The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-10
CRAVEN IN THE PULPIT
Preached to the Quarterly Con-
ference of the Methodists.
THE LORDS LAW PERFECT
Man II b Greatest Thing In the World.
Came Into the World without
Any say-so OF His own-An
Impsssioned Address.

Quarterly conference was held In the
Mountain View and Grace NJ. Z.
churches yesterday. In the forenoon at
the Mountain View Rev. r.. NJ. Craven
of Kalispell preached ar interesting ser
mon. Presiding Elder Var orsdeil was
to have preached the but
yielded the pulpit to his co-worker, Mr..
Craven. who vas Unexpectedly present,
being en- route 90 Salt Lake in response
to a summons from his son. Warren.
who is quite III there. Mr.. Craven took
for his text the seventh verse OF the
nineteenth Psalm: The law of the
Lord Is perfect. converting the soul.
the testimony OF the Lord Is sure. max
ing wise the simple" Man. said the
speaker. Is the greatest thing in the
world. Some one has salt that owe
is the greatest. but man. who Is the
object OF love. Is brought to the atten-
tion of God In the fullest measure.
Man came into h world without any
say so of his own and came under the
laws of God and Is, of course. Bile
to those sacred laws. In his prayers,
nan does not ask the Lord to change
those laws. but on the other hand prays
for the strength and will to accept
~ ~ "S NfNth et IA ~
right kind OF law. To Illustrate the
perfectness of the law as sung by the
Psalmist. he told again the pretty story
OF the Digger Indian In California. who.
setting by a tree while Bishop Cavan-
augh preached. urn to a listener
and remarked. placing his hand on his
heart: Me heap hot here" While a
crude and simple form of uttcrance
yet IL was the testimony OF the human
heart. that IL was being converted by
the divine spirit. The speaker spoke
of the universal use OF the phrase,
I'm trying to do things right" one
friend approaches another and asks
him to lend him a certain sum of
money. The friend writes out a check
for the amount and the other friend
goes his way. The next morning friend
No. l sees friend No. ? sitting on the
steps OF the bank. No. l asks him why
he looks so detected. and No. 2 replies
that he Is trying TO figure II out in his
W mind that the check will be cashed
Now. why did nat man not accept the
gift from the hands OF his benefactor
and not wait through a period Of sus-
pense trying TO quiet his mind to the
belief that the favor was that of the
glver and not Of the man who was to
onvert the paper into cash? One man
has said that he vas greater han the
sun. The sun may fall and crush him,
yet not be conscious of his victory.
while the man admitted hat he would
surely be conscious of his wi defeat.
In conclusion Mr.. Craven said that
he was on a very sad journey. His son
who q spent hve years of his life
preparing for the battle with life. was
now stricken own with a disease
which may prove fatal. He was just
beginning a career which promised TO
be crowned with success. He was now
at the point where he might step away
from all earthly environs. But" said
the father. with emotion. Il have
taught him to do right ave given
him into the keeping of God. Now his
Maker may be abou to take the picture
away before the turmoil and vicissi-
tudes of life mars its beauty. Some
OF the last words my boy said when
bidding his parents good bye We're:
You can now count on $40 a month
from me for the missionary fund"
Rev. Mr.. Craven's sermon was at
times pathetic, impressive thoughts be-
ing expressed 10 CUB in response to
promptings Of his heart, which all the
while was with his son lying III in Salt
Lake.