DANGER IN DELAY. Dr. Tannage on the FoHjr of Postponing the Acceptance of the Gospel. Sympathy lor Iht Skeptic The Tine ti B Rel!lout. WASnitoTO!, D. C In the following discourse, prepared by Dr. Talmage before hi illness, the folly and daDger of poet poning the acceptance of the gospel invi tation are exposed on the text, Luke xiv, 18, "And they all with one consent began to make excuse." After the invitation! to a levee are aent out the regrets come in. One man apologize! for non-attendance on one ground, another on another ground. The moat of the regrets are founded on prior engagement. Ho in my text a great ban quet was spread, the invitations were cir culated, and now the regrets cotne in. The one gives an agricultural reason, the other a stock dealer a reason, the other I dotnestie reason. All poor reasons. The fact was, they did not want to go. "And they all with one consent began to make excuse." So now Ood spreads a great banquet. It is the gospel feast, and the table reaches across the hemispheres, and the invita tions go out, and multitudes come and ait down and drink out of the chalices of Uod's love, while other multitudes decline coming, the one giving this apology, and the other giving that apology, "and they all with one consent begin to make ex cuse." I propose, so far as God may help me. to examine the apologies which men make for not entering the Christian life. Apology the first: I am not sure there is anything valuable in the Christian re ligion. It is pleaded that there are so many impositions in this day; so many things that seem to be real are sham. A elided outside may have a hollow inside. There is so much, quackery in physics, in ethics, in politics, that men come to the Iinbit of incredulity, and after awhile they nllnw that incredulity to collide with our holy religion. Hut, rrfy friends, 1 think religion has mnde a pretty good record in the world, liow manv wounds it hni salved! flow many pillars of fire it has lifted in the midnight wilderness! How many simoom struck deserts it hath turned . into the gardens of the Lord! How it hath stilled the chopped sea! What rosy light it hath sent streaming through the rift of the storm-cloud! What pools of cool water it hath gathered for thirsty Hagar and Ishmacl! What manna whiter than coriander seed it hath dropped all around the camp of hardy bested pilgrims! What promines it hsth sent out like holy watchers to keep the lamps burning around deathbeds, through the darkness that lowers into the sepulcher! What flashes of resurrection morn! Besides that, this religion lias msde so, many heroes. It brought Sumincvtield. the Methodist, across the Atlantic ocean with his silver trumpet to blow the acceptable year of the Lord until it seemed as if all our American cities would take the kini dom of heaven by violence. It sent .Tehndi Ashman into Africa alone, in n continent of naked barbarians, to lift the standard of civilization and Christianity. It mado John Milton among poets, Huphael among painters. Christopher Wren among archi tects, Thorwaldsen among sculptors. Han del among musicians, Dupont among mili tary commanders, and to give new wimts to the imagination and better balance to the judgment and more determination to the will and greater usefulness to the life and grander nobility to the soul there is nothing in all the earth like our Christian religion. Nothing in religion? Why, then, all those Christiana were deceived when in their dying moment they thought they aw the castles of the blessed, and your child, that with unutterable agony you put, away into the grave, you will never sec him again or near Ins sweet voice nor feel the throb of his young heart. There is nothing in religion tiicl;nes will come upon you. Roll and turn on your pillow; no relief. The medicine mnv be bitter, the night may be dark, the pain may be sharp; no relief. Christ never comes to the sick-room. Let the pain stab; let the fever burn; curse it and die. There is nothing in religion? After awhile death will come. You will hear the paw ing of the pale horse on the threshold. The spirit will be breaking away from the body, and it will take flight whither, whither? There is no Ood, no minister ing angels to conduct, no Christ, no heaven, no home. Nothing in religion? Oh, you are not willing to adopt such u dismal theory! And yet the world is full of skeptics. And let tnc suv there is no class of peo ple for whom I have a warmer sympathy than for Bkeptics. We do not know how to treat them. We deride them, we carica ture them. We, instead of taking them by the soft hand of Christian love, clutch them with the iron pinchers of eccleeias ticism. Oh, if you knew how those men had fallen away from Christianity and be come skeptics you would not be so rough on them! Some were brought up in homes where religion was overdone. The most wretched day in the week was Sunday. Religion was driven into them with a trip hummer. They had a surfeit of prayer meetings. They were stuffed and choked with catechisms. They were told by their fa rents that they were the worst children hat ever lived because they liked to ride down hill better than to read "Pilgrim'! Progress." They never heard their pa rents talk of religion but with the corners of the mouth drawn down and the eyea rolled up. Others went into skepticism through maltreatment on the part of some who professed religion. There is a man who says: "My partner in business was conspicuous in prayer meeting, and he was officious in all religious circles, but he cheated me out of $3000, and I don't want any of that religion." Then there are others who get into skepticism by a natural 'persistence in ashing questions, why or how? How can God be one being in three persons? They cannot understand it. Neither can I. How can God be a, complete sovereign and yet man a free agent? They cannot understand it. Neither can I. They cannot understand why, , ?f 'y 00(1 ,eU 8in come into the world. Neither can I. They say: "Here is a great myitery; here is a disciple of fashion, frrvolois and godless all her days; she lives on to be an octogenarian. Here If a y tian mther. training her chil oren ;pr. God and for heaven, self-sacrittc-ing, Lhristlike, indispensable seemingly to that household; she gets a cancer and l.le".-., ihe ,8KePt'0 says, "I can't explain that. Neither can I. I can see how men reason themselves into skepticism. With burning feet I have trodden that blistering wav. I know what it is to have a hundred nights poured into one hour. There are men in the arid desert of doubt who would give vucii viiuuiuiuua ui miliars it ttiey could r. t. '- iu leugion oi ineir atners. ouch men ar nn 1,- ; Jured, but helped, and not through their heads, but through their hearts. When .Me men reaiiy uo come into the king dom of God, they will be worth far more to the cause of Christ than those who never examined the evidences of Chris tianity. Thomas Chalmers once a skeptic, Hubert Hull once a skeptic, Christinas hvans once a skeptic; but when they did lay hold of the gospel chariot how they made it speed ahead! If, therefore, I ad dress men. and women who have drifted WV into "keptieism, I throw out no ecoff ; I rather implead you by the mem pry of those good old times when you knelt at your mother's knee and said your evening prayer and those other dayi of wvknesa whon she watched all night and icuicines ai just tne right una and turned th nil!.... i. . - , . - nucu lb nni bus aim wiui nana long ago turned to dust soothed your pains. and with that von you will never hear again unless vou join her in the better country, told you) never mind, and by that dying couch .where she talked so slowly, catching hei Ibreath between the words by all those Imeuioi-iea 1 ask you to come and taki Ithe same religion. It was good enough for (her; it is good enough for you. Aye, I make a better plea: liy the wounds and , tho death throe of the Hon of God, who approaches you in infinite love with toiu brow ' sml lacerated hands and whipped back, crying, "Corne unto Me. all ye that labor and are heavy ladeu, and il will give you rest!" i Other persons apologize for not enter 'ing the Christian life because of the in corrigibility of their temperament. Now, !e admit it is harder for some people to beeome Christians than for others, but the grace of God never came to a mountain , I tint it could not climb or to an abyss that it could not fulhom or to a bondage that, it would not briiak.. The wildtMt liuue Unit vef"frod "Arabian sands has been DrokeS to hit and trace. i The maddest torrent tumbling from mountain shelving has been harnessed to the mill wheel and the factory band, setting a thousand shuttles all a-bucs and a-clat-ter. And the wildest, the haughtiest, the moat ungovernable man ever created by the grace of God may be subdued and sent out on ministry of kindness, as God sends an August thunderstorm to water the wild flowers down in the grass. Peter, with nature tempestuous as the sea that he once tried to walk, at one look from Christ went out and wept bitterly. Rich harvests of grace may be grown on the summit of the jagged steep, and flocks of Christian gracea may find pasturage in fields of bramble and rock. ' Though your disposition may be all a-bristle with frelfulness, though you have temper a gleam with quick light nings, though your avarice be like that of the horse leech, crying, "Give!" though dsmnablo impurities have wrapped you in all consuming fire, God can drive that deril out of your soul, and over the chaos and the darkness He can say, "Let there be light." The best place for a skillful doctor is in a neighborhood' where there are all poor doctors, the best place for an enterprising merchant to open his store ia in a place where the bargain makers do not under stand their business, and the best place for you who want to become the illus trious and complete Christian, the best place for you is to come right down among us who are so incompetent and so incon sistent sometimes, bhow us how. Give us an example. Exudations from poisonous trees in our neighbor's garden will make a very poor balm for our wounds. Sickness will come, and we will be pushed out toward the Red Sea which di vides this world from the next, and not the inconsistency of Christiana, but the rod of faith, will wave back the waters as a commander wheels his host. Tho judgment will come, with its thunder shod solemnities. Oh, then we will not stop and say, "There was a mean Christian- there was an impure Christian." In that day as now, "If thou be wise, thou shult be wise for thyself, but if thou scornest thou alone shall bear it." Why, my brother, the inconsistency of Chris tians, so far from being an argument to keep you away lrom liod, ought to be an argument to drive you to Him. No time to be religious here! You have no time not to be religious. You might as well have no clerks in your store, no books in your library, no com pass on your ship, no rifle in the battle, no hat on your head, no coat for your back, no shoes for your feet. Better travel on toward eternity bare headed and barefooted and houseless and homeless and friendless than to go through life without religion. Did religion make Raleigh any less of a statesman or liavelock any less of a soldier or Grinnell any less of a merchant or West any less of a painter? Why, my friends, religion is the best security in every bargain; it is the sweet est note in every song; it is tfle brightest f:em in very coronet. No time to be re igious? i by, you will have to take time to be sick, to be troubled, to die. Our world is only the wharf from which we are to embark for heaven. No time to secure the friendship of Christ? No time to buy a lamp and trim it for that walk through the darkness which otherwise will be illumined only by the whiteness of the tombstones? No time to educate the eye for heavenly splen dors or the hand for choral harps or the ear for everlasting songs or the soul lor honor, glory and immortality? One would think we had time for nothing else. Other persons apologize for not enter ing the Christian life because it is time enough yet. That is very like those per sons who send regrets and say, "I will come in perhaps at 11 or 12 o'clock; I will not bo there at the opening of the banquet, but I will be there at the close." Not yet! Not yet! Now, 1 do not give any doleful view of this life. There is nothing in my nature, nothing in the grace of God, that tends toward a doleful view of human life. I have not much sympathy with Ad dison's description t the "Vision of Mirza," where he represents human life as being a bridge of a hundred arches and both ends of the bridge covered with clouds and, the race coming on, the most of them falling down through the first Biian and all of them falling down through the last span. It is a very dismal picture. I have not much sympathy with the Spanish proverb wliicR says, '"Ihe sky is good and the earth is good; that which is bad is between the earth and the eky." But, while we as Christian men ire bound ti take a cheerful view of life, we must &4 confess that life is a great un certainty and that man who sava, "1 can't become a Christian because there is time enough yet," ia running a risk in finite. You do not perhaps realize the fact that thia descending grade of ain gets steeper and steeper and that you are gathering up a rush and velocity which after awhile may not answer to the brakes. Re not among those who give their whole life to the world and then give their corpse to God. It does not seem fair that while our pulses are in full play of health we serve ourselves and serve the world and then make God at last the present of a coffin. It does not seem right that we run our ship from coast to coast carrying cargoes for ourselves and then, when the Bhip is crushed in the rocks, give to God the shivered timbers.- It is a great thing for a man on his dying pillow to repent better that than never at all; but how much better, how much more generous, it would have been if he had repented fifty years before! My friends, you will never get over theso procrastinations. We have started on a march from which there ia no retreat. The shadows of eternity gather -on our pathway. How insignificant ia time compared with the vast eternity! As I was thinking -of this one day while coming down over the Alle ghany Mountains at noon, by that won derful pass which you all have heard de scribed as the Horseshoe a depression in the aide of the mountain where the train almost turna back again upon itself, and you see how appropriate is the name of the Horseshoe and thinking on thia very theme and preparing this very aermon, it seemed to me as if the great eourser of eternity speeding along had just struck the mountain with one hoof and gone on into illimitable space. Bo short is time, so insignificant is earth, compared with the vast eternity! This moment voices roll down the sky and all the worlds of light are ready to rejoice at your disenthrall ment. Rush not into the presence of the King ragged with sin when you may have this robe of righteousness. Hash not your font .pieces against the throne of a cruci fied Christ. Throw not your crown of life off the battlements. All the scribes of God are at thia hour ready with volumes of living light to record the new! of your Isoul emancipated. , fOopyritht, IMS, L. Xlooscti.l Justice Field and ths Hook Agent, ' Several Senators were dlsuusBlng In the cloakroom their experiences In getting rid of objectionable vlaltoni. The talk recalled an episode In the life of the late Justice Field of the Supreme Court, whose temper was of the most Irascible kind. He had given instructions to his servant on a cer tain morning that be was not to be disturbed. Presently there came a ring at the door bell and an aggressive book agent appeared, "I want to see Justice Field," he said. "You cannot soe him," was the reply. "I must see him." "Impossible." The conversation grew more em phatic, until finally the persistent book agent's demands echoed through the house. At that moment Justice Field, who had been attracted by the altercation, appeared at the head of the stairs. "William," he said. In a fiercely angry tone, "show the brazen, Infer nal scoundrel up to me. If vou canuot handle him, I will." The book agent mad no further ef fort to break Into the Justice's presence. THE SABBATH SCHOOL International Lesson Comments For April 20. Subject: Peter aaJ Cornells!, Acts i., U i floldea Text: Acts -, 24 Memory Verses, 42-44 Cemoicotary on the Day's Lesson. 34. "Opened hn mouth." This suggest! a regular discourse, ai distinguished from simple conversation. 8ee Matt. 5: 2. "I perceive." What had always been true, though through Jewish prejudice be h&d never before realized it. "That God." Who knoweth the hearts of men, and con cerning whose decision there can be no dis cussion. "No respecter of persons." That is, He showi no favor to one above an other on account of his outward condition of rank, wealth, poverty, nationality, race, color, education. His only test is what a person really is in moral character. All must .be saved in the same way, on the eamei'conditiona, subject to the same pen alties if they refuse, and open to the same blessings if they repent and believe. Pre vious to his vision (vs. 9-16), Peter had be lieved no one could be saved but they of the circumcision Jews and proselytes. Contrary to his former opinion he now ad mits there is no favoritism with God. He does not esteem a Jew because he is a Jew, nor detest a Gentile because he ia a Gentile. God has respect only for charac ter and state. National and ecclesiastical distinctions are of no account. M. "In every nation." Jew or Gentile "That feareth Him." Not a slavish, or selfish, but a filial fear. Job. 28 : 28: Prov. 9: 10: Psa. 2: 11; Eccl. 12: 13; Mai. 4: 2. "Worked righteousness." Abstains from all evil and does good. These two particulars include man's duty to God, and to his fellow-man. He keeps all the law. Cornelius was accepted because he measured up to the light given him. He watched, fasted, prayed and gave alms. He evidenced his sincerity by accepting Christ as soon as He was preached. "Is accepted." He was not accepted because of bin good deeds, but because he had an honest heart, and that led him to perform good deeds. 36. "The word." The message of tho gospel. The record of the work of ucsns of Nazareth. "Unto Israel." The de scendants of Jacob, the chosen people of God. To them it was lirst preached, and through them salvation came to the race. John 4: 22: Rom. 1: 10. "Preaching peace." Preaching the good tidings of sol vation. This included the whole of gospel truth. 1. Peace with God. 2. Peace with men. 3. Peace of conscience. 4. Peace filling the soul. Rom. 14: 17. "By Jesus Christ." Ho is the author, giver and medium of peace. Luke 2: 14; John 14: 27; Eph. 2: 14; Col. 1: 20. "Lord of all." Peter here announces Christ's "universal lordship" over every man in everv nation. 37. "That word ye know." They were not v.nacquainted with this message of peace. It had been proclaimed through out all Judea and Galilee, from the time John began to preach. Luke 4: 14, 37, 44; 9: 6; 23: S. They in Caesarea had heard of its being preached to Israel by the preaching of Philip the evangelist. Acts 8: 40. 33. "Anointed Jesus of Nazareth." This inaugurated Hiin into His otlice as the Apostle and High Priest of the Christian profession. Heb. 1: 9; 3: 1. According to the prophets the Messiah was to work miracles as proof of His Messinhship. "Holy Ghost and with power." This pro claimed Him to be the Christ (Luke 4: 18 21), and invested Him with the insignia of His Messianic office. When the Holy Ghost is mentioned a word ia generally added to emphasize his adaptation to the special circumstances. 30. "We are witnesses." rerause Peter and the other apcstles had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministe rial l:fo. Luke 24. 48. They were not ob jects of superstitious reverence, but sim ply witnesses to tho great historical facts on which the gospel is founded. "Land of the Jews." The countries of Juden, Galilee nnd Perea. 40. "Raised up." According to the re peated predictions of the propliets and of Christ Himself. The resurrection of Christ was the seal of His Messialiship. ' Showed Him." See R. V. The evidences of the resurrection of Christ are indisputa ble. By many proofs it was made clear to those who saw Him that it was the same body, oven though now glorified, which had been wounded on the cross. 41. "Witnesses chosen." Those selected for the purpose. 1 Cor. 15: 4-8. Had He shown Himself to all the people He might have had a second rejection. We have no evidence that Jesus showed Himself after His resurrection to any but His per sonal followers. "Did cat," etc. Seo Luke 24: 4 43. 42. "Commanded." He shows Corne lius his commission from Christ. Matt. 28: 19. "Preach testify." They were not only to expound the truth concerning these fundamental facts, but also to bear witness to what they had seen, heard and experienced. 1 John 1: 1-3; 2 Peter 1: 10 18. God'a true ministers both teach and testify. "Judge of quick and dead." Of the living and dead. By this we are to un derstand that Christ would judge till who had lived, or were then living, or who would live. 43. "To Him," ete. Not any particular prophet, but all directly or indirectly bore testimony to Christ as the Saviour of all men. Isa. 9: 6; 63: S. 6; Jer. 31: 34; Dan. 9: 14; Micah 7: 18; Zech. 13: 1. "Remis sion of sing." The taking away not only the guilt, but also the power, nature and consequence! of lin. This is man's great est need. 44. "The Holy Ghost fell." They were endowed with miraculous powers, and en able to speak iu language which they had never learned. Compare chap. 11: 13 with 2: 1-13. At this time their hearts were pu rified by faith: see chap. IS: 9 where Peter hianself says distinctly that such was the case. The church needs the same baptism to-day. 45. "They of the circumcision." The six Jews who had accompanied Peter from Joppa. "Were astonished." Wore amazed that Gentiles should be admitted to the same favor as themselves. 46. "Magnify God." Praise and glorify Ood. 47. "Forbid water," etc. Though the gift of the Spirit had been made so appar ent, yet St. Peter did not omit the out ward sign. 48. "Commanded." It seems that Peter did not perform the baptism himself, but f;ave directions that the Christians who lad come with him from Joppa should at tend to it. It was not the practice of the apostles themselves to baptize very ex tensive. "Prayed them him." They en treated Peter. "To tarry." No doubt he remained to more fully indoctrinate them in the new faith, and to show them that he was ready to act according to the teachings given him in the vision (vs. B; 16), and est With Gentile. Italy and Abyssinian, After the Franco-Italian entente eor diale we have an ' italo-tAbysalnlan entente perhaps not so cordial. Sev eral Abyssinian chiefs have been creat ed knights of the Italian orders and Menellk has sent the badges of bis two orders for the decoration of meritori ous Italians. The Ethiopian orders are: The Order of Solomon, remark able for its heavy badge of gold rep resenting the seal of the wise Heberw king, with the Inscription, "I conquer ed the Hon of Judab," and the Order of the Star of Ethiopia of recent crea tion, the badge being an emerald on a flve-polnted golden star, with the' In scription, "Abyssinia stretches her. arms to the Lord." Plans Immense Motoft What is said to be the largest motor In the world Is that being erected by a Froncb doctor, In which be Intends, with two students, to make a trip around the world. It will contain two sleeping apartments, a large work room, and four big tanks for storing oil. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS. April 20 -How Caa I Know Tbst I An Savtd?" Jobs vllL 3 I Jcbn III 14; Rom. vlll 1-6; I Jobs Iv. 7. Scripture Verses. Ex. Ill 7. 8; Job. T. 17-19; Psa. xxxlll. 18, 19; Ivl. 12. 13; Jer. I. 7. 8; xxxlx. 17, 18; Dan. 111. 17; 2 Tim. lv. 18. Lesson Thoughts. Our title to houses and lands Is found recorded In the official records .. the county! onr title to heavenly mansions Is found In the inspired records of God's Word. "Continue in my word, and ye shall know the truth." Christ's own nature la Inherited by his spiritual children. The very es sence of his nature la lore. Have you an earnest, active love for your brethren? it Is an evidence that you are loved by our Elder Brother, and saved. Selections. One evening as the prisoners In tho Llbby, at Richmond, lay down to sleep, the story was whispered among them that a flag-of-truce boat had come up the river, and that some of their number was to be released the next day. That was glad tidings for all. But the question In every pris oner's mind was, "Am I to be re leased?" There were many dreams of home that night. In the early morning, arter roll call, thoro was breathless expectancy for the name of the favored prisoner. Thoso glad tidings had a meaning to him they could not have to any of his com panions. To him thnro camo that day the mesHaRO of deliverance from bondage, and ho passed out of tho prison house thanking Ond that the mesaKe was to him. "Unto you Is a Savior born." Whoever you are, whatever your sins, there la salva tion for you. If yon are lost, It Is becauno you will not bo saved. There Is life for a look at tho Cruci fied One; There Is life at this moment for thee; Then look, sinner look unto him, and be snved Unto him who was nailed to tho tree, Oh, doubt, not they welcome, since God has declared There remalneth no moro to bo done: That once In the end of the world he appeared And completed the work ho begun. But take with rejoicing from Jesus at once The life everlasting he glve3: And know, with assurance, thou never canst tile. Since Jesus, thy Righteousness, lives. Suggested Hymns. Blcned assurance, Jenus Is mine. Christ has for sin atonement made. How sweet the joy that fills my soul. As lives tho flower within tho seed. Fade, fade, each earthly joy. How do I know my sins forgiven? EPWORTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS 4pril 20 Missionary Activity Acts IL 41-47; v. 14; xxvl. 15-21; Heb. xL 36-J8; Rom. xNI. 14. Silence Is not always golden. Sel fishness sometimes keeps still. A witness-bearer must bear witness. To do that he must speak. Jesus says, "Ye are my witnesses.' Testimony In the Interest of truth has always been tho greatest human factor In the prog ress of Christianity. Missionary ac tivity Is another name for Christian activity. One would as well speak of dark sunshine as to speak of inactlvo Christianity. Not more activity Is needed. The movements of Christian, firrces must be Intelligently directed. Denominational zeal is well directed only when It is Christian zeI. Our Christ is dnfinltely greater than our Church. But success is usually achieved by means of organization. The life that helps the world most Is moat highly organized. Mind move ment counts most In any movement. Loyalty to leaders Is the watchword of our League. The missionary mind , 1s the mind of the Master. It Is ' the contral thought of the great Teacher. A mis sion is a ministry to which one Is sent. The missionary 1b the one who Is sent. Ir. this case Christ Is the One who sends. The Christian, is the one who in sent. Sent to serve ought to be tho motto on the banner jf every Chris tian. It ia no task to be turned over to the heroic tollers in the foreign fields. The Missionary Mind is Devoted. It Is given wholly to Christ. TMat brings freedom. It brings a sublime Bonee of riches. That devotion makes a sacrament ot dally toll. Devotion of Christ and humanltj makes o le's work seem worth whLe. Work done in that spirit wl.l la-t. Il will not fail with tho autumn leaves. The seeds we aow In the coil of souls will not evaporate like dew. The Mlsslonprs Mind is Magnani mous. It does not carve creation Into "corners." It Is a world-wide mind becatiBe It is the Christ mind. It knows no "homo missions." r "for eljrn missions." Such a missionary mind l'i's osu sy, 'Go ye Into ail the world." Then the man with this mind exclaims with the great and good Weisley, "The world is my par ish." The Missionary Movement. Mi.st Le Impartial. God Is no respecter of persons. All the children of men are his. vVe must seek the pauper In his hovel and the prince in his palace. They will both be empty -handed when death comu, Neither will be rich unless he Is right. This movement la Lot for the hut nor the mansion. It Is a mov v.ont for men. Let ua know that lropa.Mal service Is the badge of RaJnta. The Son of man Is seeking to save all the sons of mon. RAM'S HORN BLASTS. HE silent worker la euro to be heard from. Indifference la the devil's favorite drug. Consecration la our answer t o Ood'a call. He only needs to fear who flghta against God. Subtle tempta tions need swift reslHtanee Uod's presence makes the great church.' Fertility flees the land that Ood for sakes. Great treasures do nut need largo bouses GOD'S MESSAGE TO MAN PRECNANT THOUCHTS FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST PROPHETS. Poemi If I Could Know The New Testa ment Teaches Us That tho DoepMt Joy nil the Loftiest Hoverolffnty Aro Be lated to Borrow and SafTerlns;. If I could know that word or deed V Of mine hsd helped a soul in need, V Had given comfort, essed the smart Of some poor, tortured, aching heart, With what rare joy my heart would glow If I could knowl If 1 could knowt If one should whisper in my ear, "Your words have made me stronger, dear. To fight this evil thing within. That leads me often into ein" Life's darkened ways would lighter grew, If I eouM know! If I eould know! Each day I ask the Lord to bless 8ome act of mine to truthfulness. And though I know not how, or where He sends the answer to my prayer, When I shall into His presence go. Then I shall knowt Then I shall know! Marian Phelps. Let Vs Bo Thankral. We are to be thankful for the joy of our lives, for health and prosperity and troopa of friends and a happy home, for the success of our plans and the hope of future attainments and victories; for all the sunshine, gladness and triumph witli which we have been favored we should certainly be grateful. Every blessing has come from the opulent and loving hand of our Heavenly lather. If our cup is full of unmixed joy, we certainly should re ceive it with tlmnlcsgiving. Hut in the portion of most of us bitter has been mingled with the sweet. This is not because God has loved ns lens. We ap preciate the sweet better when we do not have it all the time, and the bitter is of ten medicinal. Kven human philosophy recognizes that trials are helpful to the discipline of character, and the Now- Tes tament tr-aches us that the iltcpcst joy and the loftiest sovereignty arc c-.icntinlly related to sorrow and suffering. Were our spiritual vision more perfect we would see that our trials, bereavements, hard battles, have done more for us that our sweetest pleasures, if they have been bravely and patiently endured. To some perhaps the days seem to yield only disappointment. Defeated and lonely, they come to the festival season, with all their dearest hopes dead, their business in ruins, their strength gone. What have they left? They have renlly even-thing left, if they still have themselves and God. If they have lost their self-control; if in losing property and health and worldly hones they have lost themsplves, they are indeed poor; if in their desolation they have no hold on God, no comfort of His love, no faith in His fatherhood, they must be miserable. But what is the Iohs of all things if God he still our Father ond we can nestle in his arms and seek to do His will, however obscurely and imperfectly? Let ua be thankful for 'the desolation that drives us to take shelter in the sympathy nnd the unambitious sc. vice of our Katli- r. Let us all "in everything give thanks." Northern Christian. Gftd the rernianent Factor of Lire. The passing of the world is a matter of every man's experience. Friends have died, conditions of living have changed, bodilv powers have waxed or waned. The world to-day is not the world we knew ten years ago. There are buried hopes and aspira tions. There are new fashions, thoughts and purposes, which meet us as a man meets travelers face to fare upon his jour ney and then pass by. The world goes on in ceaseless picturesque procession. At Inst we weary of the ."how. We tire of the excitement of our life. The zest of pleasure dies. It seems incredible that we should change, except to grow in strength, but we awake to find that we are growing old, which is the shadow ot death upon all merely worldly pleasure. There is no permanence in any condition or relation of our advancing or declining life. It comes up like a flower, but un less it takes hold on some enduring force outside itself it dies like n flower to make room for other lives as Meeting as itself. Congreguliunalist. Odjv.v . The World. What a grand old world it is, notwith standing its sin. and the abuse men make of it! God made it; it is His world, and every inch of it .is holy ground since Jesus trod its paths und drank its waters and touched its flowers. Hut the world needs care. God placed our father Adam in the farden "to dress it and to keep it," and le has placed us here for the same pur pose. Every effort 1 make to drive out a wrong; every step you take to establish a good thing for the world's use; every tree or plant that is rooted, every hospital that is built, every street that is cleaned, every room that is swept, every table that is dusted these all have a share in the lift ing of the world to a higher place. Mo ments are not wasted if only you know what you are doing in your dailv toil. Hours are not fruitless if you strive intel ligently to make them rich with service. Floyd Tompkins. Fatlenca, One of the sweetest virtues that adorns the Christian's life is patience. It is not so easily cultivated in view of the weak ness of human nature. The human body is a great network of nerves. Thev can easily be unstrung. It is a wonderful triumph of will power and divine grace when, under such circumstances, patience, like some wonderful flower, reveals it beauty and loads the air with its rich fra- 9rancu. It is the design of the gospel ol esus Christ to make men patient. To quiet the waves of unrest that may arise within the heurt. To hush the passions that may be aroused by the provocations and temptations of life. When the etorm rages without the exhibition of quietnes and patience is most charming. Kuch u spirit has great value. The patient soult cannot be too highly praised, 'i'hey de serve a place of prominence i:i the galaxy of the world's heroes. Gospel News. - Make It the Hlght Spirit. . T'le spirit in the young man that ears "I will make the best that is to be made of my life;" that is fired with emulation of the great and noble characters of his tory and literature; that says, "I will not soil my soul with what is low and mean in life; I will aim my thoughts toward the high and everlasting; 1 will keep my mind fresh and clear; I will put my foot upon the throne that God has set up within me; I will rule and not be ruled; 1 will be strong and not weuk; I will rise up out ol the stagnant valleys nnd brcatha the pure air of the mountain tops; I will be ahle tc look every man in the lace and say, 'No. 1 have nothing to conceal, "such is the spirit of Jehu, the sun of Ninishi. Rev A. Mercer. Neftd of the Lord's Day. The Lord' day is needed as a rest day, which those who labor ought to demand as a divine and a human right. It is s home day, the only day under our indus trial conditions when many families can U united in the home circle. It ia needed ai an independence day, when each Americar is not subject to the order! of another, but lias as much right as his employer. Rev l'aul S. Leinbach, Reformed Church, Wil kinsburg, V. fas Ingratltode. We thank God when we are hungry ami forget liiin when we have had enough Kev. Choi-lea H. Parkhurst, New York. Love is tha great tvnA-fnatnr ,.f ,11. vine likeness. Preparations raav ba mora than huif of performance. The bumps of our pride are the han dles by which tha devil holds us. When the heart la unllftd i i.i It la seldom broadened In charity. It la easier in hnnt n n a M Jews than to hit the modem Gentile. It makes all tha .11 rr.. religion la our pastime or our passion. He gains no knowledge who is un willing to ackuowledge what he doe not know. COMMERCIAL REVIEW. Central Traat Coedltloaa. R. G. Dun & Co'i weekly "Review of Trade" says: Labor controversies conJ tinue to be the only seriomly disturb ing events in the industrial world, and make manufacturer conservative about new undertakings. Retail distribution of spring wearing apparel received a check from the more inclement weather, in many localities, yet merchandise of most staple lines it purchased freely. The supply of iron and steel does not seem in any immediate danger of over taking demand. Widely divergent views as to the crop outlook resulted in a dull market for the cereals, and only small changes in prices. Wheat receipts for the week were but 2,074,699 bushels, against 3,Ji7M$ last year, while exports from all ports of the United States- amounted to 3,365.070 bushels, compared with 4.6.26,037 a year ago. There was not the customary loss in receipts of corn, 1,380,505 bushels, comparing with 1,602,027 a year ago, but Atlantic exports were only 204,356 bush els, against 3,064.481. Cotton is firmly held. Failures in the United States the past week numbered 167 against 195 last year, and 22 in Canada against 29 last year. LATEST QUOTATIONS. Wheat New York No. 2. S-J'jC J Phil adelphia No. 2, 82ja3c ; Baltimore No. 2, 8o!4c. Corn New York No. 2, 667 ac; Phila delphia No. 2, 6jjia04c; Baltimore No. 2, t)2a(2iQ. Oatt New York No. 2. 47c; Phila delphia No. 2, soasoj-ic; Baltimore No. j, 4t!asoc. Green Fruits and Vegetables. Apples New York mixed, per brl. $3-75a4 5 do, Fancy Greenings, per brl, $4.5035.00; do. Fancy Ruyiets, per brl, $3.7534.00. Aspsragus Charleston, per bunch, prime, 40350c. Beets Florida, new, per bunch, 4:16c. Broccoli Norfolk, per brl, 50365c; do, native, per bu box, 20325c. Cabbage New York, large, Danish, pef ton, $ 14.00a 1 5.00 ; do, small, Danish, per ton, $ii.ooai2.oo; do, new, Florida.per crate, $1.5032.00; do, E3rly York, per crate, $2.2532.50. Celery NT3tive, per bunch. 2a3C. Eggplants Florida, per crate, $3.5034.00. Green Peas Florida, per box, $1.2531.50; do, per basket, $1-75 aa.oo. Horseradish Native, per box, 750 a$l.oo. Lettuce North Carolina, per half-barrcl basket, 75s.a$t.25; do, Flor ida, per half-barrel bsskct, $l.ooal.75. Unions Maryland and Pennsylvania, yellow, per, bu, $l.ooai.25; do, Western, yellow, per bu, $1.0031.25. Oranges Cal ifornia seedlings, per box, ,$2.2532.85 ; do, navels, per box. $3.0034.00.' Oystcrplsnts Native, per bunch. I)4a2c. Rsdisbes Florida, per bunch, long, i'3a2C. Spin tich Native, ptr bu box, 40350c ; do, Norfolk, per brl, $1.2531.50. Spring onions, per 100 bunches, 60375c. Straw-berries-'-Florida, per quart, refrigerator, 25330c; do, open crate, 153200. Toma toes Florida, per six-basket carrier, fancy, $2.7533.00 ; do, fair to good, $2.o a2.5o. Turnips Native, per bu box, 15 20c. Potatoes. White Maryland and Pcnn sylvania, per bu, No. 1, 7sa8oc; do, sect onds, 65370c ; do, New York, per bu, bed stock, 80385; do, Western, per bu prime, 80a8.se. Sweets Eastern Shore Virginia, per truck brl, $2.5032.75 ; do Maryland, per brl, fancy, $j.7533.oo. 1 ' Provisions and Hog Products. BulV clear rib sides, 10c; bulk clear sides,' loJic; sugar-cured breasts, small, nc sugar-cured breasts, 12 lbs and Over, 1 1 54; sugar-cured shoulders, extn broad, lo'ic; sugar-cured Californii hams, 9c; hams, canvased or tincan- vased, 12 lbs and over, i2'ac; refined lard, tierces, barrels and 50-lb canf gross, ioJ4c. Butter Separator, 28329c ; gathered cream, 24325c ; imitation, 20a2ic ; prints, I-lb., 28a29c; rolls, 2-lb., 283290; dairy prints, Md.. Pa. and Va.. 26327c. Eggs. Western Msryland and Penn sylvania, per dozen, aisc; Eastern Shore (Maryland and Virginia), pet dozen. aisc; Virginia, per dozen, a 15c; W'est Virginia, per dozen, u'jaisc; Western, per dozen, I4'iai5c; Southern, per dozen, I4!4aise. Duck E3stern Shore, fancy, per dozen, 19320c; do, Western and Southern, per dozen, 18a 19c. Goose, per dozen. 2oa25c Live and Dressed Poultry. Turkeys, hens, choice 1315c; do, young toms, do I2al3; do, old toms. loan. Chickens, hens, ai2c; do, old roosters, each 25a 30; do, young, 13a 14; do, do, rough and staggy, nai2; do, spring, according to size, 25330; do winter, 18320. Ducks, fancy, large. ai3c; do, do, small, loan; do, muscovy and mongrels, 11312. Geese, Western, each, 40a s Sc. Guinea fowl. each I5a20c. Dressed Poultry Capons, iancy, large, aioc; good to clioicc, 15a 17; do, small and slips, 13314. Cheese New Cheese, large 6olbs,l2'J V lajc; do, flats, 37 lbs, I3ai3!4c; ficnics, 23 lbs, I3!4ai3ie Live Stock. Chicago. Cattle Good to prima steers $6.6037.25; poor to medium $4.50 36.50; stockers and feeders $2.5035.00; cows $1.2535.50; heifers $2.50,16.15; can ners $1.2532.40. lings market 5 to. 100 lower; mixed and butchers $6.5oa6.874 ; good to choice, heavy $6.8037.00; rough, hesvy, $6.50.16.75. Sheep choice weth ers $5.2535.90; Western sheep, yearlings, $45036.00; native lambs $4.5036.85; Western lambs $5.2536.85. East Liberty. Cattle steady; choice $6.6oa6.75; prime $6.3036.40; good $5.50 as.orj.. Hogs active; prime hogs $7.05a 7.10; best mediums $6.30,17.00; heavy Yorkers $6.7536.80; light Yorkers $6.soa 6.60; pigs $6.1536.35; roughs $5.0036.35, Sheep firm; best wethers $5.7535.85; culU and common $2.3034.00; veal calvci $6.00-36.25. N LABOR AND INDUSTRY Boston Rakers want a ten-hour day. Pittsburg is to have a new $60,000 la bor temple. The International Association of Steam Engineers has 20,344 members. Forty mine owners and operators of Denver have organized to fight trusts and unionism. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad will erect a $500,000 car building plant at Pensacola, Fla. John M. Hunter, former president of the United Mine Workers' Union, is in an insane asylum because of overstudy. Carriage and .wagemakers at Ames bury, Mass., the great center of the car riage and wagon-makers' industry in America, have organized, and will ask for nine-hour day and a minimum in-j crease of 10 per cent, on piecework on January I, 1903. Work in the Qtiincy, Mass., quarries is again at a standstill owing to the im portation of several non-union men who' were put in the quarries. Mayor Collins, of Bo.iton, is consid ering the request of Secretary Easlcy, of the National Civic Federation, that he suggest the names of forty-five men rep resenting labor, capital and ihe general public to act as an auxiliary cuimnittce on the Civic Federation in Bostua. IEE GREAT DESTROYER IOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. tha Whisky Road Many Millions srf Isi Walk This Path to DestraetloB 1 Able Man Who Mrtnks Toaoponcot Starts Many on tho Path, We are well aware that among thnssi who drink a great many lead lives of amlt :ontrol. Drink deee not conquer tha. It gives excitement without serious dam ge. It may even make life really xnoew igreeable. There are thousand! of self -con troll oil Irinkers Belt-controlled for too present tt least. , , Each of these is apt to look upon him elf ai proof of the fact that drinking a .lot necessarily harmful. But each of these, especially if a eoa ipieuously successful man, is one of thm most dangerous-men in the community. Weak young men fellow the example; mt those whom tney admire. If the successful business man drink, and controls himself, his weak clerk fair Iowa his example and does not control himself. Many a poor creature has gone to jait indignantly prosecuted by his employer by the very man from whom he learned his bad habits. We write to-dny to urge upon successful men, upon all temperate drinkers, thia fact: You can of course do as you please with yourself but don't put temptation in tha way of others. If you have a son of fifteen you would be furious at any man who should tell hinav that a little whisky would uot hurt him. You would call the giver of such advice m villain. But many a grown man, weak in character, lacks the moral strength of a young boy. Remember that what you can stand, others cannot stand. When drink is dis cussed, think of the harm it docs, think of the women and children made miserable; by it, think of the pitiless slavery that ia inflicts on mankind. Never say a good word for whisky or for' any of iU fellow tremblers of civiliza tion. You are a responsible part of the human rnce. You have no right to be indifferent to the effect of your example on otbera. The greater your own strength of charac ter the more followers you will have. Lead them on the path that will keep them free from harm. -tYou are powerful and fearless. Ii no! on that account encourage the weak to pick a quarrel with an enemy that wil) vanquish them. Perhaps you ask: Do you expect to stop the sale of strong drinks? Have you any idea that men will ever stop drinking whisky? To that we must answer "No." While millions of men live dull, unsatis fied lives, they will seek and lind artificial excitement. While competition, overwork, strained nerves and ignorance of right living tor ment mankind, strong drink will be used to give false rest, artificial aid to digestiott and to "let down" the nervous tension. We have no hope of reforming humanity". It cannot be reformed. It must be made strong enough and happy enough to turn aside from the stimulant that it will not longer need. We have no hope of wholesale reform. You cannot take medicine from the sick, or whisky from the miserable in spirit. But you can give good suggestions, you can plant good resolutions in the breast of many. And that wo hope to do. We discuss temperance on this page nnd ask each reader to decide what ia best for him. Never mind why others drink. What is best for you? Never mind the good excuses which eer tain drunkards offer what excuse can yoq offer if you fail to give yourself a chance t New York Journal. Temperance In the Army. An order urging a temperance reform ia the army has been promulgated by Keci t.iry Knot, by direction of President Roosevelt. The orders refers to immoral ity in the service, and says it is the dutj ot olticers to point out to their men tha terrible effects of excesive indulgence ia strong drink. The order says: "Hy direction of the President, the at tention of the otiieera and enlisted men o the army, especially of those serving ia tlis tropics and awny from home, ia called to the following facts: "The only really efficient wav in whieft Xto control the diseases due to immorahts T: . .1 ...i.:u : j in iu uiiiiiiiiBii tne vice uicil is wie ciupi of those diseases. Kxcessive indulgence ia strong drink is absolutely certain to ram any man, physically ana morally; while; disease due to licentiousness produces eft fects which are quite as destructive and even mor loathsome. "It is the duty of regimental, and partis ulariy of company, ofiicers, to try by pre cent and example to point out to the mew under their control, and particularly t the younger men, the inevitable miserj and disaster which follow upon intempen unce und upon moral uncleauliness a4 vicious living. The officers should, oi course, remember always that the effect of what they say must largely depena upon the lives they themselves lead. 11 is in the highest degree necessary that each otticui- should be an example to ln4 men ia the way of temperate and cleanly living. "Lvery effort should be made to promote throughout the army a cleanly and moral tone in word no less than in deed. Aa nation we feel keen pride in the vol on discipline and steadfast endurance of out soldiers, and hand in hand with these quulities must go the virtues of self-rer straint, self-respect and self-control." A New Way to Iteforui. 11. F. IStevick, of Council Bluffs. Iowa, has cauned to ue published in all news papers of that city this notice addressed lo the sitloou keepers: "My downfall and domestic trouble! are ail caused by drinking, i have said several times that 1 would quit, but f never did quit. Now my wife has filed a suit for divorce, and I realize what a fool 1 have beeu. 1 have nutilied all saloon keepers not to sell me liquor, and have tolu them 1 would prosecute them after ward if they did so. V hen my friends aslt mu to driiiK the bartender will refuse to (verve me. .My wife has consented to wilhi draw her sun und 1 intend to brace op, the sulooim that sell me liquor will nave a damage auit oil their hands.'.' the True llciui'iutr. Xeeil or Total Abstinence. Under the auspices of the ministerial association of Juliet, 111., a notable tene jit-rance maas meeting was held recently, The speakers were bankers, judges, mer chants, teachers, railway managers, edit ors und win kingmcu. All bore testimun to the need of total abstinence by the maa who succeeds in life. Lamest, thoughUuj appeals were made for a higher grade cat ciluenship, which will banish the saloon. Kocord or Hurt! Drinkers. Drunkards in (iermany will for the fa lure be sternly looked utter by the ritata Kach town must keep a record oi alV- the hard drinkers, and the city medical men are bound tn report those who habitually imbibe to excej.i. so that the authorities may weed out the black sheep and eub ject them to a stnut course of treatment. Brain! Hodden With Boot. A Munich manufacturer recently de clared that the cheapness of native beef was his greatest handicap. "The fact that my men 11 bodies and brains are sodden with beer, day and night, puts me behind American manufacturers in the ruce." Total Auatlnenss on the Burlington. By order of the" 'director of the Chi cago, Butliugtou a lid Quincy IUilruad the general maunder of that system has lamed au order making it a cause lor removal for any employe to have the reputation ot being a drinking man. For sevttrul year there has been n rule on this roud that ua conductor or trainman should uxe inuiai cuting liquors while on duly. The liatr rule pcohitnt use of intoxicants at any time or placr, either -tin duty or oil' duty. Tho bigger the sum paid for lirensea tl-s . mor the saloon kcepeis v. 1 II hu.t!r to 1: K square. The nuiru tiny hustle the nun 1-1 number will be the t audi laien 1. r m and poor bou 'ipm.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers