p. 8 | Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 17. (4/27/1905)

Note and Comment

REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, a Congregational clergyman of some note, is quoted in the Literary Digest as suggesting that “the churches could unite in a resolute purpose to keep clean, upright, honorable men in control of the public schools.” Certainly such men should be in control of the schools, but church control of the public schools, even for the purpose of keeping good men at the head of them, would be a dangerous thing. Popular government does not mean government by a church or by any religious or secular organization of men, but simply government by “the people.” This is the idea upon which this republic was founded, and all experience shows that only in this way can republican government be preserved.

Sunday Baseball and Church Authority

WITH the opening of the baseball season the question of Sunday playing of the national game again becomes prominent, and will be agitated before city councils and State legislatures. The question is complicated in Brooklyn, N. Y., by the fact that the Catholic Church there has assumed an attitude favoring Sunday ball playing, which does not interfere with the Catholic view of a proper observance of the day, this view being that Sunday observance is primarily to honor the church, the Sunday being a church institution. This honor is accorded by attendance at mass and by such other observances as the church directs, but there is nothing in these requiring the puritanical conception of the day. There has been formed in Brooklyn a baseball league among the lyceums connected with the Catholic churches in Brooklyn, consisting of ten clubs, with the avowed intention of having Sunday games. The church is after the revenue derived from these games, and it is Sunday games that draw the crowds. It remains to be seen what action the civil authorities will take in the matter.

Press Censorship and Dime Novels

By L. A. S.

THE propriety of a limited degree of press censorship in this country has been considered on several occasions, and is now brought before the public in the State of New York by the introduction of a bill into the legislature at Albany providing for the suppression of “so-called five-cent or dime novels.”

Such a bill is favored by the Insurance Monitor, which notes that thefts and burglaries in this country are yearly becoming more numerous, and that a large proportion of these crimes are committed by youth who “receive their inspiration to their careers from two notorious sources—plays in which crime is held up as heroic, and dime novels.” The Monitor says:—

While these two sources of youthful debauchery are well understood, strange to say, no effectual means have yet been found to suppress them. Freedom of the press and of the stage is assumed to be endangered if they are interfered with. Public morals and public safety must be sacrificed to a specious misconception of popular rights. . . . There is no good constitutional reason why both the drama and the novel should not be subject to a censorship for the protection of immature minds.

There can, of course, be no question in any right mind of the desirability of eliminating literature and plays which exert a pernicious influence upon the minds of the youth. The harm which comes from such sources can hardly be overstated. It is, however, a question where a policy of press censorship to guard the public morals might, when once begun, find a stopping-place; for it is certain that religious prejudice would lead some to see in the teaching of certain tenets to which they were strongly opposed. a menace to public morality. To teach that Sunday is not the Christian sabbath, for example, is counted as tending to public immorality by many persons and organizations of influence in this country. The beginning of such a policy of “moderate despotism” would have, therefore, a far greater significance than that derived from the primary object of suppressing obnoxious novels and plays. L. A. S.

Waiting, Trusting

By J. F. Baker

I AM waiting, blessed Master, For thy discipline to-day; I am safe if thou but lead me, Gently lead me all the way; I will fear no storm of trial, Strong through faith my heart within; Walk beside me in the darkness, Only keep me free from sin.

Let some weary, erring brother See the Christ-light shine in me. I will bow to all thou sendest, Just that men may follow thee. Let me meet thee in the Garden Or on Calvary’s rugged way, If some poor, lost, wandering sinner Only turn to thee to-day.

For my portion I will take thee; For my need trust thy supply, Let thy image grow within me; Be my life, that self may die. I am waiting for thy blessing; For without thee I must fall. Fill me with the Spirit’s fulness; Thou, O Christ, art all in all.

— J. F. Baker, in the Watchman.

Instruction for Helpers and Students at Takoma Park, D. C.

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE

To the stewards and matrons, accountants and clerks, foremen and laborers, I would say: Let your stewardship and your service and all your business dealing be marked by strict integrity and the sanctifying influence of the truth, that others may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him. Be faithful in all that you do. Let not one selfish, covetous act be recorded in the books of heaven against your name. Do not allow it to be seen that while you profess to be children of God, you are really serving the world. Serve God with heart and soul and mind and strength. Then angels of heaven will come close to you, and will lift up for you a standard against the enemy.

Give your whole heart and life to the service of him who gave himself for your redemption. Disappoint the enemy. Refuse to be his tool for the carrying out of his plans. Turn away from the financial advantages which he offers you, and which, if accepted, would prove a curse to your religious experience. Then you can say in the cleanliness of your heart, “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord.” Let there be in your lives no deceitful devising, no artifice, no underhand schemes and contrivings. Depart from all things that you would condemn in others.

Living Bible truth day by day will place you on vantage-ground. Your face will be calm and peaceful, and your words will be, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; for he hath clothed me with the garments of his righteousness, and it is my salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of his righteousness.” You will be able to give comfort and hope to others, because you have through your integrity glorified God.

You will walk carefully, lest you make crooked paths by which weak, struggling, halting souls shall be led out of the way. You will refuse to co-operate with worldly men to carry out worldly plans or policies. As you realize that you have a work to do for God, the temptations and allurements of the world will not tempt you from the path of equity and uprightness. The whole life will bear the testimony, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” “O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art God. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.” With the eye of faith you will behold the invisible, and the soul finds its strength in One who never fails. He is the joy of your life.

We are fighting a battle with the powers of darkness. The Bible is the rule of our life. This word is the light which is to guide us in all our perplexities. Make the Lord your counselor. When you are at work, the enemy may come to you with suggestions and temptations, hoping to lead you from the path of integrity. Do not listen to him. Look away from him to the One who has bought you with his life. Give yourself to Christ, trust in him, and he will give you strength to resist the enemy.

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” “Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Never forget that you belong to Christ. Let all your work, to the most minute detail, be such that he can approve. Do not, in order to gain worldly advantages, steal that which belongs to God.

Only by doing the will of God can we show that we possess true religion. Those who strive sincerely to break from the grasp of the enemy, and with full purpose of heart seek to know and obey the commandments of God, will be given power to become the sons and daughters of God. Their search after the things of heaven will be rewarded.

To the Students in the Training College

To the students in the school I would say: Keep in the path of self-denial. Avoid all ungodly companionship. Seek daily for the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. You will find your safety in studying the Word of God with a sincerity that keeps Christ constantly before the mind as the example to be followed. Lift him up, the Man of Calvary, by purity of word and work; for thus you honor God. By true religion, revealed in the daily life, you and I and all who are striving for the crown of life, are to bear witness for Christ.

He who is sanctified by the truth is strengthened to resist the assaults of those who have grown hardened in guilt. Shun the companionship of those who have not heeded the appeals of conscience. Let your light shine forth in Christlike words and deeds. Ask yourselves, What can I do to help those with whom I am brought in contact to resist temptation? What can I say to warn those who have not been taught to believe that the Lord is soon to come?

Earnest searching of the Scriptures, with a sincere desire to understand the truth, will receive a sure reward. An occasional glance into the Word is not enough. An occasional prayer is not enough. “Search the Scriptures,” Christ said, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Make the Bible the man of your counsel. Only thus can you gain strength to overcome. Let your light shine forth in clear, constant, distinct rays. An occasional service done for the Master is not enough. Only by an unreserved consecration to Christ of all that you have and are can you win souls to him.

Let the students who are engaged in building do their work with thoroughness. Let them learn from their daily work lessons that will help them in their character building. Let them remember that in order to have perfect characters, they must make their work as perfect as possible. Into every line of this work let there be brought that stability which means true economy.

Students, eternal interests are before you. Work with heaven in view, remembering ever your character building. Keep a pocket Bible with you as you work, and improve every opportunity to commit to memory its precious promises.

“All things are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” God gave Christ to be the head over all things to the church. The Saviour loves the church with an everlasting love. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Christ gave himself for the church that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Remember that Satan will not leave any one alone who is working to build up memorials for the Lord. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”

From the Washington training college missionaries are to be sent forth to many distant lands. Let the students improve every opportunity to prepare for missionary work

while at the school. They are to be tested and proved that it may be seen what their adaptability is, and whether they have a right hold from above. If they have a firm hold on Christ, they will have a right hold on all with whom they come in contact.

The Lord will surely bless all who seek to bless others. The school is to be so conducted that students and teachers will be continually increasing in power through the faithful use of the talents given them. By faithfully putting to a practical use that which they have learned, they will continually increase in wisdom and knowledge. We are to learn from the Book of books the principles by which we are to live and labor. By consecrating all our abilities to him who has the first right to them, we may ennoble all that is worthy of our attention.

The students who will get the most good out of life are those who live the word of God in their dealings with their fellow men. Those who receive to give will feel the greatest satisfaction in this life. Those who live for themselves are always in want, for they are never satisfied. There is no Christianity in shutting up our sympathies in our own selfish hearts. We are to bring brightness and blessing into the lives of others. We are to be channels through which God can let his goodness, mercy, and truth flow to the world. We are to be co-workers with Jesus Christ, imparting to others the blessings bestowed on us.

A Test

By C. R. Sparrow

C. R. SPARROW

The Lord has given us abundant instruction, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Man will be left without excuse in this world, and will not be able to say, when he has to meet his God face to face, that he did not know; for the Bible gives all the instruction needed.

In reading the account of our first parents we find that the Lord put them in the garden of Eden. There he gave them all the privileges necessary to make them comfortable and happy. He also gave them all that they needed for food, the best they could have. But there in the garden he tested them to see whether or not they would obey him; and that test was in regard to the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

We find that the children of Israel had a test given them that has never been removed, and which will continue till the close of probation. Let us read what the Bible tells us concerning it: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.” Lev. 27:30-34.

We also have a test put upon us by the Lord, to see if we are ready for that immortal state through our obedience to him. Brethren, have we ever read in the Bible that this test of giving tithes has been removed? If so, where? We have just read that the tithe is holy unto the Lord, also that it is the Lord’s. Not only the tenth of what we raise, but the tenth of our herds and of our stock is his; it is holy. Have we ever thought that this was a test laid on the children of Israel, and that they were required to keep it? Are we the children of Israel to-day? If so, has the Lord released us from this test? If the Bible does not give us a “Thus saith the Lord,” why do not we keep this command in obedience to the requirements of our Heavenly Father? Brethren, this will not pass, and we be without excuse.

Let us turn to Neh. 13:10: “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.” Here we see plainly that those who had the spiritual oversight of the work were farming to get a living, the treasury was empty, they could not live, so what was there to do but go and farm for a living? Had those who were not to wait on the spiritual necessities of the people paid their tithes and offerings, then the Levites would not have had to resort to farming, but would have had plenty to live on. The Lord has ordained that his “ministers” should have their needs supplied. So shall we not return to the Lord his own, that those who attend to the spiritual work may have that which is needed to support themselves, their families, and the cause of God? Why should it be said, when we come up to the conference meetings, that the treasury is empty?

When Hezekiah saw the condition of things in his day, that the priests and Levites were not getting what they ought, he commanded the people to give them “their portion” that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord. The record says that as soon as the commandment was given, the people brought in of the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil in abundance, also of the dates (margin), and the tithe of all things. And the children of Israel and Judah brought in “the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. . . . Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty [now take notice]: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” 2 Chron. 31:4-10. My fellow seekers after eternal life, if we want a blessing, let us do likewise.

Malachi says we are thieves; we have been stealing, the whole “nation” of us. What have we stolen?—“Tithes and offerings.” Is that true of the people who are looking for the Lord Jesus to come to take them from this earth?—Yes, we have been taking and keeping the tithes and offerings of the Lord. We expect blessings, but why do we not receive them? We have broken the eighth and sixth commands of the decalogue, and are cursed. In verse ten is given the invitation to bring in all the “tithes and offerings,” to see what the Lord will do for us. Brethren, let us accept this invitation, and prove the Lord, and see if he will not pour us out a greater blessing than ever we have had before. Come, let us prove the Lord.

About three years ago we were confronted with a dreadful disease which threatened to take off all the cattle in Rhodesia as far as it went. Many farmers and others who were using oxen for transportation purposes lost nearly every beast they had, some losing all. At that time I was greatly impressed that live stock should be tithed as well as other produce, so I called on the nearest elder, and asked him if he would come over and tithe the stock that I had. I had forty-two head of cattle, so four went out for the Lord; and two still remain waiting to be tithed with the next lot in the near future.

Now I must truthfully confess that there is not one farmer in Rhodesia whose stock has done better than ours. In the three years one calf died from starvation, it being very dry at that season of the year. But the rest have done exceedingly well, and it has paid to tithe the stock. The disease did not reach us, though a transport rider passed by my house with sixty-four oxen, some of them sick with the disease at the time, but no evil effects resulted from it. All I can say is, The Lord be praised.

If we turn the tithe of our stock into the Lord’s treasury, will there be any need of continually calling for means to carry on the work of the Lord? If we do that, then we can look up and expect Jesus to come quickly. Shall we not do it to hasten the coming of the Lord? We all want to get home, yet we are hindering by withholding from the Lord his own.

Rhodesia, B. C. A.

The Tribute of Suffering

It is those whom we love most upon whom we lay the heaviest burdens. We do not turn to strangers or untried acquaintances when we would lean hard on some one in a crisis of life. We tax most those whom we trust most. And what is true of our relations with each other is true of the Father’s relations with his children. He does not send stress and burdens to weaklings. “God must love you very much to trust you with such suffering,” said one to a friend whose

burden seemed unbearable. But God does for us what we can not do for each other; with the suffering he sends the strength to bear it. Every fresh burden is proof of his love, of his confidence in us, of his plans for our refining. Every new test brings with it more than enough of his strength to meet it triumphantly. And as we look back to our past experiences, we see now the reason for rejoicing in every such experience. Could we order our lives better?—Selected.

Waiting on the Lord

By G. B. THOMPSON

G. B. THOMPSON

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Ps. 27:14.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, but is long-suffering in order that men may turn from sin, and not perish. But this long-suffering is often misunderstood. It sometimes is hard to understand why the Lord waits, permitting evil influences to go on so long. David, it seems, was tried once over this; in fact, we are told that his feet "well-nigh slipped" when he saw how those continued to prosper who profaned the name of Jesus and rejected his counsel. Troubled?—Not much; but rather they seemed to have less trouble than those who followed the counsel of the Lord. David could not understand this, and about concluded that he had cleansed his heart in vain, and that there was no profit in forsaking sin, and living a holy life. But when the Lord took him into the sanctuary, and he saw the end of rebellion, then he understood how ephemeral is the seeming triumph of sinners, and that the everlasting overthrow of those who persist in rebellion is only a question of time.

When, on the plains of Shinar, men began the heaven-daring scheme of erecting the tower of Babel as a monument of their rebellion, the Lord understood fully their purposes and evil designs. But he waited, and waited long, too. He allowed them to go on with their work unmolested. They had determined to colonize around the temple of their folly, and make for themselves a name in the earth. Why did not the Lord interfere when they began laying the foundation of their structure, and suddenly expose their folly? Day by day the tower grew, and it really seemed that the top would actually reach above the clouds, and that their scheme, rooted though it was in rebellion against Jehovah, was destined to succeed. And God's long-suffering only confirmed them more and more in their rebellion and iniquity. But alas for human calculation! Just at the time when success seemed about to crown their efforts, Jehovah suddenly ceased his waiting, and sent confusion into the camp of the evil-doers. He could have done this at the beginning, but he chose to wait. He let their impious work fully develop.

What an example is left for us in God's dealings with Lucifer! It is an object-lesson to the whole universe. Once there was harmony and peace in heaven. But Lucifer, not content with his high position, and coveting the homage due his Creator, brought discord into the heavenly home. Working with mysterious secrecy, and under the garb of great reverence for God, he spread among the angels the spirit of discontent. Concealing his real purpose, he whispered among the loyal and holy angels his insinuations against the government of heaven.

But why did the Creator permit this evil work to go on? Why God waited so long before bringing the crisis must have been hard for the loyal angels to understand. "In great mercy, according to his divine character, God bore long with Lucifer." — Patriarchs and Prophets, page 39. The loyal angels saw this terrible thing spreading, and thousands, yea, millions, of the holy and pure angels joining the ranks of the disaffected. God knew all this; and why did he not speak once for all, bring on the crisis, and have the matter settled? But he did not. He "bore long" with the arch-rebel. No doubt his long-suffering was misinterpreted, and many a loyal angel had burning of heart because the Creator waited while the apostasy spread. The angels impatiently waited, hoping the Lord would expose the iniquity of the covering cherub. That this was a trial to the angelic host there can be no question.

But the evil thing was not understood. It was disguised. While fomenting rebellion with consummated craft, Lucifer appeared to be working for harmony. He sought to carry his schemes by flattery and deceit. "By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. All his acts were so clothed with mystery that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work." It was a mysterious, subtle devilry which could not be defined. It was hard to put one's finger on the exact thing. The shroud of mystery was upon it, and the most subtle arguments were used in its defense. It was indeed a new element, strange and unaccountable. While professing to believe the Creator, his plain word was misconstrued and distorted. The Lord must carry the whole universe with him when he moves, so he must wait until the thing was developed far enough so that all created intelligences could see and fully understand the deformity of sin, and the terrible consequences of the dissension.

The Lord is still the long-suffering, compassionate Being as of old. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Eccl. 8:11. The hand of the Lord is stretched out in loving entreaty to evil-doers the same as ever in the past. His voice is yet heard in numerous warnings to his people, pointing out the way they should go, and the result which will inevitably follow if they continue to walk in wrong paths. But often his counsel is disregarded, and sinners continue to walk in their own evil ways. Instead of being thankful for his long-suffering, it only confirms them the more in their rebellious course. While going contrary to the plain instruction of the Lord, they point to the prosperity with which they are surrounded, as evidence that their course is not wrong. The Lord is still long-suffering, and patiently waits for the closing scenes in the closing struggle to ripen into open revolt. Then he purposes to put an end to the contest, and usher in that period of righteousness which will fill the earth and endure forever.

Washington, D. C.

Cross Before Crown

By J. Frederick Bishop

Sick and despondent, weary of life, Tired of its heartaches, sorrow, and strife; Longing for rest, but finding no peace; Looking toward death as a happy release; Cease thy complaining, sad soul of mine, Accept without murmuring the lot which is thine; Remember the Saviour — the road that he trod; Know ye not that these trials lead upward to God?

Remember the mocking; remember the fully jeers, The thorn-crown, the scourging, the thick-falling tears; Remember the cross, the nails, and the spear, The anguish, the blood-sweat, the grave, lone and drear.

'Tis thus that the Lord with a love most benign Hath sanctified suffering, and made it divine; So, therefore, my soul, murmur not, nor complain, But rejoice o'er the sorrows, and count them as gain.

After the storm are the sunshine and flowers; After the darkness dawn life's brightest hours; After the tears come gladness and joy; Of what value is gold if unmixed with alloy?

Then, onward and upward, my soul, till the end! To the duty before thee thine energies bend; Be honest, be upright, be noble, be brave — 'Tis the soul of a coward would hide in the grave.

For if at the last the crown thou wouldst wear, It must be through suffering, sorrow, and care. It is through the cross we transcend unto life; That peace which is sweetest comes after the strife.

— J. Frederick Bishop, in the Living Church.

Seeking Revelation’s Hidden Truths

“God has provided in the giving of his revelation that those who seek shall find, that in the sweat of his mind and spirit man shall eat mental and spiritual food.”

Quite Too Sweeping

THERE once was a woman so wofully neat That she swept her whole family into the street.

She lectured on tidiness, day after day, Till her children ran off to the neighbor’s to play. And sometimes, the “lord of the manor” would roam

From his beautiful house which was never a home’; ’Twas a splendid expression of beauty and art, But it did not possess home’s one requi- site, heart.

But this woman worked on with her brush and her broom, With her servants she battled through room after room; She waxed and she polished her beau- tiful floors Till her friends hardly ventured inside of her doors.

Her carpets, so velvety, one would refuse To walk on, until he had dusted his shoes; Her chairs all so tidied, without and within, That to sit on them seemed little less than a sin.

Her children had toys which they never could spread O’er immaculate floors; nor could cook- ies or bread Be eaten where crumbs might be scat- tered about, For her house was like “waxwork” within and without.

Of dust, just the least little innocent bit Would bring on a something akin to a fit, And a tidy or picture a trifle awry Could never escape her most diligent eye.

Her children grew up, and they hurried away As soon as they could, scarcely caring to stay Where brooms were a-whisking; they sighed for a nest, Still neat, but inviting a spirit of rest.

And the day when the last of her little ones left, And the home of their smiles was for- ever bereft, She said, while for dust she still searched up and down, “They know I’m the finest housekeeper in town.”

— Good Housekeeping.

Humane Education of the Young

By Mrs. Anna Harris Smith

One of the most important factors in elevating a family or a race is kindness. The savage was never taught to be kind. Our ancestors, not so many generations back, believed that might was right, and cared nothing for their neighbors' rights or for justice.

The men and women who tried to remedy these evils and abuses had to struggle along the way step by step, ridiculed as cranks and sentimentalists by the majority, until by persistence they won, and slavery is now looked back upon with horror. Yet with all this past history to warn and to teach us, there are still great cruelties existing, and the strong are still oppressing and abusing the weak. Until the selfish life generally is condemned, and until mankind has learned to live the golden rule, as well as to talk about it, we shall have war, strikes, sweat-shops, child labor, and all the horrible cruelties that are now inflicted on the lower animals.

To try to uplift man to a better state of living, by beginning in our own little corner to teach the things that make for happiness and peace, is, then, the first and foremost duty of every mother and teacher. The foundation upon which a better and a happier world must be built is kindness to every living creature. To teach kindness is to prepare the way for a child to be happier all through life; for selfishness and cruelty are just as certain to bring sorrow as taking poison is certain to cause illness or death.

The mother who allows her child to squeeze and torment the kitten or the puppy, and is resentful if any observer interferes, is sowing misery for herself and her child. I have known three cases in which the sons of wealthy families were noted for their cruelty to the small animals and birds in their boyhood, and unrestrained in it by their parents. I happened to be able to follow the after-life of these boys, and they brought sorrow and disgrace on their families before they were twenty-five years old.

Because there is so much cruelty to the lower animals and such utter disregard of their comfort in many families, I saw, six years ago, that a great need existed for one home, among the many homes and missions in the city, to which homeless, deserted, abused dogs and cats could be carried, and humanely cared for, thus saving as many of them as possible from the streets where cruel men and boys, and sometimes women, beat, stoned, kicked, and scalded them, to drive them from their premises, or to gratify their own cruel and savage instincts. I put an article in the Boston Transcript stating this need, and asking men and women to join me in forming a league, the members of which would work for the support of the place where such homeless animals could be received. I went also to the houses and offices, and through personal interviews gained good helpers; then we organized and incorporated a society, with membership fees of one dollar and five dollars a year for associate and active members; we hired a house with a yard, and engaged a man and his wife to live there and receive and care for the animals.

Such shelters, as society is now constituted, are needed in every city. When they are established, and homeless dogs and cats are brought in, then, if not before, the terrible cruelty of some of our children will be discovered—of some, thank God not all, for every day kind and well-taught children bring to our doors wretched cats and kittens that they have rescued from boys who were using them for targets, or tossing them about as balls, or stoning them for sport, or setting dogs on them. One boy who beat a dog nearly to death said that his mother told him to do it in order to drive the dog away. A number of boys and girls who have been caught in the act of dropping kittens on the streets or in vacant lots have said that their mothers made them do it. Do these mothers realize that some day the children may find the old mother in the way, and may desert her? What can they expect if they never try to cultivate in their children unselfishness, a fair and just consideration of another living creature's rights, and thoughtfulness about causing suffering? — Mrs. Anna Harris Smith, president Animal Rescue League, in American Motherhood for March.

(To be concluded)

Ordinary People

FIRST of all, if you feel that you are ordinary, thank God that you are not extraordinary. I am tired and sick and bored almost to death with extraordinary people. They take all their time to tell you how very extraordinary they really are. You know as well as I do, my brother and sister, that the most of the useful work of the world is done by unpretentious people who toil right on—by people who do not get much approval, and no one seems to say, “That is well done.” Phenomena are of but little use. Things that are exceptional can not be depended on. Better trust the smallest planet that swings on its orbit, than ten comets shooting this way and that, imperiling the longevity of worlds attending to their own business. For steady illumination better is a lamp than a rocket. Then, if you feel that you are ordinary, remember that your position invites the less attack.—Dr. Talmage.

The Bible’s Theme of Redemption

“God's redemption of the world through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit is the theme of the Bible, and in the light of this all its parts should be viewed.”

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