ft
"TRIBULATION"
i Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. L.
H. Caswell.
A Pitbetlc Flfurt la ths Shllly-SbtUy Youth
Cuddled la Luxury and Shrinking From
Lite's Comfort.
rlnooKl.v, X. V. for his Ninnnv ser
mon, in the Tabernacle M. H. Church,
eireenpoint, the pastor, the Hcv. Lincoln
llolliater Caswell, took as ti in subject "A
Little Inquiry Into Tribulation. The
text wan from Konians v: 3: "Hut we
glory in tribiilntionn." Air. Caswell said:
I'nto ench the ever recurring question
mme. Whence the mission nf adversity?
Why the existence of trouble? Do pain
nn J pleasure proceed from kindred laws?
How is it that while our earth in its orbit
keeps symphony with the host of heaven,
it yet bears the undertone of anguish in
its bosom?
("noil we answer by impeaching Infinite
justice, by declaring the tryrnnnv of pain,
by asserting the bondage of suffering?
iot so. But rather i- ....ie for the mission
of trouble nnd learn the utility of adversi
ty. It is clear to (he student of ethics
that there is an tinkumrn quantity in the
fin inula of suffering. In this question X
equals life life of sprvice or of idleness:
of tnrce or of weakness; or grand or of
mean proportions. Adversity either makes
or ruins a man. his individual character
alone determining whether he shall be
crushed or exalted. Opposing forces stim
ulate to heroic action. A man may choose
, to dwell in luxury, but he must do so at
the expense of the stronger forces of char
acter. It is hard to endure pain,' it is
far harder to resist ease, but by resisting
and by enduring are wrought out those
prinrely qualities which are attributes of
the ideal man. And so we are placed amid
forces, rude and contrary, that we may
gain the glory of breaking and bridling
thrtii. If nature and environment should
befriend and never oppose, gratify and
never grieve, satisfy anil never smite, life
would become immeasurably less noble.
It is not uncommon to think that suf
fering, as well as sin, comes fleet footed
from Tartarus, whereas, suffering is not
dependent upon sin. There is a ministry
of suffering, but there can never be a min
isliv of evil. Is hatred the cause of love;
revenge of forgiveness; selfishness of gen
erosity; vice of virtue? Humility is not
the, daughter of pride, nor is error the
propagator of truth. It Is not true for n
man to hold that because he has sinned
be is capable of reaching a higher holiness.
fJivr not evil the credit of befriending hu
manity. Sin alienates, debases, ruins. Ke
loid how suffering rise, above evil! Evil
is infamous; suffering may be glorious.
Kvil merits antipathy; suffering often de-t-ei-ves
praise. Kvil swears fealty to the
infernal; suffering never, but repeatedly
vows allegiance to the Infinite. To punisli
ml is suffering's smallest province. It
exihls for a higher purpose than retribu
tion for a stimulating, educating, atoning
purpose so that "afflictions are but the
fchadowa of God's wings."
t'pon material things a literature is
written. Head it! It tells of strife, strug
gle, contention. The law of dissolution co
operates with the law of growth. The
iwk dies that the vegetable may live; the
plant withers that the animal may grow;
the body decays that the spirit may ex
pand eternally. Counter forces make the
life of the universe. The meteor gleams
because of resistance; the shimmering con
- rtcllationa that glow upon the brow of
night are but fire balls from the furnace of
the sun; light itself, resplendent and vi
talizing, conies from combustion, antag
onism and chemical conflict. Adversity
enters into the very nature of things.
Karth'i living forms once slumbered in the
granite rock, and would still have slum
bered but for adverse forces active with
in. Chemicals were there to disintegrate,
earthquakes to shatter, tires to fuse, gin
cirri) to grind. There were corroding,
consumings, erosions, decayings. wither
ing and washing until the solid granite
unfolded its treasures to make possible
organic life.
What mean the expressions, "natural
fielertion," "struggle for existence," "sur
vival of the fittest?" They indicate that
nil life is an extended conflict, where each
order preys upon the next below and grap
ples with the next above for mastery.
The life of nations is no exception to
i his law. Civilization mur boast of her
at tainments, but revolt and revolution are
t he arbiters for her progress. She may ex
ult in the "evolution of government, but
turmoil, violence, bloodshed cry out, "We
are factors in thy prosperity."
What people were more oppressed than
the ancient Hebrews? itamescs enslaved
them in Egypt, hariLhio harassed them
in the wilderness; the Land of Promise
pledged but little more than shock on
nhock of battle. That was the nation
buffeted, defeated, tried that became the
sale depository of truth, and gave to the
world as its consummate flower Diety In
carnate. What lias been the discipline by which
nur own nation has attained its present
strength? It had indeed a wonderful pa
rentage. The brave little Netherlander
whom the Council of Blood, the Inquisi
tion and the Holy See could not down;
the glorious Huguenot fresh from hearing
the blood cries of St. Bartholomew; the
t.urdy, psalm-singing Puritan who wrung
Magna Charta from John, who served
Hampden to resist the king, who animated
Cromwell and his Ironsides at Marston
Mour and Xaseby, who taught Vane how
to die, who struggled amid overwhelming
forces for religious liberty; these, whom
the American is proud to own as worthy
ancestors, are all sons of hardship and en
durance, conquerors in the nobler fields of
Iiattle. Thus out of milleniums of struggle
with the myriad-headed hydra of persecu
tion arises the America of to-day. The na
tion's birth was marked by pain. Speak,
ye noble slain of, Hunker Hill! Ye patriots
flashing arms with an alien foe! Shout,
ye pallid lips of the blood stained snow of
Valley Forge! And tell us that freedom is
gained toy devotion to death; that liberty
t ides triumphant over a road macadamized
by the bones of its devotees; tell im that
the advancing stages of national life are
heralded by conflict and hastened by the
presence of a martyr host!
Passing into the realm of the intellec
tual it is found that the power of incisive
intellect is purchased with the hard coin
of struggle. The product ot genius is
ilrarly bought. No pioneer of philosophy,
ir science, or religion ever blazed his way
through untrod forests who was not con
fronted by poverty, prejudice or J irdshipi
innumerable. Not in courts of ease; not
in lich classic halls; not in the midst ol
fame and loud huzzas are deepest emotion
engendered, rarest truths found nor sub
Jimest conceptions begotten. From a cup
of hemlock in Athens; from the cross in
Jerusalem; from an apostle's dungeon at
Home; from the chamber of a blind bard
in London have come the thoughts that
liave swayed the world.
Why is the sacred page so filled with
tenderness, pathos and comfort? It was
not written with a golden pen in an easv
hair, in a scholastic library. For ink,
there were tears of a multitude of weepers,
ror pens, there were fishermen, shep
herds, bedouins of the desert, slaves, con
victs and martyrs. For libraries, there
were desolate rocks, caverns, mountain
sides, sea shores and prison walls. Out of
such, harsh and unfavorable conditions
esme the volumn which through all the
years has been coveted by the bereaved,
sought by the lonely, loved by the trou
bled. Excellence of thought comes by way
of toil, endurance, denial.
Hind, capable of Infinite thoughts, has
u Guldens of Uethsemane. Mind wears
the crown 01 thorns in the very Lour of
lofty achievement.
It Is said that Ole Bull ascended the
rough mountains of Norway, tlie.e he saw
the majestic storm, heard the weird vail
of the pines, listened to the roar of the
cascades, and from these he caught those
rapturous tones with which he charmed
the heart nf tho world.' Thus it i be-i-uuse
men have climlied some craggy Mat
ter horn of chilling adversity, descended in
to sonio vale of shaduwa, in tered by some
wave battered cliff; because thev have
braved opuositiuu and hardship; because
Ihey have had passages in thuir lives where
thry have experienced the extremities of
anguish and (isolation that they have be
conn heralds of truth, bve marked the
Jii'.ejiLviivi!tfiiUon.- Lave Jutd. hiih
priests of'scWnce, Tenners' ot society, re
formers of faith.
What is it that places this premium on
grief? Why are the great doers also the
great suffers? What is it that vit.-.iizes
pain, glorifies sorrow, and makes dead
men's bones' wall; the earth rlothed with
tremendous influence? Let Aloses answer
from the mount nf immeasurable glory:
"I rejected a regal palace and the treas
ures of Kgmt, choosing rather to suffer
afflictioi with the people of Cod that I
might be a statesman for the oppressed,
liberate a nation of slaves, endure to he
vexed, tried a-id discouraged through forty
weary years that at list I might stand il
lumined in the transfiguration of the Son
of Cod." Let Pivid answer with his wail
of anguish: "O. my son Ab-lnm! mv
son. n-y son Ah'a'om! would Cod I had
died for thee, O Absalom, mv son, my
son!" It was in the depth of his mourn
ing that he sung those poems which have
comforted the aching heart for ages. Let
Joseph and Daniel answer as from a oris
on nnd a d"n tnc ascend the steps to
royalty and fame. Let Savonarolo anwci
loving the red hot iron of rnartvrdom
more than the rd hat of a cardinal. Let
Itruno enswer, let Galb'eo. let Newton.
Let Luther nnswer. and W'ckliff nnd .fohn
Huss. and Wesley, nnd Francis Asbury.
It is n noble company. But there are some
whom reverses have ruined, whom af
flictions have spoi'ed. who refuse to be
sublimated by suffering or ennobled by
calamitv. I sec yonder a Napoleon, nf
surpassing genius, the world's autocrat
He builds a throne of steel only to see it
rust and crumble e'er he dies. From his
pinnacle of power he falls and lies pros
trate in defeat. His failure is ignominious
because his spirit is ignoble. L'pnn the
barren rock of St. Helena he wanders, a
lion at bay. a soul cowed, a tihocnix life
in hopeless despair. Ky his side and tow
ering above him rises Washington. He
comes to the government when there is
nothing to govern. He berimes command'
er of the American Armv when it is small
and defeated. Without navv. without
monev. without munitions, with traitors
and Tories abundant, with generals con
nivinir fo'- position and grossly slander
ing his character, he meets and defeats
the most thoroughly equipped and ap
pointed government of he world; and
then, notwithstanding the importunities
of a people he has freed, he refuse a
royal orown and pisses into history an
embodiment of unselfish service.
Far in the past 1 see corrupt Nero loll
ing in his chariot of regal magnificence;
dving by inches a loathsome death, a vic
tim of the verv luxurv and extravagance
in which he delights. Rolling over the An
nian way on toward the city, he passes the
Roman guard leading a prisoner to exe
cution. Unto the prisoner the Emnerof
gives but a contemptuous glance. That
is all and yet not all. Th.'.t captive com
mands the gaze of mankind. The name of
Nero is a synonym for vice nnd shameless
ness. while the name of Paul wields a
mightier influenc" with each succeeding
century. Paul still lives! Die he cannot!
Tt is true that for this purpose Nero led
him forth from prison. But s.e! Ooes he
tremble? Does be t-hrink from his last
enemy? Does this spiritual hero who
fought with beasts, struggled with waves,
was scarred by the lash, incarcerated,
smitten, stoned and left for dead, does he
who, when each stroke of the "tribulum"
fell upon him, shouted, "None nf these
things move," does he now flinch?
The block is there. The blade is ready.
The headsman speaks, "Prepare!" Where
is the tremor in the aged form? With ra
diant brow and stately mien rmmortal he
stands. With eve flashing in hope, with
voice strong and confident, hear him de
clare, "I am now ready to be offered: the
time of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight. I have finished mv
course. I have kent the faith." Nero's
axe cleaves his heed and Paul, the hero, if
crowned with the abundant life.
How has the ministry of the Christ been
wrought out? In all the centuries of sor
row whose grief compares with that of
Him who is at once the Author and Sa
viour of mortal man? With uncovered
bead bow we before the sublime sufferer
Behold! Out of the anguish of the garden,
out of the eloom of the tomb He of ths
riven side, He of the thorn crowned head,
He of the broken heart walks down the
ages elevating sorrow until it grows with
a heavenly hallow, lifting the burden ot
woe from" bruised and staggering human
itv. This is He who exalts the lowly and
raises toil to nobility, declaring that pain
shall no longer be accursed, but that life
shall be triumphant in adversity. Is this
our life? Not vacilloting. meagre, indo
lent, but sturdv, unflinching, enduring,
overcoming, decisive a triumphant lite?
This only is life with deathless possibili
ties, and he only who lives for the future
catches the secret of the present, and its
trials. Look we beyond diurnal revolu
tion gauging the sweep of the planet in
its oourae around the sun. Trials and
teats, slanders and betrayals, desertion
and opposition are for to-day; character
for eternity. If man in the future ex
pects to rest upon his knowledge of truth,
he must find some trial to. test it now. If
character is to count forever, some sharp
and merciless criticism must prove its
integrity now.
There is no more pathetic figure in tin
world of to-day than the shilly-shally
youth cuddling in the lap of wealth and
shrinking from life's combat. We arc not
wooden dummies, but must be men ol
granite, against whom the leaping waves
and mountainous surges shall beat only to
recoil in impotent fury. The need of this
hour is strong manhood. Perseverance is
the characteristic that wins. Exnect not
to glide through easy seas, with silken
sails tense in the breeze of favor. You
must steer through narrow straits; here
a whirlpool of doubt, there a hidden rock
of skepticism, where adverse currents
would strand the bark high on the barren
beach of despair. You must sail by ths
Siren Isle of insinuating desire; must re
sist enchantments which lull to the sleep
of voluptuous death; must feel the grip ol
eternal realities; must move on and out to
the unfoldment of the soul with an iron
determination to wrest victory out of de
feat, and weave a garland of praise out of
the failure of friends, the malice of ene
mies, the contempt of rivals and the hard
ship of life.
The Treasure of Kindness.
Guard within yourself that treasure,
kindness. Know how to give without hesi
tation, how to lose without regret, how to
acquire without meanness. Know how to
replace in your heart by the happiness of
those you love, the happiness that may be
wanting in yourself. F. W. Faber.
The Only Safe Road.
i Accident does very little toward the pro.
duction of any great result in life. Though
sometimes what is called "a happy hit"
may be made by a bold venture, the com
mon highway of steady industry and ap
plication is the ouly safe road to travel.-
Samuel Smiles.
A Land of Little Soap.
It la gratifying to learn that tae
consumption of soap In China, accord
ing to official statistics, has Increased
over 100 per cent of recent years
In this connection It is rather a
curious fact that If a Japanese eml
grates It Is specified in bis contract
that be Is to be furnished dally wltb
so many gallons of bot water, in which
be may, according to custom, parboil
himself, The Chinese as a rule
never bother tbelr beads about sucfc
a detail, nnd though at home they
have tbelr bathing bouses, the greatei
part of the people never go near thorn,
nor Indeed ever see the Inside of one.
"Do you wash your child every day?'
asked a foreigner of a Chinese woman
who was seen throwing shovels full
of dust over her progeny, and then
wiping it off with an old broom. "Wash
blm every day," was the Indignant
response; 'bo has never been washed
since ho -was born!'' To the Chinese
generally tbe motto could never be
made Intelligible which was put lu his
window by a dealer In soap, "Cheaper
Chan dirt."
THE SUNDAY SCII00I
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 24. "
Subject! The Mission of the Seventy, T.nke
l-IO ftnlilen Text, l.uke x.. !
Memnry Verses, 1, :l Commentary ot
the Hay's Lesson.
I. The seventy sent forth (vs. 1-3). 1.
"After these things." Alter Christ and
His disciples made their final ileparlure
from Galilee. According to Andrews this
took place early in November. Thev are
then supposed to have journcved along the
borders between Nnniaiia ami Galilee east
ward to the River Jordan. They crossed
over into I'erea anil then turned south
toward Jerusalem.- "The Lord appointed.''
This appointment was temporary and not
permanent like the appointment of the
twelve apostles. ".Seventy ethers" (It. V.)
The twelve apostles hail been commissioned
end sent out about a year before this. A"
the number of apostles had reference to
tho number of the tribes of Israel, so the
seventy disciples sent out call to mind the
number of elders who were chosen to as
list Moses in governing the people. The
number also corresponds to the number
.if members of the Sanbeilrin. "And sent
them." The chief purpi.se of this sending
was not to train these messenger for a
later independent mission, but it was a
new attempt to influence to decision at
least a part of the people, and by word
jnd deed to prepare the coming of the
kingdom of God in the midst of them.
'Two and two." The same maimer in
which He sent out the apostles. This was
ione: 1. To teach them the necessity of
,'oncord among the ministers of righteous
ness. 2. That in the moutli of two wit
nesses everything might bo established. 3.
That they might comfort and support each
Jther in their difficult labor. "Hefore His
face." They were to visit tho.'O cities nnd
places that He intended soon to visit.
1. "Harvest truly is great." The har
dest is plenteous, the grain is ripe and
ipoiling and must be garnered immediate
y or it will be lost. I'here was need for
i'ucIi a mission as the district in I'erea
iad been little visited by. Jean. There
sere multitudes who had not yet heard
)f the coming of "the kingdom of God."
'Laborers are lew." True workers have
ilways been hard to find. This is the
jreatcsl calling in the world, and yer there
ire so few who are ready to make the
imall. temporary self-denial that is neccs
lary in order to see success in Christian
oi'k. "Pray ye therefore." They must
let out with prayer, and have a deep con
:cm for precious souls.
II. Various instructions given fvs. 4111.
The instructions given them were distinct
!rom and yet similar to the instructions
jiven the twelve apostles. The twelve had
jreater authority to work miracles, and
they were to receive persecutions which
ire not mentioned with reference to the
leventy. 4. "Carry neither purse, etc."
Trust 'God for your support. The purse
.vas a small leather bag for carrying money,
l'ho scrip was a traveling bag used for
jarrying provisions when traveling. "Nor
ihoes." The shoes were made tor use in
the house. They did not need these; the
landals they were wearing would be stif
Scient. In 'fact, they were to take noth
ing not absolutely necessary for their jour
ley. 8. "Son of peace. Any truly pious
nan who is worthy of such a blessing.
7. "In the same house remain." Their
itay was to be short. They were not to
:hoose the best places and neglect the
poor, and were not to spend time gnuitf
from house to house in search of better
sceominodations. "Is worthy." The one
who really labors is worthy of being sup
ported, but drones need not expect the
workers to feed them very long.
8. "As are set before you." Piobab.y
Christ here refers to the traditions of the
Idem about their meat. They were ex
tremely critical, and a dish of meat could
hardly be set before them but thei-J was
iome scruple concerning it. Christ wou.d
not have them regard those things but
at what was set before them. !. "Ileal:
and saw" Their mission was twofold: 1.
Thev were to gain the attention of the
people bv healing their bodies. 2. '1 he im
portant part ot their work wis to pieai u
the gospel of the kingdom.
10. "Receive you not." Do not receive
you kindly und accent your message. "Gn
your wavs." You have no time to con
tend with them. Do not cast your "pear.a
before swine." "Into the streets. J In
most public place. Let every one see the
reult of rejecting the truths concerning
the kingdom of God. II. "Wipe off
against voti." The Jews considered tneni
selves defiled with the dust of heathen
countries, and the action here enjoined did
not express anger, but a warning. It s.g
nified that these Jews were ho.y no longer,
and was, in reality, plaeing them o;i a
level with the heathen. "He ye sttrc-. llio
message was ngain to be repeated, it. per
chance, sonic might hear at the last mo
ment.
III. Impenitent cities upbraided I vs. 12
i. 12. "In that clay." In the judgment
iv. "Sodom." See Gen. ltl. This was
one ol tne cmcs oi wiu imui mi ""
destroyed by God with fire because of its
great wickedness, tt was situated in tne
fertile plain of Jordan, but its exact loci;
tion is not known. "Than for that city.
Our Lord is here threatening the guilty in
habitants of the cities who reject His gos
pel, and from His words we learn: 1.
That there is a future day in which tne
inhabitants of the earth are to stand be
fore the judgment seat of God and receive
their sentence. 2. The degree of punish
ment will be measured according to the
privileges enjoyed and the guilt inclined.
3. Acceptance of tho message of God is
the only method of escape and the omy
means of salvation.
13. "Woe unto thee." "Alas for thee!
This is an exclamation of pity, nnd it is
evident that our Lord used the words in
this sense. "Chorazin." A town on tha
northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, its
location is not definitely known, but it
was near Capernaum. "Ilethsaida. On
the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee,
north of Capernaum, tt was the birtu
place of Philip. Andrew and Peter.
"Miglitv works." The great miracles. A
miracle is a sign, a wonder, and a mighty
deed (Acts 2: 22: 2 Cor. 12: 12; Heb. 2: 4.)
14. "More tolerable." The degree of
your misery will be greater than even that
nf Tyre and Sidon. "At the judgment."
The final judgment. IS. "Kxaltcd to
heaven." A Hebrew metaphor, expressive
if the utmost prosperity, and the enjoy
ment of the greatest privileges. "Down to
hell." Capernaum was to be brought down
to a state nf utter ruin and desolation.
This prediction was literally fulfilled suon
after this in the wars lietween the Jews
and the Romans, ltl. "Heareth; despis
eth." He that welcomes the apostles and
listens to them is listening to the voice ot
Jesus Christ and of God Himself, while
the one who despiseth the apostles and
will not listen to the message they bring
Is really despising and rejecting Jesus
('hrist and God the Father who sent Him.
t was not long before the seventy rr
turned with joy because of teeir succe.
A Record Moose.
Probably the Urgent moose ever
killed was shot In Alaska last sum
mer by I-ord Alpblnntone and party
In the Kenal peninsula. This moose
weighed 1,576 pounds and measured
seven and one-half feet to the top of
his shoulders. Tbe skull and horns
weighed seventy-five pounds, but the
spread of the antlers Is not known
definitely. The noxt largest moose on
the coast is one In the Parliament
Building at Victoria. B. C, which
measures seven feet three inches to
height. The party are very well sat
Istled with tbelr bunt, and brought out
quite a number of trophies, whlcr
they prize very highly. The Engllsb
party was beaten to Boldovla bj
Baron Paul Naldlck, who paid th
agent of the steamer Nome City $1.60(
to be landed at Seldovla, where hi
could secure the services of John Gil
patrlck ahead ot tbe English party. Ht
won the race -to tbe north, but tb
Alphlnstone party got the game.
field and Stream.
APRIL TWENTY-FOURTH.
What Christ Can De for 'Darkest Af
rica.' " Isa. 45:11-19.
Scirpture Versos Rom. 1 n : l - ; John
17:3: Mark 10:15; John 8:12; 12:4ti;
Matt. IS: 12,20.
Lesson Thoughts.
"God did not tipcak originally 'In a
dark place of the earth' (v. 1); but
now that he has spoken, all dark
places shall hear it.
"God did not make the parth In vain
'v. 19). In the knowledge that God
will care for his own honor, is com
fort for nil that, work to uplift man-klnd."--Endeavorer's
Dnily Com p.
Selections.
David Livingstone's last words are
engraved on his tomb In Westminster
Abbex: "May God's rich blessing
come down on every one, American,
Engllsb. or Turk, who will lap to heal
this open sore of the world!"
There are now In Uganda more than
thirty-five thousand native Christians,
an.l there are eeven hundred native
churches and schools, all carried on
by native money.
I know that treasure must bo ex
panded and lives sacrificed If this re
gion Is to be evangelized. But with
the difficulties and perplexities In full
view, I urge that we take up the work.
Good, a missionary to Africa.
It is said that only two million out
of Africa's nearly 200,000,000 people
have ever heard the gospel. "Think,"
says Dr. Plerson, "of the ninety mil
lion In the Soudan region without a
olngle evagellcal witness, and the forty
million in the Central African lake dis
tricts sitting in heathen darkness!"
Stanley's Journey across Africa occu
pied a thousand days, and had a length
ot seven thousand miles. In all he
saw not a single Christian.
We have the assurance that the
Ird's people will be brought "out
of great tribulation." We therefore
cannot take it to be his will that they
will be forever left In trouble. Mac
kay. a missionary to Afrira.
Prayer The commission to go Into
all the world and preach thy blessed
goppel to every creature thou hast
entrusted to us. O our Father; may
we accept the commission as a glor
ious privilege a3 well as a responsi
bility. Thou hast blessed us with the
light of thy saving truth; filled with
thy love may we be actively and pray
erfully Interested In tending it to
those that sit in darkness. Especially
we pray that success may attend the
missionary efforts in the .lark conti
nent or Africa. Scatter their heathen
darkness with thy gospel light, for
Jesus' sake. Amen.
EPWORTH LEAGUE LESSONS
APRIL TWENTY-FOURTH.
Christian Education in Missionary
Lands Classes, Teachers, Pupils,
Etc. Matt. 4. 13-17.
The prophecy of which the lesson Is
an extract extends through the eighth
chapter of Isaiah, and Into the ninth
chapter to verse 7. The prophet pre
diets tho overthrow of Syria and tho
northern tribes of Israel by the great
Aisyrian power. On the background
Is the terrible picture of Assyrian con
quest and desolation, but In the foro
ground now is painted the glories of
the kingdom of Christ. The territories
of Zebulun and Naphtali were the first
to feel the edge of the Assyrian sword,
and they shall also be very early. If
not first, to see the sweet light of tho
Messianic conquest. The ancient
"expected that the coming of the Mes
siah would be In theBe regions. One of
would be In these regions. One ot
their books, called tho Sohar, has this
declaration: 'The Messiah shall b6
revealed In the land of Galilee.' Gall
lee U called 'of the Gentiles' because,
from various circumstances, a Gentile
population had largely Intermingled
with the Jewish. This had corrupted
their religion, debased their character,
and produced much of the darkness
which had deepened Into 'the shadow
of death. '
All the heathen missionary lands,
and most of them In a very emphatic
sense, are in a moral darkness which
may well be described as "in the re
glou and shadow of death."
Looking at the bad conditions still
prevailing In Christian countries, in
even our own favored and most Chris
tian land, people sometimes become
discouraged and begin to wonder it,
after all, Jesus Is really to conquer tho
world. But a gllmpso of the contrast
between Christian peoples and those
where Christ is not known, or but lit
tle known, suffices to euro this pessim
ism. The uplift of the former is
seen to be so great that the heart
takes on hope and faith, and demands.
"If this has been done for us, then
why may It not be done for other
peoples as well?"
Take a glance at the situation In
certain of the chief missionary fields
and a glance only Is possible, and at
two or three of the largest fields.
China. We ought to know somewhat
of the vast extent and the population
of China. To themselves the land is
"The Middle Kingdom," "The Flow
cry Kingdom," while In Scripture It Is
"Tho Land if SInim," ?) and p.etry
sings of It as "Far Cathay," perhaps
derived from the Tartar arpeilui'.t.n,
Kh'itol. This nnme, however, was
applied by the Tartars to their own
country, but Europeans first entered
China by way of Tartary. und eo they
came to speak of the whole vast and
vague region as Cathay. The ffand
st.'H chatactcr of the Eastern world
was crystallized by Tennyson when he
vroU, In "Locksley Hull." "Better
fifty years of Europe than a cyrli; cf
Cathay.
Rapid Typewriting.
John Luther Long, when composing,
writes 7,000 an hour on a typewriter
by abbreviating wordB. An official
stenographer, Demlng, at Albany,
years ago reported court proceedings
on a typewriter at the rate of ISO to
170 words a minute. He eliminated
the vowels, using consonants only,
with a dot to separate words. His
typewriter was Incased In glass to
deaden the noise. The paper was run
Into the machine from a roll. Lawyers
could read bia notes.
Had HI Wife's Skirt.
A Putnam, Conn., man went to
church the other evening, carrying on
his arm what he thought was bis
overcoat. When ho started to bang it
over the back of bis seat he was
somewhat disconcerted to discover
that bis wrap was one of hla wife's
black skins.
irGfvKl&LtSl
ItarasYfiSi
At Mailt Time.
t am so tired. Lord.
I want to rest.
Th" swift days weary in
With life's grave quest,
nd I nm weak, dear Lord,
So weak anil small ;
t me hold fast Thy hand .
Or else I fall.
I know so little. Lord,
Teach me Thy will.
My heart of emptied snlf
With wisdom till.
And I am lonesome, Lord.
Dear ones have gone
And through the unknown future, I
Must go alone.
jive me my rest, O Cod
My proniised rest ;
?how me the shining goal
That ends life's quesi.
CJrant me a shining light
To flood my way:
Let me see into heaven
Itight now to-day.
'
Whose ! the voice Ilia! speaks
V'nto my soul
And stills the lonesome waic.s
That fret and roll? ' -""'
'He brave." it savs. "have faith, and keep
Thee to the right.
Then look in thine own heart and find
-t, and the light."
Kam's Horn.
T.eadlng I'rayer Meetings.
It is very much like being. hostcss at tin
head of a table full of guests. There art
the good things to he provided by previotn
thought and work, and the invitations to
be sent out. Hut it is at the table itaell
that the finest qualities need to be dis
played. If anything goes wrong thp hosted
must never show any annoyance, but rath
er turn the mistake to good account. II
any important guest fails to come or it
late, she must blandly smile nnd make
such adjustments as are possible. Evert
one must be made to feel at home. Th
bashful and timid young man, while not
having any important remark aimed
squarely at hiin, will be drawn into con
versation unawares. People will be set tf
conversing in a most interesting way whe
were never suspected of having anything
interesting about lliein. Occasionally 4
learned guest will be kept talking quite bv
himself when he has struck on a line ol
personal information or experience of pe
culiar value, hut most likely the conversa
tion is general, darting back and forth in
delightful play of mind on mind. The gam
between tne courses the wise hostess filli
herself with little observations which seen;
?uite unpremeditated, but in reality com
rom a careful study of her company be
forehand. Every ready, ever good natured
ever feeling that the pleasure of her com
pany is in her hands, she yel succeeds in
making the guests provide most of tho in
tcllectual feast.
When you are called upon to lead I
prayer meeting it will be well to give Hf
the old notion of presiding at a piiblit
function, and adopt the idea of a hostcsi
among her guests. If you do, when thtj
?o home they will be likely to thank you
or the delightful hospitality you havj
shown and secretly desire to come again.
The I.eaners and the Utters.
As there are two sorts of hindrances, so
there are just two sorts of people in thil
world. Kila Wheeler Wilcox lias called
them "the leaners and the lifters." and it
is just the way we meet our hindrances,
our trials, that make us so. Those whe
fail to see the hidden purpose of these
heavy trials --ad mil under the weight ol
shift it to ot i.-r shoulders are the leaners.
And the.-e ar-- they who have not learneu
tiic trui- soin-e fit sirengtli. Depending
on human !ri-ngth, wlin li is soon exhatir-t.
ed, they falter and fall and become tin
world's burden, instead of the world's bur
den bearer. But to those whose far-sceinj
eyes have read God's message to a wear)
world, these same hindrances are but the
source of an iiipouiing of Divine power,
nnd casting their bunion on the Lord,
knowing He cireth for t.iem. they can
bear the burdens of their weaker breth
ren. Which will you be. "a leaner or i
lifter?" It all ilenends uiion your attitude
toward God. "He is willing to aid you.'
Seek Him for strength. "They that wail
upon the Lord shall renew their sirengllil
they shall mount up with win as eagles',
they shall run and not be weary; then
shall walk and not faint."
The Making of a Man.
All life is variegated. If means happl
ness as well as sorrow. Mind as well ai
body needs change. A young man needi
relaxation and recuperation. l!y it life
gains elasticity. Christianity when il
comet into the heart of man does not drive
the su'ishine out. A man is not neces
sarily ft Christian because he looks con.
sumptive. I'iiy with a long face and V
deep cough is not Christ's idea of religion.
There is nothing antagonistic in religion
to the helpful influence of society. Socie
ty being the but of character possessei
molding power. It will minister to the
lower or the higher ideals of life: througb
it he will either eive God or the devil.
If a man has the I'u'jiire instinct which
seeks the carrion he wifi find it. If he de
sires that which is not blist and purest
and best he mav posses it The ihini;
that makes tne life of inodert. society sc
strenuous is the struggle to keep up,
pearanecs at whatever cost, and the idea
that they may have that there can be us
fun without tilth.
v
,c Nharlna Ourselves.
!f .lis was alwava ready to give Hiinsell
r c s.i ifi-.i- ii.. ... ii..
O tuiiciN. it inn lie linen msiui iiii
4" J-it apart with God and had Ilia houre
yJ-.en He hid away from men, yet He. went
among the people freely, and was a won
derful dispenser oi cheer, comfort and
kindness. We should train ourselves to be
in the world is He was. We should not
selllslilv withhold our life from those whe
need it. We should carry out to other!
the blessing and the good we get for our
selves in the quiet of our study or in the
sweetness of our home fellowships. Wt
are to be dispensers of God's good gifts.
What we receive and would keep I'm
ourselves onlv will not avail for good even
to us, for we really have only what we
give. Keeping for ourselves only is los
ing. Hence, no young person should be
recluse, shutting himself away from oth
ers, on the ground that he must devote
all his time to self improvement. Ho owe
a debt to others which he can pay ouly
by going among others.
!o Your llesr.
Do your best loyally and cheerfully and
suffer yourself to feel no anxiety or fear,
Your times are in God's hands. He hsi
assigned you your place. He will direct
your paths. He will accept your efforts ii
they tie faithful. He will bless your aims
if they be for your soul's good. Frederick
W. Farrar.
w.
Flowers of Spiritual Love,
The lilies of jieaco cover the terrible
ields of Waterloo, and out of the graves
of our dear ones there spring up such
Dowers of spiritual loveliness as you aud
I had never known. Theodore Parker.
Qulta Business at 112.
Dolores Bolnasla, the oldest man In
Los Angeles county, and probably tbe
oldest Mexican In California, has de
cided to retire from active life. Re
cently bo refused his annual job ol
chopping and hauling wood for the
people ot Acton.
Ikjlores Is 113 years of age, and has
for E0 years past lived tbe life of a
recluse In a small, rudely constructed
shack near tbe outskirts of that town.
New York Journal.
ME GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLINC FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
Poem t The Potential Dion A f.lne of
Prevention Is Woitli Mors Tlmn
Hawser nt Kesriie llest Hope Factors
Is the llonir.
A lilllp drop of drink
May make bright eyes grow dim;
A little drop of drink
Takes the manhood out of him;
A little drop of drink
ilrings ' the wolf" to many a door'
A little drop of drink
Makes bare the cottage floor;
A little drop of drink
Takes the money from the bank1
A little drop of drink
Ilrings down the highest rank;
A littie drop of drink
tinks the man below the brute;
A little drop of drink
Ilrings forth but sorry fruit;
A little drop of drink
l'onder it. neighbor, well
A little drop of drink
Can bring a soul to hell!
Temperance Advocate.
Lessons Troin a Hope Manufactory.
Some years ago the writer visited a rope
manufactory, and was amazed to discover
the wonderful machinery by which mate
rial could he twisted so solidly and the
finished product wound upon a large reel.
There were different sizes of rones; some
to make ladders, up which on tallest masts
nimble sailors could climb; some for huge
anchors, and others for towing heavily
laden barges.
In that shop I wes confronted with an
eloquent sermon. The task of the opera
tor, while twisting both small and heavy
ropes, seemed to n superficial mind dull
and monotonous, but when the service ren
dered to commerce and humanity was con
sidered his occupation increased in impor
tance. .Supplied with ropes he made was
the vessel tossed up and down upon the
billowy deep, with her captain standing
near upon the storm-swept bridge giving
orders to cast out the anchors. How anx
ious that crew lest the boiling surf and the
tremendous strain should break the cables.
What if the rones should part? What if
a single strain! should yield? What il
there should be some delect in tiie hemp
grown on the farmer's land? What if in
the intricate processes the sharp knives ot
the machinery had cut the raw product?
How glad when the hawser proved its
power to resist the rough elements, and
extolled the virtues of the operator 3001)
miles distant still twisting his ropes.
Here is a rope which is probably des
tined to go to the life-saving station to be
come attached to the bomb, shot from
pneumatic gun and carry its life-line fu
tile hand of some shipwrecked sailor. That
line is fastened to a strong oaken timhet
nnd the mariners eagerly haul through the
yeasty waters a surf boat or breeches buoy,
into which they step and arc drawn ashore
The ropemaker went home from the shop
with aching back and weary frame, but in
the morning, when he read that the
life line he had twisted had rescued 101)
noble souls from a terrible fate, he forgot
his cramped sphere and humble employ
ment and was amply repaid.
The ropes spoke to me not only of the
rescue of imperilled seamen as they coasted
along the 10,000 miles of shores and inden
tations, but they showed that there were
ropes of prevention to keep the vessel in
port safely anchored, while the storm
roared outside the bar. How sad to con
template that the cemeteries have prema
ture burials and chiseled monuments,
which ought never to have been dug by
upade or smoothed by chisel. If a rope of
moral prevention hail been invited. 00,000
inebriates would have been spared from
tumbling with swift and awful descent into
D.uitc's infeino, and instead miht lime
been e-l icatini their -hildicn. providing
for thi'i- families ,iud cheering their wives,
whom thev vowed to protect and inspire.
A line oi prevention worth more than
a hawser of rescue. Transform the cliar
acter of the saloon's expected crop of boys
by helping them acquire an appetite for
such kinds of food and drink as made Dan
iel immortal, and the signs over the
"houses of death" will be supplanted for
signs of grocer, baker, butcher, merchant
aud other honorable callings.
As of the saloon so of other gigantic
iniquities. Prevention will kill them last
and sure. The best rope fiutoty is th
home, where family altars rise aud CI.
tian devotion is sustained. Ham's Horn.
Itecognlzes Their Worst Foe.
An incident recently occurred at a labor
union meeting in Indianapolis that shows
in what light many laboring men view the
saloon, "the poor man's club."
Prior to the recent State election ill In
dianapolis at a meeting of the Central La
bor In ion a committee appeared from the
Knights of Kidelitv, the saloonkeepers' or
ganization, and asked the members of tho
Central Labor L'nion not to sign remon
strances against the wanting of licenses,
and to pass a resolution or motion advis
ing all union men to assume such position.
The committee had respectful hearing.
anil two members spoke favorably to their
i, . ' , ... .i.. ,.
request, men iaviu nn-v-iure. fii wir ui
penters' l'nion, got tho Moor and said
"I think it is a shame that uny one
should get up to attempt to bind the mem
bers of organized labor from siuning these
remonstrances against the hell holes in
this town. Liquor drinking rs a curse to
many laborimi nieu, and you all know it.
It should be left to a man's own conscience
wliethei lu sia'x one of these petitions or
pi
Aitrr ti -n i raiding replv as this it did
not t.ike the iniv.-.'-.s. i In- utii'.n long to
fh i-idi- not to entertain ili. motion and
thus leave each man to decide tor 'i.nself.
In many other unions ot liio -ring non
there are those who realize that in the
liquor traflie they have the worst loe to
their advancement and the welfare of their
-'ilics.
Drinking 1'iiuiitalns.
John Fitzpatriek, organizer of the Fed
eration of Ijibor, calls attention to the
need of drinking fountains for men in Chi
cago in order that it will not m necessary
for them to enter saloons to quench their
thirst. He declares that drink is the curse
of the working man, and that the com
plaints of the wive and the pleading of
children of workingmen have made such
an inqiression upon him that while not
desiring to pose as a temperance reformer
he would like to do something to abate
the drink craze among the laboring popula
tion. "The City Council of Chicago could
not do better,'' says a leading Chicago
paper ill this connection, "than to put a
drinking fountain in front of every saloon."
An Intereatlns War.
The war on alcohol in France is very in
teresting. Increasing use of strong drink
has affected the growth of Frenchmen so
that the army is deteriorating. The men
of Normandy, once the most stalwart, are
now becoming degenerate. The sale of dis
tilled liquors is forbidden to soldiers, and
the men are severely punished fur druukeu
ness. Food For Thought.
It is reported that Andrew Carnegie has
offered to add ten per cent, to the wages
of all the employes on his estates in Kcot
land who will abstain from use of alcoholic
liquors. This he can well sfTord to do.
A Congregation's Pledges
The entire congregation, 1300 iu number,
of the Holy Saviour Kouian Catholic
Church, of Wilkesbarre. Vs., took the total
abstinence pledge for one year after a re
cent Sunday service. Last yeur lots)
pledged themselves, aud it is said all kept
the pledge faithfully.
CniVruieutsd Wine,
The I'reshytery of Kalaeiszoo, Mkh., at
its auuual luetting adopted alruug resolu
tions urging the use of unlet nienied wine
at communions, and asking the Grueml
Assembly of the Fresbyterinn Church to
include a temeranca deparlaisnt in every
riuuday r-hojl ps.per published by ths de
1 f T' . ...
rWt""t. I
CI i
Cuplils.
Fill glasses two-thinls full of red
raspberry Juice; the K.vrup from horn
canned goods Is best. Bury the glnRsc
tip to tbe bowls In ice nnd salt anel
when frozen remove the salt; win
clean: phico n spoonful of Philadel
phia Ice cream on top; scatter hearts),
cut &oin candied cherries, over;
thrttrt a little metal arrows In each
and serve with heart-shaped cakc
iced In pink. What to Eat.
Lemon Cake,
One cup of butter, three enps of mi
gar, four, cups of flour, one cup ot
milk, five eggs, Juice and grated rind
of one lemon, one small tea spoon fill
of Kotln. Bent the eggs separately,
cream the butter, and add the .ugar
nnd yolks of 'he eggs. I cat well, add
the milk nnd flour, then the lemon.
Dissolve the soda In part of the iniilc
and ndtl -t nfter the flour has bifti
boa ton In. Last of all, beat In the
whiles of the eggs.
Potato Mutton Chops
Chit some nice chops or steak frota
the best part of the neck of mutton.
The loin will be oetter still. Trim all
the fat, but leave a sinaa part of the
bone visible, nicely scraped. Sen hod
with pepper and salt and fry In drip
ping?. Have rendy plenty of niasbed
potato, with which cover the chop
separately, so that they will be com
pletely wrapped In the potato. CL-ikc
with beaten egg and brown with a
salamander, or, lacking the salauiaiv
dor, brown lightly In the oven.
Stewed (steak.
Stewed steak requires to be very
slowly cooked; for this reason put il
in a covered Jar In the oven, on in
saucepan of boiling water. Do not fer
thp water boil fast after the first
twenty minutes, for the contents of ths
J.tr must only simmer. Take n good
steak for the purpose, cut It into con
venient sliced pieces nnd fry It In hot
butter to a good brown. Set It in ths
Jar; fry nn onion, herbs nnd a tomato
lu the butter, dredge flour In thickly,
nnd add sufficient cold water or stock;
for tho gravy. 8Ur with a wooden
spoon wiille all boils. Season to taste;
color the gravy and then strain la
Into tho Jar. Cook for two hours.
After washing lace, says an expert,
do not starch It and do not nllow It to
dry before Ironing. Iron first under
a cloth, finishing with the Iron directly
on tbe luec. It will be quite stiff
enough If treated in this way.
"College girl shortcake" Is not such
a bud affair for an emergency. It
earned its name by being about the
only muke available for the "spread
on the quiet." Plain baking powder
biscuit arc bought at the Imkeshnp,
heated In oven or even chafing dish,
split twice and the sugared fruit
spread thickly between. The result
Is really more et.joyable than anything
of the name purchasable In the ordln
ary restaurant for treble the cost, and
with the addition ot sweetened and
flavored whipped cream it Is really
delightful dessert.
For the unexpected guest little cakes)
with a cup of tea or chocolate will do
lull duty, and they are delicious also
to serve with Ices nt tbe luncheon or
dinner table. For these light cakes,
baked In small pans, an even, steady
bent is wanted; never attempt to bake
them with a freshly built coal fire, or
with n tire from which the life bas
largely died out; It should be In sucb.
condition that It may be regulated eas
ily, and lust through the baking with,
mtt bi-lnir replenished. In flavoring
these little i-ukcs. do not use lemon
Juice if n lieu rnke- is wanted. Th
ucld in lemon Jiie sets free carbon
dioxide In n laruc t. ensure, upon con
tact with the soda In he baking pow
der. It Is best to restPet Its use to
cakes In which a close tfture Is de
sirable. Bear In mind also Jiat cakes
In which the yolks of eggs are used re
quire less heat than cakes made v'.-.hj
the whites of t-ggs, as the yolks of eggis
are so rich In fat they burn quickly.
What to Eat.
Meat soille may serve as the piece da
resistance of the luncheon. Since, as
a rule, this and similar mixtures are
well seasoned, one meat is about as
good as another for a foundation, un
less chicken Is used. The odds and end
of the roast, or of steak or chops, or
even soup meat, should be run through,
tho incut chopper with a thin slice or
two of boiled hum, one of boiled tongue
and one or two of bologna sausage.
Tho last can be obtained from a nearby,
butcher. If they cannot be bad a lit
tle home-mud sausage and a thin
slice of bam. tie latter boiled for a fewi
minutes, will work wonders. Grind
these wltb the meat fine. Season the
mixture with salt, pepper, a llttla
chopped parsley and. If It Is wanted,
with a little onion juice. Add enough
bread crumbs to make sufficient quan
tity. The usual proportion for a souf
fle Is two cupf tils of meat to one cupful
of bread crumbs. To two cupfuls ef
meat and bread crumbs add a cupful
of white sauce and tbe yolks of two
rs-'gs. Fold In tbe stiffly beaten whites '
of the eggs, fill tbe buttered ramekins
half full of the mixture, sprinkle with
buttered crumbs and bake In a quick
oven. Serve as soon as they come
from tbe fire, or they will fell. The
white sauce Is made of one cupful of
milk and a tablespooaful each of but
ter and flour. Salt and pepper or
aded to taste.