The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, January 21, 1903, Image 2
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Copyright 18* br* a
CHAPTER XXIX.
Continued.
"Ha! and bow are you off for
money? Got none, I suppose."
"Oh, not quite ao bad la that! I have
the four thousand two hundred dollars
you gave me this morning Intact,
and the greater part of the thousand
dollars which you gaTe me just before
1 ? A n
* Weill IV MIJWJIU.
Too are no spendthrift, I am glad
to And; bat the soma you mention are
quite useless to a man to take a wife,
for although in your case the wife
will be wealthy, there will be many
things which must. If only for decency's
sake, be paid fdr by you and
toy no other. Of course you win want
to travel for two or three months before
you make your final plans for
settlement, and during that time you
wfll appear to better advantage if you
refrain from drawing upon jour wife's
estate, so I win place a sum of money
to your credit at Drexel's, and provide
jrou with a cheque-book. You may regard
It as a loan and return It to me
later. If you will; or you may accept
Is as a gift?Just which you prefer."
With these words my uncle rose
from his seat and cast away the end
cf his dgflr, paying not the least attention
to the thanks with which I
greeted his extraordinary offer. "I
must reaHy smoke less tobacco," he
said; "that makes my eighth cigar to
' toy, and it to not tnree ociocs. i nave i
smoked more thla week than I generally
smoke In a month?I suppose because
of the worry I're been subject
to. By the Powers, I wish I knew
that that girl waa safer*
As my uncle turned to accompany
me downstairs I noticed that the expression
of hla face betrayed considerable
anxiety, and that his general
demeanor lacked much of its accustomed
buoyancy.
CHAPTER XXX.
raciiS sax dovrs.
About three weeks after the events re- (
lated In the last chapter 1 sat writing ,
taa a beautiful rcom which my uncle
had ordered to be specially arranged \
Ua m spar^ior my use iui av ivu6
a I remained hit guest, when Con- ,
Stance unexpectedly ottered and smilingly
handed me a letter. Having ac- ,
cepted the missive and paid its fair carrier
with that which among lovers is (
Accounted coin, I moved from the table j
to a settee near the window; for no
coe could have too much light who at- ]
tempted to decipher the calJgraphy of ,
the Rev. Mr. Price, which consisted of ,
a aeries of hastily scrawled symbols
Without the remotest resemblance to j
any known letter?in brief, that kind
af writing which breeds errors, bliuds (
compositors, maddens proof-readers. ,
and moves the irritable to profanity. ,
It took me at the least ten minutes ,
to acquaint myself with the writer's ]
meaning, and while I was so engaged ,
my faithful Connie sat on tbe floor at j
my feet and toyed with three aequins :
which had recently been attached to ,
my watchchaln?the identical coins al- ,
teged to have been found in the room ,
which my uncle occupied the last time ,
be stayed at Holdenhurst Hall. ,
"Can you make it all out?" asked
Connie, locking up. ,
"All hnt a faw vordi. dear." I ans- ,
wered; and then proceeded to read the ,
following letter aloud: ,
N. ?, Slat Fifty-ninth Street, ]
New York City, October 27.18?. \
Dear Miss Marsh:?This day, the ,
?ve of my departure for England. I ;
have received from the worthy rector (
of Holdenhnrst Major, the Rev. Mr.
Silas Fuller, my esteemed friend and (
former colleague. Intelligence of a ,
(rare natun? that my Christian con- ,
science will not permit me to conceal
from you, though in acquainting you ,
herewith I incur a risk of being credited
with low and personal motives.
The Rev. Mr. Fuller informs me that
on the ult.. an old man. who had
been for many years in the service of
Mr. Robert Truman, died very suddenly,
from some unexplained cause,
during an altercation with Mr. Ernest
Truman. The altercation, which "wan
In part overheard bj another servant,
Is supposed to have related to money.
Circumstances attending the bnrial of
the old botler are no lws suspicious
that the manner of his death, interment
having taken place by virtue of
a certificate given by the local doctor,
a personal friend of the Trumans. A
few of the more intelligent among the
Inhabitants of Holdenhuret are ask
IB ST loot unreasonaoiy, i ioidkj way
an Inquest wag not held, and are hazarding
various guesses as to what circumstances
the Truman family desired
to conceal In avoiding so rightful a
course.
Though to my lasting regret there
may never be any love between us. I
trust that my respect for your honor
and happiness is undiminished; and I
earnestly hope you may see fit to assure
yourself, ere It be too late, of the
character of the man you have engaged
to marry, as I am unable to
contemplate without the most painful
feelings your alliance trith a man upon
whom rests the suspicion of mandin>ht#r
or worse. Believe me. dear
Miss Marfh. always your faithful
Wend. EVAN PRICE.
* ?"i a_n^?.
-wnat a mean, spiieiui imuw ?i.
Price la, to be sore!" exclaimed ConStance.
"I never liked the expression
of that man's face, nor his manner, bat
I am surprised be should write such
A letter as that What good con be
hope to get from it?"
"Don't you see. deter, how much he
Would like to separate us? I have already
told you the facts upou which
he baa based this letter.**
"Yes, Ernest, and please don't tell
Bw again. I'm afraid I'm a little tired
of speaking and thinking about these
c&fcnHafflj
VJggfJTnrl
?r
U.TER j BL'OOMFIELD
m?t Bonn'i Bom.
she was turning round and round with
her delicate white fingers. "But suppose
Mr. Price could separate us, how
would that benefit him? He knows I
would not marry him In any case. I
have told him to In plain words many
a time."
"8plteful and mischievous as the man
la, I don't in the least doubt, my dear
Connie, but that he loves you as sincerely
aa his nature allows him to
love. Indeed,' It la difficult to conceive
of any man not loving you who has
once wen yon, and it is the quality of
never to entirely despair of achieving
its object until that object is irrevocably
lost This letter was written yesterday,
so by now Mr. Price is on his
way to England. Before he reaches
Liverpool you will be my wife, and
when be learns that fact perhaps he
will cease to Interest himself in our
affairs. Only six dsys! Fancy that,
pet!"
"Yes, fancy it! How sudden It has
all been! I am in disgrace with my
friends for deserting them, and in defending
myself I have laid the blame
on you for monopolizing my time. I
say, Ernie, dear, one of the six girls
whom I have asked to be bridesmaid
has declined.**
"Who is she?" I Inquired.
"Miss Christison?you know who 1
mean; the young lady who can't marry
tviihAM* lnalnv h?r fnrtnnp."
"O yes; I remember her. Who will
take her place?"
"Ines Juarrea."
"You moat forgive Miss Chrietison
on account of ber absurd and cruel
circumstances."
"Of course, dear, but **
At that moment our conversation was
Interrupted by the loud and continuous
ringing of electric bells within the
bouse, and the hasty running of servants
up and down the stairs. Constance
and I started to our feet and
listened for a moment, and the confusion
continuing we left the room
to ascertain Its cause. Outside the
door, upon the landing, we met my
aunt Gertrude, who was descending
the stairs dressed for going out. and
I no sooner saw her face, veiled though
it was. than I perceived that she was
painfully agitated.
"What is the matter?" we both asked.
VLB TIUU UUf VUltX.
"Oh, Connie, dear, don't atop me! A
clerk at Mills Building has just telephoned
to say that Sam has been seized
with sodden illness, and I am not to
lose a moment In going to him. 1
fear he Is dead, though they say he Is
not" ?
"Dead! Impossible.' An hour ago
be was here and well!"
But aunt Gertrude could not hear the
acclamations either of her sister or me,
for she had scarcely paused in her descent
while Imparting this terrible Information.
A world of confused and
painful thoughts filled my mind, and a
strange pallor overspread the face of
the dear one at my side; the color faded
from her lips, and but for my timely
support she would have fallen. The
next moment the street door was henrd
to close, and the carriage containing
aunt Gertrude was driven rapidly
away.
Leadlne Constance back into the
room, wo both sat down upon a coach
and regarded each other In silence I
consulted my watch; the hour wanted
twenty minutes to midday. Oncle Sam
bad left home to go to his office at 10
o'clock, be being (hen in sound health
and high spirits. Constancc was the
Arst to speak. "I can't believe, Ernie,
dear." she said, "that anything very
serious can be the matter, though
Gertrude seems so frightened. How
could there be?" But the unconcealed
agitation of the fair speaker belied her
words, and I was in no condition to
support them by argument "Lot uh
So into Sara's study and inquire by
the telephone how he is now," she
presently added.
"Yes, certainly; that Is a good
thought. But doesn't uncle keep his
study locked?"
Ten; but Gertie also has a key of it.
and I don't suppose she stayed to lock
it in her haste."
The suggestion was no sooner made
than adopted, and the study door being
open, as Connie had surmised, she entered
and at once made her inquiry.
I can never forget ber appearance as
she stood with tbe tube applied to bcr
ear, ber youthful beauty showing
grandly despite tbe pallor induced by
ber anxiety, while I watched with
deadly Interest the varying expressions
of ber face as a clerk at the Mills
Building Informed her of uncle Sam's
condition. Presently Connie restored
tue tube to its place, ana turowiag uer
arrni around my neck, burst into tears
in the manner of one whose fortitude
fails at unexpected release from some
supreme dread.
"What has happened?" I asked,
catching mj breath.
"Sam learned on arrival at his office
that Miss Wolsey had died suddenly
in Pnris. and the news so upset him
that he talked incoherently for a time,
and then had some sort of seizure,
greatly frightening his clerks; but he
is conscious now and Gertie is with
him."
There are few tasks which the complex
relations of humankind impose
upon us more painful or difficult than
being called to comfort a sorrowful
one whose burden presses with equnl
or greater weight upon ourselves, and
I could scarce restrain my own grief
while endeavoring to pacify Constance,
whose agitation arose entirely from the
present circumstances of undo Sum
and aunt Gertrude ? circumstances
which, though I was by no means indifferent
to them, were in my case obscured
b7 consideration of tbe tragedy
in Paris. Constance Marsh bad never
seen AnpU Wolsey, nor was it until
famed of the existence of that unhappy
woman; and not only that bat
for other and stronger reasons it would
have been absurd to expect that Con
stance should regard the death otherwise
than as the welcome extinction of
unseen but potent power for mischief.
While recognizing this to the
full, I could not but think of the girl
companion of my childhood; of how
after Annie's brothers aud sisters bad
one by one all been laid to rest in
th?. shadow of Holdenbum church she
aloiie remained, and was the only tielight
of her widowed father's life;
of bow, later, she had fled from hici
who loved her so well, aud how tirelessly
he had sought her again until
at last his efforts were crowned with
success, though only to precipitate thf
needless and awful waste of her youug
life. I thought aiso of tbo cruel effect
this disaster must necessarily have
upon my grandfather, aud wondered
if that careworn old man was yet acquainted
with It The fear to which
my uncle bad several times given ex
pression now oeing reaiueu, u uauucu (
to me that Its ill effects upon my pow- I
erfal friend, said to be already severe,
might possibly be of a permanent character.
Something of these troublesome
thoughts and speculations must have
been apparent in my face to have indnced
Connie to smile at me through
her tears, and to repeat those vows
with which we bad consoled each other
in previous difficulties?that come what
might, and we were both alive, nothing
should again separate us.
Constance and I quitted the study
and returned to my room. When asked
to decipher Mr. Price's letter I was engaged
in making a fair copy of a list
-* ? Ttrlfo'? Tvtscposlnnfl which
U1 IMJj 1UIU1C ?? MV ? I^vwwvww.
uncle Sain bad roughly drawn up for
my use?a heavy task, to which I had
already devoted two whole days. I
Though not more than three-fourths of
my transcript was completed I perceived
I was too disturbed to advantageously
apply myself to it again that
day. and therefore hastily put awaj
my papers and devoted myself to Constance.
After nearly an hour bad
been spent in a profitless exchange of
opinions and the venturing of various
surmises, we decided to go together
to Mills Building and ascertain by
actual observation exactly upon what
our anxiety was founded.
When we arrived at Mills Building
we found my uncle's offices descried
by all but one clerk, and the usual
business of the place suspended for the
rest of the day. Telegraphic tape was
automatically unwinding from a score
or more cylinders, and falling unread
into the baskets placed to reccive it.
On my uncle's desk, in an inner private
room, lay a pile of correspondence.
the greater part unopened. TUe cierK
in charge was brushing his hat preparatory
to locking the doors an departing,
and had we been a few minutes
later we should have found the
pffice closed. From this individual we
learned that Mr. Truman bad become
violently agitated immediately after
reading a letter, the envelope of which
bore the Paris postmark; that lie had
rapidly paced up and down his room,
incoherently talking to himself meanwhile;
and that altogether his behav- j
ior had been ko extremely different
from his usual habit of self-possession
that the people about him became
alarmed. Mr. Truman's secretary. Mr. !
Fisk, who enjoyed his employer's con- j
tldence more than anybody else, took
the letter from Mr. Truman's unresisting
bands, and read it to ascertain
what bad created this disturbance.
The letter, which was very brief and
couched in affectionate terms, stated
that the writer would that night seek
oblivion in the waters of the Seine, and
that she commended her son to his
care. It bore the signature of Annie
Wolsey.
"And how Is Mr. Truman now?" I
inquired. "Is he better, and has he
gone home with Mrs. Truman?"
"I think he is better than he was," |
replied the clerk. "We were afraid ue j
had become crazy and sent. for Dr. i
Herrmann. Dr. Herrmann, who arrived
before Mrs. Truman, said that i
Mr. Truman was suffering from intense '
excitement, but that with proper treatment
there was no cause for alarm, j
The doctor soon afterwards took bin
patient to Astor House, where be now
Is."
To be continued.
For Avoiding Cotillions.
The account of a new scheme de- '
vised for preventing collisions of railway
trains makes interesting reading,
and engages the attention of the fancy.
The idea of a powerful electric headlight
on-locomotives which will illuminate
the track, when It is straight,
for a mile ahead, is not a strauge one;
but it does not appear bow this alone
would serve to give sufficient warning
in a hilly region with frequent curves
of the line. The fascinating feature is
the second column of intense light
streaming into the upper air 7U0 feet i
high. This is something that could j
hardly escape observation, except, perhans.
In an extraordinary fog. In clear j
weatlier it is said to be visible ten miles j
away. Of course, to be of service, ev- I
ery engine must be so equipped. The i
other train is the one that each engineer
desires to be warned of. Think
what a weird spectacle these illuminations
of the night will make in places
where trains pass frequently.?Doston
Herald.
Rnib For Public OAcc.
The people of New York City do not,
as a rule, hare to be dragged into public
office. The municipal civil service
records prove mis. mere u>e ui iniaent
ou the various eligible lints for
positions in tbe competitive schedules
about 4500 names, and on tb:? registration
lists for positions iu tbe laborI
schedule, 3542 Lames. In addition to j
tbe above the commission has ou band !
the applications of 13.11H persons who J
have applied for positions in the competitive
clasH, and -G.S71) df tbe labor I
class. Over 10,000 of these latter applications
are for Jobs in the street cleaning
department.?Detroit Free Fresa.
The Water Power of France.
The water rower now running to
waste In the river* of Prance is calculated
by a French engiueer named
Tavernler to be between 3,000,0001
horse power and (5.000,000 horse power,
and only 200,000 horse power of (bli
enormous total has jet been utilised
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY 1*
m
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED jj
TNO DIFFERENCE.1* Ol
di
Ik* Rav. Dr. J. Wllbar Chapman El* >r
plain Fav tb? Uaneflt of D?m?Mrat? D
Ma* Ok? of tu* Most UlMealt Stata*
bmbU In All tba Bible.
New York City.?The following timely ?J
and interesting sermon is one of a serira tl
u re Dared by the famous evangelist, the P
Itev. Dr. J. Wilbur I'bapman. 11 is epu- tied
"No Difference," and was preached u
from the text: "For there is no difference."
Koin. iii: 22. "
This is one of the most difficult state- ?
ments to receive in all the Bible, and 1 can
well understand how the unregenerate man a
would resent its application. 1 can hear T>
him say, "What! no difference between the *
man who has fallen to tbe very lowest p
depths of sin and wretchedness, and the P
man who, boasting of bis morality, has r:
swerved only a little from the path of duly
and the law of God?" And the answer to "
this question is both "yes" and "no." "
There is a difference in heinousness and >'
degradation wide as* the poles, but "no c
difference" so far as guilt is concerncd, for e
both have rejected tne Son of God, and *
this is the sin of siui. P
If two men were before the court, one ?
charged with a great offense and the other ?
with one of less degree, it would profit the *
latter man but littte to say, "Hut, Your
Honor, 1 am not so great an offender as *
? ? Vh* it
Ill V CUniUBUIUII *11 llluns *
might we?Treply, "You are both guilty; id b
that 'there it no difference/ " and this is
the teaching of roy text.
God's word declares?"He that effends ?3
in one point is frailty of all;" not meaning, ?
of course, that ne has of necessity broken '<
every law. but he has broken away from *
God by his transgression. If I am held a '
prisoner by a chain it is not necessary ?
that 1 should break every link in the '!
chain that I might go free, but only one '
and that the very weakest, and so he that f
offend* in one point is guilty of all and 11
nothing less, while he that offends in all B
points is guilty of all and nothing more.
All have sinned and come short of the r
glory of God." J
Three important questions grow out of *
this text as I have considered it. First, I
do not ask if you are a sinner, for as it or- *
dinarily use this word, we think ol one t
who is lawless, wild and profane. But 1 *
ask:
HAVE YOU OFFENDED IN ONE SIN- J
GLE POINT?
If ao, "There is no difference." Man '
would not >?y\ it, I know, but God says it, 8
and it ia written in the book, and by tbe
book we shall be judged.
Look at the prodigal. He was as truly *
a prodigal when be bad taken the iirst step 1
over the threshold of his father's house *
aa when afterward you see bim sitting in J
the midst of the swine, and trying to fill
his belly with busks which the swine did s
eat. '
He is more degraded in the second pie- 8
ture, but not more guilty. c
Look at the leper. He is iust as truly
dead when the first sign of the dread dis- 1
ease appears, small though it may be. as
when afterward you behold him, a loathsome
object, sitting outside the citv gates, <
with bandaaed mouth, crying, "UflcleanJ d
Unclean!" He was a leper, however, from i
the first, and by tbe law dead. This is ^
the teaching of the text. If you have re- I
jected tbe Son of God, whatever your position.
'"There is no difference"?all are t
alike lost. I
It is not even a question of great sin. T
* ?-i 1 ii?t :u~?? it i
jniny i man imgiic jj.cuu un nun^ ?
such a charge were made, bat first of all t
SECRET SINS.
1. There is a text which declares "oar j
ecret sin* in ;he light of Hia countenance,"
and another read* that "All things i
are naked and ooen before Iiim with
whom we have to do." In the light of thia '
who can stand?
Not Ions ago in one of the school build- t
ings of Coicago a picture of an eye was
placed upon the blackboard as an illastra- .
tion, and in a little time by order of the
school board it was painted out. for it bad
been so perfectly painted that whatever
position a child might be in in the room .
that eye was upon it. The effect was disastrous.
But there is one eye which never '
slumbers and can never be painted out. ;
"Thou God scest me." The sin waji at 1
midnight. He saw it. It was in New
York or London or IParis. He saw it. ,
Thus to the charge of "secret sin" vou
must plead guilty, and "there is uo differ- /
tnce. t
SINFUL THOUGHTS. J
2. But the charge is even closer. Wc ]
are responsible for the sinful thought
which tarries in the mind by the consent f
of our will. Who can stand in the lick: of >
this? ... a
A distinguished scientist has made the <>
? ?L.'.L ?:? si it
statement, wmcn wik men mxivc, nai u j
a man stands out in the sunlight and acta, t
hiii act, good or bad, flashes away to the ]
sun and a picture which ia never lost ia f
made. And if he speaks, tbe sound bounds j
away, up nnd up, far beyfttid his rcach, and t
mokes its record forever. And if he re- ,
fusea to step into the light, or in the dark- r
neaa speak a word, this scientist declares
that by the very thoughts of his mind cer- j
tain physical disturbances occur which (
make a record lasting as time. c
I remember sending a telegram in a 0
western city, and shortly after realizing n
that my mes?age had been wrong I made ?
my way to the office to recall it. "Why," a
said tne operator, with a smile, "it is gone. 0
and in flashing over the wires now. beyond
mj* recall." So with your sinful thoughts, y
They bound away, and no man can recall
them when once thrv go. p
The answer to this charge must bo? (
"guilty." r
BEGINNING IN SIN. j
3. Some are beginning now. Held by B
the fascination of the evil one and lured
on by his charms they nre rushing on to p
hell. On one of the busiest streets of the j
Ray city of Pari* stands a building famous c
for it* beauty. Over the magnificent door- 0
way you may read these words, "Nothing (
to pay." The admission in free, the enter- j
tainment within is fascinating, and bun- j
dreds of young men pass through the portal*,
the rank and file of thein taking tbeir ?
first or last step to hell. 1
All sin is dearly boucht, for it has hell 'K
back of it. It blights the life, wrecks the y
character, nnd blasts the fondest hopes of
the soul. And when that awful day coines f(
and situation is gone and character lost.
and the hearts of loved ones broken, and
you are cast a stranded wreck on the
shore* of time, you will cry out in terror,
"O wretched mail that I aiu, who shall de- o
liver me"?and there will be no deliver- ci
ance. You will be more degraded then but h
not more guilty than now, for the chiefest t!
of sins is unbelief, and tint was the cause w
of your downfall. "There is no difference." tl
Go'd pity you. . g<
Do you know the Bible description of
the end of a career of sin from the world fi
standpoint? "Weeding, wailing and gnash
Wg 01 iit'ui. i? iinuut urv uu^>, mm m
sorcerers and whoremongers, and murder- in
ers. and idolaters. and whosoever loveth nr
and makcth a lie." God rave us from surh ir
a company. A minister could never lead a si
Dan to serious thought until he quoted the vi
text: "The wicked shall be turr.ed into el
hell, and all the nation* that forget God." ol
Great sin, humanly speaking. is not nee- a
essary. hut only forget Him and "There is V
do difference." w
If yoa ha> that remarkable book, b<
"Robert Falconer," written l>v Geo. Mar- ci
Donald, you will remember the dream of m
the wife of Andrew Falconer. He was a fcl
drunkard and after her death, the dream ai
being told bim. resulted in hix conversion.
She stid in her letter, which she had writ- tl
ten him: H
"I thought, Andrew, that the resurrcc- tl
tion morn had come, and I wan looking tt
everywhere for you. Finally in my wanderings
1 came to a great abyss, it was hi
not so very wide, but it was very deep and J<
was filled with blue, like the blue of the
sky. On the other side I saw you. An- si
drew, and I gave a shriek which all the .11
universe must have heard. Something tk
made me look around. Then 1 saw 0n?.' fa
coming toward me. He had a face-O. 01
such a fare! fairer than all the sons of wi
men: He had on a garment which camc w
down to His feet, and as He walked toward
me I saw in His feet the print of d<
the nails. Then I knew who He was. I fa
fell at Hi* feet and cried. '0, Lord, An- y<
iew, Andrew.' 'Daughter, would you ce
53 to bim? I said, 'Yes, Lord.' And. An- fe
rew. He took roe by the hand and led or
?? lli? >Kna inH v* rami* nc.ir?r M
VIA* UIW V I
and nearer, until at last we were united,
/
rem." 0, my friends, not in the next . r
orld, if not in this, but here and now we J
ay be made one in Him, one for time and j
ernity, but failing here, all hope is cone
id thqre is before us only tbe blackness j |
f darkness of despair. "For there is no
ifference."
The second question is of tbe greatest
nportance: .
O YOU COME UP TO GOD S STANDARD?
If is not enonffh to be simply a member
[ the chorch. "Many will say to Me in
ini day. Lord, tx>rd, have we not pro- ,
hesied in Thy name, and in Thy name ;
ave east out devils? and I will profess j '
i*?o them, I never knew you."
We have such a way of measuring our- '
- * ?- t?5 i (
ch*es by ourselves mai we ma* ,
iiisficd with the mult. Bat how about (
lod's standard? Upon my return home j
f one time my wife placed in my hands a '
ieee of paper, written all over, bat only j
>vo wot<14 were intelligible. At the top <
f the page was the word "carriage' I
lainly written, the next word was the i
ime, only not no well written.
It wan my little daughter'* first copy*
oolc. The teacher had written the word :
t the too of the line, and she had done
airly well to long aa she had looked at the I
opy. But she bad fallen into the aerioui '
rror of copying the line just above her
rork, and the word at the bottom of the j
aire as nearly spelled "man" as "car- j
iage." Thus people measure themselves
y those around them, forgetting that He |
aid?"Look unto Me and be ye saved." I
Yon mav he better than the memben of (
he church, but what doth it profit? Ton ;
nay be the best man in your community, >
>nt that docs not save.
How about God's standard? |
Her Majesty, the Queen, issues frequent* j
f. I am told, an order for soldiers to com
io*e her guard. Every man must be at !
past, six feet tall. I can imagine some J
ounc Englishmen measuring themselves
iy themselves, until at last one man in
rest delight exclaims. "I will surely get
_ i- r 4Um ?.n?f mB? in town." .
U, iUft X am .
Ind ?o he in, bat when he stand* before
ler Majesty'* officer he is reiected. for he j
r three-quarter* of an inch under the ,
nark. ; <
His being taller than his friends profited
lothing; they had all fallen short: come
riorc. some less. But "there was no dif- .
>rtnft> ft I 1
frrDrf. j ,
And if you turn my ouestion in upon my- ,
elf. I confess that I do fully come un to
be high standard of God: not in myself in ,
nv way. far from it?but in Christ: fot j .
'Christ is the end of the law for righteous* I
ieaa to every one that belieyetb," and | ,
rherein I fail. He makes up.
It is no point as to whether Adam or
2ve were the more sinful: they were both
ruilty. and "there is no difference."
The chiefcst of all sins is not drunken*
less, although that ia horrible: it ia '
tot licentiousness, although that is vile; .
t is the rejection of God's mercy?or th? :
in of unbelief. "He that believeth not if > '
ondemned already, because he hath not ,
?eheved in the name of the only begottea ,
?on of God." John iii: 18. And whoso yer
he be amon? vou?sinner, either great
ir small, if he fail here, he stands with the
ondemned. and "there is ao difference."
The third and last important question is
WHAT IS THE REMEDY? J
There is another "no difference" which
" " Of nnMfinn '"For there is no !
lifferenc* for the name Lord over (
ill ia rich onto all that call upon Him. for ,
rho?oever shall call upon the name of the ,
?rd nh.il! be aaved." Roman* s: 12, 13.
1. It ia uacles* to try by any amount of <
xertion, or feeling. or even prayer, to j
trine about faith. I have had mv own ex- ,
>erience in thia. Cod aaya in Hia word,
'Faith cometh hv hearing and hearing by j
he word of God.'*
Thia ia a aure wnv. A college atudent . j
rns greatly troubled apiritually, and wan ! j
n conference with one of the profeaaora : <
intil midnight. Juat as he was leaving the ! i
souae, going ont into the darkneM, the
lrofeasor placed in hia hand* a lantern I
laying. '"Take it. George, it will light you
iome a aten at a time." And thia ia what {
he Bible doea. ,
That lantern did not light up the for- ,
?ti, nor make luminoua the landscape; it
vas not meant that it ahould, but it made j
very atep bncht.
Man waa lo?t by hearing Satan. He ,
'an only be saved by hearing God. Plant j j
rour feet firmlv by faith on one aingle ; :
)romi?e, nnd God will begin at once to !
nake clear the way if you will only believe '
Sim. I i
2. To the Philippian jailor'a question, .
'What must T do to be aaved?" Paul'a an- J j
rwer waa, "Believe on the Lord Jesua ' (
hri*t and thou ahalt be aaved." And ,
ia no reanertinr of neraona. for "who- I i
toevcr shall call unon the same of the !
^ord shall be fared."
A friend of mine told me that when he i ,
limbed the Matterhorn he was besieged ! ,
>v men, waiting at the base of the mount* J (
tin. ready to guide him np the difficult !
var, but the most of them would hare : |
lercr brought him down in safety, for ,
hey were simply men out of employment. J
le rery easily, howerer, secured a safe !
;uide when he said, "Show me your pa- j ;
>ers." Then the men who were without
hem rtepped back, while the real guides ;
tepped forward and holding out their !
alters he read something like this:
"We. the undersigned, hare climbed the (
latterhorn under the care of such a guide J
giving bis name), and we commend him to :
mr friends"?and then followed the names
if people of great renown at home and 1
broad, a member of Pailiament, a mem- ;
?r of Conzrew", and your personal friend, I
nd my friend at once felt secure becauce '
>thcr* had made the trip in safety.
It is like that when under condemnation
ou n?k. "What must I do?"
Infidelity attempts an answer; philoso- I
>hy make a rain effort to reply, and Jesus ;
Christ, the Son of God, comes with the ;
est. Let me suggest to you the real test. .
Uk thorn each. "What hare you done?" |
)crr.and of each that their" papers be!
hown. Then will He come whose gar.lent*
arc dyed red. wlio?e handa were ;
ierced. and whose heart was broken, who i
ied and rose again that He might be- j
ome the justifier of all that l>elievc, and i
n the very nalms of His hands you read j
he names John Bunvan. John Newton, |
erry McCauley. and brighter than them i
II?Charles Ha.ldon Spurgeon.
And this is enoaeh?I for one will say, j
Blcwed Lord, if Thou canst save others, t
nd I know thnt Thou canst, Thou canst
rive me; and I will let Thee do it now." ,
I'ill vou join me in this now?
3. To mm it all up, if you would escap*
nndemnation von need simply to
[AVE A WILLING MIND ABOUT
SALVATION. !
Then by faith accept what He in grace
fft-rs you. 1 have heard Christian work
? ?- ? ;?u/!i? vA.ir
la WT 111 (tlilicsi luiiuiicin, v???v ,?VM?
eart to God and you may be saved." But
bis is unscriptural?at least the order is
rong. Accept first the gift of eternal life,
ben give yourself, out of gratitude for His
oodness. i
The first saves you; the second is the
rut fruit of your salvation. I
When William Dawson, tne celebrated
Ireet preacher. was conducting a street
iccting in London, he was told of a young
tan who in a neighboring house was dyHe
climbcd the rickety stairway and j
:ood by the bedside of a voung ma:i, a (
ictir.i of consumption, and just ncaring j
ternitv. He found that he was the son f
f wcilthy parents, but that his father had |
?st him off because of his sin. When t
k'illiani Dawson said he would intercede j
ith the father in behalf of the son. the r
dv said it would be useless, for the fath- t
r had cant him off Ionic ap<> And it aloat
seemed that he was right, for when i\
[r. Daivmn entered the spacious mansion i
id mentioned the boy's name, the fit her
lid, "If you have come. sir. to talk of
urt scapegrace. 1 shall asl; you to leave.
!e is no son of mine." "Well, sir." said
iWpreacher, "he will not he here long to
ruble you. for I left him dying." I
In a moment the man's whole attitude a
ill chanced. "Is he sick?" he said. "la ?
iseph ill? then take me to him." t
And soon he was on his knees by the n
de of the dvinc hoy. his arms about him. v
>d his head pillowed on his breast. All e
le boy could say was, "Father, ran you !;
reive me?" and the strong man could h
tlv sob. "0. Joseph, my son. ray son, I b
niilr) hare forgiven yon months ago if you b
nn!d only have received it." n
Mv friends. I bring you good news, in!ed.
dad tidings of great joy: "(!od hath
r Christ's sake forgiven you." and if
>u wmi!d be saved you need only to acpt
His gracious gift. The first "no dif- Y
re nee" in dUcouraging, but the second c<
ic is tweeter than honey in the honey ti
mb. ?i
"Believe on the Lord Jens Chriit and hi
9u ihaH be mvcA" m
fHE SUNDAY SCHOOL 1
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS 8
FOR JANUARY 23.
C
tlttlMt: rnl'i Co an Ml to the Thuuliv
niani, 1 Thau, 14-2*?Golde? Text
1 Tb?u. 31?Memory Vtmi, 10-18
Commentary on the Umo*.
I. Christ* second eominc (vs. 1-11). j
rhe first part of this chapter stands in c
;lo?e connection with the hint *ix verws j
of chapter 4. The two paragraph* touch t
upon two different aspects of our Isold's ,
wining, viewed first as it concern* dejcirt- j
>(! Christian*, and then in its relation to .
nen living upon the earth. The former | j
[ias*age aupplies comfort respecting the
lead in Christ. the latter enjoin* watchlu.- I
icm and preparedne** upon the living. I
1'aul'* teaching concerning the return of j
the Lord Jesus from heaven had very I
ieeply imp reused the The*salon:ar:s. 1 ut I
ii? views had been greatly misunderstood. 1
The day of the Lord'* coming (v. :!) no j
Joubt "includes not only His coming ..t >
the end of the world, but all the apee~il I
manifestations of that coming, a* at the 1
lay of death and the destruction of Jcru- !
lalem (*ee Matt. 24)." j
II. Rule* for the sanctified lit* (v* 12?).
In verses 12 and 13 he ui^c* them to 1
properly love and e*teem their minister*, i
14. "Brethren." This exhortation applic* ,
to minister* and laymen alike. "The j
weak." A man may be weak in hi* j ;dg- !
nent or in his character. There may be a
lack of information or a lack of capacity i
to understand the truth. Such people i
need the assistance of thoae who are j
itrong. We can "support" other* with ,
(I) our sympathy. (2) our prayers, (3) our
example and (4) our counscl. I
15. "See that none," ete. Some one i
ha* said. "Evil for evil is beast like; evil
for good i* devil like; good for good is
manlike; good for evil i* godlike." eleuliation
.betray* a weak, ignoble and rrud
disposition. "He is below himself who i* j j
not above an injury." "Small souls alone l
hold grudges." "But ever follow," etc. 1
The true Christian always renders good !
tor evil. The line of conduct here outlined
in to be pursued both within and
rithout the church. No follower of Christ
rill intentionally harm any man.
16. 17. "Rejoice alway.' He who would
tJways rejoice must pray without erasing.
Paul had learned the secret that "in sorrow
endured for Christ's sake tb?>re is hidden
a new opring of joy." See Rom. 5: 35:
2 Cor. 12: 10, and the words of Christ in
Matt. 5: 10-12. To rejoice is not only a
duty, bat a privilege. The Christian na*
the fountain of joy within him. "Pray."
True prayer springs from the heart. It
includes (1) an acknowledgement of God,
(2) thankfulness, (3) confession, (4) entreaty.
It is our duty to pray because (1)
it is commanded. (2) because it tends to
improw uk wiin a fcnw ui i/ur uv^uuchw '
upon God, (3) because it ia the mtans by i
which *e commune with God. (4) became
it is made the condition of our receiving
from God. Prevailing prayer (1) springs
from a sense of real need, (2) is earnest.
(3) i< humble. (4) is importunate, (5) is nffcred
for specific blessings, (0) pleads the
promises and rests in them as the ground
of all faith.
18. "Give thanks." Even in persecution
re should thank God that we are considrred
worthy to suffer for Christ. "Prnyrr
md thanksgiving are the two wings of the
lotil bv which it rise* upward to God."
19. 2o. "Quench not. Since the Spirit
mat? la* k? it fi fir* <! ftnrw?flrt>fi
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 3f. This '
rmblem seta forth the sudden and veh-?ment
activities of the Holv Spirit, with
(lis gift* of warmth for the heart and light
Tor the mind, and His power to kindle the
tinman spirit. "The gift of the Spirit was
then existing, deep and powerful, in the
foung Thessalonian church," and they
were ncre commanded not to forbid those
who under divine inspiration stood up to j
reveal myatcriea or apeak with tongues. I
Rut the command is universal. Whatever I
hinders the work of the Spirit in ourselres j
Dr others is here forbidden. The Spirit is i
quenched bv depreciation, neglect or sin.
21. 22. "Prove." On the other hand, do I
not accept as genuine all that may.claim I
to be genuine. It is our duty to probe. J
test, try all such manifestations and "hold
Fast*' only the good. But the exhoriatioo |
here is capable of the widest application, j
We ore to discern between truth and er- j
ror. and sift the chaff from the wheat, j
"Hold fast." We should never allow the ;
Rood to slip from us. "Buy the truth and j
sell it not." To do this will take a strong ;
pffort on our paii. "Abstain." Not only j
hold fast the good, but abstain from and j
renounce the evil which may have been detected
as a result of proving all things.
III. Sanctification promised (vs. 23.
24). 23. "God of peace." "Peace is the
num of all apiritual blessings that man re- '
reives and experiences." The apostle j
prays that the God of peace might sane- j
tify them wholly. The Thessalonian Chris- j
lians were truly regenerated; they had had
a genuine conversion (see chap. 1), and j
yet they needed entire sanctification. {
"Sanctify you wholly." The work of sane-!
tificaticn was begun io conversion, and
now it was their privilege to be made complete?to
lie sanctified wholly. Sanctification
signifies, I. Separation from sin. 2.
Consecration to God?the setting apart j
from a common to a holy use. 3. "It is | '
the act or process of making holy." 4. t >
"It denotes the result of this process?the
state of one who is made holy." "Spirit? i 1
loul?body." That is, the whole man. "It j <
is net necessary to regard spirit and soul j <
and body as three distinct logical divisions J
nf man's nature." But if it seems desirable ' 1
to di?tinguish between soul and spirit, then I J
the spirit must be regarded as the highest j 1
part of man, by which alone man possesses ! J
intelligence and is enabled to apprehend ! '
(Sod. and the soul as the scat of tne affee- 1 <
tions, passions and appetites. "Yet we j <
are to conceive of them as one indivisible I ^
ar.d spiritual Ixing, called also the mind J 3
and tne heart, but usually designated as j
the soul." "Be preserved." etc. From : '
llllil \VC inni uiiw ej|HrnniiT u& uuuc , a
m notification in for th>M life.
24. "Will do it." This nettle* the mat i
fer. The (5o<l who has faithfully called u? |
to holiness in ready to make us holy, and ;
Peter in AcH 15: 9 tell* how the cxpe? ,
ien<e *?* obtained by both .lews and Gen- j
ti!e<. He ?>ay?t their heart* were purified i
"br faith."
IV. Concluding word* (vs. 2T?-2fD. 25,
2C. "Pray for us." St. Paul frequently j
made thin request. If he. in all the
strength of his (rifts and his office, felt his i
dependence-on the prayer* of the church,
how much idiould we? "Kiss." This, the !
KMial sisn of affection between kindred
ind near friend*, appears to have beer
piite universal in the primitive church,
but the custom gradual]** died out during
the Middle _ Ape*. To-day we have the
"handshake." which answers all purposes. |
27, 28. "Adjure you." Literally, 1 put :
you ution oath to do this. "The jfrace." |
rtc. This is St. Paul's usual foim of final
benediction. "It contains all spiritual 1
jood that one Christian can wish another." j <
Chleaco ? Centory Old.
The one hundredth anniversary of th<
>erm.mer?t settlement of Chicago will foe
elcbrated on a large scale ncNt Septenv
>er. according to plans made at a meeting
>t" Susinn-'s men of the citv. The plan | ?
us the sanction of Mayor Harrison. Th< !
e.'itative programme includes mas* meet- I .
!IZ*. firework*, industrial. electric. and [ .
mlitnry parade*, yacht races. nthhtif j
ournaments, patriotic and religious over- ^
i*e<. and an educational conference. Tht ; f
ir?t permanent settler in Chicago wai ! t
?>hn Km/re. who went there with hu I
imily in the autumn of 1S?K5. {
\
PlitDB to Wake Soldier Athlete*. t
In piirn'tance of the policy of the YT.:r J
)epcrtment at Washington t;> encourage "
tide tic exorcises in thi? armv. Major-Ceti*
ml I!;ite.-, commanding the Department ? t
he J*akc*. has directed that one day cr."h
ionth. designated as "field day." lie deoted
to athletic games by enlisted men ?t 1
aen po?t. The program will include all i
ind* of atln'ctic soortr. eanstrurtion of t
amy entrenchments, emergency bridges, *
oxnig and wrestling. Whenever prnctir.v 1
le the sports will be accompanicd with 1
1usic. <1
a
A China** HMpiini,
Dr. Bon Chane has applied to the New
ork Board of Medical Examine for li- 1
fnsc to practice his profession in the ir.e* "
cpnlis. and it is stated that he is to act 1
i physician and surjreon-in-chief to a new r
Dipiul which is to be established by the
erchants of Chinatown. . .
iEE GREAT DESTEOTEB
OME STARTLING FACTS A30UT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
loactnilBc Biw-laa* Vactt Cecardla#
It* Cm, ud (btDnadM Effnt* I'po*
tb* Ijtlttn of the Cl*r?IMT Drioiwn
Wont BobJ*et> For lorfMW.
To tfcoae who beliere, or would lilce to
>elieve. that beer i* Itu dangerous a berra^e
than whiakr, we commend an ecjitor*
nl in the July 15 iacue of Barrels and Bot?
lea, a brewera' journal pabliahed in la- .
iianipoiH. u nuci iuc uuc. u ?
>nfe Beverage?" retail dealer* air warned
igainst its use. The man behind the bar
nuat sell beer, says the writer, bat be
hould not drink it?would not, in fact, "if
le knew as much about its effects as a
nan in the business ought to know." It is
'most disturbing to dilation." and "for
he benefit of those in tne trade who wish' -
o consider all sides of the question and to
ace facta as they are," the article quotas
it length the famous speech of Benatee
j allinger delivered before the United
Senate in kunnort of the anti-em*
cen bill. "He," (the Senator) says Bar*
el* and Bottles, "quoted from a series of
nterview? with physicians of Toledo, O.,
(reared by the Toledo Blade, prefacing
heir declarations by saying:
"Toledo is essentially a beer-drinking
lity. The German population is r:ry large.
Five of the larjeat breweries in the coon- t
.17 are here. Probably more beer to '
irunk. in proportion to the population.
:ban in any other city in tae United
States. The practice of these physicians
s, therefore, largely among beer drinker*,
ind they have had abundant opportunities
jo know exactly its hustings on health and
lisease. Every one bear* testimony that
10 man can drink beer safely, that it fe
in injury to anyone who oscs it in any
luantity, nnd that its effects on the gen*
;ral health are far worse than that of
whisky. dogginc his liver, rotting his kid"
teys. decaying nis heart and arteries, atu*
pefying and starving his brain, choking,
lis lungs and bronchia, loading his body
rith dronaicsl fluids and unwholesome fat.
fastening upon him rheumatism, erysipelao .4
md all manner of painful and disgusting
liseases, and finally dragging him to bts
(rare at a time when other men are m
their prime of mental and bodily vigor.
Sere are some of their statements."
Then follows a column from the doe tor* ,
testifying to the "dreadful results of beer
irinlang." These are a few of the thinp
thev say:
"Beer kills quicker than any other liquor.
Mv attention was first called to its inmd*
ious effects when I began examining for
life insurance. I passed as unosoofly good
risks five German*?voting business men?
who seemed in the best of health and ( %
lave superb constitutions. In a few yean
[ was amazed to Me the whole five drop
iff, one after another, with what ought to
bave been mild eand easily curable dis
eases. On comparing my experience -with
that of other physicians I found they wen
til having similar lock with confirmed beer
1 linkers, and my practice since has heaped
wnfirmation on confirmation.
"Among the dreadful results of beer
tanking are lockjaw and erysipelas, and
the beer drinker seems incapable of recornine
from mild disorders and injuries not
usually regarded of a grave character.
Pneumonia, pleurisy, fevers, etc.. seem to
bare a first mortg&g* on him, which they
Foreclose remorselessly at an early oppor* *
tunity.
"Adulterants are not the most impor> a
tint thing in mr estimstion; It is the beer |
itself. It stupefies the intellect, because if 1
is a narcotic and cumulative in its effect. j
Every man who drinks beer in any quan- J
titv soon begins to load himself with soft, -<j
unhealthy fst. This is bad. because it is |
the result of interference with the natural
elimination of deleterious substances. I
"Beer drinkers are absolutely the most m
iangrroua cIass of subjects a surgeon can
snerate on. Insignificant scratches arc lia- M
ble to develop a long train of danyerous M
troubles. It is dsnrerous for a beer drink*
tr to even cut his finger. I do not regard H
beer drinking as ?ife for .inyone. fli
"A majority of saloonkeepers die from B
3 : # i.: j A 1:.? j:.:
aropsy, HrniD( nan) kiuncv uu mtct uw
rases, induced by beer drinking. My cipt*
ricnce has been that saloonkeepers and
men working around breweries aro wry;
liable to these diseases. I bat# ]
ilways believed that Bayard Taylor fell a
rictim to tbe German beer that he praised
to highly. He died of Bright'* disease at
Bfty. when he ahould hare lived, with hi*
ronstitution, to a green old age. Me west J
just aa beer drinkcra are going all the time
ind everywhere. T
"Beer drinkers are neculiariv liab'e td
die of pneumonia. Their vital power,
their power of resistance, their vis mediratrix
naturae, is so lowered that they are j
liable to drop off from any form of acat#iineaae.
fevers. oneumonia, etc."
Senator Gsllinger's speech is- valuable *
material in the campaign of education to
be carried on against beer, and with it*
sew and unique setting in Barrels snd Bottles
it acquires additional force and slgnifi*
ranee for beer sellers and beer drinker*.?
Union Signal.
DnaknsM* sad the la*.
Tbe Auatrian Government is preparing
to combat drunkenness by law. A bill if
being drawn inflicting severe penaltisf
jpon dipsomaniac?. JH
In this country about thirty Stste* bar* MT
general laws dealing with drunkards. Th*
ithers leave to local ordinance mskera the 2H
btwinesa of disooting of the victim* of to* j29
much drink. As penalties for intoxication H
there are provided fines ranging from fifty IN
wnts. the minimum in some States, to 2g
M )<>. the maximum in other*. Imprison- H
nent is an alternative punishment iflf 38
most State*, but it the only one in Main* lg
tnd New Hampshire. The terms of th* H
onvicted ranpe in various Commonwealth* HE
rrom a two days', minimum up to a fiv* BH
rears' maximum. In Alabama the com* B
non dmnknrd gets aiz months st hard it* W
>o"r. In Minnesota there are projircsarv* IB
penalties for offenses after th*- fir*t. Scv* Hfl
:ra! States exact bonds for future sobriety. Hjjfl
It is a fact proved by drink statistic* -
bat America la becoming more temperate# hh
:>ut the beat authorities do not attribute jGS
he improvement to the effecta of legal aBB
Tensities. Hard drinkera are no lonfer SB
ountenaneed by deairable society. Thia ia BBS
mo reformatory force, and n stronger on u
ret is the increasing dsmand in many lines B
)f business for men who are always sober WK
ind reliable. Most railroad corporations, . KB!
or instance. in*i?t on temperance in their ^B
employes. As they have work for more _^Bj
han a million men. they exert a tremaK^^H
Ions influence for abstinence.
Austria'* new law will swell her record* HB
>f nffcru^. It trill not chancy mtn'a
:ante* And desire*. The best reformatory ^H|
itatute* are tho?e framed hv ?ocial ana ^^9
iiuincM self-intereat.?New York World. flj&B
A Wim Rat*. Mn
The License Commissioners of Gloueet* BBfl
er. Mass., have made it n rule that when BOH
lrunkard has been brought before tlM 0B|
oarts and convicted of the folly the sa* RJDH
oon keepers are notified not to sell him |BH|
i juor for six months. jfifl
AdTle? te Athlete*. BEE
An influential baseball guide (Witt's) kXI
u* the following wise suggestion:
"Any man now desirous of usinp his phf*
leal and inoutal power* to tlicir utmont
nivantage mu<it ignore first, intemperance
n cati.ng, and second refuse to allow a MB
Irop of alcoholic liquor, whether in th# NB
orm of spirit*, wine. beer or cider, to put KK3
lown hi* throat. We arc not preaching RHG
temperance' to the fraternity, but telling |R
i r--i- i 1 : i MQftl
ru-ni iuuu<, iinru. iniunvro* cniD.'r iicvp, nmi
rhieh experience in gradually proving to BflB
.hose who have charge of the training ol HHE
ithietea for feat* of physical skill or en* BSD
[urance." < HQ
A (ioimI Tcxt^noaUI. MhB
"T tiiVA n?r#p dninL' nop ?ri#fl ^^39BI
iquor. 1 hav* seldom used it in my fan** Eufi
ly a* medicine, ami vet it has meddled 1MB
vitli me?it hah made my boy a wandering BOM
arabond, hits broken my wife's heart. HHE
fen, when 1 was asleep thinking him at HH
lome in hi4 bed, he wax being made 9 HH
Irunkard in a bar-room."?EvU. S. Scar DH
tor Mcrriman, of South Carolina. MKI
The saloon is tiie enemy of man. It i* BSfl
he enemy of hi* body; it destroys health HHH
>nd shorten* life. It is the foe of bit flBnN
nind, stupefying his brr.in and e^ciudiity jkHnpl
lob'.e thought*. It is the murderer of hi*
oul. a hot Ded of vice, a moral pest-hoase, ^Ng9|
. lit. Pelet of spiritual disaster and deatfc MfsM