Earlier text: CEREMONIAL AND MORAL LAW DISTINGUISHEDLiving in the Past or Future
By Dwight Lyman Moody
THERE are two kinds of people—some that live on the past, and some that live on the future. You never saw a person living upon the past all the time, and always talking about the past, that did not have a good many wrinkles on his brow. Instead of casting all their care on Him that careth for them, they are all the time thinking about their troubles. They go to a meeting, and when it is over say, “Wasn’t it splendid? I enjoyed it so much; I forgot all my cares, and all my troubles.” They laid their bundle down under their seat, but the moment the benediction was over they picked it up again. Give your trouble to God. Remember that everything before the believer is glory.—D. L. Moody. SIN sets its seal upon the human face as distinctively as righteousness. An article in a New Orleans paper states the fact that experienced bar-keepers can tell what a man drinks by the peculiar discoloration of his skin. There is, it appears, a livery of whisky, of brandy, beer, absinthe,—each one doing its deadly work with strict individuality. In no little corner of the creation is law inoperative, whether it be the law of life or the law of sin and death. Could we but trace to its bitter end the destructive work of each agency of evil we would doubtless find even more distinctive markings in souls than science finds in bodies. —Selected. EVANGELICAL WORK IN NEW YORK CITY.
By C. H. Edwards
THE work of evangelizing, or giving the Gospel message to the people of New York City, is a great undertaking. It is a great work for several reasons. First, because of the great number of people to be reached; Second, because of the varied nationalities; and— Third, because of the barriers placed by the onward march of improvements. It is almost impossible to grasp the vast number of people which help to make up the total of over four million. This is the number of people who permanently reside in this city. An illustration may help us to comprehend these figures. Imagine one man with a message to give to this people, and also imagine that all could understand one language. He rents a large and commodious hall, and begins to give the message. The first night he is encouraged by the presence of one thousand people. The following night another thousand come, and thus he continues with a different one thousand every night. As incredible as it may seem at first, he would consume about twelve years in giving New York one sermon. Were the following states completely depopulated New York could supply them with populations equal to their present ones: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Colorado, Montana, and Alaska. Stop and think that over one million of these people never step their feet inside of a church. They will not attend religious services; they can not therefore be reached through sermons or lectures. It is then evident that other methods besides preaching must be devised to reach them. Were these millions of people all English-speaking people it would be a mammoth task to reach them all, but let us remember that here we find every nationality in the civilized world. Every fourth man we meet is a Hebrew of the Hebrews. In other words, the Jews of this city equal the population of the state of Maine. Then we find the sturdy Germans who number over one and a quarter million. Eight hundred thousand of these must be taught in their mother tongue. The 350,000 Italians outnumber the population of their native capital, the city of Rome. The 130,000 rugged Scandinavians would more than populate any of the following cities: Paterson, N. J., Hartford, Conn., Denver, Colo., and Los Angeles, Cal. The colored people number nearly eighty thousand, a number which would populate each of a score of our American cities. We stand for a definite message which must reach every soul of this vast multitude. How is this work to be done? Surely not by preaching or by lectures. It must be done by men and women who with their hearts aglow with the message must hunt these people out, and by a house work bring to them the message of salvation. But here we are met with the barriers which come through modern improvement. Every device known to science is used to keep strangers from having access to the homes of the people. Every man is supposed to be a thief till he proves himself to be all right. Nearly every door is chained from the inside, so the worker can not expect to enter a home till he becomes acquainted with the family. He must gain the confidence of the people, and then he may labor for their salvation. In spite of all the obstacles in the way it is a fact that we can reach the people, and give them this glorious message. This is done by visiting every family, and presenting them gratuitously with a copy of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. This is done again and again. The people learn to have confidence in those who bring such a paper, and the result is that friends are made, and souls brought into the message. This work of reaching the families of this city will soon be finished. Already we can see movements on foot which certainly mean that our opportunity for work is now here, and that in the near future we must meet difficulties which are withheld to-day. That it cost much money to carry on such a campaign as suggested above is apparent to all, but it is the best plan we can devise after years of study and labor. The SIGNS ought to be in thousands of homes today, but we are unable to accomplish this great work for lack of means. Should any of our friends desire to aid us in this great work we assure them that the money will be used as sacredly and expeditiously as possible. We are planning to soon use a large edition of the SIGNS, and we invite our friends to help us in this great work. C. H. EDWARDS.
President Greater New York Conference. [A Missionary to Egypt, in Herald of Light.] A FEW months ago two Mohammedan teachers in a remote district of India, having an intense desire to spread their religion, conceived the idea of going as missionaries to England to convert the Anglo-Saxon race. They started on foot and pursued their journey under the burning sun. Through dangers and necessities, and amidst friends and foes, often hungry and penniless, they pressed onward. Once, at a dangerous mountain pass, they were captured by bandits and were about to be murdered, when they made known their mission and were permitted to proceed. At last the long, wearisome journey was completed, and on reaching England they visited a Moslem sheik who resides there. This man was acquainted with the disposition of the Anglo-Saxon with regard to this faith, and tried to send them back to their friends. Other difficulties appeared, for the only language they knew was the Pushtoo, yet they seemed undaunted and decided to find work at the Liverpool Docks where they hoped to be able to pick up enough of the English language to teach their doctrines. Think of the zeal and willingness to plod and suffer manifested by these two ignorant men! Lord, pity the missionary zeal manifested by most Christians. How will we answer before God for our sloth and indifference with regard to converting the heathen. At present the Soudan and Central Africa are opening up to civilization, but the Moslem missionaries are pushing in ahead of the Christian and taking the numberless tribes for Islam. Where are the stout-hearted workers who are willing to take their lives in their hands and rush in ahead of these bloody men and take the heathen for God? Why listen to the siren songs of ease and home while your brother dies for bread? What keeps you away from the lost and the heathen but your unwillingness to suffer hardships for Christ? If the Lord sees in you a willingness to bear the burdens and hardships,13 He will surely send you out to help the scanty overworked laborers in the field. "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light." OFFERING TO-DAY.
By Susan Birdsall Roberts
BY SUSAN BIRDSALL ROBERTS. O, do not bring your flowers
To strew upon the bier;
Keep them for those you flatter
With kind attentions here,
They will not ease one heart-ache,
They will not dry one tear,
They will not light one gloomy hour,
Too late! too late to cheer. "Let her alone," said Jesus;
The precious ointment pour,—
"She waits not for My burial
The anointing comes before,"—
Uncork the fragrant spikenard,
Let perfume fill the air,
She comes to bathe the weary feet,
Begrimed, but O how fair! Thus would we bring sweet flowers,
And all we have to give;
The choicest and the best to share
With friends while here they live.
Thus would we sweet affections
Twine 'round the forms we love,
With choicest wreaths and garlands,
Our true devotion prove. OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
By Editor
Two young men were recently baptized at Clear Lake, Wis., by Brother J. B. Locken. The Wisconsin Reporter says that Brother Gellert has been holding meetings about three weeks in Milwaukee, and ten persons have united with the church. Reporting work at Senjen, Minn., to the Worker, Brother George L. Budd notes the accession of three new Sabbath-keepers, one of whom was baptized. Sabbath, November 29, at the close of the morning service in Lake Street Church, Minneapolis, three candidates were baptized by Brother A. W. Kuehl. In the afternoon another one was baptized by Brother F. A. Detamore. The Workers' Bulletin of November 28 says: "Stuart Academy suffered a fire a few days since, which, had it not been held in check by unseen agencies, would have proved very serious. As it is, the damage is not great, and it has been fully settled for by the insurance adjuster, who was especially grateful for the prompt action and remarkable deliverance from total loss." Brother A. M. Dart reports very interesting meetings at Parkfield, Monterey County, Cal. He reports regular attendants coming eight and nine miles. The people have furnished a house for his family, and stable and feed for his horse, free of charge. To add to the interest of the situation, Brother Dart is now preaching in a hall where, in his younger days, he used to spend whole nights in dancing. The students of Walla Walla College recently went out on a missionary campaign in and around that city. Reporting to the Recorder, Prof. M. E. Cady gives this result: Sets of Special SIGNS sold, 152; single SIGNS sold, 99; sets of Watchman sold, 18; single Watchman sold, 18; Life and Health sold, 43; books sold, 33; pages of tracts distributed, 4,366. The students are regularly organized in divisions for systematic work. The Columbia, S. C., State, of November 22, contains a lengthy article on the subject of "Sabbath Observance," by Brother E. W. Webster. The article is in reply to a sermon that had been preached in that city. Brother Webster's reply is a terse and logical presentation of true principle, and its publication is an illustration of what might and ought to be done in many other places, in the way of utilizing the press for the promulgation of truth. From Brother George M. Brown, of Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico, we have received a twelve-page tract in the Spanish language, entitled, "La Imagen Historica" (The Historical Image). As the title indicates, the tract is a treatise on the second chapter of Daniel. Price, 3 cents, or $1.00 United States money, per 100, post-paid. Address, "La Verdad," Num. 4020, Avenida 20, Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico. It would be well for people who have Spanish friends or acquaintances to order some of these little messengers of truth. Concerning the canvassing work in Iowa, Brother R. J. Bryant says: "While canvassing in Des Moines a few days ago, one of our canvassers met a man who manifested no interest until the SIGNS OF THE TIMES was mentioned, when he said, 'That is the very paper I have been wanting to subscribe for for some time. I received a barrel of apples from California some time ago that had a few copies of the paper in it, and I think it is the best paper I ever read.' This man gave the canvasser a year's subscription. Our canvassers all over the state are having just such experiences." WANTED FOR MISSIONARY WORK.
SIGNS, tracts, and health journals. Address, C. F. Volz, Nabb, Ind., R. R. No. 1. CONSCIENTIOUS Seventh-day Adventists to work in Colorado gold mines. Address, "The Colorado Big Bore Mining, Milling, and Tunnel Co.," Chicago, Ill. Holy Bible. Sunday School Scholar's Edition, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 37 East 18th Street, New York. This is another edition of the Standard American Revised Edition, published by Nelson & Sons. It is especially designed to aid the young Sunday-school scholar. The type is a good, clear-faced minion. There are 24 full-page colored illustrations of scenes in Bible lands as they exist to-day, which greatly help to make the study of interest, and the history more realistic. Besides this there are nearly a hundred pages of helps, brief, simple, clear. There is a summary of the Bible story from Adam to the death of Christ; a summary of the contents of the books of the Bible; an explanation of the Jewish sects—Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Samaritans; "The Lord's Land as the Lord Saw It," a description of Palestine; "How a Boy Learned the Bible;" A Bible Catechism, consisting of a series of questions on the Bible as a book, on Bible geography, on Bible history, and Bible doctrine; good suggestions as to how to study the lesson; a list of precious memory verses; a list of good hymns to memorize, which blessedly does not include, "Lead Kindly Light;" suggestions as to how to pray; the Lord's Prayer; the Beatitudes; the Ten Commandments; lists of the parables and miracles of Jesus; etc. This book will make a splendid birthday or New Year's gift, or gift at any time for boy or girl. The more it is used, the more precious it becomes. Prices range from 75 cents to $3.00; binding from cloth to Egyptian seal, divinity circuit, thin paper, red under gold edges. "The Saloon Problem and Social Reform." By John Marshall Baker, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology in the School of Theology, Boston University. Bound in cloth. Price $1.00. Everett Press Company, Boston, Mass. Professor Baker treats the problem under four aspects, economic, political, social, criminal. He presents a tremendous array of facts and figures, and a severe and decisive arraignment of the saloon business. The author also presents an array of co-ordinating social forces which are involved in the solution of the problem. It is a helpful book to the student and actor in the great moral movements of the world. William Lloyd Garrison. By Archibald H. Grimke, M.A. Cloth, 406 pages, price, $1.50. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London. This is one of the series on American Reformers, edited by Carlos Martyn. It is a sympathetic life of a great American, a true reformer, with a history of the struggle for freedom, and its splendid issue, which in the words of Henry W. Grady, swept "from American soil" "human slavery." The work has a copious index. Even those who fought Mr. Garrison will enjoy reading the life of a man who stood for principle. "Ready Money," By George H. Knox, cloth, 318 pages, net price, $1.68. Personal Help Publishing Company, Des Moines, Iowa. This is a volume of the Self Help Library, in which the author, president of the Self Help Publishing Company, seeks to inspire boys with determination, courage, and perseverance to make something of themselves. The title, "Ready Money," means such a character, such resources, as shall be ready to meet emergencies. Nearly one-half of the book is given to selections of eloquence from great speakers. MEDICAL MISSIONARY TRAINING SCHOOL.
By Editor
A SPECIAL Training School for Medical Missionaries will be organized the first of January, 1906, in connection with the Loma Linda Sanitarium, of Southern California. It is designed to make this a Training School for all branches of Medical Missionary work, the Nurses' Course forming only one line of the studies. Those desiring to enter this training school should send for further information at once. Address:
Loma Linda Training School,
Loma Linda (Redlands), California. THE NORTHWESTERN LINE RUSSIA-JAPAN ATLAS.
Send ten cents in stamps to R. R. Ritchie, No. 617 Market Street, San Francisco, for Russo-Japanese War Atlas, issued by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, three fine colored maps each 14x20, bound in convenient form for reference. The Eastern Situation shown in detail with tables showing relative military and naval strength and financial resources of Russia and Japan. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
By Editor
THE second annual meeting of the members of the Pacific Press Publishing Association will be held at the office of the Pacific Press Publishing Company in Mountain View, Cal., Monday, January 22, 1906, at 11 o'clock A.M. This meeting is called for the purpose of electing a Board of seven (7) Directors, and transacting such other business as may properly and legally come before the meeting. No objection being offered, for good and sufficient reasons, the meeting will probably be adjourned until February 27, 1906, at 2 P.M. By order of the Directors, M. C. WILCOX, President,
B. R. NORDYKE, Secretary. STOCKHOLDER'S MEETING.
By Editor
The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company will be held at the office of the company at Mountain View, Cal., Monday, January 22, 1906, at 10 o'clock A.M. This meeting is called for the purpose of electing a Board of seven (7) Directors, and transacting such other business as may properly and legally come before the meeting. No objection being offered, for good and sufficient reasons, the meeting will probably be adjourned until February 27, 1906, at 2.30 P.M. By order of the Directors, M. C. WILCOX, President,
B. R. NORDYKE, Secretary. STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING.
By Chas. S. Potts
NOTICE is hereby given that the fifth Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Southern Publishing Association, will be held Tuesday Jan. 9, 1906, at 10 A.M., at the office of the Association, Nashville, Tenn., to elect a board of directors for the ensuing year, and to transact such other business as is connected with the Association. CHAS. S. POTTS, Secretary. Nashville, Nov. 22, 1905. ANNOUNCEMENT.
By W. E. Howell
HEALDSBURG COLLEGE will conduct a special training course for ministers from January 24 to March 27, 1906,—nine weeks in all. The instruction will be made very practical, covering the following phases: - Sacredness of the Ministry.
- A Review of the Faith.
- Methods of Labor.
- Meeting Objections.
- Duties of the Ministry.
Those who are expecting to enter the ministry, those whose service in this line has been short, and those who wish to review the faith and revive their zeal, are especially urged to attend. Elders J. O. Corliss and E. J. Hibbard will give the instruction. Look for further notice. W. E. HOWELL, president. MILLENNIAL TEXT-BOOK.—Every known reference, over 500 arranged according to events, adapted for instant reference or profound Bible study; result of 12 years search. Mailed for 10 one-cent stamps or a dime. Eugene A. Brown, Phoenix, Ariz. BOY PUZZLE, THE.—By Rev. Joseph Flint. It commends itself to parents and teachers alike, and shows how they may win love and obedience without frequent punishment. The author is master of his subject. The book is full of faithful warnings and helpful suggestions, and is illustrated by sketches representing, in an original and unique manner, the various stages of human development. Cloth, net ......... 75c. Address PUBLISHERS OF THIS PAPER. EDUCATION IN THE HOME. No. 29.
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
"POSSIBLE!" repeated John, "of course it's possible. Whatever it was that appeared that night to the woman of Endor, told Saul a falsehood, a lie!" "Well; if that's a fact," replied Mr. Jones, "that settles the matter in my mind, because surely the spirit of a holy prophet could not lie." "No," responded John, "more especially as it is claimed to have come directly from heaven on purpose for the instruction of the king. But in verse nineteen (1 Samuel 28) we find that this spirit told Saul very boastingly and tauntingly, 'And to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me.'" "Well, wasn't that true, young man,—wasn't that true, sir?" questioned Mr. Jones severely. John only smiled as he replied quietly: "I think if you will read carefully the following chapter,—the nineteenth of First Samuel, and compare the last two verses of that chapter with the story we are considering, you will see clearly that Saul did not die in battle on the morrow, after his conversation with the so-called Samuel,—he could not have been killed that day, for the reason that the battle was not fought until afterward." "You will observe," commented Brother Hartman, "that after Saul's departure from Endor, the narrative says that David undertook to march with the Philistines to battle against Israel. That, very evidently, was the day after the conference between Saul and the witch. But the armies were still some distance apart when David was entreated to return to Ziklag. But he did not start on his return journey, until still another day (verse 10, 11, chapter 29) so that the two armies could not have had the battle, and Saul and his sons could not have been slain, until after the time set by the familiar spirit had gone by. And, finally, Inspiration declares that God suffered him to die because he had sought counsel from an evil spirit." "Is that possible? does the Bible say that?" questioned Mrs. Wilbur. "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, . . . and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord, therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David." Mr. Jones was very busy for a few moments, comparing the texts which had been cited. Then he looked frankly into John's merry blue eyes, and exclaimed heartily: "Well, I think you're right, young man. That scripture has always been a bone of contention to my soul; because I thought—honestly thought, you see—that it gave the Spiritualist a pretty strong foundation. But it's plain enough now, and I really thank you and your good father here, for helping me out." "We are all deeply gratified, I am sure," rejoined Brother Hartman. "But," said Mrs. Wilbur, "I can't help wondering how King Saul felt, as the day in which he was to have fallen in battle (according to the familiar spirit) passed by with the battle still unfought, wherein, as was plainly insinuated by the spirit, he was to have perished," and the little woman smiled brightly. "I can imagine, as hour after hour passed, and he found himself still alive, that he probably grew more reckless and soul-hardened than ever," commented grandma. "May be he thought something as I should," remarked Billy, "that you couldn't depend very much on a witch, anyway." "That is exactly correct, Billy," said Elsie; "you can't depend on the devil for correct information upon any subject. Sometimes he tells the truth when occasion happens to suit him, and sometimes he will tell just enough truth the more completely to deceive his victim, but—" "But," interrupted grandma, "but he is a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth." "A liar and the father of lies!" echoed Elsie. Walter Gray had taken no part in the conversation for some time; but the lad had not been asleep by any means. Finally he spoke, while a look of mingled amusement and surprise shone in his bright, intelligent face. "See here, father," he said, turning to Mr. Gray, "didn't you bring me up to believe that when a good man died he went directly to heaven, and that when a wicked one died, he went,—well, in the opposite direction?" "Why yes, my son; that was the way I was taught to believe, and my father before me; and so of course I have taught you the same,—but I—" "I see, father," interrupted Walter, "but I think you and I and mother will have to modify our ideas, if we are going to keep the truth of God on our side; don't you agree with me, mother?" Mrs. Gray did not reply; she was too busy with her own thoughts. But her son did not wait for a reply: "Now, see here, mother, King Saul was a wicked man at the time of the interview with the Endor woman, and surely the prophet Samuel was dead and must have been in heaven, according as we have always believed, and yet at the bare prospect of going to be with Samuel, in heaven, the next day (instead of having to go to hades) King Saul is convulsed with horror, just because the spirit had said, 'to-morrow you and your sons shall be with me.' Just think of it!" exclaimed Walter; while his mother only bowed her head and hid her face in her hands. "Evidently we have been in great darkness," concluded Mr. Gray, "and have not half lived up to our privilege in the matter of the study of the Word, and may God forgive us all!" "I think we have all been in the same condition," admitted Mr. Jones, frankly. "But there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared," quoted grandma reverently. "We will now close our evening's study," said Brother Hartman, "with a promise that if you will all come again next Wednesday evening, I will tell you a little story from my own experience; after which, our study will be 'The Destiny of the Wicked.'" WHY SHE LINGERED.
By Helen A. Steinhauer
BY HELEN A. STEINHAUER.
(Reprinted by request.) SOME years ago I was living in the house of a widow lady, whose lodgers for the most part boarded themselves, or else ate at a restaurant. One of these was a most unfortunate semi-invalid, who won my sympathy by her pitiful condition,—partially deaf, slightly crippled, wholly blind in one eye, and nearly so in the other. She was homeless and well-nigh friendless; for people wearied of her complaints; and, like many another solitary woman with time all her own, she gave it to her company rather more freely than was always convenient to those whose business was more pressing. On the particular Sabbath morning of which I write she came into my room immediately after breakfast. I then was engaged in canvassing, and hence the hours of my one rest day were exceedingly precious to me; and I am afraid I had scant welcome to give my poor visitor, tho I strove to be kind and polite, notwithstanding. We spoke of various topics, more or less suited to the day, but she did not manifest much interest in them. Still it was late church time before she left; and when I returned from meeting, somewhat to my surprise, and a little to my annoyance, I found her awaiting my return. Feeling perplexed, I unlocked my door, and reluctantly asked her in; for, fancying that she might be in distress or difficulty, and needing advice or sympathy, I wanted, in any case, to do by her as I under similar circumstances would wish to be done by. She sat perfectly noncommittal till the hour for dinner arrived, which, at my invitation, she shared. I having by this time made up my mind that the Lord's hand was in it. So, receiving the interruption as part of His plan for that day, I strove to turn the conversation to His glory, tho without results of any kind, as far as I could discover. After sundown as she still lingered, I took her out for a walk, as I thought the exercise would be beneficial. It was 9 o'clock when we returned, and, to my astonishment, she followed me uninvited into my room, and helped herself to a seat. I then laid my hand on her shoulder, and said quietly:15 "What is it? Can I help you in any way?" "Nothing—not at all," she replied briefly. "I just thought I would sit with you till bedtime, if you don't object." "It is nearly that now," I answered frankly, "and you know that I have to keep early hours at night as well as in the morning. But you needn't go quite yet, unless you wish to," I added, relenting, on seeing how reluctantly she rose to take her leave. Instantly she sat down again; and we talked in desultory fashion till the clock struck ten. I then said to her gently: "Now, dear, I am afraid I shall have to retire." She rose promptly, when an unaccountable impulse made me inquire: "You will, also, won't you?" "No; I shall sit on the porch till it grows cooler." Again I was compelled to speak, and this time to authoritatively say: "Don't do that. Go to bed at once." She hesitated, and then going to the open door, said hurriedly: As I watched her turn away, an inexplicable wave of commingled pity and apprehension seemed to surge up in my heart, and instinctively I put my arms around her, and, kissing her tenderly, said kindly:
"If you love me, go to bed at once." At this she gave an inarticulate cry, returned my kiss impulsively, and hurried off without a word. But I heard her go to her room, and felt a sense of relief, tho I knew not why. Bright and early the next morning, just as I was starting out, back came Miss A. At first I was annoyed: "for," I reasoned to myself, "she knows my occupation, and that I am dependent on it for a livelihood." But presently, accepting the situation, I tried to make the best of it, and, sitting down, took my Bible and began to read to her, as I often did, for otherwise she would have had nothing of God's Word. She listened in absent-minded fashion; we read and talked till noon, when she again dined with me, and spent the whole afternoon and evening. The late summer night fell, and bedtime once more came; but I dared not send her away; for I felt that something was at stake, tho what I little dreamed. Not until 11 o'clock did she make any move to go. Then she came, and very solemnly taking my face between her two hands, gravely kissed me, first on one cheek and then on the other, saying earnestly as she did so: "You don't know how I thank you for the kindness of these two days. I am going to bed now. You don't understand it, I know, but you will some day. I will tell you all about it—some day." Not until several months later did the explanation come. I then learned, to my horror, that she had fully determined upon suicide as her only way of escape from a painful combination of circumstances, and having received small kindnesses from me in the past, thought that she would like to spend her last day in my company. Her intention had been that first night, as soon as the streets were clear and all quiet to go to the river and throw herself in from the bridge near by. But on my urging her so affectionately to retire, her purpose faltered and she put it off one day longer, fearing lest I might think she did not care for me if she failed to comply with my request. She then decided to leave the house the next day during my absence, and wander around till time to make the fatal plunge. But, imagining me to be the only person in the place who cared for her, she again wanted to take a last look at me—with what result the reader knows. Our Scripture reading turned her thoughts in an entirely different channel, and inspired her with hope and courage to live, instead of cowardly putting an end to her existence. So she permanently gave up her plan, and tried to trust in the Lord, whom she once had known and served. Friends, let us never be ashamed of manifesting our affection for one another. Love is the salt of life, which keeps this great, seething world from absolute corruption. Love—Christ's wondrous love—saves the sinner, and by exercising Christlike love we, too, may win forlorn humanity to nobler deeds and happier ways. And the more we learn to hate sin, yet love the sinner, the more godlike we become. Friends, it is blessed to rest quietly in the hands of the Master, ready to be used by Him, when, where, and as He pleases, for the glory of our Father in heaven. AS THOU WILT.
By Thoro Harris
DEAL with me as Thou wilt!
Thy will I would obey;
In anguish, grief, or anxious care
My trusting spirit stay;
And grant, dear Lord, that mine
With Thy own will be one,
Nor let me murmur or repine:
Thy will, O Christ, be done! Deal with me as Thou wilt!
If thorns my path beset,
Still let me pluck some roses sweet,
Nor Thy deep grief forget.
Should tears my eyes bedim
On life's dark, rugged way,
O let me meditate on Him
Who wept in agony! Soon shall this fleeting life
With all its toil be past;
Soon from the din of mortal strife
My soul shall rest at last.
In Thee my life is hid,
With Thee my heart is one;
From all the pangs of sorrow rid,
I'll sing, Thy will be done!