The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-07-31
Gleantngs Prom L,fe,s Pathway.

Our minds picture gallery contains a
very vivid personation OF two winsome.
happy little girls, one a sweet dimpled
blond who is ever watchful to do as her
mamma has taught her; the other a happy.
remping brunette Of the same age. whose
ambition seems to be to leain how to do
things and to learn how to climb well. not
like other city girls, but as any strong,
healthy girl of ten years should climb.
These two, whose dispositions blend as
beautifully as do their voices, have been
among the summer visitors who have
frightened many a home in the neighbour
hood of our pleasant town during these
vacation days. And into this evening hour
seems to come again The refrain of their
childish voices:
your best for one another,
Making life a pleasant DREAM
To them life is one long summer day of
troubleless enjoyments. Still, in their
voices floating back to us across the cur
rent of time that has already passed on
forever, seems to dwell a degree Of earnest
emphasis which causes a decided impress
sion still 10 remain.
In connection with this there comes to
our minds ear, voices of disappointment,
of encouragement in the effort aud in the
" tiA vi viii AOila. Ap Ullt SEtIES 10 need
the counsel given, no ore seemst to be saved
from a neither step which desire wished.
but conscience %reproved; no one seems to
turn aside from the old deep rut into which
they have fallen, and no one, absolutely no
one, seems to give heed to the valuable
heart pearls which are cast abroad-ae-
coTding to the dictates within--before a
people who apparently pass them unno
ticed, and simply rush mad@ on to crafty
their desifes in a way vastly different from
that toward which the great love for hu-
manity and humanity's God has caused
these, HIS ambassadors, to point out. 1t
is true indeed 'the summer is over. the
harvest is ended and all are not yet saved"
When these faithful workers stop to
consider whether they are doing any good.
whether they are leading a single soul
nearer to the fountain head Of all ioy. all
peace. all blessedness, and cannot enumer-
ate even one whom they know to be fol-
lowing whittier the Saviour leadeth. does
1t rot seem that that brother is going to
become terribly worn and weary. pulling
hard against the stream?
Just for a moment. friends, stop and
consider what odds he has to battle
against. 1t is true, up toward that source
of all light, all truth, and all glory. he has
the Divine King on his side, but look
down here on the level of the average of a
thoughtless, careless, easy going, but self
ish humanity who may attend their places
OF worship, almost as regularly as meet
ine,day dawns, and may to a considerable
extent join in the services.
The next day comes and With it its cafes
and its temptations. Look more closely
and you will notice that some who but
yesterday joined in praisipg the Father,
to-day are bearing unnatural burdens Of
care which should be trustingly cast upon
He who bears all the weary burdens for
those who trust in His strength. There is
another, who, being tempted to do an IN
just thing is yielding to the evil propen-
sity; and yet another even after being so
apparently devout in his worship yester-
day, to-day is setting snares for the IN
wary feet OF his younger brother or sister.
Instead Of helping the head of the church
by his wi faithfulness Upon any and
every occasion, be is not only following,
bnt opening channels, 10 many instances,
by which those rho come after may be
thrown into the very depths of darkness
and despair. How these spectacles cause
the true followers of Christ to weary and
grow sick at heart.
AHNH ~ - ~ 49, Na~N 1A - 49,
mainly to deal With, but there is that class
who come aud sit under the canopy Of
Divine teaching. week after week, month
after month, and year after year, but never
by word or action, by facial expression or
a warmer hand grasp, give to their pas
tors a particle of encouragement for the
words they have spoken, or for the sacri-
fees made in their behalf. This is the
great multitude of indifferent individuals
who will go any and everywhere to be en-
tertained or possibly amused for a few
hours, but who seem to possess natures
which the deepest pathOs cannot thrill or
quicken sufficiently to move their possess
ors out into the fields already ripened
with the harvest. where the workers are
too few"
1t is true this great Indifferent class
seem to get along with the least friction
in the world; they stand everything that
may be hurled AZ them with the least pos
sibIe concern, whether 1t be of an
evil or OF a religious nature. Moth
ing seems to modest their peace
of mind or their satisfaction of their own
mode of living. II there is 4 brother pull
ing hard against the stream il is no con-
cern Of theirs. if there is one whe is sinking
in dispair for want Of a helping hand it is
nothing to them. they did not help to get
him into that predicament and Of course
they cannot be expected to help him out.
Is mo- this the hardest element of society
with which ministers and rhilanlhropists,
and reformers have to deal? Decidedly
yes. There seems to be a shell enveioping
their natures that is impenetrable, and
things that sink deeply into the heart of
their sin soaked brother seems to slide off
them like water off a ducks back. And
yet it is to this very class of people that
good men and women have to appeal so
often. so repeatedly TO come and drink
of the water Of life freely" and they come
not, but instead, seem to block the way and
keep others from coming.
Again, there comes q vision OF a body of
young christian workers. the young men
and young women who frequent our places
of worship (and God be praised that they
do frequent these places } What a force,
what an impetus fer good these Young
people could and would do il they
would but be willing to come out before
the world and say: Whatsoever power
me lies for the advancement OF
truth, Of justice, Of good government. Of
a pure, of r christian life, that will l give
and give freely teven as it has been given
unto me) toward the advancement, toward
the uplifting Of humanity, which to-day,
and especially at this season Of the year,
seems tending so sadly toward the great
vortex Of Satan's iniueuces-made SO at
8 -, = s,N 80 .f.n,s.. - 1AtfsAr f, THAR