The difference between Christianity and heathenism in its many and varied forms may be expressed thus: Christianity is that system of religion which is Christ revealed—in which Christ is the first, the last, the all and in all; heathenism, in whatever form it may be manifested, is a system of religion in which something else, it matters not what, is substituted for Christ.
In the grosser heathen religions a material object, or a large number of such objects, takes the place of the living Saviour, and receives the homage due to the Creator alone; but a more refined heathenism appeals to the civilized and educated peoples by dispensing with a visible image, which is simply the concrete form of the mental image, and putting in the place of the true Christ their ideal Christ, a mere mental image, and their own works and inventions in place of the works and gifts of Christ. This phase of heathenism is most deceptive, and a great multitude are taken in this snare who would be horrified at the thought of embracing what might be designated as heathenish heathenism.
Whatever is thus substituted for Christ is an idol, whether it be a visible image or a mere mental image, and Christianity is superseded by idolatry when the faith for salvation rests upon something else than Christ and his work for man. In ancient times when the people of God lost their fellowship with the God of12heaven and their sense of his personal presence, they lapsed into gross idolatry; but in modern times the same experience of apostasy and consequent idolatry may be revealed in putting human interpretation or tradition in the place of the Word of God, human ordinances in place of the divine commands, and the supposed efficacy of human rites and ceremonies in place of the atoning work of Christ.
In no modern system has idolatry been reduced to such a perfect science as in the Roman Catholic Church. There we have both the visible image as an object of worship and the most complete and perfect development of human inventions to take the place of the divinely revealed means of salvation from sin. So plain had all this become in the sixteenth century that there came a great uprising against this perversion of the gospel of Christ, and it is important to understand what was the real principle at stake. This has been well stated in these words:—
The protest of the Reformers was directed, not only against the worship of the Virgin and saints, but against the priestly assumptions of the clergy and the principle of sacramental efficacy, and it was the protest against the latter which evoked the chief fury of their persecutors. Their protest, in short, was against the principle of Catholicism, which is idolatry, or the substitution of material and created things for Christ. For whether it is the mediation of the Virgin and saints, or a trust in the guidance of the priesthood and in the spiritual efficacy of the sacraments administered by them, or a belief in the virtue of holy water, holy oil, images, crucifixes, relics, and other material symbols and ritual acts, they all combine to take the place of Christ to the sinner, and keep him from going to Christ for life.
Note that remarkable and striking expression, “the principle of Catholicism, which is idolatry.” This is a serious charge, but it is justifiable; and the more one studies into the essence of Catholicism, the more fully convinced he will become of this. In this “mystery of iniquity” the names and some of the forms of Christianity have been retained, but the vital principle of Christianity has been discarded; the vessels of the house of the Lord have been used from which to drink the wine of Babylon.
But when professed Protestants regard the Word of God as of no more power or authority than the word of man; when they rob Christ of the attributes of Deity, and see in him nothing more than a perfect man; when the results of scientific research are accepted for the foundation of religious belief; and when the development of the good within a man is set forth as the way of salvation,—when the creature is thus put in place of the Creator, and the truth of God is exchanged for a lie, then Protestants have accepted “the principle of Catholicism, which is idolatry.”
The threefold message of Revelation 14 is a message against the principle of Catholicism, wherever and whenever it is revealed, and is therefore a continuance of the protest made by the Reformers against idolatry. Those who profess to believe this message, and those who are commissioned to proclaim it to the world, should remember that if they substitute something else in place of Christ as the basis of their hope of salvation, they have adopted the principle of Catholicism, and have lost the power to make any effective protest against the worship of the beast and his image. Righteousness by faith is the vital principle of the threefold message for this generation, and is the divine protest against “the principle of Catholicism, which is idolatry.” W. W. P.
The Family Pew
By F. M. W.
THE old-fashioned family pew served one valuable end in that it kept together the members of the family during the church service. It is to be regretted that this custom is so little in vogue in our own churches. Too many times we see the members of the same family scattered about the church, the parents perhaps occupying the front seats and listening with interest and eagerness to the sermon, while the children are in the gallery, or vestry, or off in some corner, left to themselves without parental control or oversight.
During Sabbath service in some of our churches the children are left to play around the grounds, or after the Sabbath-school allowed to go home and loiter about the streets. All this is decidedly wrong. No father nor mother who appreciates the responsibility of parenthood will permit such conditions to exist. The place for the children during the services in the house of God is with the parents. If the parents can not be present, then the children, if too young to care for themselves or to direct their movements, or if incapable of doing so, should be placed in charge of a chaperon.
In all our congregations we need increased reverence for the house of God. The noisy chit-chat in visiting, preceding or following the services, or during intermissions, should be eliminated. There should be cordial greetings between brethren and sisters; strangers should receive a hearty welcome, but this should be done in subdued tones befitting the character of the place. As far as possible, the services should not be disturbed by people entering the house late, or by children running in and out during the meeting. Crying children, if they can not be hushed at once, should be taken out, because nothing so disturbs both listener and speaker as a crying child. Whispering and laughing in the congregation during the service should not be tolerated. If done by children, the parents should be in a position to correct it; if habitually engaged in by the older ones then the officers of the church should kindly admonish the offenders in a quiet, personal way. This spirit of reverence for the house and service of God should be regarded by our people whether they meet in a church building or in a private home. Let us honor God and his house, and he will honor us in so doing. F. M. W.
The Cross of Christ
The cross of Christ has made many notable conquests in the lands of heathen darkness. Before the simple story of the cross, heathen philosophy has been vanquished from many hearts, and the transforming power of the gospel seen in many lives. It would be too much to expect that genuine work has been done in the case of every professed conversion. The “rice” Christians of the Orient have their prototype in many older and more civilized Christian communities. By too many in such lands as England and the United States, the Christian church is regarded as a great social organization, membership in which will accrue to the advantage of the men of business and profession. Nevertheless in every land, and none the less in the dark heathen countries, have been found those who were truly transformed by the grace of Christ.
“God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” The gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.” While some may despise the riches of God’s grace, and receive deceitfully the word of life and try to make out of it merchandise for personal gain, there are those in every land and in every neighborhood who will receive it truly as the word of the great God, as a means of salvation from sin here and of life in the world to come. While the great multitude travel in the broad road to death, and few there are who enter in at the strait gate, we should realize that the blessed Master gave his life for the few, and so out among the busy throng, the teeming multitudes, the city’s millions, as well as in the mountain waste, desert morass, and ocean isle, we are to labor to turn men to God and to lead them to avail themselves of the offers of his love. One soul won to God and saved to eternity will be priceless in comparison to any toil or sacrifice, however great, which soul-saving service brings to us. No labor is so sweet and satisfying as laboring for those in need. In such labor Christ found his chief joy. Our greatest happiness will be found in the same way.
T. HOWSE
By T. Howse
Samoa
T. HOWSE
THE Samoan field is composed of four large islands and some smaller ones. They are under the rule of the German and United States governments. The total population is about forty million. There are a large number of Chinese, besides Germans and other Europeans, and natives from other islands.
There are four denominations working here besides ours,—the London Missionary Society, Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, and Mormons. The bulk of the native population are members of the London Mission. Christianity has been established here for about seventy years, and although practically every native professes to be a Christian, they sadly lack the power of Christianity. In accepting the gospel and becoming church-members, they were allowed to bring in with them their old heathen customs, which are licentious and corrupt. This is the condition of the people in general.
We have been here a little over eighteen months, and have had some interesting experiences with the people. Quite a little of our time is taken up in studying the language, of which we realize we must have a good knowledge in order to work for the people intelligently.
There is a company of five white believers here, and four natives are keeping the Sabbath.
The little paper, Tali Moni, is meeting with success, and its monthly visits are looked for by the people. As I visit the villages from month to month, I often have opportunities to speak to the people of the truth, and they listen with great interest when I explain the Word to them.
One day I saw a native (a neighbor) somewhat intoxicated, so I spoke to him. A few days after, he called to see me, and we had a good talk together on the truth. He said he wanted to go to the kingdom, but could not give up his bad companions and habits. I then pointed him to Jesus, who will save a man from sinning if he asks him. This was a new thought to him, and he seemed helped.
Another case was a young girl who had been sick for three weeks, her physician being unable to help her. By invitation she came to us, and after ten days’ treatment the large ulcer on her arm entirely healed. She left us, renewed in strength and vigor, and with promises to give up the harmful practices of the past. She is the grandchild of the woman who is keeping the Sabbath.
Although we do not see direct fruits of our labors in additions to our numbers, we know we are winning the hearts of some, and we trust they will turn to the Lord.
While we are laboring here among these dark-skinned people, we ask that you remember the work both by your prayers and by your gifts, that the truth may reach every kindred and nation, and God’s kingdom be hastened, and some of every nation be gathered home.
South America
By Maximo Trummer
MAXIMO TRUMMER
It affords me great pleasure to be able to report that our canvassers are continuing their work with special courage in the River Plate field. All winter they have worked faithfully from town to town, losing scarcely a day.
The blessed Master continues always to bless our efforts. One of the boys earned enough in one year’s canvassing for “Home and Health” (Spanish) to go to the Friedensau school in Germany for a two years, besides paying for a scholarship for his sister here in Argentina.
Recently two canvassers began work with “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and received as many orders as they had formerly taken for “Home and Health.” Among others, we sold to the secretary, to the mayor, to the chief of police, also his secretary, to the priest, and to numerous merchants. This gives us more assurance still that we can sell our religious books with success. Our reports show that the brethren took as many orders during the first seven months of the present year as were obtained during all of 1910. We thank the Lord for it all.
There is much strenuous work before us. The following incident will give an idea of the sentiment of many of the people here: Several months ago, while in one of the capital cities, I witnessed a street parade, which was held in favor of the separation of church and state. Literature was distributed by the tens of thousands of pages, containing such articles as, “There Is No God,” “Separate the Family From the Church,” “We Want to Be Free From All Religions.” The parade, with a multitude of about 40,000, reminded me forcibly of scenes described in the history of France, in a time when the entire nation had rejected God and worshiped the goddess of reason.
I could not help asking myself, Where are we in the history of our message? The people, having been held in darkness for centuries, are breaking the shackles that have fettered them, and the church itself is powerless to prevent the direful results of its own teaching.
There are many conscientious souls among them, who will love the message as much as we when it is taken to them, and we are determined to let them know that it is not science which gives perfect liberty, but the gospel of Christ in its purity. We need wisdom from on high to stay the tide a little longer. Brethren, remember the work in Latin America.
Buenos Aires.
Kampong Sawah, Java
By R. W. Munson
R. W. MUNSON
By the first two words the reader must understand the title to read, “Rice-field Village.” This is the name of a large community of Javanese four hours’ walk from Batavia. Why do I say four hours’ walk?—Because I do not know the distance in miles, and when I asked Timotheus, the Javanese teacher who has left the Roman Catholics and joined us, as he solemnly affirms, because he is seeking after the right and true way and believes that we have the light that points it out, he replied, “It is four hours’ walk.”
Timotheus is the man who walked all this distance six times in quest of Brother Pietersz, in order to learn from him the Sabbath truth. Brother Pietersz is a Sabbath-keeper who has taken hold of the truth heart and soul, and he it was who taught Timotheus first.
Well, Timotheus has been teaching his countrymen. There are ten thousand of them, more or less, in his village, if we may call so populous a place a village. Last Sabbath eleven of them met with him to hear the word, and they have sent word to us that they desire Brother Pietersz to go out to that village and teach the people, as Timotheus does not yet feel competent to do so. He has endeavored to teach them what he knows himself, but he wants Brother Pietersz to come to his aid.
The problem is, How are we to send Brother Pietersz when we have no money? The expense of a horse both ways (Brother Pietersz has a wooden leg and can not walk far) will be about fifteen shillings.
The two have just left my house, after we had had a long talk on the necessity of each one looking to God for his daily bread, and for all the things that are necessary to his daily needs. We made a covenant that we would seek the Lord together. If the Lord wants Brother Pietersz to go to Rice-field Village and preach the truth, then he will provide the money needful to send him. When he sends the money, then, and not till then, will Brother Pietersz start for Rice-field Village.
I had a long talk with these brethren, and told them the story of our great and pressing needs in the China field, where the people are calling for the message in such numbers, from so many directions, but we have neither men nor money to meet all the calls. They are14asking only for teachers, but we can not send them. It is like people starving for bread, and we have none to give them.
So I sought to impress upon these brethren the importance of our seeking the Lord in earnest, importunate, persevering prayer. The promise of God covers all our need. He has promised to hear and answer our prayers, especially in the interests of the gospel. My object was to implant a deeply spiritual conception of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. If we are filled with the Spirit, and are truly consecrated to God, he will find ways of working of which we have no conception, and he will cause his truth to advance on every side. Brethren, unite with us in prayer for these men and for this work.
Ordinarily these two men would be in the pay of the conference, but if ever the message is to go to all Java, it must be by men who are so filled with the Spirit and with the love of the truth that they will do just as the early Christians did, go everywhere preaching the word as self-supporting workers.
Although you have no money, like Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, you may, like them, have something vastly better. Give us your most fervent, earnest prayers. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”
Batavia, Java.
The Baltic Conference
By J. Sprohge
J. SPROHGE
In spite of the great wrath of the enemy, we have been able to win 445 souls for the kingdom of God. Our field comprises six governments, with 8,500,000 inhabitants, among whom five languages are spoken—Lettonian, Esthonian, Swedish, Russian, and German. We also have Poles and Lithuanians among our people, but their numbers are not yet very great, and we can make ourselves understood with German or Russian, whereas there are many speaking the first-named five languages who understand only their mother tongue.
There are now twelve workers in our conference. These are distributed as follows: one minister, one licentiate, three Bible workers, and some canvassers among the 1,482,000 Lettonians; four Bible workers and one licentiate among the 1,200,000 Esthonians; one licentiate and one Bible worker among the 3,500,000 Russians; and no workers at all for the 1,300,000 Germans. We were glad to have Brother H. Hintz, of Germany, with us for two years, through whose efforts something could be done for the Germans.
It is difficult for us to do any organized canvassing work, since we can not get permission from the government. At the end of 1910, however, we had fourteen canvassers.
At the end of 1910 we had seventeen churches and companies, with 864 members. Of these, 239 were baptized and received in 1909, 206 in 1910. The net growth was 319, 126 having either emigrated, died, or apostatized in the two years. At present we have eighteen churches and companies, with 671 members. The loss in membership is accounted for by the fact that the two churches in Riga, with about 300 members, were separated as a union district. We thank the Lord that we have the joy of seeing our conference growing, and we hope by the end of this year to have the loss in membership fully replaced.
When the district of Riga was separated from the conference in 1911, thus taking from us at least half of the tithe of the conference, we were rather sad, and feared we should not be able to pay our twelve workers this year. But we are of good courage, and hope to be able to close the year well, if it is the Lord's will. Although many earnest prayers have been offered, many bitter tears shed, and many difficulties surmounted, yet on the whole we can not complain of difficulties. Never before have we seen such progress in our field as in the last two years.
For instance, when Brother J. Schneider began work in Libau in 1909, we had fifteen members there. They had been gathering in a small dwelling-room, which was later forbidden them. The Lord helped in a special manner. A hall was found and sanctioned, situated next to the local Baptist chapel (this we did not know at first), which, of course, vexed the Baptists very much. Within four months the first admission into the church took place, twenty-three souls being baptized and nine being received by vote, making thirty-two altogether. Now we have a church of ninety-three members, and they are building a place of worship.
We had similar experiences in Mitau, Riga, and other places. We have a church of 100 members in Mitau now, the result of three years' work. In Riga, the number of members has increased from 150, in 1908, to 300.
We also realize that the Lord helps us in localities where we have no workers. For instance, in Kalnemoise a brother from Walk who went out with books, found several families in the country who were seeking for truth. After the brother had told them a little of the present truth, they requested that a man be sent who would give them further instruction, offering to pay his transportation. We sent a young Bible worker, and after three weeks we were able to baptize three farmers and their wives, and organize a company of seven members.
Circulars are frequently published by the government forbidding public lectures, only divine services and prayer-meetings being allowed. As we call our lectures “divine services,” we can still proceed with our work. We have difficulty only in newly entered places, where there are no members. But still the Lord provides ways for the work to proceed, and we shall soon make a beginning in the governments of Witjebskische and Pleskausche.
C. D. M. WILLIAMS
By C. D. M. Williams
Honolulu
C. D. M. WILLIAMS
The work here is onward. One Filipino was baptized recently, and seems to be truly converted. This is the first fruit among that nationality. While some others believe, they have not yet had enough faith to trust the Lord and to take their stand fully for him and his truth. We have quite a number of Bible readers who seem to be much interested, some of whom have begun to pay tithe. But the great test is the Sabbath.
This is a very trying field on men with families to support, as every laborer must be at his post every week-day or lose his job. The monopolies have so gathered things into their hands that there is but little chance for private individuals to start enterprises of their own. Some would join the church immediately if they could see their way to support their families. They say, “I can not let my wife and children starve.”
I shall start on a literature campaign soon. I shall go to the island of Hawaii, visit the members in Hilo and Mountain View, and canvass the other camps on that island for our publications; and return by way of Maui, visiting the towns and camps of that island as far as possible.
There is one old man, a Javanese, on the island of Hawaii, who wishes to be baptized. He is seventy years old, and the Lord seems to have done a wonderful work for him. He has given up tobacco and coffee, and has no more desire for them. He says that many times he had tried to give up tobacco, but having used it from a child, the habit had such control of him that he could not give it up. He now praises the Lord for deliverance from this bondage. Surely the Lord is good, and is able to set men free. O that we may all stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free!
Neglected Missions in Central America
WHY is it that the Christian world has done so much for Asia, and has so badly neglected near-by Central and South America? If the answer is that these are Christian countries, being largely under the Roman Catholic Church, we may say that this is true only in part. Many of the native races are but little above heathenism. And Protestantism claims the right to go to every part of the world, and feels the obligation to preach the gospel to every creature. It has scarcely made an impression on the four millions of Central America. The general character of the people makes a strong appeal to the best missionary service.—Selected.
The Strain of Missionary Responsibility
HOWARD A. MUSSER, a Methodist missionary in India, tersely expressed the situation many another missionary experiences when he wrote to his home board, saying: “I do not want the responsibility, nor the work of the territory I am now trying to cover like a bantam sitting on a dozen turkey eggs—and it is a strain on the bantam and not good for the eggs.”
'Neath Nature's Cathedral
By Worthie Harris Holden
WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
'NEATH the steeple of the fir-trees
When the wind is whispering low,
And the sky is summer-clouded,
Strewn with fleece and bars of snow,
Watch the shadows as they flicker
'Mong the sun-kissed turrets there;
Hear the feathered singers warble
From the choir-loft or stair:
First a solo bids, “Be thankful,”
Then responses, “Sing to-day,”
And the breezes gently murmur,
“Pause awhile to praise and pray.”
So in many a cathedral
Nature rears, both small and grand,
We are bidden to be happy
In the blessings close at hand,
To adore our blest Creator
For his temples 'neath the blue,
For our shadows, swiftly passing,
And the sunlight gleaming through.
Portland, Ore.
Simple Home Remedies
By Mrs. G. M. Brown
For relieving pain quickly very few home remedies can surpass the fomentation. It is inexpensive, easily applied, and its effectiveness as a true “pain killer” can be appreciated only by those who have tested its virtues. I seldom see the well-known advertisement of a remedy which is said to “touch the spot,” without thinking how truly this can be said of the fomentation. One great advantage of this treatment is that even if it should fail to relieve the pain completely (it always gives some relief, and in nearly every case much relief), its application will do no harm if properly and thoroughly made. There are some remedies of which one is doubtful in certain cases, and perhaps one fears that more harm than good may be done to the patient, but this is never so in the case of fomentations.
Before applying the fomentation prepare the patient. First remove all clothing from the patient which may hinder the application of the fomentation. It is quite unnecessary to get the bed wet if the fomentations are wrung very dry, but it is well to take the precaution of putting a folded blanket beneath the patient; or if this can not be obtained, use towels or a sheet of stout brown paper.
How to Prepare Fomentations
Take two pieces of thick flannel about one yard long and three quarters of a yard wide (an old blanket, not too much worn, cut in four pieces will make two sets), and fold one of them in four lengthwise. Immerse this in boiling water, leaving the ends out of the water to wring by.
After the fomentation has been tightly wrung, shake it gently and quickly, and place it on the dry flannel, which should be folded well over the hot one. If necessary to carry it any distance to the patient, roll the fomentation up tightly with the edges outside, so that when applying it the inside will still be hot and steaming; carry it under the arm to help retain the heat.
If the patient complains that the heat is too great, do not remove the cloth entirely, but pass the hand gently down beneath it, allowing the first heat to escape. The fomentation should be left on for three minutes, or until it is comfortably warm. It should then be removed, and a second one put in its place. Three are usually sufficient, but more can be given if the pain still continues. After this the part should be well sponged with tepid water, and gently rubbed with a little camphorated oil or with olive-oil.
Before passing on to explain the use of some other simple home remedies, it would be well to state that fomentations can be made with less suitable material than flannel blankets; and in cases of emergency where these are not obtainable, the writer has often had to resort to such articles as the following, which have served the purpose when nothing better could be found: children’s old woolen vests, parts of woolen combinations, Turkish towels, or a damp cloth placed inside a sheet of stout brown paper and laid across the top of a closed kitchen range. In a few minutes the cloth will be steaming hot, and can be applied directly to the patient, or if preferred it may be placed in a thinner dry cloth first. A method of making a fomentation without flannels is the following:—
Have a rubber bottle half filled with hot water, excluding the air; take a towel, moisten half of it, and place it over the bottle, then fold the remaining dry half over the damp one. Place the bottle on the painful part, with the dry towel next to the patient, and in a few minutes he will experience the same relief as from a steaming hot fomentation.
Revulsive Fomentations
In some cases where it is necessary to tone up a weak organ, and so enable it to do its work more thoroughly, the revulsive fomentation will be found very beneficial. It greatly improves the circulation of the blood through the organ, and so makes it more healthy and active. A revulsive fomentation is the same as an ordinary one with this exception: after each fomentation a towel wrung
out of very cold water is applied to the affected part, and covered with a dry towel. The cold application is left on for one minute, and is then replaced by a hot one. The third and last cold one is left on for two minutes, and takes the place of the cool sponge which is usually given after fomentations.
An Efficient Remedy
Every person should know how to give an enema when it is needed. Many serious disorders could be averted if the bowels were promptly attended to. Constipation, with its evil results, is responsible for many a serious illness; and when the bowels cease to act regularly, nothing else is so safe and efficient as the enema for cleansing them. But let it be clearly understood that the use of the enema is advocated only in cases of emergency. The patient must be taught to correct his habits of living.
The siphon syringe is best and most convenient to use. The bulb syringe, unless carefully used, is likely to introduce air into the bowels, and so cause pain. Fill the can with water at a temperature of 100° F. In stubborn cases of constipation it is better to add a little mild soap to the water. Hang the can on a strong nail, and allow the first tubeful of water to run away before inserting the tube, as this water is usually cold. Let the patient lie on the right side, and after oiling the tube, insert about one and a half inches into the rectum.
If the patient complains of pain, press the rubber tubing slightly, so that the water will flow more slowly. It is also a good plan to rub the bowels gently in an upward direction, beginning at the left side, and thus assist the water to rise in the large intestine. After as much water has been taken as the patient can retain (this is usually from one to two quarts in an adult, and should be retained as long as possible), rub the bowels from the right to the left side to help evacuate the water. To break up the habit of chronic constipation one of the two following methods may be used:—
First Method
When preparing the water for the enema at 100° F., add a cup of cold water to this on the second day, and on the third day two cups, and on the fourth day three cups, and continue adding an extra cup each day until the enema is quite cold. This graduated enema acts as a tonic to the bowels, thus relieving constipation, which is often due to lack of tone in the muscles of the bowels.
Second Method
Use a hand syringe and inject two tablespoonfuls of olive-oil into the rectum at night. This, lying in the bowels all night, helps to soften the waste matter, and gives great relief in cases of hemorrhoids, or piles, and in any case where there is a tender, painful condition of the rectum.
In closing, let it be clearly understood that attention must be given to the patient’s diet in cases of constipation. All16fine flour foods, boiled milk, well-cooked eggs, tea, and coffee must be avoided. Whole-meal bread and butter, lightly cooked eggs, plenty of fruit, and granose biscuits, which are excellent for this disorder, should be eaten, all foods being masticated thoroughly. Cold water drunk freely three hours after meals is also a great help.
To Relieve Headache
If the head is hot and throbbing, and the face flushed, withhold all food for a few hours; see that the bowels are thoroughly cleansed, using an enema when necessary. Give the patient a very hot foot-bath, beginning at 102° F., and increasing it in two minutes to 105° F. Keep cold cloths on the patient’s head and round the neck. Dry the feet, put the patient to bed with a hot-water bottle at the feet, and continue to apply the cold cloths to the head. Keep the patient very quiet, and have plenty of air in the room, but not too much light. In a few hours relief will be obtained. If due to biliousness or stomach disorders, give plenty of hot water to drink, and apply fomentations to stomach and liver.
If the patient is pale, and the headache is chiefly in the back of the head and neck, have him lie down, put a hot bottle to the feet, and give a set of good hot fomentations covering the entire length of the spine, bringing them well up the nape of the neck. Insist upon the patient’s lying down for a few hours, and closing the eyes even if he does not sleep, as this form of headache is a nervous one, and requires absolute rest. — Mrs. G. M. Brown, in English Good Health.
When Marriage Is a Failure
If neither husband nor wife has married for love, but merely for money, convenience, or any other mundane motive.
If the meals are ill-cooked and badly served, and dirt, discomfort, and disorder reign supreme in the home.
If two young persons rush into matrimony, and take upon themselves all the burdens of married life when too young to realize the responsibility of it.
If husband and wife are prone to have a “few words,” and do not know how to keep silent on certain subjects.
If the income, when well managed and made the most of, can not cover the expenditure.
If the husband be a faddy, fidgety man, perpetually prying into household matters, and thinks he knows more about them than any one else.
If both parties are resolutely resolved to see only the worst side of each other’s character.
If the husband tries to be mistress as well as master, or the wife master as well as mistress of the house.
If, when dark days come, husband and wife forget that they have taken each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer.
If the wife is a fine lady, totally ignorant of even the rudiments of domestic economy, and thinks more of her dress than of her husband’s comfort.
If the husband is a domestic tyrant, or the wife a slatternly, scolding vixen. — Christian Herald.
Not His Business
A WEALTHY man was asked to aid a committee in spreading the cause of temperance, but he refused, saying, “Gentlemen, it is not my business.”
A few days later his wife and two daughters were coming home on an express. In his carriage he rode to meet them at the station, thinking of his business and planning for the morrow.
“Accident!” was the cry that greeted him.
There are many lines centering in that city. Yet it troubles him. It is his “business” now. The horses are stopped. He finds the accident has occurred twenty-five miles distant on the road on which his loved ones were returning. He telephones to the superintendent.
“I will give you two hundred dollars for an extra engine.”
“Can’t let you have it.”
“I will give you four hundred dollars for an engine.”
“A train with surgeons and nurses—express has already gone forward, and we have no other.”
With white face the man paces the station to and fro. It is his business now. In half an hour, perhaps, which seems to him half a century, the train arrives. He hurries toward it, and finds the mangled and lifeless remains of his wife and one of his daughters. In another carriage lies his other daughter, with her body crushed and her life ebbing slowly away.
A pint of whisky, drunk by a railway switch-tender twenty-five miles away, was the cause of the catastrophe.
Who dares to say of this tremendous question, “It is not my business?”—Selected.
L. D. SANTEE
By L. D. Santee
October
L. D. SANTEE
The webs that the spiders last night spun,
Hang from the tall grass glittering spires;
And autumn flowers look up to the sun,
With eyes full of dewy tears.
At peace with the world and all therein,
I walk in the fields this autumn morn,
What should I know of sorrow or sin,
Of selfishness, pride, or scorn?
But hark! o'er the fields a murmur blown;
It is not loud, but 'tis sad and deep;
'Tis the wailing of those who are left alone,
'Tis the sobbing of those who weep.
No more through fields in October's morn
Can I walk mid flowers and contented be,
For the cries, and the suffering anguish born,
Throw their shadows over me.
And I turn from a life of ease and rest
To work for Jesus and cheer the sad,
To minister love to the hearts oppressed,
And to make the sorrowful glad.
The garlands of flowers with dewy eyes,
I'll bind on the brows that ceaseless ache;
And my reward shall come from the skies,
For I labor for Christ's dear sake;
Willing to labor, and well content,
Willing to toil till set of sun,
To work for the Master till life is spent,
But glad to rest when the work is done.
Moline, Ill.
Don't Whine
Good people have a right to cast their burdens on the Lord. But nobody has a right to attempt to impose upon the Lord by the presentation of fictitious burdens, or to come into the divine presence whining and finding fault with the allotments of Providence. Some people get into the habit of whining. They might have got into the way of it sometime when they were really in trouble, and have forgotten to change their tone with their changed circumstances. I have known some persons to get so addicted to this thing that they would use the same whining tone in ordinary conversation, even when speaking upon the most joyous and cheerful topics. Sometimes I imagine they think it pious, a sort of holy tone. It is as far from the expression of the robust, cheerful, loving, hopeful, grateful holiness of the Bible as the whine of the spaniel is from the songs of the happy birds of spring. So far from being holy, it is an abomination in the ears of the God of love. The croak of the raven or the snarl of the wolf is music in the ears of the Giver of every good and perfect gift, in comparison with this whine. Weep if you are afflicted. Groan if you are in pain. Cast your burdens on the Lord. He will sympathize with you and sustain you. He has promised it. But God has no promise for them that whine. Whatever you do, then, don't whine.— Christian Herald.