"THE BOOK OF WISDOM"
A Scholarly Sunday Sermon By the
Rev. A. C. Dixon, D. P.
-Thanki Be lo Ood Who (jlveth Ibo Victory
Tbroufb Our Lord Jeiiis Clirlit."
' New York Cily.-Tho following ser
f.iou vii contributed to the Union
Gospel News by I lie Rev. A. C. Dixon,
i. 1. It Is entitled "The Hook of Wis
dom." nnd Is nn appreciation of Prov
erbs. He took for IiIh text. "TIip prov
orbs of Solomon, the Ron of David,
king of Israel." Proverbs 1 :1.
'' To preach n soruiiiii oft l lip whole
book of Proverbs may be n dillicult
tusk, but 1 shall attempt It this morn
In In order Mint, If for no other rea
son. I may Ingress upon you thp Im
portance of rending the whole book at a
si r t i
If we" should read a part of n friend's
(etier and nnollier part to-morrow, and
another part the next day. wo should
nine ni. in Close a very confused no
tion of what lit- lind written to lis. The
method which tunny have of rending
the llible by piecemeal mnv Impart im
portant Instruction, but It does not Rive
lis the sotting of the books nor n view
of the P.lble its a vhole.
Readers of fletion think little of sit
tint; up late at night that they may
lnish n thrilling story. If tlie lovers
of (iod's Word would spend the same
time reading It consecutively they
would find it mure thrilling than any
book o? llction.
To a superilclal observer, reading:
Hie book of Proverbs may be like
rending the dictionary. The subject
chnnces so often. And yet there is
a plan in the book which a closer
study shows to he tin orderly arrange
inent.
The first nine verses n-e the preface.
In which we have the use of proverbs.
They enable us to "knnw wisdom and
Instruction, to perceive the words of
understanding, to give subtlety to the
dimple, to the young man knowledge
nnd discretion." If he hears and
heeds then they will be nn ornament
of (Trace unto his head and chains
Hbont his neck. Kacli proverb Is n
Jewel of wisdom more precious than
rubles.
From the tenth to th" nineteenth
verses there is described the socialism
of sin, and the yuung man Is warned
against it. ".My son. If sinners entice
thee, consent tliou not." If they say.
"Cast in thy lot anion-; us. let us all
have one purse," "Wall; not thou in
the way with them: refrain thy feet
from their path: for their feet run
evil, and make haste to shed blood."
The social element In sin Is one of Its
most dangerous features. The habit
of social drinking lias made ninny a
drunkard. The social nature carries
the young man to Hie saloon, the pool
room, tlie gambling den, and entices
liiin to destruction. .Men and women
go In Hocks like sheep to the slaughter,
and, when one tries to escape, the so
cial nature becomes a lasso with which
Satan drags his victim to tlie slaugh
ter pen. It Is so hard to tear away
from congenial company. Tlie social
club has wrecked many a Christian
for time and eternity. Watch, there
'fore, against the socialism of sin.
When sensualists say, "Cast in thy
lot among us, let us nil have one
purse," go the other way. Such a
community of goods means a federa
tion of dentil, which sooner or later
will lend to destruction.
Beginning with the twentieth verse
of the first chapter there Is revealed
to us the mission of wisdom. Many
expositors believe that wisdom hero
refers to Christ, ns lie "Is made wis
dom for us." And lie is certainly the
Incarnation of wisdom, Hut the sim
plest nud most natural definition of
wisdom, ns It ppiii to us. is common
sense. Common sense crieth without,
she uttcreth her voice In the street;
she crieth in tlie chief place of con
course, In the openings of th gntes.
Wherever ty man goes his common,
sense appeals to him to fear Ciod aud
keep Ills commandments.
If he refuses he will sooner or later
ee his mistake, nnd the Common Sense
that called upon him will laugh at
his discomfiture: "Recause I have
called, and ye refused; I hnve stretched
out my hand, nnd no in u ti regarded;
but ye have set at naught nil my coun
sel, I will also laugh at your calamity,
( will mock when your fear eonieth."
I do not believe Hint Ood In this pass
age is represented ns laughing at the
calamity or mocking nt the fear of any
one. Our Common Sense laughs at us
and mocks us when distress and an
guish come upon us. We saw what we
ought to have dune and did it not.
We appreciate opportunities lost, never
to return, and In such n condition we
call upon our Common Sense, but get no
answer, for It has no remedy to supply.
We seek the resources of wisdom, but
we cannot find them, for that we hated
knowledge nnd did not choose the fear
of flie Lord. "Therefore they shall eat
of tlie fruit of their own way and be
flllpiw with devices." The mission of
wisdom calling to us from every quar
ter, Is to lend us to do right, to trust
Cod nnd walk In His wnys, and if
we fall to hear this voice nnd heed its
counsel there will come o time when
this very wisdom will be our greatest
distress.
The first eighteen verses of the third
chapter establish the fact that godli
ness pays, even though chastisements
come with it. And this chapter fur
nishes a motto which every Christian
ought to adopt ns the rule of his life:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,
and lean not unto thine own under
standing. In all thy ways acknowledge
Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
He not vise In thine own eyes; fenr the
Lord and depart from evil. It shall be
health to thy navel, nnd marrow to thy
bones. Honor the Lord with thy sub
stance, nnd with the first fruits of all
thine increase; so shall 'thy barns be
tilled with plenty, and thy presses shall
burst out with new wine."
The mnn whose trust is In the Lord.
With entire lack or confidence in him
self, Ood will direct, and the man who ,
honors the Lord with the first fruits
shall hnve nn increase of wealth. This,
of course, upplles to the Old Testa
ment dispensation, when wealth was
the result of faithfulness. But under
the reign of gruce there is something
uetter than money promised. There
may come poverty and persecution,
und with this true prosperity. We are
not to expect pay lu money for services
rendered to God, but If we ure faith
ful we can pleud the promise that He
iwlH "supply all our need according to
liU riches In glory by Christ Jeu."
With this four fold Introduction ns rn
the use of proverbs, the socialism of
sin, the mission of wisdom, and the
reward of godliness, we now come to a
classification of the proverbs. It is not
exhaustive, but I think It will ho sug
gestive nud enable us to finish the
classification as we carefully read the
book.
The application of the rroverb of
Bolomou to the family life will make
a perfect, home. "He that spareth the
rod bateth his son, but he that lovoth
t'Lui-ChttenU him. betimes," Modern
sentimentalists pronounce tms nin
fogylsh, nnd Inveigh ngninst Its cruelty,
but you will nollce that Uie homes In
which disobedience h:.s become naso
elated with punishment, and disobe
dience with reward, send forth Into the
world Hie umnllei-.t sons and most
wonmnly daughters. To refuse to nil
minister loving chastisement to n child
Is to train him in a Jife of disobedience
that will unlit him for citizenship In
the State or usefulness In the church.
Let there'be no nnger, for nnger only
'provokes nnger. Love can administer
chastisement Willi regret nnd tears,
but It must not shrink from the duty.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence,
for out of It nre the Issues of life." This
proverb expresses tlie teaching of Jesus
Christ. Tlie heart Is the source of good
or evil, nnd if the heart Is right the
life will be right. Let Jesus Christ
fully occupy the heart, and you may
be cnreless about everything else. Over
the nrchwny lu the old Tombs prison
in New York were the words: "The
way of transgressors Is hard." and
every criminal who passed beneath It
needed no argument to prove Its truth.
On the walls of every store should be
hung the words: "A false weigh-: Is
abomination to the Lord,' but a Just
weight Is His delight." Our Ood be
lieves In fair dealing. The man who
gives good measure pleases Him. and
we need to know that honesty in trade
is as holy a thing ns prayer.
And when you hear nnyone laughing
nt nn oath, a vulgar remark, or u
wicked deal, quietly repent the words:
"Fools make n mock nt sin." The innti
who plays with tlie poisonous adder Is
wise compared with him who sports
wltli sin or t rents H lightly.
If you nre templed to sin-render your
convictions In order that you may
further your Interests, social or finan
cial, recall the words: "l!uy the truth
and seil it not." They will give stiff
ness to your moral backbone and statu
Inn to your character. No man can
afford to hold the truth for sale. It is
the most priceless thing that he can
possess, and whatever the father of
lies may offer lilm for it. he should
scorn the price with contempt.
There nre so many of these that
barely to mention them would take the.
time of n sermon. "A merry heart
doeth good like a medicine." If, there
fore, you would save the doctor's bill,
be merry In heart, nnd If you have true
heart merriment, let Christ thp Lord
of Joy reign there. Link with this
proverb Its opposite: "He that loveth
pleasure shall bp n poor man." The
pleasure-seeking spirit brings poverty
nf soul nnd purse. The mnn anil
woman whose sole object In life Is to
have a good time rarely have n merry
heart. Their laughter Is hollow, be-
cause their very pleasures hnve lie-
come n burden. "Tlie fenr of the Lord
prolongeth days." If, therefore, you
wish to live to a ripe oid age, cultivate
the fear of Ood, which will cast out all
other fear. "He that wnlketh uprightly
wnlketh surely." The position of sta
bility Is not In prostrating yourself, or
crawling, or creeping after the world's
fashion, but In the upright walk of a
manly, conscientious life.
The man who has wandered from
Ood needs only to hear the words:
"The backslider In heart shnll be filled
with bis own wnys," to realize that
they apply to him. God's way is the
way of light, peace and joy. Our way
without Ood Is the way of darkness,
turmoil and despair. The backslider
who has turned from Ood's ways to his
own ways is truly to be pitied. When
our hearts seem unprepared nnd our
tongues are not right for service. let
us recall the fact that "The preparation
of the heart and the answer of tlie
tongue hi from the Lord." We will
then give the heart to the Lord that
He may prepnre It. nnd surrender the
tongue to li I in that he may use It.
And then we will experience the
truth of the oilier proverb, "Whoso
trnstetli in the Lord, happy Is he." And
In hours of conscious weakness we will
repeat with triumph. "The name of tlie
Lord Is n strong tower, the righteous
runneth into it and Is safe."
All these proverbs make n mosaic of
rare beauty. They form the parts of
an oratorio, every note harmonizing
with every other note, and filling the
life with sweetest music. And yet we
mny be saved the trouble of committing
them nil to memory nnd remembering
them In emergencies. If we wilf but
realize that Jesus Ciuisr, who Is the
truth, lives and Is with us every day.
If we need wisdom, we ask Him nnd
He gives liberally . If we nre tempted,
we turn to Him for succor. If we nre
weak, we rely upon Him for strength,
nnd nfter every conflict we enn say,
"Thanks bo to Ood who glveth us the
rictory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Frejer a totality I'ower.
There nre those who ridicule the Iden
Hint prayer can actually accomplish
anything, becauso they cannot under
stand how prayer can either affect
Clod's notion or change in any way the
current of events on earth. Such reus
ailing Is extremely shallow. The wisest
innn cannot' toll the why or the where
fore of some tit the commonest facts
if tintural science; is It not childish
then for any man to undertake to limit
spiritual truth by the measure of hi:;
capacity to see the reason for it or tun
reasonableness of It? Facta nre facts
whether they agree with any system
of lorglc or not. And the fact that
prayer is a mighty power is attested
by ubiiudiint nnd Incontestable facts.
Wetph Km Opportunities.
Watch, lest those duties of kindly
benevolence which (Sod puts In the way
of all be left unnoticed, unfulfilled.
while eaeti one doubts whether it can
be his business to step forward and
meet them. Watch, for we know not
how soon our means of earthly useful
ness, our opportunities for faithful ser
vice of Ood on earth, may end. J. Ed
wlu Odgers. (
Bo True to the Beit.
There '.' but one failure, and that Is
not to b true to the best one kJiowi.
D:an Farrar.
The World's Richest Church.
Kin... ' 1. I . - I ., V. ., ,1 ,, nA
MlPnn .. 1.1.1.,., Attl.n, In
f'"nWi UUU Ul LI1U WtTtllllllcnb Uili-Jn ju
the world to-day; yet It. was onco in
the market for a J5 bill. Two hun
dred aud fifty years ago Manhattan
T..ln,l - . . . . . ,
iniuuu, mi wnicn new yorK now
stands,, was sold for 5 to an Indlun
chief. It was about the same time
Oiat a farm on the Island was granted
by royal charter for the support of the
church, and to day the "farm" brings
a revenue of 110,000,000 a year, mak
ing Trinity chinch, Broadway, the
richest church in the world.
Trick of Clover Swindler.
A man wearing Uio uniform of the
city tramway department recently
boarded a Glasgow cor and told the
conductor that he had been scut to
relieve the latter. Tho conductor
handed over his tickets, punch and
caBh, but on proceeding to the car
barns he discovered that the story
was false. Tho bogus conductor re
mulned on the car tor about ten nlu
UU and then disappeared.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 19.
Inl-Jreii Jesus nt the Pool of RelhesAn,
.In hn v.. LIS OnMen Ter, John vl
Memory Verses, 8, 9 Cominentnrj
on the Ij' Lesson.
I. .Tcsiu at the least (vs. 1-4). I. "Af
ter this." "After thee things." R. V.
Some think Hint when John is filing tome
event which follows iinmedintely after the
Inst thing narrated, he uses the expression
'after this thing" (chap. 2:12), bat that
when there has been nn interval of time
lie uses the expression "after these thina."
"A fenst." There has been much differ
ence of opinion as to what leant this was,
but it ia the opinion now of the best writ
ers that it was the Passover, i. "By the
sheep gate" (K. V.) We know from Nrh.
3:1, 32; 12:3(1 that there was a sheep gate;
so railed probably from sheep for sacrifice
being sold there. It was near the temple.
"The Hebrew tongue." ' Hebrew here
means Aramaic, tho language spoken at
the lime, nut the old Hebrew of the) Scrip
tures. "Ilcthcsd.i." This name does not
occur elsewhere. It means "house of mer
ry." Tlie site is not identified with cer
tainty. The traditional spot is nmir Castle
Antotiia. ltut Dr. Hohinson thinks "tlie
fountain of the Virgin," an intermittent
p--ing in the southeast nf the enyp near
the pool of Silaom, was Hcthe.vhi. "l-'ivc
porches." These norrhes were probably
covered nrcadc. colon.nles or vuramiar.
open nt one side to the air. lui protected
neainst the un or rain overhead. In a hot
country like l'slrstine fii.li buildings are
very iTece.sinry. 3. "Multitude." The sick
congregated hero in great numbers.
1 1. .!eiiis heals an impotent man (vs.
3 !l). 5. "An infirmity.' The original im
plies rather a loss of power than a positive
disease; probably it was a nervous disease
of paralytic type. "Thirty nnd eight
years." The duration of the illness is
mentioned, either to show how inveterate
and dillicult it was to heal, or rather, ac
cording to verse 0, to explain the deep
compasiiinn with which Jesus was aiTeeted
on beholdinj the tinhapov man. i'rom
.verse 14 we mny infer that his disease was
the result ot tlie sins ot his youth.
fi. "Knew." The word "knew" in the
original indicates one of those instantan
eous perceptions by which the truth be
came known to Jesus according s the task
of the moment demanded. Verse 14 will
show that the whole life of the sufferer is
present to the eye of Jesus, as that of the
Samaritan woman was in chapter 4. "Saith
unto him." Usually Christ wuited until
Ho was asked before He relieved the suf
fering, but in this and a few other cases
He healed without being asked. He rend
the man's past hie and tuesent condition
of mind, ami saw that he was in a state
to reeeive spiritual good from tlie heahng.
"Wilt thou?" Why does He ask a ques
tion to which the answer was so obvious?
Probably in order to rouse the sick man
out of his lethargy and despondency.
7. "Xo man." lie was friendless as well
as sick, "la troubled." This spring, prob
ably the fountain of the Virgin, is inter
mittent to this day. and various travelers
have seen it suddenly ri.-flj from five inches
to a foot in five minutes. Whedon thinks
that the moving of the waters arose froyi
nn underground connection of the pool
with the city water works. The nerusionnl
nnd intermittent disturbance of the water
is not to be understood as a regular occur
rence, but as something sudden and quick
ly nasing away. Hence the man's waiting
and complaint. "Put nic into the pool."
Literally, "in order to throw" pie into the
pool; perhaps implying that the giifh of
water did not last long, and there was no
time to be lost in quiet carrying. "While
1 nui.eoming." Thus picturing the extreme
haste and rapidity with which the favor
able opportunity was s-ized. There was a
rush and soranihle for the one chance.
8. "Hie." etc. Commands like these
would test the man's faith and obedience.
As in the case or the paruiytie (Mark 2:111,
Chiii-t made no encnirv as to the man's
faith. Christ knew that he had taitli, nnd
the man's attempting to rise and carry his
bed after thirty-eight years of iinpntencv
was an open confession of faith. "P.ed."
Probable onlv a mat or nig. si ill common
in the lvut. 9. "And walked." With the
command was given the power of obe
dience. So the sinner who is bidden to
commit himself to Christ need not wait
for any compulsion. As he makes the ef
fort he will lind divine power within him
self. "Sa'obath." The' seventh day of the
week, the Jewish Sabbath.
III. Persecution of tlie Jews (vs. 10-13).
10. "Not lawful." Jeremiah lind com
u aiideil, "Take heed to yourselves, nnd
bear no burden on the Sabbath day" fill:
21). and the Jews interpreted this ns for
bidding the carrying of the lightest weight,
lint Jeremiah's meaning is made clear by
Neh. 13:15: "Treading wine presses on the
Sabbath, nnd bringing in sheaves, and lad
ing asses," etc. "To forbid this man from
carrying his bed was like forbidding, a mod
ern man to move n camn stoul or a chair."
11. "He said." Unquestionably the
words seem to say that one who could Ho
such a wonder as healing me must certain
1.' have tne right to tell me what to do.
He had hrm authorized bv one endorseil
as sent from God. And this was indeed
the verv ground which Christ Himself
took. 12. "Who is the loan'' (It. V.)
They iuor the miracle, nnd attack the
comuund. They ask not, "Who cured
thee, and therefore must have divine au
thority?" hut, "Who told thee to break
the Sabbath, and therefore could not hive
it?" 13, "Knew not" I It V.) Jesus had
been in Jerusalem but little, nnd the man
who was healed had probably never seen
Him. "Conveyed himself away." Uetter,
withdrew. Literally, "slipped aside." be
came suddenly lost to sight. "A multi
tude," etc. This may be understood n
explaining cither why he withdrew tc
avoid the crowd, or the manner in which
lie withdrewby disappearing in the
crowd, Kither explanation makes good
sense.
IV. Jesus gives advice and warning (v
14). 14. "Afterward." Probably soon af
terward; in a day or so. "Ktndeth him."
Jesus had His eye on the man; His work
with him was not yet finished: this meet
ing was not accidental. "In the temple."
A good place for the man to be. "Sin nc
more." (lod asks this of every sinner
And yet there are those who insist that il
is impossible to live without sin in thin
life, hut if such is the case then Jesui
asked this man to do the impossible. "A
worse thing." A paralysis from which no
pool enn restore and no Saviour will de
liver; the most terrible catastrophe of thf
soul's eternal history.
V. The man bears testimony (v. 13).
15. "Told the Jews," etc. In reply to tin
inquiry they had made of him a short timf
before, partly in obedience to the authori
ties and partly to complete his upology foi
himself. H'3 expected, probably, in th
simplicity of his heart, that the name ol
Him whom so many counted as a prophet,
if not us the Messiah Himself, would hnv
been Millicient ta stop the mouths of gain
uyers. '
Hal The Frigid Fist!
In a recent effort of a certain ladj
novelist, whose books are to be found
in the possession of factory girls on
their wuy to work, or In the kitchen
regions, but seldom above stairs, were
discovered the following extraordinary
similes:
Tho hands of the heroine, In an enio
tiomil moment, "burned like those or
a volcano"; tho villain's, on the con
trary, were "cold and clammy ns those
of n serpent."
Fortunately the cluss of readers to
whom these novels appeal aro not crit
ical und do not stop to question the
phenomena of volcanoes nud servants
endowed with hai-"S. .
Ice Buried for Centuries,
Railroad men while digging gravel
In Black Butte mountain, near Llsson
Siskiyou county, Cal came recently
upon an Immense burled mass of Ice
believed to have been there from time
lmmemoriut.
I El
FEBRUARY NINETEENTH.
'Glorifying Ood In our Homai." Eph.
6:1-9.
Scripture Verses.--Mal. 3:10; Matt.
10:32-3; Mark 6:18-20; Luke 8:38, 39;
5:2fi; Acts 28:30. 31; Kph. 6:19, 20;
Col. 3:10; 4: 2-6; 2 Tim. 1:5; Heb.
3:13, 14; 1 Pet. 5:7; 1 John 2:C. '
Lesson Thoughts.
It la a strange thing that In th.9
hotne, the very place where we have
the most opportunity to do so, we aro
frequently most careless about glori
fying Ood by exercising n Chrlst-lllto
disposition.
The duty of obedience to parento 1.1
such an Important one that It was
emphasized by a special command
ment, nnd It Is an obligation not only
of law, hut equally also of nature.
Selections.
Tho very closeness nnd tho familiar
ity of the relations of the lives with
in our own doors make It hard at
times for us to preserve perfect
sweetness of spirit. Wc too easily
throw off our reserve and our care
fulness, nnd are apt now nnd then to
speak or act disagreeably, unkindly.
Hut family life ought to bo free from
all Impatience. Wherever else wo
mny fall In this gentle pirlt. it should
not be In our home. Only the Kcntl
est life should have placo there. Wj
have not lo.ig to May logeihcr In tills
world, and we should be patient and
gentlo while we may.
We have careful thought tor -tlio
stranger,
And smiles for the sometime guest ;
But oft for our own the bitter torn?,
Thoush we love our own the best.
Ah! lip with the curve impatient
Ah! brow with the shad-; of scorn.
Twere a cruel fate were the night
too lato
To undo tho work of tho morn.
Tho greatest hope that can touch
the home, the hope that takes awav
Mts walls and makes It an everlasting;
placo, Is the hope of the life which
Is to come, trad that hope Is sustain
ed by the church.
The pious Eneas, in the epio poem
of Virgil, obtained his honorable title
from the rare which he bestowed on
his father at the siege of Troy, carry
ing him on his back till they wera
clear of danger.
FEBRUARY NINETEENTH.
Glorifying God In Our Home. Eph.
0. 1-3.
It will bo well to read tho preceding
chapter, which properly belongs to
this section. Here the duties of hus
bands and wives, of musters and ser
vants, of parents and children are de
fined and emphasized. Our lesson
deals especially with children and ser
vants. Obedienco to parents; filial
honor and respect; wise guidance by
parents; faithful service to employ
ers; und recognition of the fact that
all servlco Is unto tho Lord, are the
special injunctions of the lesson.
If the injunctions of the apostlo
were fully carried out in spirit we
would have many more instances of
the "model home" than we find now.
The duties and relationships of tho
different members of the family are
here set out, und if they can be fully
realized we have all tha elements of
u happy Christian homo.
Mutual love, honor, and regard are
essential to u model home. The two
bears, "bear and forbear," must be In
evidence. The husband and wife are
different, but living in absolute har
mony if true love and mutual for
bearance characterize their relation
ship. Hero Is the foundation of. a
true homo.
There are mutual duties. Tho chil
dren are to obey, not from fear but
from love and respect. And this
should be Insisted on. A healthy
family discipline is one ot the great
needs of our modern family life. The
parents are to be set a good example.
They are to bo patient and not pro
voke to anger. Many of the troubles
of our modern homes are due to the
unfitness of parents. When tho re
lations are happy und mutually help
ful you can find joy and peace.
Servants and Masters. No relation
la sp strained In the social world to
day as this. And It is largely because
we have failed to obey these apostolic
injunctions. When employers are
considerate, forbeur threatening, and
treat servants as brothers; and when
employees are not "eyeservants," but
faithful to their master's Interests, ve
lind happy conditions. When these
are violated there Is troublo. There
should be no clashing of interests.
There will be no domestic turmoil, no
labor troubles, no "strikes" and Hots
when these Injunctions are heeded.
Wo cun glorify God In the home
when nn parent or as child, as master
or as sorvaut we do what Christ would
hnve us to do. The homo life ia the
real life. Here we lay aside restraint.
Here wo act the reul nature. Hera
Is tbo real test of religion. Here we
can best glorify Christ. "Leurn fli-3t
to show piety at hotne."
RAM'S HORN BLASTS
HE walls of Jericho
do not fall before
men who blow their
own horns.
The devil's Jing
ling finds eacho
only In empty
heads.
If every ear were
deaf to scandal
every tongue would
soon be dumb.
The windows of
t T Heaven are not of
ten opened on a wide-open town.
The Inllvidtial conscience la a good
compiles only for the Individual craft.
When a man really has free Balva
tlon he is always will'ug to give free
service.
The ability to preach sermons may
be quite different from th,e ability to
reach souls.
It is better to live one verse of tbo
Tlible than to be able to preach about
them all.
We seldom look to God for the Water
of Life until some other springs have
dried.
The church that runs behind on the
preacher's salary is not likely to run
ahead on spiritual power.
A mnn la not- railed unnn to nrnvA
r his faith in Divine Providence by his
personal Improvidence.
Borne men are so busy solving the
I labor problem that they have no thus
Vj earn their own living.
lii!
3
Th Fnienilof Mnnnri.
Friendship is to love in the human affini
ties the same as adheaion is to cohesion in
the physiriul ntlinities. It is not so strong
though greater in its range and similar in
its nature. Love can hardly live without
friendship, and friendship is a kind of
phosphorescent love the light without the
heat, writes Lennder Turney, in the Bap
tist Union.
Love seeks its completions, friendship it"
complements. Human atoms group them
selves into social molecules according to
mysterious attractions, even as the hvpo
thetieal atoms of the chemist. Friendships
are made nt. the behest, of love, or taste,
or reason. Seif-interest may guide in the
formation of association, but not in the
making of friendships. These come from
love when tears, laughter, prayers or km
dred resolutions spring from two heart
that cannot be kept apart; or from mutual
tastes in the enjoyment -if a dish, a game
or an art; or from the deliberate purpose
of aspiring nature which learns to seek in
others supply for its own deficiencies. V
the bee the honeyed blossom, the stammer
ing Moses Ins Aaron, the mother of Je-ns
and His beloved disciple, a companionship
made sacredly sweet by tbrir great grief
and later their great joy. Friends should
be. chosen with regard for themselves, as
piration for ourselves, respect for society
nnd reveicnre for God.
Friendships shoui I be consen cj In- re
serve, ns appetite is whetted bv nhtin
rnce; by ronsi leritenens. for h -lh friends
must be served by the friendship; by con
stant, thoagh not too laniilMr. intercourse,
because tliev who would journey- far to
gether would better wall: than ruii. Lei it
be remembered, ,'rit-ndshiu is not a Mai
unquenchable, but a candle that mint be
kept out of the wind. As perfect music is
not produced by an imperfect instrument,
so there comes no perfect liartnouv ot
friendship from human nature, in which
there is always something out of tunc--"me
discord of pride, deceit or ambition,
there are beautiful friendships in the
world, hut like the glories of the child's
bubble, they are made of suds nnd mav hn
lost in a moment. Therefore, a true friend
ship should be as tenderly nursed as an in-fant-
for it is ns frail, as'sweet, as darling,
as lull of possibilities.
Possibilities? Measure them bv the wnvs
in which men can serve one another, bv
the need of every man for help fro-n his
fellows, by the beauty of disinterestedness,
by the nobility of self-sacrilice, bv the
greatness of a sentiment that can forget
place and blood in recognizing a common
humanity. He who was the friend of s.ti-
.I ,-, ims sunn ii ui wnai nc!guts meiul-inp
may rise.
The Witness of Superstition.
Or course the religious inntincv verv of.
ten reveals itself in very pitiful and painful
manifestations. You ofttiine grieve for
the superstitions nf the race, but vou must
remember thut the superstitions of tin
race are so many demonstrations of the
existence of the spiritual principle to
which you appeal, nnd on which vou base
your hopes. The absurdities of the nagan
faith and worship ure venerable and sub
lime. A great man in one place puts the
thing (.trikiii'dy but. strongly when he
savs: "The dying I'rahmin convulsivelv
clutching the tail of a cow is reillv sacred
mid sublime when you think of the im
pulse that prompts it."
And so even when we lool; at file fantas
tic, the pathetic manifestations of the re
ligious jirineinle, tliev onlv demonstrate
the depth and intensity of that principle.
ild growths, savage thorns garish dow
ers, growing on neglected soil, prove the
possibilities of that soil if it were pronerlv
cultivated. -P.ev. W. L. Watkinsftn, 1). D,
now to Digest . vlrltnal Food.
Oh how love I Thv law! it is mv medita
tion all the day. Psalm 11A:U7. Andrew
Itonar tells of a simple Christian in j farm
house who had 'meditated the I!ih!e
through three times." Ihis is precisely
what the Psalmist had done; he had gone
Past reading into mediiation. Like Luther
he "had hakeu every tree in God's garden
and gathered fruit therefrom."
The idea of meditation is "fo get into
the middle of a tiling." Meditation it to
the mind what digestion is to the bodv.
Lnle.ss the food he digested, the body re
ceives no benefit from it. if we would de
rive the fullest bem-lit from what we read
or hear, there niil.t be that mental dige.
tion known ns meditation. If we would
iniv the truth'' we must pay the price
which Paul intimates when lie wrote to
Timothy, "Meditate upon thesp things
give thyself wholly to them." David medi
tated in God's Word because he loved it
nnd he loved it the more because he medi
tated in it. G. li. F. Hallocl:. 1). I).
Courage to Korirot.
There is nothing we need s mu.ii and
in all lorms as courage. It seems t i n-.t-that
the most dillicult nnd heroic courage
is for a man to forget his past. Vet that
is the Christian doctrine about sin sin
forgotten is sin treated as though it were
not. Christ does not ask of vou to brood
over your sin. but to overcome it. He
docs not ask you to weep tliroueh long
years about your sin, but to retrieve it.
--Hev. W. J. Dawson.
The True Cornerstone.
The cor erstone nf every truly regener
ated character is the Lord Juano; other
foundation can no one build on wiihout
risking a wreck in this world and eternal
ruin in the next world. The first act ol
saving faith is the joining ot the new con
vert to the atoning .Saviour.
Tim Will ot Ood.
The will of God does not call m-n ami
fiom the commonplaces of ever;, day life,
but conditions their life in tlio-,e i oinnion
places, until the most commonplace thing
Hashes and gleams with the giorv of the
heavens. G. Campbell Morgui.
Trust Hiin More.
The reason why you do not trust Him
more is that you obey Him so bttie. II
you would only iisk what God would have
yon do, you would soon lind vour conti
dence growing. George Macdonaid.
Tlie Point of View.
Everything related to our happiness de
pends upon our point of view. We may
lift up our eyes to the hills even when
walking in the valley of the shadow.
Charles Xewcoinb.
The Soul's Life Line.
There U many a man who would rush
for a life-preserver on a sinking shin who
would see his own (.old sinking in Christ
leanness and never think of the ln'e-bne.
We Judge Amies.
We judge amiss so often because we
fudge moral offense by deed rather than
by disposition. It is possible that you and
1 were worse men, worse women, in hours
when we saw nothing wrong with our
selves, than we were in those hours o(
sell-contempt that followed failure.--Scottish
Ilcforuier.
We Mini He Tender.
We can help maUo people bright by our
keenness, but we can never accomplish
' anything toward making people good ex
cept by our tenderness. C. It. Purkliuret,
li. D.
Mink Caught With Hit Dinner.
' While out looking over hi traps one
day recently Uranus Stacy of Saco,
Me., found two victims In one of them '
They were a lalr-sUod wink, who had
In hi mouth an eel which he had just
captured. Tho mink evidently got
caughtwhUo trying to find suitable
location to eat bis catch.
Not Strong on Orthography.
A Cape Porpoise citizen rocelved
lotter tt.4 other day upon which wss
the addr !s, "Cape Porpus." M.
ME UK EAT DliSTiiUftSU
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
lYorrlbla Crm lUes Thm WnuM Crese If
Attract ir Hie Stimulus Aflnrileit l-T (he
Trsrttc In strong llilnk Were With,
llritwn Uentrov Thte ltnslnees.
(Below Is presented a rcuiiiiknlile
philippic from the Iter. Wither Walsh,
Chiilrnuin of the Prohibition party of
Scotlnnd. nnd one of the most heroic
t bnracters now In Scottish public life.J
The common wealth of God Is men
aced by the trade in strong drink,
which, therefore, cannot be tolernte-l
by the new spirit growing up In the
modern world. The times nre distin--:iil.lied
by their growing devotion to
the cause of reform and Immunity.
Men nre drawing nearer to the Institu
tions which are established niimngst
them, asking why they exist, and what
they cun contribute to the i-ouinion
good. The times nre audacious, not
nfrnil to cluillenge the most iin-ieut
preiog.itlvcs, bold to defy, privileges
which are not found to promote Unwell-being
of the human nice. lint
the liquor trade has grown to be the
mightiest enemy that ever waned
ngninst society and religion. It Is the
centre of the horrible Inferno Hint wel
ters nt the bottom of the civilized
world.
Uotind the drink I rude, In concentric
rings of tlanie. revolves the whole hell
ish iihiintiisiniigoriii of nitnlillng, bru
tal sports, prostitution, ns well ii
ilriitikciiuess. IWsides hi-iug nil evil
in Itself, il Is frequently the direct
cause, nnd always the direct support
of every other evil. The publican nud
the book-maker an- always fast friends
nnd are frequently the.snine person.
The bur is the great bouse of parlia
ment for tin; betting fraternity. When
the l'.ii:i:-l) Cnto -s ii a 1 1 have abolished
the public-bouse, be will be found to
have abolished, In great part, the bel
ting and gambling interest, which Is
i-ntlng the heart of honor out of the
country. Without the agency of the
public-bouse, again, it would be im
possible to organize those brutal sports
which disgrace such large numbers of
our fellow-countrymen. In districts
where such sports are customary. It is
the public-tin who promotes rabbit
coursing, plgeon-sliootiiig. sparrow
touniiimnts. The publican is the or
ganizer of boxlug-niatches. assaults-at-arnis,
pri.e-tigbts. Without its
agency nud tlie stimulus nfforited by
the tratllc in strong drink, those hor
rible cruelties, which are eating the
honor and manhood out cf large
mnsses of our people, simply could not
exist. Do you ask proof of these
charges'.' Invest a few peine In the
press organs of the liquor trade, nnd
you will he horrified nt the depth ot
tilth nnd slime lu which this enemy ot
the human race Is causing masses of
our fcllow-couiitryiiip'i to wallow?
Hut ns, in Millon's hell, a lower deep
forever opened beneath the lowest, so
beneath the foul circles of the gambler
und the tormentor, gapes a lower circle
for the fallen woman. The harlotry
of tlie nation would be Impossible but
for its drink. Whisky tires the hell
of prostitution. Many bars, parlors
and licensed music-halls are places of
resort; our poor, fallen sisters know
where to find their patrons. Let there
be no mistake about this thing. Tlu
majority of these, our sisters, would
never have gone down without the
seductions of alcohol; and being down,
would not remain down but for its
enslaving power. "We could not do
it without drink," is what they all say.
Cun you reckon the misery, heart
break, .slinino, disease, infanticide, sui
cide represented by the two hundred
and fifty thousand abandoned women
in this United Kingdom of ours? Try!
And by so much us you are not able to
count it, lift your right band io heaven
and vow with me. The drink ti'ii!li
must be destroyed'.
A monopoly, the most, gigantic, de
termined nud uiiconscloiiiibb- Hint ever
dug its fangs into the vitals of man
kind. Is represented by the tratllc in al
coholic liquors. It Is bound up with
the selllsh interests of every class in
the coniiminirj
Hut Its day of trial hns conn In
greater numbers, and with terrible em
phasis, this generation, like a C.ilo
come to Judgment, is demanding of tho
drink trade a reason for its existence;
nud la tbo absence of a r.-ason. hn
made a holy vow to take no rest li U
this enemy of the human race Is over
thrown. Let there be no mistake.
The case is plain. There is tin room
on the same sun lit, God-created planet
for the new reforming spirit and the
old (Iriinkard-factory. There, on thai
baud, towers a vast, llrinly built, richly
endowed iniquity for the manufacture
cf drunkards; here, on this hand, works
the new religious and humanitarian
spirit pledged to making the world
sweet and clean and right. Animated
by that spirit, the Prohibition Cato
li arches up to the Drlnk-Carlbngi'. and
says. "Vou must come down! Strong
ns you are: firmly rooted us you art
in the deep soil of rapacity and grtvd:
fortllled as you are by greedy priests
and mercenary ministers; propped as
you are by parliaments, ami defi-inlcd
by the most unscrupulous ring of mo
nopolists the world bus ever seen 1
tell you. you must full! I am not nl'nilil
of you! You stand between me unci
my purpose of mercy to mankind. Vou
are the pitiless foe ot purity, truth
health, virtue, Justice; nnd therefore 1
inn your foe! Vou ure ruining the peo
ple I wnnt to save! Vou ami I cannot
live In the same world! Vou nre de
stroying men, and therefore I will de
stroy you! I d'loni you. and will short
ly damn you! I am Cato come to Judg
ment," The drink tratllc must be di
stroyed! New Voice.
At present. States and cities which
have prohibitory laws cannot control
tho Incoming shipments of liquor in
orhrlnal packages.
Temperance Notes.
, Antl-nlcohollc .awsje-thnt Is the cry or
the day.
An antl-trentir.g movement is making
considerable headway in Montreal,
Quebec.
Tlie W. C. T. V. of Tllliu. Ohio, has
succeeded lu securing an ordinance
prohibiting; the further conduct of sa
loon vaudeville.
The liquor dealers of Si-ranton, Pn.,
hnvo signed an agreement to observe
tho law by reason of the efforts of the
Municipal League.
It is planned to buy cxten.ilve conl
Innd at the new Inebriate hospital near
Knoxvftle and put the lien scut to the
Institution ut work with fuel ut actual
cost of production.
Lord ltoberts, tho field marshal of
the English army, said recently that
one-third of tho licit Uh army In India
who were abstainers furnished JUKI
more effective troops than the. two
thirds who were not abstainers.
The city of Omaha Is stirred with in
dlgnntli'ii ou a ceo nut of a dastardly at
tempt to destroy li dynamite tbo
house of an attorney who has been
pushing the euforceuiout of the law
against sulooiik' huts aud gamblers.
Household
Patter
Ilren Itsth tings.
A mixture that Is put Into bags rnr
the butlis, and Is delicious. Is comiost
of one-half pound of iiinrshmallorr
flowers, one-quarter of n pound of hy
op herb, nnd four pounds of bran flour.
Mix thoroughly, and then fill nlxtt
three-quarters full bags of chrene ehitli
nbnnt four Inches square Philadel
phia Bulletin.
Testing :gg for Cookintr.
A SHiiple way for the housewife tm
test the eggs from n newly found neot.
ar purchased from the grocery. Is to put
them in n.pan of water. If tlw-y ores
perfectly" fresh f iey will go to the bot
tom nnd lie still, directly on their sldenr
If not quite fresh they will tilt a Httlen
nnd rock about, and If very bud. will
float on top of the water. It is best tie
try nn egg nt a time. Mrs. Bessie?
Gross, in The Kpitomlst.
llmhrr Ktlfides of Hoe.
A beautiful color effect wus securest
r.t a dinner recently. On tiic long tabl.
was a scries of l-'rench basketH of rose
shading from American beauty tn
white. The basket at the lower end.
r.f the table was in tli American,
beauty, tho next basket bore rose f
a lighter shade, tin third a (leen pink,
the fourth n pale pink and the ftftk
liask"t bride roses. Tied to these flas
kets wero ribbons In the omher shade
of rose. The candles between the bas
kets were the same shades ns the dif
ferent roses and the electric lights of
tlie chandelier were hooded in rose sillc
shades of varying hues. What to EaU
Cliin'z-l.liirfl China Closets.
A collector of old and rare china orig
inated a most attractive wny of show--ing
off hi r treasures. She had mad
for her (lining-room two qtiiirter-eit
golden oak china closets of colonial de
sign, with four shelves. She covered
the walls of tho closets and the shelve
with glazed flowered chintz of rather
showy pattern. She tried to pick out
plates and other pices of china -with a
flower design. China closets could also
be lined with brocado or even denim,
lint the ones lined with pretty flowered
chintz seem to be the most attractive;
Cliina shelves bordered with chint
nnd hung on the wall are also new nnd
very effective. New Idea Magazine.
Kitchen Wrinkles.
A ham is greatly improved if nflet
being boiled it Is wrapped In buttered:
paper and baked for an hour.
If a can of milk Is placed near aa
open vessel containing turpentine the
smell ot turpentine is soon communi
cated to the milk. The. same result
occurs as regards tobacco, paraflin, asa
fetida, camphor nnd many other strong
smelling substances. Milk should bo?
kept nt it di.-itance from every volatile
substance, and mill; which has stood
In sick chambers should never be used.
When taking fe-tlicrs from a pilloasr
or a tick to put Into a new one the lat
ter must be stitched nil round except
for a space, say, of teu Inches. In tha
Tornier rip a hole to correspond, sew the
two tightly together, and by pushing
and shaking the feathers will pass into
the new receptacles with uot a bit ot
down or fiulT Hying about.
It is well to remember when papering:
n small room that blue in alt light,
shades makes a room look longer. laric
colors or. papers with large patterns
have the opposite effect. New York
tilobe.
Pate Roly Poly Roll out a rich bis
cuit dough and spread with dates tha-t
have been stoned and stewed in very
little water till soft. Sprinkle with
sugar, roll and steam for three-qnarter
of an hour, drying off the top lu the
oven. Serve with lemon sauce.
Small Cottage ruddlng-Crcam to
gether half a cupful of sugar with one
quarter of a cupful of butter, add on
egg, nnd then'alternateiy half a cupfnl
of milk one and one-half cupful of
flour with which two and one-halt tea
spoonfuls of baking puwder have beett
sifted. Serve with foamy lemon sauce.
Fried Pies Soak dried npplea (after
washing) in cold water over nlgbf..
stewing them till tender In Just enough
wntcr to cover. Mash through a Hleve
nnd season with sugar, salt and spk-e
to taste. Cook till thick, then luy a
spoonful ou a circle of pastry, turuiiig -one-half
over the apple, pressing tb
edges closely together. Hnisli the pas
try over with beaten egg. und fry In
deep, lint fat six minutes. j
Tolato Custard Pie For one pie.
press sufficient cooked- potato tbrous-v
a ricer to make half a pint, adding hslC
a cupful of sugar, n quarter of a cup
ful of butter, the grated rind nnd juice
from halt a lemon. Hunt the yolks of
three eggs very light, add half a cupful
ot sugar and stir smoothly into tbe
other mixture, then- add the stiffly beat
en w hites of three and proceed
for custard pic.
Peach ruffs Iieat two eg very;
light, add one-halt a cupful of milk, K
pinch of snlt, one cupful of flour with,
which has been sifted one heaping tea
spoonful of baking powder and on
tablespoonful of melted butter. It
necessary, add half a cupful tuorV flour.
Butter small deep cups, put lu a spoon
ful of batter, slices of pcuches ami'
cover with tho batter. Steam bait an;
hour and serve with, either li.ird or s-fC
sauce.
Cocoanut Bonbons Take two cupfu!
of sugar, half n cupful of desiccated,
cocoanut, halt n cupful of milk aud Ikji?
all together' for five minutes. Four
out part ot this ou a-buttered plate U
harden. Divide tlie remainder Into tw
portions, leave' one lu the kettle aiut,
pour the other lulo another saucepan.
Add to this a few drops of cochineal or
n little strained cranberry, to turn it. ;
pretty pink. Stir juit loug enough it
get the coloring tv take ereuly, bit 1
turn out to harden. To tbe last r
tiun add two titblehpobiifula ot r
chocolate. Cook for two minut i (
turn out to cool. If you have ar-f
culty lu mauaiiliig the reo.'; I
wny the three rtitfcieut ti 1
br uiadc iriisrnlv'y. -"'