1 SUM)AY SERMON :
5 5
B A SoHoltirly Dlaoouri Br 3
C Pr. Iranh O. Hall. 3
Now York City. Dr. Frank Oliver.
Hall. iastor of the Church of the Di-j
vlue Paternity, preached Sunday morn-i
ing on "The Spirit Beareth Witness."!
He chose hi text from llomani vlll:18:
"The spirit Itself beareth witness with
our spnrlt thnt we are the children of
Uod." Dr. Hall said:
It U easy to build an argument for
the existence of Uod. The process of
reasoning may be briefly atated thus:
We are compelled to think that there
ran be no effect without a cauae. But
If we trace an effort back to Its cause
and find this In turn to be nn effect,
then trace that back to lis cause and
find that also to be an effect, we must
at length predicate the existence of an
adequate cause for nil phenomena, an
underlying and eternal reality.
Or you may put the argument In this
way:
No thought without a thinker.
There Is thought In the universe.
Therefore there is a thinker in the
universe.
As the universe lo practically infinite
we must believe that In and through
the universe lives an Infinite Thinker,
Hurt Inasmuch as we cannot conceive
of an Impersonal thinker we must
conceive of Uod as a personal being.
To be sure, our words are Inadequate
to express the qualities of the Divine
Life. As the heavens are high above
the earth so ore Ills thoughts higher
than our thoughts. The mode of ills
existence may be infinitely higher than
what we name personality. But these
are the best words at our command.
AVe are obliged to use them or nothing.
So we have a right to say that Uod is
an Intelligent personality.
You may find such arguments elab
orated at great length in scores ' of
learned books on theology and theism.
Hut when you have read them and
agreed with the conclusion, what does
it, amount to? Very likely men and
women have come ulong this dreary
pathway of logic to the more beautiful
realm of faith, but I am convinced
that a mere Intellectual belief in God
is practically worthless. Ninety-nine
out oi every hundred convicts in our
state' prisons believe in God. James
states the case still stronger. "Dout
thou believe in God? The devils also
believe and tremble." There is neither
comfort nor strength nor enthusiasm In
a mere Intellectual belief in the exist
ence of God.
One muy And nn Intellectual delight
in listening to n clear and convincing
argument far theism ns he might in
listening to some skilled mathematical
talk about geometry. But something
more is necessary. Every ono of us
knows what It Is to long for the con
sciousness of a personal relationship
with God the Father. "O (Jod," cried
Augustine, "Thou hast made me for
Thyself and I uunot rest until I rest
in Thee." O, to know God personally;
to come into touch with Him; to fee!
His love and His pity; to be able to
say. "Within Thy circling nrms I He,"
and feel the sentiment of the words;
to know that He Is my Father and my
friend! O. to have His Spirit bear
witness with our spirits that we are
children of God!
Now, ouo can no more gain this con
ficlousneRs or the power that comes
from this thought by a mere exercise
of the reasoning faculties, than he can
learn to love Tennyson by going
tlr-oiigh the process of counting the
nt.iiberof words or letters in his com
plete works. One might gnln a certain
intellectual satisfaction in doing that.
But if you are really to get good from
Tennyson, then Ills spirit must bear
witness with your spirit; that is, his
thought and his sentiment must meet
a response In you. So, If God Is to be
an ever present help in trouble, a staff
for the hand and u guide for weary
feet, then one must have something
more than a mere intellectual belief
iu His existence. What the world
needs, what each one of us needs, is
not so much nn intellectual assurance
of God's existence as spiritual nssur
auee of His personal relationship to
us as His children.
I know that I am appealing to com
mon experience and a common longing.
Not one of us who does not know what
It is to desire with a mighty yearning
for a personal assurance of the love of
God. Whut are we, after all, but chil
dren ?
But what am I?
An infant crying in the niffht;
An iutnnt crying for a light
And with no language but a cry.
Just as the child wakes in the night
and, feeling the blackness huge and
empty about him, cries out Into the
gloom for companionship nnd love, and
the father comes and takes the child
In his arms and, with confident voice,
soothes away the childish fears, so of
tentimes we children of earth feel the
darkness of life oppress our souls and
cry out for the strong arms of a heav
enly Father. Why should we be
ashamed to acknowledge this hunger
of the soul any more than we are
ashamed to acknowledge the hunger of
the body? How, especially in the
midst of trouble, tho heart hungers for
Its Father. When the clods fall upon
the coffin lid. how the soul cries, "My
God my God." How, when the clouds
of adversity gather dense when the
cherished ambitions of a lifetime prove
futile; when the fortune which was to
make the years of old age bright takes
lo Itself wings; how, when the familiar
friend lifts up his heel ngalnst one
the heart cries out, "Oh, God my
God!" And even in the sunshine and
the Joy of life, when everything aeems
to be bright and beautiful and full of
promise of future Joy, there will come
moments when it all seems empty nnd
meaningless and the soul cries out for
God.
My memory goes hack to ray own
young manhood, nnd I recall a day that
was more than usunll beautiful, whn
I stood alone by the sea. I had every
reason to be happy. I had found my
place iu the world; hod n work to do
and the future seemed full of promise.
My health wns perfect, and I had not
been disappointed, even in my boyish
dreams. Ami yet I recall the awful
loneliness and emptiness of the hour.
I had but to walk a mile to be wel
comed by true nnd tried friends. But
I stood there, lonely and homesick,
There flashed into lay tulud the dreary
words: 1
U we poor children of nothing, alone on
this timely ahoie,
Barn of a bruiulm nntura who knew not
that which alio bore.
And I remember that I threw myself
on the grass Uiere, with tho sunshine
all over me nnd birds aluglng about'
pne, with everything, apparently, to1
iuiukb iub nappy, in tne depth of my
.loneliness I felt like a child who had1
lost its mother. What more did L
want ? I will tell you what I wauted-
wuai you want, what every man and
woman hungers for with imnouri
deeper thou any physical longing. 1
,wauted Ilia Spirit to bear witness'
(With my spirit that I was a child of
;Go. Nothing else could satisfy; noth
ing else ever can satisfy the deep buu-.
ger of the human heart.
One might say that such a youth
was abnormal, Insane, if this were an
extraordinary experience, but is an ex-,
perlence common to us all. Here is a
song composed by some unknown sing
er 4IXK) years ago, a singer of a differ
ent race, in a far away land, under en
tirely different circumstances from
those in which we live, but this song
has been taken up and repeated by
millions of human beings because the
words express the ever recurrent senti
ment of the human soul in all ages and
'nil lands. "A the hart panteth for
ithe water brooks so pnnteth my soul
after Thee, O .(Jod." You shall And
this sentimeut expressed iu ten thou
sand hymns. In a million churches on
'this Sunday morning it Is being sung.
In a million mosques it is being chant-1
ed, In a million Buddirtst temples it
Is being uttered. All around the earth,
all classes and conditions of men, rich
and poor, wise and foolish, good ami
bad, high and low, are longing and
praying to have His Spirit bear wit
ness with their spirits thnt they are
children of God.
' And not only do the people who be
lieve in God testify to this. The most
remarkable and pathetic testimony
comes from those who Intellectually
deny thnt there is sufficient reason to
believe In the existence of God. It
seems to me that almost the wrearlest
words thnt ever fell from human lips
were uttered by Professor Clifford
.when lie felt himself compelled Intel
lectually to take the atheistic position.
."I have seen the spring sun shine out
of the empty heavens upon a soulless
earth, and have felt with utter loneli
ness that the great Companion was
dead." And you will remember thnt
Professor Romanes, though at the last
he saw n great light and went to his
death full of trust "like one who wraps
the drapery of his couch about hliu
and lies down to pleasant dreams," at
one time wrote a book called "A Can
did Examination of Theism," and in
this examination found no rational
ground for a belief in God. Ho closed
his book with these words: "I am not
ashamed to confess that with this vir
tual denial of God the universe has lost
its soul and loveliness, and when at
times I think, as think nt times I
must, of the appalling contrast be
tween the hallowed glory of the creed
that once was mine and the lonely
mystery of existence as now I find it,
at such times It will ever be impossible
to avoid the sharpest pangs of which
my nature is susceptible." Take note
of these words of an absolutely sincere
and fearless man, "The sharpest pangs
of which my nature is susceptible."
Now why should one feel like that?
Suppose there Is no God, what of it?
Suppose it should be proved that this
world has been produced by the opera
tion of physical forces working lu ac
cordance with blind and heartless law,
what of it? Is not the sky Just as blue,
the grass as green? Are not friends
as dear? Why should we not get along
without God? Why should we care
whether God is or Is not?
A friend told me this Incident the
other day: There was a family consist
ing of an aged man and woman, a
number of sons and daughters and a
little group of grandchildren. The aged
grandfather was enjoying a serene and
happy old age, loved by all, and the
home was one of peculiar brightness.
One night the aged man, as usual, took
his evening paper nnd snt In his accus
tomed plnce to read, wiped his glasses,
made a comment or two to the' white
haired wife knitting opposite, and af-,
ter a little, as his custom wus, fell Into
one of those quiet slumbers peculiar UY
old age. Around him the other mem
bers of the family talked niid laughed
and Joked till one said, "Father seems
to be sleeping very soundly," nnd, pine-,
lug his hand upon the old man's shoul
iler. discovered that he was dead.;
Now, ask nie, will you, whnt difference
Is made? The home was left, the lamp1
binned as brightly, the newspaper'
filled with Interest wns there, nothing)
wns apparently changed. Was not the,
sky Just as blue and the grass Just as
green and did not the stars shine as'
brightly? Whnt difference did It
make? Why, if be was dead his spirit
could no longer bear witness to the
spirit of the aged wife thnt he loved
her. His spirit could no longer respond'
to the Joy of his grandchildren.. There,
Is n difference between a dead body'
and a living man that makes one stnnil
In the presence of his living friend
with Joy and in the presence of the
friend's dead body with unutterable
misery. There Is a difference between
a dead universe und a living universe.
That is the reason for these utterances
of black despair from those who doi
not believe In God.
"My soul longetb yea, eveu falutetlr
for the courts of the Lord." ;
Now I want to call your attention to
the testimony of this hunger after (Jod,
to the existence of God. Whence caiue,
this universal nnd Insatiable desire?'
It came from the same source as the
mighty longing of a woman for a child,
the lunging of the child for a mother's
love. It Wns wrought into man by the.
same power thatmukes the man search
through the world for the one woman
to whom he can give himself In love;,
by the same p.)wer that makes the
maiden desire Above everything else
the love of one ntrong man. All these
are wrought by nature Into human na
ture. David wt right and his analogy
wns complete. "As the hart panteth
after the water brooks so panteth my
soul after Thee, O God." As the thirst
of the hart for water, as the fact that
the hart suffers and dies without
water, is testimony enough for him that
somewhere there must exist water to
satisfy his thirst, so the thirst of the
human soul for God, this mighty cry
that goes up from every humau soul,
Is Inexplicable except upon the ground
that God is and that somehow His
spirit can bear witness with our spirits
that we are children of God. When
you have convinced me that the love of
man for woman, of mother. for child la
without- meaning or purpose then 1
will believe that this longing of the hu
man soul for God is not to bo trusted.
Until that time I know thnt I have ev
idence in myself that God is and thai
I am related to Him'. May we not trust
this deepest and dlvinest Instinct ol
human nature? If not, whnt can w
trust?
You tell me thnt you will trust youi
eyesight. Hut why? If the thought ol
God Is a delusion, why may not the
whole visible universe be a delusion'
If my instinctive outreuchlng after thnt
which is holy Is a lie, why mty not
what I seem to see be another lie!
You say that you will trust your rea
son? May not that also be another de
lusion V "Two times two are four,"
you say, "always have been, alwayi
will be." But how do you knowl
Have you any right from your own
petty experience to assume that some
thing was true a million yearn ago and
will be true a million years hence? But
you do assume that. You must trust
Tour rcasou. Then why not trust thli
deeper instinct of the human soul
which cries out for God and can be sat
lulled with nothing less? Itellglon U
Its own evidence. The man who trusti
and surrenders himself to God doei
not ueed to have it proven to him thai
God is. Ills spirit - beareth wltnesi
with our spirit that we are children ol
God.
ont you will say, "Prove it to me."
I ask you to prove It to yourself. I
cannot prove it to you. No mnn can.
You must make the experiment for
yourself. You must prove It yourself.
Here Is a mnn with his eyes bandaged
tight, who cries. "You say that the
sunshine Is beautiful, the grass green,
the roses red. Irove It to me." What
will you do? There is no possible way
In which you enh prove the beauty of
the world to this mnn with bandnged
eyes. "Off with the bandnge!" you
cry. "Open your eyes and look. Trust
the evidence of your own sense. Then
you will believe." "How does opening
the eyelids niter the relation between
my eyes and the light? Why, the glor
ious revealing light comes in, a thing
It cannot do to shut eyes. How does
breathing In alter the relntion of my
lungs to the nlr? Why, it brings the
air that was before outside of me in
side of me. Just where I absolutely
need it for very life, that Is all. The
open soul takes God In. The shut soul
keeps. God out, that Is all. The Immu
table, eternal laws of light nnd air are
not changed, they are Illustrated there
by. The Immutable love of God is not
changed. Its glorious working is Illus
trated when the believing soul opens
its gates and lets the King of Glory in.
Oh, friend, you who are hungry and
thirsty and have tried In a thousand
ways to find satisfaction nnd have
found it not, make another experi
mentmake the supreme venture of
faith. Try trusting in God to the ut
most. Surrender yourself to the guid
ance of Ills divine will. I believe that
thus you will find strength, comfort,
satisfaction and that your faith shall
prove Itself in the deep experiences of
your life. You want me to prove to
you that prayer is effective and rea
sonable. I will not try. I ask you,
rather, to prove it to yourself. Pray,
Talk to your Father. Listen to His
voice. Then you will no longer be ask
ing for proof that prayer Is effective.
You will have evidence in yourself.
There is a God and He is our Father,
and He reveals Himself and His love
to men; not to a few men, but to all
men. His spirit will bear witness with
your spirit if you will open the eyes
and ears of the spirit to hear and see.
Sorrows may encompass you, temp
tations may harass you, disappoint
ments may come to you. Still trust,
poor soul; trust as never before. Trust
in the Lord and He shall bring it to
pass. Cast thy burden on the Lord nnd
lie shall sustain thee. Out of the
depths of the soul's experience were
these words uttered. They can be
proved true lu the deep experience of
the soul to which they appeal.
HldiUn lMehea.
This Inner life Is a tremendous real
ity. Its very invisibility emphasizes the
realness of the reality. It is one of the
richest heritages of the child of God.
The outer life is only the scaffolding of
the building; It is only the husk or
shell. The Inner life Is the real build
ing; it is the germ-hldlng kernel.
All moral and spiritual defeats are
due to n vitiation of the inner life. The
withering, blasting and uprooting of
the soul's choice plants are never ac
complished through the forces of the
outer life; the work begins within.
How can we possess the rich, power
ful inner life when body, mind and
soul are constantly exercising their
energies upon the vain, perishing
things of enrth! We must take time to
cultivate the unseen fields of the soul.
We must constantly stand face to face
with God, drink lu the strength of Ills
nature and the inspiration of His pres
ence. If we do not, the inner life must
perish. Prayer, meditation, reading
these are channels through which God
pours His golden, vitalizing streams
Into the Inner life.
The saddest moment in life to man or
woman Is when there Is a discovery
that the Inner life is gone, and only the
outer shell Is left. Yet the inner life
goes, gradually and secretly; no one
lias ever beeu robbed of It.
Let us be watchful. Let us remem
ber thnt ns long as God Is In this inner
life there Is security there, and that no
thief has ever yet been able to break
the lock of prayer and trust nnd divine
wisdom. Ualelgh Chrisflan Advocate.
Labor's Reward.
Whatever"we btg of God, let us also
work for it; if the thing bo matter of
duty or a consequent to industry. For
God loves to bless labor and to reward
It. And therefore our blessed Snvlour
joins watchfulness with prayer; for
God's grnces are but assistances, not
new creations of the whole habit, in
every instant or period of our lives.
Bead Scripture and then pray to God
for understanding. Pray against temp
tation. Ask of God competency of
living; but you must also work with
your own hands the things that are
honest, that ye may have to supply In
time of need. We can but do our
endeavor and pray for a blessing, and
then leave tho success with God; and
beyond this we cannot deliberate, we
cannot take care; but so far we must.
) Jeremy Taylor.
Ood'a Will.
You may be doing God's will with
one hand consecrated to Christ and
making your own autobiography with
the other consecrated to self.-ienry
Druuimond.
MOST UNICUE OF MONUMENTS.
Marks 8eene of Fatal Accident to
English Earl.
Moruments there are to commemo
rate all kinds of sentiments from
thoko of the, greatest splendor and
beauty, to those of the slmp'est and
bumbles', from tho glorious Taj Ma
hal of India, to the slip of shingle
placed by a little child In Its garden,
to commemorate the loss of some lit
tle pet. In the woods, which form
part of the demesne of the Earls of
Darnley; whose seat Is at Cohham
Hail, Kent, Ergland, there stands a
monument which perhaps Is unique,
and is known locally as the "Toe
Monument.' Tho r. resent earl's great
grandfather, while walking in his
woods, came across a woodenopper at
work, on the site of this strange mon
ument. The earl took exception to
tho way the man was doing his work,
and, taking the bxo for tho porpcua
undertook to show him tl.3 right way.
He made one cut, und severed the bis
toe from ore of his feet. Ho was car
ried with all possible haste to cha
Hall, doctors sent for, but In spite of
all aid be died of lockjaw the next
day. The "Toe Monument" vti erect
ed by his successor to mark tbu site
of the fatal accident. Moral "Ne ali
tor ultra crepldam."
A Berrnnn to ttolf
To work fearlessly, to follow earn
estly nfter truth, to rest with a child
like confidence In God'a guidance, to
leave one's lot willingly and heartily
to Illm-tlil is my sermon to myself.
If we could live more wlthlu sight of
Heaven, we should enro less for the
turmoil ' 9t eurth.Jolm KlcUnrd
Green.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 9.
Subject! Knitter Pleading For Her People,
Cilh. It., 10 In v., 8 flolden Test,
Pas. lv VO Mrmorr Verses, 13,1
Commentary on the Day's Leaaon,
1. Mdrdpcal nnd Kslher (vs. 10-14).
Mordecal learned of this terrible de
cree and sent word to Queen Esther
and asked her to Intercede with the
king for the preservation of her rnce.
10. "Hatach." An officer appointed to
wait ou the queen. 11. "All do
know," etc. It was n universal rule,
known by all. The object of this law
was to maintain both the dignity and
safety of the king. "Golden sceptre."
Persian monnrchs are always rer-?-ented
as holding a long tapering stuff
In the light hand. "Have not been
called." She therefore hnd Just cause
to fear thnt the king's affections were
alienated from her. "nnd that neither
her pprsou or her petition would be ac
ceptable to him " Oriental monarchs
were fickle nnd despotic. In attempt
ing to save her people the queen must
risk everything. The ardor for the
king had for the time cooled tewnrd
Esther, and she fenced she hnd lost
her influence with the monarch, and
If so how could she hope to Influence
him for the salvation of the despised
Jews. We must not be surprised thnt
Esther shrank from obeying the sum
mons of Mordecal. She proved her he
roism by deckling to go in unto tho
king, knowing ns she did the danger
to which she wns exposed Let us
learn (1) thnt It is right to carefully
estimate difficulties; (2) that we should
never bo discouraged because there
are dltllcultles; (3) thnt those who go
at the call of duty, in the face of dim
eultlos, tuny expect divine support.
13. "Think not," etc. It seems thnt
Esther had not been known as a Jew,
but the fact would be brought to light
and In the general slaughter she would
perish with hpr people. 14. "Then will
relief and deliverance arise" (II. V.)
Mordecal had strong fnlth thnt God
would not nllow the Jewish nation to
be destroyed. "But thou," etc. You
will not escnpo destruction, but you
will lose nn opportunity of saving your
people. "Who knoweth." God may
have put you In your present position
that you might be the menus of saving
your people in this hour of darkness.
It Is a great blessing to have some
work assigned us by God, nnd to see
God's hand In our lives, accomplishing
that work. This makes us strong, and
renders life glorious, since It Is a plan
of the almighty nnd nil-wise God. Sev
eral motives influenced Esther In this
hazardous undertaking- 1. She was
In danger 2. Mordecnl's words that
deliverance would come from some
other sourc? nnd that shu would lose
the opportunity of saving her people.
3. The suggestion thnt God hail
brought her to her present position thnt
she might be a deliverer in this terrible
hour 4. The assurance she had that
God would give her success.
II The three days' fast (vs. 15-17).
10. "Fast ye for Me." In My hehnlf.
Fasting implies humiliation, repent
ante,, consecration to God, faith in
God, prayer to God. It wns the ex
pression, outwardly, of the Intense de
sires of the heart. Only God could
give success to her efforts. "Three
days." It hns been supposed thut
Esther could not have meant an abso
lute fast complete abstinence from
both food niul drink for so loug a
period as three days: but the time In
tended, from the evening of the first to
the morning of the third day. need not
have much exceeded thirty-six hours.
"My maidens" They were probably
either Jews or proselytes to that re
ligion, and thus would bp in sympathy
with her. "If I perish." I will put
forth every possible effort to save my
people even though I perish In the nt
tempt. The great danger to which
Esther wns exposed will be seen more
clearly when we consider the despotic
nature of Xerxes. When he wns ou
his way to Greece he halted at C'el
aenne, a city of Phrygla, where he was
entertained by Pythias with incredible
magnificence. Pythias even offered to
contribute some millions of dollars to
ward the expenses of the wnr. But
when Pythias begged ns a favor that,
of his five sons in the king's army, the
eldest might be left with him In his
old age, the brutal monarch went into
a rage, and caused the son to be slain
In tho presence of his father, the body
to be divided into two parts, and
placed the one part on one side of the
road, and the other on the other, and
ordered the whole army to march be
tween them. 17. "Mordecal went bis
way." He went (1) believing, (2) obey
ing, (3) praising. '
HI. Esther's success (vs. 1-3). 1.
"The king sat." The position of the
king was such that ho could see all
who came Into the court.
2. "Saw Esther." As tho king snt
upon the throne, the two were face to
face, though there was quite a distance
between them. It was a critical mo
ment, though Esther did not forget
that "the heart of the king was In the
hand of the Lord." "Touched....
sceptre." This was, no doubt, the usual
way of accepting the king's favor. "As
the sceptre was theensiguof thehlghest
nnd most absolutenuthorlty in the king,
so the queen's touching it, or, as some
say, kissing it, was a token of her sub
jection and thankfulness for his favor.
Thus Esther's mission was so far suc
cessful. At this tlme( she Invited the
Vlng and Haman to a banquet, though
the king doubtless understood that this
was preliminary to a request of greater
Importance. The banquet wns held;
and yet Esther did not dare to present
her real request. She simply asked
her guests to come again the next day.
Then follows Hainan's downfall and
death and Mordeoat's elevation to
power. The remaining chapters of the
book of Esther tell us how the Jews
were saved from destruction.
An Obstacle Gam.
Who can tell what an obstacle game
Is? It is great fun. Set Btools, chairs,
tables, anything that Is an obstacle, In
the most Inconvenient places In a
room; let thoso who are to take par.
In the games have two minutes to get
their bearings. Then they' leave the
room nr.d come back In a moment,
blindfolded. In tho meantime all the
obstacles have been removed, but the
warning cries of "look out!" and the
absurd attempts of the players to re
member where the obstacles were
make much fun. '
I.ove Leads tn Kervloe,
A loving heart nn obedient life
are Inseparable. The ono cannot ex
ist without the other. As soon as
a man loves God, he has tho spirit of
consecration, the spirit of obedience,
the spirit of service; und while lov
continues to dominate the heart, that
spirit of tervl.'C manifests Itself lu the
life It is true that "love la the ful
filling of the law," Heart rellglou I
the only kind of religion worth having.
It Is the pure In heart who shall c
God. Methodist Itecordcr,
EPWORTH LEAGUE LESSONS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5.
The Triumphs of the Kingdom. Psa.
96. Mission Study Rally.
This ninety-sixth psalm Is recorded
also In 1 Chron. 16. 23-33 with but rtt
tie variation. It was probably used la
the dedication of both temples. It 1.4
a Joyful celebration of the universal
sovereignty of God, ns King and Sav
iour. It is also a prophecy of the sul
mission of the Gentile nations to .!
hovnh. Tho first Bit versos are a aort
of Introduction catling on the whole
earth to praise God for his great
ness, his glory, his purity, and fitness
to be worshiped; then an Invitation to
the heathen; after which tho heavens,
earth, the sea, man, and nature are
called to exult over the triumphs of
Jehovah. It Is a fitting theme for
our Mission Study Rally Day.
The prayer that Jesus taught his
disciples to pray was, "Thy kingdom
come." And It has been coming ever
since. It. has had Its periods of seem
ing (Incline and slow and intermittent
growth. But It has been coming and
growing and Increasing and Is now
filling the earth. Prophecy points to
its triumph; promises encourage its
subjects; God has pledged his Word
to Its success. Let us notice how this
kingdom Is triumphing in the earth.
One after the other the heathen na
tions are being Impregnated with the
spirit of the gospel. The doors which
were not long slnco locked are now
open. Tho prejudice which once
stood Kite a wall in the way of the
kingdom Is giving way. The Islands
of the sea and the most distant lauds
are being reached by the gospel of
the kingdom.
The kingdom of Christ Is an Inter
nal of righteousness and peaco. More
and more the hearts of men are com
ing under Its sway and Influence. In
Intensity of purpose, and In depth of
desire, the kingdom is more and more
being enthroned In the hearts of
men. The kingdom Is becoming a
real potent force In the world of
thought and action among all men.
Tho rise of modern missionary so
cieties, the organization of mission
study classes in our young people's
societies, are but Indications of tho
triumph of the kingdom. There Is a
growing faith in the possible evangeli
zation of the world. There is a grow
ing conviction thnt It may be realized
In our generation. Thore is with
greater knowledge of mission work a
rapid and permanent faith in the tri
umph of Jesus in this world.
NOVEMBER FIFTH.
Am I Keeping my Christian Endeav
or Covenant? Mai. 2:5, 6; Ps.
51:6; 2 Cor. 8:21.
Something that Is dead, and doin
nothing, looks peaceful; but the only
peace worth having la the "life and
peace" thut God gives In the way of
His commandments.
Truth Is not a haphazard thing, to
be played with and Jested with; it Is
of law, fixed end certain, pledged nni
permanent.
If a pledge is not kept with doslre.
It is not kept with deeds. '
If our Christian life Is not lived In
the Bight, of men, It is not lived In
tho sight of God.
Suggestions.
We are not only our brother's
keeper, but also his pledge-keeper.
Help your comrades to keep their
pledges.
We covenant with one another to
keep our pledge, but only because first
cf all we covenant with God.
If you will keep your pledge, your
pledge will keep you.
An undated covenant Is binding on
both parties until both glvo a release
from it.
Illustrations.
The Christian Endeavor pledge la
no crutch unless you are a cripple.
Tho pledge Is like the guide-rope of
Alpine travelers; It holds us to ono
another, and binds us all to our Guide.
The pledge will not keep Itself any
more than a, business partnership
will accomplish its end through in
action. Perjury Is a serious offense In
earthly courts; Is it likely to bo lo3S
curious In the courts of heaven?
Keeping the Pledge.
The great need of tho times is train
ing in sincerity, in honesty. That
Is one reason why it is well to take
pledges, and hold thorn.
If you are not keeping your" pledge,
the best thing is to keep it; the sec
ond best Is to leave the society;
there is no third best.
Consider, If you were to obtain re
lease from your pledge, from how
many of the duties recognized by the
pledge would you dare to ask re
lease? When any one objects to the pledge,
you may generally silence his objec
tions by asking him to which particu
lar portion of the pledge he objects.
If any one is reluctant to take the
pledge, he is doubtless reluctant to
do the things the pledge calls upon
lilm to do.
In every point, our pledge is sim
ply an agreoment to do, In regp.rd to
that thing, what we deem to bo
Christ's will.
RAM'S HORN BLASTS
III' strangest tiling
about t lie (loHpel
is its simplicity
Fetters of silk
may bind as fust
as cotton.
Blindness ban
ishes some of our
bebl hli-issiugtt.
Many a problem
comes a test
nl' our prayers.
Forgiveness is one of the privileges
ol' friendship.
It Inks Heed us well ait sail to make
thing grow, ,
A little money makes a big mat)
with some people.
Ho only is weakened by trial who
runs away from it.
Many lilesxiiiga ui wilted heiMU.se
we will
Troul
lint wait.
e luav be but God's Irndc-
murk oh the Chi istiuii
It ta'ies more than fear of Satan to
' T7 T
THE KEYSTONE STATE
The Latett Peoniylranla Ntws Told la Short
Order.
The Schuylkill County Homeopathic
Medical Society held a regular quarterly
session in Shenandoah. There was a
large attendance of physicians from all
parts of the county. Dr. Maurcr, of Ash
land, presided. Interesting papers were
read by Drs. Drehcr, Tam iqua ; Straiih,
Mitursville ; Hoonc Pottsvillc, and M. S.
Kistlcr, of Shenandoah.
James istevens, of Scraiiton, 21 years
of age, was whirled to instant death by
a wheel in the fanhouse at the Arch
bald mine. His body was found close
to the wheel, while part of his clothing
and fit. sh besmeared the interior walls.
An attempt to rob the home of Joseph
Yorsky, of Shainokin. was frustrated by
tile bravery of Mrs. Yorsky. Seeing the
man in her room she leaped from bed,
rushed to another room, got a hatchet,
and ran back to attack the robber. He
leaped through a window and escaped.
John Davitch, of Pittston, who was lost
in the woods while hunting laU Friday
and whom his friends and relatives were
mourning as dead, was found in jail in
ilkebarre.
As lie was running an engine into the
roundhouse at Pittston, Harry Aukcn
stuck his head out of the cab window,
and it was crushed between the cab and
'he door of the roundhouse, killing him.
Coal and iron police have been ordered
to put a stop to women and children pick
ing coal, A raid was made on a large
crowd at the Hazlcton, No. .1. Colliery
Four women were arrested, and each was
fined $s by Alderman Schott. At Pitts
ton two children were arrested by an
Erie offic.tr and held under $ioo bail.
Superintendent C. H. Ott. of the Rob
ert Packer Hospital, at Sayre, has just
received notice from Mr). Mary Packer
Cuininings, of Mauch Chunk, that she
has deaded to the hospital which was
named after her brother real estate from
which the income is $.).ooo a year.
The Schuylkill County Coal and Iron
Company, which is buying extensive coal
lands in the lower Schuylkill region,
closed a deal by which it acquired sev
eral hundred more acres of valuable ter
ritory. The purchase includes the Silver
ton Colliery, near Llewellyn.
Col. John A. Glenn, corporation deputy
auditor general, who has been critically
ill at Mount Holly Springs for morj than
two months, shows no signs of improve
ment. He is very weak, and his friends
have only slight hopes of his recovery.
An effort will be made to remove him to
Harrisburg.
Rev. G. Keller Rubrccht, of Milwau
kee, Wis., and Miss Nora I. Rrobt, of
Allcntown, were married iu Chriit Lu
theran Church by the Rev. Charles M.
Jacobs.
J. R. Storm, a Lancaster county chick
en niser, was instantly killed, and Wil
liam Fordney, of " Bridgeport, an engi
neer, was painfully injured in a rear-end
collision near Fort Hill, on the Trenton
cut-off.
Fire destroyed the residence of Chris
tian L. King, of Intercourse. The fam
ily became aware of the fire when par
tially suffocated. Mrs. King had a nar
row escape from death, neighbors taking
her from the second-story by ladders.
The loss is $3,500.
Samuel A. Guldin, a retired farmer,
was found dead in bed at his home, near
the Yellow House, Berks county. His
death was due to heart failure. He was
52 years of age and leaves two children.
P. B. Eschbach, a Boyertowtr livery
man, was severely injured by a monu
ment which he was hauling to a ceme
tery falling upon him.
Pottstown capitalists have secured an
eiption on the East End Hotel, at Potts
town, and the baseball grounds surround
ing, and propose to cut the property up
into building lots.
A suit for $10,000 was entered at court
at Easton by Morris Refowich, a business
man of that place, against W. S. Lobach.
The litigation arose over a disagreement
as to the lease of a store.
Fire of incendiary origin destroyed the
barns of Silas C. Snyder and Jacob L.
Erlemover, in the upper end of Liver
pool. The live stock and part of the
farm implements were saved, but the
entire crops of the two farms were de
stroyed with 500 bushels of potatoes.
The total loss will amount to $j.5oo.
There was only $,Soo insurance. The
citizens of the town formed a bucket
brigade and saved the outbuildings. A
search is being made for the suspected
persons, and it is thought that they will
be apprehended, as the townspeople are
thoroughly aroused.
Emily Lee, the negro girl convicted of
second degree murder for killing Mrs.
Estella Weldon, also a nejro woman,
in Scraiiton last March, was sentenced
by Judge Edwards to twenty years' im
prisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary.
This is the full limit of the law.
By an explosion of gas at the Silver
Creek colliery, in the Schuylkill Valley,
Michael Connely, aged 46 years, had the
flesh literally roasted from parts of his
body and also inhaled the deadly flame.
His lamp ignited a pocket of the gas,
which was suddenly encountered, follow
ing a rush of coal. He died in awful
agony. His widow and several children
survive.
Davis W. and Esther Baily Entrikin,
of Kennett Square, celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage at their
home.
Thomas E. O'Connell, of Kennett
Square, has been awarded the contract
to macadamize four and one-quarter
miles of the public road north of Ken
nett Square for Ijo.ooo. The work will
be done under state supervision.
The Chester and Delaware County
Dcntat Association held their annual
meeting and banquet in West Chester.
Several papers were read, one by Dr.
Loter, of the Pennsylvania Dental Col
lege. There was many members of the
profession present.
The Keystone Farm and Machine
Company, of York, has booked an order
for 6,000 corn shellers. The most of these
are for foreign shipment.
The toy factory and turning mill
owned by the Laanna Manufacturing
Company, of Laanna, Pike county, was
destroyed by fire, Loss, $32,000.
A large barn on the farm of the
estate of John II. Small, iu Chanceford
Township, York county, was totally de
stroyed by fire of a mysterious origin.
Besides the bam a number of outbuild
ings were consumed. The loss is placed
at $5,000, partly insured.
James Gompers wai killed on the
Pennsylvania Railroad near West Ches
ter. The man had been employed by
James M. Paul, of Radnor.
William Norris, of New Freedom,
York county, employed as a fireman on
the Northern Central Railway, was lean
ing out of a window ol an engine cab
when he wai struck on he head by a
pawing engine at Glen Rock. He is now
in the York Hospital with a froturei
skull and may die. ,
The Lehigh Coal and Navigatfe
Company has a large force of men
work developing the ok! workings of th
Baer tra;t near Cumbola, wlii '
abandoned half centurjr W
flgaitcrs:
The llrokata Iiahs
A French housewife does not thro
way her broken dishes; iinlena their
condition is hopeless, fthe saves them
until mender of faience and porce
lain comes to her door for work ami
Tin to th HonMwir.
Chloride of lime and water will re.
move ink stains from silver if welt
rubbed on the stains and then washed1
off at once, the silver being then pol
ished as ordinarily. The solution for
the purpose Is four ounces of chloride
of lime U one and a half pints of wa
ter. This may be bottled ana kept
ready for use. Indianapolis News.
Tor Wlckar Karat an.
Wic ker furniture which has been var
nished will not take enamel until the
varnish hns been washed off with bod.
ing water in which there is a IHtlie
washing od. After it dries rub it
thntoughly with a piece of flannel
dipped In turpentine, and nfter this
has been aired for twenty-fonr botin?
rub with sandpaper, after which the?
wicker tnny be either painted or 1.vpiI
satisfactorily.
Cold Lunches,
The mainstay of all cold lunches
must always be sandwiches, and for
the making of these the combination
nr practically limitless. Tho breed,
should always he one dny old. at least,
and sliced very thin and evenly. The
butter must be of the best quality,
soft enough to spread with out crum
bling the loaf, and the slice t-hould be
spread before It la cut from the loaf.
The Qve cent baker's loaf should mnke
eight sandwiches. For Imicbes. the
sandwich should be made the siae of
the slice, but one made by cutting the
loaf diagonally in halves is inviting.
Uoth white and brown ir?ads arc suit
able for use.
Cucumber Milk.
Best thins In nil the wldo world for
a complexion thnt is yellow 01 speeklott
with freckles or dulled with tan. Also
very nice to use as a cleansing agi;ut.
Slice, but do not peel, three good sir.e;l
encumbers; n Id halt a cup of water
nnd boil until pulp Is soft; strain and
cool. To one and one-half ounees of
the ri:t'iunber Juice add an eiU!il
amount of alcohol. This makes three
ounces of cucumber essence. In this
dissolve one-fourth of an ounce of pow
dered cnstlle soap. Let stand ever
night, next mornir.g adding eight
ounces of cucumber Juice, one-halt
ounce of oil of sweet almonds and Af
teen ounces of tincture of benzoin.
Pour in the oil very slowly, slinking
the bottle well. Keep In 00I placi'.
Plenty or Almonds.
According to 11 celebrated health ex
pert, blanched almonds give the high
er nerve or brnln and muscle food, nint
whoever wishes to keep her brain pow
er up would do well to include them
in her dally bill of fare. Juicy fruit
give the same In loss proportion aiut
are eaten by all those whose living de
pends on their clear headedness. Ap
ples supply the brain with rest. Prunes,
afford proof against nervousness, but
nre not muscle feeding. They shouht
be avoided by those who suffer from
the liver. Put It has been proved that
fruits do not have the same effect up
on everybody. Some people have nev
er beeu able to eat apples without suf
fering the agonies of indigestion; to
others strawberries are like poLsoit.
I udiuua polis News.
Preserved Pen dies Peel and slice
pound of peaches, sprinkle with the
same weight of sngnr and leave twelve
hours. Simmer In the syrup till the
fruit is clear, and put lu jars while hot.
Hatty's .lumblesf The following reelpst
is quite famous in a IVniisylranin
town whre an old negro cook makes
what nre known and delighted In u
T.elty' .1 ambles." They are made
with one poiind each of butter ami
sugar, two pounds of flour, three eggs,
cine tenHpooiifuls ot .orange. Juice, three
teapoonfu.s of baking powder, salt to
taste. Hnndle lightly, roll rather thin,
nnd spiinUle with granulated sugur be
fore linking In a q'llek oven. They
will leep if locker, up Tor several
months.-Harper's Uaaar.
Corn meal Batter Cakes One ami
three-quarter cups of cornmeal, a scant
half cup of flour, two eggs, one and
one halt pints of soui milk, two tea
spoonfuls of sugar, one-half teaspoon
ful ot salt and one teaspoonful of soda.
The meal must be the coarse com
ment, not the bolted vnriety. The milk
should be thoroughly soured. Soak the
meal over night In th) milk. In tiie
morning beat the eggs well Into it:
mis the flour, sugar, oda and salt, and
sift Into the first mixture. Beat tbor
oughly, let It stand a few minutes and
bake lu small ca4cs on a hot griddle
Cucumber Catsup Before the frosts
have killed the vines and robbed you
of the last of your cucumbers, make
sonirt of them Into catsup. This Tol
lsh is really very good, and maketi a
welcome change frow the ' familiar
tomato catsup. Take three doieu cu
cumbers, peel them and chop One-.
Take also four onions (good size) and.
chop them fine. Add three-quarters)
of a cup of salt. Mix cucumbers,
onions and salt very thoroughly to
cether.' Put the mixture in a clean,
cloth placed over a Uxrgn colnnder ami
leave It all iiirot to drua. The next
oio.'Uing add to the chopped cucum
ber and onion a half-cupful of white
mustrrd seed, and a half-cupful of
black mustard seed. t'P tnbiespooafui
of celery meed and two tablespoouf nle
of whole peppers. VII well and pack
In glut ort. Hlllnj the Jsrr only half
full Bolt enough vinegar to nil the.
1 . -. r a, I . - . '-....v. . ..nl . ... I ,).,..
pour It Into the Jar. With a silver
lark t'r the cucumber at fm frr 1 1
the 'in-jj. to male r t ;t t
who! ra Is ti&tur-.led ;.Ji 1 1
viii '3". Screw 'lie tof, or ' "
ttisid pu: thcu swny iu f
lisrpet xJ.ua:-.
make u 1 faithful aiut