Earlier text: C. M. SNOWUniversal Guilt During the Time of the End
By Ellen G. White
THERE is coming, rapidly and surely, an almost universal guilt upon the inhabitants of the great cities because of the steady increase of determined wickedness. God has given life to man, in order that through a knowledge of the Word and by practising its principles, the human agent may become one with God, obedient to the divine will. But Satan has been working constantly by many devisings to bring man into disfavor with God.
In the antediluvian world, human agencies brought in all manner of devisings and ingenious practises to make of no effect the law of Jehovah. They cast aside his authority, because it interfered with their schemes. As in the days before the flood, so now the time is right upon us when the Lord God must reveal his omnipotent power. Even many of those who claim to believe the truth do not practise the truth. They have the Word, but they do not live in accordance with its precepts. Their business affairs are not conducted in harmony with its teachings. In the plans devised by men who desire to execute their own purposes, is revealed the masterly hand of the enemy. Satan is not asleep; he is wide awake, to make of no effect the sure word of prophecy. With skill and deceptive power he is working to counterwork the expressed will of God, made plain in his Word. For years Satan has been gaining control of human minds, through subtle sophistries that he has devised to take the place of the truth. In this time of peril, right-doers, in the fear of God, will glorify his name by repeating the words of David, “It is time for thee, O Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law.” Through his prophet Zephaniah the Lord specifies the judgments that he will bring upon evil-doers:— “I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, . . . and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham; and them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.” “And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their master’s houses with violence and deceit.” “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills. Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off. And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.” “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you.” “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. . . . Woe unto the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.” In many places there exist conditions that make these words of warning applicable in this our day. Should not the terrible earthquake that has caused almost complete destruction of San Francisco, one of the largest cities of America, awaken a most earnest interest to seek the Lord while he may be found? Let not our ministers, in their discourses, dwell upon commonplace matters. Now is a time when there should be a humbling of the heart before God. Let us seek him while he is to be found on the pardoning side, and not on the judgment side. Wake up, my brethren and sisters. You have no time to lose. Call upon the Lord while he may be found. “Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. . . .” “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” In this our day, some whose tongues are deceitful have been presenting as truth many things that they themselves have originated,—as if the law of truth were in their heart and coming from their lips. But the Lord will surely punish every deceitful, lying tongue that has caused his people to err and to turn from the righteousness of Christ. “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.8Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
“At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.” Go, Strengthen Thyself
By GEO. M. BROWN
There had been a great battle between Ahab, king of Israel, and Benhadad, king of Syria, and Ahab was the victor. To this victorious king in his hour of triumph came the prophet with the warning: “Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.” 1 Kings 20:22. To the casual observer it might seem strange that such a warning should be sent to one who had been so successful, but after carefully considering the circumstances, it will be apparent that the admonition was timely. Ahab, because of his success, was liable to be careless, and feel that, having defeated his enemy once, it would be easy to do so again. It was immediately after the great victory over Jericho that Israel fled from the men of Ai, and the Lord saw that Ahab was in danger of suffering from self-confidence and lack of preparation. God also saw the plottings of Benhadad against Israel, and knew that his defeat had not discouraged him, but had increased his eagerness for another battle by adding a thirst for revenge to his desire for conquest, thus giving him a double incentive for renewing the war. How is it in the Christian warfare, my brother? Have not some of your most disastrous defeats followed closely after great victories? Have you not sometime attended a good meeting where you received a great blessing and renewed your vows of consecration to God, feeling that never again would you doubt him or yield to Satan’s temptations? Soon after, perhaps before you reached home, did not something unexpected arise, and before you recognized it as a snare of the enemy, you were caught, thus losing your victory and falling into sin and discouragement? Why was this? It was because carelessness and self-confidence took the place of watchfulness and trust in God. You did not strengthen yourself to meet the return of the enemy. Had you heeded the warning given to Israel’s king, the victory would have been a call to strengthen yourself, and then when the enemy came, he would have found you prepared, and he would have been the defeated one instead of you. The pride and unbending will which led Lucifer to rebel, when an angel in glory, leads him to persist in his warfare against God and his people, and he will not give up the struggle because he loses a battle or two. No! he simply redoubles his efforts, and masking his batteries more skilfully, renews his attack. Our Captain knows all the enemy’s arts and devices, and if we follow him, he will instruct us and strengthen us so that we may go forward, conquering and to conquer until the final victory is won, and we stand on the sea of glass and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Paul said: “When I am weak, then am I strong.” The reverse is also true, and no one is in greater danger than he who, thinking he is strong, is overconfident and careless. Much has been said and written to encourage the discouraged and defeated. These few words are written to caution the confident and successful against the feeling of security which leads to that carelessness which invites attack from the enemy of our souls, and ends in discouragement and defeat. “Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest.” Appetite and Its Results
By Albert C. Anderson
MAN must overcome on the points where he was overcome; that is, upon appetite and the desire for unlawful knowledge. These are the two points upon which God’s people are sorely tempted to-day, and this pernicious seed sown by the arch rebel in Eden must be completely uprooted. I wish to call the reader’s attention to the instruction found in the book “Christian Temperance:” — “Infinite wisdom immediately devised the scheme of redemption, which placed man on a second probation, by giving him another trial, with the great Redeemer to help him in the work of forming a perfect character. And to say the very least, it is reasonable to suppose that, in the second probation, men would be tested just where God tested our first parents in Eden, and that the indulgence of the appetite and passions would be the greatest moral evil in this world during the period of human probation.” “In the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,” that is, giving loose rein to appetite, thus allowing Satan an opportunity to work upon the carnal passions. And the Saviour’s warning to his people living just prior to his second advent is, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting [overeating], and drunkenness, and cares of this life [what we shall eat and drink, etc.], and so that day come upon you unawares.” It is true that the Bible speaks about the eating of clean meats, but God now, once and forever, desires to bring his people back to the original diet given at creation; and by the light given us through the spirit of prophecy we know we are going contrary to his will if we refuse to come back. God has plainly told us, through the spirit of prophecy, “that no longer are we to be a mixed multitude, and that now, just now, we are passing through the crisis that will bring deliverance to the people of God.” By refusing to come back to the original diet which God gave man at creation, we confess that we do not believe that God will again restore our Eden home. In the new earth God will not permit us to take the lives of his beautiful animals to gratify our lustful appetites. It was by yielding to appetite that man lost his Eden home, and it is by a complete victory over this desire and all other evil desires that we shall be reinstated in our Eden home again. Then the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling shall lie down together, and none shall make them afraid; and furthermore, a little child shall lead them. Even the lion will then have no desire to live on a flesh diet; this carnivorous desire will have left both man and beast. See Hosea 2:18; Isa. 11:6-9. When the Lord was leading Israel out of Egypt to the promised land, he chose for them the bill of fare which he saw was best for them; and they were a type of modern Israel who are going into the heavenly Canaan. “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” And every one who had greater love for the flesh-pots of Egypt, with the cucumbers, leeks, and onions, than for the prize set before them, fell in the wilderness. 1 Cor. 10:5, 6; Ex. 16:2-4; Num. 11:4-6. The man who striveth for the mastery must be temperate in all things, and “yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” The Redeemer began his work on the very point where man failed. He was not surrounded with all manner of good things which it was lawful to eat, but he was in the wilderness, and “when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.” Then is when the tempter came to him, and said, “If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Think of it,—he, the Lord of all creation, could turn the stones into bread immediately, yet he hungered; was not this a temptation? May we, like our Saviour, prove that we are his children, by living up to all the light given us. “Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to his original design,—that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth. Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it. I can not think that in the practise of flesh eating we are in harmony with the light which God has9been pleased to give us. . . . All who profess to be health reformers should for this very reason live it, at home and abroad, lest they become like sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. May God help us to subdue our perverted appetites that we may enjoy the food originally provided for man at creation, and which will be his diet in the earth made new.” If our bodies are “the temples of the Holy Ghost,” and we have dedicated them to high and noble uses, should we not watch and guard them from anything that would profane their holy character? Daniel understood this, and thus he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Dan. 1:8-12. “The indulgence of lustful appetite wars against the soul; it is a constant hindrance to spiritual advancement. Those who yield to their lower impulses bear an accusing conscience; and when straight truths are presented, they are ready to take offense. They are self-condemned, and think that these subjects have been purposely selected in order to reprove them. They feel grieved and injured, and withdraw themselves from the assemblies of the church. Then the conscience is not so disturbed. Thus they soon lose their interest in the meetings, and their love for the truth. If these will crucify fleshly lusts, the arrows of truth will pass harmlessly by them. But while they indulge lustful appetite, and thus cherish their idols, they make themselves a mark for the shafts of truth; if the truth is spoken at all, it must wound them.” God permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardship, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessings of our lives; and every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience, and advances us in the work of character building. All are given for a purpose, and God desires that we should get the blessing out of every experience. We can also compare our life to a voyage, and our body to a ship. We can all imagine how careful a wise captain would be that his ship should be built of strong timbers, well framed together, thoroughly seasoned, and best adapted for safety and speed; he would also make sure that no barnacles are hanging to the hull to slack her onward progress. How much more care, wisdom, and discretion we need who are voyagers on life’s tempestuous sea, and who have but this one ship, and but the one chance to sail between time and eternity. Shall we, like many, linger, and drift with the human tide? or shall we make use of both the right and the left arm of the message? It requires neither oar nor sail to drift with the multitude, but it does demand both oars and undaunted nerve with unfailing courage to stem the tide in this degenerate age. And the Saviour’s words are: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” A. L. HOLLENBECK
By A. L. Hollenbeck
SATAN, in his efforts to gain control of the whole mind, works through faults of character, well knowing that if these faults are cherished, he will be successful. Satan exults whenever he can lead us to cherish these faults, and feel that they are not really faults. It is not safe for us to depend upon our own judgment. Our judgment may be at fault. Let the Word of God and his Spirit decide in every matter whether a word or an act is right or wrong, and let us be ready and willing always to speak and act in accordance with his Word. We can not be too careful in regard to how we read God’s Word, how we hear it, and the kind of spirit that is working upon our minds. Our only hope of escaping the many snares and pitfalls which Satan has so deftly prepared for us is in being acquainted with Jesus. All who form his acquaintance can safely trust themselves to be led by him. His promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” is not for the true Christian alone; it is also for every one of those professed Christians who have backslidden, and who have been so led astray by the enemy of souls that they have become poor representatives of their divine Master. To all such, the word “repent” has a blessing in its meaning. And as the Spirit calls to the weary wanderer, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” it also adds, “This do, and thou shalt live.” Jesus will surely remember every one of his erring ones, and although they may wander away into the depths of worldliness and error, his infinite love will not leave them to perish, neither will he forsake them as long as there is one ray of hope for them. Instead of singing, over and over again,— The spirit of intense worldliness which is manifested everywhere, and which is fast taking hold of every earthly element, is a source of great danger to the professed followers of Christ. We can not serve God and mammon. In other words, we can not be Godlike and worldlike at the same time. We may touch the world if we will, but if we deliberately place one hand upon worldliness, we need not expect that we can stretch forth the other at the same time and ever reach heaven. It will take but a very small amount of worldliness to shut us out of the city of God, but it will take all there is of us to gain that blessed abode. Many may be able, in a general way, to pass as good Christians, and apparently enter into the spirit of the songs of Zion, but they are well aware that the glitter and tinsel of the world has developed a beam in their eyes, which, if not soon removed, will cast “None of self, and all of thee,” which they know is nearly, if not quite, the reverse in their case, they would better sing with all the spirit and meaning there is in it, and mean it, too,— All of self to thee I bring,
Cleanse it, Lord, unworthy thing;
Full of foes without, within,
Fit it, Lord, some souls to win. The huge tide of worldliness is rushing onward. Its momentum is increased with every effort of the wily foe to hurl it upon the honest in heart. It seeks its own. And unless there is now a speedy cutting loose from everything of a worldly nature, the flood of worldliness, as it rushes to its own, will sweep over many poor souls, and carry them along to darkness and despair. Set the face like a flint against all falsehood, all pretense, and every species of worldliness, and grow in grace from day to day, by representing Christ to the world. Give none of your time or your confidence to any of the artful agents of Satan, no matter how well they may be disguised; for if entertained, they will weaken your purpose to do right, and rob you of your spiritual strength. Instead of cherishing a spirit of independence, indifference, pride, love of the world, and cold formality, in which many so far as the want of piety is concerned, are fast coming to resemble ancient Israel, we should seek to control self in its wanderings toward the world, and see that it is brought down from its prominent position, and given a place where it belongs, at the foot of the cross, with Christ, not it, in front. When this is done, everything arbitrary, dictatorial, overbearing, boastful, proud, and unconsecrated will go with it, and we shall be better fitted to handle sacred truths, point sinners to Christ, and perform the every-day duties of Christians. The Value of a Creed
By K. C. Russell
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT in a speech which he delivered on a recent Sunday at Oyster Bay, outlined his idea of the worth of a creed as follows:— “The worth of any creed must in the long run be judged largely by the conduct of those who profess it. The most effective service for Christianity that can possibly be given is to show in actual life that those who profess it do give in their conduct an approximate expression to the faith that is in them. It is the conduct of the average Christian, not on Sunday, but on week-days, not in the church alone, but in his family and in his relations to his neighbors and to the state, that will more than anything else determine in the eyes of the general public the worth of the creed that man professes. Of course, all this applies in little things which, in their sum, are so big. The man is not a good Christian10if his domestic conduct is such that when he returns to his home, his wife and children feel a sense of uneasiness at his having come.” The President’s statement as to the worth of a creed is what many are longing to see exemplified in the lives of professed Christians in these times when pride, love of the world, and selfishness are sapping the vitality from the professed church of Christ. The condition will never be attained by the teaching of moral ethics or simply an outward conformity to certain moral maxims. It will require nothing short of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit in the soul in order to produce the fruits outlined by the President. GEO. O. STATES
By GEO. O. STATES
Lessons From Past Experiences — No. 6
Any person who has observed the development of our work can but be convinced that the Lord has led in the various lines. When Elder White and other leading brethren thought that in order to successfully carry on the work we should have to organize and take a name, some strongly opposed the move, and there was a lack of unity. Some wanted to take the name “The church of God.” Sister White was shown that the name “Seventh-day Adventist” carries the true features of our faith, and will convict the inquiring mind. That united those who believed this gift from the Lord, and those who rejected the light soon gave up the truth. One of our leading ministers in Michigan who accepted the truth in 1853 in after years studied infidel works that he might refute them, and was reproved by the spirit of prophecy. In rejecting the light, he became discouraged and gave up the truth, remaining in that condition a number of years. In the early days of camp-meetings among us, after the meeting had begun, Brother White and the leading brethren telegraphed him an invitation to come to the meeting. As the power of God came in, this brother again took his stand for the truth, and preached the message for a number of years before his death. Our people are recognized the world over as the leaders in sanitarium work. I think it well for our younger members, to say that the great principles of health reform which have given us so prominent a position in the world were shown by Sister White in Otsego, Mich., June 6, 1863, which was some years before the Health Institute was started in Battle Creek. Much ridicule was cast upon us for adopting the principles of health reform. We were called bran-bread eaters. Our physicians are recognized as standing at the head in these reforms, and yet the light was given us through this gift. The educational work that has reached such dimensions was started as a result of the light which came to Sister White upon the matter of education. She was shown that our people should have schools. In 1867 Professor Bell saw the Testimony. He told the brethren that if they would fix up the old office building, he would teach in it. That was the first educational work among us, and we all know how it has advanced. The Testimonies have led us out in the matter of tract and missionary work. Over forty years ago a Testimony was given to the effect that we were not doing our duty in the gratuitous circulation of our small publications. Our people were counseled to take them with them to hand out in traveling, and when writing, they were urged to send small tracts with their letters. This counsel was heeded, and now we see a great work carried on through the agency of the tract and missionary societies. In the early days of our tract work we used to get addresses through different means, and as we would send out the reading, ask the Lord’s special blessing upon it. Those were days when the Lord’s people came close together. When our people first suggested having a camp-meeting, many thought it was a terrible mistake, a step backward. While I did not go to the first one, I felt the influence of it from those who did attend, who for weeks were telling us about the power of God that was present. The Testimonies have led out in that work also. Outward and Inward Adorning
By Daniel H. Kress
“Be not conformed to this world,” says the Word. Another version reads, “Do not follow the customs and fashions of the age.” God's people are in the world, but they are not of the world; they are a distinct and separate people. This distinction becomes more marked as they near the end of time, for then, if ever, “shall ye discern between the righteous and the wicked.” The child of God aims to make the virtues of Christ, the inward adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, his chief attraction. A certain artist spent much time and anxious labor in drawing a picture of Christ. He tried to make his face just as expressive as possible. Seated around him at the table were his disciples, having before them their golden cups. After he had finished his great work of art, he placed it upon exhibition, and stood by to hear the comments of spectators as they passed. Several women halted before the picture admiringly. One of them enthusiastically exclaimed, “See the beautiful golden cups.” The artist took his brush, and with a few strokes obliterated the cups, saying, “I will have nothing on the picture that will detract from that face.” This should be the aim of every true Christian,—to wear nothing and do nothing that will attract the attention of the world away from Christ to self. The Christian will not be content until everything about him that tends to do this is removed. It is the inward adorning that is to him of great value. Some of our modern churches have become exhibits for jewelry and dress. It is a noticeable fact that what churches lack in spirituality they try to supply by outward splendor. The most worldly churches frequently have the largest organs, the greatest choirs, and the most imposing structures in which to assemble for worship. What is true of churches is true of individuals—the less of the inward adorning one possesses, the more of the outward adorning appears. Outward adorning is therefore always a confession of inward poverty, for the kingdom of God does not come with outward splendor. Those who are in possession of that valuable treasure, a meek and quiet spirit, are not the ones who seek outward display. Their dress is neat, yet simple and modest. If the young should spend the same time in looking into the mirror of God's Word, with a view to adorning themselves inwardly in harmony with his revealed will, that they spend at the mirrors in their rooms in the arrangement of their dress and hair, if they should study as diligently the garment of Christ's righteousness as they do the fashion-plates, not one would be lost. If such complete provision has been made that we may obtain eternal life, certainly all are left without excuse if they fail to secure it. We are living in the examination week of this world's history: all are preparing for their final examination. Angels of God are passing from one to another with the measuring rod of God's Word. The outward adornment of wearing of gold, the arrangement of the hair, the style of the hat, etc., are sufficient to witness before angels and men that the inward adorning, which alone is of value, is absent. Therefore the admonition is, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This inward adornment is the adornment that is needed in our homes. It is the adornment that should impress the stranger as he attends the place of worship on the Sabbath. These principles, if translated into the life, also afford protection to the child of God. God says of the woman who possesses the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit, and gives evidence of it by her modest and simple apparel, “Touch not mine anointed.” Ps. 105:15. There is something about her that says, “Hands off.” She is secure anywhere: she has a hedge built about her that is invisible, yet felt by all who associate with her. Just to the extent that she lacks this inward adorning, she steps out from divine protection, and nothing from without can take its place, not even the gold ring. “Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” "The Lovingest Face"
By Eben E. Rexford
“I love you, mama,” my little one said,
As close to my heart crept her golden
head;
“I love you lots,” with a clasp and kiss,
“The best of all mamas my mama is.” “And I think,” said she, looking up in
my eyes
With a glance that was tender, grave,
and wise,
“That you’ve got just the lovingest
face; O, O,
I’m glad you’re my mama, I love you
so!” What was the praise of the world to
me
To the love of the little one throned
on my knee?
And this was my prayer, as I kissed
the eyes
That were smiling up at me pansy-
wise,
May the face of thy mother forever be
The “lovingest” face in the world to
thee.
— Eben E. Rexford. THE duty of parents to train their children aright, so that they may become useful members of society, is undoubted. The nature of the case in many respects implies this; and the command of the Scripture in many places, and in varied forms, enjoins this duty upon parents. Such training is necessary for the welfare of the children, and is requisite for the well-being of the domestic and national life of the community. The neglect of this training and proper discipline is the reason, in part at least, why so many young people, especially boys, are growing up to be lawless and criminal. In a city one often wonders where the noisy hoodlums come from, as we see them on the streets. If we were to trace the history of these rowdy lads and young men, we would find that in very many cases, there was no family training in their homes. They grow up not knowing what obedience is at home, and they go out to be lawless on the streets. The result is that they fall into the hands of the police, and are put in prison, often to come out more hardened than when they went in. If there were better home training, we should need fewer men on the police force, and we should not require such large prisons, reformatories, and penitentiaries. Parents are better than police. The great majority of criminals, as statistics show, become so during their teens, when they are still under legal age, and should be subject to parental control. We visited a large State prison recently; and, in going through the fine shops connected with this institution, we were surprised to see how many of the inmates were little more than boys; in some cases they did not seem to be full grown, and in not a few instances they had good faces, not yet really hardened. Lack of parental training may have been largely responsible for their becoming inmates of the prison. Boys out at night learn no good. Give us good parents, and we shall have less need for police, and the former can do what the latter can not. The parents can build up good character, by the grace of God, and make good citizens. The police can do little more than restrain crime, and secure the punishment of criminals. The hoodlum and the youthful criminal class are things that menace our American life. Give us faithful and competent parents, and we shall have less need of the police force. — Christian Observer. Unintentionally Wounding Others
It not infrequently happens in the home that a child's motives are misjudged, and that a reprimand, or even punishment, is administered before the child is given an opportunity to explain. The child's sense of justice is outraged, and his heart cries out against it. There are parents, it is sad to relate, who feel that to make an apology to the child in such a case would be belittling to themselves. It is a great and grievous mistake, and does incalculable harm, estranging the child from the parent. The following school incident will illustrate the point:— A Professor Blackie, of Edinburgh, was lecturing to a class of new pupils. A student rose to read a paragraph, holding his book in his right hand. “Sir,” shouted Mr. Blackie, “hold your book in your left hand,”—and as the student started to speak.—“no words, sir! Your left hand, I say!” The pupil held up his left arm, which ended piteously at the wrist. “Sir, I have no left hand,” he said. Before the professor could say a word, there arose a storm of hisses. Then Mr. Blackie left his place and went down to the student he had unwittingly hurt, put his arm upon the lad's shoulders and drew him close. “My boy,” said the teacher,—he spoke softly, yet the quietness of the room made every word audible,—“you'll forgive me that I was over-rough? I did not know—I did not know!” The wound was healed. Scottish lads can cheer as well as hiss, and this the professor soon learned.—Selected. A MOTHER once said to a popular teacher who had been admired by her pupils for a score of years: “What a wide and beneficent influence you have exerted, while I have been cooped up at home, managing servants, dosing the mumps and the measles, and patching and darning! How narrow my life looks beside yours.” “Narrow!” cried her friend. “Think how you have sent forth into the world every morning your husband and your flock of boys and girls, full of health and cheer! What a model home you have created for all your friends to see! It is I who have lived a narrow life rather than you. What is the slight touch which I may have given to a thousand or more lives compared with the deep, determining influence which you have wielded over the half dozen in your home?” “Is it possible that you think so!” exclaimed the tired mother, incredulously. “I know so. I have watched your children in school. They radiate everywhere an atmosphere of love and light, and it was you who gave it to them.” Commendable Ideals
By William DeWitt Hyde
To weigh material goods in the scale of personal values, and measure life by the standard of love; to prize health as contagious happiness, wealth as potential service, reputation as latent influence, learning for the light it can shed, power for the help it can give, station for the good it can do; to choose in each case what is best on the whole, and accept cheerfully incidental trials involved; to put my whole self into all that I do, and indulge no single desire at the expense of myself as a whole; to crowd out fear by devotion to duty, and see present and future as one; to treat others as I would be treated, and myself as I would my best friend; to lend no oil to the foolish, but let my light shine freely for all; to make no gain by another's loss, and buy no pleasure with another's pain; to harbor no thought of another which I should be unwilling that others should know; to say nothing unkind to amuse myself, and nothing false to please others; to take no pride in weaker men's failings, and bear no malice toward those who do wrong; to pity the selfish no less than the poor, the proud as much as the outcast, and the cruel even more than the oppressed; to worship God in all that is good and true and beautiful; to serve Christ whenever a sad heart may be made happy or a wrong will set right; and to recognize God's coming kingdom in every institution and person that helps men to love one another.— William DeWitt Hyde.