Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1888-05-11
COD IS LOVE AND NOTHING ELSE.
PRAISE III r. ORD
LETTER FROM GEORGEO. BARNES


for one day-Tuesday Of this week Then
the friends bestirred themselves and We
got Concordia Hail. ut - night, which
is not out OF the way for rent, though a
fairly sharp test Of the interest taken in
the meeting. But We can only get Con-
coriia ill next sunday night; after which
il is engaged, and We shall bc adriit
again.
was looking Tor n dray to carry the
little organ from courthouse to hall when
| stumbled on rough countryman, with
seedy clothing, but a good face and an
honest brown eye, who seemed the pro-
prietor Of II Stacking spring-~agon and
a runt Of pony, all too small for his
harness, the shafts and general environ
men,s. asked him il he wanted job,
10 which he responded that he was not
in the express business, but could doany
little work that wouldn't take too long,
a. his time was limited. lie asked me
half price and | rather won him 10y
promising the double OF his demand or
what | knew regular hand would
charge. While he was helping me to
Climber up" our little Gospel Gatling We
conyer-ed. lie asked me what kind of
meetings held. told him and asked
him 10 attend. lie said he would like
10, but lived ten miles away and could
not. Then after pause, he looked me
squarcly inthc face aud ssid: IL WAS II
christian once; n happy one; loved my
church and my religion; ! worked hard
for both; hut found out there was 10
little true charity among christians that
| gave il up, after struggle; and now
don't know what To- think, IL seems ~ IL
it vas all a sham; poor man has no bus
mess in the church. christians turn up
their noses at hfm; the preachers are
ashamed of him. they look to me like
they preach for money; or cared most Tor
tho-, who had money and gave Il 10
them; don't know what Ia think nor
wha, Ia do; and yet enjoyed my relig-
ion once, though it has been long time
ago don't know when ! have been to
church: or whether I'll ever 90 again.
There were tears in his voice us he said
this and ! saw that they were about To
come To- his eyes. - said: "My friend,
don't know that shall ever see YOU
after you drive off with this load, but
Just let me say this Don't let the devil
discourage YOU about losing your relig-
ion. You haven't lost ii. You have on
IN sourcd ON the church. as i, Is; you
haven't turned away from Christ. Nor
has lie turned FROM You. There is lots
of truth in what you say. But don't hold
the blessed jesus responsible Tor the
mcanncsS of Ills people, in the pulpit, or
in the pew. lie il not To- blame for their
shortcomings The things you justly
complain of are all Tor the lack oftruc re-
ligon though the people you think :"
their mcanness only they are mighty
poor. weak christians. Just pity them
~ Won think how mean they are; and 90
right TO Jesus and tell Him you don't
hold Him responsible for all their lack
oi His Love and Spirit. He wrung my
hand as hc drove oil, a. ii he had male
up his mind Ia take fresh start. And
thought how many sore, aching hearts
all around ~. there are. Those who are
"madc sad 10y untrue christians. and
vet those whom "the LORD has moi
A.. - 4 fh.-.. -.ttra1 .ntli.
wherever go. | mention this rougl
countrynan' ease, just because II Is 4
typical and a common one. Oh. broth
rem! Sisters, What will you answer
the Master when lie ask, where sthl
brother" Unbclieying believers, I'M
christian christians, make more intdeh
than all Cob lngcrsoll's books.
In Scribner's for April, there was d
dreadfully descriptive bit OF writing in
the short article entitled PairA Fl tmbrt
by Robert Louis Stevenson. Did you
read il, my reader? Ii not, do So, care
fully, and see how man OF brains. with.
out the clue Of "Love and Nothing Else,
can founder; and how hopeless is life
with nothing more before il than the
knowledge OF God whose works art
confusion worse confounded. Then
see how Good God and bad devil
furnish the clue OF extrication from that
labyrinth. Poor Stevenson. il that is all
his gifted brain brings him OF knowledge
of life's mysteries. have seldom read
more terribly pathetic article from tn,
pen OF genius than Pairi q t'mbro,
often wish could put the clue | hav,
into these gifted hands. Only they vii
not accept it, when offered; as know b.
unsuccesses in attempting succor agaiI
and again. "The world by WISDOM
knows not God"
We have been helped, most unselfish
ly. in our meeting by our Brother Bur
bank, once OF Danville, and married
there to one OF my wiie's innumerabl'
cousins; late from Springfield, Ohio, bu
settled in Atlanta for several years. Hi
fute-like voice, Of rarest symathetie pow