THE FULTON COUNTY NEWS. McCONNELLSBURG, PA. E I REAL STEP SEC. GARRISON STATE NEWS BRIEFLY TOLD HOOPS-DAME FASHION'S LATEST DECREE 81 AERCPLANES Routes to Be Established In The Permanent Committee Meets at Berne. Gives Up When Continental Army Plan Fails. Latest Happenings Gleaned From All Over the State. Alaska and Massachusetts. LIVE NOTES AND COMMENTS EURLESCNEXPECTSSUCCESS TWO WEEKS' TRUCE SOUGHT BRECKINRIDGE ALSO OUT Ml SERVC HAS TOSTOPWORLDWAR QUITS CABINET "Ian It To Create More Interest In Avlction In Connection With Pre paredness Six Weeks For Trip Now. Washington. Aerial mall service to Isolated points In Alaska and Massa chusetts is contemplated by the Post- oflice Department. Hiils were asked (or service on eight routes, seven of them in Alaska. Oc tober I is named as the date for their starting. The routes will be established, the department announced, as much to stimulate development of aviation, be cause of its relation to military pre paredness, as to Improve the mail serv ice. The department believes that ef forts already begun to finance an aorial patrol of the Atlantic Coast Indi cate ready capital will be found for the mall service undertakings. If the service is successful a gradual expansion will follow to other routes where transportation Is slow and in adequate. The Massachusetts route Is from New Bedford to Nantucket, 56 miles and return, partly by land- and partly by water. Trips would be made 13 times a week during the summer months and six times in the winter. An aeroplane would have to be able to carry a weight limit of 3,000 pounds. The present cost of the service Is J23, 000 a year. The Alaskan routes form a connect ing link from Seward to Nome, thence to Fairbanks and back to Valdez. Most of them call for a service twice a week throughout the year. On some of the routes the cost now Is as high as $100,000 a year and In winter s.x weeks is required to make the trip. The aeroplane contracts allow two days for most of tbe trips. The longest route, Valdet to Fair banks, is 35S miles. The extreme time limit of six weeks on some of the routes is required because mail some times has to be routed via Seattle. SIX MORE BODIES FOUND. Total Dead In Ernest Mine Explosion Now Reaches 25. Indiana, Pa. Six bodies were added to the 19 already recovered from the mine of the Jefferson and Clearfield Coal and Iron Company at Ernest. This "brings the total known dead to 25, and engineers from the Pittsburgh station of the Bureau of Mines, conducting the search, expressed the belief that so more bodies would be found. The men were buried under masses of earth and coal blown down by the ex plosion near the face of the entries. It was said that exploration of that part of the mine affected by the explosion had been completed. DANIELS RETURNS DIME. Declines To Accept Aid From Patriotic Young Girl. New York. Marjorle Sterrett, the Brooklyn girl who started a contribu tion to build a battleship for the cents in postage stamps to a news paper and calling upon other children to contribute a dime each, has received letter from Josephus Daniels, Secre tary of the Navy, returning her lOeeni contribution forwarded by the news paper. Mr. Daniels wrote that the revenue required for naval construction "will be obtained by taxation in the usual manner," and that he believed indivi dual contributions unnecessary. CLEVELAND BAPTISTS LEAD. First To Complete Their Portion Of Ministers' Pension Fund. Cleveland. Cleveland Baptists an nounced they have completed their campaign for 1500,000 for permanent relief for aged pastors, begun May, 1315. It is the first block of $2,000,000 to be raised In the United States. Am brose S. Wazey gave 200,000. KAISER'S SON TO MARRY. Emperor William Sets March 11 As Da'.e For Ceremony. London. A dispatch to the Ex change Telegraph Company from Am sterdam says that Emperor William has announced his derision that the marriage of Trince Joachim is to take place at Potsdam on March 11. WASHINGTON. Speaker Clark Issued a statement characterizing as nonsense talk of ousting Representative KItchin from the Iloufe majority leadership because of his opposition to the preparedness program and other administration plans. Information about submarine war faro and the limitations of sub mersible will be given the House Naval Committee this week by Rear Admiral A. W. Grant A demonstration of radio prepared Hess will be given by the 25,000 ama teur llcenFed operators in the United States next Monday. Secretary Gairison's resignation last week has had far-reaching results upon Congress, In the opinion of ad ministration leaders. Census-Bureau experts estimate that the population of the United States on January 1 lust was 101,2(18,315. Andre Da hi found the dahlia In Peru Pacifists Believe If They Can Bring This About, Fighting Will Not Be Resumed Leaders Are Encouraged. Berne, Switzerland. The first definite move to end the world war was made here when the permanent committee to established lasting peace met to formulate proposals for an armistice. Peace advocates from several neu tral countries were in Berne for the meeting. The committee hopes to obtain the consent of the belligerents to an armistice of at least two weeks before the spring campaigns bring fresh slaughter in Europe. They believe if the guns can be silenced for two weeks the fighting will never be renewed. Several peace leaders said they were encouraged by the i.orman Chan cellor's recent Reichstag speech to be lieve that Germany will give benev olent consideration to any plans for an armistice. If they fail in their plans for a truce, they hope at least to sug gest a program to the belligerents de signed to eliminate some of th more horrible features oi the war. One sug gestion Is that the belligerents pledge themselves to conduct no more air raids upon cities behind the battle front Prince von Beulow, former German Chancellor; Prince Hohenlohe and Baron von Kraft have arrived at Lu cerne. It was reperted they are In touch with the peace movement here. German Peace Offer Deniad. London. Reports that Germany had made peace overtures to the Belgian Government were officially denied by the legation. The following statement was Issued by the British Government Press Bureau: "The Belgian Government issued a statement that rumors which have been circulated to the effect that peace proposals have recently been made by Cermany to the Belgian Government are devoid of foundation." 37 CAUGHT IN MINE EXPLOSION. One Man Killed, Three Badly Hurt and Score Entombed. Indiana, Pa. One man was killed, three were seriously injured and a score entombed by a gas explosion In Mine No. 2 of the Jefferson and Clear field Coal and Iron Company at Ernest, six miles from here. The explosion occurred In an entry Just off the main shaft of the mine. More than 100 men were at work at the time, but all managed to escape, with the exception of 37, who were trapped by falling rock and debris. Rescue parties were at once organ ized and 13 of this number were brought to the surface several hours after the explosion. A number were seriously hurt. 182,622 BOY SCOUTS IN U. S. Membership Last Year Grew 48 Per Cent Washington. An Increase of 16 per cent In membership last year was an nounced at the annual meeting of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Increase to 182,622 boys and scoutmasters made the year the most prosperous In the six years' his tory of the movement. Among the significant Items of the chief scout executive's report were that scout troops had been organized In almost every church denomination In the country, and that the 7,067 f eoutmasters included clergymen, physicians, lawyers, teachers and other professional men. MINISTER, AGED 70, ELOPES. Marries 21-Year-Old Girl Against Her Parents' Wishes. Huntington, W. Va. Details have reached here of the elopement from the Beaver Creek section of the Rev. William Moore, Methodist minuter, 70 years old, who has been doing mission ary work In that section for nearly a year, and Miss Jennie Alley, 21 years old, a school teacher. The aged minis ter has been courting the girl for some time against the wishes of her par ents, and the couple eloped to Preston- burg, making most of the distance over J the rough mountain country on foot, WOULD BUY LOWER CALIFORNIA. Representative Randall Offers Resolu. tion In House. Washington. A resolution to au thorise President Wilson to negotiate with Mexico for the purchase of Lower California was presented to the House by Representative Randall, of Califor nia. Such a purchase, the resolution recltss, would protect Irrigation work In the Imperial Valley. The resolu tion was referred to the Foreign Af fairs Committee. Various proposals for the sale of Lower California always have been repudiated by General Car rtnzd. GREATEST SUBMARINES. Germany Has Three Carrying Crew Of Sixty Men. The Hague. Three super-sub-marine), superior in speed and equip ment to any underwater craft built by any nfction, have Just ber?n finished by German workmen at Kiel, recording to reports that reached Dutch naval officials. Fach Ir raid to carry a crew of 60 men and seven torpedo tubes, and t: be able to proceed 7,000 mll without replenishing fiit TEUTONS FOREIGN SHIPPING Will Treat Armed Merchant Vessels as Warships. A TIME LiMIT TO MARCH 1 German Government Give Out Lict Of Armed British Merchant Ves sels That Fired Upon Submarines. Washington. Gem.any and Austria have formally notified the United States that, beginning March 1, com manders of their submarines will con sider armed merchant ships of the Entente Allies to be 'varships and will treat them accordingly. Under such instructions command ers would be at liberty to sink with out warning any armed vessel, whether passenger or freight carrying. The notifications were presented orally to Secretary Lansing by Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassa dor, and Baron Erich Zweldlnsk, charge of the Austro-Hungarian Em bassy here. Notes from their govern ments are to follow. The Intention of the Teutonic Allies Is considered in official and diplomatic circles here to be a development of the memorandum proposing the dis arming of merchant ships, which Sec retary Lansing recently sent to the Entente Powers. High officials of the State Department seemed disposed to consider the development broad enough to warrant the claim that the fundamental questions involved in the conduct of submarine warfare have been settled in accordance with the contentions of the United States. This is based on the belief that with Ger-1 many and Austria giving notice that '. they will sink without warning all j armed ships, the two governments can-1 not legally claim the right to sink un armed vessels. That Is the principle for which the United States has so vigorously contended since the begin ning of the negotiations over the con- j duct of submarine warfare. At Their Own Risk. In view of this situation American citizens, It is stated by high author ity, now may be warned that they will take passage aboard armed mer chant ships at their own risk and bo entitled to no more protection from the United States than if they had embarked upon a belligerent warship. Officials seemed not to be able to con ceive that any issue could arise in the luture from a submarine warfare con ducted under these rules. It was said in Teutonic diplomatic J circles that the effective date of the instructions was postponed solely for the reason that the Central Powers desired to give enemy merchant ships an opportunity to disarm and so that ! the Entente Allies might have the thance to make their views conform . to the suggestions put forward by the United States in its memorandum. BZLVIDERE DROOKS DEAD. Was Vice-President Of Western Union Telegraph Co. New York. Belvldere Brooks, vice president of the Western Union Tele graph Company, died at his home here of heart trouble. He had been In poor health for several months. His death was sudden. Mr. Brooks htd been In tho service of the Western Union for 40 years, starting as a telegraph opera tor In Texas. He was elected general manager of the Western Union In 1!)10 and vice-president two years go. POSTOFFICE FLOATS AWAY. Flood Dumps Postmlstrea and Carries Building Off. Memphis, Ten. White River, Ark., a small town near the mouth of While river, is minus a postofftce on account of the high waters. "My postoffice Is now floating down the river and unless It lodges against some trees It will be a total loss," said an appeal from the postmistress received at tiie local office of the railway mail service. C2 MIDDIES WILL GO. Daniels Approves Beard's Order For Their Dicmlssal. Washington. Secretary Daniels ap proved the report of the academic board of the Naval Academy, which ordered dismissal of 82 midshipmen for failure to meko grades of 02 per cent, in examination. According to French statistics, only one fourth of tho aviation accidents are due to defects in aeroplanes. THE PLOT German and Turkish Officials Indicted in San Francisco. AIMED AT MUNITIONS TRADE Plot To Blow Up Railway Tunnels In Canada Among Accusations Turk Ish Consul-General Accused Of Helping Supply Warships. Washington. Weeks of Investiga tion by agents of the Department of Justice resulted In the voting of indict ments by a Federal grand Jury In San Francisco against prominent figures in what are considered here to be two of the boldest plots Involving questions of American neutrality that have boen uncovered since the European war began. Among those against whom Indict ments were voted, according to a mes sage received here, are Fran Bopp, German Consul-General; Baron E. H. von Schack, Vice-Consul of Cermany, and Maurice Hall, the Turkish Consul General. Consult Not Immune. Consular officers do not enjoy the diplomatic Immunity which ambassa dors, ministers and attaches are given by international law, but are subject to the Jurisdiction of the, country In which tbey are resident and may be treated by the law as are any other persons. The Indictments votod to day, however, are the first which the Federal Government has attempted to secure against any foreign represen tative. This fact was taken to mean that hereafter the Administration In tends to prosecute, wherever prosecu tion will 'lie, any offender against American neutrality. Bopp and von Schack are charged with complicity In the plot which was first uncovered several weeks ago with the arrest of C. C. Crowley, alleged to bo a pro-German, who had undertaken to cripple the American output of munitions of war and In other ways to 1k'!$ the cause of the Teutonic allies. Bopp Is accused of being the head of a conspiracy which hoped to accomplish this end by Interfering with trade In munitions and prevent ing railway shipments by blowing up two tunnels on Canadian roads. The Indictment of the Turkish Consul-General was voted in connection with the use of the steamer Sacra mento to supply German ships of war In the South Pacific which ended In the Internment of that vessel by the Chilean Government many months ago. According to officials here, the Sacramento case Is one of the clearest that has come to their notice of the use of an American port as a base of supplies for belligerent warships and of false clearance papers to get the supply ship past the customs authori ties. T. R.'S PORTRAIT GIVEN FRANCE. Painting By Cousin To Hang In Luxemburg Gallery. Paris. A portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, painted by Samuel Mont gomery Roosevelt, his cousin, has been accepted by Albert Dallmler, Under Secretary of State for Fine Arts, and will be placed In the Luxemburg Art Gallery. The portrait shows Colonel Roosevelt In hunting costume. It was offered to the French Government as a token of the artist's friendship fpr France. SAVED NINE PERSONS. V. O. Allen, Of Des Moines, Gets Hero Medal and $1,000. Des Moines, la. W. O. Allen, a Des Moines West High School teacher, re ceived a Carnegie hero medal and (1,000 In cash for bravery in saving nine persons from drowning at Athens, O., In 1907. Allen was a student at Ohio University at Athens when the Hocking River overflowed and carried everything before It Allen and a com panion, using a email skiff, rescued nine persons. RECORD TRIP FROM CUBA. The Munamar Makes 1,280 Miles In Three Days and Nine Hours. New York. The steamer Munamar, arriving here from East Cuban ports, made- the trip of 1,280 miles in record time of three days and nine hours, ac cording to Capt McDonald. The Munamar. n new vessel of 2,180 tons -et, palled on her maiden voyage from New York to Cuba on Dermeber 3 Inst. She completed her third round trip today. INVOLVED ill War Department Officials Resent Action Of Senate In Accepting Clark Amendment Extending Further Self-Government To Natives. Washington. Secretary Garrison re signed because President Wilson would not "Irrevocably" support the continental army plan, and because he opposes tho Administration's program of setting a definite time for Philip pine independence. President Wilson accepted the resignation and has not selected a suc cessor. The President himself prob ably will take personnl charge of the Administration's national defense plans In Congress. Assistant Secretary Breckinridge also resigned as a mark of loyalty to bis chief, whose views lie shared. The President accepted his resignation. Both take effect immediately. Major-General Scott, Chief of Staff of the Army, automatically becomes Secretary of War ad interim. Garrison Insistent On Plan. It Is known that one of Secretary Garrison's principal reasons for his conviction that only a Federal contl tental army, instead of a reorganized National Guard, could be the main mili tary dependence of the nation was his belief that some day the United States may be called upon to defend the Monroe Doctrine, and in that event he foresaw that the National Guard might not bo available of use outside of the United States before a declaration of war. Upon the contention, on the one hand, that the continental army or ultimately universal service was the nation's only reliance, and the position on the other thnt no one plan could be enforced upon Congress, President Wilson and his Secretary of War parted official company. Third To Leava Cabinet. Mr. Garrison Is the third member of President Wilson's Cabinet to resign. The first, Justice McReynolds, re signed as Attorney-General to accept a scat on the Supreme Court The iecond, William J. Bryan, resigned as Secretary of State because of differ ences with the President over the con duct of the submarine warfare con troversy with Germany. Garrison's Resignation Curt The letter of Mr. Garrison follows: War Department, Washington, Feb. 10, 1916. My Dear Mr. President: I am Just in receipt of yours of Feb ruary 10th, in reply to mine of February 9th. It is evident that we hopelessly disagree upon what I conceive to be fundamental principles. This makes manifest the Impropriety of my longer re maining your Rcemlng represen tative with respect to these mat ters. I hereby tender my resignation as Secretary of War, to take effect at your convenience. Sincerely yours, LINDLEY M. GARRISON. The President WILSON EXPRESSES REGRET. In acceptance of the resignation, the President sent the following leUer to Mr. Garrison: The White House, Washington, Feb. 10, 1916. My Dear Mr. Secretary: I must confess to feeling a very great surprise at your letter of to day offering your resignation as Secretary of War. There has been no definite action taken yet in either of the matters to which your letter of yesterday referred. The whole matter Is under debate and all the influences that work for clarity and Judgment ought to be available at this very time. But Bince you have felt obliged to take this action, and since it is evident that your feeling in the matter ia very great, indeed, I feel that I would be only Imposing a burden upon you should I urge you to retain the Secretaryship of War while I am endeavoring to find a successor. I ought to relieve you at once and do hereby accept your resignation because it is so evi dently your desire that I should do so. I cannot take this Important step, however, without expressing to you my very wprm appreciation of the distinguished service you have rendered as Secretary of War, and I am sure that in ex pressing this appreciation I am only putting Into words the Judg ment of our fellow-citizens far and wide. With sincere regret at the action you have felt constrained to take, sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON. The 'Hon. Llndley M. Garrison, Secretary of War. U. S. STEEL ORDERS PILING UP. 7,922,767 Tons On Books At Close Of January. New York. The unfilled orders of the United States Steel Corporation on January 31 amounted to 7,922,767 ton, according to the monthly statement Just issued. This is en increase of 1 16, 547 tons over December. The highest watorfall In the world I the Sholock cascade, in the Yoao- rmlte, which la 2,364 feet high. Miners at work In the Harlelgh workings of the G. B. Markle Coal Company, brought to light the bones of two men entombed in that mine in 1876. They were Jamos Murhls and Joseph Pearson. The cave was wry extensive, It being impossible for the company then operating the mine to rescue them or even recover the bodio.i. The officials are gathering tho bones carefully and will turn them over to relatives. Hearings held before a Burgess on Sunday are illegal, according to an opinion handed down by Judge Charles E. McKcnna In Allegheny County Court. The decision was in the caso of a railroad detective who was ar rested as he was about to arrest an alleged trespasser, and who was fined by a Burgess who heard tho case on Sunday. Figures Just made public by the State Department of Agriculture show that despite the rapid increase In the number of automobiles in the rural districts, forty-four counties show an increase In farm horses over last year. There also Is a steady increase in the number of mules. After being closed for three years, the rolling mill of the KHtannlng Iron and Steel Company, will be reopened February 21. Three hundred and fifty men will be given employment orders sufficient to keep the plant In opera lion for a long period having been booked. In order to cpur lazy pupils or those lacking In ambition, tho Pnttsville iichool Board decided to publish the standings of the pupils as an adver tisement in the daily papers. It also was decided to enforce discipline at all hazards and the old-time birch rod may be resorted to. Duo to a car becoming derailed at a frog near Lakesido, two Reading Rail way freight trains collided, wrecking eight cars and blocking traffic four hours. Fireman Frank Neifert of Tamar.ua, sustained a fractured leg and probably a fracture of the skull by Jumping. Presence in Middle-town of Maxi milian Gi-jten, of Petrograd, a mem ber of the Russian Royal Trade Com mission, gave rise to the report that the Mlddletown Car Works was about to land a big Russian war order. The company 1b making steel cars for France. The women of Marietta and vicinity held a meeting in the rooms of the Town Improvement Club and organ ized for preparedness. Bandages, arm slings and all kinds of war utensils for the injured will be made. The Shipman Cool Company was censured by a coroner's Jury for negli gence in not having the gates closed at the Colbert shaft when Joseph Pachutka started to work. He fell 100 feet down the shaft and was killed. While Frank Ross, fire boss at the Susquehanna Coal Company's Scott shaft, was ascending a breast at the colliery, a cloud of gas rolled over him, causing Instant death. His body was recovered by a rescuing force. The postoffice at Red Hill was rob bed of $150 in cash and $200 in post age stamps, A new safe' bought by, the new Postmaster, George Welker, was wrenched by dynamite. The Fish and Game Protestlve As eoclatlon placed in Montgomery coun ty streams between 4,000 and 6.000 brook trout, about four inches long, furnished by the State. Harry P. Hlltner, town clerk, ha been chosen by Town Council to act as temporary treasurer of Norristown, until a permanent successor to Edwin Metcalf, deceased, is elected. Commissioner Cunningham revoked three automobile licenses when pay ments mnde by checks were returned to the department because of In sufficient funds in the bnnks. Livingstone Saylor, of Pottstown, was appointed factory Inspector by Commissioner of Labor John Price Jnrkson to specialize in boiler Inspec tion. in an address at the Altoona Cham ber of Commerce luncheon, State Highway Commissioner Cunningham made a plea for support of a proposed 150,000,000 bond Issue for highway im provement which likely will be sub mitted to the people again In 1917. The State Department of Agriculture has instructed its agents throughout the State to Immediately begin the prosecution of dealers violating the new meat hygiene law providing for the protection of meats displayed In stores and markets from handling. A decree was Issued designating the suburb of Glensldo, in Bern Township, annexed to Reading by resolution of Council, as the Sixth Precinct of tht Fifteenth Ward, which It adjoins. This Is the third suburb which has been an nexed to Reading within the past year or so. Tho hatching of onss by artificial heat has been practiced In China and Egypt nlnce prehistoric times, huge brick ovens being Used in the latter country. , MBNATIGm SLwrsaiooL Lesson my R. O. 8E1XEH8, Acting Director ol Bunrlny Gulioul Cuurae. Woody Bible Institute.) ICnpyrUht, UK. Wnlcrn Newspaper Unlim.) LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 20 CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD. LESSON TEXT Acts :32-6:tS. (jOI.DEN TEXT Love one unuther from the lieurl fiivenily.-l Pel. 1:22 It V. The Sanhedrln bad tried threaten ing upon tho diBclplus and this is gn erally pretty weak business. But their throat meant danger and the dis ciples were not unduly puffed up over their deliverance. With all their be lieving friends tliey prayed and In re sponse the Holy Spirit came upon them in still further measure (4:23-31). I. The Spirit-Filled Believer, 4:32 37. The two sections of this lesson are really one end are designed to bring out sharply the contrast be tween the Holy Spirit-filled church and an ovll spirlt-lillod man. The) communism of the early church was la) Christian communion (see 2:44); and It was (b) for a special occasion; (c) it was benevolent each had ac cording to his "needs" (4:34, 35); (d) it was voluntary (5:4), and (e) it rec ognized the right to private property (see 6:4, 9). He, the Holy Spirit, does bring that unity, that altruism, those active social relations and services of which Pentecostal communism is tha type. Unity and love are seen in gen uine Christianity in all ages, but the forms of their expression may differ. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested, not merely In love and unity which It' produced. In the broth erhood thus evidenced, but also In the testimony given for the Lord Jesus Christ "with great power gave the apostles witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." There Is much witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in our day, but not always "with great power." When we afe tilled with the Holy Spirit it la of Jesus, and especially of his resur rection, that we will bear witness. Another result of being filled with the Holy Spirit was that grace was upon all. "Grace" means favor. We are not told whether It was God's favor or man's favor that was upon them. It seems to Imply both (see Luke 2.62). No man looked upon his own Interests, but "every man or. the things of others." Distribution was made according as each had need, not according to his ability, not according to bis notable service. The pre-eminent Illustration of Christian love In the brotherhood at Jerusalem was Barnabas. If we had more of such today we would have less of union labor troubles and missionary deficits. We do well to consider carefully the six distinguishing' features of this early church: (1) A praying church (4:24-30). (2) a Spirit-filled cbu.xh (31), (3) a united church (32). (4) a witnessing church (33), (5) a minis tering church (34, 35), (6) a multiply ing church (36, 37). II. The Devil-Possessed Unbeliever. 5, 1-16. Barnabas had recoived great praise for what he had done at the Im pulse or the Holy Spirit In his life. It Is an exceedingly fair picture, but the scene of the early church had been from foes without, now It faces tho greater peril of foes within. And when this great question, regarding the de ity and personality of the Holy Spirit Is first brought to light God, through his church, dealt with It In a stern manner. The devil Is always present ing his Imitations of everything good and holy. ' Ananias and Sapphlra were not willing to make a like sacrifice. They, too, "sold a possession." but they secreted a part of the price and brought the rest with the Intent to de ceive the church. Tho Holy Spirit quickly In form od the church of this hypocrisy and, Spirit-guided, they were not deceived. For Ananias to He In the atmosphere of love and con secration engendered by the- Holy Spirit made his crime the more unpar donable. The same words are used In describing his actions as those used In describing the actions of Barnabas up to a certain point But what a dif ference we see subsequently. In the case of Barnabas his act was a deed of self-forgetting leve; In the case ot Ananias It was one ot calculating hy pocrisy. We thus see that the early church was not as perfect as tome would have us Imagine It to be. To pretend to a full consecration which be did not possess Is thus revealed, and for us to pretend to a consecra tion we do not possess Is to lie to the Holy Ghost. In the rase of Ananias and Sapphlra it brought swift and aw ful Judgment. Peter's question seems to imply thnt the plan had originated with Satan, but Ananias was none the less responsible, for he had given place to Satan and permitted him to "fill hla heart." The fact la his sin originated with Satan, but that did not lessen but rather aggravated his guilt, for he had entered Into partner ship with the devil, and this is what every liar Is doing (John 9:44, I John 2:22). The heart that Is open to the Holy Spirit he will fill; the heart that Is open to Eat iq he will fill. The one who pretends to an entire consecra tion, which docs not exist. Is "tempt ing the spirit of the Lord" (v. 9), and It Is a dangerous thing to do It may not bring physical death, for God gives us other examples of his dealings towards sin. but there will be the ulti mate Judgment that comes upon all liars and deceivers. The second section of this para graph (vv. 12 16) Is a record of what the rcsulrs of this vindication of the Holy Spirit wero. First the Spirit came upon the apostles and literally overflowed upon all those about them. In the second place those who were thinking of Joining the church for mer cenary motlvjs were hold back from so doing (v. 13). If the Holy Spirit wore present In such power todny there would be fewer hypocrites who would dare to Join themselves to it
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