The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-02-04
THE RELIGIOUS BEE.
FIJI the Hive with Workers and Queens,
and NOs Sth DrOnes.

FIJI the Hive with Workers and Queens,
and Nos Sith Drones.
The bee is a universal emblem of in
dustry. With tireless activity the little
worker flies hither and thither, lighting
on every fragrant blossom, and eagerly
extracting the hidden sweetness that
there may be an abundant supply of
food stored up for the cold months of
the winter. Small though he is, he not
only supplies his own needs and pro-
vides for numerous family but he
furnishes a delicate luxury for man.
What more natural therefore, than that
''busy as bee" should become proverb
in all languages?
The bee is in some respects good
model for the Christians. Every church
ought to be hive of bees. But we
must be careful that we select the right
kind of a bee for our pattern; for there
are several kinds of bees, and they are
not of equal value.
First. there are the drone bees. They
are the best-looking bees in the hive,
large, round and sleek; and they hustle
about and make a great deal of noise.
AS you watch them, you might easily
believe that they were the busiest of
the hives busy inhabitants. They rush
here and there with an air of great i'm
portanoe, and each one makes more
noise than ten workers; but it is all
humbug. They never do any work.
They do not even gather their own food
from the flowers, but lazily gorge them
selves with the honey that others have
gathered
Then there is the worker bee, quiet,
unpretentious little fellow, who wastes
no time and makes little noise. He
feels that he has an important work to
do in the world, and he does it as rap
idly and as diligently as possible. When
he flies, he goes in straight lines, that
he may accomplish his purpose the more
quickly-whether it be to extract the
sweetness from some flower, or to plant
his sting in the most vulnerable part of
some enemy.
Most important and valuable of all
bees is the queen bee. She is great
stay-at-home. No one ever sees her
outside the hive, nor does she make any
noise unless special occasion calls for
it. Yet all recognize her superiority.
She is the mother of all. Without her
the hive would soon be empty. In her
seclusion she exerts a controlling infu-
ence and receives universal homage.
In studying the bee as model, be
sure you do not select a drone. We
have enough of them in the church al
ready. You may easily recognize them.
They are the disciples whose sole Office
in the church is to hustle about and talk
and criticise. They never feel any per
sonal responsibility. They are perfect.
ly satisfied to let others do the work
and take all the responsibility, while
they enjoy the fruits of their labor
Wherever found, drones are useless
Their numbers are not a source Of
strength, but may prove fatal weak
ness.
Much more to be desired are the work
ers, the people who say little but are
always busy. Whenever an opportunity
presents itself to do some good work
they eagerly seize it. No duty is neg
lected; no responsibility is evaded. The
work which is laid upon them they per
form faithfully and well; and each one
feels that he must do his part not only
in sustaining the spiritual life Of the
Christian hive, but in giving food tt
those who are without. Theirs is ar
important place in the kingdom Of God
and we never can have too many o.
them. Initiate them, by all means, es
pecially in one thing-the bee line
Don't waste time by roundabout
methods.
The queen bees are as few as they arr
valuable. They are rare souls. De
borai,, the bee Of the Scriptures, wal
one Of these. "a mother in Israel" wa
her chosen title. And the queen bee
are usually mothers in Israel" The.
are not the women who shine on publ
occasions. They are only workers
The queens are busy in the home. The,
are those blessed motherly persons VIII
attract young people to them, ant
in their quiet way exert sanctifyinl
influence throughout the entire com
munity. There are always enough dis
ciples ready to fill the promiren
places, to make a great noice, and to d
conspicuous work. The church has n
lack of these. But to-day, as ever
there Is need of those who, in the quie
seclusion of ordinary life, amid tn
cares and duties Of the home, set an ez
ample Of true godliness, sending fort
q spiritual influence that reaches man
hearts about them, and becomes pow
or for good in many hves.-Rev. G.
Hubbard, in 8. 8. Times.
IAll OWEN pEer