LOVE NEVER FAILETH by Dr. L. A. Bankes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 15.

“LOVE NEVER FAILETH.”

By Dr. L. A. Bankes

THERE is an oriental story of two brothers, Ahmed and Omar. Both wished to perform a deed whose memory should not fail, but which, as the years rolled on, might sound their name and praises far abroad. Omar, with wedge and rope, lifted a great obelisk and its base, carving its form in beautiful devices, and sculpturing many a strange inscription on its sides. He set it in the hot desert to cope with its gales. Ahmed, with deeper wisdom, and truer tho sadder heart, digged a well to cheer the sandy waste, and planted about it tall date-palms to make cool shade for the thirsty pilgrim and shake down fruits for his hunger. And these two deeds, says the one who tells the story, illustrate two ways in either of which we may live. We may think of self and worldly success and fame, living to make a name splendid as the tall, sculptured obelisk, but as cold and useless to the world. Or we may make our life like a well in the desert, with cool shade about it, to give drink to the thirsty, and shelter and refreshment to the weary and faint. How much better it is to be loving than famous! How much more glorious than to have a fame which, like the great Sphinx, will finally fade and wear away, is it to give forth, from a fountain of love, a stream of helpfulness that shall never fail!—Dr. L. A. Bankes, in S. S. Times.