AN ELOQUENT SERMON
-Why the Righteous Suffer and the Un
godly Prosper."
Ood Permits Afflictions to Com fpoa His
People is Cbiracter Tcit.
' Kinostox, N. Y. In the Reformed
Church of the Comforter on .Sunday morn
ins the Rev. C. L. Palmer preached a
scholarly discourse entitled ' Why the
Righteous Suffer and the Ungodly Pro
per." He took hii text from realm 73: 3:
For I wai envious at the arrogant, when
I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
The Seventy-third Psalm was probahly
Composed by Asaph, who was a pious Jew,
end one of the leaders of the temple
chorus. The phraseology and contents in
dicate that he was intelligent and spiritual,
and thnt in the course ot his religious ex
perience was exposed to the ravages of
doubt. However, upon malm I delibera
tion all doubt was overcome, and he be
came strong in the faith.
The particular problem that confused
him was why the righteous sutler and the
ungodly prosper. Why the most vicious
criminal should enjoy material prosperity
and consecrated disciples be subjected to
buffering. If (jod is perfectly righteous in
Himself, and supremely jn.it in all His
dealings with men, why docs He allow the
ungodly to succeed and the believer to
full? Why does He not obliterate every
inner and preserve every saint? Why
does He permit the godly to pass through
no many deep and raging seas of affliction?
Why are many of the Christlcss so free
from human misery? These are questions
which have been fresh in the mind of every
generation, and the only satisfactory an
swer is the one that sutliued the psalmist.
Before undertaking to develop so impor
tant a subject it is necessary that we di
rest our minds of one possible misconcep
tion. The implication of the text is not
that all the wicked prosper, and that all
the righteous are afflicted. It ia not that
all the ungodly prosper because thev are
ungodly, or that all believers are afflicted
because they are believers. It ia not true
that all the worldly enjoy success, and all
tbe righteous are discontented, unhappy
and unsuccessful. The psalmist waa in a
pessimistic mood ct the time of writing,
and describes a condition from which he
was eventually extricated. It is true that
some godless men and women seem to be
happy and prosperous, and that some de
voted disciples are greatly atHicted. But
it is far from the natural deduction of
Scripture and experience that all the godly
aro unsuccessful and the wicked prosper
ous, though we do acknowledge that the
ancient sentiment of the text is not with
out its modern application. We still won
der why the unrighteous prosper and the
godly are afflicted.
I. WHY THE UNGODLY ENJOY TEM
PORAL PROSPERITY.
' We cannot deny that many worldly peo
ple have an abundance of life's blessings,
and that they appear to be quite free from
adversity. It is well known that many of
our most wealthy people seem to be indif
ferent to religion. They spend their time
and means cither in business or seeking
pleasure. Our contention is that human
success or failure is not an infallible criter
ion by which we aro to justify or condemn
the government of Qod.
It is not uncommon for godless people to
inherit property. Nor is it unusual for un
believing parents to leave an inheritance
to their children. That while there has
been utter indifference to Christianity
there has been no want of concern in the
accumulation of wealth. And many pos
ess a disinterested temperament that pro
tects them from needless care and anxiety.
Unbelievers are often more shrewd than
Christians. "I he children of this world
are wiser in their generation than the chil
dren of light." A life of utter absorption
in the accumulation and management of
money develops an acumen, one who read
ily discovers whatever will contribute to
his personal and temporal advancement.
And aince we are free moral agents it is
possible for one to succeed in the direction
of his ambition.
Unbelievers are often less scrupulous.
They will do many things for temporal
comfort that others will not. A godless
mortal will keep a saloon or a gambling
len, from which the prolits are very large.
He will desecrate the Sabbath or violate
any of the divine laws without hesitation
ao long as his personal interest is encour
aged. His motto is "eat, drink and be
merry, for to-morrow we die." Would a
reborn soul and heir of the kingdom do
the same? A true disciple of the Great
Teacher would not consciously transgress
any civil or religious requirement, even if
by such a violation he would increase bis
means and comfort.
The attention of unbelievers is more
concentrated on the accumulation of
wealth and on personal comfort. It is
about all many think of. They think about
money when they retire. They dream
about it at night. It is upon their minds
when they awake in the morning, and they
labor for it during the day. It is the only
desire they have, and it is not strange that
they should obtain it. '
Christians are unwilling to deprive them
selves of the comfort and blessing (if giv-
ing. Our churches are supported by the
professed followers of Christ. All the phi
lanthropic and charitable organizations are
largely sustained by those who bear the
Christian name. The church has great rea
son to thank God for those who give so
liberally toward her support, while the
world is either hoarding or wasting its
means, they are applying their gifts to the
social, intellectual, moral and eternal im
provement of others.
The long suffering of God ia not to be
ignored. God permits ungodly people to
obtain the desire of their hearts. Tbe
sneering jest of Dionysius, the younger, a
tyrant of Sicily, when, after having robbed
the Temple of Syracuse, he had a prosper
ous voyage with the plunder ia well known.
See you not, said be, to those who were
with him, how the gods favor the sacrileg
ious? The interpretation of tbe incident
was from the standpoint of a heathen.
God simply permitted him to escape.
Doubtless the ungodly are allowed to
prosper, in order to teat and prove the
righteous. It is a test for tbe faithful but
unfortunate to see aome godless mortal
carried on the sea of prosperity. But it is
a test that we are abundantly able to sus
tain. "Socrates, being asked what would be
vexatious to good men, replied, tbe pros
perity of the bad. What would vex the
pad? the prosperity of the good. It ia
not. and ca mot be made to appear in
compatible with ths perfection of God's
government that the ungodly should have
a measure of material prosperity.
II. WHY THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE AD-
VERSITV
Having admitted that the ungodly often
enjoy temporal prosperity, it remains to
acknowledge that the righteous are fre
quently subjected to the greatest sulk-ring
of body and mind, and if possible to
ascertain the cause, Not all are greatly
affected, though it is very likely that every
heart sustains some burden.
.m Even our limited knowledge of the
. iriptures and imperfect religious exper
i. uces enable us to understand why believ
ers are often afflicted. It. seems as if some
were destined to be unfortunate. Every
thing thev undertake fails, and tbe hard
er they labor the more they are disap
pointed. We utterly repudiate the doc
trine of fate, but find ourselves confronted
with tbe fact that some seem to be crea
tures of misfortune.
Mauy of life's adversities are brought
upon ourselves. W may accuse others
or even Gad, but in our inner conscious
ness find ourselves confronted with tbe
conviction that we have been the cause ol
our own suffering. A man who attempted
to steal wheat from an elevator brought
down an avalanche of the staff, of lifs
which smothered him to death, ile had
traugmued the law aud brought upon
himself destruction.
Some of life's adversities are brought
upon us by others. The social fabric U
ao closely woven that even one thread can
not be broken without weakening the
whole. So we suffer for the deeda of oth
ers. A bank official abscounds with tbe
funds of the institution and many lose
all they possess. One partner defrauds an
other and throws him into bankruptcy.
The President is assassinated, bis family
broken-hearted sod the natio and world
tn mourning. An intoxicated father de
stroys the life of his child and the fam
ily never recover from the shock.
Unquestionably God permits slMictions
to come upon His people. Adversity is
required as well ns prosperity. If it were
not for the former we should become in
different to the latter, and forget the
sini-ce from whirh all blessings come.
Prosperity is a more severe and refined
test of character than adver.ity, ns one
hour of summer sunshine produces greater
corruption than the longest winter's day.
India with her famine is more to be en
vied than ancient Rome with !ier fatal
apoplexy of wealth. Bptter grace with
scarcity than plenty without saving salt.
'Ve. believe that God sometimes sends
affliction to bring His children back to
Himself. He takes away the idol of some
heart thnt He may be the onlv object of
adoration. He sweeps away bouses and
lands to teach His people that they are
dependent on Him. One has excruciat
ing pain to teach him the frality of the
body and the certainty of its ultimate dis
solution. Spurgeon used to say that many
ar,e like boys' tops, they only spin when
they ore whipped.
There is a famous fairy tale in Brad
wardine that will convey tn our minds the
interpretation that we ought to apply to
the sublime doctrine of providence. A
certain hermit resolved thnt he would
travel from place to place until he found
some one who could otter n sitisfnctory
explanation of the government of God. As
be was passing along on his contemplated
journey an ongcl in the form of a man
joined him. The first night Jiey lodged
at the house of a very holy man, and they
spent their time in praising God and con
versing upon divine things. In the morn
ing when they departed the nngcl took
with him a cup of sqlid i old. The second
night they came to the home of another
rcliirioiis man bv whom ihpi 11-010 mnat
hospitably entertained. In the home they
had an infant upon whom their affection
centered. When they left the next morn
ing the angel destroyed the life of the
child. The third night they were enter
tained in a home of great wealth. When
they left the following morning the angel
killed the favorite steward. The last
night was at the home of a godless man,
to whom he gave the cup of gold as the
angel left. After the fourth night the
hermit asked the angel to explain why he
had taken the cup and given it to another,
why he had taken two lives. He replied, I
will now explain. The first man was being
ruined by his cup, so I took it away. The
second home was more concerned in regard
to the child than in the service of God.
The steward was slain to preserve the
life of his master whom he was plotting to
destroy. The golden cup was given to the
ungodly man because his only comfort was
to be had here. Or in other and inspired
words: "All things work together for
good."
All ostensible prosperity is not true pros
perity. The prosperity of the world is
greatly overestimated. Some godless men
succeed in certain particulars, but they
have not that which in worth more than
the treasures of Egypt. Thev are poor
spiritually. They cannot purchase at the
market the one great need of the soul.
The adversity of the righteous is also
overestimated. They do suffer, they ex
pect to suffer and are willing to suffer if
such suffering will contribute toward justi
fication. But it is better to be :'n moderate
circumstances and be in the kingdom, than
to roll in wealth and be outside of it. It
is better to be in the kingdom with pain
than out of it without.
There is only one just conclusion. It
is that the government of God is per
fectly just and that we are safe in its
keeping. A child once said. I know that
the criminal will obtain justice because
my father is the judge. We know tnat
we shall have prosperity and adversity.
We know that we shall have justice be
cause our heavenly ather is the Judge.
Peril of the Tongue.
"Not that which entereth into the mouth
defileth the man; but that which proceed
eth out of the mouth, this dclileth the
man." It makes a vital and tin eternal
difference to us how we express ourselves.
A man is in greater danger of self-destruction
by speaking than by eating. Former
ly many French words were in common use
by the Germans, but now the Emperor's
influence is toward the substitution of
German terms for the French the idea
being that, as the people speak, so they
will become. This is supposed to beget a
higher and more solid patriotic or national
spirit as. other things being equal, it
must. Statesmen perceive this truth in
the bottom principle enunciated ly Jesus,
and thus uppiy it. But in our individual
lives we often forget to act on it. It
barms us to think evil; it harms us even
more to say what we think. It is for this
reason that silence is so often golden. But
it is also on the name general principle
that it is worth while to speak a pleasant
word if we can do no more. Sunday
School Times.
How to Get Warin.
Warmth is a sign of life. That it is also
a very desirable part of our comfort is
realized by many a one who reluctantly
leaves a warm bed, and shiveringly meets
the winter's cold, indoors or out, these win
ter mornings. If there is an open lire or
a heater neur by, it is a great temptation
to try to get warm by taking in all tne
heat we can get from such a source. But
some have learneit a better way. They
thun beat from other sources and make it
for themselves. By brisk exercise of their
own bodies, by the healthy shock of a
:old sponge, by an energetic- walk before
taking the car, they make aud give out
warmth, and the cold demon is routed.
And this is the better way in all spheres.
Created warmth is better than borrowed
warmt-si. our own smile of greeting to
mother will bring more warmth into your
life than you can get by depending on an
other's. Your own loving word, your own
snselftsh act, brisk and unhesitating, with
perhaps its healthy shock as of a cold
iponge, will set your spiritual circulation
to tingling in a way that will warm you
to the core. Try it some cold day,
A Lovable Quality.
People wouid try harder for trustworthi
ness if they knew bow lovable a quality it
is. When you know you can rely upon
any one, that whatever they undertake to
do will be done, that you can really pass
over a share of your load to them, you
cannot help liking them. On the other
hand, it does not matter how amiable men
be if they are forgetful, if they are un
punctual, if tney habitually neglect, they
become sources of r.ueh annoyance that
one's liking is apt to die out. YV. R.
Nicoll.
Censor and Criticism,
Censure and criticism never hurt any
body. If falsa, they cannot hurt you un
less you are wanting in manly character,
and, if true, they show a man his weak
1 . its and forewarn him against failure
abi trouble.- Gladstone.
The Thieving Mink.
Indiana believe tbe following story
about tbe MJnk. This animal was
such a thief that at last all tbe ani
mals beld a council about tbe matter.
It was decided to burn him. So they
caught the Mink, built a great Are and
.threw blm Into It. As tbe blaze went
up and tbey smelled the roasted flesh
they began to think he was punished
enough and would probably do better
lu tbe future, so they took blm out of
tbe Are. But tbe Mink was already
burned black, and Is black ever since,
and whenever ho Is attacked or ex
cited be smells again like roasted
meat. The lesson did no good, how
ever, and he ia still as great a thief as
erer.
Joke on Portland Merchant.
A well known Portland, M., mer
chant, noted above all other things
for hie strict temperance habits, was
surprised a few days ago on receiving
an etpresa package containing (out
sealed bottles. The consignment, it la
said, will certalt.lv go Into the sewer.
THE SUNDAY SUH()0
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 27.
Review or the First Qnsrter Read Lukt
II., tn-AJ; lv 17-20 Cioldeh Text,
Matt. It., S3 Topic, "The Mighty
Works of Jesus."
Introduction. During the quarter we
have studied the life of Christ from His
youth to the beginning of the third ye.it
of His pubho ministry. The first yeHr is
called the year of obscurity, because of the
little recorded about iliiu. The second
year is the Tear of His greatest popularity,
while the third year is the y ar ot opposi
tion and death. His popularity reached
its height at the time of the miracle ol
feeding the live thousand.
Lesson I. Topic: ..leans among the doe
tors. Place: na;:areth and Jerusalem.
Jesus grew and became strong like othn
children. At the age of twelve He went
with His parents to the feat of the Pass
over. When they start on the return
trip the child is left, behind: found iu t tie
temple with the doc-tors of the law, asking
and answering questions: all were aston
ished: His parents gently reprove Him;
He tells them He must be about "His
Father's business;" returns with them to
Nazareth. '
11. Topic: Preparing the way of the
Lord. Place: 'Lie wilderness of Judea.
Tiberius Caesar, Knman Emperor; Pilate,
Governor of Judea; Herod, tetrarch of
Galilee; Annns and Caiaphas, high priest.
John preached 111 the wilderness; baptised
111 Jordan; preached repentance; insisted
that they bring forth traits unto repent
ance; a thorough reformation required of
all; pointed to the Messiah.
HI. Topic: Jesus overcoming Satan.
Place: Mount Ouarantanta. Jesus goes
from Nazareth, in Galilee, to be baptized
of John. John shrinks from such a step;
Jesus urges it; is baptized; the heavens
are opened; the Spirit descends like n
dove upon Hun; voice from heaven; led
into the wilderness; fasts forty days and
nights; afterward blinders; is tempted by
Satan: t. Command smuts to he made
bread. C. Cast thvself down. 3. Worship
Me.
IV. Topic: Christ and His gospel. Place:
Nazareth. Jesus is in the synagogue on
the Sabbath day. Reads from Isa. 01: 1,
2; applies the scripture to Himself; He
tan save the poor, the broken-hearted, the
captives, the blind, the bruised: they ques
tion regarding His lowly birth; He cannot
Ileal there because He is not received;
justifies His course b Elijah and Eiisha;
they think He puts them lower than the
heathen; try to kill Him; Ho escapes.
V. 'lopie: 'ihe miraculous draught of
fishes. Place: On the fea of Galilee. Jesus
walking by the Sea of Galilee; the people
tiressed upon Him; He entered into Peter's
loat and taught them while they tood on
tne land; commanded (Simon to 'hunch
out into the deep" for a draught: Simon
said they had toiled all night and caiuht
nothing, but he obeyed Christ's word; a
great multitude o fishes inclosed; the net
was breaking, and Peter beckoned to
James and John to come to their assist
ance; both Hliips were filled until they
began to sink; the disciples were aston
ished at the miracle. Thev left all and
followed Christ.
VI. Topic: Christ healing dieae.. Place:
C apeii-. .111111. Jesus is in t:ie syna;;ozue on
thi!ahbath clay. Teaches the people; they
are astonished at His doctrine; an uueiean
spirit cries out: Jesii-. easis him out; la me
spread abroad; at Peter's house; inoihcr
in law he. lied: when the sun was down tliu
diseased and thop possessed with devils
were broinp'it to Him, and Ik- healed tin 111
all and c ut out the dev iU- He "suffered
not the devils u speak.'" de.siis is not de
pendent upon the testimony ot devils ti
cany on ills work or to prove His ilivin
itv. 'lucre is no concord between Christ
and Beli.il (J Cor. : U ltl.)
II. Topic: Christ's power to heal and
save. Place: Capernaum. Jesus i prob
ably at Peter's home; a great crowd at the
door; a paralytic brought and carried to
the i-ooi: the" roof torn up: ilie bed let
down; Jesus saw their faith; "Thv sins
be forgiven thee:" the scribes reason : He
sneaketh blasphemies; Je.u answers
tlieni; which is easier to say. Arise, or thy
sins be forgiven V The cure; the people
amized. They glorify God, saying, "We
never saw it on this fashion." They s:nv
that none but God could perform such a
wonderful cure and they were filled with
reverence and fear. The d'vinity ot our
Lord is here fullv established.
VIII. Topic: ilcasoning ubo-.il the Sab
bath. Place: Capernaum. While Jesus
and His disciples were walking through
a field of grain on the Sabbath day. the
disciples piucked the grain and ate it to
itiiy their hunger; the Pharisees found
fault; Jesus .justified their course by re
ferring to David's act in eating the show
breud, and to the priests who were o'jli'jed
to work on the Sabbath; lie healed a man
with a withered hand: they vvou'd lit
sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath day, and
a man is better than a sheep.
IX. Topic: True and false religion.
Place: The Mount of ileatitudes, or the
'Horns of Hattin." After a mailt of
prayer and after choosing His twelve
apostles, Jesus preached the Sermon on
the Mount to His disciples and the assem
bled crowds, ill this lesson He shows that
mere profession is not sufficient; ve must
be doers of the word and not hearers
onlv; the one who hears and does is lik
ened to a wise man who built his house
on a rock and when the storms came it
stood; the one who hears and fails to do
is like a foolish man, who built on the
sand, and when the storms came his house
X. Topic: The power and authority ol
Christ. Place: Jesus and His disciples ar
crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus il
asleep; a great storm arises; they awake
Christ anil appeal to Him to save them;
He arises, rebukes the wind and says unto
tbe sea. Peace be still, aud there ia a great
calm; He gently reproves them for then
weak faith; they are astonished at Chrisl
and the wonderful miracle. Let all learn
to have faith in God.
XI. Topic: Herod's great crime. Tlace:
Macheruri. The death of John occurred
about the time the twelve returned. Herod
Antipaa waa ruler of Galilee and Perca
When he heard of the mighty works of
Christ he said John is risen. John had re
buked sin in high places. This is neres
sary, for, allowed to go unrebuked, th
sin is made popular and the moral sens
of the community is deadened. Herod'l
course brought disaster to himself.
XII. Topic: Feeding the multitude
Place: A desert place on the northeast
coast of the Sea of Galilee. God ran sup
ply bread where it is least likely to b
found. Five thousand are fed, besides wo
men and children; twelve baskets of frag
meuts are gathered. After performiiif
this wonderful miracle the people wen
about to make Jesus a king, but He wonlr
not permit it. He bad no ambition foi
worldly glory. That night He prnvec
nearly all night on the mountain alone
and between 3 and 0 o'clock went to H11
disciples, walking on tbe waves.
'The Spelllnfj Class.
Now. children, be very attentive.
What does this spell?
Ohoughphholghtteau.
Why. potato, of course. You don't
mean to say you couldn't guess It?
How do we make It out? Easily
inough.
Gh stands for P, as you will find
from the last letters In hiccough.
Ough stands for O, as In dough; phth
stands for T, as In phthisis; elgb
stands for A as la neighbor; tte
stands for T, as In gazette; aad
eau stands for O as la beau. There!
That spells potato, does it not?
Price on Heads of Pests.
At a meeting of the trustees of the
Lutheran orphans' home at Reading,
Pa., an itemized bill for $1.89 was sub
mitted by the "Rat and Mice trust
company." Rev. Dr. Kuendlg ex
plained that he would pay tbe bilk as
he had agree'd privately to par to the
boys a cent each for all the rats and
mice they caught, to rid the home of
tbe pests.
SUNDAY, MARCH TWENTY-SEVEN.
"Jesus' Work for His Own Country.
What I Can Do Fop Mine." Matt.
4:23-25; 23:37.
Scripture Verses. ISccI. 8:1, G;
Rom. 13:1-4; Titus 3:1, 2; 1 Peter 2:
13. 14; Ph. 33:12; Prov. 14:34. 33;
Phil.' 2:14-1(5.
The very first duty of a true patriot
Is that of love and loyalty to God, who
Is the supreme ruler of all nations, the
King of kings and at& of lords.
It 4s the privilege as well as the duty
of every christian citizen to contribute
to the support of those charitable In
stitutions that care for the poor and
sick and suffering. Christ g.ive much
loving attention to tbe healing of the
bodies of men.
Selections.
TVhat makes a city great and strong?
Not architecture's graceful strength;
Not factories' extended length:
Hut men who see a civic w rong.
And give their lives to make it right,
And turn Its darkness Into light
I wJll be a God-cltlzen. The light
that shall lighten my political course
I will get daily from the altar of God.
I will link myself to his power, and I
will make no cessation of my war
against sin until it Is vanquished. I
will not be blind to the fact that this
Christian citizenship Is not between
parties, not between sects, not be
tween good and bad merely, but war
fare betwton Jesus Christ and that
old serpent, Satan. I shall fight be
neath Christ and the cross.
One who would fulfill his part as a
good citizen must, next to his duty
to God, recognize kls obligations to
his fellow-men. A devoted sense of
obligation to humanity on the part
of Christians will regenerate society.
No man wltb the spirit, of Christ can
betray his country In civil office5, can
surrender to the saloon through fear
of disaster to-business, can accumulate
millions and Ignore the wants of suffer
ing humanity, can witness poverty,
crime and growing corruption, without
being a reformer.
When an honest man puts bis vot
Into the ballot box, he prays.
Prayer. Thou art the King of kings.
O God. and the Lord of lords. the
ruler of the universe. We serve our
country best by honoring Thee and
Thy holy laws. Give '.is the will and
the power to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with
Thee; In all things following the ex
ample of Him who went about con
tinually doing good. Make ours a na
tion whose God Is th Lord Indeed.
Through us help tire poor and suffer
ing and extend the knowledge of thy
blessed gospel. Thine Is the kingdom
and Ure power end the glory forever.
Amen.
E
MARCH TWENTY-SEVENTH.
Messages From the Mission Fields.
Acts 16. 9-16; Mat. 28. 13-20.
Finding himself restrained from go
ing farther into Asia, a great mission
ary moved toward the West. Now ho
stands upon the poetic shore fronting
Europe. Shall he cross the fatuous
straits and gird up bis loins to begin
the conquest of the mighty peoples
of that continent? Europe! The homo
of brilliant Greek, world-conqueritig
Roman, and vast hordes of barbarians
In his Redeemer's name shall he move
upon theso millions? Great warriors
bad again and again passed from West
to East; here Is a different kind of
conqtieior carrying a holy war from
East to West. Moved by no selfish
ambition, but constrained by the love
of Christ: with no carnal weapons, but
with the life, the truth, tbe love of
heaven, he has marched thus far
never daunted, never defeated.
On that poetic shore, lacing yon
mighty Europe, what are his thoughts?
When the shadows fall upon mountain
and sea. does he lie down with the
vision of that land and Its miserable
heathenism untouched by the Gospel
before his mind? At any rate, iu the
visions of the nlgbt be sees a form
pleading for Macedon. "It was the
voice of the sick Inquiring for a phys.1
clan, of the Ignorant seeking for wis
dom: "Come over and help us."
With bloody weapons Mac.edon had
once conquered Asia, now she pleads
to be herself conquered by light and
Jove. Perhaps, as Whedon suggests,
this man Macedonia was the Ird
Jesus himself Identifying himselt wltb
the sighing sons of Europe as he does
with everyone who with feebie hands
and helpless grope after him In the
darkness.
Fateful night! Held In check by no
red tape of any too conservative so
ciety, be Is ready for any call to
move forward. He has received his
commission. He delays not to exe
cute it. Morning finds him on the
wave Soon be lands, strikes straight
for the centers, at Phlllppl wins con
verts, makes a stir, founds a noble
church, gets the whole country In an
agitation, turning It upside down.
He was only doing his part toward
fulfllllug the marching orders of
the Church. Since all pow"" Is bis,
since he is a universal Saviour, the
world must bs brought to acknowl
edge that authority, rejoice In that
salvation, love him as Redeemer. To
a Church fulfilling this Its great com
mission, his presence is promised In
the whole breadth and length of the
vst enterprise. Has anv other kind
of Church any such piouilast
When a Letter Is "Valuable."
The United StaKy has decided that
a letter containing one cent Is a "val
liable letter," and has sent such a one
to Postmaster Randall ot Rockvlllo,
Conn., with Instructions to find Us
owner.
The letter has been returned from
the Dead Letter Office, which It
reached shortly after It was written,
In November, 1903, because the party
to whom It was addressed could not be
found. On account of Its Inclosure II
waa returned to the office where II
was posted, ao that It might be sen)
to tbe writer, who bad simply signed
herself -Lizzie."
"Lizzies are so thick In Rockvllle
that the postmaster bad little hope ot
discovering this particular one who
tent this letter. Even If be doesn't
succeed In his search, be baa, by an
nouncing his dilemma to the people ol
the little city,, enabled the world at
large to learn what this government
considers a "valuable letter."
4Sf ,
The fom nl Human Duty,
(Mi ah 4: 8.1
Oe just in thy dealings witii all;
Give to each all the claim is his due.
In thy word, in thy acts, in thy thoughts,
Let justice bo lira! in thy view.
Thou can'st not be honct and hold -The
thing that belong to another:
Nor can you thy own virtue increuse
By proclaiming the fault 01 a brother.
Mis faults let thy charity hide;
Let justice and mercy combine;
Integrity, honor and truth,
In love's gentle light, brightest shine.
It i not thy weakness hath need.
That thy heart may be boned 'neath its
grief;
ft is not that thy sorrows may lind
lu the mercy of others reliei: - -
I5ut, 'lis the voice of thy Father's com
tun nd,
A duty I lion can'st but fulfill;
IVI10 loveth not mercy on earth
Proveth laice to a l-'at lier's wilt,
Whut heap can have line for its God.
Whence justice and mercy have lied?
Hon- drear is that path that is trod.
On which loc's tientle liuht is not shed.
Vo mallei- hnw humble tile lot.
How rugged or steep be the way;
Who walki'tli, relying on God.
Hath help which never fails lor a stay.
May justice and mercy thus blend.
To render our pathway bright ?
foil's presence our footstep attend,
'fill we dwell evermore in His night.
From "Leaves Hy the Wayside." by the
K"v. Leonard (os. A. il.. Chariotic,
.N. C.
I uttliful Sowing ami dim Inns Reaping.
()ne of my acquaintance, in a certain
New IV gland town, was an overseer iu a
manufactory, with quite a number ol men
inder his care.
These men were both intidel and pro
'ane. lleing a Christian my friend va
deeply pained at the condition of his work
men. Knowing his religious sentiment the
aien seemed to take a wicked delight ic
making their superintendent inicoiiifort
sble. Finally he proposed to them to ssk
him any questions concerning the llible
snd the Christian life and he would answer
them the following day at. the noon hour,
while the men were taking their Itmciteon.
.My friend considered the proposition a?
rpiite a serious one lor hiinscif, but having
made H Willi the single purpose to wn:
these workmen from their wicked life, he
believed that God would help him through.
The questions came in promptly, as oiw
might easily surmise, and the conflict be
?an. "it took me two hours each even
ing," said the overseers, "to prepare an
iwers tor the next day."
Hut it was not long before this faitlii'ul
snd self-s.icrilicing seed sowing beati to
bear truit. The worst inlidcl. the ring
leader, the mot blasphemous of tlieiu all,
I whom we will call Robert) w as woudei -hilly
converted. The cliunge that came
into his life was simply marielou. He be
came, literally, a "new creature." lie stu
died the llihlc with great fait hltilness air'
with iticrruidiig delicht. He came to use.
it with great appropriateness and skill.
His life was blessed, ins joy was full. Hii
work witli others was increasing.
The transformation iu his home wa
quickly seen, for lny friend, visiting thai
home by invitation, found a most happy
household, wife and bovs walking in t Is ve
footsteps of husband and father.
One of that intidel company oi workmen
failed to yield to the persuasions of tliu
rest. Later lie was prostrated by illness
which proved a "sickness unto diath.'
During that period of distress there wa
none so faithful, so unremitting iu his at
tentions us liohert. 'flic kind interest and
sympathy he extended was deeply appre
ciated bv the sufferer, and he was led to
-.-oiiimit himself fully to the care of the for
giving Saviour, whom he had so often re
viled in the past. "O," said he, referring
to the days of that reviling, "1 did not be
lieve hall 1 said!"
Blessed are they that "sow beside all
waters." The harvest is sure to mature
unit be duly gathered. The I't-v . U. W.
IScott, in Hum's Horn.
Prayer In Human History.
A vast historical experience lies behind
the practice of prayer. Millions have
lived and died ill the belief that God does
hear and answer the prayers of His people
Men anil women to-day are just as sure
that God has heard their prayer as they
are of their existence, and this is not a
new thing in the history of the world. If
it were oi no use men would have dis
missed it from their practice. It is not
like the phonograph or wireless telegraphy,
something belonging to the present gener
ation and to that alone; the best and tha
noblest of men and women have fully and
earnestly believed iu prayer. Anything
which has justified itself for twenty centur
ies or throughout the whole of human his
tory must have value, and it ninH have
value in experience, or the best of man
kind would not have indulged iu it long.
Rani's Horn.
Tbe flood That Will Come.
The Rev. J. It. Miller, 1). 1)., speaking
ef the good which will come to us if w
but accept unquestioiiiugly God's plans foi
our lives, says: "There is a work to b(
done in us, iu our own hearts and lives
which is even more important than any
thing assigned to us in the scheme of the
world's activities. There are lessons whicli
we can learn much better in the quiel
shaded sick loom than outside in the glare
of the streets and amid the clamor ol
earth's atrifes. Our shut-in days need
never be lust days. Whatever they ma
coat us in money or in suffering, we need
not be poorer when they are over thun il
we had been busy all the while at th
world's tasks. We need only to accept
God's way and go as He leads, and at tin
end we shall find that in not the sm.i'kW
matter have we ever been unwisely led. but
that at every step He ban brought us W
some good."
Oamlntii,
The man who is gold beciuse he feari
the punishment of being bad is, a', best
only half good: the mau who is good be
caiiso he hopes to enjoy the rewards f
goodliest is only half good. A man who i.
good because lie loves the principles o
goodnebs, a man who does right becausi
he loves right, is all good. llev . il. tS
liradley, Episcopalian, Atlanta, Ga.
Christ made spiritual character the result
of struggle. That in the one funduiiienta
principle in all spheres of life. We call il
the survival of the tittrst, or tall it evolu
tiun, we call it competition, we call il
overcoming. What we call it amounts tc
very little, but the fact amounts to a great
deal. Itev. J U. Clark, Presby teriun, IX
troit, Mich.
Denn Farrar once said: ' Do your best
loyally and cheerfully, aud suffer vourtel:
to feel no anxiety or fear. Your times art
in God's hands. He will direct your paths
lie will bless your aims if they be for youi
so'il's good."
The Arable Day.
Tbe Arabic day begins at sunset,
nd the pprtlcular one which begins
any month la that on which the net
moon 1 first aeen after sunset. Apart
from thi cloudiness of the sky there
may be and generally la constdrable
difficulty In seeing the crescent, lost
as it must .always be .n tbe radiance
ot tbe set sun and consequently there
Is always uncertainty for aome time
after sunset whether the day just be
gun Is to be reckoned with the last
month or a tbe first of a new month
vV
I'ilE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
' THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
The Alcohol Ttilrh a Moderate Drlnkrt
Imhlhes Is Slowly Hut Murrly t'niler
mining Ills Constitution strone I.l.i
nor Aggravntpa All Acute Diseased.
A very common thing .1 is to meet a man
who reasons like this:
"I nm not a habitual, but a moderate
drinker. No one ever saw me drunk, and
yet I drink every day." And he savs:
"What harm of it Can you see anything
the matter with me?"
He would seem to have the advantage ol
you. You rannot see anything wrong with
him. As the outward appearances gci the
rase is against you. The man appears to be
all right. Rut wail.
In the man who comes out into the
street after a protracted debauch the ef
feet" of the whisky he has been pouring
down his throat are so visible that even
the httle children notice them.
He may not be drunk. It mav have
been hours since he touched a drop, but
any one can sec that lit" physical system
had received a severe shock and is in 0
very dilapidated condition.
In the moderate drinker these aiun are
not visible, but the alcohol which he dailv
imbibes is doing its work, and slowly but
surely his constitution is being undermined
"Now and then we run across some obi
man who is hale and hearty, notwithstand
ing the fact that he iias been a moderate
drinker all his life.
Hut no one will think of denying the fart
that this old man is an exception a very
rare exception.
Many old men who. notwithstanding the
fact that they are old. should be hale and
hearty, are suffering from the ailments
born of the drink habit to whicli, in iheit
earlier days, they were enslaved.
In the "rheum, the dry serpigo and the
gout" which rack their frames, make their
hones ache and render miserable and
thankless the evening days which should
be so full of peace and beauty, they are
reaping the fruits of their "harmless'' mod
erate drinking.
Nome few months sio we made reference
to the report by M. Mesiireur. Director ol
the Department of Charities. Paris, upon
the results of alcoholism in France.
The report was no sooner made public
than the French liquor dealers were up 111
arms against it. Indignation ineetinu
were held. The mails were flooded with
all sort-s of protests against the truth ol
Mesiireur's claim that alcoholism wa
lowly but surely destroying the French
people.
The discussion at last became so heated
that the Government took it upon itself to
subject the offensive report to a careful
scrutiny, with the result that it was con
firmed in every particular.
We quote from a poster, issued by the
-"Investigation Council tor Promoting the
Public Welfare," and now displayed all
over France:
"Alcoholism is the chronic poisoning re
suiting from the constant use of alcohol,
even if this does not produce drunkenness
"It is an error to bay that alcohol is a
necessity to the man who ha to do hard
work or that it restores strength.
"The artificial stimulation winch it pro
duces soon gives way to exhaustion and
nervous depression. Alcohol is good for
nobody, but works harm to everybody.
"Alcoholism produces the most varied
and fatal diseases ot the stomach and liver,
paralysis, dropsy and madness. It is one
of the most frequent causes of tuberculosis
"Lastly, it aggravates and enhances all
acute diseases, typhus, pneumonia, erysipe
las. These diseases only attack a sober
man 111 a mild degree while they quickly
do away with the man who drinks alcohol.
"The sins of the parents against, the
laws of health visit their offspring. It
the children survive the first months oi
their lives they are threatened with iinlie
cibty or epilepsy, or death carries them
nvvay a little later by such diseases a men
ingitis or consumption.
"Alcoholism is one of the most terrible
pi, mncs to the individual health, the exist
ence of the home and the prosperity ot th
nation."
The document from which the above quo
tations are taken i signed bv the President
of tiie Mcdnal Faculty of Paris, by the
Chairman of the Institute of France and
bv the Medical Director of the Hospital
I'llotel Dieii. Pans men who know per
fectly well what thev are about when they
deojarc themselves upon the subject ot al
coholtniii and it effects.
They speak unequivocally, and their
word is thH alcoholism, even when it
stop. this side of actual drunkenness, is a
mortal foe to the physical health aud
soundness. Hie National Advocate.
Oriiiket-s Cause Accident.
A fiiend Iris sent us a table of a hun
dred accidents, and the causes, occurring
among inebriates or persons intoxicated.
The causes were breaking oi carriages, run
away horses, getting in front of railway
trains, falling out oi windows, and so on.
From this table it appears th.it oyer half
of the accidents are due to railroads and
motor wagons. Within the last year a
large percentage of accidents occurred in
the use of automobile vvago.is, and he
draws the inference that these vehicles are
the most perilous for any persons who use
spirits. An inebriate engineer in the cab
ot ati engine has only to open or close the
throttle valve, and the rails will hold the
wheels 011 the track, and the driver has
little danger unless some obstruction oc
curs. In driving a horse, the inebriate ha.
the intelligence of an animal to pioteet him
from some of the dangers, but in guiding
a motor wagon there is absolutely nothing
to protect him except his senses and rea
son. When these are defective and faulty,
disuster is invited at every turn of the
road. Nothing will more clearly bring out
the defects of reason and sense than driv
ing a motor wagon. In a recent race the
driver were examined carefully before the
race began, and cautioned under no cir
cumstances to use spirits in any form. A
moderate drinker, who probably was con
vinced that alcohol had a food and stimu
lant value, invited two friends to take a
ride with him for the purpose of showing
the great value of his machine. Tbey
stopped at a madhouse, drank freely of
spirits, and were never seen after. The
motor wagon was found at the bottom ot
a river some miles away, but the occupants
were carried out to sea on the tide, t-ev-er.il
very sad accidents on motor wagons
have been traced to the alcoholized stale
of the driver. Journal of Inebriety.
Whlaky Enterprise Endangered.
Ronfort's Wine and Spirit Circular says:
"A wave of prohibition u sweeping over
this country from one end to the other
that threatens to engulf and carry to de
struction the entire whisky enterprise. It
ia growing stronger each day. and each day
towns, ciliea, comities and even States are
added to that class 111 which the whiskv
business cannot be earl led on legitimately.1'
The Crusade In KrlrT.
Pensibie tren the world over aro begin
ning to realize thsn drink 1 a curse.
When the church enteis heartily into the
ami hquor agitation, the devil will hare to
make tracks.
Iondoii beer makers send among the peo
ple of the poorer district canvassers, who
sell beer on the instalment plan.
British life insurance societies hsve clear
ly established the tact that toul abstainers
live longer than "moderate drinkers," and
deserve a lower insurance rale. Some com
panies provide a special department for
teetotallers.
One of the most prominent saloonkeepers
01 imeago lives 111 a prohibition sulniro
He says he prefers to bring up hia family
as far away from saloon as powible.
Out of 670 members of the British Parlia
nient eighty seven are reported to be total
abstainers. England and Wales are cred
ited with fifty abstainer out of 4U3 repre
entailers, and Scotland with seven out ol
seventy-two members, while Ireland with
103 representatives has as many aa thn t)
abstainers.
A young man who drinks even moder
ately theiaby suirendsra his place in the
business world. Should the father and
mother of marriageable daughters be less
concerned about th habits of possibls sons.
in-law than are bankers, railway manager
marvhanU and manufacturer about tb
aonditet ef their hired usea!
COMMERCIAL KtVltW.
R. G. Dun & Company's weekly re-t
rlevr of trade says;
More seasonable weather has brought
increased activity in business, nor
mal conditions existing for the Ural
time this year at many points, tni
there is evidence of an effort to re
cover lost ground and prepare (on
a large spring trade. Collection!
are also improving, and structural
operations revive with the hinder tern
pcratttre, stimulating the markets fo
building materials and increasing real
tstate transfers.
There has been great damage from;
floods, although the severe winter hai
caused unusual preparation Vr trou
bles of this nature.
Manufacturing returns ai-e favors'
able as to steel and footwear, but tex
tile mills arc not active, and a furthei
curtailment of cotton spinning is proj
bable. Settlement of several important
labor controvesics ha9 been accomj
panied by new strikes, and soft coal
miners have net yet reached an agreej
ment with the operators. l'urthe
Jclay has occurred as to the iron or
ichedule, upon which another con;
ferenee will be held April I. Tralfiif
rongestion is still very bad at soma
joints, but on the whole the situitiorf
las improved, and railway earning!
for l-'cbruary were only -7 Ppr ccnty
ess than last year.
Failures this week numbered 2"') Isf
he United Slates, against 2 to last yeal
ind 25 in Canada, compared with 2
t vcar ago.
Rradstreet's ays: Wheat, including
lour, exports for the week aggregati
'.8.U.0.U bushels against I,6a.l.oS6 las'
week, .t..t6(),7(i this week last year
7.orK'),50 in 1002, and 4.6ao.g.V) in loot
From July r. i'jo.1. to date they ag
grcgate 110,307,2.55 bushels against
rrtti,04J.o,;2 last season, TSj.64t.201 itT
foo2 and 1.10,189.57 in toot. Corn exs
ports for the week aggregate 2,02.8to'
bushels, against I,6o,7vl last weekj
?,j;7.00!) a year ago, l3t,4U in 100
and .1,246,357 in ionr. From July I
loo.t. to date they aggregate 41,034,16
bushels against .17.750.200 last seasoii
?j.i(jo,S6j in 1002 and t.15,.160,742 io
roor.
wholesalTIiarkets.
Baltimore. Flour Strong: winter pi
tra, iMtvAit ; winter clear. 4.ri)c4.7'i
winter straight, S.fXH'4-J.l.'i; winter patent,
S.'iOur.S.ol): spring cleur, sMU-LOo; spring
straight, S.OituAj.lS: spring patent, 5.33
tiiH.Hi); receipts, 11,475 barrels, exports,
11,11 4 barrels.
Wheat Finn: spot contract, 1.051
spot No. 2 red Western, l.ort; March.
l.')o; Mav, IVU, steamer No. '4 red,
1UI
Corn Active; spot, 52 : March.
Sit; April, iSvi)?vlt: steamer mixed.
G! i ; receipts, ,J,4TD bushels ; exports,
77, 14'J bushels.
Outs Firmer; No. 5 white, 4J; No. 'i
mixed, 4."H((.W: receipts, 17.41S busheK
Hye Firm; No. i!. 71; No. 2 Western,
.72: receipts, 1.5M) bushels.
Hay- Firm; No. 1 timothy, unchungedj
No. 1 clover mixed, unchanged.
;rnin Freights -Dull nnd unchanged.
New York Huttcr Firm; cUra fresh
creimicry, 2": creamery, common tJ
choice, 15V7 23J; imitation i reamrrv, 14dJ
1; State dairy, 14ijr2l; renovated, PVa
13; held creamery, 14 n 'i'l; factory, 12 i
tjl5.
Cheese Steady; State, full cream,
small colored, September, 12; do. lato)
made, 10$; do. small, while, do., 12; do.
late made, PH; do. large, colored, do.,
12; do. Into made, l'H; Jo, largo, white,
do., 12; do. late made, 10$
Eggs Firm; State and Pennsylvania
neur by average, tim-st, 22, do. secoml
to firsts, 21. Western, firsts, 21.
Flour Hei-eipis. 11. 91 barrels; ex
ports, li.ool bawds; tirm in sympathy
with wheut; Minnesota parent, 5.2.''0
5.05; Minnesota bakers, 4 2'K"4 70. win.
ter patents, 5.Ui)tiA.'i.25; w inter straight.
4.75,5.00; winter exfrii-). 3.-10(:1.75
winter low grudes, 3. lovi SO.
Hye Flour Firm; fair to good, 3 ikivj
4.10; choice to f.incv. 4 21)1.0; 4. 50
Buckwheat Flour- Dull; 2 0Ov:2.10.
Cornuieal Firm; vellow Western, LP)
city, 1.0M; kiln dried", 2 90(:1.(10.
flay Sternly; shipping, G5iJ75; good
to choice, UoCCjl-O-i.
Hops Firm; State, common to choice,
I'JUli, 30(3S. 11102, 24.(iirt: olds. 10nl5
Pacific coast, HW3, S7v3i:15; 1'.'-. 24i!9.7
ul'ks, lOis.1'5.
Hides- Firm; Galveston. 20 to 3J
pounds, IS: California, 21 to 25 pounds,
ltf; Texas dry. 24 to DO pounds, 14
Potatoes Steady; Long Island, oVOXKij
3.50: Jerseys. 2. ?5i.:) 25; Jersey, sweota,
l.odg; 4. 00;' St.ite and Western., sacks,
2.50g7.2.7u.
Peanuts Firm; fancy hand pic ked, 5
other domestic, " r,ij.
C'ubbages Mcudv; domestic, per ton,
25.Wc((iS ).00; per PHI. 5 00i10.00
Live Stock.
Chicago. Cattle Market uominali
good to prime steers. 4'.0c)" .75; poor Ur
medium, :t.5ie, 4 SO; stix-kcrsand feeders,
2 50i.4 15; cows, 1 60u4.O0: buffers. 2.0U
li,4 75; dinners, 1 liiV!2.li0; bulls, 2.00(4
4.00 calves, 8.00iUt5O
Hogs Market 5 to 10c higher; mixed
and butchers, 5. 15(5.50; good to choice
lieavv.
y. 5.4.i(iM..i,i; rough, heavy, S.lOut)
5.40;
; light, 4 .tUijJ.VSu; bulk of sales, S.ltr
(5.40.
Sheep Market steady; luubs steady!
good to choice wethers, 4.00t5-l50; fail
to choice ruixeL 3..50ifti425i Wcsterst
sheep, 4.2045 10; native lambs, 8.73a
5 2i. Western lamba, 400t).00.
SCIE.MCE AND INDL'STBY.
Twenty-four Statei of the United
States have pas;o) industrial arbitrat
ion laws.
Waitresses at Rochester, X. V., hare
formed a union, A shorter workday
is desired.
Montreal will be the first CanaJiav
city invaded by the Citizens' Indus
trial Association of America.
The Canadian Tactile Railway tnf
establish a training school for guide
for tourists owing to their scarcity.
Delegates representing all organiretf
labor in Porto Rico are voting for
amalgamation under the America
Federation of Labor.
Employes of the East Taris( FranceJ
tramways have declared a striken
About 800 men are involved.
Steps have been taken with the
view of forming the warehousemen o(
Montreal, Canada, into a strong Fed'
eral union.
There are more than 17,000 ma
chine-tending operatives in Lowell
Mass., raring for 838,000 spindles and
earning over $500,000 a month i
wages,
Boston (Mas.) Central Labor Uns,
Ion has adopted resolutions condemns
ing the interference by equity courts)
with trade unions.
In Germany workingmen are visitevf
it their homes on paydays by .savings
bank officials to collect their savings
for banking. .
Among 5.000 street-car drivers in
Vienna a recent census showed that
there are 400 knights, about so barone
snd 4 counts.
London (England) cabmen par
from about $J .W to $ a day for
hansom, ace-ding to the seison A
driver's profits average nearly ti
dav. ,- .