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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1906-10-18, Page 7IESURRECTIO:\ OF THE DEM) Ihe Belief in Immortal Life Makes Rough Ways Easy 4'And their words scented to them as fdle tales, and they believed them not." 'Luke11. la a very difficult thing or most men to grasp spiritual realities, WO ne. touch and taste and hear and see• the material. That the thing which eon - lethally throe itself on our physical senses. it has been very hard foe men to geasp the conception of a life in e'iwtdc!i these bodies nave leo trot. Fret the outset Christian leachers epposed tee physical and 'material eon - option of life here and hereafter, From the outset they taught the resuevectioa of the dead as a fundamental tenet of the faith—the glory of , the faith in :Christ. But man asked _about details. How would they live? What sort or bodies sheald they nave hereafter? If 'these bodies were corrupted and de- stroyed in the gave', how could they be, raised te -life? You remember St. Paul's answer in that famous fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians, whicb we read over the beads of Our dear ones' 'when we consign them to the grave. The Corruption and decay Of these bodtes ellen .not otherwise affect the lite ef your spirits than corruption and 'death affect the seeds which you plant in Me earth. - TIM, BEAL THING IS THE IDEA, the thought, the spirit. The thing on iwhich you can lay your hands, the thing which you can deithe with mathe- matical precision, the thing which you, can photograph, ia but the passing ex- tpression. This seems like an idle tale to men who cannot free themselves *from the hampering materialisin of their ,surroundings. Steele men mournfully less aside 'the realities as unreal, be - taus° they are not susceptible of that ,proof of the senses which they are wont to apply ire their dealings with material expressions. They have not developed 'those higher powers or their nature -Metall respond, to the spiritual somewhat the same way in which the senses re- spond to the material. What n glory belief In the resuree0- Lion gives to life The tasks which seem to me so irkeorne ane son:Whiles ea needless are e preparation for a work that My Father has prepared for me in al:tether mansion of His great house, just as the school chins tasks are the preparation for the greater and broader work or maturer life when he shalt be flt to share the father's postal:at is tether's labor, The pains end sorrows which befall us hoe and often seem .so unjust, tak- ing the joy out of our lives, are like the pains and. ills of the .chile, which makee his life unhappy for a day that they may clue 'Min of some illness, tented/ some defeet in his , organism or strengthen the litele skeet, within, mak- ing 11 braver and truer and purer. Our vele, partings lose thole .unenterable sadeess and tend. in llleir turn to make life more georious ;Veen it becomes clear to us that God has Laken those we rove to pat, them in a place WHICH HE IIAS PREPARED ; thet they are only over the threshold in the next room, busy and happy in a life full of interest and joy. To dwell on thoughts like these, to 'have the seal of faith set upon the hopes and yearnings of our nature. to be told that those yearnings and those asphatiens Were not given to us by God in vin, but that they mienn in due time find their realleation—this faith en- nobles the veil' sources of our being. It has been the proud conception of man �S expressed, for example, in the old Hebrew scriptures, growing stronger the more men progressed in intelligence and control over themselnes'and the uni- verse about them, that we are diffeeent from the rest, ot creation. We are the crown of Creation to whigh all the rest, leads up. This thought takes on a lieW and nobler character esaeresuit of that dectrine of immortal life Which Jesus brought to men. JOHN P. PETERS. The Pastor's Thanksgiving . +++4-44++++-44-4-+4±+++++. Something had to be done! Such was n'eteth verdict of the good people of Elm - "tele on a. certain October Sunday. The one surmized a general canvas was be- ing made. Before Sunday the entire amount was secured. Friday, after school, the Senior leogu- ers met and decided that inasmuch as the grown-up folks would 'not help- in the matter, they would do what they could; so they voted to pay over every bit Mere was in the treasury.. Upon muting, $23.25 was f011ad In be the correct amount. "On, ,girls!" cried Lon% Newman, as sbe made some figures in the treasur- nr's book, "it will make just even $75 and I hope we can get enough to make treasurer, a young man who had recent- 111 a hundred." *ny come to the village, had made a finale- After the choir had run over the Sun - !dal statement that ramming, upon which .clay hymns, some One proposed that 'certain persons felt very much scandal - fixed. Suclt a thing had never been :done before—not even thoughe of; then lit revealed the fact that the Rev. Wes- pey Norwood had received but $51.75 for 'ix months of faithful service. "I don't believe in bringing up such !matters in the religious services of the 'church," growledBrother Cook, who an livaiis protested that it was a waste of they pay the proceeds of theettst concert cri the eatery. The sum was $30.25; af- b. r referring to the margin of his an- them book,' the chorister reported that it would make Me all told, On Thanks- giving evening they would call at the parsonage and surprise the pastor with a cheek for this amount. Perhaps it would somewhat atone for the sin of whisperine during the sermon: pfloaey to pay the ennuster so much Thannsgiving day was a trying time salary. for the Norwoods. The baby was sick "I quite a.gree with you," responded' :Mr. Barnes. He was not a member of inn church, blit ettended because it was la respectable thing to do—gave you 'standing. "If these things must come ;up every Sunday I shall attend church elsewhere." Notwithstanding thin it was general- ity agreed that it was a. shame, and • something must be done. But when things had gone in a haphazard way Ise long it was no easy matter to face • right about. After several week* of de- liberation, the necessary sofnething 'seemed as far frnm accompHsbment as :ever. "It is too bad that they do not collect the pastor's salary," remarked Mrs. !Hunter at the Ladles' Aid meeting. Who !she meant by "they" was nol entirely :clear, inasmuch tis silo was ;are of the !officers. "If no one else will do anything, we 'must," rejoined Mrs. Allen; the various 'members nodded approval. It was soon plenned. The „pastor had received $51.75; thee would Pay him $08.25—make it even $150—and have enough left in the treasury for 10cident- 1al matters. On Thursday evening of next week, which was Thanksgiving, they would invite themselves io the par- sonage and have a good time while :making the pastor happy. It would be 'easy to prepare something extra while igettingeready•for Thanksgiving. it was no be '0 grand secret; not a soul but -- !members of the society should know a word of it, "May I not tell John?" slammered timid Mrs. Addie Day. She was but ice cently married and disliked to have ever so little a secret from her husband. Soorntul glances from the more mature metrons Warned her that .stre was about to lose caste in the society,' and stie quickly subsiden. At the cloee of the business meeting of 1.110 Yoillig People's league, the pre- sident made a close scrutiny to assure himself that all present were, members; he then proposed than as "they would eot dn anythieg," the league take up the matter. . 1. "1 undensiolid Mat we have nearly $60 in the treaeury; we could trey the pastor $01.50—bring the sentry up to 00 --and have enough ieft, to pay. all hill e and begin the new year out of -debt. If we do this, I suggest that we 'otserve the utmost secrecy and make lit a complete surprise," All readily greed to the plan and pledged the pro - 'pee reticenee in the Innen rola lir the most faithful Met alter 'prayer meeting to discuss the isitualloh, ! end deettled that they Must at once 'colleen $ii48.ete, the belanee neeessary to ;trey the ele menthe enlitry dee. This they preceded to do so Mildly that no • the night before and kept them awake; \then they die get to rest, they over- slept. What with rushing to get break- fast over and make ready for the sen vice at church,- prayers were shorten- ed and 'the chapter omitted altogether. J3efore the dishes were put away P.obbie carne in with torn clothes and confess- ed to having been fighting. With like. Interruptions Mrs. Norwood and the children were unavoidably late to church. When they were eeceed at the dinner table, it was almost with a rebellious heart that thanks were offered for the scanty meal before. them. They had never thought to keep the day With setch I meager fare as -thin Under the plea ot pressing work, -Mr. Norwood present- ly left itte table and repaired to his study, where he woelied all the after- noon on a funeral sermon ee was to preacll the next day. He had quit his own dinner that -the children might not go hungry. Between him and his ser- mon floated visions of hungry mouths, and eyes pleading stronger then In words for feed. The sermon would not te made. The wife succeeded no better with her own work. Seine one kept running in .all afternoon until she dechmed pose nvely that she \voted not go to Ille door tot another caner, which resolution she broke almost immediately. At laidwhen the day's tasks Were ended and the chil- dren, treed and hungry, had been early ,sent to bed, she came and laid her hands in her husband's andelooking in - 13 his eyes wict tearfully: . "Oh, Wesley, I arn so tired! Every. - thing has gone wrong to -day. The children never were so naughty be - fere. What will people say about Rob- bie fighting? The flour -barrel ls wilily, the poletoes are fill gone, and we hove net a thing in the house for breakfest, only bread Med buffer; and the grocer sent us word yesteeday that 'we could not tieve another thing until We paid him. What shall we do?" After whiah lengthy and sernewhet incoherent speech, she laid bar hend on his eheul- der and found reeve in team, "Weyer mind, dear; the Lae will pro- vide;" then lth slowly edded, as if irt an afterthought,: "someway." A few minutes Wen, Pato Non: wood was bowing to the organist, Who slipped a cheek into his hand and said properly; "With the eompliftterns 01 1110 p they were seated, the door -ben Meg egain, and this thee tee Jenior league Marehed 011 !nesse end the astoniehed reibistee stood speechless with check in eithee haed. The the (Ochre league tame, end presently the' teldies' Aid, tind lest of all the trus- thee, ell Adding theft 'offerings end cenwiting the small moms. nen rainy tanked stiffly eskanee at the others, ks'ondez'1ng by What triekery their sec- ret had become known. Mrs, iluntee gianceti Sharply at Addle Dv as if to accuse that young matron or treachery; but that timid soul shook her head so Violently that it seemed elle walla (Re- member 11, in asseveration that elm diet not tell bier John. Suddenly 0 Junior audaciously enetited: "1 sayt why can't we go to the Church and have a mil time," It was the sug- gestion that averted impending war, A fire soon removed the chin from the room and the lights shone brightly on 11 reconciled and happy gathering. By the time the younger Norwoods had been routed from their beds and, beau& Lo the occasion, tables were spread in the, Sunday school roont, where an for L1 e some] time that clay enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast, After an hour f social discomise and song, the treasur- er arose and said; "A. few days since, our pastor had re- ceived but a mere pittance for many months of faithful labor. While he had wrought earnestly for Abe church ad IIS societies, so that, for the first, time in years, all woo in a prosperous condi- tion, he unselfishly forgot his own needs, No, not 'Brother Norwood, you must permit me to fintsh. Then one society and another, by some strange coincidence, conceived the thought of giving the pastor a pleasant TnailksedY‘ ing surprise. It is needless to say we nave surprised each other quite as well. But best of all, 1 flnd that in the few days of unconsolous co-operation, we have increased the amount paid on sal - 10 just, $500, This shows what we can do if we all work together. I move you, 'as a congregation, that we* in- crease our pastor's salary from We to $800 a. year," It was carried with a rush, even Bro- ther Cook assenting. Pastor Norwood erase, and, with tears of joy trickling down his Weeks, thanked them simply. Some said they sung the doxology as never belore; at least there were two voices that rang out with a new inspir- ation of faith. When they were once more at home, and the children in bed, Wesley Nor- wood again took his wife into his arms and opening his Bible at a place much marked and worn, they read- together with the guileless faith of children: "And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer." e POISON IN TUB POT. Some Nations Are Binned 'By Nature's Bombs It is a most peculiar fact that the very food upon which a whole nation has come to subsist sometimes proves the bane and eventual destruction of that country. Look at Ireland and the pota- to 1 Thonrish,nation learnt to live upon the potato, growing the tubers in such enormous abundance that a -very small acreage was sufficient to keep a whote family in food. Living, in fact, became Moisten with just sufficient water to too easy.- Besides. the potato is not a forth a thick paste. Season with salt, complete food. It weakened the pity- and, when well mixed, add, one by one, sique of the Irishman. , the yolks of .three eggs, stirring round When the potato disease made its and round gently till well amalgamated. sudden appearance,. and blackened end Then add a teasponful of grated lemon - destroyed the crops of the whole Island. the people had nothing else to 'fall back upon. The result was the .ginistly fa- mine welch killed directly or indirectly neatly a million persons, and from which the Green Isle has never to this day recovered. In much tee same way the yarn or sweet potato is destroying the negro race in -the Southern States of America. The yam grows so easily that a half - acre patch, with a little fl,sh and, bacon, will feed a family for a year. Conse- quently, Sambo won't work, and after a time all ambition will disappear. and the colored man of the South Will sink to a. lower level than he has at present reached. The banana has done, much harm in Central America in exactly the same way. "When a man has nothing to clo but scratch a few holes and plant slips of bananas which go on growing and bearing. year after year, it is only natural that he takes lite a great deal too easily for either his own or his country's good. . In Corfu the staple food of the island- ers is maize, which they frequently gather before it is ripe, and which is carelessly stored in ,clamp cellarL Consequently, the death -rate Tom that horrible disease, "pellagra," is terrible. Science has definitely proved that pel- lagra is due to eating damaged maize* The disease begins by a peculiar rash which appears in the spring, and which it is almost impossible to cure. With each successive spring it returns with increase& virulence, until the patient's' whole skin turns yellow, di even black. The nervous system is destroyed, and eventually the unhappy sufferer be- comes delirious, mad, and eventually dies. At one time pellagra was the curse of Northern Italy, but great, and to some extent successful efforts have been .made to stamp it out and teach the people not to live on maize: only. Sleeping sickness has for centuries ravaged Burmah an,d other hot coure tries where rice is the staple food. It is now deflnintely ascertained that this terrible disease is caused by feeding upon. •damaged rice. It Was once epi- demic in the Japanese army bet has been. entirely got rid of by a change of diet. In Northern India a sort of millet, which is the shier food of some million of natives, 'hes lead the effect of steadily diminishing the population. There is some obscure poison in this grain which causes a peculiar disease, Professor Dunstan, of the Imperial Inetitute, has been cenclucting researches into the tlaIlturies (ifnlotti'leiStplloainsc,:nel. irobable that future generations will truthfully declare that white bread has been the ruin of. tile Snots',. people. Our teeth are going rapidly, and it is, more than suspected that the eause is the 81ce1 roller mill white flour which has been substituted for the good old-fashioned "seeends" former days. HOME Teeent of the sleeper, the slate should be ' removed and the end of each wrapped VIE STINDAY SCHOOL el -IA in a piece of old newspaper. ,* • Where moths are troublesome scatter POWdered bitter apple under the papers • 7N in the drums and at the back of the wardrobe where the drawers elide in. way of the grain Of the WOOti with Ebonized furniture can be Imonderful- ly renovated by rubbing the spots the SELECTED IIECIPES. finely powdered" pumice -stone and oil. auT:nio ucgolotic0is11071MrtitasdueTender•—Out large Afterwards PoliSh with a dr, soft cloth. tough ons in %-incli transverse ethics . A Hint About Eggs.—When the whites ed water. They of eggs have been used for jelithe and become tender and delicious. Then other purposes and the y,olks are not serve them with a orearn sauce. , wanted till next day, beat them up with tirwryw thpiisakrne eatebiloccii004ts ionoinxzQtnntu,sstairtedo. Cool ja.soviel.rrn water arid pet away in a aletn:,heri100 in a botvi, covering it with Whitening a Ceiling --A ceiling black- vinegaeineptouIbistadstiiitTdvillefogralt, y-eito iright ened by a lamp can be much improved iout tcylinlhsrl aepolyiing ayeirt iho 'taberculesitlncifwtn ateirc: another bowl, add a little red pepper, N salt, sugar and enough dry mustard to ing the greater part of the lampblack thicken to a . cream. Ilia Proportions with IL should be a teasponful of the pepper A nand lotion which many house - fired salt and twice that of sugar, but keepers have found 'of benefit is 'made tastes uav tescllf‘etu feersortrod.whet as to thmi e en- ae follows: Ttike ee pint bay rum, two ounces glyeerine and the strained juice Fried Green Peppers — Cut open or two large lemons, Mix and bottle. lengthwise, taking care not to let the Use after washing dishes and upon re - seeds touch tbe sides. Take out the tirEitx"listir,Stionfgapunaywthtid Solt, whsitehtandsiN\till rir,V1 to:i seeds, slice the peppers crosswise and ne lay in boiling water until it and they steam may be a new idea to some. are cold.. Drain and wipe the sliced Nearly Alt a. wine -mouthed bottle with Peppaersaceodnipfran yniiel inibiutifisi. toer.Slervo, dry, very het wafer,' place the injured. part asriae over the mouth of the bottle and press Baked Apples—One of the most whole- it slightly. The suction thus produced some disbes is a baked apple. It is will draw tne flesh down and in a min- deelrnfat, iiolus ab ot laiepaplcifeasinaimro staswell nyr as fsoInup- uth splin ter and in flamma tion together. p Canning .Beets—When you - have are havaluable. For varieties- sake try smnbe ea, beets(thosean inch in diameter peling the apples before bca baking them. boil, slip the skins, have Peel and core themSfill the hollows with scalding vinegar and water, half and spice and sugar, and bake long enough half, enough to cover, being again to to give them a thin crust. Sometimes the belling point and can. Use fruit a bit of butter is ,placed on top of each jars, for they meet be air -tight to keep. apple before putting' it in the oven. Serve them cold with Whipped °ream. An excellent salad can be made by MEN'SHOT ON 51E110 SUSPICION. cutting two Spanislu onions in slices, putting them in a large bowl, and peas. Artist Was Appointed Pollee Chief 10 ing boiling water over them, letting the German Africa. on1ons remain in the water for just one minute, Drain and plunge into ice-cold The German Newspapers ,publish de - water, letting them .remain for several tails of still another colonial scandal. house. Prepare four long, green. It is stated that Herr Pu1lkah:1er, who et:Mtn-there by paring and slicing, and Was dismissed from the Governorship letting them remain in cold water for of the German Cameroons for perpetra- the samelength of time. Death the ore ling vaelous abuses of official power, at ions and the cucumbers, and place once appointed nem Leuschner, a per- thern in a bowl, pouring over them a sonal friend, to be chief of police of the French dressing. district of Butt. In this position Herr Calves' Liver a la. Militaire.—Cut in Letischner not only commanded the fla- tten slices three-quarters of a pound of Live police force ofnegroes from Mee - calves' liver; mince a button mushroom in, but was also supreme judge and --or two, if very small. Fry these in a administrator of his district. Ills sole little salad oil to a golden brown color, claim to this appointment was the fact then add the liver, thinly *sliced. Sea- that he was a talented artist, whose son with pepper and salt. Cook for water -color pictures strongly appealed eight minutes, then sprinkle over all to Herr Punkamer's artistic tastes. some very finely -minced parsley. Toss One day Herr Leuschner, whose brain the pan about for another five minutes, became affected by the tropical heat, so that the juice of the liver permeates suddenly imagined that the negroes the ingredients. Slip on to a very hot forming his police corps were meditating dish,' and encircle with pouctied eggs. a Massacre of all Europeans in the din, Florentine Fritters.—Put eight -table- tett. He thereupon summoned all nnoonfuls of sifted flour into a basin. Europeans and gave them rifles and ammunition of the latest pattern. Then. hedrew up the native levies and ordered them harshly to lay down their 'arms. The negroes, not understanding what was required of them, hesitated for a moment in. astonishment. Herr Leusch- nen regarding this hesitation as a proof of mutiny, ordered the Europeans to fire on the natives. Several were killed, many were wourgled, and the remainder fled to the police station of the adjoining district, where they sought protection. Privy Councilor Seitz,. who was. al- ready appointed Herr Putikamer's suc- cessor as Governor, conducted an offi- cial investigation into the affair, and two soldiers of the native troops were condemned .to long terms of imprison- ment. Herr Leuschrter escaped scot- free. , The Governor impressed on the withesses the absolute necessity of maintaining secrecy, and the truth would probably never have become known if the German Consul at Mon- rovia, in Liberia, had not reported that it was • extremely difficult to recruit Liberian natives for the Cameroon police force since Herr Leuschner had his in- nocent subordinates shot down at Buea. The Consular .report led to .the discovery of the ,detalls now published. The call to welch and pray does net mean tO watch your neighbor white you pray foe your own needs,. The mailer Whit looks tor fruit will not, be ernistled with it life that bee ten thing better to 'offer then an innocenee of weeds. fend and. a tablespoonful of sionn.ed, ery raisins passed through a sieve. Now fcirm the mixture into any fancy shapes preferred. Place in a frying pan, and fry in the best oil to a light golden - brawn, and serve. Mushroom Toasts.—Pare some mush rooms, and put them in a basin of cold water, to which add a few drops of le- mon juice. Remove them carefully, to avoid the sediment. Place on a nap- kin for a couple of minutes, then, roughly mince them, and cook in a lit- tle butter. Season with pepper and Salt and sprinkle over wilh grated Parme- son eheese. Cook 1111 the mushrooms are tender„eerve on small rounds of toast, or, at -lording to an Italian authority, in diminutive rheeen-flavored tartlets, and serve immediately. One way of Boiling Chicken.—The chicken is cut up. As little water as pcssible is used in boiling, barely enough to cover it, and no more added. The object in ,havingthe water boiling hot in first is that it -immediately closee fte the pores and keeps the natural juices from escaping. Only a few minutes of this rapid boiling is necessary. The heat may then be reduced and for the rest of the time it may .be boiled gently. An helm is suffielent time to allow,. un- less the bird is unusually toeigh. All meats if boiled too long are rendered tasteless. Unless a fowl is very free from pin feathers it is advisable to re- move the skin, as it is beneath the skin that most of the fat is to be found which renders even a tender chicken indiges- tible to weak stomachs. Half a cup- ful of flour added to the liquor for ockening makes a delicious' gravy. Serve the chicken in a deep covered dish wilh the gravy poured over it and it will be found to be equal to any fee casse ever tasted. A SIMPLE KNACK WITH PICKLES. A friend who is famed for her excel- lent pickles gives her mode of prepar- ing them, which is so simple that pass it on. I should have said that she has two methods. When pressed for tette .she puts 1 teaspoon salt into a quart jar, fills it with pickles arid cold vinegar enough to cover them, and if handy, she throws in a handful of na- sturtium seeds, which give the whole a spicy taste.' Then she covers them tightly, and that is the la,st of them until they are opened in the winter. Her other method is to soak the pickles over night in salted water. Then she boils a little vinegar with whole spioes added long enough to extract the strength from them, ,strairis or not, as the time allows, puts a little of thie liquid in each bottle and fills up with cold Wafer, If if, is barberry time and a few bunches are handy, she (trope them in, here and there, to glee a bright, look to the whole. She pickles everything, from string beans to wat- ermelon rtnds, and finde a use for them all before the season is over. Both these recipes are exteemely simple, yet my friend informed mo that liar pieldes are famed far and near for their crispness and flavor, and she nev- er has any difficulty in keeping thern. IIINTS FOR THE HOME. Spots of old on clothing may be re- moVed, and the color restored by rain bing with chloroform. II bedsteads creak with every wove, HOODOO NECKLACE.: AR Its Owners Have Suffered From Misfortune. A grim story of a fateful necklace lost on the eve of her death In the Summer Garden, St. Petersburg, by Mme. An- dreef, who was cut down by her hus- band, is told by the Novoe etre,mya., It was an old piece of work by on of the best Parisian jewelers, and was sold first to the head of a French Court fam- ily, nearly all the members of which were guillotined during the Revolution. A few escaped to Brussels and were obliged to part with many fine jewels, attiring them the necklace in question. From that time they enjoyed good for- tune. The necklace, after changing hands tinout, len times, wos sold for $20,000 to a prince, who gave it to the ballerina, Tzukki. For this act he was exiled from St. Petersburg. Tzukki left the imperial ballet, and, finding her health failing, she went to her nat•Ive country- side and abandoned the stage tonne. Before doing So ahe sold the necklace. A subsequent owner, the antiqUary, Linivitch, died suddenly at Monte Carlo, and the next to gain possession of the jewelry was a gambler at Monte Carlo, Who lost all his money. The sale of the necklithe eaved him from beggary. lethally, it fell into the hands of Mr. Andreef, a broker on the bourse of St. Petersburg. He paid $10,000 for it, and his wife was wearing it when, in a fit, of anger, he killed her. ------4------ 1tEMATIKABLE RAILWAY. Art up -I1111 *railway, perhaps the most teniarkable in the world, is the Oroyo, In Peru. It runs from Callao to the goldfields Of CaPrO de Pasco. From Callen it aecends the narrow valley of the llimac, rising nearly 5,0001 t. in the first fifty-six mileS. Theace it goes through the inteicate gorges of the stores till it tunnels the Ando S at an altitude of 15,6451t., the highest point in the world Where a. piston red is tneved by steam. The Wonder is inereaecti by remembering that this elevation is reached in seventy-eight miles, The commen task makes the Uncom- k mon hero. INTERNATIONAL LESSON/ 013% 21. Lesson III. The Parable ot the Talents. Cloiden Tex(: Prov. 28, IQ. THE LESSON WOW) STUDIES. Note,---Tbe text of the Devised Version rcj sistriu,aduiSeewsd.ataosilfLatinebsasstasyldfutE‘ndtleietts\e,or,—Wloli.:: lesson or the Parabie of the Talents contalas an impotent aedilion to the teaching of the Parable of the Ten Vir- gins which precedes it, and with Willett 11 is closely connected both la though and in point of time. The lesson of the parable is still partly that of watchful - nes; but to the exhortation to vigilance, Is added the thought that there is Mirk tO be done in the ntne of waiting, and, that the time of watching is to be one, not or idleness but or earnest endea- vor. Still another lesson of the parable ie that even the least talentecl persorl in the kingdom of God will be held respon- sible for the right use of such gifts and abilities as may have been intrusted to him. A. partial parallel to the parble of the talents is found in the Parable of the Pounds (Luke 19. 12-27). There are, however, important paints of distinction. which separate the two parables froxrt each other. These are, (1) the different occasions on which each was spoken, and (2) the different special incidents and details of each. A careful compari- son of the two parables in connection with the study of our lesson will ba found profitable. • Verse 14. It is as when—Tbett is, tha general situation in the kingdom of heaven. Going into another country—Lit. going an a journey, asahe same verb is trans- lated in the next verse: "He went on his journey." Servants—Lit. bondservants, that is, s 1 anyeeish., ered unto them his goods—The barbarous Customs of antiquity winch made slaves of all prisoners of war without distinction brought about the peculiar situation at times in which bondservants manifested greater ability and intellectual...capacity than their masters to whom they were bound in •servitude. A great deal of commerce of antiquity was managed by slaves, and these were often entrusted with im- portant and responsible functions. Iii this case the master entrusts to each of several slaves a large sum of money to be invested during his absence as each may deem fit and profitable. 15, Five talents—A talent of silver was equal to about two thousane don' los In our money. In the interpreta- tion of the parable the talents are to be thought of as capacities and opportuni- ties for service. It is -from the use of the, word in this parable that the present day meaning of the term as a natural gift or endowment has come. 16. Straightway—A word. occurring very seldom In Matthew but a favorite connective with Mark. Traded with tnern—Initested them, nee diestriously seeking to increase thee capital. 18. Digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money—For purposes of safe keeping, apparently. The man was at least not dishonest; he was simply indo- lent and envious of those to whona larger sums had been given. 19. Maketh a reckoning with them— Asks tnem to render an account of the business transactions in which they have engaged during' his absence in order that he may ascertain what has been the increase 01 1110 substance under their °aso2etv'0°1:Other fiv 1 ore good soil the investments of e talents—Like the seed the first and second servants had. yielded a nunciredfold return. 21. Thon hest been faithful over a few things—The sum given to the servants had been, after all, but a smell frac- tion of the total wealth of the plaster. Enter thou into the joy of they lord— Either (1) become a partaker of the hap- piness which thy lord Iiiinself enjoys, and which thou shalt be permitted to share because of thy faithfulness; or en share in some specially prepared joy- ous Occasion or feast (as in the last parable) planned by the master as a reward for thy faithfulness. 22. Other two talents—The same per- centage of increase as has been anhieved by the first servant. 24. A hard man—Unfair and exacting in business transactions. Reaping where thou clidst not sow, aiiel gathering where thou didst not scatter — Demanding increase where . practicelly no capital has been invested. The charge made by the slothful ser- vant reflects the dissatisfaction which, he felt with his own small allotment 01 enpitan He had not considered the one talent worth investing. 26, 27. Thou wicked and slothful ser- vant—Wicked because slothful, clisentis- fled, and envious. Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not — The accusation, though false, is Omitted by the master in order that he may the more forcibly bring home the charge ef Indolence an,d tine fairness, His argnMent is, Granted that I am an exacting and unfair man in ntyn dealings with others, thou, who art thus accusing me, hetet thyself failed to do the least, which in feirimes then, Mildest have done for rne, namely put my money to the bonkers that at my, coming 1 .should have received back mine own with interests. 28: Take ye away, thefefore, the tan ent from him—Even the smallest portion df the loecrs money must be prOduetive and must be pieced where it will being re2111rnk 9, to everyone thet hath capacity, ability, and industry, ellen be given op portunity and Increase, Pratt him that .ath not, even that which he bath shall be taken aWay-- Implying that the decrease cif capital, the diminution of capiteity ttend power, Is the Wilt of the indelent riles himeelf. Grumbling noes not help y bur growth 10 ;vow. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4