means confined to liturgical churches. A printed prayer Is less formal than one which differ In phraseology ench time It is uttered, if the first come from the heart and the latter from the head. Some one thus confesses and questions nnd deduces: I often may my prayers. But do 1 ever pray? And do the wishes of my heart Go with the words I say? Word without tho heart The Iord will never hear.. Nor will He to those lip attend Whose prayers are not sincere. Kplrltunl force are all about u. per vasive as the subtle element we call electricity. The power of godliness Is the concentration of this energy with in ourselves, so as to make it radiant for good to others. We are in good form. We have taken Christ to be our Trophet and listen to His teach ings. We recognize Him as our priest, accepting the atonement He offers. Is He our King Whom we obey, in Whose strength we go out to fight fearlessly? Because hypocrites exist is no reason why you should be a coward. Let us not hesitate to say what we mean. Let us determine to mean what we say. A form of godliness may speak words of sympathy to mourner, of warning to evil doers, of hope to af flicted ones. But the power Is not there. It is "voice, voice; nothing more." Although ministering to the self-complacency of the speaker, It ministers to no one else. Tho form of godliness lacks substance. The fiinisl ness is revealed when its wearer need sustaining power. It Is no rod and staff to comfort when the valley of the shadow of death Is to be trod. It has no light to shed when a man conies to the forks of the road and knows not which way to take. It may fool him for a while here. Its hollow nesR is apparent on his first arrival in the world that knows no shams. The power of godliness la profitable, both for the life that now Is nnd for that which Is to come, ts possessor has "the tongue of the taught that lie inny sustain with words him that is weary," may "reprove, rebuke, exhort, correct." A man is behind the voice and Christ Is behind the man. In times of trouble, it supports unfailing ly. When the house is darkened and the friends make their pitiful nttempts to condole, they are anticipated by the God of all comforts. He whose form of godliness Is val idated by Its power, with unblauched cheek, with firm confidence, faces ench crisis of life, the supreme crisis of death, knowing Whom he has believed, persuaded that He Is nble to keep what Is committed to Him throughout eternity. A Clear Call. "It is very noble nnd lovely of you. Elsie, to give so much of your time to that work among the tenement bouse children. I'm sure I admire you for It; but for my part, I never had any call to that kind of work." "Any call?" Elsie's eyes were gravely questioning. "Yes, of course. I .suppose you felt called to go Into it. didn't you?" "I don't know.- I don't think I ever thought of it Just in that way. I saw the need of something I had time and strength to do that was all. But wouldn't that be call enough?" Would it not indeed? What plainer call can there be than a need that we can meet? What more eloquent ap peal than tho cry of the hungry little ones around us for bread that we cau give? There are not many loud nnd start ling "calls" to any form of service, but God has unnilstnkable ways of making His will known to every one whose own will Is to .know It. We have but to keep our enrs open to hear His voice, our eyes to see His beck oning. Every opportunity is a call: every outstretched baud that ours can meet helpfully Is God's. beckoning band to u." To most of us no other call will ever come than that which comes through human lips, no other than the reveal ing of n vacant place which we may till, a need for work which we can do. If we wait iu idleness for some other vocation than comes to us in these ways, we are but losing time, and the world ls losing our service. Let us instead find in "the duty that lies nearest" our present, delinite call, sure that when we are wanted for another work that too will be shown us. Opportunity that is God's clear call to us. Young People. , - J Beat In Clirlat. Coming to Christ, wo enter Into the rest of faith. The very act of trust brings tranquillity, oven when the per son or thing trusted in is human or creatural, and therefore uncertain. For to roll the responsibility from my self, as It were, upon another brings re pose; and they who lean upou Christ's strong arm do not need to fear, though their own arm be very weak.' The rest of faith, when we cease from having to take care of ourselves, when we can cast ull the gnawing cares and anxieties that perturb us upon Him, w'beu we can say, "Thou dost undertake for me, and I leave myself In Thy hands," is tranquillity depe'er and more real than any other that the heart of man can conceive. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind Is stayed on Thee, because he ti'usteth ,n Thee." Cast yourself upon -Christ, and live In that atmosphere of calm confidence; and though the surface may be tossed by many a storm, tho depths will be "peace subsisting at the heart of end less agitation." Alexander Maclareu. Lofty Examples. The loftiest examples of charity, de votion, self-sacrifice, heroism, trust, pa tlmiee and patriotism ever known to history have found their motive and in spiration iu the Christian religion. Henry B. Williams. A Little Parable. , Hatred and Selfishness fell In love with each other because they Haw that their deeds were alike evil. So they sought Beelzebub and asked him to marry them. "I will do it," he said, "but it must be on one condition." "What Is the condition?" they asked. "Tliat. the two of you, when legally made one, shall take a new name." "It Is agreed," they said. So they were wedded with much pomp and ceremony. "Now what la our new name?" they Immediately Inquired. "Human Folly," was the answer. "That name hereafter will include the both of you, as, Indeed, It practically tea done heretofore." So the united two wander over the earth, covering It with unhapplness and frequently we refer to them by tbolr former names, but not tho less does their wedded name apply to either or both of them. San Fran cIbco Call. The Vegetable Oar-den. Clean up and burn diseased plants, manure the garden, plow it and leave it an winter. Bum asparagus tops and manure tn bed. You can make new asparagus and rhubarb beds and plant sets of extra early pearl onions for use next March. Tut some parsley plants in a box nd place it iu a light cellar or In a shed. Put some frozen rhubarb roots In a barrel of earth in the cellar, where they will produce "pie-plant" for win ter use. Dig ehlckory for salad and store in and in a dry cellar. Blanch endive by tying lightly at the tips. Bury a barrel of cabbage In a well drained spot nnd cover with leaves. Or pile cabbages on the barn floor nnd cover with straw enough to prevent solid freezing. Start a mild hotbed nnd have home grown radishes and lettuce. The Gar den Magazine. Poultry ami Garden, Gardening and poultry raising is a natural and profitable combination, as each helps the other and gives a va riety of employment, whereby the spare moments in each vacation are profitably utilized. Fowls are nnturnl insect destroyers, nnd during the sea son when insects nro most destructive, If allowed to range In the garden every morning and evening will render ex cellent sen-Ice. It is a good plan to raise all small vegetables, such as beans, pens, onions, radishes and let tuce, by themselves in a lot enclosed by a chicken proof fence, and to have another lot the nme size for fhe chick ens to range in. The year following, let the chickens be turned Into tho lot where the garden was and use for a garden the lot vacated by the fowls. By thus giving the garden plot to poultry every alternate year, the soil Is not only rested but wonderfully fertilized by the manure of the fowls which is absorbed by the soil as fast as it falls upon It. Joshua Humble, iu The Epltomist. The Poultry Vuril. The above Illustration shows a typi cal Leghorn. This breed, though small, was at one time very popular, especially with those who lived In the country, but the demand for larger market fowls lins grown so rapidly that the all-purpose fowls, such as Plymouth Hocks and Wyandottes, have almost entirely displaced them. White Leghorns have pure white plumage, with clean, yellow shanks, beaks and skin, and when fully ma tured the males weigh about four pounds and the females from three to three and a half. They are counter parts in all else but color of the brown Leghorns, nnd possess all and possibly more of tho many good traits of tho WHITE LKOHORX MALE. Leghorn family. They are slightly larger than the brown Leghorns,' and their eggs are about as largo as those of the larger breeds. They are spright ly and always on the hustle, though they stand confinement remarkably well, and a dozen hens may bo kept in a very small pen. Many people on the farm object to them on account of their color, claim ing that they are shining mark ' for hawks and small animals whlch'-prey on the poultry yard, but this view seems hardly well taken, since it has been shown that the broods are con stantly being robbed even among those that are totally black. Color makes no difference, nnd unless a better ob jection for discarding them can be advanced, we see no .reason why they should not regain their former pres tige. There is certainly no prettier fowl, if we fancy solid color, and they cer tainly have merit. Home aud Farm. Berkshire Hoei. Will you please give a young be ginner In swine growing something about tho Berkshire breed, history aud Introduction in this country. GEO. It. STAIIL. Wo cannot do better In reply to our correspondent than to give what Prof. W. l. May says of this breed. Prof. May is in the Missouri Experiment Station, and U a gentleman who has made a study of live stock. He say of the Berkshlres: From 1820 to 1S28 tho Berkshire was very much improved by hori Barring ton, who devoted much time and a great deal of care aud judgment iu developing what -was even then the most popular breed In England. That the efforts of Lord 'Harrington, were so signally successful Is attested by the fact thut most English Berkshlres trace their ancestry to his herd. A. B. Allen, who is authority on the subject, states that tho first importa tion of Berkshlres Into the United States was made in the year 1823, by John Brentnall, of New Jersey. In 18o2 a Mr. Hawes, an Englishman, made tho second, aud afterwards other importations at Albany, N. Y. In l&li), Bags and Walt, of-- Ownge County, N. Y., began Importing largely and engaged extensively iu raising and disseminating tho breed through out the great corn West, Tho Berk shire immediately became very popu lar, and fancy prices wei'e paid for the tiuimals throughout the new porW pro mf&iimK dm laTtv ducing territory, They were especially, esteemed at the time for their quality of crossing, and thereby improving hot only the common but other breeds of swine. The Berkshire wns no less than a faithful companion to man in the sub. Jugntlon of the great West. It fol lowed him in all his Journeys into the new nnd undiscovered countries awaiting to yield up the bounties of their soils. From year to year infu sions of new Berkshire blood has fol lowed the first, until to-day the great pork -packing regions of our nation; are world wide famous, not only for. the amount but In the quality of the product. So in early days, as at the present time, the Berkshire held first rank throughout the Mississippi Valley. Its success has come largely through the fact that its promoters .lave been of sound Judgment coupled with that skill and discernment that has enabled them to develop tho'so essential quali ties of a perfect nnlnial that Is now almost a machine in its regularity, while eliminating those points that aro detrimental to the hlshest success. The flesh of the Berkshire consists of well marbled strenks of lean and fat. and this fact alone will readily distinguish it to any ono fumllinr with' one slaughtered product. Not only docs this great essential recommend the breed to the one who raises pork for home consumption, but it is taken Into consideration by best butchers on the market and is no small factor in determining the animals that bring the top prices. i With these points of superiority al ready acquired, and with tho best in terests of the breed in the hands ol such eminent and successful men as now compose the Berkshire Associa tion, the continued nnd future lender hip of this breed is assured. Indiana. Farmer, ( A to Close Pasturing-; There is n general complaint that our common grasses run out, aro not at all lit for permanent pnstures because Very early they give way to wild grasses and to weeds. It is true some grasses will sod the land complotoly,' and make a fairly permanent pasture, but as a rule they will not furnish so much succulent pasture as does some of the other grasses that do not form so complete a sod for tramping or for close picking. Indeed, many timothy pastures are completely destroyed be cause tho animals are allowed to run over the field long after they are un able to get even a living from it. Late pasturing In the fall results la close picking and much tramping on the surface. Usually the fall is so dry, that many grass roots get tramped up, with the fine dust. Need we wonder that a good meadow pastured closely in the fall as a hard-picked timothy, pasture, should turn to white-top, to' wild grasses or even to cheat when it, is so abused in the fall? If forage is given, if plant-food is udded in suffi cient quantities to net as a top-dressing of manure, then tramping the per manent pasture in tho fall will do much less injury. The available plant food will tend to revive the old grasses and to nourish tile young grass that may spring from volunteer seed. Feeding pumpkin's, fodder or sorghum while the stock Is still on pasture not only gives additional food for the stock but protects the pasture. It means much to the pasture if It Is allowed to remain us a. sod. If the fall grass is allowed to fall over occasionally and. given a chance to grow more rank, all the common grasses will hold from year to ynr much better than they usually do. The most persistent grass that furnishes forage in profltahlo quantities will be greatly benefited by a partial fall growth to cover the sod iu winter, or by feeding on pasture sufficiently as to produce a top dress ing of manure over the entire area. Scattering the rotted manure from the barnyurd or from tho rotted straw, stacks upon the permanent pasture Is sure to lengthen the life of the pasture and to increase Its yield of forage. When the email pigs are allowed to run with larger hogs they often be come completely covered with lice. When they become tbln the hair gets long nnd looks coarse. It usually in dicates the presence of lice. Coal oil and lard is a good remedy for killing lice on young pigs. W. B. Anderson,! In the Indianapolis News. Commercial Methods. If the man whose life is spent on the farm would use his brains as well as his hands, lie would find results much more profitable than at present. It is all well enough to understand what is necessary in farm operations, but of what avail is it if plans are not carefully laid and as carefully exe-j cuted? There Is a city business man who was brought up on a farm and' Is now spending some of his clty- earned money ut the old occupation.) Largely, as a matter of sentiment, he bought the old homestead, and after a time used It for a summer home,' leasing the land on the share plan. One summer, being at tho farm consid erably, he noticed tho rather slip-shod; methods of operation, and the next year took charge of the farm him self, engaging the necessary help to do the work. Then ho looked carefully over the placo and planned just what he would do with It He had no, trouble after his help discovered that his knowledge was not wholly theo retical. Tho farm Is making some money, solely as a farm, aud will make more lu the years to como. It Is run as a business proposition, and every detail of Its handling carefully consid ered. The 'commercial rules applied; to furmlng will bring 1 success. In dianapolis News, Style In JKrencn Serials. - As examples of the Freuch feuille tonist's attitude towards style, let ua tako two gems from the work of Fou son du Terrall. One of them is: "The! mini's bunds were cold and clammy llko those of a serpent." The other; The count puced up and down the garden, reading the newspaper, with his . hands behind his back." The Academy, With 29.200 nhvslclaiis. German' ha ono. for eyerjr nuo iufeabltaiui J SUNDAY, JANUARY SEVENTH. Laying Foundation for 1908. Luke 6. 46-49. ' Foundation-laying is a matter of personal responsibility. Whatever may be said of the power of heredity, everyone may rather, must lay the foundation of his own life. - He may not always choose the location of the building, or the nature of the mater ials though these are largely In his own hands but he must build the substructure, as well as the super structure, himself. The only safe foundation for a hu man lire ia faith in God. That means not merely a vague sort of belief that ho exists, and that he ts more or less benevolently disposed toward us. It is a faith which intrusts all life to him, which believes that he has a purpose in our presence in the world, and which is sure that It is absolutely safe to commit ourselves to his guid ance. That faith makes Christians ot us, with our Hfo hid with Christ In God. It puts us upon the Impregnable rock of the atonement. We can stand erect nnd confident In God's sight when we stand on that foundation. Storms come to everyone. The tempest that smote tho house on the sands beat no less fiercely on the house with the rock foundation. There is no pledge of immunity from trial, or from conflict, In the Christian faith. That would ninke It a mere asylum for the feeble. But our faith gives us power to bear the trial, en dure the pain,' and overcome in the conflict with evil. At the beginning of the year there Is uo need to lay now foundations, If you are already fixed on Jesus Christ, tha Rock of Ages. You may need to strengthen your hold on his life, to make sure that the lifo you are building Is In harmony with the life on which it Is founded, to be more careful in the choice of tho materials you use in the daily task of building, but you are already on the Rock. The wise builder in the parable is ho who ''heareth these sayings, and doeth them." By that test, who among us is the wise builder? Who will begin now, and by the help of God, be not a hearer only, but a doer of the Word throughout the year? The Epworth League offers admir able opportunities for foundation laying. If you have not used them, begin this year. Your need of regular and systemat ic use of the Bible can nowhere be better supplied than through the League Bible-study course. Join the class In your own chapter. If there is no class, start one. Three or four earnest people will make the nucleus of a fine class. It will give deflnlte ness and purpose to your reading of the Bible. JANUARY SEVENTH. How Finding Christ Changes the Life Matt. 13:44-46. Christ is not hidden treasure, and yet we must seek Him; and when we have found Him, we wonder we have not seen Him before! When one has found Christ, he does not hldo Him, but is eager to show Him to others. No parable fits truth in all points. Christ is like a pearl in pcrfectness, In beauty, in purity, in preclousness. To win Christ we must yield up all that we have; but He gives It straightway back again, vastly en riched. No one has really found himself un til he has found Christ. The discovery of Christ is more to me than the total of all tho world's discoveries; It is the discovery of tho other world. One need only start toward Christ, for He comes swiftly the rest of the way. The reason why Christ cannot ent er some lives is because they want Christ to allow them to remain as they are. Christ in the life is like the magic lamp placed in the German hut, that by its shining changed it, and all Its furniture, to solid sliver. Health cannot come without dis ease's going; nor can Christ come without sin's going. When next you go to a Christian Endeavor consecration meeting, de termine that it shall mean something definite. Review your life and see where you are weak. Ask God to show you how you may strengthen yourself in that point. Form a resolution for one advance step. Write it out. Speak It out. Pray over it. It may be to do one unselfish act every day. Or to speak at each meet ing to some one likely to be neglect ed. Or to read larger daily portions of tho Biblo. Or to take a more help ful part in the meetings. Whatever It is, you will help the other Endeavorers greatly if you tell them of your purpose, nnd ask them to tell of theirs. Keep a record, and hold yourself to the accomplishment of your design. Adhere to it till It becomes a habit. Thus will each consecration meeting mark genulno progress in your life. When Bailors Wore Earrings. "Sailors don't wear earrings as they used to," said a city ship ciindler. "In tbe past I had a jewelry case sold earrings of all kinds. Lately I did away with it, for there is now no money in sailors' earrings at all. "But there used to be. Every salt had his ears pierced and was as proud of his earrings as a lady. For some varieties I got as high as 50 a pair. "A sailor would never wear pre cious stones, like diamonds or pearls, In hiB ears. The only, atone he would wear was agate. . That was a funny fact, wasn't It?" Town Clerk In Petticoats. Miss Clara McAlplno,the young daughtor of William McAlpine of New Hartford, Conn., and recently a stu dent at the Gilbert preparatory school, Is the only woman town clerk in the sta-te, having qualified to act la the absence of F. A. Jewell of New Hert ford, who tins gono to Buffalo for an extended slay. (She Issues marriage licenses and Discharges the other duties of the office satisfactorily to all applicants. IHE SUNDAY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS FOR JANUARY 7. Subject! The Shepherds Find Jesus, l.nfce 11., 1.00 Uoldeu Test, Luke II., 11 Memory Verses, IS, 14 Toplr: Tbe Savior Bevealed to Man Commentary 1. The birth of Christ (vs. 1-7). 1. "In those days." After the birth of John and before the birth of Jesus. "Caesar Augustus." The first of tho Roman emperors. "All the world." All of the Roman world. At thnt time the Roman empire extended further than ever before, or than It has since, and was callod "the empire of the whole earth." "Taxed." Enrolled. 2. "First made." There must have been two " enrolments. "Cyrenlns." This Is the Greek form ot Quirlnus or Qulrlnlus. 3. "Into his own city." The Roman custom was to enrol per sons at the place of residence, but the Jewish custom required the enrolment to take place In the native city. 4. "Went up." From Galilee to the much more elevated region of Bethlehem. "City of Havld." AYhero Dnvtd was born. 0. "With Mary." It is uncer tain whether her presence was obliga tory or volunt'iry, but It Is obvious thnt, after what no had suffered (Matt. 1:19), she cl jsh to cling to the presence and protection of her bus bnnd. "Espoused wife." Better, "who wns betrothed to him." R. V. 0. "While there." Caesar Augustus was but an instrument in the hand of prov idence to fulfil the prophecy of Mlcah. 7. "Her first-born sou." That excel lent nnd glorious person, who wns the first-born of every creature, and the heir of ail things; whom all the first born in the Old Testament prefigured; whom the angels adore (Heb. 1:0); nnd in whom those that believe become the lirst-iHH-ii and the first-fruits of God's creutures. "Swaddling clothes." Strips of cloth; these were wound around the infant. "In n manger." It seems clear from tho text that the manger was not in the inn, hence there is good reason to believe, with iJr. Thompson, that the birth actually took place In an or dinary house of some common pens ant, and that the babe was laid In ono of the mangers, such as are still found in the dwellings of the farmers. 11. The angelic message (vs. 8-14). 8. "Same country." Near to Bethle hem. "Shepherds." Tbe announce ment was not made to rulers or priests but to humble men who were ready to receive the glad news. "In the field." They undoubtedly had tents or booths under which they dwelt. "Keeping watch by night." Or, "keeping night watches." R. V., margin. They watched by turns, against wild beasts and robbers. The fact that the shep herds were in the fields affords no ground for concluding thnt the nativ ity could not have taken place In the winter. The average temperature at Jerusalem for five years was, in De cember, fifty-four degrees. 9. "An gel." Divine messenger. "Came upon them." Stood over them. "Glory of the Lord." That extreme splendor in which the deity is represented as ap pearing to men,' and sometimes called the Shechlnah an appearance fre quently attended, as In this case, by a company of angels. "Sore afraid." Terrified with the appearance of so glorious a being. 10. "Good tidings." The literal meaning of "gospel." I am come to declare the loving kindness of the Lord. My message will cause great Joy. It is a messiige to "you" (Jews) first, and it also reaches to "all the people" (R. V.), to the whole human race. See Gen. 12:3; Matt. 28:10; Luke 2:23-32; 24:46, 47; Col. 1:21-2:1. 11. "Is born." Isa. 0:0; John 1:14. "David's greater Son begins His earthly career in His ancestor's home. Seven hun dred years before a prophet had pre dicted tho Messiuh's birth at Bethle hem" (Mieah 5:2). "A Saviour." 1. A deliverer. 2. A restorer. 3. A pre serve!:. See Matt. 1:21. "Not, 'shall be' a Saviour, but 'born' a Saviour." "Christ." The Auointed One. 12. "A sign." The very thing that would have caused them to doubt wns made the sign unto them. "Any fenr as to whether they may approach the now-born King and offer Him their homnije is dispelled by the intimation of His lowly condition, while their car nal views of the nature of His king dom are thereby counteracted." 13. "A multitude." They descended to honor the Prince of Pence. "Heav enly host." The army of angels. 14. "Glory to God." Christ was tho highest expression of God's glory. In the highest." 1. In the highest strains. 2. In the highest heavens. 3. In the highest degree. "On earth peace." Peace with God; peace to man; peace of conscience. "Good will." God has shown His good will by sending the Messiah. "Toward men." We should show good will both to God and man. III. The visit of the shepherds (vs. 13-'.'0). 15. "Let us now go." There Is no time to lose. Let us go now. "This is the language of obedience, desiring to receive assurance and strength," by seeing for themselves "this thing which Is to comedo pass." 16. "With haste." Filled and thrilled with holy Joy flint could not linger. "And found." It is probable that by com municating their experiences to one another their faith wns Increased. 17. "Made known nbvoad." As soon as they had seen the child they began to tell the glad news tl every one they met. They were true preachers of the gospel. J8. "Wondered." The story of Jesus Is the most wonderful story to which human ears ever listened, and it still causes thoso who hear it to wonder. l'J. "Pondered them." Weighing or cnrefnlly considering them. Every circumstance was treas ured up In her memory. 20. "Glorify. Ing and praising." These simple men returned to the care of their flocks glv ing glory to God for all they bad seen, RAM'S HORN 'BLASTS rj"5JJ 'i raise the fal Byfksgy len is to reach His God's will for all is tho good will of all. Sympathy does not depend on a syllogism. You can exer cise evil by the exercise of good. The rinlv inv you can keep is that you scatter. Every good deed helps mako a track for others. They who welcome new truth, nev er have to wait long: for it. It is likely to be the faith more than the food that makes the least. Everythiu;? that strengthens home ties binds closer Heaven's bauds. Preaching hell in the spirit of hell will only, drive men in that direction. - .4. household ftgattora ' Saratoga Potatoes. Slice some potatoes very thin, let stand In ice water about. one hour, then thoroughly dry with a towel, liav saucepan ready with boiling hot lard, drop each piece Into the boiling; fat and fry until crisp and brown. Remove with a wire spoon, drain and sprinkle with Halt while hot. Preserve Tomatoes. Half peck of green tomatoes, quar ter them, add four pounds of sugar, melt, strain and slice three or four lemons; cook until tender. To inaka a tender omelette use hot water fa the proportion of a tablespnonful i each egg, instead of tbe milk usually, advised. Chives for salads are Terj; nice. - Hance For the Cecils, Tut iu a frying pan one tablespoon ful of butter nnd the same of flour, mix perfectly smooth without allow ing to color. Pour in one cupful of stock and return to the fire, stirring It ail the time until g.uite thick. Sea son with half a teuspoonful of salt, little popper. Beat the yolks of two , eggs, stir these Into the sauce add tbe Juice of one lemon and one table spoonful of capers. Earn a la Golden Rod. White suueo to be made of two spoonfuls of butter, two even spoon fuls of flour sifted into the melted butter, scald two cups of milk and pour gradually over the above mix ture until it is the right thickness, add pepper aud salt, boll six or seven, eggs hard, separate them, chop or slice the whites and add to the sauce. Place on platter toasted bread cut la points, squares or slices, pour the sauce over the mixture and sift the yolks over it. Use the potato rlcer to sift the yolks through. Browned Potatoes. Cut some boiled potatoes into slices, make one pint of thick white sauce, mix with it (off the fire) four ounces of grated cheese, cayenne pepper and salt to taste, and. if mustard be liked, two teaspoons of made mustard may, be added. Fry some triangular crou tons with white of an egg, stick a crescent-shaped border of them on a dish, inside them arrange a close ro of sliced potato, cover it with some sauce, then repeat in alternate layers till the crescent is high. Mask the whole with the sauce, sprinkle it thick ly with grated cheese and fried bread crumbs, hen?- and brown for about twenty minutes in the oven and serve hot. Cecils or Beef. Two cups of minced cold beef, on teaspoonful of chopped parsley, on teaspoonful of chopped onion, the peel f a quarter ot a lemon. Half a tea spoonful of salt Two. or three dashes of pepper. Two eggs and a cupful of crumbs. One slice of bread soaked In a quarter of a cupful of cream. Mix together the onion, parsley and bread crumbs. Beat up one egg and put it in with the meat, place it over the fire and let it heut thoroughly. After It cools sufficiently make up Into balls tho size of an egg. Boll the bulla first In flour, then into beaten egg mixed with a tnblespoonful of hot water, then roll in cracker crumbs. Have a pan of boiling lard; try a piece of bread first in the hot lard and if it browns instantly it is fight for frying. The lard must be half art inch above the top of the cecils, else they will split open. lifeo BID Clean gilt frames with rain water In which flower of sulphur has beea stirred. A little flour dredged over a cake before icing will keep the Icing from spreading and running off. When milk is to be used in tumblers wash them first in cold water and af terwtrds rinse in hot water. When the wash bo Her is rusted place the clothes In a bag or old pillow slip, before putting them in to boll, writetj" a correspondent. But why not try th up-to-dute soaps that do away ,witn the boiling? A novel .way for one's overshoes to be identified is to fasten them together with a clothespin bearing one's name. A more practical idea, however. Is to have the name written ia each shoe, with red ink. The tops of wardrobes and cup boards (that do not reach to tho ceil ing) should have papers laid over them not only to keep dust from slitting down, but to lighten the monthly house cleaning. Small pieces of cotton batting, slight ly steamed, make good dusters that should be burned after once using. A. medium-sized cainel's-halr paint brush is most useful in dusting the carving of furniture. A quick-witted woman stopped the flow from a cut artery in the leg by putting the foot In three inches of flour in a large Jar and Jacking flour to the top of tbe Jar, beating the flour down with a piece of stove wood. It is suggested that a bit of wrap ping cord be placed around the edge of a buttonhole with the loop to the front aud the stitches taken over It This Is recommended for children's clothes that will have hard usage. If uewspapers are spread on the) floor before tbe stove when ashes are to be removed much work will be saved, for the papers can be gathered up aud burned and there will be no necessity for sweeping. The ashes should be sprinkled with, water be fore the pun is overturned. "''HI iii. Vv to Date. One day, as a certain schoolmaster, .witU aspect fleroo and cune tipre:." was about to punish one of bis i , the little rellaw said, quite iiir and doubtless with iwme t lectlou of a visit totTn : "Please, a!r, u r - I r- "
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