Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-01-12
POINTS IN THE LESSON.

festive, joy-bringing messenger he Is.
Every prophet who calls the people
back to God leads a glad festival pro-
cession (such Is the meaning of the
root. How beautiful upon the noun
tains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace!"
And 1t is a voice to all the people, not
for the priest nor the prophet alone.
Speak IL out. Alas for the people when
a usurping priesthood holds back Gods
message! Not thus did Paul read "the
dispensation stewardship Of the mys-,
terry" 1t is ours that we may give it
forth. Why, indeed, have we been
Withholding 1t so long from the world
aHave you had a kindness shown?
Pass 1t on!
Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass IL on!
Let it travel down the years,
Let 1t wipe anothers tears;
ill In Heaven the deed appears.
Pass 1t on Pass it on!
"Have you found the heavenly llght'
Pass It on!
Souls are CROPPING In the night.
Daylight gonel
Hold your lighted lamp on high,
Be star in some ones sky.
He may live who else would die,
Pass IL on, Pass 1t on"
God promises greater glory for this
latter house than we have yet realized,
great as is our blessing. Christ has
come. and he indeed Is "the desire OF
all nations" but that desire has not
yet come to it's full apprehension, for
not yet are the riches in Christ Jesus
fully fathomed and made known. In
him and in his kingdom are hid for US
what eye hath not yet seen nor heard,
forsooth, conceived. The desire Of the
nations shall yet be met and satisfied.
Yea, angels attend and heaven Is hence
forth expectant until his enemies be
made his footstool. Marvellous declara-
ton of Paul to the Ephesians that now
unto the princlpalities and powers in
heavenly places might be (made) known
by the church the manifold wisdom OF
God" Here on earth it Is to be demon
strated, here Gods greatest glory dis
played! Angels wait, Christ waits.
"Thou that dwellest between the cher
ubims, shine FORTH"
HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
These lessons selected by the Inter-
national Committee are fifty joined in
historical unity, and in this the large
hearted and clear headed brethren, long
experienced in Sunday-school work, to
whom this matter has been intrusted
have shown their tact and wisdom. The
criticism of the International Series,
somewhat in fashion In certain circles
to-day, is for the most part superficial
and does not, 1t would seem, come from
those best acquainted with either the
careful and painstaking work of the
committee in particular or the broad
demands OF Sunday-school work in gen.
eral. A pastor was complaining the
other day. why do you know, he said,
they have given us as many as fourteen
different books to study this year,"
What of that? The connection is kept
clear and the unity preserved. 1t sim
ply reveals 10 us the multitude OF voices
that ring out in two distinct periods Of
time that are studied, and studied with
just that thoroughness and sustained
interest that experienced Sunday-school
workers know how to awaken in that
weekly sacred parliament OF the people.
the ordinary Sunday school. Let US
take hold of these studies with vigor,
and using the best methods, new and
old, that offer themseles, make the les
sons of 1893 more fruitful than ever be-
fore.
A deserted sanctuary invites destruc-
tion and decay. We have numerous in
stances of it in mission and church ex-
tension work. 1 well recall, during q
season of missionary itineracy, coming
one day in my rounds upon an empty
meeting house which had seen better
days. / had known 1t in those days
and rejoiced with others In its services.
But now all was changed and the sud-
aenness of the change startled me.
With the closing of It's doors, Gods
curse seemed to settle upon 1t. The
instant the front was boarded up, the
boys, Gods modern Amalekites and
messengers of Satan to buffet, began to
pitch stones through the windows, and
looking up 1 counted as many as fifty
seven holes in the stained glass Of the
large front piece. The snow was sift-
ing in through the apertures, and, much
as with David's forsaken sanctuary in
the woods, the birds Of the air had found
house and nest for their young,
Even thine affairs, o Lord OF hosts"
Heaven has no place, on earth or else
where, for neglected temple.
But the sequel is TO less striking. 1
visited that same house of worship not
long since. Could 1t be the same place?
It was a gala occasion and the house
was thronged with happy company, q
busy ,watchful pastor in the midst. Tho
walls were bright, the windows aglow
with light, the floors clean, neatly car
peted, and everywhere the appearance
of life and prosperity. There were one
or two there who had seen the turn OF
the tide. Slow it was at first; 1t re-
quired faith and fortitude to keep on.
One window sufficed to patch another
until the winter could be shut out. The
rusty stove began to drive out the damp
ness. and one or two smiling faces came
to rebulIe the long abiding chill. A SER
vice waJ announced and half-dozen re-
sponded, and over the stove In the cor
ner they warmed their fingers and their
hearts I. bit The next time there were
twenty or thirty. Then a faithful, en-
ergetic under-shepherd came. and the
house filled up again and the good days
of Zion we're once more on. 1t Is al
ways so. Gods blessing is on a tenn
pie that throws Its doors wide open and
calls the world to hear the gospel. Try
it, discouraged flock. The Lord is for
usl
NEXT LESSON. Joshua, the High
Priest. "-Zech. ILL.,: lilo.