Earlier text: GOD'S CARE FOR HIS CHILDREN“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what He will speak with me.” NOMINAL CHRISTIANITY’S SELFISHNESS.
THE “Christian nation” theory got a severe wound in the house of its friends in this city on “Easter” evening. The pastor of the First M. E. Church evidently believes there are Christian nations in this world, because he speaks of them as such. But some expressions in his Easter discourse would tend to pull the foundation from under the theory. In course of his sermon he is reported to have said:— “Christianity increases wealth; the Christian nations are to-day the wealthy nations in all the earth; but the beneficence of Christianity has not kept pace with her increase in wealth. It takes 6,000 Christians to maintain one missionary; only one missionary to every 6,000 Christians; if our patriotism in the recent9 war had not been greater than that, our army would only have numbered 8,000 or 10,000. Christian people spend every year on luxuries and superfluities $6,000,000,000; if ten per cent of that were given to God, we would have $600,000,000 at once for the crying moral needs of the world. Then, besides, Christian people spend another $6,000,000,000 on conveniences and comforts, five per cent of which would give us another $300,000,000 for those who are crying for the bread of life.” The apostle Paul gives us the true idea of Christianity in these words: “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9. The Spirit of Christ gave all, even to his life, for the salvation of souls. This was “the joy set before him.” Did his Christianity increase his wealth in this world? Let him answer: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” And what is his advice to his followers?—“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The first Christian church that was organized was raised up under the direct outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and it manifested the Spirit of Christ. Here is the record of that church: “Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” This kind of Christianity, that which is recognized in the Word of God, and therefore that which will be recognized in the judgment, does not increase wealth in this world. Therefore the “wealthy nations in all the earth” can not be Christian nations. And this fact is further proved by the statement in the foregoing quotation that “the beneficence of Christianity has not kept pace with her increase in wealth.” That Christianity which has the Spirit of Christ—and such only is Christianity at all—always gives as God has prospered; it never robs God in tithes and offerings. Such Christianity only can have the favor of God; “for God loveth a cheerful giver.” The statistics given in our quotation of the sermon in question are a complete refutation of the “Christian nation” claim. “It takes 6,000 Christians to maintain one missionary!” This is true, of course, from the standpoint of nominal Christianity, and it is a fearful arraignment. If we are to reckon all these so-called Christian nations as Christian, and all the “flower garden” congregations as Christians, then these figures must demonstrate the utter failure of Christianity to do anything in this world but to increase wealth and make a gorgeous display. But Jesus Christ did neither, and his true disciples never have shown either of these characteristics. There are single churches, not wealthy either, which support their missionary in foreign lands, and in some cases single individuals have done so. The apostle Paul, himself a missionary, worked with his own hands to help sustain other laborers. But to whom do the figures herein cited apply more aptly than to the high-salaried ministry of nominal Christianity? It is said that the average salary of the Methodist minister is considerably less than $1,000 a year. Suppose it is $1,000, then, upon a rule of equality, the minister who has $3,000 a year, if he had the Spirit of Christ or the disposition of Paul, would himself support two missionaries. However, we commend this Easter exposé of selfishness on the part of the professed Christianity of the world to the serious consideration of all who claim to follow the meek and lowly and self-denying Jesus. “Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.” NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to “explain” a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid,” also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves. God chooses none for eternal destruction. He calls all to eternal righteousness and life. See Eze. 33:11; John 3:16; Rev. 22:17. We have not space in this department to explain all these texts. See “Bible Students’ Library” No. 67, entitled “Bible Election;” price, 3 cents. WHAT is meant by the “Testimonies” the SIGNS refers to so often? C. N. R. The “Testimonies” refer to books written by Mrs. E. G. White, in which we believe the Lord has given special practical instruction to his church in the development of truths in the Word of God. Isa. 65:20 has been explained frequently of late. It is a prophecy of the future, the first part of the verse relating to the happy new earth state. From that time forward it will not be as here. There will not be people growing old, nor little infants, and the last part of the verse tells us why; before that state begins, the wicked of all ages will have all perished. No. 550. The God of the Living.
PLEASE explain Matt. 22:32. Is not God the God of the righteous dead? S. R. C. The text says that he is the God of the living. He does not count the righteous as dead. Righteousness is life. They only sleep. In his purpose they are alive, for he will raise up to immortality all who are found clothed in his righteousness. Their life is hid with him. Col. 3:3. He is “not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him.” Luke 20:38. He calls “those things which be not as tho they were” (Rom. 4:17), because in him they are. PLEASE explain Heb. 13:10, "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle." L. A. P. The altar is that whereon the victim was laid; and it is here used as a figure of that which was placed on it. For the priests anciently did not eat the altar, but of the altar, what was placed on the altar. Jesus is our sacrifice, who died for us. All who believe in him are "partakers of Christ," and by faith eat his flesh and drink his blood,—are sharers in his sufferings and life. But of this those who still clung to the old tabernacle, with its obsolete rites, the significance of which had passed away, had no right to eat. That right can only come by faith; and faith would look to Jesus, not the ceremony. No. 553. Resurrection of Moses.
Is it held by some that Moses was raised from the dead (Deut. 34:5, 6), and like Christ ascended to heaven? If such a view is held, how can it be established, since Christ himself became the first-fruits of them that slept? 1 Cor. 15:20. Moses was raised from the dead. Proof: (1) In the dispute between Michael, the Archangel [Christ], and the devil over the body of Moses, our Lord must have been victorious. See Jude 9. Satan claims the dead as his lawful prisoners (Isa. 14:17); Christ, the Lifegiver, sets them free (Ps. 146:7). (2) Moses was with Christ on the mount of transfiguration as the representative of the dead who will be raised at Christ's coming. "First-fruits" refers to precedence in rank rather than point of time. Is THE custom of church letters, such as is now used in transferring members from one church to another, at all like the letters of recommendation which Paul gave to Tychicus (Col. 4:7, 8), and others at different times? If such custom be discontinued, how would it be possible to move from place to place and at the same time continue in the apostolic fellowship (Acts 2:42), since the spirit of immediate discernment is not apparent in the church at the present time in such measure as it was during the days of Peter (Acts 5:3, 4)? Somewhat similar, perhaps, tho much less formal. Letters of recommendation were given at times. See 1 Cor. 16:3. The apostle's fellowship is not dependent on church letters; for "truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3. Fellowship with God means harmony with him; and if we have harmony with him, we have fellowship one with another. All, even in apostolic times, did not have discernment of spirits. See Acts 8:5-23. Kindly explain Rom. 7:15-25. We do not understand its meaning. In general the passage reveals the state of a sinner’s mind whom the Spirit of God by the law has convicted of sin. He sees that he has transgressed a holy and good law. He longs to do differently, but finds himself in bondage to sin, his master. His mind admires and reverences the law of God. He hates sin. And yet he commits sin. His mind is in bondage to the flesh. The Spirit reveals to him the holiness of God’s law without. In the beginning that same law was written in man; but the sinner finds that good law perverted in himself; and tending to sin and death, warring against the good law of God unperverted by sin, and which his mind delights in. But he can not do it, for sin binds him. In his agony he exclaims, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Jesus Christ is there revealed, and the sinner finds deliverance from sin in his Saviour. Finding deliverance, he serves the law in which his mind delights; he is free from the domination of the flesh. The question at issue between the Jews and Jesus was not as to what kinds of food was best; he who gave the law of clean and unclean meats, doubtless respected it. The question with the Jews was the transgression of the "tradition of the elders," eating with unwashed hands; with Jesus it was how to convince them that the seat of character was in the heart, the affections. If a man's heart was right, mere ceremonial defilement would do him no harm. Nature would care for what he ate. But the secret of character is in the heart, in the things cherished there. The evil thoughts, purposes, motives, passions of the natural heart, where sin is enthroned, manifest in kindred deeds, are the things that defile. Let the heart be made clean by God's power and the deeds will be right. Let the heart remain uncleansed, and no ceremony will save from defilement. Read Matt. 12:33-35. Millennial Reign
By Editor
No. 557. Millennial Reign.
Do NOT Rev. 20:6 (last part) and Rev. 5:10 prove that the reign during the 1,000 years will be on this earth? —S. Not at all. Rev. 5:10 declares in that anticipatory song, “We shall reign on the earth;” but it does not say when. The thousand years’ reign in the New Jerusalem in heaven is the beginning of the eternal reign; but it differs from what comes after in that it is a work of judgment over what is written in the books with respect to the wicked. John 13:36; 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17, with Rev. 14:1-3; 15:2, 3; 19:1, conclusively show that at Christ’s second coming the saints are taken to heaven, to the many mansions in the city of God. The sea of glass and the throne, Rev. 4:1-6 shows to be in heaven. During this time the earth lies empty, desolate of inhabitants. And yet the saints have entered upon their inheritance, for the glorious city which they have sought (Heb. 13:14) is a part of the eternal kingdom (Heb. 11:14-16; Rev. 21:1, 2). John 17:24, to which our correspondent refers, takes in not only Christ’s work in heaven during the thousand years, but the whole eternal reign. PLEASE explain Isa. 29:11, 12, in comparison with the explanation made by the Latter-day Saints. G. W. B. The reader may do his own comparing. The passage reads: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I can not; for it is sealed; and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned." It states a general truth concerning a backslidden people in all the great crises of history. Turning from God, they can not read or understand his prophetic warnings. This was true at the first advent. It is emphatically true now in these last days as regards the book of Revelation and other prophecies. The learned men say, "It is sealed; it can not be understood." The ignorant who follow men instead of God, say, "I am not learned; ask the pastor or priest." But God desires us to know his Word. Roman Catholicism Always and Everywhere the Same.
By Editor
This is a fact which we hear constantly affirmed, because in its very nature it must be so, because Roman Catholicism says so, and because the prophetic word also declares it. And yet Protestants who do not like to be unpopular are continually telling us that the Roman Catholic Church is not the same that she was in the Dark Ages, and that she is different in Mexico, Spain, Central and South America, from what she is in this country. She is more enlightened, we are told, in America and England. Hear what the chief Catholic paper of America, the Catholic Mirror, of Baltimore, of April 17, says upon this point. In speaking of a lecture of Mr. F. Hopkinson Smith, who apologized as above for the Catholic Church, the Mirror says:— “This discloses how little Mr. Smith really knows of the church, for her practices, ceremonies, and doctrines are the same everywhere—the doctrines absolutely so, and very little difference as to the rites and customs. The Sacrament of Penance in Mexico is identical with that in the United States, China, Africa, and everywhere else on the globe. Certain Protestants like Mr. Smith have a way of pretending that in their travels they found Catholicism in Spain, Mexico, Italy, and some other places, different from that in England and the United States; and so we hear of laxity in the religious orders and of license among the people. It is untrue. Unprejudiced travelers bear testimony to the fact that, while some of the local customs, which have little or no connection with religious belief, are different from ours, the piety of the people is deep and sincere. And as for carelessness with regard to religious obligation among the Orders, it is in those very places that a misstep on the part of a man or woman consecrated to God, excites the greatest horror.” How long will it be ere Protestants will believe that Rome is unchanged? It looks now that that time will not come till Protestantism has become thoroughly Romanized, and then she will love Rome as Rome was, and with Romanists will even defend the inquisition. And the day draweth on apace. Extravagance and Ruin.
By Editor
Earnest statesmen and students of economics are lifting warning voices relative to the extravagance of this nation and its consequent ruin, unless retrenchment be made the order of the day. The London Spectator says:— "Men still living can remember well when in France every half million of State expenditure was watched with grudging jealousy, when Joseph Hume was an object of dread to every department of the British Government, and when every American boasted that under the Federal system a citizen was almost untaxed, that pensions were unknown and impossible, and that the idea of a national debt was as much hated as that of a standing army." But this can not be said now. The Spectator remarks: "What is certain is that the American Government is going to tax its people almost as bad as the English were taxed when Sydney Smith wrote of taxation with a pen dipped in oil of vitriol." Ex-Secretary of Agriculture, J. Sterling Morton, shows in the April Forum that in 1840, with a population of only 17,000,000, the per capita expense was only $1.41, while in 1890, with 62,000,000 population, the expenditures of the government amounted to $4.75 per capita. These are "net ordinary expenditures" in these respective fiscal years. The gross expenditures per capita were: 1840, $1.65; 1890, $10.06. Says Mr. Morton:— "Sound economists hold that under ordinary conditions the cost of administration should decline per capita as population increases. And no authority will contend that with a population of 62,000,000 the cost per capita should aggregate three times as much as it was in 1840." "Why should there be billions appropriated now where 500 millions to 800 millions would be sufficient for legitimate governmental disbursements?" "The gigantic sums smuggled out of the treasury, disguised as necessary for sundry civil expenses, are increasing from year to year. This is shown by the fact that during the years from 1888 to 1897 there was taken by this method $284,602,604. This startling sum is an increase of more than 58 millions of dollars over the amount appropriated by the same system of false pretense in legislation in the preceding decade. Thus ten years developed an increase of 25 per cent in appropriations for 'sundry civil expenses.' As a further comparison, the appropriations by Congress under this heading for the fiscal years 1878, 1879, and 1880, amounted to $61,772,715; while for the fiscal years of 1895, 1896, and 1897, the amount was $90,764,590—an increase of more than forty-seven per cent." But the majority of the people are as extravagant as the government. Wants are multiplied, simplicity and frugality are forgotten; self-denial is confined to Lent, or a self-denial week, on the part of most professed Christians. What we wish to note is that all these evidences are signs of decay and national ruin. So went Babylon, Persia, Grecia, Rome. INDIRECT LYING.
By Julia H. Duffie
My friend, if you have really made up your mind to try to deceive some one, go about it in a straightforward way, tell a square falsehood and be done with it; but please don't do that despicable thing, beat about the bush and endeavor to accomplish the very same thing and at the same time save yourself the danger of being caught, and possibly hoping to ease your conscience by persuading it that what you are doing isn't quite so bad as direct falsehood after all. Any indirect means, by which you seek to cast a coloring which you know to be false, upon the conduct of another, any measure by which you seek to attribute to them motives which you know they would scorn to hold quite as much as yourself, is as much worse than open, direct falsehood as the act of one who strikes another in the back is worse than that of one who meets his enemy openly, granting him equal opportunities with himself. If you have a charge against another which you are afraid to bring in an open, Bible-appointed way, it is quite likely your charge is false. This species of false witness is accomplished by various means, by implication, inference, by the sly use of witty illustrations, etc. Sarcasm and ridicule are the well-known weapons of those who lack the weapons of truth and love. He who seeks in all his dealings with others to be guided by honorable, straightforward principles has no human means of grappling with this slimy serpent of artful misrepresentation. Yet he may calmly wait and rest in the assurance that this sin of indirect lying will eventually, with its less despicable brother, find its way to the lake of fire, to rise no more. INTOLERANCE.
By George E. Price
'Twas long ago, and in the gladsome days
When time uncounted comes to youthful hearts,
And when the present joys and sorrows seem
The sum of earthly life, eclipsing oft
The true and noble by their violent moods.
The day was past, and in the twilight hour
I heard my mother tell of power divine—
The majesty that rolls in trackless paths
Uncounted millions in complex array
And sweet accord, the symphony of time.
In awe and fear I left my mother's knee
And sought my chamber. There a brother's voice
In lisping prayer I heard ascending up
To this same Being, in an earnest plea
For broken toys, the darlings of his life.
My thoughts, so foreign to these childish words,
In strange resentment surged. Nor scarce could I
Restrain my voice or hands until he rose.
"What foolishness," I then began, "to think
That God will hear and mend your broken toys!
Better to wait until you older grow,
Or learn from others how folks ought to pray."
The little fellow stood defenseless, mute.
But as I thought my victory complete,
I felt a hand upon my shoulder laid.
"My son," I heard my mother's voice begin,
"Are we not all dependent on His care
Who holds the worlds in line? And should we then
Think aught beneath the notice of that Mind
Who moulds each flower and bud with careful art
Far from the gaze of man? Or should we here,
As mutually responsible to Him
Alone, debate each other's dues; or seek
By angry words or acts to show that we
Alone can worship Him aright?
'Twere better far to heed each duty's call
As we may hear it, and in humbleness
Refrain from forcing others to obey
And worship only as we think is best."
GEO. E. PRICE. [A writer in Chatterbox, whose name is not given, says that the following is a true story.] "WHEN I had been about twenty years in the postal service," began the old man in his quavering voice, "a farmer one day made me a present of a collie pup of a pure breed. I named him Garry. As he grew up, I taught him almost everything a dog could learn. He got so that he could understand what was said as well as any human being." "When he was old enough, I took him with me on my journeys, and very soon he got so used to it that he really seemed to think it was as much his duty as mine, and when I let him carry the satchel, there was no prouder dog in all England." "I had to be up very early in the morning, get my letters as soon as they were sorted, and be at my destination by 9:30, where I delivered them to the postmaster in the village, who kept a grocer's shop and post-office combined." "It was pleasant enough in the summer months, but during the winter it was a cold, dreary walk—dangerous, too, in the dark mornings to any one not used to the path, as one part of it ran along the edge of a deserted stone quarry, over which the unwary traveler might easily step if he missed the beaten track." "But as Garry and I knew every foot of the way, I never felt the least misgivings, no matter how dark the morning, except when there had been a heavy fall of snow, and then I trusted to the dog, who would walk on ahead. By following his footsteps I found that I never lost the path." "One dark December morning, the snow lying thick upon the ground, and a cold north wind blowing, I started on my usual journey in company with my faithful friend." "Tho muffled up in great coat and comforter, the wind seemed to pierce through all my clothing, and the hair about my face was soon stiff with ice." "\"We shall have a rough time of it, old fellow,\" I said to Garry, whose only answer was a short bark and a roll in the snow. Then, shaking his coat, he settled down to his business as a guide, going a few steps in advance of me." "The exertion of tramping through the snow soon set the blood tingling through my veins, and on I went, feeling as warm and comfortable as circumstances would allow." "After an hour's hard walking we came to the old quarry, Garry as usual taking the lead." "The snow was almost knee-deep here, making it hard work for me, and harder for poor Garry." "But we plodded on, and at last came to the stump of an old tree, by which I knew that we were past the dangerous part of our journey." "The snow was not nearly so deep as we got farther on, which made it much better walking; but before we had done another mile, large flakes began to fall thick and fast." "Knowing the danger of being caught in a snow-storm in that neighborhood, I increased my pace, and pushed on with all possible speed." "In descending a steep incline I lost my footing, and fell heavily, with my right leg twisted under me." "Garry was by my side in an instant, and I tried to rise, but there was something the matter with my leg, and I fell back sick and faint with pain. I tried again and again, but every time I made the attempt I suffered dreadful torture. Plainly the limb was broken. What was I to do?" "I was lying there perfectly helpless, and a snow-storm was coming on." "There was little chance of anybody passing that way unless I was missed and a search made. But I might die before then." "The postmaster at the village to which I was bound would think the road was blocked, and that I had not attempted the journey, if I did not turn up at the usual time; and, on the other hand, my wife would think I had got safely to my destination, and was waiting there until I could make the return journey in safety. What should I do?" "Looking helplessly round for something that might suggest a means of deliverance, my eyes met those of my faithful dog, who sat in the snow, looking into my face and whining piteously." "Suddenly it occurred to me that if I could send the dog on to the village he might bring help. But he had never yet gone alone, and I was afraid that he would not leave me." "So it appeared; for, in spite of coaxing and threats, he steadily refused to budge from my side." "As a last resource I took off my satchel, and, strapping it firmly on his back, said: \"Garry, take that to the post-office. Go on, boy.\"" "Wagging his tail and barking, as much as to say, \"Now I understand,\" he darted off through the snow, leaving me alone, with a deadly faintness creeping over me and a fear at my heart that I should be found dead." "The snow fell thicker and faster, gradually burying me." "For a time I suffered dreadfully from my broken leg and the intense cold, but after a while a sensation of numbness came over me, and I felt a strong desire to go to sleep. I battled against this feeling with all my energies, knowing how dangerous such a sleep is—but at last I yielded, and knew no more." "When I regained consciousness, I was in a warm bed; the postmaster's wife was holding some beef tea to my lips, while Garry sat by the bedside." "By the doctor's aid and the kind treatment I received, I was soon on the way to recovery, and then I heard the particulars of my rescue." "It seems that Garry, after leaving me, made the best of his way to the village, and presented himself in the postmaster's little shop about ten o'clock, seemingly almost exhausted, with the satchel entangled about his legs in such a manner as to cause wonder as to how he got through the snow at all." "As you may imagine, the appearance of the dog filled the mind of the postmaster with alarm. But that was not enough for Garry. As soon as he was relieved from the satchel, he rushed into the street, barking violently, as if he would say, \"Follow me.\"" "The postmaster at last understood it. The alarm was given, and a dozen stout fellows, provided with a hurdle and restoratives, set out upon the search, guided by the faithful dog." "They found me, sir, and you know the rest. But they might never have found me if it had not been for Garry." "There were six inches of snow over me when he led them to the spot, and began to scratch at the snow and whine piteously, as if to say, \"He is here.\"" "Garry and I had many a journey over the same road after that; and when he grew old and feeble, and no longer able to walk so far, he would stand at the cottage door and watch me off, and when I came back, was always first to give me a welcome." "He has been dead for many years now, and I haven't very long to live, but as long as I have my memory, Garry will never be forgotten." A CANADIAN climber, the physianthus albens, has received the name of "cruel plant" from its treatment of butterflies. It flowers in the month of August, and the butterflies, attracted by the perfume, hover around it in large numbers and push their trunks into the corollas to sip the honey. A pair of sensitive vegetable pincers in the heart of the flower grips the delicate proboscis, and, in spite of struggles to get free, the butterfly hangs suspended until it dies, says the New York Commercial Advertiser. Apparently the plant has nothing to gain by the death of the insect, as it is not "carnivorous," like the Venus fly-trap. In fact, if the butterfly were allowed to come and go, it would tend to foster the species by assisting cross-fertilization. It appears, however, that the "cruel plant" came originally from Brazil, where the butterflies are much stronger and extricate their suckers from the trap. We may add that another Canadian plant, the cnicus discolor, is charged with cruelty. The flower has a gland which secretes a viscous liquid capable of liming insects which are fond of it. Moreover, they seem to be stupefied and poisoned by it, and no reason can as yet be assigned for the deadly consequence. THE preservation of the eyesight is a matter of the utmost importance to the individual as well as to society. We commend especially the following rules, by Dr. L. W. Fox, Professor of Ophthalmology, Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia:— 1. Avoid sudden changes from dark to brilliant light. 2. Avoid the use of stimulants and drugs which affect the nervous system. 3. Avoid reading when lying down, or when mentally and physically exhausted. 4. When the eyes feel tired, rest them by looking at objects at a long distance. 5. Pay special attention to the hygiene of the body, for that which tends to promote the general health acts beneficially upon the eye. 6. Up to forty years of age, bathe the eyes twice daily in cold water. 7. After fifty, bathe the eyes morning and evening with water so hot that you wonder how you stand it; follow this with cold water, that will make them glow with warmth. 8. Old persons should avoid reading much by artificial light, be guarded as to diet, and avoid sitting up late at night. 9. Do not depend on your own judgment in selecting spectacles. 10. Do not give up in despair when you are informed that a cataract is developing; remember that in these days of advancing surgery it can be removed with little danger to the vision.
—Medical World. DR. BAEDEKER, who has made a journey to Eastern Siberia from the Transcaucasus, was ascending on one occasion a mountain side near Shemaka, at night. In the gray dawn his party was hailed by an Armenian shepherd, who was followed by his flock, and who bore a weakly lamb in his arms. Presently, the man stood still, and bent in an attitude of anxious listening for some time, then gently laid the lamb on the ground, and, calling his dog, committed the flock to its keeping, while he started off alone into the rocky solitude. Dr. Baedeker and his guides waited to see the result; and, in about an hour, the shepherd's figure stood out in the sunrise on the heights above, and with it that of the lost sheep he had gone in the wilderness to seek. What poem on earth could be more touching or more beautiful than this scene, older than history, yet new every morning.—Selected. THE Medical Record tells us the following, which certainly would do no harm to try: "An apostle of physical culture says that an excellent and never-failing cure for nervous headache is the simple act of walking backward. Ten minutes is as long as is usually necessary to promenade. It sometimes, however, requires more than ten minutes to walk at all, if one is very 'nervous.' But it is not understood that it is necessary to walk a chalk line. Any kind of walking will do, provided it is backward. It is well to get in a long, narrow room, where the windows are high, and walk very slowly, placing first the ball of the foot on the floor, and then the heel. Besides curing the headache, this exercise promotes a graceful carriage. A half hour's walk backward every day will do wonders toward producing a graceful gait."