The Newtown bee., 1901-07-26
gagged in cooperating with kindred spirits for the purpose of helping the needy, cOnsOling the mo urner,

gagged in cooperating with kindred spirits for the purpose of helping the needy, consOling the mourner,
 ENCOURAGING THE WEAK, CONVERTING
 THE SINFUL,
 in other words, to those engaged in bringing to pass His kingdom on earth. "We touch Him in life's throng and press," as Whittier says, but not in life's solitude and Seclusion. To be sure, there is time when Paul may go into Arabia, and Moses into the will derness, and there find God; but it is only when they are in preparation for larger usefulness. Jesus did not show Himself to Thoms until Thomas had, in measure at least, gotten out of himself. As the apostle went out of himself, Christ entered. Is this not always SO? Do not men make out of themselves boulder, and roll it against the sepulchre of the Lord, and prevent Him oft times from ever being manifested to them? To them He always remains the dead, the unresurrected Christ. Yet should one remove the boulder of self, Christ at once arises and visits that soul, bringing newness of life.
 We may readily believe that a change came over Thomas as soon as he had joined himself to the company of the disciples, not only because of their con- tinued assurances that the Master had indeed arisen from the dead, but be- cause of the wholesome, invigorating atmosphere in which he found himself. The social atmosphere we breathe re- acts upon the spirit, with elevating or deteriora ting effect, as truly and as quickly as the physical atmosphere re- acts upon our bodies. Thomas gradu- ally yielded himself to the hopeful, be- lieving, enthusiastic spirit into which he had been led; so, when the full rev. elatiOn came to him, he was prepared for it. But. and mark we'll this: Had he refused to join the disciples, had he persisted in hugging his grief alone, it is highly probable that he would never have beheld the risen Saviour. And see what this would have involved in his case, being of such a tempera ment as he was. It is very doubtful if he would have recovered from his deep dejectiOn, rather he would have sunk lower, like one who has become caught in quicksands. So, to-day, in- stead of our speaking of Judas Iscariot as the only one of the original twelve that fell away, we should be obliged to include with him Thomas To be sure we should feel immeasurably more sympathetic with Thomas than with Judas. Nevertheless we should have to omit Thomas from the list of the original twelve, who for many years preached Jesus Christ and His resur- rection, and finally died in magnificent defense of that supreme truth of which they had been preaching.
 at mo hacti1u ,o irct npo 1occor, here: If some great sorrow come upon us, and it is almost sure to sooner or later, let us not, as do so many, and as did Thomas even at first, let us not withdraw from our fellow men, especi- ally from fellowship with the church. The sorrOWing world needs our sym pathy the more. because we know what sorrow is. The church needs us, and we need the church more than ever. To remain in solitude means in- creasing depression, deeper despair, in- creased uselessness, moral and spiritual We can be what Thomas might have become, or, we can become what Thomas finally proved to be. It rests with us, as it did with him.
 The second general observation is this: Thomas says he will believe, if 1 only he can see the print of the nails, | thrust his hands into the side, etc. In other words, he is willing to believe, provided he can have just the evidence he wants. The world contains many people who take similar stand. Vel meet them constantly. They say We should become Christians if only | we could accept miracles, if we could l believe in this doctrine or understand | that dogma.' Shakespeare we'll says:
 Our doubts are traitors. And make us lose the good we oft might win. |
 By fearing to attempt"
 In other walks of life, too, beside the we hear the same. One young nan says: II should get >an education if 1 only had the money.,' This youngl says: II should become well informed if 1 only could get the books. J 50 everywhere are those who are as 'erting what they would do if such and such conditions pre- yailed. 0 that word if. "It has )nly two letters; but is one of the most words in the English lan- ,uage!
 Very often, however, by taking some teps in advance as did Thomas, the lesired conditions may be found. His ory proves this. Mary Magdalene lid not say, ''1 should go to the tomb some one one would only roll the tone away" Rather she went, and 1eaven did for her what she could ot do for herself. But, frequently, he exact conditions we desire never