“WHO hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things; to whom be glory forever.” Rom. 11:34-36. This question is suggestive of the entire exclusiveness of the Eternal Mind, and is fully corroborated by the answer that all things are of Him, and through Him, and to Him. Whatever was originally, was of God, and came through Him, and belongs to Him, the depth of whose riches, both of wisdom and knowledge, has made His judgments, or operations of mind, unsearchable, and His ways past finding out.
Not even the forces of nature, which are in active but silent operation in the sight of all creation, can be traced to their source, so sacredly is it guarded against the intrusion of inquisitive minds. That some secret spring of intelligence lies back of these forces to regulate their every movement, is clearly seen in the regularity and precision of the changes they undergo. The daily revolutions of the earth, which so uniformly separate light from darkness; its annual motions, producing the varied seasons; the ability of its inhabitants to communicate thought, in order to concert of action—all these are voices distinctly declaring that some wonderful purpose was in mind in the creation of these things.
But what was the purpose? Why is the knowledge of that purpose hidden from men? Will it ever be understood? If so, when and how? These questions have been propounded by the sages of many generations. Logical deductions and scientific calculations have been employed to solve the problem; but these have invariably broken down before penetrating the veil of mystery, for the reason that the human mind can not grasp the scope of infinite plans, and hence utterly fails to reach their termination.
But this condition of things is no fault of the Creator. He created man in His own image, according to His own likeness. Gen. 1:26. This was to endow man with ability to comprehend, and power of decision to obey the forms of sovereignty under which he was to live. To do this, he must have been made capable of discerning the minutest particulars of divine government. Without this, he could not have been qualified fully to understand the will of God; and, in case of failure to carry out any part of the divine mind, he could have charged the lack to having been created unequal to the demands made upon him. This would have thrown the responsibility of wrongdoing back upon the Creator, instead of its resting upon the creature.
This, of course, can not be admitted for a moment, considering the established character of God’s goodness as expressed in His Word and discovered in all His works. Had man maintained the integrity first bestowed upon him, he would have continued in the likeness of God, and so have retained his connection with divine intelligence. But in submitting to follow the suggestions of one whose mind was opposed to the decrees of Heaven, the human mind was corrupted from its original simplicity, and became confused, so that it was unable to distinguish the promptings of the Eternal Mind.
In this first adverse act, man transferred his allegiance from God to Satan, and so alienated himself from the life of God, the only source of divine knowledge. The mind which had been lighted by the life of God (John 1:4) was consequently filled with darkness, and so ignorance of heavenly things reigned within (Eph. 4:18). Left in this abject condition by his own folly, man could but blindly follow the dictates of his captor, and so entail on his posterity a perpetual servitude under the “power of darkness.” Col. 1:13.
This was indeed a sad plight. Cut off from the life of Jehovah, the only source of light to man, the mind of God could not be understood, even though it were expressed in words, because the full meaning of those words could not be comprehended by a mind darkened by sin. Whatever the violated law of righteousness might have once been qualified to do for man, it was now powerless to reveal Him of whose mind it was a perfect transcript.
The physical eyes of man had never, from the remotest time, caught a glimpse of Jehovah. John 1:18. Yet in order that the blind, destitute race of humanity might be privileged to know Him, and something of the trend of His mind, a plan was arranged by which He might connect with man, and thus reveal Himself. So what the law, in all its righteousness, was powerless to do for the darkened mind of man, God accomplished by sending His own Son among men, “in the likeness of sinful flesh.” Rom. 8:3. The Divine thus clothed in humanity was to come in contact with the sightless sinner, and through His fleshly covering, not only to draw man toward heaven, but also to open his eyes, that he might have light for darkness, and so be able to understand the goodness of God and the glory of His kingdom. Acts 26:18.
Living thus in flesh, Christ not only revealed the mind and character of the Unseen, but also the divine nature which the life of God imparts to all flesh that becomes allied to Him. 2 Peter 1:4. “In Him was life,” and that life, brought to earth, was to become the light of men, where darkness had before reigned supreme. John 1:4. Like men born of a woman, Christ lived as a man among men. He suffered hunger. Matt. 4:2. He was a homeless stranger. Matt. 8:20. He knew sorrow and grief. Isa. 53:3. He wept in sympathy for others. John 11:33-35. He was tempted on every hand. Heb. 2:16-18; 4:15. In all things He was made like those He came to rescue, in order that, having reached to the depths of human wo, and touched the spring of man’s degradation, He might be able to succor those struggling in the anguish of temptation.
To the uninitiated this is a profound mystery. Those, however, who have accepted heaven’s Gift, are made to know by the impulse of His imparted life somewhat of the results of His mystic operations, tho not perceiving just how that work is done. But as, without knowing its source or destiny, one feels the pleasant, cooling breeze of a summer’s evening gently fanning his cheek, so this heavenly Messenger enters the fallen human to quicken and enlighten, without revealing whence He came or whither He goes. John 3:8.
This thought is very clearly expressed in the words of the apostle, as rendered by Dr. Robert Young: “And confessedly great is the secret of piety: God was manifest in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16. All this makes up the great secret of piety, or godliness. As God was in Christ, so, through the reception of Christ, in whom God dwells, He must be in human flesh. When both the Father and the Son thus dwell in a human heart (John 14:23), that person is pronounced righteous in spirit, because the occupants of his heart are really so, which is an assurance that in due time he will be received up into the fuller light of heaven’s glory. In this way is the mystery of the Unseen unfolded in each member of a sinful, degraded race, for their final uplifting to a place in the presence of the Most High.
LAY SERMONS.
By Los Angeles Times
How OFTEN we forget that this life is but the primary department of the grand school in which God has placed His children, in order that they may learn the wonderful lessons of His wisdom and His love! And how wise are His teachings, how gentle His commands! Yet sometimes we rebel against them, and, like little children, strive to have our own way, and then He finds it necessary to discipline us for our own good, but that discipline is as tender as His care and love for us will allow, and the end be attained.
The puzzles of life are all solved when we remember God's wisdom and love, and our own feebleness, and shortsightedness, which makes it necessary for us to have a teacher, who will lead us in ways that we know not of.
And the farther our education progresses here under the guidance of our infinite Teacher, the more fully shall we be prepared not only for the enjoyment of this life, but for the fullness and glory of the life beyond. To get near to Christ is the great secret of the happy Christian life. There is no chance anywhere in life; nothing is transpiring in God's great universe without His knowledge, "not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice." Thus, if we can see His hand in all things, why should we not trust Him—why should we ever be afraid?
All our doubts and fears we shall find, if we study our hearts closely, come from a lack of trust in our heavenly Father, and so we set about trying to find some other way than the one in which He would have us go until He is obliged to restrain us, and sometimes to discipline us until we yield our wills to His will to be led and guided only by Him. And when we thus submit, how soon the morning of peace and joy brightens! We are no longer afraid, and we feel that whatever He orders is well. Life is no longer a "troubled sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt," but a broad and shining ocean, gleaming with the light of love, over which we are sailing to the haven of eternal rest, and God's hand is at the helm, the hand that is mightier than all storms—the hand that is full of blessings.
"So much we miss
If love is weak! So much we gain
If love is strong! God thinks no pain
Too sharp or lasting to ordain
To teach us this."
—Los Angeles Times.
The Value of a Heart
By Omar Khayyam
KNOW well that a hundred holy temples of Mecca have not the value of a heart.—Omar Khayyam.
John Lost His Head
JOHN lost his head by a sword because Herod had lost his by a woman.—Bible Reader.
Cain Among the Serpent’s Seed
By Calver
INSTEAD of a crusher of the serpent, Cain is one of the serpent’s seed.—Calver.
AN ADVOCATE.
WE speak of an "advocate" in the sense of one who defends the cause of another. And any one who unselfishly defends another is the advocate in the truest sense. A lawyer may defend a client, but it is for his fee. Men in political and social life may defend each other, but in too many cases it is because of some self-interest. For when circumstances change a little, we often see a person turn to defaming a man as bitterly as he was once ardent in supporting him.
It is when a person goes wrong and gets into difficulty that he appreciates a true advocate the most. When everything goes well with him the people with whom he comes in contact are usually kind, and he enjoys an unlimited amount of friendship. But let the day of adversity arrive and there are but comparatively few who will advocate the cause of him who has fallen. And it is only when a man is down that he really needs help. When everything is going well with any one the advocate and consoler is not needed.
Mankind as a whole has fallen. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. And mankind in this fallen, sinful condition is without strength. We are powerless to help ourselves. "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.
Note that it is those who were "without strength" and "ungodly" for whom Christ died. And when He died for us, in the very nature of things, He became our Advocate.
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1, 2.
"These things write I unto you, that ye sin not." God's Word has power to keep us from sinning. But if we fail to exercise faith in this Word, and hence commit sin, "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
The motive that caused Jesus to become our advocate had none of self in it. He did not take up the cause of humanity for personal gain, nor for any other form of personal or selfish advantage. It was love, the purest, the deepest, and the most completely devoid of self, that inspired both the Father and the Son when the great Sacrifice was given for humanity.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 3:1; 4:9, 10.
The Lord does not love our sins; He hates every form of evil; but still He loves the sinner, not because he is a sinner, but because his sins will destroy him, and the divine love seeks to save him from ruin. And so the love of Christ follows us continually, seeking to win us from the slavery of sin to the freedom of righteousness, and truth, and life.
"And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. And the Angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by." Zech. 3:1-7.
The foregoing scripture presents Joshua, the high priest, "clothed with filthy garments," and "Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." Satan is the accuser; he points to the filthy garments; he has nothing but censure and fault-finding. But the Advocate intervenes. He says, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; . . . is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Joshua represents one who is sorry for his sins. He is tired of his filthy garments. And the Advocate commands, "Take away the filthy garments from him," and then says to the repentant sinner, "I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment."
How clearly does this scripture bring before our minds the accuser and also the Advocate! The accuser resists us; he seeks to bring further calamity and evil upon us. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Rev. 12:10. Satan is "the accuser of our brethren," but the love of the Saviour causes Him to come to the rescue. We have nothing with which to hire an advocate, so His love causes Him to take up our cases without any price.
Now the whole world stands either with the accuser or with the Advocate. The accuser spends his time dwelling upon the faults of humanity. He "accused them before our God day and night." And if we yield to his influence, he sets us to dwelling upon the defects of our fellow-mortals. Their sins seem very glaring to us as the accuser helps us to see them in an exaggerated light. And while we stand with the adversary, we come to think that there is a sort of virtue in being able to see the evil deeds of our brethren so clearly. But the "Advocate," "Jesus Christ the righteous," says, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan."
The divine Master will not listen to these accusations without a rebuke. You may say, however, "There are real wrongs that my brethren are doing, and I must speak out." It is quite possible that the brethren are far from perfect, and if you would only leave the camp of the accuser and come over with the Advocate you would hear Him saying to you: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Gal. 6:1, 2. We would also hear Him say, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 John 4:11. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil. 4:8.
The Word of God makes it very plain what the work of the accuser is, and it also directs us to view from every conceivable standpoint the love and tireless devotion of the great Advocate in His defense of weak and stumbling humanity.
On which side are you standing to-day? If you are with the accuser, don’t stay there. You have no time to lose in leaving the adversary’s camp.
T.
BUILDING TABERNACLES.
IN the ninth chapter of Luke is the account of Jesus going up into a mountain to pray, and taking Peter and James and John with Him.
"And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias; who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep; and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son; hear Him." Verses 29-35.
The tabernacles that Peter had in mind were no doubt such as were used by the Jews in their annual feast of tabernacles. These were but temporary shelters, for use only seven days. They were built of "olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees." See Neh. 8:14-18; also Lev. 23:39-43. The idea of building such temporary fragile structures for the abode of heavenly beings and for the glorified Redeemer was compatible with the dreamy imaginations of a man just waking out of sleep. Well does the inspired record add the significant words, "not knowing what he said." The suggestion of Peter was a fit companion-piece of the proposition of James and John to call down fire from heaven upon a certain village whose inhabitants refused to receive Jesus. On this occasion also they were ignorant of the import of what they said; for Jesus "rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Parallel in short-sighted futility was the attempt of a multitude to take Jesus by force and make Him a king (John 6:14, 15), on which occasion He7again rebuked their folly by hiding Himself from them.
The nominal Christian world to-day is full of tabernacle-builders, whose ideas and suggestions for the promotion of Gospel work are of the most temporary, impracticable character. The last-days characteristic, "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," is prevalent everywhere. Men deny the power of godliness, which power is the Spirit of God, when they resort to human methods and seek political influence in furthering the work of salvation. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1 Cor. 3:11-13.
Hay, wood, stubble, and brush tabernacles will not stand fire. Silver and gold are refined, not destroyed by fire. Only the dross is burned. The Lord says, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Rev. 3:18. The traditions and dogmas of man's invention are but brush tabernacles; those who are drawn into the nominal fold by such means will prove to be only food for the flames. "This is My beloved Son; hear Him." When Peter was converted, and had learned better than to build a tabernacle of tinder on the earth as an abode for the Lord Jesus Christ, he expressed a very different sentiment: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1:22, 23.
When men endeavor to compel by civil law the observance of religious institutions, or make the adherence to some religious formality the qualification for temporal position, they are simply building inflammable tabernacles for the abode of whatever deity they profess to serve. If they profess to serve Christ, they build such a tabernacle for Him. Hear what the beloved Son Himself says: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."
When men think to make Jesus Christ a king in this or any other political government; when they think to elevate Him by any political means, they are simply building for His abode a temporary ceremonial booth—a tabernacle of the most treacherous sort. No wonder He is spiritually hiding Himself from those who would so degrade Him from the exalted position which He already occupies in the throne of the universe. "My kingdom is not of this world," says the beloved Son, whom we are enjoined to hear. He has not asked any man to build Him a tabernacle of branches of the trees, a mere dry-weather shelter of outward display—of national or municipal recognition. He says, "My son, give Me thine heart." Prov. 23:26. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man [not any nation or city] hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20. He is already a minister "of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Heb. 8:2. Let us recognize Him there, as He makes intercession for us as individuals and not as communities. The only real honor that we can give Him is the honor of humble obedience. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13. "Follow Me," is the command of the Master, whose only occupation as a minister of the Gospel was going about doing good. G.
THE GENUINE ONLY WILL DO.
IN these days of peril, when men's faces are growing pale before the possibilities and probabilities of the immediate future, the real Christian has perfect peace. There are a great many professors of Christianity who do not enjoy this peace, but it is because they do not have a personal acquaintance with the Author of salvation. If we really know Christ, if we have the genuine article of Christianity and not a spurious counterfeit, we can have no fear. For He who is the Protector of the Christian "hath measured the water in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance." His power is so great that He says "the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance; behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering. All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity." Isa. 40:12, 15-17.
The divine Father being so infinite in power, there is nothing that He is not able to protect His children against. "All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity." Hence no combination, even tho it be as strong as "all nations" combined, would be able to overthrow him who is trusting in the omnipotent One.
But we must know Him in whom we trust. We can not depend upon a mere profession of Christianity. We must be in possession of the real article. To profess to know Christ while we know Him not has always been a dangerous position to be in, but in these times it is much more dangerous than at any time in the past. The danger is not alone a personal one to the individual who makes this barren, lifeless profession, but it imperils those who may come under the influence of all such.
There are hundreds of souls to-day who are perplexed. They do not know what to do or which way to turn. They see the evils that are filling the world, and do not see any way of escape. But he who truly knows God, he who is a careful student of the Bible, and not only studies the blessed Book but wholeheartedly believes what it says, is prepared to point every one who is perplexed and in fear to the one great Refuge. His Christianity is not a sham. He is neither a Pharisee nor a hypocrite. He knows the Lord Jesus Christ, and knows the power of His Word. And since he has this sure foundation, and his mind is illuminated by the clear light of the Word of God, he is able to read the meaning of the vexing and perplexing problems of this time. For the bright rays of prophetic light have penetrated the gloom, and he who has God's Word in his mind and heart is standing in the place where he can see clearly.
But bear in mind that no mere profession will do. We can not go through the times upon which we have entered by merely having our names on the church book. We must let the work go deep, and be able to say, "I know Him in whom I have believed." And this intimate knowledge can come only by a daily study of God's Word.
The faithful study of the Word of God day by day will bring us to the place where we know Christ as a personal, intimate Friend. We know Him as perfectly and as personally and as intimately as did the disciples with whom He lived and walked and talked while here upon the earth in the flesh. Have you been professing to follow the Lord and did not know this? If so, then your profession is still a hollow, lifeless formality. And no such powerless and lifeless profession can save you. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt 4:4.
Have you been living by "every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"? Every word should be closely studied. There is no sentence in the divine Book that is unimportant. Every line is there for a purpose, and all should study the Scriptures for themselves so that God can lead them. For it is by and through the Word of God that the Spirit of God guides us.
Now, when the halting, and trembling, and dismayed soul looks to you who have professed the name of Christ, will he find you in possession of the genuine Christian experience? Will he find your lamp burning brightly, so that streaming rays of light will illuminate his pathway and disclose to him the way of escape? When the eyes of the unconverted are turned toward Christians, they expect to find something more than a mere profession. But when the professor of Christianity, like the barren fig tree, has only the foliage without any of the fruits of a Christian life, how many there are who will turn away in despair, saying, "There is no good to be found anywhere"!
Hence, from every standpoint, it is essential that the professor of Christianity should possess the power of the renewed life. To fail in this is not only to be shut away from salvation himself, but to snuff out the last sparks of hope from the heart of him who is turning to the professed Christian for light and help. How is your experience? Is it that of a real, genuine Christian? Is your heart thrilled with joy at the thought of the Lord and the study of His Word? Be sure that your experience is anchored deep down in God's sacred Book.
Seeing Bible Prophecy Fulfilled
"REMEMBER the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." Isa. 46:9, 10.
Very many of the things that God declared in "ancient times" are transpiring right before our eyes to-day. Do you see them as the fulfilments of God's Word, declared from the beginning? If you study the Bible you will surely see them, and, best of all, will learn what they foreshadow.
THE OUTLOOK
By Editor
THE EARTH "WAXED OLD."
AN old garment is full of surprises. The unexpected happens with the expected. It tears where you expect it; it breaks out where you don't expect it. Some parts are threadbare; other portions look as good as new; and yet at unexpected times the newer-appearing portions rend rottenly. You are never quite certain as to what may happen in time of stress.
The Word of God declares of this planet, "The earth shall wax old as doth a garment." This is indicated by the unexpected and unprecedented cyclones, droughts, electric storms, and long cold spells of recent years in this land of the New World. Men are uncertain, and are growing more so.
Just now the whole country is passing through a terrible cold inundation. It is more than a cold wave, it is a cold sea which lies fathoms deep upon the land. From cities as far south as Louisville, St. Louis, Nashville, Baltimore, Washington, come reports of weather from zero to 18° below. Never since the weather bureau was established in New York City has there been made such a record as the last five days have left. East River is frozen solid so that men have crossed on the ice. The Hudson is almost closed. The local, and, in fact, nearly all water transportation is at a standstill. Places of business have been closed. Men have been forced to quit work because of the cold. One chills to the bone in walking, and freezes in riding in the cold, slow, fireless street-cars. Not less than a dozen have perished from the cold, some because they were drunk, others because they had not sufficient food and clothing. Some persons have become insane because of the weather. Thousands unnumbered are suffering.
Last night we looked through the Waldorf-Astoria, the first hotel of the world, where hundreds take their ease in warmth, comfort, and luxury. Many of New York's wealthiest families, so the newspapers report, were forced to leave their elegant palaces and palatial houses for the hotels. Many are in the hotel named. They were not prepared for such unprecedented cold.
If this is the case with those who have wealth to command not only the necessities but the luxuries of life, what must be the case with thousands upon thousands of New York's poor. It is certainly a time when plethoric pursestrings should be loosened for the sake of the poor and needy.
We present herewith three pictures, one indicative of the cold and the other two of the suffering. The one presents a picture of an ocean liner, the Fuerst Bismarck, as it came into New York. On one steamer, the Germanic, three days overdue, there was solid ice not less than two feet thick on her forward deck. In our illustration the ice is from eight to twelve inches thick.
The other illustrations are of the eager poor as they stood about some of the places in New York City where bread was dispensed to the cold and hungry.
In a land of plenty, in a "wave of prosperity," men starve. In a land of millions of Christian comfortable homes men, women, and children freeze and die. And such anomalies are manifest in every phase of life in the sick, infirm old earth. It has waxed old as doth a garment, and in a little time God shall by His power fold it up and change it;
Christ will come and reign, and sin and sickness and cold and hunger and misery and death shall be no more. Hail, coming day!
