♦+++++-M -I-H"! l*++++W++,i ++++,H,t+WM*+4,+'H,+++t+++1,+lH',>+
| The Bov/ of Orange Ribbon |
X A ROMANCE OF NEW YORK X
| By AMELIA E. BARR +
+ Avlhor of "Friend Olivia.," "I, Thou and the Other On*," Etc. +
X Copyright, 1886, by Dodd, Mead and Company. X
♦**++4*++++**++*+>*++++d*+**+++++*+*++*+++++*++«t««+*J
CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.)
“One is wanting of the dozen, moth
er. At the last cake-baking, with the
dish of cake sent to Joanna it went.
I f. Back it has not come.”
“For it you might go, Katherine. I
like not that my sets are broken.”
Katherine blushed scarlet. This
was the opportunity she wanted. She
wondered if her mother suspected the
want; but Lysbet's face expressed
only a little worry about the missing
damask. Slowly, though her heart
heat almost at her lips, she folded
away her work.
The nights were yet chilly—though
the first blooms were on ths trees—
and the wadded cloak and hood vere
not far out of season as to cause re
mark. As she came down-stairs, the
clock struck seven. There was yet an
hour, and she durst not wait so long
at the bottom of the garden while it
was early In the evening. And this
singular reluctance to leave home as
sailed Katherine. If she had known
that it was to be forever, her soul
could not have more sensibly taken
its farewell of all the dear, familiar
objects of her dally life. About her
mother this feeling culminated. She
found her cap a little out of place;
and her fingers lingered in the lace,
and stroked fondly her hair and pink
cheeks, until Lysbet felt almost em
barrassed by the tender, but unusual
show of affection.
“Now then go, my Katherine. To
Joanna give my dear love. Tell her
that very good were the cheesecakes
and the krullers and that to-morrow 1
will come over and see the new car
pet they have bought."
And while she spoke she was re
tying Katherine’s hood, and admiring
as she did so the fair, sweet face In
Its quiltings of crimson satin, and the
small, dimpled chin resting upon the
fine bow she tied under it. Then she
followed her to the door and watched
her down the road until she saw her
meet Dominie Van Linden, and stand
a moment holding his hand. "A mes
sage I am going for my mother," she
said, as she firmly refused his escort.
“Then with madam, your mother, I
will sit until you return,” he replied
cheerfully; and Katherine answered,
“That will be a great pleasure to her,
uir.”
A little farther she walked; Dili
suddenly remembering that the dom
inie's visit would keep her mother in
the house, and being made restless
hy the gathering of the night shadows,
she turned quickly and taking the
^ very road up which Hyde had come
(he night Neil Semple challenged
him she entered the garden by a small
gate at its foot, which was intended
for the gardener’s use. The lilacs
had not much foliage, but in the dim
light her dark, slim figure was undls
linguishable behind them. Longingly
and anxiously she looked up and down
the water way. A mist was gathering
fiver It; and there were no boats in
the channel except two pleasure shal
lops, already tacking to their proper
piers. “The Dauntless’’ had been out
t»f sight for hours. There was not the
uplash of an oar, and no other river
aound at that point, but the low, pe
euliar “wish-h-h” of the turning tide.
All her senses were keenly on the
nlert. Suddenly there was the sound
Bf oars, and the measure was that of
Steady, powerful strokes. She turned
( her face southward and watched. Like
a flash a boat shot out of the shadow
--a long, swift boat, that came like a
f^te, rapidly and without hesitation.
t«v her very feet. Richard quickly left
ri, and with a few strokes it was car
ried back into the dimness of the
central channel. Then he turned to
ihe lilac trees.
“Katherine! My love, my wife, my
ll beautiful wife! My true, good heart!
Now, at last, my own, nothing shall
part us again, Katherine—never agf'n.
I have come for you—come at all
risks for you. Only five minutes the
beat can wait. Are you ready?”
“I know not, Richard. My father—
my mother”—
“My husband! Say that, also, be
loved. Am I not first?”
■ "If one word I could send them!
They suspect me not. They think you
are gone. It will kill my father.”
“You shall write to them on the
ship. There are a dozen fishing boats
near it. We will send the letter by
one of them. My wife, do you need
more persuasion?”
She had no time to consider. Rieb
\ ird was wooing her consent with
/.isses and entreaties. Her own soul
urged her, not only by the joy of his
presence, but by the memory of the
anguish she had endured that day in
the terror of his desertion. She clung
* > to hir husband’s arm, she lifted her
face to his, she said softly, but clear
ly, "I will go with you, Richard. With
you I will go. Where to, I care not at
all.”
They stepped into the boat, and
Hyde said, "Oars.” Not a word was
spoken. He held her within his left
arm, close to his side, and partially
covered with his military cloak. All
the past was behind her. She had done
what was irrevocable. For Joy or for
sorrow, her place was evermore at
her husband’s side. Richard knew
that every doubt and fear had van
ished when her hand stole Into hts
band, when she slightly lifted her face
and whispered, “Richard.”
During that same hour Joris was in
|tb* town council. There had been a
stormy and prolonged session on the
Quartering Act. All the way home
he was pondering the question, and
when he tound Dominie Van Linden
talking to Lysbet he gladly discussed
it over again with him. Lysbet sat
beside them, knitting and listening.
I'ntil after nine o’clock Joris did not
notice the absence of his daughter.
"She went to Joanna’s,” said Lysbet
calmly. Still, In her own heart there
was a certain uneasiness. Katherine
had never remained all night before
without sending some message or on
a prev-0113 understanding to that ef
fect.
In the morning Joris rose very early
and went into the garden. Generally
this service to nature calmed and
cheered him, but he came to break
fast from it silent and cross.
He reached his store in that mood
which apprehends trouble, and finds
out annoyances that under other cir
cumstances would not have any at
tention. He was threatening a gen
eral reform in everything and every
body, when a man came to the door.
“If you are Joris Van Heemskirk, I
have a letter for you. I got it from
’The Dauntless’ last night, when I was
fishing in the bay.”
Without a word Joris took the let
ter, turned into his office and shut the
door. It was Katherine’s writing, and
held the folded paper in his hand and
looked stupidly at it. The truth was
forcing itself into his mind and the
slow-coming conviction was a real
physical agony to him. Through a
mist he made out. these words:
“My Father and my Mother—I have
gone with my husband. I married
Richard ivhen he was ill, and tonight
he came tor me. When I left home,
I knew r.ot 1 was to go. Only five min
utes I had. In God’s name, this is
the truth. Always, at the end of the
world, I shall love you. Forgive me,
forgive me, niijn fader, mijn moeder.
"Your child,
"KATHERINE HYDE.”
He tore the letter into fragments,
but the next moment he picked them
up, folded them in a piecj of paper
and put them in his pocket. Then he
went to Mrs. Gordon’s. She had antic
ipated the visit, and was, in a meas
ure, prepared for it. With a smile
and outstretched hands, she rose from
her chocolate to meet him. “You see,
I am a terrible sluggard, councillor,”
she laughed; "but the colonel left
early for Boston this morning and I
cried myself into another sleep. And
will you have a cup of chocolate?”
"Madam, I came not on courtesy,
but for my daughter. Where is my
Katherine?”
"Truth, sir, I believe her to be
where every woman wishes—with her
husband.”
"Her husband! Who, then?”
"Indeed, councillor, that is a ques
t!on easily answered—my nephew,
Capt. Hyde, at your service."
“When were they married?”
"In faith, I have forgotten the pre
cise date. It was in last October.”
"Who married them?”
"It was the governor’s chaplain—
the Rev. Mr. Somers, a relative of
my Lord Somers, a most estimable
and respectable person, I assure you.
Col. Gordon and Capt. Earle and my
self were the witnesses.”
"Twice over deceived I have beeS,
then”—
"In short, sir, there was no help
for it. And. if you will take time to
reflect, I am sure that you will be
reasonable.”
"I know' not, I know' not— O, my
Katherine, my Katherine!”
“I pray you sit down, councillor.
You look faint and ill. I protest to
yo* that Katherine is happy; and
grieving will not restore your loss.”
“For that reason I grieve, madam.
Nothing can give me back my child.”
"Come, sir, every one has his ca
lamity; and, upon my word, you are
very fortunate to have one no greater
than the marriage of your daughter
to an agreeable man, of honorable
profession and noble family.”
CHAPTER X.
Popular Opinion.
Then Joris went home. On his road
he met Bram, full of the first terror
of his sister's disappearance. He told
him all that was necessary, and sent
him back to the store. “And see you
keep a modest face and make no
great matter of it,” he said. "Be not
troubled nor elated. It belongs to
you to bo very prudent. I will not
have Katherine made a wonder to
gaping women.”
Lysbet was still a little on the de
fensive, but, when she saw Joris com
ing home, her heart turned sick with
fear. “Thee, Joris; dinner will not
bo ready for two hours! Art thou
sick?”
"Katherine—she ha6 gone!”
"Gone? And where, then?”
“With that Englishman; in ‘The
Dauntless' they have gone.”
Then he told her all Mrs. Gordon
had raid, and showed her the frag
ments of Katherine's letter. The
mother kissed them, and put them in
her bosom; and as she did so, she
said softly, "It was a great strait,
Joris.”
"Well, well, me also must pass
through it. The Dominie Van Linden
has gone to examine the records; and
then, if she bis lawful wife be, in the
newspapers I must advertise the mar
riace.”
“‘If.’ ‘If she his lawful wife be!’
Say not 'If' In my hearing; say not
‘If’ of my Katherine.”
“When a girl runs away from her
home”—
"With her husband she went; keep
that in mind when people speak to
thee.”
“What kind of a husband will he be
to her?”
“Well, then, I think not bad of him.
Nearer home there are worse men. 1
think my Katherine is happy; and
happy with her I will be, though the
child in her joy I see not.”
While they were eating an early
dinner, Joanna came In, sad and tear
ful. “What, then, is the matter with
thee?” asked Lysbet, with great com
posure.
“O, mother, my Katherine! My
sister Katherine!”
“I thought perhaps thou had had
news of Batavius. Thy sister Kath
erine hath married a very fine gentle
man, and she is happy. For thou
must remember that all the good men
do not come from Dordrecht.”
“I am glad that so you take it. I
thought in very great serrow you
would be.”
“See that you do not say such words
to any one, Joanna. Very angry I
will be if I hear them. Batavius, also,
he must be quiet on this matter.”
“O, then, Batavius has many things
of greater moment to think about!
Ot Katherine he never approved, and
the talk there will be. he will not
like it. Before from Boston he comes
back, I shall be glad to have it over.”
“Joanna, many will praise Kather
ine, for she to herself has done well.
And, when back she comes, at the
governor’s she will visit, and with all
the great ladies; and not one among
them will be so lovely as Katherine
Hyde.”
And. if Joanna liad been in Madam
Semple’s parlor a few hours later she
would have had a most decided Illus
tration of Lysbet's faith in the pop
ular verdict. Madam was sitting at
her tea table talking to the elder, who
had brought home with him the full
supplement to Joanna’s story.
Neil had heard nothing. He had
been shut up in his office all day over
an important suit and was irritable
with exhaustion, though he was doing
his best to keep himself in control,
and when madam his mother said
pointedly, “1m fearing, Neil, that the
bad news has made you ill; you arena
at a’ like yoursel',” he asked without
much interest, “What bad news.*'
“The news anent Katherine Van
Heemskirk.”
"What of her?” he asked.
“Didna you hear? She ran awa’
last night wi’ Capt. Hyde; stole awa’
wi’ him on ‘The Dauntless.’”
“She would have the right to go
with him, I have no doubt,” said Nell
with guarded calmness.
“Do you really think she was his
wife?"
“If she went with him, I am sure
she was.” He dropped the words
with an emphatic precision, and
looked with gloomy eyes out cf the
window; gloomy, but steadfast, as if
he were trying to face a future in
which there was no hope.
"But if she isna?” persisted madam.
In a moment Neil let slip the rein
in which he had been holding him
self, and in a slow, intense voice an
swered, “I shall make it my business
to find out. If Katherine is married,
God bless her! If she is not, I will
foflow Hyde around the world until
I cleave his false heart in two.” His
passion gathered wdth its utterance.
He pushed away his chair, and put
down his cup so indifferently that if
missed the table and fell wuth a crash.
Joris tried to put the memory of
Katherine away, but he could not ac
complish a miracle. The girl’s face
was ever before him. He felt her
caressing fingers linked in his own,
and as he walked in his house and
his garden, her small feet pattered
beside him. For as there are in cre
ation invisible bonds that do not
break like mortal bonds, so also there
arc correspondences subsisting be
tween souls, despite the separation of
distance.
(To be continued.)
Oh, He’s All Right.
Of course, every young mother
thinks her baby the center of the uni
verse. There have been several boy
babies born in the little town of
A-during the past summer.
This is not intended as a startling
piece of news, because their arrivals
have been duly and appropriately
chronicled, but it is only stated as the
basis of a little joke.
Some days ago four of the happy
young mothers, all of whom had fine
boys at home, met in one of the large
shops. Tney completed their pur
chases about the same time. As they
were all leaving the place, within
speaking distance of each other, a
fresh young assistant, in an effort to
be pleasant, fired the stereotyped
question at one of them, "How is the
boy, to-day?"
In an instant four beaming faces
were turned towards him and four
pleased voices answered In chorus,
“Oh, he’s all right, thank you."
The assistant nearly tainted.
Had She an X-Ray Eye?
They had not been married very
long, and that complete blissful trust
which young husbands and wives have
in each other had not yet been broken.
But one morning wlfle meekly r»
marked:
"I mended the hole in your trousers
pocket last night after you had gone to
bed, John dear. Now, am I not a
thoughtful little wife?"
Husband (dubiously): "Well—er—
ye-es, you are thoughtful enough, my
dear. But how the mischief did you
discover that there was a hole in my
pocket?”
ISO OCCASION FOE IT
FOLLY OF DISTURBING EXISTING
TARIFF LAWS.
Our Domestic and Foreign Trade So
Healthy and Prosperous That Any
Interference Would Seem to Be
Both Unnecessary and Unwise.
Walter J. Ballard, always a sound
thinker on economic questions, writes
as follows to the American Econom
ist:
“Our sales to Canada for the fiscal
year June 30, 1902, were $120,809,950,
against $110,485,008 for 1901, an in
crease of $10,324,948. Our purchases
of Canadian produce were $71,196,505,
against $67,995,726, an increase of $3,
200,779, the net result being a bal
ance of trade in our favor of $49,603,
457, an increase over last year’s bal
ance of trade favorable to us of $7.
124,169. As we have reached this re
sult in spite of Canada's preferential
of one-third in favor of Great Britain,
is there need for us to seriously con
sider the question of reciprocity with
Canada? Walter J. Ballard.
“Schenectady, N. Y., Dec. 15. 1902.”
Not only do these facts of trade an
swer In the negative the query. Is
there any need for us to seriously
consider the question of reciprocity
with Canada? but the general facts
of trade and commerce exhibit so
healthy a condition as to negative the
question whether we ought to take
any risks with the great consuming
home market for the sake of possibly
increasing a few lines of exports to
foreign markets. A recent report of
the Treasury Bureau of Statistics
bears upon this point. It shows a
marked increase of activity in manu
factures, both in exports and imports.
During the seven months ending with
July, 1902, the exportation of man
ufactures was nearly $10,000,000 great
er than in the corresponding months
of the preceding year, and the im
portation of manufacturers’ materials
was $50,000,000 greater than in tne
corresponding months of the preced
ing year. The exportation of manu
factures during the seven months of
the present year has averaged $35,
108,000 per annum, while the importa
tion of manufacturers’ materials has
averaged $36,000,000 per month, or at
the rate of $432,000,000 per annum.
Nearly all of the principal manufac
tured articles exported, except iron
and steel, show an increase in quan
tity, and in most cases in value,
though in a few important articles
tjie reduction in price per unit of
quantity has brought the value be
low last year’s figures, while the
quantity shows an increase. This is
true of mineral oils, for example, the
exports of which during the seven
months show an increase of over four
million gallons, while the figures of
value show a decrease of about $1,
000,000.
Among the articles w'hieh show a
marked increase in exports are cot
ton goods, the exports of which
amount to nearly 21,000,000 in the
seven months ending with July, 1902.
against a little less than $15,000,000
in the corresponding months of 1901.
This increase is almost exclusively
in cotton cloths, of wrhich the expor
tations in the seven months ending
with July, 1902, were $17,098,452,
against $11,124,018 in the correspond
ing months of 1901, the number of
yards exported being 334,865,962 in
the seven months of the present year,
against 207,377,567 in the correspond
ing months of last year. Copper, in
which there was a varied decrease in
the exportations of last year owing to
high prices, now shows a marked in
crease, the figures being $29,014,210
for the seven months ending with
Ji *y, 1902, against $20,731,622 for the
same months of 1901. The chief de
crease in exports occurs In iron- and
steel, the total exports during the sev
en months of this year being $57,263,
304, against $61,160,780 in the corre
sponding months of last year. The
reason for this decrease is at once
found in the greater domestic demand
and consequent advance In prices.
On the Import side nearly all the
principal classes of manufacturers’
materials show an increase. Chem
icals Increased in imports from $32,
591,372 in seven months of 1901 to
$33,831,877 in the same months of
1902; imports of raw cotton increased
from 32,976,486 pounds in seven
months of 1901 to 61,488,963 pounds
in seven months of 1902, the quantity
having thus nearly doubled. Of
fibers the Importations in tho seven
months ending with July, 1901,
amounted to $15,380,786, and In the
corresponding months of 1902 $22,457,
293. Of hides and skins the figures
of imports for the seven months of
1901 were $32,141,436, and for the
corresponding months of 1902 $33,
795,083. India rubber shows a slight
decrease in importations, the total
having fallen from 34,899,446 pounds
in seven months of 1901 to 30,308,134
pounds in the same months of 1902,
though the figures of 1902 are con
siderably in excess of those for the
corresponding months of 1900. Silk
sh* ws a marked Increase, the total
va* le of unmanufactured silk import
ed having increased from $19,702,083
in seven months of 1901 to $22,186,841
in the corresponding months of 1902.
Tin shows an increase in imports of
from 44,398,660 pounds in seven
months of 1901 to 50,918,908 pounds
in the corresponding months of 1902.
Importations of lumber and unmanu
factured wood have increased from
$8,653,870 in seven months of 1901 to
$10,819,000 in the corresponding
months of 1902, and raw wool shows
an Increase In Importations of from
$8,199,625 In seven months of 1901 to
$12,000,855 in the corresponding
months of 1902.
In view of these Interesting figures
is there any pressing need of tariff
patching?
How to Reform Away $55,000,000.
With undoubted kindness in its
heart the Indianapolis News warns
Republicans against being deceived
by the large Republican pluralities
that Indiana has given in five success- i
ive general elections, and against
thinking Indiana a reliable Repub
lican state:
“Thousands of Indiana Democrats
voted with the Republicans. These
men are almost without exception vig
orous tariff reformers.’’
The News predicts that as the sil
ver issue disappears these men will
again be voting with Democrats.
Standing in the mental position of
the man who iooks over the fence and
may not fully appreciate the difficul
ties environing the laboring husband
man on the other side, we wish to
call the attention of our mugwump
contemporary to the facts that In
1880, when a Democratic victory in
Indiana was certain, 69,508 persons in
that state drew $21,960,888 from em
ployment in manufacturing industries,
or $315.95 each. In 1900, on the other
hand, 167,238 persons were so em
ployed, distributing $77,373,610 among
their Hoosler friends and customers,
or $462.60 each.
Iu this age of materialism can any
one doubt that this distribution of an
additional $55,000,000 of wage money
appeals to the sordid instincts of the
business men and farmers in Indiana?
A man must have his money in very
safe securities who would vigorously
reform $55,000,000 a year out of his
state and put It back to where it was
ir. 1880.
4
Fired at Trusts, Hit Industry.
Treat It in a Business Way.
There can be no doubt that many
articles the duty upon which was
properly regulated by the Dlngley bill
have now grown out of adjustment.
The opponents of the tariff always
take advantage of such inequalities
and point out to the people the hard
ships they create. A list of exorbitant
tariff schedules created by a change
of conditions is paraded before the
people until an anti-tariff party comes
into power. The result has always
been disastrous, the people becoming
dissatisfied and the Republicans re
gaining power. They adjust the tar
iff and bring about prosperity, which
continues until conditions in the cost
of production are again changed. Then
comes the agitation, the fear and the
ruin. The Democrats do not want
ruin any more than the Republicans
do, but it is very natural that they
should call attention to the necessity
of readjusting the tariff in order to
have a political issue which would
gl»« them success. It seems to me
that the business men of both parties
ought to treat the tariff in a business
way, and rot use it to wreck the pros
perity of the country.—Senator Stew
art of Nevada.
No Partial Tariff Revision.
Senator Lodge relates the experi
ence of himself and Senator Hoar in
their efforts to keep hides free for the
eastern manufacturers, and the rea
sons which impelled them to abandon
the project for the good of the whole
country. After perusal of the sen
ators remarks, the fair-minded will
be convinced that tinkering the tariff
here and there is not practicable.
As a great measure of public policy
the Dingley tariff was enacted after
many compromises of the sort de
scribed by Senator Lodge. Results
have abundantly justified the wisdom
of the men who adjusted differences
and brought prosperity to the nation.
These matters should be understood
and the trifling with public interests
euded. Agitation of tariff changes
must produce unrest. The great is
sue of the time is prosperity and not
the desire of this or that locality for
a change to suit its particular views.
There is no stagnation in Massa
chusetts because of a duty on hides
The State shares the general prosper
ity. That prosperity must be pre
served, and that i3 the issue of the
time. — Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle.
American Reciprocity.
President McKinley's inaugural
definition of reciprocity was: “New
markets for the products of our coun
try by granting concessions to the
products of other lands that we need
and cannot produce ourselves, and
which do not involve any loss of la
bor to our own people, but tend to in
crease their employment.” And this
is the kind of reciprocity to which
every American citizen can subscribe.
—Tunkhannock (Pa.) Republican.
Have Said It Twice.
Mr. Bryan thinks the tariff should
bo revised. A majority of the Ameri
can people have, by the ballot, said
twice that they did not care what
Bryan thinks.—Monessen (Pa.) News.
Inevitable Result.
Only depression, doubt and uncertain
ty can result from an effort to tinker
the tariff.—Asheville (M. u Register
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON IV., JAN 25; I. THESSA.
LONIANS 5: V4-28.
Golden Text—“Hold Fast That Which
Is Good"—I. Thessalonians 5: 21
Advice Given to the Thescalonian
Church.
Circumstances. Paul had been driven
from Thessalonlea. by persecution, before
he had finished the work he had hoped to
accomplish there. He desired to return
(1 Tnes. 2:11. 18). but was unable- to do
so. Instead, he sent Timothy there to
strengthen them (1 Thes. 3:2h And final
ly, three or four months after he left
them, he wrote them this letter.
Subject: Paul's Hood Counsel to- the
Thessalonlan Church.
1. Duties to all Classes and Conditions
of Men.—Vs. 14, l.l, 14. “Now we exhort
you." Haul. Inspired, invigorated, en
couraged, exhorted the Thessalonlan
Christian* to perform the duties he
names.
First. “Warn" (admonish)1 "them that
are unruly," probably referring to the
idlers and busy-bodies mentioned In 2
Thos. 3:11. The admonishing was to be
done in love for the purpose of reform
ing them.
Second. "Comfort the feebleminded."
Those who have courage and hope and
strength are to Impart these qualities to
those who have less of them.
Third. "Support the weak.” "Support,
from, against, and to hold one's self.
Thu primary- sense is keeping one’s self
directly opposite to another so as to sus
tain him."—M. K. Vincent. Compare
Paul’s example In Acts 20:35; and his
words In Eph,. 4:28.
Fourth. “Be patient toward all.” Bo
slow to condemn or to punish. Do not
be discouraged at the dullness and many
failures to learn of those you would train
in the Christian life.
Fifth 15. "See that none render evil
for evil." Compare Matt. 5:38-48; Horn.
12:18-21: 1 Pet. 2:18-25. The Thessalonlan
Christians were receiving much evil from
the world, as Paul himself had received
at Thessalonlea. nuif his own example
enforced his precept here. But there was
one right way to act In these circum
stances, and that was, not to retaliate,
but to "overcome evil with good"'
Sixth. "Follow that* which is good."
To follow Is not to imitate, lint to make
It your aim, your purpose, to attain both
the absolute good, amt that which is
good, beneficial, to others. And this
"both among yourselves, and to all.”
those outside of the church, even the
most unworthv.
II. Personal Duties, for the Cultivation
of the Spiritual Llfe.-Vs. 16-22.
First. 16. “Rejoice evermore.'* So he
writes to the Phillpplans, from his Ro
man prison, “Rejoice In the Lord alway,
and again r say. Rejoice." This precept
Is remarkahle “in an age so somber that
many Gentiles hailed as a special boon
the possibility of suicide as an open door
of escape granted them from Intolerable
misery."—Farrar.
Second. 17. ''ITay without ceasing."
Continuing to pray for any object till
the prayer Is answered.
Third. IS. "In every thing give thanks.’*
This Is the third of the three great
manifestations of the new Iffc In the
soul. All three have a mutual nfflnjty.
“For this" (giving thanks. Implying both
rejoicing and prayer) “Is the will" (the
purpose, the desire) “of Ood . . . con
cerning you,'* who are so tried and tempt
ed to despond. "In Christ Jesus," who
makes its attainment passible, whose
leaching and example whose presence and
love Inspire the feeling.
Fourth. 19. “Quench not the Spirit."
As the fire may be quenched by rain or
by covering It up from the air. so may
the flame of the Spirit be quenched by
worldllness, by obstructions to his ac
tivity. by evil passions, by neglect.
Fifth. 20. “Despise not prophesylngs."
The messages of God through Inspired
men. "Inspired instruction, exhortation,
or warning." Prophesylngs are despised
by setting a light value upon them, by
npglecting to hear them, and by refus
ing to obey them.
Sixth. 21. “Prove all things." Apply
a test to every teaching, every claim upon
you. “Hold fast that which is good.”
Distinguish between the genuine and the
spurious, and hold fast the genuine.
Never has there been more need of this
counsel than to-day.
III. t'auiBenediction.—V*. 23. 24, 23.
"And the very God of peace." Better
as r. v., "the God of peace himself," the
God who brings peace. "Sanctify you."
Make you holy, pure, free from sin and
Imperfection, from every taint of evil.
"Wholly." Unto completeness, to full
perfection, In degree and In kind. "Spirit
and soul and body." The Inner and other
i nature, the spiritual and material, the
whole being. "Be preserved” entire.
"Blameless.” r. v., "without blame,”
without spot or blemish or imperfection;
with nothing for which you can be
blamed. "Unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” When he comes to Judge
men, and to receive the righteous into
; his kingdom.
24. "Faithful,” true to his promises,
and continuing so to the end. “Is he
that culleth you” to this new life, and
to all the blessings that flow from it.
So Paul, after still longer experience
of the gospel of Jesus, wrote to the
! Romans: "In all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that
I neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
j principalities, nor powers, nor things
. present, nor things to come, nor height,
' nor depth, nor any other creature, shall
he able to separate us from the love of
God, which Is In Christ JesuB our Lord”
IV. Paul's Closing Words.—Vs. 25-28,
26. "Brethren, pray for us." Paul had
prayed for them (v. 23; 1 Thes. 1:2; com
pare 1 Thes. 3:10), but he needs their
prayers also.
28. "Greet" (salute) "all the brethren
with an” (a) "holy kiss." In whatever
way is best adapted to our times, broth
erly affection among Christians should
ever be expressed.
27. "I charge you." “It is as much
as to say, 'I put you on your oath be
fore the Lord to do this.’ "—Camb. Bible.
"This epistle be read unto all the . . .
brethren," not to the leaders only, but
to all without distinction. This is the
first Epistle known to have been writ
ten by Paul to any church. •
28. “The grace.” The favor surround
ing the church like an atmosphere, and
causing all graces to spring up and flour
ish. This grace continues in the ever
living Savior In heaven, and Is mani
fested toward us, and will produce In us
"grace for grace" till we shall be like
him.
The Brotherhood of Life.
He who loves not God, nor his
brother, cannot love the grass beneath
! his feet, nor the creatures which live
not for his uses, Ailing those spaces
in the universe which he needs not;
while, on the other hand, none can
j love God, nor his human brothers,
without loving all things which his
Father loves; nor without looking
upon them as in that respect his breth
ren also, and perhaps worthier than
he, if. In the under concords they have
to All, their parts is touched more
truly.