"THE LIMIT OF ENDEAVOR"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rey. C.
D. Case, Ph. 9.
Btw Mac Dart Von Atteapt far 0dr V.t
aim Orsc Batk lor Llvlif aa4 Dvloi.
TinooKt.vx. N. Y. The ilev. C. I). Case,
Ph. 1)., formerly of the First Uaptist
( hu'rch, Montclsir, N. J., preached on Sun
day his first sermon nil pastor oi the Han
son Place Baptist Church. His sii'jject was
'"I he Limit of K.ndeavor." Dr. Cane said:
la the fourth century of the Christian
era the Ooths, numbering nearly one mill
ion people, men, women and children, came
down to the Danube, at that time swollen
by many rains, tocscane to the other side,
A large fleet of boats und canoes had been
provided, and for several days and nights
woik went on incessantly, Yet notwith
standing the most earnest care scores were
awept away in the flood.
Centuries before this remarkable occur
rence another vast horde of men,' women
and children came down to another swollen
stream. By count there were over (HH),OUU
warriors over twentv years of age, and the
entire host numbered about 2,000.000. The
valley into which they descended was of
peculiar formation. The outer valley was
an miles and over in width, hut there wan
an inner valley or ravine a half mile anil
over in width, and still within this was the
river itself varying from twenty to aixty
yards in. width. But this river, too. h,id
been swollen by many ruins and the melt
ing snows farther up its course, and now
had overrun its usual bunks and was rush'
ing along with rapidity.
Strangely enough no bonis had been pre
pared for the crossing of this host, and yet,
a events proved, not one of the host wns
lost in the crossing. Kvidently there was
some vast distinction to he made between
these two great hosts of antiquity. What
was that distinction? May it not be this,
the words that Isaiah uses in the forty
third chapter and second verse, which may
be considered the text of this sermon:
"When thou passe th through the waters
I will be with thee, and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee."
On the part of the Israelites in their
crossing of the Jordan some special prepar
ation was needed, but not in the procuring
of boats. The commander of the army had
sent messengers throughout the host, and
oommanded all to sanctify themselves,
which meant the washing of garments and
the abstaining from all that might distract
the mind. Similarly Moses had once com
manded the people to sanctify themselves
to-day and to morrow, and to wash their
Sarments and be ready against the third
ay; for the third day Jehovah Himself
would come down in the sight of all the
people on Mount Sinai.
It was a critical moment for the hosts of
Israel. To fail now meant to fail forever.
To succeed now meant a promise for the
future. "Hereby ye shall know," said
Joshua, "that the living God is among you
and that .He will without fail drive out
Irom tietore you toe innanitants ot tne
land. What a nation or a man achieves
through God-given strength to-day is an
assurrance for victory for to morrow. Suc
cess is a handmaid of assurance. "Ye have
not passed this way before," said Joshua;,
a new leaf in national history hud been
turned; a new territory invaded.
A new endeavor with the Israelitisli
army as with us to-day needed special
fuidance. The sacred ark was to precede
he people, but far enough in advance to
be seen by all that "ye may know," said
the leader, "the way by which ye must go."
Reverence is needed for divine things, but
divine guidance more. The pillar of fire
fend the cloud is now superseded by the
ark, and it in turn superseded by the
Christ, who said to all distiples, "follow
Me." In each case the command is not to
make the Guide follow you, but you the
Guide.
Five miles over the river la a walled city.
Thousands are watching irom the walls the
foolhardy attempt of the disordered hosts.
One person, however, alone upon the wall,
unnoticed by the many, is looking down
with expectancy. That one is Kabul). Shu
watches eagerly as the priests bearing the
ark by the poles step with measured tread
down to the river, wonders as nothing hap
pens, starts as the priests seen actually at
the very edge, but at la.st her hopes are
realized, as the rushing current is stayed
by some unseen force and rolls up in n
mighty wall, while below the waters hurry
away until the last streamlets trickle down
- over the stones and leivu luud for the pas
sage of the army.
What, after all, is the limit of endeavor? 1
Kvidently not reason alone if at all. That
Israelite who stays behind and watches
the foolish performance from the hill side
paces back and forth in his disgust. Such
a foolish waste of life! Such a spectacular
display. Will Joshua never be done with
auch undertakings? Any one might know
that that motley herd could not be gotten
aafely across that boiling stream. No
boats, no possibility of wading, or even
ku.;. ; a ,.an't i, Jl,.nA
watch, it is done. I heard a teacher in a
certain normal school rend in class lor the
correction of professor and student what
ahe would say to a class of boys and girl
about the crossing of tliu Ked Sea by the
Israelites. A strong east wind, she said,
blew the water down the sea until the
Israelites could wade across, and then
when the Kgyptians came up the wind harfj
changed and drowned all of the Kgyptians
in the passage. "And what do you sup
pose," said the would-be teacher, "the peo
ple thought that God made the waters to
So back." That's science for you. But, by
the njy, such science is a little out of
dale. Kven Huxley declared that Hume's
argument against miracles was unscientific
aince he maintained as a premise that
nothing miraculous or supernatural could
occur. As far as science is concerned it is
not necessary for us to determine whether
thing is miraculous or not, the questiou
is, did the eveut occur, and if so, can we
lind a cause?
Nor is the extent of one's own power an
adequate limit to one's endeavor. "Give
ye them to eat," said Christ. Impossible.
There are 5000 men beside women sad
children. It would take sn average man's
life's savings to feed them. We have, in
fact, enough to give a few men a little to
ustaiu them, a paltry live losvea and two
fishes, but what are they among so many.
Ability says, Ws csnnot feed them. Christ
, mvs. Arrange them in groups; make ready.
What, then, are the limits of endeavor?
One limit is certainly God's command.
The Lord commands and the host proceeds
and the deed is done. The Bib.e teems
with commands. Are they becoming use
less? Hits the Bible yet become an obso
lete text book? J Joes it need revision?
iSome commands appear out-dated; some
foolish; sum iiitheolt to obey, let whst
He commands He will give strength to per
form, sand the word of Cans is the word
tu-day. Whatsoever He saitk unto you,
-do it.
But there is another limit, which is still
farther tu the horizon of life, the limit of
iod's promises. God's promises sre in
Him vea and amen, borne ooe bss said that
iod's promises are the Lord's brsnrhes
banging over the Water, thst our Lord's
.illv, ball-drowned cbildrea may take a
grip ot them. Bather are they glimpses of
the mountain top. inspiring the traveler to
mouut the heights thst he may see the
iieavenly realms beyond. Yet all of God's
promises have expressed or implied condi
tions. Something must be done by us in
regard to His commands. Does He say, '1
will give the a crown of lite?" He u.so
avs. "If thou art faitbiul unto death.
oes He sav. "Thou shalt be saved?" He
silso sjy. "if you believe on the Lord
Jesus tbrist." Does He say thst He will
svouae in uuto as and make His abode with
us? lie uiskcs i s Hi.- comliliou, lust ws
open the doo.v tt He decline Mat ws
shall bear much fruit? He a!.u Jink as
the condition that we shall abide m Unu.
What, then, shall we do in Hie fai or
Cod's command snd promises which thus
sot the limit to our endeavor? Crrtstnly
accept the limit, sad be satisfied Willi uo
less. A command mrsps a duly, and a
promise' a privilege. The Christ is lite is
ay not by trying nothing but what seems
easy, not by failing gixemlly with lb
' jiops that God's fsvor wil pardou ouv nra
lect, not by thinking that J is commands
sod promises era aot really for us, but by
agreeing with General A runt rung: "What
sr the Cbiwtiaiis in the world for but to
do is impossible?" -rtur ia assenting-ibs
fco ideal taw soul most ss osiiainiy accept
(be cumplaasntsry ouncluaion lust all
sirs agio is of God Power beluoiralb unto
in4 (fcursuuVtsttisisorUud. How v
pie act as if God had been dcpfscir..rnnrt"a
three words are light, life and love; l'atil's
are grace, faith and power. It is by tho
grace of God. His unmerited favor, reached
by faith, a complete trust in Him, that we
obtain the power of God. Ami what pow
er! When Paul bad reached the lowest
depths of Unmans, the seventh chapter,
and sees that he nitht sin. and exclaims pa
thetically, Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? he can only answer
himself with humility anil rejoicing. I
thank God, through Jesus Christ our laird.
Watch the repetition. "Power," "in the
power of the Holy Spirit," "in the demon
stration of the Spirit and of power,''
"able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think according to the
power that worketh in tis;" "that ye may
know what is the exceeding greatness ot
His power to upward who believe accord
ing to that working of His might which
He wrought in Christ, when He raised flint
from the dead, and made Him to sit at
His right hand in heavenly places."
But power comes through faith. Watch
the priests ns they put their feet in the
brink of that swollen stream. What con
fidance. How did you know what wns
going to happen? Some sny that as we
rrow older we gnjn more wisdom and
therefore need not accept less and lens the
revelation by faith. Great theologians ac
ccording to this might live with very little
faith, in much the mine spirit it is sup
posed by many that as we obtain more and
more strength we need less and less of di
vine interposition and have less and less
need of failh. But "let him that Ntandeth
take heed lent he full." As long as we live
on this earth there will be new territory
ot wisdom und power to reach, and new
Jordans to cross. We cannot. Paul de
dares, in Galutians, begin by faith and
then be perfected in the flesh. Faith as
the stretching out of the hand toward
t hrist must always be a t hristiuu priv
ilege.
Taki
ako your own condition, if you nrn not
a Christian. If you join a lodge you make
up your mind after examination that you
can keep all of the requirements of the
constitution and pledges. You know your
own ability and strength. But when you
come to Christ, you do not begin by say
ing, Can I or can 1 not hold out to the end,
taking into consideration the. powers that
I now possess. ' Rather you sny. He has
promised to keep that which I commit
unto Him, and therefore 1 shall hold out.
You will make the conclusion of Charles
G. Kinney as ho went out into the -woods
engaged in a life und death struggle with
the Holy Spirit. The voice was saying.
"Will you accept now to-day?" lie went
out determined to give his heart to Christ
before be came out, and he did. But it
wus a promise which he laid hold of. That
promise was: "Ye shall seek Me and tind
Me when ye shall search for Me with all
your heart." His answering faith said:
"Lord, Thou canst not lie; i take Thee at
Thy word; I do search with all my heart
and I know therefore that I have found
Thee." And as he continued in prayer the
peace of God came into his heart.
Then there arc commands and promises
connected with your burdens. Christ said,
"Do not worry over the morrow." Can we
keep from worry? You have read again
and again the' words, "Cast toy burden on
the Lord and He will sustain thee," but
note that the margin of the revised version
says as the other reading tor "thv burden"
"thut which Ho hath given thee, and ulso
notice that God sustains not the burden
but "thee." Cast upon God what He has
given you to bear and He will bear thee,
and in bearing thee the burden will be a
blessing, not a curse.
Is prayer a furce? Or can tho limit of
endeavor in prayer be ulso God's promises?
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, it
shall be done unto you." Christ declared
to the disciples as they hud stood helpless
before the demoniac boy, "This kind Com
eth not forth suve by prayer." Beyond
the reaches of human strength and wisdom
is the domain of prayer-achievement. Dr.
David Gregg when he wits pastor in Bos
ton presided ut the fiftieth anniversary of
Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, long of Constantinople.
In the year 1851 Malimoud hud issued un
edict ordering the expulsion of all mission
aries from the empire. The British and
American ambassadors told them that they
must go. William Gadell replied to Ham
lin's statement, "Hamlin, the Sultan of
Heaven can change this; let us appeal to
Him in prayer." Together, like Hezekiuh
of old, they spread the edict before tho
Lord und prayed all night. The next day
Muhmoud died and the edict was never
mentioned. Kobert College is the monu
ment of the work of Dr. Hamlin.
You, to day, are thinking especially of
the work before you. How much dure you
attempt for God? We must often begin
our duty before we feel conscious of the
strength. But God gives grace for living
and dying both and ulways when wc need
it. Thank God, we are co-workers with
Him, winch means vastly more than that
we are engaged in the same work or the
tame kind of work. Christ said, "My
Father worketh hitherto and 1 work,"
showing thst He was simply currying out
the work which His Father was doing.
But He also said, "My Father, which
worketh in Me, He doetu the work." So
we mean when we say that. we are co
workers with (iod, more thun that we are
doing God's work, but thut He Himself is
in us "working in us both to will and do
of His good pleasure." Professor Peubody,
of Harvard, declares thut there are three
classes that make problems for us in so
ciety, the "can't-works," the aged, sick and
defective, who must receive gentle and con
tinuous consideration; the "out-of-works,"
able to work, but temporarily unemployed;
the "won't works," the protessionally idle,
vagrant, mendicant poor.
In the church there are but two classes
to make problems; for there are no "can't
works," as every one who cannot take a
Sunday-achpol class or do some other
church service, does work by Christian tes
timony and Christian living; first, the
"out-of-works," who are willing to work
but csnnot lind employment, and for this
neglect the church is responsible; and sec
ond, the "won't works." and God pity the
church that has many of them. Let us
rather be the "can works," the "in works,"
the "will works."
And does some one ask .what are th
prospects of success? Ijet them listen to
Adunirsm Judsou, as he says, "Tell them
us much as there is an Almighty and a
faithful God, who will perform His prom
ises, and no more." Let us believe that
we have but two limits to all of our en
deavors, God's commands snd God's prom
ises. A Holy Ministry.
It is life itself, sanctified life, that !
God's holiest snd most effective ministry
in this world pure, sweet, patient, ear
nest, unselfish, loving life. It is not so
much whst we do in this world as what w
. that tells in suiritual results and im-
I presxions. A good life is like a (lower
ever pours out a rich perluiue and tnus J
perform a holy ministry.- Dr. J. K. Mil
which, 'iinusn ii neuner ion nor sum, yei
ler.
Oyetsr-Shsll Buffet.
A buffet made of oyster sheila would
hardly appeal. It would seem, to the
average householder, and yet a real
dent of Diamond atreet, near Six
teenth, baa an oyster shell buffet that
bla vlsitora admire more heartily than
any other piece of furniture In bli
dwelling, aaya the Philadelphia Rec
ord. This buffet looks like' mother-of-pearl.
The shells In It are beautifully
polished, and what gives tba piece Ita
chief distinction la the black spots, or
yea, upon each ibell. These apots
have an effect -upon the shell's silvery
pearly surface that la Indescribably
striking and barmoulous. The buffet
was mad by a cabinet-maker of Wood
bury, N. J. The sheila are set aide by
aide In oxidised silver, and their back
ground, or base, la black walnut wood.
It la doubtful if there Is another auch
piece of furniture as this lu existence.
Utlen'a Ocetf Reecrel.
Lat year tba Plymouth collect
last elation gave tbe best returns ol
My of tew three lab hatoberlea main
Ul-.d by ir ioerBaot os the Mew
nshMMt ooast, the reeetpU there be
Ug nor tfcaa hoU the other to
Hether.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February 21.
Subject: Jesas and lbs Sabbalb, (Halt, ill.,
I-M-Goldea Te.il, Matt. xlL, 12
Memory Verses, 4-8 Cam.
mestary oa tbe
Day's Lessen,
I. Plucking corn on fae Sabbath (vs.
1-8.) 1. "At that time." It may be well
to note that there is a difference ot opinion
here as to time. Some think that Jesus
had nt tended the feist of the Passover
just preceding this, but this is called in
question by the best critics. "Through the
corn." To an American reader the word
corn suggests the idea of Indian corn or
maize . but the word in the text lias refer
once to grain, such as wheat, rye or bar
Icy. "Began to pluck." They rubbed it
in their hiiniU (I.ulce 0:11 to separate the
grain from the chaff. This w allowable
according to the law (Deut. '2.":S1). but
the Pharisees object to their doing it on
the Sabhulh day. The plucking and rub
bing necessary for this purpose were con
sidered by the Pharisees to be sufficiently
near to reaping and threshing to constitute
them secondary violations of the fourth
commandment.
'2. "Pharisees saw it." They were watch
ing for an opportunity to catch Hun. "Not
l.iwlitl." Tins prohibition is a Pharisaic
rule not found in the Mosaic law. It was
n principle wiih the Pharisees to extend
the provisions of the law and make minute
regulations over and beyond what Mints
commanded, in order to avoid the possibil
ity of transgression.
.'I. "Have ye not read." To vindicate
His disciples Christ referred the Pharisees
to a similar rase recorded in their own
Scriptures and with which they should
have been familiar. "An hungered." Our
Lord hero is not arguing for un excuse to
break the law, but ior its true construc
tion. The mere lormiility of a ritual or
strict letter of a positive precept is to
yield to the demands of the general good.
The necessities of the disciples justified
them in doing on the Sabbath what was
otherwise unlawful.
4. "The house of Cod." The talterna
c'e. "Did eat." Ahimelech. the priest at
Noli, gave DuviJ and his companions five
loaves of the shewbread fl Sam. 21: 1-7).
The law provided that twelve loaves of
bread should be put in two piles upon the
table in the sanctuary, to remain a week
and then to be eaten by the priests only.
David, fleeing from Saul, weary and hun
gry, had eaten this bread contrary to the
letter of the law. "Shewbread." "Liter
ally, bread of setting forth, that is, bread
that was set forth in the sanctuary. It
we also culled 'continual bread' ss being
set forth perpetually before the Lord,
hence the Hebrew name, 'bread of the
presence.' Twelve loaves or cakes were
placed in two piles on the 'pure table'
every Sabbath. On each pile was put n
golden cup of frankincense. See F.x. 25:
30; Lev. 24: 8 8."
5. "Profane the Sabbath." Jesus con
tinued His argument by showing thut even
the law under certain circumstances pro
vided for the doing of that which had been
expressly forbidden in the law. On the
Sabbath days as well as on other days the
priests were engaged in killing, preparing
and burning t!.e sacrifices and in perform
ing the whole temple service. It was one
of the savings of the rabbins that there
wus no Sabbath-keeping in the temple.
Thus, if all work on the Sabbath profaned
the Sabbath, as the Pharisees maintained,
the priests were guilty of continual profa
nation. "Blameless." Xot merely does
the sacred history relate exceptional in
stances of necessity, but the law itself or
dains labor on the Sabbath as a duty. 6.
"Greater than the temple." Inasmuch as
the one who builded the house is greater
than the house, ( hrist refers here to His
own authority and power. The law.-giver
is greater thun the law. Christ wus great
er than the temple because, I. The temple
exists but for Him. 2. it is but a place
of assemblv where men may meet with
Him. 3. However splendid it is nothing
except Ho be there. 4. However lowly
the presence of the great King makes of it
a heavenly palace.
7. "If ye hud known." A knowledge of
the true meaning of God's word will pre
vent rush judgment. Jesus here charges
His critics with ignorance of their own
prophets. "Mercy and not sacrifice." See
1 Sum. 15: 22; Hosea 0: 6. 1 desire mercy.
I require mercy rather than sacrifice. It is
a protest by the uropliet against the un
loving, insincere formalist of his day. ti.
"Lord, even of the Sabbath." Jesus now
affirms Himself greater than the statute
law of Moses; nay. He is greuter thai the
Sabbath law established by (iod at the
creation. Thus does He maintain Him-elf
to be the incarnate Legislator of the world.
II. Healing a withered hand on the
Suhhath (vs. 9-1.1). 10. "Hand withered."
A case of paralysis. Such diseases were
considered incurable. "They asked Him."
Mark and Luke mention some points
omitted bv Matthew. Lulte says, "The
scribes and Pharisees watched Iliin wheth
er He would heal on the Sabbath clay, that
they might find an accusation against
Hun." "Might accuse." They did not
doubt that He was ab'.e to work a miracle;
they expected it, but they intended to
make out that His miracles were contrary
to the divine law and so immoral. Ihey
would then have some ground for say in
that He worked miracles bv a diaho.ical
power, which charge they did soon begin
to make.
11. "He said." Jesus then proceeded to
answer them bv drawing an argument from
their own conduct. "It it fall. This was
a self-evident proposition. Deeds of merry
and humanity did not infringe on the Sab
bath day. "Pit." Cisterns dug in the
earth for the purpose of water, into which
unimuls often Tell.
12. "A man better than a sheep." Christ
always put an enormous value on man. A
man is of infinitely more consequence and
value than a brute. If they would show
an act of kindness to a sfieep would they
not show mercy to a man? "Thus they
are taken on their own ground snd con
futed on their own maxims and conduct."
1'he truth implied in Christ's question ia
pre-eminently scriptural and Christian. It
is not a discovery, but a revelation. No
tice a series of points in respect of which
a man is better than a sheep: 1. His phy
sical form and beauty. 2. He ia endowed
with reason. 3. He is endowed with a
moral nature. 4. His capacity of proxies.
B. His sniritual nature and his capacity
for knowing God. 6. He is possessed of
immortality. "It is lawful." This wus
universally allowed by the Jews, them
rylves. 13. "StreU-h forth." A remark
cole command. The man might have rea
soned that Ilia hand was withered and thst
he could not obey, but being commanded
it was his duty to make the effort; he did
so and was healed. Faith disregards ap
parent impossibilities where there is a
command und promise of God. "itestored
whole. A little netore this Cnrist hail
claimed divine authority; He now proves
that He possesses it. 'these two cases de
termine what may be done on the Sab
bath. The one was a case of necessity, the
other of mercy.
Condemned Murderer' Last Wish.
"I should like my relatives to bave
a photograph of me aa tbey remem
ber me four years ago;1 a picture ot
me not In the' garb of a felon, nor
with my prison number pinned on my
breast, but one that will bear upon It
no association with my terrible plight.
This la all I ask." Hurt Ross, con
demned to die for tbe murder of Dep
uty Sheriff William J. Ward of Ban
Diego, made tbe above request ot
Warden Tompklna. It I tbe first
time In the annals of San Quentln
prtaon that a condemned man ba
mad eqoh a request. It was granted
by the warden, and a photograph ot
lb murderer, let cltlieo's attire, was
taken In th prison gallery, and copies
will be glvoa to Rom' relative after
hi death, Is aecordwoc with hi las
wlh 'Uan KrancUtpo Kaamlnar.
Lam Chimney' Leng tervl.
' A lamp chimney that bad bea Id
a in newpen, w. H.. fatally for
more man twenty year m
recently.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR NOTES.
Februiry 21 "Some Coos' Ways of Uilni
tbe Ssbbith. Mark 1:21-34.
8erlpture Veraei. Pa. 5:7: 29:2:
93:1. 2, 6; 132:7: Er.tk. 4:3; Matt.
12:12; I.tiko 4:lti-31; 1S:14-16; Act
13:14-16; 16:13; 18:4.
Lesson Thought.
The Sabbath Is pre eminently a day
of rest rest from sin, and a rest in
God. How can we make It bo? Cer.
talnly by publics worship and by pri
vate meditation and prayer.
Any work that la unselfishly good
Is proper for tho Sabbath; all that Is
mere self-seeking la Improper.
Whatever work may be necesnary
for our bodily comfort or safety, even
though In the work itself there ba
nothing; saered, we may feel perfectly
tide that God will not regard as a
profanation of His holy day.
Selectient,
O day to sweet religloua thought
So wisely g-et apart.
Pack to the silent strength of life
Help thou my wandering heart.
The Old Testament laws of tho
Sabbath were negative, and told what
men fthoiild not do; Chi 1st tells what
men should do, and if we fulfill these
precepts, we shall have no time to do
what we should not do.
The Sabbath Is a door with a double
purpose to shut up behind its the
worries of the past, and to lead us out
Into a new garden of dellghta and
prlvllegtw.
Christ's example teaches us that wa
are to fill the sabbath a full as any
other day. Simply refraining from
this and that Is not keeping the Sab
bath. Idleness is not holiness, The
Sabbath Is to give us a chance to do
what he likes to do to carry out our
character. Tho use we make of It
shows whether our charartrr la Christ
like or not.
Frederick Saunders calls the Sab
bath the savings-bank of humanity.
If we lay away In it all through our
youth and prime, week by week, and
year by year, wis shall not be bank
rupt lit our old age.
Prayer. We do thank Thee. Oh, our
Father, for the holy Sabbath day,
when, without the interruption and
anxieties of worldly pursuits, we may
pay our devotions unto Thee, and me
ditate upon the holy Word, and do
good unto our fellow men. Help us
to enjoy a true Sabbath rest, not of
Idleness, but of holy service, in
Jesus' nar,:e. Amen.
EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
Fcbroary 21- I'slPf tbe Sabbath (Mark I.
21-34.
Tho Jews were too strict as to
Sabbath observance. God gave It to
them for a delight, but they hedged
it about with so many foolish and
annoying rules that it became repul
sive. The early Christians made tht
I.Oid's Day one of holy gladness. Then
came religious decline when rejoic
ing became godless fun. Then the
grand old Puritans, repelled by the
frivolity and wickedness of the time,
swung to the other extreme and kept
the Sabbath gloomily. Now we are
in danger of swinging back to frivol
ity, ii religion, and Chrlstless sport.
It we bad to choose between Puritan
over-precision and Continental laxity
which makes tbe Sabbath the very
worldliest or days, what Christian
would hesitate' to take the former,
dedicated to thought and reverence,
the bulwark of our country's purity
and religion?
But there Is a better way than
either. How shall we put Into the
Sabbath the bright ness, the joy, the
blessing, which shall make our chil
dren and our children's children love
it as "the golden clasp that bind
the volume of the week."
The first condition for a proper us
of the Sabbath Is to live so near to
Chl'4st every day of the week, to bp
so deeply consecrated to him. that,
your unwavering purpose is to please
him In this as In all things. This
purpose will help keep the conscience
i tender on the subject, will do much
toward keeping the vision clear, and
will go far toward begetting a happy
spontaneity in sabiiatn observance.
With this sincere purpose to please
Christ, I shall rest my body as far as
compatible with higher Interests.
That customary toll should cease Is
axiomatic. .As certainly as God lias
written upon this physical frame,
"Bieathe. eat, drink, or die." so sure
ly has he Inscribed here. "Tako reg
ular Sabbath rest, or break dowu and
go to the grave before your time."
Really devoted to Christ. I shall,
while avoiding needless, ordinary toll,
be free to perform works of real
mercy or necessity. Christ, did not
make bis Sabbath a day for loafing or
torpor. All works of beneficent love,
all that ministers to "recovery from
anguish, and cartles out tbe divine
purpose of grace, for body and soul,
rescue from danger, healing" of dis
ease, reformation of guilt," are sanc
tified by the example and words of
Jesus. But If sincerely consecrated
to blm I shall not make the word
"needful" elastic enough to cover any
kind of toll which some worldly wish
suggests. I shall find a better way
than lounging or laboring.
RAM'S HORN BLASTS.
HKftK s no graft
tilde in nelf
gratultloli. No so: row is in
vain that kills
self.
There are uo fail
ures for the faith
ful.
Honest toil brings
hearty Thanksgiv
ing. They who have
the (liver have all
gifts.
It Is the guest who makes til fetst
dvine.
The good of today must grow into
tbe better of fcuiorow.
The food that is - eaten without
gretitude b.lms no growth.
Tbero are no riches In God to the
man who hue a god In his riches.
Most men keep a better account ot
their needs than their mercies. 1
The best Thanksgiving will not ul
ways be where the biggest turkey U
Some men complain because the sou
doe not shine on both aides ot tb
house at once. . .
8mouth fi lands vsuslly turn out ta
1 slippery (tux,
Othordusy niaaiis to many that ail
ball worship to (ioX of their patent-lug.
ife&Jtfl&sl
eirsclnuit Woribi
We fanr.ot tell how uneet must be- "
The heavenly speech they uie uhnve; '
What cadences deep m tin' sen.
What hnliest jihrae or tone of love. ,
4
Yet human speech ha many a wonl
Mure sweet thun anael-bp ran mmnd;
Foraivenew". grace in Christ the Lord,
Mercy, with Inviiui I, indues crowned.
They breathe upon our heart like aongs
That awell around, below, above:
Immortal words on mortal tontines.
The words that tell Hod's wondrous love.
We cannot want for words to men.
While still we strike the mercy chord;
Ood giant ns power to speak again
The words of life in Christ the Lord!
Mrs. Merrill K. Ontex, in New York Ob
server. What If riirlst Came tn Our Town?
Suppose, one of these brisht morninga,
ns you are gniuK about your work ami
preparing to in out lor the nmrninn cr
rands, a neiuhbor comes to your door with
t.u-e all nliiriit with news and tells you:
"Did you know? lime you heard that
Christ has come to our town" 1 met Him
liiite earlv as 1 went to the store tor some
thing for breakfast. He told me He would
come to my house to-day, and I must hurry
home to ninke ready, 1 thouaht you would
like to know, for lie may be here, too. He
is to speak over nt the church to-night."
And with her wonderful news she hur
ries onwnrd. And you stand there startled.
Can it be true! ( hrisi come to the earth
(main? And how did your neighbor know
Hun? Yet she inut have, for he is one ot
His very own.
And Hi tuny come here, tn your own
limine, ou look niiickly around. There
lies the book you were rending last night.
Y ou hastily put it out of sight and the
color rises in your cheeks. It is not a book
you would like Christ to find you reading.
And He is to speak at the church to
night. Yes, this is the regular church
piayer meeting night. Ah! You had for
gotten. For it is also the night of your
euchre club, and you were to nave enter
tained it. And now? What can you do?
The salad is already made, the cream and
oysters arc ordered. Your guests will think
it strange. Hut what will Christ think?
Y ou could explain, of course, that you do
not approve of having euchres on Wednes
day evening, but this was an unusual tiling
because but you do not like to think oi
facing ( hrist with excuses.
'I he invitations must be recalled, of
ionise. Y'nu hasten to the train to slop
vour htt'haud beloie he goes to thp city to
his business if possible, and all the way
you say to yourself: "Christ is here; Christ
has come to our town! There is opportu
nity now for men to be saved! That poor
drunkard who has tried so hard to reiorni
and cannot, that sorrow-sl ricken woman
who can tind no cnnilorl anywhere may
find it in Him. That sick child who is
loomed to a life of miffering may be
healed!"
'I hen, ns the thought grows upon you,
what it means to have Christ come lo your
town, you lorget your horror over your
oivn pout ion and how meanlv you will ap
pear as His follower when He looks upon
you as you really are, and go to eagerly
planning bow others may be told of the
wonderful news. Your heart sinks at the
thought t Ita r He has come on, a week 'lay
night, and because every one is so gien
over to his own plans and pleasures you
leel very certain there will be but a poor
showing nt the church to iiigln. not lunie
than the usual handful who attend the
prayer meeting where Christ is always e
peeled of course in spirit. It is a pile He
ould not have route on a Sabbath and hail
it announced long beforehand. Y'nu would
have then done your best to make it known
ind urge such and such a on to come to
the meeting, and you would have prayed
lor a pleasant night that a large audience
might be out, and would yuii? Are you
sure? Has He not been expected at every
meeting for prayer that has been held in
Ilia house all these years? H is He not
promised to meet there? Have you ever by
so much ns a word invited tho-e people to
rnme and see Him and learn .hnt manner
of person He be? Have you ever put off
an evening gathering to go to hear Him
Unless it wa more than convenient to do
n? Hnvc you hid away the books you
have been leading nnd resolved to vcad
them no more because you would be
shnnied to have Him see you nt such
books? Hjve yuii sprend abroad the iieus
of His prenence with you and of the won
ders He has done for you, even so much as
Hie poor Samaritan woman, who testified,
''Come, see a man who told me all that
Her I did!"
Marcus Duds says: "The disciples wete
good men, but they went Into I"viliar judg
ing the Samaritans good enough to trade
with, but never dreaming of telling them
the Messiah was outside their town. Thev
uiiisl have been ashamed tn find how mudi
I more capable an apostle the wi.man was
than lliey. I Hunk llii-v woiml not wonder
mother lime that their Lord should con
descend to talk Willi a woman. The sini
:ile, unthinking, untroubled directness oi a
woman mil often bave a mat it I'misiied
ivhile a man is meditating some poudernitji
?onlrivan-'e for bringing it to pah.. Let us
not fall into tin mistake of the disciples,
mil judge men good enough to buy and sell
with, but quite alien tn the matters of the
kingdom. l')e woman' testimony
was enough to excite curiosity. The men,
dii her word, came oa to judge for them
lelves. What they saw and lies id com
pleted their i onvii tion. And they said to
the woman, '.Now we believe, not because
it thv speaking, ior we have heard for our
(elves, and know that this li indeed the
Saviour ol the world.' "
It is not a fairy tale, nor a parable, nor
in impossibility, this supposition ol our
topic. "What if Christ should ecme lo
ur town?'' He may come. He does come
very day. Ho came to you last week in a
ipecial answer to pravrr and saved a loved
vie Irom death. He lame In you in the
lilent watches ol the night when vim com
sinned with Hun. and He apoke peace to
four soul. You know He is the Chiist.
And yet. have you fold others to come and
tee? And if (hiist should come in real
'jndily presence to-morrow, would you anil
I be ready o'- be ashsmed to meet Him? -'luce
Livingston Mill, in the New Vuru
Mail and I'.xpreas,
Progress Means t:nit.
Y'nu cannot expect tu sain wilhoiil efloit
tint which cost Chiist all ilia life. - Ham's
till! II.
HoalUlna Hod's Nearness.
How can the sense that the living (iod
m near tn our life, that He is interested in
it and Milling to help ii. survive in us. il
ur life be full of pretty tilings? Absorp
tion in trifles, attention only to the mean
fi aspects ot lite, is killing more In it la than
is killed by aggressive unbelief. Kor if all
I man sees of life be his own interests, if
ill he sees of home be its connoris, il ill
He sees ol religion be the outlines ot his
wn denomination, tiie complexion of his
preacher's doctrine, the agreeahleuest and
taste of bis iellow-woi snipers- to in li a
man Uod must always seem lar awav. lor
io those things there is no call upon eiibci
mind or heart to leel Cod near.
Lang True t Her Lever.
A New Jersey spinster, aged ninety
four, has kept green In ber heart tbe
memory of a lover who died seventy
year ago. admitting no rival ther
nd attributing ber longevity primer
lly to her fidelity, and after that to
ber all-around aversion to doctor
never having bad on called In lno
ber debut. If not a mother In Israel
be must rank a on of th most re
spected old maid thereof, aud has, a
record for pridit "tor point It alow an
movlug flogr at to a long time t
oo one.
ess
rflE GREAT DESTROYER
J0ME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
I s
rhe rity anil the Penalty of Drunkenness
The Jovial Cup Toasts fate, While ,
Crime and Ulaenae Attend the Banquet
Drinking a Sign of Mental Weakness
The drunkard ! n burden to himself snd
lo the community. How tolighteu tiie load
it. both ends is the problem of the hour.
I he jovinl cup tonsts fate, while crime and
disease attend the banquet. The start and
the finish involve only a question of time.
Still. 1 here is enough of pure pitv for thu
victim to give hiimaiiitarianisin a fur
chince to do benelicent work.
The latest evidence ot procr influences
in such direction is offered in the recent
report of the State Commissioner of Pris
ons, The plea is very justly made for
greater discrimination in punishments not
only (or mere intoxication, but for crime
due to drink.
The penalties inflicted are markedly un
equal. The man of means who takes tiie
privilege of being "as ditlnk as a lord '
pnvs the fine nnd suffers no inconvenience,
while the poor man. whether he pays or
goes to prison, brings actual privation to
his laiuily. This certainly should not be.
although the law ns it stands ran nuke no
special dist im tions to suit indivirlu.il enses.
The question of equity is. however, dealt
with from another point oi view, which
deserves due consideration. The commis
sion claims that the oftene should not be
treated ns a crime, tint rather as a disease.
The idea is by no means a novel one, but
is widely entertained by the medical ex
perts. The report truly snys- ' Habitual
drunkenness arises largely from mental
weakness, nnd its treatment should par
take of the charai terist irs which the State
has deemed wise in other rases of mental
nbprration." The man, also, who periodi
rally indulges in his sprees is virtually m
the same category. Imprisonment or fine,
or both, does not cure either class of vic
tims, nor has any form of punishment fur
mere drunkenness nny strictly deterrent
effect. On the contrary, the offenses
ngainsl society are ns constantly repeated
as are those dependent upon more pro
nounced and more easily recognized forms
of Insanity.
When crime is directly associated tvitb
drink it must be proved that the criminal
was actunlly insane at the time the deed
was committed, and jet who could prove
that an intoxicated individual is in any
sense a rational being? True, he should
not place himself in auch a position, but.
rnnaidering that he is suffering from mental
weakness, is he not rather to be pitied us a
sick man than blamed as an actual crim
inal? In any event he should not be jailed
with thieves and murderers and be forced
to consort with nil other kinds of depraved
malefactors. The worst offense ol drunk
enness is en no auch level. The rommis
sion very wisely suggests that some better
method of dealing with these distressing
enscs should lie ascertained and adopted.
Much good could also be done in pre
venting drunkenness by educating the rub
lie conceruinc the purely physical penalties
of drink. SulTice it to say in this connec
tion that no vital organ is exempt from its
ravages kidney, brain, heart, liver, stem
uch and arteries nil suffer in the long run,
nnd there is no disease, chronic or acute,
that does no1 owe its increased mortality
to strong drink. Kven the sieulv. meth
odical tippler, whose saturation limit, ii
never reached, is in more dnHger in this re
gard than the reckless and periodical de
bauchee. No one, however, is ever an ex
ample to himself.- Kditorlul in the Nun
York Herald, '
'iZiiu
Serious tloking,
A writer in the British Journal of In
ebriety points the moral thnl the habit
moat people lin of treating diunkennest
aa ii comic incident has much to do with
making the drunkard feel that ! o is not
such a bad man after all. The alleged
funny columns of the newspapers, the per
fnrmiinces at our theatres, even our booki
teem with allusions to drink and drink
ers as something purely humorous.
In the same way domestic friction, dis
trust ai d unfaithfulness are .1 chief stock
in trade for the professional joker. With
rare executions we keep jokes on auch sull
ied out of the J'athtinder. but our read
ing of hundreds of periodica! every week
shows us that n large percentage of "cur
rent humor" finds its "point" in some
false relation between husband and wife.
There is no question that these thingi
do great harm. When people nre used to
seeing nnd hearing divorces constantly
joked about, they in tune actually come
to regard the idea as nothing very acrious.
and no wonder that with our proverbial
irreverence for nil things we have made
divorces so common in this country thai
the matter has nssumed the importance
of s distinct "evil."
"Anything for a laugh" is the watch
word (it the professional wits, and nothing
ia too sacred for them to use ns the bull
for ' their maudlin ribnldty. It niav bl
your funeral, but it is their "wake.'' So
nardened are the men and women of the
world lo these coarse plnys on the fraili
ties of human nature that they ignore the
serious aide of the matter; and so a public
sentiment has been worked up which noth
ing can shock. It behooves each one ol
us as individuals to keep out of this nox
ious atmosphere ss much as we can if we
would i reerve that greatest of all boons,
our self-respect.
Liquors Add to Kxtiaiittinn,
Aa interesting phase of the Marathon
runs conducted by the It. A. A. every
April 19 in the careful medical examination
of the contestants, both before and after
the run. No man is allowed to start un
less physically fit, so far aa s physiciau's
examination can determine. All the dats
observed at both ends of the rsce are care
fully recorded, and not merely assure sny
medical attention that may be needed, but
afford to science a fund of information on
tbe phvsiologr of physical endurance in
man. In the medical report of the last
Marathon run the doctors slate:
''Contestants were .examined as usual
before the atari snd after the finish, spe
cial attention bring paid to blood pressure
and to rerlexes. The results shows that
both these vtet-e. in a majority of cases.
diminished. The hearts, pulse rates and
weighis viere aflected much as in previous
years.
"Tno cases of severe exhaustion were ob
served, in both of whiih alcohol in excess
bad been given by trainers and frieudt.
It is questionable whether even small
amounts ot alcohol aie beneficial to the
runners, and it is certain lint lirge
amounts - more than one or two ounces
are distinctly harnilul lo them; instead of
increasing their strength, the free Use of
whisky or brandy actually adds lo their
l-xhallitioll and depiession."
The examine! ere Drs. Kiupp, Thom
as, raulkiier. Lsnalies. Ktnersoii, Stmrs,
it. Illake and II. Make. - Huston Herald.
I'lrtlcult SubJ.iis.
Kxcessive drinkers and smoker make
very difficult subject lor the administra
tion ot anaesthetics, tats III. Hewitt, ol
Knglaiid. anaesthetist lo the king. The
woist ulcohobc subjects may leqiinr enor
mous quantities of the anaesthetic, slid in
exlieme cases nil mils oxide (laughing gas)
may be practically useless.
Huslarss a Teusperaar Helurmsr.
All the lailiosds that centre in t hi
(sao have prohibited the use of liquor or
luiNiccii by employes when on duty. l'ic
tii-ally a.i the iiniionunl railroads now
concur ill ibi prohibition. Kidiii "Wilb
the I'rocrtsioii." ju Kveiylwdy's.
A SliaiusTut Het-oril.
The total amount of bushel of grain
Used iu the distil cries of Illinois, Inst year,
wa 8.304.D1S. n id the number of busnelt
used in all the States, including llhuoi.
was 24,4a7,:iol. Illinois ha nineteen distil
leries ,o operation, although twenty-six sie
regiatered. The amount ol distilled spirits
gauged during the ttvsl year for the whole
country ws 4tf.684.0ntM xalloos. oi which
Illinois produi-ed V4.763..'n N gallon, or
nearly one-loiirth of the totsl amount pros
dnced by ad the 8ut.
A circular ba been issue by Pan's phy
siciSM -rskiig the radical ground that al
cohol is sever sad never caii bt vf say
ur snstever t tne ergsuum.
CHINA'S NEEO OF RAILWAYS
1 h Lack of Them Make frosres Titer
Inipollle
All recent writer are agreed tba"
otie ot the most prf-sslnat needs f
Cblun, politically, sitratfgicitlly ami
couitncrclnlly. Is the inenns of rnplrl
truttxit. Already fulling Into disrepair
pr taxed to their utmost enpneity It
potiitesteil nrcas, tin- womlcrfitl water
ways ot the country do net provide?
those facilities which nre necessarj.
for tbe development of China's poten
ti.il resources. Travel by shallot
rivers nnd canals Is Invariably alow,
ofteu duiigeroiiM. liay.s nnd weeks) are?
consumed in penetrating the Interior,
nnd large tracts of country far tl
tant from the centres of population arrt
uncultivated, or lie vlth their mineral
treasures titttoui'bi'd because ot thu
lack of communication.
Thousands starve finiiiially In on
province while there Is nn abundant
liarvest In nn mljaceiit province-
merely because transport, nt nil time
difficult, becomes impossible In theso
times of famine. The import trade of
China is restricted because the cost
of transit, folded to the native custom
levies, makes it impossible for forelKnt
goods to penctrnte to the far distant in
terior. The export trade is limited In
like manner, nnd the purchasing power
of the people thereby reduced.
It Is claimed Viy the advocates of rail
ways that improved commtinlcntioii
would enable the central government
to exercise more f tllcieiit control of
the provinces, would enable official
to- put down rebellious movements lt
their incipient stajxe, pive the govern
ment the ability to concentrate qulckl
masses of men upon threatened point
In times of war, distribute the peopla
from congested to less populous prov
inces, provide facilities for famine re
lief, develop ititcrprovlncial trade, anil
create channels for the distribution at
cheap rales of foreign koihIk entering
tit tbe treaty ports. Engineering Mag
!1 7,111".
WORDS OF WISDOM: ...
f.ittle love Is little righteousness: per
fect love Is perfect righteousness. St.
Augustine.
It seems to be easier for a man to
be good for a million titan for a million
to lie good for a man.
Imgs scent danger sooner than men,
nnd their fidelity is more reliable.
The King's Messenger.
The art of saying' appropriate word
lu u kindly way is ope that never
censes to please, anil is within th
reach of the humblest.
first of all, a man should nlway
consider bow much he has more than
lie wants, and secondly, bow mtieU
more unhappy be might be than b
really Is.
We are in danger cf looking too
far for opportunities of doing good
nnd communicating. In reaching for
the rhododendrons we trample dowu
the daisies.
Aim nt perfection In everything,
though In moist things It is unattain
able; however, they who aim nt It end
persevere, will come much nearer to it
I ban those whose Uiziness nnd despond
ency make them give it tip at) unat
tainable. Chestertleld.
He Got It.
A typical instance of the War OfTie
methods is furnished by n correspond
ent on one of our stations. An officer
having occasion for the use of n screw
driver made application for tbe supply
of that liumble but bandy Implement
from the liovernmont stores. Ills ap
plication was bandied about In thst
usual milliner from officer to ofilrer,
nnd finally reached the upper author
ity, from whom a reply filtered facte
by tbe same devious ways to tbe effect
that screwdrivers were only supplied
in tool boxes, and not singly. Nothing:
daunted, the ottlcer nt once applied for
a box of tools, ami after the usual
circunilocutionary luetics was Informed
that boxes of tools were only supplied
to carpenters' shops. Ity this time tho
ottlcer, who had quite forgotten what
be bad wanted the screwdriver for. bud
thoroughly entered Into the spirit ot
the campaign, and bis next application
was for a carpenter's shop. lie got Ul
-Tit-Hits.
Hoa; Kill Ml I-up.
A Lnke Shore ottlcer, name unknown,
because be would not register at the
hotel, told a thrilling story last evening
of the carnivorous appetite of a num
ber of bog In a stock en'. Tbe bog
occupied the forward half of the car,
nnd Ibe other portion contained twenty
eight sheep, the car being divided by
a supposedly substantial partition. Tbe
ordinary amount of feed wns given to
the hogs, but I' failed to satisfy, audi
they broke through the partition. Hy
the time the train reached Itocky;
Itlver, n few miles this side of Cleve
land, very sheep in the car bud been)
killed nnd the carcasses partly de
voured. "The car presented a grewsotn
sight." said the railroad mnu, "anil Ik
was the strangest thing that tbe train
crew ever beard of." Toledo lllade.
Well-Hehaved Philadelphia).
The unlet ease and good humor with
iv b lib the Philadelphia police manage?
a crowd have often been commended,
mid with Justice; but tbe greatest
credit for this belongs to the crowd
Itself, or to the community of which
Ibe New Yeur crowd very fairly repn.
sents the average. It l. to a very
targe extent, a crowd of industrious
nnd self respecting cllixcns, out for a
holiday with Ibeir families, nnd lbe
Influence of Ibeir self rest rain t Is felt
by the young fellow who are parad
ing for Ibeir amusement, and wbn
carry through their parts with a so
briety and decorum Unit often excite
Ibe wonder of strangers In the clty.-
Philadelphia Ledger.
rropvrlla of In t'aailleaa.
The caudle nut is a native of the Ia
title Islands, aud the name ia derived
from the fact I li.it the kernels are m
rull of oil that when dried Ihey r
stuck en reed and used a candle.
The people of Hawaii, after bavluar
roasted these mil and removed th
shells, reduce Ibe kernel lo a paste,
which I flavored with pepper and salt
and is said I be a uiost appeiisluf
dlsb. Tbe husk ff tbe nut and tb
cum which etude from tbe tree bat
medicinal values, while the bumce
sbell of Ibe kukul I nwvd to make mm
Indelible luk with which Ialt0oiu$ U '
loo