Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-15

he came running
breathlessly back with her empty water
Jar. and the report that a sheep herder,
who had just arrived at the watering
place with his sheep, brought the It'd
1ngs that far down on the road to the
land OF Nod he had met the missing
girl in company with other young peo-
pie from this part of the country, jour-
neying with a richly-dressed stranger.
who was regaling them with stories OF
the wonders and delights of his land.
1T is the stranger who has been in
these parts for some time" exclaimed
Alfred, sudden light breaking in upon
him. Il was talking last night. with
Gether, one of the neighbours boys, and
he seemed much excited over the stories
he had heard about Nod. In a half
laughing way he asked me il would
not like to go there.
"Lamecn,' hastily directed the father.
addressing his eldest born, do you en-
deavor to overtake your sister. and seek
to persuade her and those with her to
return. i will go at once and obtain
counsel in this matter from Father
Enoch. Something must be done for
not only is the goddess land of Nod draw
ing away our people but the corrupting
practices of that worldly minded place
are slowly but surely gaining foothold
here
While he was speaking the father had
been busy fastening the leathern san
dals 10 his feet, and reaching for his
stan he passed out of the door, Just as
Lamech, who had completed his prepar-
atoms, started down the road in the op-
posite direction
AS Methuselah strobe rapidly along
he pondered deeply on the conditions
which had come to pass.
Where will it end?" he asked him
self. The time was when our people
were proud TO be called Gods people.
but now they dislike and despise the
name. With the exception of the aged
heads of the families, they have quite
forsaken their faith in God and are more
and more completely centering all
thought and ambition in material things
The corrupting influence of the land of
NOD is spreading. Our young people
are being drawn away by the glitter
and pleasure Of the world
The picture grew blacker and bIacker
the deeper he went into the situation.
and In despair he at last exclaimed. over
and over again:
What can be done? What can be
Gone?"
And well might he be sad and trou-
Dleo, for the religious decline at this
time was serious and rapid. 1t is at
such periods of darkness that God
chooses sometimes to send forth His
brightest Ilght, and to work marvellous
~. and though Methuselah did not know
or realize 1t, thing was about to tran
spire which would set peoples ears
tngling and their hearts to wondering
God was not going to leave His people
without exhausting every effort to turn
;hem from their evil ways-He never
Goes
1t is not strange that Methusejab
"-'ouIu turn 10 Enoch in the present
trouble Tor ever since the death of
N"am, 81 years before, he was the
recognized spiritual leader and adviser
OF the people. His fame as an upright
ana cody man had spread to the land
OF NOD for even the ungodIy are nuick
TO recogBtze purity of life and faith uI
devotion TO high pr ncipl s. Ever
since he was a boy and at his great
ancestor Adams knee had listened
with absorbed interest Il. we story NJ
the creation, of the fel.c wship with
God in the Garden. Of sins entrance
and Gods gracious dealings with sin
full man, he had seemed possessed with
spirit Of love and devotion tn Cod
Thus in purity OF life and unseIfsb
service for others he had walked with
God. No wonder that his was an ever
widening circle of influence and that
at Adams death he should be the one
10 whom the people would tmn az
their leader and counsellor
The eight generations OF the sons OF
Adam in the line of Seth had gath
cred at the aged patriarch's bedside "a
the end drew near. There was Seth.
whom God had given to Adam and Eve
AZ the place OF the gcdly Abel: there
WIS Seth's eldest son Enu3. and Enos'
first born CaiBan, and Cainan's eldest
son Mehalaleel. and Jared his son. and
Enoch the sou ~ Jared. and Methuse-
lah a0d Methrselah's son LaSnech.
Adam had rested his hand of blessing
upon each one in turn, and then
Deaih's strange hand had claimed him
snd left tn r. . q and lifeless
A; the Sir impressive funeral
service the multitude of 6esce ndshts
mad ga,derod ant a solemn hi e..
npon all az EHoch pc nted the lesson
OF the hour. lie spoke of death as the