The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-28

1T is a blessed thought that God
never forgets and never forsakes his
children. Remember how it was with
Jacob, the patriarch, when fleeing
through the wilderness. a fugitive from
his kindred; how that when he was
weary and oppressed by sad thoughts,
and he had only stones for pillow, God
sent his angels to cheer and comfort
him. He had not thought to find God
in the wilderness, that he would CON g
to cheer with his presence and his worcs
of promise, lone wanderer in the desert.
500
And 30 we sometimes forget that
there is a God to take notice of Us
wherever we may be-that there is o
path in which we walk 80 dark that he
does not see us-no spot in our wander
ings so far away that he does not come
to US. Indeed, we are apt to question
what is so very true, that his providen-
tial care is never withdrawn from US for
a single moment. Did we see and feel
his nearness to us-that he is always
present with us to help us, to strengthen
us for the burdens we have to bear, striv
ing to win US to himself, that he may fill
and gladden. us with his own life, every
place, even the loneliest solitude, the
darkest desert, would be to US the house
of God and the gate of heaven. Though
we might be wandering in sorrowful
exile, destitute of home or friends; or
though we might be weary or sick and
all broken down by our load of trouble,
yet there would come to our souls sweet
visions of the Infinite Love, and angels
would bring rest and refreshment to the
hardest pillow.
800
Children. passing out of this exist
ence, have sometimes visions beyond
their years, which are among the mys-
teries of spiritual things and utterly
unexplainable except on the theory of
an after-deathlife. Some one has said
that every innocent desire that springs
up in the human breast is promise Of
fulfillment. In the Home for the Friend
less in Saginaw, Mich, lived sweet lit
tie maiden whom everybody loved
named Hattie Anderson. She was a
member of the Universalist Sunday
school. One Easter she was delighted
with the flowers and exclaimed, Il wish
l could have all the roses want" The
diptheria soon took that sweet life away.
Just before the final struggle came she
said, II shall have all the roses want"
A few months later another inmate OF
the Home was ill. For several days she
lay in an unconscious state, apparently,
the attendant physician at times being
scarcely able to discern spark Of life
remaining. Finally she was aroused.
when she exclaimed, "Why did you
bring me back. was with Hattie and
the roses!"
DIR. Garfield, pastor Of St. Paul's
church in this city. pursuant to vote
Of his Board of Trustees, is engaged in
promoting canvass of the district be-
tween Twenty sixth and Thirty fifth
streets, and between Wabash avenue
and the lake, with view to obtaining
the moral and religious statistics of that
section of the city, in the center of which
st. PauPs church is located. He has al
ready obtained more than 1000 names
and hopes to be able to make moral
map of the Third and Fourth Wards. in
dicating the exact situation and needs
of all the inhabitants thereof. This is
St. Paul's peculiar field for the cultiva
ton of which the parish is directly re-
sponsible. Such an understanding of
the field as will result from the canvass
must prove highly advantageous to the
church interest when properly followed
up.
NOS
Good prayers" says an old divine
"never come weeping home. am sure
| shall receive either what ask or what
l should ask" This is a good philos.
ophy of prayer. Who can furnish bet
ter?