"UNFINISHED THINGS"
A Bright Sunday Discourse By Rev. A,
H. C Horse.
Address Upon the First and Last Words la
the Scriptures.
UnooKt.Tir, N. Y. In the Stroni Dace
Baptist Church Sunday morning the pas
tor, the Rev. A. H. 0. Morse, preached
. i strong sermon on "Unfinished Things."
He said:
My sermon this morning is based upon
lhti first snd the last words in the Scrip
ture: "In the beginning Ond created the
leaven snd the earth, "Even so, come
Lord .Team." And between these texts .
(hero is an immeasurable distance. The
irst deals with the beginning of things.
Vhe last closes the Bible with a note of
ticompleteness. The first takes us back
to the moment when the shining worlds
frcre hurled from the battlements of heav
n by the hand of the Creator. The sec
Hid points forward to some "far off divine
Ivent to which the whole creation moves."
It would solve many troubles in our
flunking if we remembered that we live in
world of unfinished things. This earth
not a finished product. It is rather the
(urn of all the forces with which it. was
ttored in the beginning. It is what some
me has called an expectant creation. It
Itands with shaded eyes looking toward
the future. Hidden behind all its move
nent there is ft divinely appointed end.
Men may correct all their false ideas of
volution in the light of this single truth,
but in the beginning they must posit Uod.
Life is an unfinished product. Whoever
law a finished life? In a great workshop
tre must look for noise and dust and tu
nult and confusion. We also look for the
Inished product, but it is not there. As
loon as a product is finished it is removed.
Us place is not there in all that dust and
iirt. This world is Hod's great workshop,
ore we startled at the noise and confu
sion? Human beings are in process of be
ing formed and perfected. But the end is
ot yet. "Ityloth not yet appear what we
lliall be." No one is perfect to-day. And
what we call the best is made up of un
Jnished and incomplete products. If this
frorld has ever seen the perfect, it is only
hat it would be removed. Life is a great
tchool. What man is, or does, after grad
lation has not been told us yet with any
letail.
We are appalled at the evidences of so
;ial wreckage. They tell us there is noth
ing good in all the world, that the whole
(arth is a vast madhouse, her inhabitant)
ire drunk with delirium, the fields are be
soming bankrupt, and the harvests are
well nigh exhausted. They tell us that tht
Itrong trample the weak to death in their
;ruel greed und hunger. Now this seems
to me like a false interpretation. The
world is tilled with madness. It does reek
In cruelty and greed. But still I am
taught tlmt this world is God's, and that
tt is working for a divinely appointed end.
It manifests along its course one great in
tention.
Who, then, are the pessimists? They
ire the disappointed whom fortune seems
to have shaken from her skirts. Here is a
man you used to know. Then he was
bright and keen and vivacious and ener
getic. In those days his eyes were bright
With the gleam of far-off fire. But now we
meet him and the light 1ms faded from his
ye, and the spring has departed from his
Itep, and he has joined the great army of
the disappointed. He had set his heart
upon obtaining something which the pass
ing years have said he could never have,
And his life has failed and his possessions
nave taken flight. Now what does this
mean? It simply means that he has been
displaced by the very progress of the
world. When an army is inarching for
ward and it quickens its pace, the weakei
loldiers must fall by the wayside. But tlu
irmy has gone to valiant duty. And tlu
very fact that the world is sweeping on
ward means that some must be dropping
every year. They are flung backward be
cause the race is hurrying forward.
This world is an incomplete world be
cause it is divine. If lite, as we know it,
were complete, if this were the end, then
we should have to-day the ultimate stand
ard of success. Our judgment of ourselves
tnd of others would be final. But is that
10? Who of us dare judge another? Do
we not rather look at this life as part of a
whole, whose greater part lies beyond the
vision? There isn't room in the longest
human enreer to develop all we hope and
love and long for. And so we say that the
most encouraging thing about this life is
that it is not yet complete. The basis of
hope is the possibility of growth not in
the perfection of attainment now or in the
immediate future.
Shall I be misunderstood if I point out
that the earthly life ot the Saviour par
took of this same incompleteness? His ac
tions. His parables. His whole teaching
constitute a promise of the future. His
life led to His death, His death to His res
urrection, His resurrection to His ascen
sion, His ascension to His throne of glory,
and that again leads to His second coming.
, "Even so. Come, Lord Jesus." It is as
though the lines of life projected far be-
t'ond our farthest ken, and could be fol
owed only by an infinite hope. Why was
not Jesus one of the disappointed? It ever
a man had a right to be a pessimist it was
He. He found that the world did not
want Him, the rulers of the state had no
place for Him, the chuich of Judea that
God had been training for 1500 years to
look for Him did not know Him. Why
was He not in despair? Because He had
in Himself the wells of joy. not the joy
of indifference, not the joy of Him who
sees anil does not care. But the joy of
Him who sees ull, and through all to the
living God. Just as in one of Corot's pic
tures you can see in the foreground the
gnarled and blackened trunks, and be
yond all and behind all the clear shining
ot tlie sky.
The gosnel with its mission atill unac
complished is another instance of that
thought before us. In the world, in the
church and in the soul of the believer the
gospel sees not yet all things put under it.
And that lor tne simple reason tbat tins i
is a world of unfinished things. And even
this may come to us with inspiration, fot
ualike the dwellers in the Orient we live
in the midst of unfulfilled prophesies. Not
shall they ever be fultieled here. Othet
conditions and other circumstances are
needed. From this incompleteness one
might gather the largest argument for our
immortality. This world is in accordance
with a divine purpose, and cannot be ex
plained unless it tells of a fulfillment in
the ages, yet to come, when this earth shall
have been replaced by a new earth where
in dwelleth righteousness. Then He Hint
self shall be satisfied.
The old philosophers used to represent
alt things in a state of continual flow.
They stood by the river whose dark wat
ers, fed from some hidden source, stole
, past in voiceless mystery. They saw the
same mysterious flow in the seasons, in
the harvests, in human life itself. And
they posited motion as the substantia in
the world of things. Now the world is in
a atate of flow because it is a state of, in
completeness, and tbat again because it is
expectant. There is something yet before
114. God hasJiot made men who can long
and love and hope and struggle and deny
themselves, only that they may fall into
hole in the grass.
For what, then, does this whole creation
wait? Paul tells us in one place that it is
for the revealing of the sons of God. Isn't
that worth the time that is past? Isn't it
worth all the struggle and suffering and,
tears of our fathers? Isn't it worth all the
pain with which joy and sorrow bar pol
ished us into shapeliness?
And woo again arc these so as of God?
"As many as are led by the spirit of Qod,
they are the sons of God." It is for these
"that creation waits, and without them the
universal process halts. This world began
with the fiat of God, and the mechanical
forces with which the stars were flung in
ft heir orbits. But in the process of time
God said, Let us make man, and it was at
Hhat point the purposes ot the universe
tiet-ame personal and human and spiritual.
(And now, Oh, matchless wonderl the next
tep cannot be taken without the help ol
' - laborers tozether with
liim." Not even God Himself can de
velop the possibilities He has houno. up in
us unless we'give Him leave. His final enJ
1. r.xlH not hv law. but by His sons. .
II . 1 . .. . . m ma a awina thinira on
, ,! tirJt to tins last? Krum creation
la tua eorujuz. anil thea acaia, oostaxd t
fho gjnry that snail yet Tie revearedT' Only
by finding the way of God, ond being
caught up in the mighty sweep of His own
purpos-s. Here is a vessel longing for her
port, and the wind is blowing favorably
above. lint she dons not move, she cannot
move till men shall run up the sails and
they shall catch the wind. And then the
ship that has lain like a lifeless thing be
comes a thing of life nnd hurries on bet
way. And so it seems that the time is
come when the crises of history are hinged
upon the work of man. The gospel, for
instance, lias been committed to the hands
of men. And, as I understand it, the sec
ond text cannot be fulfilled till this gospel
of the kingdom is preached in all the earth.
I dwell upon the subject of unfinished
things, because it gives to us an interpre
tation that enhances the value of life. One
thinks of his own life in comparison with
the circling orbs, and says it is an unim
portant thing. It is not useful, it influ
ences no one. Why keep up this awful
struggle with heat and cold, and pain snd
privation? Why strive to do better? Why
not go with the tide that sweeps away tc
the dark? The real danuer is not that we
shall think too much of ourselves, but that
we shall count our lives as worthless
things. We cannot afford to lose sight of
the place we hold in the purposes of God.
A man's life taken by itself is an insignifi
cant thing. But when we think of it as a
part of a great whole it becomes of infinite
value. It is as vast as all the schemes of
which it is the part. This is an instance
where the part is as large as the whole.
In his college sermons Dr. I'eabody uses
a beautiful illustration of this very
thought. He refers to the two hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of
Harvard College. The students marched
in torchlight processions with transparen
cies and banners. The freshman class,
then only one month old, had this for their
motto: "The university has waited 250
years for us." And that he says was a
profound truth. All the institutional life
had been slowly evolving for these light
hearted boys, and on their conduct now
rested the destiny of the future. I wonder
if it is possible that this very world has
been waiting for us. And if there are
some things yet unfulfilled that are wait
ing for the way we use these days. If so
that makes life vastly insignificant. Of
course, it does not mean that we shall be
notable, or great, or prominent. Not tbat
other generations shall know our names.
But that our little lives are of eternal
meaning.
Mr. F. B. Meyer has said some beautiful
things. I remember hearing him say one
time that we are God's "poem" (God's
workmanship). And you know that a
poem is something very different from all
prose. It contains a thought that could
not be put in prose. To paraphrase it is
to dull its beauty. It flashes the idea only
in that form, just as a diamond gives that
gleam only from that side. So we are
God's poem! And a poem contains a
thought. And to express that thought
has meant to the writer a great effort.
And every syllable is of value. And so
with God's poem. He is working upon us
tnat in tlie ogeji to come lie migiit snow
forth the exceeding riches of His grace,
Can any life be insignificant?
Give no place, then, to impatience. God
made this world in the beginning, and to
this present He has sustained it by a well
formed plan.- The present finds us here.
What place shall we take in this world ol
unfinished things? For myself I take a
place of joy, and effort, and hope. I reach
nut lame hands of faith for the way of
God, and lift up a voice that is half a
Erayer and half a shout, "Even so, come,
iord Jesus."
Success For All.
True success is within the reach o! al!
men. It is to know and to do Uod a will,
to learn and to follow in His way. It is to
put our hand cheerfully to the pen or the
plow, whichever God's providence sug
gests. In the reckonings of eternity to
nave been a good mason will count fol
more than to have been a bad monarch:
to have walked worthy of the vocation of
servant will be accounted better than to
have been a selfish sovereign. Lives that
upon earth were despised, but which were
well lived, and labor that was counted me
nial, but which was well performed, will
bear the stamp of divine approval for eter
nity. Success will be defined in the lexi
con of heaven as it seldom hi in any lexi
con of earth. As for the dollar mark, it
will not be used in the world of bliss -
Stretch Forth Thy Hand."
"Stretch forth thy hand." You with
that weak hand shortened by the hard cir
cumstances of your life, stretch it forth!
You with that hand drawn up by iove ol
self; and you with fingers warped by
thoughtless, unkind words and deeds,
stretch them forth. With honest purpose,
with unfaltering will, whatever may be iti
weakness or its need, "Stretch forth thy
hand." And the Christ will look upon it,
He will pity its weakness and daiormity
and lo! as you stretch it forth it will be
come whole restored, that you may blesi
with kindly deed many a needy one wh
waits and waits perhaps for you. M. M,
Slatterly.
Earnestness.
Take life earnestly. Take it as an ear
nest, vital, essential matter. Take it al
though you personally were born to tht
task of performing a noble task in it ai
though the world had waited for youi
coming. Take it as though it was a grand
opportunity to achieve, to carry forward
great and good schemes, to help and cheer
a suffering, weary, it may be, a heart bro
ken sister. The tact is, life is undervalue
by a great majority ot women. It is nof
made half as much of as should be tht
case. Now and then a woman stands asid
from the crowd, labors earnestly, stead
lastly, confidently and straightway be
comes famous.
Watch Oat.
Be on the lookout for mercies. The mart
we look for them, the more of thein wiL
we see. Blessings brighten when we counf
them. Out of the determination of tht
heart the eyes see. If you want to bt
gloomy, there's gloom enough to keep yor
glum; if yci want to be glad, there's glean1
enough to keep you glad. Say, "Bless thr
Lord, u my soul, and lorget not all tin
benefits." Better lose count in enumerat
ing your blessings than lose your blessingi
in telling over your troubles. "Be thank
ful unto Him, and bless His name." My"
bie u. iiabcock, 1). V.
Obedience and .Faith.
Tt is well to have a maD or descriotion ol
the way, but it is better to have the lov
ing companionship of one who knows tht
wav bv nersonal experience. And this
Christ is to every disciple a loving and ex
perienced leader, trusting in whom w
neither sorrow unduly over the past, not
Suffer apprehension over that which is be
lore us. Obedience for to-day; faith fas
to-morrow and let the Guide supply thai
Lao wlui-o -which, we lack!
HID MONEY IN QUEER PLACE
Paris Woman Saved Her Hoard by
Conceallnfg It In a Lemon.
All devices of women to save theli
mouey from thl-sves are not as suo
cessful as was that of a Parts bust
oess woman. Her apartments were
recontly vUlted (luring her absence bj
couple of enterprising burglars who
bad good reason to believe there was
rich booty there. In spite, however
of the most earnest search they were
unable to nnd anything of value and
took themselves off disappointedly.
Nevertheless, a, sum cf soma 20.00C
franca was lying In the room they had
explored, and tbat in most prom I
licut position. ' Mini Ruuts bad, Id
fact, devised an Ingenious hiding
place by scooping out the tusldo of
a lemon, putting bor bank notes in
side, nnd then leaving It on a p!ate on
a sldn table. This transpired In the
coura.i of the complaint laid by her al
the local police station. One would
Ilka to bave so en, the burglars' face?
when they read the rPr next day.
THE- SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENT
FOR JULY 17.
Subject:
xlv.,
sir..
Asa's flood ltnjgn, It Clirnn.,
1.1-1 Golden Text, II Clirnn.,
11 Memory Verses, a-n Coin
nentary on the Day's Lesson.
I. Reformation under Aa (vs. 1-5)
1.
"City of David." Jerusalem. "Asa, hi
on.'. Abijah had many sons (chap. 1:1:21 )
"Reigned. Asa reigned forty-one years
"Was quiet." That is, they had no wars
"Ten years." This was probably the re
suit, largely, of Abijah's great victory ovel
Jeroboam. These ten years of rest are
naturally to be assigned to the beginning
of Asa's reign; later on there was a resi
of twenty years (compar. chap. 15:10 with
13:19). The number ten here makes s
discrepancy with 1 Kings, for Haasha be
rame king of Israel in the third year ol
Asa, and there was war between Asa and
Baasha all their days" (1 Kings 15:32). 2
"Good and right." After the division ol
the kingdom not one of the nineteen l;ing
that ruled over Israel was a good king
and only a few of the nineteen who ruled
over .ludah were good. Asa was the first
good kind of Judah. He followed the com
mandmcnts of God with ins whole heart,
and in hat respect was like David. "In
the eyes of God." 1. He aimed at pleas
ing God. 2. He saw God's eye always
upon hiin. 3. God approved of what he
did. The important question is not wlieth
er we are right in our own eyes, or in the
eyes of the world, but are we right before
God.
3. "He took away." This statement,
which is again repeated in verse 5. seems
to be contradicted in chap. 15:17, where il
is said ' the high places were not taken
away out of Israel," There are different
ways of explaining this apparent discrop
am y. Perhaps the best explanation is that
Asa made a great effort to remove them
from his kingdom, and was largely success
ful, hut that notwithstanding all his efforts
he failed of complete success. The writer
does not say that he took away "all" the
high places. Some think that the high
places here referred to were those of the
strange gods, while those where God was
worshiped were suffered to remain; others
think that at one time in his reign A-fo
succeeded in abolishing all the high places,
but that they subsequently appeared again.
"Strange gods." Heathen deities. "High
places. It was the practice of the heath
en to erect altars for their idolatrous wor
ship on the tops of hills or mountains, sup
posing they were nearer to God and heav
en. "Groves." "Asherim." K. V. This
word is the proper name for a heathen
goddess. Asherah (plural for Asherim
ond Asheroth), and is another form for
Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians.
Asherah was their female, as Baal was
their male divinity. In the plural it is
often used in the more general sense of
idols.
4. "To seek the Lord." Compare chap.
15:12, 13. Asa commanded the people to
observe all the divine institutions which
they had been utterly neglecting. After
destroying idolatry, Asa revived religious
worship (1) by his personal example, ami
(2) by the use of his authority. He car
ried out the reforms in a spirit of self-consecration,
courage and r.eal. He sought to
please God first and not himself or his
courtiers. 5. "Images. "Sun images.
R. V. The original word is different from
the one used in verse 3. The Hebrew word
is of uncertain meaning, and it is possibla
that no kind of image is meant, but rather
the hearth on which the sacred fire was
kept. The Hebrew root means to be hot.
"Was quiet." The people obeyed the com
mands of Asa and sought the Lord (chap.
15).
II. Asa's military defenses (vs. 6-8). 6.
"Built fenced cities." He probably re
stored the fortresses which Shishak, the
king of Kgypt, had taken and dismantled
(chap. 12:2-4). The kingdom of Judah
had probably been tributary to Kgypt
since the time of Shishak's invasion (chap.
12:8), but now Asa discerned a favorable
time to throw off this foreign yoke, and
while the land was unguarded by the
Egyptians he fortified his kingdom. "Lord
had given." Asa had not gained rest and
success by liis own valor, but God had
given it. 7. "Land before us." That is,
while the land was unoccupied nnd un
guarded by their enemies and they were
free to go at their own pleasure. "Sought
the Lord." It is always good to seek the
Lord. Those who pursue the world meet
with vexation of spirit, but God gives
peace and prosperity and real prosperity
can come onljt from God. 8. "Targets and
spears." See R. V. The Hebrew word
here rendered target means a large shield.
"Out of Judas." Asa's army is divided
into heavy-armed soldiers, carrying spears,
belonging to Judah. and light-armed bow
men belonging to Benjamin. "All these."
This does not mean that Asa had an army
of 580,000 professional soldiers, such as
compose European armies or our standing
army, nut mere were in uuoun ana nenia
min this number of men capable of bear
ing arms and liable to be called into serv
ice. III. Asa defeats the Ethiopians (Vs.
0-15). 9. "Zerah the Ethiopian." He
Erobably belonged to the same dynasty as
hishak (chap. 12:2-4), for his army was
comnosed of the same nations. This Droves
bim to have been an Egyptian and not, as
some have thought, an Arabian or Asiatio
king. His object in invading Judah was
doubtless to recover to Egypt the cities
which Asa had been fortifying, for Asa's
procedure had been virtually a rebellion
against Egypt. "A thousand thousand."
This is the lorgest collected army of which
we hear in the Scriptures. But some think
that the number is not to be taken liter
ally, and that a thousand thousand signi
fies that there was a great host too great
to number. "Three hundred chariots."
Tlie chariots, though comparatively few,
are mentioned because Asa himself had
none at all. "Mareshah." One of the
cities which had been fortified b- Reho
boam (chap. 11:8). It was probably near
the western border ot judah, anout twen
tv-five miles southwest of Jerusalem.
11. "Cried unto me Lo i." Asa saw
that his ho'.e of success was not in any ef
fort he miirht be able to make, but in God,
His faith and courage mounted high, and
with holy boldness he pressed his case.
" Nothing witn Thee. See K. V. It is
alike to Thee to help the powerful or the
weak. Thou canst as easily help the weak
as the strong.. In Ihy name. that is,
by Thy commission, in confidence of Thy
assistance, and for the maintenance of Thy
honor and service and people. "We go.
Although relying on God lor victory, yet
Asa made the best preparations possible
and went out to meet the enemy. "Against
Thee.' Asa thus made the battle the
Lord's, and called upon Him to maintain;
His own honor. 12. "The Lord smote."
But not without the help of Asa and his
Jewish and Beniamite forces. "Fled."
Filled with terror the vast Ethiopian
hordes fled to the south.
Then Ho Was Good.
A congressman of Missouri relates
that he was makinc a campaign
speech last fall, when he was an
noyed by the frequent Interruptions
of a countryman, who seemed bent on
making trouble.
"M friend," said the speaker, de
termining to suppress the disturber,
"haven't you heard the story of how
a Lraylng ass put to flight the entire
f-yrlan army?"
"Don't you be afraid of this audi
ence," shouted back the disturber of
the meeting; "there ain't no danger
of tt stamoedlng. You've done teste
Lightning Kept Busy.
Lightning at Cape Neddlck village,
York, Me., played a peculiar freak
recently. A bolt struck the house of
Silas Norman, passed through the
body of.a mason named Fernald, who
was working In the houae, killed
Ug t the latter's side and set fire to
he butldln. Fernald was critically
luraud.
J
SUNDAY, JULY SEVENTEENTH.
"The Worlg"t Gain Through Universal
Peace." Pi. 46:9-11; lea. 2:2-4.'
Scripture Veraea. Pa. 37:11; 72:7:
Isa. 9:7; 65:25; 66:12; 2 Thess. 3:16;
Ps. 122:6-8; Jer. 29:7; Matt. 5:9; Rom.
12:18, 19; 14:19; Jas. 3:17, 18.
Lesson Thoughts.
"Ood maketh wars to cease." Chris
tianity Is a peaceable religion, the
more we have of the spirit of Christ,
the less we have of a disposition to
WThlnk of the difference between war
and agriculture In their effects upon
country. War Increases Intemper
ance, Immorality and the public debt
not to mention the terrible sacrifice of
human lite, agriculture promotes In
dustry, strengthens morality and in
creases substantial wealth. When
the nation's swords are Tieaten Into
plowshares, how wonderfully will the)
world's prosperity grow!
Selections.
One of our battleships, the Oregon,
cost $ti.o7.".023.76. which Is more than
the cost of the ninety-four buildings of
Harvard Univetity, which was $3,
300,000. If all the navies of the world
could be turned into schools, how soon
would the Ignorance and prejudice
which are the chief causes of wars,
be swept off the face of the earth!
The greater part of civilized nations
(Query: Are they really civilized?)
are kept poor by war. This Is not.
only a poverty of money, but a poverty
of home life, the young men being
drawn away for military training, pov
erty of quietness and seren.it y; pov
erty of safety; poverty of moral sense,
army life being always a degenerate
fife; poverty of love, since war and
preparations for war are a Btire and
powerful destruction of all kindly feel
ing among nations.
The establishment of the Interna
tional Court of Arbitration, at. The
Hague, Js a blessed Btep toward uni
versal oeace. Already It has decid
ed a dispute between Mexico anil the
L'nited States, Involving millions of
dollars. The claims against Venezu
ela of Great Britain, France, Italy and
other European nations, have been
submitted to It by the consent of all
parties.
EPWQRTH LEAGUE LESSONS
JULY SEVENTEENTH
The World's Gain Through Universal
Peace. Psa. 46. 9-11; Isa. 2. 2-4.
The normal condition of the natural
wo;-ld is strife and struggle, stress and
strain. But the spiritual realm Is a
kingdi.-rs of peace, whose rightful Rul
er is the Prince of Peace. "The one
far-off divine event to which the whole
creation moves" is that restful and
pronperious period
"When the war drum throbs no longer,
And battle flags are furled."
More rapidly than the majority ima
glne we are hastening on to that hap
py gonl.
'He maketh wars to cease." A stt
perficial view contradicts this affirma
tion, but In splto or the warlike atti
tude of many nations to-day the peace
power U making Itself felt as never
before.
"They shall beat their swords Into
n owshares" (Isa. 2. 4). wnat a force
tul and beautiful figure! Weapons of
warfare are to be trans!iormed Into
Implements of husbandry. The earth,
so long drenched in blood, shall break
forth In beauteous blossom and frag
rant flower and luscious fruit.
A long and stiong stride toward uni
versal peace was the establishing of
the Hague tribunal, sometntng line
this had been the dream of peace-lov
ers for many decades. Now the dream
la a reality. There Is a growing con
viction that International disputes ran
be more wisely and more profitably
settled by appeal to reae.in than to
brutal force. During tne last century
two hundred of these disputes were
settled by arbitration, sixty-three ot
them occurring within the past toa
year3. The future will fall to tne na
tlons that can get on with the lease
fighting. Fo wars make a stupendous
draft upon a country treasures both
money and men. When the best young
menthe flower of the generation-
are cut off In war. and the more tie
fectlve ones ate left to rear lamllles.
the actual loss In manhood Is beyonu
calculation. Seeing these things will
Increase the influence of arbitral ion
and brlnar in a reign of universal
He Got the "Raise."
Frank Leslie's tells a story of how
Industry was rewarded. A year ago a
manufacturer hired a boy. For months
there was nothing noticeable about the
boy except that he never took his eyes
off the machine he was running. A
few weeks ago the manufacturer look-
1 up from his work to Bee the boy
standing beside bis desk. .
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Want me pay raised."
"What are you getting?"
"T'ree dollars a week."
"Well, how much do you think you
are worth?"
"Four dollars."
"You think so. do you?"
"Yessir, an' I've been t'inkln' so for
free weeks, but I've been so blame
busy I haven't had time to Bpeak to
you about It." .
The boy got the "raise."
An Odoriferous 'Beetle.
. A rather unusual visitation was suf
fered bv a South Carolina town last
lummer, through the presence of what
ia known as the rhinoceros beetle,
which bears the same unapproachable
position In the Insect world that the
ikunk does among animals. A colony
beetles established them
lelves in some ash troos vAilch were
frown for shade, and the odor was so
itrong and offensive that the town
-.ounctl ordered eighty of these trees
to be cot down. As, the trees were
stlmated to be worth $100 each, the
musual visitation coat the town about
18,000.
Sea Turtle Was Stranded.
An unusual find In northern waters
a-as made by Peter Shlnn and Joseph
Xlckerson, fishermen, both of Lynn
Mass., In the stiape of a sea turtle,
weighing thirty pounds. They were
Staging clam bait at the Point et
Pines, lust at the mouth of the San
m river, and saw the Virtu Mfk
pon the beach.
God Loveth All.
tTnto every man and nation, ,
God will e'er extend His ham!, 1
Loving, under all conditions,
Those obeying His command.
Neither rich or poor sre favored,
Only for their love to God,
Earning thus the Master's fovnr,
Treading paths where He hath tro-J
Those who love and will obey Him,
He will never once torsake.
But within their sou'.s be dwelling,
Inner conscience to nwake.
He will teach them life's great lessons,
That will bring peace into the heart,
Anil the happiness of spirit
Never will from them depart.
Though the home 1)3 poor and hum&o
God will find a dwelling th-re.
If He finds the heart is waiting.
And is tilled with earnest prayer.
Asking Him to come, be with tii-m,
And to teach them what is right.
He will quickly hasten thither.
Shedding round about His light.
Everywhere He's loved and needed
He will always, quickly, go.
Comfort give to those who seek Him,
Love and mercy He will sli w.
And more room the humble heart havs,
In which they God's love receive.
With less pride and vain ambition
Will they cause His heart to gnev
Oh, the blessed, blessed promise,
That He never will forsake.
And if we will love and trust Him,
Care of us He'll always take.
Then why should we wander from Him
Into worldly ways of sin,
That we must, ere reaching heaven.
Have a change of heart begin?
Miss Martha S. Lippincott, iu New York
Observer.
Secret of Joyful Mvlng.
In a crowd of people, even among th
most cultured, there are few faces that ex
press joy, says H. M. MuC'lusky, in Chris
tian Work,. Care and weariness, restless
ness and unsatisfied ambition are unmis
takably visible, and often when outward
conditions seem the most favorable, thf
joyful life finds no expression; for it is ar
unknown experience. Yet all nature it
full of gladness; a wonderfully beautiful
world has been prepared for man s hatnta
tion. Why does he not rejoice in his pos
sessions? He is out of harmony, sin is the
discordant note, but when by repentance
toward Uod and faith in the Lord -lesuf
Christ he is at one with God, the discord
resolves itself into the sweet, rich chord
of love. Then there follows the trium
phant obligato of joy. The accompaniment
IS not always pei ieuLij nat iiiuiuuu, lmh
the song goes on uninterrupted to thf
close. Is that true? The Psalmist says.
"In Thy presence is fulness of joy." Tlu
Lord's presence is continually about us.
believers willingly concede the f act. Whj
then is there not more joy? Tlie life i
based on a lower plane, instead of shaping
it '"according to the pattern that wat
showed in the Mount."
The belief ot the heart is not wonted i
out in the life. There are many lovall
Christians whose faith never taitcrs when
the heavier snrrous come, but do not se
or recognize .their Lord in tiic daily rou
tine, either by seeking llim tor liounj
needs, or thanking llim for ever-present
numberless blessings. Christ gave the se
cret of joy when He said, "Ask, and y
shall receive, that your joy may be full.'
Jt is a, constant interchange ot interest)
between the Father and His child. H
cause He ia intinitely great and powerful
He is no less the loving, compassioiiau
One. A friend said to me: Do you al
Him about such little things?" as though
it were irreverent to speak to Hun about
the trivial but absolutely essential detaili
of daily living. "For thonjli the Lord be
high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly;'
that fact alone should fill us with joy.
Study to live as in His presence; let aV
the surroundings as far as possible be ir
nccord with a rovai t.uest and lovuit
Friend. What a transformation tnew
would be in niot homes and lives if al'
pertaining to them were consciously giver
over to Him to arrange; we executing ai
under His immediate suncrvision, without
fear, fretfulness or anxiety. There could
lie but one result, a full, abounding joy
Would it not be worth while to make the
effort? It can only be attained by patient
persistent endeavor; beginning with thi
first moment in the morning, praying
hourly to he kept consciously in the pres
ence of Jesus our Lord. In such a lit'i
heaven does not seem so far nway and thai
home is a part of Christ's established Ling
dom.
Faces That Comfort Obp.
"I wish some people knew "just
much their faces can comfort one!''
speaker was a young woman who
iijssed through cleeii sorrows: she
how
Tin
hai'
wai
telhiiir a friend how many people com
forted her, though they were uneonscioul
of it. The Kpworth Herald tells the story.
' I often ride down in the same street cal
with your father, and it has been such I
help to me to sit next to him. There ii
something so good and strong and kind
about him, it nas been a comtort just to
feel he was beside me. Sometimes, when
I have been utterly depressed and dis
couraged, he has seemed somehow to know
just the right word to say to me, bin, l!
he didn't tall:, why, I just looked at hi
face, and that helped me. He probably
has not the least idea, of it, for I know
In in so slightly, and 1 don't suppose peo
ple half realize, anyway, how much thej
are helping or hindering others!" Tlu-rf
is a great ileal of this unconscious kindnesi
in the world. Mo-.es wist not that lnr
face shone. The lx-t ieople are not awar
of their goodness. According to the old
legend, it was only when it fell bchn.il
him, where he could not see it, that the
saintly man's shallow healed tlie sick
This is a parable. Goodness that is awarf
of itself has lost much of its ch.um. Kind
nesscs that ure Jjne unconsciously uuau
the most.
Living by the Day.
Life must lie lived on the installment
plan. Uod gives and renuires just so much
at a time, no more, no less. Life is made
up of just so many successive installment!
ol opportunity, of duty and of grace. It is
impossible, therefore, to live lite in the fu
ture tense. All that men have and ull that
they are anked to attend to is the present.
And the present in its demands is vigorou
enough. Take care of the now snd the fu;
ture will take cure of itself. Herald a-'
Tresbytcr.
A Hrava Habit.
Cheerfulness is a brave habit. Crumb
ling is a foolish one. Men snd women who
complain and fret have just about the
same kind of lives, to begn with, as cheery
people. "Into each 1 1 to aome rain must
fall," but the wisest pl.n is to go in when
it rains, or hoist an umbrella, instead ot
sitting down in the fritter and getting sop
ping wet. Reformed Church Record.
Tho Womsn's Christian Temperance
Union, of Fall P.iver, Mass., supports a
deaconess who d .-votes her time to police
etation work and conducts a Christim cul
ture club (or (i'is.
Oldest Sunday 8chool Teacher.
Tbe officials ot the Wesleyan Sun
day achool, Swlnton. lay claim to hav
ing upon their register the oldest Sun
day achool teacher In England, It not
In the United Kingdom. Mr. George
Doxey, who Is now In hla eighty
eighth year, has been a teacher sixty
nine years, and bolda the remarkable
record that for bait a century be was
never absent from school, oud dur-
I Ing forty year lie waa never once
late. Though eighty-seven years of
age. be is able to read without the aid
of tpectaclos-
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
"It Is Not My rtnslnfls"TTow a Wealthy
St. Lnnlslan Came to Realise That the
I.lqnor Question Was His Hnslneis
A Btory or Whisky anil Its F. fleet.
A wealthy man in St. Louis was asked"
to aid in a snnps of tomnerance meetings,
but he scornfully refused. Being pressed
he said:
"Gentlemen, it is not my business."
A few days later his wife and twe
dauirliters were coming home on the light
ning express. In his grand carriage with
liveried attendants he rode to the depot,
thinking of his splendid business and plan
ning for the morrow. lUrk! Did some
one say "Accident?" There are twenty
five railroads centreing in St. Louis. If
thero has been nn accident it is not likely
to have occurred on the ... nd
Mississippi Railroad. Yet it troubles him.
It is his business now. The horws are
stopped on the instant, and on inquiry h
finds that the accident has occurred twenty-five
miles distant on the
and Mississippi. He telegraphs to the su
perintendent: "I will give you ..'S00 for nn engine."
The Answer flashes luck, "No."
"I will give you orti for an engine."
"A tram with surgeons snd nurses Ins
already gone forward, and we have nc
other."
With white face And anxious brow the
man paced the station to and fro. In a
half hour, perhaps, which seemed to him
a hilf century, the trim arrived. lie hur-
riea toward it, and in the tender found
the mangled bodies and lifeless forms ol
his wife and one of Ins daughters. In the
car following lay the other daughter, with
her ribs crushed in and her precious life
Dzzing slowly away.
A quart oj whisky, which was drunk
fifty miles away by a railrmd employe,
was the cause of the catastrophe.
Who dire say of tins tremendous ones
tion, "It is not my business.'" National 1
Advocate.
Temperance Check-Cashing.
Some years ago the Railroad Voting
Men's Christian Association of Columbus
Ohio, started to be as generous as the sa
loons at Grogans, in the neighborhood ol
the Columbus. Sandusky and Hocking
Valley Railroad construction shop, bv
cashing the checks of the employes of the
railroad company. In the vicinity of the
hops there are about, two saloons to one
general store, and the wholesale liipior
dealers were in th habit of sending large
lums of money to the retail liquor dealers
with which to cash the men's pay checks.
This took a great many of them to the sa
loons, as there was no bank at hand, and
a good deal of time and money would have
been consumed if the men had visited the
?ity for that purpose. (In the first pav day
ifter the Association opened up checks
imounting to $21:17. were cashed. That
was two years ago. On a i-e-ent pav div
157 checks, amounting to Sti7rt2.3!5 were
fashed, but the largest record wis in last
September, which was for 72o4 'J.". In t lie
first year nearly 850, Oin ivas handled in
this way, and the second year I.Vsi checks
were cashed, amounting to .7J,7"5.47
Tet We License Alcohol.
The British Reai-trar-Cieneral has pub
lished a table of the comparative mortality
among men ot ditterent occupations, trom
twenty-five to sixty-five vears of age. the
nouiry covering a period of three years.
The standard oi M0 was taken as tiie low
est death rate in the most healthful. These
ire the results: Innkeepers and honor deal
ers represented a mortality of 'J74; inn ot
hotel service, and brewers, -J4.i, wnile
farmers are put down at 114. gardeners at
lilS and ministers at I'M. lletwcen 1"S0
and 1(W there were in the l'nited States
21,:'S4 deaths from vollow lever and 6"0.'lof)
deaths from alcohol ; yet we license alcohol
and quarantine yellow fever.
ltuiiis Work In Germany.
At the twentieth anniversary of tlie Gor
man Society Against the Abux- of Alco
holic Drinks there were presented some
telling stitistics of the Tin-ages oi strong
drink in Germany, where the use of alco
hol is said to be r-'sponsible for fifty-four
per c:-nt. of the di.'orces. tilty per cent, of
the railroad itccid.-nts, seventy per c--nt. ol
the accidents on the sea, eiguty-seven pep
cent, of the otTt-nders sent to nouses oi cor
rection, flo.2 per cent, of the disturbances
at domestic peace, and so on through a
tuiw l:st.
Neeil More t'ollceinen.
There were only about thirty five po
licemen needed in tin; whole of Vermont
'luring the fifty years when the State was
under prohibition. Now, since the adop
tion ol tiic local system and the return of
the saloon to a number of cities mid towns
many more Hicetocn are required. In
one town tht-y mm have !wi saloons from
whi.'h tV'V receive for license $'J.il cab,
in ilvii.g 'isi. Inn they now h ive to em
ploy a I oiiccin.ui at a salary of fT.'U a y
At Trrriltlu Cost.
William II ir-ieavcs, M. I)., after a thor
ough research, gives liie annual cpendi
tup-s lor strong drink in the l'nited Matis
ns 1.4t;4,-s7.;Vjs. Dr. Dunn. Secretary of
tile National Temperance So'-iety, esti
mates the indirect co..t irom crime, pau
perism, lo.s of labor and of life as tl,t7S,
S04.!lt;4. I lie paltry revenue obtained to
be set off against tutse euormuus tiuies is
only ?141,Joo,l57.
The Temperance Flfiht.
This stn:.u!e long ago ceased to
be
moral pa-,tiiue. winch men can pick up and
lay down at their will. That it .s a bitter
tight a tight that mu.-,t eventuate either
in the destruction ot t tie liquor power or
in the annihilation of the Christian Sab
bath and everything that is dear to tiie
Christian nation i l-s ident to ail John
1). l'liich.
Ileillcateil in Temperance.
The Nidaro Total Abstintiice .Society
of Trondhjem, Norway, has bought s
building on ouu of the thoroughfares of
the city for about fclu.uoo. The building
will be It-const rui ted so as to nrford a
public hall which will seat about 300 youna
people. This will Ik- the headquarters ol
the teiupvruuce people in tiic future. -
A Spotless Town.
I nivcraity Place, the seat of the
Ne
bras.ta vteslcyan I niv-irsity, uot oiuy pro
hibits saloons, billiard tables, dance hall
and questmushle amus litems, but uo cigar
or cigarette store is allowed. Thi is, in
deed, a physical and moral "Spotlw"
sown."
TIib Crufmle la Brief.
Were it not for the saloon influence bort.
cur cities and our State would be tilled
with clearer heads and cleaner hands.
National Advocate.
Oscar II.. Kiug of Sweden and Norway,
has acceded to a petition of his temperance
subjects to discontinue the christening of
battleships with wine.
The German Ministers' Association of
Milwaukee has appointed a commutes to
meet the Anti-Saloon league and prepare
literature to be used by tiie League in the
work auioug the German element of Mil
waukee. It is better to be in the minority witb
the right thau in the majority with the
wrong. National Advocate.
A writer in the Ksnsas City Leader says:
"Rut for two men in his own town, who
rent their buildings for saloon purposes, no
.iloon eould run: and. atrsnao to aav.
both are church members. Much of tht
crime produced in that community by thf
infaimaus liquor tratlic will lie at the doom
ot these nieu."
A tremendous lever in favor ot temper
a nee lias been brought to bear UKn tht
business men of fludxrti, 8. IK, by the re
cent action of twenty-three of tbe promin
ent and wealthy farmers around Hudson,
who have united in a public protest against
tho saloons. Ths business men must eithet
opposa the aaloon o( Ions I heir beat cus
tomers. .
household1
fatter
0
Lamp Chimneys.
To prevent lamp chimneys from
Tracking, wrap each chimney looselj;
but entirely In a cloth; place them to
getuer in a kettle, and cover with coluT
rater. Bring the water to a boll, cons
Untie the beat ten to fifteen minute
tnd then cool off. lty this tempering
they are toughened a jtdiutftli. ordinary
''iu. beat.
Oiling- the Wrings.'
T)o r.ot fall to oil the wrknjrv every,
time you wash. If oiled- often, there
is less wear on the machinery, anil
ess strength Is expended by the opr'
i tor. To clean tho rollers, rub them
irst with a cloth pnturated with kcro
teiie oil, nnd follow with soup and
(niter. Always loosen the roller
-putting the wringer away,
The earn of Dainty China.
In Holland the good old custom StlTI
ibtaltis among Indies of washing tb.9
tbltiii nnd silver after breakfast and
:eu with their own fair bands. This
:liey d'i In the presence of the family,
itid any guest who may be there, and
;h. fashion lifts lately been revived
n some American households, partly
jecause it gives a touch of homely
ilinplli'lty ami partly Ltcau.se a lady'f
jentlc bundling Is needed if the delfc
?nte 'hlna and glass are to be pre
itjed for any length of time.
'Mew Way to Sweep.
There Is Iti the doing of little tbinga.
'von in housework, a rltsht way and
t wrons way, and n Rood way and a
'jad way. says the Philadelphia Inqulr.
r. Consider for a moment the Item of
sweeping; with n broom. The next time)
roil undertake it notice your broom.
Iio .von find that you bold it or move It
father In front of you the brush fur
ther forward than the handle each,
stroke raisins the brush and with It
i cloud of du.t Into the air and the
;pa-'e beyond? If so, try this wayi
Stand with the broom rather behind
you, partly t'aclns it. the brush fur
:her back than the tip of ths- bundle.
I'si-d In this way, you will find that
the dust rises no blither than tn
jriish; that, hi fa-t. little rises, but It
'gradually moved to one central point,
where It may be easily gathered Into
the dustpan. Swept in this way, even
i dusty room may bo perfectly tidied
n-lthoiit discomfort to any person who
may be obliged to remain iu It during
the process.
f
llananas Iteri nnd Yellow.
In the tropics the banana Is usually
picked jrreeii and ripened in the darlc
like a pear. They should, however,
have attained their full growth, oc
else no matter bow- rich a color they,
may take on, they will always be bit
ter and ptti'kery. The banana rtow
fastest nt tlrst in length, then suddenly,
begins to swell, and In a few days will
double Its plfth. Then It Is ready foe
the ripinini: process. The best ones
sent to this country start half or whol
ly ripe and cet their color en route. If
they start hard and gummy, having
been picked In an immature condition,
they will never attain the rich, smooth)
flavor of the perfect fruit, und are apt
to make people 1!!. Never, therefore,
purchase a lony. thin banana; Its nas
nas are far better a little over ripe
than under, for a creamy softness 19
sssentiul to Its full enjoyment. Ba
nanas are of two kinds, the yellow and
the red, but a vast quantity of plan
tains are palmed off on us iu place of
the yellow banana.
Tnploca Cream Two taVespoonfula
of tapioca soaked over night, tbea
Stirred Into one quart of boiling milk;
add the. beaten yolks of four eggs and
four taldespoonfiils) of augur; boil four
minutes. Stir the well beaten whitest
of two esffs Into the cream when cold;
flavor with lemon. I'se the remaining
whites for a meringue.
Indian Rudding Scald one quart
milk In a double boiler; then take one
halt cup Indian meal, one-half cup
molasses, ono-half cup sugar, pinch.
ealt; mix with a little cold milk; stir
Into the scalded milk until It thickens;
then turn Into n buttered baking dish;
imt bits of butter on top, about a tea
spoonful In all, and bake two hours.
I Mitch lMimplings l'ut a saucepan
on the lire with one-half cup of water
and same amount of bird. To this add
a saltspuotiful of fait and crate ono-
balf nutmeg. When fairly boiling stir
in as much dour as It will take up and
set off to cool. When cool break In
four eggs and work It up thoroughly;
until there are no streaks In the mass.
Coeoanut lie Mis two tablespoon
tills sugar, two tcaspoonfuls Hour, ono
lultspoonful suit; dd the beaten yolksj
ot two eggs and beat thoroughly; tbea
add the whites beaten slightly; on
cup grated cocoa nut and two cups hot
milk; bake In a deep pie plate and
border witb a rich paste; aa soon aa It
puffs up and a knife blade comes out
clean. It Is done.
Cherry rie Get the best eonr dried
cherries, mash and cover with water
to soak over night; In the morning add
sufficient atlgar to sweeten; rook till
tender Iu the water iu which tbey ar
soakesl; Hue your pie dish with rlcti
paste; fill witb tbe stewed cheolea;
cover and bvke; sprinkle with, pow
dered augar Vfbsu drat taken from ttifli
oven. If cajret'-Uy prepared this pla
will quite iiiHl one made ot freela.
cherries.
Deviled Tome toea Slice tomatoeei
without peeling them, fry them In bat
ter, take them out when tender and
lay them on a hot plate, while to the
butter left In the pan or chafing dish,
you add a teaspoonful each of whit
agar and of onion juice, a teaspoon,
ful of vinegar, a pinch of cayenne ati 3
a teaspoonful of salt. When all ar
well mixed, add, a drop at a time, o
well beateu egg, and aa soon as f
eance hi thickened lay the toma'
back in It tor a minute, oc !Ul t
are hut. Km at oux, '