(October 23—Matt. 9:18-31.)
WHEN Jesus returned across the sea with his disciples, a great crowd were waiting to receive him, and they welcomed him with much joy. The fact of his coming being noised abroad, the people had collected in great numbers to listen to his teaching. There were the rich and poor, the high and low, Pharisees, doctors, and lawyers, all anxious to hear his words, and witness his miracles. As usual, there were many of the sick and variously afflicted entreating his mercy in their behalf.
AT length, faint and weary with the work of teaching and healing, Jesus left the multitude in order to partake of food in the house of Levi. But the people pressed about the door, bringing the sick, the deformed, and the lunatic, for him to heal. As he sat at the table, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came and fell at his feet,
beseeching him: "My little daughter lieth at the point of death. I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."
THE father was in great distress, for his child had been given up to die by the most learned physicians. Jesus at once responded to the entreaty of the stricken parent, and went with him to his home. The disciples were surprised at this ready compliance with the request of the haughty ruler. Although it was only a short distance, their progress was very slow; for the people pressed forward on every side eager to see the great Teacher who had created so much excitement, begging his attention and his aid. The anxious father urged his way through the crowd, fearful of being too late. But Jesus, pitying the people, and deploring their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, stopped now and then to minister to their wants. Occasionally he was nearly carried off his feet by the surging masses.
THERE was one poor woman among that crowd who had suffered twelve long years with a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her substance upon physicians and remedies, seeking to cure her grievous malady. But it was all in vain; she was pronounced incurable, and given up to die. But her hopes revived when she heard of the wonderful cures effected by Jesus. She believed that if she could come into his presence, he would take pity on her and heal her. Suffering with pain and weakness, she came to the sea-side where he was teaching, and sought to press through the crowd that encompassed him. But her way was continually hedged up by the throng. She began to despair of approaching him, when Jesus, in urging his way through the multitude, came within her reach.
THE golden opportunity had come, she was in the presence of the great Physician! But amid the confusion, she could not be heard by him nor catch more than a passing glimpse of his figure. Fearful of losing the one chance of relief from her illness, she pressed forward, saying to herself, If I but touch his garment I shall be cured. She seized the opportunity as he was passing and reached forward, barely touching the hem of his garment. But in that moment she felt herself healed of her disease. Instantly health and strength took the place of feebleness and pain. She had concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch that made her whole.
WITH a thankful heart she then sought unobtrusively to retire from the crowd; but suddenly Jesus stopped, and all the people, following his example, also halted. He turned, and looking about him with a penetrating eye, asked in a voice distinctly heard by all, "Who touched me?" The people answered this query with a look of amazement. Jostled upon all sides, and rudely pressed hither and thither as he was, it seemed indeed a singular inquiry.
PETER, recovering from his surprise, and ever ready to speak, said, "Master, the multitude throng thee, and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" Jesus answered, "Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." The blessed Redeemer could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless crowd. He well knew all the circumstances of the case, and would not pass such confidence and trust without comment. He would address619to the humble woman words of comfort that would be to her a well-spring of joy.
LOOKING toward the woman, Jesus still insisted upon knowing who had touched him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly and knelt at his feet. In hearing of all the multitude, she told Jesus the simple story of her long and tedious suffering, and the instant relief that she had experienced in touching the border of his garment. Her narration was interrupted by her grateful tears as she experienced the joy of perfect health, which had been a stranger to her for twelve weary years. Instead of being angered at her presumption, Jesus commended her action, saying, "Daughter, be of good comfort. Thy faith hath made the whole; go in peace." In these words he instructed all present that it was no virtue in the simple act of touching his clothes that had wrought the cure, but in the strong faith that reached out and claimed his divine help.
THE true faith of the Christian is represented in this woman. It is not essential to the exercise of faith that the feelings should be wrought up to a high pitch of excitement; neither is it necessary, in order to gain the hearing of the Lord, that our petitions should be noisy, or attended with physical exercise. It is true that Satan frequently creates in the heart of the suppliant such a conflict with doubt and temptation that strong cries and tears are involuntarily forced from him; and it is also true that the penitent's sense of guilt is sometimes so great that a repentance commensurate with his sin causes him to experience an agony that finds vent in cries and groans, which the compassionate Saviour hears with pity. But Jesus does not fail to answer the silent prayer of faith. He who simply takes God at his word, and reaches out to connect himself with the Saviour, will receive his blessing in return.
FAITH is simple in its operation and powerful in its results. Many professed Christians who have a knowledge of the sacred word, and believe its truth, fail in the child-like trust that is essential to the religion of Jesus. They do not reach out with that peculiar touch that brings the virtue of healing to the soul. They allow cold doubt to creep in and destroy their confidence. He who waits for entire knowledge before he can exercise faith, will never be blessed of God. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
THE diseased woman believed that Jesus could heal her, and the more her mind was exercised in that direction, the more certain she became that even to touch his garment would relieve her malady. In answer to her firm belief, the virtue of divine power granted her prayer. This is a lesson of encouragement to the soul defiled by sin. In like manner as Jesus dealt with bodily infirmities, will he deal with the repentant soul that calls on him. The touch of faith will bring the coveted pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy.
THE delay of Jesus had been so intensely interesting in its results that even the anxious father felt no impatience but watched the scene with deep interest. As the healed woman was sent away comforted and rejoicing, it encouraged him to believe still more firmly that Jesus was able to grant his own petition and heal his daughter. Hope grew stronger in his heart, and he now urged the Saviour to hasten with him to his home.
But, as they resumed their way, a messenger pressed through the crowd to Jairus, bearing the news that his daughter was dead, and it was useless to trouble the Master further. The sympathizing ear of Jesus caught the words that smote the father's heart like the death-knell of his hopes. The pity of the Saviour was drawn out toward the suffering parent. He said to him, in his divine compassion, "Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole."
HEARING these words of hope, Jairus pressed closer to the side of Jesus; and they hurried to the ruler's house. The Saviour suffered no one to enter the room with him where the child lay dead, except a few of his most faithful disciples, and the parents themselves. The mourners were making a great show of grief, and he rebuked them, saying, "Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth." The women, who, according to the custom of the country, were employed to made this external display of sorrow, were indignant at this remark made by a humble stranger, and they began to inquire by what authority this person came, commanding them to cease lamenting for the dead, and asserting that the girl still lived. They had seen the touch of death change the living child to a pulseless and unconscious form. They laughed the words of Jesus to scorn, as they left the room at his command. Accompanied by the father and mother, with Peter, James, and John, the Saviour approached the bedside, and, taking the child's hand in his own, he pronounced softly, in the familiar language of her home, the words, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."
INSTANTLY a tremor quivered through the entire body. The pulses of life beat again in the blue-veined temples, the pallid lips opened with a smile, the bosom heaved with returning breath, the waxen lids opened widely as if from sleep, and the dark eyes looked out wonderingly. The girl arose, weak from her long illness, but free from disease. She walked slowly across the room, while the parents wept for joy. Jesus bade them give her food, and charged all the household to tell no one what had been done there. But notwithstanding his injunction to secrecy, the news spread far and near that he had raised the dead to life. A large number were present when the child died, and when they again beheld her alive and well, it was impossible to prevent them from reporting the wonderful deed done by the great Physician.—Mrs. E. G. White, in Great Controversy, Vol. 2.
TACOMA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
By H. W. Reed
THIS is a city of some ten thousand inhabitants. It is situated on Puget Sound, one hundred and forty-five miles from Portland. It is the terminus of the Pacific and Cascade divisions of the Northern Pacific Railway. On account of the quite extensive shipping to foreign ports, and the local travel by water and rail, this place affords some excellent opportunities for the distribution of reading matter.
We pitched our tent here and began meetings June 4. For a short time the weather was unfavorable; but since then it has been excellent. The interest to hear, from first to last, has been small; nevertheless the Lord has given us some fruit of our labor.
After we had been here but a few weeks Brother J. A. Burden's health failed, so that afterwards all the speaking fell upon me. God gave liberty in presenting the truth. Since coming here I have preached one hundred and two sermons, and my health and strength are about as good as when I commenced.
Twenty-two have signed the covenant. One of these was a man from Omaha, Nebraska, who came out here to visit relatives. He attended the meetings for about six weeks and became a Sabbath-keeper, and thus carries the truth home to his family. Two others have gone to other places, carrying with them the truth that is to lighten the whole earth.
Brother J. Fulton was with us a short time ago and organized a tract and missionary society of sixteen members; since then two more have been added. Brother Fulton also organized a church of thirteen members; others will join after a while. We have a weekly prayer-meeting and teachers' meeting established. A club of ten SIGNS has been ordered, also a good supply of tracts, and some books and pamphlets. The society seems very anxious to carry on the good work already begun. Brother and Sister Baxter, who have been with us all summer, will stay at Tacoma this winter, which will be a means of great help to the cause here.
Two lots have been secured for church purposes. We expect to commence building the church early in the spring.
We have a very interesting Sabbath-school, which takes a club of fifteen Instructors. The Sabbath-school donations have amounted to $11.02.
The tent donations amount to $61.95; book sales, $21.40; tract sales, $7.36.
H. W. REED.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
By Robert Hare
THE series of tent-meetings held in Blue Lake during the past month, has just come to a close. The interest and attention throughout have been very good. The attendance has been regular and well sustained, reaching on the last night of meeting to about two hundred and fifty. Twelve have taken their stand to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and many others are convinced that the Scripture position is the true one.
A Sabbath-school has been organized, and will be superintended for the present by Sister Baxter, of Arcata. Brother and Sister Coolidge remain for a few days at Blue Lake, and will then go to Eureka on their way to the Oakland camp-meeting. We trust that the Conference will send workers to Blue Lake and Arcata, as both places are greatly in need of help.
It is with mingled feelings that the writer takes his farewell of Humboldt. Four months' work in that county has resulted in the formation of many pleasant associations both with place and people. The brethren and sisters have been more than kind, and the hours spent with them in social worship will never be forgotten. R. HARE.
SAN DIEGO.
By William M. Healey
SINCE my last report, we have taken down our tent, and held several meetings in our new meeting-house, which is nearly completed. Last Sabbath I baptized six adults. Others have signed the covenant, making thirty-one adults who have signed it since we came here, not including the members who were here at that time. Our tent contributions amount to $255, besides about $300 tithe which has been paid.
The Sabbath-school numbers fifty. The contributions for last quarter were $64.
We observe a spiritual growth and a desire to seek God and do his will, on the part of most of the company. We have not deemed it advisable to organize a church yet. We expect to attend the camp-meeting, and a number of others will go from here, some to attend the school at Healdsburg.
W. M. HEALEY.
September 25, 1887.
The Signs of the Times
By Editor
618 [10] THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Vol. 13, No. 39.
PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE.
(Sabbath, October 15.)
1. How does David address the Lord in Psalms 143:6?
"I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land."
2. How urgently does he press his petition?
"Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth; hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit." Verse 7.
3. As in faith he contemplates deliverance from trouble, what comfort does he implore?
"Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Verse 8.
4. In what words does he seek the guidance of the Lord? Same verse.
5. How does he pray for instruction in righteousness?
"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." Verse 10.
Prayers for Deliverance and Renewal
6. How does he pray for the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit?
"Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble." Verse 11.
7. How did Moses appeal to the Lord in a time of great distress?
"And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me." Ex. 17:4.
8. How did the Lord answer his prayer?
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." Verses 5, 6.
9. How did David cry out in his anguish?
"For innumerable evils have compassed me about; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head; therefore my heart faileth me." Ps. 40:12.
10. What supplication did he make?
"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me." Ps. 40:13.
11. Did David cry to the Lord in vain?
"I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place." Ps. 118:5.
12. With what tender mercy does God look upon the afflicted?
"For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard." Ps. 22:24.
13. What passage shows that the Lord has compassion on the poor and needy?
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." Ps. 40:17.
14. Why is it safe to cast all our care upon him?
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Pet. 5:7.
15. When the rebellious Israelites rejected the counsel of the Most High, into what distress were they brought?
"Because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the Most High; therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help." Ps. 107:11, 12.
16. When they cried to the Lord in their trouble what did he do for them?
"Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder." Verses 13, 14. (Read the entire chapter.)
17. What is a good prayer for the Christian to make when he feels almost overwhelmed with trouble?
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in thee; yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." Ps. 57:1.
18. What prayer does the psalmist offer for protection against his enemies?
"Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto thee to hide me." Ps. 143:9.
19. What may we learn from the example of David?—To cry to the Lord for protection against our enemies, instead of opposing them in our own strength. Ps. 59:9.
20. Who sent a great army against Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah? Isa. 36:1, 2.
21. To whom did Hezekiah go for counsel? Isa. 37:1, 2.
22. How did he ask deliverance from the mighty host of his enemies? Verses 14–20.
23. How was his prayer answered? Verses 33–36.
Give Thanks Unto the Lord
"Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good."
TRUE POLITENESS.
By Lizzie M. Whittlesey
"Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."
I think if we had ever felt any doubts as to the divine inspiration of the Bible, they would be dissipated by these words. For it is not human nature to "be of the same mind." As Mrs. Whitney says, "We are constantly meeting people who pride themselves they can make up their minds, even if they make them up in a hard knot to throw at your head." If two persons meet who are each thus constituted, the catch and toss is apt to prove a mental and conversational gymnastic not always insuring spiritual vigor.
Did you ever hear a piano tortured by the unskillful fingers of a child? How the ear shrinks from the discordant tones thus relentlessly drawn from the suffering instrument! And then some music lover speaks peace to the shivering chords, and to our shuddering nerves, by touching the keys into quiet and bringing therefrom sweet, tender harmony. So into our jangling life come these apostolic words, the truest code of etiquette that was ever written.
It is of the more practical service to us because penned by the hasty, impulsive Peter. He who in his impetuous, ill-timed zeal, cut off the servant's ear in the strange garden scene must have grown wonderfully on the Christ side of his nature, to put forth so calmly afterwards, "Be pitiful, be courteous."
When we come to think of it, the root of true politeness is always sympathy. That bright, gay girl from whose voluble tongue you shrink as from a barbed arrow, who makes her cruel, heartless speeches concerning this one's dress and that one's manner, gets the acid for her conversational melange from her unsympathy with the great human family.
"Courtesy," someone has recently said, "is the sugar that sweetens the lemonade of life." And courtesy here does not mean a slavish conformity to the latest points of Mrs. Grundy, but it is the sweet outgrowth of unselfish heart culture. I wish there might be a special course in this branch of morals in every school and college of our land. It is needed by every girl in every possible position.
Geometry and the languages may not be of practical use to the girl who is suddenly left an orphan and obliged to make dresses for a living. But what success can she have if she be lacking in the ready smile, the gentle touch, the well-turned sentence that springs from trained kindliness of heart?
I once had the misfortune to know a young lady who was well equipped for society, but for the absence of a well-ordered mind and manner. Bright, vivacious, handsome, she won hearts only to break them, until by some odd caprice of fate—we can hardly call it Providence—she, while still a school-girl, assumed the exacting position of a minister's wife.
Her attractive face made quick friendships, but her sharp tongue and constant impoliteness as quickly unmade them. Her long-suffering husband has many parish trials, but none greater than those springing from his girl-wife's hostility to even civility of manner.
Whatever advantages we may have missed, girls, we can all cultivate the sweet home plant of winsome politeness, for in every place it is worth more than wealth or beauty, and is second only to an intelligent, well-balanced mind.
We are apt to make politeness an adjustable thing, subject to the manner of others. If Sue didn't invite us to her last tennis party, we propose to show our wounded dignity by cutting her at our next chance meeting. Society rather indorses this action. "It is really the only thing that can be done under the circumstances, and of course one must show proper resentment," chorus her devotees. But is that sort of silly "paying back" true politeness? Does it betoken a level head or a rightly balanced heart to be unladylike simply because someone else is? It is not to be even thought of by girls who professedly know "a more excellent way."
If life were a bundle of opportunities for high and conspicuous doing, we might—though I doubt it—spend the "off time" in noticing petty slights and "catching up" with old grudges.
But, as I take it, life—especially feminine life—is made up of the trivial happenings of each sixty minutes. Every day has its morning for breakfast, reading the papers, washing dishes, baking, getting and eating dinner. Its afternoon brings reading, sewing, driving, making or receiving calls, and the worth and meaning of these things is gauged by the presence or absence of true politeness.
Suppose through some misrepresentation Maud thinks we failed in duty at that last lawn party, and gives us a rather rough and jagged "piece of her mind"? Human nature, and what we are pleased to term our "sense of justice," prompts us to sharp retort or sullen silence. Girls, it is a fact that we show a truer dignity of character by either laughing off the matter as a joke at our expense, or, if there has been an inadvertence on our part, honestly explaining it. This is the season for picnics and tennis courts and outdoor church fairs. Let us make it our study to steer clear of the shoals of criticism, and the back-water of jealousy. I know that half-veiled glances of scorn and sly nudges of malicious contempt are rather looked for at these trial times, where God doesn't need martyrs, but there are committees instead! Disappoint the expectation. Yielding is one of the prime factors of politeness. It doesn't matter much whether you or Fannie display the larger number of flowers at the fancy table, but it does matter whether you keep cool when she robs you of half for herself!
Let us show our sense and breeding by a steady good-humor that will not be snubbed down, and we will as surely win the day as did the sunshine against Boreas in the good old fable.
True politeness doesn't veer with the wind of public opinion, or get scorched in the hot breath of prosperity, but grows in all soils, and blossoms in all atmospheres—fragrant in either praise or blame. It is our safest guard in all intercourse, preventing prudishness on the one hand, or undue familiarity on the other, helping us to say and do the right thing at the right time, keeping us from introducing unfortunate subjects and making personal allusions. In short, it makes the crooked ways straight and the rough places plain, and will make every wilderness to bloom and blossom as the rose.
Its essence is unselfishness, and its only perfect exemplar is the Lord Jesus Christ. What truer courtesy than his refusal to send the multitude fasting away, or his gracious service at the Cana marriage party? And is there any irreverence in taking that life as our highest standard of true politeness?—Lizzie M. Whittlesey, in Christian at Work.
WHEN THE DAY IS GONE.
By Robert Jones Burdette
How quiet the house is at midnight. The people who talk and laugh and sing in it every day are asleep, and the people who fell asleep in it long ago come back into it. Every house has these two classes of tenants. Do we love best those with whom we can talk and laugh and sing, or the dear silent ones who come so noiselessly to our side and whisper to us in faint, sweet, far-away whispers that have no sound, so that we only hear their very stillness.
I am not tired, but my pen is weary. It falls from my fingers and I raise my head. I start to leave the table and my eyes fall upon a little book lying on the floor. It is a little First Reader. He left it there this afternoon. I remember just how I was impatient because he could not read the simple little lesson, such an easy lesson, and I told him it was a waste of my time to teach him, and pushed him away from me. I remember now. I see the flush come into the little tired face, the brave, cheerful look in his eyes, his mother's brave, patient cheeriness, struggling with his disappointment and pain. I see him lie down on the floor and the little face bend over the troublesome lesson, such a simple, easy lesson, any baby might read it. Then, after a little struggle alone, it has to be given up, and the baffled little soldier, with one more appealing look toward me for re-enforcement, sighs and goes away from the lesson he cannot read to the play that comforts him. And there lies the little book just as he left it. Ah me! I could kneel down and kiss it now, as though it were alive and loving.
Why, what was my time worth to me today? What was there in the book I wanted to read one-half so precious to me as one cooing word from the prattling lips that quivered when I turned away. I hate the book I read. I will never look at it again. Were it the last book in the world, I think I would burn it. All its gracious words are lies. I say to you, though all men praise the book, and, though an hour ago I thought it excellent, I say to you there is poison in its hateful pages. Why, what can I learn from books that baby lips cannot teach me? Do you know I want to go to the door of his room and listen; the house is so still; maybe he is not breathing. Why, if between my book and my boy I choose my book, why should not God leave me with my books? My hateful books!
But I was not harsh. I was only a little impatient. Because, you see, his lesson was so easy, so simple. Ah me! there were two of us trying to read this afternoon. There were two easy, simple lessons. Mine was such a very simple, easy, pleasant, loving one to learn. Just a line, just a little throb of patience, of gentleness, of love, that would have621made my own heart glow and laugh and sing. The letters were so large and plain, the words so easy, and the sentences so short! And I? Oh, pity me, I missed every word! I did not read one line aright. See, here is my copy now—all blurred and blistered with tears and heartache, all marred and misspelled and blotted. I am ashamed to show it to the Master. And yet I know he will be patient with me; I know how loving and gentle he will be. Why, how patiently and loving all these years he has been teaching me this simple lesson I failed upon to-day. But when my little pupil stumbled on a single word—is my time, then, so much more precious than the Master's that I cannot teach the little lesson more than once?
Ah, friend, we do waste time when we plait scourges for ourselves! These hurrying days, these busy, anxious, shrewd, ambitious times of ours are wasted when they take our hearts away from patient gentleness, and give us fame for love and gold for kisses. Some day, then, when our hungry souls will seek for bread, our selfish god will give us a stone. Life is not a deep, profound, perplexing problem. It is a simple, easy lesson, such as any child may read. You cannot find its solution in the ponderous tomes of the old fathers, the philosophers, the investigators, the theorists. It is not on your book-shelves. But in the warmest corner of the most unlettered heart it glows in letters that the blindest may read,—a sweet, plain, simple, easy, loving lesson. And when you have learned it, brother of mine, the world will be better and happier.—R. J. Burdette.
The Home Circle.
By Earnest Christian
CHRIST, LET ME COME TO THEE.
CHRIST, let me nearer come;
My soul would gaze
On the unrivaled riches of thy grace;
Would see the brightness of Heaven's glory shine
In holy radiance from the brow divine;
And yet afar I stand, and through the gloom
I scarce discern thy face.
Fain would my soul be blest;
Sadly I stand,
Salvation's unfilled cup within my hand.
I taste the ripples of redemption's streams,
But lead me where the unwasting fountain gleams.
Oh! show me where thy flocks at noontime rest,
By heavenly zephyrs fanned.
Yes, I will come to thee,
Will haste again
Through the dense crowd to touch thy garment's hem.
Oh! let me place in thine my trembling hand,
"And walk beside thee to the holy land;"
Choose thou the way, if thou but share with me
The gladness and the pain.
—Earnest Christian.
THE DANGERS AND DISEASES OF AUTUMN.
By A Massachusetts Physician
SOME of the dangers which are especially incident to late summer and early autumn, and which result in an increased prevalence of certain diseases at this season, are as follows:—
1. The long-continued heat of the summer has brought about a relaxed and debilitated condition of the system, which renders it less able to resist the attacks of disease than at other seasons of the year. As cold weather is tonic and bracing, so hot weather is relaxing and debilitating, especially if the heat is accompanied by unusual dampness, as has been the case the past season.
2. Heat and moisture produce organic decay, with its accompanying fermentative and putrefactive changes. Fruits and vegetables are now ripening, and ripeness soon passes into rottenness. Unless carefully guarded against, the air is full of foul odors, and filth diseases are at their height.
3. Unripe or overripe fruit, and vegetables out of their proper season, or either partaken of intemperately, have a tendency to produce irritation and inflammation of the digestive organs. As autumn comes on, there is a change of type; the diarrhea and cholera morbus of summer give place to dysentery and inflammation of the bowels.
4. The hot days, followed by cold nights and heavy fogs, which prevail at this season, are especially dangerous, as the system, unnerved by the heat of the day, is thereby rendered incapable of resisting the influence of cold and dampness at night, when wrapped in slumber.
The results of these dangers are seen in the diseases which prevail most extensively at this season. Malarial fevers are most commonly met with from June to November, and their severity increases as the season advances, until checked by the cold of approaching winter. Hay fever, which results from the irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract by the pollen of certain plants and grains, prevails chiefly in August and September.
Inflammation of the bowels caused 608 deaths in Massachusetts in 1885, and of these 304, or exactly one-half, occurred during the months of July, August, and September. In the same year, of 253 deaths from dysentery, 189, or nearly three-fourths, took place during the same period. Typhoid fever was the cause of 768 deaths, and of these 307, or nearly 40 per cent., occurred during the months of August, September, and October.—A Massachusetts Physician, in Congregationalist.
Health and Temperance.
POISONED BY TOBACCO.
A CASE of poisoning by nicotine occurred lately in Paris. The victim, a man in the prime of life, had been cleaning his pipe with a clasp-knife; with this he accidentally cut one of his fingers, but as the wound was of a trivial nature he paid no heed to it. Five or six hours later, however, the cut finger grew painful, and became much swollen; the inflammation rapidly spread to the arm and shoulder, the patient suffering such intense pain that he was obliged to betake himself to bed. Medical assistance was called, and ordinary remedies proved ineffectual. The sick man, questioned as to the manner in which he cut himself, explained the use to which the pocket-knife had been applied, adding that he had omitted to wipe it after cleaning the pipe. The case was understood, and the doctors decided amputation of the arm to be the only hope of saving the patient's life, and this was immediately done. His life was barely saved. No wonder smokers so often have sore and poisoned mouths, cancer of the lips, and like troubles.—Selected.
THE CIGARETTE MUST GO.
THE physicians hereabout are beginning to talk as if the cigarette would "have to go." Thus, Dr. Wm. A. Hammond tells us, "to young boys it is poison. Everybody knows that excessive smoking will stunt the growth of the young and sow the seeds of disease, which will develop in later years. Cigarettes only drop the seeds a little faster. If a boy begins to smoke a great deal early in life, you may be sure he will never become an intelligent soul, as the effects on his body will by affinity reach the mind; he will lose energy and steadiness of purpose, and will become a vacillating, weak man, unfitted for the struggle of life. Cigarette smoking is like whisky drinking; the appetite for it increases just in proportion as the body becomes unable to bear it." Dr. Shrady, who attended General Grant during his last illness, says: "The cigarette has had much the same effect on the smoking habit in this country that 'the growler' has had on the drinking habit; by its inexpensiveness and convenience for short smokes it has spread the habit among all classes, and comes within reach of the boot-black as well as the millionaire. Cigarette smoking induces a condition of the heart and digestive organs which may cause death at any time. The effect may not be noticeable for years in a man, but it is not long in making its appearance in a boy." Dr. Loomis, Jacob Sharp's physician, also says he regards the cigarette as a dangerous article, since its moderate use generally degenerates into excess.—New York Cor. Phila. Ledger.
FIGHTING SLEEP WITH TEA.
THE practice of taking tea or coffee by students, in order to work at night, says Dr. Mattieu Williams, is downright madness, especially when preparing for an examination. More than half of the cases of breakdown, loss of memory, fainting, etc., which occur during severe examinations, and far more frequently than is commonly known, are due to this. I frequently hear of promising students who have thus failed; and, on inquiry, have learned—in almost every instance—that the victim has previously drugged himself with tea or coffee. Sleep is the rest of the brain; to rob the hard-worked brain of its necessary rest is cerebral suicide. My old friend, the late Thomas Wright, was a victim of this terrible folly. He undertook the translation of the "Life of Julius Cæsar," by Napoleon III., and to do it in a cruelly short time. He fulfilled his contract by sitting up several nights successively by the aid of strong tea or coffee (I forget which). I saw him shortly afterward. In a few weeks he had aged alarmingly, and become quite bald; his brain gave way and never recovered. There was but little difference between his age and mine, and but for this dreadful cerebral strain, rendered possible only by the alkaloid (for otherwise he would have fallen to sleep over his work, and thereby saved his life), he might still be amusing and instructing thousands of readers by fresh volumes of popularized archæological research.—Selected.
Pure Religion Is Serving Others
By A. L. Stone
Pure religion and undefiled is "ministering," not the other thing, "being ministered unto." It is handing over the morning paper to another for first perusal. It is vacating a pleasant seat by the fire for one who comes in chilled. It is giving the most restful armchair or sofa corner for one who is weary. It is "moving up" in the pew to let the newcomer sit down by the entrance. It is rising from your place to darken the blind when the sun's rays stream in too brightly upon some face in the circle. It is giving up your own comfort and convenience every time for the comfort and convenience of another. This is at once true courtesy and real Christianity.—Rev. A. L. Stone.
LOOK IT UP.
MR. EGGLESTON gives his readers good advice in telling them to look up the location of all places of which they read, and to test the accuracy of all statements that involve calculations. Such a practice tends to cultivate the habit of exactness, and will give to reading much additional enjoyment. In his book, "The Big Brother," he says:—
"It will not hurt you, boys and girls, to learn a little accurate geography, by looking up these places before going on with the story; and if I were your school-master, instead of your story-teller, I should stop here to advise you always to look on the map for every town, river, lake, mountain, or other geographical thing mentioned in any book or paper you read.
"I would advise you, too, if I were your school-master, to add up all the figures given in books and newspapers, to see if the writers have made any mistakes; and it is a good plan, too, to go at once to the dictionary when you meet a word you do not quite comprehend, or to the encyclopedia or history, or whatever else is handy, whenever you read about anything, and would like to know more about it."—Ex.