I ATTENDED the funeral of a Failure the other day. At least the world practically united in calling him a failure, and why should mine be well-nigh the sole voice that is heard in dissent? Of course he was a failure; the world ought to know.
He had journeyed along his life-path, this Failure, until he had reached the place where the way is lost in the mists, and yet he had journeyed on. And then it had come to pass that men had asked concerning him that question which the world whispers by every coffin, "What was he worth?" and other men had answered, "Not a cent." And if the fact so announced does not prove that he was a failure—but of course it does prove it; else why does the world ask, "What was he worth?" instead of, "What good did he do?" or, "Who was the happier because he lived?"
It merely chanced that I was present at the Failure's funeral. Of course, as a matter of fact, I can not afford to devote much time to the obsequies of men who were worth "not a cent." I am like the rest of you in that respect; it is so much more satisfactory to be part of the cortege that accompanies the unsouled clay of one who accumulated millions and left every cent of them behind.
It was a very simple ceremony, as is quite fitting, of course, when the bones of a failure are stowed away. There were but two carriages besides the one in which the Failure took his last ride, and the dearth of floral emblems was noticeable. As for the officiating clergyman, I quite admired him. He must have known of course that the world was whispering, "Not a cent," and yet he really appeared to believe that the late deceased was an estimable character.
And there was one clothed in black, who knelt beside the coffin, and sobbed as tho her heart would break—wept thus for a failure, you understand. And there were children, three of them, who also cried because their father's arm of love no more would be about them. Queer conduct, this, by the pulseless clay of a failure; now, was it not?
And I talked with one man—a very commonplace person he was, believe me—who said:—
"He was one of God's noblemen; that's what he was. I never knew him to turn anybody down when he could do him a favor."
But, then, as I have said, the one who spoke these words was a very, very commonplace person, indeed, and I do not suppose that he had more than the glimmering of a perception of the splendor of that success that accumulates and leaves millions to the end that devoted heirs may contest the will.
I am free to say, altho the confession well may mark me as a weak man, with no particular scope of intellect, that I left that simple funeral service with a half-formed suspicion that the world does not display highest wisdom in the question it whispers by its dead. Probably I will recover from this feeling as soon as the first emotion born of that scene has died away. Naturally I hope so, for I earnestly desire to be as wise as the rest of you who ask of the dead, only, "What was he worth?" It seems pitiable to be behind our "Christian civilization" in recognition of the supreme test of living; it appears so foolish to entertain even a half suspicion that character should count more than dollars in the great mysterious game of life.
But, some way, as I looked on the little group that wept beside the coffin of Failure, I could but wonder with what "tongues of men and angels" I might speak to convince them that the one that slept was not a success in life. And I am assured that there are no tongues of men to accomplish such a result, and the tongues of angels must speak in quite another way.
THE REASON WHY.
A SCHOOLMASTER in a village school had, says the London Public Opinion, been in the habit of purchasing pork from parents of his pupils on the occasion of the killing of the pig. One day a small boy marched up to the master's desk and inquired if he would like a bit of pork, as they were going to kill their pig. The schoolmaster replied in the affirmative. Several days having elapsed, and having heard nothing of the pork, the master called the boy up to him, and inquired the reason he had not brought it. 'O, please, sir,' the boy replied, 'the pig got better!'
CRIPPLED MAGGIE'S GIFT TO THE LORD.
By Gertrude Manley Jones
THE minister's eyes swept with intense searching the faces of his congregation.
He had made an impassioned appeal for help in the support of a little mission church among the mountains—a section where rough men and women knew scarcely anything of God and the religion of Christ. He had hoped to inspire the people with the spirit of giving, to make them feel that it was a sweet, blessed privilege, and—he had failed. A deep sense of desolation crept over him.
"God help me," his lips murmured mutely. He could not see the bent figure of little crippled Maggie in the rear of the church—a figure that was trembling under the fire of his appeal.
"Lord Jesus," the little one was saying brokenly, "I ain't got nothin' ter give; I want the people in the mountains to hear 'bout my Saviour. O Lord, I ain't got nothin' ter--"
What was it that made the child catch her breath as tho a cold hand had taken hold of her heart? "Yes, you have, Maggie," whispered a voice from somewhere; "you've got your crutch, your beautiful crutch that was give ter you, and is worth a lot of shinin' dollars. You kin give up your best frien', what helps you to git into the park where the birds sing, and takes you to preachin', and makes your life happy."
"O, no, Lord!" sobbed the child, choking and shivering. "Yes, yes, I will! He gave up more'n that for me."
Blindly she extended the polished crutch and placed it in the hand of the deacon who was taking up the scanty collection. For a moment the man was puzzled; then, comprehending her meaning, he carried her crutch to the front of the church and laid it on the table in front of the old pulpit. The minister stepped down from the rostrum and held up the crutch with shaking hands. The sublimity of the renunciation unnerved him so that he could not speak for a moment.
"Do you see it, my people," he faltered at last; "little crippled Maggie's crutch—all that she has to make life comfortable? She has given it to the Lord, and you--"
"Does any one want to contribute to the mission cause the amount of money this crutch would bring and give it back to the child who is so helpless without it?" the minister asked gravely.
"Fifty dollars," came in husky tones from the banker.
"Twenty-five."
"One hundred."
And so the subscribing went on, until papers equivalent to $600 were lightly piled over the crutch on the table.
"Ah! you have found your hearts—thank God! Let us receive the benediction," almost whispered the minister as he suddenly extended his hands, which were trembling with emotion. Little Maggie, absorbed in the magnitude of her offering and the love that prompted it, comprehended nothing that had taken place. She had no thought for the future, of how she would reach her humble home, or of the days in which she would sit helpless in her chair as she had once done. Christ had demanded her all, and she had given it with the blind faith of an Abraham. She understood better when a woman's arms drew her into close embrace, and soft lips whispered in her ear: "Maggie,13dear, your crutch has made $600 for the mission church among the mountains, and has come back to stay with you again. Take it, little one."
Like a flash of light there came the consciousness that in some mysterious way her gift had been accepted of God, and returned to her, and with a cry of joy the child caught the beloved crutch to her lonely heart; then, smiling through her tears at the kind faces and reverential eyes, she hobbled out of the sanctuary.—Gertrude Manley Jones.
A FISHERMAN'S STRING.
By Ada Melville Shaw
I WENT a-fishin' one sweet summer day,
Bein' sick o' work an' wantin' to play.
I longed for a sight o' the woods an' things;
The smell o' ferns an' the whirrin' o' wings;
So I took my rod an' a piece o' pie,
An' I struck a path goes m'anderin' by
A brook that's plum full o' shinin' fish,
The purtiest ever was served on a dish.
There, shady an' snug-like, beside the brook
I fixed up my rod and baited my hook.
'Twas as sweet as heaven there in the shade,
The fragrantest day that God ever made.
The birds they was busy as gatherin' bees.
There was matin' goin' on in the trees.
An' I'd luck that day—the tidiest batch
As ever was fisherman's lot to catch.
First, I caught a sight o' a thing so sweet,
Outside o' Eden it couldn't be beat:
'Twas a nest o' babies—a robin brood,
All a-cheepin' an' pesterin' fer food.
How the old birds worked till each crop was filled,
An' every hungerin' cheep was stilled!
Then I thought o' the Father's love for me,
Till the tears brimmed up an' I couldn't see.
Next, I caught a sight o' a shinin' fin;
'Twas a trout enjoyin' his mornin' spin.
"God put you in there, ol' fellow," says I,
"An' there ain't no reason that you should die.
To-day there'll be fun an' freedom fer you;
I'll just let you swim, an' that's what I'll do!"
An' I surely caught, as I left him there,
Another sweet glimpse o' my Father's care.
So I stayed there an' "fished" the hull day through,
Enjoyin' the trees an' the sky o' blue,
The robin's clear call an' the pillow o' moss,
An' not a thing sufferin' hurt an' loss.
Yes, I might've shot an' I might've snared,
Or I might've hooked, but fer once I spared,
An' I caught in my heart, as I came away,
An echo of voice that seemed to say:
"Be kind, Thou good Father of us all,
To the man who loveth the robin's call,
Who looked on the fish and harmed it not,
And hurt no thing in this holy spot."
—Ada Melville Shaw.
33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye can not come; so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved 35 you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 “Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; 37 but thou shalt follow afterwards. Peter saith unto Him, Lord, why can not I follow Thee even now? I will lay down my life 38 for Thee. Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for Me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice.
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe 2 also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place 3 for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, 4 and will receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye 4 may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way. Thomas 5 saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; how 6 know we the way? Jesus saith unto Him, I am the way, and 7 the truth, and the life; no one cometh unto the Father, but by 7 Me. If ye had known Me, ye would have known My Father 8 also; from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. Philip 9 saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto Him, Have I been so long 9 time with you, and dost thou not know Me, Philip? he that 10 hath seen Me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show 10 us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, 11 and the Father in Me? the words that I say unto you I speak 11 not from Myself; but the Father abiding in Me doeth His 12 works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father 12 in Me; or else believe Me for the very works’ sake. Verily, 12 verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; 13 because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask 14 in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified 15 in the Son. If ye shall ask Me anything in My name, that will 16 I do. If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. And 16 I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may be with you forever, even the Spirit of 17 truth; whom the world can not receive; for it beholdeth Him 18 not, neither knoweth Him; ye know Him; for He abideth with 19 you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I come 20 unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth Me no 20 more; but ye behold Me; because I live, ye shall live also. 21 In that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in 21 Me, and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and 22 keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me 22 shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will 23 manifest Myself unto him. Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto 23 Him, Lord, what is come to pass that Thou wilt manifest 24 Thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered 24 and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My word; 24 and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and 25 make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not 26 My words; and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the 26 Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding 26 with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom 27 the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all 28 things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto 28 you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you; not 29 as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be 29 troubled, neither let it be fearful. Ye heard how I said to you, 30 I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would 31 have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father; for the Father is 31 greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to 32 pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. I will no 33 more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh; 34 and he hath nothing in Me; but that the world may know that 35 I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, 36 even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
What questions did Peter ask, and what bold assertion did he make? Verses 36, 37. (John 21:18.)
What reply did Jesus make to Peter’s assertion? Verse 38. (Luke 22:31-34.)
By what words did Jesus then seek to comfort the disciples concerning His anticipated departure? John 14:1-4. (John 17:24; Acts 1:11.)
What question did Thomas ask concerning these words? How was it answered? Verses 5-7. (Heb. 10:19, 20.)
What caused perplexity in Philip’s mind? How was it met? Verses 8-14. (Heb. 1:1-3; John 1:18.)
What wonderful promise was then vouchsafed to all who really keep the Lord’s commandments? Verses 15-18. (Acts 9:31.)
Altho the departure of Christ was to prevent the world from seeing Him, how were His believers to see Him? Verses 19-21. (John 10:38.)
What point seemed greatly to trouble Judas? Verse 22. How did the Saviour settle his question? Verses 23, 24. Note 1. (1 John 2:24.)
How did Jesus propose to settle all these difficulties of the mind during His personal absence from earth? Verses 25-27. (1 John 2:20, 27.)
What was true love for Jesus to do for His disciples? Verse 28. Note 2.
For what reason did the Saviour desire, at this point, to refuse long talks with His disciples? Verse 30. (John 12:31; 16:11.)
Having revealed to the disciples this fact concerning Satan, what did He say? Verse 31. (Matt. 26:30.)
Side Light.—“Desire of Ages,” chapter 73.
NOTES.
1. How is it?—At first thought it seemed strange that, with so long a tutelage under the Saviour Himself, so many should have quibbled about how His promises were to be fulfilled. Their difficulty arose from a gross misconception of the nature of Christ’s rule, supposing it to be an earthly reign upon the Jewish throne, after the fashion of worldly kings, while many now, tho having discarded that view, mistake the nature of Christ’s reign in the heart, and so doubt His ability or purpose to fulfil His promise of power, because the heart is not fully yielded to Him, thus barring out simple faith.
2. Ye would rejoice.—Used in connection with what goes before it, this text shows that as Jesus only acted and spoke as the Father in Him prompted, so in His going away and leaving His disciples with the same power dwelling in them that had moved Him in everything, they ought to rejoice in the thought of having the power direct from One who is above all. It is, therefore, the privilege of every believer to have the same power dwelling within him by which Jesus moved, spoke, and did the miracles that characterized Him as the Son of God. This is what the reception of the Holy Ghost in its fulness will do for every child of God.
"I LEFT HER TO GOD."
In West Africa a society in England has a school for the poor native children. One day in that school a little girl struck her schoolmate. The teacher found it out and asked the child who was struck:—
"Did you not strike her back again?"
"No, ma'am," said the child.
"What did you do?" asked the teacher.
"I left her to God," said she.
A beautiful and most efficient way to settle all difficulties, and prevent all fights among children and among men. We shall never be struck by others when they know that we shall not return the blow, but "leave them to God." Then, whatever our enemies do or threaten to do to us, let us leave them to Him, praying that He will forgive them and make them our friends.—Selected.
WISHES AND WORK.
"IT seems to me that I would give anything in the world to make those keys sing as you do," a girl said one evening to a friend. The answer came instantly:—
"You need not give 'anything in the world.' Two hours' conscientious practise every day for five or six years would do it. Would you give that?"
The girl flushed a little, and then looked up, half laughing. "No," she answered honestly, "I know that I wouldn't. I would get tired and give it up in three months. But I thought I was telling the truth. I didn't mean to be insincere."
We never mean to be insincere, and yet is it not true that many of our wishes are not worth the breath it takes to put them into words? For if we wished earnestly enough we should not rest content with sighing—we should set ourselves to win the things we want. In nine cases out of ten patience and perseverance would answer our wishes for us.—Forward.
READ THIS SLOWLY, AND THINK.
Does my life please God?
Am I studying my Bible daily?
Am I enjoying my Christian life?
Is there any one I can not forgive?
Have I ever won a soul to Christ?
How much time do I spend in prayer?
Am I trying to bring my friends to Christ?
Have I ever had a direct answer to prayer?
Is there anything I can not give up for Christ?
Just where am I making my greatest mistake?
How does my life look to those who are not Christians?
How many things do I put before my religious duties?
Have I ever tried giving one-tenth of my income to the Lord?
Is the world being made better or worse by my living in it?
Am I doing anything I would condemn in others?—Presbyterian Endeavorer.
A CENTURY CLUB.
A CLUB has been organized in New York City every member of which has pledged himself to do the best he can to live one hundred years. Dr. Wiley, of the Agricultural Department of Washington, D. C., is the president of the club. Such a club ought to be organized in every city, for centenarians are getting scarce. The cause is without doubt the excessive use of meats and the neglect of cereals. It has long been known that vegetarians are longer lived than are meat eaters. Dogs are old and rheumatic at ten, and die at fourteen, whereas the donkey is still frisky at forty, and easily lives to half a century. The nut-eating Indians of Southern California still live to the age of 130 years and more. Meat shortens life by hardening the arteries, which produces old age prematurely and death from apoplexy through rupture of the brittle arteries. This is the natural result of the accumulation of uric acid in the body. Meat contains uric acid in great quantities. The general disuse of cereals is due to the increasing prevalence of amylaceous dyspepsia, or starch indigestion, which is the natural result of the use of half-cooked cereal foods. Starch must be dextrinized by dry cooking at a temperature of 300° to render it readily digestible. Half-cooked starch causes sour stomach, flatulence, bloating, colic, anemia, headache, weakness, neurasthenia, intestinal catarrh, and numerous other evils.
The characteristic quality of the Battle Creek Sanitarium Health Foods is the cooking or dextrinization of the farinaceous elements. It is this thorough cooking which renders toasted bread more digestible than ordinary bread. This crude and imperfect method, improved upon and perfected, has produced a series of health foods which are more digestible and nutritious than any others found upon the market. The chief of these is Granola, which is unexcelled for brain and nerve-building qualities. It has a rich, nutty flavor that is so much enjoyed by the athlete and invalid, and can be assimilated by the stomach of the dyspeptic as well as the robust. Sold in pound packages by grocers.
Readers of the SIGNS who will send the name of a grocer who does not sell Granola, to the Sanitarium Health Food Co., Battle Creek, Mich., will receive a free sample.
KNOWING AND OBEYING THE LORD
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
How can any one who is in fellowship with Christ's sufferings, refuse to obey His will and do His work? Yet there are people who know the terms of salvation, which are plainly revealed in the word of God. They listen to the message which the Lord sends through His delegated servants, but, although they assent to the truth, they will not obey. They have not genuine faith to appropriate God's promises to themselves. They do not regard Him as their personal Saviour, in whom they may trust as a child trusts its loving parents. They do not regard God as a loving heavenly Father, who has provided for them a perfect Saviour, a never-failing Friend, an infallible Guide and Teacher.
THE LAW OF LOVE
By G. E. Fifield
BY G. E. FIFIELD.
"God is love." His law is the law of love. His government is not arbitrary, and maintained by force, as are all earthly governments. His government is the government of love. He did not say to our first parents, and to all mankind, "Do right and I will let you live, but do wrong and I will kill you." There are certain principles which underlie all intelligent action. Obedience to these principles is happiness; disobedience to them is misery, pain, and death. God in infinite wisdom foreknew, and in infinite love foretold, these principles, saying to all, "This way, my child. Here is joy and peace. Do not go that way; there is only sorrow and death." Every jot and tittle of this law is thus seen to be only love; and love, therefore, is its fulfillment. Jesus said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
CHRIST came to set men free. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me . . . to proclaim
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BIBLE AUTHORITY FOR SUNDAY
OBSERVANCE.
NEARLY all denominations of Christians claim to
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HE SAVES TO THE UTTERMOST
Every accountable human being has draw-
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THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.
BY M. C. WILCOX.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith."
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"HAVE FAITH IN GOD."
BY M. C. WILCOX.
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ACCEPTABLE SERVICE.
BY A. G. DANIELLS
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YOUR LIFE WORK: IS IT OF MEN OR OF GOD?
BY W. N. GLENN.
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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
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"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh awa;
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THE LITERAL WEEK.
BY E. J. WAGGONER.
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By J. H. Durland
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THE NEW BIRTH.
BY J. H. DURLAND.
In the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ God is ever held before us as a being of love. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. He is not willing that any should perish. His wish is that all should live eternally. Satan, by his deceptions, not only ensnared our first parents, but has been successful in bringing the human family into bondage. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. The great deceiver desires to keep all in his bonds, that he may at last cast them down to destruction, thus defeating the purpose of God. While God does not save man against his will, yet He has provided everything that can be provided to show His mighty power to those who will believe. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God, and such we are." 1 John 3:1, Revised Version. But when we speak of