Earlier text: FOR ME AND THEEOne Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By W. J. Stone
For Special Work at Home and Abroad
THERE were never greater evidences that we are nearing the consummation of all things and the second coming of Christ, than at the present time. Whichever way the eye turns, unmistakable evidences appear. Perhaps by taking a glimpse backward we could better comprehend what is before us. When I embraced the truth over thirty years ago, there were only 8,000 Adventists in the world, but in a short time our numbers had increased to 10,000. Ten years later we had doubled in numbers and increased to 20,000; and in the next ten years our records showed that we had doubled again, and there were 40,000 Adventists in the world. Ten years more have elapsed, bringing us down to the present time, and our statistics show that we have again doubled in numbers, and that there are over 90,000 professed Adventists scattered in every quarter of the earth. At the same ratio of increase, in another decade we shall again double our numbers, and this is not improbable. Then add to this the fact that God will cut the work short in righteousness, and thousands will embrace the truth in a short period of time, and that deeper consecration will come into our ranks, which is already being manifested, and how long will it take to complete the work? We have been having years of plenty. Many professed Adventists have been adding land to land, and house to house. Thousands of dollars have been accumulated by many, until to-day the people representing the Adventist denomination are worth millions of dollars. There is money enough in the ranks of believers in the third angel's message to complete the work and warn the world, if not another dollar was earned above a living; and if this means was placed upon the altar to be consumed as calls may come, the work would soon be completed. God is now calling for some of this surplus money that has been laid up in the years of plenty. Many who have means have said, “I expect to place all that I have in the cause of God;” but, brethren, if we expect to do this, how much time is there left for us to do it? Would it not be well to begin now by giving five hundred dollars or a thousand dollars to the $150,000 fund? A score of men in the United States could give a thousand dollars to this fund and never feel it, and be better off for so doing. Where our treasures are, there will our hearts be also; but I fear that there are many to-day professing to believe that the Lord is soon coming, whose treasures are buried in this world, and whose hearts are also placed upon these treasures. Would it not be a good thing to transfer a few thousand to the cause of God? Would it not have a tendency to draw our affections more fully in that direction? It is true that where our treasures are, there will our hearts be also; and it is just as true that where our hearts are, there will our treasures go. It is one of the greatest evidences that our hearts are in the work when our money is going in that direction. In less than thirty days every dollar of the $150,000 fund should be raised, that we may give our attention to other important phases of this great work. The third angel's message is soon to triumph, and those who invest their means in it will be more likely to triumph with it. When banks and everything else fail, the message committed to us will outride the storms, and carry those who trust in it fully, safely through the time of trouble. Then let us begin now to live as we never have before, for in a little while the work will be ended, and our means will not be needed. Sad will be the time when the message closes, and the word goes forth that no more money is needed. We fear there will be many at that time who will still have their treasures in this world. This time will surely come. Let us not delay, but quickly complete this $150,000 fund. Atlantic Union Conference
By I. H. EVANS
Received on the $150,000 Fund up to Nov. 19, 1907
Atlantic Union Conference
*Central New England ........$ 2,771.18
Chesapeake ................. 550.73
Eastern Pennsylvania ....... 1,889.18
Greater New York ........... 1,118.11
New Jersey ................. 1,100.76
Maine ....................... 689.88
New York ................... 1,628.50
*Southern New England ....... 1,158.50
Vermont .................... 1,255.00
Virginia ..................... 717.14
West Pennsylvania .......... 1,451.85
*Western New York ........... 1,973.80
West Virginia ................. 400.41
Total ...................... 16,705.04 Canadian Union Conference
Maritime ..................... 317.43
Quebec ......................... 63.64
Ontario ....................... 770.70
Total ....................... 1,151.77 Colorado .................... 2,636.15
Iowa ......................... 4,466.77
Kansas ....................... 2,781.29
Missouri .................... 1,553.23
*Nebraska ................... 5,691.90
*Wyoming ...................... 780.99
Total ...................... 17,910.33 *Washington churches ......... 1,358.69 East Michigan ............... 2,542.09
*Indiana .................... 5,183.27
North Michigan ............... 841.74
*Northern Illinois .......... 2,810.61
*Ohio ....................... 5,720.81
Southern Illinois ........... 1,176.29
West Michigan ............... 4,711.15
Wisconsin ................... 3,857.47
Total ...................... 26,843.43 North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified ...... 55.00
British Columbia .............. 209.50
Montana ....................... 525.38
Upper Columbia .............. 2,562.71
Western Washington .......... 2,133.04
Idaho ........................ 903.90
Western Oregon .............. 2,363.06
Total ....................... 8,752.59 Northern Union Conference
Alberta ....................... 200.80
Manitoba ...................... 305.30
Saskatchewan Mission Field .... 47.60
Minnesota ................... 5,405.26
*South Dakota ............... 2,645.47
*North Dakota ................ 1,949.13
Conference not specified ...... 73.82
Total ...................... 10,627.38 *Arizona ...................... 388.74
California-Nevada ........... 7,986.35
Southern California ........ 1,575.06
*Utah ........................ 431.58
Total ...................... 10,381.73 Southern Union Conference
South Carolina ............... 144.39
Alabama ...................... 433.89
Tennessee River ............ 1,119.61
Florida ...................... 613.54
*North Carolina .............. 774.71
Cumberland ................... 906.72
Louisiana ..................... 390.61
Mississippi .................. 254.59
*Georgia ...................... 408.47
Total ....................... 5,046.53 Southwestern Union Conference
Not specified .................. 22.82
Arkansas ...................... 513.35
Oklahoma .................... 2,769.35
Texas ....................... 1,206.41
Total ....................... 4,511.93 Unknown ....................... 158.20 *Algeria ....................... 13.33
Australia ...................... 163.84
Bermuda ......................... 36.00
China .......................... 155.60
South Africa ................... 278.16
Jamaica ......................... 13.41
Yukon Territory ................. 20.00
England ....................... 264.13
West Africa ..................... 14.06
Mexico ........................... 2.00
Costa Rica ....................... 6.25
India .......................... 147.94
South America ................... 41.80
Switzerland ...................... 9.69
Panama .......................... 19.00
Nicaragua ......................... 4.00
Central American Mission ........ 26.00
Trinidad ........................ 28.69
Norway .......................... 25.00
Japan ........................... 12.50
Hayti ............................ 5.00
*Egypt .......................... 51.55
Palestine ........................ 2.00
Tobago, W. I. .................... 1.22
Cuba ............................. 8.00
Hungary ......................... 3.00
Tahiti .......................... 14.88
France ........................... 6.80
Philippine Islands ............... 1.00
Samoa ............................ 8.00
Barbados ........................ 5.00
Portugal ........................ 1.00
Straits Settlement .............. 10.08
Pitcairn Island .................. 10.00
Total ...................... $ 1,408.93
Grand Total .................$104,856.55 Be Still
By Francis M. Wilcox
Be still, my fainting heart,
God ruleth yet above;
Do faithfully thy part,
Trust his protecting love. He knows how weak and frail,
How far from wisdom thou;
Through him the weak prevail,
If they to him shall bow. His is exceeding might—
'Tis ours by faith to claim;
We conquer in the fight
Through power of his great name. Though tempest may run wild,
And black the storm-cloud grow,
He careth for his child,
This trusting faith doth know. Be still, then, soul of mine.
In all the battle din;
Rest in the One divine,
And resting, thou shalt win. A Lesson from the Ministry of John the Baptist
By Ellen G. White
On one occasion the Jewish rulers sent messengers to John the Baptist to make the inquiry, “Who art thou?” John “confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” Had the minds of his hearers been keen to recognize spiritual truth, they would have discerned the significance of John's words. Allusion was made to a custom prevailing in those Eastern countries. When a monarch was about to make a journey, men were sent before him to clear obstructions from the way, that the king might travel in safety and without hindrance. “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” John declared, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” “Why baptizest thou then,” the messengers asked, “if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?” To the listening people John the Baptist looked as if he might be the prophet Elijah. His authoritative proclamation, his manner as he spoke of himself as the messenger of the coming One, aroused a great expectation in the hearts of the people. The Jews had studied only one side of this question. To them the Messiah was to be a mighty prince who would work powerfully in their behalf. “John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” None who listened to the words of John and marked the earnestness of his manner, could doubt that he referred to the Christ who had been so long promised to the world. The messengers from Jerusalem had their answer. The message they were to carry back to the rulers at Jerusalem was decided and unequivocal. The Messiah was among them. There was much in the places about them to remind the Jews of God's wonderful works for them in the past. Just below where John was baptizing, God's power had divided the waters, making a path for the Israelites to cross the Jordan and to pass on to the promised land. Not many miles away stood Jericho, whose walls had fallen before the command of the Prince of heaven. What might they not expect if the Messiah had actually come to earth! The whole nation was stirred. “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The doctrine that John preached was, first, repentance for past sins; then, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They must show repentance toward God; then they would be prepared to show faith in the One who was about to declare himself unto them. Truth must be allowed to exercise its cleansing power upon the lives of these rulers. To those who were untaught in the oracles of God, it was enough for John to say, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But when the Baptist saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he was stirred to give them a decided message. These men held themselves as a power among the people. Though they held different theories regarding some Bible subjects, they were united in their desire to hear the words of the wilderness prophet. Some who came from curiosity, arrested by his words, became interested in the message he was giving, and were moved to be baptized. To them John said, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Christ was about to appear as the revealer of the character of God. His very presence would make known to men their sin. Only as they were willing to be purged from sin, could they enter into fellowship with him. Those who were corrupt in heart could not abide in his presence. Multitudes accepted the preaching of John, and followed him from place to place. Many cherished in their hearts the hope that he was the Messiah. But as John saw the people turning to him, he sought to direct their minds to the coming One. Later, Christ, speaking of John and his mission, declared, “What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a work as that of John the Baptist is to be done. God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord. The message preceding the public ministry of Christ was, “Repent, publicans and sinners: repent, Pharisees and Sadducees: ‘repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” As a people who believe in Christ's soon appearing, we have a message to bear: “Prepare to meet thy God.” Our message is to be as direct as was the message of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity. Notwithstanding that his life was imperiled, he did not hesitate to declare God's word. And our work in this age must be done as faithfully. In order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a spiritual experience like his. The same work must be wrought in us. We must behold God, and in beholding him lose sight of self. John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity; but the touch of divine love had transformed him. When, after Christ's ministry began, the disciples of John came to him with the complaint that all men were following the new teacher, John showed how clearly he understood his relation to the Messiah, and how gladly he welcomed the One for whom he had prepared the way.9 “A man can receive nothing,” he said, “except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the light of life. Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God, will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” They will lift up Jesus, and with him humanity will be lifted up. “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Character of the Papacy
By John O. Corliss
The word “papa” lengthened to “papacy” to express the system of Roman church government, is a simple Latin word, meaning the same as the English word “father.” But even this explanation does not give a knowledge of what the Roman papacy is, except in part. We may know that if it is true to its name, it will attempt to exercise a fatherly government over the church, instead of one of a brotherly nature. The father of a family is its head, to whom each member is responsible for every act of his career, at least so long as he is a dependent of the family. The system of discipline inaugurated by the father must be adhered to, under all circumstances. The religious teachings of the head of the house (if there be any such) are to be listened to with respect, and their application to the life is supposed to be made intensely practical. All this, and much more unnecessary to mention in this connection, represents the relation of a father and his family. But if, in the administration of his family affairs, the father becomes so arbitrary that he must enforce unreasonable decrees by severe punishment, then he has exceeded his privilege, even though he has dealt with his own flesh and blood. But in assuming fatherhood in the government of the church, the pope, or papa, oversteps the right of humanity in the assumption itself, because no authority has ever been conferred by which he may exercise such prerogative. Continuing this phase of the subject, we feel justified in saying, first of all, that Christ himself is the rightful Head of the church, and so of each individual member of the church. The reason for this conclusion may be stated as follows: To become a true member of the church, one must become “dead” to the world (Col. 3:3; Gal. 2:20), and be made “alive unto God through Jesus Christ.” Rom. 6:11. This condition must be effected through the “new birth” from above as taught by Christ to Nicodemus in John 3:3. Thus one is “born of God,” and so passes from death unto life (1 John 3:9, 14), being born of “incorruptible” seed, by “the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”101 Peter 1:23. Jesus Christ being the “Word” by which this work is accomplished (John 1:1), he therefore becomes the “Everlasting Father” and the “Prince of Peace” to every believer. This leaves no room for a human father to rule in the church. Besides this line of reasoning, we have some direct and definite statements of inspiration which sustain this conclusion. The great apostle says that we have “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:6), thus echoing the words of Malachi: “Have we not all one Father?” Mal. 2:10. As the true and only representative of God in the earth, therefore, only the Lord Jesus is entitled to be recognized as the Head over his church. See Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18, etc. In view of these plain statements, the Saviour well cautioned his followers: “Call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, which is in heaven.” Matt. 23:9. But notwithstanding this plain teaching of the Scriptures themselves,—to many the sole source of eternal wisdom,—the papacy places a mere man at its front, to be recognized as the divinely appointed head of the church. More than this, also, is true. Innocent III declared that the “pope is God’s locum-tenens [that is, deputy, or substitute] on earth, set to watch over the social, political, and religious condition of mankind, like a divine Providence, as chief overseer and lord, who must put down all opposition.” He held further that “all rank and authority not held by priests is an incongruity in the divine plan of the world, introduced through human folly and sinfulness, while the priesthood is, properly speaking, the sole ordinance and institution of God.” See “Epistle to Joan, in Rymer’s Fœdera Reg. Angl.” Vol. I, chap. 1, page 119. This broad statement concerning the power of a pope, meant to the people of the twelfth century just what was recorded in “Codex dipl. Frieder,” Vol. II, chap. 4, page 921: “I am the representative on earth of the Almighty, and my power stands high above all earthly power and limitations; in me and through me is the church free.” According to the view then freely proclaimed, the church could be free only if omnipotent, and the church was really centered in the pope. In order to convince the Greek patriarch of the superiority of the Roman See over that of Constantinople, Innocent III wrote to him, saying that “Christ has committed the whole world to the government of the popes.” As conclusive evidence of this, he said that Christ gave Peter power to walk on the sea; and as the sea is symbolic of nations, it became clear that Peter’s successors were entitled to rule the nations. See Lib. 2, 209, ad Patr. Constantin. This was, to say the least, an ingenious argument; and though to some it may seem puerile, yet it meant a great deal to those concerned. It meant that everybody, whether he would or not, was subject to papal decrees, and could be called to account and punished even to death, for disobedience to that power. In harmony with this idea, Innocent IV established the principle that “every cleric must obey the pope, even if he commands what is wrong, for no one can judge him.”—Comment in Decretal. Francof. 1570, 555. To follow such a rule, it was not necessary to know much besides strict obedience to papal decrees. In fact, Innocent himself defined the amount of knowledge that was necessary for both clerics and laity in order to please the system under which they moved: “It is enough for the laity to know that there is a God who rewards the good, and, for the rest, to believe implicitly what the church believes. Bishops and pastors must distinctly know the articles of the Apostles’ Creed; the other clergy need not know more than the laity, and also that the body of Christ is made in the sacrament of the altar.”—Comment, in Decr. 2. The laity were therefore “forbidden to read the Bible in their own tongue, and if they conversed publicly or privately on matters of faith, incurred excommunication by a bull of Alexander IV, and after a year became amenable to the Inquisition.”—Sext. Dec. 5, 2. In harmony with the declaration of Innocent III, Boniface VIII issued his Bull Unum Sanctum, in which was affirmed that “the pope is judge over all secular matters where sin is involved, and holds the two swords, one to be used by himself, the other by kings and warriors, but at his beck, and by his permission; that he judges all, but is judged by none, being responsible to God only; and that whoever denies this subjection of every human being to the pope can not be saved.” See Dupuy’s collection of the writings of French jurists and theologians. The question most naturally arises as to the authority for such statements, by which to satisfy all those concerned. This was not wanting; for Innocent III had already found and cited the Scripture evidence to this end more than one hundred years before Boniface’s rule. His reference was to Deut. 17:12, which, referring to the right of an Israelite to appeal to the ministering priest for justice in any case, and his duty to abide by the decision rendered, says: “The man that will do presumptuously, and will not harken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die.” By an interpolation in this text, it was made to teach that whoever would not submit to a decision of the high priest, whose office is now held by the pope, must be sentenced to die by the judge. See Dec. Per. Venerabilium, 4, 17. By such wicked methods did the church of Rome succeed in dominating the state, to its own profit and glorification. Before the twelfth century the bishop of that church dared to assume but the title of “Vicar of Peter.” But when everything was established to his liking, he then boldly called himself the “Vicar of Christ,” and was not afraid to claim a position above every earthly potentate. Like another mentioned in Scripture, he came to the point where he, too, declared, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14:13, 14. And as that arch-conspirator has not yet withdrawn the statement of his proclaimed ambition, the papacy has also imitated him in this, and insists that it still reigns on high. May it not be possible that the reproof witnessed against the first one so strongly desirous of unlicensed exaltation, is also applicable to the one who has copied him? The Lord says of the original one in this role: “Thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and that did shake kingdoms?” But not just yet. There is still a history before the papacy, no more flattering than that made during the Dark Ages. Of this, however, we can not speak now, but will do so later when noting its career, as marked out by the prophetic, yet infallible Word. G. B. THOMPSON
By G. B. Thompson
To Daniel a messenger from heaven said, “Thou art greatly beloved.” We do not read just this concerning any other man. This was a wonderfully comforting message to be brought from heaven by the high and holy Gabriel to a poor, sinful man. It told how he was regarded in heaven. A sinner greatly loved in heaven! How cheering! But why was Daniel, an erring man, so loved in heaven? The secret of this we feel sure is that he was a man of prayer. We find him at the “time of the evening oblation,” “speaking in prayer.” We read of his “supplications,” and how he set his face to “seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth, and ashes,” to understand the will of the Lord. Daniel was much in secret prayer. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” This was secret prayer. It was his custom. He had been doing it “aforetime.” Here is explained the secret of the life of this remarkable man, and it tells why he was “greatly beloved.” He was a man of prayer. Nothing, not even death itself, could hinder him from communing with God. When he “knew that the writing was signed” which consigned him to a den of hungry lions, he went to his accustomed place, and with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he bowed before Jehovah and prayed for help, just as he had before. What an example of secret prayer! And he did not allow business to rob him of his secret devotion. He was a busy man. The affairs of many provinces were in his hands. He was “first” of the three presidents who were over the “whole kingdom.” But he took time to pray. He made duty first and secular things second; and he did not take time to pray once a day, but “three times a day” he “prayed, and gave thanks before his God.” “At evening, and morning, and at noon” he repaired to his closet to pray. This tells why “an excellent spirit was in him,” and why he was “preferred above the presidents and princes.” We are admonished to pray in secret. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” When “every man went into his own house,” the Saviour “went unto the Mount of Olives,” and there alone, in the cold mountains, with the dew of night falling upon him, he “continued all night in prayer to God.” O that professed Christians would follow the example of secret prayer left us by our divine Master! The absence of prayer tells why many are weak and ready to die. “We should pray also in the family circle; and above all, we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is neglected. Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient. In solitude let the soul be open to the inspecting eye of God. Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions. In secret prayer the soul is free from surrounding influences, free from excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, will it reach out after God. Sweet and abiding will be the influence emanating from him who seeth in secret, whose ear is open to hear the prayer arising from the heart. By calm, simple faith, the soul holds communion with God, and gathers to itself rays of divine light to strengthen and sustain it in the conflict with Satan. God is our tower of strength. “Pray in your closet; and as you go about your daily labor, let your heart be often lifted to God. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. These silent prayers rise like precious incense before the throne of grace. Satan can not overcome him whose heart is thus stayed upon God. “There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. There is nothing that can prevent us from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer. In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God, and plead for divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when he made his request before the King Artaxerxes. A closet of communion may be found wherever we are. We should have the door of the heart open continually, and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the soul.”—“Steps to Christ,” pages 120, 121. Sad Memories, and a Blessed Hope
By C. H. Bliss
It is not always pleasant to look backward. It often brings feelings of sadness and tears of regret. The old house, perhaps vacated; the enchanting voice of the one who so often sang you to sleep with sweet hymns, now silent in death; the boys and girls with whom you played, scattered abroad over the earth, and many sleeping the sleep of death; the opportunities gone, which, if rightly improved, would have lightened the burdens of many whom you loved,—these bring painful thoughts to memory's door. Not long ago I visited my old home where I laughed, and played, and worked nearly fifty years ago. The hills and valleys and the creek seemed as natural as ever; but the house was vacated, and was falling into decay. The porches were rotting down, the windows were broken, and the doors stood ajar. I looked through these openings into each room. There in that room grandfather and grandmother died. In that middle room mother passed away, after weeks of severe suffering. In that other room my brother, with whom I associated till manhood, was laid out in the sleep of death. In that large middle room we often had gatherings of young people, when we sang and played and enjoyed life as only young people can. As my eyes filled with tears at these memories, I turned away. All about the old home was a silence as of the grave. Then I returned to the village one-half mile away, and stood for a half-hour on the corner of a main street, and of the crowd passing by, scarcely a single face did I recognize. Once I knew every resident.11Then I thought of these words:— “Like leaves on trees, the race of men
are found—
Now green in youth, now withered on
the ground;
Thus generations in their course decay,
So flourish these when those have
passed away.”
But there is a brighter side to all this. Soon there will be a grand reunion of those who live and those who have passed on before. “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” How precious are these promises! and how joyful the thought that that day will soon be here!