"POWER OFAGREAT IDEAL"
Sandfly Discourse by Dr. Chapman, the
Noted Pastor Evangelist.
A Beautiful Sermoa oa the Comfort and Hap
plntH ol Hivlof aa Ideal to Anchor
One to the Better Thlnfi of Life,
New York City. The Rev. Dr. J. Wil
bur Chapman, who ha. recently resigned
the pastorate of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church in thia city in order to devote him
irlf to evngcli.tic work, hue prepared the
following sermon for the pres.. It ia enti
lied "The Power of a (.treat Ideal," and w
preached from the text, "I have net the
Lord always before me: because He ia at
my right hand, 1 ahall not be moved."
Psalm 16: 8.
If you look at the top of tr ie Psalm you
will tvad the Mirhtnm of David. There
are dilTrrcuces'of opinion a. -to the. mean-'
ing of thia exnreesion. Some have eaid
that it means victory, and thia would aeem
to be true, since there ia particular
Psalm bearing the same title, whose sub
ject matter is on various themes, but all ot
which end in triumph. Psalm 68. "Thou
hast delivered my soul from death;"
Psalm 57, "My heart ia fixed. I will sing
and give praise:" Pnalm 58. "There ia a re
ward for the righteous:" Psnlm 59, "God
in my defence and the God of my mercy;"
Psalm AO, "Through God we ahall do va
liantly." There are others who sav that the ex
pression mean golden, and so we might
infer from the margin, which means that
it i worthy of being written in letters ol
gold, and may have been in some conspicu
ous place in the temple. At any rate wt
know that its truth is better than gold:,
yea. than much fine gold. There ore atill
others who declare that its meaning ii
precious, and certain it is that it is a pre
cious privilege to walk with Christ evei
before us.
"So on I go, not knowing,
I would not if I might.
I'd rather walk in the dark with God,
Than go alone in the light.
I'd rather walk bv fnitti with Him,
Than go alone bv sight."
Some teachers say that the meaning of
the expression is secret, and what follow!
it is hidden truth. Certainly it is true
that the "secret of the Lord ia with them
that fear Him." and there is a secret place
of the Most High. The first is learned
when we walk with Him. the second it
reached at the end of the journey. But if
you nut all these interpretations together
you have the golden Psalm of the precious
secret, which would seem to be a fitting
introduction to all that follows. This
Psalm is about Christ. We know it. be
cause Peter said, "For David sneaketh con
cerning Him. I foresaw the Lord alwavs
before my face; for He ia on mv .right
hand, that T should not he moved." Acts
2: 2o. If David could have strength by
looking 'forward to Christ, what may I not
have as I look back at His history and life
in the power of His presence by 'the Holy
Spirit.
It is the instinct of n human soul to have
an ideal. Fvery child baa. Toe boy longs
to be like his father. The nir) has a desire
to resemble her mother. What a responsi
bility rests upon each. , Men and women
have whether they will acknowledge it or
not. Thev long to be like Borne one else.
The musician ling Ins Mendelssohn, the
poet his .Shakesncare. the artist his Da
Vanci. the preacher his Spurgeon. David
knew this and so he said. "I have set the
Lord always before me; because He is at
my right hnnd. I shall not be moved." To
imitate any one else in the world is to be
come ridiculous, but it is remarkable that
people all over tho world may seek to imi
tate Christ and be the better for it. Let
it be noted that this is a definite expe
rience o? conclusion which David has
reached. I insist upon the definition of it
because it is scriptural. Notice Romans 6:
13, "Neither yield ye your members as in
struments of unrighteousness unto sin, but
yield yourselves unto God. as those that
ire alive from the dead, and your members
as instruments of righteousness unto God."
And also Romans 12: 1. "I beseech vou,
therefore, brethren, by the mercies, of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacri
fice, holy, acceptable unto God, which ia
your rsasonable service." The tense of the
verbs in both verses indicate definite ac
tion: It is really putting one's self over
into the keeping and control of Christ.
A man has a threefold nature, snirit. soul
and body, and in this order. I Cov. 6: 20,
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body and in vour
spirit, which are God's." Romans 13: 1,
"Let every soul be subject to the hinher
powers. For there is no power but of God :
the powers that be are ordained of God."
Romans 12: . "I beseech vou, therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of (toil, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reason
able' service." All of which indicate that
He will fill the spirit, insnire the soul and
control the body if given the right to do it.
Then even-thing has become sacred in our
lives and living Itself is a aacrament. I do
not much believe in the world's division
of all things into sacred and secular, for
all things ought to be sacred to the child
of God, und all days ought to be holy, and
. they would be did we but live in the spirit
of the text. Sonic people meet temptation
anil flv to Him. It is infinitely better to
ny to Him and then meet trial in whatever
form it may come. Thero is great power
in the word '"because" in the text. This
is not iust a flash of an experience, it is
the deliberate outcome of a. long and va
ried retrospect, and will not in any true
sense be before our face until we set Him
there. It ia first decision and then prac
tice, and the text must become the habit of
our lives. Tt certainly' was in the expe
rience of David, for he said. "I have set
the Lord always before me." There are
certain Old Testament character which
furnish us an illustration of this text.
kr v" -Abraham. Christ said it, John 8:
6, "YiMi- father, Abraham, rejoiced to see
my diy. and he saw it, and was glad."
1 he Scribes and Pharisees about Him when -He
spoke of Abraham answered with a
sneer, and the Jews said. John 8: 57,
'I hen said the Jews unto Him. Thou art
not yet fiftv years old, and hast Thou seen
Abrahum?" When the answer of our Mas
ter was. John 8: 68, "Jesus said unto
them. erily, Verilv, I soy unto you, he
lore Abraham was, I am."
I here is something pathetic about these
words of the Jews. "Thou art not yet tifty
years old." In fact, He was only about
thirty. His face must have been marked
itn pain and suffering. How old is He,
to you ask? There are different wavs of
answering By the record He was thirty;
in looks He must have been a thousand;
according to His work He is ages old. The
inipiratiua of Abraham's life was that the
Lord was ever before Him. Genesis 12: 1,
e deny ourselves for success in business,
Apparently little caring whether this busi
liens will help or hinder us in spirituiil de
velopment. See the lesson in Lot's case,
"e pitched his tent toward Sodom and
iiien moved into the city. His fumily be
came identified with the life of the city,
i ? .? ""' of iu government. In the
a ot the story he has lost his power to
wiiness, all In property, his political po
i?' '"nuence over men, over his own
l.?J r,f"(l even witl od. Abraham was
si. vi choose for him. Gene-
ham J?.'15, A,ld the Lord said unto Abru
him'i t.r tllat Lot was separated from
t ae' i,kup tlm,e eye 'l1 look from the
South.,, f1'" V10" a northward, and
For Im ' f nd, eastward, and westward,
will i 'a""1 "hich thou seest. to thee
How lit. V-1' anJ to t".v seed forever."
Kuhes in. i f," to our own inheritance,
iu vo ,r K3: l71B- "That Christ may dwell
IH'S by faith; that ye being
comnVel Br?und in love may be abli
bread T ""l1 w.ilh 1 eaints what is the
,lenth, and depth, and
wight, and to know the love of Christ
w Sll'-,Fifith ifwlc'lg". 'hat ye 'might
tory i. ,! 1 ll ?" fulness of God." The
Ptk.ii, ii ?,man who wascontined in
and br,T.i. ' Ile'" au artist his painta
wall of ti v,Tr? 'ven him, and on the
the crow i A,'1? Painted the picture of
he painted' 1 ti,rnt, !" Over the cross
'he b" tnm Sotd love-, " top and
depth ? 19 cro" f1' W0,H "il,t
length n?f ' oro,a beam, the words
that no o,l hna,hh, and indeed, it is true
love of " j"ve5 T'10 appreciates what tho
ll.vi . """a clc"!y in mind,
the ZiVhu TU"" the difference. in
Lot' 11'. f ti,e- 1,ve f Abraham and
U is . : "ior " written in Genesis 10.
i'o m ?.., r '' J"01"- His wife taken
he 1. fn destanT,whilo with Aoramirti toe
picture ia exactly the opposite, and to mv
mind is most beautiful. Genesis 25: 7-8.
"And these are the days of the years ol
Abraham', life which lie lived, :tn hundred
three-score and fifteen years. Then Abra
ham gave up the ghost and died in a good
old age, an old man, and full of years, and
was gathered to hi. people."
Second. Moses was an illustration of
the text. In Hebrew. It: 27. "He endured
as seeing Him who i. invisible. That ex
plains the mystery of the burning bush
and this vision of Christ explains how it
was that when your hope seemed to be
consumed and the dearest plnn of your
life was burned as in the fire, you rejoiced.
David has learned the secret of happy liv
ing when he .ays in the text, "I have set
the Lord always before me; because He is
at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
Thi. vision enabled Moses to surmount
every difficulty. What did he care that
the mountain, were on every aide, certain
of the Kgyptian. behind him and the Red
Sea before him. He marched like a con
queror until the water parted in advance
of him and drv shod he went over to the
other aide. But such picture, as these
have been realized' in our day when men
have passed through Red Seas of difficulty
where other men of the world have gone
down in defeat and all "because thev en
dured as seeing Him who is invisible."
Third, our Saviour i. an illustration. He
always set God before Him. A. He came
into the world He said, "Lo, I come to do
Thy will;" as He sat on the well curb of
Jacob's well, "My meat is to do the will
of Him that sent Me;" as He bowed
in Gclhsemane, "Not My will, but Thine
be done." At the beginning of His minis
try, in the midst of it and near to its close
He gave forth the same music. What a
life it was.
"The strong man', strength to toil for
Christ,
The fervent preacher', skill.
I sometime, wish, but better far,
To be just what God wills.
No service in itself is small.
None great though earth it fill. ' ,
But that ia small that seeks its own.
That great which seeks God's will."
Fourth. Paul was certainly an illustra
tion of the spirit of our text. He caught
that vision in the sky as he made hia way
to Damascus and he never forgot it. He
.aid truthfully. "I was not disobedient un
to the heavenly vision." This made him
insensible to him surroundings. There i.
really nothing more pathetic than his re
numeration of his trials. II Cor. 11- 24-27,
"Of the Jew. five times received I forty
stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with
rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I have been
in the deep; in journeying, often, in perils
of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of
mine own countrymen, in peril, by the
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in
the wilderness, in perils in the sea. in
peril, among false brethren: in weariness
and painfulnesa, in watchings often, in
liunges.and thirst, in fasting often, in
cold and nnkedness." And yet here he
says. "I have learned with whatsoever
state I am, t herewith to lie content. He.
was with Paul to the very end. II Timothy
4: 7-8. "1 have fought a good fight, I hove
Knish"d my course. I have kept the faith;
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall five me at that day,
and not to me o-ily, but unto all them
also tha love His appearing."
That wns the secret of his victorious
life, and that the secret of his triumphant
death.
II.
If lie Is before me no path is too hard
for me to truvel, since He walk, in every
way in which He would have me go; nor
.hall I ever walk in darkness, for "Ho is
the light of the world, and in Him ia no
darkness at all," nor shall I ever be moved.
Have yon never noticed the difference,
between the second and sixth verses in the
Sixty-second Psalm. The second verse
reads, "He only is my rock and my salva
tion; He i. my defense; I shall not be
greatly moved. And the sixth is the same
with the exception of one word. "He only
is my rock and salvation; He is my de
fense; I shall not be moved." That word is
"greatly. ' There is deep meaning in the
omission of "greatly." Confidence has
grown evidently. In the first, hope wos
that the waiting heart should not be much
shaken, that the tottering fence should
not be nuite thrown down; the second if
that it shall not be slmken at all.
III.
He is before me in all experience.,
whether of sorrow or of joy, but since men
are born unto trouble a. the spark, fly up
ward it i. well to remember that He is be
fore us in suffering. There never hns been
a heart ache on the part of any of His fol
lowers that the pain did not reach Him,
and He had fellowship with us in our suf
ferings, as we are privileged to do in Hi..
He shall be with us even in death.
"Since Jesu. i. mine I'll not fear undress
ing. But gladly put off these garments of
clay,
To die in the Lord is a covenant blessing,
Since Jesus to glory, thro' death led the
way."
IV. .
It is an awful thing for a life not to have
the helpful presence of God.
"Oh to have no hope in Jesus.
How dark this world would be."
One of the ocean dangers that captain,
fear almost more than anything else is the
danger of coming in contact with a' "dere
lict, ' as a ship abandoned at sea is called.
There are now supposed to be about thirty
of such vessel, floating about at the will of
the currents in the Atlantic Wuters. They
are without pilot, have neither crew nor
rudder, are bound nowhere and carry no
cargo to any port. One of them, which
has a cargo of mahogany on board, and is
level with the water's ease, has been drift
ing about since March. 1801.
The perils of collision at sea have been
reduced since the steamship .companies
adopted what is known as the lane routes.
Now the route a steamer follows after
leaving New York is fifty miles away from
the route taken by steumers bound west.
One steamer, therefore, is little likely to
meet another and come into collision with
her. But these abandoned .hips, not being
under control, and carrying no lights, are a
continual source of danger. The Gulf
Stream carries them northward and then
eastward, and the captains of incoming
ships have warned the Government of
their whereabouts. One of thein has been
cut in two and the two halve, are drifting
in company.
There i. scarcely any peril of the sea
which is so terrible to the mariner. No
sound will reveal their nearness, no tem
perature of air or wave will make known
their approach. Though it carry no guns
a "derelict" is often a more deadly enemy
than a man-of-war.
The ship that steer, for no port can only
have one intluence, and that is to be a
stumbling block in the way to send other
ships to the bottom of the ocean. God
help us that not one of us may become a
spiritual "derelict." God pity that man
who has pushed God out of his life and
goes along in his journey to eternity, not
only having sorrow i t his own soul, but
.standing in the way cf the progress of otn
ers. Muilc From a Glasi Tuba.
It la well known that the song ot
a email bird can be Imitated to per
fection with a glass tube by rubbing
the outside of the tube with a small
piece ot soft cork. By using a glass
tube of Inch diameter and 24 inches
length and widening one end of It
over an alcohol frama to form the
mouthpiece, a musical instrument can
be created the sound ot which re
minds one of the powerful tone of a
trombone. For that purpose we roll
a sheet ol drawing paper around the
tube and close one end of it. Thle
double tube Is amply sufficient to
make a good trombone, the aonnd of
which Is very deep. By shoving the
paper tube ore.- the rjlaa. tube the
tone geta blgaer, and vice-versa. It
la not very hard to play on it. Every
amateur can become an artist after
a l'ttle practlco. i
Horaa Glvea Alarm of Fire.
A false alarm of fir waa caused In
Paris recently by a, borne kuocklng
his head against a street Ann alarm,
breaking the glass and ringing the
bell.
TDE SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments
November 9.
foi
Subject: Joshua's Partial Advice, Join. xxlv.
14-25 Golden Text, Join, xxlr., IS
Memory Verses, 14, IS Commen
tary eo the Day's Lesson.
14. "Xow therefore." In view of the
fact that Jehovah ha. brought you forth
with such a mighty hand. "Fear the
Lord." Reverence the Lord and walk
carefully before Him. Think of His majes
ty and respect Hi. authority, and remem
ber that His eye is ever upon you. Always
make Him the object of all your worship,
"fc-erve Him." Perform Hi. will; obey Hia
commandments. "In sincerity and in
truth." Without hypocrisy. The Latin
wdrd from which out "sincerity" comes
denote, "honey without wax," unmixed
purity. The Greek word is considered by
some to be founded on the idea of some
thing held up in the ray. of the sun, and
proved to be without .peck or flaw. "Put
away the gods." It would seem from these
words that there were some among them
who privately kept the image, or gods
which had belonged to their forefathers.
The god. which their forefathers wor
shiped were (1) the gods of the Chaldeans.
They worshiped lire, light and the sun, and
made god. to tlwm. (2) The image, wor
shiped by the Kgyptian. which were the
ape, serpents, vegetables, etc. The inhab
itants of Canaan also worshiped idols,
which would become a snare to Israel un
less they put away all heathen worship.
Joshua saw that they could not be sincere
in divine worship and use idols. "On the
other side of the Hood." "Hevond tho
river." K. V. That is, bevond the Ku
phratcs, in Mesopotamia and in Ur, whence
Abraham came.
15. "If it seem evil." If it seem unwisa
or inexpedient. "Choose you," etc. Like
Klijah on Carmel (1 Kings 18: 21). Joshua
calls upon the people to at once decide a.
to whom thev would serve. They hod been
harboring idols (v. 23) and worshiping
them in secret, while openly professing to
serve God. It was high time for this to
cease. The whole hope of the nation de
pended upon a whole-hearted service of Je
hovah. There was no good reason for
them to defer the matter a single moment.
"As for me and my house.". Joshua is out
spoken. His decision was made many
years before this, Ho also resolve, for hi.
family, hi. children and servants and such
as were under hi. care and in.luencc and
protection.
18. "The people answered." All the peo
ple "responded to his call by loud and
heartv declarations of their determined
faithfulness to their covenant with Jeho
vah." Whatever had been their sins they
were not ready to forsake the service of
God. They renly with firmness, leaving no
room for doubt. Joshua (li)t' everything
possible to confirm their decision and to
render it enduring. He caused them to re
peat it three times (vs. lfl. 21. 24) each
time in stronger terms and in clearer light.
Xor wns it in vain, for it lasted for a whole
generation, as long us the peop'e lived who
made this choice. V. 31; .Tud. 2: 7.
17. 18. "For the Lord our God." etc.
The people ground their promises of fidel
ity for the future on the dealings of God
with them in the past: 1. Their deliver
ance from Kgypt. 2. Tho great signs
wrought in that land. 3. Their preserva
tions in the wilderness. 4. The expulsion
of the Amorites. "Therefore will we also."
Joshua would not be permitted to stand
alone in hi. choice, for they were of the
same mind, and would claim the same God
with him.
19. "e cannot serve the Lord. lc
rinnot in your own strength, while still
clinging to your idolatry and with hearta
tiaregenerated. "An holy God." He i.
holy in His character, and will not allow
His people to be defiled by any unpuro
worship. "He is a jealous God." He is al
together unlike the gods of the nations
ar.ound, and if they would serve Him they
must make Him the highest object of their
luve and devotion. "Will not forgive your
.in.." Rather, will not pass by vour siuses
if taking no notice of them. He will not
tolerate sin. The explanation is that while
God is forgiving to the truly penitent, Ha
vigorously punishes all incorrigible sinners.
20. "Then He will turn." God is unal
terably fixed ill His attitude toward sin, to
ward the repentant sinner and toward the
righteous. He never change, but a. we
change He assumes different attitudes to
ward us, as we put ourselves in ilitlerent
relations to Him. See Jer. 18: 7-10. "Do
you hurt," etc. They could not deny God',
goodness to them, but He made a law and
if they transgressed the wrath of God
would certainly fall upon them. They
hxed their own punishment.
21. "We will serve the Lord." They un
derstood Joshua's meaning, and declare
they will not cause God to turn nnd do
them huft. Whatever He require, at their
hand thev pledge themselves to be obe
dient. They promise to put from among
tin-m anything that hinders God from hav
ing their best affections.
22. "Witnesses against yourselves."
They had decided and publicly promised
to obey, accepting the conditions of bless
ings for obedience and punishment for dis
obedience. Their conscience will be their
witness, judge and executioner. Another
witness was the written word (v. 'Jul. and
a third wis a great stone set up as a monu
ment (v. 'ii), winch would constantly re
mind them of their promise.
23. f'Put away," etc. Prove your inten
tions at once. Begin the wok of reforma
tion before your hearts burden against
your promise. l.et the heart incline to
ward God, and the acts of the life will har
monize with the divine will.
24. "Will we serve and obey." The
thought of prompt action did not change
them, but only settled their minds more
fully. The better they understood the
more determined ware they to obey.
!5. Joshua made a covenant. A cove
nant had been concluded by God on Sinni
with Israel and solemnly rntilied. Ux.ll:
20. 1 his covenant Closes had renewed m
the field of Mouh. Dent. 29: 1. Joshua
who had been present at the ratification
of both the previous covenants, renews it
now, and doubtless with august cercinonio.
RAM'S HORN BLASTS,
HE best self
help Is helping
others.
Altruism Is the
highest Individual-
mini win iii me
the back.
You ' cannot fat
ten your soul on
furniture.
Full gratitude Is
the spring of true
giving.
We live to die that we may die to
live. -
Love ia the evidence of God's life
in us.
The shield ot faith will not flo the
back.
The Infernal must fall before the
eternal.
The poor In goods are often rich In
grace.
God's work must be done In God's
way.
Eloquence is not of the lungs.
Wisdom seldom runs in a rut.
Man is ever greater than his tools.
The death ot self Is the life of the
soul.
True religion la duty linked to the
dlviua-
A Valuable Statue.
A wonderful etatue adorns a public
square in YoUnlioma, It Is a seated
Image of the pod IMabutgu, and Its
height ia 63V4 feet. The total weight
of this great statue Is 450 tons, 60A
pouuds ot w'ulch are pure gold.
Mr
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
November 9 "Qod'i Covenant and Our."
Ex. xiH. 3-8. Pledge Meeting.
Scripture Vorsps-Psa. I. 14; Ivl. 12;
lxvl. 13, 14; cxvl. 14; Kccles v. 4. 5;
Mai. ill. lo; Jonah II. 9; Jer. xxxv.
ti, 14; Un. 1. 8.
Lesson Thoughts.
No Christian Endeavorer can ever
keep the pledge In letter or In spirit,
who falls to ask and receive the a 11
which Christ pledge when, the mu
ttial agreement la signed.
The secret of power tn keeping the
pledge la the first clause:
"Truatlng la tho Jord Jesus ChrlHt
tor strength."
The spirit of a pledge, aa well as
the letter, acepts all reasonable ex
cuses for failure In any respect, but
admits of no careless neglect.
Selection..
On, watch and pray! for thou hast
foea to fight
Foes which, alone, thou canst not
overcome;
Watching and prayer will keep the
armor bright.
Soon will thy tolls be o'er, thy vic
tory won. Anon.
Among tho ancients It waa the
custom, when a contract of friend
ship was entered Into, for the two
parties to write their names upon a
small square piece of white marble
called the tessera, and then to divide
this in half, each taking the piece
containing the name of the other.
Thim each had with him a continual
reminder ot his promise of fidelity to
his friend, and of the promise of hia
friend to him. Our Christian En-,
deavor pledge Is a tessera: Christ
gives us the white stone with a new
name written on It (Rev. ii. 7), and
enrolls our name among his friends.
Here Is my vow; I wonder how it
came
To my poor heart to make It; 8ure
ly thou
My loving Father, must have sent
my vow
To woo my lips to mention thy dear
name;
So that, for thine own sake, my prom
ise mado
Thou holdest all things thou wilt
not deny
The grace I need In dally, large
supply,
To bring It to fulfillment; grant a
store
So measured to my increased faith
and love,
That in my vow I may thy fullness
prove.
You yourself could no more keep
that pledge than a waterwheel could
turn without the water power, or an
engine run without the steam power.
But trust In the Lord Jesus Christ
for strength, and then see how easy
everything will be.
Suggested Hymns.
I belong to Jesus.
Take mry life and let It be.
Search me, O Lord, and try this heart
of mine.
True-hearted, whole-hearted.
Standing by a p.urpose true.
When Jesus cornea to reward his servants.
EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
November 9 Ooa'i Covenant sod Ourt
Exod. 24, 3-8.
An unreasonable prejudice exists In
some places against the Epworth
League pledge. We And the feeling
grows out of two things: Some feel
that the pledge ot church membership
covers all the life, and that another
pledge is not required. Others see
some treat the pledge lightly and
break It so frequently that they hesi
tate to assume this obligation. Yet
it seems both scriptural and reason
able that a special vow be taken In
assuming the relations of a member in
the Epworth League. Not all vows
are pleasing to God. Slnrul and Im
possible or unreasonable pledges are
condemned. A religious vow taken
intelligently Is to be commended. A
vow is a solemn engagement or prom
ise to do what God has commanded,
or to abstain from what ho has for
bidden. God rejoices iu vows; they
are tokens of earnestness.
We ought never to lightly and
thoughtlessly enter Into covenants and
promises. Our Epworth League
pledge may be too often taken In a
careless way. The pledge should be
read, explained, and emphasized. Such
a covenant and pledge is made unto
God and not to man. No covenant
with God should be entered into In
a lisht, trivial, or frivolous spirit. Un
derstand just, what it implies, then
thoughtfully decide to do exactly what
It commends and retrain from what it
prohibits. Help should be sought
from Christ in order to keep the
pledge. Better than the old precept,
"Better not to pledge than to pledge
und not to perform," Is the true, prin
ciple nf covenants, "Pledge and keep
the pledge."
Each Epworth Leaguer who has
taken tho pledge should determine to
keep It. Moreover, ho should mako
It the prayer ot each day that ho
might perform It to the satisfaction
or God as well as man. God has made
his promises, and keeps them; we
should make ours and keep them aa
well, We Methodists believe in a
high standard of personal righteous
neEH. Entire consecration and por
fe t love are taught from our puplts
and In our standards o( doctrine.
Young MethodlKts should seek thlo
highest experience of New Testament
piety, and help others to attain to it.
And we should do this "earnestly."
not In a slipshod manner. Get In
earnest to be a godly, holy Christian.
We ought to see tho if asonablene.-is
of the requirement to attend the
I.eugue and the church. We ought
to recognl.e tho obligation to partici
pate In tho same. Our Leagues and
churches mnst insist upon universal
participation. Don't be a sponge, tak
ing in. but rather a fountain, giving
nut. Contribute to the Interest of
each service, and thus honor God and
keep your pledge.
S ii
Method of Inducing Sleep.
Dr. Stelner observed In Java a
method employed to Induce sleep. It
ccnslsts in compressing; the carotid
arteries. The operator sits oa the
ground behind the patient, whose
neck he selzea with both hands. The
Index and middle Angers are then
pushed forward Into the carotids,
which are compressed toward . the
aplne. The method Is absolutely
harmless, anaesthesia is rapidly ob
talcriU, and the patient wakes prompt,
ly, with no symptoms of aausea or
malaise.
; The Smalleit Village, "v
Probably the smallest village in the
United Kingdom la Bagley Wood,
about three and a half miles from
Abingdon. It was formerly the abode
of a hermit, and has only four inhabi
tants now. .. . .. . .
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE
READING FOR THE QUIET HOUR
WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF.
roemi The Bed-Time Prayer A Beareti
In Qnentlou-If Vf -f rnly Love Clirl.t
YV Shall B Willing to Follow Ml.
l'lan For nor Ifapplneo.
When oftly brooding dark come, down
And .tarry lamp, .bine overhead,
When over nil the rentlen. town
The peaceful wing of night i. spread,
Within the hnnxe. afc and warm
The little children climb the stair.
And folded safe from want and harm,
They kneel and .ay their bedtime preycr.
And when I've tucked them into bed,
And quiet fall within the room
Where all their .weet good-night, are eaid,
I nauae to pierce the outer gloom;
And from without a moan of pain
My spirit hear., a onward fare
The ragged host, with .oil and .tain.
Of those who know no bedtime prayer.
OU- Thou who here want .helterle...
Who had not where to lay Thine head,
On these, Thv children, look and ble.
And .end them love and daily bread!
Then when the night come, dark'ning
uonm
Fold all the lamb, in Thy .weet core;
And o'er each tattered cup and gown
.Breathe Thou for them a bedtime prayer.
Boston Congregationali.t.
A ftearchlng Question.
Suppose that you and I hod been gue.l.
that morning bci'le the .ea at brcakfa.t!
Think of yournelf a. coming there, even
a. I'eter and the other., from tome vain
attempt to wrest a little gain from thi. old
WQrld, and .o forget the time, we had de
nied our Lord and all the .adnea. that had
followed, ending in Hi. going away from
lis in the blacknen. of death. You remem
ber the denials, don't you? The time you
.at .o .till in prayer meeting during that
long pause when your pa.or asked if there
was not otne one there to tell what Christ
had been to him, while beside you sat that
friend who ha. never known your Lord?
And the day you listened to that jest
about religion and your Christ, and though
your heart burned with indignation youi
lip. wore a smile because you feared what
they might say, more than you loved your
Lord.
And that other time that weary week
when you cared for a sick one in your
own home and managed the household
and helped the children off to school, and
- might have had a chance to .how what
your Lord could be to you in such a trying
time, and did not when you did the duty
all with sighs, and met the little eager
faces of the children with harshness, and
spoke crossly to the ick one. Yes, you
know. You did not need any cock to crow
to remind you of your shame.
And then, you know, you thought Chri.t
w. dead to vou. His voice no longet
echoed along the corridors of your heart,
His face no longer reflected in yours.
Then, then you were like to go back to
your former day., to your fishing, or youi
sewing, or any of the employment, in
which you were used to' absorb your soul
before Christ called you into His marvel
ous light, and plunge your despairing soul
into fierce work once more nnd forget.
But you found it all useles.. Though vou
toiled all night you caught nothing. Your
planning all went amiss until your Master
called to you, and suddenly yon saw Him
on the shore there preparing comfort for
you, and knew there was forgiveness for
you in Hi. voice. And there, sitting be
side the sea, in the white sand, yon and I,
with Peter and the rest, we feel the Mas
ter's loving gaze, searching deen into our
hearts, and know that for each time we
have denied He is giving us opportunity to
confess. "Dear child," He says, "do you,
after all, yet love Me more than all these
things out nf which I have called you?
More than the care, of this life, the work
ing for money and social position?" And
what would you answer? For upon your
answer hangs vour commission.
And again the second time lie .ays unto
you, "Child, do you love Me? Are you
sure? More than your foolish fear, and
shrinkings?" And what would you an
swer? And yet again will He search you. for
Bis heart is yearning for your love. It i
love He wants. It is love must be your
creed. "Child, do vou love me? Think!
Are vou sure?" Ah. can you truthfully
sav. "Thou knowest that I love Thee?"
How Jesus must have loved Feter as nc
watched him throw himself into the sea.
Hi. heart vearning over him when He saw
him gird his fisher', garment about him
with the strong free motion of the young
man, and knew that in a few year, more
that some discinle would be girded with n
rope and led forth to martyrdom! And
yet He needs must rebuke impulsive Peter
more.
As much do sometiife. need that
.harp rebuke. "What is that to thpe?
Follow thou M." If we trulv love Him
we shall be willing to follow Hi. plan for
us, no matter how eas- a life may be in
.tore for others. New York Mail and Ex-
Ktlng While at Work.
Tt is positively true that even the bnsv
heart, in its constant sending of the lifo
blood from the central fountain to the ex
tremities for the siiatuining of existence,
finds lime to rest, moment by moment, be
tween it. untiring and ceaseless heart
beats. Hence rest i. a duty even in busiest
hours and matters. At the same time, to
a buy mind and heart rest is not ceasing
to love, or to learn, or to feel, or to think.
"Rest is not quitting
1 The busy career.
Rest is the fitting
Of self to its sphere."
7t is a great lesson, that of learning how
to bo always resting while always at work.
J here is no other mode of true rest. He
who does not know how to rest doe. not
know how to work.
Though We Llva Lone.
If we can only como back to nature to
gether every year, and consider the Dow
ers and the birds, and confess our fault,
and pur mistakes under the silent stars,
and hear the river murmuring iu absolu
tion, we shall die young, even though we
live long; und we .hall have a treasure of
memories which will be like the twin
flower, a doublo blossom on u single
stem, und carry with us into the unseen
world something which will make it worth
while to be immortal. Henry van I)j ke.
Falthrulne...
Faithfulness is the explanation of many
a successful career. Opportunity, ability
and the friendly assistance that may be
given all tend to further one's effort.! but
the persistent, undaunted faithfulness to
luhor in hand, in tho very face of opposi
tion and hindrance and obstacles, is that
which conquers. The character that is de
veloped by devotion to duty in life', small,
est undertakings, is being equipped for glo
rious achievements. Therein is found the
secret of .uccess. Presbyterian.
A Family AITecUon.
Christianity is a family affection. Even
the fatherhood of God would be robbed of
much of its churm if it did not lead to a
better appreciation of the brotherhood of
man. He who think, of himself in isola
tioji, here or hereafter, ha. missed the true
meaning of the Christian life. He wha
finds no pleasure in the company of those
who are led by the Spirit of God ha. lost
an element of priceless value from the per.
fectiug of hi. character. Coiigregationalist.
When a fellow has a hole in one oi t v
hoe. he can generally be depended upon
to put hi. best foot forward,
Power From Artesian Well.
St. Augustine, Fla., baa an oddity
in the way of Industrial machinery in
the shape of a water-power wheel
driven by an artesian well, the only
wheel ot the kind in America. It sup
plies power to a woodworking shop.
The wheel Is 16 feet in diameter, the
well 0V4 Inches and 240 feet deep.
Since the well does not supply rower
enough, however, a eecoud well has
been driven near by to ro-enforce th
present one. The uew well ia eight
Inches in diameter.
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
General Trade Condition!.
R. G. Dun & Co.' "Weekly Review
of Trade" says: No better evidence ol
industrial and commercial activity i
needed than present inadequate trans
porting facilities. Every form of rail
way equipment from track to rolling
stock has been increased and perfected
duJg the past few years to an extent
that appeared almost excessive, yet the
nation's business has more than kept
pace.
Unseasonably mild weather has re
tarded retail trade at many points, yet
the movement of goods is fully sus
tained by undiminished preparations
tor future sales. Distribution delayed
by high temperature is not lost, while
the agricultural community will profit
rery materially by the tardiness of
Irost, increasing their ability to con
lume the products , of factories and
mills.
Labor is more fully employed than at
iny recent date, only a few small con
'.rotersics interrupting. Money market
pressure h.is been removed, and, al
though securities do not respond, 'lc
gitimade trade is not retarded by quiet
(peculation. Earnings of the railways
during October thus far exceed last
year's by 4.5 per cent, and those of
1900 by 12.D per cent.
Coke is still the vital factor in th
iron and steel situation. Not only has
no improvement occurred but the iup
ply of fuel is falling further behind, and
the outlook is alarming.
No improvement appears in the de
mand for men's wear, woolen or wor
Ucd fabrics, new orders being fot
imall quantities only and not stigges
tjve of a genuine supplementary de
mand for spring weights. Although the
movement of sample pieces from firsl
hands is on a liberal scale, there are
till numerous complaints of late de
livery. Silk goods are firm, with a
icarcity in many descriptions. Dcliv
tries of footwear on old orders are
rery heavy and New England producers
ire receiving fair contracts for staple
lines running into next March.
Failures for the week numbered 232
!n the United States, against 240 last
ear, and 22 in Canada, compared with
9-
LATEST QUOTATIONS.
Flour Spring clear, $3.10a3.30; best
Patent, f4.50; choice Family, $3.75.
Wheat New York No. 2. "8Xc;
Philadelphia No 2, 73Ka"fc; Baltimore
No 2, 72o.
Corn New York No. 2, C7c;.Phila
Jolphia No. 2. ti9a69); Baltimore No. 2,
49c.
Oats New York No. 2. 34?'o; Phila
delphia No. 2, 33c, Baltimore No 2,
860.
Hay No. 1 timothy, iM7.00al7.50;
No. 2 timothy. flb00aiG.50; No. 3 tim
othy$15.00al5.50 Green Fruits and Vegetables Apples
porbrl, fancy $1 502 50; fair to good
per brl, 1 2acsf 1 75; Boots, native, per
bunch lc3 ljc; Cabbages, native, flat
'dutch, per 100, 75c tl 25; Celery, per
doz. 25c 40c; Eggplants, native, pel
100, $1 00-31 25; Grapes, basket, 10al2c
Lettuce, native, per bu box, 25ca:)5o.
Lima beans, native, per bu box, 803
90o; Onions, Marylnnd nnd Pennsylva
nia yellow, por bu, 70o75c; Pumpkins,
native, each, 4cajc; Squash, Anne
Aruudol, per basket, 10c15c; String
beans, native, per bu, green, 25c30c;
Tomatoes, Potomac, per peach basket,
20c225o, Rappahannock, bnr bu box,
60c555c;
Potatoes, White, per bu C0a65e; llnry.
land and Pennsylvania, per bu ti0u65c;
New York, per bu 50u53; sweets, per
brl 1 25atl 50.
Butter, Separator, 26a27o; Gathered
cronm, 24n25e: prints, 1-lb 27u28o; Bolls,
2-lb, 2a27; Dairy pts. Md., Pa., Va.,
25u2Gc.
Eggs, Fresh-laid eggs, per dozon,
23a24o
Cheese, Large, GO-lb, 12,Val2!o; ma
dium. 3C-lb, WUUHi pionios, 23 lb
13al3,Vo.
Live Poultry, Hens, llKal2o; old
roosters, each 25a!)0o; spring jliickens,
llal2o, young stags, llallJiio. Tur
keys, lOalOKo. Ducks, UaUoii.
Hides, Heavy steers, association and
alter., late kill, 60-lb. and up, close se
lection, 12Xal3Kc; cows and light steer.
9alO40. .
Provisions and Hog Products. Bulk
clear rib sides, 12o; bulk shoulders,
12'c; bulk bellies, 13c; bulk ham butts,
10o; bacon clear rib sides, 13o; baoon
shoulders, 12c; sugar-cured breasts,
15Wo; augur-cured shoulders, 12c;
sugar-cured California hams, 10c;
hams canvased or unennvasad, 12 lb.,
und over, 14c; refined lard tierces, brl.
and 50 lb cans, gross, HHc; refined lard,
socond-hand tubs, ll.Vo; refined lard,
half-barrels and now tubs, llH'o.
Live Stock.
Chicago, Cattle, Mostly 10al5o lower,
good to prime steers $7 25aS 00; medium
3 75u6 90; stockera and feeders $2 23
n4 25; cows, fl 40a4 50; hoifors $2 00a
5 00; Texas-fed steers $3 00u4 25. Hogs,
Mixed and butohers fij G5a7 10; good t
choice, heavy $6 90a7 25; Sheep, sheep
and Iambs slow to lower; good to cboioc
whether. $3 50u4 00; Western sheop
3 50u5 50.
East Liborty, Cattle steady; choice
$" B0a7 00; prime $1 15uti 7i. Hogs,
prime heavy 7 25a7 35, mediums $7 10;
heavy Vorkor. 7 00a7 05. Sheep steady,
Bust wnthi.rs 3 K()a3 80 culls and coin
mou 1 50a2 00; choice lumb. 5 35u5 50
LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Retail clerks at Oakland, Cal., havi
organized.
Stationary engineers at Everetl
Wash., have formed a union.
Raisin pickers at Fresno, Cal., struc!
mil received higher wages.
Telegraphers at Milwaukee, Wis
oined the Federated Trades Council.
Sk-iking molders at St. Catherine
Out., have received concessions am
have retimed to work.
New Haven (Conn.) tinners hav
won -'.ieir strike, which included recojj
nition of the union.
State Labor Commissioner Williar
Blackburn, of Washington, vvill rigid!
tnforce the female labor law of tha
State forbidding the employment e
women over 10 hours a day.
Prolonged idleness among Indian
tiuplate workers has been productiv
of the formation of a co-operative com
pany by tinworkcrs at Gas City wh
will locate a plant near Los Angclei
Cal.
r.tris (France) police have .issued a
order that 110 boy under 14 employe
in cither a factory or workshop is t
be allowed to carry a weight i f ove
31 pounds.
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Drink anil I.nbor-Th. Chief Cure T
Warhlnsmen I. the Liquor TrsM
It Take. From Them Enon.h to Lire
Them from Poverty to Comfort.
It i. wall to impress upon the minds ol
working men just what the liquor businear
mean, to that portion of our population
whom we call waee earners." We have
little sympathy with those theorist who.
believe the golden age is to be ushered is
by the abolition of labor. Labor i. not
curse upon man, but the power to l.hof
i. rather hi. .uprement blessing. The
curse come, when lie must labor under un
just condition, for inadequate compensa
tion, when he spends the fruit of hi. toil
for "that which satisfieth not," and wheel
the chief curse of our modern system
he must constantly labor under the opprem
ing fear that to-morrow" he may bar n
chance to labor.
The foremost factor in the production t
these condition, i. the liquor traffic. Tbere
i. little that i. new upon that subject, but
the fact, are pertinent and are well worth
reciting.
, The liquor traffic h. debauchel our pol
itic, until just legislation i. a practical im
possibility. The liquor traffic has created an under
consumption of the necessities of life that
reduces the demand for the product, ol
labor far below the legitimate normal stan
dard, and cause, the country to be flooded
with nien who can find nothing profitable
to do and therefore must, of necessity, .ell
their strength for any pittance offered, for
toe "ae of escaping immediate starvation.
, The liquor traffic take, from the work
ing man by no mean, all of the great tax
it levies upon the American public, but it
takes from working men enough money to
lift almost the whole class if we mav us
such a term without implying an odious
distinction from poverty to comfort. '
The liquor traffic by diverting a billion
and a quarter dollar, from the channel, of
legitimate trade closes the door of oppor
tunity upon fully a million and a half men,
who would find lucrative employment in
the production of the good, or the produc
tion of the raw material to manufacture
the good, that would be required in store
and market if the gin mill were out of tbn
way and the people had a chance to spend
their money for the real necessities and
the real luxuries of life.
It i. altogether possible that the aboli
tion of the liauor traffic would not settle
every nhase of the Inbor question, but it
would be .0 long a .tride toward settlement
and the condition that would exist would
be .0 infinitely superior to that which
exist, now, that were the saloon, .wept
out of existence to-morrow the "cause of
labor" would have advanced at least a cen
tury in the .ingle tep. The New Voice.
The Drink Demon.
The-Concord (N. H.) Daily Patriot, un
der the editorial headline "Killed Hi. Two
Unhies," speak, as follows:
No man ha. a right to get drunk and no
man who i. at all likely to get drunk ha.
any right to drink whisky, and .ill men
who drink whisky are more than likely to
at some time get drunk.
Hence no man ha. any right to drink
whjsky.
Vou may he able to nick flnws in the phi
losophy of the above, but if you are a man
who loves your home nnd those dependent
upon you. and if you have regnrd for the
things that enter into the make-up of good
and true men. you cannot well afford to
juarrel with the sentiment.
No man is bettered by liquor and nearly
all men are made worse.
A few evenings since a man named Fred
erick Dietscher. a driver for the Health
Department in New York City, got drunk,
and in his maddened and drunken condi
tion went lo his home.
His wife, with a tender word of greeting,
went to the door to bid him welcome when
he dealt her several vicious blow, on the
face and she sought safety by hurrying ta
her room and locking herself in.
Hi. little five-year-old daughter clung t
hi. knee, and cried, "Don't kill mamma,
pona."
He told her to go and get her brother, a
little lad of six. and when they returned
le took out a revolver and killed them both
ind then killed himself.
Telling the story of the great nnd ad
vime, the wife and mother said that up to
Ihat night he had always been kind, and
she did not know what could have caused
him to commit the awful deed save that he
wns drunk.
Tho Patriot i. not in the moralizing
business, and it has no idea of starting no
1 .chool for the reclamation of the tippler,
but if it can say a word now and then that
will tend to check the downward march of
ii fellow citizen it will not halt in the pro
iceding. Trench Law. Against Drunkenness.
Sitting the other day in a French c.fe I
noticed a placard legibly displayed headed,
"Law for the repression of public drunk
tnnesa, and for combating the progres. of,
alcoholism." I procured a copy of the"
placard and found therein certain points
of interest from the social science stand
point. The law is an old one. It i. dated
1872-1873, and has appended the name, of
lules Grevy, A. Thiers and E. de Goulard.
It provide, for the infliction of a five
franc fine on those who are found drunk
In public place.. If a second offense be
committed within a year of tho first con
viction imprisonment for a period varying
from six day. to a month may be inflicted,
with a tine of from sixteen franc, to 300
francea. Sundry penalties ..so follow con
viction at the ponce court of person, who
h.ve twice been found guilty of drunken
tie... They are deprived of the power
Df voting, cannot serve a. jurors or hold
fiublic office and are otherwise degraded
rom public service. Drunk people are not
allowed to be served under pa.n of fine,
and to persons under the age of sixteen
rears alcoholio liquor, must not be served.
The placard in question by law must be
exhibited at the municipal office., cafe, and
other place, where liquor, are consumed.
Londcu Chronicle.
Striking Street Car Cards.
The Methodist Ministerial Association of
yVillinmsport, IV, ha. posted cards bear
ing Scripture text, on the liquor question
in the .treet ear. of that city. In one of
the car., fitted in between two hotel ad
vertisements, i. a card bearing the words,
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,
and whosoever is deceived thereby ia not
wiao." In the same care are the advertise-'
nient. of three hotel, and three kiuds of
beer and whisky, with another kind of beer
advertised outside. In another car are tha
words, "Wine at lsst it biteth like a ser
pent and atingeth like an adder." In this
car were the advertisements of five hotel,
and brands of whisky and beer. In still
another was the warning, "Woe unto him
that giveth hia neighbor drink, that put
test tho bottle to him. and mnketli him
drunk ulso." In this car were live adver
tisements of the drink referred to.
Crime Dne to Drink.
When sentencing a person convicted of
selling liquor without a license,. Judge
Quinn, of the Seventeenth .Judicial Dis
trict (Faribault, Martin and Jackson coun
ties), of Minnesota, recently said tlint ninety-seven
per cent, of crime wu due, di
rectly, to drink. The statement being
challenged in private, the investigator waa
referred to the court records, aud it was
found that of the persons sentenced by
Judge Quinn during the live years of hi.
ervice a. Judge of this district there ia
but a .ingle exception to the rule stated hy
him, Kvery case ran be attributed to tho
use of intoxicating liquor, with the one ex
ception, but even in thi. caoe the boy's
father was an habitual drinker of liquor.
riaclug the Keapenkiblllty.
' 'A decision of the United sState. Court
of Appeal, recently .itting at tit. Ijouis has
created great consternulion among saloon
keepers, nnd they are asking, "What
next?" The decision of that court is tn
the effect that a saloonkeeper ninv lie held
responsible for the druth of a patron of
his place in the event that death uci-ttr
from an accident resulting from the ine
briated con'liiion of the patron.
The thirty-second nnn11.1l convention of
the Oatliolio Totul Abstinent L'mon ol
America met recently in Ptibuq.ie, Iowa.
Tho reports state ihut Die t'uiuii uotv cm-biiU'i-H
tKU societies, wi'h a mcmbi-rsiiip f
tM.llO, an increase during the - tt t'
of wore thau 10,000 lu-.'iubcra.