The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-20
our RELIGIOUS CONTENTIOUS
ARIES

nl1t0loOo YIN IEMFOsA-f
ARIES.
e It will be seen that this number of our
paper is largely devoted to the cause of
missions. The Importance of the sub
ject justifes this
5IfiI MISSIONARY special appropria-
AGE ton. The present
age may be termed
by emphasis the missionary age. Never,
certainly since the modern missionary
movement was inaugurated, has there
been SO much activity, so much enterprise,
so much earnest and aggressive effort in
plying and pushing the eyangeistic
agencies of the Church as now. The
first century of our era witnessed a d,yyo-.
ton and zeal on. the part. of the early
Christians such as have never been sur
passed The echoes CT the Great Com
mission We're still sounding in their ears,
and the ca gerness and energy with which
they sought it's earliest execution was
simply wonderful. When we consider
their restricted resources, the tardy and
difficult modes of travel, and the hard
ships and perils attendant upon long
Journeys, that they accomplished SO.
much before that first century expired,
is, indeed, marvellous. The glad tidings
Of salvation had been borne to Babylonia
on the East and to the Pillars of Her
cules, if not to the shores of Britannia on
the West. 1t would be strange if the
Church, with the unparalleled facilities
now at hand, and the ever-enlarging and
inviting field before her, did not rise TO
The, primitive standard of missionary
zeal and effort The secular and politi-
cal world is rejoicing in the fruits Of the
last century's amazing progress and de-
velopment. Geographical discovery and
exploration have opened up vast and hith-
erto unknown regions to commerce and
colonization; while the Investigations of
science and the inventive genius of man
kind have so improved the means Of travel
and intercornm unication, as almost to
annihilate space, and bring every part
Of the world into immediate contact and
intercourse with every other.-Christian
Advocate.
The Southern Churchman in further dis
GUESSING the evil Of cigarette smoking,
says: The trouble and danger of the
cigarette to tn e
THE BOY AND small boy is COM
THE CIGARETTE. plex: First of all,
the cigarette is the
n1ildest form, possibly, in which tobacco
can be used, provided the smoke is not
inhaled: Hence, it is the easiest and
most seductive Of all ways by which to
contract the tobacco habit. The small.
boy who would be made i'll to a degree
known only to those who have had the
disaster befall them, by the pipe, or cigar,
and who. possibly by that internal con-
yulsion and its attendant upheaval might
be discouraged from further experiments,
can puff his mild cigarette With impuni-
ty. and though he be only six or: seven
years old, can get the habit fastened on
himself without any serious attendant
dicomfort or suffering. And herein lies
one Of the subtlest dangers of the ciga-
rette, so far as the small boy is con-
cerned.
In the one hundred and fourth Psalm
there is a memory of the Lebanon ce-
dars, 1.-THE trees of the Lord are full OF
sap The great
."rTIEs GRAVES est, noblest, most
WEIRD GODS royal Of all trees
FIRST TEMPLES = was well supplied
and richly water
Oh fun Of life from hidden sources to
the farthest@ top That was the care Of
God. effectual, sufficient. abundant. It
had supplies of life that We're hidden,
appropriate, unfailing and marvellously5
rich ana beautiful. Year after year the
great trees were full OF sap, and never
failed. winter and summer, to live and
grow and fill the sky above with greenery
that mingled with the blue Of heaven.
What a splendid figure that is of the
man Who has the life of God # He is a
tree full Of sap. Some there are who
are small and stunted in groWth.sSand I'd
some grow large and royal like a#cedars
on the mountain side. a life they have
from = the hidden sources of Gods Spirit.
t ascends in channels that are not seen s.
- - d,,t,r ana natience, Of prayer and
praise, OF confession and witness and nd
.a,,ioes nd Sifs life does not fail in the
drouth and is not, lost IL the winter. winter.
one sday 1t will be fitted into a.place Of
,,ar,n, Temple of God, the house
not made with hands, tlatswil never.
be destroyed, far up on the l1saysnly
hills. It IS By a simple personal faith,
Ia hold of eternal life, are made green
With viii Gods life and care, and are brought
To- the homo Of God fore CENTRAL al
Presby terian
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