HEAVENLY LIFE.
Iter. Dr. Taknage Se-ya the Busiest
Place In the Universe 4s Heavea.
A flUmpse el lb King's Palace Aa tnprta
Ira Hall Hear la Etsrslty.
WasmNOTOif, D. C In the following
discourse, prepared by Dr. Talmage before
hie illness, a vivid glimpse of the splen
dors and glories of heavenly life is pre
cnted: text, Revelation viii, 1, "Ther
u silence in heaven about the spare o,'
half an hour."
The busiest place in the universe ii
heaven. It in Iho centre from which all
g-)od influences atari; it is the goal al
which all good results arrive. The Bible
represents it as active with wheels and
wings and orchestras find procession!
mounted or charioted. But my text de
scribes a space when the wheels ceased to
roll and the trumpets to sound and the
voices to chant. Iho riders on the white
horses reined in their charges. The doxol
ogies were hushed and processions halted,
The hand of arrest wrts upon all the splcn
dor. "Stop heaven!" cried an onmipo
tent voice, and it stopped. For thirti
minutes everything celestinl stood still
"There was silence in heaven about th
pace of half an hour."
From all we can learn it is the only
time heaven ever stopped. It does not
top as other cities for the night, for then
is no night there. It docs sot stop for fl
plague, for the inhabitant never says, "1
am sick." It does not stop for bankrupt
cies, for its inhabitants never fail. It
does not stop for impassable streets, foi
there are no fallen snows or sweeping
freshets. What, then, stopped it for thir
ty minutes? Crotius and Professor Stuarl
think it was at the time of the destruction
of Jerusalem. Mr. Lord thinks it was in
the year 311, between the close of the Dio
cletian persecution and the beginning oi
the wars by which Constantino gained the
.throne. But that was all a guess, though
a learned and brilliant (men. I do no
know when it wag and I do not care when
it was, but of the fact that such an inter
regnum of sound took place I am certain,
"There was silence in heaven about the
pace of half an hour."
And, first of all, we learn that God and
all heaven then honored silence. The
longest and widest domain that var v.
isted is that over which stillness was
queen. For an eternity there had no!
been a sound. World making was a later
day occupation. For unimaginable ages
it was a mute universe. Ood was the only
being, and as there was no one to speak
to there was no utterance. But that si
lence has all been broken up in to worlds,
and it has become a noisy universe,
.Worlds in upheaval, worlds in congela
tion, worlds in conflagration, worlds in
revolution.
If geologists arc right and I believe
thf y are there has not been a moment oi
ilence since this world begin its travels,
and the crashing and the splitting and the
uproar and the hubbub are ever in pro
gress. But when among the supernal a
voice cried, "Hush!" and for halt an bout
heaven was still, silence was honored. The
full power of silence many of us have yet
to learn. We are told that when Christ
was arraigned "Ho answered not a word.",
That silence was louder than any thunder
that ever shook the world. Oftentimes
when we aro assailed and misrepresented
the mightiest thing to say is to say noth
ing, ana- the mightiest thing to do is to da
nothing. Those people who are always
rushing into print to get themselves set
right accomplish nothing but their own
chagrin. Silence! Do right and leave the
results with Ood. Among the grandest les
sons the world has ever learned are tho
lessons of patience taught by those who
endured uncomplainingly personal or do
mestic or political injustice. Stronger
than any bitter or sarcastic or revengeful
answer is the patient silence.
The famous Dr. Morrison, of Chelsea,
achieved as much by his silent patience us
by his pen and tongue. He had asthma
that for twenty-five years brought him
out of his couch at 2 o'clock each morning.
In my text heaven spared thirty min
utes, but it will never again spore one min
ute. In worship in earthly churches
where there are many to take part we
have to counsel brevity, but how will
heaven get on rapidly enough to let one
hundred and forty-four thousand get
through each with his own story and then
one hundred and forty-four million and
then one hundred and forty-four billion
and then one hundred and fofty-four trill
ion? Not only are alt the triumphs of the
past to be commemorated, but all the
triumphs to come. Not only what we now
know of Ood, but what we will know of
Him after everlasting study of tho deific.
If my text had said there was silence in
heaven for thirty days, I would not have
been startled at the announcement, but it
indicates thirty minutes. ,
Why, there will be so many friends to
hunt up, so many of the greatly good and
useful that we will want to see, so many
of the inscrutable things of earth we will
need explained, so many exciting earthly
experiences we will want to talk over, and
all the other spirits and all the ages will
.want the same, that there will be no more
opportunity for cessation.
How busy we will be kept in having
? oin ted out to us the heroes and heroines
hat the world never fully appreciated the
yellow fever and cholera doctors who died,
not flying from their posts; the female
nurses who faced pestilence in the laza
rettos; the railroad engineers who stayed
at their places in order to save the train,
though they themselves perished. Hu
bert Cioffin. the master miner, who, land
ing from the bucket at the bottom of tin
mine just as he heard the waters rush in
and when one jerk of the rope would have
lifted him into safety, put iu the bucket
-blind miner who wanted to go to his tics
child, and jerked the rope for him to b
pulled up, crying, "Tell them the watei
has burst in and we are probably lost, bul
we will seek "refuge at the other end of tin
right gallery," and then giving the com
mand to the other miners till they digged
thenitelves so near out that 4 people
from the outside could come to heir re
cue. The multitudes of men and women
who got no crown on earth we will wan!
to see when they get their crown in heav
en. I tell you heaven will have no mon
half hours to spare.
Besides that, heaven Is full of children
They are in the vast majority. . No child
on earth who amounts to anything can b
kept quiet half an hour, and how are yor
going to keep five hundred million of their,
quiet half an hour? You know heaven ii
much more of a place than it was when
that recess of thirty minutes occurred
Its popu ation has quadrupled, sextuple.!
centupled.
Heaven has more on hand, more of rap
ture, more of knowledge, more ui inter
communication, more of wors'-.ip. The
most thrilling place we have ever been in
is stupid compared witb that, and, if we
now have no time to spare, we will then
have no eternity to snore. Silence iu heav
en only half an hour!
i My subject also impresses me with the
Immortality of a half hour. That hall
hour mentioned in my text is more widely
known than any other period in the calen
dar of heaven. None of the whole hours
of heavea is measured off, none of the
years, none of the centuries. Of the mill
ions of ages past) and the millions of ages
to come not one is especially measured off
in the Bible. But the half hour of my
text is made immortal.
- The only part of eternity that was ever
measured by the earthly timepiece was'
measured by the minute hand of my text.!
Oh, the half hours I They decide every)
thing. I am not asking what you will dot
with the years or months or days of four1
life, but what of the half hours? Tell mo'
the history o: yjj juil. anw i ui
tell you the story oi your whole lite m
eternity. ....
The right or wrong things you can think
in thirty minutes, the right or wrong
things you can say in thirty minutes, the
right or wrung things you cau do in thir
ty minutes are glorious or baleful, inspir
ing or desperate. ;
Look out for the fragments of time.
iThey are piece of teruity. It waa the
'half hour between shoeing horse thst
node Eiihu Burritt, the learned black
smith, the half hour between professional
icalls as a physician that made Abercrom
Ibis the Christian philosopher, ths half
.hours between hi dutie a choolmastea'
that made tislmon P. Chase Chief Justke,
the half hours between - shoe last that
made Henry Wilson Vice-President of the
United Stats, the half hours Between,
ranalboaCa "thai made James A. UarneMT
President.
The half hour a day for good book or
bad books, the half hour a clay for pravel
or indolence, the half hour a dny for help
ing others or blasting others, the half hour
before you go to business and the ho!!
hour after you return from business tint
makes the difference between the scholar
and the ignoramus, between the Christian
and the infidel, between tho saint and the
demon, between triumph and catastrophe,
between heaven and hell.
The most tremendous things of your
life and mine were certain half hours. The
half hour when in the parsonage of a
country minister I resolved to become a
Christian then and there, the half hour
when I decided to become a preacher of
the gospel, the half hour when I first re
alized that niy son was. dead, the. half hour
when l stoou on tne top ot r,y r-.ouso in
Oxford etreet and sow our church burn,
the half hour in which I entered Jerusa
lem, the half hour in which I stopped on
Mount Calvary, the half hour in which I
stood on Mars Hill and about ten or
fifteen other half hours are the chief times
of my life.
You may forget the name of the exact
years or most ot the important events of
your existence, but those half hours, like
the half hour of my text, will be immor
tal.' I do not query what Vou will do with
tho twentieth century, I do not querv
what you will do with this year, but what
will you do with the next half hour?
Upon that hinges your destiny, and dur
ing that some of you will receive the gospel
and make complete surrender, and during
that others of you will make final and fa
tal rejection of the full and free and urgent
and impassioned offer of life eternal.
Oh, that the next half hour might be
the most glorious thirty minutes of your
earthly existence!
- Then there are those whose hearing is
o delicate that they get no satisfaction
when you describe the crash of the eter
nal orchestra, and they feel like saying, a
a good woman in Hudson, N. Y., said af
ter hearing me speak of the mighty chorus
of heaven, "That must be a great heaven,
but what will become of my poor head?
Yes, this half hour of my text is a stil
experience. "There was silence in heaven
for half an hour."
You will find the inhabitants nil at
home. Enter the King's palace and take
only a glimpse, for wo have only thirty
minutes for all heaven. "Is that Jesus? '
"Yes." Just under tho hair along His
forehead is the mark of a wound made by
a bunch of twisted brambles, and His foot
on me throne lias on- toe round of Hi
instep another mark of a wound made by
a spike, and a scar on the palm of the
right hand and a scar on the palm of the
left hand. But what a countenance!
What a smile! What a grandeur! What
a loveliness! What an overwhelming look
of kindness and gracel Why, Ho looks a
if lie had redeemed a world! But come
on, for our time i short. Do you see that
row of palaces? That is the ApoBtolio
row. Do you see that long reach of archi
tectural glories? That is Slartyr row. Do
you Bee that immense structure? That is
the biggest house in heaven; that is "the
house of many mansions." Do you see
that wall? Shade your eyes against its
burning splendor, for that is the wnll of
heaven, jasper at the bottom and amethyst
at the top. See this river rolling through
tho heart of the great metropolis? That is
the river concerning which those who once
lived on the banks of the Hudson or the
Alabama or the Khine or the Shannon
ay, "We never saw the like of this for
clarity and sheen." That U tho chief river
of heaven so bright, so wide, so deep.
But you ask, "Where are the asylums for
the old?" I answer, "The inhabitants are
all young." "Where are the hospitals for
the lame?" "They are all agile." "Where
are the infirmaries for the blind and
deaf?" "They all gee and hear." "Where
are the almshouses for the poor?" "They
are all multimillionaires." "Where are
the inebriate asylums?" "Why, there are
no saloons." "Vvhere aro the graveyards?"
"Why, they never die."
"Oh, let me go in and see them!" you
soy. No, you cannot go in. There are
those who would never consent to let vou
come out again. You say, "Let me s'tay
here in this place where they never sin,
where they never suffer, where they never
part." No, nol Our time is short, our
thirty minutes are almost gone. Comu on!
We must get back to earth before this
half hour of heavenly silence breaks up,
for in your mortal state you cannot en
dure the pomp and splendor and resonanco
when this half hour of silence is ended.
The day will come when you can see heav
en iu lull blast, but not now. I am now
only showing you heaven at the dullest
halt hour of all eternities. Come on!
There is something in the celestial ap
pearance which makes me think that the
half hour of silence will soon be over.
Yonder ore the white horses being hitched
to choriota, and yonder are seraphs tinker
ing harps as if about to strike them into
symphony, and yonder are conquerors
taking down from the blue halls of heav
en the trumpets of victory, ltemember
we are mortal yet and cannot endure the
full roll of heavenly harmonies and can
not endure even the silent heaven for more
than half an hour.
Hark! The clock in the tower of heaven
begins to strike, and the half hour is end
ed. Descend! Come bock! Come down
till your work is done. Shoulder a little
longer your burdens. Fight a little longer
your battles. Weep a little longer your
griefs. And then toke heaven not in its
dullest half lrour, but in its mightiest
pomp, and, instead of taking it for thirty
minutes, take it world without end.
But how will you spend the first half
hour of your heavenly citizenship after
you have gone in to stay? After your
prostration before tho throne in worship
of Him who made it possible for you to
get there at all I thinjt the rest of vour
first half hour in heaven will be passe'd in
receiving your reward if you have been
faithful. I have a strangely beautiful book
containing the pictures of the medals
struck by the English Government iu
honor of great battles. These medals are
pinned over the heart of the returned he
roes of the army on great occasions, the
royal family present and the roval' bands
playing the Crimean medal, the medal
of the mutiny, the Victoria cross, the
Waterloo medal. In your first half hour
in heaven in somo way you will be honored
for the earthly struggles in which vou won
the doy. Stand up before all the roval
house of heaven and receive the insignia
whilo you are announced as victor over
the drafts and freshets of the farm field,
victor over the temptation of the Stock
Exchange, victor over professional allure
ments, victor over domestio infelicities,
victor over mechanic's shop, victor over
the storehouse, victor over home worri
ments, victor over physical distresses, vic
tor over hereditary depressions, victor
over sin and death and hell. Take tho
badge that celebrates . those victories
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Take it
m the presence of all the galleries, saintly,
angelio and divine, while all heaven
chants, "These are they who came out of
great tribulation and had their robes
washed and made whilo in the blood of
the Lamb."
(Ooprrla-bt, IMS, L. Klopx-h.) " "
Remarkable Speed of Files.
There is a certain little fly that was
observed to run three Inches and make.
In doing It, 440 ateps all In one-balf a
second of time. To equal this, In pro
portion to his also, a man would have
to run at the rate of twenty miles a
minute.
The common flea leaps 200 times its
own length. To show like agility a
man six feet tall would have to leap a
distance of 1,200 feet. The cheese mite
la about one-quarter ot an Inch In
length, and yet it has been seen to
take the tip of Its tall in its mouth;
and then, letting go with a jerk, to leap
out of a vessel elx Inches In depth. To
equal this a man would have to jump
out of a well frori a depth ot 144 feet
Msa Barred from the Street.
A curious custom In Seoul, Korea,
la the law which makes It obligatory
for every man to retire to bis home
when the huge bronte bell ot the city
haa proclaimed It to he the hour of
sunset and the time tor closing the
gates. No man la allowed in the
streets after that hour under pain of
flogging, hut the romen are allowed f
go about and ; .sit their fnsnds.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
' April 13.
Sabject: Peter, Eneas and Dorcas, Acts Is.,
31-ii (loldea Text: Acts lx., 34 Mem
ory Verses, 40-42 Commentary oa
the Day's Lesion.
32. 'Teter." The history now turns
from Saul to Peter. "All quarters." He
did not confine his labors to Jerusalem,
but went to other places visiting and en
couraging tho churches, as in chap. 8: 14.
"Came down." From Jerusalem.
"Saints." The Jews who had been convert
ed to Christianity. The Gentiles were not
as yet visited by the apostles. This word
means pious, separated and holy persons.
It is applied in the Scriptures not only to
some eminent individuals, as Saint Peter
and Saint John, but to every sincere
Christian believer. Psalm 116; 18; Rom.
1: 7; 15: 28. "Lydda." A city of Judea,
called in the Old Testament Loil. Ezra 2:
33. It was located in the plain of Sharon,
twenty-five miles northwest from .Teresa
lem, and ten miles from Joppa. It was
the seat of a very famous school.
33. "Found a certain man." The Lord
led Peter to this man as he had led Philip
to the eunuch. This did not come by
chance. "Eight years." There could
therefore be no doubt cast, on .the miracu
lous nature of his cure. "Palsy." This is
a contraction of the word "paralysis." It
is a disease which deprives the parts affect
ed of sensation, or the power of motion, or
both. The term was used by the ancient
physicians in a much wider sense than in
our day, including cramps and lockjaw.
34. "Maketh thee whole." The apostle
had used similar language in chapter 3: 8.
I'ctcr did not heal him in his own strength,
but by the power of Jesus Christ. He was
God's chosen instrument, the heolor was
Christ. He was restored to perfect health
immediately. "Make thy bed." This
would show that he was a paralytic no
longer. He was at home, and therefore
was commanded not to take up his bed,
as in the case of the paralytic recorded in
Luke C- 24, but he was ordered to make
it. He was commanded to help himself
nnd to prove his faith by his works.
"Arose immediately." This showed the
completeness and reality of the miracle,
nnd the faith and strength of the man.
33. "Saron." Sharon. This probably
has reference to the district of which
Lydda was the chief city. The ploin was
noted for its fertility and beauty. Isa 35:
2; Cant. 2: 1. "Saw him." It must
have made a great impression upon tho
people to see a man who had been in bed
eight years with an incurable disease, sud
denly restored to health and walking about
the streets perfectly well. "Turned to the
Lord." They believed that Jesus was the
Messiah. It can hardly be supposed that
all of these people became truly converted
at this time. Especial attention should be
called to the fact that Peter kept himself
so in the background that but little atten
tion was paid to him. The glory was given
to God.
36. "Joppa." A port or town on the
coast of the Mediterranean Sea, thirty
miles from Joriisalem. "A certain disci
ple." Dorcas is called a disciple that it
may be seen that under the gospel there
is no distinction between male and female.
Gal. 3: 28. "Tabitha Dorcas." The Svro
Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope
or gazelle, which from its loveliness was
frequently employed as a proper name for
women. This disciple was an amiable, in
dustrious and beautiful Christian diame
ter. As Luke was writing this book for the
Greek he translates the Hebrew and Sy
riac proper names into Greek. Tabitha
was tier Hebrew name and Dorcas her
Greek name. "Full of good works." Es
pecially in making coats and garments for
widows, who in that country were a most
unfortunate class. Good works come from
a running stream, not from a stagnant
pool, and the only way to keep always full
of these is to be always giving thein out.
"Which rhe did." She is praised not only
for the alms which she gave, but for
"almsdeeds which she did." The emphasis
must be laid not upon what she purposed
doing, but what she did. The doers are
blessed in the deed. .Tas. 1: 25.
37. "Was sick." Thus we see that good
people are sometimes sick. -"Died." Death
comes to all alike. Sometimes the death
of God's saints makes known their virtues
and they become a power and example for
good beyond what was possible while liv
ing. "Upper chamber." Instead of bury
ing her immediately as was customary in
the East.
38. "Was nigh." About ten miles
away. "Sent unto him." They probably
sent unto Peter before she died. Up to
this time the apostles had not raised any
one to life, but they had healed some,
"Desiring him." "Intreating him." R.
V. It is not said that they expected a
miracle. It was natural that they should
desire his presence and sympathy at such
a time.
3D. "Widows." Whom she had olad or
fed. "Shewing," etc. They were not
ashamed to acknowledge that they were
indebted to Dorcas for the raiment thoy
wore. This praised not only her charity,
but also her industry. This brings out her
character as the excellent woman of Prov.
31: 19-22.
40. "Put them all forth." He did this
in order to ascertain the will of God in
this matter. He put them forth that ho
might not be disturbed or hindered by
their Lamentations and unbelief. "Ta
bitha, arise." During his prayer he un
doubtedly felt assured that she would be
raised when he rhould speak the word to
her lifeless form. He said these words in
Jesus' name. "She sat up." The graphic
minuteness of detail here imparts to the
narrative an air of charming reality.
41. "Presented her alive." In the man
ner of performing tho miracle Peter follows
the example of Jesus in raising Jairus's
daughter, at which miracle he was oua
one of the admitted spectators.
41. "Many believed." This miracle,
well as the one at Lydda, strengthened
the faith of the disciples, and added many
to the Lord. Thereby the church wo
greatly edified and built up.
43. "Many days." In evangelistic work.
There was a great field in Joppa. "Hin-fia."
Eight persons of this name are mentijned
in the Now Testament. "A tanner." A
trade regarded by the Jews as ha;f-un-clean
and consequently disreputable, from
the contact with dead animals and ijood
which was connected with it. For this
reason even by other nations it is usually
carried on at some distance from tovne;
accordingly, Simon's house was "bv the
seaside. Chap. 10: 0. Peter's lo'djjing
there shows him to have been already, to
some extent, above Jewish prejudice. It
would also show (1) that there is no re
spect of persons with God, and (2) would
give Peter a chance to help those who
most needed help. The traditional house
is still shown at Jaffa, and tanneries are
till in operation near the tiuvn.
Character of the ChlpniouW.
Chlpmunka are industrious little
creatures. - In rainy weather they quit
work and curl up in tbelr nests or bid
in a knot hole' away from tbe wet.
Windy weather makes them' very nerv
ous. The rustling of leavea and wav
ing branches makes them suspicious
that something strange Is going on Id
the world. A chipmunk eats while Bit
ting on bis haunches and holds hi
food In his forepawa. He drlnka by
lapping like a dog. Ha la very neat
about his person, combing out his fut
and his loug tall with paws and toeth
He washes his face by lapping bli
forepawa and then rubbing them both
at the same time over his face with
such apeed that the eye can hardly
follow his motions.
nuaUest Bank Not IhsmI
Bank notea for about a farthing each
circulate freely in Paraguay. It takes
two notea to got oue's boots blacked
and eight to pay tbe postage of a letter
to England. Yet one of them will buy
In tbe season fifteen oranges, three
bauaaas, or a water melon.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
April 13 "Olvlng: Its Law; Its Reflet Inflif
enct" 2 Cor. vtit I S; lx. 6, 7:
I Cor. xvl. I, 2.
Scripture Verses. Gen. xxvlll. 20
22; Lev. xxvll. 3": Prov. xxvlll. 26;
Matt. v. 23. 24; xxv. 37 4i; xvlll. 6;
Mark lx. 41; 2 Cor. vlll. 9; Col. 111.
17; 1 Peter lv. 9, 10.
Lesson Thoughts.
While Ood may employ It for hla
glory And the growth of his kingdom,
he will not accept that as a gift which
does not include also the giver. Tho
Macedonians "first gave their own
so! -ps to tho Ixrd."
The man who gives the most and
who really feels the sacrifice the
leant Is he who "lays by him In store,
as God hath prospered him."
Selections.
God wants self-denying giving. Who
can look at the Japanese temple, with
Its coll of rope, larger than a ship's
hawser, and weighing a ton and a
half, made from the hair of Buddha's
worshippers, and used to lift timbers
and stones to their places in the tem
ple building, without feeling tho re
buke Implied to our self-sparing gifts?
The wealth of' church members In
Protestant communities Is, by the
census, at least $10,000 ,000.000. Their
contributions average one-sixteenth of
a cent for every dollar, or ono dollar
In about ll.GOO.
The credulous believed that King
Midas turned whatever he touched to
gold; but a more wonderful power Is
that touch of consecration which
transmutes the common gold of the
market place Into spiritual force,
mighty in the redemption of the
world from sin. This power, la
God's blessing upon the grace of giv
ing. It Ib well to be diligent In getting
as God's steward, but the ultimate
end of all getting must be giving. One
of tho most faithful stewards of the
wealth of the present time began life
as a young man with the prayer,
"Lord, give me a hand to get aud a
heart to give." A man may get earn
estly and be rewarded by a large In
come as a result; but he may also
live In a simple, Inexpensive manner;
and yet If there Is not a corre
sponding earnestness In giving, bo
falls short as a steward.
Suggested Hymns.
We praise, we bless thee.
I belong to Jesus.
When I survey the wondrous cross.
Is thy cruse ot comfort failing?
Cast thy bread upon the waters.
More love to thee, O Christ.
EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS
iprll IJ diving: In Lsw, Its Reflex Influence
2 Cor. vlll. I S; lx. 6, 7; I Cor. xvl. I, I
God Is the original plver. II
others are borrowers. Benovolnco
never boasts. Hjimllity Is at Its heirt.
Only sham gives for show. In the gifts
of generosity the heart always goes
with the hand. Love Is never so happy
as when It gives Itself.
God Is the giver of all good gifts.
The spirit of God Is the spirit of gene
rosity. Generosity abounds like sun
shine. And sunshine is never stingy.
Generosity gives God all the glory.
Men Ought to Give Wealth to God
Because He Gives Them Power to Get
It. This fact is plainly stated In the
eighth chapter of Deuteronomy and
In the eighteenth verse: ""But thou
shalt remember the Lord thy God: tor
It Is he that glveth thee power to got
wealth." Wealth-getting is the out
working of power that God has given.
If men could realize the force of that
truth the business enterprises of the
world would become a sacrament.
The Law of Giving. Thero ought
to be certain fixed principles to direct
us. In so Important a matter. Such
principles are not far -to seek. They
are plain and practical. Jesus, said
to his disciples, "Freely ye have re
ceived, freely give." He had bounti
fully bestowed his gifts. In like man
ner he would have them imparted.
Willingly. "If thero be first a will
lug mind It is accepted according to
that a man hath, and not according
to that ho hath not." In the Scrip
tures stress Is laid on the fact tbat
the poople made willing offerings to
build the temple. The only offerings
that are acceptable to God are free
will offerings.
Cheerfully. We are apt to be short
In Christian experience if we are long
In the face when we give. If we do
not give cheerfully do we really give?
VVealth that must be wrenched from
the hand Is no gift from tho heart. In
Paul's second letter to the Corinthians
he uses the word hllaron to describe
the giver that God loves. We get our
familiar word "hilarious" from that. It
means mlrthfulness, merriment. Not
the gloomy giver, but the Jolly giver
thC is what the world wants.
Systematically. Paul recommended
this plan to the churches of Galatia.
It w3 also his advice to the Corin
thian Christians. Good plans to da
good always plccse God. He loves not
disorder nor confusion. Tho great
apostle said "concerning the collec
tion," "Upon the first day of the week
let every one of you lay by him in
store, as Gcd has prospered him."
What dots the New Testament say
about tithing? When the Jews told
Jesus tbat they gave the tenth to the
Lord he told them that they ought
to do that. If It was obligatory foi
Jews then it cannot be less for Chris
tians now.
RAM'S HORN BLASTS.
O consecrate your
money act aa God's
steward.
It takes a great
nan 1,1 -
' t SlkSTS XF ' J wait bVF ,
F lrIlwWr small army,
ft K ikTNX Poison Is not anil-
doted by a golden
cup.
The greatest re
alities are the un
realities. Men want hands
more than had
outs. The American character Is more
than ths Constitution.
It Is bard to find a truth without an
error in its shadow.
The word needs klndnos of heart
mors than keenness of head.
When mi give God their manhood
aa well as their names the church will
not lack for means.
The worst cowardice la that of the
man who do wrong for fear of being
called a coward.
A man's religion must be bankrupt
ben be can only pay the Lord forty
days on the year.
It la not enough to make good prom
ises to Ood, we must make our promis
es good.
GOD'S MESSAGE TO MAN
PRECNANT THOUCHTS FROM THE
WORLD'S CREATEST PROPHETS.
Toein! The Dy of Sinull Thing, by Una
nah Harcnart rickartThe Strange
Antagonism of Good nd Evil Force
In Man' Naldr.j Chrleri the Pattern.
Not thine, perchance, to climb God's
Holy Mount ....
And view the prospect on the further
si'lc.
Cut thou canst place thy feet upon the
rock,
And solely there abide.
Not thine to lend the armies of the Lord
To storm the tents of wickedness and sin J
But thou canst guide a stray lamb to tho
fold,
And keep it safe within.
Not thine, perchance, to charm with
matchless voice
The heart of men, and move to joy or
tears ;
But thou canst sing a little child to sleep,
And soothe and calm its fears.
Not thine the skill to level mighty hills
And bid the torrent in its fountain stay;
But thou canst lift a stone from out the
rond
That bars thy brother' way.
And when at Inst the promised dny shall
come,
And He the Lord shall judgo tho lives
of all,
It well may be these little deeds of thine
May not to Him seem small.
London (Sunday-School Times.
Man a Futile.
Tascal affirmed that "man is miserable
because he is, and ftrent because he knows
it." An inspired writer of old, awakened
by the grent problems of existence and
conscious of the majesty of God, voiced
tho universal feeling of thoughtful souls
when he exclaimed: "What is man that
Thou art mindful of him!" Evidently
man io a problem to himself, a mysterious
union of forces of which he is more or less
conscious, but whieh he is unable adequate
ly to measure. The great apostle, under
the stress of contending desires, asserted
that when he would do good, evil was
present with him, so that what he wished,
that he did not do.
There is no man who seeks to be and to
do that which he assents to as right, hut
finds within him strange paradoxes. What
these lorces are that make for better or
for worse, he may be unable to analyze
or understand, except as God has revealed
to him, that his life is under and may be
controlled, either fully or in part, by spir
itual forces; on the one side, the spirit of
good, .n the other the spirit of evil. The
experiences of life sufficiently teach us the
fact that with good intent we have often
missed the mark, and at times even gone
contrary to our better judgment. From
these experiences we certainly shall not
confuse ourselves with any idea that ome
external force is wholly responsible for our
conduct, for we know too well that our
own powers have been in alliance with that
which was not ourselves, and we, strange
as it may seem, have done that which we
had not intended and for which we arc,
nevertheless, alone responsible.
This strange fact we discover not only
with reference to our conduct, but also
with reference to our thinking. Thus it
lias happened with some men that their
thinking is of a much higher order than
their living, while with other men their
conduct in acts of charity, kindness, sym
pathy and fraternal helpfulness stand be
yond criticism, while their theological
thought is flagrantly heterodox. Of this
class may be named some of the prominent
religious writers of our time men who
boldly assail the faith of the fathers and
seemingly undermine the foundations of
the Christian belief, but who yet are, ap
parently, men of sweet and lovable spirit,
end whose daily conduct in life among
their fellows is above reproach. In them
is an obvious contradiction of the accepted
truth that, "as he thinketh in his heart so
he is." Let us not forget, however, that a
distinction must be made between heart
thought and brain thought. One is that
which carries the whole man with it, the
other that which gives aseent but not com
mand. While we recognize in ourselves
this strange union, even at time antagon
ism of forces, we ought to be better pre
pared, under the assurances of divine as
sistance, to keep our own thinking and
living up to the standard which has been
set for us in tho example of the perfect
man Christ Jems. Chicago Standard.
Great Possibilities.
To the man in middto life the question
asks itself, "What have I done to make
the world better for my living in it?"
Peasant or merchant, learned or illiterate,
that question must be answered, and the
answer comes with an armful of joy or of
regret. One can make his character great
and noble in whatever station he muv be
placed, and character is the only thing
that lasts. Dentil cannot change it, for it
walks through tho valley of shadows to
the throne of God, to be accepted there.
On this bright morning, if we can con
gratulate our own souls on what they have
achieved we have a new year blessing that
comes straight from heaven. To the aged
there is nothing lei't but the future. The
past has gone beyond recall, end to-morrow
beckons. In the sweet faith that the
sun will rise again and that we shall rise
with it the winter points to spring. There
is no sadness, though the journey draws
to a close, for the beyond opens up its
glories and with a singlo step we shull be
with our beloved ones once more. If we
have done our work well we shall go hence
with joy. For the young, therefore, and
for the aged, and for all, there is but one
wish that the year will find us strong for
its duties and reat'y to reap the harvest
in the field in which Providence has
placed us. George II. Hepworth.
The Religious Spirit.
No man gets on so well in this world
as he whose daily walk and conversation
ore clean and consistent, whose heart is
pure, and whose life is honorable. A relig
ious spirit helps every man. It is at once
a comfort and inspiration, and makes him
etronger, wiser and better in every relation
of lie. There is no substitute for it. It
may be assailed by enemies, as it has been,
but they offer nothing in its place. It has
stood the test of centuries, and has never
failed to help and bless mankind. Jewish
Messenger,
The Christian Faith,
The Christian faith is a grand cathedral
with dimly lighted windows. Standing
outside, one sees no glory, nor can ever
imagine any possible. Standing within,
every ray of light reveals a harmony of un
speakable splendor. Hawthorne.
Portents of tbe Coining Day. '
Strikes and riots, concentrations of cap
ital and formidable alliances of labor ore
but prophecies of tbe coming day when un
rest shall not burden the heart, when fret
ful discontent shall give way to a divine
noncontentment, which shall insure pro
gress without pain and the common good
without the sacrifice of personal rights.
Bishop Samuel Fallows, liefurmed Episco
pal, Chicago.
Whmt Faith Is.
Faith in that genius for the unreached
which arouses a ma,a to the level of vast
possibility. Rev. Dr, Charles H. Park
hurst, New York.
The divine In the Christian Is the
best demonstration of the divinity of
Christ.
A man la not thirsting for knowledge
just because he asks curious questlous.
Look out for the honesty of the man
who talks great deal about his
honor,
Even an awkward deed la better than
tbe most eloquent dream.
The attempt to be a good fellow baa
spoiled many a good man.
Ood has uo Interest in the church
that baa no interest In tbe poor.
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
Oeoersl Trade Ceadltfea.
R. G. Durv's weekly "Review of Trade"
lays: "Favorable weather greatly facili
tated Easter retail trade, the volume of
transactions in all lines of wearing ap
parel being of exceptional magnitude.
"Demands for an eight-hour day after
May I by the blast furnace men was the
most disturbing feature in the iron and
tcel industry and this is not causing
much alarm, as an agreement will prob
ably be reached di-ring the intervening
month.
"Weakness appeared in the cereals
early in the week. Subsequently there
was partial recovery owing to new from
Kansas and Oklahoma, lint the net re
sult for the week was a decidedly lower
range of prices. Wheat exports mate
rially declined from the satisfactory rec
ord of 4,657,625 bushels last week to only
3,088,642 bushels this week, which com
pare with 3 936,83a in the same week last
year.
"Failures for ihe week numbered 205
in the United States, against 206 last
year, and 22 in Canada, against 29 last
year."
LATEST QUOTATIONS.
Wheat New York No. 2, 8;c; Phila
delphia No. 2, 82a84c; Bal'iuiore No.
2, 815-k.
Corn New York No. 2, 677J ; Phila
delphia No. 2, 63j4a64c; Baltimore No.
2, 63c.
Oats New York No. 2, 40a 50c; Phil
adelphia No. 2, 5035 ic; Baltimore No. 2,
40a4!4c.
Hay No. I, timolhv large bales $15.00
815.50; No. 2 timothy, $14.00314.50; No
3 do, $12.00013.00.
Green Fruits and Vegetables. Applet
New York mixed, per brl f3.75a4.50;
do, Fancy Greenings, per brl $4 50a5.oo;
do, Fancy Russets, per brl $3.7514.00.
Asparagus Charleston, per bunch,
prime, 5oa6o. Beets Florida, new, per
bunch 4a6c. Broccoli Norfolk, per brl
50365c j do, native, per bu box, 2oa25c
Cabbage New York, large Danish, per
ton, f12.ooa13.oo; do, small Danish per
ton, $io.ooai2.oo; do, new Florida, per
crate, $1.2531.75; do, Early York, per
crate, $2.0032.25. Carrots Native, per
bu box, 45350c. Celery Native, per
bunch, 2a3c. Eggplants Florida, per
crate, $3.5014.00. Green Pons Florida,
per box, $1.2531.50; do, per basket, $1.75
a2.oo. Horseradish Native, per box, 80
aooc. Lettuce North Carolina, per half
barrel basket, 75a$i.25; do, Florida, per
half-barrel b3sket, $1.0031.75. Onions
Maryland and Pennsylvania, yellow, per
bu $1.2531.40; do, Western, yellow, per
bu $1.2531.40. Oranges California seed
lings, per box, $2.0032.40; do, navels, per
box, $3.0034.00. Oystcrplants Native,
per bunch, Ijca . Radishes Florida,
per bunch, long i4a2c. Spinach Native,
per bu box, 40a 50c ; do, Norfolk, per brl.,
$l.25ai.so. Spring onions, per 100
bunches, 60375c. Strawberries Florida,
per quart, refrigerator, 25330c; do, open
crate I5a20c Tomatoes Florida, per
six-basket carrier, fancy, $3.5034.00; do,
fair to good, $2.5033.00. Turnips Na
tive, per bu box aioc.
Potatoes. White Maryland and Penn
sylvania, per bu, No. 1, 75a8oc; do, sec
onds, 65370c ; do, New York, per bu, best
stock, 80385c; do, Western, per bu,
prime, 8oa85c. Sweets Eastern Shore,
Virginia, per truck brl, $2.5032.75; do,
Maryland, per brl, fancy, $2.7533.00.
Ysrns North Carolina, per brl, No. I,
$1.5031.75.
Provisions and Hog Products. Bulk
clear rib sides, Q'Ac; bulk clear sides,
9'ic; sugar-cured breasts, small, lofc;
sugar-cured breasts, 12 lbs and over,
ioJ4c; sugar-cured shoulders, extra
broad, lojic; sugar-cured California
hams, 8J4c; hams, canvssed or uncan
vascd, 12 lbs and over, 12c; refined lard,
tierces, barrels and 50-lb cans gross,
lo,'$c.
Butter Separator, 28329c; gathered
cream, 24.125c; imitation, 20a2ic; prints,
l-lb 28a29c; rolls, 2-lb., 28329c; dsiry
prints, Md.. Pa. 3nd Va., 26327c.
Eggs. Western Maryland and Penn
sylvania, per dozen, a 15 c; Eastern
Shore (Maryland and Virginia), per
dozen, a'5; Virginia, per dozen, ais;
West Virginia, per dozen, ais; West
ern, per dozen, 315 ; Southern, per doz
en, 14315. Duck Eastern Shore, fan
cy, per dozen, 28330; do, Western and
Southern, per dozen, 27328. Goose, per
dozen, 45.150.
Live and Dressed Poultry. Turkeys
Hens, choice, 15316c; young toms,
choice, 13314; old toms, 1 1312. Chickens
Hens, I2ca ; old roosters, esch, 25a
30; young, I3ai4; do, rough and staggy,
11312; soring, 25330; Winter, 15318.
Ducks Fsncy, targe, 13314c; do, smsll,
1 1312; muscovy and mongrels, 13314c;
do, small, 1 13 12; muscovy and mongrels,
11313. Geese, Western, esch 45360c.
Guinea fowl, each. 15320c. Dressed
poultry Turkeys Hens, good to choice,
ai7c; hens and young toms, mixed,
good to choice, ai6; young toms, good
to choice, 15a 16; old do, do do, 133 .
Ducks, good to choice, 14315c. Chickens
Young, good to choice, 13315c; mixed,
old and young, 12313; poor to medium,
Ilaia. Geese, good to choice, loal.v
Cheese New Cheese, large, 60 lbs, la
to I2j4c; do, ftats. 37 lbs, I2jic to 13c;
picnics, 23 lbs, I2?4ai3!4c.
Live Stock.
Chicago. C3ttle Ste3dy to strong;
good to prime steers, $6.5037.05; poor to
medium, $4.25.16.40 ; stockers and feeders
$2.5035.25; cows, $1.3035.50; heifers,
$2.5035.85; csnners, $1.3032.40. Hogs
Active and 5 to loc higher; mixed and
butchers, $6.40a6 75 ; good to choice,
heavy, $6.6oa6.82; rounh, heavy, $6,303
6.55 ; light, $6.35.16.50 ; bulk of sales $6.40
ao.65. Sheep Sheep to to 15c. lower;
lambs 15 to 20c lower; good to choice
wethers, $5.0035.40; Western yearliugs,
$5.25.15.85; native lambs, $4.0036.65;
Western lambs, $5.2536.80.
East Liberty. Csttle steady; choice,
$6.60.16.75; prime. $6.2036.40; good $5.50
a5.oo. Hogs higher ; prime heavy hogs
$6.8oa6.85; best mediums $6.7536.80;
heavy Yorkers, $6.6536.70; light Yorkers
$6.4036.55; pig $6.1536.25; roughs $5.00
a6.25. Sheep steady; best wethers $5.70
as. 00; culls aud common $2.5004.00; veal
calves $7.0037.75.
LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Chicago freight handlers will be or
ganized this month.
The Spanish government has estab
lished the eight-hour day.
Hull (England) municipal trams made
a profit of 40,000 last year.
The miners' union of Ouray county,
Colo., has declared war on Chinese labor.
Indiana union labor will fight contract
convict shops at the Jeffersonville Re
formatory. Toledo wagon-workers will work
nine hours and get 10 hours' pay, begin
ning April 7.
The freight charges for hauling an
thracite coal from the Pennsylvania
mines aggregates $40,000,000 a year.
Miss Molly Weitler, a shoe worker, of
Ohio, has been made a special deputy to
investigate child and woman labor.
The Brotherhood of Carpt-ntei and
Joiners of America has now 5j,oo mem
bers and something over 1,000 local un
ions. Next to the miners, this is the
largest organization in the country.
A bitter fight is on betwen the laun
dry workers and their employers at
Lynn. Mass, the greatest stronghold of
organized labor in New England. Un
der the auspices of the Central Labor
Union a co-operative laundry is to be
established.
THE GREAT DESTROYED
SOME STARTLING FACTS -ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Poemi More Light A Pthetl Ineldn
Whose Cennterpart May
In Kvery Iis;s City Inmwllble
Voter Allow Hnuh a Traffic.
"More light" o'er the regions of drink'sl
.1 . L .1 ; ..
"More light" in the den where drinker
victim are slain,
"More lifrtit" in the mind of the people.
that we ,
By our purified laws from the drink curse
be free.
She Took Her Pap Home
The following story of a pathetic ineie
Jent which occurred in Atlanta, (J.,
told by the Southern Star, a prohibition
paper of that city. It is not an unusual
incident at all, its counterpart baa beet
witnessed in every large oity where th
open saloon ' tempt weak men to their
ruin:
It was 0 e'rlock at night, bitterly eolcJ,
and the winds whistled around the pohe
barrack in Atlanta. Hardly a person watt
on tho street, it was so bleak and cold.
The officers at the barrack had gath
ered around the warm heater telling their
experiences in the past when a little, gee
tie rap was heard on the door.
"Come in," cried the call officer.
There was silence for a moment aud the
rap was repeated again.
"For goodness sake tell whoever it i t
come in out of the cold," called the station,
sergeant.
Then an effort was madu to open tbe
door, hut it failed, and then for the third
time the tap 011 the door was repeated
nnd the call man jumped up and opened
tbe door.
Out in the cold, on the stone steps atooit
a tiny little girl. She was thinly dad, al
though it waa freezing outside. Her thin
brown hair clung in damp shred abouk
her pale forehead.
"Come in, little girl, and get warm, ex
claimed the officer.
The child shuddered either from frigliC
or eold and slowly walked into the office. .
"What do you want?" asked the astoo
iahed sergeant.
"Is is papa here?" said the child, her
eyes filling with tears.
"Your papa," said tho sergeant, "wli
is your papa, and why do you think he) id
in such a place as this?"
Brushing away the tear the child re
plied in a trembling voice: "Mamma said
to-night that papa was sick and the polic
had him. bo I came here to find him. Is
he here?"
The little one then gave the name ot
her father, and the sergeant found that
he was docketed as being drunk. U
called the turnkey and a iked him to we it
the man had sobered up.
The turnkey reported that the man was
sober enough to go home.
"Then let him out," eaid the kind-hearted
officer, "and give him a copy of the)
charges. It's not business, but the little
girl shall have her papa."
.The man came out haggard and weak
from the effects of hi spree. The child
ran with a glad cry into his arms and
kissel him again and again.
".Mamma told me you were sick! she
said, "and I have come to take you home."
The man made no reply. His hands
trembled a he tried to smooth back his
brown hair. In silence ho passed from tha
barrack with his trusting, loving little
girl.
"If that man doesn't reform and let tbia
be hi last drunk," remarked the status
sergeant, "he is made of stone."
This is- only one of thousand of sao!
cases that aro chronicled by our daily;
Cress each year. We think that voter
ave hearts of atone when they allow such
things to exist. I jet us as loyal Christian
citizen awake and say by our ballots than
the saloons will go from Atlanta, the State
of Georgia and the nation and then there,
will be no more debauchery, crime or mis
cry caused by the hellish trafiio which
should Ire forever outlawed, and which
ia every year ruining hundreds of thou
sands of homes and sending thousands ta
urunitaras graves.
Efflelont Temperance, ' -1 j
The Railroad Gazette reports one of the
speeches at the celebration of the Baldwin)
Locomotive Works which we commend ta
the attention of those who believe that
prohibition is the best mode of securing
relief from excessive drinking. 1
The speech was made by Mr. J. Harris!
Sanders, of London, a gentleman former
ly engaged in celling goods in this country
and now engaged in selling good frous
this country in England and on the Con
tinent. In reciting the advantage that
had contributed to the change in our com
mercial status from buyer to sellers, h
said: .
"And there is another consideration that
is of inestimable value to your countryi
You are more sober, as a people, than
either England or France. Statistic show
that you drink less per capita than Knsp
lishmen or Frenchmen. When one consid
ers that England spent last year way
nearly fl,000,UlO,000 on drink, it is mani
fest that a country cannot afford to waatai
anything like so large a proportion of its)
earnings as that. The wisdom displayed
by the majority of your people in drinking
only half a much a they drink in Eng
land and France is very manifest, and evv
dently also a great advantage, to your peo
ple generally.
This moderation in the use of intoxicat
ing drink is largely due to the fact that
such moderation, or even total abstinence,
is insisted on by tho employer of skilled
labor, and where it is not so insisted on,
the better chances of good pay, steady
work and promotion are strong iuducv
menu to it. Atlanta Journul.
"Liquor-Soaked Womea.
The British Women's Temperance 'As
sociation has started a farm for women
who have become addicted to the liquor
habit. Tbey do r.ll the light work of
farming, raising flowers, vegetables and
chickens. The glass houses aro managed
entirely by women, and the produce sold
in the London market. Tbe movement it
meeting with great snccess, inuuy women
begging to stay after they are cured. They
acquire a love for outdoor work, and coun
try homes arc found for them as far aa
'possible. Good food, pure air, a certain
amount of physical labor and cheerful sur
rouiidinss have worked great changes in
liquor-soaked women. If it" worked so
well in England, who not -here? Our citiea
nre thronged with women who might bar
helped by a period of enforced pur liv
ing. Hundreds of children drink in tha
liquor habit at their mother's breastav.
Removed from the vicinity of giu shop
and other places of temptution, many at
theae women and children might beeoroe
elf-supporting and self-respecting. T1m
Presbyterian.
Inebriates Classed a Minora
In Germany a person who. has so accus
tomed himself to the taking of intoxicating
drinks thst he has no longer the power ol
withstanding temptation to excess may W
nut under restriction. Proceedings vujp
bo taken by husband or wife, or other
neir lelative, and, in certain cases, at tha
instance of a poor law representative. Tbe
tfect is to place the inebriate, as regards
his property, in tlis position of a minor,
and, as regards his person, a ouardiaa ia
entitled to fix hi residence or wnd him
to a retreat fur the purpose of cure. Dur
ing the subsistence of the order all tha oivil
rights of the inebriate are in abeyance
Cbeap Bir a Handicap.
A Munich employer of many skilled
workmen, in speaking last summer of the
difficulties of competing with foreign con
cerns, laid tross on the cheapness of 1 4
nicii beer. as on of the greatest luindican.
"If wo were on equal tern- iu eiery eUT
respect," he said, "the fact that my man r
brains and bodies are soddeu with be,
day snd night, would put me behiud la Ui
race."
Tha Practical Valaa of Teetotal'
At present tartoUlism is alii" I.
a passport to a civil pus.iion '
ice axsmiuatiou. At all . ' .
is of vry little m wi.liout V j .
Montreal True Huacs.
1