"DAYID AS A RULER"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr.
Edward B. Thurbcr.
DMcrltlof lbs Lilt ol tha Psalmist From
Shecpcofe to Thron.
Pasts. The Rev. Dr. Edward B. Thur-
tier preached n sermon in the American
church here which lias attracted conider
ible attention. 1 lis subject waa "David a
Kulcr; or. From SliccDcote to Throne."
The text wa taken from I Chroniclea
xvii:7: "Thua saith the Lord of Hoata, 'I
took thee from the alieepcote, even from
following the aheep, that thou shouldst be
ruler over My people Israel.' " Dr. Thur
ber aaid:
What a ereat distance from the pastures
in Bethlehem to the throne in Jerusalem.
The contrast between the shepherd boy
and the King of Israel ia one of the mar
vela which human history preaenta na. It
in certain that no one ia able to bridga
luch diatancca without the intervention ol
assisting condition and forcea. Thera
must be acting factora in the life if tha
(treat result arc secured. A man becomes
a debtor to ao much, to hi environment.
to favoring conditions, to friendlv agencies,
and sometimes to seemingly adverse cir
cumstances. Ilia own pciwera are stimu
lated, directed and assisted toward the
good that ia to be reached. ,
The American ' Revolution had ome
thing to do in advancing Washington to
his position in history: hi enrlv educa
tion, his nneestrv, his religious feeling, the
people among whom hi lot was east, were
all factora in his career. The French Rev
olution was the great opportunity which
the genius of Napoleon could seize and util
ize. Many a man fails to come conspicu
ously to the front because I ho times are
not ripe for a dramatin career.
The wise roan studies and understands
how varying factor may be made to con
tribute to his progress and welfare. He
cornea to know how much depends upon
the interest and aervicea of one whom he
mav aeek and erve, and-who may seek
and serve him.
David's open sonl called a multitude of
agencies into service, for his career and
their employment, made liia history possi
ble, and cave to it that peculiar color and
ve-'ety which charm us.
The star sooke to him. and through
Mm they speak to us. as hia thought and
fee'inga are renorted in the music of the
.alms, whirh have been such a solace and
inspiration to multitudes aince his time.
Th fields, flowers and forsts. the streams
and scenes of nature, bird and beast, had
tneir part in the poetry he felt and ex
pressed in a literature that will last aa
long as language endure. Hia friendships,
that ideal one with Jonathan, h' associa
tion with all classe and conditions of
men. ive us a unique and interesting per
sonality. Yon cannot understand David until you
take into consideration the nature of the
tendencies within him, and measure the
degree of the influencs which entered
into the 'ormaHon of his character and
career. There is a lero-e mixture of con
trastin" and contradicting temlencie in
him. These are mmifested through the
years of his eventful hitorv. He was like
a citv that is Vicing bnilded. The origins'
low. marshy places must be drained and
filled un. roneh rs.th must give n'sce to
well na'-ed atrcts. rude huts will be su
perseded bv T-el' constructed houses, pa'
aces and public building: the crude and
inartistic will'be renlared bv the work of
architeeta nnd artists-, before the city can
become h"iit'fnl and hca'thful.
Through all the period of construction
there "-ill be present the contrasts e-d
contradictions that ar and oualifv the
glorv of the city. There are t"1" thi"s
hat would be annni-ent to a candid crit'e:
hat progress ia bcin" made, and that the
issue of endeavor will be sure and satis
factory. Thia contrast is presented through the
course of David' life. If we look at some
featurea which come before u conspicu
ously we will judge him severely; if we
I. ok at othera we will say how admirable!
and at tl e same time we will perceive that
his way is onward from the alieepcote to
the throne. At times David ia as humble
aa a child that fee's his wcaknesa and
need, and yet stands before his father, tliiit
he may be taught and led, and nrain he is
as haughty as a man who count no one
hi superior. He upholds truth and right
eousness as essential to manhood, a"d then
under the influence of fear he decei'-"
King Acliish, who has befriended him. He
shows a wonderful spirit of forbearance
and forgiveness toward his enemy. Saul,
and then he nuts his frend Uriah to the
peril of certain death. His love for Jona
than is wonderful and idal, and then 'e
yields himself to degrading loves. He
needed to be taken out of thee conditions
of selfishness, sensualitv, pride and the
evil of wrong 1'fe. if he was to become
"a man after God's own heart."
We would nia all. however, unless we
Knew about the sovereign influence which
rrvaded. arranged, emnloyed and directed
all factor and condition whi"h entered
into and contributed toward Da-id' ca
reer. Without this dominating influence
Jemss'em would never have been related
with Bethlehem. We must also remember
that the fruition of a great character would
hv ben imnossih'e without the presence
of God. While all this 's true we must
bear in mind even the di'ine nower did
not contradict the choice of David or force
hi voluntary action. God dealt W'lli him
a a free and intelligent soul. He wss
called to enter into partnership with God,
and he in t"m nrsved that God would b
with him. . He cried out for the living G"d,
as the thirsty land criea out for the life
giving water, that it may blossom a the
rose and rejoice in the beauty and bounty
of fruitfuWs.
It ! with such an interpretation and
oualification that, we listened to. and un
derstand, what is intended when God ia
represented a saving. "I took thee from
the aheencote, even from fo'lowing the
neen. that thou shonldst be ruler over My
People T-aeI." God nti"il '"to and in
terested Himself in David's life, even as
He would in our lives. God directed nnd
utilized circumstances, made use of envi
ronnnt. employed the stars thst spoke to
David' oil, ws in the hlue ky of Pal
estine, and amid the clou Is that at time
darkened the heaven and pervaded with
Hi purpose and power all the form of
nature in Bethlehem that spoke so insnir
inglv to the soul of the young man. God
utilised the strength of bodv and oul, em
ploying all tl. power and faculties and
"Mporiunine in I tie interests ot ni pro
gress. He made use of discipline, disao
pointment and apparent failure, of his
in and error; in no way condoning
them, but with a purpose to ake them
erve Him and work for David' promo
tion. Life take on larger meaning., and that
weaning is better, understood when God
M in our life.
The little fountain up the slope of some
Alpine peak ha it significance, but when
we connect it ceaseless flow and' contribu
tion with the Rhine, which give a water
way to a large country, it seems more iiu
porsnt to us.
When the Rhine flow onward, bearing
the contribution of a multitude of rivulets
and river through a wide domain, and
Rive its varied service 'o the wealth and
Welfare of an empire, we srive the noble
'iver larger consideration. It means much
Jlr to na. The coming of the King of
Italy to France and Paris is something
nore than personal visit. The Ki"g
bring the rood will of a kingdom. - He
''present the desire of ranprochment of
two nation into reconciliation and friend
nip. The decoration of a city, the snlen
(lor of illumination, the inarch of aoldiera,
tji manifested good will of a people, are
tue emphatic expression of ttt value of
fraternity between nation.
These and recent i-ovetm-nU of a similar
kind are the utterance of that lunging tor
the federation of nation in a spirit of ad
justment which will make for tha prosper
ity and progress of til people. The roove
Jiienta in tlicniselve-i may seem eimple, bul
they are not childV play, when we recog-
what large designs and hope they as
press.
'1 his little life of our take on matne
and grandeur when we recognise (hat Uod
enter (uto it, with Hi wisdom.1 His love,
Ui purpose and His power. David waa
t" carry all these with him through the
"M and trying way that led from the
prwpeote to the throne ot Israel. That
i . with the plan aud power ol
-"d tn it. It had all the meaning and dig-
' T Vhick thaaa factora could civs it.
o take eoniprskansiv look we
l act taat tba arpansioa of Christianity
-outcwad utkta.Bvot.
ic was this Tact find ffi-frseor the Divine
Presence thst brought to David inspiration
and atrength. We take our Inspiration
partly from ideals, but also from co-operative
agencies that help us to translate
Ideals into life. God took David from
bumble bcglnninps and led him away, little
by little, from the shcepcote toward the
throne. The bny was to come into posses
sion of thoughts, ideals and purposes thnt
would force him onward from point to
point; so many things are to be expected
from the companv a man keeps, the
friends he chooses, the great soule h per
mit to influenre and help him. David
chose God, God those hi: , and a fellowship
was formed that determined a career.
How much it to be expected from uch an
association!
This was a real presence. It l a real
presence which God desires us to know and
realize. One says of a great atatesman:
"He habitually practices the presence of
f!od and livea under Him to Christ." The
doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit is n
teaching about the real presence of God
with man. The words'of our Lord in Ilia
parable of the vino and the branches ren
resents the relation between Him and Hi
followers. It ia more than anv earthly
love, fellowship or friendly relation. How
much these contribute to make our live
purer, better and loneer. You and I ever
more think we could have been, becauso
we have had those who loved us, and eave
to us the ministry of their love. How
mneh it means when the soul is related
with God by His abiding prespnee! How
much more comes out of our lives because
of this union! Mr. Hurley is minted as
saving of If. Gladstone in his rem.irkib'e
biography: "Life is a grent nnd noble call
ing; not a mem and groveling thing that
V" are to shuffle through as we can. but an
elevated nnd lofty destinv." The man bo
gins more fully to understand himself nnd
the pood lie shon'd strive to reach when he
admits to his mind and heart n stream of
new perccntions, feelings and influence
which must come, when he allows God to
take him out of the onide. the sinful and
lead him forward. Thia God shapes life
and destiny.
The great poet represents Hamlet a
taking in this thought and saving: "Let
V Know, our indiscretion sometimes serve
us well, when our deep plot do pall ; and
that should teach us.
There's a divinity that shnnes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will."
Were it not for the intervention of tha
divine wisdom and will how all of our plan
and purpose would fail, just for the lack
of the wisdom, goodness and power which
they require!
David was onlv rich and sure of the best,
as God was with him; this presence in
volved a glory, blessedness and fruition be
yond the measure of man's mind. Tha
shepherd bov, with all his limitations, is
so reinforced by Ood that he come to
rovil posit-on and power.
This divine presence ia pot only with
Davii at the alieepcote, but continues
through the long way of his entire and
checkered career, toward t'e good which is
in God's thought, The Heavenly Father
never lft or forsook hint. There were
grent dif .nlties to fnce, s:ic i as be'ong
to every strenuous, religious life, and they
needed to b surmounted. Man" a tniin
may stand before a mountain, but one
must climb the steep ascent and make use
of the means thnt ore to be tnken if he
reaches the height and the other side.
Th difficulties which David must m"et
anf1 muster are grent. There were enisodc
and experiences in his life which to human
view seemed to say: "Give up expectation
and ennVnvor. for vou cannot win the
crown." It is true th"t h hail been called
of God nnd anointed bv the "rophet Sam
jiel when he was a lsd. but he efterward
left the sheencote. so that he became a
"'ed and successful soldier; the nlaic'lts
of the multitude had rung in his ears, but
his apnaront gii-cpss ercited the an?" and
envy of Saul. David beceme an onl)"w. a
hunted 'uiritive. and hia life was in di-cct
peril. How "ou'd he become a king! Yet
God was with Mm: this ws his assurance
of success. God was with Mm in his darl;.
est nieht, jn hjg deepest distress, in hi
most difficult and danperoua experiences,
when friends were hopeless and no words
of assurance and chr came from any hu
man source, but amid all this hi! was mak
ine progress, ".mid the labrvinth of a mvs
terious providence, toward the throne ho
ws to occupy.
This. then, is the i-nd f-ir us to-dar.
The God of David will be with c-rv one
-ho consents and covenants with H!ni. Tn
His wisdom we shall be wie: i-i His
strerfth we shall be strnn?. In IT; ove
eha" find our lne will b'-e and grow.
When W0 j, 0UP J j F n-n wj know how
much life mrans. In the out'oo'- "-hich
Jesus Christ presents to us we will know
hat we ere roing forward to a wisdom,
lo'-e end 1'fe that are immortcl.
God waits to m'- Hicself 'own in all
of the relations of if where Hi n -sence
can be of aervice. That of which He do
sir of everv one of r is a more unre
stricted yielding to His presence ond
power.
Pride vs. Progress.
Without humility religious progress if
impossible. Pride is the destruction ol
the principle of progress; it whisper tc
u continually that we are all that coald
be desired, or it points our attention ta
high positions and anibiti-ous effort be
yond the scope of other men. Yet the true
growth of the soul i not to be measured
by our attempting many extraordinary
duties, but by our power of doing simple
dutiea well, and humility, when it reign
in the soul, carries this principle into prac
tice. It bids us hallow our work, espe
cially whatever may be to us hard or dis
tasteful work, by doing it a a matter of
principle. It enriches common acta of
neighborly and social kindness with that
intenaity of moral effort which is due to
every act of which the deepest moving
power is the love of God. F. D. Hunting
ton, D. D.
Uonorlng tha Father.
I saw a beautiful thing not long ago. It
waa a brilliant, successful man, widely
known, paying honor and giving loving at
tention to his father. The father had al
ways been a man of humble parts; he had
never been known a a brilliant or partic
ularly auccesaful man. But he ha been a
good man, and a good father, and, now
that the son ha come to honor, there is
nothing that he can do too good to show
his gratitude to and respect for hi
father. It i a beautiful sight. Sunduj
School Time. "
Keeping Still."
Many a man whose life has had in U a
good deal of trouble and opposition would
have aaved much if be had learned in his
shildbood the lesson of "keeuijg still." if
the hard word hurt it will not make it
easier to make an angry reply. If you do
Dot answer at all, it stop right there; if
your tongue cannot be restrained nobody
know what the result may be. Patience
sometimes serve a man better than cour
age. You will find again and again that
the way to keep out of trouble i to keen
ttill. Tba Christian.
Tha Palac of tha Shah.
Tbe palace of the Shah of Persia,
according to Donald Stuart, In "Tbe
Struggle for Persia," la an appalling
combination of dlnglneaa and splen
dor, of aquulor and luxury. One ot
tbe moat Interesting rooms Is that
filled with portraits of all the mon
arch of Europe. In the next room Is
his majesty's writing apparatus. Here
stands a globe, such aa may be seen In
a schoolroom, except that the conti
nents are mado with gerqs of different
color and all the names and rivers are
marked In diamonds. On the walls a
painting by an old master Is framed
next to a highly colored advertisement
of a dealer In fish books. The throne
Itself is a sort ot wooden bod, about
nine feet by six, the woodwork cov
ered with diamonds, emeralds, ruble
and sapphires, tome an Inch long. Tba
value of the whole Is estimated rough
ly at 95,000.000 or 16,000,000. On the
Boor of the throne la a carpet ao
thick with pearla that tbe texture of
tbe cloth is .hardly visible,' while a
huge rasa, set with turquoises and
pearla, stands aide by aid with a
cheap painted urn, such as la. some
Untes sees at country fairs.
THE S4BBATH SCHOOL
Intcrrw'.nal Lesbon Comm.ois for
December 6.
Subject Solomon' W'ii Choice, I Kings III
4-li Golden Tex', Prov. Ix , 10 Memory
- Verics, 12, 13 Commentary on the
Day's Leuon.
I. The festival at Gibeon (vs. 1 41. 4.
" ent to Gibeon." The first work of Sol
omon was to hold a national festival at
Gibeon. This was the "great hiah plnee"
till the te.nplc was built. The chronicler
informs us that Solomon assembled A great
congregation with him, ond that the brazen
altar made in the days of Moses by lieza
leel and the old "tabernacle of the congre
gation" were still exi-tting at that place.
See 2 Chrnn. 1:1-6. The object of thi
grent assembly waa to unify the people
under Solomon, to show the nation that
he stood by the religion and the God of
his fathers, to extend the influence of
religion over the nation, and to bring ail
into harmony.
If. Solomon's rennest (vs. 5-fl). S.
"'I he Lord appeared." At the close of
this seaon of worship, when his mind
was uplifted to God. "In a dream." God
frequently appenred to men in dreams in
Hib.e times. "Ask," etc. As there is no
limit fixed, an absolutely unlimited rango
ni rhoiie is brrc placed before Solomon,
This would reveal vliat it was that was
really uppermost in his desires.
fl. ''Solomon said." Solomon, before de
ei-ling what to choose, carefully considered
hi circumstance nnd needs, thus showing
that well-balanced mind on which it wa
possible to bestow the gift of wisdom.
"Shrewd . . . mercy," Four consid
erations moved Solomon to make the choies
be did. first. God had shown mercy to
David, his father. He spoke honorably of
his father's piety. onccaling his faults,
and then introduces himself its the prom
ised zrent kindness that God had given to
Dnvid in his family. "Truth . . . right
eousne3 . . . uprightness," Truth her
contains all duties to God; righteousness
the duties to men, and uprightness tha
right manner of performing both. Such
grateful humility and such high apprecia
tion of moral excel'enco arc qualities of
heart favorable to the reception of God's
best gifts,
7. "Thy servant king." The second con
sideration was because he was king. Al
though Solomon rec-ognired the fact that
God and not man had placed him upon
the throne, vet bo needed divine assistance
in bis work. It H a source of grent
strength and blessing to be in the position
and doing the work to which we are con
scious that God has appointed tn. This is
a strong reason for asking nnd expecting
(nil's ! ek.-tinz unon us. "A little child.
The third consideration wn his youth
and lack of experience. His exact aT
at this time is unknown, but he wn.s prob
ably nineteen or twenty, 'lliis devout con
sciousness of his own weakness w;is really
So'omon" best pualificntion ns a ruler.
R. "In the midst." That is. Solomon 1
set over them as king. The fourth consid
eration was the greatness of the work
to be done. All eves are turned upon
him, and be is expected to rn'e and guide
the people. They wore n turbulent peop'e,
o.'ten going astray, often contending with
each other, with strong wills and an im
pulsive temperament. Probably tli-ie wa
a strong partv opposed to him, and broth
ers of full a-;e ready to load it, "Thou
hnst chosen." It w.n not only a great
nation, but the nation chosen to represent
God before the world, and carry out Hi
kingdom, and tcioh tin world Hi truths.
All this was a far greater responsibility
than the ruling of an ordinary kingdom.
''Cannot he numbered." There seems to
be a reference in these words to the prom
ises made bv God to Abi-.i'iani. more es
pecially to Genesis IS: IB. This was a com
mon and natural expression for a largo
number. In such a kingdom it would bo
very difficult to get tbe actual number of
the people, l'rom the number of men given
in 2 Sam. 04:0 end 1 Chrnn. 21:5, 0, it i
infarred that the population waa about
0,000,000.,
0. "Give therefore." I!ccaue of the
rc-nsidcrat inns. "An understanding heart."
Hia r?iucst ncorded with the exhorta
tions David bad given him. His petition
was that the Lord won'd enlarge and
strengthen h; intellectual nower; give
him a ready discernment in spiritual things,
nnd a corresponding dii-positions nnd f'ir
ii'sh him with the peculiar talents and
ability for government, that he mielit ad
minister iustire and judgment rightly for
he bere'it of the people, and the honor of
God. "To iudire." Absalom wished to bs
a tudge- Solomon trembled at the un!"r
nUincr. Solomon as':ed nothing merely for
himself, but everything was directed to
ward the eood of the peonle. His choice
was unselfish, noble and divine.
III. (lod'g answer (vs. 10-11). 10, 11.
"Pleased the Lord." Although this con
versation is repreentcd as having taltert
piece in a dreim, vet it expressed So'o
mon' real desire during his waking mo
ptents. Solomon bad prayed the day be
fore with ereat frequency, and desired of
God the gift of wisdom. "Hast not asked."
The trreitness of Solomon's renuest is esti
mated by what be did not ask. Ho wa
unse'fish. A weaker man wou'd have de
sired either (D long life; or (21 riches: or
(3) the life of his enemies: that is. that
God would take the life of bis enemies,
or put it in hi power to destroy them.
12,13. "According to Thy word." Those
are accepted of God who prefer spiritual
blessings to temporal, and are more de
sirous to be found in the way of duty
than preferment. So'omon' pr.iver was a
prevailing -prayer. God gave him riche
nnd honor and long life without hi ask
ing, and thus he received a double blessing.
Hut although the Lord gave Solomon wis
dom and understanding, yet he doubtless
studied and toiled like other tr.en for hi
acquirements.
14. 13. "If thou wi't," etc. There is a
moral hinge on which every blessing of
God swings. Divine favor and promises
release no man from the obligations 1
riihtenusness. So'omon neer met thei-e
conditions fully. He received much, bi.t
he would have received much more had
he been faithful to the grace given. "Came
to Jerusalem." He had made hi prayer
at Gibeon. and there God graciously met
him; but he returned to the eapital again
where he might in holy adoration present
himself before tbe sacred ark of the cove
nant, which was there in the citv of David.
"Offered . . . offerinas." Solemnly to
praise God for ail Hi mercies, and espe
cially for giving him ouiet possession of
the kingdom, and for Hi glorious appear
ance to him in the dream, and for ths
promise made to him.
IV. Solomon's wisdom (chap. 4:29-34).
In chapter 4:-28 we have an account of
So'omon' wealth 'and worldly greatness
and in verse 29-114 of his wisdom. Hi
wi-'.om took many direction. He was
wise as a iudge, as an architect, as a state-ma-,
in literature, in science. He had a
com-rehensive, powerful mind capable of
grasping the knowledge of many and dif
ficult subject.
m Right f Way.
It had been Impressed on Edward
and John by their mother that they
should always give precedence to wom
en, at no matter what cost to them
selves, Now Edward and John and
Margaret had been adjudged guilty of
' the kind of naughtiness that In the
I opinion of the presiding judge, per
I socated by thctr mother, needed the
) laying on of a slipper as tbe best pun
ishment to fit the offense. She lined
them up In front of hei' and deftly re
moved her little slipper.
"Edward," aha aald sternly, "coma
here.". -
"You've forgotten Madge, mother."
whimpered Edward. "Ladles first, you
know."
Horn Made Tether Ball.
This la a good time of year to play
tether ball, and It la not bard to make
all. the thlnga needed to play It with
In case you have not got tbe money to
buy tbem ready wade. Even It you
have, it'a a good thing to leajsa to
make things once and a while, Just
to know bow.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
Dxembor 6 What lb Heroes of Filth Tescb
Us. Heb. 11:1-40.
Scripture Verses. Dent. 33:27;
lohn 14:1; 1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:12;
I Cor. 15:67; Eph. 6:11-13; 1 Tim.
6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; 1 John 6:4.
Lesson Thoughts,
We have nmeh treed for faith In
this world, fcr there are very many
things that we cannot understand
fully; and to trust though we cannot
understand Is the exercise of faith.
If you take God's promises ai.d act
upon them; If you learn His v-nl and
Jo HJs commandments, you may be
lure you have faith; for nothing else
could lead you to do so.
Faith grows by exercise; but we
need more than merely our own ef
forts. Selections.
Faith Is learned, and the learning
often costs. Walking by faith is not
walking by sight, and walking blind
folded is not learned by walking with
spen eyes. It was through trial that
Abraham became the father of the
faithful, and Jt is of no use for us
to expect that our prayers for faith
will be granted without trial.
Phillips Brooks says that when men
pray for more faith, what they really
want Is usually more faith, but more
light. What they want not
trust and courage to bear
their burden evon In the dark, but
ihey want the dark removed so than
they can see the good that will come
.'rom their burden-bearing. And this
would be sight, and not faith at all.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke urges us nev
er to be so foollBh as to think It makes
no dJfference whether we believe or
Dot. Without faith, he says, our vir
tue Is like an empty alabaster box.
Faith Is the ointment that fill It, so
that Its fragrance fills the whole
house.
Suggested Hymns.
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesua.
I bring to Thee, O Master.
Encamped along the hills of light.
She only touched the hem of Ills
garment.
Not saved are we by trying.
My hepe is built on nothing less.
EPWORTH LEAGUE MEETINd TOPICS
December 6-Lost and Helpless A Mao
Without Christ John 12, 37:13; Heb. 3. 12.
They who have not heard of Christ
l:now only that they are helpless,
groping In the dark. They were born
blind. They have no lost vision of
the Christ to fill them with remorse.
They live In a world where helpless
ness seems to bo part of the order of
things. But In a Christian laud there
Is no sadder sight than that ot a life
which might have been radiant with
Christian hope, but 'instead ia given
over to despair.
Without Christ, what is there In our
lives to oppose sin? We are hampered
at the outset. There are glows of sin
cere purpose, faint hints of righteous
desire, feeble attempts at helpfulness.
But without Christ even these are lost,
sooner or later. Thero Is no center to
them, no unifying personality, no lead
ership, and no forgiveness.
Without Christ every failure of the
gcod in us is added strength for the
bad. Every sin leaves us weaker.
Every help refused leaves us harder.
Every good spurned gives the evil
firmer lodgment. By and by the heart
is hardened. The ear that refused to
hear is now deaf and unresponsive;
the life which loved darkness better
than light Is blind at noonday.
Hardness of heart is a subtle disease
that destroys at the same t'imo sensi
bilities and hopas. It takes away the
pain-sense. Some men congratulate
themselves that they are no longer
foolishly sensitive to spiritual things.
They make no effort to renew the old
responsiveness.
Almost without exception, he who
ha.: put faith out ot his heart has first
put obedience out of his life. Few go
the way of Robert Elsmere, living a
blameless life and yet losing theJr hold
on Christ. That book Is not true to
life. The process is ordinarily re
versed. Motive and conduct change,
then Christ Is denied and then the
dark!
There are four things a man cannot
believe, If he has given up Christ:
Mercy, Justice, Immortality, Revela
tion. "He will have mercy and abundantly
pardon." That Is the Bible's unbroken
testimony to God. But be who has
turned away from Jesus Christ Is too
busy to be pitiful. There is nothing to
check revenge and vlndictiveness. The
world's heart of pity beats but errat
ically, save under the Influence of the
Compassionate One.
"Ood la Just." But they say, "He
has no right to ask such sacrifice aa
his religion entails. It Is burdensome,
anC I aeek for freedom." That la to
say, God la unjust. But If God la un
just who shall say that man is JustT
Heaven la the home land ot the
Christian. "I go to prepare a place
for you." But that Is meaningless It
one has rejected Christ. He Is living
fjr to-day, and heaven la not a delight
some vision. It condemns his life. So
ht-aven becomea a poet's dream, or ft
disordered brain's Imagining.
ONE WIFE AND THREE QUEENS.
Little Game Got Married Man In a
Lot of-Trouble.
A atory la told on' Rochester down
town man who loves a quiet game
ot draw poker. Being advised over
the 'phone tbe other afternoon that
Ave of hia friends were about to open
a Jackpot, he 'phoned back: "How
much will It cost mo to come In?
Seven dollars? All right; let some
one who is not playing draw cards for
me. I'll stand for It."
Soon one of the outsiders called
him up and Informed bim that he had
three queens. Tbe business man
chuckled and waited for the betting
to reach him.
Ting-a-llng, rang the telephone.
"Well?" asked the wire player.
"I called you " began a voice.
"8orry," cried tbe business man,
"tor I've got three queens."
"Why. George, this la Mary I " ex
plained the voice.
It waa bis wife. He la now trying
to explain away those three queens.
ISew York Times.
Ralaa Elsctrle Lights.
A regulation has been made t
Vienna tbat all electric lights must b
raised to sixteen feet above tbe pave
auent, aa otherwise they are calcu
lated to Injure tha eyesight of rasse
gera.
fCvJtf&s.tSl
Charily.
I Corinthians. 13 Chapter,
though I witli angel's tongues should
speak
n be most lowly, just and meek,
And have such faith that I could make
The hugest mountains move and quake;
And have not charity, alas!
I am become as sounding brass.
Though T in mysteries be learned,
And give my body to be burned.
And all my goods to feed the poor,
And trials patiently endure,
And not in chanty abound
I am but as cymbal' sound .
f harity sufferetb long is kind V
()f teachable and bumble mind
Vaunts not itself it envieth not
Hehnveth seemly doubeth naught
Is not puffed uu seeks not her own '
Not soon provoked ofTcndeth none;
Deareth, believeth. hopeth all, rr
Kndureth, and shall never fall:
Knowledge may vanish, tongues may cease,
Hut charily shall still increase
And of faith, hope and charity
l'.vcr be the ureatest of the three.
A. L. Hours, in Detroit Free Tre.
Tlie Konil to Truth,
'The end rf man." snys Carlvle, "is an
action, not a thought." That is not say
ing that thought is not a necessary part of
all high action, of course. Itut thought
that stops in itself is stopping on the road
to truth. Action and action alone, say
Philadeliihia Young People, takes it for
ward. Professor James, the noted psycho
logist, has well represented thought a
"only a nlaee of transit, the bottom of n
loop, both of whose ends have their point
of application in the outer world." All
that our eyes, our ears, our daily connec
tion with the world and with othera bring
to us, must pass throuplt our minds and
souls, and return to the outside world
naain transmuted into action, "In plain
English perception and thinking are only
there for behavior's sake," says the profes
sor, and long before modern psychology
came to the conclusion that the Bible
summed up the same truth, "Faith, if it
haMi not works, is dead, being nlonc."
For this reason truth can never ba
learned by mere argument. We do not
really possess a truth until we have acted
on it. nnd it takes continual action on it
to make it nnrt of the fiber of our minds
and souls. We can fail to make nrogres
toward truth by refusing to act upon it.
The young man who holds the gospel mes
sage in his mind, but determines not to
take any action on it at present, is losing
clcr oerception of it. and power of clear
thought about it. daily. He may not think
so, he may think instead that he is gaining
an intellectual perception of its difficulties.
Hut the fact is. that he is losing power to
act by not acting that is all. He h,u
checked the advance of truth half way,
shutting it no in thou-M when it ought to
bo set 'ree in act. "If anv man will dn
H's will b shnll know of the doctrins
whethr it be of find." Thought alone is
powerless to know find; feeling alone is
powerless to love ffod. We must keep
Hod's commandments, putting our emo
tions nnd thouMi's into acts of obedience
before we can sbide in His lo-e. and know
U't whom to know aright is I fe eternal.
It is a verv simple road, after all. To
perceive, to think, to act surely anv one
enn reach truth without trouble.' But that
third step is where many young people
pause. It is easy to see the beauty of holi
ness, and easy to think about it. Thnso
two stens are unnnticH. creste no antagon
ism, make no costiv demands. But to act
hat means a great deal. Hetter wait for
a little mor" knowledge, a little more con
sideration of the matter, whispers the en
P""' of sou's, in'' manv souls yield to the
whisner. And tl"n, having blocked tho
road to tnitb. thev lose themselves in
t'a-"-s of doubt, and n'-ver get anvwbere.
fc-hans, li'-e Pilat. who knew the right,
).! refi-spd to act i"on it. thev end by
f:i!i.g i-,r. noun Mie philosophical re-
rl-- ''What is trnti-?' Ales! the reason
Pi'ate "ver reached anv further nenuaint
nnce v;lh truth was that t would not act
n- the l-now'-"!'-" of Christ bo bj-d nVo-i,v.
The dvin- thief hed not bad half Pilule's
onnx-hinitiei. hut po os a man of action,
ad it aa--od him. For many nf us to-dav
salvation han-s unon act;on. Shnll we art,
lt.e-- or si. ill we pause in the barrenness
of thought and never reach saving truth?
Trtke Time tn Kerve Coif.
It is said of a certain railway engineer
that bis duties call him at a verv early
hour .1 o'clock in tbe morning. He is a
Christian, and, knowing full veil that soul
life must utterly perish without reading
and studv of the Bihle and praverful devo
tion, he rises at 2 o'clock in the morning.
Mi'-e than that, led by the Holy Spirit,
without effort of affectation, he finds manv
an nnnortunitv for pointing the wav back
to the cross and sometimei of exhorting
coM-bearted Christians upward to sunlit
heights of the holy living and heavenly
happiness. H is a hapny man. You may
be so. ton. Religion is not a cunningly
devised fable. Our Redeemer is mighty to
save, strong to deliver, limitless in love,
longing to make you haopv. Relieve Him
now. Do like the early rising engineer
take ti-ne to be religious. Head aud studv
vonr Bible everv dm-. T.i'k to find every
hour in tl' ilav. Relieve what Ho savs.
Do what He tell you to do. Put at least
ten names on your prayer list.
A lleaullriil Imyrr.
O Ood, who art, and wast, and art to
come, before whese fuce the generations
rise and pass away, age after age the living
aeek Thee, and find that of Thy faithful
ness there ia no end. Our father in their
pilgrimage walked by Thy guidance, and
rested on Thy compassion; still to their
children bv Thou tho cloud by day, the
fire by night. In our manifold temptations
l'hou alone knowest and art ever nigb. In
sorrow Thy pity revive the fainting soul;
in our prosperity and tase it ia Thy spirit
only that cau wean us from our pride and
keep us low. () Thou sole source of peace
and righteousness! take now the veil from
every heart, and join us in one communion
with Thy prophet and saint who have
trusted in Thee, and were not ashamed.
Not of our worthiness, but of Thy tender
mercy, hear our prayer. Amen. Jarae
Martineau.
Doubt Ilemovrd.
We shall never tru'y honor God unless
we can talk to Him about evcrvthing that
concern u, without a c'oud of doubt. If
only wo keep near to Him thus, who can
tell what depth of teaching such intimacy
of communion will opeu up? Episcopal
livcorder.
Start With God,
The early hour is the hour for prayer
and the Bible. Start the day with God!
We know not what the day mav bring
in either trial or temptation. The most
dungeroua temptations are iue unforeseen
and unexpected. Theodore L. C'uyler,
Answered Prayer.
There i no true prayer without ome re
sponse, invisible wire from heaven tu
earth are ever vibrating with divine bless
ings, and when prayer touches them the
electric stream of luve vuivit the oul.
tettinaa Hull,
A Game of Wowera and Trsea.
A game full of fun, although It la
Did, ia called "Flowers and Trees."
Aa many aa are preseot can play. The
first one aaya, for Instance: "My
first Is a publlo bouse, my second is
atate to which all must .come, my
third Is a command to depart; my
all Is a Dower." Answer, "In digo."
Only minute la given for guessing,
and the one who guesses has a turn.
K list of flowers and trees can be
lool.ed up before playing, unless una
la .fsT-nllisr with a good many. '
HIE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Monkey, Mini nml WhiskyAn Incident
In Sew Jersey Which Partially Proves
the Theory of Involution Itimi Means
Failure, I'overly nnd Sorrow.
In the State of New Jersey, near the
edge of the North lliver, an uniortunate
monkey got very i.ruiik.
Some brutal nu.n, sup-iior tn him in
physical development and interior in moral
qualities, persuaded the poor brute to
drink whisky. The monkey drank a great
deal too much, was absolutely intoxicated,
and his conduct was exactly like that of a
man that is to say, of the overage whiky
drinking man.
It would be pleasant to relate: that the
monkey tasted the whisky, felt it burn and
refused to touch nnv more of it. That un
fortunately is not what happened.
It would be creditable to the monkey'
wisdom if one could sav thot while he
made a mistake and drank too much whis
ky once he could never he persuaded to
t-ncli it again. That is not true, either.
The poor monkey, tempted by his hu
man half brothers, drank whisky, ind he
acted exactly ns the average poor, foolish,
feeble man act under the same circum
stances.
When they offered him the whisky first
be didn't want to take it. They urged him
and finally he took lust a little, ft burned
him, made bim cough, made his eyes water
Kven a monkey, you would think, ought to
have known enough to let it alone. But
le did not know enough: he took a litt'e
more, then some more, and tinully all that
he could get.
He went through the various stages ol
humiliating incapacity that mark a human
being's transition from sober to drunk.
He became voluble at first, chattered
about, showed many signs of friendliness
apparently lie was a much improved mon
key. Then he became foolish and unsteady on
bis legs. Finally he became brutal, want
ing to bite, and at lest he sank into a stu
por, just the equal of any dead-drunk man.
man.
Next day this miserable monkey, ini
tiated into' the results of the worst curse
that afflict his superior brothers, persisted
in his resemblance to a human being. He
was shivering, nervous, without appetite,
and evidently suffering physical if not
mental remorse.
But he was iust like a man, and gladly
accepted the drink that was given him
with the assurance that many other mon
keys are fooled by "a little hair of the dog
that bit you will set you right."
If that monkey is saved from a monkey'
rave only the lnck of whiskv, not any wis
dom or strength of will of his own, will
save him.
If you ever want to argue with a man
against whiskv the story of the drunken
monkey, intelligently presented, ought to
produce an impression. You might talk to
any whisky drinking man as follows:
"If yon had seen that monkey, clear
eyed, healthy and vigorous, you would
have said to his keeper: 'Don't let him
touch whiskv it will ruin your monkey'
yet vou drink whisky yourself.
"If you had seen the monkey take the
first glass you would have said to his keep
cr: 'Don't let him take any more; the sec
ond "lass will ruin him. give him a longing
for alcohol. It will ruin vour monkey'
yet vou take the second glass yourself.
"If you bad seen the monkey in his de
grading progress from sober to drunk, los
ing his equilibrium, becoming first maudlin
and then vicious, you would have said to
bis keeper: 'Now look at your monkey.
You see how worthless he is; that is what
whiskv always does with a monkey' yet
that is just what whisky does with you,
und you give it the chance to do it."
Yon might also say this to your whisky
drinking friends:
"The monkey most resembles the man
that most resembles bim. of course. The
man that nets with whisky as the monkey
does is like the monkey.
"In the brain of the monkev, as every
child knows, the strongest i istinrt is that
of imitation. The monkey will cut his
throat trving to imitate a man shaving.
No wonder that lie ruins his health Imi
tating a man drinking whisky.
"The piopkey, as he took that whisky,
seemed foolish, especially after the first
taste, and if you had never drank whisky
yourself yon would be justilicd in despis
,.ig the monkey.
"Think how manv ctruscs he has that
yon who drink whiskv have not.
"Yon know tint whiskv his mined mill
ions ol men and is mill ruining millions.
Il'o monkev knows nothing .-iljuiit tli.it.
"You know that nine-tenths of the mur
ders are based on whiskv. 1'iie monkev
kpeiy nothing about that.
"You know that whiskv mpsm failuie,
poverty and nhue for chi'drcn, abuse,
poverty and sorrow f ir mothers. All ol
J'ese things the i"o.kcy do-s not know.
u are nore foolish than ho when you
take the whisky." National Advocate.
A Frank Pnlnon Keeper.
The Scottish Women's Temperance New
Says:
"A publican has rccent'v been inter
viewed by the Daily Kxprcss. and his con
trhiition to tiie awful revelation of the
evil "mug women and children is as
fol.nws: -The other day,' he said. 'I was
summoned to un inouest. There were six
bodies to view, and tive of the six were
I hose of babies who had been overlaid on
the previous Saturday and Sunday nights.
J won t have the women with children il
i can help it but I am not alw.ivs in the
liar. I got home at a quarter to twelve
the other night and found six women in
one bar. with as manv children. The poor
little things were crying to go home; the
remedy was a hard smak. I told the
women they ought to be ashsmcl of them
se.ves. Their answer was in the form of
pouring gin and water, and in some case
beer, down the throats of the little ones,
"'j.nc " w,10' was over eight year
Decline In Drunkenness.
Co-operation of the Iloston Press, the
oflij-ials of the Host on elevated railway
and the new head of the Police Board ol
Iloston, has materially decreased the
amount of drunkenness in the citv, espe
cially on Saturday nights. Suburbanite
coming to Boston now find it far more
difficult to secure transportation home
than they used to. Stringent ordera have
been issued to the police and to the mo
tormen and conductors of the ears to re
fuse admittance to all men who are in the
slightest degree under the influence ol
liquor. National Advocate.
An Knormou Kipendlture.
P.ishop McCabe says: "The laboring
peop.e of thi country spend more money
for whisky and beer than the entire
banking capital of the nation. In three
years, by saving what t.iey pour down their
throats, they could have banks tunning in
their interest with an aggregate capital
of W,2o0,0iX),0i)0."
The Crnsmlo In Drier,
The Rev. Brooks Law rence, of Ohio, ha
taken charge of the anti-saloon crusailo in
H isconsin.
Lawrence. Slass., is getting tired of li
cense and there i a strong chance of Pro
hibition winning at the next election.
, A ninetcen-yrar-old girl, who was ad
judged insane at the County Clerk' ofhee
recently, wa ruined in the wine j ioiiis ol
Indianapolis.
i "' of '10 l'eense petitioner in Larra
bee, J'u., lias a brother in jail lor drunk
cniirw, and the wile and three small chil
dren of tha unfortunate are in tbe county
poorhouse.
William Grott. a bartender in Keyea
P.ort. 111-. hot and killed in cold
Iilooil by James bander, who wa drunk
at the time.
In sixty year the annual per capita con
sumption of wlu.k. ha aradualiy de
creased from I o and a half to one and a
fourth gallons. In forty ytar tha ron
sumption of beer ha increased from 'tu
than two to more than aeventcea r.tllon
per aoita,
A Pittsburg aan who had been In tba
habit of 'drinking a ijuart of whiskv i.er
day during the past fifty )ear. died re
ceut.y. Ho wa over i"..ti'. and the sup
position i had be in reajed the dose he
might have held diath ou a decade or two
longer. It is saie to sav. however, had he
neve.- drank auy whisky he might be alt.
I'j-dsy.
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
fltntral Irsd Conditio!.
R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Revicur
of Trade" says: Labor organizations
are accepting reductions in wages with
out controversy, which removes one
threatening industrial factor, and in sev
en I branches of business orders are
more numerous, but in the steel indus
try tiurc is lutle expectation of liberal
buying: until 1004. Construction worlc
is decreasing, despite optimistic reports'
of more building permits issued last
month than a year ago. There is rvi
complaint of traffic congestion that wa
so frctucnt last year at this time, rail
way earnings, 6.1 per cent, higher than
in November to date in too.?, testify
ing to the increase in facilities.
Failures this week were 249 in the
United States, against 266 last year air!
17 in Canada, compared with 24 a year
ago.
"Bradstrect's" says: Wheat, includ
ing flour, exports for the week aggre
gate 2,974.277 bushels, against 3.650.4 J
bushels last week, 5,277,672 this weele
last year, 5.517,9.50 in 1001 and 3.827,20(7
in 1900. Corn exports (or the week
aggregate 1,391.625 bushels, against
l,o8H,2H2 last week, 243.JK1 a year ag-t.
445 35 1 in 1901 and 5,235,568 in 1900.
LATEST MARKET QUOTATIONS.
Flour Spring clear. $3.R5'?405; Iks
Fatent I5.25; choice Family $43v
Wheat New York No. 2, 87'-:
Philadelphia No. 2, 8403:850; Balti
more No. 2, 85c.
Corn New York, No. 2. 53V: Phila
delphia No. 1, 48Jjf49i"; Baltimore
No. 2, 40c.
(Jats New York No. 2, 42c; Phila
delphia No. 2, 4!(?42c; Baltimore Na
2, 38c.
Green Fruits and Vegetable. Ap
ples Maryland and Virginia, per br!..
fancy, $1.00(1.25; '1. 'ar to good,
75cfg$l.oo. Beets Native, per bum Sc.
l'i(a2c. Cabbage Native, per 100
$2.oo2.5o; do. New York State, pee
ton, $l2.ooC(f 13 00. Cauliflower Ner
York, per brl or crate, $i.50$i2.25.
Cranberries Cape Cod, per brl $7.oot3
8 00; do, per box $i.75a2 0o. Celery
New York State, per dozen 3ogjo:f
do, native, per bunch 2'i(nj'i. Car
rots Native, per bunch iCnil'i. Grapes
Concords, per 5-lb basket l.vSuc;
do, Niagara, do. 1517; do. Catawba,
do, 1314; do, New York Saletns, pte
basket 14(0)15. Horseradish Native,
per bushel box $1.25(1.75. Lettuce
Native, per bushel box 30Y1J60C. Ks.'
Native, per bushel box i5Vr2oc. Lin-.
beans Native, per bushel box Jt aj'-
I.50. Onions Maryland and Pennsyl
vania, yellow, per bu soCaooc. Orange
Florida, per box. as to size, $2.25'ii
3 00. Pumpki.ns Native each 2Yi(ii.iViC.
Quinces New York State, per brf
$-l.oVi 5.00. String beans Anne Arntt
dcl, per bu, green, $i.oryfii.25. Spin
ach Native, per bushel box 301400
Tomatoes Anne Arundel, per bis
ket 25Cl40c. Turnips Native, pcf
bushel box 2cKfr25C.
Cheese Large, 60 lbs, 2fcV-;
do, 36 lbs, 125(0 I2fi; 24 lb, IjW:l3'';-
Potatoes. White Native, per bti'h
el box 55(iioc; do, Maryland and Penn
sylvania, prime, per bu 60(1163; do, do,
seconds, per bu 50(055; do. New York,
prime, per bu 63165. Sweets Yellows
Maryland and Virginia, per brl $t.on
fJil.25; do, do, per flour barrel $1 2
1.35; do, do, Anne ArundeL per brl
$1.15(0)1.25. Yams Virginia, per brl
750190c: do, Potomac, Maryland, per
brl 75'l90.
Live and Dressed Poultry. Turkey?,,
young, 7 pounds and over I3'4oV'4cr
do old, do, do uC'i i.T; do small anj
poor io((iii. Chickens liens, heavy
to medium, io(ffio!4c; do, small anif
poor, 95l(flo; old roosters, each, 25.'oJ
30; young, good to choice, Vi(iii
staggy loCtfio'i; do, rough and poor,
(iopS. Ducks White l'ekings, 4 lb
and over, I2fil2'-4c; mongrels, 3'i V
I lbs, n&u. Geese Western and
Southern, each, 50(0.70. Guinea fowls,
rach, 200T25C Pigeons, old strong fir
;rs per pair, ao((i 2;c; do, young, d j,
Jo, 206125. Dressed Poultry Turkeys,
choice, 14V115C; do, medium to goo'I,
12'A(13'A. Ducks, good to choice, is
'fl 13c. Chickens, young, good to choire
I2(rfi2j4c; mixed, old and young fca
12; poor to medium oa.io. Geesr,
?ood to choice, oxa'ne.
Eggs. Western Maryland and Pena
tylvania, loss off, per doren. 28(113 c;
Eastern Shore (Maryland and Vir
ginia), do do, (f27; Virginia, do d .
(f?27; West Virginia, do do. 2, ;
Western, do do, 127; Southern, d
do, 24W25; storage, (ancjr. at mark, l
do, iVi(a2l; do, good to choice, at
mark, do do, 20(iiji.
Livi Mac.
New York. Dressed beef steady;
:ity dressed native sides, extreme
range, fxjioc per pound. Cable vst
td American steers at 1 1 '4c, top prices,
dressed weight; refrigerator beef
i'A(U$t Prr pound; exports, 50 cat
le. Hogs Receipt. 1415 head;
lightly firmer; a bunch of rough mix
ed Jersey sold at $5 per loo poutdi.
Chicago. Cattle Good to prima
steers, $5(0570; poor to medium, $3.1
K'4-75: stockers and feeders, $175'".'
I.25; cows, $1.5064; heifers, $265; can
ners, $i.5qCu2.4o; bulls, $l.75'!t4-i,
calves. $2(45.70; Texas-fed steers, J.Ji
13.50; Western steers. $.14 5 Hogr
Receipts today, 10,000 head: toaur
row, 18.000; opened steady; ckssed os
lower; mixed and butchers $40045.01
good to choice heavy. $4r5fpV5; ro
heavy, $4.20(0460; light, $445W5; bul
ol sales, $4.60(0,490- '
INDUSTRIAL AMD SC1EXTIFIC NOTES.
The average journey ot a toa o4
freight is 128 miles.
There were 0700 American toari&t-
in Switzerland last summer.
Seven Kentucky leuds have resulted
in 250 murders and but two bunging..
Wireless communication kas beer
established between Japan aud For
mosa. The paper bills ol the United States
printing office amount to $750vaa a
year.
The capital of tbe railroads t tamct
than five times as great as tfcxt of all
(he banks.
There are nearly 6,oroono farms ia tfcr
United States, tbe average Ue bnf
140 acres.
More than one-third rat the insnate
of the Elmira. N. Y., Stare's ptiu ate
well educated.
In the Santa Clara Valley. California,
five square miles are devorted t tfct
raising ol onion seeds.
Within fifty years Russia fcas acsxir
ed new territory which ba area ts Urgec
than the United SUMes.
A child of ten years bnI4 ssxigfs
66V pounds, have a height of
inches, and a chert measiiretaerat f at'
inches.
The balance ol trade tn ocr favroa
nearly equals, and ocranvmlly cstoeeds,
that of all other ixvored maians tW
map.
The average wewhh lr VW: trerertJ
population ot the Unite Stwtesi i-a
$1136: thst of the O., Kb.
$11,500 per capita.
Russia and France -iwruii 4
Croat Britain, aamnlr taorx t'hma ito.
010.000 pom Is of hosier. laJf T
I'm el Statva tjuxusjaao SV?jUuV4r
is on Is-