Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10


the human soul. Just let . bit Of sin into
your llfe-it seems 30 harmless, almost like
an additions decoration. You do not In
tend, Of course. that 1t shall get the mas.
and do not realize until It IL too late the
fatal end Of II all.
There are some trees whose nature It is
to grow in sandy soil and some by the river
banks. Sometimes they can adapt them
selves to another soil than their native
one and thrive WELL 1t is not every Chris
t,an that Is willing to adapt himself to
the environment wherein he is set and to
gather Gods rain and sunshine and nour-
ishment and do the best possible with 1t.
making glad the little spot In which God
has placed him.
How to Help the Leader.
II you are familiar with the life Of some
tree study It closely and see how its life
is like the life of a human being. Tell the
meeting the result of your thoughts. You
may find some valuable lessons that other
wise would be passed by. Or. speak of the
fact that the grass will turn white and die
from the deadly gathering OF ammonia
which comes when a board or CARPET Is
thrown upon 1t for several days Liken this
to the soul that shuts himself away from
God, keeping out the dews OF heaven that
come with prayer and Bible reading, and
gathering, in the darkness OF wOrdilneSs, the
deadly habits of sin that come almost una
wares.
Another help for the leader would be for
you to teach Sidney Laniers poem, "A Bal
lad of Trees and the Master to some good
reciter among the children, or the Junior
Society, and have the child recite 1t In the
meeting.
Into the woods my Master went,
Clean forespent forespent;
Into the woods my Master came,
Forespent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him,
The little gray leaves kind to Him,
The thorn tree had a mind to Him,
When into the woods He came.
'.Out Of the woods my Master went,
And He was well content
Out Of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
From under the ' trees re they drew Him last;
Twas on tee they slew Him last
When out Of the woods He came.
Parallel Passages.-I Chronicles. xvi:33;
Leviticus, xviii; Leviticus. xxxiv:27; Joel
ii:2123; Isaiah. lxv:22; jeremiah, xvii:s;
Matthew. vii:17-20; Eccleiastes xi:3; Psalms,
xxxvi:35 SO; Romans, liza.
Hints to the Leader.-The Endeavor
Hymnal, s. %, 30 IS, 104, 90, 273.
Open your meeting with sentence prayers
suggesting that they be In the line of praise
to God for the wonders and beauties Of ma
ture. Close them with a prayer yourself
asking that all the hearts present may be
open to learn the lessons from the wonders
of the trees. If possible. get some one to
sing The Palms just after the prayer
follow by a prepared chain of Bible verses
about trees, having those who read them
say a few words about the lessons to be
learned from each. Call this What the
Bible says about trees" Ask members to
suggest different lessons we may learn
from the trees. In order to get a full re-
Spouse suggest that they begin at the front
seat and each in order tell something about
a tree or plant or vine which teaches
lesson OF course. do not be insistent that
everybody shall respond to this call.
THE TREES IN WINTER.
Mid the summers countless beauties
Lurketh many hidden one,
As cannot the stars shine
For the splendor Of the
So the exuberance Of foliage
Blinds US to the wOndrous charms
OF the trees, till winter strips them,
Gives the sight Of their bare arms
Now behold the Masters drawing
Clear against the cold gray sky;
Not a trace Of warmth color,
But fine feasting for the eye.
For we see the vertebration,
All the lines of radiation
All the graceful interlacing
OF the frost-like, fairy tracing.
Have thy summer leaves been smitten,
Beaten of In storm and strife?
Stand up bravely! Show in winter
Strength, grace, symmetry of life.
-Maltbie D. BabcOck.