Evening star., 1896-07-09
conclude that If they are they have spirit

conclude that II they are they have spirit
ual life.
All created life, from a blade of grass to
the highest arcnangel that flashes his wings
in the ineffable light of the glorious throne
of God. all created life everywhere, is de-
termined by three things, viz: Its nature
its environments and its limitations
know that fascinating philosophy teaches
that We are creatures of environment
There are elements Of truth in Ii. You were
born OF Christian parents and reared under
Christian influences. At the same time
you were born, there came innocent
babe into a drunkard's home. He was
born under a parental curse. He grew in
the most wicked surroundings. He was
affected by them. Environments did that
But this law is not fundamental Nature
is stronger than environment You may
plant the weed among the roses Give il
the same sunlight and air. Let the same
showers refresh it. Let the same sunlight
Hash life about it. but it is still a weed.
You may plant rose among the weeds
and they may seek to hide il: they may
possibly, even kill it, but all the weeds in
creation cannot make a weed of a rose
1t Is still rose-to the day Of its death it
is still a rose. Among human beings the
same law is dominant and pervasive
Disease in life and abnormality in devel-
opment are fearful periods. But havoc
may be aVerted. Remove the hot rocks.
Let the gentle rain and the gracious dew
soften the soil. Let the mighty life go very
deep. Let the Sun whisper through the
earth sweet messages of heaven. Lo! the
earth bursts Life breathes! All is JOY.
Downward. upward, inward outward on
ward. Godward. Oh who can tell the bless
ed possibilities Of such life!
Deeper spiritual life must be in contact
with human needs. 1t becomes stronger
through duty well done. 1t Graves private
devotion-indeed it cannot do without that.
but its correlation is in practical life 1t
refuses to be shut in a cloister
Deeper spiritual life is found through
duty intelligently met, cheerfully borne
faithfully done.
Mr.. Harry A Kinports Of New York con-
Quoted a quiet hour and asked those In
the audience to search their hearts for
secret faults. This period was brought to
close with an earnest prayer, and the
congregation dismissed with Denediction.
Ihe members of the quartet. Miss May
t:dmo' ston, Mrs. H. b. Hollifield. and
Messrs. H. l.. Murdock and H. p Hoover
&C entributed literally to the musical part of
the program.
NINETEENTH STREET RapT1sr
In addition to Christian Ell deayor en-
blens ard bunting, number of large
palms and punches of fragrant flowers
frightened the Nineteenth Street Baptist
Church, where the pastor, Rev. Walter H.
Brooks, presided over a representative au-
dience OF EndeavCrers. A choir of 100
voices under the direction of Mr.. William
A. Wallace. led the singing, Miss Alice
Jackson presiding at the plano. The meet
ing Was opened with a service of song
after which the pastor extended hearty
welcome to the audience, especially to
those who had come from afar. He prayed
that the meeting might result IN a deepen
irg of the spiritual life ard that the visit
ors would return TO their homes from the
nhuon's capital with new inspirations and
with lives made better by the visit.
Scatter Sunshine All Along Your Way"
was sung, and then Rev. p. Thomas Stan
ford. the noted colored divine OF Boston,
addressed the asserblage
MIR. StanfOrd's Speech.
Mr.. Stanford said:
Matthew. v:6: Blessed are they which
hunger and thirst after righteousness.
1t is customary in the Arabian desert for
the travellers, on reaching a spring. to leave
portion Of food, so that il any unfortnn-
ate traveller shouli happen to visit the
spring he would not only find water, but
food also.
A traveller, making his journey, was him
dered for several days by sandstorns and
many other difficulties. and when he had
got long way from the place Of rest his
food gave out, but, knowing the custom,
he pressed on, hoping to find a spring At
last. when SO weak he could scarcely walk,
he spied spring and used the last bit of
strength he had left in reaching it. He
locked about for food. He the little
leather bucket in which food is usually
kept. He seized it and took out what he
supposed to be a bundle containing cata-
bles, but to his grief and surprise instead
Of food. the bundle contained pearls Of the
first water, valuing some hundreds of
pounds. and his body was found clutching
the bag. He died Of starvation.
Humanity speaking. hunger and thirst
are not blessings. but Preat enemies
against which the nations of the earth are
battling every day. This world is a battle
field.
When We are hungry we desire food. and
when we are thirsty We desire drink. Moth
ing but food for the hungry, nothing bat
water for the thirsty. Gold is despised
for bread. The desire of food to the hum
cry creates and increases the burning fever
OF death. The oppressed will use every en-
deavor to obtain it, The great and good
John Bright said: He that withholds bread
from the poor the nation will curse him.
TO offer them riches is to mock at their
misery
Our Lord and Savior was a very pra ,ti-
cal preacher. In all cases as in this he
presented the truth and worth of the gos-
pei in such way that IL emf breed its own
conclusions. How to show more clearly
what l mean let read the text again !:
blessed are they that hunger and thirst
after righteousness" for they shall be fili-
ed: filled with joy and peace through be-
lievng.
The good Shepherd will lead the., into
green pastures and make them to lie down
| beside still waters: and they shall be fed
with all the superabundance Of the gospel
feast.
This text may serve to comfort the hea rts
of those who do hunger and thirst after
righteousness. l doubt not that it is The
grief of many that they cannot serve God
better Jesus says blessed are those: though
thou hast not much righteousness as thou
would like. yet thou are blessed because
thou hungerest after it. The old saving
Is that actions are louder than words hut
actions may be counterfeited for compul-
| sion. Desire is the best discovery of Chris
tan graces. There are many forced Chris
tians. forced fruit, very beautiful but af-
fected at the core. Some Christians have
, nothing but desires. but it is highly impor-
tant that those desires be put into effe, t.
Let it be observed that hungering and
thirsting after righteousness proceeds from
love. If thou didst not love Christ thou
couldst not desire Him.
The doubts and fears to be fought
against:
Objections: If my hunger were Of the
right kind. then could take comfort of it:
but l fear 1t is counterfeit. Hypocrites
have d esiAes.
That / may the better settle doubling
Christian. l shall show the difference be-
tween true and false desire, spiritual
and carnal hunger
1. The hypccrite does not desire grace on
Its own account but Onlv as q hridre 70