The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, April 18, 1894, Image 7
II KEY. DR. TALMAGE.
| THE [BROOKLYN DIVINE'S SUN1
DAY SERMON.
Bubject: "Sustaining Power of Rej
liaion."
Tixt: "Though ye have lain among the
M pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a aove
covered with silver and her feathers with yel|H
low gold."?Psalms lxvili., 13.
- I suppose you know what the Israelites
? did down in Esryptian slavery. They made
brick*. Amid the utensils of the brickkiln
there were also other utensils of cookery?
the kettles, the pots, the pans, with which
they DreDared their daily food, and when
i (these poor slaves, tired of the day's work, lav
down to rest they lay down among the implements
of cookery and the Implements of
hard work. When they arose In the morn,
ins, they found their garments covered with
the elay, and the smoke, and tho dost, and
besmirched and begrimed with the utensils
of cookery.
> But after a while the Lord broke up that
' slavery, and He took these poor slaves into a
1 land where they had better garb, bright and
elean and beautiful apparel. No more brick*
for them to make. Let Pharaoh make his
own brioks. When David, in my text, comee
to describe the transition of these poor Israelites
from their bondage amid the brickkilns
into the glorious emancipation for
which God had prepared them, he says,
"Though ye have lain among the pots, yet
hall ye be as the wings of a dove covered
with silver and her feathers with yellow
gold."
Hiss Whately. the author of a celebrated
book, "Life In Egypt," said she sometimes
saw people In the East cooking their food on
the tops of houses, and that she had often
seen just before sundown pigeons and
doves, which had during the heat of the day
been hiding among the kettles and the pans
with which tbe food was prepared, picking
up the crumbs that they might And. Just
about the hour of sunset they would spread
their wings and fly heavenward, entirely
unsoiled by the region in which they had
moved, for the pigeon is a very cleanly bird.
And as tho pigeons flew away the setting
sun wonld throw silver on their wings and
gold on their breast9. So you see it is not a
farfetched simile or an unnatural com
Iparison when David, in my text, says to
these emancipated Israelites, and says to all
those who are brought ont of any kind of
trouble Into any kind of spiritual joy,
' Though ye have lain among the pots, yet
hall ye be as the wings of a dove covered
with silver and her feathers with yellow
gold."
Sin is the hardest of all taskmasters.
Worse than Pharaoh, it keeps us drudging
in a most degrading service, but after awhile
Christ comes, and He says, "Let My people
go," and we pass out from among the brick*
kilns ol sin into the glorious liberty of the
gospel. We put on the clean robes of a
Christian profession, and when at last we
soar away to the warm nest whioh God has
provided for us in heaven we shall go fairer
than a dove, its wings covered with silver
nd Its feathers with yellow gold.
I am going to preach something which
some of you do not believe, and that is that
the grandest possible adornment is the re14m1#vh
aI Toana Thoffl ftfA ft (jrrAAt
I many people who suppose that religion Is a
very different thing from what it really is.
The reason men condemn the Bible is because
they do not understand the Bible. They
hare not properly examined it. Dr. Johnson
aid that Hume told a minister in thebisbopric
o?Durham that he had neverparticularly
examined the New Testament, yet all his life
warring against it Halley, the astronomer,
announced his skepticism to Sir Isaac Newton.
and Sir Isaac Newton said: "Now, sir,
I have examined the subject, and you have
not. And I am ashamed that you, professing
to be a philosopher, consent to condemn
thing you have never examined."
And so men reject the religion of Jesus
Christ because they really have never investigated
It. They think it something undesirable;
something that will not work,
something Peoksnlfflan, something hypocritical,
-something repulsive, when It Is so
bright and so beautiful you might compare
It to a chafflnoh, you might compare it to a
robin red breast, you might compare it to a
dove?its wings covered with silver and its
feathers with yellow gold.
> But how is it If a young man becomes a
Christian? All through the clubrooms where
he associates, all through the business circles
where he is known, there is commiseration.
They say, "Vrhat a pity that a young
man who had suoh bright prospects should
o have been despoiled by those Christians,
giving up all his worldly prospects for some- j
A><n<* whlflti 4a nf no narrtrnilnr nrpsflnt
I worth r7" Here to a young woman who becomes
a Christian?her voloe, her face, her
manners the charm of the drawing room.
Now all through the fashionable circles
the whisper goes, "What a pity that such a
bright light should have been extinguished,
that such a graceful gait should be crippled,
that such worldly prospects should be
obliterated P* Ah, my friends, It can be
shown that religion's ways are ways of
pleasantness ana that all her paths are
peace; that religion, instead of being dark
and doleful and lachrymose and repulsive,
is bright and beautiful, fairer than a dove,
Its wings covered with silver and its feathers
With yellow gold.
' See, in the first place, what religion will
do for a man's heart. I care not how cheerful
a man may naturally be before conversion,
oonversion brings him up to a higher
afnnilnrd of nheerfnlnass. I do not nav he
I Will laugh any loader. I do not say but he
may stand back from some forms of hilarity
In which he once indulged, but there comes
Into his soul an immense satisfaction. A
younsr man not a Christian depends upon
worldly successes to keep his spirits up.
How he is prospered, now he has a large
alary, now he has a beautiful wardrobe,
now be has pleasant friends, now he has
more money than he knows how to spend.
Everything goes bright and well with him.
But trouble comes. There are many young
2&en in the house this morning who can testify
out of their own experience that sometimes
to young men trouble comes?his
friends are gone,his salary is gone, his health
1b gone. He goes down, down. He becomes
sour, cross, queer, misanthropic, blames the
world, blames society, blames the church,
blames everything, rushes perhaps to tho intoxicating
cup to drown his trouble, but in toad
of drowning his trouble he drowns his
Ii urowua ais soui.
iere Is a Christian young man.
comes to him. Does he give up?
3 throws himself back oa ihe reof
heaven. He says: "God is my
Out of all these disaster? I shall
vantage for my soul. All the promuine,
Christ is mine, Christian oomilp
is mine, heaven is mine. What
my apparel be worn out? Christ
} a robe of righteousness. What
ay money be gone? I have a title
he whole universe in the promise,
fours.' What though my worldlv
!all away? Ministering angels are
guard. What though my fare be
; my bread be scant? I sit at the
mquet!"
tat a poor, shallow stream is worldly
it compared with the deep, broad,
Ing river of God's peace, rolling
in the Christian heart! Sometimes
i gone out on the iron bound beach
i when there has been a storm on
i, and you have seen the waves dash
e foam at your feet. They did not
ay harm. While there you thought
apter written by the psalmist, and
jrou recited it to yourself while the
is making commentary upon the pasGod
is our refuge and strength, a
lent help in time of trouble. ThereI
not fear, though the earth be rend
though the mountains be carried
midst of the sea, though the waters
oar and be troubled, though the
is shake with the swelling thereof."
w Independent the religion of Christ'
man of worldly success and woriuv
inces ! Nelson, the ni^ht before his
?, said, "To-morrow I shall win
merage or a grave in Westminster
And it does not make much differle
Christian whether he rises or falls
y matters. He has everlasting rerway.
Other plumage may be torn
ist. but that soul adorned with
grace is fairer than the dove?its
rered with silver and its feathers
L
d I have found out that people who
o be happy are not always happy,
that young man caricaturing the
religion, scoffing at everything
ing Into roistering drunkenness,
the champagne bottle to the floor,
ie glasses from the barroom counting,
shouting, stamping the floor.
> . r
Is he happy? I will pro to hfs midnight pll- j
low. I will see him tarn the gas off. I will j
ask myself if the pillow on which he sleeps <
Is as soft as the pillow on whioh that pure
vouns? man sleeps. <
Ah, no! When he opens his eyes in the
morning, will the world be as bright to him
as to that young man who retired at night
saying his prayers, invoicing God's blessing
upon his own soul and the souls of his comrades
and father and mother and brothers
and sisters far away? No, no! His laugh
will ring out from the saloon so that you
hear it as you pass by, but It Is hollow
laughter. In it is the snapping of heartstrings
and the rattle of prison gates. Happy
?that young man happy?
Let him fill high the bowl, he cannot
drown an upbraiding conscience. Let the
balls roll through the bowling alley; the deep
rumble and the sharp crack cannot overpower
the voices of condemnation. Let him
whirl in the dance of sin and temptation and
death; all the brilliancy of the scene cannot
I make him forget the last look of his mother
when he left home, when she said to him t
"Now, my son, you will do right; I am sure
you will do right. You will, won't you?"
That young man happy? Why. across every
nigbt.there flit shadows of eternal darkness;
j there are adders colled up in every cup; there
are vultures of despair striking their iron
beaks into his heart; there ar 1 skeleton
fingers of grief pinohing at the threat.
I come in amid the clioking of the glasses
| and under the flashing of the chandeliers,
and I cry: "Woe! Woe! The way of the
ungodly shall perish. There is no peaoe,
saith my God, to the wicked. The way of
i transgressor Is hard." on, my menas,
there Is more joy in one drop of Christian
satisfaction than in whole rivars otsintai delight.
Other wings may be drenohed of the
storm and splashed of the tempest, bat the
dove that comes in through the window of
this heavenly ark has wings like the dove
covered with silver and her feathers with
yellow gold.
Again, I remark, religion is an adornment
in the style of usefulness into whioh it inducts
a man. Here are two young men. The
one has fine culture, exquisite wardrobe,
plenty of friends, great worldly success, but
ne lives for himself. His chief care is for
his own comfort. He lives uselessly. He dies
unregretted. Here is another young man.
His apparel may not be so good: bis education
may not be so thorough. He lives for
others. His happiness is to make others
happy. He is as self denying as that dying
soldier falling in the ranks, when he said:
"Colonel, there is no need of those boys tiring
themselves by carrying me to the hospital.
Let me die just where I am." So
this young man of whom I speak loves God,
wants all the world to love him, is not
ashamed to carry a bundle of clothes up that
dark alley to the poor. Which of those young I
men do you admire the better/ rue one a
sham, the other a prince Imperial.
Oh. do you know of anything, my hearer, 8
that is more beautiful than to see a young ?
man start out for Christ? Here is some one 1
falling; he lifts him up. Here is a vagabond *
boy; he introduces him to a mission school. I
Here is a family freezing to death; he carries c
them a scuttle of coal. There are 800,000,- 8
000 perishing in midnight heathen darkness.' *
By all possible means he tries to send them ^
the gospel He may be laughed at, and 1
he may be sneered at. and he may be caricatured,
but he is not ashamed to go every- *
where saying: "I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ. It is the power of God 1
and the wisdom of God unto salvation." I
Such a young man can go through every- "
thing. There is no force on earth or in hell *
that can resist him. I show you three spec- *
tacles: '
Spectaole the First?Napoleon passed by J
with the host that went down with him to *
Egypt and up with him through Russia and c
crossed the continent on the bleeding heart *
of which be set his iron heel, and across the *
quivering flesh of which he went grinding
the wheels of his gun carriages?in his dying 8
moment asking bis attendants to put on his z
military boots for him.
? Vrvlfairo i
Op?ciav;io iuv ucvvuu?W..Q
and learned and witty and eloquent, with *
tongue and voice and Btrategem infernal, 3
warring against God and poisoning whole J
kingdoms with his infidelity, yet applauded 1
by tne clapping hands of thrones and em- 8
pires ana continents?his last words, in J
delirium supposing Christ standing by the *
bedside?his last words, "Crush that
wretch!"
Spectacle the Third?Paul?Paul, insignificant
in person, thrust out from all refined
association, scourged, spat on, hounded like
a wild beast from city to city, yet trying to
make the world good and heaven full; announcing
resurrection to those who mourned at
the barred gates of the dead ; speaking
consolations which light up the eyes of '
widowhood and orphanage and want with
glow of certain and eternal release; un- ,
daunted before those who oould take his 1
life, his cheek flushed with transport and
hlB eye on heaven; with one hand shaking .
defiance at all the foes of earth and all the
principalities of hell, and with the other
hand beckoning messenger angels to come s
and bear him away as he says: "I am now n
ready to be offered, and the time of my de- u
parture is at hand. I have fought the good
I . T hora flnlahorl mV (<anrs8; I haV8 _
kept tbe faith. Henceforth there la laid up J
for me a crown of righteousness, which the c
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me."
Which c t the three spectacles do you most *
admire? When the wind of death struck the ?
conqueror and the infidel, they were tossed *
like 3ea gulls in a tempest, drenched of the j
wave and torn of the hurricane, their dismal
voices heard through the everlasting storm,
but when the wave and the wind of death n
struck Paul, like an albatross, he made a e
throne of the tempest and one day floated ?
away into the calm, clear summer of heaven,
brighter-than the dove, its wings covered
with silver, and its feathers with yeilow T
gold. Oh, are you not in love with such a ,
religion?a religion that can do so much' for 1
a man while he lives and so mucn for a man c
when he comes to die?
I suppose yon may have noticed the contrast
between the departure of a Christian C
and the departure of an intldel. Diodorus, j
dying in chagrin because he. could not com- (.
pose a joke equal to the joko uttered at the ^
other endol the table; zeuxis, aymr m a uw
of laughter at the sketch of an aged woman
?a sketch made by his own hand ; Mazarln,
dying playing cards, his friend holding his J
bands because he was unable to hold them *
himself. t
All that on one side, compared with the [
departure of the Scotch Minister, who said ,
to his friends: "I have no interest as to 1
whether I live or die. If I die I shall be
with the Lord, and if I live the Lord will be .
with me." Or the la^t words of Washington, :
"It is well." Or the last word of Mcintosh, *
the learned and the great, 4,Happy!" Or the ]
last words of Hannah More, th? Christian j
poetess, "Joy!" Or those thousands of ,
Christians who have gone saying: "Lord '
Jesus, receive my spirit! Come. Lord Jesus,
come quickiy!" 4i0 death, where is thy
Bting? 0 grave, where is thv victory?"
Behold the contrast. Behold the charm ?
of the one, behold the darkness of the other. {
Now, I know it is very popular in this day ,
for young men to think there is something '
morecharminginskepticismthan in religion. (
They are ashamed of the old-fashioned re
II^IUU UL IUU rtuu iuvm?v. ? WW ^
on their free thinking ojl all these subjects.
My young friends, I want to tell you wnat I, '
know from observation?tbat while skeptic- ]
ism is a beautiful land at the start, it is a '
great Sahara desert at the last. 1
Years ago a minister's son went off from (
home to college. At college he formed the
acquaintance of a young man whom I shall
call Ellison. Ellison was an infldel. Ellison j
scoffed at religion, and the minister's son
soon learned from h!m the infidelity, and
when he went home on his vacation broke '
his father's heart by his denunciations ol j 1
Christianity. Time passed on. and vacation j ,
came, and the minister's son went off to
spend the vacation and was on a journey and I ]
came to a hotel. The hotel keeper said : "] i J
am sorry that to-nicht I shall have to put
you in a room adjoining one where there is j .
a very sick and dying man. I can give you ,
no other accommodation."' "Oh," said tht : :
young college student and minister's son, ' '
"that will make no difference to me, except j
the matter of sympathy with anybody that is J '
suffering." | 1
The yoi ig man retired to his room, but j <
could not sleep. All night lone he heard the ; .
groaning of the sick man or the step of the
watchers, and his soul trembled. He thought
to himself: "Now, there is only a thin wall i
between me and a departing spirit. How if j
Ellison should know how I feei? How if El- !
llson should know how my heart flutters?
What if Ellison knew my skepticism gave
way?" He slept not.
In the morning, coming down, he said to
the hotel keeper. "How is the slok man?"
"Oh," said the hotel keeper, "he is dead,
poor fellow. The doctors told us he oould
not last through the night." "Well," said
the young man, "what was the sick one's
name?where is he from?" "Well," said the
hotel keeper, "be la from Providence Col'
lege." "Providence College! What is his .
name?" "Ellison." "Ellison!" Oh, how
:he young man was stunned! It was his old
college mate?dead without any hope.
It was manv hours before the younjj man
jould leave that hotel. He got on his horse j
md started homeward, and all the way he !
leard something saying to him : "Dead l
Lost! Dead! Lost!" He came to no satis* I
faction until he entered the Christian life,
intil he entered the Christian ministry, until
ie became one of the most eminent missionaries
of the cross, the greatest Baptist mis- ;
sionary the world has ever seen since the days
5f Paul?no superior to Adoniram Judson.
Mighty on earth, mighty in heaven?Adoniram
Judson. Which do you like the best,
Tudson's skepticism or Judson's Christian
ife, Judson's suffering for Christ's sake,
Tudsom's almost martyrdom? Oh, young
nan, take your choice between these two
linda of lives. Your own heart tells vou thia
norning the Christian life is more admirible,
more peaceful, more comfortable and
nore beautiful.
Oh, if religion does so much for a man on
sarth, what will it do for him in heavenV
That is the thought that comes to me now.
[f a soldier can afford to shout "Huzza!"
Then he goes into battle, how much more
jubilantly he can afford to shout "Huzza!"
ivhenhe has gained the victory. If religion
s so good a thing to have here, how bright
i thing it will be in heaven! I want to see
hat young man when the glories of heaven
lave robed and crowned him. I want to
lear him sins: when all huskiness of earthly
:olds is gone and he rises up with the great
loxology.
I want to Know what standard he will
:arry when marching under arches of pearl
n the army of banners. I want to know
vnat company he will keep in the land where
hey are all kings and queens forever and
iver. If I have induced one of you this
norning to begin a better life, then I want to
tnow it. I may not in this world clasp hands
vith you in friendship. I may not hear
Irom your own lips the story of temptation
ind sorrow, but I will clasp hands with you
vhen the sea is passed and the gates are enered.
That I might woo you to a better life, and
hat I might show you the glories with which j
Jod clothes His dear children in heaven, I |
vish I could this morning swing back one or
he twelve gates that there mijjht dash upon
rour ear one shout of the triumph; that
here might flame upon your eyes one blaze
>f the splendor. Oh, when ? speak of that
food land, you Involuntarily think of some
>ne there that you loved?father, mother,
>rother, sister or dear little child garnered
ilready.
You want to know what they are doing
his morning. I will tell you what they are
lolng. Singing! You want to know what
hey wear. I will tell you what they wear.
Coronets of triumph! You wonder why oft
hey look to the gate of the temple and watch
ind wait. I will tell you why they watch
ind wait and look to the gate of the temple.
for your coming! I shout upward the news
o-day, for I am sure some of you will re>ent
and start for heaven: "Oh, ye bright
>nes before the throne, your earthly friends
>re coming! Angels poising midair, cry up
he< name t Gatekeeper of heaven, send forward
the tidings! Watchman on the battlenents
celestial, throw the signal!"
"Oh," you say, "religion I am going to
lave. It is only a question of time."
My brother, I am afraid that you may lose
leaven the way Louis Philippe lost his emM'ho
Pnnclon mnh nanift amtind the
["uileries, the national guard stood In deense
of the palace, and the commander said
o Louis Philippe: "Shall I Are now? 8hall
: order the troops to flre? With one volley
pe can clear the place." "No," said Louis
?hilippd, "notyet." A few minutes passed
in, and then Louis Philippe, seeing the case
ras hopeless, said to the general, "Now Is
he time to fire." "No," said[tfie general,
'It is too iate now. Don't you see that the
oldiera are exchanging arms with the citl;ens?
It Is too late."
Down went the throne of Louis Philippe.
Iway from the earth went the house of Or
eans, and all because the king said, "Not
et, not yet!" May God forbid that any of
:ou should adjourn this great subject of relgion
and should postpone assailing your
plrltual foes until it is too late, too late?
rou losing a throne in heaven the way that
jouis Philippe lost a throne on earth.
When toe Judge descends In might,
Clothed In majesty an i Ugbt;
When the earth shall quuKo with fear.
Where, oh, where wilt cnou appearf
CURIOUS FACTS.
Some Australian gold veins are 130
eet wide.
Mountaineering on stilts is the latest
ad in Switzerland.
Moist earth is said to be nature's
rare for wasp stings.
India has 12,000,000 who can read
,nd write out of a population of 246,>00,000.
, There are eight edible and twelve
>oisonous varieties of mushrooms in
he United States.
Bank clerks in Germany receive from
:141 to SHOO salary. For the first
hree or four years they serve without
iav.
f James
Sample Walker, one of the
aost noted scouts of the plains in the
arly days, died at Stockton (Cal.) relently.
The oldest architectural ruins in the
rorld are believed to be the rock cut
emples at Ipsambul, on the left bank
>? the Nile, in Nubia.
Greek and Roman doors always
>pened outward, and when a man was
>assing out of a house, he knocked on
he door, so as not to open it in the
ace of a passer-by.
Near Brenham, Texas, lives a man
?ho has only one eye; the strange
eature of his case being the fact that
-he place where the other eye should
)e is a blank, and has been so from
)irth.
Luther's famous old church at "Witenberg,
Germany, which the Emperor
lad restored and reconsecrated in
QQO I? i? ?+V?o
lu?7Ay uas uccu >ucuacu a^aiu uj tuw
lurricane which swept oyer Europe a
ew days since.
A Shelbyville (Mo.) girl who had
ler ears pierced against her doctor's
idvice, has a severe attack of neuraljia
whenever she wears earrings. She
jersists in wearing them, however, and
sontmues to suffer.
A madstone cured a Gadsden (Ala.) j
romftn and two children who were bitten
by a mad cat recently. Another
nadstone owned at Wichita Falls,
Texas, has saved 100 lives, according j
bo the statement of its veracious '
swner.
One of Russia's re arriage customs is i
for the bride and bridegroom to race !
rapidly down the aisle as soon as the I
bridal procession enters the church, !
because of the belief that whichever !
places the foot first on the cloth in |
front of the altar will be master in the :
household.
An absent-minded man in Dnluth, i
Minn., wound up his alarm clock, put j
it in a basin and covered it with water, i
The large bouquet which he brought '
home he placed on a chair alongside ,
of his bed and went to sleep, confi- i
dently expecting it would awaken him
in the morning.
Lake Titicaca is the most elevated
and one of the largest of the lakes ot i
South America. It forms part of the
boundary between South Peru and
Bolivia, in the centre of an Alpino
valley, between two great Cordilleras
of the Andes. Titicaca is 12,900 feet
above the la?el of the sea.
Revival of Business.
Spring-like wither caused it general refind
of business at sJl txada panto?
RELIGIOUS READING.
HOW TO HAVE GOD'S HELP.
"And when Elisha was come * * * he went
in therefore, and shut the door, * * * and
prayed unto the Lord" (IL Kings iv: 32, S3>
All life-giving power comes rrom uou, uuu
tne prophet knew this. All of his independence
just then was in the Lord God Omnipotent.
Centuries later Jesus taught his disciples
to always shut the door first thing
when they would talk with God. and he also
taught them by precept and example that
the next thing to do after they had prayed
was to do all they could to help answer the
prayer they had made, and this was the very
thing the prophet did. One reason why some
of us do not have more prayers answered
Is because we stop praying as soon as
wo come out of our closets. The right
kind of a prayer never stops. We forget
that sometimes the most effective praying is
done with hands and feet and brain and
pocket-book. We say amen und quit just
when we ought to press on with more earnestness,
or we stay on our knees asking for
bread when we ought to be out in the field
doing something with a hoe. God help us to
pray in a way that angels can understand,
no matter whether they hear our words or
not "If I had as much wheat in a barn
as you've got, papa, I'd answer that prayer
myself," said a little boy to the stingy father
who had prayed at the family altar for a man
who needed bread. That boy had a true idea
of pryer that some old men never get.?[The
Ram's Horn.
CONVERSION OF CHILDBEN.
The early conversion of children is a subject
of deep importance. It should lie near
the heart of every parent in daily, prayerful
remembrance. Every parent has a most solemn
and responsible duty to perform towards
his child ana towards God. How can a parent
rightly fulfill the command?"Train up a
child in the way he should go," unless he
seeks by earnest prayer and faithful instruction
the conversion of his child? There Is a
weight of responsibility resting on parents in
relation to the training and conversion of
their children, which would greatly solemnize
the heart of every parent who
would duly reflect on the subject.
If the children are not the subjects
of early conversion, the probability
grows less and less as they grow up and increase
in sin, that they ever will be converted.
No parent should therefore let his heart rest,
or cease earnest prayer and effort, till that
dear child Is hopefully converted to God and
In the way to heaven. Do parents pray with
and for their children as tney ought? If a
father or mother would take their 'children,
one by one, and in a retired room, alone pray
with and for that child, it would doubtless be
an event which that child would never forget,
and never lose the impression which it
would make upon Its young mind. Let every
person make trial of this means of conversion.
and watch its effect on the mind of the
child.
RELIGION THE TBCE END OF LIFE.
80 certainly is religion the great end of life,
that it may be truly affirmed of all who die
without it,that however long they have lived,
or whatever in other respects, they have attended
to, they have lived in vain. However
they may have spent their time, as it is as to
its higher purpose, all lost Whatever they
have been engaged in, they have done nothing
; but have beeu ingeniously negligent
They may hava gained much; much knowledge,
wealth, reputation, comfort, pleasure;
but they have been losing all the while, In
finitely more than they have gained, for they
have fost their soul. They have been busily
employed in building up their earthly fortunes,
but they have been no less busy pulling
down their immortal interests. They have
gained a name and a place in the temple of
fame, but they have lost infinitely more reputation
with God than they have gained with
men.?They may have lived for the temporal
good of all nations and all posterity, but they
have neglected to live for tneir own eternal
Brood: and therefore in every view of the
case, they have lived below the ends of the
Creator in their existence; and if they had
right views of their mistake at last, they
would go down to the grave, though laden
with years, and riches, and honors, uttering
the melancholy confession. "Life with me
has been a lost adventure."
LEAVING OUT SELF.
Self ought to be left out of our service for
Jesus Christ. Indeed, it must be. We cannot
serve Christ and have self uppermost in
plan and effort. If self is served, then
Christ cannot be. If Christ is served, then
self must take a back seat The more we
learn of Christ, and the more we become like
Him, the more will we leave considerations
of self out of our aspirations and work. It
is said that a young man who attended a
summer meeting of Christian workers not
long ago, went away saying: "I will leave a
great deal of myself at this camp." He
had received such exalted news of Christ and
what a life consecrated to him meant, while
at the meetings in the grove, that he camo to
think less of himself and more of Christ. So
he was going to leave self behind, and put
Christ in the forefront of his future life. A
rich spiritual blessing will lift many Christians
to this higher view of the Christian
life. Happy would it be for all Christians if
they would learn to leave out self in the
camp-meetings and revivals, when they take
higher spiritual grounds, and return to their
work filled with the Holy Spirit.?[Religious
Telescope.
THE DANGER OF LIVING.
r*no4-li la Tint thn fhlnf rlnnfnr tn a man.
AO iuv vm.v. 'O-- " ?
Living Is more perilous than dying. To prepare
for life is more important than to prepare
for death. He who is ready to live is
already more than prepared to die. Yet how
common it is to appeal to the young in view
of the possibility of their early death, instead
of calling "them to high and noble action
in view of their possibility of prolonged life.
But Dr. Greer, o' New York, in an address to
young men in a Christian association, put the
higher truth highest in this ringing appeal:
' When the old Roman gladiators entered
the arena they proceedod first to the
Caesar's throne, and said, 'We who are about
to die salute the emperor." Borrowing the
same formula, but changing its terms, associations
like this are teaching the young men
of America to say, as they enter upon the
struggles of manhood, 'We who are about
to live salute that Master of Life who was
dead and is alive again, and liveth forevermore.'
" Life is always more than death.
Triumphant living is more than triumphant
dying.?Sunday School Times.
RESIGNATION- TO THE WILL OF GOD.
We should have a thorough persuasion that
nothing befulleth us by chance.or by the more
agency of inferior cause, 'out that all proceeded
from the dispensation, or with the allowance
of God; that all occurrences (however
adverse and cross to our desires) r?re
well consistent with thu justice, wisdom and
goodness of God; that all, even tho most bit
tor am! sad accidents, do (according to God's
purpose) conduce to our good: an entire resignation
of our wills to the will of God and a
hopeful conlldence in him for the removal
and easement of our afflietions and for his
grace to support them calmly, cheerfully and
courageously.?[Dr. Isaac Harrow.
WOllK IS A ULKSSiNO.
What a creat blessing is work! "I do not
know what I should do," said one who was
hardly pressed, "If I bad not my work; but
that is so absorbing that trouble and care
are forgotten while I am at work; and I
daily thank God that I am compelled to do
it.'" Many others could say the same. "Find
thy work and do it," might appear cold comfort
in the time of sorrow: but it is good advice,
nevertheless. Let none give up work
because the winter is here; steadfast workers
are needed all the more because of that.?
[London Sunday-School Timts.
Prospects of a Poor Maple Sugar Crop.
Reports from the northern and western
sections of Now Hampshire and from parts
of Vermont indicate that the maple-sugar
crop this year will be a practical failure.
The absence of frost in the ground and the
soarclty and high wage- of help are said to
be the causes. Some of the best orchards
will not be tapped.
A New Weather Bureau Division.
Secretary Morton ha? addaJ a now division
to the Weather Bureau, to bo devoted
to the subject of meteorology in it3 relation
: to agricultural soil*." Pi.-of?w?or Milton
Whitney, of Maryland, was apposed ChioL
j SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOF
APRIL 22.
Lesson Text: "Joseph Ruler Ii
Eg;ypt,*' Gen. xll., 38-48?Golden
Text: I Samuel 11., 30
-Commentary.
SS. "And Pharaoh said unto his servants
Can we find such a one as this, a man ii
whom the Spirit ot God is?" Very variei
and full of trial had been the ten years o
more of Joseph's life since his brethren sole
him to the Midianites, and several of then
had been passed in prison - through the lyinj
of a wicked woman. As we see him now hi
has just been brought from the prison to in
terpet, if he can, to Pharaoh his doubli
dream. Disclaiming all power to do so o
himself (verse 16), bat giving the glory t<
God, he, by the 8pirit, interprets and ap
plies the dreams: hence from Pharaoh th
rsf fhla TTArflA
39. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, For
asmuch as God hath shewed tbee all this
there Is none so discreet and wise as thoi
art." Joseph had suggested that officers b
appointed who during the years of plent;
should make provision for the years of fani
ino to follow, perhaps without a though
that he who had just been brought frot
prison might be of any service, but God's se
time to favor Joseph had come. The dream
of long ago are on the way to fulfillment
"Therefore will the Lord wait that He ma
be gracious. Blessed are all they that wai
for Him.''
40. "Thou shalt be over my house, andac
cording unto thy word shall all my peopl
be ruled; only In the throne will I be greate
than thou." Truth is surely stranger tha
Action. From a prison to a throne in a
hour; from ignominy and disgrace to all be
the supreme position in the land. Promc
tion cometh neither from the east nor froi
the west, nor from the south, but God is th
judge. He putteth down one and setteth u
another (Ps. Ixxv., 6, 7). He bringeth loi
and lifteth up (I 8am ii., 7). There is a goo
story of from a prison to a throne in 1
Kings xxv., 27-80, but ttiat was simpiy a<
liverance, not rulership.
41. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See.
have set thee over all the land of Egypt
Joseph pot it a little differently and moi
correctly when he said, '"God hath made rr
lord of all Egypt" (chapter xlv., 9). Happ
are those who recognize His hand in all ft
events of life. We may see the visible u
strumentality, or look back of it all and S
only God. Moses endured as seeing Hli
who is invisible (Heb. xi.).
42. "And Pharaoh took off his ring froi
his hand, and put it upon Joseph's ham
and arrayed him in vestures of fine liner
and put a gold chain about his neck." 8
did the King to Mordecai (Est. viii., 15) an
Belshazzar to Daniel (Dan. v., 29). Thesoi
that is redeemed by the blood of Jesus ca
truly say, "He brought me up also out <
an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and s<
my feet upon a rock and established my gi
ings"He hath clothed me with the ga
ments of salvation; He hath covered n
with the robe of righteousness"He hat
made me a king and a priest unto God, an
I shall reign on the earth" (Ps. xl., 2; Is*
lxi., 10; Bev. v., 10).
43. "And he made him to ride in these
ond chariot which he had, and they cried b
fore him, Bow the knee, and he made hi
ruler over all the land of Egypt." Joseph
humiliation, although wholly undeserve
could not be said to be voluntary; but Jesi
humbled Himself and became obedient un
the death of the cross, wherefore God ha)
highly exalted Him and given Him a nan
which is above every name, thatat the namo i
Jesus every knee should bow (PhlJ. 11.. a-iu
If we have the mind of Christ we will chee
fully humble ourselves unto the death of se
for Hifl sake.
H. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I a
Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man li
up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt
Of Jesus It is written that all things we
created by Him and for Him, and that in Hi
we live and move and have our being (Cc
i., 16 ; Acts xvii., 28). It is to be feared th
of some of us it might be said, ''The God :
whose hand tbj breath is. and whose are c
thy ways, haat thou not glorified?" (Dan. \
23). If. as His redeemed, we would only a
low the fact to grasp us that we are to s
with Him on His throne (Rev. iii., 21), v
would walk more worthy of our high callin
. 45. "And Pharaoh called Joseph's nau
Zaphnath-paaneab, and he gave him to wi
Asenath, the daughter of Potipherab, prie
of On. And Joseph went out over all tl
land of Egypt." The margin says that th
new name of Joseph means "Bevealer
Secrets," but in Young's concordance it
said to mean "Savior of the World." Bo
are suggestive of Him who is the on
Saviour, and who does nothing without r
vealing His secret unto His servants the pr
phots (Amos. Hi., 7). That he should r
ceive an Egyptian wife during the period
his brethren's hatred and rejection is su
woafivn of the fact that when Israel sh?
again sea Jesus they will And that durii
the time of His rejection He has taken
Himself a brid3 which will be largely Ge
tile.
46. "And Joseph was thirty years o
when he stood before Pharaoh, king
Egypt* And Joseph went out from t
presence of Pharaoh and went througho
all the land of Egypt." Jesus was abo
thirty years old when He began His pubi
work (Luke iii., 23). Daniel and his frien
at a probably much younger age are said
have stood before the king (Dan. i., IS
But neither Jesus nor Daniel nor Josej
stood before man as much as they stood b
fore God. They were like Elijah, who sai
"The Lord God of Israel liveth, before who
I stand" (I Kings xvii, 1). When wo leai
to stand more in the presence of God, we w
be better qualified to stand before men.
47. "And'in the seven plenteous years tl
earth brought forth by handfuls." "Wh
God is about to do He showeth un
Pharaoh," were the words of Joseph as 1
interpreted the dreams (verse 28). So i
see in these years of prosperity the hand
the Lord for good. It was His blessing up<
Israel's land which in the sixth year made
bring forth fruit for three years (Lev. xxt
21). The blessing of the Lora it make!
rich, and toil addeth nothing thereto (Pro
x., 22, B. V.).
48. "And he gathered up all the food
the seven years, which were in the land
Egypt, and laid up the food in the citie
the lood of the field which was round abo^
every city laid he up in the same.In pro
perity he prepared ror adversity. While ^
sing "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall m
want," we are not authorized to be eithi
careless or improvident. Our Lord did n
commend the unjust steward, but He drew
a practical lesson irom bis forethought (Lul
i r. ? ? .u I. ,.??oa ?1 SO tho VO
iVl. , O, ?). V/UUOIUCJL IU YVIOW Vi, V?, ? ~ ? w,
suggestive names Joseph gave to his chj
dren. Comoare the "Go unto Joseph. Wh
he saith to you do," with Mary's words 1
to the servants (verse 55 and John ii., 5).
Lesson Helper.
"Won't Be Extinguished.
The unanimity by which the newspape
of Now York protested against the disco:
tinuance of the electric lisjhtingof theStati
of Liberty had the effect of delaying th
proposed economical proceeding oftheligh
house board if it has not stopped it for n
time. June 17 will be the ninth anniversai
of the arrival of the French ship Iservo c
Bedloe's Island, where she cast anchor at
began discharging her unique cargo, whit
was packed in about 200 cases, weighir
from fifty to 1000 pounds each, the toti
weight of the statue being 200 tons. Whe
returning from aa ocean voyage the silen
but expressive, grepting of Jliss Liberty
worth a contribution from every touri
which would bo sufficient in the aggrege'
to illuminate her entire llgure for years I
come. ^
Humane Society's Work in a Year.
President George T. Angell, of the Socie
for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animal
sums up the work of the prosecuting depai
ment ?f the society as showing the repor
nnd investigations of 5335 cases during tl
year, the taking of 909 horses from work ar
the merciful killing o? 1247 horses and oth
nnimsii This is a good record, and it do
not include the immense preventive work
the dissemination of literature inculcatii
humanity, which has gone on by the mi
ions and millions pages.
St. Louis a Growing Town.
According to an estimate based on the nut
ber of names in tho new city directory to 1
issued in a few days, the population of 8
Louis is placed at nearly 100,000. Accon
ing to the census of iS9< St. Louis then tu
a population of 451 770.
NEW FASHIONS. Z
Pr
LATEST IDEAS FOR GROWN AND Ej
LITTLE WOMEN.
th
i Beautiful Creations in Bonnets ? Ac
Changes In Children's Hats?
A Child's Gingham Dress m'
-Silk Waists. aD
ev
in
Spring shows more varied and beautiful ca
i costumes than it has for many seasons past
i grace all forms, and many and varied ar? ne
5 the sMpes in naia ana Donnets. ^
7 la
n Among the many, the three illustrated I
1. fancied to be the most chic and beautiful.
* The first is a Donnet. xne square y
? crown composed entirely of gold spangles,
!l surmounted on each corner and In the centre tj
,n with large balls of gold spangles, called copa- Q.
jf lohns. The edge of black silk covered wire, ^
5t overlaid with fine black tulle, bound about ^
j!~ with gold cord, and fastened by Jet ornament. g,
te The high trimming is of gold spangled tips, ^
h and a large bunch of black and purple violets, fc
id very large and natural looking; short looped
l* ends of black velvet.
The second is a broad brimmed white leg- ^
e. horn. The brim covered with black spangled
m net frilled over the edge and under the brim, g
.'s flat crown bound about with a black jet band,
the whole surmounted by three black tips
and black aigrettes, finished with a large bow V(
of black velvet.
ie The third is a French hat almost square
of in appearance, the crown of tan colored
) porcupine straw, bound about with rolls of C1
Jj dark serpent velvet, fastened down with large e:
steel buckle, stiff aigrettes on left side of a,
m golden brown, coming up from a base of elder- g
Ift berries and green leaves. A peculiar and odd 0]
looking hat, but exceedingly styusn oyer a n
facethat would become it / ,1_
The children's hats are broad as usual, but
at the finer ones are no longer caught up either
In in back or front, the brim is left straight,
ill and more elaborate trifnmlngs prevail. Some
of the hats are almost covered with flowers
;|j and ribbon, and most of the newest ones have c
re long streamers attached for tying under
g. the chin in a large bow. In fact, most a
ae of the children's fashions are but mi natures
of the older people's styles. Dainty lace sun- ~
ie bonnets prevail for the little ones from two 0
is to six years of age. Among those I saw was
of a fluffy, dainty thing for some sweet little
k face, composed of dotted net, shirred quite ?
j full with broad frill about the face, and short ^
e. cape, a large bunch of figured white satin
0. ribbon finished the front of the crown and
e- the ties to go under the chin were made of a
of net with a broad hem. Some of these sun- n
bonnets are made of material to match the
ie dress. Gamps are worn quite as much as
to ev" - *
" 'Ci?o
I o
Noticeable among many pretty designs for fi
ce children was a pink mull, made wtth full
ry skirt gathered into a cord belt, and one row jj
U- of fine white embroidery set in skirt about Cl
st five inches from the edge. Upper part of a w
plain waist of alternate rows of white em- C(
broidery and pink mull, a full mull ruffle going
about the upper part of waist and over j.
the shoulders about where the edge of a ,
rs gamp would naturally come. This ruffle also 1
Q- contains one row of white embroidery set
in about one inch from the edge of the ruffle. p
t- I The sleeve is very full and finished with a t(
ill ! cuff of mull, with white embroidery turned II
<7 back upon it, and narrow white ruffles of it
embroidery about the neck. hi
Children's spring jackets io not vary much w
i<< from those of previous seasons, except that aj
111 the sleeves are larger and more baloonlike,
!U resembling those of their elders.
The cut illustrates a child's blue chamst
bre or gingham dress, made to wear with a re
te white gamp. It is quite full in skirt and de- j"
10 void of trimming, save for three i>earl but- ,it
tons which fasten down in front and ba?k, a E,
plain piece of white edged blue embroidery, w
three ruffles from the short elbow sleaves, Ji
V each one narrower than the othet. A fourth 'r'n
.(1 ruffle extending over the shoulder and end- ei
ts ing at the turned over buttoned piece, i* fo
ie made from white edged blue embroidery, aI
id For dancing, dinner and evening wear, for dr
er ladies, satin is the most popular material, *n
though dainty shades of moire also find
favor. The short skirt prevails; not even gg
U- ademl-trainispermissable. For once, fashion CI
is in accord with comfort and grace, and aJ
skirts are gradually growing narrower. The ^
draped skirts which are now in vogue are
n. only three and a half yards around. The
be quainter and more picturesque the evening
It. gown, the more favor bestowed upon the
designer. Among favorite materials and . pi
1 colors is the taffeta faconne, with Its ever J vj
angiag color and delicate designs. That
;hter and more fluffy materials are used la
ofusion for dancing and reception gowns,
le newest material is a mousseline de sole,
th a soft filmy finish.
The new silk waists are in two varieties *
ose that end at the waist and those that
>w out over the hips in a variety of patterns,
1 of them, however, having more or lew
ethod in their arrangement They are
long the most sensible articles of dress
er invented for a lady's comfort, especially
travelling, for if only small baggage is
rried, a lady can always look nioely dressed
a chance entertainment, the theatre, or dlnir.
She has only to slip off the waist to her
ivelling dress and don a fancy silk waist,,
id she finds herself ready for almost any
uergenoy. One that I saw which would be homing
to nearly any lady was of green taffeta
Ik, made with a ful1 waist ending in a broad
lit upon which w > one row of white laoa
sertion, a ruffle about six Inches wide with
bite lace Insertion set in about an inch from,
lge of raffle, and falling down across the
east, over the shoulders and across the
ick, high, full sleeves finished at the bottom.
j one row of insertion, high standing collar
! the silk trimmed with plain band of the
ce.
The waist illustrated 1b of black or gray
JTeta silk figured, a full waist ending la
road belt. Over the shoulders are doubla
ipes of the silk, one a few inches shorter
lan the other, and both having black laea
aimpe insertion set in about one inch from
le edge of the capes. High standing collai
f fha oftlr frfmmAH with one row of the in
srtion, high fall sleeves with one row of
isertion at the bottom. This waist Is very
lectlve and beantllal for a middle-aged
.dy, and la suitably made up In gayer colors
>r younger faces.
There Lb no prettier costume for a child of
in yean, than a brown dress, tan colored
lockings, tan shoes and brown hat and
loves.
For the thicker dresses for children's wear
ery pretty combinations of cashmere and
hlte lace are shown.
Chamois Is again Introduced for vests and
nfls, and has a very pretty as well as odd
Sect when combined with brown. To make
ay oostume look complete the hat, shoea,
loves and parasol should match. Even Is
leap material a costume of this kind will be
iuoh more effective than odd colors put toether.
J. Flobencs Wnao*.
?????^??
POPULAR SCIENCE*
Japan is making electrical m*1
hinery.
Some geologists regard madstonetf
s fossil corals.
The camera can now take a photoraph
of a ballet traveling at a speeds
f 2000 feet a second.
In a new German weaving mill,
ach of the eighty looms is driven by
;s own electric motor.
The latest pattern of rapid-fire guns
brow a projectile through tb 3 air at
rate of 2287 feet per second, or 1968
liles an hour.
In what are called "looming mirges"
distant objects show an apparent
xtravagant increase in height without
Iteration in breadth.
A hawk over four feet from tip to
ip was shot on the wing, at a distanoe
f seventy-five yards, by a Cordele
Ga.) rifle expert the other day.
A useful hand lamp is simply a vial
lied with heated olive on into wnicn
small piece of phosphorous has been
ropped. The light will shine whenver
the bottle is uncorked, admitting,
he air.
t
Sturgeon, for their size, are the
reakest of all fish. They are found
a some parts weighing over a ton,
ut are perfectly helpless when atacked
by a sword fish the size of a
.erring.
Pinh nalnnpo in Water bv
he muscular contraction of the air
ladders. At death the muscles relax
nd the air bladder expands, with the
esult that the fish is thrown on one
ide and rises to the surface.
It has been estimated that at least
ne-half of the power expended in the
peration of the average manufacturig
establishment is wasted in overoming
the friction of lubricated surices
of shafting and other machinery.
The Indian Medical Gazette thinks
; has discovered the source of some
ases of disease in the fact that sodaater
manufactured in India often
antains thousands of microbes. At
le end of a week the microbes are
illed by the carbonic-acid gas conlined
in the bottles.
The first book made of ground-wood
aper has been placed in the Berlin
;sting office for examination recently.
; is said to be in good condition. As
was printed in 1852, very nearly
alf a century ago, the argument that
ood paper has no durable qualities
jpears to be seriously shaken.
A Warm Starch Day:
The Weather Bureau says tbatth9 weather
ports show that throughout the Middle
id South Atlantic States,from Eastern Pennlvania
and New Jersey to South Carolina,
id in Northern Georgia and Alabama and
astern Tennessee. Thursday, March 22d,
as tne warmest day. so far as the Weather
.ireau has record, that has ever occurred
irin^ the month or March, the temperature
njjiug from seventv-six in Philadelphia to
ghty-eight in Wilmington. N. C . und Nor1k.
Va. Throughout Maryland, Virginia,
id North Carolina the temperature on Monty,
March 19th, also rose higher than durg
any previous March, the following uniually
high temperatures being reported oa
at day, vis. Baltimore, 73 : Washington,
!; Lynchburg. Norfolk and Kaleigh, 84;
harlotte, 82. The record* show that generiy
throughout the Eastern portion of the
nited States the present mouth has been aa
lusually warm one.
Canadians ftocrossiug the Border.
A report has been prepared from the Cuam
House returns at Montreal, showing
at 8400 expatriated families, or 42,000 peoe,
returned from the United States UX
inada last year. J}