ON what day of the week did Christ eat His last Passover? Did He eat it on the regular time of the feast?
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me. Matt. 26:17-21.
Notice a few plainly stated facts in these words of Matthew: 1. Verse 17 says it was 'the first day of the feast' when the disciples asked Him where they should prepare to eat the Passover. 2. Verses 18 and 19 inform us that the disciples followed the Lord's directions, found the place, 'and they made ready the Passover.' 3. Verse 20 reads that they all sat down 'when the even was come.' 4. Verse 21 asserts that 'they did eat.'
No record could be clearer than this, that they ate the Passover on the right day, and at the right time of the day. The original command for slaying the lamb was to 'kill it in the evening.' Ex. 12:6. Marginal reading, 'Heb., between the two evenings,' which was between three o'clock and sunset.
The above facts are beautifully expressed in 'Great Controversy,' page 399: 'These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time. . . . The very day and month on which, for fifteen long centuries, the Passover lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the Passover with His disciples, instituted that feast which was to commemorate His own death as 'the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' That same night He was taken by wicked hands, to be crucified and slain.'
From the supper Jesus went with His disciples to the Mount of Olives, and gave Himself into the hands of the priests and elders, who, led by Judas, went there to take Him. They spent that entire night trying to get authority to put Jesus to death, taking Him to Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and back to Pilate. By that time it was morning. Mark 15:1.
Those priests who were accusing Christ, had not yet eaten the Passover. John 18:28. From this statement it is claimed, by some, that Christ must have eaten the Passover one day ahead of the regular time. This claim contradicts the repeated statements of the disciples, that the day on which Christ ate was the 'Passover,' 'the first day of the feast,' etc. This claim gives more weight to the conduct of those priests than to the example of Christ and the statements of the inspired writers.
Why did not the priests eat the Passover the day before, if it was the proper time?—At the time when Jesus and His disciples were eating the Passover, these priests and elders were holding a council, trying to devise some way to kill Christ. This is evident from the fact that Judas went out from the supper, and closed his contract with them for the betrayal of Christ, and took charge of a large company, who were evidently ready and waiting for a leader to guide them to the place where they could find Christ away from the people. 'And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him; for they feared the people' (Luke 22:2), and more especially so on the feast-day.
The time of the Passover was the most propitious time for them to hold their council and gather their mob together, when the people would be quietly gathered in their homes for the Passover supper. The priests had no time to lose. The darkness was their hour, and if possible they must complete their work before the people should be aroused the next day. They were so intent on slaying the 'Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world,' that they had no time to eat of the typical lamb.
The morning found the priests, with Jesus, before Pilate, the second time, having returned from Herod without authority to kill Christ. Because of the delay and disappointment, their excitement grew more and more intense. Both Herod and Pilate seemed unwilling to accede to their demand for the crucifixion of Christ. The people would soon be astir, and they would be found trying to kill Jesus, and that, too, on the feast-day. If they could only get Him into the hands of the Roman authority, they had nothing to fear from the people. In their excitement they dropped all attempt at giving evidence, and overwhelmed Pilate with their cry of 'CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM.'
In referring to the priests as not having eaten the Passover, John simply mentions a seemingly unimportant fact, without any object or design. This is an evidence of the truthfulness of his record, as it mentions an incident that would have been almost sure to happen, under the circumstances, and yet no fabricator of a story would ever have thought to mention such a thing. Had there been an effort to manufacture a story, this incident, if mentioned, would have been explained, so as to avoid any chance of seeming contradiction.
The Passover, in the time of Christ, was partaken of quite differently from what it was in the days of Moses. Wine had been added. They reclined at the table, instead of eating standing, with staff in hand. The whole ceremony was one of leisure instead of haste; and in harmony with the spirit of these changes, it seems probable that the Jews would not be so very particular as to the exact time. Comparing John 19:14 with Luke 22:7-9, it appears that the Passover was allowed to be eaten on the regular day or the day following.
Immediately after supper Christ instituted the memorial of His own death, and gave Himself into the hands of wicked men. He was then 'in the heart of the earth,' physically subject to its will and purposes. He made no effort to save Himself, but took the very means to arouse Judas to do that which he had determined to do, by pointing him out, before all the disciples, as the one who should betray Him.
The following morning they crucified Jesus. Luke says that day was 'the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.' Luke 23:54. That this Sabbath was not the ceremonial sabbath of the feast, but the seventh-day Sabbath, is clearly shown by the fact that the next day was 'the first day of the week.' Luke 24:1.
These facts show that Christ ate the Passover on Thursday, was crucified on Friday, rested in the grave on the Sabbath, and rose on the first day of the week, and went about His work.
Live a Holy Life
By D. L. Moody
It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.
Socialism
By George W. Rine
By George W. Rine
Its Recent Phenomenal Growth
It would be difficult to state the exact date or incident which might be called the beginning of Socialism in its modern form. Some authorities hold that it had its birth in the Communist Manifesto, in France, February, 1848. Others, again, maintain that it was called to life by the organization of the Universal Workingmen's Association, in May, 1863. Be that as it may, the growth of Socialism was so slow up to 1889 as to be almost negligible. In the latter year, four hundred delegates from twenty countries met in Paris, and worked out a plan for international organization. This convention is known as the first International Socialist Congress. A second congress was held in Brussels, in 1891, with delegates from the United States, Australia, and every country of Europe. The seventh International Socialist Congress convened in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907. There were present more than one thousand delegates, representing twenty-five nationalities of all parts of the world.
It was at the fifth of these congresses, held in Paris, in 1900, that the International Socialist Bureau was created. The bureau is composed of two representatives of the organized Socialist movement in each affiliated country. Its headquarters is located in Brussels, and is in charge of a permanent secretary. The bureau is the executive committee of the international congresses, and meets whenever its business so requires. It was at the eighth and latest international congress, in Copenhagen, in 1910, that the chairman, in his opening address, stated that the International Socialist Party comprised thirty-three nationalities, and that the number of adherents to the cause of Socialism, in the world, is no fewer than thirty millions, of whom ten millions are voters. To-day the Socialist movement has representatives in the national legislatures of seventeen distinct countries. Even in the Upper Chamber of France, of Belgium, of Denmark, and of Australia, there are Socialist members.
In the United States
The first Socialist political body on a national scope organized in the United States, was the Social Democratic Workingmen's Party, called into life on July 4, 1874. This party, with several other then existing Socialist organizations, merged into the Socialist Labor Party of North America, in 1877.
In 1892 the Socialists for the first time nominated a presidential ticket, and they have ever since adhered to the principle of independent politics. Up to the close of the last century the growth of Socialism in this country was extremely slow. The movement was mostly composed of foreign workmen, especially Germans. During the last decade a number of circumstances combined to insure a more favorable reception of the teachings of Socialism. The marvelous industrial development of the country, accompanied by the evolution of gigantic trusts and powerful labor-unions, the growing intensity of the militant struggle between capital and labor, and the collapse of the Populist and other reform movements, all served to prepare the soil for the Socialist seed.
Alongside the Socialist Labor Party, largely built on the narrow lines of a mere propaganda club, a new party, the Socialist Party, sprang up, absorbing the greater part of the members of the older party, and attracting hosts of new converts from all parts of the country, recruited largely from the manual working class. In 1909, the party had 3,200 local organizations, dispersed over all the United States, with a dues-paying membership of 50,000. In 1900, the Socialists polled 150,000 votes; in 1902, 300,000;
Captain Roald Amundsen, with his skees and wearing his south pole expedition clothes
and in each of the years 1904 and 1908, approximately 450,000. In the State and congressional elections of 1910, however, the Socialistic vote aggregated 620,000.
More than fifty daily, weekly, and monthly Socialist journals are to-day published in this country. There are, at this writing, not fewer than 534 Socialist office-holders in the United States. They hail from thirty-three States, and represent 188 municipalities and election districts. In point of function they include one congressman, seventeen State assemblymen, two State senators, thirty-three mayors, thirty-four judges and police magistrates, 167 aldermen or city supervisors, etc. The most important cities whose mayors or mayors-elect are Socialists are Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Schenectady, New York; Berkeley, California; Butte, Montana; and Canton and Dayton, Ohio.
In Germany
There are now more Socialists in Germany than there are people in Spain, or in Mexico, or in Belgium and Holland and Denmark and Norway put together. The German Socialist Party polls a million more votes than any other party in the empire. By reason of an antiquated system governing the distribution of seats, the Socialist Party is represented in the Reichstag by only fifty-two members instead of 115, to which it would be entitled on parity of numbers. And by reason of unequal suffrage, instead of controlling nearly every large city of the empire, the Socialists elect only about a third of the members of the city councils. The growth of Socialism in Germany can be best appreciated by a comparison of the Socialist vote in the parliamentary elections of that country. In 1871 the Socialists cast 124,655 votes; in 1890, a trifle more than 1,400,000 votes; 1907, 3,258,968 votes. During the five years 1898-1903, the Socialist vote was increased by one million.
The journals published by the German Social Democratic Party reach no fewer than 1,049,707 regular subscribers. The party publishes sixty-five daily papers, and twelve weekly and monthly periodicals. One of these journals has a circulation of 230,000. The party employs twenty-eight organizing secretaries, who go about the country and give direction to the branches in their work of organization and propaganda. In 1906, the national committee on education opened a school in Berlin for the distinct purpose of training working men as organizers, secretaries, and editors. The German trade-union movement now numbers 2,300,000 members. The women in the movement number 135,000. At least ninety-five per cent of these trade-unionists are Socialists.
France, Great Britain, and Other Countries
Until 1905 the French Socialists were split up into several mutually hostile groups; but at that time they were united into one body, through the good services of the International Socialist Congress held in Amsterdam, 1904. This united party took the name of Le Parti Socialiste. It has organized local groups in eighty out of eighty-seven departments (counties). The party has elected 149 mayors and 2,160 municipal councilors. In the national Chamber of Deputies the Socialists hold fifty-two seats in a total of 584.
The parliamentary representation of the party is militantly arrayed against all the political parties of the bourgeoisie (middle class). The Socialist group in parliament must refuse the government all the means which tend to continue the domination of the bourgeoisie and its maintenance in power. It therefore refuses to give its vote in favor of any military or naval appropriation, of any secret fund, and ever refuses to accept the budget as a whole.
In 1887 the Socialists polled 47,000 votes in France; by 1898 they cast not less than 700,000 votes; and by 1906 they actually11swelled their votes to 1,120,000. Among the French working class there are, including women, six million avowed Socialists. Of the agencies devoted to the propagation of the Socialist faith in France are two daily papers, thirty-seven weeklies, and two monthlies.
The beginning of the Socialist movement appeared in Austria in 1867, when the Imperial Council granted a partial right of assembly to the people of the empire. Two years later the movement was strong enough to force the government to revoke its ban against the Socialist propaganda, by a remarkable and unexpected demonstration on the streets of Vienna. Its growth, however, was sporadic up to 1888, when a unified, well-knit organization was created. For years the Austrian Socialists, by tireless agitation and monster demonstrations, directed their efforts mainly to the attainment of universal manhood suffrage, till at last the government was compelled to yield; and in the parliamentary elections of 1907, held for the first time on the basis of universal suffrage, the Social Democratic Party polled over a million votes, electing eighty-seven deputies to the imperial Reichsrath. Here again Socialism has absorbed practically the whole of the labor-union movement. Not fewer than fifty periodicals are published in the interest of the "cause."
Since 1892 Socialism has had a phenomenal growth in Italy. In that year the Socialist Party was organized on the general European model. The party now comprises 1,250 local groups. It has returned thirty-two members to the national Chamber of Deputies, and controls politically about one hundred municipalities. The party commands great strength among the rural population, principally farm laborers. In spite of their extreme poverty, 200,000 of these rustics pay their party dues with scrupulous fidelity. In 1910 there were 340,000 Socialist votes polled in Italy. Five daily papers, sixty-five weekly, and twenty-three trade-union journals are devoted to the Socialist movement in that historic peninsula.
Socialism in Russia was at first represented by many widely scattered groups; but in 1901 they combined their forces and created a national party with the ominous title of "The Socialist Revolutionists." The party is responsible for the numerous political assassinations preceding and accompanying the recent warlike contest between the government and the discontented elements of the people of Russia. It is impossible to estimate the present strength of Socialism in Russia; but the fact that the second Duma, elected on a restricted suffrage and under rigid government surveillance, had one hundred Socialist members, is eloquent testimony to the immense spread and power of Socialism in that unhappy empire.
As a political factor, Socialism in Great Britain made extremely slow progress prior to 1908. In that year British labor-unionism and British Socialism practically coalesced, and they now constitute a solid political unit. This significant coalition was effected at a conference of the most influential leaders of both movements at the city of Hull, and is known as the Hull Conference Compact. As the result of this wholesale alliance, the English Socialist vote of 1910 was sixty per cent in excess of that of 1906. The Socialist Labor Party now hold forty-two seats in the British Parliament.
The Socialist Labor Party of Belgium had its genesis in 1885. To-day at least one fourth of the political officials of the kingdom are Socialists. In 1908 the Socialists cast half a million votes, and elected to parliament thirty-three out of a total of 166 members. The 252 trade-union bodies of Belgium have unreservedly espoused the program of Socialism.
The distinguishing characteristic of Socialism in the three Scandinavian countries is its complete fusion with the trade-union organizations. In 1889 the Socialist Party of Denmark had but one representative in the national legislative body. In 1907 that party returned twenty-eight deputies, out of a total of 114, to the Danish parliament.
Under the far-off Southern Cross Socialism finds a congenial soil. Fifteen members of the Upper Federal Chamber of the Australian Parliament, out of a total of thirty-six, are of the Socialist persuasion. Of the seventy-five seats in the Federal Lower Chamber, twenty-six are held by Socialists.
Captain Robert F. Scott and his automobile sledge which he is reported to have used in his south pole expedition
In view of the astonishing progress that Socialism has made in all parts of the world during the last twenty years, as briefly indicated above, it is not at all strange that Mr. J. N. Larned, in the Atlantic Monthly for May, under the title "Prepare for Socialism," should have said anent the Socialist movement: "The movement has now gathered a momentum that will carry it surely to some vital and momentous outcome of change in the organization of society." And again: "It is a movement which moves continuously, with no reactionary signs. . . . It is a movement of such nature, in fact, as seems likely to break suddenly, some day, into avalanches and floods."
(NOTE.—In the next two articles of this series, I shall try to set forth the meanings—dangerous and otherwise—of this movement.)
King Emmanuel and the Pope
On March 14 King Victor Emmanuel and his queen were driving in a closed carriage to attend a celebration to commemorate the birthday of his father, the late King Humbert, who died in 1900 at the hand of an assassin. While they were on the way, a young anarchist fired at them three times, but neither the king nor the queen was hit. One of the bullets struck a horse that was drawing the royal carriage, and another hit one of the king's guards, making an ugly but not fatal wound in his head.
The pope immediately expressed his regrets, and said, "These are the consequences of the irreligion of the times." Two days later, a Vatican official announced that the pope celebrated a mass of thanksgiving for the escape of the king. And besides this, the bishops throughout Italy had ordered a te Deum, the Catholic hymn of thanksgiving, to be celebrated the day following the pope's ceremony.
These occurrences show that there is no longer any war between the Papacy and the Italian government. Such things are of deep interest to those who are studying the prophecies that tell of the complete restoration of the power of the pope. This restoration, in its finality, will be world-wide, and embrace both civil and spiritual dominion. But it will be of but short duration; for while the Papacy will promise great things in putting down the anarchy and violence of this time, she will not be able to make good. And then will follow the breaking up of the world in the war of Armageddon, and the standing up of Christ to destroy all anarchy by beginning His everlasting reign.
The Allen family have been for years the terror of the mountains in the vicinity of Hillsville, Virginia. One of their number was recently placed under arrest for aiding the escape of two of his nephews from officers who had arrested them on the charge of attacking people on the public highway. The evidence was so clear against him that his relatives knew he must be convicted. On the morning that the case was to be given to the jury, a number of the Allens rode into the town and took their places in the court room. The jury rendered a verdict of guilty, and a sentence of one year in jail was recommended. The judge ordered the prisoner to stand up to receive sentence; and as he pronounced the sentence, the prisoner half turned around to his companions that were distributed in the court room by prearrangement, and giving a secret signal to them, drew a revolver from his pocket and killed Judge Massie instantly. The sheriff and the prosecuting attorney, as well as a girl of eighteen who was merely a spectator in the court, were also killed. During the fight, the prisoner who was receiving the sentence also got a severe wound from some of the bullets that were fired. The gang of outlaws then took to the mountains, where they had been the terror of the country for decades past. The State militia was called out, since all the local officers were killed in the fight, and the State attorney-general appointed other men to join with the militia as civil officers in a general hunt. Already several of the gang have been captured, and at last accounts about all the rest of them were surrounded, and their capture or killing was only a question of a few hours.
There have been a number of cases of hydrophobia among the dogs of San Francisco, as well as in some other cities near-by. Hence the city council of San Francisco has passed an ordinance that all dogs allowed on the streets must be muzzled unless they are held in leash by their owners. A number of persons had been bitten by the dogs, and that helped the council to decide promptly to pass the ordinance.
On March 15 two distinct earthquake shocks, a few seconds apart, were felt in Maine, but no damage is reported.
The Dangers of Toadstools
Four children died at Sebastopol a few days ago from eating toadstools, and their parents are both dangerously ill from the same cause. They had gathered the toadstools from an adjoining field, thinking they were "edible mushrooms." With all the good things that there are to eat in this world, it seems too bad that people think they have to get such a fungus plant for their table as the mushroom. The truly proper foods do not require the knowledge of an expert to tell whether or not they will kill you if you eat them.
What Ailed His Congregation?
By Lephia Bryant Larson
THE congregation of the Rev. Abram Townsend's fashionable church was greatly offended.
"We have not heard a decent sermon for fully six weeks," whispered Mrs. Holden to her companion, turning her face away as she caught the minister's eyes fixed earnestly upon her.
How could she help the conditions of the poor people in the tenements of Boston! How she wished she had remained at home! Why didn't he talk of something else! His sermons were not half as interesting as they used to be! Mrs. Holden grew uneasy under the prolonged glance of her pastor, and began to play with the tassels on her cloak.
There were others besides the elegant Mrs. Holden who were made uncomfortable by the minister's eloquence. Some felt very humble when the laden shafts struck home; others knew they had neglected Jesus and His teachings and had worshiped the richly appointed church. And still others, who found it so pleasant gazing at the artistic surroundings, the grand pipe-organ and bright carpets, heard not one word of the sermon. The young preacher told his flock that he could not and would not rest till something was done to relieve the suffering he had seen. Mrs. Sims, a prominent banker's wife, was dreamily turning the leaves of a hymnal, admiring the sparkle of the diamond ring which adorned her dimpled finger. "What more can we do?" she said to the lady at her side. "We sent food and clothing to at least fifty families a very short time ago, and it isn't possible they are suffering so soon!"
"O, gracious!"—as the thrilling tones from the pulpit made her start—"O, gracious! it seems as if he were speaking directly to me!" for the pastor had said: "You—I mean each individual!—wake from the lethargy that binds you! The salvation of human souls depends upon your timely aid!" And as he ceased speaking, Abram Townsend's eyes met the eyes of Mrs. Sims.
Then came singing by the choir; then notices and further remarks by the pastor—and then the benediction.
"Thank goodness!" said Mrs. Sims, and with her friend she prepared to leave the edifice.
She fastened her kid gloves, letting her eyes linger lovingly on the ruby bracelet that circled her plump wrist.
She was a vain little body, and used her husband's money in a most extravagant manner. Before her marriage she had been a clerk in one of the leading dry-goods stores, and the pastor had expected her to feel great sympathy for the working women in the North End tenements. Nodding carelessly to a few friends, Mrs. Sims stepped out of the warm church into her sleigh. Nestling among the shining robes, she thought of the sermon, but not in the way her pastor had meant her to. "I'll have Mr. Sims take a pew in the Congregational Church, tho I suppose it will be very difficult to get his consent. He's such a strong Methodist."
As the sleigh dashed over the glistening snow, the keen air sent the blood tingling in her veins, and Mrs. Sims buried her face in her feather muff. "They are so used to poverty, they could not appreciate a better condition," she mused, her thoughts on the poverty-stricken women at North End. "One might as reasonably expect an ungainly weed to bring forth a gorgeous rose, as to expect any improvement in them."
Between you and me, my reader, I am inclined to think Mrs. Sims had formerly lived in the obnoxious part of Boston. It is only a surmise, however; so don't repeat it.
Nestling deeper among the costly robes, Mrs. Sims took an after-church nap, while the coachman drove leisurely home. The nap was as essential to Mrs. Sims's constitution as the dinner which awaited her.
Meanwhile, in the church she had just left, several ladies are conversing earnestly with each other. "I am willing to do all in my power," said one, turning her truthful eyes upon the minister; "but you must tell us what to do!" "Visit them, give them work—and pay them for their work," was his answer.
"O!" said Mrs. Holden, drawing near, sighing deeply as she spoke—"O! I could not visit them! Italians have so little true refinement—I could not visit them. I will take them work, however," she added, as she saw the pastor's eyes darken. "Does it not make you sick to visit them, Brother Townsend? You are so fastidious."
Abram Townsend did not reply immediately. He was reviewing a picture he had seen two weeks before. He had climbed the rickety stairs of a tenement, and knocking at the first door, was bidden enter. A little girl, not over six years old, sat on the floor over-basting trousers. She looked up on seeing a stranger, but continued her work. "Ma isn't home," she said, in a hard, unchildlike voice. "We're out of coal, and she's gone after some. Are you a dunning man?" The prematurely large head, the underfed body, the deformed foot and pinched features of the child remained so indelibly fixed in Abram Townsend's mind, that only when memory fled, would he forget them. Before his mind was the picture as he had seen it the second time, a sour, shriveled mother, two boys, and three girls, all busy upon the United States postal uniforms. When about to leave, he had stopped beside the little girl whom he had first seen, and asked her name.
"Haven't any! Mother was always too busy to name me," was her reply.
Those were the pictures he saw in his mind, and he closed his eyes to shut the horrid visions out. Had he been asked a question? He opened his eyes, and said in husky tones, "Yes, Mrs. Holden, it does make me sick!"
Great was his surprise to hear Mrs. Holden answer from the other side of the church.
"We'll talk it over some other time! I heard Ella calling, and I must not keep the child waiting."
He stared about him as one in a dream as he saw Mrs. Holden and Ella leave the church. He had wounded the proud woman's feelings by his long silence, and he felt as if he had lost a powerful ally in his new scheme.
The pews were soon empty. He was alone. He leaned his head upon his hands. "To think of it! To think of women and children eking out a miserable existence in the cultured Boston, making pants for nine and ten cents a pair! Three pair a day was a big day's work, the woman told me. O God, is it any wonder that crime of every kind is committed, while such starved souls exist? Give me strength, O Lord, to break the crust of selfishness that covers the hearts of my congregation—a crust that I have helped to form. Heretofore, this has not been a Christian church, but a fashionable church! And Thy servant, Lord, has been a fastidious preacher! Grant me Thy pardon!"—Abram Townsend dropped on his knees in the aisle, and prayed as he had never prayed from the pulpit. Every pew was empty of mortal; but the unseen, immortal hosts of heaven heard the impassioned words of the young pastor. "Give me strength, O Lord, to bring to Thy fold the poor and the oppressed! Take from the hearts of my flock the seeds of pride and vanity I have helped to nurture! Make us humble in Thy sight, and grant the prayer now offered Thee from a newly awakened heart." The unseen hosts drew nearer; and when he said "Amen," they whispered in his ear, "Thou hast done well."
Abram Townsend rose to his feet, and realized that, altho he had preached the Gospel for ten years, he had been converted to the true religion of Jesus within the hour.
"O, ma!" said Walter Sims, rushing into the sitting-room the next Sabbath, "you missed a picnic by not going to church today. Old Abe had on a twenty-dollar suit—I'll bet a nickle it didn't cost a cent over that! And such a hat! Mrs. Holden took him for the new usher, and was greatly distressed at her mistake, but the gaffer told her he did not mind it, and he only hoped he would be as faithful a Christian as the new usher. What do you think of that?"
Walter seated himself at the piano and began drumming noisily. "Hush, hush, my son; your father is taking a nap," said Mrs. Sims, raising a warning finger. "O! O!" was Walter's reply. An this juncture Eva entered. She threw herself on the sofa, exclaiming: "He brought her right into our pew, mama, and introduced her to me! He said I must love her because her father and mother were dead. She had on such horrible shoes—and she looked so hungrily at my kid boots, I tucked my feet under my petticoats! She's so black, mama," and Miss Eva smiled at her reflection in the mirror, and was so glad she was not an Italian. Abram Townsend had adopted a little Italian girl, and had taken her to church with him. He had introduced her to the Sunday-school as his dear daughter,13whom they must all love. Would this act bring forth fruit? He asked himself the question over and over again, as he walked down the street holding Lucile's little hand in his. Lo! it had brought forth fruit already! His heart gave a joyous bound, and a feeling of paternal love came over him as he met the dreamy, loving eyes of the little child at his side. Once more the hosts immortal drew near, and whispered, "Thou hast done well!" The echo of the whisper formed itself into the tones of a voice that had for a few brief months made music in his home, and his hand unconsciously tightened on Lucile's. He had made a beginning, but alone he could do very little to alleviate the suffering so apparent in North End. What he wanted was the active co-operation of his congregation. He knew there was wealth enough and kind hearts enough among them, to make the joy-bells of heaven ring.
Mrs. Holden and Mrs. Sims held a lengthy debate as to the propriety of allowing their girls to call on Lucile Sanguinetti, and after a month's hesitation, decided to call on her themselves. Arriving at the parsonage, they found Mrs. Townsend surrounded by twenty or twenty-five girls from five to sixteen years old. Mr. Townsend's young sister was teaching the older ones shorthand, and she found them very apt pupils. Mrs. Sims raised her eyes in consternation at the sight of the dark faces and uncombed heads of some of the children. Mrs. Holden could not forbear a smile at the expression on her friend's face.
"It is but a small beginning," said Mrs. Townsend; "but the seeds sown here may bring forth a great harvest." Mr. Townsend, in his study, heard his wife's remark, and thanked God he had made the beginning. He longed to see the time when children could be children, as sweet as the flowers of spring and as happy as songbirds, when the yoke of poverty and crime should be lifted from their blameless necks. The two visitors very shortly took their leave, hoping the scheme would succeed.
A year later the fashionable church of the Rev. Abram Townsend had passed out of existence. Not that a cyclone had blown the structure away, or that the church-members had been swallowed in a sea of oblivion—nothing of the kind had happened. The same people heard the sermons, but they possessed different hearts than they had a year before. His "scheme" had succeeded beyond his highest hopes. Two hundred children had been taken from foul tenements, and almshouses, and received the same advantages as the children of the families that had taken them.
Mrs. Holden and Mrs. Sims were not behind in the good work after some one else had started it. They each had three waifs in their charge.
Mrs. Sims's bays and sleigh are not an uncommon sight at North End. And when the jingle of silver bells is heard, some weary woman knows that it will soon be her turn to see a glimpse of God's blue sky and hear the crisp snow as it crunches under the horses' hoofs; for it is now a part of Mrs. Sims's religion to take one or two of the overworked sisters for an hour's drive each day.
And Lucile! The minister and his wife are amply repaid for the love they have lavished upon her. She is truly a "King's daughter," and the crown she wears contains the gems, faith, hope, and charity.
"Drawing Nearer"
By George S. Lord
By George S. Lord
Yes, nearer, and still nearer,
The advent of our King;
The dawn is growing clearer;
Loud let your praises ring.
The way-marks are nigh past;
He's even at the door.
Be sure your anchor's fast,
Then joy forevermore.
