"SECRETOFHISPKESENCE" Sunday Discourse by Rev. Dr. J. Wllbui Chapman. (attrnttlv Meitife Suiicsted by One ol th Most Beaullfnl Expressions la (he Bible. A'fiw 0iiK Cm.--Iho distinguished vangelit, I lie Kcv. ih: J. AVillmi- Cliap man has never delivered u more eloquent and convincing message than in contained in the following sermon, entitled, "The Secret o( Ilia l'l-csi-nee.'' It was preached from the text: "Ho that dwellcth in tltn secret place of the Most High ohnll abide under the shadow ot tin; Almighty." IVnlm x.ii.: I. To mo thin in one of the raott beautiful expansions in nil the Bible; beautiful he rn two it is poetic, tint more than that ioi the reason that it holds up before in one of the ere test privileges that can eomf to the children of God. There is n difference nf opinion as tc who the author of the I'sahns may be. We net into the wav of thinking that David wrote everything in the Psalter, but Moses is the author bore. The Tal mud nvribes not only thin one to him but the nine preceding an well. The rule i that all the I'salin without a name in tho title are to be' ascribed to the poet hoe mime in given in the nearest preced ing title, but thin rule will not ulwayii hob) rcood. This is the Psalm quoted by tin devil when he was tempting Christ upon the mountain, and it has ever been throb hinn with comfort for every troubled vwl. Whoever wrote it. it is beautiful, mid all will ogrro that tho lesson taught is one touching our communion with God and our fellowship with .Tonus Christ. It is very true that all Christians do net occuov the Mine, position in this world. All ore saved, and it is bv the Mine "precious blood of Christ." " But there is no much mom to the Christian life than simply beine saved: that it m'y the beginning. The blessings he offered ate given in a very general way. jori is no respecter of persons, and so it i is if He had said, any one who will fulfill "he conditions nmy liiive.the blessing; ami is there is only the one condition, namely, ;hal we rlinll d-voll in the "secret place if the Most High." you would think that ill would accept, for the promise is that ive "shall abide under the shadow of thf Almighty." The blessing here promised ire not for rl! believers, but only foi Hioe who live in close fellowship with Hod. Kvery child of (!od looks toward the inner sanctuary and the mercy seat. iui all do not dwell there. They run to it "f times, and enjoy occasional glimpse ( the fHce of Him who is there to lw seen: but thev do not continually .ibid n the mvsleriou presence, and this i. possible for every one. It is with the desire that T might Ion the ksinn mvsclf as well as bring it ft vou. and with the almost uiiutterabV 'onging that we mig' know how to abid' in the "secret of Mis p-esence" that I have brought you the subiect. May the f ord help ns every one! I have been or the mountain tops of Christian expri "ce. when I have seemed to see the far nf Him who loved uie and gave Himselt for me, and X nin sure that vnu can sav I he same; but the text says that we ma abide there in our thoughts while we may lie all the time in the very thickest of the Gght. for God. 1 like the verse. Kvery word is welet than honey in the honeycomb. It is so restful to know that there is any -ilaco in the world where we limy abide." Thert is also something very winning to me in the fact that it is a secret place, for that nircly means that Oo.l has something that is iust intended for me. and for me alone. When I an there, I am awuy from th norld. It is the place Mrs. Brown dis covered when she wrote the beanlif-' liymn. "I We in solitude to shed The penitential tear: A"d all His promises to plead When none but (iod can hear." . There is something nbout the word 'shadow" that always interests, tor there never has been n shadow without the lishl; thus the "secret, place" must be a place of brightness. It is a place where Hod is, for the nearest ot all things, to in is I journey in the. sunlight is my shadow, and he who wulks in 'my shadow or rests in it must be very near to me; so thai when I am in the shadow oi Cod. I can reach forth my hand and touch Him; I ?an lift up mine eye und sec Him face to face. 1 know there is a sense in which 'iod is always near us. He is in all things, d He in everywhere. But theru is some thing about the "secret of His presence" to which every one is a stranger until he has dwelt there. . In the 119th Pnalm the psalmist seem in the first part to be writing of the presence of Cod in u general sort of way. As another has said. "He had been beat ing out the golden ore of thought through mcceesive paragraphs ot marvelous power and beauty, when suddenly in tho fifty Krst verse he seems to have become eon scions thnt He of whom he had been "peakng had drawn near and was bending over him. The sense of the jiregeuce ot God wag borne in upon his inner con sciousness, and lifting up a face on which reverence and ecstacy met and mingled, no cried: 'Thou art near, 0 Lord!' 'r II we could only attain unto this how strong, how happy, how useful wc should be. It i possible as well for those of us who art in the very -midst of perplexing cares ai for the priest or tlie saint; for since the Master bids us all to abide in Him, and does not limit either His nicauing or the number of people who inav obey, I niu absolutely certain that it rests, with nit i ii w'titl -vou determine whether we "all take advantage of our high privil ege. t . riic typical reference must be to tin Holy place of the tabernacle, which the priests were privileged to enter; but Petei awurcs j, that we have become in thii uevr dispensation "a holy priesthood," thut it is possible for us to enter ou that ground. If this interpretation is al i r i' i " ""'"''thing, too" won- neriul almost to describe, tu which we are bidden, for in tho tabernacle just be n.i veil WU8 tl,u Klorv cloud, and "i the magnificence that could be wrought t?; i " 'lve,' IX"'I and-line linen. . .i Persuaded that even that win !...? ""R when compared to that which avvaits u when we enter the secret place L ; writel" i( fe Hebrews tell) 5 J')"' "ow wo may unter. "Having, tl k r' ur1c""n, boldness to enter into ' "e!?lei' hy the 1,100(1 ol J""". bv nftJAt llV'" Wtt' wlli-'1' ilt ltl to mv ir "'i'oj'Kl' "'0 veil, that ii when5',. H,s, "n. ' easy it nil seemi C rhtian i'"" n at St tbi" '' A text i L 11 a 1 w,ru" eeording to thf low n . .if ith".,k" 1111 tlle li'e hero bo an al,; i'e turi,,,il ftn1 '" 'fe. ther mdistu? 'nK even.l'. weet of tho comu"n'on even in tho midsl C ' dwelling place is i "e mav run ftemDlaiy nhelter to wl.i. k Wi'd L t fK mo'n''try relief, as tin in the mi,l.V J'i? b?l'' f. tl- tree, aRin when ,1. "loVu alld tu"u tr&yt idea o i f t0Im J.'"" l""wed- ' restful J?i lmme- Whot can be mow ine ex. xn e..i, V.Va'l c? h Hebrew foi the 7,1 oh"10" 'lerful tlii,,,. ' Vr . 11 10t won- have e(.,,,7i . al l"a experiences thai n beforb l, t l'e Ul;ven b0 tle shadow. -Ve en " "eeting al with u, T all Tn 11,9 hillsiile, mav Ik 'etful a. i0 ie What place is ac et thai KLtT 1 U,"ow tiwn U ' tpU the iirH to.,""e the moment he ,.,V0'" unto Mo ami i !! ,lu on;; nroi,ii. ""! lu.td. uu no never nai P:eioJ , i. lm.".,c!"itely following that ex. eioB i. "m,.,e'n,ly following that ex. u. and u "i .'lake My yoke upon w'y iu h.r? of i"' I m meek lui W rl.'!ilt' aui ye ahull find rest unto you lowl your i d never n? e.mii,lt 'u'e tlie formej rest th. 6 to tlle lttU'jr- J nt t1'"1 ner enouih iC0,,m'" to ' whe, wo ''4 only aiiotllV" wav -" (! Hi'"' .wticl!, " cret plauey" ' 01 "PfK'ug of tho "se liome?' VtL ' ,0 comfortable v tin "oyances !If Vvo aie free from the an t"t which Ltl,e ftorld: tn"e wo have ''""Id thera I " t0 ",tl,,, to umt """ the L i nytumg mora expressive vw o i! ,iml f',rU' ttc with lV ?' 1a,,n'- "Htf hM c """-Ib.fet ,'tt would be aj- TVTost ft sncrnege toe one to use me worn if they were not in tlm Bible: but it. ii the picture of the mother bird shieldinp the little ones. What n warm, so cow fortahlc. as the mother's wings, or the nest that love has miub ? But lilen tr this: if you will only dwell in the "secret place," you shall abide under the shndem of the Almignty; and as if that would not be tender enough to woo us, we nre tn!ri ngain, "He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings thou shall trust." Home is the place for explanations. The'-e we te'l our secret". If t'-o pen, of tho world do not tini'sluml u, mil loved ones in our homes do. If. It would be imnossible for one to read the verses immediately following the text without, being impressed with the fact thnt the most, remarkable results will follow our abiding and dwelling in the "secret place." In order that the subject may be the more practical and helpful I desire to sug gest iome things which will eurely be our when we fulfill the conditions. 1. Tn the "secret place" there is peace. "In the world ye shall have tribulation." pur Master said, "but in Mo ye shall have peace." I have rend that a certain Insect has the power to surround itscll with a film of nir, encompassed in which it drone into the midst of muddy, stag nant pools, and remains unhurt. And the believer may be thus surrounded bv the atmosphere of Clod, and while he is in tbr midst of the turmoils of the world he may be filled to overflowing with the peace of Ood, because Cod is with him. This is true whntever your neoiipntion, if it is ever so menial. The Ttev. V. It. Meyer tells us of Lawrence, the simple minded cook, who said that "for more than sixty years he nover lost the sense of the presence of God. but was ns conscious nf it while performing the duties of his humble oflicc ns when partaking of the Third's Riipier." What peace he must hav had! If you are eonstanllv eng.i"ed o that vou have said it was impossible for you to enjov your religion very much bccn"e you were so busy, still you mav have this peace, because you nre in the "secret place." I know that it is imnossible for one to keen two thought in the mind at he name time and do them holh justioc: but there is the heart n well as the mind, and while the mind is busv the heart may be rejoicing in all the fullness of Cod. The orator is conscious of tho nresence nf bis nudience, and bis heart l". tn'licd by their appreciation whl'c his mind is busy in presenting the thouehts tint move them. Vou may have all your mind taken nn with the book vou are reading or studying, but vnnr heart is conscious of the presence of the n-ie you love and who sits by your side. The mother mac be very busy in one pari of the house: her mind may bo great'v engnpvl. but hor heart i conscious of tho fi'ol th;"t her litt'e bnbe is in another lart of the house, and the least crv will draw her to the child. So the mind may be occupied to the vry fullest extent, and even b disturbed by the things about us. while the heart, mnv be abiding in sweet communion and fellowship with Hon be cause we are dwelling in the "secret place." Those wove comforting words of the Master's when He said. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you, not ns the world givcth. give I unto you Tjct not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." So that I mav have peace even when trial comes. David found this to be true, for in that beautiful Psalm, the 27th. ho says: 'fn the time of trouble He will bide me in His pavilion; in the secret, of His tabernacle will He hide me." The pavilion wag a great tent in the vcrr centre of the camp, and when he was there nothing could harm him: he could be nt pence even if he should hear the sounds of his enemies. Hut the expression is even stronger than that, lor David say that if it were necessary God would even put bim in the "secret nf His tabernacle;" that is the snmn ns the Holy of Holies: and who would not hare been safe there? Here is our "secret ldaec" ngain, and this is just where God lias given us the privilege of going. W hy should we bo disturbed if troubles are about us and our enemies rise up to do us harm? 2. In the "secret place" there is purity. If our surroundings were only better in this world, our Uvea would be purer. It is very easy to be good in the company of some people wc know; they seem to draw out all the good in us. To be surrounded by certain kinds of scenery is to be lifted near Heaven; to touch a little child pure as the angels of God is to receive a bene diction. What could not the presence of God do for us if only we were all the time conscious of it? This is just what 1 may have, did I but dwell in the "secret place." Ono of the reasons which David gives for de-siring to dwell in the house of the J.rd was that "he might behold the beauty of the Lord." I wish that it might be possible for mc to make plain to you ns I might un derstand it myself all the beauty that, .wait tia in the "secret place." Think of the gorgeousnesg of the Holy of Holies in the ancient tabernacle, which is a type of this! The wonderful curtains and hanging of the place, it blue and purple, it fine twined linen and threads nf gold. Think of the beautiful veil with the cherubim, with the embroidery so fine that angel linger miut havu wrought them, tho table of pure gold holding the bread, and the seven-branched candle stick? Who from the outside looking upon the badger-skin tent would' have imagined how glorious it was within? 8o I do not .think it would be possible to make plain to you all that awaits yon in the "secret place." He who ha dwelt there with God could not tell his joy if he had an angel t speech; but this I know, that if you will but enter in and dwell there, the very beauty of the place will make you pure, and you remember that it i only unto "the pure in heart" that the vision of God is promised. I suppose v.- might have been with Jacob when in his dream he saw the heavens opened and beheld the angels going up and coming down and heard the voice of God, and we only should have seen the dreary mountains round about. I doubt not by that we might have been with Paul when he was caught up tc the third heaven, and we should have seen nothing but the humble surroundings of hi tent. And I doubt not but that if Paul were here to-day he would sec God here this morning, and he would 'have walked on tho street with Him ; yesterday. Is not the trouble with ourselves instead of our surroundings or our times? Kvery permitted niu encrusts , the windows of the soul and blinds our ;vision: and every victory over' evil-clears the vision of the soul, and we can sec Him a little plainer. The unholy man could not see God if he were act down in tho midst of Heaven; but men and women whoso heart nre pure see Him in the. very commonest walks of life. And there is not a place in the world if 't is right that we should have been there, but after we have passed by we may say, "Behold, God was in this place, and I knew it not." And it we can nov :y it il '.r wrong for us to go, 3. I.i the "secret iuit" thero is power. Ohi that we might all of is possess real power! This is our cry b day and by night, and yet there is not. 'lug we mav have easier. There is no roinise with whit-It I am familiar that His us that we may have power of in.ellect or of human might. But there is promise that we shall have power after that the Holy Ghost shall come upon us apd in the olden times Hu literally filled to overflow ing the Holy of Holies, so that ut one time it wa almost impossible for one to enter. This will come to us likewise when we dwell in the "secret place." In 1. Chronicle we read, in tho fourth chapter and twenty-third verse, of certain men who "dwelt with the king for his work," There can be no effective service that is not the outcome of communion. Our Lord's day precede the week of work, nnd this is always the plan of (iod. That wonderful fifteenth chapter of John is founded on that idea. We must abide first, and after (hut we can not help but bear fruit. Oh I that we might be so near to Him that we should be magnet i7d and changed with a spiritual force that the world could neither gainsay nor resist! III. I have left to the very last the most practical, question of all, and that is: How may I enter into this "secret place Y" Cannot something bo aaid that will tnnke the way plain? It mav all bo summed up lit this uusivcr. oue can,., "iiuuw . the Father but the Nn. ann nr j truum the Son will reveal Him." It i Impos sible or any one to enter into the "secret piece" of the Most High except through .lesus Christ. He said. "I am the way, I nm tho door, ny Mc, if any man will, he shall enter in." It i just what Paul meant when be said. 'But now in Christ .loan ve who some times were afar off arc mode nigh by the blood of Christ." There are some places in the Itible where the way seems plain. "He that, eatetli My flesh and drinketh Mv blood dwellcth in Me, and I in bim." And whatever else is meant by this feeding on Christ, this certainly is true we are to set apart daily periods of time when we may have communion with the Sa viour. Is it. not, because we are too hurried that our vision of Chrint is blurred nnd indistinct? It is only when the water is still that yon can sec the pebbly bench bc'ow. You cmild not yn alone with Christ half an hour each dav, or even less time, and sitting still, look tip into His face, by faith talk tn Him and let Him talk to yon. without feeling thnt for a little part of the day you had been in heaven, when in fact it was onlv the "secret place" of the Most High. Christ would be in yon nnd yon would be in Christ, even ns in the southern sea the snongc may bo seen bcneni'i the wnves, the sponge in the sea and the sea in the spnnw. Then we could sav with Paul: "I live, and "ct pot I, but Chrit livoth in me" Again I have read in tlie Bible these words: "He that koopth His com mandments dwelleth in Hi'ii. and He in him." And I have found that. I have only lo go th" way I think Christ wants mc to go and to do the thines I think He wants me to do to bo ah to stand on the very mountain top of Chrisfinn ex perience: and that is onlv nnoth"r -hv of snonking of the "secret plnco." You eouhl not go where f'hrist lios bidden ynn without piocting Him, and vou could not moot Him without a blessing coming with tho meet ins. After ntj this bos boon known, t linve been told that the vision still tarries. Sometimes that is to try our fai'h: but Ho will come if you wait, for He has promised. If. however, af'er long waiting till He should tarry, take up this old P-ook, turn its pagrs with a prnver that lint might open vonr e'-es so that vou might sec Him. This is the oarden whore Ho walks; press on. yon will meet Him frtoe to face. This is the temple where He dwxl.ls; stand l.-nooking nt the door, even while yni wait it rny swing noise losRly on its Inngos. and He w-ll lead you Himself into the "secret place." TTnw n Business Man Was 8svl. An ii'"i-lcnt is r-Wed which occurred during Mr. Finpev's meetings in New York City nnd which well illustrates the alue of a 1'tt.lc .act in the ereat siroglo for souls. The b'g cutler'- (inn of Shef "1d. K""'and. had a branch house in Now York. The manage" was a partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who ha'' been converted in the r'ootings, Invited his employer to attend. One eve ning he was there, nnd s't. just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He sn owed ntfected during the nrmon. nnd Mr. Tappan kent his eve on him. After the dismissal. Mr Tanonn sf'-pod fiickb across the aisle, introduced Irmseli, nnd livited bim to stav to the .ifter-sorvice. The gentleman tried to excuse himself and got nwav, but Mr. Tappan cmi'lir hold of the button nn his coaf and (aid, "Nov. do stay; I know you will enjoy it;" and he wai so kind and gentlemanly tlmt the cur lew man could not well refuse. He stayed, nnd was converted. Afterwards be said. "An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul." Two Pictnres. It Is related that two painters each painted a picture to illustrate hi concep tion of rest. The first chose for bis scene a still, lone lake among the far-off moun tains. The second threw on bis rnnvu a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam. At the fork of the branch almost wet with the catar act's sprav, a robin sat nn its nest. Henry Drumniond, referring to the two paintings, so unlike in their make-up, said: "The first was only 'stagnation;' the last was 'rest.' Christ's life was outwardly one of the most troubled lives that was ever lived; tempest nnd tumult, tumult and ttmnet, the wave breaking over it nil the time, till the worn body was laid in the grave. "But the inner life was n sea of glii.. The great calm was always there. At nny moment vou might hnve gone to Him find found rest. And even when His ene mies were dogging Him in the streets o' Jerusalem He turned to His disciples and offered thein. as a last legacy, 'My peace.' " Work, Our Highest Privilege. Whoever attempts to escape work avoids his best friend. We read the story of man's fall in the light of subsequent revelation, only to find that, work is not a curse, but our highest privilege. The fact that the seasons end urges us on to do our .best. An endless probation is simply none at all. There is no more pathetic lamentation in all literature than this. The summer is ended and we are not saved. Pronation is over. The Judge en ter the field and counts the sheaves. The summer ever reproduces itself. They come in their annual succession, but each holds its own place. This summer will be this but once. Another will come, but it won't be this. Nothing is ever repeated. The second resembles the first, but is not to be identified with it. The sun never gleets the earth twice the same. Probation is written everywhere. Presbyterian Jour nal. Man's Influence; The only responsibility that a man can not evade in this life is the one he thinks of least his personal influence. Man's conscious influence, when he is on dress parade, when he is posing to impress those around himis wofully small. But his un conscious influence, the silent, subtle ra diation of his personality, the effect of hi words and acts, the trifles he never con siders is tremendous. Kvery moment of life he is changing to a degree the life of the whole world. Every man has au at mosphere which is affecting every other. Ho silently and unconsciously is this in fluence working that man may forget that it exists. W. G. Jordan. ' OUR BRIDGET IN BAVARIA. Where Government Ha Control of Servant Girl. Sho had a bag. full of testimonials nd a record ' aled by tho police of Bavaria for a period antedating th v. ar of 18 titi. I hud to sign a contract tn which aha represented ono-HUrd Internet, myself another third, and the King of Bavaria the remainder. Vty this Instrument I became respon sible not mei-oly for her wages, which she fixed at $5 a mouth, and her one bucket of beer a day also her wash ing: but on me was laid, furthermore, the responsibility of watching over her morale. She was not to bo allow ed to frolic at unseemly hour or to tieuqtieut public resorts I was to nee that Bhe kept up her religious observ ances. In return for this I secured a thrifty but very angular housekeeper, who watched Jealously river every penny of expenditure, and particu larly over everything In pettlcoata that ventured past her door. This eld woman waB a treasure. Poitltney I'lgelow, In The National Magazine. Kitchener Pay a Compliment! Lord Kitchener has given man reasons for his conviction that a sol dier should never marry. His latest is that the terrible anguish of offl oers' wives was a proof, that, Ilk priests, soldiers ought to be celi bates. Lord Kitchener said this re cently to an officer's wife, who an swered: "Then you think that my husband ought not to have married me?" To which Lord Kltcneuer re plied graciously: "Tnanka to you, I change, my opinion tor one case." THE SABBATH SCHOOL . International Lessen Comments For December 28. Rev.'sw nl the Twelve Lessons For the List Quarter. Psa. 106, M, 40-4S-fiolden Text, Pia. 99, 1 From Joihua to the Cilllng ol ' Samuel. Summary Lesson I. Topic: Joshua divine commission. Plucc: The .Ionian, op posite Jericho. After Moses was dead Joshua was told to arisv ami lead the pen tile over Jordan into Caiman. The l.onl told Joshua to be ver.v-.tuuriigt'ou. for no man would be able to viand against linn while he lived. He was also told to care fully obey the law which (iod had given him. Joshua then commanded the people to prepare victuals, for in three day they were to pas over Jordan. II. Topic: Israel entering Caiman. Place: The Jordan, opposite Jericho. Jh fore they crossed the river two spies M-erc cnt over, who brought back word that the people wete tilled with terror. T he ink ol the Lord was to pass over first, and when the priests who bore the ark stepped uiln the water the river divided ami the people passed over on dry ground. Twelve men had been chosen, who took twelve stones from the river bottom and carried them to Uilgal, where they were set up as a inciuu rinl. HI. Topic: The capture of Jericho. Place: At. Uilgal. near Jericho. The Ijnrd gave Jochua careful directions us lo how to take the city of Jericho, and then Joshua told tho people what to do. They were to march around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day they were to march around seven times. Then the priests were to blow with tlie trumpet and the people were to shout. They did ns the Lord had commanded them and the walls fell down flat. IV. Topic: Caleb receiving his inherit ance. Place: Uilgal. It has been about six year since the Israelites entered Ca naan. Thy are now assembled at Uilgal to divide the lnnd among the tribes. Caleb was one of the two good spies, and Moses had promised him Hebron. Caleb is now eighty-tire years old. but he is si ill strong and able to possess his inheritance. Joshua blessed Caleb nnd gave him He bron, because he hud wholly followed the Lord. V. Tonic: Divine protection. Place: Shilob. The inheritance of the tribe ol Levi was torty-eight cities, which were quite evenly dit-tributcd among the trilies. Six of these cities were ehoseu as cities of refuge. Kcdesh, Sherhem and Hebron were on the west of Jordan, and llezer, Rainoth and Colan on the east. The cities were on hills, and the one who acci dentally killed another could lice here lor refuge. To-day Christ is our refuge. VI. Topic: Joshua renewing tlie cove nant. Pluc-e: Shechem. Joshua was now an old man, and before he died he assem bled the people at. Shechcm and gave them his parting advice. He called on them to choose whom they would serve, Jehovah or the gods of the Canaanitea. He told them tiiat he and his bouse would serve the Lord. The people also promised to serve and obey the Lord. Joshua told them that, if they served the Lord they would be blessed, but if they forsook llini they would suffer accordingly VII. Topic: The apostarv of Israel. Place: Canaan. Joshua died, being 1 HP years old. While he lived tlie people served the Lord. A few years after his death the Israelites forsook the Lord and served Bitlnam. Because of the- the Lord delivered them into the hands of their en emies, a-.id the heathen nations greatly distressed them. The Lord raised up judges which delivered them, but when the judge was dead the people corrupted themselves worse than before. VIII. Topic: The evil effects of wine. Place: Probably Jerusalem. The nntion hnd been prosperous, but in the midst of the prospertiy the people had torsnken the Lord. They were especially given to drunkenness. The land was filled with filthiness. God pronounced a woe upon them because of their terible sins. Ephraim should be destroyed. IX. Topic: The triumph of Cideon. Place: At the foot of Mount Gilbon. The Midianites were greatly oppressing God's rieople. The Lord called Gideon as a de iverer. Gideon railed the Israelites to gether nnd assembled an army nf :)2.000 men; requests the "fearful and afraid" tu return home, and the armv was thus re duced to 10.000. The Lord then tested them at the brook and only 300 men were retained, and with this small force Gideon put to flight the Midianitish army. X. Topic: Kuth's choice. Places: Moab. Bethlehem. There was a famine in the laud of Israel and Naomi with her hus band nnd two sons went to the land nf Moab to live. The sons married Moabitich women, but after a few years both sons and their father died, leaving the women widows. Naomi then decidea to return to Bethlehem. Orpah remained in Moab. but Kuth clave to her mother-in-law and chose the true God. XI. Topic: The doom of the ungodly. Place: Khiloh. The child Samuel assisted Eli in the tabernacle service; God spuke to Samuel; Samuel at first supposed Eli had called him, but afterward understood that it was the Lord; the Lord told Samuel what He intended to do against Eli, be cause his sons had "made themselves vile," and Eli had "restrained them not." XII. Topic: The birth of Jesus. Place: Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were at Bethlehem; n-aiby were shepherds keep, ing watch in the fields over their flocks: the angel of the Lord appeared to them; n light shone around them: they were told n Saviour was born; if they would go to Bethlehem they would find the young child in n manger: they went and found all as the angel had said, Thoughts. Those who fully follow the Lord will receive rich spiritual blessings. Whatever God commands us to do He is ready to assist us in doing. We should always remember God and His goodness to us. The things thut are impossible for us to do are very easy for the Lord o perform it was not a hard thing for God to overthrow the walls of Jericho, and Ho ran just as easily overthrow His enemies to-day. Although Caleb was promised Hebron, yet it was necessary for him to claim his possession and then enter upon it, and so now, God's people must "lay hold" of spiritual blessings if they woulil he satisfied with the riches of His grace. When we fail to obey God we always suf fer the penalty of our evil deeds. Parent should carefully train their children. Teachings. There is joy in Christ for the whole world, und there is joy in Him for you. Christ comes to reign in u verv humble way, and it is only by humility that we are enabled to enter His kingdom. In this His kingdom is wholly unlike the kingdoms of this ' 'mIiI. Humility is the mark of the Son . !od and of all His fol lowers. We hlinuli' ''irify and praise God for His great love m giving His only begat tin Sou to shoir us the nay to heaven. The Coughing Bea-i. Man, or even the animal kingdom, has no monopoly of coughing, or even getting red in the face, in an effort to throw off foreign substances. Before there was a vertebrate on the earth, while man wae in process of evolution, through the vegetable world, Btada Tusseln that is what the botanists call him, while we know him as "the coughing bean" coughed, got red tn the face and blew the dust out of his lungs. Recently botantsta have been giving special attention to this beau, and tell Interesting things about it. It Is a native of warm and moist tropical countries, and objects most emphatic ally Urdust. It has an effective means of getting rid of objectionable matter. When dust settles on the breathing pores In the leaves of the plant and chokes them, a gas accumulates ln- sldo, and when it gains sufflclejit pres sure there comes an explosion, with a sound exactly line coughing, and the dust Is blown from It lodgement. And more strange, the plant gets red la the face through the effort. ' Tin; uKKAi i)iOTora: ly,M:. I5TARTl.INI FACT. "0UT TH; V.Cc OP INTMPRASCE. Poem: Tlie fljiikliiic ntvl tlrlnlilnir nt "lie tlitr I'rosprt ity Mini ri-eiloiM I'roitt Worry ln (liesl Work l-'oi- Nolii'lety Vailing or ; lit nitkrmipss. Ther- conn , ,( round of nailing in the night, A moaning sad ili.it echoes lii.o igh the si reel Gh. -'eeplos eves are weeping for the light. Oi 1 eiiifur; l.sl'iiina but fornhiiHIiug feet. 1-or iti ciink. cimk. clink in tin- till behind, the bar, Alld ill drink, ili iiik. ill ink till liirr know not w hat they arc And the hungry clii'.ii-cn cry, And the weary mothers die. From the clinking and the drinking at the bar. Hands thai labor on forever weary. Now ne'er receive caresses as of vore. There are hearts whose loudest hope is dreary, Who're prajing soon to have life's buttle o'er. For its clink c'.ink. clink in the till behind the hai-, And Us drink, drink, ciliiik till thev know not what they are. And the hungry children cry. And the weary innl hers die.' From th" clinking and the drinking al the bar. Homes there arc wiih sorrow ever feel ing, Tn praverlcss agony r.t cverr breast: Silent death in kindly swiflui-ss stealing Brings their hct promise oi a dreamless rest. For its clink, clink, clink in the till behind the bar. And its drink, drink, diink till liicv know ,-ot what they are. Anil the hungry children cry, And the wcniy mothers die. I rom the clinking and the drinking at the bar. I). B. Harknrs. in P.nm's Horn. Sympathetic Argument Helps. The greatest agency that works for tem perance is prosperity. There i- much less drunkenness to-dav than formerly, because there is to day less of abject povcrtv. Free men anil wimcn from worry nnd you will instantly cure more than half the drunknrds and prevent the springing up of .1 new crop. Friendlv. sympathetic nrgumcnt can do much in favor of moderation and wise liv ing. Children nt school should be taught the effect of whisky on the svstein. and public nninion most powerful of agencies should discourage excessive drink under all cir cumstances. If newspapers will point out dispassion ately the effects of whisky, simplv asking youim men to think over the matter, they can do much good for temperance. In almost every atrocious crime whisky figures. The murderer wns drunk, or just, before he committed the crime he drank whisky. Homes are broken up every dny through whisky. Men fail in business through whiky. Athletes pn from the gut ter to the poor-house and then to potter's field through whisky. If newspapers in their routine news re. ports will give whisky simply the credit that is due its achievements without preaching or ranting much good work will be done for temperance. Fortunately we can all concratulate our selves on t lie steady falling off in drunken ness. To drink to excess is no longer re spectable. Once it was n leading sign of respectability. Doctors in the old days wrote their prescriptions illegibly, because when called late at night they were usually drunk. To-day a drunken doctor ennnot possiblv survive. Works hard as you can ngaiiwt drunk enness, for drunkenness harms every one, even the saloon keeper himself. The drunkard soon comes to ruin and ceases to be profitable. Argue with young men. nnd talk to chil dren about their own welfare in the mat ter. But. remember a!o tiiat the drunkard of ten has tried harder than vou could try to overcome the enemy that has conquerd. ltemember that unless vou have lived his life vou cannot know his evcuse nnd can not judge him. New York American. 1'h.rsielsns fnr Tntsit Alisttneiirei Sir Samuel Wilks and Sir Henry Thomp son, two eminent English surgeons, ap pear among the contributors to a special number of The Practitioner which was civen over to the discussion of alcohol. They nre hoth men of great age as well as great distinction in their profession, and in looking back over their long lives and testifying from their own experience they produce evidence which should strengthen the cvusade against drink. Sir Samuel states thut he was a total abstainer, or nearly so, throughout his active profession al career, much to his advantage, nnd Sir Henrv says that, at a time when he was troubled with rheumatism and chronic pain in the head he tried a cure bv ab stention, and got lid of both diseases iu tin months. Dr. James Edmunds, another old prac 'ilioner. believes that he has gained much in health and efficiency bv total abstinence and that he has Inst nothing of value by the non-use of alcohol. Still another wit ness on the sume side js Professor German Sims Wooilhead. one of the younger phy sicians with a brilliant record. He bad an exceptionally successful university ca reer, was both prire student and prise ath etc, and counts abstinence from alcoholic liquors among the factors in the double success. Another contributor to the discussion, Dr. J. .1. Kidge. writes of the ireneral ef fects of drink unon the community, saying that three-fourths of tiie pauperism of tho country is due to it. He adds that the deaths directlv attributable to drink num ber from 40,000 to 110,000 yearlv; that ns many more are indirectly attributable to it, and that it is responsible fur a great deal of the disease with which the country is afflicted. The truth is t'if it has become a most rl -moralizing and' dangerous national vice. The consumntion of tionor ner head is ereate" in the United Kingdom fian in Germany or France, much greater than it is in the United States, nnd while the in crease of late years has not been ns large ns that of these other countries, the con ditions are so appalling that the temper ance advocates have been stirred lately to extraordinary efforts. New York Sun. Looking After Drunknnls. Drunkards in Germany will in the fit-iur-' be sternly looked ufter by the State. Each town must keen a record of all the hard drinkers, and the city medical men nre bound to report those who habitually imbibe to excess, so that, the authorities nmy weed out the black sheep and subject them to a strict course of treatment. The Crusuile tn UrUf. Moderate drinking has proved to be th nursery of untold misery und crime. To tul abstinence ruins none. On the testi mony of millions it has brought peace with plenty. After a hard fight with the liquor force tho temperance people of Fulton, Ky.. nre once more permitted to record a victory, the town being once more free from the grasp of the liquor truffle. In Minneapolis the -130 saloons are lim ited to one-twelfth of the city. In the eleven twelfths where there are no saloon, twenty-eight policemen are found sufficient for patrol duty. In the one-twelfth where the saloons are, 117 policemen are required. Over 1000 new temperance unions have been organized during the lust year in tho United Stutes. These orgunimitions. among other work, are sending out millions of pages of literature. It is stated that thirty-eight of the seventy-seven parishes in the Islund of An glesey, oft' tlie west coast of Wulcs, with a population of 4414. do not contuiu a single saloon or public house. The seven lunch w noons managed by the Squirrel Inn in New York City, and curried on under the auspices of the Church Tem perance Society of that city, are said to be yielding fair profit. The money derived from this work is used for the trection of iied WiiU-i' fountuins, of which there are now seventeen in various crowded purls of the city. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS. December 28 "Our Heavenly Home and (he Way." Joho xlv. 1.4. Scripture Verses. John xlv. 2; Ps. xvli. IB; xvl. 11; Ixv. 4; xxxvi. 8. 9; 1 Cor. still. 12; 1 John III. 2; Pom. vill. 18, 19; 1 Cor. xv. C4; Hey. vii. 16, 17. Lesson Thoughts. Tho thought of dwelling with our Savior should be tho highest hope hold tip before its for our heavenly homo. All Is perfect purity and hollimm in heaven; but wo are by nature tdiiful and Impure, and thero -etliall-in no wise tinier Into It anything that deflleth. Our only hope of entering hea-ven, then, in through Joans; It we Book, any other entrance we shall lose our way. Selections. "Jcrus-alom Ihe Golden! There all our birds that flew, Our fiowi-rs but ball' unfold en. Our pearls that turned to de, And nil the glnd llfo-musle, Now heard no longer there, Shall come ngnln to greet us As we nre drawing near." Upon tho tombstone of a youns 'voman. blind from her birth, stands tho Rir.Rlo sentence, "There tfhnll bo no night there.'' Thus heaven will be to each soul that for which that soul has the keenest nnd high est capacity for enjoyment. Far nut of Right, while sorrow still Infolds us. Lies the fair country where our hearts abide, And of this bllsa la naught more won drcttg told us Than theso few words: "I phnll be satisfied!" The rabbtn'a report, that, when Joseph had gathered much corn in Euypt, be threw the chaff Into the Nile, thnt, Hawing to tho neighbor Iiik cltkfl and nations more remote, they might know that abundance was laid up lor them. So God hath thrown some husks to us in thin world, that, tasting; the sweetness thereof, we might aspire to his bounty above. It there be Btich ;lory in God's footstool, what will there be in his throne? If ho give us so much In the land of our pil grimage, what will be not give us In our own country? If so much to hlti enemies, what will he not give to his friends? Suggested Hymns. Yea, we will meet again tho morning. After the toll nd trouble. There Is a paradise of rest. 'Tia only a little way to my home. Beyond the light of setting sun. I know not the hour when my Lord will come. EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS. December 28. Our Heavenly Home aod the Way. John 14. 1-6; Rev. 21. 1-4, Tne nope, or Heaven Is an Inspira tion, standing as we do on the thres hold of the new year. All years merge Into eternity, and all hopes find frui tion in tho fullness of joy at God's right hand! Our hearts need fear no trouble; the new heaven and the new earth await us. There Is not a much preaching In our modern pulpits about heaven as there used to be. This may be be cause our attention has been turned to the more practical sldo of applied Christianity. Yet nothing can be more "practical" than clear concep tions of heaven, and the ardent hopes which these beget. Heaven is not simply a state, but a place. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a 'place' for you." It Is a "city," a placo of social and community life. It is a perimv nent, not a. transitory, home. It has Its river and tree of life like tho origi nal Eden. It is tho abode of life, and not of death. No tears, no sorrow, no night. Is there. It Is a holy placo. The city Is filled with good people. It Is for all those who love and serve Jesuit. There are eleven things mentioned that, can never enter heaven. No sea, no tears, no death, no crying, no sor row, no pain, no temple, no sun, no moon, no night, no curse. "A splendid array of negatives." Then all evil people, all evil influences, all sin, will bo shut out. And we may be shut In! The things we value most here are substituted by things which will nt the new life there. Heaven Is Inhab ited by redeemed souls, those who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Only holy and saved beings inherit this city. Three things are said of them: They serve ChriBt, they see him, and they are like hlra. Heaven Is no Idle place. It is filled with intense spiritual activity. We endure now as seeing him who Is Invisible; but we shall then see him face to face. And this will result in complete conformi ty to Jil a image. "We shall be like him. for we shall see him as he Is." Such may be the force of the state ment that "his name shall be In their foreheads," his image shall be stamp ed upon our whole nature. There Is only one way to heaven. Faith in Jesus Christ, bringing the transformation of our nature lnta har mony with God, produces tho only flu ness for heaven. Whoever has this has the title to heaven. "He that be lieveth on me iath eternal life." Such a faith presupposes obedience to Christ, the going on to perfection, the constant growth In grace, and the lay ing up of treasures In heaven. But thero Is only one gate, one way. one fitness, one Saviour. How supreme the question at his New Year's ser vice. "Have I tho fttnesB for heaven, and can I read my title clear to man sions in the sky? Now the Invitation, the opportunity, the alternative Is given. "The only way to get Into heaven 1b to first get heaven Into you." - Plants That Produce Madneit. The United 8tates Department ot Agriculture Is at present investigating the curious behavior of certain plant growing on the Western prairies which are known aa loco-weeds. "Lo-' co" In Spanish signifies crazy. Cattle and other animals feedlig upon loco weeds suffer a derangement of the brain that prevents co-ordinating move ments. Several weeds belonging to the bean family are included tu thl poisonous category. It has been as serted that a single dose of some of these weeds will cause Insanity; but Mr. V. K. Chcsnut, of the Department of Agriculture, expresses the belief that several days of feeding are re quired to produce a bad effect. Fill Empty Bottles With 8mok. Rinse out ono bottle with hartshorn and another bottlo with spirits ot salt: next bring the bottles together mouth to mouth; bota will at once -be per vaded vith white vapors. Tho vapora In question are ccmposed of sal am tiioplac a solid body uenerated by the union of two iuvlulblo gaawi. IHE UELIGIOUS. LIFE EA0INC FOR THE QUIET HOUH WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF; Poetm The Stibth The MonsMSt Christianise the World I IrrelUM Th Gospel of Jen Chris " Have Undivided Allegiance. When the worn spirit want repose. And sigh her Ood to seek, I How sweet to hail the evening close That end the weary week! ' How sweet to hail the early dawn, early dawn, jilt. 1 iviving morn i of light! rhat onens on toe sight. When tirst that soui-reviv Sheds forth new rays i Sweet days, thine hours too soon shall cease: Yet. while they gently roll, Breath, heavenly spirit, source of peace, A Sabbath o'er my oul! When will my pilgrimage tie done, The world's long week be o'er, That Sabbath daw n which need no SUB? That day which fades no more? j James Edmeston, i The Missionary Movement. Tlobert E. Kpccr in s recent addres say that all great movements are world move ments; that Cod is working over the earth and what moves other people moves us; that we arc bound for our own sake tn study other nations, and that we cannofj know them thoroughly until we know theis religions. To establish this fact he in stances the trolley car, than which he y there can be nothing more neutral toward, religion. When the firt trolley started irt fiam the people in the city of Bangkok nil kneeled down to worship it as it moved along the streets, and in Korean, the trob ley being laid about the beginning of a long, severe drought the people concluded that this evil thing that had come among: them was the caimc of nil their trouble, and so n mob tame and tore up the track and demolished the cars. He uIko says that the missionary move ment is the most irresistible movement ii the world; that the religions of the East are bound to change; that only one rcligio) can live. And this thought is the great centre of the text for our topic to-day, "In chains they shall come over and shall fall down unto Thee, they shall make mipptu cation unto Thee, saying, Surely God is it Thee, and there i none else." One of the most interesting things and the most encouraging nbout foreign mist sions is the fact that wherever the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes it is not content t dwell, us are other religions, in barmont with the popular belief of tho country, but it must have an undivided allegiance fot itself. It is one "of the most powerful proofs of the divine origin of the Gospe thot it, of all other religions ever founded, claims to lie the only true religion. It M the glory of the Christian religion that il has introduced into tho world the idea el tho fatherhood of God, and the related idea of the brotherhood of man. This chapter pulses with the thought that th earth is all one to God, who made it, and that He does not intend that it shall be made in vain, but that "every knee (dial) bow and every tongue confess," and thf He has given the gracious invitation, "Look unto Me and be ye saved," eves "Unto nil the ends of the earth." and nol only to our civilized lands. It behoove us, therefore, to see that our brother in th) darker lands know from us it is a duty laid upon us, just because we know about Jesus nnd lie does not. "For," as Roliert c-pecr says, "if Jesus is anything at nil in me He will be just as much to every on else in this world, and what He ha brought to me He will bring to others. Saw, what is my obligation?" 'They tell us if all Christians would do aU in their power to spread the Gospel in the; earth that it would not need to be but a very short time before the prophecy would be fultilled and every nation have heard .it' Jesus, and not only heard of, but learned to know Him. And yet the indif ference of C hristians is so great that th years go by and wc pray, "Thv Kingdom Come,' and do almost nothing at all to help answer our own prayer. How can God forgive such indifference on the par of those for whom He died? In Belfast there was a little boy, a chim ney sweep. He happened to be attracted by missions, and contributed to a mission) box a sum which was not inconsiderate fo a chimney sweep the sum of two pence. One afternoon a friend of this boy me him going along the street in an unusual condition, for his hands and his face were washed, and he was dressed in verv good clothes. And the friend said to him: ,(HelJ loa! where are you going?" "Oh," he said, ('I m going to a missionary meeting. ' hat aro yon going to a missionary meet ing for?" "Well." said the sweep, "yoii sec, I have become a sort of partner in th concern, and I am going to see how tha business is getting on." It is even no. Hsj who in any way, hearing the call, respond) to it with prayers and tears, with scrvics nnd sacrifice, with the gift of wealth ot the mitts of sacrifice of poverty, with la bor or with life, is a partner with God int the celes'.ial business of bringing salvation to a lost world. From "The Oisis of Mi, sions. by the Rev. Arthur T. Pieron,D.D, A He Is. "VCa .Kail -.. TT:. ... TT- - I. rr-1 . ..... iu,,v. tic uaD nob truiy aiscerned Him vet. Aot His disciples, who lived with Him in daily fellowship, who walked and communed with Him by the way, nok even they saw Him in very truth. No moiS tal can so behold Him through the veil ol "lo,t; y .. vwn now, we inriu wit a av WDllJlvilla on, I Knu.l.- 1 ' . 1 hours when our soul most closely approach! mo uiiTjiie oi una, wuat win oe our rap ture when, in that bright heaven which! c w u- wmu we mini:, we sen Christ "as He is." Be sure that no concep tion oi jum can no more than dimly, shadow forth His glorious reality. A thou sand times more beautiful, more pitiful, more loving, more divine is He than w have dreamed. Thnlr K iiA fn. ,i promise left us that we shull see Him as lie is, and then, ah, yes, we shall be satis tied. Beatrice Clayton. Bpear Faint. God's eed will come to God' harvest. lie live not who live not in earnest. 1 he "fear of God" is not born of coward ice. , Kvery misery missed is a new mercy en joyed. By lifting the burden of other we loa our own. God often reveal Hi presence by givin unexpected blessings. . Prayer is the breath of the ipirit that Ia in harmony with God. Tlie more men ure like God, the less they; look tor worship of men. A good life is an absolutely unanswer able argument for Christianity. Hie true servant will use the light ot tame to illumine the face of his Wd. Hum Horn. On Mi bat Life Ueuand. The duration of life doe not appear to depend so much upon the trengtli of the -".jr, v. uon me uuaniuy oi it exoiu bility as upon an exact accumulation of' stimuli to each of them. A watch spring; will last, a long a an auchor, provided tliwi force which are capable of destroying both are --always in exaet ratio to tlieu-t strengt h. J his goldeu thought i com mended to those who make no effort t control their temper. Kvery time you let your angry passion rise you tax or strain, the force so nicely organized to carry you, far down the green slope of green old age. the violent and irregular actions of the. passion tend to wear away th springs ot life. Dr. Benjamin Bush. . ' Ground Frozen 225 Feet. William Tloone, a miner, says the Kansas City Journal, who' ha coma down from Dawson City, Klondike, to spend the winter with relatives at I.a Plata. Bays he hr.s dug 235 feat deep In the ground of his claim, but has never been able to reach a point where the ground was not froieq hard. The man whu -ulway wauls tie mokt for bis money should never p no pose to a woman who jars the at limit thsu 20 juund. ( New J.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers