HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1894-7-26, Page 37:77:
THE BOXINION ROUSE
SEVENTH PARLIAMENT FOURTH
gESSION a OTTAWA.
DOMINION LANDS.
.1r, Daly introduced a bill respecting
Dominion lamb, which provides that per..
eons who :iztve squatted on school lauds
prior to the survey, and who can substan-
tiate the fact, may be permitted to home-
stead.
' The bill was read a fired time.
Puma° DEBT.
Mr. Foster, in reply te Mr. Charlton,
said the total public debt of Canada on
June 30th, 1894, was $305,071,801, and tide
net public debt on same date was $240,528,-
905.
I with heertier odors:Mien by the buiiness
men of the country than that of e festAtlean
tic service. These men, he Said, were ani-
mated by practical business motives, and no
better testimony to the utility of the scheme
could be had, Is was always the first step
that cost, and he trusted the hoe. gentlemen
would look at more than the mere figure of
$75081r00taherd Cartwright said the hon.
gentleman should have reserved his ecntis
meat until he bad. brought down the facts
to the Hoitse. Be would like to know
something about the number of vessels
probably required and the gest of each.
Mr. Foster said at least four vessels
would be required, at a cost of from £400,-
000 to £500,000 ea eh. The cost of the
round trip would probably be $60,000 or
$70,000,.
Sir Riehard Cartwright said the annual
oost of the service would be Z7C0,000 sterl-
ing.
Mr. Foster said the vessels would be of
10,000 tons burden and have coal capacity
of 3,000 tons, and the same eapaoity for
freight. They would carry 500 first and
second class passengers and 1,000 steerage.
Sir Richard Cartwright asked what the"
present Atlantis] steamship companies
would have instituted a 16 or 17,1ruot eer-
vice between Great Britain and Canada for,
Mr. Foster sate that the Allan line had
offered to supply a 16 -knot service in 1889
for £101,000, Furness Company, of Great
Britain'in 1890, had tendered for a 16,knot
service for $900,000 and the Tre,nsatlantique
Company had, in 1890, asked $750,000 fore
17 -knot service.
Sir Richard Cartwright thought the hon.
gentleman ought to have had tenders for A
more recent date. He thought the figures
must be wrong. Be was informed that for
every knot above 16 per hour the cost was
enormous, and theta 20 -knot service would
cost twice as much as a 16 -knot serene).
Be would line to know if the Government
had power of forfeitut e in case the contract
was not fulfilled?
Mr. Foster said the contract was not
prepared yet, but that this point would `oe
carefully guarded. The Government did
not propose to pay for the service unless
they got the advantages.
Mr. Laurier thought the hon. gentleman
was wrong, and that the contract had been
entered into between Mr. Huddart and the
Canadian Government. He quoted from the
conditions of the contract.
Sir Richard Cartwright asked what car-
goes would be carried on the new line of
steamers, and what the probable rates
would be. The promoters of the scheme
must have figured on the rates.
Mr. Foster said he could not furnish the
information. The cargoes would doubtless
be similar to those of steamships leaving
New York. As to freight rates, the Gov-
ernment never attempted to regulate them.
Sir Richard Cartwright said it was evi-
dent to hon. gentleman that the Govern-
ment did not know much about the project
or else would not furnish the House desired
information.
Mr. Laurier said the House possessed
very meagre information. What wise to
be the means of connection with the French
port?
Mr. Foster said he was not prepared to
give definite or exact information. (Cries of
"Oh, oh.") The only condition laid down
was that there should be a connection with
a French port, which could be accomplished.
in two ways, either by the.vessels calling
at a French port en route back and forth,
or by a cross line between England and
France. One of these plans had to be
adopted, but which had not yet been de-
cided.
Mr. Laurier was surprised if the hon.
gentlemen opposite were satisfied. with the
answer. There was a wide difference be-
tween the two methods of carrying out the
agreement, and the House should have
definite information.
FRENCH TREATY'.
Mr. Feiner moved the Holm into corn-
mittde on a bill respecting a certain treaty
between her Britanuio Majesty and the
Peesident of the French Republic. The
treaty did not oblige Canada to give to
France preferential treatment in her Cana-
dian markets. It simply obliged Canada
to take off the ad valorem duty. They
were at perfect liberty to take this duty
off wines coming from any other foreign
country, and were even at liberty to reduce
the duty below that, but in such event
Canada must give France equal treatment
with other foreign nations. They were
not obliged to withold from sister colonies
the same or better treatment than was
given to France. The Government did not
intend to discriminate against any other
wines.
Sir John Thompson said the Government
was considering the disability, if any',
under whioh native wine growers labored,
and would extend relief as it might be nee-
cessary. Matters of detail, such as the
manner in which the industry would be
affected, could not be coneidered until
Parliament had ratified the treaty.
Mr. Foster fiaid the treaty simply bound
Canada to let French wines of a certain
grade in at a certain rate. They did not
bind themselves by treaty to discriminate
in favor of France with reference to these
classes of wines. If the French wines
were admitted at this rate, Canada was
obliged, by virtue of certain treaties with
Belgium and Germany, to allow their wines
in at the same rate.
Mr. McCarthy thought this Was a good
opportunity to extend preferential rates to
the sister colonies. He wished to point
out that the treaty did not permit nations
enjoying the favored nation treatment to
export wines to Canada at the same duty
as Freamalwits enabled to under the treaty,
because the treaty expressly said wines of
French
Mr. Weldon said that under the favored
nation treaty, any treaty made by Canada
with France must be unconditionally kept
with Germany.
Mr. Foster, in answer to Sir Richard
Cartwright, said the the total import into
France last year from all sources of articles
mentioned in the treaty was $38,000,000 or
$40,000,000. He moved that the item of
common :baps, 1 1-2te per pound, be struck
out, as common soap meant eitatile soap.
He also moved that the iternbf castile soap,
5c. per pound, be reduced to 2c.
The amendments were carried.
The committee reported the bill with
amendments.
FAST STEAMSHIP SERVICE.
Mr. Foster moved the House into
Committee of the Whole to consider the
following resolution : "That it is expedi-
ent to provide, that the Governemin-
Council may enter into a contract for a
term not exceeding ten years -with any
Individual or company for the perform-
ance of a fast weekly steamship service
betvven Canada and the United King-
dom, making connection with a French
Dort, on such terms and conditions as to
the carriage of the mails and otherwise
as the Governor -in -Council deems ex-
pedient, for a subsidy not exceeding the
sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars a year." The sum asked was
$250,000 more then the amount originally
authorized. The policy of establishing
a fast line of steatners had been affirm-
ed by the House. it had been found im-
practicable eo establish such a line for
a subsidy of $500,000 annually, and the
Government had set as an outside and
ultimate limit a subsidy of $750,000, in
order to secure the Service. There
might be a difference of opinion as to
whether the Government was justified in
exceeding the half million limit. Re
thought so. The point had been consider-
ed, and in view of the failure to obtain the
service in the past for this amount, it had
been decided to ask for the increase. This
step would be the third and last link in a
service that could not be rivalled in the
world. They bad now a magnificent Paci-
fic service and an unrivalled transeentin.
eptal route, and now the Atlantic service
complete the chain. A letter or passen-
geld could be taken from Sydney,Australia,
id London, Eng., from one to three days
quicker than by the Eastern route, and
with infinitely more comfort and maven-
ience. The cost of carriage would be about
the same. The conditions of contract with
Mr. Huddart were that the Canadian Gov-
ernment were to pay him $750,000 a year
for the first ten years, and $500,000 for the
second ten years. This was the extent of
the obligation.
Sir Richard Cartwright—Apparently this
is to be a twenty-year, and note ten-year
service,
Mr. Fester said it was intended that the
service should be permanent, otherwise it
WouM nothave been entered into, Twenty
years had been contracted for, and posterity
would have to arrange subsequeutoondibiona,
The steamiship service was to be in every
respect first-claes, and with firetedass speed,
capacity, and able to make 20 knots an
hour ib deep sea, the trial to be over a long
course. Halifax was mentioned in the
agreement as the Canadian terminal port,
but this Wee not absolutely pealed, St.
eeetin, N. B., had Made application to be the
terminal port, mid poseessed great netural
eriventegee. The terroinal inert in Great
Bribe': had not leeet settled upon. Arrange.,
mints were also in progress fore, cross line
to Frau ce, or to have vessels touch at a French
port. One of the advantages that Canada
*mild obtain by this rommioe would
be prestige. Improved postal and pas.
wenger transit would be develomesi, as
nell an improved freight carrying facial%
Chore wee no sentiment or idea that met
the consideration of the fourth rePort of
the Select Standing Committee onlerivilegs
es and Elections, on the case of the hon.
member for Nlonerrioreney (Mr. Turootte,)
The committee had found the hon. g.entle.
nap not guilty of having executed eons
tracts of the Government, He hacl only
supplied goods to the contractor who bad
the contract with the Government, which
did not constitute a violation of the Dade.
peudence of Perliament Act, Therefore
the charges had not been proved, and he
moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. Edgar moved in amendinent aubstans
Melly the same motion as made by him at
the Privileges and Elections Committee
except that portion referring to the Marine
Department, as he did not propose to
ask the House to Assent to the proposition
that the hen, member would be disqualified
for his transactions with that department.
He moved that, in view of the fonts which
ie had presented and proved, the "election
of Arthur Joseph Tprcotte therefore be-
omes void"
The aniendraent was defeated by 84.
DIVORCE BILLS.
Mr. Sutherland moved the House into
committe on a bill for the relief of
James St. George Dillon.
Mr. Niemen contended that there was
not sufficient ground adduced tor granting
the divorce, and moved in amendment that
the order be discharged and the bill refers
red back tp the Miscellaneous Private Bills
Committee for further enquiry.
The amendment was earned by 64 to
61.
Mr. Davin hoped that the Governmenb
would fix a maximum freight rate,„ beyond
which the company could not levy. He
also hoped that sufficient cold storage
capacity would be provided on the vessels
—(hear, hear)—and that the Government
would not tie its hands as to the speed of
the service, as 20 knots an hour might not
be a fast service in twenty or even ten
years.
Sir James Grant predicted the greatest
success for the project, and thought a cable
line would follow.
Mr. Martin hoped. the Go vernment would
pay attention to the matter of ocean rates.
At present through passengers from the
west se.wnothing of the fertile country of the
Canadian North-West in the vicinity of
Winnipeg as the Canadian Pacific rail-
way send them all over the " Soo " short
line running through Minneapolis and St.
This disposed of a good deal of the
sentiment with which the Finance Minister
had clothed his remarks.
Mr. Kenny regretted, with the hon. gen-
tleman, that through passengers were not
sent over Canadian territory. There were
great difficulties to be encountered in di-
verting traffic from an old accustomed route,
and the managers of the new line would
have to display energy and ability to obtain
their share. There were always enemies
to such enterprises,and much, hostility from
vested interests that had already made
themselves felt was to be expected. He
thought the establishment of the service
was a national necessity.
Mr. McMullen failed to see how a fast
line would benefit farmers. One-half the
questions put about the service had not
been answered, and some information and
consideration were due the House.
Mr. Weldon said that as an ardent Im-
perial Federationisn he favored the
scheme, which would certainly promote
commerce between reat Britain and Oen-
aria.
Mr. Hazen said that under the provision-
al contract Halifax or „St. John, or both
might be the Canadian terminus.
Mr. tanner—How is that to be worked—
by alternate trips?
Sir John Thompson—That is yet to be
determined.
The resolution was adopted, and the
committee reported to the House.
ensurtaiweit ACT.
Sir John Thompson moved the House
into committee On a bill to amend the In-
surance Act.
Mr, Foster explained that the bill pro-
posed to bring the old companies, with very
Wide powers of investment, within range of
the securities which would be allowed at
presennand in conformity with the practice
for the past five or six years. Certain new
lines of security were added, viz., water
Works, gas, street railevey, electrie light
end power, and electric rathertys, Mr.
Foeter, pointed out that the amendments
proposed, did not invalidate any investment
at present accepted, and simply limited the
range of tecuritiee for the future, as the
Government believed that the interests of
the policy -holder should be looked after
first.
The bill was reported with anrietchriente.
Wiriteella Oas.E
FAST ATLANTIC Menem
Mr. Foster moved the second reading of
the bill further to amend the Act respect -
nig ocean steamship subsidies.
The bill was read a second time.
WASHING ROYAL LINEN.
The Laundry Work or the Imperial and
lioYal Families orEarope.
The imperial family at Berlin have all
their washing done at the ordinary metro-
politan laundries—a matter which is a
source of much annoyance to the Empress,
for, when she visited the Augusta hospital
the other day she was enthusiastic in her
admiration of the laundry department of
the establishment, and remarked that she
wonld give anything to have something of
the same kind fitted up at the palace, and,
on seeing the astonished looks of all those
around her, she continued: "Yes, it is so ;
Tam obliged to send all the washing, even
that of the children, do be laundered in the
city, which causes no end of inconvenience,
—the inference being that the supply of
linen at the court of Berlin is limited.
. The members of the English royal family
have all their linen laundered ata special
I:establishment maintained for the purpose
in the outskirts of London, near Hounslow,
and, no matter where—tin-, happen to be,
whether at Balmoral or Osjhorue, tee royal
linen is dispatched thither. Public Weddings
was drawn to this fact a few years ago by
a strike of the employes, who complained
of beirtg underpaid. The work is, it must
be confessed, most perfectly. accomplished,
and the bleaching is done m the open air
only, instead of artificially, which is im-
possible in London owing to the sooty
character of the atmosphere.
Empress Eugenie remains on record as
the only crowned head parsimonious
enough to have torn linen mended, and no
less than fifteen seamstresses were kept in
the permanent establishment of the Tuil-
eries household for this purpose. At the
English, Berlin, Viennese, Spanish and
Russian, courts all torn linen is at once
withdrawn from use, stored away, and dis-
tributed in immense bales to the various
hospitals and charitable institutions from
time to time. •
At the vetican the linen and clothing of
the holy father are kept in a state of pro-
per repair by a pious order 'of sisters of
Mercy, all of whom are of noble birth and
known as the "Ladies of Reearation." It
is they who make for him his white cies-
soaks, and embroider his slippers, and
adorn his alter and table covers with
priceless old lace. Their costume differs
slightly from that of other Sisters of Mercy
in that their dresses are blue with long
trains.
Mr, Girottard Vaccines Cartier) Moved
HEAVENLY LAUGHTER,
'OMEN' TO liA1,1011 AND ,A,T WRAT
TO LAI1011,
If Woe. 'Would liriag rseitin to the VItt."
tlan Itettgion. eieto Or. Talmage, Show
Them that Ibis a Happy Religion—No
Morbid Christ taait
Bnomersyse July 15,—Rev, Dr. Damage,
who is now in Australia on his round -the.
CONSTANTINOPLE SHAKEN.
Three Terrible Earibonalce Shocks 55111
Many People.
The London Standard's correspondent
says of the recent earthquake in Constanti-
nople:
"At the moment of the first shook I was
in the dining room at the summit of the
lofty building occupied by the Imperial Ob.
toman Bank, The whole structure rocked
violently. I hastened to the staircase,when
there was another violent shook. I expect.
ed the building to collapse. When Ireached
the street, people with terror depicted on
their' faces were running in all directions.
People seized carriages to drive to the sub.
urbs to see what had happened to their
Mend
Mende. Banks and other institutions'were
abandoned by their employees and were
forthwith closed, and shopkeepers put up
their shutters. Every open space was
crowded. People were afraid to re-enter
their houses. The well known public gar-
den on the Petits Champs in Pere was
crowded with panic-stricken inhabitants
who intended to camp there for the night.
The streets were strewn with telegraph poles
and wires. Much damage Wita done and
many lives were lost in the Stamboul quar-
ter, which appears covered with dust. The
bazaars suffered particularly. There were
three distinct shocks. Each was accompan-
ied by loud rumbling. At the time of the
first shock a case Nv as proceeding in the
Russian court. The judge and counsel fled
in terror from the court, and the case Was
not resumed. The Minister of Poll
superintending the removal of the dead
injured and is arranging to protect aband-
oned valuables. Several minarets have
fallen and the facades of Many private
house e are damaged."
An Able ledasOn.
"Do you believe in second marriages ?"
Mr. Nosom—No, sir, I do' hot.
"Would you mind giving your reasons ?"
Mr, Nosay—I've been twine wed.
A vagranb dog, that got aboo.rd the
steamship Bibs at Bremen early last month,
came over as a etoevevsety and Was eized
by customs inepeotore at New York, as no
ohe paid duty en it, was told at auctieli.
The only bid was One Of of ty cents, in the
interim the stowaway had stowed away
eden$d Worth of foodet, teneleSere'a expense.
world journey, has selected as the subject
for his sermon through the press te-day,
"Laughter," the text being taken from
Psalm 126: 2: Then was our mouth Ailed
with laughter,"‘ and Psalm 2 :4 ; "He that
sitteth in the heavene shalliaugh."
Thirty-eight times does the Bible make
reference to the configuration of the feature
and quick expulsion of breath which we
call laughter, Sometimes it is born of the
sunshine, and eometimes the midnight,
Sometimes it stirs the sympathies of
angels and sometimes the caohinnation of
devils. All healthy people anti. Wheth-
er it pleases the Lord or displeases Him .
that depends upon when we laugh arid
at what we laugh. My theme to -day is the
laughter of the Bible, namely, Sarah's
laugh, or that of scepticism ; Ditvid'a
laugh, or that of spiritual exultation; the
fool's laugh, or that of infinite condemna-
tion ; heaven's laugh or that of eternal tri-
umph.
Scene : An Oriental tent; the occupants,
old Abraham and Sarah, perhaps wrinkled
and decrepit. Their three guests are three
angels—the Lord Almighty one of them.
In return for the hospitality shown by the
old people, God promises Sarah that she
shall become the ancestress of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Sarah laughs in the face of
God ; she does not believe it. She is
affrighted at what she has done. A great
multitude laugh at the miracles. She de-
nies it. She says, "I didn't laugh." Then
God retorted with an mriphasis that silenced
all disputation. "But thou didst laugh."
My friends, the laugh of scepticism, in all
ages, is only the echo of Sarah's laughter.
God says he will accomplish a thing ; and
men say it cannot be done. They say they
are contrary to the laws of nature. What
is a law of nature? It is God's way of doing
a thing. You ordinarly cross a river at one
ferry. To -morrow you change for one day,
and you go across another ferry. You made
The rule. Have you not the right to change
it? You ordinarily come in at that door of
the church. Suppose the next Sabbath you
should come in at the other door? It is a
imhit you have. Have you not a right to
oharieeyeur habit 1 .A law of nature is
God's hableendid.,way of doing things. If
He makes the ladgmenew He not the right to
change it at any time he itematet to change
it? Alas I for the folly of ;hose who
laugh lei God, when he says, "I will do a
thing," they responding, "You can't do
it." God says that the Bible is true—it is
all true. Bishop Colenso laughs ; Herbert
Spencer laughs ; Stuart Mill laughs; great
German Universities laugh ; Harwood
laughs—softly 1 A great many of the
learned institutions with long rows of pro-
fessors seated on the fence between Chris-
tianity and infidelity, laughs softly. They
say, "We didn't laugh." That was Sarah's
trick, God thunders from the heavens,
"But thou didstlaugh." The garden of
Eden was only a fable. There never was
any ark built; or if it was built, it was too
small to have two of every kind. The pil-
lar of fire by night was only the Northern
lights. The ten plagues of Egypt only a
brilliant specimen of jugglery. The sea
parted, because the wind blew a great while
from one direction. The sun and moon did
not put themselves out of the way for
Joshua. Jacob's ladder was only horizontal
and picturesque clouds. The destroying
angel smiting the first-born in Egypt was
only cholera infsamum become epidemic.
The gullet of the whale, by positive meas-
urement, too small to swallow a prophet.
The story of the immaculate conception a
shock to all decency. The lame, the dumb,
the blind, the halt, cured by mere human
surgery. The resurrection of Christ's friend,
only abeautiful tableau; Christ and. Lazarus,
and Mary, and Martha acting their parts
well. My friends, there is not a doctrine
or statement of God's Holy Word that has
not been derided by the scepticism of the
day. I take up this book of King James'
translation. I censider it a perfect Bible
but here are soeptica who want it torn to
pieces. And now, with this Bible in my
hand, let me tear out all those portions
which the scepticism of this day demands
shall be torn out. What shall go first?
"Well," says someone in the audience,
"lake out all that about the Creation, and
about the first settlement of the world."
Away goes Genesis. "Now," says some-
one, take out all that about the miracul-
ous guidance of the children of Israel in
the wildernees." Away goes Exodus.
"Now," says someone else in the audience,
"there are things in else,
and
Kings that are not fit Co be read." Away
go Deuteronomy' and the Kings. "Now'
says someone, the Book of Job is a fable
that ought to come out." 'Away goes the
the book of job. " Now," says someone,
"those passages in the new Testament
which imply the divinity of jeaue Christ
ought to :mine out." Away go the Evengse
elists." Now " says someone the Book
of Revelation—how preposterous It re-
presentee man with the moon under his feet,
and a sharp sword in his hand." Away
goes the book of Revelation. Now there
are a few pieces left. What ehall we do
with them? "Oh," says mime man in the
andienoe. "I don't believe a word in the
13ibie from one end to the other." Well,
it is all ;gone. Now you have put out the
last light for the raetioes. Now it is the
pitch darkness of eternal midnight? How
do you like it?
Bub I think, my friends, we had better
keep the Bible a little longer intact. It
has clone pretty well for a good many smogs.
Thee there are old people Who find it a
comfort to have it on eheie laps, and
children like the stories ill it. Let Its keep
it for a curiotiity, anyhow. If the Bible is
to be thrown out of the school, and out of
the court room, so that Men no More swear
by it, and it is to he put in a dark corridor
of the city library, the Koran on one aide
axle the writings of Confucius on the other,
then let us each one keep a copy for himself,
for we might have trouble, and we would
want to be under the delusions *fits consol.
&teens; awl we might die, and we would
Want the delusion of the exalted residence
of God's right hand, which it mentions.
Cl what an awful thing it is he laugh in
God's face, and hurl His revelations beck
at Him. After awhile the day Will Come
when, they will say they did not laugh.
Then all the hypercriticisms, all the mice -
tures and all the learned sneers in the
"Quarterly Reviews" will be brought to
judgment; and amid the rocking of every-
thing beneath, and amid the naming of
everything above, God will thuuder:
"But thou (Inlet laugh!" I think the most
fascinating laughter at Christianity lever
remember was a man in New England.
He made the word of God seem ridiculous,
and he laughed on at our holy religion un -
tithe came so die, and then he said: ""My
life hes been a failure—a failure demean
culler; I have no children; a failure socially,
for I am treated in the streets like a pirate;
P. failure professionally, because I know
but one minister that has adopted by
sentiments." for a quarter of a century he
laughed at Christianity; and ever since
Chriseiemity has been laughing at him.
The meanest laugh ever uttered is' the
laugh of the sceptic.
The next laughter mentioned in the Bible
is David's laughter, or the expression of
spirieual exultetion. "Then was our mouth
filled with laughter." Be got very much
down sometimes; but there are other chap-
ters where for four or five times he calls
upon the people to praise and exult. It
was not a mere twitch of the lips ; it was a
demonstration that took hold of his whole
physical nature. "Then was our month
filled with laughter." My friends this
world will never be converted to God until
Christians cry less, and laugh and sing
more. The horrors are a poor bait. If
people are to be persuaded to adopt our
holy religion., it will be because they have
made up thew minds it is a happy religion.
They don't like a morbid Christianity. I
know there are morbid people 'ho enjoy a
funeral. They come early eo see the friends
take leave of the corpse '• and they steal a
ride to the cemetery • but all healthy peo-
ple enjoy a wedding better than they do a
There is no man in the world, except the
Christian, that has a right to feel an un-
trammelled glee. He is promised 'every-
thing is to be for the best here, and he is
on the way to a delight which will take all
the processions with palm branches, and
all the orchestras harped, and cymballed,
and trumpeted to express. " Oh, ' you say,
"I have so much trouble." Have you more
trouble than Paul had? What does he say?
"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing. Poor,
yet making many rich. Having nothing,
yet possessing all things." The metrics,
laugh I think I ever heard has been in the
sick room of God's dear children. You know
how it is in an army—an army in encamp-
ment. If to -day news comes that our side
has had a defeat, and to -morrow another
portion of the tidings comes, saying we have
had another defeat, it demoralizes all the
hosts. But if the news comes of victory to-
day and victory to -morrow, the whole army
is impassioned for the contest. Now, in the
kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, report
fewer defeats; tell us the victories—victory
over sin and death, and helL Rejoice ever-
more, and again I sa.yrejoise4 I believe
thsr traids
groan.he
The
next laughter mentioned in the Bible
that I shall speak of is the fool's laughter,
or the expression of sinful merriment.
Solomon was very quick at simile; when he
makes a comparison we all catch it. What
is the laughter of ii fool like ? He says,
"It is the crackling of thorns under a pot."
The kettle is swung, a bunch of brambles
is put under it; and the torch is applied to
it, and there is a great noise, and a big
blaze, and a sputter, and a quick extin-
guishment. Then it is darker than it, was
before. Fool's laughter. The most mis-
erable thing on earth is a bad man's fun.
There they are—ten men in a biersroom;
they have at home, wives, mothers, and
daughters. The impure jest starts at one
corner of the bar -room, and crackle, crackle,
crackle it goes all around. In five hundred
such guffaws there is not one item of hap-
piness. They all feel bemeaned, if they
have any conscience left. Have nothing to
do with men and women who tell imn-oral
stories. I have no confidence either in their
Christian character or their morality. So,
all merriment that springs outof the defects
of others—caricature of a lame foot, or a
curved spine, or a blind eye, or a deaf ear
—will be met with the judgments of God
either upon you, or upon your children.
Twenty years ago I knew a man who was
particularly skillful in imitating the lame-
ness eta neighbor. Not long ago a son of
the skillful mimic had his leg amputated
for the very defect which his father had
mimicked years before. I do not say it
was judgment of God; I leave you to make
your own inference. So, all merriment
born of dissipation, that which starts at the
counter of the drinking restaurant, or from
the wine glass in the home circle, the
maudlin simper, the meaning less joke, the
saturnalian gibberish, the paroxysm of
mirth about nothing, which you sometimes
see in the fashionable club room or the ex-
quisite parlor at twelve o'clock at night.,
are the crackling of thorns under a pot.
Such laughter and such sin ends in death.
The next laughter that I shall mention
as being in the Bible,
is the laugh of God's
condemnation. "Re that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh." Again. "The Lord
will laugh at him," Again "I will laugh
at his calamity." ith suchdemonstration
will God greet every kind of great Sill and
wickednese. But men build up villenies
higher and higher. Good men almost pity
God, because Re is so schemed against by
men. Suddenly a pin drops out of the
machinery of wickedness, or a secret is re-
vealed, and the foundation begins to rock;
finally the whole thing is demolished.
Whet is the matter? I will tell you whet
the matter is. That crash of ruin is only
the reverberation of Godendaughter. In
the money market there are a great many
good men, and a great many fraudulent men.
A fraudulent man there says, "I mean to
have my million." Be goes to work reolm
less of honesty, and gets his first 100,000
dollars He gets after awhile, his d00,000
dollars. After awhile he gets his 500,000
dollars. "Now'," he says, "I have only
one more move to make, and I shell have
my million." Be gathers up all hie re-
sources: Be makes that one last grand
move, be fails and loeea all, and he has tot
enough money of his own left to pity the
cost of the oar to his home, People cermet
understand this spasmodic remittal.
Some said it was a sudden tate in Erie
Reilway, Stook, or in Western TJnion
or in Illinois Central; some said one
thirig and sone another. They all
guessed wrong. I will tell you what it wee,
"Xe that eitteth in the heavens laughed."
A Man in New York said he Would be the
richest man in the city. lie left hie honest
work as a re and got into the 6itr
councils some way, and in ten years stole
$10,000,000 teem the city government.
Fifteen million dollers 1 He held the Legis-
lature of the ,State of New York in the
grip of his right hand. Suspicions were
aroused. The grand jury presented sien
dictuients. The Whole land stood aghast..
Therrien who expeeted to put half the ahoy
in, his vest poeket goes to Bleekeeelde
and; goes to Lucliew street jail, breaks
prison, and goes across the sea, is rearrest
ed and brought back, and again remanded
to jail. Why? "He that eitteeh hi the
heavens netighed." Rome Was A greet em-
pire; he had Harehe and Virgil among her
poets; she had Augustus and Constantine
among her Emperors. But whet mean the
defaced Pantheon, and the Forum turned
into a oatele market, and the brokenswalled
Coliseum, and the architectural skeleton
of her great aqueducts? What -was that
thunder? "Oh 1" you. say, "that Was the
roar of the battering-rams against her
walls." No, What was that quiver?
Oh 1" you say, "that was the tramp of
hostile legions." Na. :Tim quiver and the
roar were the outburst of omnipotent
laughter from the defied and insulted
heavens, Rome defied God, and He laughed'
her down, Thebes defied God, and He
laughed her down. Nineveh defied God,
and. He laughed her down, Baby.
ion 'defied God, end He laughed
her down, There is a great difference
between God's laugh and his smile, His
smile is eternal beatitude. He smiled when
David sang, and Miriam clapped the cyrn-
bale, and Hannah made garments for her
son, and Paul preached, and John kindled
with apocalyptic vision, and when any
man has anything to do and does it well.
His smile 1 Why, it is the fifteenth of
near, the apple orchards in full bloom ;
is morning breaking on a rippling sea ; it
is heaven at high noon, all the belts beat-
ing the marriage peal. But his laughter—
may it never fall on us I It is a condem-
nation for our sin; it is a wasting away.
We may let the satirist laugh at us, and
we may be made the target for the merri-
ment of earth arid hell ; but God forbid
that we should ever come to the fulfillment
of the prophecy against the rejectors of
the truth, I will laugh at your calamity."
But, my friends, all of us who reject
Christ.e.nd the pardon of the Gospel must
come under that tremendous bombard-
ment. God. wants us all to repent. He
counsels, He coaxes, He importunes and
Be dies for us. But a thousand of you
turn your back on that, and then this
voice of invitation turps to a tone divinely
ominous, that sobs like a simoon through
the first chapter of Proverbs, "Because I
have called and ye refused, I have stretch-
ed out My right hand and no man re-
garded; but ye have set at naught all My
counsel, and would none of My reproof ; I,
also will laugh at your calamity." Oh 1
what a laugh that is—a deep laugh, a
long, reverberating laugh, an overwhelm-
ing laugh ; God grant we may never hear
it.
The other laughter mentioned in the
Bible, the only one I shall speak of, is
heaven's laughter'or the expression of
eternal triumph. Christ said to his dis-
ciples: " Blessed are ye that weep now for
ye shall laugh." That makes me. know
positively that we are not to spend our
clays in heaven singing long -metre psalms.
The formalistic and stiff notions of
heaven that some people have would make
me miserable. I 'tin glad to know that the
heaven of the Bible is nat. only a plane of
holy worship, but of magnificent
-"tidied; d
go around the circles of the saved ? ' 1 say,
yes; pure laughter, cheering laughter;
holy laughter. It will be a laugh of con-
gratulation. When we meet a friend who
has suddenly come to a fortune, or who
has gob over some dire sickness, do we not
shake hands, do we not laugh with hum?
And when we get to heaven and see our
friends there, some of them having come
up out of the great tribulation, who, we
will say to one of them, "The last time I
saw you you had been suffering for six weeks
under a low intermittent fever ;" or to
another we will say, " You for ten years
were limping with the rheumatism, and
you were full of complaints when we saw
you last. I congratulate you on this eternal
recovery." We shall laugh. Yes; we
shall congratulate all those who have come
out of great financial embarrassments in
this world, because they have become mil-
lionaires in heaven. Ye shall laugh. Yes
it will be a laugh of triumph. Oh what a
pleasant thing it will be to stand on the
wall of heaven and look clown at Satan,
and hurl at him defiance and see him caged
and chained, and we forever free from his
clutches. .Aha? Yes, it will boa laugh of
royal greeting. You know how the French-
men cheered when Napoleon came back
from Elba; you know how the English
cheered when Wellington came back 'rein
Waterloo; you know how Americans cheer-
ed when Kossuth arrived from Hungary,
you remember how Rome cheered when
Pompey came back victor over 900 cities.
Everycheer was a laugh. But, Oh the
the mightier greeting, the gladder greeting,
'when the snow-white cavalry troop of
heaven shall go through the streets, and
according to the book of Revelation, Christ,
in the red coat, the crimson coat on a white
horse, and all the armies of heaven follow-.
ing on white horses. Oh 1 when we see and
hear that cavalcade we shall cheer, we shall
laugh. Does not your heart beat quickly
at the thought of the great jubilee upon
which we are soon to enter? I pray God
that when we get through with this world
and aregoing out of it' we may have some
such vision as the dying Christian had
when he Saw written all over the clouds in
the sky the letter "W," and they asked
him, standing by his aide, what he thought
that letter " W" meant. "Oh I" he said,
"that stands for welcome." And so it
may be when we quit this world. "W"
on the gate, "W" on the door of the man-
sion,,," W" on the throne, Welcome 1
Welcome I Welcome I I have preached
this sermon with five prayerful wishes,
that you might sea what a mean thing is
the laugh of scepticism, what a bright
thing is the laugh of spiritual exultation,
what a hollow thing is the laugh of sinful
merriment, what an awful thing is the
laugh Of condemnation, what a radiant,
rubicund thing is the laugh of eternal
triumph 1 Avoid the ill choorse the right.
Be comforted. "Blessed ere ye that weep
now—ye shall laugh, ye shall laugh."
THE
Ilte" ' ' 240,0
Time.—a. D.April; twelve yearsate
our last lesson,. ccustnS Camer, Etopimor
of Rome, Copeoniue, la meg of Jedese.
Herod Aniepes, Covert:
rv.1 Galilee.
Places. Jet:us:dere, in' 4e esenfde;
Nazareth, in Galilee,
Between the Lima:win—The evenne of the
Previews four leesone'occurred ,in the
early infancy of Jesus, Penhably the retell),
from Egypt to Galilee was before he was
six months old. There were then eleven
and a half years of Which nothing at all is
told us. Indeed, the one incident of this
lesson is all that is recorded of the lime
thirty years of his life, the "solitary
floweret out of the wonderful incloeed gar-
den" of all those years.
Hints for Study.—There are no parallels,
Luke being the only one of the evangelists
who records this beautiful incident. Re.
view former lessons and arrange in order
all the facts recorded of our Lord's first
thirtyyears
Christ's Schools and Teachers, —It is in-
teresting to think of the human teachers of ,
Jesus in his early childhood. First of all
was his mother, She taught him to walk,
to talk, to pray, to love—all those first
things which a true mother always teaches
her child. Think what an honor and What
a responsibility it was to be the mother of
the Messiah. That Nazareth home must
have been very sweet -with love and holy
with the breath of heaven. Think of that
beautiful childhood, perfectly natural, not
precocious, having to learn by study and
by being taught, jut as all childhood has,
yet without sin, and therefore diligent,
studious, attentive, faithful, and quick to
see and know. He must have been an ape
pupil, and it certainly was a delight to
teach him. He had other sohools besides
his home. The Jewish people believed in
education and. had Schools, probably, in
connection with the synagogues, where the
children were taught to read and write and
were instructed. in the Scriptures.
Two Scotch ladiee of Steenraer Were one
day returning from Church, when they
foond the town hall placarded with news of
the victories in Spain.
"Xe it no euepreiseine Kirtsie," said One,
"that the Breetish aye beat the Free& in
battle ?"
"Not in the least, Maggie," was the
reply. "Dinne ye ken that the Breetish
aye pray before gattn into battle 1"
"Bet cense the French pray, too I"
An' wha d understand, thein, if they did I"
was the contemptuousrespoinse. "jabbering
bodice I"
HELPS IN - LEARNING TRE LESSON.
40. The child grew.—Jeaus was human as
well as divine. He developed in body and
mind, just as other boys do. He learned
to walk and talk, to work and think. There
are three distinct phases of hie growth
marked in this verse. He 'waxed strong"
—that is, in his body, having healthy growth
He became "filled with wisdom"—mental
growth. He learned well, was diligent in
his studies. He had 41 get knowledge as
other boys have, through reading and study. ,
"The grace of God was upon him."—spirits •
nal growth. His disposition and character
became more and more beautiful. The
divine favor was shown in the moral beauty
of a perfectly holy childhood.
41. His parents.—All males of the Jews*
were required to go to the annual feasts
(Exod. 23 : 14-17), and many women also
went. The passoven—The great feast
which kept in memory the departure
from Egypt and the saving of tbe first born.
See Ex. 12.
42. Twelve years old.—At this age Jewish
boys .-eitttionfes-0.
the law, and were required to attend the
festivals. At the seine age, too, they were
required to begin to learn some trade.
43. Fulfilled the days.—Thirseven days
of the passover feast. See Ex. 12: 15;
Dent. 16: de The child Jesus tarried. be-
hind.—Not intentionally. He had. probably
been seeking wisdom among the rabbis all
the days he had been there. On this day
he was engaged in the stern -way, and
Joseph and his mother, noter anovving this,
supposed him to be wish the other boys of
their party, somewhere in the caravan, and
did not seek for him.
44. In. the company.—The people of
Nazareth and that region had come to-
gether in one company or caravan and re-
turned in the same way. Went a day's
journey. ---Without missing him. They
sought him.—In the evening, when the
caravan stopped for the night.
46. After three days.—One day for the
journey toward home, and one day for
the return and one day for the
search, In the temple.—In one of the
porches or chambers of the temple area,
where the rabbis had their schools. Sitting.
—As a learner. Acts 92: 3. Doctors.—
Teachers of the law. Hearing them and
asking them questions.— This Coes not
mean that he was pertly puzzling them with
hard questions. lie was an eager, simple.
hearted learner, ancl was seeking for know-
ledge.
47. Astonishect—That a boy of twelve
years should show such. knowledge of' the
Scriptures.
48. Thus dealt with us.—Gives us all
this anxiety. A gentle rebuke.
49. Wist ye not that I must be about my
Father's business ?—Or "in my Father's
house." As if be had said, "Do you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?
Where else could I be but in this holy place?"
This is the first saying of Jeeps preserved
for us. Indeed, it is the only word we have
from his lips during all his first thirty
years. This makes it specially remarkable.
Wist ye not "I—Knoer ye not? Thi ts answer
to his mother reveals the conscious:mos of a
divine call to him which separated him
from all other children at *nue and infinit.
ly.
50. Understood note—Did not fully
comprehend the meaning of all that they
saw and beard.
51. He went down with them,—A. beau-
tiful example of child -obedience, lie must
be about his FatlseMe business, bub he
found that heavenly busineas iii eomneon
tasks and duties in the lowly home, at
Nazareth, and. in the carpenter's shop, for
eighteen years more. •
5.2. Jesus increimed,--" Advanced." He
grew from his twelfth year onward, just
as boys grow everywhere, save that he Was
witbout sin, He increased in wisdom as
he increased in years. His mind and body
developed together, and he was so true,
noble, and lovable that be won the itoreass
lug favor of God and mats. True religion
is always attractive. It is marked by
simplicity, by gentleness, by " Whatsoever
things are lovely" in spirit, in disposition,
in act,. We would love to knew more of
the youth of Josue, but the veil is not lif
ed to show in inoine
A. Broad lila.
Basely—By' George 1 1 cae't underamiede
it. My credit must be gone. Business,
nien don't seem to think I'll be able to peer:,
Mrs. Hezely—Perhape they'd think so if:
they Saw your wife dress better,
A Philadelphia eeloted Man lived for,
three days on nothing ben Sponger Whieln
he Stole trout watering voughs Ana dtit4.