"PRESUMPTUOUS SINS"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon Bj Her. A.
B. KinsolTing, P. D.
Sacrificing Iht Intertill of lh Spiritual aad
Eternal to the Carnal and Temporal.
Brooklyn, N. Y. l)r. Arthur B. Kin
olving, rector of Chrint Church, preached
nn excellent sermon Sunday morning, on
"Prrumptuoiiii Sins." The two texts
were from Matthew iv: S ami 0: "Then
the devil taketh him into the holy city
nil he net Him on the pinnacle o( the
temple, and aaith unto Him, if Thou art
he Son of (lod cast Thyelf down, for it
la written. He shall live it in anncln charge
concerning Thee; and on their hando thev
Khali hear Tnee up, lent haply Thou dah
.Thy foot apainat a stone. Jesus said unto
him, "Aain it ia written, thou shalt not
tsmpt the Lord thy God;" and Palm
kix: 13: "Keep hack Thy servant also
from presumptuous ain; let them not
have dominion over me; then ahall I he
upright and Innocent from the great trans
greMiCi " Dr. Kinsolving aaid:
In wm.Aiing our purpose of trying to in
terpret the unfolding life of the Lord Je
ua and to read ita lessons for ouraelvea.
we preached last Sunday the tempted ,7e
ua. We found in the narrative of the
temptation n record of juat a mental and
spiritual struggle na we ahould have ex-
yectcd Him to go through at thia atagc of
lij career. It ia impossible to suppose
that He could have decided instantaneous
Iv and without long meditation and con
flict upon the plan of Hia life as the "aent
of God." Clearly He had a plan and ad
hered to it throughout life.
We remarked upon the deep interest
that each one of ua haa in the moral strug
gle and victory of Jesus, and how juat in
Eroportion as we are led hy the Holy
pint to lofty and noble ideala of life, we
are conacioua of theae subtle earthly lurea
which would deflect us from our truest
paths.
We spoke of the fatalistic non-resistance
to temptation so much in vogue nowadays
a something not worth while, because in
e. world where the frailty of man ia ex
posed to such overwhelming allurements
of world, flesh and devil, it is certain be
forehand that a vast percentage of men
and women will fall. The Maker of men
and not the victims of ain is the most re
sponsible, ao thia school teaches, and by
such doctrinea the person assailed ia in
Iduced to yield without a struggle. Jesus'
conflict and victory teach ua that thia is
a libel upon Clod. Through a putting
forth of such strength as we have,
through a prayerful desire to be and do
;what is right, our vision is cleared and our
wills grow strong, and while God can
never entirely shelter ua from temptation
He can and does defend us in temptation,
and with every solicitation to wrongdoing
show us the way of escape.
Then we tried to learn the lesson of
Christ's first temptation. The question
which first confronted Him as our repre
sentative was the old and cver-preBxing
question of daily bread. The tempter pro
ceeds upon the assumption that all man
needs for his sustenance is food for the
physical life. You have a right to thia,
he says, on any terms, and there is nothing
else to be considered by comparison with
this. So make provision for yourself and
the body's bread first. "You are to feed
the hungry; feed firat yourself." "If Thou
art the aon of God, command that these
atones be made loaves and then You may
live to execute Your Father's business."
I The answer of .leans came from a Man
gaunt and weary by long fasting and days
of conflict. "The physical life is not man's
only life, and I will not act as if it were."
He says, "by exempting Myself from pri
vations which I have come to share with
My brethren. If I am hungry, that lies
within the will of God for Me, and I
choose hunger in that will, rather than
satisfaction outside of and against that
will. I will not hurt or kill My moral or
spiritual life as the filial, dependent and
obedient Child of God by providing on
f uilty terma for the feeding of My bodily
ife. For if. through privation, the bodily
wrapping of life should perish there would
still be left My essential manhood and
My eternal relationship with the Father.
Therelore I choose the obedient and de
pendent life, and will trust the care and
wisdom of My Father unto the end."
' .lesua there enunciated a philosophy ol
life which ia as sane as it is lofty and spir
itual. Perhaps the commonest ain among
men is sacrmcmg the interests ot the apir
itiinl nnil eternal to the carnal and tern.
tinml All about ua thev are prone to liv
as if man did live by bread alone, and
where thia is true they will have bread on
any terms, and getting it become the con.
sinning passion of life. Uy choosing, in
lead. the hunter that resulted from dwell
ins in the will of God. rather than tht
passing gratification gotten at the price ol
fliitnheilienre. our Muster won for ua the
ureal, initial victory over temptation, and
1- His anirit and example has been lead
inc millions to victory along the same
path ever since.
In the second temptation I take th
order given in in. Matthew as tue natura.
order the noint, of attack has changed.
The temDter had sought to overthrow lh
obedience of Christ by an assault upon
His physical appetites and faith in Hit
rather s care, lie nau overcome me temp
tation throuzh the strength of His trusl
in God. 80 now the attack is made upon
Him through that very trust. An un
swerving loyalty and confidence In the will
of God has been discovered. That loving
trmt it was which made Him choose to
suffer the pangs of hunger, rather than
arbitrarily terminate them hy a miracle
wrought for Himself. Ah. thtn, here i
liis strength, ao near by there must lurk
Hi weakness! "Then," we. read. "th
devil taketh Him into the holy city and
etteth Him upon that corner of the wing
of the temp'.e which overlooks from it)
lii-:;y height the priests' court below,
where the thousamU of Jewish pilgrimr
have gathered from oil over the world
"If Thou be the Son of God. cast Thysell
down.' That will be an ideal and perfect
let of vour filial relation and youi
l-'a! her s care for 1 ou. Descend, heaven
iiorne. into the midst of priests and people,
win instantly the acclamation and popu
lar welcome which You will else have to
4-omiurr by long years 01 siinenng anu inn
U'li i'l wnrsliiii and honor and homage
will bo Yours! How quickly You will stand
st 'he head ot heiieviug Israel: sureiy,
there is nothing to fear, for it is written,
ulmll aim Ilia nneels charge concern
ing Thee; and on their hands they sha'l
bear Thee up, lest, haply, Thou dash Thy
foot against a atone.' "
The very choice of the location of the
temptation attest the subtlety of the
tempter. He is taken to the Holy City
and to a pinnacle, or wing, of the temple.
Think what must have been Jesus' sacred
love for .lerusslem and how naturally and
deeply His mind would Dave neen mllu
nceJ by the surroundings. All the pas
a, n. ain religious Datriotism of His nature.
all liis deepest springs of feeling would be
touched by the sacreu aasociaiiona 01 mc
"Hn'.v Citv. "Beautiful for elevation. th
joy of the whole earth, the city of the
.great king, whither the tribes of the Lord
no ud vear by yar for worship." How
precious were its sights: As the moun
tains lis around about Jerusalem, so en-
ramprtb the Lord about them that love
Him. JI juiget met, u, tierusa-
leni, let my right hand forget its cunning."
It for a devout Jew there was a spot on
arth which warranted the moat uncondi
tioned trust, it was the temple 01 Jelio
in the first reliuious capital of the
world. Here it was, while His soul w. s
Vibrating with a triumphant sense of trust
won by overcoming the hrst temptation,
that the insidious attack is made whose
effort wss to betray Hint into presump
tion. All the wonderful past dealing of
' God with His covenant people would stand
out in memory; all the wealth of tender
nets over hopes and promises sorely and
long deferred, and now on the eve of ful
fillmenta tenderness which afterward
rams nut in words wet with tears, when
He cried: "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how
often would I have gathered thy children
together aa a ben gatbereth her brood
under ber wings, but ye would not." It
wss in the heart of His own Jerusalem,
and .rom the summit of His Father's house
thst He was tempted by His cunning and
wily adversary to commit the plausible
sin. Beside the influence of the sacred
filipe and associations, the voice of the
tempter appealed to something' not" lest
sacred to the written word of God as
the guarantee of truth and action. The
devil, too, can quote Scripture to his pur
pose. "If Thou be the Son of God, cast
Thyself uwn; for it is written, 'He ahall
give His ungels cliargo concerning Thee,' "
etc. '
Firat, we muat have recourse to the prin
ciplca of eanity and common sense; lind
out if what we are tempted to do ia in
sincere accord with what God has taught
us generally in Hia word and in common
sense, and, then decide. For Chriat to
have cast Himself from the wing of the
temple into the abysa that yawned below
would have been to tempt God. "We do
not make experiments with those whom
we absolutely trust." When a man be
gins by a prayer test, or any like thing, to
make experiments with God, he shows
that he lacks the subtle, spiritual quality
called faith which is the only means by
which he can reach God. Therefore, it ia
the habit of trust to calmly abide in God
not trifle with or put Him to the teat.
As long aa Jeans remained within the
sphere of the revealed will of Hia Father,
He could trust Him. If He should break
or contravene that will, then He ahould
no longer feel He had a right to God's
care. In other worda, Jesus Christ, in
His second temptation, flushed with a
victory which must have given an impulse
to faith in the Father's power and suf
ficiency, declares to us that it ia necessary
to have a care for ourselves na well as
commit ouraelvea into the keeping of God.
IlornnsA wp arm linil a children wp mnv not
break the laws of the world to which we
belong and expect Him to miraculously
ntertere to prevent the consequences,
Contempt for nature and practical reason
s a wretched policy to begin a religious
life with. We live under physical law,
under moral law, under spiritual law. To
fancy that because we have come to teel
the Dower of the spiritual and even the
supernatural, we are at liberty to fly in
the face ot known physical laws, or sane
and widely received moral laws, ia fatal
error, and for it men are always punished
in the end. God ia the source of all these
laws and we tempt the Lord our God
when we break them. We are not to rely,
either, "too exclusively or presumptuous
ly upon the care 01 uod. A tar as our
practical reason serves us, we must also
take counsel ot that, recognizing that taith
and self heln. action and natience "meet
in equilibrium" and complete each other.
It Jesus, the exceptional and pre-emi
nent object of divine care, had yielded to
this Cast thyself down. lie would hrst
have broken away irom ua, ins brethren,
who live under moral and physical law,
and second, He would have "substituted
for a life environed bv nature, guarded.
Suided, fed by it, participant in ita forces,
ecause subject to its laws, a life divorced
trom nature, hostile to it, retusing to
tempt God or to break awav from our hu
man lot and world, showed us the sanity
and strength of a genuine trust in God.
It is not nervous, fanatical or presump
tuous. "It neither courts nor shuns
death." It ia prudent, wary, will not
overstep the limits of a sober faith, and
yet. when the will of God clearly demands
it in the path of duty, it bravely faces
death and dares all hell!
My friends, the modern sin of presump
tion turns up under many forma. Now it
appears in the guise of religious pride,
in the purblind assumption of some ec
clesiastical charlatan uttering with great
swelling words of vanity some oracular
opinion which he claims to be of equal au
thority with the teachings ot the Nm ot
God. You have it in the vaticinations of
the "mother" of Christian Science with
the system's slavish literalism and prepos
terous overclaims. The contempt for the
physical that the system breathes and
breeds, the refusal to give medicines out
of those stores which God has laid up for
ua in leaf and plant and flower and min
eral, and which millions of educated men
have given their Uvea to make available,
the willingness to cast themselves or n
child over the precipice, claiming the sanc
tion of certain Scriptures as their'warrant
for escaping destruction is, in the eyes of
most men and women to-day, a sin of pre
sumption. The system ia against the cor
porate common sense of the race, against
the proportion of faith; it discards doc
trines like the blessed truths of Christ's
deity and atonement, which have been
held by the overwhelming majority of the
members of the Christian church in every
age trom the beginning. "It is written,"
they cry. Yes, Christ teaches us to an
swer, and "again it is written: Thou shalt
not make the trial of the Lord thy God."
You have it one hesitates to allude in a
Christian pulpit to the vulgar sect in the
sacrosanct polygamy of the Mormon, ot
which such an informing- exno.se has been
made by a Congressional committee during
the past week. Not that the Mormon is
the only adulterer: would God he were.
but he is the only man now before the
Christian public who claims a new revela
tion of later and higher authority than
mac mane iiirougn -.lie noiy und sinless
Jesus, expressly sanctioning his lustful
creed.
"I as the chosen of God havj had a vis
ion which uproots and supersedes the mor
ality taught bv the Lord Jeaua Christ- I
like Mohammed's about the family better
tnan ennst s, therefore 1 hear my pref
erence sanctioned by a.voicu from heaven.
rienceiorcn my revelation shall put me
obove the law of the land. Outwardlv I
may have to comply, but I secretly will
ignore it." There ! is not occurred in
modern times a more pestiferous example
ne u .. j .1.1....: , ' j
u. icigium li;)An.lWf Bun uduniuill AI1U
when we remember that repeatedly in re
cent years emissaries from Utah have nrn-
elaimed thia accursed system here in the
East, chiefly among simple minded rustics
and mountaineers, we realize the ain of
permitting it thus long.
This country can never endure part
puiygamisc ana pan monogamist.
But. my friends, the capital sin of pre
sumptipn is committed nearer at home
than this. There is self satisfied credulity
which makes men fancy that they can
break all manner of spiritual laws, cast
tnemseives down all sorts ot religious preci
pices, take all kinds of risks 1:1 the nf.
fairs of the soul at Satan's dictation, and
yet that somehow at the end they will
come out without loss! It is not, too, the
ignorant about God, but those who have
had good opportunity to know Him and
obey Him who fall into this sin.
When any Christian man lets himself
orf easily and airily from a plain duty to
God, or does a sin against light, he nears
the sin of presumption. When a man of
the world deliberately violates the express
will of God, our Saviour, year after year.
relying upon some vague nope ot deliver
ance for which we have no divine warrant,'
he is approaching the sin of peraumption.
Brethren, our safety lies in learning the
perfect humility and simplicity of Jesus
Christ.
"Keep back Thy servant also, from pre
sumptuous sins; let tbem not have do
minion over me; then shall I be upright
and iunocent from the great transgres
sion." WAS RATTLED BY PROMOTION.
Young Actor's Laughable "Bull" in Hit
Firat Speaking Part.
Charles Frohman, the theatrical
manager, tells of an arousing and
ludicrous mistake made by a young
actor In a play once produced by Mr,
Frohman.
The young actor bad, up to this
time, employed his talents In enact
ing such roles as called for no speech
on bis part But In this play be was
Intrusted with the following line, the
only words to be spokon by him dur
Ing the entire play:
"The King Is dead! Long live the
King!"
The critical time arriving, It was ob
served by other players Ciat the young
man who was to acclaim the new mon
arch In the words just quoted was suf
fering from a dreadful attack of stage
fright. His cue came, but no words
could ha speak, so frightened was be,
Finally, however, be pulled himself
together and. In desperation, shouted
at the top of hia voice:
"Long live the King; he's dead!"
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 3.
f ubjecttjesna Visits Tyre ami Slilon.Msrk
ll S4-3T-Ooliten Text, Heb, xl., fl
Memory Verses, SIT-'iO Commentary
on the Day's I.rssnn.
T. A mother's plea (vs. 24-20), 21.
"From thence He arose. That ia, after
Jelivering the discourses at Capernaum.
Kdersheim thinks that Jeaua and the
twelve apostles went immediately to the
north country, while others think there
was a abort delay in, or near, Capernaum
before starting out. "Borders of 'J'vre and
rSidon." Tyre and Sidon were heathen cit
ies on the eaat coast of the Mediterranean
iea. Their religion was a base and corrupt
ing nature worship. Beelzebub, the name
adopted by the Jews as a name for Satan,
was one ot their deities, who was supposed
to he the author of "all the pollutions of
idol worship." "Into a house." In nil
probability the house of a Jew. Kder
iheim thinks He must have tarried here
several days; the fad that He desired to
be kept hid, but could not, would suggest
thia. "No man knew it." He judged it
proper to conceal Himself awhile from the
rh.'jisees, who were plotting against Him.
"Could not be bid." "It seems that Ho
was personally known to many of this
rountrv,t who had seen and heard Him in
Ltalilee."
'Jo. "Whose voung daughter." The ac
tual sulleiings of the (laughter were great,
but the sutlcring winch the mother en
dured by sympathy were still greater. Our
sutferings for others arc great in propor
tion to the am. unit of love we have for
them. Hence, the greatest sufferer on
earth was I hrist. An unclean spirit.
Matthew says her daughter was "griev
ously vexed with a devil." This was cer
tainly a aad case. Nothing can destroy
the peace of a home more, than to have a
daughter possessed with Satanic influences.
The spirit that possessed this girl was an
unclean a vile spirit. "At His feet."
This at once showed th? humility of the
woman: she assumed thrt most lowly nt
tinule tiossibie as she appeals, to liis mercy.
'.'0. "Woman was a Greek." By language.
The Jews called those who were idolaters
Greeks, or Gentiles. "A -Syrophenieian by
nation.'' A Syrophenieian. l'lioenicia be
longed to the Uoinan province of Syria.
Mie was a Syrian, of lMiociiicia. "Besouuht
Him." Kainestly entreated Him. The
ease was an urgent one, and. on her knees,
at His feet, she poured out her request.
"Would cast forth." She believed Hit
had power to do this. Matthew says alio
'cried unto Him saying. Have mercy on
me, Lord. I hou son 01 David. She
pleaded for mercy; she knew she could
make no claim upon Him in any other way.
I he woman recognized ,lrsus a the .Jew-
sli Messiah; she called linn "Lord and
'the son ot JJavul. the devil, etc.
Here is a plain, straightforward conies-
ion. There is no effort to cover up tin
fanii'v troubles, ami gloss over matters.
and make it appear that, after all, her
daiyuter is "quite respcctab.e.
II. J-aith triumphing (vs. 2, -SO). 2i.
Jesus said." The woman's discourage
ments wc.e great: 1. Her advantages hid
been small. She was a heathen woman,
with but little means of even ohtair.in ;
he liirht of the Hebrew Sc;-inture.. 2.
At first Jesus did nt reply to her request
(Matt. 15: 24). 3. The disciples bes night
Him to send her away. 4. When Jesui
did speak He seemed to repel her. The
soul, seeking salvation, frequently meets
these same tests, and manv become discour
sed by them. "The children." The Jews.
lirst be tilled. Iney are the favored
pcop.e. I he gospel was lust to be offered
to the .lews, and to tliem our J.nrd a per
sonal ministry on c.irth was chiefly re
stricted. Jes is told her that His h'ess-
nzs were for the lost of Israel (Matt.)
'Not meet." It is not suitable not tho
proper thing to do. "Childrena bread."
To take those blessings that belong to the
jews. ' 1 nto the clogs. J. his was the se
verest test of all. The Gentiles were con
sidered bv the Jewish people as 110 better
than dogs, and Jesus only used a form ol
speech which was common; but it must
have been very offensive to the heathen.
Would this woman resent it: Would lit-1
pride at last be stirred? No. She "shrunk
and shrive. ed into nothingness at Jus
feet, and her tuita still held on tor the de
sired blessing.
28. "Yes. Lord. "Truth. Lord ' (Mitt.)
It is all so. The Jews: the favored ones
ought to be blessed first. I know I am n
heathen, only a (jentile clog. "Yet, Noiv
follows (1) an answer to His argument
against entertaining her petition, and (-'I
a most touching appeal to His clemency
the doirs: eat ot the children a crumbs.
I only ask eueh kindness as the dozs ol
any family enjoy. If I am a dog, give ir.w
t least a dog's fare.
J'or tins saving. Her fait 1 bad
triumphed. Jesus, said. "O woman, great
is thy i.ulh (.Mutt.) inere are several
other graces that shone bright 111 her:
wisdom, humility, nicekne-s. patience.
perseverance in prayer: but these were the
product of her faith, and therefore Christ
commends that, because, ot all araees
taith honors Christ most; therefore, of all
graces, Christ honors faith most. "Devil
is gone." Now. at this very moment, thy
reuuest is sranted. Thouirh our Iord's
mission was to the lo?t sheep of Israel,
vet He alwavs honored personal taitli in
Himself, wherever found." "I'crscvering
faith and prayer are next to omnipotent.
Iso person can thus pray and beneve with
out receiving a 1 his soul renmres.
111. A man healed (vs. MM)- isl. Do-
Dartimr. LeavmE the "borders of Phoe
nicia, Jesus made a circuit to the southeast,
He crossed the Jordan and souirht seclu
sion in Decapolis, southeast nf the Sea ol
Galilee. 32. "One: deaf." The healinf o!
this man is related only bv Mark. An
impediment." He was not a mute, but a
stammerer. ''Beseech." Karncstly en
treat. This shows their faith in Christ's
abilitv. 33. "Took him aside. The man
would thus be more deeply impressed, and
s nublic healintr would cause the nrnule tc
come together in great crowds. "But Hit
fingers, etc." Some external sign wa
needed to show to others that the result
really proceeded from Christ. He put His
hngers into his ears to marK the ear-drum
that was 10 DC quiCKeneu; lie spit ami
touched his tongue to show that its stif
fened muscles must be lubricated into liln
hemes; He looked up into heaven to show
that the source of power was God; He
spoke tlis word to mark that the effect
was -instant in time upon the command.
34. "oiuhed." Christ's sympathies were
touched, and He sighed when He saw the
suffering and sorrow around Him. "Eph
phatha. The actual Aramic word used
by our Lord. 3j. "Spake plain." When
Cliriat undertakes a case lie alwavs doej
in complete work. In verses 30 and 37 Jesus
charged them to tell no man, but they pub
lished it so much the more and were as
tonished hevnnd measure.
WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
Remarkable Modern Achievement)
and Inventions.
During the last quarter of a centurj
10 many wonderful works have boer
ionstructed and equally wonderful In
rentlons brought Into use that It It
rery difficult. If not quite Impossible
tor any one to say which are the sevei
greatest wonders of modern times. It
regard to several moat people woult
probably agree, but with respect t
others there would be a wide dlverg
nee of opinion. The following arf
entitled to be ranked among the won
lers of modern times, but which an
the seven greatest we do not presumt
to say: The Sues oanal, the Fortt
bridge In Scotland, the Brooklyt
bridge In New York, the Assouan dan
serosa the Nile In Upper Egypt, aub
narlne boats, x-Rays, wireless tele
fraphy, the flying machine, the use 01
ilectrlclty for purposes of power, light
tc, . the telegraph and telephone
Some of the discoveries In medtclni
tnd surgery, for Instance, the dlscov
try of anesthetics, which render sur
rlcal operations' painless, should also
e ranked among the modern won
tors.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR NOTES
APRIL THIRD
'Our Victories Through Christ." 1 Co..
15:50-58. (Easter Meeting.)
Scripture Verses 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:1;
Dal. 2:20; Phil. 1:20-24; 2:17; 2 Tim.
4:6-8; Heb. 11:13-16; 2 Peter 1:4, 10,
11, 14.
Letaon Thoughts.
The seed falling Into the ground iiaa
apparently every prospect for decay
and destruction; but ita death Is In
reality only the entrance upon its vie
ory Is a larger and more beautiful life.
Ths defeat of the body Is the victory
of tho soul.
Our sense of personal loss when
friends die may be a cause for mourn
ing; but the sting of death Itself and
the victory of the grave havie been de
stroyed by the resurrection of Christ,
the first fruits.
The assurance of victory la no rea
son for postponing It. We may even
now enjoy tlve resurrection triumph by '
a life "steadfast, unmovable, always
abounding In the work of the Lord."
Selections.
My summons may come In t!ie morn
ing. Or ths deep, peaceful Bullnber of
night;
It may come with a lingering warning,
Or as quick as a nann 01 i-iiniiani;
It
may como wuuo l m nunKiug 01
heaven;
It may come while my thoughts are
astrav:
While I'm sitting alone in my dwell
ing,
Or greeting some friend on the way.
E'lt the day or the hour when tne
bidding
Comes to me I never can know.
And I pray at the call of the Master
I may answer, I ra reauy to go.
He that onmiers life shall find death
Itself conquered, and himself a victor
before God and his angels.
Tlve conquest of death Is really tno
conquest of ourselves, so that the life
eternal can enter Us and drive out the
death eternal.
Calvary Day and Easter Day.
The darkest day and brightest da..
Were Just one day apart.
Prayer. Thanks be to Grid, who
glveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ, who appeared among us,
not only that lie might take away ein
by offering h.imself a willing sacrifice
for us, but that he might bring life
and immortality to light, and reopen
heaven for all who believe In his
name. Enable us, therefore, to purify
ourselves, even as he Is pure, to seek
those tilings that are above, and lay
up treasure In heaven. Amen.
EPWOHTH LEAGUE LESSONS
APRIL THIRD.
Dur Victories Through Christ.
1 Cor.
:5. 50-58.
Taul went to Corinth on his sec
ond missionary Journey, and it. was
nere that he established his l'ounh
European church. This was, perhaps,
.n the year He stayed about
slght'een months In the city, duvlns
which period he built up the great
;st of 1.1s western societies. But tho
Corinthian church gave him much
:roul)le. These Christians would back
slide, and they would quarrel; and
the quarrelsome Christian, if there be
such, Is pretty sure to backslide.
Then, after the fashion of Greece, the
Corinthians loved to debate great
questions and to challenge every prop
osition. The members split up In fac
tions, sop.:u saying, T am of Paul,"
&nd ethers, "I am of Apollos," and
r.tlll others claiming Cephas as the'ir
leadr.r. Then they questioned Paul's
apostlvshlp, and raised queries con
cerning Christian doctrines and Chris
tian morals. Some awful perversions
of the truth appeared, and the peo
ple were still more or less affected
by the shocking licentiousness of the
city, for there Venus was worshipped
with most debasing rites. Corinth
was "the metropolis of Greek vice."
Among the questions being discussed
at Corinth was that of the resurrec
tion. .
From Ephcsus Paul wrote this
first letter to the Corinthians. In
chapter 15 the apostle discusses the
question and refutes the arguments of
tho Corinthians, giving the fullest de
lnse and the subllmest description
of the resurrection contained In reve
lation. What! Deny the resurrec
tion? Then you deny everything es
sential. You knock out the keystone
of the arch of Christian doctrine; you
destroy the very foundation of Chris
tian hope. Of course, If there be no
such thing as the resurrection of the
dead, then Christ did not rise, and
nobody will rise. We might as well
quit preaching; it is vain, and your
faith Is vain. It is folly to talk about
our dead as being only asleep they
are perished, if so be that tho dead
rise not. The apostle rises from tho
level plain of argument In rebuttal
(as the lawyers tay) and soars on ex
ultant pinion Into the atmosphere of
Inspired declamation aud cries, "But
now Is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the first fruits of them
that slept" (verse 20). Now, how
magnificently he paints the resurrec
tion scene, and how he carries us
with him In his Jubilation and his
argument concerning the conquest by
Christ, and ot the Christian in hlni,
over death, the last enemy!
Sporting Blood Will Out.
When Mr. Bosanquet, the well
known English cricketer, brought his
eleven over here a few years ago h
met at one of the matches with the
Gontlomen of Philadelphia a fair
young girl, who was very much Inter
ested In and enthuslastlo over the
game. Captain Bosanquet had Just
played a brilliant Inning, but had been
bowled and was strolling around the
ropes, chatting with his friends.
It was Just then that some one In
troduced blm to the American girl.
"Oh! Mr. Bosanquet," exclaimed the
girl. "I think cricket Is perfectly
aweetl You made a lot of runs, didn't
youT And I was so excited when the
bowler got you out. Why, I'm worn
to a frazzle; I've lost two pounds at
the least!"
'Money or weight?" was the English
man's Impassive reply.
Where Marriage Is In Favor.
Modern Hindoos honor marriage so
highly that do bachelor Is ever con
sulted on any Important affair, and the
man who cannot bo Induced to marry
is looked upon aa "beyond the pale of
natura."
,febJtfi&5l
Always Dear,
Whene'er my days are fair anil bright,
And o'er mv life the sky is clear;
I think of Him to whom 1 owe
Each hour of peace and pure delight;
And in mv grateful heart I know
That God is near.
And when the days of brightness fade;
When my hours are aad and drear;
1 think of Him who wateheth o'er
The humblest creature He hath made.
And in mv heart I know once more
That God ia near.
With all my days ao will iL be,
Whate'er they bring of ! ope or feat",
Until at last shall come the day,
That aeta my trusting spirit free;
Aud then na ever will I pray
That God is near.
-larv Devereux,
Ailvantagea of Foresight.
Theae three advantages accrue from the
purpose to make ready for the end of life:
Firat, it pula a man upon his mettle, atim
tilatca bin artivitie, nourishes and freMh
cna them. Nothing nptirx a man to his
tak like the coiiBciouonrm of the brevity
nf t lie tunc appointed. I lie contractor aul
fcra an injury who i ta'.d to take hia own
time. C'onlrariwiKC, the time limit for the
expiration of hia work keeps him up to his
beat. Unfortunately many men feel that
thev do not know when their life ia to end,
anil therefore ossunie that they have a
score of years, or thirty years, to complete
their task. If every man had a chart
Placed in hia hands ao that he knew just
now much time had been allowed him to
work out his purpose, how would he hew
to the line, insisting upon finishing this
stint in one month, and a second stint in
the next month.
We know that when Agricola crossed ths
Alp into Germany, fiillilling hia emperor's
command, he kept his little handbag al
ways packed, that every night he footed
up hia accounts, so that he could close
them upon a moment's notice and start at
once with hia dispatches for Home. Every
prudent man might to lay out his life upon
that basis, and with refi-rence to thorough
nean, accuracy and faithfulness to his work
and his Master, be ready for the messen
ger whose coming is always expected, like
the coming of a thief in the night. But
this foresight of life's end is alo a buttress
against temptation and safeguard against
evil. What atudeni is not. made more ac
curate for the reflection th.it the examiner
may come at any hour? W hat soldier ia
not the better prepared for remembering
that any moment the trumpeter may call
the charge?
In those last daya of the battle before
Richmond General Grant sent word along
the line that the next would be the last
charge. The knowledge that the end was
approaching and that they must round out
their career as aoldiers, was audi a tonie
unto men that they competed with each
other for the most dangerous tasks and the
most difficult places. When Paul realized
that the time of his departure was at hand
he nerved himself for one more letter, for
one more heroic deed, for one more act of
supreme self -ucrilire, and he hungered for
the most difficult place of service and suf
fering, as sonic brave youth desires with
exceeding great desire to prove his affec
tion to his beloved one. For all these rea
aoija, therefore, C'hriet tr.ed to incite men
to be ready for the end o the life career.
K. D. Hillis, D. D. mJUt,
One Meaning of Pain,
A few years ago a mother, carrying n lit
tle deformed boy, entered the Hospital for
Sick Children. After a caretul examina
tion the doctor told her lint a cure was
possible, but the treatment would be ex
ceedingly painful, and the child must be
given up entirely to the care of the nurse
unit himself. Turning to the lad ishe said:
"You will slay with the doctor and the
nurse, won't you, Freddie?"
But he had heard the dorlor'a worda and
begged to be taken home. With all a
mother's skill she ar-iucd and coaxed, but
without avail. Freddie only tightened his
arms about her neck and begged to b
spared the ordeal. 'There were tiara in the
mother's eyes and a sob in her heart as she
plead witli him to submit, anil told him of
the coming days when he would be as
straight and strong as others. Hut it was
useless to argue, for he did not want to be
healed at the price of so much pain. Then
the voice of the mother assumed a sterner
tone, a tone which the child had never
heard before. Firmly unclasping the fingers
that were locked about her neck, and Jilt
ing the tcar-slaiucd face from her breast,
she said:
"Freddie, you must stay," and handing
him to the nuric she turned and walked
out of the room. In the next room t-lie
fell upon a couch and wept with a bitter
ness that is known only to the mother's
heart.
Go to that lad a few years hence when
he stands straight and strong among the
athletes and ask him if it was unkind of
her to leave him in the hands of the sur
geon and the nurse, and with eyes aglow
with love and a voice tremulous with grat
itude he will tell you that he thanks God
for a mother who subjected him to a year
of pain to win for him a lifetime of pleas
ure. It is even ao that He who haa for us
the heart of a father and n mother, too,
permits sorrow to do its work .of fitting
up for the glory by and by. In all our al
dictions He is afflicted, and if Ha is will
ing to bear pain for us we should not com
plain when He asks us to share it with
Him. W. W. Weeks, D. D., in Baptist
Viiiou.
Peril of the Tongue.
"Xot that which entereth into the
mouth deliieth the man; but that which
proceedeth out of the mouth, this dctilctli
the man." It makes a vital and an eter
nal difference to us how we express our
selves. A man ia in greater danger of
self-destruction by spoking than by eat
ing. Formerly 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, aa the people
speak, so tiny will become. Thia is tup
posed to beget a higher and more solid
patriotic -or national apint as, other
tilings being equal, it must. .Statesmen
perceive this truth in the bottom principle
enunciated by , lesua, and thus apply it.
But in our individual lives we often for
get to act 011 it. It harms us to think
evil; it harms us even more to say what
we think. It is for thia reason that si
lence ia so often golden. But it is also on
the same general principle that it is worth
while to apeak a pleasant word if we can
do no more. Sunday-School Times.
The VTnr to Live.
Try so to live in the light of Cod's love
that it becomes a second nature to you,
tolerate nothing advene to it, be continu
ally striving to pleate j.nn in all things,
take all that He sends patiently; resolve
firmly never to commit the smallest de
liberate fault, and if unhappily you are
overtaken by any sin, humble yourself
and rise up scedily. You will not be al
ways thinking of God consciously, but all
your thoughts will be ruled by Him. Ilia
presence will cheat tiselcaa or evil thoughts
and your heart will be perpetually tixed
on Him, ready to do His holy will. Jean
Kicola Grou.
Where Taxes Are Paid Promptly.
Au interesting fact In connection
with the recent report of the county
commissioners for Hancock county,
Maine, la that for the first time In
many years perhaps the first time In
Its history the entire county tax la
4sown to have been colloctd.
Many Miners Are Killed.
Almost SU0 men were killed in the
anthracite mines of Pennsylvania dur
ing 1903. according to the record kept
by the State mining Inspectors.
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
' THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Poeim Two Journeys, iiv t. ft. VrMasni
A Medical Mnrint Telia In the Wash
ington sur of llaeaea Tlmt Are Traced
Directly or Indirectly In Alrolmliatn,
May I talk. Mr. MierilT? If you say that
I may,
It will lessen the length nt this terrible
way:
Of thia terrible journey ao short yet ao far
That leads to the prison with bolt and
with bar.
It seem to me now that each moving
wheels
The engine and tender and coaches all feel
The shame of the burden they're hastening
on
That the slara look in pity and the red
near dawn
Will blush with a shame at the sight it
must ee,
Of s lost life tortured with cruelty.
Not n long time ago na the years are nout
told.
But cenlnriea to tne ami alaa manifold.
1 came one day over this aelf-aanie road
With 11 life that with gladness was over
flowed, For my heart was just leaping with very
joy
And the world held 110 belter, no happici
bov.
Unfasten these cufTs, let mc wipe oil the
tears
Which flow for tlicfe crucified, wasted
years.
And to think they have brought me only
to this;
A father's blessing was on my young head,
And the days seemed holy and hallowed.
A tmtnr'a rnresa and a brother's smile
Made a journey of joy each fleeting mile.
The white clouds laughed in the deep, still
sky,
And the sun's red rays aeemed to prophecy
Of kindness to me. The flitting trees
Were like prayers o gladness on bended
knees.
While the village spires, na prophets Blood
To bleaa me with everything sweet and
good.
And the cities and towns as they came and
went
Seemed to smile at mc in a calm content.
Oh, the world looked fair, so wond'rom
fair! ,
And my heart was one throbbing, gratcfu'
prayer
As I counted my blessings, ao many then,
I could tind no place for u glad iimen.
Health, love and courage were my estate
And 1 laughed at fortune and scoffed at
fate.
The world would see that a manly man
Should lead in the hurrying caravan.
1 would live to be locd, anil die to b
mij-sed,
Keep my life as the cup of eucharist.
Oh, that dear day's journey with no sor
row to leaven,
Tlemaina in my life as a dream of heaven.
You know the rest, and 1 need not tell
How the tempter came and the tcmplcJ
fell;
Xot with a sudden and crushing fall,
Not with the rendering up of all
I held most sacred in one quick act.
But slowly and surely with fateful tact.
An unwilling drink with a friend wliq
laughed,
To be followed by one !es unwillingly
quaffed.
Another as pledge for old times' n.ike.
And yet one more tor a thir-t to slake.
Another to drown a homesick thought
I lr the discontent of a lonely lot ;
Prayers and pleadings carcsa and kisi,
Lost from sight in this deep ab;.-.
A drunkard at laat by slow degree
Bound and (.hackled beyond releae!
A criminal next but one step more
The felon'a trial the prisou door.
Put on my shackles aud bind me last.
For this hour I stand appalled, aghast.
And my torture is something 1 cannot tell,
It is all that the darkest, deepest hell
( an render of pain. () Christ above
Have mercy on 111c in Thy pitving love!
liuiu'o Horn.
I'oasihte r.eanltaor Urlnk.
As the drinking season is now on. it
Well to reflect that the following diseases
may be directly or indirectly c.iu-eil by
Home form of alcoholism : .V-nte gastric ca
tarrh. chronic gastric catarrh, gastric dila
tation, intestinal indigestion, constipation,
gout, cholera morbus, chronic peritonitis,
dropsy of the abdomen, catarrhal jaundice,
congestion of the liver, cirrhosis thob-nail
liver), chronic tubal nephritis tchronic
Bright' disease), chronic interstitial neph
ritis (chronic Bright' disease), diabetes
mellitiis. chronic bronchitis, congestion of
the lungs, oedema of the lungs, lobur pneu
monia, libroid phthisis (interstitial pneu-rnoir-O,
t!iroiic Vitlvu'uf disease g the
heart, dilatation of the heart, chronic
fibroid heart, fatty degeneration of the
heart, palpitation of the heart, arterio ae
broais, aneurism of the aorta, meningitis,
brain fever, apoplexy, congestion of the
brain, brain thrombosis and embolism (in
youth), nervous vertigo, temiilcntia (a
plain drunkard), mania a potu, delirium
tremens, disomaiiia (alcoholic insanity,
imbecility and dementia often result from
dipsomania).
Alcoholism predisposes to sunstroke,
chronic pleurisy, inflammation of the nerve
trunks, spinal congestion, ajiinal meningi
tis, spinal sclerosis (four forms, one of
which is locomotor ataxia), disseminated
neuritis, melancholia, mania (insanity),
delusional insanity, phagedenic ulcer, va
rious inflammations, 11 delirium that 4nmc
tinies occurs alter injuries anil surgical op
erations (if an old drunkard sustains a
fracture of a bone he is liable to go into
delirium tremens; he mar in tins state at
tempt to destroy hiiin-eli or lhoe uroiind
him), erysipelas, blood tumor, fatty tu
mor, urinary calculus (from cxces-ne use
of malt liquors), monomania, general par
alysis Iparetir dementia), acipure.l feeble
mindedness, acne rosacea lli;-kv ine
and cheek), trifacial neuralgia M.'dital
Student, 111 Washington Mar.
Freillapoaea to Pneumonia.
Dr. Uensel, of the New York Health
Board, says: "The greatest predisposing
factor to pneumonia is alcohol. It lowers
the vitality and makes resistance to the
disease weaker. The patient becamea more
susceptible to the germ or bug, whichever
you prefer to call it. The more whisky
that goes into the body the more heat is
eliminated from the body. When taken it
produces au artificial heat, which in turn
produces an increase of elimination, and
it ia thia elimination which is the cause
i physical debility."
Cruaatla In llrlef.
The Oakland find.) tempeirncc people
are gaining in their light against tue sa
loon. If you believe that the liquor traffic is a
curse, you must, as an honest man, light
against it.
The clergy of the State Church of Swe
den, assembled in national convention,
unanimously petitioned the Government
to stop the sale of beer at all military es
tablishment and camps.
' The Northern Pacific liailroa j haa Is
sued an order requiring absolute prohibi
tion of the use of liquor on the part of all
employe at all times, (such an order 1
ia the interest of husiucte.
In Russia the Minister of Finance has
Uaued an order that bats muat be doffed
to bartenders in w hisky shops, as they are
Government oniciale., Thia is so honor
that the American barkeeper doea not re
ceive. The following queation waa asked of for-ly-two
insurance societies iu America: "As
s rule, other things being equal, do you
ronaider the habitual uaer of intoxicating
beverages aa good an insurance 'risk' aa
the total abstainer? If not, why not?"
Forty of the societies pronounced emphat
ically in favor of total abitiueuce. On
declared that drink reduced expectation
of life nearly Iwo-tbirds, and another that,
according to its books, the ratio of the
death-rate was about twenty-six per cent
ia Uor of the total abstainer, -
COflfltKUAL KtVlEW.
R, G. Dun & Company's weekly r .
view of trade says:
Improvement in trade and industry r
continues, favorable reports largely
outnumbering; adverse influences. ThaJ
most important event of the wcekf
was the two-thirds vote by the bitumi
nous coal miners to accept the pro
posed reduction in wages. This will
probably prevent a serious struggle
that would paralyze manufacturing
just when it is beginning to revive.
Complications have arisen in the)
local building trades that retard
structural work, but a settlement if
anticipated and the open weather it
stimulating outdoor work at othec
points.
Retail distribution of Easter goodJ
steadily expands . and the dealers'
stocks arc bcin dcplclcd because of
conservatism in initial purchases. This
promise lars? supplementary job
liinrf and wholesale orders ai the
season advances. Traffic delays nra
still causing complaint, and the move
mciit of exhibits to the St. Louis
I-'xposition provides .1 temporary fea
ture of importance. Railway earning!
thus far available for March showl
a decrease of only 8 per cent., a3 com
pared with last year's figures.
llradstrcct's says: Wheat, include
iiiK flour, exports for the week agKrca
Kate 2,(x)6.l24 bushels, against I,8.)4
0,2 bushels last week, 2, 395, 598 thi
week last year, 4,326,304 in 1902, and
3.25(1,644 in icjoi. Corn exports forihe
week anKrcK.ite I,537,28J bushels,
against 2.026,810 last week, 3,072,069
a year ago, 339,891 in 1902, and 2,6os,
084 in 1901.
WHOLtSALE MARKETS.
Baltimore. Flour Strong; winter vx
trn, 4.00(44.27; winter clear, 4.504.,j(
winter Htrnlpht, 5.00ft5.13: winter patent,
5.30(45.50; spring clear, 4.404.65;sprinif,
striiiiiht, S.OOtgiS'.lS; spring patent, 5.25
5.1)0; receipts, 11,475 barrels, exports,
S,114 barrels.
Wheat Kirm; spot contract, 1.05J
spot .. 2 red Western, 1,0'i; .March,
1.05; May, 1.00J; steamer o.
2 red,
1UI I
Corn Active; Rpot, 521;
March,
mixed,
53; April, 52J(.52i: steamer
(in; receipts, 0,4," bushels;
exports.
77.142 bushels.
Outs Firmer; 'o. 2 white, 4; No. 3
mixed, 4"iU44tl: receipts, 17,418 bushels.
Kye Firm; No. 2, 71: No. 2 Western,
.72; "receipts, 1,5:10 bushels.
Hay Firm; No. 1 timothy, unchanged;
No. 1 clover mixed, unchanged.
Grain Freights Dull and unchanged.
New York lluttcr Firm; extra fresh
creamery, 25; creamery, common to
choice, 15(25J; imitation creamery, 14ci
18; istuto duiry, 14icj21; renovated, 12(J
18; held creamery, 1422; factory, 12J
15.
Cheese Steady; State, full cream,
small colored, September, 12; do. late
made, 10$; do. small, white, do., 12; do.
late mude, 10$; do. large, colored, do.,
12; do. late made, 10$; do. large, white,
do., 12; do. Into made, 10$.
Eggs Firm; State and Pennsylvania
near by average, finest, 22; do. second
to firsts, 21, Western, firsts, 21. t
Flour Hcccipts, 11,815 barrels ex
ports, u,55l baircls; firm in Sympathy
with wheat; Minnesota patent, 6.2544
5.05; Minnesota bakers, 4v204-70, wio
tcr patents, 5.00(ci5.25; winter straights, '
4.75(45.00; winter extras, 3.50(ai.75;
winter low grades, 3.15(&;i.80.
Kye Flour Firm; fair to good, 3.03
4.10; choice to fancy, 4.2004.50.
Ktickwheat Flour Dull; 2.00(i?;2.10.
Cornmenl Firm; vi-ilow Western, 1.10t
citv, 1.08; kiln-dried", 2.90(j7;3.00.
flay Steady; shipping, 05ty73; good
to choice, 95(41.05.
Hops Finn; State, common to choice,
10u:t, y0(4fS; 11I02, 242; olds, lOitf 15;
Pacific coast, l'JWJ, 27(435; 11)02, 24(4,27;
olds, 10(415.
Hides Firm; Galveston, 20 to 21
pounds, 18; California, 21 to 25 pounds,
10; Texas dry, 24 to 80 pounds, 14.
Potatoes Steady; Long Island, 3.00(5
3.50; Jerseys, 2.75(!.3.25; Jersey, sweeu,
1.50g4.00; State und Western, sacks,
2.50(4,2.70.
Peanuts Firm; fancy hand-picked, 5$
other domestic, 3(rrU.
Cabbages Steady; domestic, per ton,
25.0Chiio5.00; per 100, 5.OU14IO.OO.
Live Stock.
, Chicago. Cattle Market nominali
good to prime steers, 4.90(45.75; poor to
medium, 8.50(i4.80; stockers and feeders,
a.60(44.15; cows, l.BOt? 4.00; heifers. 2.01
H75; canncrs, 1.60(42.00; bulls, S.OOtfi
4.00, calves, 3.000.50.
Hogs Market 5 to 10c higher; mixed
and butchers, 5.15(5.50; good to choice
heavy, 5.45(45.57$; rough, heavy, 5.10."
5.40; light, 4.65(45.20; bulk of sales, 5.1 J
QtHAO.
Sheep Market steady; lambs steady)
good to choice wethers, 4.00(J4.50; fair
to choice mixed, 3.50(34.25; Western
sheep. 4.20(145.10; native lambs, 2.75Q
5.23; Western lambs, 4.00(2)0.00.
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
Japan has fifteen docks capable ol
accommodating war ships.
More than 10 per cent, of all Jewish
immigrants arc tailors.
The average price of agricultural
land in Russia is $15 an acre.
One-fifth of all deaths during this
winter have been from pneumonia.
The fire losses in the United States
last year aggregated $165,000,000.
Sixty-five per cent, of the pig iron)
furnaces north of Kentucky are id '.a
The average annual contribution in
American Protestant churches is $13
per capita.
Our export trade In South Amcirs
is but a dollar annually for each of in
inhabitants.
The aggregate cost of the eleven
Russian vessels put out of action wai
about $35,000,000.
The Yukon Valley is as rich as that
of the Missouri and longer than thst
of the Mississippi. -
The latest type of compound
freight engine weighs 181 tons, and
can haul 4,000 tons of freight.
The average cost of carrying a pas
senger on the street railways of the
United States is 2.9 cents.
Manchuria's climate corresponds to
that of Canada; its size is six timer
that of England and Wales; its popu
lation 30,000,000.
The expenditure of Russia in ths
:ity of Harbin, Manchuria, for public
improvements was $15,450,000.
Patshouli, the perfume, is made
from the leaves of the Pogasteinoo
pachouli grown for the purpose io
AM the kerosene, the leaf tobacco,
and the pine lumber used in Liberia
u shipped flora America via Enln,l
Colorado produced four and a ha.
times as much gold as Alaska last
year and California three times as
"'The capital for most of the privitr
enterprises iu the Manchurtan citj ol
lUrbrn is furnithed by Siberian Jews.