Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20

| out as ume went on ana otner interests
then. when all their friends were joining
the church and the Christian Endeavor
signed the pledge card and made a serious
point Of reading their Bible and praying at
set times every day. and they no more
Of staying from
| now after ten or fifteen or twenty years,
| how do they stand? How many OF them
will come out to the prayer meeting at this
| time to testify to their faithfulness? The
meeting primarily Is for the honorary men,
bers, that we may have them once more
among us. those members OF years ago VINO
of home and business Of their own have
swept away from us. But after all 1t is
| that we may get help from them We want
to know how it was that they have fought
managed when cares came to interrupt
| their youthful precision and make 1t I'M
| possible for them to read their Bibles at
just such times. how they managed to
keep In touch with the church during the
years when they had one or two sick babies
| to care for. and were too weary to sit up
| and listen to a sermon even II they could
have come out We want to know how
they have kept their brows smooth amid
troubles and fears that have not touched
us as yet, and how it is that they have
grown strong and faithful so that we look
up to them as saints in Gods house. And
1t may be that there are a few who have
not found it easy to keep loyal Who are
mot working att religion now. who have
turned aside to the world for satisfaction
and no longer find joy in meeting in Gods
house II these were willing to speak they
might tell a profitable story Of how they
fell away from the faith; OF .l no" . tney
until the Christian Endeavor meetings
seemed dull, and they ceased going alto
gether, and forgot all about their pledge.
Then their Bibles were not read so often,
and they would likely tell you II they were
willing to speak the plain truth about
themselves that their prayers grew cold
and half-hearted
It is said that a Shawnee Indian woman
met a man in the forest who fell deeply IN
love with her and begged her to look upon
him and love him. She replied: "Oulman
my husband, who Is forever before my
eyes, binders me from seeing you or any
other person"
It is so that Jesus Christ should be be-
fore the eyes Of those who have set them
selves to follow Him. The world may come
along at any minute end beg us to come
and make merry. The world has many
wiles. and unless Jesus is so fully and
continually before our eyes, 1t will be hard
indeed for US to be faithful.
The temptations come as well to preach
ers and teachers and leaders In the church.
Sometimes one of these is tempted to go out
of the way in order to serve Christianity,
lest the world will be prejudiced by too
fanatical following of narrow views To
such the words, Moreover 1t Is required Of
stewards CndC a HAL We 1dAlAAu IA,
should come with tremendous meaning.
For, 'f the trumpet give an uncertain
sound" what may not happen!
Faithfulness for a little while, during
time of interest, is often found, but faith
fulness through the years, through ADVERSE
ties and cares and poverty, through bur
dens and loneliness, and scornings, this is
not to be found every day. Faithful unto
death And yet, in quiet corners Of the
world, in kitchens and out-of-the-way
places, patiently drudging away at the work
that many others scorn, seldom thought of
by their more fortunate brothers. there are
many faithful. We shall know at the last
when the crowns Of life are given out who
have been faithful unto death. Shall you
and be sure Of one?
Applied Truth.
A Christian young woman was engaged to
be married to a man who was not church
member. She thought that 1t might please
him if she showed that her views of life
were broad, and not fanatically narrow, so
she proposed that they go together to ball
to which they were invited. To her sur
prise he declined. He was greatly aston
ished that she should be willing to go with
him to place so manifestly out Of the mar
row way in which she professed to walk.
He went home in a few minutes, and the
next time he called to her great mortifca-
ton and sorrow he asked that their engage
ment be broken off. When she asked for
an explanation he said: You have solemnly
promised Christ to be His, yet you pro-
posed to turn your back on Him and mingle
with sinners in the dance. Your relation
to Christ is more sacred than your rela-
ton to me could be II were married. If
you are untrue to God-in your offer to for
sake Him-what reason have 1 to believe
that you would not be untrue to me, and
forsake me? The greater always includes
the less" Terribly severe though this con-
clusion was, the lady could not reply.
There is a story told of faithfulness in
the island of Santo Domingo during the up
rising of the slaves All about the slaves
were deserving the estates and leaving their
masters families to whatever fate might
betde Them but on one estate a single At
rican not born there, but brought from
Africa by slave traders. remained loyal to
his masters family. The entire family
were massacred except two little boys, five
and three years old. This faithful slave
contrived to hide these two boys and after
ward to take them to the coast and put
them on board a ship, finally taking them
to South Carolina. Slavery in this country
was somewhat on the decline so the slave
was allowed to go about without being mo-
Tested and to earn money to support them.
He lived in the utmost poverty himself.
but put the boys In a good boarding school
and educated them as he thought their
parents would wish. giving, besides, each
of them dollar week for spending
money. It is a loyalty like this that Jesus
wants from His servants.
noble Leonese knight of distinction by
the name Of Alonzo Perez de Guzman was
responsible for the city Of Tarifa, post
of danger. Through chain Of circum-
stances his eldest son was in the train of
the Infant Don Juan. who had taken part
against the king and offered his services
to the enemy. Don Juan summoned Tarifa,
and at the head of his 5000 Moors he led
forth the boy, who had been confided to
his care and declared that unless the city
were yielded at once Guzman should be-
hold the death Of his own son. Don Alon-
EOS eyes filled with tears as he beheld his
child in the hands Of the cruel prince. The
struggle was bitter. but he broke forth in
these words: II did not beget a son to be
made use of against my country. but that
he should serve her against her foes
Should Don Juan put him to death. he will
but confer honor on me- true life on my
son and on himself eternal shame in this /
world and everlasting wrath after death
So far am from yielding this place be-
traying my trust, that in case he should
want weapon for his cruel purpose, there
goes my knife" He cast the knife in his
belt over the wall and returned to the
castle. 1t is not every king who has so
true a knight as this who could give even
the life of his own son for loyalty.
How to Help the Leader.
Tell of the servant who gave as her own |
evidence of Christianity to the church ses-