The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-23

|
ferno of misshapen, distorted mon
sters. Some charm you with exquisite
music, while others try your nerves
by their harsh discords, In some you
see the clash of armies and hear the
crash of falling empires, in others
there is the quiet of life forces at
work building in peace the family, the
church and the nation. Some books
bring you mama from heaven, while
others offer only the leeks and garlic
and onions of Egypt. Some carry
with them an atmosphere of health
giving ozone, while others bring only
death-dealing miasma. Some uplift
and purify, while others degrade and
pollute. Some are ministering angels,
while others are wrecking demons.
The establishment of library may
call for congratulation or commisera-
ton. 1t all depends upon the kind of
books that fill its shelves. Mr. Car
negie had better establish in every
ward O. our cities pesthouse, full
of contagious diseases, than a libary
of books unwisely chosen and freely
| circulated. Every revolution of our
great printing presses means an up
| lift toward heaven or a push toward
| hell.
John Angel James declares that he
has never recovered from the effect
| of reading a bad book for Is minutes.
| Nicholas Farrar taught a useful les
son in a unique way when, while he
was dying, he ordered a friend to go
and select a spot for his grave, and
then commanded him to gather from
! his library all the worthless books,
| that they might be burned upon this
| spot before he was buried When
William Wilberforce and Isaac Mil
ner were starting on journey to
| Scotland it was suggested that they
take with them and read together
Dodridges Rise and Progress of Re-
ligion in the Soul" The reading Of
this book led Wilberforce to Christ
and through him gave freedom to the
slaves of the British empire. A glance
into DR.. Watts hymn-book for chill
dren saved Walter Scott from suicide.
Capt. Cooks Voyages" made William
Carey foreign missionary and gave
the Bible, in their own tongue, to
over 100000 of the human race
Carey's published letters sent Henry
Martyr to India. Buchanan's Star in
the East led Adoniram Judson from
New England to Burmah and gave to
the church one of the greatest mis-
sionaries in it's history. 1t was the
reading of Dr. Dicks PHILOSOPHY of
the Future State" which sent David
Livingston as the evangel of Christ
into the Dark Continent.
| No wonder that a man who knows
the value OF books delights in their
company. Petrarch refused to die any
where else than in the midst of his
| books. While Walter Scott was dying
he had his attendants wheel him into
his library at Abbotsford. The tbbing
| strength of Southey was used in
| stroking and fondling the books which
| he was not then strong enough to
read Paxton Hood tells of young
man whose only regret at dying was
| that in heaven he would not have any
| books to read.
Read the books which are already
| literary armament is full of these
stars of the first magnitude.
Avoid books which you know are
| immoral or anti-Christan. You would
| not read a book derogatory to the
| character of your wife or mother,
whom you know to be true and good
neither will read a book derogatory
| to Christ and his religion, which l
| have tested and know to be true.
Do not read book just because it
| is new and suddenly popular. Wait a
year and you may be saved the trou-
BILE
Read the Book Of Books. The Bible
is the sun in the heavens around
which all other good books are but
planets. Read it for its history, its
biography, its laws, its prophecies,
and, above ALL for its gospel which it
gives us in the revelation of Jesus
Christ as Saviour and Lord. Hand
me the Book" said the dying Walter
Scott What book?" replied his sec
rotary There is only one book" he
answered, as he pointed to the Bible
on the table. There are times in life
when there is only one book in the
world. This book gives light in dark
ness, wisdom in ignorance and hope
in despair, Study and cherish it as
the richest literary heritage of God to
man.
A gentleman and his wife who had
| not been to church in IL or Is years
were impressed by the truth in this
column, were converted and are now
| happy members of the church.