The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-02-24

0esnG YIN in the chapter were
distinguished 70
something and were therefore dis
cussed by the illustrious expositors;
but nothing is said about Asyncritus,
Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,
Philologus and Julia. Where were
they born? No one knows. When
did they die? There is no record of
their decease. For what were they
distinguished? Absolutely nothing, or
the trait of character would have been
brought out by the apostle. If they
had been very intrepid; or opulent, or
h1rsute, or musical of cadence, or Grass
of style, or in any wise anomalous,
that feature would have been caught
'by the apostolic camera. But they
were good people, because Paul sends
to them his high Christian regards.
They were ordinary people moving
IN ordinary sphere, attending to ordi-
nary duty and meeting ordinary re-
sponsibilities.
What the world wants is religion
for ordinary people. If there be In
the United States 100000 people,
WI !,
100000 extraordinary; and then there
are 100000 ordinary, and we do we'll
TO turn our backs for a little while
upon the distinguished and conspicu
Gus people of the Bible and consider in
our text the seven ordinary. We
spend too much of our time in twist
ing garlands for remarkables and
building thrones for magnates and
sculpturing warriors and apothesizing
philanthropists The rank and file of
the Lords soldiery need especial help.
The vast majority of people will
never lead an army, will never write
a state constitution, will never electri-
~ senate, will never make an i'm
portant invention, will never introduce
philosophy, will never decide
the fate of a nation. You do not ex-
pect to; you do not want to- You will
not be Moses to lead a nation out
OF bondage. You will not be Joshua
ito prolong the daylight until you can
shut five kings in a cavern You will
not be st. John to unroll an Apoca-
lypse. You will not be Paul to pre-
side over an apostolic college. You
will not be Mary to mother Christ
You will more probably be Asyncritus
or Phlegon, or Hermas, or Patrobas,
or Hermes, or Philologus, or Julia.
- Many of you are women at the head
OF households. Every morning YOU
plan for the day. The culinary depart
ment of the household is in your do
mlnion. You decide all questions of
diet. All the sanitary regulations of
your house are under your supervision.
TO regulate the food and the apparel
and the habits, and decide the thou
sand questions of home life is a tax
upon brain and nerve and general
health absolutely appalling, if there
be no divine alleviation
1t does not help you much to he
told that Elizabeth Fry did wonder
tul things amid the criminals at New
gate. 1t does not help you much to
be told that Mrs. Judson was very
brave among the Bornesian cannibals.
1t does not help you very much to be
told that Florence nightingale was
very kind to the wounded in the Cri-
mea. 1t would be better for me to tell
you that the divine friend of Mary
and Martha is your friend, and that he
sees all the annoyances and disap-
polntments and abrasions, and exas-
perat1ons of an ordinary housekeeper
from morn till night, and from the
first day Of the year until the last dav
of the year, and at your call he is ready
with help and reinforcement.
They who provide the food of the
world decide the health of the world
You have only to go on some errand
amid the taverns and the hotels of the
United States and Great Britain to an
,preciate the fact that vast multitude
of the human race are slaughtered by
incompetent cookery. Though a young
woman may have taken lessons in mn
sic, and may have taken lessons in
painting, and lessons in astronomy, she
is not we'll educated unless she has
taken lessons in dough! They who de-
eide the apparel of the world. and the
food of the world, decide the endurance
of the world.
An minimizing man may consider it
a matter of little importance-the
cares Of the household and the econo-
mics of domestic life-but tell Won
the earth is strewn with the martyrs
of kitchen and nursery. The health
shattered womanhood of America cries
out for God who can help ordinary
women in the ordinary duties of house
keeping. The wearing, grinding, un-
appreciated work goes on, but the same
Christ who stood on the bank of Cali
lee in the early morning and kindled
the fire and had the fish already
cleaned and broiling when the sports
men stepped ashore, chilled and hun
cry, will help every woman to pre-
pare breakfast whether by her own
hand, or the hand of her hired help
The God who made indestructible eu-
logy of Hannah, who made coat for
Samuel, her son, and carried it to the
temple every year, will help every wo
man in preparing the family ward
robe. The God who opens the Bible
with the --:tory Of Abraham's entertain