The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-30

The closing period o. any yelr brings
with it a solemnity that is peculiar to
itself. 1t furnishes naturally a time of
retrospect for d
GOD REQtlRETtI given season. and
THAT is suggestive of
| WHICH Is PAST. such retrospect.
| It is easy TO ask
| why look back then more tlan at any
| other time; say, the close of each day
| or week or month? But whatever ques-
| ton may be asked, or however theoreti-
cally, it may be demonstrated that the
| end of the year Should not appeal more
| strongly than any other period; still, the
! fact remains, and it is an almost univer-
| sally accepted fact that there Is This APP
peal, and that It is of unique power and
extent. AS the year dies men naturally
! turn the mental eye towards the pass,
ana it were. take stock of what has
| been taking place. And SO far from this,
Soe.ns an idle or useless mental attitude,
it is. under certain circumstances, quite
t.le reverse, and may prove very useful
and helpful. THOU shalt remember all
the way the Lord thy God hath led
thee said the leader of Israel to the
chosen people at the end OF their forty
years wandering in the wilderness. They
We're to remember" for Their own good,
because he had been teaching them that
wcrld-needed lesson, that man dotl not
live by bread only, but by every word OF
God. They were not to forget the sin,
lest they fall into it again. They We're
to remember the discipline. because it
showed them Gods hatred of sin. They
Wete to lear in mind the succor. for 1t
was IN object lesson of Gods love and His
power to save to the uttermoSt tEoSa VINO
trust in Him. And there We're scores Of
other lessons in those years and all they
We're to remember as each one con-
tanned a necessary teaching as TO Gods
good purpose.
Ar.l so, periodically, at the end Of the
year, if we SO choose, we also are 10
remember all the way" our God hath
lei Us, and find and ponder over each
lesson Of that way.-Southera Churchman-
What a favorable time for new and
better life! Why SHOULD one be afraid
Of new resolutions? With the new year
and the new CEN
a TIME FOR fury let us nave
GOOD RESOLVES. a new purpose
and new
life. In every kind of business
ne.- account books will be opened. Snail
we not lay our past accounts with what
ever failure there has been, at the feet
Of our loving Father IN Heaven, to be for
given and botted out? Shall We open
the far, blank pages Of the new year, ana
looking to God for his grace, resolve that
we will fill each days record with duty
and faithfulness, with trust and love- with
good done to the world around us and
honor to the name Of Christ? Remember
him who said, Il will never leave thee
nor fcIsake theer'-Central Presbyterian
That is a sadly beautiful custom which
IS SAID to prevail in Leper's Island, IN
the Sandwich group-the only beautfui
\ n n Z a T
DEATH SHOULD lonely and pa
BE A TsRI UNIPH. tnetic place, I'M
less it be the
marvellous devotion w-.-eh sometimes
leads the well and strong to snare the
fata of those doomed ones in order to
r:inister to them 1t is said that, when
at last the piecemeal death IS ended ana
the spirit escapes from the battered ana
n.tiated body, the band plays a stirring
air, something which has in 1t a high
trumpt,al note. Surely wnen a CHRISTIAN
dies, amid less gloomy and forn.uulns sur
round.nss VIC may rejoice at his new
found liberty and joy-Religious Herald.