The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03
LESSONS OF THE DAY.


Parable OF TIL Q TenV Virgins.
The International Sunday school les
son for Feb. 3 Is founded on Matthew
ky, lib. The memory verses are Is.
The golden text is Watch therefore,
for ye know neither the day nor the
hour wherein the Son of Man coneth,"
The scene of the lesson is on the Mount
of Olives, the date was Tuesday, April
4, A. D. 80, and the topic was the par
able of the ten virgins. This is g. par
able of the last day--a warning to the
disciples to watch. The Jewish customs
alluded to in the story give picturesque
and Hfelike dress to all the incidents.
Eastern weddings today are are what
they were at the time of Christ The
bridegroom comes at night, leading his
bride home by the light of torches. The
friends Of the bride, young girls carrying
lamps and torches, join the procession
These maidens each have lamps which is
is their business to keep alight to bright
en- the dark streets. In the story, five
OF them were careless, did hot look
ahead, let themSelVS be surprised in a
state OF ,unreadineSs at a moment when
it was impossible to make up for their
forgetfu,ness. Jesus holds them I'D as
sad warning to believers Of all ages.
When they tried to borrow of their
neighbors, it was Of no use. No one
could supply another. When they tried
to buy, there was no oil to sell; the time
for that was past. When they came
rushing back, breathless, hoping at least
for entrance, it was too late-the door
was shut. Geike in a description of a
wedding procession, says: "The streets
of Nazareth are often noisy by night
with the festivities Of marriage, for the
local customs are still in most things
the same as they were in the time of
our Lord. These rejoicings begin now
as then with sunset, and last several
days. Before the marriage the bride
groom goes at evening to the house of a
relation, and while he is there band
Of maidens lead the bride to his house.
and then go to bring the bridegroom
home. If any, however, are too long in
coming, he goes to his home without
them and the door is shut
7. P. 8. c. E. 20th Anniversary
The Christian Endeavor lesson for
Feb. is found in Joshua i, Ill. This
is the twentieth anniversary OF the So
c1ety. and a review of the work Is in
order. In twenty years the society has
become stable and permanent part
OF church work and life. But what Of
the future? The past is sealed; the
present is assured-What of tho future?
We cannot but feel that the future also
is safe if we continue to recognize the
hand Of God in the movement and still
observe to do that which is pleasing
in the sight of God.
To Joshua, as he was about to begin
the conquest of the land of Canaan, the
Lord said: 81 will be with thee 1 will
not fail thee or forsake thee" God
had been with Moses in the past He
now promises to be with Joshua, as he
had been with Moses. God has been
with and in the Christian Gndeavor
movement. It's entire history proves
that the hand of God has been IN it.
AS He has been in it in the past, so He
will be in the future, and on this ami
versary day We hear Him say to US:
AS L have been with you in the past,
so 1 will be with thee. 1 will not fail
thee or forsake thee"