(COMFORTING CERTAINTIES k Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr. Robert Bruce. 'Words Addressed to Nlcodemat The Person Till the Verities of Our Faith Cluster About. MnooKT.YX, N. Y. Sunday morning the Bey. Dr. Robert Bruce Hull, pastor of Greenwood Baptist Church, preached on "Comforting Certainties." The text wet from John iii:ll: "We speak that we do know." Or. Hull said in the course of hie sermon: These words were addressed to Nicode mua. He was an earnest, honest, yet timid inquirer after truth. He had come to , Jesus under cover of the darkness. As an official of the Jewish Sanhedrim, he did not dare to be seen talking with the Nam rene Teacher. Vet he is convinred in his own mind that Jesus is a prophet and that, too, a prophet sent of God. This much he confesses to the Christ. Then be- fins the wonderfully instructive interview rom which the text is taken. This inter, view is evidently only an outline, but the outline is marvelnusly 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 his standing in the community was honor able. Hut lie was not a spiritual man. 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." Xicodemu could not understand what Jesus meant by being born again. He was unable to see wnat tuat new spiritual lite ; was of which he himself was lacking. Then i it is that the third double amen of Jesus : introduces the words of the text: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee we spenk that we do know and testify that we have seen." In this utterance Jesus uses the word "we," not simply as the plural of majesty, but connecting Himself with all His disci- pies, so that it is perfectly proper and I right for us to-day to use His words and i ay: "We speak that we .do know." Chris- f tians are competent witnesses to the cer- I tainties of religion. While in a sense it j may be said that "the Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants," yet in the fuller sense our religion is a life. Christ is Christianity. His life in Himself and in His disciples is the spirit and the I power of true religion. We have something , more than opinion; something better than creeds; we have as one of the eternal veri- I ties Jesus Christ as the manifestation of God. It has been well said that "Christ j either deceived mankind by conscious . fraud or He was Himself deluded and de ceived, or He us divine. There is no get ting out of this trilemma. 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 My Father are one." This was 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- . die must not bend. Jesus Christ is the arch j connecting humanity and divinity. The ' weight of the centuries of Christianity rest on that arch and they rest there safely, for "Jesus is God; there never was a time i when He was not; ' Boundless, eternal, merciful, the word, I 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 Nicodemus. 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, I hose of Aicouemus time would . have said it was necessary to reform, to deal honestly, to behave kindly, to live up- i rightly. So many say to-day, and if by all this they mean uprightness in its perfect i form they are right.' But no man has ever j lived who ..as neen thus unriirht. "All have 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 man with His divine life, and then, and not tiil then, are we in Harmony with the divine holiness, When that life comes in then there is manifested the "expulsive power of a new affection," better still, the expulnive power of a new life. Nothing less than lite can account for the change in men. Nothing but life can exert the power which the cen- turiea of Christianity nave manifested. In physics we affirm confidently that every ef- I feet must have an adequate cause. This also is true in. the realm of spirituality. If persecutors are changed into preachers, if 1 i 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 cauce o. what power is adenuite for j such marvelous alterations. We know these changes. It is folly to say we do not know the power. Twice each day our city is washed- by a mighty ebb and flow of tides that sweep in ami out, despite all the winds that blow. Your 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, Uto, is puzzled. Yet he knows the power, knows it so well he can measure it and use it, So, too, with Christianity, and its power. We can recognize its force and use it, but its secret is the secret of life. Like all force, iu its origin it is a mystery. Tennyson says: "We have but faith we cannot know. ' For knowledge is of things we see. This is not quite true. Knowledge is 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 uever felt or knew a pain. We know the power of the Christ life ni the believer, because we have felt it, and sometimes when this Christ life in us has its perfect freedom we are able to say with Paul: "I can do all things in Chrutt who strengtheneth me." - This certainty concerning the power of the Christ life can be attained by all who will fuliill the conditions. There must be a surrender to Clu-ist and a trust in Christ. You cannot have the sunbeam without the un. You caunot have the power of Christ without the Christ Himself. The apostle says: "Christ is in -you the hope of glory," and it is certainly true that Christ must be in us the power for glory. Thus the centre of our certitude is Christ Himself. Wo know Him. Wo know His power. It haa been exercised upon us and in us. Like the once blind beggar, wo exclaim: "One thing 1 know, whereas, I was blind, riow I see. There was no note of uncertainty bout this; there should bo no note of un certainty about our utterances concerning ur faith or concerning our own position. But in this Mgo of doubt msr.y Christians are so frightened out of sanity that they re afraid to say even of the deepest ex- iwriences of the soul, "1 know." Not so .'aul, facing death: "I know whom I have believed." Not so John, the. beloved dis ciple, declaring. "We know that we have passed from death unto life. We know that when He shall appear we shall be like .Him." It is not modesty, but lack of faith which prompts Christians to say, "I hope I am a Christian." When we have life we 'know it and should not be ashamed to say so. If we have not the life then by alt the importance of eternity make sure of ob taining rt. It is possible to have a living VJerienc of Jeaua Christ. To have such an experience that wT mav say: "I ttv?, vet nnt but Christ, liveth in me." Be- lief mnv 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 pertnintv is In everv 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 g!obe. True, indeed, is the Scripture declaration "if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable." If Heath were the end of ' an tnen we migut well neneve mat crie-iiy sac in me mrone oi ine universe, uui, staggered as all are by the unutterable sor row, yet God 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 because we know Jesus still lives and is the same to-dny as when Ha 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 eared, God loved and in eternity God would make this un speakalile sadness a source of perpetual joy. Can I explain it? No! But I could not preach, I could not hold up my head as n Christian if I did not believe; yea, if I did not know, that somehow, some time, the curse shall be changed into n blessing. This is the nrivilege of Christians to sav even now: "We know that all t'n;ng work together for good to them that love God." Whv is it that all do nnt know these things? Partly because of their condition. There are to-day those who "hiiving eyes see not, and having ears hear not." The influence of training is not easily overcome. Trained onlv to consider as real that wnich can be analyzed by scientific implements, men refuse to admit the reilitv of things which thev 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 carinot be moved by the concord of sweet sounds. Tt is not a ques tion of honestv, but of fact. God 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 rives 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 hands 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 always 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 seeks to clothe itself in the most attractive garb. That is the explanation of the transfor mation that takes place in a woman who is a mother. She may be plain otherwise, but when she bends over her babe in an ecstasv of mother-love she becomes beauti ful. And in proportion as we give place to unselfish love do we become attractive. There is no masseur like love to work miracles in a homely face, says the Chris tian Endeavor World. There is no facial specialist who can begin to do as much to make a plain young man or woman at tractive, to overcome deformity or hide blemishes as the magieinn love can do. To hate is to become hateful. To love as Christ loved is to become lovely. It is not a cheap recipe, for such love costs in pro- portion to it depth and intensity. But any one that is willing to pay the price ; may be beautiful. Boastful Building. "Blow, 0 winds! Bjse, 0 ocean! Brehk forth, ve elements and try my work!" Such was the boastful inscription put upon I the first luldystono lighthouse Duiit Dy tne eccentric Winstanley. His challenge was accepted, and one fearful niglit the sea wallowed up the tower and its builder. The next one met a similar fate, the structure and its builder, Kudyard, again perishing together. The third was erected by Smeaton, who built it all of stone, making it a part of its rock foundation, so that the lighthouse penetrates it as a tree penetrates the soil. 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 labor in vain that build it," and on the keystone, above the lantern, is 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 Graca to Bear. When Christ does not take away the thing that is hard for us to bear, He gives 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 thee." That is, Paul would receive grace from Christ, Christ's own strength in bis life, enough of it to meet all his need, so that the suffering would be overbalanced by the grace, and thtf hindrance overcome by the divine strength imparted. This promise is for every Christian who has 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 as though we did not have it. Forward. Idols Transformed. A missionary in Travancore, India, saw, one morning, native coming to his house with a heavy burden. On reaching it be laid on the ground a aack. Unfastening it he emptied it of its 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," suid the native, "but we think they might be put to some good use. Could they not be melted down and formed into a bell to call us to church?" The hint was taken; they were sent to bell founder and made into bell, which bow summons the native convert to praiae and prayer. Child of Many Nations. When Camillo dl Rlghlnl, the charm ing child of Mme. Ella Russell, was born, his parents were In great doubt as to bla nationality, for be was born two day out from New York) on the Konlgen Louise, under the German flag. His mother la an American; bis father, Count dl Rlghlnl, a pure Ital ian. On the father's side Mme. Ella Russell's grandfather was Welsh and her maternal grandmother Austrian. To add to these complications, Camll lo'a birtb was registered, according to law, at tbe first port of call, which happened to be Cherbourg, France. What waa tbe nationality of tbls little Italian American Scotch Welsh Austrian German r French English Infant? Tbla profound problem for a long time perplexed all Mme. Russell's frlendi and acquaintances, until tbe singer at last had tbe good fortune to consult T. P. O'Connor, who without a moment's hesitation pronounced tbe verdict, "Why, av coorse, be'a a aon ould Oirland." TTTp! SUNDAY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS FOR OCTOBER 16. Subject! Elisha anil the Shnnamlte. II Kins;, It., JJS-ST Oolilen Text, Knin, l a Memory Verses, 84-35 Com mentary on th Day's Lesson, I. Kindness rewarded (vs. 8-171. F.lishs in htm Mfn.U " prophet and religious lr.ilf of thn nnn1n traveled from iiUce to place, on foot, with Uehazi, his auena ant. There seems to have been public re ligious services on the Sabbath and first days of the month (v. 23). Elisha frc quentlv passed by the village of Shtincm, and was invited to the house of one of the leading families for refreshment and food. The lady of the house seems 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 Jue deference to him. This woman was rhildlcss. which was a gieat sorrow in het life, and as a reward for her kindness K.;isha promised that within a year she should embrace a son. II. Heath in the home (vs. 18-24). In ine time a son was born into the house. He grew up to be four or five years old. III.' could not have been much older if this part of the story took place iliuini Jcho ram's reign.1 But the story mnv hive be gun then, but tun on to a later period. Otic morning the boy went out into the fields where his father was gathering in the harvest. Iu tins valley which is to-day o-e of the richest wheat lands on the wide globe, he was taken suddenly sick. Con sidering the svmptoms and the season of the year there is little doubt that a sun stroke was followed by inflammation of the brain. The liny 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 oi the pro phet's bed. Il was a strange iifi'irtion that ..od should take away rlie child lie had given as a reward for her kindness to the prophet, while her kindness had been con tinued and increasing year by year. III. Meeting the prophet tvs. g.j-QS). 2". "She went. The mother immediately hastened across the plain to Mount Cat nicl, sixteen or seventeen miles distant, in icarch of Elisha. "Man of God." That is, Clod's representative. So called, 1. lie--nine of the integrity of his character. 2. Because he instructed the people in divine hings. Ten times in this chapter is Elisha .-ailed by this title. "Saw her." From the hilltop looking down into the valley. 211. "Hun now." This was a mark of totirtesv, showing his great esteem. "Is it well?" "Is it peace?" "It is well." In the Hebrew only the word "peace is wed. She gives this answer to Geliazi s question that she mav avoid more words; the has no thought of deception. 27. "Caught him by the feet." The atti tude of humblest supplication. She hum blv reasoned with him concerning her pres. erit affliction; she threw herself at his feet is one troubled and in grief, which she never showed until she came to Elisha, the 3n whom she believed could help her. 'Thrust her awav." In his officious zeal, uigrv at the slight toward him, or deem ing her touch defilement, or her importu nity excessive, or such liberties beneath iiis master's dignity. "Let her alone." A loble mind does not pass sentence before hearing the case. Elisha' gentleness was in evidence of his greatness. "Soul is ravoA ' SvmT.AtW is oenetrative. Cilltl- rate earnes'tly the Christ-like talent of dis cerning the sorrows of others. "Lord hath hid." In reference to this point he had not the discernment of spirits. This and the gift of prophecy were influences God lave and suspended as in His infinite wis lorn and love He was good. 28. "Did I desire a son? She reminded him that she had not asked for the child, but that he had come to her ns a free gift from God. Whv should God, she argued, give her the child of His own will, only to take him awav? Had she. not besought the prophet not to mock her with a false hope? Thus did she reason. IV. The servant's failure (vs. 20 311. 29. "Gird mi thv loins." Bv tightening the rirdle and tucking the mantle under so as to leave the legs free. "Staff." The badge jf the prophetical gift which he had re reived from God, of might and strength. "Salute him not." In the East salutations sre full of form and consume much time. The command showed the urgency of the mission and the necessity for the exercise of faith and prayer. 31. "Will not leave thee." After the heartless attempt of Ge hazi tt thrust her away she has no confi dence in his ministiv, even though ho :arry the staff of Elisha. Sacred vest ments nnd a holy commission will not com mand the confidence of earnest souls un less they lie associated with a true and ten der heart. , 31. "Neither voice, nor hearing. Why was Elisha's mission fruitless? Everything joes to show that at first Elisha 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 sponse was made to the first claim of faith by means of the staff. That appeal was in fact superseded the moment he resoived to go in person, the Lord thus reserving for the personal intercession of His prophet the honor of this marvelous deed. V. A great miracle ivs. 32-37). 32. "Child was dead." This statement clear ly forbids the supposition that thu chi.d had merely fainted or fullen into a trance. Hj was really, not apparently, dead. 33. "Shut the door." He prayed in secret and his Father rewarded him openly. "Prayed.' The onlv remedy in such a case as this. The best things in life come through praver. 34. "Lay upon the child." He jsed what means were in his power, though the means alone could never have brought the child to life. Su James tells the eld ers to pray with the sick and to anoint them with oil (James B: 14, 15.) "Put his mouth," etc. Elisha followed the exnnipa of Elijah ns ncurly as possible (1 Kings 17: 18-24). "Waxed warm." Returning life is slowly given, but the first signs of re storation must have strengthened his zeal and given fervor to his prayers. 33. "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. Possib'y, tqo, there was a struggle of fuith ia the mind of the prophet. "Sneezed seven times." When the nervous influence be gan to'-;t on the muscular syste.n tneez ing would be a natural consequence, as obstructions must havo taken pluce in the head, the cause of the disorder of which the child died. 30. "Take up thy sun." Joyfullv the child was returned alive to his mother. Usee the power of prayer; as it has the key of the clouds, so it has tho key of death. Too the piwer of faith. Tint fixed luw of nature, death, shall be dis pensed with rather thati this believing hhunumite be uiaappointed. 37. "Fell at his feet." In overwhelming gratitude. When God bus done great thincrs for us, we should bow humbly and say, "Lord, 1 am tot worthy." rice Ceu. CJ: ID. Mrs. Longfellow's Dinner. Speaking of "company" coming re minds me of a atory a Boston man tells of tbe poet Longfellow. Mr, Longfellow bad a sodl above sordid material considerations, and on one occasion be brought a guest borne to dine without advising Mrs. Longfel low beforehand. Tbe guest waa a dis tinguished Englishman, who bad just arrived with a letter of Introduction. Tbe day waa Friday, and tbe cook be ing a Catholic tbe family bad fallen Into the, bablt of eating no meat at tbe Friday dinner. Mrs. Longfellow thought despairingly of tbe fish and then, realizing, I dare say, that dry bread would be a. feast with Longfel low at tbe table, led the guest to tbe dining room with a faint heart, Tbe fish was brought In. Tbe distin guished guest glanced at It, and then he smiled at bis hostess. "I know Mrs. Longfellow will par don me," he said, "If I decline tbe Qsb course." Washington Poet OCTOBER SIXTEENTH. "The Power of Personal Influence." John 1:35-39. Scripture Vereee. Kom. 14:7, 8; I Cor. 8:813; Rom. 14:13, 21; Matt. 28:18-20; 18:6, 7; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3. Lesson Thoughts. Show the Jnfluenc (food men havo had in the world: 1. Moses; 2. David; 3. Elijah; 4. Paul; 5. Luther; 6 WaHhlng.on; 7. Lincoln. Our accountability extends even to the Influence we exort unconsciously upon those about us; for It all reatilta from our behavior before them. "No man liveth to himself." Selections. Influence is M Inseparable from character as the fragranre la 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 Uie lamp. "Why, I'm not giving anything, am 1? I am all the time getting begging, sucking up oil through my hungry wick." That's It. Got fed within, obiain the oil of the Spirit, which la love, joy, peace, and I'll risk the light. Why, your face can't help shining then. "The old archers," says Dr. Tal mage, "took the bow, put one end ot It down beside the foot, elevated tho other end, and it was the rule that tho bow should be just the size of the archer. If It were just his 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: everyihing noblo that you do influences yourself. It may not Influence another soul (It probably will), but 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 lire 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 mrst v. cj wore?': a' Influence again. MriTOETESSONS OCTOBER SIXTEENTH. The Power of Personal Influence. John 1. 35-39. f he universe Is so constructed that events apparently trilling have tre mendous influence down through un counted ages. Righteous Abel "be ing dead yet speaketh." 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 1rom a tree? That cannot be: for while the falling ot an apple may for an Instant affect every atom of the earth, the disturbance thus caused will gradually diminish and ere long be ineffective in so far as we can Judge. If the potency of deeds cannot be detected Jn matter, then It must be In mind. A subtle, hlddon. 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 Is the personal power In our deeds that lings bells In the world through the long centuries. The greatest of all the great deeds of John the Raptist was turn ing his followers away from himself to Christ. It was the Christ-spirit In Joh 'which made effective his testimony to his Saviour. Whatever added to John's personal loyalty to Christ ln creased the effectiveness of his testl 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 tho 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 lift the 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 tho match that was made by his representatives. Women in watt ing announce the Joyful news. Every whr it la ereeted with satisfaction The joy of many is full, but for the happv couple Joy Is fulfilled. The mission of the brldegroom'B friend Is completed. Harmonies of rare beanty are started through personal .influpnee, and their music will continue "through the river'a sweep of onward rushing time." The Ciar a Book Lover. Here 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 present war: "I love traveling, but only when I can do It In my own way. I never travel otherwise than at niqht. and spend my day visiting museums and quaint old streets, bazars when ! am In tbe EaBt, antiquarian shops when I 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 ana small, out ain a library composed of books treating of Indiana subjects alone, and another of books dealing with Egyptian lore. Were I not well, what I am I should be the greatest bookworm In tl world." Story ef Scotch Pawklness. "positively true tale" ot Scotch pawklness Is sent to us by naval correspondent. He traveled up to In venessblre with a Scotsman, on whose taciturnity be failed, after many ef forts, to Impinge, The Scotsman still tared dully, llxedly from tbe train. At last Intelligence began to show In bla face, and grew to ecotacy, and be shouted In bis eicitement: "Look here, look here; that's whaur It was." His companion rushed to tbe window. "In yon wee town," continued the Scotsman, I was charged saxpenne for yln cup of coffee." Loudun Globe. The Turning Point, Sweet Saviour, in the midst of life I rest me half-way up the hill; l Look back upon the fields of strife, ljok forward, Lord, to What you will The past, what is and is to be, I leave it all and come to Thee. Thus far I've tried to walk alone And many passed me on the way; They followed where Thy love-light shone, Passed on, and left me where 1 lay. From out my life's Gethsemane. Sweet Saviour, now 1 come to Thee. Cy Warman. Science Kecngnlilna lis Own Limitations There was a time when science seemed to have determined to eliminate God from the universe winch He had created. It did so not modestly, hut majestically. Ma terialism and mechanism in the opinion of this school explained everything. Intelli gent liiig and doing had no part in crea tion. I'rntcssnr lyndall reached t He lugli water mark of the school when he deliv ered the presidential address of the British Association thirty years ago. Atomism, iniUei lalism, represented the long results of science, according to the latest and greatest master of the new cult. Men have gone on thinking and inquir ing lictti that hour to this, and the won derful thing is that as knowledge has in creased materialism has diminished. Scien tific men lind themselves unable to ac count !r this great globe, nnd 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. lialfour, the Prime Minister. He is nut, we admit, a practical scientist, neither is he a practical theologian. He does not claim to be one or other. All he claims for himself is that he is a plain, blunt man, with sufficient knowledge ot science to understand its limitations, and sufficient knowledge of philosophy to understand its profound depths. To follow in all its detail his ad dress at the opening of the liritish Asso ciation on Tuesday would be too laborious a task fur our limited intelligence and lim ited space. It is sufficient to eay that if Professor Tyndall in Belfast thirty years ago preached the cold gospel of material ism, Mr. lialfour cast out that gosel, 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 liked to see them tarried. He did not say. as Lord Kelvin on a similar occasion declared, that all science led up to the grand and glorious idea of an intelligent Creator. But if he did not put that into language it was the spirit of his address. Idealism, as applied to the interpretation of the universe, in volves mind, and mind involves being and intelligence. Science and philosophy can go a certain length and then revelation comes in. Rev elation docs not exclude science, it up holds it. All that it complains of is that science sometimes, indeed oftentimes, goes beyond its domain and claims for its in ferences the same authority as for its facts. We hear a great deal about reason, and are often told that reason is the final arbi trator. The reason that explains thy ex istence of the universe and all that it in herits as the outcome ot blind chance may be reason to some unthinking minds. But to those who can reason it is surely more rational to attribute all we arc and all we know to an intelligent Being than to blind force, mechanical action or the operation of laws which come into operation by chance. Lord Kelvin represents to us the highest development of modern t.'iencc as it throws light upon the univer-e. And the more he knows and thinks the strong er is he convinced that there is a great per sonal Creator behind all. Bcliast (ire land) Witness. No One Wltlioiit Talent. Many Christians arc failins to receive degrees of joyin (lod's service, and are not doing what they could easily do if thev would throw away a false modesty or humility. "Oh, I cm not do anything. I have no talent." or "I have only one tal ent." Ueloved. the Lord knows all about that. No one is without talent. And if you have only one he glad and use that one. The Lord will add to it if you use the one, He says to you anil to nie. "Bear much fruit." It is blessed the writer knows (by the grace of Clod) from long experience to use joyously anil earnestly the powers one has in Jesus' service. It is blessed to meet those whom one has led to Christ. No wonder Paul says, writing to the Calatians. "1 live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." And the more one is led by the Spirit the more of this blessed peace with tiod does he realize and the greater his joy in knowing that his life is made: a blessing to others. Alfred T. Scott. The End of Life. The end of life is not to do good, al though many of us think so. It is not to win souls, although I once thought so. The end of life is to do the will of God. 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 tiod." The first thing you need after life is food: "My meat is to do the will of Hiiu that sent Me." The next thing you need after food is society: "Ho that doeth the will of Mv I Father in Heaven, the same is My brother ami sister aim motner. You want education: "Teach me to do Thy will." You want pleasure: "I delight to do Thy will, O God." A whole life can be built up on thut one vertical column, and then, when all is over, ''he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." Henry Druminond. The Power of Happy Thoughts. How careful we should be to guard out thoughts. If they are pleasant we will have pic&tant faces and kind wavs. We will gain treasures for days of adversity, upon which we can draw when other sources of enjoymeut fail. Old age will be happy through them, for they will be used as material from which to build homes of refuge wherein we find comfort and de light when the wiudows are darkened and we are forced to keep company most of out time with what is within us. Presbyterian Itecord. We Make Our Own Alinophcre. Bear in mind that your happiness ot misery ia very much of your own making. You cannot create spiritual sunlight any more than vou can create the morning star; but you can put your soul where i'hrist is shining. Keep a clean conscience. Keep a good stock of (iod's promises with in reach. Keep a nightingale of hope in vour soul that can sing away the dark nours when they do come. Informed Church itecord. '. Christian RMlprovlty. If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your tra paases. Daughter Married by Mother. A very odd wedding occurred recent ly at the residence of the Rev. Mary T Whitney, In Boston, Mass. The groom waa the Rev. Carl O. Horst, the pastor of the Second Unitarian church of Athol, Mass.; the bride waa Miss Emily Altken, of Boston, and tbe officiating minister was the Rev. Mar tha C. Altkeu. mother of the bride. Cases wnere m u T''" ! ! 1 An ami treating movement is making daughter are not lr.rrequent, nut ir.i eonj.jrr.i.le headway in Mont real. Cau ls, perhaps, the only Instance on reo a,a. Members nt the lesgne pledge their nrd where a uielher has married ber solemn word of. honor not to accept and " 7. "ot lo offer to other auy intoxicating daughter. Unuors in auy public bar, hvlul or club. CIS THE GREAT DESTROYER SOME STARTLING FACT3 ABOUT THE VICF OF INTEMPERANCE. Poem I Its Perfnms Is Dentil An Ar. ennnt nt aiireessful Temperance Work in Pennsylvania SnniUr-chool That HhooM Act as a Stltnnlns to Others. Touch the goblet no more; It will make thy heart sora To its very core. Its perfume is tbe breath Of the angel of death. Apd the light that within It lift Is the flash of his evil eyes. For sorrow, sickness and care All are there. Longfellow. aan1sy-rhnol Temperance. fn a leaflet issued by the National Tenv pcrance Society. Mr. D. K. Small, super intendent of the Sabbath school of the First Church, of York. Pa., tells of the temperance society in thnt school. Hop ing that it may prove a stimulus to other Sabbath schools, we reproduce part of his article. The meetings are held monthlv t the close of the school on the last Sabbath of the month, never taking more than half an hour, often onlv fifteen to twenty min utes, the siineriiitendent of the school shortening his eNcicups on tint day ten or fifteen minutes. The meetings are pre sided over by the rrcsiden or one of the vice-presidenls. Tin- cxerri-es nre npcneil with singing a few appropriate verses and n short prayer led by one of the teachers. The pledge is then read by the secretary, sonic brief addres-es. showini th': evils re sulting from the use of intnxiralinz drinks, nnd the importance of leading sober and virtuous lives. The t-rer.-tavy tlien pro ceeds from class tn class, offering the pledge for signers, which arc written in a book. (This is done at all the meetings.) This done, the meeting is closed with sing ing. Now for the results: Punni the snace of a little over nine years, sevrn hundred and fifty scholars, teacher-. "Ill ts ad visitors have signed the pledge. Ii r.trelv occurs that a new scholar, young or nil, attends the school for three coi.-ceulivc months, that his or her name is nnt volun tarily added to the pledge. We have re instance where scholars miner twcive veas of age ever broke their pl"dge. hut wr bave the evidence of their being., wit'cuit exception, pronounced liiends or t-cer ance; many having gone to re-ide in othf places throughtout the country, riming their abstinence principles with th-m. an 1 putting them into practice by e-i h!i-lvTv.; associations similar to the one above re ferred to in Sabbat li nnd publi" d.iv schools at their new homes. n'nc of the teachers who were in the habit f using wine in their family and social gatherings and who never thought it n -'rv tt pledge themselves, within ix months aiter the organization of the association give up the use of it, signed the pledge and l ave becom" earnest advocates of temperance. In 18H5 the school had about l'o s-hol ars; in 1873 it had over 3.?t. In W' the church had about 100 members; in WT" it had over 300. n large proportion of tiieni coming from the school. It is a notable fact that wIk onrc a child takes its first step in the right d rec. tion openly, by its own free act, it is c-.i-u r to take the next and more import ml stcn in a public profession of Christ. Th- total number of signers to the pledge February 26, 1901, was 1770. And now, in view of this practical sue cess, I appeal to all workers among the young. Will not you. dear pastor, tea diet or friend of Jesus, look at this suhieet earnestly and give it serious thought? Why should any Christian hesitate a moment to commence work earnestly with th" vn ing when it is such a clear duty, and when youth is the time of life when lasting im pressions arc made? Presbyterian Uaiiner. Whv Many Men Drink. The dean of Rochester, writing to a hor ticultural correspondent recommends vege table growing as conducive to temperance. Get a man to take pains with his veget ables, says the dean, ami you will do nioru to keep him sober (nan all the hluc ri!i bona and pledges worn or signed." Th' re is here the practical statement of a f.i'-t which expends far bevond the ve-:et iltle farden, and which is too often overlooked. )rinking for the tna-t part is pro f of nothing so much as a l.i-lc of int-re-t m life, savs the London Graphic A ",.'k ingtnan who has no re-onrces o'-t-ide ir round of daily toil goes when it i over to the public housi simply because there is nothing else for him to do to escape being bored.. He is loo tired to nad. ccu if he cared much ahout reading, and he ran scarcely be expected to sit wranped in med itation. Hence, even if his wife be thnftv nnd his home well kept, the teinntation is strong to betake himself to the public house, where at least he can meet and talk with his fellows. Give him a counter at traction something that he likes and ran take a personal interest in anil the public house at once begins to lose its comt'eliing power. This has been demonstrated over and over again where workmg'nen have been supplied, or have supplied themselves, with machinery for rational recreation. Detroit Free I'ress. Alcoholism In Krlinnls. An interesting investigation on the prev alence of alcoholism among school children in Germany has recently been published, says Harper's Weekly. Its author. Dr. Coldfield, believes that the situation is se rious, and should be brought to the atten tion of the parents hv means of addresses at meetings and by the distribution of es. save on the evil effects of alcohol. The in vestigator is medical officer of the publio schools of Sehoneherg, a suhiirb of Iterlin, and his examination included !i7 children. 470 ot whom were in a boys' school and 4W7 in a girls' school. Of these, 4!si, of M.3 per cent., were accustomed to drink from mie to two glasses of beer daily, while 209, or 3(1.9 per cent., tool; spirits more ot less frequently. The favorite beverage was malt brer, but all kinds of beer and vari ous kinds of spirits were taken, the sweet er liouors being preferred bv the girls. Dr. Goldfeld was informed by the teachers that the children addicted to the use of spirits were especially lazv. absent-minded and in dined to Iving. Neither children nor par ents heeded Dr. (Joldfeld's warning. Oeorgla Almost a Prnhlliltlnn aisle. "Georgia." said Congressman Livingston, of that State, "is almost a prohibition Commonwealth. Out oi a total of 137 counties, 1 J6 have voted that no intoxi cants shall be sold within their borders. In the few remaining counties that voted 'wet' the saloons must close at 10 o'clock at night, and not reopen earlier than 6 o'clock in the morning. We live in a part of the I'nion where temperance is a com mon virtue and where the baneful effect of over-indulgence' in liipior have been re duced to a minimum." Washington Post. The Crusade la Brier. Bread is the staff of life; beer the stilts. The safe side of a public house is the outside. As labor becomes more skilled and bet ter organized drunkenness is diminished. F.mployer and employe understand that the chances favor the sober. The Russian Government estimates itt revenue for 1904 from the honor trade in the several provinces where the business is monopolised at over $.158,000,(100. Queen Wilhelmina is a total abstainer; she is also a member of the Women's league, which haa for one of its chief ob jects the suppression of drunkenness. If you get the best whisky it will get the best of you. The Prefect of the Seine having pla carded Psris with posters describing the terrible effects of slrohol and absinthe drinking, the cafe proprietors each hied a damage suit agaiuut him. Mrs. Margaret bherman, of Menominee, Mich., bts brought suit for tMM damages against Joseph ck-holx, saloomst, and hi bondsmen, Ferdinand C. Nowack and Jos. Krdlits, for selling liguor to her husband alter King wsrnvu um to uu so. household JVjatters stonr Cream Drop Takes. One cup sugar, one-Uulf cup butter, one egg, one-linlf cup sour cream, one teaspoon of soda dissolved in a very little hot water, flour to mix soft. lrop from a spoon on greased tins. Potato oum. To two cupfuls of smooth, well sea soned and quite moist mashed potatoes) nild the yolks of two eggs. When at little cold stir In lightly the whites of two eggs benti'ii very stiff. Tut the whole Into a pudding dish uud brown It Iu a quick oven. Rfilnnrh Salad Roll and chop fine half A peck of apinnch, mold it In six glnsses and stand away until cold. I'tvpure six leaves of lettuce, put on encli a square of cold boiled lnitii or tongue, turn out the mold of spinach on this ami put on ench a tublrspoonful of French dress in S. Frleil Cunimhcrs. r.iro and cut lengthwise three torpe encumber in slices about half an Inch tlib-k, soak thein In Ice water one hour, then wipe each piece dry. sprinkle with snlt and pepper, tlrodne w!tb flour or cornnieal nud fry in one table spoonful of butter on both sides uutil brown. Tomatoes llrolVd. Slice six tomatoes half nn inch thick, but do not peel them. Dip them in one tabb-spoonful of oil or melted butter, sprinkle with pepper nnd salt nnd broil them eight minutes on i nch side. Serve them with bits of butter sprinkled over them. Add one teaspoonful of chopped parsley. Carampl Ire. Cream. One-third cupful of thin rronm or otu'Kixth cupful of each of heavy cream and milk, one and a half table spoonfuls of granulated snuar. one tablespoonfiil of boiling water, one quarter teaspoonful of vanilla, a grain of salt. Tut sugar in a small sauce pan; place on range and tir constantly until melted. Add water and boll until mixture ts reduced to nne tablespoon ful. Add cream very slowly, vanilla, salt, then freeze. Cliese Cnsturfl. Rutfer n baking dish, put In n layer of bread cut in pieces one inch square with eni.t "removed, sprinkle thiti slleed cheese over the bread, dust Willi salt and paprika, or a few grains of cayenne. Add other layers of bread and cheese, seasoning as before, using; in all half a smalt Ion f of bread, one cup of cheese and half a teaspoonful of salt. Heat two eggs slightly, add one pint of milk, and pour the mixture over the broad and cheese. Hake about half an hour in a moderate oven. rucuiolier Kweet Tickle. PIIoo the cucumbers about one Inch thick, and boil for one hour in wmk alum water; take out and lay In cold water; let remain til! perfectly col. I; i then boil again in fivsli alum water half an hour; drain the fruit well: make a syrup of one pound of sugar b each pound of cider vim gar: boil tin syrup; then put in the fruit and boil it till transparent. Add ma e. and if tin' syrup Is pot thick enough continue to) boll after the trui is removed. When cold, sprinkle in some white musiurd seed. Oranges 1 lllc.l Willi -Icily. Take half a dozen oranges that aro I perfe-t; make a hole at the stem end j about half nn Inch iu diameter; take x teaspoon and remove tho pulp, and thea 1 soak the oranges iu cold water for an : hour; then scrape with the spoon until ' they are smooth inside; rinse with cold I water and drain on a cloth and put I t lu-lii 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 and cut each orange Iu four ijuarters. Heap theui In a pretty glass dish for the table. ! From Cellar to fiarret. i Potatoes will bake more rapidly If ! pan of water is put into the oven with, them. j To break ice in small places for the comfort of an Invalid use a darning needle. I To bake n pie crust without filling, line with paraffin paper filled with un cooked rice. ! Coarse salt and vinegar will fleam I enameled ware that has 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 the kitchen table Is the most convenient titensil for re moving tbe paper cover from the tnllW bottles. Never use newspapers to wrap about anything eatable. It is enomony to have a supply of paruftlu puper always on hand. When washing boarded floors put a handful of salt Into every bucket ot water, and you will not be troubled with moths. A convenience for a small room Is a long, shallow, covered box, hinged and castered. which can be rolled under tbe bed and used to store clothlug not In lui media to use. A soft varnish brush with a string or wire through the handle to bsng by la a desirable utensil In every pantry, to be used for brushing bread, rolia and pastry with melted butter. A tall screen covered to match a sofa or divan, and standing at Its bead, so as to shelter Its occupant from the light or a draught. Is a good Idea and a help In breaking op long wall spaoen. An Ingenious woman keeps ber bread sponge at an even temperature tbe year round by putting It In tbe oven ot a stove without Ore and putting a small lighted lamp beside It. leaving tbe door partly open. In a fruit pie always mix a table spoonful of flour thoroughly with tbe sugar-botb dry. If butter Is to be used, spread It on th lower cruat be fore puttlug In tbe fruit and It will bs) evenly distributed, through the pla.,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers