The Leon reporter., 1900-03-08

oak as well as the woodman's ak. The
little seed or the frozen stream cracks
the solid rock as well as the angry
dynamite. The flowing waters OF Nj
agara river dissolve the mountains.
In the first chapter Of Genesis we
this planet two suns. The moon is
nothing but a burnt-out sun. But after
the creation God felt too much light
would destroy the human race, so he
practlcally said: My children must
nave time to sleep. The flowers close
their petals in slumber. The trees be-
come torpid In winter nap to give
forth the spring buds. Even the ma
chinery must have rest or it will soon
wear out. The angelus bell without
quiet will cease to chime, so, in order
TO have man and woman sleep, l will
show them my will. For ten hours at
least l will envelop the earth in total
darkness Like our grandmothers
with candle-snuffer, God reached
down and put out the light of that
sun which we call the moon. And this
Is the reason we ought to go to bed
WIN tne chickens and answer early to
the morning call Of the Growing cock.
IN the next place, the text honors
the Lenten season because it is a pro-
test against human perfection. II
tnere were any people on earth who
Dy physical contact were fitted for the
receiving of the Holy Spiris on account
OF their natural conditions, they were
the little band of 120 Christians, COM
posed OF Peter. James, John, Martha,
Lazarus, Mary, the mother of Christ,
and Mary Magdalene, who had the
seven devils, and the rest Of the apos-
Ties who sat with Christ at the last
supper. They ate of his body and drank
OF his blood. Many of them knew
Jesus when he was in Galilee and made
the wine at the wedding of Cana. They
saw him cruciied. They saw the tomb
which was rifled. They saw him and
talked to him and touched him when
ne was resurrected. Paul said: After
that he was seen of above 500 brethren
at once, OF whom the greater part re-
mains unto this pentecost, but some
are fallen asleep.
Beheld the Ascension.
Ihey saw Jesus ascension, when he
mounted higher and higher, until the
trees were under his feet: higher and
higher, until his hair was moistened
by the halo of clouds. as the gardens
are besweated by the morning mists:
higher and higher, until other worlds
crowded around him In love: higher
and higher, until his white, flowing
garments became as the wings Of a
dove; higher and higher, until earth
itself to him must have dwindled into
q star. Yet these disciples, before the
Holy Spirit came. had to gather in one
place, with one accord, for supplica-
ton and prayer. Cannot you and I
train our eyes to see the tongues of
hre; strain our ears to hear the spirit
winds moving among the trees; reach
forth our hands for the gospel heart
clasp, and lift our lips for the kiss of
divine love?
One day among the arctic icebcrgs
whaling ship sighted strange craft.
Its ropes were ropes of ice. Its sails
and hull and quarter deck were all COW
cred with ice. Its rudder chains could
not move. for they were in the grip of
'omnlpotent~fre. When the commaudrs-
came near enough to this strange craft
he lifted the trumpet and called, Ship
ahoy, ship ahoy. Whittier bound; from
what port? There was no answer. A
boat was lowered. When the rescuing
party climbed over the bulwarks they
found the captain frozen dead in the
cabin; the sailors frozen dead in the
hunks; the cook frozen dead in the
kitchen; the wheelman frozen dead at
the wheel. For thirteen long years
that ship had foated helplessly about.
the sport Of every current, the play
thing Of every wind, and the only fu-
neral dirge was sounded by storm
demons, shrieking and Kissing in the
rigging.
$50 every man at 40 or 80 years OF
age is derelict, divinely pitied k
man craft, drifting around with full
cargo of decayed opportunities. with
his corpses Of misapplied influences
We must first throw overheard our
dead selves before we can let Jesus
Christ step upon the decks.
Actions That Command Contempt.
BY our actions we try to push our
selves down to the lowest depths of
Gods great ocean Of contempt. This
was not the figure of the pentecostal
gathering. Methinks we see them.
There is Mary, the Mother. weak and
old, with her eyes red from weeping.
There is Peter, repulsive Peter, one
moment all faith, next all discourage
ment. There is doubling Thomas, with
his face growing longer every day. He
says: DO you think Jesus will keep
his word and send the Comforter? Do
you believe he will forgive us the way
We treated him wsen upon earth?
Why, would not believe him until he !,
let me probe my finger into his wound.
ed side.' They talk on, day after day,
until at last gentle John says: 'Breth-
rem, let me pray again, and then,
Mother, remember the Savior told me
to call you mother-then, Mother, you
follow with another prayer While
the party knelt, suddenly there was
noise like mighty rushing wind, and
some one cried: What is that? A
tornado is coming: listen!' AS they
lifted their blanched faces. John point
ed to Mary the Virgin. Over her head
was tongue Of fire, and. like the in
lights of chandelier which
burst into blaze when one tin is