"HIDDEN TALENTS" A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr. Henry C. SwenUel. Drawl a New Ltuoo Frcm Ike Parable A Periea Without a Or.'evaact. ' BnooKLTX, N. Y.-Dr. Henry C. Sncnf ael, rector of St. Luke's Church, preached Sundny morning on "Hidden Talents." Ho took his text from St. Matthew .xv:18: 'He that Imd received one tnlent went hhI digged in the enrth, and hid his lord's money. J)r. Swentzel said: God ho'.ds the cornucopia of infinite and omnipotent love. With open-handed en- pnaitu Ha iti.nm... 'I r. . S . . lie nuis 01 ma boundless wealth throughout the length nd breadth of the whole creation. From myriad pulpits nature preaches eloquently of the divine philanthropy. The universe is not only a vast workshop, but a mag nificent tileasure limine for enjovmenr Kverv field is designed for a harvest, all the forests resound with symphonies and oratories; everywhere are mines of riches waiting the toiler. (Joel's plan includes II the best things for the multitude, and serves nis mission may well say. "I have all and abound." And yet how mary are almost persuaded to protest against the doctrine of the lib erality of the heavenly Father's provisions. Ihey have more than a suspicion that our interpretation of His bounty does not square with the facts and evperiences of human ,ife. They are disposed to intimite that His ways are not equal; that He has fettered Himself by a hard and fast doc trine of foreordination, predestination and election; that His counsels are marred by what amounts practically to unjust dis crimination und favoritism. Without pausing to emphasize the impiety ot criti cising Almighty ;0d or to expose the fu tility and vanity of passing judgment upon xns program lor numanitv, we ought to be persuaded even by our surroundings that the Lord n prompted ever bv a masterful desire to promote the health and wealth, the power and happiness, of His children. Jt vie were qualified to appreciate His pmna for mankind, we wouM accept the world with its beauties and harmonies, its lights and shadows, its resplendent heav ens and fragrant flowers, its overflowing granaries, its countless picture galleries, its monumental glories, as parables of di vine sovereignty. Hut the man with one talent is likely to present himself as an objector to thin at tractive and inspiring view of the Father'i rulership. He is dissatisfied. He has a grievance. He is persuaded that he ought to have a better chance, larger privileges, greater opportunities, a more encouraging outlook, it is perfectly true that there are inequalities. All are not endowed with the same gifts. Some stem to have more while others have less! but tin. i. doubted.y a law of compensation which opens the way for a high general average .satisfaction in living, a satisfaction which is not affected by what are called success and failure, riches and penury. Ciod never gives e-.erything to any one person, but lie does offer a generous gift to every soul, and all will find life to be worth a thousand times more than it costs jf they will but do their duly. If the many would honestly do their best with what they have, a large share of present ine qualities would disapear, and it would be clearer to all that the Almighty is trulv a universal Father. Alas, who has done his best? If the complaincr had but half filled the measure of his possibilities, if ho had been willing to do what he easily could have done, if he had not hidden his talent, the situation to him would be changed, and he would be more perfectly in har mony with the life-creed proclaimed by revocation and by all the worlds. Inasmuch as our Lord is the author of the parable of. the talents, the religious tory with its moral should be received with the utmost thoughtfulness. Accord- ' ing to His teaching, everybody receives something, and the very smallest gift is ne talent. A talent is a goodly sum of money equal to a little less than J000. That amount would be a promising start ing capital to a young man of fair business ability. Many, it will bo alleged, must be gin life on a much smaller basis, for which there may be human reasons which are both regrettable and inexorable, and which we cannot stay to discuss. Ordinarily, however, each soul has a goodly start and , sets out with a fair endowment. Gener al, y speaking, everybody has a chance he can be something, he can do something he tan serve his mission. It is wholesome to be reminded betimes that many of the men who have made history have sprung 'form a comparatively low origin. In every nation saints, heroes and leaders are, for the most part, born in humble cottages, the poor boys of not many yesterdays ago. lo every soul God gives an adequate equip ment. Work is the only royal road to ex cellence. Ihcre are people who expect to be carried on ongels' wings to the goal of their ambition, but angels and their wings were made for no such purpose. The trouble with the complaining man of one talent is that he has hidden his power in the earth. God made him to live a sp.endid lite ; the man has failed more or less-utterly. He may be misunderstood, but far oftencr he misunderstands himse'f. In taking stock of his assets he neglects to . rate them even nt their face value. He wonders why ho is where he is; he alleges insuperable obstacles and insists that he has been sore.y handicapped; he regards himself as a victim. It may bo apparent that he is not so richly gifted as certain others are, but that is no reason why he should set up an inferior standard for himse.f and expect nothing as the outcomi of his existence. Success is not matter of ta.ents. It is not true that they whosr achievements have given them a place in the world's legion of honor were men whose sinning talents, without industry and without development, won for them immortal distinction. All who have rea' strength are hard workers, whose towerins object was not to get through the world with the least possible outlay of energy who are willing to spend and be spent in living their lives. Brilliant abilities count lor little, i he high places in the world are ee.Uom n..ed by people of genius, but bv men and women who have simply made the most of their rapacity. It is an evei recurring surprise thut most unlikely souli come to the front in all the spheres of ac tivity. Many a genius goes at the last tc the potter's field, while memorials in mar ble or bronze are reared to commemorate the virtues and triumphs of characters thai were not so rich in natural gifts as they were abundant in labors. . Everybody i well enough endowed. The least we have j imic in, ciiv, iwm-ii, ii II oe rightly used, will suffice for our energies and fill the mensure of a laudable ambition. Kverybody is good for something; no tody is necessarily good for nothing. The nun with one talent hus some power. We do not refer to his attributes, though these may be admirable; he may have faculties which are more or less notablo; he may have memory, imagination, various gifts which perhaps he dues not suspect. Hut lie has a finer talent 1 1 be a man the tal ent of faithfulness to the right, of cour age for maintaining principle, of honesty and sturdiness for work; he has a talent that will give him a standing among his fellows, and that will make him valuable mid the various relationships of his life. By the grace of God he may hope to be something and do something, and he is in honor bound to make large exactions of himself. He may never take his place among the billionaires, or secure fame, or be known far outside of the small circle of tiis home and his shop, but everybody who nesi to so ins uuiy in ins own sutiion. whiuc rumple upho.us righteousness. DBase wnucacr, vw idmch or uviiv. is on . Coda sido In the combat between anal " and evil, is a public benefactor, and liil name, tbougli almost unknown here, tt . written in heaven's book of worthies. . It is impossible to acquit the man wit one talent who hid the divine nit. Hit wrong was not the misuse or the abuse; but the non-use, of his persoiial force. H does not belong to the category of the vic tims, be is not chargeable with imquitiei which suggest that . there may be total truth after all in the old, discarded notion of the total depravity ot human nature, nd yet the Lord says to him. "thou wicked and alothful servant." He was wicked, not because he had squandered ot lost the gift, but only because he bad bid den it. . That is just what thousands and thou sands are doing today. They put they talent in the earth. In spite of all thcit worth they are stunted and impoverished bccame-jUr. are, l .lbs- txuk. f-rtliy-l Ihe worldly-spirit la nor restTicfedTViV nv means to those who pile up colossal for tunes or who are the habitues of Vanity roir. A beggar may be. and probably is, quite as much of a m.immon worshiper ai "u .Tno,t vulgar money lover. They who In ii may be even more worldly thaii they who succeed. However that n'mv be, oiir present concern is with the admonition that warns us not to bury our talent by living solely for temporal goods. Kverv day we are cxprwed to the contniion ol earthly domination. How easy it is to lei nurse, ves down to n low decree of thought, desire and gratification. Vc are kin to the elements about us. We belong to two worlds to earth as well as ti heaven. With pardonable fondness we re l? onr Pre"ent abode as "mother firth. We came ourselves from its bo som. e get all that we have out of tho ground our food and raiment, our hntwtv our bonks, onr sciences and arts, all the material blessings with which we are enriched. Here reposes all that was mortal of our beloved dead, and at their funeral rites the church said "earth to earth. Here the great have lived, the brave have fought for right and rights, and royal souls have done their work for the cause of progress. Ifcre Jesus spent three and thirty years. His feet trod upon Its hills and vnles Ttis ,t-a.;,.. t.lnA,l flowed down from His sacred body to its soil, and His mangled corpse lay in its tomb. How much the earth has in it to fascinate. Is it n mnrvel that so many fall before its seductions and hide the great and holy talent in the clay? How natura', but how wicked. To everv one who buries the talent his personal force in worldli ness comes the sharp condemnation, "thou wicked and slothful servant." It is nothing less than a high crime to centre one's being in the earth. When he has tho power to be a son of God, when he has an equipment that should get results, when he can be efficient and effective throughout his sphere, when he can make a contribution to the fund of goodness and happiness, what a sorry pity it is that he should put such possibilities into a hole. And yet that is precisely what so many are doing. Some of them are rich, while others are poor; some have knowledge and culture, while others oro ignorant and hard, but they are all alike in that thev have buried the precious gift. It matters not whether they are lofty or lowly, wheth er they live in a palace or a garret, they have erred grievously if they have buried the povr which alone can make life worth living. What an unspeakable degradation it is to leave the plain where God would hove us think and work and to descend to the slavery of a vulgar ambition for world ly concerns. To pass one's years without raising to the dignity and excellences of noble manhood and noble womanhood to go on from year to year without recogniz ing the Deity and without noting the privileges which Christ has assured to re duce ourselves to the level of machinery, to set up a song and dance as though that were the greatest thing in the world is to take ourselves into a region which is not fit for immortals. Let us do our work and enjoy our recreations, but let us also ap preciate the doctrine that to be true men and true women is the highest possible es tate. Away with the base delusion that the average person is called to a condition of Inevitable inferiority, and that it is not for him to look for large personal develop ment and excellence. All could be strong if they would use their talents. We have personality. There is such a thing as the "ncrsoiinl enuution." Every body has a fair chance. The man who has buried his talent is apt to denv all this, and may possibly settle down to be a fatal ist, a jjessiintst, a misanthrope, a chronic grumb.er. How true the parable is to na ture and to life. The complainant is out of harmony with everybody and every thing. His gravamen is most unlovelv. He may urge heredity by alleging that liis an tecedents were unfavorable and his birth right counts for nothing. He may point to circumstances as prohibitory anil invinci ble when he would assert his right to be a man. He may charge that divine provi dence constantly thwarts him and reduces his every hope to ushes. In the last analy sis he takes the position of the condemned man of the parable and Bays to the Lord: "i knew that Thou art an hard man," an allegation which is disproved by the f.?ct that the Lord had given him a Whole tal ent. Although thu human heart recog nizes some measure of responsibility, it at tempts to argue the matter and sets up a defense, and it ends by laying the blame at the feet of God. The Father has done His part abundantly; it on y remains for His children to do their; the talent has value only in its use. St. Paul views this question from a most exalted standpoint. He says: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are dirterenres of administration, but the same Lord, and there are diversi ties of operations, but it is the same God that worKeth all in all, but the manifesta tion of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Wo apeak of self-made men as though they were miracles. In referring to tiit.u as such as mean that, in spite of diliiciil tics, they have attained remarkable excel lence. Hut every worthy individual is self made by the grace of God. Even under the most favorable circumstances, a mnn, if he is to amount to anything, must make himself. It, therefore, behooves us to go to work upon ourselves. We might ti take ourselves more seriously in the high est possible sense. We have capacities. God has made us for some good. He has given us each one talent at least. The sons of God, we do not belong to the run biah pile of the universe. If we will take ourselves in hand if we will be ourselves and not try to be oniebudy else if -ve will serve ur own mission if we will faithfully aud honestly accept and meet the situation as we find it, we will sur prise burselves sooner or later when :iie results will begin to appear. "While we live, let us live," or as the old Human put it "dum vivimus vivi mus." Hut let us insist upon life in the best possible sense. There is capital enough to begin with. We can develop a sturdier fiber. Wo need not be ordinary, commonplace, vulgar, inane and insipid. Mediocrity is inexcusable. We can be high-toned, we can be splendid specimens of manhood and womanhood, we can be our best and do our best, we can be our true selves by growing moe and more into the likeness of the strong Sou of Man. Influence of a Holy Life. The subtle germ of Christ's truth will be borne on the secret atmosphere of a holy ule into hearts which no preacher's voice could penetrate, where the tongue of men and of angels would tail; there i tn eloquence in living goodne.s which will oi'ten prove persuasive. It la the elo quence of the summer heat when it' basks upon the thick-ribbed ice blows would but break it, but beneath the softest, gen tlest, yet most potent influence, the hard, Impenetrable masses melt away. John Caird. RAM'S HORN BLASTS- HE big I b n Ighty email thing thn world's eve. ficaa jQ Worda do not Service lo the life-blood of love. Heaven'y laws lie at. the basis of hu man morality. When we take up anotber'a buidou V-tjrt God takea up ours. I Stolen frulta aiay taste aweet, but they aoon aotir on the atomach. The love ot Christ la the Ufa of Christianity. Tbere are no weeping willow by tbe river uf life. There may ba ainful galna, but thero are no gainful alna. A atony face la no proof of a bean atrong lo grace. , , A gift that glvea no grace rauat jo a dangerous tblng to have. Delay la tba fool'a plan for cbeatlug blmaelf. dod'a strategy la better than man'a strength. Many doubts vanish as aoon as we try. to define them. - THE SABBATH SCHOOL (nlernalional Lesson Comments January 17. For Subjecl: The Captlim aad Tcmplatloa ol Jesus, Mali. Ill , 13 lo lv., II Ooldeo Test, Ma!t IIL, 17 Memory Verses, lv., 3, Commentary eo Ihe Dsy's Leisoa. T. The baptism (vs. 1.1 17). 13. "Com eth Jesus." So far as we know this wss His first public act since He wss twelve years old. "T.i Jordan " Prnbablv at Aenon near to Snlim (John .1! 2, .1), a day's journey from Nazareth, "t'nto John." Although John was His cousin we are told (John 1: 33) that he "knew Him not;" fhich may mean that John did not know Jesus lo be the Messiah. "To be bap tized." Any confrsion of sin was of course jut of the question. There wss only a profession on the part of .Testis that ss n l:rsolite Ho became subject to the 'aw, and that He was connected with hu manilv bv the ties of blood, nf sufferine tnd nf love. This act was an endorsement f John and a solemn inauguration nf his ninistry. H. "Forbsd." T'srnestly s"d pressirj iv opposed Him. "f have need," etc. Al though John was filled with the Holy Shost- from his birth fl.nke I: l."). yet 10 needed the bsntism of the Holy Ghit ind fire. Ho.ned"d to receive a laicr ressnre nf the girts and ersces of the Holy Spirit. 15. "Suffer it. to be so now." l'hee were the first word of Christ's I'iblic ministry. In this Jesus humbled Himself at the 'rrv outset. "Fulfil all iithteousness." To leave nothing undone which would be nonorinqt to 'ho require nenta of Cod. "He suffered Him." The aine aiodcsty which led him at first to icclino the honor Christ offered him now ;aused him to perform the service Christ ininined upon him. IB. "The Heavens were opened." Luke lays that Jesus nraved as soon as Tie wss Saptizeil (Luke .1: ?'). Here is the first recorded prayer nf Christ and its answer, ft was when He was nrayin't that the Snirit was sent down nmn Him. and in ill probability it was this that Tie was graving fir. A threefold sign ws given: !. The Heavens opened. 2. The dnv-e Icseenden1. 3. The FntVr snake. "He law." Christ siw it f irk 1: 10), and fohn saw it (.John I: 33. 34), and it is srobnble that all who were present; nw it. 'or this was intended to be H's public naugurnt'on. "Like a dove." There has jeen a difference nf opinion as to whether .his was a res', literal dove. Luke avs It was in n "bo'lily" 'spe like a dove Luke 3: 22). 17. "Mr lie'oved Son." Jesus Christ is the Son of fled from ctr jity. He never began to he l'i "on. He was a)so H's Son because o' His super natural birth, and He was ITi Son "by ineoinl designation to the work of the -or'l' Kedoenier." TT. The first temntatinn ('. 1-4). 1. 'Then." Immediate'!' after His hnntinm. Such are the violent alternations nf humsn txpertence; hnptized and tempted; an-,ro'-ed nf Cod and handed over to the jevil. "Of the snint " Luke savs II was 'full of the Spirit:" 5Iark says, the Snirit Iriveth Him. A divine influence led ITim m. "Into the wilderness." Tradition hns axed upon a hi'1! ridge ea''ed Onarsntanis, leir Jericho. M'irk says He w with the wild bests. "To be tempted." Christ begins His work with a personal encour. :e- with Satan. To tomnt is. literally, tr. itretch out, to trv the strengt.i of. Temptation i' tl '"sling "f a peron. 2. "Forty days." Moes, Kliiah and our Lord could fast forty days became they acre in communion with God and living I heavenly life. Luke savs He was temnt !d during the whole forty days. The itrugale was powerful, personal and in tensely real. Chrit for our sakes met tnd conquered the tempter's utmost itrcngth. "Afterward an hungered." Atter :he forty days were ended. 3. "Tempter fame." How Satan anpeared to Christ wo do not know, but if he came 11 bodily form it mut have been s an angel nf light. "If Thou be." Beware of temptation that comes with an if in its mouth. "The Son of God." The .'onsciousness of His divine Sonship may low in a measure have been withheld. Alone in the wilderness and weak and worn from lasting, Satan saw his chance. 'Stones . . . bread." You are hungry; now if You are the Son of Gcd use the rower You have to supp'y Your necessi ties, and thus prove Your divinity. In :his first temptation Satan tempts our Lord, as he did Kve, by the bodi.y appe tite. He appeals to the animal nature lirst. By this avenue he approaches and .onquers tho great majority of mankind. Ilencath this temptation of bodily appetites ill gluttons, drunkards and debauchees have fallen and become the devil's prey. I. "It is written." Deut. R: 3. Jesus answered the devil by using the sword of the Spirit. "Xot live by bread alone.'" Human support depends not on bread, but upon "God's unfailing word of promise and pledge of all needful providential care." III. The second temptation (vs. 5-7). S. "I'innacle of the temple." The s?cne changes from the wilderness to Jerusalem. Some well known pinnacle must have been intended, probably the royal porch on the southern aide of the temple. 0. "Cast thyself down." In His tirst reply to the devil Jesus had shown His un bounded confidence in God. Xow Satan takes Him at that very point. If Thou be the Son of God east Thyself from this pinnacle. All tne world will wonder at so grand an exploit. This was a tempta tion to presumption, or as Air. Fairer says, to spiritual pride. "For it is writ ten." The devil has a Bible, but he mis quotes and misapplies. "Give his angels charge." A mutilated quotation of 1'sa. 01: 11. 7. "Tempt." Ueut. t): 111. To tempt God is to put Him to the proof to demand evidence of His power and of His will to fulfil His promises, instead of waiting patiently and trusting. This temp tation appealed to the love of show. Tlios. carried away from God by worldly pleas ures or the vanities of fashion fall here. IV. The third temptation (vs. 8-11). 8. "Exceeding high mountain." Some high mountain in Judea, where a general view could be had of the country.- "Sheweth . . . kingdoms of the world." The root of the third temDtation lav in the 'supposition that the kingdrms of tho world were the uevit s kinguouis ana mat he could dispose of them. 0. "Worship me." Here the devil appears in his true character. Christ was probably asked to worship "not by an external act of hom age, but by using force and establishing a temporal kingdom." 10: "Get thee hence." Jesus parleys with him no longer, but with authority Commands him to go to his own place. The third temptation appealed, to the ambi tion. Hy this temptation the great men of the world have fallen in myriads. 11. "Devil leaveth Him." Satan had made the strongest effort -f which be was capa ble and bad been baffled at every point. "Angela . . , ministered." Brought that food that was necessary to support nature. How Jamaican Negroes Shave. Tbe Jamaica negroea, some ot whom are great dandles in their way, make a soap out of cocoanut oil and home made lyc, and a fine soap It la, amootli and fragrant. This cocoanut -oil aoap Is used for shaving. When a man w lubes to have In the morning, be starts out wltb bia cocoanut shell cup and bia donkey-tall brush and a bottle It la never any trouble to find an emp ty bottle In Jamaica, even In tbo mountalna. At least twenty genera tions of thirsty people have lived tbere and thrown away the empty bot tles. Tbe man carries no mirror be cause be baa none to carry. Not one negro cabin in a dozen has even a cheap looking-glass. But nature pro vides the mirror aa wen aa the auap. Tbe man goes to a convenient pool In the mountain stream, where tbe water la still, and thero la bia mirror. He breaks bis bottle on a stone, and picks out a good, sharp piece.. Then be lathers his face profusely and be gins to scrape away wltb hla piece of glans, which worka almost aa well as a abarp razor. christian endeavor topics, Jinusry 17-"How May I Overcome Tempta lions? I Cor. 10:12, IJ; Meb. 4:14-16. Cctlptura Verses Rom. 6: 16-23; 8; 35-39; 1 Cor. 15:6-58; Eph. 6:10-13; Phil. 1:13; 2 Tim. 2:1; Hub. 2:18; 1 PotiT 1:5-9; 2 Peter 2:9; 1 John 5:4, 6; Jmle 24, 25; Rev. 3:10-12. 20, 21. Lesson Thoughts. Every temptation mvt an.l overcome rr.altea its stronger to ier.lst the next; but Increasing strength must not breed over-confldence. "Lft him that thlnketh he atandeth take heed." We may have boldness to meet temptations and confidence that w con resist them: but It must b In the way of escape that God provmes, and not by our own power or wisdom. "Men that are seeking to escapt yellow fever do not go to the ttoplciv Prove that you honestly wish to avoid temptation by avoiding frer haunts." Selections. After we have got the better of tin tsmpter, we must do as thu marJnert in a calm, mend our tackling, as not knowing how soon another storm may com?. I cannot shape my way Where nameless perils ever may be tide. OVr slippery steeps whereon my feel may slide; Some mighty hand I crave, To hold, and help, and save, And guide me ever when my steps wtuld stray. Tbere was a Greek fighter thai made this his prayer. "Give ten Hghl on the field I" Certainly half the bab tie, as Bishop Huntington says, Is to see the adversary. To recognize clear ly just what our temptationa are is one long step toward overcoming them. Some athletes are "overtrained." They are set to tasks that are beyond thi?lr strength, and the exercls that should add to their physical powers really diminishes them. But human soul that submit themselves to God ar In the bands of a Trainer that r"Ves no mistake. He will not suf Icr us to be u-uipied beyond wtmt we can b?2r. Prayer O thou who art perfect In holiness, wisdom and might, we com to thee 4n our weakness and tgnon ancc and sinfulness, praying that thou wilt supply our needs. Temptation! mset us, and we fall because we trust In our own strength, which la onlj weakness. O help us tather to put oa the whole armor of God, that we maj withstand ivll and live in purity ani holiness for Christ's sake. EPWORTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS. January 17 My Place In Ihe War Against In temperance Isa. 24. 9, II; flab. I 15; I Then. S. 6-8. The particular woe of the lesson la against him who glveth bis neighbor drink, who puts the bottle, or, aa the Revised version indicates, placea the venom, to bia lips. Whatever thtj primary appllpcatlon, does not any man, anywhere at any time, merit woe who puts the venomous, maddening bowl to bis brother's Hps, luring him to the shame of drunkenness? It appllea not only to those who directly do It, but as well aa those who do it through another. Is not Intemperance the huge, cham pion vJllainy of the time? Look at him: A stupendous, hideous colos sus of evil. Upon his head the gold en helmet of avarice, upon hla breast a coat of mall composed of glittering scales of license fees, upon his legs brazen greaves fotged In political armories, between his shoulders a tar get of brass manufactured by a venal press. His armor-bearer. Moderate Drinking, goes before him. Scorn fully he defies the armies of the living God nay. Inflicts bloody slaughter upon their beloved. He la the fore most foe of Christ's cause In tbe world to-day. The war against him Is on, thank God. It Is and must be war to tbe death. The Church of Christ will not die, therefore Intemperance must. Imperatively does Jesus summon hJs soldiery to follow him in this holy crusade. Neutrality la treason, lazy indifference a crime, selfish apathy a satanlc sin against both man and God. A fireman who should be neutral when men are perishing in the flames, a member of the life-saving crew who should be a disinterested, idle specta tor when the ship Is being pounded to pleoea on the rocks, would be criminals. What else should a Chris tfan Co but join In tbe fight against this evil, fight it In every legitimate Be filled wltb tbe Spirit. Spirit filled Christians make the steadiest, surest, most valorous, most courage ous soldiers in any war against sin. An intensely spiritual Church Is the thing before which Intemperance cannot ultimately stand. Let Epwortb leaguers eagerly fulfill the first part of their 'pledge and thla foe would have reason to quake. A spiritual Church sees things as through the eyes of Its Lord, feels toward them as with bis heart, and acta toward them as moved by bis will. Then pray. Pray earnestly, pray with courage, hope, triumphant faith, with heatt agony. Pray for thB drunkard, for the drunkard's family, for Christiana that they may see, feel, act as Jesus would wltb reference to thla evil; that tbey may quit whining. "It can't be done;" for all efforts and organizations that war against this monster, that leaders In tbe campaign may have wisdom; that statesmen may have vision and courage, that the nation may get Ha eyea opened, Its heart fired, lta will moved. Then, heart and soul enter practically Into tne temperance army. An Egytlan Wedding. An Egyptian "fellah" of the Nile Delta makes as much fusa of bis wed ding aa be can, tor it costs him a lot of money. Every thing, indeed, la con ducted on a hard cash basla, com menclng wltb tbe purchase ot tbe bride herself. In order to make a goodly abow, therefore, the bride groom musters all tbe borses, camels and donkeya be can lay bands on among bia frlenda, besides hiring con veyances for tbe bride and ber fam- lly. Tbe wife, however, can scarcely be aald to grace tbe brilliant pageanl with ber presence, aa she la Invisible, bolng aeated In the closely covered Utter seen on the foremost camel. Tbe essence of ladylike behavior among the -Moslems (a retirement, and tbe more valued a bride tbe more la abe guarded from tbe public gaze. So she la im mured In ber stuffy Utter, while tbe miscellaneous cavalcade winds Its way along, preceded by weird and alarm ing native band, to tbe bouse of tba proud aad happy bridegroom. i THE GREAT DESTROYER SCM2 STARTLING FACTS ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. . I'Oftr t Ilorr In Rlcn tlie Pledge A Thrill Ins Wren Which Occurred at One of the rnlil If Meetlun During the I'lcdgc-Slgnina; Oitsafle, Sign it in truth; with high purpose and pure, Firmly resolved to the end to endure. Sign it in hone: nor fear once 'tis too late, For is closed not on any thu temperance gate. .Sign it in faith; with thy heart and thy hand Kager lo work t'vvard the victory planned. Sign it wifi raycr; for thy own strength may fail. But who rests upon Cod will lie sure to prevail. Sign it with joy: fur it pleasure can bring. Far more than strong drink, which at lengtn leaves a sting. Sign it at once: without parley or pause. For you ne'er will regret having helped such a cause. A Thrilling srene. Amonc tha many hopeful signs indicat ing temperance progi-eps, none more en couraging than the interest everywhere taken in the Twentieth Century plcdee signing crusade inaugurated by the Na tion Temnerance Society. Since that time nearlv 3,1X10,001) nieilges have been sent out free by the society in response to appli cations, anil these applications have come from churches and Sabbath schools of all denominations ami from all temperance organization. Now the Mpworth league ins a sinii'ar pledne-sivniiig crusade. Many of the renoi ts that, are being re ceived by the sjciety are deen'y interest ing. Some ot them describi thrilling scenes ar, witnessed at public meetings. Ta'e the following iii'tance: It was a mixed audience that gathered i:i the hall: emong them was one poor wo man who hail stolen away from her poverty-stricken, mined home, where she had left her bubies who. veak with hunger, had wept themselves to sleep. With bor rowed cloak to hide her Hpstit ntion this sorrowing wmna'i hail found a place among the cr.-ivvil who hud gathered to hear from a stranger hiw the victims of rum cou'd be saved and their darkened homes made li?ht. With iiilnntp interest lic listenrd to the snenker. who. in the tale he recited, was I'escriliin" her own case. He tells of hone; but no that never can be hers. If he, her lins'mxl wi here, perhaps anil then a ilcrn. ileep ili bursts from her lips; hut k1i listens still, and more intently to the sneaker's moving words, until her heart is full, nnd loiikii." around to ee what effect the words oi the speaker have upon her neighbor. What ails t'le woma'i? Whom has she rcen enionz the crowd? Her checks are fluplied with burning crimson and her eves are hri'.'ht with living tire. It is it must l" liin! Shn cannot be mistaken in him. Ves. 'tis her hiMiiand. Far back amongst the crowd he stamls with folded arms, his gaze intent iiimn the sneaker's face; deep earnestness is stamped o:i every feature a., lie "azes o-i. "'re. he dashes n tesr-dron from his eye. What ha moved? The simple story of a woman's faith a wounding patience. The wife watches him. She sees him dash away the teardrop. A gathering mist is in her own eves, but she forg-ts it all; for gets all but her oilier self. Now the speak er closes, and I here is a stirring among the crowd. Stepni'ig down from the platform the sneaker takes his place hv a table on which is an n en book, and in kir.dlv, per suasive tones invites the audience to sign the pledge. Slake way! The figure of a man advances down the aisle. Steadily l-e presses his vvav to the table. Behind that figure is a female form a shadow, a pale, faded thii - sb feeble that she "annot stand, but leans upon his shoulder with one hand cliistiing his nnn. "There. I have aignd!" exclaims the man, "ami now. inv wife, come home and let us prav lo-nieht." Stop but one mo ment. What a hand is hers? So thin, so trembling; yet she grasps as if it were a rod of iron to inscribe deep words of mercy on the rock forever. They pass out together that nennilos aim meiiiiiras pair, -'rnng in each other s trui ii. ric h in each oilier s love. Weeks glide away months and to-day they are now so happy: blest with a beau tiful home and rosy children. Such arc the scenes which cheer on every hand the lahnri-rs in this pledge-signing crusade. The National Advocate. A Wont to the Hoys. What do you think, young friends, of the hundreds of thousands who ure trying to cheat themselves and others into thu belief that alcoholic drinks are good for them? Are they to be pitied und not blamed? Do you want to be one of those wretched men? If wc are to have drunk ards in the future, some of them are to come from the boys to whom I am writing; and I ask you again if you want to be one of them? Xo, of course you don't! Well, 1 have a plan for you that is just as sure to save you from such a fate as the sun is to rl.e to-morrow morning. It never failed; it never will fail; and I think it worth knowing. Never touch liquor in any turm. That is the plan, ami it is not only worth knowing, but it is worth put ting in practice. 1 know you don't drink now, and it seem i to you as it you never would. But your temptation will come, ami will prob ably come in this way: You will lind your self some time with a number ot com panions, and they will have a bottle of wine on the tabic, 'they will drink and offer it to you. They will regard it as a manly practice, and very likely they will look upon you as a milksop if you don't indulge with them. Then what will you do? Kb, what will you do? Will you say, "No, no! none of that stuff for me! I know a trick worth half a dozen of that!'' or will you take a glass with your own common sense protesting, and your eon science making the whu.e draught bitter, anil a feeling that vou have ilnin.w.'i! vnm-. self, and then go oft with a hot heaif and a skulking soul that at once begins to make apologies for itself, and will keep doing 'i all tins life? Hoys, do not bi'cuuie drunk ards. J. O. Holland. A Growing lileu. Xorth Carolina Baptist, Fayetteville, say: "The average magazine of today is cursing the people with tlashy liquor'ad verlisements. 'io advertise the stuff is to wish success to the advertiser. And his success means failure, shame and ruin to many people. We want to see a crusadu against this kind of advertising, l'uhlic opinion, rightly directed, can stop these advertisements." Til Trusail in ltrlrf. The United States drinks enough liquor each year to float all her battleships. If ever hater of the drink evil and friends of temperance would give regularly even a trine to the reform, iTio movement would make rapid progress. Through the greut ' Vashingto.nan move ment in Ohio flo.uoi) took the pledge. In Pennsylvania 2U,U00; in Kentucky, 30.000, and multitudes in all parts of the land. If Christian business men would cease to be so everlastingly timorous in their ouposition to the saloon power the bright day when the rutu sellers would be cowed would da n il more speedily. In the great battle against intemperance and vice many Christians prefer a toy pis tol to s Krupp gun. We license men to sell drink. The drink sold makes nieu druuk, The drunkard com mits murder. The murderer u hauged. Who ia responsible? To legulite the aaloon is moral rob'jert. Intellectual ruin and spiritual suicide. Does your vote help to legalise ill Tb vote of the American ritixen is one of tht greatest moral levers, or one of the great est crime furces in our civilisation. Alderman White, of Birmingham, speaking at Cardiff, said: "1 could gi you lull cases, and 100 after that, and ll) after that, of men wbu have come under mv notice who bav become trophies ol Divine grace through the simple act ol Siguing The pledge and keep.ug it," 32? - . The I.ens. I who have harbored doubt, am now A freeman, ridden of my fears; Clear writ across the morning's brotv . I read the promise of tbe years. V It dazzles on the face of noon, v Limned there in letters planet-bright; And though there shine nor star nor moon I mark it in the front of night. 'Tis through the lens of Faith I heed The huddled flight of all my fears; 'Tis through the lens of faith I read The radiant promise of the years. Clinton Scollurd. The l'rodlgnl Son. This story has grown so familiar through sermon, song and story that it makes hut little impression today, and the prodigal sons, jocosely called "probable sons," are grown both more prodigal and more prob able. The modern prodigal son rays to his Father; "Heavenly rather, give me the portion of the good things of this life which are my birthright health, wealth, .'ame. friends, beauty; all that you mean shall be mine." 'i hen straightway, scarcely stopping to value the great fortune that is placed in his careless bands, he takea his way into a far country, a place aa far from his Heavenly Father as it is possible for him to get, where he cannot even visit Him on Sundays, because the land into which he has journeyed with his birth right is one in which they have no Sab bath. It would seem that he does not know the limit of his substance, for he wastes it with a lavish hand, never atopping to think that there may be an end to it. His health! How he spends it, burning up bis very life tissues in wanton pleasur ing, and expecting them to gush forth fresh the next morniug. His fame, his influence, his friends he draws upon them all as if thev were inexhaustible. Now, had he been at home, in ctoee touc'i with the Father who had first given him these gifts, they might have been re newed, for the Heavenly Father's wealth is countless and He loves to do for His own. But suddenly the supply of all his fortune runs dry. And now. jnst as in the days of the first Prodigal Son, when this happens, th: next step for him generally is to "hire himself to a citizen of that countrv," that far land away from God. He does not like to feed pigs. He would not have chosen to engage in a question able business when he Urst came out there to live. It all seemed pleasant then. But now it seems that he is obliged to accept this disagreeable, loathsome task. lie. does not think that he may. instead, re turn to his Father. How many prodigals, in need of money and offered a chance to do some dirty work, remember that in stead they mav even then return to God, confess their sins and be forgiven? No. every prodigal thinks he has git to feed the pigs. Hi; must accept that posi tion in a brevverv, or work on Sunday, or carry on some dishonest dealing, for the "citizen'' in that far country has him in his power, and not until he has reached the depths of humiliation, the utter emp tying out of self and the entire acknowl edgment of the greatness of his Father, is he willing to return home. Notice that the Prodigal Son was not doubtful of bis Father's reception at any time, but only asked to be made a servant instead of a son because lie felt his entire uuwort'ui ti ess. And was ever Father like our Father in heaven? The robe of righteousness He puts upon the wanderer, signifying a cleansing from all sin. The ring He puts upon the finger to signify that he is not only forgiven, but is to carry about with him a sense of his Father's great love. His feet are shoil with precious promises that he may go forward in the war of peace, and then the fatted calf is killed th..t not only may he be forgiven nnd rejoice and feel once more his Father's love, but he may also be happy in it mid think no uiois ol Ins sins, for they are utterly forgive". There is a point not to be forgotten i,i the Father's talk with the elder biothir. "Mv child." He says, 'you are abvavs vvith Me. Everything I have ia yours." Is there the least bit of gentle reproach that tin e.clcr brother had not exercised all ni privileges? Is it not possible that the eld iv brother, if he had lived closer to his rather s heart, might have twcii better un derstood and partaken of His deep love for the wandering, sinning brother?- tirare Livingston Hill, in the New Yolk -Mad und l-.xpresa. The Open Heart, th Attentive Kar. Never a day passes, hardly an hour in which the cry for help of somebody worthy of help and all who need u are worthy of it ,ii some way is not near us, if we would but open our eyes to see, onr ears to hear Mid our hearts to think. Therefore every day and hour brings us a new responsibil-"y- None of us may know how much of the blood of our brothers and sisters innv be crying out against us from the ground, how many appeals for help arrogantly or '.. anlonly unheeded by us, have preceded death and ruin which we might Lavo averted or postponed. As ne hope to bo listened to when we crv aloud or mate onr mute, pathetic appeals, as we may live to bold in our hearts the longing tiiat sonic body will understand what we cannot or dare not tell and will stretch out the hand o help, whether it be for the relief of unspoken necessity or hidden uistress, with inlluence, tympathy or consolation, so should wc teach ourselves to look and lis ten for opportunity to help. It is impos sible for us to make better investments ot time, patience or monev. A Oolilen Test. A lady telle of a visit she made rt one time in a beautiful home where lived a deur old lady. Aunt Ahby. Seeing her sit ting in her rocking-chair by the window one day, and looking a bit lone y, as she passed by she put her arm arounu lit r ami kissed her check, 'ihe old lady Hushed with pleasure, and said, "Thank vou. dear. Thank you." "Why, Aunt Abbie," said th- lady, ' I am surprised that vou should seem to rare so much." "My dear." she said, earnestly, "kiss your mother; kiss her olten. You don't know how much good it will do ber. Ah! we kissed them so much when wc were little oues, the darl ings! But now they have so much to do, and so many i res, it ia not strange that thev se m to forget. They are so kind and good. They want us to have every thing, and more than wc need. It is oniy that they are always so busy. Don't for get, dear, to kiss your mother every day. It v ill make her very happy, snd when she. is gone, the memory will be all the sweeter." . . Having Fallh. I do not know when or how it may please Jod to give you the quiet of mind you need; but I tell you that I b.dieve that it u to be had; and in the meantime you must go on Going your work, trusting in Uod even fur this. (jeorge Macdoualii. Sesk nnd rind. Fiiu' your purpose and fling your life out to it, and, the loftier your purpose is, the more sure you will be to make the world richer with every enrichment of yourself. 1'hilhps Brooks. Coin en a Needle Point To spin coin on a needle point: Insert a needle, bead downward, In Che cork of bottle, and In another cork cut a slit that will Just allow a coin to be held In It. In thla cork stick tbe prongs ot two forks, oppo site to each other, and so that they will Incline downward. Tbe forks must be alike and of tba aame weight. Now, to apln tba coin on the needle point, you have only to placa tbe rim in tbe point, and as the fork a estab lish an equilibrium tba little ayatem will work very nicely without danger of an upset cr a fall. COMMERCIAL REVIEW. General Trade CeoJttteaa R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Revwsv t)f Trade" says: Violent fluctuations in cotton and uncertainty regarding; thm situation in the Far Hast were the only factors in the business situation dur ing the holiday week. Numerous ex pressions of confidence are heard re garding the future, however, especially at the West and South. Manufactur ing planlj have taken a longer vaca tion than last year. Textile mills are confronted with av , lack of proper proportion between prices of raw material and finished pro duct, and it is evident that costs orS production must be held down in sontv way or much machinery will becom idle. Transportation lines are well en gaged in handling grain, live stock, luet and lumber, while earnings thus far re ported lor December exceed the previ ous year an average oi 5.6 per cent. Few -new contracts for iron and steel are reported, yet the general level o? quotations is fairly maintained, ami better conditions are expected early in IQ04. Several special transaction are reported in billets and wire rods as concessions, but thee do not affect Itvt figures. ' Failures this week numbered 2JJS ir the United States, against 298 last year, and in Canada 17, compared with 8 s year ago. LATEST MARKET QUOTATIONS. Four Spring clear, $j.854.05; beat Patent $5.45; choice Family $4-J5- Wheat New York No. 2, 00c; Phil adelphia No. 2, 88VS89c; Baltimore No. 2, 8?iisS!$c. Corn New York, No. a, 5c; Phil adelphia No. 2, 4J; Baltimore No. j, 4Wc Oats New York No. a, 42c; Phila delphia No. 2, 4Jc; Baltimore No. 2. 4Jrt43c. Hay No. I timothy, large bales. !ff$i4 5o; do, small bales, $14.50; No. 2 timothy $13.5014.00; No. 3 tim othy, $12.00(11113.00. Green Fruits and VegetablesAp ples Western Maryland and Penn sylvania, packed, per brl $1.50(.507. do. New York, assorted, per brl $2Jf 13.00; lo, do, Baldwins, per brl $i5-J' .275; do, do, Kings, per brl $3.001 3.50; do, do, Gills, per brl $3-2.Wj-5; do, do, Tallman Sweets, per brl $3.?j uJ 2.50; do. New York Greenings, per brl $2.25(a275: do. New York, No. a, per brl $1.25(0 175. Beets Native, prr bunch l!46r2c. Broccoli New York, box, 20W25C Cabbage New York, per ton, domestic, $5.00(0:30:00; Ai, New York State, per ton, Dani-vri. tjo.oowTjs.oo. Cranberries Cape Co4, per brl $6.5C(fi-8.oo; do, per box $I75'' 2 25. Celery Native, per bunch 4?;5C Carrots Native, per bunch 262Vie. Eggplants Florida, per basket $2.Wii 2.50. Grapes Concords, per 5-lb bas ket n(iM2c; do, Catawba, do, ii&iiic Horseradish Native, per bushel box $1.50,2.00. Lettuce Norfolk, per bas ket 75c(n $2.00; do, Florida, per baiU't $l.50'ii3.oo. Kale Native, per bushel box 25(r30c. Onions New York an Western, yellow, per bu 75$i8oc; do. Western, red, per bu 7ofa75c; d?. Western, white, per bu gocCaSi.ooi. Cr inges, $2.25(0:3.50. Spinach Native, per bushel box $1.1 5rg 1 . 25. Turnips Native, per bushel box 3TXu40c Potatoes. White Eastern Shore, Maryland and Virginia, per bu 65(cr70c;. Jo, Maryland and Pennsylvania, prime, per bu 70(075; do, do, seconds, per ju 60(0.65; do, New York, prime, per )u 75(078; do, Western, prime, per ba '5(078?" Sweets Yellows, Maryland ind Virginia, per brl $i.oo(fi,'i.5o; do. ("otomac, per brl $1.75(02.00. Yams v'irginia, per brl $1.25(0:1.50; do. Pom nac, Maryland, per brl, $1.5051-175. Provisions' and Hog Products;. 3ulk clear rib sides. 7!jc; bulk shotn Itrs, y'ic; bacon clear rib sides, Rftv; lacon shoulders. Hc; stiRar-cured Cat fornia hams, 814c; canvasrd and un tanvased hams, 10 lbs and over, ll'tc; lams, skinned, lie; refined lard, sec Mi'l hnml tubs, "Vic; refined lard, halt jarrcls and new tubs, jH; tierces, lard, ;-;c Butter Separator. 25ifila6c; Gatherei Tream, 2l'Vi25c; Imitations, (u?2tc; Prints, Ki-lb, 272oc; Prints, lib, 27 328c. Cheese. Septembers, larg;e ami imall, 2(iji2i: late made, November, o-VK'i 1 1 'i ; trade quiet. Live Poultry. Chickens Hens;, per b, 12(0 14c; old roosters, each 2561:30; iung, I34i'l5; do stags, I2sl.. Duck!. Puddle, per lb, Ittuc; Mus rovev and nionurel. per lb. Ii(tft3; d-2 Irakcs, each, per lb, 31a.to: white pe- tins. per lb, 14. Geese Western aud vnithrrn, each, 6rxfi75c. Dressed Poultry. Chickens Young;, icr lb, 15c; old mixed, per lb. 1214. Ducks, per lb. 1 5(0)1 7c. Geese, per l!. I4(ii.'l6r. Turkeys Fancy young, pvr b, 1115 2 1 c. Fugs. Maryland and Pennsylvania. er doz., loss off, 34(o35c; VirRtnia, d-, 14; West Virginia and Southern. d., lo, 3-'(o 33- Live MacH. Chica". Cattle Receipts 700c lead; market strong to 15c higher; ;ood to prime, $5.00015 75; poor to rue- lium. $350(0500; stockers and ferd- :rs, $2.00(04.10; cows and heifers, $17; 0475; canners, $1. 75(0,12.40; bulls. $200 0425: calves, $2 5u5 75- Hoirs Re ceipts 32.000 head; market steady to 5c higher; mixed and butchers, $.roi.C 4 00; good to choice heavy, $4.75v 4 90; rough heavy, $4 40(11 4 70; ligtit. f4 35f'4 70; bulk ol sales, $4 6ota'4.7;. Sheep Receipts. 15,000 head; thee;: and lambs closed lower; good tc .-hoice wethers. $3,750X4 50; fair tc rhoice mixed, $300375; native lambs. $425(1635. Pittsburg, Pa. Cattle steady; caoiVe Koorii.5.15; prime $47ii475; 'air $3oe 'o"'3 fx). Hogs Prime heavies and me diums $5 10(05.15; heavy Yorkers $mj light Yorkers $5.00; pigs $4 00i;i;4.?,5' toughs $3 00(0 4.50. Sheep steady: prime wethers $4000425; cull iw! common $1 5o2.25; choice lamb $613 INDUSTRIAL AND SCIENTIFIC NOTES. There are at least 250 Filipino ta dents in American colleges. The average annual rainfall ol Oh:e lor iourteen yeara ia thirty-sewer inches. Cigars, cigarettes, salt and ice are government monopolies in Panaasa. The constabulary ol the Ptiihppnsea is an armed force ol 6000 native. The value of the high school prop erty in the United States ia $i5.oao 000. Germany will Increase its cosrsata corps, especially in tba United State. Not more than to per cent, of tbe- . inhabitants ol the Philippines cast sawsJe any Spanuh. The lorty-seven miles ol th Pass a ma Railroad earned $t.5Aoo bsa ear. , Colon imports nearly tnofne worth a year, $600,000 oi which is fsoas , the United States. In eight months the French have bought 6000 loos of Amcricaa chopped ipples lor cider making. t Following tba esaiuptes of r countries, numerous trusts have I " iorraed in Sweden, especial! it I jtr, matches and miaiu .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers