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The Herald, 1906-12-21, Page 3Sunday school. INTEliNATIONA.L LESSON NO. XII DEO 30, 1900. Rendew,--Read John 1; 1-14. S i mmaryLeseon: 1. Topic: Love the macrame duty of man. P'larle: tit J'eru- e:abem, in the temple courts. The I-leir- cdienm, Sadden:nee and Pharisee.e ask 'Ham lard gweatmculs; testnn Him . Aril mere silenced; the great conesmmaavdineart is given by Christ; we ,:amulet !love God supremely; rain•, the world ate dlthe sept lute verset all be r,emounreed; we should love our neighbor; Jesus as10 the Jews at hard question; warns His disciples cuga,istst hypourify; .arias attention, to a wi'do'w casting two mites into the tree tsn:ry. 11. Topic: auusdin.o against fedse pro- fession. Place:Ouu Nonni; Olivet. The sulbjecte of Christ's kingdom are likened to ten vir'gine; Christ is the Brit -Legroom, end the ail represent* the grace of Uod; the foolish virgins hand. the Tamp od pro- fess'iee, but Lacked oil—true spin e:nal life; they endeavored to make good their preparation at the last :unguent, bet it was iota late; the wise exe the erne ,Christians who not only have at ,>refes- saon, but the love of God in the soul. We should always be xead'y to meet the Bridegroom. TIL Topic: Reasons for fidelity to darty. i'ilaee: Mount of Olives. The tal- ents are given and the master takee; his journey! two .semearies make a large gain; the third buries his rnUenut; the master's return, though del -eyed, is cer- tain; eo Cheist will euxey come again; two servants, come to their master and bring the talents given thein and many more; they are oonu aeadod and e ewurd- ed; the idle servant has no increase, but hand sayings and .excuses; he is cast into outer dankness. IV. Topic: The belieeea-'a heart devo- tion. Plane: Bethany. It ie sax days before the Passover, and Jesus is at tore house of Simon the leper; .while sitting at meat Mary anoints the ahead and feet of Christ, using a pound of very precious ointment valued at about fifty dollars; the disciples are indignant and :think it should have been sobdi -and given to the poor; Jesus rebukes them nand nn oomende the woman, very highly; Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of ,silver, about twenty dollars. V. Topic: The Lent's Supper. Place: Jerusalem. It was Thursday; Jesus sent Peter and John to Jernrsielenn to prepare the Passover supper; they found a. lade upper noom nvhxsre they made ready; in the evening Jesus sit at the table with Iiis disciples; He told them that one of tiheiu would betray Him; they were sorrowful, and everyone asked, "Lord, is it I?" J•cts'us said it .would have been better for that man neve¢- roc nave been barn; He then told Judas the he was the one; Judas left; Ja�-us eats. His lest eirnpea. wwath, the remaining eleven. VI. Topic: The agony of Jesus. Place Gethsemane. Jesus and eleven disciple& enter the garden; eight are left near the entrance, Peter, Jaynes and John go with Sm into the garden; Jesus agonizes in prayer; is sweat is like blood; He prays for strength; an angel is sent; three times He asks His disciples to watch with Him; three times Ile finds them sleeping. We should watch and pray. VII. Topic: The trial of Jesus Christ. Place: The palace of Caiaphas. Jesus is dent from Annas to Caiaphas, the high priest; Peter follows afar off and thrice denies the Saviour; the Sanhedrin is hastily summoned; false witnesses are sought and are found with difficulty; at last two testify that He said He could destry the temple and build it in three days; Jesus is :silent; Caiaphas asks Him if He is the Christ; Jesus replies that He is; Caiaphas rends His clothes; Jesus is condemned to death; they mock and abuse Christ for some time. %IIT. Topic: Warning against wine - drinking. Place: Probably JierustJktn%, Isaiah's home. The drux.(kard folliows strong drink; wine inflames; God's judg- ments will fall on the drunkard; all classes go down to death together. There is nothing too bad or vile for a saloon- keeper or for a man under the influence of strong drink to do. The drunkard's character is always bad. IX. Topic: The worldling's treatment of Christ. Place: Pilate's judgment hall. Jesus is taken to Pilate, the governor, who investigates the charges and finds no fault with Christ; Pilate calls the people together and desires to release Christ; they demand that He be cru- cified; three times Pilate urges His re- lease; they demand the release of Bar- abbas, a murderer; Pilate yields; wash- es his hands; Jesus is scourged. Think of the merciless Roman scourge, not just the Jewish •scourge of forty stripes save one, but a pitiless lashing that tore the flesh from His back and breast and arms and that with the cruel thorns and mocking blows left His face more marred than any man's (Isa, cii. 14.) X. Topic: Jesus dying on the Dross. Place: Calvary. Christ on the cross; mocked by the soldiers; vinegar offered; the superscription; the two thieves cru- cified"with Christ; • one railed on Jesus, the other confessed his sins and asked to be remembered in Christ's kingdom; the prayer answered; darkness from twelve till three o'clock; Jesus cried witli a loud voice and died; the centurion's tes- timony; Joseph begged the body of Jesus ;wraped it it' linen and placed it in a new sepulchre. XL Topic; The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Place; Garden near Calvary. Christ was crucified on Friday, April 7; rose early Sunday morning, April 9; sev- eral women were early at the -tomb; the stone was rolled away; the women en- tered the sepulchre; Christ was not there; two angels appeared; their faces were like lightning and their garments were dazzling; the woolen were afraid; the angels told them Christ had risen; be was to go before them into Galilee; the women ran to take the disciples the word;; Jesus met them;; the story that the Roman guard had been bribed; XII. Topic: Jesus' parting words to his followers. Place: lii and near Jeru- salem. The disciples (Thomas absent) are assembled in an upper room; Jesus appears; the disciples are terrified; he shows them his hands and feet and side; asks them tohandle him opens the Scriptures to then; after rorty days he leads them out to Mount Olivet where the ascension took place. Then they re- turned to Jerusalem with great joy and Waited tendays in an upper roomfor the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In due time the Spirit cams upon them and as a result of their preaching three thou. sand were converted. Jesus is coming again to take his people to heaven. Golden Text—"His name shall be call ed Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Ise.. ix. 6). Lesson I. "Wonderful" in wisdom. The Pharisees and IIerodians had come to- gether to catch our Lord in his words and perplex him with hard questions. After answering the puzzling questions and sil- encing them, Jesus turned to his cate- chists and naked them questions which they could not answer. II. "Xe ondorful" in watching. "Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. xxv. 13.) As the sen- tinel watches for the foe; the sai•lee for the storm; the watchman for the thief; the wife for the absent husband; so should the Christian watch lest the foe defeat him, watch lest temptation overcome him, watch for opportunities to do good ,watch for the leadmgs of the divine Spirit; watch for the approbation of his heavenly Father, and thus he watching for the coming of the Lord. IIT. "Wonderful" in judging. "After a long time the lord of those servants com- eth, and reckoned with them" (Matt. xxv. 19.) Daniel Webster, when asked what was the greatest thought that ever ,occupied his mind, replied: "The sense of my individual responsibility to God." W. "Wonderful" in appreciation. "She hath wrought a. good work- upon ine" (Matt. xxvi. 10.) Let us immortalize the good. A favorite motto with Frances Willard, taken from an ancient sun -dial, was, "I record only the hours that are seen." The Book says, "yi'hatsoever things are true .... honest .... pure.. lovely .... of geed report .... think on these things" (Phil. iv. 8.) Chronicle the bright, helpful things your friends ' do; speak of the sweet, pleasant influ- ences\ that are about you. V. "Wondeirful" in his memorials. "Thie do in remembrance of me" (I. Cor. xi. 24). A rich gentleman attempted one: day while intoxicated to men an avenue where a little street sweeper, to 'n'liom he head often given a nickel, was waiting for a hueiryiang e:urriage to pass. The street sweeper saw the gentleman's danger and. sprang forward and threw himself against him and needled him back, but his own little feet slipped and he fell right under the pranging horses. 'They picked his poor, bruised body up aril carried it to 'the Motel near by. The man: little Andy had saved was sober now, and wept as he ,sadd, "Oh, Andy! your Bee fpr me! 'glow can 1 bear it!" But the tears the strong matin shed were tears of repentance. He never touched the liquor again. He spends all his time ani3 strength and money sav in ' amen from intenliperanre. "'How can I do less," he sears•, "with the u•emembranee,e of Andy's sacrifice always before ine?" VI. "Wonderful" in submission. "v'ot my will, but thine, be dune" (Luke xxid. 42). Christ's prayer was for deliverance from a ,natural (teeth in the garden that lie aright die a saerifioial death on the enoss. But He would not even ask for what God. ,had promised .except in a spirit of utter submission to Has Fath- er's will. VII. "Wcnderfut" in forbearance. "He is despised and rejected of mean (ha.:adi. 3). The betrayal of the Son of man with n kiss is the most shameful act of treachery in all history. But if you have not ben born again, you have the same sinful heart that led Judas to be- tray Jesus end may be guilty of a e'rinpe winch will lend you to something of the shame and suffering that came to Judas. VIII. "Wonderful" in warning. "Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink" (Isa. v. 22). We have here a parenthesis of a ;great evil, intemper- ance, from which there is needed a mighty deliverance. Verse by verse gives the pictures of the tyranny of drink, the passion of drink, the poverty of drink, the death through drink; from all this we need the deliverance through the "counsel of the Holy One of Israel" (Isa. v. 19). IX. "Woavdenful" in inaocenee. "llhen said Pilate: I find no'fault in this man" (Luke xxiii. 4). Pilate declared that Jesus was an innocent man, yet he was illegally tried by religion and state. Never was man so innocent; never was man so ill-treated. X. "Wonderful" in his sufferings. i Farber forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke xxiii. 34). While he hung a curse upon the cross, the sinner's substitute, neither sun, nor man, nor angel, nor God, could comfort him. The Father turned away from his beloved Son, while there was "laid upon Kinn the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 'iii. 6). He could bear it! And up from the depths of his wailing agony there went the wailing cry you and I can never com- prehend (Matt. xxvii. 46). But we can believe that he"died for our sins." XI. "Wonderful" in his resurrection. "He Is risen, as he said" (Matt. xxiii. 6). The resurrection is the primal, miracle (L Cor, xv. 14) ; the pivotal truth of Christianity (L • Cor. xv. 14); the proof of the scriptures (Luke xxiv. 45, 46) ; the pledge of our acceptance (Rom. iv. 25); the power of holy living (Rom. i. 4; the promise of our immortality. XII. "Wonderful" to endue with power. "Tarry ye..,, , until ye be en- dued with power from on high" (Luke xxiv. 46). At Pentecost "the promise" of the Fattier to the Son was redeemed, and it is ours by virtue of our union with him (Acts ii. 33). A. 0. M. •s.1*.•a.3^•6•.]"+44-0,.•i,•o+4.10.41.4-4). 014-0 0:4-0-014 a44++•+O d'$ -4.4>.l'+44".4 4.44,44+'l'441.4 S NTA -`L EFL nmeeseeneenenerene HER NAME IS LA PEPANA, AND SHE IS GOOD TO ITALIAN Cb-IILDREN. Santa Claus' wife lives in Italy, says the London Express. The ideal Christmas visitor in the minds of little Italian children is an ugly hut boundlessly benevolent old lady, known. as Le Befana. Throughout the land multitudes of little boys and girls chatter all through Christmastide about La Befana, who is confidently expected to 4 come - silently' and secretly on the night between January 5 and January 6. The historic myth of La Befana is a singular one. It is as curious as the various stories of the Wandering Jew, or of the Three \Vise Men. 4 . Like many' other visitors to Cologne Cathedral, I have seen the three skulls tdeclared- to rte those of the Magi, wlto -are reputed to have settled on th Rhine, and to have died in the district. La Beane is the name 0 given to ,the woman who, when it was known that these Rise Men were about to pass by her buuse, scornfully refused to go to her window to salute them, and to wish thein a blessing. Ever since then she has been repenting her evil ways. fart of her .. repentance is manifested in benevolence to little children. All through the year she fills up her spare time in preparing presents in wonderful verity, intended only for really good little children, of whom she is a sort of patron saint, corresponding with the German St.. Nikolaus, celebrated under his popularly abbreviated cognomen of Santa Claus. Le Befana is supposed to be ugly simply because she is so very vener- able, being nearly 2,000 years old. She brings dolls, trumpets, little watches, all snrts of confectionary- and curious cakes, marbles and toys. The reason why this happens on the twelfth day after (Christmas is simple enough, and in perfectly consistent with the pretty myth. The day is Epiphany, consecrated by the church to the memory of the Magi. It is the date on which they are reckoned to have presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Holy Child. And as Le Befana is associated with them, so she is sure to fulfill her kindly office on Epiphany Eve. Thus the festival of January 6. called by the church Epiphenia, is by the masses of the people, especially by the chil- dren., known as La Befana. Nut how is it that La Befana is regarded as the wife of Santa Claus? J The answer to this query gives a curious sample of the way in which by accretion alegend comes to be enlarged. Originally the boys and girls of Italy knew nothing of any Santa Clans. He was not in any sense an Italian patron saint. Familiar only with La Befana, they had no legendary Santa Claus, with snow-covered cap, furs and bells, coming down the chimney to fill.. their stockings with long -desired gifts. But as an idea of foreign and modern importation. the tradition of this Northern friend to children is gradually becoming Italian. There are in Italy thousands of Anglo -Italian, .tustro-Italian. Swiss - Italian, German -Italian and American -Italian families. No nation has taken more cordially to foreign matrimonial alliances than. the Italian people. The children in these households regard Santa Claus and Le Befana as husband and wife. They often, when they have been very good, receive visits from both. The doctrine in their minds is that Santa Claus finds the wenn slimete of Italy uncongenial, and that for the most of the year he live;; in the frozen north, Left that his wife prefers the sunny south. and seldom visits • the cold northern lag's. 1 •)'* •l e•3 a e.,S.y.�.I..;..r I S KEEPINCi $ISTMVMAS 1N : Thi ART. I 4-+-.0-4-0-4-•-e-o- Christmas Christmas fil d hrge place in the world's life. 1 is almost univer- sally absery =then ]ands. 1n countless snotories all over the world . r kmen are en- gaged all. t r king every sort of product, " i or useful, for the holiday ma ( Hundreds of thou- sands of pound - spent annually in to be presented at the purchase of Christmas time. Thus Ohristm,,ouches the world's life at almost eV ri,pointt. It is a bright day in the calm r.. But there is no danger that .in i vast commercial and social importance he most sacred mean- ing of theday s being overlooked? Christmasis firs f all a religious anni- versary. It men ,, n.othing if we leave out of it the truth of divine love and the conning of the Son of God to this world to reveal that love. If we would keep Christmas fittingly it must bring us to a remembrance of Christ. Every true vision of the day must show us the holy Child. with the light of divine love shilling in His face. We would worship again with the shep- herds beside the manger. Christmas with no worship in its observance, no remembering of God, no thought of the love of Christ, it is empty to all sacred meaning. While we give and receive gifts, it should be easy for us• to remem- ber God's unspeakable gift. As we enter . into the gladness of this happiest day of the year we 'nay think of the joy with which the angels celebrate the birth of Christ. As we ylekl our :hearts to the spirit of temderuess which pervades the Christmas air, we may think of the heavenly love which came into the world ' the night that Christ was born. We keep Christmas truly only when we let the love of Christ into our hearts •and lives. • We write +Anno Domini in our dates, but are we really making our years years of our Lord? It may mean very little to us that Christ was born in Bethlehem a great many Christmases ago; but if we keep Christmas its we may it is not merely another anniver- sary—it is the regal birth of Christ in our hearts. If we ]seep Christmas in our hearts we will have love for each other and for everyone. Christnnas means love—good will to igen. It is a time for universal amnesty. If we have been holding a grudge against anyone we should now put it out of our heart. It is a time for forgetting ourselves and thinking of others. The truest joy of Christmas is not found in receiving, but in giving. The happiest people are those who make others happier. There is more of hea- ven in pleasing than in being pleased. The heart in whichChristmas is truly kept is a gentle heart. It is full of kindly thoughts an inspirations. It wishes ill to none, but good to all, Then its good wishes blossominto fruit. The wonder- ful otutflow of kindness at Christmastide is one of the most striking evidences of spirit of Christ diefusing itself in the world, pouring out through human, liveia. It is Christ coming again and living not only among men, but in men, reincar- isating Himself in those who dove Him. If we 'keep Christmas in our hearts it will not only sweeten our lives, but twill make us sweeteners of the lives of others. A lady tells of gathering a hand- ful of sweet briar when on an excursion in the woods and inning it in her bosom. She soon forgot it, but all day as she rambled here and there she smelt every where a spicy fragrance. On every wood - path she found the same odor. The other members of her party had their handfuls of all sorts of wild flowers, but she was surprised to find that all 'these seemed to 'lane the same kind- of frtt,g- ranee. • Late o t night, when she undressed, there was the sweetbrier tucked away in her bosom. All day she had carried hidden on her own person the perfume which she supposed conte from others. "How good it would be," she said to her- self, as she closed her eyes, "if I could Bary a spirit in. my breast that every- one I met should seem lovely." If we keep Christmas in our hearts our lives will be sweet, whatever the condition. We will not be dependent on the weather, nor on our health, nor on our circumstances, nor on the disposi- tions of the people about us. We carry the secret of sweetness within us, and wherever we go the air about us is per- fumed with the love that dwells in our hearts. v+a The Ballade of the Mistletoe Bough. I ane standing under the mistletoe, And 1 smile, at no answering smile re- plies. For her haughty glance bids me plainly know That not for me is the thing I prize; Instead, fro mher coldly scornful eyes, lndifterence looks on my burs/aced guile! She knows. of course. what my act implies— But look at those lips! Do they hint a smile? I stand here, eager, and beam and glow, And she only looks a refined surprise As clear and crisp and as cold as snow, And as—Stop! I will never criticize! I know what her cold glance signifies; slut I'Il stand just here as 1 am awhile Till a smile to my pleading look replies— But look at those lips! Do they hint a smile? Just look at those lips, now! I claim they show A spirit unmeet under Christmas skies; A claim that such Lips on such maidens owe A—something—the Custom justifies; I claim that the mletletoe rule applies To her as well as the rank and file; We should meet these things in a cheerful gulee— But look at those lips! Do they hint a smile? ENVOY. These customs of Christmas may shock the 'vise And the mistletoe boughs may be out of style, And a kiss be a thing that all maids de- spise— But look at those lips, do they hint a smile? —Ellis Parker Butler, in the American Il- lustrated Magazine.. When. Mother Reads Aloud. When mother reads aloud, the past Seems real as every day; C boar the tramp of armies vast, C see the spears and lances cast, I join the thrilling fray; Brave knights and ladies fair and proud 1 meet when mother reads aloud. When mother reads aloud, far lands Seem very near and true; I cross the desert's gleaming sands, Or hunt the jungle's prowling bands, Or sail the ocean blue; Far heights, whose peaks the cold Witte shroud, C setae when mother reads aloud. When mother reads aloud, I long For noble deeds to do— To help the right, redress the wrong, It seems so easy to be strong, So simple to be true. Oh, thick and Cast the visions crowd Ivry eyes, when mother reads aloud, —Hannah G. Fernald, in The St. Nicholas. atism Haus long defied scientists, became It Um seemed impossible to carry the Urie Shedd ('which causes the trouble) ,out of eve body -without over -exciting the ,h. Dr. »It Mack's Rheumatism Compound fres at last oyeroome this difficulty, By gently acting on the kidneys and. genera health, tit...cures the most obstinate forma of rheumatism naturally and eatery.. • Mr. 0. W. Mack, the well-kreeern rub - ben ben atamp man•ufeetirrer, of Toxreu5.q,. bier become so oonvi.need. by the to me ordinary cures. wrought by thio' reneedyv- lie has financially banked the doctor VAS oonei!n) . ',llh,e business man of too .'!iz>,,1 will not, of all things, '.rack a arucd'rtdase unless it is thoroughly worti.ry. leiter careful investigation, Mr. Muck say -ac 31 have yet to find one failure." If this compound. doesn't eune you,. you r:ak nothing. Your money will cue' promptly returned. Tey tt. And errinee for Dr. Mack's free booklet on Itli+e+ttccat-- tism. It is full of helpful inforn tti-• - Address: Dr. H. H. Mack, 60 'Tongs seueei- Toronto. CHRISTMAS iN MERRY ENG MD:, Throughout Great Britain Ohristrnsri fee the great week. of the year. It is he' one week when scattered farnilies snare"- united, r rwe'united, when tender memories. and'•cal'erl associations are revrverl, when' fsii isdl greets friend with cheery expansiNieneins- in striking contrast with the character- istic reserve of the English nature. Bassi - noes 13 practically suspended in Losadera for the five days succeeding Chriatmas- eve. There is nothing left of the obso-• lete orgies which so offended the Puritan' element in the times of Cromwell.'• 11a= would be an unimaginable English moan arch who would forbid sup observation of the twenty-fifth of December. Tlrc•ec- ample is set by the royal family o1• the - ideal way in which to spend the 'nappy,• merry Christmas -tide which the Enaglizla - people cherish. It is the custom of King • Edward VIT. and Queen Alexandra to- ' pass the holiday quietly at Sandringham , and there to give personal supervision t+m• the distribution of gifts.—Jane A. Stew- art in Leslie's Weekly. Song of the Filipino Bard,. - tIl. P. Arehibold.) Sons of Filipino sires, Rise! the foe is at your door. Rise and don your sprinting garmentc.- As you've donned them oft before. Rise and show the proud invader You retain your ancient speed; That you're swift upon the mountains. • Swift and terrible indeed. Let the nations laud the daring, It shall not bo yours to die, On the crimson field of battle, While you have your feet to fly. For the brave may lose their freedom., To some tyrant lord accursed— If you wear the yoke of bondsmen They will have to catch you first, - Then fly, ye spark -brown patriots,. While the day is young and bright; When the foe lines up for battle You'll be safely out of sight. CRISIS OF GIRLHOOD, .1 TIME OF PAIN AND PERU Miss Emma Cote Says that Lydia E. Pinkhsm's Vegetable Compound gess: Saved Her Life and Made Her Weil. - How many lives of beautiful young! girls have been sacrificed just as they' were ripening into womanhood ! Rosa many irregularities or displacements leave' been developed at this important period,. resulting in years of suffering I A mother should come to her child's aid at this critical time and remember that Lydia E. Pinkharn's Vegetable} Compound will prepare the system for~ the coming change and start this trying•' period in a young girl's life without pain: or irregularities. Miss Emma Cole of Tullahoma, Tenn.,,. writes: Dear Mrs. I'inkha:n: "I want to tell you that Tem enj''yiteg bete - ter health than I have Sar years, and I owe it all to Lydia E. l'inkliam's Vegetable Corsa- • pound. "When fourteen years of age I suffered ale - most constant pain, and for two or three" years, I had sureness and pain in my rideo, headaches and was dizzy and nervous, and doctors all failed to help me. "Lydia E.Pidl.harn's VegetableCompound' was recommended, and after taking it my health begin to improve rapidly, and 1 thinit:t it saved my life. I sincerely 'tope my experi- ence will be a help to other girls who are+ passing from girlhood to womanhood, for - 1 know your Compound will do as much, for them. If you know of any yourAg 011 who lar" tick and needs- motherly advice ask her• p writ? lads. Pinkham, Lynn, Mass., and. he will receive free advice which wig t rut her on the right road to a strong,, lealthy and happy womanhood. htrQ..t 1'inkharn is daughter in-law of Lydia ate.. - Piet -drain and for tiler,ty-fine years bsge been advising sick we;nen free of eharee,e