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I REV. DR. TALMAGE. * THE BBOOKIiW DIVINE'S SU3T DAY SERMON. Subject: "Festivity." 4 Text: "Come, for all things are nov ready."?Lukexlv., IT. It was one of the moat ojcitin? times in English history wherf Quean Elizabeth visited Lord Leicester at Keniiworth Castle. Th? moment of her arrival was considered so important that all the clocks of the castle were stopped, so that the hands might point to that one moment as being the most significant of ail. She was greetedtothe gate witb floating islands and torches, and the thunder of cannon, and fireworks that set the night ablaze, and a great burst of music that lifted onana intrk flnfthflnfmAnf TBen she was introduced in a dining hall the luxuries of which astonished the world. Foui hundred servants waited upon the guests. The entertainment coat $5000 eaoh day. Lord Leicester made that great supper in Kenilworth Castle. Cardinal Wolaey entertained the French Ambassadors at Hampton Court. The best cooks in all the land prepared for the banquet Purveyors went out and traveled all the kingdom over to find spoils for the table. The time came. The guests were kept dur< tag the day hunting in the King's park sc that their appetites might he keen, and then in the evening, to the sound of the trumpeter?. they were introduced into a hall hung with silk and cloth of gold, and there were tables ?-glitterwith imperial plate and laden with the rarest or meats and ablush wltn tne costliest wines, and when the second oourse of the feast came it was found that the articles of food had been fashioned Into the shape of men, birds and beasts, and groups dancing, and jousting parties riding against each other with lances. Lords and prlnoes and embassadors, out of cups filled to the brim, drank the health first of the King ol England and next of the King ot France, Cardinal Wolsey prepared that great supper in Hampton Court. But I hare to tell you of a grander entertainment. My Lord, tbe King is tbe banqueter. Angels are the cupbearers. All the redeemed are the guests. The halls of eternal love, frescoed with light and paved witb joy and curtained with unfading beauty, are the banqueting place. The harmonies of eternity are the music. The chalices of heaven are the plates, and I am one of the servants coming out with both hands filled with invi tationc, scattering tnem everywnere, ana, oh. that for yourselves you might break the seal of the invitation and read the words written in red ink of blood by the tremulous hand of a dying Christ, "Come now, for all things are ready." There have been grand entertainments where was a taking off?the wine gave out, or the servants were rebellious, or the light failed. But I have gone all around about this subject and looked at the redemption wliiob Christ has provided, and I come here to tell you It is complete, and I swing open the door of the feast, telling you that ''all things are now ready." In the first place, I have to announce that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is ready. Cardinal Wolsey came into the feast after the first course. He came In booted and spurred, and tho guet.s arose and cheered him. But Christ comes In at the very beginning of the feast?aye, He has been waiting 1894 years for His guests. He has been standing on His mangled feet, He has had His sore hand on His punctured side, or He has been pressing His lacerated temples?waiting, waiting. It is wonderful that He has not been impatient ana tear lie uas not aaia. "aauiiae aooi and let the laggard stay out," but He hoe been waiting. No banqueter ever waited for his guests so patiently as Christ has waited for us. To prove how willing He i9 to receive us. 1 gather all the tears that rolled down His cheeks in sympathy for your sorrows; I gather all the drops of blood that channeled His brow, and His bnck, and His hands and feet, in trying to purchase your redemption; I gather all tlie groans that He uttered in midnight chill, and in mountain hunger, and in desert loneliness, and twist them into one cry?bitter, agonizing, overwhelming. I gather all the pains that shot from spear and spike and cross, jolting into one pang? remorseless, grinding, excruciating. I take that one drop ol sweat on His brow, and ua* der the gospel glass that drop enlarges until 1 see in it lakes of aorrow and an ocean ol agony. That being standing before you now, emaciated and gashed and gory, coaxes foi your love with a pathos in which every word Is a heart break and every sentence a mar IJiUUUi. UUW l^iu > UU lUIUk UO Ahasuerus prepared a feast for 180 dayB, but this feast is for ail eternity. Lords and princes were in vited to that. You and I and all our world are invited to this. Christ i? ready. You know that the banqueters ol olden time used to wrap themselves in robes prepared for the occasion, so my Lord Jesua hath wrapped Himself in all that is beautiful, See how fair He isHis eye, His brow, Hia cheek, so radiant that the stars have no brilliancy compared with it, His face reflecting all the joys of the redeemed, His hand havingthe omnipotent surgery with which He opened blind eyes and straightened crooked limbs, and hoisted the pillars ol heaven and swung the twelve gates, which are tho twelve pearls. There are not enough cups in heaven to dip up this ocean of beauty. There are nol ladders enough to scale this height of love. jLnere are noc enougn cyinoaia 10 ciap. or harps to thrum, or trumpets to peal forth the praises of this one altogether fair. Oh, thou flower of eternity, thy breath is thf f>erfume of heaven! Oh, blissful daybreak, et all people clap tbeir hands in thy radi ance! Chorus: Come, men and saints anc cherubim and seraphim and archangel?ai heights, all depths, all immensities. Chorus Bell Him through the heavens in acharioto! universal acclaim, over bridges of hosannas under arches of coronation, along bytht great towers chiming with eternal jubilee. Chorus: "Unto Him who hath loved us anc washed us from our sins in His own blood, t< Him be glory, world without end?" I have a word of five letters, but no sheel white enough on which to write it and nc pen good enough with which to inscribe it Give me the fairest leaf from the heavenlj records?give me the pencil with which the angel records his victory?and then, with mj hand strunir to snnernntnr/il nreitasv and mi pea dipped in the light of the morning, ] will -write it out in capitals of love J-E-S-C-S." It is this one, infinitely fair to whom you are invited. Christ is waiting for you, waiting as a banqueter waits foi the delayed gueet?the meats smoking, th( beaker* brimming, the minstrels witt finders on the stiff string, waiting for th< clash o; the hoofs at the gateway. Waiting for you as a mother waits for hei son who went off ten years ago, dragging her bleeding heart along with him. Waiting Oh. give me a comparison intense enough hot enough, importunate enough to expresi my meaning?something high as heaven one deep as hell and long as eternity I Not hop ing that you can help me with such a com parison, I will say. -'He is waiting as onl; the all sympathetic Christ can wait for th coming back of a lost soul.1' Sow the knee and klw the Son, Come and welcome, sinner, come. Again, the Holy Spirit is ready. Why is 1 that so many sermons drop dead?that Chris tian songs do not get their wing under th people?that so often prayer goes no hlghe than a hunter's "hollo?" It is becausetber is a link wanting?the work of the Hoi; Spirit. Unless that spirit give grapplin hooks to a sermon and lift the prayer an waft the song, everything is a dead failure That spirit Is willing to come at our call am le^d you to eternal life, or ready to com with the same power with which heanhorsei Saul on the Damascus turnpike, and brok down Lydia in her fine store, and lilted th 3000 from midnieht into midnoon at th Pentecost. With that power the spirit c God now beats at the gate of your sou1 L Hnve you not noticed what homely and in significant instrumentality the spirit of Goi employs for man's conversion? mf There was a man on a Hudson River boa r to whom a tract was offered. With indigna rtion be tore it up and threw it overboard But one fragment lodged on"his coat sleave and he saw on it the word "eternity," an* he found no peace until he was prepared fo. that great future. Do you know what pas sage it was that caused Martin Luther to se the t^uth! "The just shall live by faith.' Do you know there is one?just one?pas sage that brought Augustine from a life c dissipation? "Put ye on the Lord Jesi Cnrist and make no provision for the fies to fulfill the lusts thereof." It was just on passage that converted Hedley Vicars, th irreat soldier, to Christ, "The Mood of Jest) Christ oleanseth from all sin." Do you know that the Holy Spirit use ?pe passage of Scripture to save Jonatha / Edwards? "Now. unto the Kins, eternal immortal, invisible, the only wise Ood. out Saviour, bo srlorj-." One year ago od Thanksgiving Pay I read for my text, "Oh. give thanks unto the Lord, for He is stood, for His mercy enrturetn rorever. ' Ana tnere is a youne man in the house to whoso heart the Holy Spirit took that text for his eternal redemption. I might speak of my own case. I will tell you X wa3 brought to the peace of the gospel through the Syro-Pu -viician woman's j cry to Christ. "Even the ' eat of the crumbs that fall from the Master's table." Do you know that tho holy spirit almost | always uses insignificant means'? Eloquent sermons never save anybody. Philosophical sermons never save anybody. Metaphysical sermons never save anybody. But the ' minister comes some Sabbath "to his pulpit 1 wore out with engagements and the jangling of a frenzied doorbell. He has only a [ a text and two or three ideas, but he says: '0 Lord, help me. Here arc a good many people I may never meet again. I have not much to say. Speak Thou through my poor lips.'' And before the service is done there J are tearful eyes and a solemnity like the : judgment. The great French orator, when the dead 1 King lay before him. looked up and cried, "God only is great!" and the triumph of his eloquence has been told by the his| torians. But I have not heard that one soul was saved by the oratorical flourish. Worldly critics may think that the early preaching Ot 1 nomas l/uuiuior.? waa <? uvsioL^nw. But Thomas Chalmers says he never began to preach until he came out of the sickroom, white and emaciated, and told men the simple story of Jesus. In the great day of eternity it will be found that the most souls have been brought to Christ not by the Bossuets and Maaslllons and Bourdaloues. (' but by humble men, who. in the strength of God and believing in the eternal spirit, invited men to Jesus. | There were wise salves, there were excellent ointments, I suppose, in the time of Christ for blind and inflamed eyes. But Jesus turned His backupon them and put the tip of His finger to His tongue, and with the spittle that adhered to the finger He anointed the eyes of the blind man, and daylight poured into his blinded soul. So it is now that the spirit of God takes that humble prayer meeting talk, which seems to be the very saliva of Christian influence, and anoints | the eyes of the blind and pours the sunlight of pardon and peace upon the soul. , Oh, my friend, I wish we could feel it more and more that if any good is done it is bythe power of God's omnipotent spirit. I do not lenow what hymn may bringyou to Jesus. I do i not know what words of the Scripture lesson 1 read may save your soul. Perhaps the spirit of God may hurl the very text into yout i heart, "Come, for all things are now ready." Again, the church is ready. 0 man, it I could take the curtain off these Christian t oaiiu ohn? vnn a i?roat manv cinxle ties for your redemption. You think that i old man is asleep because his head is down and his eyes are shut. No ; be is praying for your redemption and hoping that the words spoken may strike your heart. Do you know the air is full of prayer? Do you know that prayer going up from Fulton street prayer meeting and from Friday evening prayer meeting, and going up every hour of the day for the redemption of the people? And if you should just start toward the door of the Christian church, how quickly it would fly i open! Hundreds01 people would say: '-Give that man room at the sacrament. Bring the silver bowl for his baptism. Give him the i right hand of Christian fellowship. Bring i him into all Christian associations.'' i Oh, you wanderer on the cold mountains, i come into the warm sheepfold. I let down ; the bars and bid you come in. With the shepherd's crook I point you the way. Hundreds of Christian hands beckon you into the church of God. A great many people do I not like the church, and say it is a great mass of hypocrites, but It Is a glorious , church with all its imperfections. Christ i bought it, and hoisted the pillars, and swung Its gates, and lifted its arches, and curtained it with unholstery crimson with cru' otflxlon carnage. Come into it. We are a garden walled around. Chosen and made peculiar grouud, A little spot Inclosed by grace Out of the world's wild wilderness. 1 Again, the angels of God are ready. A i great many Christians thinlc that the talk about angels is fanciful. You say it is a very good subject for theological students who have just begun to sermonize, but for elder i men it is improper. There is no more proof in that Bible that there is a God than there are angels. Why, do not they swarm about ' Jacob's ladder? Are we not told that they conducted Lazarus upward ; that they stand ' { before the throne, their faces covered up i i ... ?i-n- ?-i I 1 witn ineir wmgs. wuuo moj j, uvij, holy ia the Lord God AlmightyV" Did not David see thousands and thousands? Did not one angel slay 185,000 men in Sennacherib's army? And shall they not be the chief harvesters at the judgment? > There is a line of loving, holy, mighty ' an?els reaching to heaven. I suppose they reach from here to the very gate, and when > an audience ia . assembled for Christian wori ship the air is full of them. If each one of you has a guardian angel, how many oeles1 . tlals there are here! They crowd the place, they hover, they flit about, they rejoice. L Look, that spirit is just come from the throne! A moment af?o it stood before Christ and heard the doxology of the glorified. ' T 1- f T> ?*f 4mmnfful whof T?B07? fmm ri ; JUL 15 m, ILUU4WkiM>, UW .? w ?vu? ? the golden city! Speak, spirit blest! The response comes melting on the air, ''Come, for all things are now ready!" Angels ready to bear the tidings, angels ready to drop the benediction, angels ready to kindle the joy. They have stood in glory t ?they know all about it. They have felt the f joy that is felt where there are no tears and > no graves : immortal health, but no invalid, ism; songs, but no groans; wedding bells, but no funeral torches ; eyes that never weep. I hands that never blister, heads that never I faint, hearts that never break, friendships j that are never weakened. [ Ready, all of them! Beady, thrones, prin, cipalities and powers! Ready, seraphim and > cherubim! Ready. Michael the Archangel' Again, your kindred in glory are all read; I for your coming. I pronounce modern > spiritualism a fraud and a sham. If Jehn Milton and George Whitefleld have no better fc business than to crawl under a table and rat> tie the leaves, they had better stay at home in glory. While I believe that modern spirr itualism is bad because of its mental and > domestic ravages, common sense, enlight} ened bv the word of God, teaches us that r our friends in glory sympathize with our re[ demptiou. , The Bible says plainly there is joy in heaven among the angels of God over one ; sinner that repenteth, and if angels rejoice r and know of it shall not our friends stand> ing among them know it? Some of these i spirits in glory tolled for your redemption, j When they came to die, their chief grief was that you were not a Christian. They 3ald, r ''Meet me in heaven," and put their hand* 5 out from the cover and said, "Goodby.'" ! Now, suppose you should cross over from a sinful life to a holy life. Suppose you 5 should be born into the kingdom. Suppose 1 you should now say : "Farewell, 0 deceitful world! Get thee gone, mv sin! Fie upon all the follies I O Christ, help me or I pery iah! I take my promise. I believe Thy word, n I enter Thy service." Suppose you should say and do this? Why, iMnugei sent to you would shout upward, "He is coming!" and the angel poising higher in the air would shout it upward, h "He is coming!" and it would run all up the 0 line of light from wing to wing and from lt trumpet to trumpet until it reached the gate, e and then it would flash to "tho house of many mansions."' and it would find out your g kindred there, and before your tears of re* | petenance had been wiped from the cheek L and before you had finished your first prayer j your kindred in glory would know of it, Q and another heaven would be added to their j ioy, and they would cry: f'My prayers are 9 answered ; another loved one saved. Give a me a harp with which to strike the joy. a Saved ! Saved! Saved!" If I have shown you that "all things are 1 ready," that Christ is ready, that the Holy Spirit is ready, that the church is ready. j that the angels in glory are ready, that youi glorified hundred are ready. then t with all the concentrated emphasis of my soul I ask you if you are ready? You see my subject throws the whole responsibility upon " yourself. If you do not get into the .King* 1 banquet it is because you do not accept the r invitation. You have the most importunate _ invitation. Two arms stretched down from 0 the cross soaked in blood from elbow to '? finger tip. two lips quivering in mortal angulsh. two eyes beaming with infinite love, 1 saying. "Come, come, for all things are now ready." ^ I told you thn* when the Queen came to Kenilworth Castle theystopped all the clocks, ' that the finger of time might be pointed to that happy moment of her arrival. Oh. if the King would come to the castle of your d soul, you might well afford to stop all the clocks, that the hands might forever point to this moment as the one most bright, most blessed, most tremenloos. Now, t" wish I oould go around from circle to cirolo and invite every one of you, according to che invitation of my text, saying, "Come!" I would like to take every one of you by the hand and say. ''Come r' Old man, who has been wandering sixty or seventy years, thy sun has almost gone down. Through the dust of the eveningstretchout your withered hand to Christ. He will not cast thee off, old man. Oh, that one tear of repentance might trickle down thy wrinkled cheek ! Af ter Ctmst lias lea tnee an rny me long, uo you not think you can afford to speak one word in His praise? Come, those of you who are farthest away from God. Drunkard, Christ can put out the flr-e of thy thirst. He can break that shackle. He can restore thy blasted heme. Go to Jesus, libertine! Christ saw thee Where thou wert last night. He knows of thy sin. Yet if thou wilt bring thy polluted soul to Him this moment He will throw over it the mantle of His pardon and love. Mercy for thda, oh. thou chief of sinners! Harlot, thy feet foul with hell and thy laughter the horror of the 3treet! Oh, Mary Magdalene, look to Jesus! Mercy for thee, poor lost waif of the street! Self-righteous man, thou must be born again, or thou canst not see the kingdom of God! Do you think you can get into the feast with those rags? Why, the King's servant would tear them off ana leave you naked at the gate. You must be born again. The day is far spent. The cliffs begin to slide their long shadows across the plain. Do you know the feast has already begun?the feast to which vou were invited?and the King XT!a knn/1 /\n Ar\r\y r\f fhtt han oils nuu ou uauu v? kuw uwvi w? quoting room, and He begins to awing it shut? It, is hall way shut. It ifl threefourths shut. It is only just ajar. Soon It will be shut. "Come, lor all things are now ready." Have I missed one man? Wbo has nofc telt himself called this hojr? Then I oall him now. This is the hour of thy redemption While God Invites, how blest the day; How sweet the gospel's charming sound! Come, sinner, haste, oh, haste away. White yet a pardoning God Is found. A Remarkable Story. I heard last summer a true story, which seemed to me worthy the ear ol St. Nicholas. It was narrated by a clergyman to a group of young folk? on a hotel piazza. I shall not tell his name because I know the story better than the historian. Several years ago this gentleman was living in the German capital with his family. There were many new sights and sounds to interest the Aruer ican family, but nothing more fascin ating than the colony of white storke which settled on the adjacent house tops and made a bird village of the nestled chimney-stacks. The birds had such an air of pro prietorship and general coziness, thai some member of the family insistec that that particular part of the citj was the regular summer home of these tourists, who returned to their old quarters each season, inhuman fashion This idea was not accepted as fact, ant' there were many speculations as tc some possible means of testing the theory. Not being up in the stork Ian guage, no one cortld ask questions and get answers, neither could any morta' remember the line points ot storK physiognomy from year to year. A plan was finally decided upon, anil one particularly aristocratic monarch of-all-I-survey looking bird was en ticed by a good dinner into the gar den. There a silver ring was placet1 about his leg, on which was engraved "Berlin, 1888." He then flew back t<* his favorite ohimney, and ere long ho joined the passing flocks that were con atantly leaving for the south. Many a thought followed the feathered fugitive during the long winter, and at the first sign of spring eager eyes wutched for the return of the travelers. After many days, a distant line of storks, far up in the blue, came into view. Over the clergyman's house several detached themselves from the sky caravan and hovered around the dwelling. A tempting feast was prepared, and presently the weary pilgrims flew down into the yard. Friendly eyes watched every movement with joyous welcome. Imagine the surprise when one of the flock was seen to have two silver rings upon its legs! Behold! the old ring was back again, and accompanying it another, which read: "India sends greeting to Berlin."?Harry Fenn, iu St. Nicholas The Mafia. At present there seems almost undoubtedly, a recrudescence of mafi otrv in Sicily itself. The trouble is that if a man be once a Mafiote he is always a Mafiote. Many are drawn into the league in youth, unconscious of its true nature; but knowledge brings no withdrawal, but only stronger allegiance. And even those outside the actual membership are tinctured with its spirit. All the population of Sicily, the rural population, at any rate, is largely dominated by Mafiote principles. It is, for exam pie, a doctrine of the Mafia that one must never give testimony injurious to his neighbor, however guilty that neighbor may be. This doctrine is practically universal, both in theory and practice, among the Sicilian peas antry. And so it comes to pass that brigands are sheltered aud defended, 'often beyond the reach of justice, aud often by the very people who have suffered in property from their maraudings. Add to thir- the fact that ''the truth is only told in the confessional" is the most popular of Sicilian proverbs, and the almost insuperable difficulties in the way of suppressing outlawry by judicial processes may be perceived. The testimony of Italian writers gives the darkest of views of these outlaws. The Mafia, says Bonfadini, 'vis not a secret society exactly, but the development and perfection of usurped authority, directed t? every evil end ; it is the solidarity, instinc* tive, brutal, selfish, which unites, as against the State, the laws and the regular institutions, all the individuals and all the social classes who desire to draw their subsistence and comfort, not from labor, but from violence, fraud and intimidation." Franchetti defines it as "the union of people of every rank, of every profession, of every sort, who, without any ap> parent bond, continuous and regular, are always united for their mutual in terests without any consideration ol law, justice or public order; it is a mediaeval sentiment of him who be lieves that he can provide for the custody of his person and property by his own powers and personal influence, independent of the action of the authorities and the law. "?New York Mail and Express. Gold in Alaska. Considerable gold has been found in amah quantities in Alaska, and the residents of ! Juneau are excited by the discoveries. Chinese Not to Go. The Chiness Six Companies have ordered their laborers to register. RELIGIOUS READING.I i> Horr IN THE SCRIPTURES. "He that overcometh shall inherit ah iliings."?[Rev. 21: 7. I think it is always exceedingly interesting ?,< to remember that the Bible closes with a I icreat outburst of hope hu<1 courage. From | the time of its beginning with the Book of Geuesis on all through the books in the ages that have come between, there have been a multitude of strains of earnest and serious rebuke, sometimes of earnest and faith- 1 ful exhortation, sometimes a recital of duty ,j0 in the calmest aud simplest way. Sometime? pi, there are verses, and chapters, and periods th of history which, if we take them by them- be 3-ilves, would seem almost to leave mankind *-t to the most hopeless discouragement. Dc Thare have been chapters on which m; the most pessimistic theories have wj Deen built. But it is certainly interesting to wi remember that when the Bible gathers itsell X1 up for its great close?for although the Book of Revelation was not the last of the books ai of the Bible which was written, it holds its th true place at the close of the great Bible his- H tory?when we come to gather up the whole vi of God's message to the world in the Bible, th its strain is unbroken peace, comfort and en- 01 couragement. It comes to a man's soul with it a great outbreak of hope and glory. It is al- at most as if there had be?n a long consultation e\ ar.d communion between dear friends. Dur- di Int? tho vears in which thev have been in in- b? tercourse with one another, into how many jD different relationships they have entered, and re how many words have passed between them! b< But there comes at last a moment when & they are to separate for a time, when w the special association and the constant (] communication are to be broken; and ^ we all know how rich and precious are words tt spoken then, how significant they become of l the whole relationship that exists between c the two souls, and how we are continuously tc looking back to those last words spoken ni again and again in the ordinary intercourse & of life, but to words spoken then, when life fl has seemed to gather Itself up in the fullne.*s and richness of its meauing. So the Bible ft gathers itself together, and says these grcat, n rich words which are in the inspiring chap- g ters of the Revelation of St. John.?Phillips si Brook*. (j " x DOST THOU BELIEVE? n When the disciples were commanded to go tJ and preach the gospel to every creature, the One who sent them said, "He that believeth 8 and is baptized shall be saved; bd that be- d lieveth not shall be damned." ti Dear reader, dost thou believe on the Son I of God? This question was asked to one v who was born blind; and he said, "Who is ( he. Lord, that I might believe on him." 8 "And Jesus said unto him. thou hast both tl ?A,->n him. and it is He that talketh with thee. a And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he a worshipped Him," y And the same Jesus speaks to thee. He s speaks through the Bible, and through all ii th) works of God. But He speaks to us r more especially by the Holy Spirit. It is the 1 Spirit that can cause us to understand the tl word. c We need not wonder that the "cross of r Christ is to them that perish, foolishness.'1? tl They have grieved away the Spirit, and dark* tl ness has come upon them. But to thee the I Spirit calls. ''Come, for all things are now d ready." "The Spirit and the bridesay, Come a and let him that heareth say. Come. And let c him that is athirst come. * And whosoever r will, lei him take tha witter of life s freely." t "All things are now ready.'' Oh, be en- ii treated to come and take of the water of life. o Do not say, "I have bought five yoke of o oxen,'' and I must go and prove them. Do h not make excuses. Notice the words, "all s things are now ready." If thou wilt come a now; there is eternal life for thee. Do not ti despise the offer?Do not slight the invita- C tion. ii Fall on thy knees now. and pray to thy o Father who "seeth in secret, that He may t; draw thee unto Jesus. There is no other s name tinder heaven, given among men, 2 wheroliy we must bo saved. ii "Escape for thy life: look not behind thee, t! neither stay thou in all the plain." I Plead for ir.ercv in the name of Jesus. And I - ' ' l..i1 1 i... t may uoa neip men v> hciiums, auu uo * from the wrath to coine. t v li TEXTS IS THE SIEJIORr. * Mauy blessed consequences flow from bav\ ing the words of Scripture iu the memory. c We cannot always huve our Bibles in our / bands; especially if ?>ur calling leads us to e manual labor. 1 When you walk by the way. good t'aoughts u will be promoted and ovil thoughts will be tl shut out by some good word of God turnfed I over in the mind. Choose your text' in the e morning with this view. ti When you arc at work, you may derive un- n speakable profit and comfort from ruminating e on some savory promise. It may, by the h messing 01 UUU, U'J WU as uauvu Jjuuu U3 a [, sermon. p When you arc at prayer, texts of Scripture c in the memory will aid your devotion, by A awakening right feelings, suggesting reaso^- y able request, and promoting to suitable ex- * pressions. Thus you join "the word of God tl and prayer." b When "you retire to re?t, or lie awake dur- si ing the night watches, or sit beside the sick t) or dying, you may taste the sweetness of i? many a gracious promise, and may say, '-In a the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy ^ comforts delight my soul.'" b When you are in pain, fear, sorrow, or tl sudden peril, one versa of the Bible may be C like a star to the benighted mariner. I 0. be persuaded to make it a part of every jj day s duty to commit to memory at least one c new verse, and fail not to store up like treasures in the minds of your beloved children. ^ 81 8 KNOWN BT ITS FECIT. W o< A missieuary tells a story of a Chinamat. who came one day to the mission rooms. _ ""nfn vnn ovor haunt tlm finsnelV" asked I a the missionary. "No, "was the reply, "but ? I have seen it. I knew u man who was like a wild beast: he would shout at you when j angry. and would curse both day and night. tl But he learned the religion of .Testis, and dow he I? kind, gentle, ana speaks only V good words." The converted heathen had P become a preacher of the religion of Jesus without knowing it. The missionary himself jr could not preach aad teach better than this .' poor man was doing by his chauged life. His . formor companions ?,iw a great change in . him. They ?iiiit: "What has made this man ho different?" And wheu they heard that it b was the religion of Jesus, they said in their . I -A- .?Tf .? 1 ..xl if n ro1i?*i?\n 1 A^ uvnrus n *.??t it u 0ww?.? us send it lo those who have it not." in ;< T'lE MISTAKE OF WORLDLY HEX. w The great and sail mistake of those with. out a Christian experience is in their false " conceptions of tho nature ami the foundation of true ami durable good. Tho present and transient that appeals to tho senses is chosen in preference to that which by self-denial and discipline develops real, durablo well-being. J11 The perfect embodiment of truth and right- ~ eousness among men was despised and ?j rejected. Tuc redeeming influence of ^ ihe principles Ho taught and exemplified. tj( seen all along down tbo line of centuries in V( the elevation and happiness of his followers gl above all others, with' <?u assured hope of gl eternal good, fails to break the spell that ^ binds souls of many to the so mid pleasures fe of sens*. Tho iiumortai spirit of- man Is tj. craving the bread of life and there is an at- jg tempt to satisfy it with that which only in- tj. creases the want. q, c< rt ' To giv<> a!:r s is no;hiug unless you give, thought also. It is written no*. Blessed is n( he that faedeth the poor,' but 'blessed is he w that considereth tin* poor.' A little thought pj aud a little kiudnes- am often worth more than a great deal of money."?| Ilusklu. V( Oriental Wedding In Illinois. Mi3S Jennie George and Salini Tonnoo*. ju Salibi, both Syrians, were married the other ti day in Cairo. 111., according to the custom of oi their country, Several athlete* and dancing a girls from the Midway Plaisance were se- si cured for the bridegroom's amusement, and $i for three days they gyrated and danced be- tfc fore him. while the bride, heavily veiled, N fasted in seclusion. After the marriage cere- fr mony the entire party paraded the streets, w headed by a brass band and two athletes. Rabbits for the Needy. All records were broken in a two-Jays^ rabbit hunt at Lamar. Col., a few days ago. rt The total number killed was 3200 and the '? highest individual score was 160. The game h was shipped to Denver and Pueblo to be <JL>trlbuted among the needy. . ti SABBATH SCHOOL I 'TERNATIOXAfj LESSON" FOR ? FEBRUARY IS. isson Text: "God's .Judgment on Sodom," Gen. xviii., Golden Text: Gen. xviil., 25?CommentaryC t The text of this lesson and the titlpv "God's t Homunf r*r? QnHnm *' aw ar?m?whflt Dei' ering. The proper text for the title is in e next chapter, and it seems to me that a 1 tter title fot the text assigned would be. \ Abraham's Intercession for Sodom." I will f tt take up the lesson verse by verse, as is r y custom, but, taking the topic assigned, : [11 gather some helpful lessons from the l bole story in the two chapters xviii. and I x. i XVIII.. 1-21. The Lord's visit to Abraham . id communion with him. The incident of * e visit of the three heavenly ones, Jehovah t imself and two angels, to Abraham. his pro- < ding food for them and their eating it under e tree Is in many respects the ? ily one of the kind in the Bible. is true that in the days of His humili:ion He dined in many homes, and ren after His resurrection did eat with His sciples (Luke xxlv., 42. 43;, but before He J jcame man this is the only instance of such f itim&te fellowship as a man with man. It ? iminds us of the fellowship that must have ^ 3?n in Eden and suggests to us the coming 1 ?ys when the tabernacle of God shall be e ith men, and He will dwell with them ( lev. xxl., 8). But we have a privilege now, hich seems to be enjoyed by very few, of * le constant presenoe and fellowship of the i ord Jeeua (Bev. iii., 20 : John xvl., 23 ; II ] or. vL. 16). If we would only determine j > be wholly His, and only and always His, resenting our bodies unreservedly as a liv- i ig sacrifice, He would certainly accept and < 11 these temples for His glory (Bom. xii., ^ , 2). The Lord's question, Shall I hide om Abraham that thing which I do? re- j linds us that it is written, "Surely the Lord 1 rod will do nothing, but He revealeth His i scret unto His servants, the prophets" , ? ill rrv THTJ J.. 1 a.mos ui., i). &aa ma uwu wuiuo iu ?uuu v., 15, "I have called you friends, for all lings that I have neard of My Father I have lade known unto you," show us how inimate He would like to be with us. XVIII., 22-33. Abraham's intercession foi odom. The angels have passtd on to Soom, and we shall meet them in the next secIon, but now Abraham Is alone with the .ord, and feeling his own unworthiness he et ventures though he be but dust and ashes verse 27). to plead with the Lord to spare odom. While we wait for the coming ol tie Lord both righteous and wicked all di< nd are often taken out of this world in the ame disaster, cyclone, earthquake, shiprreck, amaahup or what not, but the uprighl ball have dominion over others in the mornag(Ps. xlix., 14). In the truest sense the Ighteous can never perish (John ill., 16) 'he destroying of verse 23 can only refer to heir being cut off in the overthrow of th< Ity. 8o Abraham pleads for the sake of the Ighteous whom he hopes are to be fount1 here thattne city may be spared. He think? hnm mnv hn ftftv nnrl nsks and receives 'earing their may not be so mnn3*. he come! own to forty-flve, then to forty, then thirty nd twenty and Anally to ten, and re elves the assurance that if there are tei ighteoua men in Sodom. the city will bt pared. The sequel proves that there wa? iut one righteous man to be found (II Pet. L, 7. 8), and while He would pass In most ol ur churches to-day. perhaps in all. even hii wn ohildren had not much confidence in dm. On the power of intercession conider the pleading of Moses (Num. xiv., 19. 0), and remember that even for such as Lot he little town of Zoar was spared (six., 21). >n the other hand, note that wickedness nay become so great that the intercession if a Moses or a Samuel may not avail, noi he presence of a Noah, a Daniel or a Job ufflce to deliver ^Jer. rv., 1: Ezek. xiv., 14 0). Our Lord Jesus is not represented as nterceding for sinners (John xvii., 8), hough He did pray for them at the cross, mt He ever liveth to make Intercession for Ilsown(Heb. vii., 25). Verse 83 says the iord went His way. and Abraham returned o his place. Separated for a little outrardly out not In heart. What a word that 3 in I Thess. iv.. 17, which shall be fullf rue of all believers soon?"forever with th< iOrd?" XIX., 12-23. The rescue of Lot. What? ontrast between their ready acceptance o Lbraham's invitation and the angels' pref rence of the street to the house of Lot (xix. -3)! Is there anything in our hearts oi Ives or home or business that would mak< he Lord or the angels desire to stay outside' n verses 12 to 14 consider howinconsist nt the life of Lot must have been that hii Bstimony should oniy cause his children tc nock at him. inverses 15. 16, seethe earn 1 stness of the angels as they take Lot anc lis wife and daughters by the hand to haster heir escape. In verses 17 to 20 see Lot's erverseness and lingering and evidenlinging to Sodoin. but he was saved foi ; ibraaam's sake (verse 29). The angel: rent into Sodom; so we must g? 1 rhere sinners are if we would read 1 hem. They did not mince matters ^ ut spoke very plainly of the coming de traction. We should speak as plainly as tie Bible does of hell and everlasting pun- ( jhmeut, and the lake of Are and brimstone, [ nd the worm that dieth not. The angels * rorked hard to save a very few. and the.' ut poor specimens. We cannot estimate ] fcte value of the soul. If we had only th? i Hd Testament record, we would not thinl y ,ot a righteous man. Therefore judge nolh lg before tbie time un?U the Lord come (t or. iv.. 5). ' 1 XIX., 24-29. The judgment upon Sodoai. f he Lord Jesus believed that flre and brim- 1 rone came from heaven and destroyed 1 odom and all ber people, ana tnar iiot s Ife became a pillar of salt (Luke xvli., f J, 32). He also believed that there was a \ eluge in the days of Noah, and that Jonah . as three days and nights in the belly of a , sh (Luke xvil.. 27; Math, xii., 40). re should bare no fellowship witb I lose who think they are wiser than j esus and teach that these things are not v ue (Gal. i., 8, 9; II John ix., 11). In the arses referred to in Luke xvii. our Lord ( lainly teaches that when He shall come 1 stele In His glory the conditions of affairs on , irth shall be about as they were before the , eluge and in Sodom. It is also piainly tught that as Noah was safe in the ark be- ] >re the deluge came. Lot out of Sodom be- j re the fire, Rahab out of Jericho berore ^ te destruction, so all true believers shall i with the Lord before He shall be revealed ] i flaming lire (Isa. xxvi., 20, 21: Luke xxi., 1 i; Rev. ill., 10;. ] In verses 27-2? eon?''der Abraham dwelling i peace and safety and fellowship with s'aovah at Hebron. L?arn now to dwell 1 ith God and in God aud have nothing to j > with Sodom except to rescue people from ?Lesson Helper. Gold Production of the World. , A production of gold throughout the world, mounting to nearly $150,000,000, is the f test estimate of the United States Treasury 1 fflclals for the calendar year 1893. This is ] 5,000,000 more than the estimate made lost j ovember. which attracted so much attenoc in England and on the continent, and is 1 sry nearly the largest production for any j ngle year in the history of the world. The j reat increase is in the Witwatersrendt reIon of South Africa, which has advanced by , taps and bounds from a production of less iaa $15,000,000 in 1891 to $25,000,000 iu (92, and $31,000,000 for 1893. Mr. Preston, 10 acting director of the mint, has reaested a special report through American insular representatives in Afrieu on this < imarkable output. i' The United States will show an increase o? ' sarly $2,000,000 according to best figures * hich have yet been received, advancing the 1 roduct for the year from $33,000,000 to ?35. j 10.000. Several of the large States have not ? ?t been heard from as to the exact details ot' ' roduction, but the deposits at thereflneries s ivo been much greater than last year and \ istiiy the estimate of an increased produc- i on. Colorado reports an increase of 90,000 inces, or about $1,800,000 : Montana shows ' gain of 11,000 ounces, or $220,000 : Arizona t tows a gain of $60,000, and New Mexico of 50.000. These gains are partially offset by ie loss of 19,000 ounces, or about $330,000 in evada, but will bo increased by the returns 1 om Calitornia, Oregon and Washington, 1 hich have not vet come iu ' j "Rabbits for the Needy. < All records were broken in a two-days' J ibbit hunt at Lunar, Cel.. a few days ago. j he total number killed was 3200 and the lghest individual score was 160. The game 'as shipped to Denver and Pueblo to be diir ? ibUved among the needy. . AGRICULTURAL. ? an COPICS OF INTEREST RELATIVE bu TO FARM AND GARDEN'. kii ??? th WHEN TO CUT OATS FOR FODDER. Any one of the grains grown npon ; f0] arms is in its best state for feeding to t to :at tie when it i3 in full blossom. At i his stage of growth any plant contains j ite hp mnafr. rmtrimont in +.ht> mftnl', di- ' festible condition, and thus when oat$ ! ja] s grown for fodder the crop is cut just tii: vhen the plants are passing out of the i ag lowering and the seed is not yet' Gf ormed. Then the nutritious matter j yj( s contained in the whole plant, and it i ye jecomes better fitted for feeding than i <3r f the greater part of the nutriment I 8h lad left the straw and become concen- j ^ rated in the grain. The same is true ! 80 >f all kinds of grass, and the common Ee jrains are grasses.?New York Times. W( ni rules for watering cows. 8u There is a difference of opinion ur tmong milkmen as to whether it pays j pe ;o warm the water for cows in winter, fit iome think that where steam is at j th land it pays to warm the water to j tii ibont seventy degrees; others say that J he jows do quite as well with water of the j w< wdinary temperature of the well,which i N< a about forty-five to fifty degrees, j But all agree, says the Massachusetts Ploughman, that it is better not to five ice water to the cows. The tub i >r trough should be either upset after i catering, to drain out the water, or | tj* ihould be provided with a plug in the ; sottom for this purpose, then let the j vater be pumped fresh from the well vc >r turned on from the cistern while "j1 ;he cattle are not drinking, and not alowed to cool or freeze by exposure sefore they can satisfy themselves. Dows accustomed to drink warm water r? vill .not drink cold water, hence the ai mportance of regularity in warming n ivhen once it is attempted. vfl i ed ui IRRANGEHEXT OF FIELDS AND PASTOBES. A farm divided into large fields, es- yj socially into long ones, can be culti- ca rated to best advantage with least loss 8ti )f time in turning at ends with plows ^ ?nd machines. In the ideal farm fa liviaion, fences will be almost entirely jn Jispensed with, facilitating cultiva- o0 ;ion, saving for tillage the land occu-' pied by fences, also saving the great j0 jxpense of building and repairing nj iences. The time has hardly arrived jn m this country for the general adop;ion of the practice of soiling stock. ^ When it shall Income necessary to jconomize in the use of land, -vhen population shall begin to crowd upon , fa the means of subsistence, pasturing I ej irable land will gradually cease. j -p; So long as pasturing is continued ' re iverv pasture should be provided with i in abundance of pure, sweet, living j water. A flowing stream is generally ; W( considered very desirable in a pasture, ! se but a creek often renders a good deal t jQ af land unfit for cultivation. It gen-} 8n srally pursues a tortuous course, has ^.1 more or less wet, marsliy margin, and fft is not an economical method of water- a ing stock. A well with a windmill and jj( pump has recommendations, though f3 where water can be brought from a jn spring and flow into a penstock the best conditions are afforded. In sither pump or penstock, the overflow ^ should be conducted away by an un- ar ierdrain. No good farmer will suffer ~ bis stock to depi nd upon slough or ^ jwamp water, or to drink at filthy. yj stagnant pools. Such water must a+ necessarily affect the health of stock 0I ind the wholesomeness of their products.? American Agriculturist. gl| Tire LIYEE FLUKE IX SHEEP. This most destructive pest of sheep 's a flat -worm about a quarter of an ce nch in length, and sometimes much arger. It is taken up by the sheep in , vater in which a certain kind of snail c is found, or in low ground with the ;rass on which this snail may crawl. & rhis snail is the first bearer of the iuke, which is known as distoma he- pt iatica. The fluke lavs its eggs in noist places or in water after it is co roided by the sheep, and the young ti; *-orms attach themselves to the snails ind enter their bodies. The snails ire swallowed in every possible way ^ 3v the sheep, and the eggs or young { yorms pass from the stomach to the jail, bladder, or the gall ducts, where' ?l they stay, feeding on the mucus of the lS ^ali. This interference with the function of the liver, which is the most ca important of the digestive organs, wi greatly injures the sheep, and causes the special symptoms by which the le iisease is recognized, as the swollen tb watery bag under the jaws, a pale skin, or sometimes at the beginning a ; 0I yellow appearance of the eyes, as in j ^ jaundice, by reason of the gall mix- | ing with the blood. In time the sheep j , becomes thin, the wool falls ofl', and I it appears a miserable object, and in time dies. There is a remedy that never fails to relieve the sheep ; this n( is turpentine given in linseed oil, j one part of turpentine to three of oil, j given in doses of three tablespoonfuls ! fo every fourth day. The turpentine : fi: kills the worms, and the oil ejects. them from the sheep by the bowels. 9U To avoid this disorder the sheep j m jhould be supplied with water from I wells, and should never pasture in wet j and. Salt freely given twice a week ; is also a valuable preventive. Sheep i jastured on salt meadows are not sub- ^ ;ect to the disease, as the worm can- f , jot live in salt water, or rather the i mail which bears it cannot.?New L'ork Timw. CTLTTVATXNG SWAMP LA.VD. ^ Many a fertile swamp has been; . drained in winter and made useful and j arolitable. When the surface is frozen ' ^ solid so that teams can be used upon the land the ditching may be greatly . facilitated, making the cost of the job far less than all hand work. That swamps, contain much greater fertility , :han they are commonly credited with | ias been shown in numerous instances, ' 7? the latest is the following story just: iS ;old me by a successful man. He j (*r iaid: "After putting my tiles I got a ! nan aud team to plow a portion of ; %V1 ;he swamp that was covered with a , leavy sod. including many bogs. j if ' It lay in the rough all winter, and j tii .n the spring I tried in vain to induce : th )ne ?ad another to plant the rough j pr ooking field on shares. Being too | bi juey to do it myself it lay and sweet-1 gc med in the sun and wind until time do 'or sowing Hungarian grass seed. 1 or f" ' > /,V5 . * * . v ? '1 \if *y!j ' . v ' 1 i ' .? though the job was a bad one, I got plowed the second time, harrowedl d sowed to Hungarian, though witty t little faith. No fertilizers of an* ad were used, but the crop was exJ lordinary. it exceeded anything of e kind I have ever seen, and wa? ry difficult to mow and harvest. Th? [lowing season the ground was sowedl red top and timothy. "The red top seed seemed to prorgf ielf worthless, for none of it germated, and I hardly expected to get ak :ge crop from the small amount off nothy seed sowed, but was agaii* rseably disappointed with a big cropgr^ss, and the land continued to eld handsomely for a number of ars. It was again broken up in th? y weather of last summer, and i all get a great yield of grass the first ne I mow it." Many another pern owns land that he is taxed for and iver realizes a cent from?and that >uld return him a grand income an-? Lally if drained. Can the owner of ch a bonanza afford to let it rema^^- : idnvalnnnd t.hat r?nmin<r cenfiratfoDR. ? o Ow rhaps strangers, may reap the bene? If so, his name should appear on e list of millionaires. Winter is tho xl6 to drain, taking advantage of thai ilp of frost and cheap labor that >uld be unemployed otherwise*? jw England Homestead. ~ FKBTaiZING BY EUtCTBIOTTT. In answer to inquiries made through . Pellissier, Superintendent of th? rench electrical exhibit at the orld's Fair, a pamphlet has bees rwarded to the editor of the Orange idd Farmer treating of the recent teresting experiments made by Frere , lulin, Director of the Agricultural stitute of Beauvais. This gentleman, aims to have discovered a method of ceiving the electrical fluid from the r and transmitting the same undersath the surface of the ground to ,rious crops. The result, as recordi, goes to show that a plant growing ider the influence of this collected ectricity shows greater vigor, a larger eld and earlier maturity. In many sea, corresponding plants, the one pplied by electricity and the other ithout, show a marked difference in vor of the former and especially so the experiments with spinach and' its. It is ft well-known fact that oelinse, or plant tissue, will absorb mora trogen as the electrical tension is creased, and o? course nitrogea fcher in its free form or in its coamnd of ammonia, is a most importit element of plant growth, giving rength, color and general vigor. So r as this is concerned Frere Paulin'* iperiments seem perfectly rational, he question is, how the electrio curnt is to be distributed among thtt ants. The method employed by the rench scientist is as follows: A. . . joden pole forty to sixty feet high is t up, preferably with the- lower en& cement, its surface previously leared with tar to prevent decay. ; its top a five-pronged point in stened, being insulated by means of porcelain cap on the pole. To tha >ttom of the points a No. 20 wire i* stened and run into the ground, b&? g kept from the pole by means of abs insulators. About one foot b*> >ath the surface of the ground (th? >pth varying with the kind of soil id the character of the crop loeinf? own) another wire is fastened to is, and one of them carried to tho gilt and the other to the left. Then a distance of six feet apart secldary wires are run at right angles these two main wires underneath th? :rface of the ground. FARM AND GARDEN NOTE/?. Study the characteristics of the sucssful producing dams. A horse that is rained in breaking >es not generally get over it. Owners want to learn to sell tho st time a fair price is offered. Mares with the most nerve foroa oduce the fastest trotters and pacers.f "When frost glitters in the stable thef iws will be poor before the summer' me. It is safer to exercise youngsters in irness than to turn them loose in th& y fields. * i * Let the cow frisk in the open air! ice in awhile; continuous stable lifer not good for her. A hen in her prime and properly ,red for will produce three times heif eight in eggs yearly. ' Give the cow: water once a day atj ast in winter, and always fresh from' e well; never ice cold. TroeVi anna ava heavier than the old ilu?uv68?i..? ? ies. Therefore, when put in water, e older ones will float higher. If butter is to be held for any length time it hail better be frozen, as in .at state- it holds its flavor longer. The winter dairyman ought not to >glect having a supply of ensilage. oots will do, but ensilege is better. Never have high roosts for heavy wis. It is the comfort of the fowls st, other considerations afterward. In France, the greatest and most ccessful poultry raising country, all arket fowls, dead or alive, are >ught and sold by weight. Why d6es thunder sour milk? a9k? subscriber. We do not know at it does. It is believed that the under has nothing to do with it, it that the climatic conditions in iich thunder occurs favor the deilopment of bacteria. Within the last thirty-five years the erage weight of fleeces produced in e United States has doubled. Thi? due to the fact that the sheep have ien better cared for in every way an formerly and more intelligently imaged, especially with reference to ceding. It ia ft wast of time and money to y and grow profitable crops upon (v, wet ground. The best thing that iu can do, if you have such a piece, to invest a little of your surplus in aining it. Probably it is rich, and e extra crops that it will produce .11 suon repay you for the outlay. Hauling out and applying manure,' needed, keeping the trees from getlg overloaded with snow, trampind e snow down around the trunk td eveut injury from rabbits, an(^ nding up anv that may have beed tawed constitute about the only out* ior work that can be douo ia th? chard ia winter. *