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rtly after
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the loss
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$15,000.
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go, while
h $312 to
Chicago.
mploy of
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‘who was
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3 28 years
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will take
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appointed
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night at
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Lgl DO LIB
is 37
=~
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. EDWARD NILES.
Subject: Godliness in Form.
Brooklyn, N. Y.—The Rev. Edward
Niles preached at the White Church
Sunday evening from IL Timothy ili:5:
j Guest Room Too Lively.
“But I think my guest room is the
most successful in the whole house,”
said the mistress, complacently. “It's
So bright and cheerful.”
So it was. The walls were papered
4x white, strewn thickly and at regular
intervals with bunches of pink roses
tied with light blue bows. The carpet,
in old rose, was dotted with groups of
flowers, and so was the covering of
the chairs and lounge. The dress
table, the over-curtains, the bed 'cov-
erlet, all showed the same floral effect.
fTo cap the climax, the ceiling was
frescoed with cherubs and bouquets of
flowers, connected by true lovers’ knots
or festoons of ribbons.
Nowhere was there a foet of plain
gurfac§. Wherever the eye turned
were designs, patterns, decoration of
some sort. It was such a restless
goom. One would no more think of
going to sleep in such an overdressed
gpartment than at a vaudeville show.
This is a mistake. Artistically, the
effect is at the same time monotonous
and distracting. Physiologically, the
effect is distinctly unpleasant upon-peo-
ple with sensitive or jaded nerves.
‘Guests, even the liveliest of them,
sometimes retire to their rooms with
headaches that overtake the most
robust at times, and at such moments
these beflowered, bespattered rooms
may be a real annoyanee.—Chicago In-
ter-Ocean. :
: Shop Alone.
' Pon’t take a friend along when you
go shopping—that is, if it is important
shopping. There isn’t one woman in a
thousand who can help advising you
#for your own good” and resenting it
hotly if. you don’t fellow her advice
slavishly. wi, 2
*"Perhaps you're one of the people who
Rhink théy don’t know what they want.
In reality, you know.very.well what
you don’t want—which is a long step
in the right direction. . And if you're
persuaded into getting something you
have the least feeling against, you'll
hate it unreasonably when you might
so much better be hating either your
own indecision or the too decided opin-
fons of your friend.
‘When you've almost made up your
mind to a purchdse—somrething "a bit
extravagant, perhaps—and need some-
thing in the nature of moral support,
then isthe time to get hold of the
decided ‘friend. You want to be per-’
suaded into getting that thing, though
you don’tfadmit it, but when somebody
agrees with you. (and friends always
obligingly help you to be extravagant)
that you really need it, you get in a
g advice upon shopping expedi-
licate business, and you must
be sure that it is 1ikély to agree with
your owh secret desires before you
ventureito court it.— Philadelphia North
American. : ay)
; —
Women Who Toil.
-t
' We had the other day the report of
two ladies whom a benevolent curiosity
had led to explore factory life in dis-
guise. The life seemed neither refined
nor attractive. The labor must be in-
~ tensely monotonous and dull. The only
bright features appear to be dress and
flirtation. Nothing can possibly be
Jearned in the factory which could be
of the slightest service to a wife or
mother. To the consequent discom-
fort of a home may probably be set
down many of the cases of wife deser-
tion, an offense which appears to be on
the increase. The same probably
avould be found to be sometimes the
source of wife-beating, which, with the
tendercy to resort to violence now
prevalent, it is proposed to punish by
public flogging in the belief, apparent-
ly, that conjugal harmony would thus
be restored. But, then, it must be
owned, the factory girl has independ-
ence after factory hours, limited,
though dull and monotonous work; her
Sunday to herseli. She has companion-
ship, which, where only one servant is
kept, is lacking, and which, no doubt,
4s often a cause of restlessness. She
has the sentimental satisfaction of call-
ing nobody master or mistress, though
‘a master she really has, and a stern
one. We cannot wonder that the fac-
tory, in competition with domestic
ervice, has its attractions, incon-
ivenient as the effect may be.—Goldwin
Smith, in Independent.
The Married Man. .
The man himself finds that marriag
thas not changed him at all; he admires
‘a pretty girl as much as he ever did,
and ‘will not actually go a mile out of
‘his way to avoid one. Moreover, he
~will be polite to her and seek to please
her; harmlessly, of course, but her
charm inspires him to his regular old-
‘time genuflections and other chivalrous
and Chesterfieldian antics. This, of
course, is permissible, as we all know;
his wife may be pretty, or prettier,
than she ever was, but she is his, you
‘know, and so why waste ammunition?
To say that she, too, still likes atten-
{tion seems monstrous and astounding
‘to him; he forgets that she is just the
same woman as he ig just the same
man, and courtliness appeals to her
lalso just as much as ever. But he is
too dunderheaded to perceive this; he
thas married her, and thinks in his own
}inimitable masculine way that this
{should be enough for any woman. So
sometimes along comes another man
who perceives how things are; he likes
‘this pretty little woman, and grieves
to see her recelve such short shrift of
“Holding a form of godliness, buf hav-
attention, and the girl is surprised to po denied the power thereof.” He
find h i said:
Tad oy re Ihe Wr That “distance lends” enchantment
stantly, if the man be lik > to the view” is ‘true of time as well
: e like most men, | gg space. The older we STOW, the
the husband resents it, becomes un-| more immaculate appear the imagined
bearably jealous, and berates his wife | days of youth. Christian believers are
much more seriously than there is any | purer in our eyes in proportion to the
need. The termination of the matter | Dumber of centuries that intervene.
vafies in each case, but how angry S/iihin He Sore gf very yolyme of
Ww : ermons, Tr Ww ;
oH ail You dell wim or another, are the well-nigh certain
: 1 : eremiads over “these time of extreme
amazed were you to hint that his in- | yorldliness, unequaled love of money,
dignation was asininity rather than a | peculiar indifference to - spiritual
just righteousness.” For such is his in- things,” followed: by laudations of
consistency that he thinks he-has a. the apostolic age as the golden era of
right still to appreciate pretty girls and Christianity. = :
their ways, but denies his wife the A reconstruction of conditions exist-
right to appreciate good-looking men jhe Hinge Now i ches
and their ways. The moral of all this epistles, warrant no such assumption.
is, gentlemen, that if you pay no at-| Heresies then were: rampant, incon-
tention to your sweet little wife, do |gigtent lives numerous, backsliders
not be surprised if another man does.— distressingly frequent. The things of
Philadelphia Telegraph. sense made cogent appeal. The husks
of the gospel often satisfied to the dis-
regard of its kernel. Paul's descrip-
tion of “the last days” was based upon
facts about him. As he penned the
gentence of our text, he probably had
in mind fellow communicants who
held the form of godliness, but denied
the power thereof.
Since then outward changes have
been many, kingdoms have come and
gone, languages have died and been
born, church order, and ritual been met-
amorphosed. Human nature ‘is un-
affected by time or clime. So the New
Testament is not a graveyard, with
epitaphs of only antiquarian interest,
but is photographic of contemporary
heart throbs. f £614
In our Borough of Brooklyn are 156.-
679 people holding to the Protestant
form of godliness. i While statistics
are unable to figure ‘out: how many
hold to the Protestant power thereof,
if.form and power. were identical, not
Woman Manages Two Farms,
Living all alone on a farm eight
miles from Brodhead, retiring and
practically unknown beyond the circle
of her. friends, Miss Lucinda Lake
personally manages two farms in the
neighborhood of Brodhead aggregat-
ing 290 acres. She hires men to work
in the timber lands during the winter,
and she also transacts all the business
connected with extensive real estate
holdings in the Dakotas, besides look-
ing after the rentals and sales:.of city
property in Brodhead.
Miss Lake is-wealthy, although she
disclaims the fact. She is a success,
but she modestly refuses to admit it.
She is a spinster and takes pride in
the fact. She is exceedingly generous
and charitable. Money which Miss
Take gives for.charity she earns bY] ome of the buildings where divine wor=’
hard work on the farm, hiring herself
instead of a man and oily allowing
herself twenty-five cents a day, he-
cause she cannot put in as long hours
at outdoor work as a man could. By
clearing away brush and burning ont:
stumps she earned a generous contri-
bution towdrd the private Tescue work
‘among’ Milwaukee's unfortunate girls | lieve the outcry against them is out
and other lines of work in which, she. of .-all- preportion- tor their ® numbers.
is interested. LUE gi8 . The consciogs Sypocrite Anan NS
Fecentric in many ways, Migs Lake rare bird. I have made frequent 7 5
orders her entire life by the same un- ior im! g Dosis He TR ge
bending system which regulates her search, Ihave seldofit Tow :
charity giving. ;
ghip is being. lield to-night yoniafhavs
a vacant seit and every theatre nd
hail would :be rutilized for gverflow
meetings. ~ Sou,
The original of “deny” has ‘as its
root meaning “not ito seek.” “Hold-
ing a form of godliness, they have not
soueht for its power? The world has
Ie) © phe. number of those’ called hypo-
She allows herself | arjtes, who would righifly be catalogued
twenty-five cents a day for board and'| gs’ formalists, is legion. . Bhey are not
striving ‘to deceive others. They suc-
ceed in their striving: to deceive them-
selves. Satisfied with .the appurte-
nances, the trappings of godliriess,
they inquire. no. further. Attendants
.clothes,: the stipulated amount for
clothing being $25 a year.
Sleeping always with" a revolver
within reach, practising frequently, at
shooting at a mark, and- determined
in her decision to shoot without Warne | pars of if, supporters of its outward ac-
ing any one who attempts to enter her | tivities, ;they fancy themselves to bel
house umbidden, she is not afraid of
being molested. Neighbors who visit
her in the evening speak from the gate
Ee roy
7; op) 2 pocrisy.. They submit to the drudgery
I have never had an. unpleasant eX-| oe yeligion io pacify -troublesome con:
perience,” said Miss Lake yesterday. |gcjences and impose upon ‘themselves.
“When I first began living alone. I wast An. important reason: for so° many
afraid that the boys might, play jokes lapses. from, church membership is be-
on me and thatiI might injure them, | cause SO many become dissatisfied with
put I let them know that I had a re- om fail Yo séek the reality, so
volver. One of them came to me one |! WERE 3 t ; ;
: ! Almost every one in this congrega-
dsy.and a ged, menifil roid shoot, I, on has a AEA of godliness. You look
invited him to go out with me and see |lggoq, I find little to criticise in. what
me practice, and you can be sure thaty you’ do, for there is sp little you do on
the boys.don’t bother. which to base a crifigism. The trouble
“1 rent out portions of the farms and | lies: in» what you do not. You may
only hire men myself for the timber
land work in the winter. - Even then
I try as much as possible to get the
men to do the work by the piece, for I
have found that when I hire them by
the day theré is much more danger of
their imposing on me.”—Milwaukee
Sentinel.
godly. Branded as Christians; they,
but feebly apprehend what disrepute
feriority to the real article.
spiritual food. to relieve you from
first-hand study of the Bible, to rep-
resent your church not only in classis
but in the tenement, to be your proxy
in heart to heart work for souls, your
isubstitute when the battle is on be-
ween good ‘and evil, while you go
your business and household ways dur-
ing the week and on Sunday enjoy
your, cushioned pews, criticise the ser-
‘mow and singing.
The Lord never called me to any like
task. If there has been any such tacit
agreement I now repudiate it. I am
lealled of God to point out, the forms
of godliness as means of obtaining its
power.
The imperative needs of our invent-
fre age have almost bodily transferred
o our language the Greek here ren-
ered “power,” in the word dynamo.
believe in forms, just as the railroad
ngineer believes in the third rail, as
he believes in the elevated structure on
the Williamsburg Bridge. But the
mass of iron is a senseless eyesore un-
til it is connected with the main line.
Even then it is useless until related
to the power house, until the power,
FRILLS |
FAsHIoM,
SA
Hats are still on wae eccentric order.
A very good fur for moderate purses
is Russian marten. It closely resem-
bles sable, and is quite serviceable.
A genuine Directoire style was seen
in a biscuit-colored coat combined with
a slightly darker shade of heavy satin,
So many dainty coats and jackets,
even those of fur, are made with elbow
sleeves that a new use for fur has been
devised. : : the fire-fed dynamo, sends forth the
Sleeves are, as it were, tentative—of | electric current, enabling the cars to
medium size in many instances, of ex- pany thousands of wage-earners to and
aggeratedly large or small size in |'from their places of everyday toil.
others. What private concern would be so in-
Again crinoline is threatened in the | 0° as to sink for two years such a
width of the skirts, which, to the un- wealth or an enterprise for
initiated glance, seem surely to re- accumulaiing rust? :
= s The forms of religion are essential as
quire artificial means to hold them out. | preliminaries to the accessories of
Long gloves of glace kid or suede are
power. Churches, ministers, Bibles
lined with fur, and are sold to be worn | Were instituted and have been perpet-
with the short sleeves. They are a
uated because divinely ordained and
little thick and unwieldly, to tell the humanly tested to be good for making
truth.
the kingdom of heaven *go” upon
3 : ee —_
Ermine is as popular as ever, and
earth: In themselves, they have no
value. The power of godliness gener-
there is a fancy for coats of all white
ermine without the touch of black and
ated in Christian lives must electrify
them or they are encumbrances.
lemon color furnished by the tail of the
admired animal.
, You are commissioned to lead others
do Christ. Your commission gives you
“power to act.” Are you availing your-
In regard to tolors, we are going to
have a cheerful winter. The cult of
color is a fetich of the hour, and
self of that privilege? I find no verse
in the Scripture which reads “Be good
greens, additionally to be employed en
masse, are disclosing themselves in the
and you will be a Christian.” I find
reiterated, over and over, “Do good.”
further serviceable light of contrast.
For rough use good serviceable coats
Christianity is not colorlessness. It
of tweed and frieze mixtures are of-
has no minus sign. It is ever positive.
A negative being is peculiarly abhor-
fered. These are usually loose fitting,
half-long coats, belted or merely se-
rent to Him whose biography is epi-
tomized by “He went about doing
good.” “I would thou wert either
cold or hot” is His hostage to such
: - torpid professors. “Because thou art
cured in the back by a buttoned-on | yvawarm. I will spew thee out of
strap. They are double-breasted andi My mouth,” Better the mistakes, bet-
very warm and comfortable. I
much to say about Iiypocrites.™ I. be-
upon the: services of tlie church, mem- | eternity,
they bring’ upoft the flame by their {n=
Their
have called.me here {to predigest your.
ity than the flabby absence of either
good or bad.. True religion consists
not in outward observances, but in in-
ward graces; not in semblance, but in
reality. Because God is a living Ged,
He has no satisfaction in haif-alive
saints. We must not only serve Him
in this life; we must also “live in
service. The arc lamp unconnected
with the dynamo is in the way. Your
presence in the church is in the way
of others, unless the dynamo of power
is shining.
A man may cry “Church! Church!” at
every word
With no more piety than other people,
A daw’s not reckoned a zelijions bir
Because it keeps a-cawing from a steeple.
Forms are by mo means confined to
liturgical churches. A printed prayer
is less formal than one which differs
in phraseology each time it is uttered,
if the first come from the heart and the
latter from the head.” Some one thus
confesses and questions and deduces:
1 often say my prayers.
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart “
Go with the words I say?
~ Words without the heart
The Lord will never hear.
“Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Spiritual forces are all about us, per-
vasive as the subtle element we call
electricity. The power of godliness is
the concentration of this energy with-
in ourselves, so as to make it radiant
for good to others. We are in good
form. We have taken Christ to be
our. Prophet and listen to His teach-
ings. We recognize Him as our priest,
accepting the atonement He offers. Is
He our King Whom we obey, in ‘Whose
strength we go out to fight fearlessly?
Because hypocrites exist is no reason
not hesitate to say what we mean.
Let us determine to mean what, we say.
A form of godliness may speak
words of sympathy to mourners, of
warning to evil doers, of hope to af-
flicted ones. But the power is not
there. It is “voice, voice; nothing
more.” Although ministering ‘to the
self-complacency of: the speaker, it
ministers to no one else. The form of
godliness lacks substance. The flimsi-
ness is revealed when its wearer needs
sustaining power. It is no rod and
staff to, comfort when the valley of
the shadowy of death is to: be trod.
It has no light to shed when a man
comes to the forks of the road and
knows not which way to take. It may
fool him for a ‘while Reve. Its hollow=
mess is apparent on his first arrival in
the -world that knows: no shams. §
JMhe power of godliness is profitable,
both for the life that now is'and for
that.which is to .come,. . Its possessor
has “the tongue of the taught that he
may sustain with words him that is
weary,” may “reprove, rebuke, exhort,
correct.” A man is behind the Voice
and: -Chtist -is ‘behind: the man, In;
times of.trouble, it supports unfailing-
ly. When the house'is darkened and
the friends make their pitiful attempts
to condole, they aréjanticipated by the
God of all comforts DR
Heo whose form of godliness dis val-
fated by.its power: with unblanched
‘cheek, with firm confidence, faces each
persuaded that He is able to keep
what is committed to Him thifoughout
2 . -:. A Clear Call.
“It is, very noble apd lovely of you,
Tlic: to: ive so much of your time
tos that , work
house’ children. l
for.it; but for my part, «I never had
any call to that kind of work!” :
“Ahy call?’ Eisie's eyes were
gravely questioning. 2 s
“Yes, of course.- I suppose you felt
called to go into it, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I ever
thoughtiof it just in that way. I saw
the need of something I had time and
strength to do—that was all. But
wouldn't that be call enough?”
, Would it.not indeed? What plainer
.call can there be than a need that we
can meet? What more eloquent ap-
peal than thie cry of the hungry little
ones around us. for bread that we can
give?
There are not many loud and starts
ling “calls” to any form of service,
but God has unmistakable ways of
whose own will is to know it. We
have but to keep our ears open to hear
His voice, our eyes to see His beck-
oning. Every opportunity is a call;
every outstretched hand that ours
can meet helpfully is God's beckoning
hand to us.”
To most of us no other call will ever
come than that which comes through
human lips, no other than the reveal-
ing of a vacant place which we may
fill, a need for work which we can do.
If we wait in idleness for some
other vocation than’ comes to us in
these ways, we are put losing time,
and the world is losing our service.
Let us instead find in “the duty that
lies nearest” our present, definite call,
sure that when we are wanted for
another work that too will be shown
us. Opportunity—that is God's clear
call to us.—Young People.
Rest in Christ.
Coming to Christ, we enter into the
rest of faith. The very act of trust
brings tranquillity, even when the per-
son or thing trusted in is human or
creatural, and therefore uncertain.
For to roll the responsibility from my-
self, as it were, upon another brings re-
pose; and they who lean upon Christ's
strong arm do not need to fear, though
their own arm be very weak.
The rest of faith, when we cease
from having to take care of ourselves,
when we can cast all the gnawing cares
aud anxieties that perturb us upon
Him, when we can say, “Thou dost
undertake for me, and I leave myself
jn Thy hands,” is tranquillity depeer
and more real than any other that the
keep him in perfect peace whose mind
is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth
in Thee.”
Cast yourself upon Christ, and live
in that atmosphere of calm confidence;
and though the surface may be tossed
by many a storm, the depths will be
“peace subsisting at the heart of end-
less agitation.”—Alexander Maclaren.
rs
Lofty Examples.
The loftiest examples of charity, de-
votion, self-sacrifice, heroism, trust, pa-
tience and patriotism ever known to
history have found their motive and in-
spiraticn in the Christian religion.—
ter even the sins that come from activ-!
Henry B. Williams.
within you is at work and your light
why you should be o coward. Let us] ‘lent and ‘glorious person, who was tha
‘to believe, with Dr. Thompson, {hat
8. “Same country.”
hen:
| herds were in the fields® affords, nd
‘episis. of ~life, (he supreine crisis of }
death, knowing Whom he has believed; { > : . j
% pearing to men, and sometimes called
among the tenement-.
I'm sure‘l‘admire you.
joy.
| people” (R. 'V.), ‘tothe whole human
dred years before a prophet had. pre-
making His will known fo every one.
heart of man can conceive. “Thou wilt |
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 7.
Subject: The Shepherds Find Jesus, Luke
1., 1.20~Golden Text, Luke ii. 11-—
Memory Verses, 13, 14=Toplic: The
Savior Revealed to Man—Commentary
1. The birth of Christ (vs. 1-7). 1.
“In.those days.” After the birth of
John and before the birth of Jesus.
“Caesar Augustus.” The first of the
Roman emperors. “All the world.”
All of the Roman world. At that time
the Roman empire extended further
than ever before, or than it has since,
and was called “the empire of the
whole earth.” “Taxed.” Enrolled.
9. “First made.” There must have
been two enrolments. ‘‘Cyrenius.”
This is the Greek form of Quirinus or
Quirinius.. 3. “Into his own city.”
The Roman custom was to enrol per-
sons at the place of residence, but the
Jewish custom required the enrolment
to take place in the native city. 4,
“Went up.” From Galilee to the much
more elevated region of Bethlehem.
“City of David.” Where David was
born. 5. “With Mary.” It is uncer
tain whether her presence was obliga-
tory or voluntary, but it is obvious
that, after what she had suffered
(Matt. 1:19), she chose to cling to the
presence and protection of her hus-
band. “Espoused wife.’ Better, “who
was betrothed to him.” R. V. 6:
“While—there.” Caesar Augustus wag
but an instrument in the hand of prov+
idence to fulfil the prophecy of Micaly
7... “Her first-born son.” That excel
first-born of’ every creature, and the
heir of all things; whom all the firsty
born in the Old Testament prefigured]
whom the angels adore (Heb. 1:6);-and
in whom those that believe become. the
first-born and the first-fruits of God's
creatures. “Swaddling clothes.” Strips
of cloth; these were wound around the
infant.. “In a manger.’ It seems clear
from the text that the manger was not
in the inn, hence there is good reason
the birth actually took place in an or
dinary house of some common peas:
ant, and that the babe was laid in
one of the mangers, such as arerstill
found in the dwellings of the farmers,
II. The angelic message (vs. 814).
Near to Bethle-
_ “Shepherds.” .The announce.
ment was not made to:rulers or priests
but to humble men who were ready t
receive the glad news. “In the field.”
They undoubtedly had tents or booths
under which they dwelt. “Keéping
watch—by night.” Or, “keeping night-
watches.” . R.. .V,, margin. They
watched by turns, against wild beasts
and robbers.. The fact that the shep-
ground for concluding that the mative
ity could net have taken place in the
winter. The average temperaturt af
Jerusalem for five years was, iniDe-
cember, fifty-four degrees. 9. An.
gel.” Diving messenger. “Came Hpon
them.” Stood over them. “Glory of
the Lord.” That extreme splendor in
which the deity is represented as’ ap-
the Shechinah .— an appearancei:fre-
quently attended, as in this case, by a
company of angels. ‘Sore afraid.”
"Perrified with ' the appearance of sO
glorious a being. 4
:7/40. © “Good. tidings.” - The literal
‘meaning of “gospel” ‘I am conte to
declare the loving kindness off the
Lord. My message will cause great
It is a messageso “you” (Jews)
first, and it also, reaches to “all. the
race. See Gen. 12:3;:Matt. 28:19; Luke
2:28-32: 24:46, 47; €ol.»1:21-23, 11.7 “Is
born.” -Isa; 9:6; John 1:14. “Pavid’s
greater Son. begins His earthly career
in His ancestor's home. Seven:hun-
dicted the Messiah’s bith at Béthle-
hem” (Micah 5:2). “A Saviour.” 1
A deliverer. 2. A restorer. 3. A.pre.
server. See Matt. 1:21. “Not, ‘shall
be’ a Saviour, but ‘born’ a Savidur.”
“Christ.” The Anointed One.
12. “A sign’? The very thing that
would have caused them to doubt was
made the sign unto them. “Any fear
as to whether they may approach the
new-born King and offer Him ~theit
homage is dispelled by the intimation
of His lowly condition, while their car-
nal views of the nature of His king-
dom are thereby counteracted.” 13.
“A multitude.” They descended to
honor the Prince of Peace. *“Heav-
enly host.” The army of angels.
14. “Glory to God.” Christ was the
highest expression of God's glory.
“In the highest.” 1. In the highest
strains. 2. In the highest heavens.
3. In the highest degree. “On earth
peace.” Peace with God: peace to
man; peace of conscience. “Good
will.” God has shown His good will
by sending the Messiah. “Toward
men.” We should show good will both
to God and man.
III. The visit of the shepherds (vs.
15-20).
15. | “Let us ‘now go.’ There is no
time to lose. Let us go now. “This is
the language of obedience, desiring to
receive assurance and strength,” by
seeing for themselves “this thing
which ig to come to pass.” 16. “With
haste.” Filled and thrilled with holy
joy... that could not linger. “And
found.” It is probable that by com-
muniecating their experiences to one
another their faith was increased.
17. “Made known abroad.” As soon
as they had seen the child they began
to tell the glad news to every one they
met. They were true preachers of the
gospel. 18. “Wondered.” The story
of Jesus is the most wonderful story
to which human ears ever listened, and
it still causes those who hear it to
wonder. 19. “Pondered them.”
NVeighing or carefully considering
them. Every circumstance was ire:
ured up in her memory. 20. “Glorify-
inz and praising.” These simple men
returned to the care of their flocks giv-
ing glory to God for all they had seen
0 God for ail they
The Christian’s Antidote. i
A Christian met another man who |
was the picture of despendency. When {
asked what was the matter, the man |
said, “I have no friends; I am lonely.” {
“I have an antidote for that.” answer ed’
the Christian, and he began to sing,
«Apide with me, fast falls the even-
tide.” The lonesome man heard him
through, and then said: “Why, so you
have. If that song is true, you have
eompany all the time.”—Ram'’s Horn.
peri en
The blow of a whale’s tail is the !
strongest animal force in the world.
EPWORTH LEADE LESSONS
SUNDAY, JANUARY SEVENTH.
Laying Foundations for 1906.—Luke
6. 46-49.
Foundation-laying is a matter of
personal responsibility. Whatever
may be said of the power of heredity,
everyone may—rather, must—lay the
foundation of his own life. He may
not always choose the location of the
building, or the nature of the mater-
jals— though these are largely in his
own hands—but he must build the
substructure, as well as the 3uper-
structure, himself.
The only safe foundation for a hu-
man life is faith in God. That means
not merely a vague sort of belief
that he exists, and that he Is more Or
less benevolently disposed toward us.
1t is a faith which intrusts all life to
him, which believes that he has a
purpose in our presence in the world,
and which is sure that it is absolutely
safe to commit ourselves to his guid-
ance. That faith makes Christians of
us, with our life hid with Christ in,
God. It puts,us upon the impregnable
rock of the atonement. We can stand
erect and confident in God's sight
when we stand on that foundation.
Storms come to , everyone. The
tempest that ‘smote the house on the
sands beat no less fiercely on the «
house .avith the rock foundation.
There is no pledge of immunity from
trial, or from conflict, in the Christian
faith. That would make it a mere
asylum for the feeble. But our faith
gives us power to bear the trial, en-
dure the pain, and overcome in the
conflict with evil.
At the beginning of the year there ’
is no need to lay new foundations, if
you are already fixed on Jesus Christ,
he Rock of Ages. You may need to
strengthen your hold on his life,” to’
make sure that the life you .are
building is in harmoay with the life
on which it is founded, to-be more
careful in the choice of the materials.
vow use in the daily task of building,
but-you are already on thé .Rack. :
The “wise builder ‘in’ the parable is:
he who “Heareth these sayings, and -
doeth them,” By that test, who
among us is the ‘wise builder? Who
will begin now, .and by the" help of
God. be not a hearer only, but'a doer
of the Word. throughout the year?
The. Epworth’ League offers admir-
able opportunities for foundation~
laying. If vou have not used them,
begin this year.
Your need of regular and systemat-
jc use of the Bible can: nowheresbe
better © supplied thaa-
Ledgue Bible-study course... Join the ~
clags” ini-your own chapter. If there-
is no ‘class, start: one..: Three or: four;
earnest people will :make the nucleus
of ai -fine glass. It will give definite
ness and. purpose to:your. reading. of
the Bible. ah tl
FU
CHRISTUREND
Fos
How Finding . Christ Changes the
© Lifei—Matt.s 13:44-46. .:
Chiist ‘is! not hidden treasure, ‘and’
yet we must seek Him; and ‘when we"
se
havé found Him, we wonder 'we*have™
not seen Him*before! =
When one hag found Christ, he does
not hide Him,’ but is” eager to-show
Him "to others: No ‘parable: fits: truth
in al): points. ros
Christ is like ‘a pearl: in iperfectness,
in beauty, in: purity, in preciousness.
To win Christ we must yield up all,
that. we have; but: He... gives
straightway back again, , vastly, en:
richeds - rina gl Ea]
No one has really found himself |
til he has found Christ. : ]
The discovery of Christ is More th
me than the total of all the world’s
discoveries; it is the discovery of the
othe world. 0
One need only start toward Christ,
for He comes ‘swiftly the rest of the. :
way.
The reason why Christ cannot ent-
er some lives is because they want
Christ to allow them to remain as.
they are.
Christ in the life is like the magic
lamp placed in the German hut, that
by its shining changed it, and all its
furniture, to solid silver.
Health cannot come without dis-
ease’s going; nor can Christ come
without sin’s going.
When next you go to a Christian
Endeavor consecration meeting, de-
termine that it shall mean something
definite.
Review your life and see where you
are weak. Ask God to show you how
you may strengthen yourself in that
point. J
Form a resolution for one advance
step. Write it out. Speak it vout.:
Pray over it.
It may be to do one unselfish act
every day. Or to speak at each meet.
ing to some one likely to be neglects
ed. Or to read larger daily portions
of the Bible. Or to take a more help-
ful part in the meetings.
Whatever it is, you will help the
other Endeavorers greatly if you tell
them of you yurpose, and ask them
to tell of theirs.
Keep a record, and hold yourself ta
the accomplishment of your desigm
Adhere to it till it becomes a habit.
Thus will each consecration meeting
mark genuine progress in your life.
The Only Solution.
A large brewing company of Col.
chester, England, claims to have solved
the temperance question. The solution
is very simple, it says. It is “no drink
without food.” To prove. the theory
{ the company is trying the experiment
of combining the ordinary publics
house with a good eating-house. The
result of the first week’s working was
that it was able to report a profit of
26 per cent. and a complete absence
of drunkenness. This meth vd may
be profitable but cannot be considered
a success as a temperance measure
The only solution of the saloon prob
f lem is no saloon. ;
through the?
BMT
£4 JANUARY "SEVENTH. 3
LR
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