The Newtown bee., 1901-07-26

to see anybody, but rather to nurse his grief in perfect silence and solitude. We can imagine him, sitting in room alone, that Friday and Saturday, and perhaps that Easter Sunday evening watching the sun set and the darkness hope and of the gloom that enshroud ed him. He has scarcely tasted food or drink since the passover-meal of Thursday evening, nor does he care whether he ever again eats or drinks.
 But now a step is heard upon the stairs leading from below to the cham Der where he sits. It is an elastic, eager step, and it draws nearer. Speedily one knocks at the chamber door, and, at the same time merry voice sings out, "Let me in, Thomas quickly too. It is I, Petern' Slowly and reluctantly Thomas walks to the door and unbars it. In leaps Peter and says in breathless taste, "OThom- as bring news, the best news in the world. He is risen! l have seen Him Cleopas and a friend have seen him, and just this very evening as num- of us sat in the upper room, He ap-
 peared to us, yes, and ate with us just as He did Thursday evening at the
 Passover" So eager is Peter while giving this information that he has not taken breath, but now stops to do so. He looks at Thomas, expecting to
 witness a WOndrOuS transformation come over his face so unutterably sad.
 But no, the same look remains, and not word is spoken. Peter cannot understand such lathargy. Thomas must be in dream or stupOr. 50 he shakes him, and cries in louder tones.
 ''Thomas don't you hear me? l say
 the Master has risen, and we have seen
 to the reply in sepulchral voice: "Ex- cept I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, aye more, except put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his pierced side, will not believe"
 Such an answer is almost too much for the excitable Peter. He is on the point of leaving Thomas in disgust and of hurrying back to the happy group in the upper chamber. But
 A NOBLER IMPULSE SOON PREVAILS. Peter has been learning patience and charity during the last few days for he has come to realize that he, more than any other, ought to be forbearing with hiS'fellOwmen. The lesson learned in the palace of the high priest is indel- ibly stamped upon his mind and heart So he turns again to Thomas and seeks to persuade him to join the company of the disciples. He succeeds only after the utmost exertion and the exercise of such patience as he would have been incapable of 10 days before. So Thomas joins the company. He hears the testimony of Mary Mag delcne, of the other women, of Peter, of CleOpaS, and of the rest of the dici- ples, and still he remains infieXible. Once more he atfirms in resOlute tones before them all: Except shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my fingers into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, 1 will not (under any consideration: so the Greek) will not believe.''
 Let us here pause to make some ob- ServationS on Thomas as we have thus far viewed him. In the first place it is apparent that he made a grave mistake in detaching himself from the other disciples. Had he remained with them, he would have been spared the most Wretched week in whole life, for, on that. Easter Sunday evening when he sat mourning alone in his Jesus manifested himself to all the apostles but him. What ter rible misfortune to lose sight of the risen Christ, to miss the opportunity of gathering around the table with them once more, and of hearing them speak as in days of yore. Such was the forfeit Thomas paid for separat- ing himself from those in whose con- pany he really belonged and to whom he owed the benefactions of service and comfort. It was selfish in him to himself, and he suffered keenl y for it, too. No person is ever selfish, or performs selfish act with out suffering more than any other per- son affected by it. Even if our Lord had not disclosed Himself to the dis ciples that evening, still Thomas would have paid dearly for his remissness in that he would have lost the privilege )f fellowship with the apostles with all | the mutual benefits issuing therefrom
 Did you ever stop to wonder why Jesus, after manifesting Himself to Jhe ten apostles that Sunday night, lid not at once proceed to the place where Thomas sat: in solitude and grief: l think l can protfer a reason lble explanation. It was because He would teach Thomas that the place or him, even in the hour of mourning nd severest trial, was not in the abode # inactiOn and seclusion, but at the 'ost of service and helpful fellowship. esus delights to reveal Himself-not 0 men in selfish, or at least useless but to those actively en-