AN OLD QUESTION,
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon Dy Rev. C.
R. McNally.
bitrnctlvt Talk on Subject ol Vital Im
portance to Us AIL
Brooklyn. N. Y. In the Sixth Avenue
Baptist Church Sunday morning, the nas-
tor, the Rev. Charles K. McNally preached
on "An Old Question for the New Age."
His text wai trom John x:M: It Thou he
the Christ, tell us plainly." Mr. McNally
jam:
The men who asked this attention were
dead in earnest. They nuked it because
the answer was of vital import to them.
That word "Christ" was laden with a
wealth of meaning for these Jewish ques
tioners. Our word Christ is the offspring
of the Greek "Christos," which in its turn
inherits all the meaning that the Hebrew
embodied in his word "Messiah." Around
this word for hundreds of years all Jewish
life, political and religious, had centered.
The Psalmists had made it the dominant
note in many of their sweetest songs. J Is
multi-colored shadings had formed the
warn and woof of prophetic visions. The
mother as she lulled her little one to sleep
sung of a Messianic hope. The little lad
as he came to his father's ltnee asking for
a talc had his imagination fired by the
story of what would be when Messiah
should come. More than the name of
Cromwell or Wesley to England, and
of Washington or F,dwnrds to Amer
ica, was the name of Messiah to a Jew,
for it was at once the battle cry of his po
litical liberties and the keynote of his re
ligion. the .lews as thev thought of the Messiah
may be divided into two classes, those
whose conception was predominantly reli
gious and spiritual, and those "whose
thought was predominantly political. I
say predominantly because the two views
were commonly blended. The more spirit
ual honed for the deliverance of the na
tions from the bondage of sin, and the re
ligious supremacy- of the Jewish nation
through the ministry of the Messiah, while
tne less religions looked for the political
rre-eminPnce of the Jews under the lead
ership of the Messianic King. However
divergent the views, in two things all were
agreed the coming of the Messiah meant
Jewish pre-eminence, and he in his coming
would be the especially anointed of God,
having the powers, the words and the
snirit of God. he was to he the instrument
of God. the voice of God's will to and for
the nation, fcarlier in the history of the
nation the conception was more sniiitual,
but by the time of the cominu of .Tenia of
Narareth their hope had lost its higher
and more spiritual.charactor.
One morning toward the close of His
earthly ministry, when the chilling blasts
of winter had driven Him from the open
courts of the temple to a sheltered spot.
Jesus, the now far famed teacher and
claimant of Messianic honors, might have
been seen pacing up and down the paved
inclosure known as Solomon's Porch. It
was the feast of dedication and the fath
ers of the nation were gathered in Jerusa
lem. There was much agitation and con
flict among them. The fume and claim of
Jesus of Nazareth was known to all.
Many of these very men had followed in
the crowds to see and hear Him. The
more spiritual hnd felt a strange stirring
of the soul in response to 'the call of this
strange teacher to a purer and more exalt
ed life, but surely thev reasoned this could
not be the Christ Ho was so different
from what they hnd expected the Christ
to be. Thp less religious were even more
puzzled. The life of Jesus from the creat
ure comfort aide was nothing to be en
vied. Thev could find nothing to explain
the aim of this Teacher with His subver
sive teaching. Of one thing thev were
sure. He was a dangerous man. for while
by implication and even openly He claimed
to be the Christ, He in fio way correspond
ed to their idea of what the Christ should
he. Surely He was not the Messiah of
Godl Voon what could such a man as this
base such a claim!
While Jesus paced thoughtfully up and
down within the porch He was quickly
surrounded by an eager, pressing crowd,
some intense with yearning for assurance
and satisfaction of soul, others dark with
the clouds of stricken conscience and the
maliciousness of disappointed hatred. Not
withstanding their varied feelings, all alike
were anxious to ply Him with questions.
Eagerly thev pressed upon Him the vital
question "How long wilt Thou hold lis in
suspense?" literally, "How long wilt Thou
lift up our souls?" excite lis. hold us be
tween hope and fear? "If Thou really art
the Christ, then tell us plainly." Such is
the inevitable question which must be
asked bv every soul when brought face to
face with the claim of Jesus to be the
Christ of God. Was He the anointed of
God? Was He "the King's Son" who
should he called "Wonderful, counselor,
the mighty God, the everlasting Father,
the nrir.ee of peace?" Was He indeed
the Christ, or was He nn impostcr or a
weaklin", illusioned by the fervor of His
own enthusiasms? These questions as old
as' Christianity are vital to our day and
hour. Tf He is not the Christ we may he
done with Him and go our wav. If He is
in very truth "the anointed," "the sent of
God." we are hound to listen to His voice
as the voice of God, to learn His precept!
and obey.
To our question "Art Tlmn the Christ?"
Jesus mnkes answer; note His words;
"I told you, but ye believe not." The
Immediate anpeal of Jesus was to His ver
bal attestation of Hia Messiahship. Al
ready He had told them that God was His
Father, that the Father had sent Him
into the world in His name, to establish
His kingdom among men, but they would
not believe. Of what use was it to tell
them that which thev had already heard
and had refused to believe? Nor was it al
together strange that His verbal attesta
tion of His Messiahshin was not readily ac
cepted, for His assertion to be one with
God was a most startling one. Men givo
credence slowly to the claims of others;
they must spp reasons or they will not be
lieve. Should a man coine to our National
Government claiming to be the Ambassa
dor of F.ngland the first thing that would
he required of him would be that he should
furnish credentials. Failing to furnish
them he would he laughed at for a fool.
Jesus saw that He must found His claim
on something more convincing thai His
verbal attestation. He recognized the ne
cessity for nroof snd furnishes that proof
in His words "the works that I do in Mv
Father's name, these benr witness of Me."
This anpeal of Jesus to Hia works as proof
that He was the Christ requires that wo
for a moment examine them.
Strenuous efforts have been made during
this, the new age, to read out of the works
of Jesus all that is sunernatural and di
vine. He is unintelligible, we are told, un
less accounted for on human grounds alone.
Consider, then, that when viewed in the
light of human action, His works were
beautiful and powerful beyond compare,
and in themselves point to a higher divina
life. The advanced thinkers of our day
have, within comparatively few years,
reached the conclusion that the highest
type of life is that which they call altruis
tic, i. e., a life scent for others. The
highest personal life is realized only ss
that life, forgetting self, rises above self
and exhauses itself for others. The ethlral
world rejoices in this newly found truth.
Go back 1900 years and there y.-n will tine
One whose days were speut in doing others
good. Follow Jesus through His ministry
and you will soon discover that you ore
following the footsteps of the world's one
unselfish man and its greatest philanthro
pic. Every act is designed to help an
other. You seek for the least trace of
selfishness in vain, Kvery work heais the
seal of humanity's best. Indeed, so far
are they above the world's best that they
bring in their wake sweet thoughts of
Gcd. 8ee Hia as II work. A little
while ago He fed the hungering thousands,
LI t was but yesterday He touched new lift
Wo the maniac boy and smoothed the
deep furrows from a father's brow. This
Jnorn He drove the fever from the sick one
!n Peter's home, snd mayhap, ere tbo day
is done He will whisper the hopo of a purs
and holy life to tha harlot at the well.
We have not too much thought of the
works of Jesus as the acts of one fellow
man toward others. When viewed accord
ing to this standard they are seen to be
the highest realization of man's highest
ideal. Christ we t wise when He said, "He
boid My works," for according to the find
ings of the best thought of all the ages no
Works are more beautiful or nigher God.
The mere force, beautv and holiness of
Ilia acts prove His kinship with the divine.
J'ut this was not enough to satisfy a Jew.
Xha. iiat .they were, huskim iur jv.as.tp
demonstrate rfts flivine power ny the
might and conquest ot arms. They hnd it
all cut and dried Just what the Christ
should be nnd do. He was suddenly to op
pear out of the heavens or out of some se
questered way of life, attended by great
wonders. With the sword He was quickly
to overrun tho world and set up in Jeru
salem a power that would rule all nations.
Any love or philanthropy that could be
worked in would be nil right, but before
nil else Messiah must Tie the messenger of
God's wrath ngainst the nations, visiting
them with defeat and disaster, that the
Jew might rule supreme.
Thus it was that to the questioners of
His day Jesus proved to be a stumbling
block. Did they find in Him a more than
humam power? Yes, thev conceded that
they did. As they saw Him restore the
emaciated body of the leper, or infuse new
life into the palsied form or open the eyes
of the blind, or raise the dead from the
grave, they were bound to recognize a more
than human power. The gross and mali
cious said this power is of the devil, hut
the more intelligent said, as thev saw the
unselfishness, the love and tenderness of
His acts, "We have never seen it done on
this wise before!!' "No man could do
these works except God he with him!"
"Surely this must be the Christ!" The
answer of Jesus to the questioners of His
day given in the terms of love, an answer
which they would not or could not under
stand, is that which satisfies the heart and
reason of the innuirer of to-day. It is as
though Jcus said. "You ask if I am really
the Christ of God and in Him you look
for divine nower. Look at Mv works, are
they not of the highest type? Aye, more,
inpv nre iraugnc witn tne power or uoa
and prove, not only that I nm the Christ,
hut that, the nature of Gad is better than
the thought of man has made him. He is
a God of tenderness, of love." Blessed an
swer, for it teaches that character is su
preme, nnd that the highest life is one of
simnlc ministry to the needs of others.
To the innuirer of to-day the answer of
Jesus should be convincing. Since it is
ours to look from the mountain peak of
many centuries we may, however, see still
other proofs and find still other answers
to the all important question, "Was .Tcsus
the Christ?" History gives a twofold an
swer, first as seen in the preparation of
the world for the coming of tio Messiah
nnd then in the development of the world's
thought since tho days of Jesus. Paul de
clares that, "when the fulness of time was
come. God sent forth His Son" into the
world. By the fulness of time he must
have meant the period that w: 1 to elasse,
according to the wisdom of God, before
His Son, the Christ, should come. Now, if
Jesus was the Christ, we mav expect to
find the circumstances of the time in
which He lived peculiarly fitted for His
coming. What were these circumstances?
The vast Roman emnire afforded a broad
and accessible field for the spread of a
new religion. The sceptre of Roman pow
er ruled the world. Radiating from Rome
as a centre were splendid military roads
which extended to tho remotest boundaries
of the empire. Because of these and the
opening of ocean routes travel was easy
as compared with preceding centuries.
People traveled more. Thus facilities for
disseminating a new truth were better
than ever before in the world's history.
But the most notable preparation was
that of the Jewish people. They had long
striven with their desire to worship idols.
At last theia vision was clarified in this re
gard, and the way was open for a further
revelation. Moreover, the discerning
among them, from reading the annals of
their fathers, had come to long for the
promised Messiah until thnt longing was
kindled to a fervent heat. All these things
peculiarly fitted the time' in which Jesus
lived for' the reception and spread of great
religious truths.
Nor is history since that time less re
markable. He died a death of shame: none
could according to the common notion be
more ignominious or disgraceful. His
friends apparently were few. That He
would soon bo forgotten would seem nat
ural. But it was not so. His followers
multiplied with marvelous rapidity. Per
secutions began nnd thousands of them
were burned, roasted, speared and given
over to wild beasts. Notwithstanding all
this, within 300 years one-twentieth part
of the empire were professed Christians,
the Emneror himself among the number.
From that time until the present Chris
tianity and civilization have gone hand in
hand. Manv of the great upheavals of
the world's life is the story of Christianity
asserting herself against the powers that
would stay her triumphant march. It was
so in the time of Charlemagne, of Luther,
of Cromwell and of Plymouth Rock. Tho
lines of history converge toward Jesus
Christ. In all things truly He has pre
eminence. Surely, this must be the Christ.
From the historic point, of view was He
not more than man? His works and the
voice of history declare Jesus to be the
God-man.
If there still be a lingering doubt in the
mind of any that Jesus is the Christ, "the
King's Son, let him study the human heart
and it deepest needs and his doubts will
fly. Sin like a sombre cloud casts a dark
ened shadow across every life. Man has
ever found himself gripped in the relent
less grasp of an evil nature. None is ex
empt. All alike are tarred with the one
black stick. If n man tells you he has not
a sinful nature get a little closer and you
will detect the odor of the tar so familiar
to yourself. Congratulate ourselves as we
may upon our goodness, it is still a fact
that we are by nature sinful. But whilu
this is true, it is also true that man feels
stirring within him a higher and holier na
ture. He feels within a purpose to be
other and better than he is. Before him
he sees the ideal of a holy character, a na
ture wholly free from sin. and that nature
lie feels to be akin to God.
Now look at Jesus in the light of these
facts. His days are one long sequence of
holy thoughts and perfect deeds. In Him
you look for 'sinfulness in vain. In Him
there is no fault, not the shadow of a
thought that man can brand as sinful.
This at onee differentiates Him from all
others. In Him man tinils his ideal ex
pressed. Let the heart once come in touch
with Jesus and it needs no other answer
to its questions. In Him it is satisfied.
What it would have. Jesus already lias.
In touch with Him the soul must keep if
it would have its needs supplied, and its
higher life realized. Surely He who alone
realizes life's ideal and satisfies the needs
and aspirations of the heart must be the
Christ. Oh, soul, have you the assurance
this morning from need supplied, ideals
sanctified and heart satisfied, that Jesus
is the Christ? Believe Him for His word
has been given. If not for this believe
Hi:n for His work's sake. If still you
doubt, consult the testimony of history
and of the human heart, and your soul, re
sponding to His divine touch, will surely
cry out. "Yes. Jesus, I know Thou art the
Christ of God!"
Christian Faith.
Christian faith is a grand cathedral with
divinely pictured windows. Standing with
out, you see no glory, nor can possibly
imagine any; standing within, every ray
it light reveals a harmony of unspeakablo
ipUndors.Natuanicl lis w thorns,
Philanthropy Indeed.
"Well." said the dripping follow cit
izen to the other dripping fellow citi
zen on the twenty-ninth day of the
rain, "there's one thing about this
weather. It'a good for the crops." And
then and there the other dripping fel
low citizen did raise and otherwise
elevate his umbrella, and did with
the said umbrella slay, murder, kill,
destroy and otherwise eradicate tha
first dripping fellow citizen, and It
was a blamed good thing. '- .
a
Plum Tree Was Sent For.
The other night the earth yawned In
Peter Bchlemmer's yard at Jackson,
pa., and Into the depths of North Ma
ianoy mine disappeared suddenly but
juletly the pride of the village s
lum tree In full bloom. The balance
)f the ground in the yard has yet
ihown no signs ot disturbance, though
X Is agreed that tha flower bed may be
sngulfed at any moment. ,
Flowers That Can Be Distilled.
There are only two flowers that will
withstand distillation the rose and
(he orange flower.
ICE SABBATH SCHOOL
Iniemalloaal Lesson Comnccts for
November I.
Subject David and Abialom, 2 Sim. if., 1-12
Golden Text, Ex. xx., 12 Memory
Verses, 4-6 Commentary oa
tho Day's Lesson.
1. Absalom stealing the heart of th
people (vs. 1-0). 1. "After this." After
Absalom's return from Geshur and his res
toration nnd reception by David (chap. 1st
31-33). "Chariots nnd horses." Absalom
imitated tho magnificence of foreign mon
archs in order to make an impression on
the people. Horses wcro a novelty among
the Hebrews, only recently introduced
from F.gypt, nnd were costly and rare.
"Fifty." A son of the king riding in a
stnto chariot with fifty footmen as attend
ants would prove a great attraction. David
was so indulgent that he seems to have
taken no notico of it.
2. "Rose up early." Public business In
the Fast is in many places transacted early,
before tho heat of the day. Possibly his
car'. rising was intended to forestall the
king, who was certain to sit in the gate
during part of the day. It would thus ap
pear that ho had the real good of the peo
ple upon his heart, and would make a no
hie king, just suited to their present needs,
'those in trouble were likely to fear that
justice would not be shown them, and
would eagerly extend their support to one
who appeared concerned for their interests.
Absalom reiied greatly upon his own pow
ers. Though his father was indeed very
forgiving he despised him in his heart.
3 0. "Good and right." Thus to win fa
vor he gave a decision before nn investi
gation was made. Thy case is a worthy
nnd righteous one nnd ought to he' tried,
nnd all thy grievances redressed. "No
man deputed. ' Absalom guards ngainst
licensing the king himself of injustice, hut
lie excites in the mind of the people dis
trust of the king's whole judicial practice
by saying that there was no regular judicial
process for a just cause. The "hearer" is
the judicial officer whose duty it was first
to hear and understand the people's and
then lay them before the king. "Oh, that
I." Thus he professed extraordinary gen
erosity and interest in public affair's, yet
appearing to have no selfish desire in the
matter. We do not read of his wisdom,
virtue or learning in the laws, nor had he
given any proofs of his love of justice, yet
he wished to be judge, and such a judge
that every man who had ony cause would
come to him. "Obeisance." The custom
nry greeting, ns bowing to the ground.
"He kissed him." Embraced him ns a
friend or brother, apparently forgetful of
his position and honor. "Stole the hearts."
By his beautv and pretended friendship'
with them nnd anxiety for them he turned
the people from his father to himself. "He
did not gain their hearts by eminent serv
ices, or by wise and virtuous conduct. Ab
salom suggested that if he could be judge
suits would not then he so tedious, expen
sive and partially decided ns they were.'
Thus he imposed upon many nlr over the
land, and led then-, to prefer a worthless
character to the wise, righteous and pious
David.
II. Absalom's rebellion (vs. 7-12). 7-9.
"After forty years." Rather after four
years. It is generally admitted that forty
years is a mistake in the text. The time
must bo the years nftcr Absa'.om's return
to Jerusalem and his beginning to practice
the base arts of gaining popularity. "Pay
my vow." It seemed to David that con
science had at last prevailed, and that
right was to be done. Local sacrifices were
still customary, and the visit of the king's
eon for such n purpose would he celebrated
hv a general holiday nnd much feasting at
Hebron. David was glad at this indication
of religious feeling on Absoiom's part. The
deceitful son pretended to have been a
strict follower of Jehovah even while he
was in a heathen country. "Go in peace."
These were David's last words to AbsalomJ
They expressed his strong confidence in hia
son, as well as a wish for his happiness.
Ho seems to have been utterly without sus
picion that black con'piracy was hidden
under Absalom's avowed object of going to
offer sacrifice at the place of his birth, and
where he himself had reigned over Judnh
for seven years. David was probably, at
this time, a rather lax monarch. "So'he
went." To perform the most unmanly and
base act a son could commit against a
father.
10. "Sent spies." To find out public
opinion and prepare to proclaim Absalom
king when the signal was given. "Absalom
reigneth." On the sudden spreading of
this proclamation some would conclude
David was dead, others that he had re
signed, nnd thus they that were in the se
cret would drnw in many to appear for Ah-.
salom, who, if they had rightly understood
the matter would have abhorred the
thought of it.
11, 12. "With Absalom went 200 men."
These were courtiers such ns Usually ac
companied kings and king's sons on their
journeys. They were probably of the prin
cipal men of Jerusalem, whom he invited
to join him in the feast on his sacrifice.
They were kept ignorant of Absalom's
wicked plot. "Ahithophel David's coun
sellor." It is supposed by the Jews that
Ahithophel was incensed against David for
nbusing Bathsheba, his granddaughter. lie
had been David's most trusty counsellor;
so highly valued was his advico that men
regarded it as an oracle of God (chap. 10:
23), and long had the king profited by his
wisdom and experience until the outrage
upon his family made him retire from the
king's court to his native city, Gil oh, near
Hebron. The manner of Absalom's send
ing for him seems to indicate that he was
already connected with the plot. "The
people increased." This shows that deep
ana general dissatisfaction existed at this
time against tho person and government of
David.
III. David's flight from Jerusalem (vs.
13-23). The rebellion proved popular. And
Absalom moved swiftly to Jerusalem. As
soon as David heard of it he proposed to
flee from Jerusalem and leave the city and
the kingdom to hia son. This action seems
very strange. But, politically considered1.
David's action was the wisest that could
ho taken. For (1) so sudden was the out
break that the city was not in a condition
to stand a siege, and the popular excite
ment bad so seriously affected the citizens
that David scarcely knew whom to trust.
He might be betrayed if he remained. (2)
He would not fight against his own loved
son. (3) David s kind nature induced him
to spare Jerusalem the horrors of a siege
and the risk of being taken by assault. (1)
Ho probably judged, too, and rightly, that
delay would be unfavorable to Absalom's
plan, an opinion which Ahithophel held,
too (see 17: 1, 2). and also Hushdi (17;
7-13). (S) It must also be remembered
that in time of peace David had no stand
ing army with which to resist this sudden
attack from so unexpected a quarter. (8)
Possibly, too, the remembrance of Nathan's
prophesy (12: 10-12) tended to paralyse
David's natural vigor and incline him to
gentle counsels. . . .
Storks In Denmark.
Denmark is the country which a
especially favored by storks. In the
towns you may see many nests on the
buildings In close proximity to one
another, and the birds themselves
feed unconcernedly In the meadows
and roadside neids. m the country
nearly every farmhouse has a place
made for the storks' benefit in tbo
gable end of the thatched roof. And
they are generally occupied.
' Alaska's Export Trade.
' The export trade from Alaska for
four months, ended Oct. SI, 1902, ex
ceeded (20,000,000, and was equal to
that from Hawaii for ten months, end
ing the same .date; was three times
that of the Philippines, and more
than double that of Porto Illco.
6treets Named for Musicians.
Tarls Is considering the advisabil
ity of naming two new streets after
Wagner and Verdi. Now York and
HoBton have no musically named
streets. Chicago has streets oamod
after Schubert, Beethoven and Mozart,
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
November I "Great M:a of the Bible: Waft
David Teaches Us." I. Sam. 16:11.13;
Psa. 19; Join 7:41
C-ally Readings.
Scrlpturo Verses. 2 Sam. S: 19; 1
Sam. 20:7-9; 14:9, 10; 17:43; 25:32,
43; Psa. 39:1; 37:3; 4:11; 61:2, 3;
89:1.
Lecscn Thoughts.
David's life gives us tlreso two les
sons very emphatically: the necessity
of trust in God, illustrated by David's
successes when relyJng upon God'i
hlp, and his failures when depending
upon himself; and the wisdom of
trusting God, who never failed to re.
ward richly all the confidence of Da
vid. One great secret of David's con
tinually growing faith in Qod waB his
readiness to recognize God's help and
lo acknowledge it In psalms of glad
thanksgiving.
Selections.
Come, blessed Psalms! when weak
and lone
My heart breaks down and finds no
aid,
And let me find In your deep tone
Some voice of comfort ready made.
For who shall find, in pain or Iosb,
Words of such sweet, sustaining
power
As those that hung about tho cross
And soothed my Savior's dying
hour?
Wo are safe anywhere whlla ths
Lord haa work for us to do. He It ours
to live with the harp In our hand,
praising God and blass'inx our fellow
men, and we shall bo preserved from
the Javelins of our foes.
Good men are gratd'til men. Jona
than had shown David great kindness,
and therefore David sought to return
It to his descendants. He who la not
faithful In friendship gives no evl
denca that he is sincere fa religion.
Happy Is the man who from hlf
heart can bless God that ro has been
koft pure and true, for he shall find
as David did, that the Lord will soon
er bow the heavens and dry up thi
saas, than leavo the godly to the.li
enemies.
David going forth alone and tin
armed, trusting only In God and hli
good arm, to meet tho haughty cham
plon of Phillstla, has become the typt
of single-hearted faith, confronting thr
powers of the world, and overcomlns
the great Adversary.
Suggested Hymns.
Holy, holy, holy is the Iord.
PralEe, my soul, the King of heaven
Search mo, O Lornl, and try thli
heart of mine.
While, thou, O my God, art my heir
and defender.
Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints ol
,bis.
When morning g!Id3 the skies.
EPWORTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
November I Mission Study Rally Day.
We have gone far beyond the day
when a hazy vision of a missionary
under a palm tree, proaching to a
half-dozen natives, was counted a suf
ficient knowledge of missions. There
is now a great and adequate literature
of missions. There are men and
women who havu first-hand knowledge,
both of the mission fields and of tho
resources of the Church. Their knowl
edge Is now within reach. We have
a newly Increased Interest In the sub
ject of missions. It has come to be
the point of strategic Importance in
tho forward movement of Christen
dom. It has political and social and
commercial bearing on tiro Iifo of our
own land. There is no part of tho
work of tho Church more worthy of
study than the missionary enterprise.
A copy of the text-book for mission
Study Classes should be secured early
from tho Methodist Book Concern.
Full Information concerning the
text-books for the year may be ob
tained of tho Epworth League office,
57 Washington Street. Chicago. The
central office will send free of charge
a circular explaining tho courses and
further helps in the preparation for
the meeting, as well as. full detail's as
to the organization of Mission Study
Classes.
Insist on the Interest to be found In
MisMcn Study. Prove it, by examples
from-personal experience.
Set forth In some graphic way tho
farts found under "What Our Church
1st Doing To-day."
Emphasize the fact that Mission
Study is a tracing of the Journeys of
our Iird imon; thn nations as truly
as a study of the Gospel is a tracing
of his going up and down 'in the Holy
Lanu.
Present the plan of the Department
of World Evangelism for systematlo
Mission Study.
Look for Immediate results. Expect
that some people WM desire to begin
the study of missions. Give thvm an
opportunity to make themselves
known.
If possible the leader of tho class
should have been selected before
hand. Then, whilo Interest In the sub
ject is still fresh, the class enroll
ment may be begun at the close ol
the mealing, and the time and place of
the first class hour appointed.
FRESH CAU8E FOR QUARREL.
Philosopher Satisfied He Had Done
Soma Good.
"I was over at Allcgash the other
day for the first time in four years,"
said the . Kohack philosopher, Ju3t
bit sarcastically, "and I found my
nephew Luther and his estimable wife
still squabbling over the same ques
tion they were quarreling about when
I was there before. The only change
that I was able to detect was that,
while in the first place they appeared
to know what they were Jangling
about, by tbls time they seemed to
have forgotten what the original bone
of contention was, and wore quarrel
ing monotonously along without any
way of knowing when they had fin
ished. "Well, when my appearance inter
rupted them, Luther was startled to
tee how much thinner I had grown
In four years, and his wife was as
tonished at the way I had grown fat
And at it tbey went, quarreling over
that, and the original question was
shelved for Good and all. I came
away feollng amply repaid for the
trip. It is a satisfaction to know that
-you have done helpful act, and I
expoct I did them a great favor by
breaking the monotony, and giving
them something frenh to wrangle
over." -June Smart Bet
To Prohibit Smoking by Boyo.
The Japanese house of representa
tives bat passed a proposal to pro
hibit people below the age of 20
from snicking.
LHE GREAT DESTKOYEIi
SOME STARTLINC FACT3 ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
The Side Door of the Snloon Tins Opened
tlie Way to tlio Downward Path For
Women I.oe All Self Kespect and
Then the Descent Is Kasy.
Magistrate Charles A. Flammcr has
Riven the "side door" question much study.
As yet his attitude is still lli.it of the stu
dent, nnd he has come to few conclusions.
Hut on one point nt Joint his mind is thor
oughly made up. lie sovs:
"I am convinced of the evil of the sido
door of the saloon nnd the opportunities it
offers women who otherwise might stay
away. I have seen mnny pitiful canes of
women degraded, sunk to the lowest
depths: of children wore than orphaned;
of husbands discouraged to the point of
deserting their families. I lay the blame
largely at, the side door of the snloon. I
do not know how many saloons have
anartmcunts for women patrons, but I
think nearly every one in the tenement
districts is thus emiipned. In the day
time, when the husbands nre at work or
away from home, one woman will go out
with a neighbor or two. nnd the money
that should have gone toward supp'ying
the household table is spent in carousing
in the rooms at tho rear of the saloons.
"It makes dissipation so easy. I don't
believe thev really want to art drunk.
Even men seldom start out with (lint in
tention. But it is a (emulation for weak
women. They go with tlicir friends, nnd
there is no sugars! inn of infidelity lo Iheir
husbands. Their companions are women
who visit (heir homes dailv. When they
go out to do the day's marketing what is
easier than to slin into the side enlrance?
If thev come out before their money is all
gone it is becauso thry have spent enough
to get intoxicated. As a rule, the woman
who goes into a saloon loacs her self-respect
to such an extent tl. t she docs not
care about the results that arc sure to fol
low. T'lnt is one reason why so nar.y are
bl'nnirht into court.
"It would not be so bad. pevhans. if the
habit were not sweflinix nmnni that e'ass
of women who take life so scriouslv. They
do all things scriouslv. even tlicir rV'nVlng.
It bcoties a nart of tl'eir lives. We hoar
much about dripliing by society women.
Ik mav he true, but I am of the opinion
that it is in most eases mere incident to
other things a relish for luncheon or din
ner or n hirrh ball with rome friend. They
may get intoxicated at tin-"s. Tint the fact,
does nok get spread broadcast Ibr-vteiiOMt
the circle ill which they move. Thev do
not have to answer to n charge of intoxica
tion in court. Their children do not hear
of it. and if nossible the husband is kept
ignorant of it. There i no degrading er
ample. Then the household docs not suf
fer. 'Ihe wealthy woman do-'s rot have
clothes to make and mend. She does not
prepare Hie Mien's. The scall aiount slif
spends, if she dnps not drink hqun" a1
ready in the house, would not be missed
from her nin n-oney.
"Hut when the poor wom-'-i who na'ron
izes the side door sneds fifn- cenls o- SI
somebody has to snffpr. Th"rc ;s that,
much less toward the rent. A lik'-'y as
not she is unable to attend to her lonse-worl-.
and the ehildren are reelected, and
he h'"jhand. who mav be a dnnkin"- rci
himself, cannot snd such n fault in his
wii'e. There is neither happiness nor peace
in !nt family.
"There is a new phase of th" liquor nu
"on that interests me. It is th" fitnilv
liquor Btnre. with 'ts peat err.iv of bn't'cs
n the window. The 'family' honor sto-e
has no bar nnd cate-s nnlv to f mily trad".
I am not prnsred to sav what part i.
plavs in the drama of drunkenness, fnch
establishments pay a much lower license
than the saloon and thev sc'l the!" wares
more cheaply. I do not see how they ard
the sa'oons can exist side by side Tt i
my belief that a third condition will be the
result, but what that wit' be I do not
know. I can remember t'ie t;me when
there were no sa'nnns ;n New York iust
grocery storps. wi'h a b-er ptimn or two
in the rear. I'i"ally the bael; of the este'v
bailment proved more profitable than tho
fronf and the grocery end was dropnd.
"If there arp any more cl-inces in the
saloons I would like to see the s'de lonr
nhandoncd. If women insist nn drinking
let them g" where there will be no con
cealment. Men in the laborie rlassc find
it hard enough to P'ake a 'ivinr " i'hnuk
having wives whom thev Riid'lnV d's.-nvpr
to be hope'ess drunkards. If there v-ere
not so much seorppv about thp side doit
the husband miuht be "a'-ncd in time to
prevent the utter dcarfdafion of t'e -vom-an
who bears his name. " Xew York Press.
"A Cocktail or Two."
The New Vor'r Wov'd. under the head
in". "A Cocktail cr Two." says:
"Writing to the Wor'd las' wr-1; to
deny certain stories in eircutat'nn to tho
effect that she was addict"d to the use
of Hnigs. Mabel Sinirlcy said:
'I may have b-"n eii'ltv of n e"ek
tail or two before dinner, but to Fay that
I took morphine or opium is an unfair
accusation.'
" 'A cocktail or two before d:nner!'
Pleasantly stimulative, en inceptive to con
versation, making the dinner 'go,'-an ex
cusable relaxation, in tt-o view of inn
women, of the old ricid inritanie absti
nence from the wine epn. So many women
do po who nre 'good form:' it is n sicht
not rare in pub'ic r"sUurants; why should
moralists complain?
"Their "eason ftv eom-laint mav be read
in the Kvening World storv '-rsterdav
about ."Pi women in the workhouse on
Ulack well's Tsland, most of I hem sent up
for intoxication. Amnp- these unfortunates
nr women once of high social position,
rich, courted, netted, who are now on
an even level of degradation with vmen
rescued from the m'tpr. Th" oualitv o;
alcohol s not sraned in its effects: cham
pagne from a ballroom s'inper ma- end
the imbiber n th" 'Island' as speedily as
coeVlai's or kirschwasscr.
"And the painf-1 thing is that for the
woman drunkard, l.y the testimony of tho
Ttlaekwell's nurses, there is po reform
'not fo- one in a hund-ed ' A'l reforma
tory effects, fail whn dvmk rets hold on
the weaker sex. The flushed face never
regains i's norma' coin-- in the end blear
eves and gin soddened bloat rcplaco the
fair features.
"With esel. rclaps" the enpetito -jains a
stronger hold on the victim and every
fall co-ries her down a sten lower. Th"
male drunkard emcee from the n'
cobnl ward at Tiellevne. Hon s black coat,
and reappear in society sure of s vc'"ime.
Vr,r th" woman tbere is r- such rec'ma
tion. She is pot given another chance."
Women of London Drink More,
Vhe drinkin" habit among the women of
Tendon is said to be growing nt nn alarm
ing rate w'th the increase in the number of
women's clubs. A London World reporter
suys that one sops more whisky-and-sodas
on the tables nt these clubs than are seen
in the men's clubs, where there is a marked
decrease in drinking.
r.
Real Cause of Fnuprrmn.
According to recent investigations re
carding the real cause of pauperism in Swe
den, it is stated that fifty-two per cent, of
the nauners in that country are habitual
drunkards; that in the case of thirtv-nine
per cent, of the children csred for in the
almshouses and asylums the father is or
was a drunkard, and that in a less number
of cases both parents were victims of strong
drink.
JTsver of Any t'se,
A circu'sr has been issued by Paris phy
sicians taking the radical ground that al
cohol is never and never can be of any use
whatever to the organism,
" ' In tha South.'
There are more saloons in tha State of
New York than in sll the States south of
the Ohio River and Pennsylvania, includ
ing Arkansas and I-ouiaiaua. the (inures re
spectively being 34,000 and 27.000. This sur
prising statement is made by Alouzo K.
Wilson. Chairman of the Prohibit icm Stats
Commutes of Illinois, and there is reason
to believe it is true, as prohibition, under
local option wws, has keen gaming rapidly
in the South.
Onisha saloonkeepers wera notified not
long sines by the tire and police commis
sioners to remove immediately all slot ma
chines and musical instruments from their
saloons, and not hereafter to allow women
to frciu;iit or pa!iouLo tha aroj shops.
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
Oeoeral Trads Conditions.
R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review
of Trade" says: While some contrac
tion in trade and industry lias undoubt
cdly taken place, it is not in proportion
to the reduction of 20 per cent, in pig
iron output or the reaction in price!
of securities, although in normal ycarf
these have usually proved fairly relia
ble barometers. Many branches ol
manufacture, however, arc working fill'
force, with large orders still unfilled
while the latest returns of the cropi
are most encouraging. Finance and
labor are the disturbing elements thi
year, neutralized very largely by fav
orable commercial and agricultural con
ditions. The net result is a fairly wef
maintained volume of trade, offset bj
conservatism in carrying out protected
new undertakings nnd proposed cxtcn
sions of facilities. Railway earning-
thus far available for October are 6.1
per cent, larger than last year and ia.
per cent, above 1901.
Bradstrcct's says: Crops genera!!;
are slow to move. Cereal producers an
apparently disinclined to accept prescn'
prices for their products.
Wheat, including flour, exports foi
the. week aggregate 2,865,610 bushels
ngainst 3.yjH,72i last week, 5,240,68
this week last year, 5,536.073 in 1901
and 3,796,643 in 1900. Corn export
for the week aggregate 1,410,412 bush
els, against 1,101,118 last week, 180,67.
a year ago, 640,033 bushels in 1901, anf
2,886,993 in 1900.
LATEST MARKET QUOTATIONS.
Flour Spring clear. $3.8o(T'4.oo; bes
Patent $5.00; choice Family $4 25.
Wheat New York No. 2, 85!$c
Philadelphia No. 2, 83 'A (3.83; Haiti
more No. 2 84c.
Corn New York, No. 2, 53c; Phila
delphia No. 2, 5oJ4(5.5oc; Baltimore
No. 2, 54c.
Oats New York No. 2. 41; Phila
delphia No. 2, 43431 Baltimore No
3, 42J4C
Green Fruits and Vegetables. Ap
pics Maryland and Virginia, per br!,
fancy, $i.oor.25; do, fair to good, 7;
C'fl.oo; do, Western Maryland and
Pennsylvania, packed, per brl $1,001.'
1.50. Beets Native, per bunch.
2C. Cabbage Native, per 100, $j.5ofa
3.00. Cauliflower New York, per bar
rel or crate, $1. 752.00. Cranberries
Cape Cod, per brl $6.5o(a 7.00; do, pci
box, $1. 75(2.00. Celery New York
State, per dozen 25'J?40c. Carrots Na
tive, per bunch itfi.ijc. Corn Native,
per dozen, field, 8(d;ioc; do, per dozen,
sugar, 18(22. Eggplants Native, per
too $2.oo!ul2.5o. Grapes Concord, pet
5-lb basket I2(?ti2c; do, Niagara, 15
Si6c; do, Delaware, do, (a20z. Let
tuce Native, per bushel box 25(5 35c.
Lima beans Native, per bushel box
Jr.50S1.75. Onions Maryland and
Pennsylvania, yellow, per bn 6of?T65c;
do, Western white, per bu 7017.
Pumpkins Native, each 2'A(iii2.
Quinces New York State, per brl
$4. 50(0:5.00. String beans Anne Arun
del, per bu, green, doGfisc. Spinach
Native, per bushel box 25tfT3oc. Tur
nips Native, per bushel box 2??T3oc.
Potatoes. White Native, per ' bu
box, fjogfisc; Maryland and Pennsyl
vania, prime, per bu, fxnsc; New
York, prime, pr bu, 6of,t55c. Sweets
Yellows, Maryland and Virginia, per
brl, $l.25:.5o; Virginia, red, per brl,
$i.ory$t.25. Yams Virginia, per brl,
(i.oouTi.25.
Provisions and Hog Products. Bulk
clear rib sides, 954c; bulk clear sides,
10; sugar-cured shoulders, blade-cut,
10; sugar-cured shoulders, narrow, S';
sugar-cured shoulders, extra broad, 11;
sugar-cured California hams, 7$; can
vascd and uncanvased hams, 12 lbs and
over. 1 ;: hams, canvascd and uncanvas
ed, 15 lbs and over, J3J4: skinned. 131
refined lard, second-hand tubs. n,: re
fined lard, half-barrels and new tubs,
pM; tierces, lard, 9.
Live Poultry. Turkeys Young, 7
lbs and over, per lb ai4c; do, old, do,
per lb, (S13. Chickens Hens, heavy
to medium, per lb i2c; do. old
roosters, each 2530; do, young, larc
per lb (i'i2. Ducks Noting, 3 lbs
and over, per lb t!i,i2c: do, f,ncv,
large, old, white, per lb Iltfi?i2; do, do.
small, per lb ?io; do, Muscovy and
piongrcls, per lb lofaia.
Eggs. Western Maryland and Penn
sylvania, per dozen, loss off, J2ctji ;
Eastern Shore (Maryland and Vir
ginia), per dozen, loss off, (022; Vir
ginia, per dozen, loss off, West
Virginia, per dozen, loss 01T, 20i.2?.
Western, per dozen, loss off, -(11,22.
Butter Separator, 2i(S.sy, Gathered
Cream, 20(?r2i; Imitations, (a.19.
Hides. Heavy steers, association and
taltcrs, late kill, 50 lbs and up, close sc
.cctions, 9'4(a!4c; ccwi and light
ttccrs, 8((ijg.
Live Stock.
Chicago. Cattle Good to prime
steers. $5. IotfRs.Ss; poor to medium,
f3.50uT4.75: stockcrs and feeders, $2.js
11400; cows, $l.4oCa4.6o; heifers, $J.oo'ft
5.30; canncrs, $1.40(0:4.50; bulls,' $2.ooCnv
.35; calves, $3 5o(.'i7 50; Texas fed
steers, $2.753 25; Western steers.
fc3.001W4.50. Hogs Mixed and butch
trs' $5 15(55-85', good to choice heavy,
&S.ioC?5-50'. rough heavy, $1.75510;
light, $5.25(5.80: bulk of sales, $510
5.50. Sheep Sheep steady; lambs
Heady to 10c lower; good to choice
Aethers, $335'?400 ; fair to choice
mixed, $2.25(3.25; native lambs, $350
5-65.
Herrs Island Cattle slow; choice
$5.20(?i'5.5o; prime. $4 95f"Vio; fair,
i3.40n7.v90. Hogs lower; prime, heavy,
is.oxXii.oo; mediums, $6.ira6 15 : heav)
Yorkers, $6.006. io; light Yorkers.
i5. 85(0 6.00; pigs, $5.5X'5 65; roughs.
i4.00Ca5.40. Sheep steady; prime
wethers, $3.85T4 oo-
INDUSTRIAL AND SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
The censns of 1000 cost $11,854,817.
New York city consumes 2,000,000
barrels of potatoes a year.
A nugget of gold worth $3276 wai
found recently on Anvil Creek, Nome.
Only 16 in 100 victims of Bright's dis
ease are under forty-five years of age
Bulgaria corresponds in area to Ok
lahoma, and in population to Mis
souri. Appendicitis insurance policies art
issued in England at $1.25 a year (or
every $500.
In Spain the daily wage of a field
laborer ranges from 20 to 28 cents
without board. .
One-half of all the women in Mas
sachusetts who are able to work aro
wage earners.
Wages paid street car men in the
United State annually amount to more
than $88,000,000.
Servia and Greece each have a pop
ulation of 2.500,000, or a little less than
the State of Indiana.
In London half a million personr
are pigged together, three in a room,
while thrre-quurters of a million liuvt
half a room each; 354,000 belong to
the very pourt jtop.ooo to the poor.
ME KEL1010C8 LUK
READING TOR THE QUIET HOUrT
WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF;
opini jo lniir rpiru Anno nwi r
Clnuitn M. Severance Modern Boclnl
Temptations Arise Largely From Sfc
FiiUc ftense or 1'rnportlon.
When your comrades in toil
Cry ajtainst the world's greed,
Do your best (irecd to foil; -J
To your spirit take need.
1
If your lot be to serve, ,'
And another's to feed, ;
ICo employer un-nerve;
To your spirit take heed. '
' V
Since the rich and the poor
Of liod's btanty have need;
Let no need lona endure;
lo your spirit take heed. ,
I
When the angel draws nigh,
Reaping heavenly seed,
Witli your iSaviour then sigh;
, To your spirit take heed.
If on earth you are good,
And live up to Christ's creed1, .
God will crown you. He should;
lo your spirit take heed.
Temptations nr Social I.ire
The temptation of social life Iarffelj"
arise from a I'aUe cno ot proportion. Wet
nre like men who stand so close to soma
outfitting r''k that tlmv cannot see tho
mountain. We .ire so chie to our imme
diate work, says the Congrcgationnlist,
that we cannot realize that it is only
part of our true lite. The whole duty
man cannot be bounded hy the apparent
requirements of businc- success. It take
account of relations to flod a veil ns self,
to others as certainly as to those who are
dependent 011 us. We may praise diligence
in business with a good conscience only s
long na we coinhine with it the other re-,
quiremeuts of the nnostle: "In diligence
not slothful: fervent in spirit; serving ther
Lord." I'.ecause wo have our place in tho
social order and business competition tor
sustain, we must study the proportion of
these claims to the demands of our filiali
relation to God and our brotherly vlntion
to men. It will be serving the world badly
if we succeed in filtering it n successful
business at the cost of giving it a meair
nnd petty nnd degenerate man.
There is a certain cynically alliterative
rule of life which charges a young man to)
"net on. cret honor, cct honest." Th
stress of business competition seems to call
for some such progress by way of siicees
to nositinn and self-respect. It is a real
am! constant temptation, oniy to lie met
by remembering that if the man makes tho
business, the business also mikes the man.
Kven success may be too dcp.r'v bouzbt. Itr
may be spending a life to climb the roclc
when tho real mountain of vision nnl
honor is behind ii'. It may mean so short
sighted a perspective that time fills thw
vision while elernitv is '-'it of sight, snd
that the praise of men mav satisfy while
the praise of find may be forgotten or re
fused. Tho business man needs the sens
of proportion which takes account of God
as wc1! as man, of old age as well as matur
ity, of self-respect in days to come ns welt
as the servility which fallows wealth to
day. I
The companion of this desire to get on ire
business at env cost is the social rivalry
nnd display which i.' always with us. but
which has never reached larger proportion
than in our recent prosperous times. It
is a glamour which takes possession of th
soul and icslrovs the sense of rrea'' andi
small, of true and fale. It evades defini
tion, it escapes analysis. It turns sensible
men and wninn into foolish ones, n com
petency into 1 he strain of poverty, wealthy
into i real indigence, because the thini- de
sired is always just bevond the reach c
those who rck it. This social ambition
which on the one r.ide seeks self-glorificn
tion In lavish display and on the other hi
despising those who arc lower in the ranks
of fashion becomes a destroyer of the
broihcrhond of men, a contradiction of the
Ch'istlikc spirit.
Here, too, a sens" nf the proportion of
our life, a sense of the dignity of every
child of God is the corrective for this in
sanity of false ambition. The resources,
winch nre employed for service nre the
true satisfactions nf the social instinct, and
bring the true reward nf honor. To seek
with feverish endeavor the praise of mere
is a'-.vav.s disappointing. To -el: I. 2 praisa
of God sooner or Liter also brines in il
tram the honor and the love of men.
Spear I'otnts
TTis inrlwelhn'r assures communion
Faith is the hand wherewith we take
everlasting life.
There is no law against our likeness to
God's character.
t'nbelief cannot live in the sunlight o
fellowship with ti'od. '
The capacity for religion is a talent, tha
hi"icst talent we have.
The moral machinery moves aright when
Christ is the motive force.
A healthful hunger for a treat deal 14
the benutv and blessedness of life.
Man's lips, and not (lod'j ears are at
fault nhen prayers are unanswered.
A false god mav be made out of our?
foolish thoughts of the true One.
(ind often strikes nwav our props to)
bring us down upon His mighty arms.
Christianity is not to much the advent
of n better doctrine ns of a perfect charac
ter. The full salvation of the saint depends
on what he is doing tor the salvation ot
the singer.
The Lord's work can only be done with'
what, we saerif-ce, nnf hv what we think
we can spare. Ram's Horn.
'!
A Scientist's Knowledge.
Pome persons are dislnr'ncd bv the asser
tion that sc'eiicc creates religious doubt,
and that many scientists are agnostics. It
is true that some scientists are nenostfes,
but thev ate "ot sgnos'i, h becve they are
scientists. Manv of the world's foremost
scientists have been nnd arc devout end
earnest Christians. No one has rnn';eil
hicher in 'he scientific world than the lat
Michael Farad.iv. In the memoirs o
Henry Aeland. published recently in Eng
land, it is related that Mr. Acland and
Mr. Faraday were talking together one day
on the nrobsb'" employments of a future
life, and thnt Mr. Fnradnv in trumphant
tones said: "That which I know best ami
nnticipnte most is that I shall go to ba
with Christ." Thee words nf Faraday
were written upon the fly-leaf of Acland
Bible. Puch knowledge the best that th
great scientist possessed is not acquired
by stndv, but by simple faith. ad jt may
be obtained by every soul. X. W. CUria
tian Advocate.
KITecf of Faiitt-Flnillnar.
Tt is singular the effect that criticisms;
the faults of others has upon one's rlf.
It makes him so self-riehtcous that he im
agines that ho himself has no imperfec
tions! Wellsprin.r.
-rrrum
A Evcred Task.
The minister who weaves his feeling
and his tears into everv jov and grief of
his flock, who exults with the hanpv and
weeps with the woe-stricken, while wrest
ling for them with fate and with doubt
until peace . ns entered ino soul, tliafc
priest who carries the nsma of the children
Israel upon his bosom and stands witli
the holv incense of religion mediating be
tween life and death, between the past and
tho future, disclujivs a saced task in thn
congregation. He places the name of Oorl
npon all to uplift and to fortify them for
dutv and for holiness, for virtue and
righteousness while Pointing to God ss the
foundation of all blessing. Dr. Kautmaa
Kohler. ...
Poster of 18SS.
Calvin D. Paige, president of th
Worcester south agricultural tocloty,
hut put on exhibition a poster which,
advertised tho first Sturbridge, Masa.,
fair. Oct 3. 1856. The old relto vis
presented to Mr. Paige by Henry Car
tcr ot Mlllbury, eiecutor ot the Glea
c estate of Warren, which Is in pos
session of a large number of curios la
the line of advertising matter pertain
lrg to the rcrly exhibitions of tho W'or
coitcr Ecuth society.