The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-25
STERLING ]. FOSTER ON FAMILIAR TEXT It Is from the Gospel of St.
 Mark JESUS WANTS LOVE seys Men Excuse Their Loveless Lives By Pointing to Strength of Their
 Purpose In
 Life,

The Rev Sterling J. Foster preached yesterday morning at the South High ianas Presbyterian church, taking hls text from the sixth verse of the four teenth chapter of Mark: "But Jesus said let her alone she has wrought H good work on me-"
 The pastor said in part;
 When this incident from which the text is chosen, occurred, the tragedy of tho life of Jesus was hastening to it's climax. He was on His last Journey to Jerusalem and the shadow of the cross was already falling around Him. He was under no illusion as to the end which awaited Him. The forces of evil with which He had contended for three years were clos Ing In upon Him and treachery was at work among Ills friends. Already the multitude who had hung on Ills words. and followed in His steps, had fallen away from Him and we'll He knew that His 'decease which He should accom- plish at Jerusalem" was near at hand. But not once does He quail before the coming storm, and His purpose is as in- flexible and hls determination as firm as when he first took upon Himself His Father's business" Boldly He walks into the very arms of His enemies, and with courage, that in another would have been qhppr worst.
 Box of Ointment
 It Is against this dark background that the beautiful incident of the '.broken box Of ointment is set. Against a back ground of hatred and malice, of treachery and deceit, of cruel cunning and shame less disregard and of even the rudiments of honor, this incident stands out in bold relief like a beautiful cameo with each feature perfect
 what is 1t, do we ask that has given immortality to an incident seemingly so simple? What is it that has arrested the fascinated gaze of unnumbered multitudes through the ages past and again literal fulfllment to the prophecy, "wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world that also which the woman hath done shall be spoken of for memorial of her?' The answer Is no. far to seek. Her loyalty that waited not too late to express itself Others had forsaken Him and still more were to follow their unworthy example The pie ture of the kingdom which their foolish imaginatlons had conjured up had faded away and all of the vain hopes they had builded upon 1t had crumbled. His pop uiarity had waned and there were few so poor as to do Him reverence. But none of these considerations could dull the ardor of the womans devotion nor hinder her in giving 1t expression. It is this that has touched the heart of ma tions, and given this incident it's unique place in the affections of the church Until loyalty has become obsolete and until devotion is a thing for jeers. until life itself has lost all it's more gracious powers and sunk the spiritual in the ani- maj, men will finger over this incident, and lingering find inspiration and hope.
 Tt is not the deed we do
 Though the deed be never so fair
 But the love that the good Lord look
 eth for.
 Hidden with holy care
 In the heart of the deed so fair.
 "'rhe love is the priceless thing.
 The treasure and treasure must hold.
 Or ever the Lord will take the gift
 Or tell the worth of the gold
 By the love that cannot be told"
 loveIess Lives