COMFORTING CERTAINTIES i Brilliant Sunday Sermon Bj Rer. Dr. Robert Bruce. "Wordf Addressed io Nlcodema. Ttu Persoa Thai tn Verities ol Oar Fill Claittr Aboat wnonKLY. X. Y. Sunday morning the Rev. Dr. Robert Bruce Hull, pastor of Greenwood Baptist Church, preached on "Comforting Certaintiee." The text Wat from John "We speak that we do know." Dr. Hull said in the course of his ermon: These words were addressed to Nicode mus. He was an earnest, honest, yet timid inquirer after truth. He had come to Jesus under cover of the darkness. Aa an official of the Jewish Sanhedrim, he did not dnre to be seen talking with the Naza rene Teacher. Yet he is convinced in his own mind that Jesus is a prophet and that, too, pronhet sent of God. This much he confesses to the Christ. Then be- f ins the wonderfully instructive interview rom winch the text is taken. This inter view is evidently only an outline, but the outline is marvelously suggestive. Nico demus was a good man. He was a religious man. He conformed to all the religious forms and ceremonies of his nation. His outward deportment was blameless and tiis standing in the community was honor able. But he was not a spiritual nun, He was not what we would call to-dny a con verted man. To him Jesus thrice used the Solemn double "Amen, amen, I say unto thee." Nicodemus could not understand what T . . , n-aatit V. ! 1 1 a i tl f. knfn tl , 1 1 n 1 f II HM. unable to see what that new spiritual life ! was of whicn ne nimscii wns larging. i Hen it is that the third double iimen of -Jesut introduces the words of the text: "Verily, verily, I say unto tliee, we apeak tliat we j do know and testify that we have seen." i In this utterance Jesus uses the word "we," not simply as the plural of majesty, I but connecting Himself with all His disci- I pies, so that it is perfectly proper and ! right for us to-day to use His words and Say: "We speak that we .do know." Chris- tians are competent witnesses to the cer- ! iainties of religion. While in a sense it may be said that "the Bible and the Bible hlone is the religion of Protestants." vet in the fuller sense our religion is a life. Christ is Christianity. His life in Himself And in Hit disciples is the spirit and the power of true religion. We have something hiore than opinion; something better than creeds; we have at one of the eternal veri ties Jesus Christ as the manifestation of God. It has been well said that "Christ either deceived mankind by consciout fraud or He was Himself deluded and de ceived, or He was divine. There is no get ting out of this tnlemma. It is inexor able." He stood before the men who knew Him best and said: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." and again declared to them: "I and M Father are one." This yss tremendous assumption' and awful blasphemy if it was not the truth. That it is the truth the course of time and the course of Christianity both abundantly de clare. The verities of our precious faith cluster bout a person. This person was God, manifest in the flesh, and for all the cen turies since Bethlehem the noblest, wisest and holiest have bowed before Him, rever- : ently exclaiming. "My Lord and my God!" ' It matters not from" what point we view Him, Jesus stands before the world as more than man. It is said of a safe and , perfect arch that it must meet two require- ' ments. Its .feet must not slip and its mid- . tile must not bend. Jesus Christ is the arch ! connecting humanity and divinity. The I weight of the centuries of Christianity rest on that arch and they rest there safely, for "Jesus is God; there never was a time ' when He was not; j 1 Boundless, eternal, merciful, the word, ' the Sire begot; Backward our thoughts through ages stretch, onward through realms of bliss, For there are two eternities and both alike are His." Another of the certainties is that the Christian life is a divine life. This was a new thought to Kicodemus. It is a new thought to many to-day. It was not a figure of speech, but a plain statement of fact, when Jesus insisted that it was neces sary to be born again in order to enter heaven. Those of Xicodemus' time would have said it was necessary to reform, to deal honestly, to'behave kindly, to lie up rightly. 60 many say to-day, and if by all this they mean uprightness in its perfect form they are right. But no man has ever lived who -at been thua upright. "All liave sinned and come short of the glory of God." The history of mankind shows that we must not seek holiness in order to God, but God in order to holiness. Christ must come into the soul of mun with His divine life, and then, and not till then, are we in harmony with the divine holiness. When that life comes in then there 4s manifested the "expulsive power of a new affection," better still, the expulsive power of a new life. Nothing lesa than lite can account for the change in men. Nothing but life can exert the power which the cen turies of Christianity nave manifested. In physics we. affirm confidently that every ef fect must have an adequate cause. This also is true in the realm of spirituality. If persecutors are changed into preachers, if those once thoroughly depraved have been molded into recognized saints, if the dregs of society have been transformed into un paralleled martyrs for the truth, if common people have been fashioned into those of whom the world was not worthy we ask .what cause or what power is adequate for euch marvelous alterations. We know these changes. It is folly to aay we do not know the power. Twice? each day our city is washed by a mighty ebb and flow of tides that sweep in and out, despite all the winds that blow. lYour child recognizes the fact, but he is puzzled to think that the pale, silent moon, serene amid the clouds, is the cause of those resistless floods. The child is puz zled, but when your philosopher explains to you that the moon does this by attrac tion of gravitation, and you ask him to ex plain to you this attraction of gravitation, then he. Vo, ia puzzled. Yet he knows the power, knows it so well he can measure it and use it. So, too, with Christianity, and ita power. We can recognize its force and use it, but its secret is the secret of life. Like all force, in ita origin it is a mystery. Tennyson says: "We have but faith we cannot know. For knowledge ia of things we see." This ia not quite true. Knowledge ia of things we feel, as well as of things we see. Many things we know that we cannot see. We never saw a pain, but we should call him a fool who should say we never felt or knew a pain. We know the power of the Christ life'm the believer, because we have felt it, and sometimes when this Christ life in ut has its perfect freedom we are able to say with I'aul: "I can do all things in ChriHt who ttremrtheneth ms." This certainty concerning the power of the Christ life can be attained by all who will fullill the conditions. There must b a surrender to Clirist and a trust in Christ. .You cannot have the sunbeam without the sun. You cannot have tho power of Christ without Die Christ Himself. The apostle says: "Christ is in you the hope of glory,1' and it ia certainly true that Christ must be in us tha power for glory. Thus the centre of our certitude ia Christ Himself, we know Him. We know Hit power. It baa been exercised upon ua and in us. Like the once blind beggar, w exclaim: "One ting I know, whereas, I was blind, now I e. There was no note of uncertainty bout this; then thould be no not of un certainty about our utterance concerning ur faith or concerning our own poaitioa. But In this age of doubt many Christian arc to frightened out of sanity that the r afraid to say even of the deepest e . perumcet of the aoul, "I know." Not ao . il aul, facing death: "I know whom I hava believed." Nut so John, the beloved dis ciple, declaring, "We know that we have passed from death unto life. We know thut when He shall appear w shall be like Him." It is not modesty, but lack of faith which prompts Christiana to aay, "I hop I am a Christian." When w have life w (know it and should not be ashamed to say !o- If we have not th life then by all tht limportanca of eternity make sure of ob- iuing It. It ia possible to have a living s.Jrienca of Jesus Chrut. To bava aucb an experience that we" may say:! T!v3, yet not I, but Christ, liveth in me." Be lief mav be glorified into this experience if we yield ourselves completely and unre servedly to Him who is able to "keep that which we have committed to Him against that day." The effect of this certainty is in every way most precious and helpful. Consider for a moment what this certitude means in the presence of the awful calamity which last summer sent a thrill of horror around the globe. True, indeed' is the Scripture declaration "if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable." If death were the end of all then we might well believe that cruelty sat in the throne of the universe. But, staggered as all are by the unutterable sor row, yet Ood rules' and overrules, and though we cannot see it now, yet in eter nity we shall know that the carelessness or worse of man has been overruled to eternal good. Because we know that God is love, and Wause we know Jesus still lives and is the same to-day as when He shed tears at the grave of Lazarus, we dare to go into bereaved homes and speak of the reunion at the right hard of the throne of God. I went over to the pier where lay hundreds of the unclaimed bodies, and I would not have dared to do it, but that I might comfort some heartbroken one with the assurance that God cared, God loved and in eternity God would make this un speakable sadness a source of perpetual joy. Can I explain it? No! But I could not preach. I could not hold un my head as a Christian if I did not believe; yea, if I did not know, that, somehow, some time, the curse shall be changed into a bleating. This is the nrivilcge of Christians to sav even now: "We know that all things work together for good to them that love Ood." Whv is it that all do nor know these things? I'artlv because of their condition. There are to-day those 'who "having eves see not. and having ears hear not." The influence of training is not easily overcome. jrainea oniy 10 consider as rem umi v nico can be analyzed by scientific implements. men refuse to admit the reality of things which they cannot weigh in their scales or measure by their rules. They are honest. So is the blind man honest who says color does not exist. So is the deaf man honest whose soul cannot be moved by the concord of sweet sounds. It is not n ques tion of honesty, but of fact. Ood is, even though the unbelieving eye may sweep the heavens with the telescope and assert I cannot see God. But trusting hearts will say with ever increasing certitude: "I know whom I believe." This gives us com fort in such a time as this. Tt is the only thing which can give comfort. So, breth ren, let us place ourselves in the bands of a loving God. Let us lean on the divine power. Let us trust the divine wisdom. Let us assure ourselves of the divine home in those mansions which divine love has prepared for us, and let us bo confident hat "Trial works for ends Too high for some to trace That oft in dark attire He sends Some embassy of grace." Love as Cosmetic. Love Is the greatest beautifier. The rea son is easy to see. Love itself is beautiful, and if we give unselfish love a lodgment with us it is constantly exerting a molding influence upon us. Love always appears at its best. When it goes wooing it alwava chooses the most becoming attire and the most captivating adornment. So love, when it gets posses sion of a human body, proceeds to mold the face of that body into the most at tractive form, for love always seek to clothe itself in the most attractive garb. That is the explanation of the transfor mation that takes place in a woman who fa a mother. She may be plain otherwise, but when she bends over her babe in an ecstasy of mother-love she becomes beauti ful. And in proportion as we give place to : unselhsh love ao we become attractive. I There is no masseur like lovo to work ! miracles in a homely face, says the Chris j tian Endeavor World. There is no facial j specialist who con begin to do as much to I make a plain young man or woman at ' tractive, to overcome deformity or liido , blemishes as the magician love can do. I To hate is to become hateful. To love as Christ loved ia to become lovely. It is not i a cheap recipe, for such love costs in pro portion to ita depth and intensity. But any one that is willing to pay the price may be beautiful. Boastful Building. "Blow, O winds! Rise, 0 ocean! Break I Such was the boastful inscription nut upon j the first Eddystone lighthouse built by the ; eccentric Winstanley. His challenge was i accepted, and one fearful night the aea I (wallowed up the tower and its builder. The next one met a similar fate, the ! structure and its builder, Kudyard, again ; perishing together. I The third was erected by Smeaton, who ' built it all of stone, making.it a part of its j rock foundation, so that the lighthouse penetrates it as a tree penetrates the soil. I Upon this lighthouse no vaunting inscrip ' tions were placed, but on the lowest course were chiseled the words: "Except the Lord build the house, they lubor in vain that build it," and tap the keystone, above the lantern, ia the exclamation, "Laus Deo!" That structure still stands, a never-failing beacon light to storm-tossed mariners. ' He who would build for eternity must not set about his task in any vainglorious, over-confident spirit. He must be careful as to his foundation, building firmly and deeply upon the rock, Christ Jesus, and relying in trust and humility upon Him who alone can enable one to reach a per fect result. Wellspring Grace to Bear. When Christ does not take away the thing that is hard for ut to bear, He givea us grace to keep it and to get on even bet ter than if He had relieved us of it. To Paul He said: "My grace is sufficient for I thee." That it, Puiil would receive grace i from Christ, Chriat'a own strength in his hfa nnii.rh nf it to meet all his need, ao that the suffering would be overbalanced by the grace, and the hindrance overcome by the divine strength imparted. This promise ia for every Christian who has a thorn of any kind which Christ does not remove. While we must keep it we shall be helped to bear it, and it will be aa though we did not have it. Forward. . Idols Transformed. A missionary in Travancore, India, taw, one morning, a native coming to hit house with a heavy burden. On reaching it ha laid on the ground a sack. Unfastening it he emptied it of ita contents a number of idols. "What have you brought these here for?" asked the missionary; I don't want them." "You have taught us that we do not want them, sir," said the native, "but we think they might De put to aom gooa use. Could they not be melted down and formed into a bell to call us to church?" n-u kin v. tMbn- thpv wpra sent tn A ' bell founder and made into a bell, which bow summons the native convert to praia and prayer. Child of Many Nations. fl'ben Camlllo dt Rightnl, the charm ing child of Mme. Ella Russell, wai I born, bla parents were In great doubt as to bla nationality, for he was born two days out from New York, on the Konlgeu- Louise, under the German flag. His mother la an American; bla father, Count dl Rlghlnl, a pura Ital ian. On tha father's aide Mme.. Ella Russell's grandfather was Welsh and bur maternal grandmother Austrian. To add to these complications, Camll lo'a birth was registered, according to law, at tba first port of call, which happened to be Cherbourg, France. What waa the nationality of this little Italian American Scotch Welsh Austrian German French Eugllsh Infantr This profound problem for a long Jlrae perplexed all Mm. Russell's (rlenda and acquaintances, until , tba singer at last bad the good fortune to consult T. P. O'Connor, who without a moment's hesitation pronounced tha rerdlct, Wny, rerdlct, "Why, av coorse. be a a son OUld UlrlauU." THE SUNDAY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LFSSON COMMENTS FOR OCTOBER 16. Sulijerti Klisha and the fthnnamlte, II Kings. It., SS-87 (lol.len Text, Horn. I vl., 93 Memory Verses, S4-SS Com. tiientary on the Rut's Lesson, I. Kindness rewarded (vs. 8-17). Elishs In his work as a prophet and religious leader of the people traveled from place to place, on foot, with Gehazi, his attend' ant. There seems to have been public re ligious services on the Sabbath and first days of the month (v. 2.11. Rliaha fie quentlv passed by the village of Shunem, and was invited to the house of one of the leading families for refreshment and food. The lady of the house sk ips to have been much more intelligent and religious than her husband, who was wise enough to know it and to trust her, while she showed due deference to him. This woman was childless, which was a gtcat sorrow in bet life, and as a reward for heT kindness Klisha promised that within a year she should "embrace a son." If. Death in the home (vs. 1R-2). Tn due time a ton was burn into the lipus', lie grew up to be foul or five years' old. He could not have been much older if this part of the story took place during Jehu ram's reign. But the story mav have be gun then, but run on to a later period. Due morning the boy went out into the fields where his father was gathering in the harvest. In this valley which is tn day one of the richest wheat lands on the wide globe, he was taken suddenly sick. Con sidering the symptoms ami the season of the year there is little doubt that a sun itroUo was followed by inflammation of the brain. The boy was sent home to his mother, who held him till noon, when he died. She took him up to the little cham ber by the roof and laid him on the pro phet's bed. It was a strange affliction that .tod should take away the chili! He had liven us a reward for her kindness to the prophet, while her kindness had been con tinued and increasing year by year. 111. Meeting the prophet (vs. 25-C91. 2"). "She went. The mother immediate. y hastened across the plain to Mount Car me.1, sixteen or seventeen miles distant, in learch of Klisha. "Man of God." That is, Sod's representative. So called, 1. B" :ause of the integrity of his character. 2. Because he instructed the people in divine '.hmgs. Ten times in this chapter is Elislia jailed bv this title. "Jfaw her." From the hilltop looking down into the valley. 26. "Run now." This was a mark o f courtesy, showing his great esteem. "Is it well?" "Is it peace?" "It is well." Ill the Hebrew only the word "peace is led. She gives this answer to Gehazi s question that she mav avoid more words; ihe has no thought of deception. 27. "Caught him by the feet." The atti tude of humblest supplication. She hum bly reasoned with him concerning her pres. en't affliction; she threw herself at his feet is one troubled and in grief, which sue never showed until she came to Klisha, the an-" whom she believed could help her. 'Thrust her awav." In his officious zeal, ingry at the slight toward him, or deem ing her touch defilement, or her importu nity excessive, or such liberties beneath his master's dignity. "Let her alone." A loble mind does not pass sentence before hearing the case. Elisha'a gentleness was in evidence of his greatness. "Soul is rexed." Sympathy is penetrative. Culti- ..., aaMa.tli. tttn f l,pief-.til.- tillpnt Of diS- scrning the sorrows of others. "Lord hath I hid." In reference to this point y he had not the discernment of spirits. This and the gift of prophecy were influences God rave and suspended as in His infinite wis dom and love He was good. 2S. "Did I desire a son?" She reminded him that she had not asked for the child, but that he had come to her as a free gift it-1 in, find Why should God. she argued. give her the child of His own will, only to I take him awav: itau sue noi m-sougni uic prophet not to mock her with a false hope? Thus did she reason. IV. The servant's failure (vs. 20-31). 20. "Gird up thv loins." By tightening the rirdle and tucking the mantle under so as to leave the lens free. "S aff ." The badge af the prophetical gift i hich he had re reived from God. of mil at and strength. "Salute him not." In tht East salutation ro full of form and com ime much time. The command showed the urgency of the mission and the necessity for the exercise of faith and prayer. "Will not have thee." After the heartless attempt of Ge hazi to thrust her away she has no confi dence in his ministry, even though he arry the staff of Kli-mn. Sacred vest ments nnd a holy commission will not com mnnd the confidence of earnest souls un less they be associated with a true and ten der heart. 31. "Neither voice, nor hearing. Why was Elisha's mission fruitless? Everything zoes to show that at first Klisha did not intend to go to Shunem, but when he saw the persistency of the mother he changed his purpose. It was probably in conse quence of this change of plan that no re tponse was made to the first claim of faith by means of the staff. That appeal was in fact superseded the moment he resolved to go in person, the Lord thus reserving lor the personal intercession of His prophet the honor of this marvelous deed. V. A great miracle (vs. 32-3i). 32. "Child was dead." This statement ciear ly forbids the supposition that the child had merely fainted or fallen into a trance. He was really, not apparently, dead. 3.'. "Shut the door." He prayed in secret aid his Father rewarded him openly, "Prayed." The onlv remedy in euch a case as this. The best things in life come through prayer. 34. "Lay upon the child." He jsed what means were in his power, though Hie means alone could never have brought the child to life. So James tells the c'.d crs to pray with the sick and tn anoint them with oil (.lames ft: 14, 1j.) "Put bis mouth," etc. Klisha followed the examp a of Elijah as nearly as possible' (1 Kings 17: 18-24). "Waxed worm." Returning life is slowly given, but the first signs of re storation must have strengthened hi zeal and given fervor to his prayer. 35. "Returned." Left the bed. "Walked to and fro." His own animal heat might have become much reduced by absorption into the cold body of the child. Possibly, too, there was a struggle of faith ia the mind -of the prophet. "Sneezed seven time." When the nervous influence be gun to . :t on the muscular sytte.n cneex lng would be a natural consequence, cs obstructions must have taken place in the head, the cause of the disorder of which. tli eh i 1,1 died.' 30. "Toko un thv son." Joyfully the child was relumed alive to his mother. See tho power of prayer; at it bss the key of the clouds, so it bus tho key of death'. Ceo the pwer of faith. That fixed law of nature, I'cnth, shall 1)3 dis pensed with rather than this believing Shunamite be uisappointed. 37. "Foil r.t his feet." In overwhelming gratitude. When (iod has done great things for us, we should bow humbly and say. "Lord, 1 am xot worthy." be Ccn. Zi: 10. Mrs. Longfellow's Dinner. Speaking of "company" coming re minds me of a story a Boston man tella of the poet Longfellow. Mr. Longfellow bad a aoul above sordid material considerations, and on one occasion be brought a guest borne to dine without advising Mrs. Longfel low beforehand. The guest was a dis tinguished Englishman, who bad Just arrived with a letter of introduction. Tba day waa Friday, and tba cook be ing a Catholic the family bad fallen into the habit of eating no meat at the Friday dinner. Mrs. Longfellow thawM despairingly of tha fish and then, realising, I'dara aay, that dry bread would be a feast with Longfel low at tha table, led tba guest to tha dining room with a faint heart Tba flub waa brought In. The distin guished guest glanced at It, and than be smiled at bis hostess. "I know Mrs. Longfellow will par don me," be said, "If I decline Jhe Osb course." Washington Post. iEi OCTOBER SIXTEENTH. "The Power of Peraonal Influence." John 1:35-39. Scripture Veraee. Rom. 14:7, S; I Cor. 8:8-13; Rom. 14:13, 21; Matt 28:18 20; 18:6, 7; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3. Leeson Thoughts. Show the .Influence good men bavo had In the world: 1. Moses; g. David; 3. Elijah; 4. Paul; 6. Luther; 6. Washing. on; 7. Lincoln. nit acrnnntflhllltv ptrnds even to the Influence we exert unconsciously upon those about us; for It all results from our behavior b-oore them. "No man liveth to himself." Selectlont. Influence la as Inseparable from character as the fragrance is from the flower, or the shadow from tho substance. "Lamp," said I, "how do you man age to give out so much beautiful right?" "I?" answered the lamp. "Why, I'm not giving anything, am 1? I am all the time Retting begging, sucking up oil throiiK.h my hungry Vlck." That's It. Got fed within, obtain the oil of the Spirit, which Is love, Joy, peace, nnd I'll risk the light. Why, your face can't help shining then. "The old archers," snys Dr. Tal mage, "took the bow, put one end ol It down beside the foot, elevated tho other end, and It was the rule that tho bow should be Just the size of ihe archer. If it were Just Ills sl-e, then he would go Into the battle with confidence. Your power to project good Into the world will correspond exactly to your own spiritual stature." It Is a great thing Just to live a fine life. Think: everything noblo that you do influences yourself. It may not Influence another soul (It probably will), hut you are sure that it will Influence your soul. And you are to live forever. Forever. Isn't It worth while? The serene, silent beauty of a holy life Is the most powerful Influence in the world, next to the might of God. We are not done with life as we live It. We shall r.: oj worc': sw.0 Influence again. EP.VORTiUUGUELESSONS OCTOBER SIXTEENTH. The Power of Peraonal Influence. John 1. 35-39. f he universe Is so constructed that events apparently trifling have tre mendous .Influence down through un counted ages. Righteous Abel "be ing dead yet speaketb." His simple obedience In the dawn of history has rung bells of encouragement in the far-away periods even to the present, and their stirring notes will peal on till the end of time. It Is evident that In the common deeds of life there Is a potency not always accorded them. If potent whence Is their potency? Is it merely In the doing, as the falling of an apple Itom a tree? That cannot be: lor while tho falling of an apple may for an Instant affect every atom of the earth, the disturbance thus caused will giadually diminish and ere long be ineffective In so far as we can Judge. If the potency of deeds cannot be detected 4n matter, then It must be In mind. A subtle, hidden, invisible force Imparts to them vital energy. Somehow our deeds exert power long after the hand that tossed them forth has gone back to dust. It la the personal power In our deeds that rings bells In the world through the long centuries. The greatest of all the great deed's of John the Baptist was turn ing his followers away from himself to Christ. It was the Christ-spirit ' In Jolu which made effective his testimony to his Saviour. Whatever added to John's personal loyalty to Christ In creased the effectiveness of his test! mony for his Lord. Here is an Instance wherein John's testimony had more weight Jn convincing the people than would Christ's own claims have had. It is not the amount we do, but the quality of our work, that determines the grade of music made. Consider a marriage ceremony In the Orient. The long ceremonials and processions are ended. The bridegroom, having entered the apartments of his bride, Is allowed to .'ft 'he veil and for the first time behold the face of her who became his wife by bethrothal. If sa tisfied with her he passes to an outer door and announces his hearty ratifi cation of the match that was made by his representatives. Women In watt ing announce the Joyful news. Every where It Is greeted with satisfaction The fov of many Is full, but for the happy couple Joy is fulfilled. The mission of the bridegroom's friend Is completed. Harmonies of rare beau'y are started through personal Influence, and their music will continue "through the river's sweep of onward rushing time." The Czar a Book Lover. flora Is quite a delightful confession from the Czar of all the Russlas, whose heart must now be sorely trou bled by the disasters of the preseat war: , "I love traveling, but only when I can do It in my own way. I never travel otherwise than at night, and spend my day vlsttlng museums and quaint old streets, bazars when 1 am In tbe East, antiquarian shops when 1 am in the North. I am more of an Asiatic than a European In my tastes, and I have not only a vast collection of Indian curios and quite an army of Buddhas large and smsll, but alu a library composed of books troutlrg ot Indiana subjects alone, and auotber of booka dealing with Egyptian lore. Were I not well, what I am I should be the greatest ' bookworm In tl world." Story of Scotch Pawklneaa. A "positively true tale" of Scotch pawklness Is sent to us by a naval correspondent. He traveled up to In venesshlre with a Scotsman, on whose taciturnity 1 be failed, after many ef forts, to Impinge. The Scotsman still stared dully, lixedly from the train. At laat Intelligence began to show In bis face, and grew to ecstacy, and be abouted In bis excitement: "Look here, look here; that's whaur It was." His companion rushed to the window. "In yon wee town," continued the Scotsman, "I was charged saxnenee for ylu cup of coffee." Loudon Globe. Mm The Turning Point, Sweet Saviour, in the midst of life I rest me half way up the hill; t Look back upon the fields of strife, Look forward. Lord, to what you will The past, what is and is to be, 1 leave it all and come to Thee. Thus far I've tried to walk alone And many passed me on the wav; They followed where Thy love-light shone, Passed on, and left me where 1 lay. From out my life's (ietlisemane, Sweet Saviour, now I come to Thee. Cy Warman. Science lierognliliig lis Own Limitations There was a time when science seemed to have determined to eliminate God from the universe which He had created. It did so not modestly, but majestically. Ma terialism and mechanism in the opinion of this school explained everything. Intelli gent b'-ing and doing had no art in crea tion, ri "lessor jyiulall reached the high water mark of the school when he deliv- ered the presidential address of the British j Association thirty years ago. Atomism, Inatet 'iaiism, represented the long results I of science, according to thr latest and greatest master of the new cult. Men have gniie on thinking and inquir ing from that hour to this, ami the won derful thing is that as knowledge has in creased materialism has diminished. Scien tific men find themselves unable to ac count for this great globe, and all which it inherits on purely materialistic lines, and the best of them are not afraid to admit their failure. The latest exponent of the views of the British Association is Mr. llalt'onr. the 1'rinie Miuiler. He is not. we admit, a practical scientist, neither is he a practical theologian. He does not claim to lie one or other. AH he claims for himself is that he is a plain, blunt man, with sutlicient knowledge of science to understand its limitations, and sutlicient knowledge of philosophy to understand its profound depths. To follow in all its detail his ad dress at the opening of the Uritish Asso ciation on Tuesday would be too laborious a task for our limited intelligence and lim ited space. It is sutlicient to say that if 1'rofensor Tyndall in Belfast thirty years ago preached the cold gospel of material ism, Mr. Balfour cast out that gos-l, and avowed that only in idealism could be found an interpretation and explanation of the marvelous phenomena of the uni verse. Mr. Balfour did not carry his own ideas as far as we would have iiked to see them carried. He did not say, as Iird Kelvin on a similar occasion declared, that all science )ed up to the grand ami glorious idea of an intelligent Creator. But if he did not put that into language it was the spirit of his address. Idealimii, as applied to the interpretation of the universe, in volves mind, and mind involves being and intelligence. Science and philosophy can go n certain length and then revelation comes in. llcv elation does not exclude science, it up holds it. All that it complains of is that science sometimes, indeed oftentimes, goe beyond its domain and claims for its in ferences the tame authority as tor its facts. We hear a great deal about reason, and are often told that reason is the final arbi trator. The reason that explains the ex istence of the universe and all that it in herits at the outcome of blind chance may be reason to some unthinking minds. But to those who can reason it is surely more rational to attribute all we are and all we know to an intelligent Being than to blind force, mechanical action or the cperation of laws which come into operation by chance. Lord Kelvin represents to us the highest development of modern science as it throws light upon the universe. And the more he knows and thinks the strong er is he convinced that there is a great per sonal Creator behind nil. I'ull.ut (lie- land) itness. No One Without Talent. Many Christians arc failing to receive degrees of joy in God's service, and are not doing what they could easily do if thev would throw away a false modesty or humility. "Oh, I can not do anything. I have no talent," or "1 have on'y one tal ent." Beloved, the Lord knows all about that. Ko one is without talent. And if you have only one be glad and use that one. The Lord will add to it if you use the one. He says to you anil to lne. "Bear much fruit." It is blessed the writer knows (by the grace of God) from Ions experience to use joyously and earnestly the powers one lias in Jesus' service. It is blessed to meet those whom one has led to Christ. No wonder I'aul says, writine to the Calatian. "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." And the more one is led by the Spirit tiie more of this blessed peace with Hod does he realize and the frrpflrpr bis iov in knowing that his life is made a blessing to others. Alfred T. Scott. The Knil or Life. The end of life is not to do good, al though many of us think so. It ia not to win souls, although I once thought to. The end of life is to do the will of (iod. How can you build up a life on that principle? Let me give you an outline of a little Bible reading: The object of life: ' I come to do Thy will, O Cod." The first thing you need after life it food: "My meat is to do the will of Him that tent Me." The next thing you need after food is society: "He that doeth the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother." You want education: "Teach me to do Thv will." You want pleasure: "I delight to do Thv will. O Ood." A whole life can be built up on that one vertical column, and then, when all it over, "he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." Henry Drummond. Tha Power of Happy Thoughts. How careful we should be to guard oui thoughts. If they are pleasant we will have pleasant faces and kind wavs. We will gain treasures for days of adversity, upon which we can draw when other sources of enjoyment fail. Old age will be happy through them, for they will be used aa material from which to build home of refuge wherein we find comfort and de light when the windows are darkened and we are forced to keep company most of our time with what is within us. Presbyterian liecord. Wa Make Our Own Atmosphere. Bear in mind that your happiness or misery is very much of your own making. You- cannot create spiritual sunlight any more than you can create the morning star: but you cn put your soul whem Christ i shining. Keen a clean conscience. Keep a good ttock of fiod's promises with in reach. Keep a nightingale of hope in your soul that can sing away the dark hour when they do come. Reformed Church Record. . - Chvlttlu ttf-lnrnltv. If ye forgive not men their trespsste. either will your Father forgive your traa- neither w passe. Daughter Married by Mother. A very odd wedding occurred recent ly at tha residence of the Rev. Mary T. Wbltney, In Boston, Mass. The groom was the Rev. Carl O. Horst, tba aaator of tbe Second Unitarian church of Athol. Mass.; the bride waa Miss Emily Altken. ot Boston, and tha officiating minister was the Rev. Mar tha C. Altken, mother of tha bride. Cases where a father marries bla daughter are not infrequent, but this Is, perhaps, the only Instance on rec ord where uuAher has married her daughter. THE GREAT DESTROYER SOME STARTLING FACT3 A90UT THE VICF OF INTEMPERANCE. rosin I Tr Perfnms I Ieti An Ae count nf ftuecessfnl Teinperanee Work tn a Pennsylvania ftiinrtar-lehnol That BhoaM Art a a Stlinnlnt to Other. Touch the goblet no more; It will make thy heart sore Tn its very core. It perfume is the breath Of the angel of death. And the light that within It lies Is tbe flash of his evil eyes. For sorrow, sickness and care All are there. Longfellow, ffunriay-ftehnal Temperance, fn R leaflet issued by the National Tem perance Society. Mr. II. E. Small, super intendent of the Sabbath school of the First Church, of York, l'a., tells of the temperance society in that fhool. Hop ing that it may prove a stimulus to other Sabbath schools, we reproduce part of his article. The meetings are held monthly at the close of the school on the last Sabbath of the month, never taking more than half an hour, often only fifteen to twenty min utes, the snnerintendent of the school shortening his exercises on that day ten or fifteen minutes. The meetings are pre sided over by the nresident or one nf the vice-presidents. The exercises nre opened with singing n few appropriate verses nnd n short prayer led by one of the teachers. The pledge is then read by the secretary, some brief addresses, showing thi- enls re sulting from the use of intoxicating drinks, nnd the importance of leading sober and virtuous lives. The secretary thn pro. cccds from class to class, offering the pledge for signers, which arc written in a hock. (This is done at all the meetings.) This done, the meeting is closed with sing ing. Now for the results: Purine the snare of a little over nine years, seven hundred nnd fifty scholars, teachers. oT'-'Ts nnd visitors have signed the pledge. It rirelv occurs that a new scholar, young or old, attends the school for three consecutive months, that his or her name is not volun tarily added to the pledge. We have no instance where scholars under twelve vcars of age ever broke their plccl-e. but we have the evidence of their being, witl.-oit exception, pronounced fiiemls iif icnver ance; many having gone to reside in other places throughtout the country, cirrviri their abstinence principles with them, and putting them into practice bv establishing Associations similar to the one above re ferred to in Sabbath nnd public day schools at their new homes. Some of the teachers who were in the habit of using wine in their family ami social gatherings and who never thought it neci -irv to pledge themselves, within six minlhs after the organization of the association give up the use of it, signed the pledge nnd have become enpnest advocates of femnerar.ee. In 1861 the school had about 1'sl sihnl are: in IST.i it hail over 3."m. In l'fil the church had about Phi members; in H7"i it had over .io). a large proportion of tiicm coming from the school. It is a notab'e fact that w-her- onee s child takes its first step in the right direc tion openly, by its own free net, it is easier to take the next and more imp-irnnt step in a public profession of Christ. The total number of signers to the pledge February 20, Will, was 1770. And now, in view of this practical sue cess. I anneal to all workers amnn:: the young. Will not you. dear pastor, teachei or friend of Jesus, look at this sunset earnestly and give it serious thought? Why should any Christian hesitate a moment to commence work enrnestly with the yo ma. when it is such a clear duty, and when youth is the time of life when las'ina im pressions are made? Presbyterian Banner. Why Many !len Drink, The dean of Rochester, writing to a hor ticultural correspondent recommends vege table growing as conducive to temperance. Oct a man to take pains with his veget ables, fays the dean, and you will do more to keep him sober "than all the blue rili bons nnd pledges worn or signed." Th'-re is here the practical statement of a f.i'-t which extends far beyond th" ve -ct ib'e garden, and which is too often ovrloo'.-cd. J)ri'iking tor the most part i p:o.t ol nothing so much ns a lack of interest in life, savs the London Ur.iphie. A 'v.u-1;. ingman who has no resources outside hn round of daily toil hoc when il is over to the public house simply because -here is nothing else for him to do to escape being 1-ored. He is too tireil to read, evea if lie cared much about reading, and he can scarcely be expected to sit wrapped in merl itation. Hence, even if his wife be thin'tv nnd his home well kept, the tenmtation is strong to betake himself to the public house, where at least he can meet and ta'k with his fellows, (live him n counter at traction something that he likes and can take a personal interest in and the public house at once begins to lose its compelling power. This has been demonstrated over nnd over aftain where wor!:m rmen have been supplied, or have supplied themselves, with machinery for rational recreation. IXtroit Free Press. Alcoholism In Krhool. An interesting investigation on the prev alence of alcoholism among school children in riermany has recently been published, imv Harper's Weekly. Its author. Dr. (Joldlield, believes that the situation is se rious, and should be brought to the atten tion of the parents bv means of addresci at meetings ami by the distribution of es says on the evil effects of alcohol. The in vestigator is medical oflieer of the publio schools of Schoneberg, a suburb of Berlin, nnd his examination included 9ti7 children. 4"u of whom were in a boys' school and 4W7 in a girls' school. Of these, 4IW. oi SI. 3 per cent., were accustomed to drink from one to two glasses of beer daily, while 2o!t, or 30.9 per cent., took spirits more oi less frequently. The favorite beverage wat malt beer, but all kinds of beer and vari ous kinds of spirits were taken, the sweet er liipiors being preferred bv the girls. Dr. fioldfclil was informed by the teachers that the children addicted to the use of spirit were especial, y Inzv, absent-minded anil in clined to lying. Neither children nor par ents heeded Ur. (ioldfeld's warning. Oeorgla Almost a Prohibition Slste. "fieorgia," said Congressman Livingston, of that State, "is almost a prohibition Commonwealth. Out of a totul of 137 counties, 1:28 have voted that no intoxi cants shall be sold within their border. In the few remaining counties that voted wet' the saloons must close at 10 o'clock at night, and not reopen earlier than I o'clock in tbe morning. We live in a pari of the I nion where temperance is a com mon virtue and where the baneful effect of over indulgence in honor have been re duced to a minimum." Washington Post. Th Crusade la Brief. Hread ia the staff of life; beer the stilts. The safe tide of a public house is the outaide. A labor become more skilled ami bet ter organized drunkenness is diminished. Kmployer and employe understand that the chances favor the sober. The liussisn Government estimates it revenue for 1U04 from the liuuor trade in tiie several provinces where the business is monopolized at over ;t58,!sin,0OO. Queen Wilhelmina ia a total abstainer; the is also a member of the Women' ).eague, which haa for on of ita chief ob jects the suppression of drunkenness. If you get the best whisky it will get the best of you. Tho Prelect of th Seine having pla carded Paris with posters describing th terrible effect of alcohol and absinth drinking, the cafe proprietors each tiled a dsmsge suit agaiaut him. Mrs. Margaret hherman, of Menominee, Mich., baa brought auit fur SoOUU damage against Joseph feckolj, snlooiu.t, aud Lis iionnsmen, rerninana J. rsowaclc and Jo. I Kidliti, for selling liquor to her husband , after being warned not to do ao. An anli-trtating movement is making I considerable headway iu Montreal, Can ada. Member of the league pledge their solemn word of honor not to accept aud not to offer to other any iutoxicatuig liquor in auy public bar, hot! or club. household ftflatters .Sour Cream Drop Cakrs. One cup sugiir. one-hnlf cup butter,, one egg. one-bnlf cup sour crenm. one teaspoon of soda dissolved tn a verj little hot water, flour to mix soft. Liop from a spoon on greased tins. Pot to sonMs, To two ctipfuls of smooth, well sen) oned and quite moist ninsheil potatoea add the yolks of two eggs. When a little cold stir In lightly the whites of two eggs beaten very stiff. Put tha whole into a pudding dish and brown It iu a quick oven. Spinach stnlarl. Tloll nnd chop line half a peck of splnnch, mold it In six glasses and stand nwny until cold. I'tvpnre six leaves of lettuce, put on p.n-li n stiarsv cf cold boiled bntn or tongue, turn out the mold of pinn-h on this and put on enrh a tublcspoouful of French dress ing. Fried Curumb-rs. Tare nnd cut lengthwise three larjre cucumber In slices about half an Inch thick, sonk tlioin in Ice water onp hour, then wipe pitch pbcp dry. sprinkle with salt snd pepper, dredge with flour or cornmeal nnd fry In one tablP spoouful of butter on both sides uutif brown. Tnmatoe Bronf!,' SIlcp six tomatoes half an Inch thick:, but do not pool them. Dip them In one tiiblospoonful of oil or molted butter, sprinkle with popper nnd salt nnd broil them eight minutes on each side. Serve them with bits of butter sprinkled over thorn. Add one teaspoonfui of chopped par.sley. Caramel fce-frenm. One-third cupful of thin cream or one-sixth cupful of each of heavy cream and milk. om and a half table spoonfuls of ratiul.ited simar. one tnblespoonful of boiling water, one quarter teaspoonftil of vnniilu. a grain of salt. Tut sugar in a small sauce pan; place on range and stir constantly until melted. Add water nnd bull until mixture Is reduced to one tablcspo'm fttl. Add cream very slowly, vanilla, salt, then freeze. Cheese Cnstur I. nutter a baking dish, put In n Inypr of bread cut in pieces one inch square with crust removed, sprinkle thin sliced cheese over the bread, dust with salt and paprika, or n few grains of cayeune. Add other layers of bread nnd cheese, seasoning ns before, using in all half a small hmf of bread, one cup of cheese and half a tenspoonfu! of salt. P.ent two pgas slightly, ndd one pint of milk, and pour the mixture over the brpad nnd cheese. Hake about Lulf an hour in a moderate oven. Cncninher Mweet Plrklt. r-llce the cucumbers about one Inch thick, find boil for one hour in weak alum water; take nut ami lay In cold water; let remain till pcrfi-ctly cold; then boil again in fresh alum water half an hour; drain the fruit well: make a syrup of ope pound of sugar t'V each pound of cider vinegar: boil the I syrup; then put In the fruit nnd boil It ' till transparent. Add inaep. and if the I syrup Is not thick enough continue to boil :fter the 1 fill t is remove. 1. When i colli, sprinkle iu some white uiusiurd j seed. Oranges I Hied with .lellr. Take half n dozen oranges that are perfect; make n hole at the sti-in end shout half an Inch in diameter; take a teaspoon nnd remove tint pulp, ami then soak the oranges in cold water for an hour; then scrape with the spoon until they are smooth Inside: rinse with cold water nnd drain on a cloth nnd put theiu Iu Ice box. Prepare pink and clear orange jelly, with the Juice of two lemons added. Fill half of them with the pink, the other half with clear Jelly, and when they are set wipe clean nnd cut each orange in four quarters. Heap them lu a pretty glass dish for the table. From Cellar ti Garret. Totntoes will bake more rapidly If a pan of water Is put into the oven with them. To break ice In small places for the comfort of an Invalid use a darning I needle. I To bake a pie crust without filling;, line with para Hi n paper tilled with ua ; cooked rice. ! Coarse salt and vinegar will clean. enameled ware that ha been burned or discolored. In stuffs for hangings the colors that have the soft, slightly faded look of old embroideries or brocades are pre ferred. A nut pick kept on tbe kitchen table) Is the most convenient utensil for re moving the paper cover from the mlllt bottles. Never use newspapers to wrap about anything eatable. It Is enoiiiony to have a supply of pa ratlin paper always on band. When washing; boarded floors put a handful of salt Into every bucket of water, nnd you will not be troubled with moths. A convenience for a smnll room Is a long, shallow, covered box, hinged and castered, which can be rolled under th bed and used to store clothing not la Immediate use. A soft Tarnish brush with a strlnf or wire through the handle to banc by Is a desirable utensil in every pantry, to be used for brushing bread, rolls aud pastry with melted butter. A tall screen covered to match a sofa or divan, and stauding at Its bead, aa as to abelter Its occupant from tba light or a draught. Is a good Idea andl a help In breaking up long wall space. An Ingenloua woman keeps ber bread sponge at an Ten temperature that year round by putting It In tbe oven of a stove without nre and putting a small lighted laaip beside It. leaving tbe door partly open. Ia a fruit pie always oils a tables, spoonful of flour thoroughly with tha sugar-both dry. If butter t to ca used, spread It on th lower crust be fore putting la tha fruit and It will t eyenlj ClUrluuted through tht pit. w
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers