The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-17
Christian and Fditful
 Come to Doubtful Castle
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

|, Come
 BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
 The classic story of "Pilgrim's Pro- gress" is full of names and are more familiar to newspaper readers than Is the story itself. This was found to be especially so when the christian En- deayor societies last month studied Vanity Fair. Now we fad Christian. his friend Faithful having been slain at Vanity Fair. with another. pilgrim named Hopeful, in an encounter with Giant Despair and Doubling Castle familiar names both. This adventure befeli them because they tried to- take short cut to their destination, through By-Path Meadow. Before their eyes, a man named "vain Confidence" fell into a pit prepared for unwary travellers, and SO. behosdfng. they es- caped his fate and turned pack: which was no easy matter. for a flood had arisen and darkness had overtaken them. Lost in the night. they fell asleep, little dreaming that they were in the territory of the Grant Despair. That terrible ogre caught them. how ever, and carried them on to his cas- tie. Here they were held prisoners for four days in noisome ddnseon.
 
 When courage Is gone. then honor goes. and all is gone.
 The appalling increase fin the num- Der of suicides all over the world Is one of the darkest signs on the social horizon. It should startle into thought and action every teacher of religion. Has Christianity so lost its hold upon mankind that there Is no fear for the future of a self-murdererf And has u failed to supply the joy that makes life worth living. amidst afi conditions The Bishop of Durham recently made c striking arraignment of his nation in an article in The London Standard ur- on The Decrease of National Cour- age" He boldly avowed that the old sptrit of Anglo Saxon stubbornness and unfiinching endurance ie dying out, and that the nation is Ydecadent. He buttresssds his pesitfon largely by the increase of suicides and the general growth of the. power of Giant Despair in the realm. He says: '"rhe nobier sort of courage in the face of life is getting rafer. is waning and dying down. The fact Is one of grave and formidable importance, symptom of far reaching processes of degeneration in common charactar."
 The ultimate issues of statesmanship reside in the moral character and spir- ituai ideals of the people. That is ob- vious, truism- If the people lose heart, and cease to be brave and heroic. then the worst of all invaders. the Giant Despair. has captured the na- ton. Stout hearts. buoyed by confi- dent faith in God and ih themselves. are e treasure and defense for any country beyond all reckoning. Thus 1t appears that religion has the final word to speak concerning c nations des- tiny. @ Lack of faith in God speedily results in lack of faith in self. and the conse- Quence is--despair.
 When Christian. rendered helpless by the blows he had received fin the dungeon of Doubling Castle. considered whether or not 1t would be better, after all, to follow the advice of Giant De- spair, and make way with themselves. his companion Hopeful recalled. not only the sinfulness of self-murder. and its cowardtce, but also the victories that Christian had won in the past. over Apollyn, the Slough of Despond. Vanity Fair and the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is proper for person to fortify himself for his pres ent by his past. History---general and individuals the best exhortation. All the stored up experience of mans past should rally to his help In the hour of need.
 mah's greatest enemies are those within his own breast. If nc can mas- ter fear and doubt and despair, all other foes may easily be routed.
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 The supreme evil of life is a heart of fear.
 Only after bitter dungeon expert, ences dld the Pilgrim remember thai he carried e key in his bosom that could open any lock in Doubling Castle --the Key of Promise. Herewith, at midnight, he made his way through all the barriers that had imprisoned him and his companion, lamehting that he had needIessly undergone cruel suffer- inrs because of his failure to use the key in his bosom. Many great and precious promises'' has the Lord of our pilgrimage given us for our deliver. ance: when we forget them we are sure. like Christian, to have to under go needless suffering.
 After the deliverance from Doubling Castle. the two Pilgrims erected q monument along the highway. at the point of danger. warning future pill. Rrims against the by-path and stile that led to the domain of Giant De- spair Even bitter experiences may be made to serve other people; which is the highest employment of them.
 SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
 When God calls. he oualffies; when he qualities, he calls-Marthew Henry.