The Press., 1893-02-09

'elves, to paths which were more difficult,
 because she saw in them the tresher im-
 prints of her leaders feet. She deliber-
 ately turned her back on the historical
 materials which she had collected-mate-
 rials which would have taken noble form
 under her skillful hand-that she might
 naa6e history by working "For God and
 home and native land"
 She lost her life-the life which she
 might have ived-that she might minis
 ter to the interests of higher ends--even
 the highest. But such loss is unspeak-
 able gain. It lifts her from being pleas
 ant home light to be star in the firma-
 ment of regenerated society, where her
 clear shining will gladden. millions of
 hearts. Her buried self has burst into
 bloom so rich and sweet that all of earth's
 continents claim some part in her, and
 the winds of the Pacific bear the fragrance
 of her life to distant islands of the sea. A noble way to lose one's life is to
 merge one's individuality in some worthy cause. So Moses lost his life when he re-
 fused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter that he might suffer affiiction with the people of God. So again he lost his quiet shepherd life when he consented somewhat reluctantly to become the lead CT of Gods people. But which is nobler, think you, Moses the shepherd, or Moses the leader and lawgiver? He no doubt had great gifts, but it was his cause-or rather Gods cause with which he allied hlmself-which made him great. So Flor ence Nightingale "threw herself away" as some of her friends said, when she went to Crimea to nurse sick and wounded sol diers; but she found greater and more enduring name than any officer of the three armies who there sought ''the bub- blereputation even in the cannon's mouth" So Livingstone deliberately "got lost" from civilization in the heart of Africa; but the whole of civilization became great ly interested in finding him, and accom- plished it only to learn that it was AfaScG that he wanted them to find-not Living. stone. He preferred to remain in Africa. and by dying there he made that conti nent his monument.
 So Miss West lost her will in the will Of Christ; merged her individuality in His cause; took hold of Gods strength, and by him was lifted into places of Influence and power; allied herself with the great reforms which have the push of the cen- turies and the power of the Almighty be- hind them; and thus by giving herself entirely to be used of God, she received so from Him whom she loved and served, that she grew into the nobly dow cred woman who gave herself to the world so unsparingly, and whom the world can spare so i'll.
 great cause is greater than it's most illustrious advocates, and it helps to make them great. Was Christ unkind when He said to the Galilean fishermen, Follow me, and l will make you fishers of men?" separate existence is weakness. Associa- tion under plan is strength. So drops of water become Niagara. So men be- come an army, and win Waterloo. So tod permits us to connect ourselves with the onward sweep of great providential and He shapes us while we serve Him, doing for us more than we can possibly do for Him. Would that men might learn this celestial economy; give, and it shall be given unto you; spend, and ye shall have; lose self for Christ's sake and God will find you-not on the low plains of selfishness-but He will place you on the hills from whence con- eth our help; forget self ill the advance ment of some noble cause, and in the end you will find yourself in Gods chariot, riding on to certain victory and eternal reward.