CIGARET-SMOKING can be divided into three stages through which every smoker passes, be he rich or poor, a dweller in the Orient or the Occident, a club-man or a cowboy on the plains; the pleasure stage, the habit acquired and the feverish months which close the untimely end. The first stage comes, unfortunately, at a tender age with the appearance of the down which develops into a beard later on. Attracted by the gaudy females with impossible figures hanging in the windows of the inviting cigar stores, or the lithographs of dark-eyed senoritas who hold between their bejeweled fingers a dainty gilt-tipped roll, the youth, with that natural longing to be a man, and, imagining the avenue to this end lies through a cigar-store door, enters the realm of Dame Nicotine, and for a few cents soon possesses the covered box of cigarets, and with manly strides hurries away to the most convenient barn or other safe retreat to try the pleasures announced by the tempting lithographs.
The first stage leads rapidly to the second, where the innocent little paper rolls have become the master, and with no gentle hand apply the whip, driving the now unwilling smoker more often each week to the cigar store. Fearing the consequences and feeling an unusual state of health, the victim decides to smoke cigars, and thus wean himself from his passion. A pipe is also tried; but to his alarm the discovery is made that these so-called less harmful forms of using tobacco fail to satisfy unless the smoke from the pipe or cigar is inhaled.
In his sweet delusions, and hoping to shake himself loose from the toils of the now dread cigaret, the smoker continues to misuse these articles, and finally discovers their use is worse than that from which he would escape. With, by this time, much-impaired health, the last hope is tried of rolling a cigaret from so-called pure tobacco, imagining again, unknowingly, that this is the route to former health, but with the inhalation of this perhaps purer tobacco, the same old injection of poison is continued, and the consumer, as could rightly be imagined, daily grows less of a man and more of a wreck.
The third and last stage is by this time reached, where the smoker is saturated with the poison he has injected into his system through the inhalation process, which carries the smoke into the bronchial tubes where the blood is purified by air contact, and which takes up immediately the poison deposit made by the smoke upon the thin membrane, and scatters it through every portion of the body in a few minutes. At this time, I say, “smokers’ faintness,” caused by improper heart action, causes to be felt the feeling of the necessity of some stimulant to be taken, and that other vice which goes hand in hand with cigaret-smoking—whisky-drinking—is commenced.
Cigarets and Drink.
They are near relatives, these two, and like to work together. The tobacco habit leads often directly to the habit of liquor drinking. Tobacco lessens the heart’s action, and alcohol increases it. So under the influence of tobacco the blood is not pumped fast enough, and the system feels the want of something to stimulate the heart’s action and increase the circulation. Alcohol does this, and the tobacco-user, when he uses liquor, breaks over all bounds until the balance is restored by the increased blood supply. The tobacco exhaustion needs the whisky exhilaration, and the cigaret victim keeps on alternating between the depression of tobacco and the stimulation of alcohol which he seems to require. Both are ruinous to body and mind. Without fear of contradiction I make the statement boldly that it is no more possible for an inveterate, poison-soaked cigaret fiend who has arrived at the third stage to continue his life and smoking without the aid of whisky than it would be without the aid of the tobacco itself. With greatly impaired health, each organ suffering from the poison circulating through it, this second poison is added, and the result of this double dose to the wrecked system can easily be imagined.
The Smoker’s Breakdown.
Then comes the breaking down which makes the usual employment impossible, and with stomach, heart, lungs, and nerves a total wreck, the person is an easy victim to any of the long list of ills the human flesh is heir to, and the doctor returns a report of pneumonia, appendicitis, heart-failure or the like, when really the cause of demise is the result of cigarets first and the combined poison of nicotine and alcohol at the end.
How to Escape.
There is only one way to stop the use of tobacco, and that is to quit at once, not tapering off, but a complete shut-down entirely. Do not attempt to avoid public places, society, or other excitements which have a tendency to drive you to cigarets, but meet your old life squarely face to face, and live it just as you did—minus the cigarets. Many of the pleasures which seemed proper through a wreath of smoke will soon disgust you, and one by one these old habits will become abhorrent and will be dropped. The little motions and gestures which are a part of smoking, especially if you are a roller of cigarets, will be sadly missed and will perhaps be as hard to outgrow as the craving for an inhalation; but by degrees these habits, like the old pleasures, will be forgotten, each day seeing one or more become unused, until finally all the old uses of the hands connected with smoking will have been unconsciously forgotten. As the brain has a different spot for the control of each part of the body, so it seems somewhere in the interior of a human being there is an undiscovered organ which regulates the habits, as the unlocated gnawing, almost painful, for a cigaret away down in the intestinal or stomach cavities seems almost as real as the pangs of hunger for a meal when that necessity is not indulged in. It is this inner gnawing which will demand the attention of the person who would give up the use of tobacco and its intimate associate, alcohol. Each day, however, sees the edge dulled on the smoker’s “yearning,” until, if he is brave, the craving suddenly mysteriously leaves. The habits in the meantime have disappeared, and before it is hardly appreciated, the erstwhile fiend is again himself; and remarkable as it may seem, soon goes whole weeks without even a thought of a cigaret, altho he may see them smoked all about him. This is a fact, not a fancy, and can be duplicated by any one who has the nerve to look the smoking problem squarely in the face, and say, “Your rule is over; hereafter I will be master of my own desires.” Stop forever, but only fight each hour’s battles as they come, and as surely as it is impossible for a cigaret to force itself between your lips, just so sure is it that before three months have rolled around, the backbone of the old monster will be broken. Such, in brief, is the story of fifteen years of personal observation of cigaret-smokers in the highest walks of life to whom naturally the country looks for its advancement in the arts, betterment in social conditions, and improvements in all ways.
Who will survive as the fittest to take the place of those to whom this duty by right of necessity has fallen, but who are utterly unfit to undertake this herculean task?—The Boy.
INTEMPERANCE AMONG WOMEN.
THE Right Rev. Leighton Coleman, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Delaware, in a sermon on “Intemperance,” declared that while there is a grateful decline in intemperance among men, there is an alarming increase of intoxication among brilliant and cultured women, those belonging to the so-called better classes. “A short time ago,” he continued, “I addressed a meeting of leading society women in New York City, when I made that statement. A leading newspaper made a careful investigation, and sent me a copy of the publication which contained the result. It proved that my statement was literally correct as far as New York City is concerned. I am sorry to say that it appertains to women and to mothers, particularly those who have the care and instruction of our future men and women. It is a sad outlook when mothers are not living in soberness and chastity.”
A THORN.
By Helen Hart Woodworth
I AM only the thorn that grows
On the stem of a rose;
Not a petal to make me fair,
No beauty that means despair
To plainer flowers, and yet
On the rose stem I was set;
Some purpose there must be,
Some plan fulfilled in me;
I know some good was meant,
And so I am content.
Winter, and then the spring;
Summer and harvesting;
Then north wind, cold, and sleet
With no hint of a summer sweet;
And out of the winter's chill some morn,
With a thorn-set stem, a rose is born—
I am only the thorn.
—Helen Hart Woodworth.
JESUS OUR LORD.
“If I had dwelt”—so mused a tender woman,
All fine emotions stirred
Through pondering o’er that life, divine yet human,
Told in the Sacred Word—
“If I had dwelt of old a Jewish maiden,
In some Judean street
Where Jesus walked, and heard His word so laden
With comfort strangely sweet;
“And seen the face where utmost pity blended
With each rebuke of wrong;
I would have left my lattice and descended,
And followed with the throng.
“If I had been the daughter,
jewel-girdled,
Of some rich rabbi there;
Seeing the sick, blind, halt, my blood had curdled
At sight of such despair.
“And I had wrenched the sapphires from my fillet,
Nor let one spark remain;
Snatched up my gold, amid the crowd to spill it,
For pity of their pain.
“I would have let the palsied fingers hold me;
I would have walked between
The Marys and Salome, while they told me
About the Magdalene.
“‘Foxes have holes,’—I think my heart had broken
To hear the words so said,—
‘While Christ had not’—were sadder ever spoken?—
‘A place to lay His head!’
“I would have flung abroad my doors before Him;
And in my joy have been
First on the threshold, eager to adore Him,
And crave His entrance in!”
Ah, would you so? Without a recognition
You passed Him yesterday;
Jostled aside, unhelped, His mute petition,
And calmly went your way.
With warmth and comfort garmented and girdled,
Before your window-sill
Sweep heart-sick crowds; and if your blood is curdled,
You wear your jewels still.
You catch aside your robes lest want should clutch them.
In its implorings wild;
Or lest some woeful penitent might touch them,
And you be thus defiled.
O dreamers, dreaming that your faith is keeping
All service free from blot,
Christ daily walks your streets, sick, suffering, weeping,
And ye perceive Him not!
—Anon.
The Herold, Hamburg.
A GLANCE AT THE WORLD-WIDE MISSION FIELD.
By Estella Houser
We have entered upon a new era in mission work. The set time has come when God will cut short His work in righteousness. A silent preparation has been going on through the centuries; but the fulness of the time has now been reached, and we may expect to see a great work accomplished in a remarkably short time.
He who can not discern these things in a survey of the field from month to month, can not discern the signs of the times. The Lord has set His hand to the work, and even with meager facilities, limited means, and few workers but scantily equipped, the last message is going to all the world.
Japan.
From every land comes the report of progress. In Japan a remarkable revival among all denominations has taken place, and our own laborers, tho few, have had much to encourage them. The church has recently passed through an experience which they feared at the time would have a serious effect upon their work. One of their number, a young man, was summoned to serve in the army. The Japanese are very proud of their emperor and his army, and loyalty to him is considered the highest virtue by the purely Japanese. This brother did not feel that as a Christian he could respond to the call; and yet if he refused he would be counted as a traitor, and dealt with accordingly. Not only would he suffer, but the church to which he belonged, which taught such doctrines, would be called in question. Our brethren and sisters sought the Lord earnestly in this their hour of need, and the answer came even beyond their expectations. The young man secured a private interview with some of his officials, and, to his surprise, found his appointment was for but four months, in the capacity of nurse, and he would not be called upon to bear arms. Many say that they never knew of such easy terms being given before. The brother feels free to take up this work, as it will not only give him an experience in nursing, but an opportunity to scatter the truth among those with whom he will be associated.
Later reports from this field bring the intelligence that several have been baptized and united with the church. The work has been strengthened by the arrival of Professor F. W. Field and family, formerly of Mt. Vernon (Ohio) Academy. He takes the oversight of the work.
India.
The message is onward in India. A number have been baptized and a church organized in Calcutta. Elder J. L. Shaw and wife have spent some time at Mussoorie in the Himalayas, where several were baptized in a beautiful mountain stream. The corps of workers in this field has just been increased by the arrival of three zenana workers, one of whom goes as a self-supporting missionary, and two medical missionaries, a nurse and his wife.
The Waldensian Valleys.
The tidings from Europe are encouraging. Good audiences in the Waldensian valleys give ear to the Gospel of the kingdom; eighteen have recently embraced the message of the soon-coming Saviour, while others have shown a deep interest in this truth. A series of meetings was to be held in Mussel, where twenty or more are studying the Word. A sojourn here is not always the most pleasant during the winter months, as the only comfortable room in the house is the stable, often several feet under the snow, and in that room the worker has to preach and to visit. Nevertheless, in these poor homes many are hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
France.
In France the medical and health work has opened the way to some homes, but the dearth of French laborers is appalling. Brother John Vuilleumier, editor of Les Signes des Temps, has been compelled to leave France because of failing health. Italy and France are both interesting fields, and should be kept in mind by those who speak the French or Italian language. Consecrated laborers are needed.
Finland.
Altho the work moves slowly in Finland, the Lord has placed His hand upon it. One of our missionaries made a tour of the country a short time ago, visiting a number of places where people were interested in the truth. At Jacobstad, when the family with whom he was stopping over night learned that he was a missionary, they gathered into their parlor about sixty persons, who came to have a meeting, bringing their chairs with them. They pronounced the message of the coming of the Lord the best preaching they had ever heard. At other places the same interest was manifested among ministers and people.
Germany.
Over five hundred were baptized and united with the churches in the German Conference during the past year. The headquarters of our work in this field is located at Hamburg. One interesting feature of the local work there is the missionary boat, “Herold,” which has an extensive field in the harbor. Hamburg is the largest seaport on the continent, and ranks third among the seaports of the world. There are fourteen miles of wharves, with over one hundred steamship lines centering there. The “Herold” is thirty feet in length, nearly13seven feet wide, and has a neat cabin ten feet long, where publications are stored and where a small company can be gathered for Bible studies.
Palestine.
Around the land of Palestine cluster many sacred memories. We are glad to report that even in this land a few are looking for the return of their Lord. The medical missionary work has been the entering wedge among the Moslems and Jews. Two missions have been established, one in Jerusalem and the other in Jaffa, and these are well patronized. Centuries of false teaching have had their influence upon the people, and make the Gospel work go slowly. This field, however, is ripening for the message, and a few give evidence that they will be among those whom Jesus will gather at His coming.
South Africa.
Within the past few months the work in Natal, South Africa, has been strengthened by recruits, and already good reports are being received. These workers are studying the Zulu language, but at the same time find much work among other people to occupy their time. They are quite pleasantly located in Durban, and have already gained the ears of some Indian coolies and high-class Indians in this district. The field is ripe for the harvest. There are more calls for help than they can possibly supply.
South America.
Progress is being made in South America. In Argentina a conference has recently been organized, and a strong effort has been put forth to make the work self-supporting; but the dearth of rain for about seven months has been very discouraging. Many of the crops are entirely destroyed, and poverty abounds. Notwithstanding this, the brethren and sisters are pressing forward with their work.
Paraguay, for centuries under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, has been entered, and a beginning effected. Five baptisms were reported recently, and others expected to go forward in this ordinance very soon. The government has already donated the land for a school, and an effort is being made to secure the money to erect buildings. This field needs help.
From Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia comes the Macedonian cry. One or two men, with a few native helpers, are trying to carry the message to ten million people. This is a good field for the self-supporting worker.
In Colombia the war seems to have subsided, and the people are settling down again. At a meeting held ten miles from Bocas del Toro recently, every one in the house arose, expressing a desire to live a better life, and some wept aloud while standing. Several have taken their stand for the truth, among them two Jamaican merchants, who were baptized.
Central America and the West Indies.
In British Honduras, among those who have been converted recently is a Carib Indian, the only one of his race whom we know to be keeping the Sabbath and looking for the return of our Lord.
In northeastern Jamaica three new companies have been organized, and each is busy erecting a new church building. At Balaclava, thirteen souls were recently buried with their Lord by baptism, just at sunrise. Two sisters who were baptized walked barefoot twenty miles to obey the Lord. Two young men came eighteen miles, and several nine miles. All had to return on foot. This field is ripe everywhere, the only limit being in the number of laborers.
In Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, twelve were baptized a short time ago. As the ordinance is an uncommon one there, fully five hundred people came to witness it. There were twenty-four boatloads on the water, while others thronged the beach, climbed the trees and rocks, and were in every place where they could see best.
In every land some are found who rejoice that the Saviour is soon coming. The very time in which we live makes this a fact. Angels have gone before God's people, and hearts are being prepared for Christ's coming. Every month brings us nearer that event. He who would share in this must do so quickly. “The King's business requireth haste.”
Mission Board Office. ESTELLA HOUSER.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
IOWA Conference has turned over $8,000 to Union College, as proceeds of sales of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”
AT Valence, France, where Brother J. Badaut has been laboring, fifteen persons have accepted the Sabbath truth.
IN Italy, under the labors of Brother J. Curdy, eighteen have recently accepted the truth as presented from the Scriptures.
AFTER several years of labor in England, Brother J. S. Washburn has returned to his home in Iowa on account of ill health in his family.
THE Santhal Industrial Mission, at Simultala, Bengal, is reported to last October by Brother W. A. Barlow, as follows: “We are glad to tell you of the goodness of the Lord in behalf of this field during the past year. The fruit trees planted on the farms two years ago have grown rapidly, being supplied with plenty of water from the well, and some of them will begin yielding fruit this year. The treatment of the sick has also been much blessed, and as a result there are many in the neighboring villages who can witness to the power of God to restore health; for He ‘forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy diseases.’” In another report he states that “our industrial work among the Santhals and others runs on the lines of farming, such as rice, dhall, cotton, Indian corn, and market gardening. Work has been given to a large number of poor people in the fields.”
A REPORT from Brother C. C. Webster in the Visitor says that a new house of worship is about completed at Middlefield, Ohio.
AT Alexandria, Va., two converts are reported by Brother Geo. W. Lewis, and at Arlington several candidates await baptism, having accepted the truth through his ministration.
ON the 15th ult., at Battle Creek, Mich., Brother E. S. Butz was set apart to the Gospel ministry by ordination. Brethren A. G. Daniells and W. H. Thurston led in the service. Brother Butz will return to his former mission field in the Tonga Islands in a short time.
THE annual session of Montana Conference will be held at Butte, commencing on the 16th inst., to continue one week. Brother W. T. Knox, president of Pacific Union Conference, and Brother A. T. Jones, president of California Conference, are announced to attend.
WRITING to the Wisconsin Reporter from Milwaukee, Brother Alexander Ritchie gives an interesting experience. He says a few weeks ago “thirty men at the Soldiers’ Home rose to their feet at the close of a series of studies on United States in prophecy and the mark of the beast, to publicly confess their faith in the message, and their promise to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. We at once took steps to follow up the advantage thus gained by asking permission to hold Sabbath services in the government chapel. To our great joy this was granted, and we had our first Sabbath service out there last Sabbath morning. Twenty-two were present, of whom thirteen bore testimony in social meeting and several offered prayer. Praise the Lord for this victory. We are also holding two cottage meetings weekly with full houses at each place, and a number of thoroughly interested ones. Prospects for fruit from these meetings are good.”
THE board of directors of the Battle Creek (Mich.) Sanitarium, whose main buildings were recently destroyed by fire, has decided to construct a new fire-proof building at a cost of not less than $250,000, and to have it ready for occupancy by the middle of August. Dr. Kellogg says:—
Altho two of the largest buildings have been burned, the four buildings remaining still constitute, with the equipment for treatment which will be completed within a few days, the largest and most thoroughly equipped sanitarium in the world. The several hundreds of patients who remain in the institution, are receiving and will continue to receive thorough-going treatment. New hospital quarters have been provided, and all patients who may come will be cared for, and can be as successfully treated as heretofore. The doctors, nurses, and other employees are all alive and well, and full of energy, courage, and enthusiasm. Buildings may burn, but principles survive. The Battle Creek Sanitarium is going on with its work, temporarily crippled a little; but with the blessing of a kind Providence on the efforts being put forth, it will soon be better prepared than at any previous time in its history for the great work which has been placed in its hands.
Learning from Failure
“FAILURES which teach us to avoid future disasters should be recorded by us as successes.”
WHAT OUR FRIENDS SAY OF THE SIGNS.
The encouraging words continue to come from readers of the SIGNS. Here is an extract from a letter written from Roanoke, Va., by Hannah Long:—
I have read your good paper, the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and certainly do enjoy it. I think there never was a paper published to equal the SIGNS. Since reading it, I have been keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, and I truly believe it is the real Sabbath. I have found much more joy in it than I ever did in Sunday.
This message comes from Garrison, Texas, and is written by Mrs. Bettie Chaney:—
Words can not express my love and gratitude for the SIGNS. It comes to our home weekly, and we think it is doing a grand and glorious work in the world. I am thirty-one years of age, and have been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church since I was fourteen; but the SIGNS has given me more light on the Bible than all the preachers I ever listened to.
Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge, San Francisco, Cal., says:—
How often I have wondered, during the isolation of the past few months, if we do really appreciate our heaven-sent SIGNS OF THE TIMES. How good God is to give us such a light-bearer. How good and wise He is to give us workers in its many departments who are ready to be fashioned after the pattern He has designed. If we had nothing else to prove that He is leading this people, we have this.
How graciously He has forgiven our discordant utterances, and how patiently taught us harmony.
My Review I take for my Sabbath morning service, and my SIGNS for afternoon or evening—often for every day; some of its sweet lessons I read over again, to impress the message more deeply on my mind.
Belle W. Orr, Lincoln, Kan., in renewing her subscription has these good words to say:—
I have been trying to get along without the SIGNS, so that I could give more time to other reading; but I see I am not up to date, and I miss the paper more and more every week. I am glad we have such good writers, and that they make things so plain.
Mrs. Anna M. King, Patchogue, L. I., N. Y., speaks thus of the help the SIGNS has been to her:—
Since last June the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the Review and Herald have been coming to me through the kindness of a devoted worker. I was only acquainted with this dear brother a few months; but in that short time he so clearly explained the present truth as you are teaching it in your publications, that I accepted it as a message from God, and have since been keeping the Sabbath. He was sent away from this place last June, and I did not fully understand the truth; but through your wonderful paper I have been able to learn many beautiful lessons.
Mrs. E. A. Ray, Oxford, Ala., in renewing her subscription, says:—
I do not want to get behind, and I do not feel like doing without the SIGNS if I can help it.
In a note to the editor, E. J. Hibbard, Healdsburg, Cal., thus expresses his good will:—
The Lord bless and prosper the SIGNS in its mission of love; and yourself as the one who, under God, guides its destiny.
PUBLICATIONS WANTED.
LATE clean copies of the SIGNS, Instructor, and Little Friend. Address, post-paid, Mrs. L. Smith, Sebastopol, Cal.
BOOKS, tracts, and papers for our mission reading-room in Salt Lake City, Utah. Address, post-paid, R. E. Williams, 33 Commercial Street.
LARGE quantities of any of our denominational literature for missionary work. Address, post-paid, Geo. Galloway, Bernardin Flats, Evansville, Ind.
SIGNS and other denominational papers and tracts. Address, post-paid, W. C. McBrayer, Berlene, Ga.
LATE clean copies of our publications for ship missionary work at Seattle, Wash. Address, post-paid, B. F. Noble, 165 Thomas Street.
CLEAN copies of SIGNS and Review for missionary work. Address, post-paid, J. P. Johnson, 46 Main Avenue, Spokane, Wash.
ANY of our papers or tracts, or the loan of books, for city mission work. Address, post-paid, O. Glass, Fort Worth, Texas.
SIGNS, Gospel Herald, and tracts for missionary work. Address, post-paid, Imogen A. Cole, South Knoxville, Tenn.
THE SANITARIUM CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL.
The Correspondence Department of the Training School, mentioned in a recent issue of this paper, is still carrying on its work.
Our supplies were all saved from the late fire, and we are receiving students the same as ever. Send for circular giving full particulars, also testimonials.
Address, Correspondence Department, Sanitarium Medical Missionary Training School, Battle Creek, Michigan.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of "Christ's Object Lessons," should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of "Christ's Object Lessons" as apply to each lesson.
LESSON 13.—MARCH 29.—THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.
1 "THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were foolish, and five were
3 wise. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no
4 oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with
5 their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all
6 slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, Behold,
7 the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. Then all those
8 virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going
9 out. But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you; go ye rather to them that sell,
10 and buy for yourselves. And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with
11 him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward come also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
12 to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I
13 know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour."
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. By what word did Jesus introduce the parable of the ten virgins? What experience had He just described? Matthew 24. Then when does this parable apply?
2. What two classes are brought to view? What did all alike carry? For what purpose did they go forth?
3. What evidence is given showing that five were foolish?
4. Why did they need an extra supply of oil? Then what experience developed the condition of the two classes?
5. What announcement awakes the sleeping virgins? Why were all not ready to meet the bridegroom, when all started with this one object in view?
6. To what source were the foolish virgins directed to go for oil? Why could they not borrow from their friends? See Eze. 14:20.
7. What was the result of their not being prepared when the bridegroom came?
8. How did their experience compare with that of those who had oil in their lamps? How long had their lights been burning?
9. What reply did the foolish virgins receive to their appeal that the door be opened to them? Why was it then too late to replenish their lamps?
10. With what solemn admonition did Christ close this parable? What experience of God's people does it portray?
11. What is the significance of the virgins, the lamps, the oil, the tarrying of the bridegroom, his coming at midnight, the closed door, the disappointment of those who were unprepared to go in? What practical lesson does this parable teach?
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