The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-11-10

264l
The disciples had accepted Jesus as
the Messiah and chosen the way
which led to the establishment Of the
kingdom of Cod But they we're in the
meantime TO endure great temptations
and difficulties: wars. famines. tribu'
Iations, hatred. prisons, death. dtsas-
ters, earthquakes. pestilences. disci'
pies waxing cold. false prophets aris'
ing. stars falling. the sun darkened,
the moon turned into blood. the pow
ers OF heaven shaken, such as had
not been from the beginning OF the
world'-then, Christ says to his dis.
clples. when these things begin to
come to pass. then look up and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draw
eth nigh; It is near even at the doors"
And he also adds. Watch therefore.
Be ye also ready For ye know not on
what day your Lord cometh
The parable of the fig tree Is n
beautiful illustration showing us that
while we cannot know when Christ Is
coming, we have warnings so as to b.
on guard, as the first signs of spring
bid us prepare for the summer This
generation. that is while some who
were listening to him should still be
alive, as he himself said.
The time to watch is at the begin
ming of the course that leads to these
results. The day of judgment is the
end OF the course: the choice lies at
| the beginning.
Those really watched who so fore
| saw the future and the true ideal of
| their lives, that from the beginning
| they went on toward it by the only
! path that led to 1t. They were faith
! full in every duty. They served their
| Lord by obedience. They resisted ev-
] cry temptation. They were on their
| guard against every vile of the devil.
| They were wide awake, with eyes
open to every opportunity. to the signs
Of the times to new ways and means,
and possibilities.
Blessed is that servant. whom his
lord when he cometh shall find so do
ing. Verify ! say unto you. That he
shall make him ruler over all his
goods" To those who so watched was
entrusted the kingdom of heaven. for
themselves and for the world.
Those failed to watch who were so
absorbed In their own selfish pleas.
ures and gains that they neglected
their duties. forgot their Masters in
terests, were eye-servants. This folly
was intensified by beginning Ito eat
and drink with the drunken" They
took the road that led to destruction.
Rev. S. w. Hanks, a second or third
cousin of Abraham Lincoln. years ago
devised a most vivid temperance lee
ture called THE Black Valley Rail-
road" which he illustrated by a large
chart 1t is given in a book called
The Crystal River
The Land of the Crystal River is
the land which all children enter when
they come into this world
To live In the Land OF the Crysta
control, of good character, of highest
usefulness, of prosperity, OF religion
of heaven, should be the hope and the
aim of everyone.
The Black Valley country is situat
ed in an extensive lowland. lying be
tween an elevated and extremely fer
tile and beautiful region, called the
Land of the Crystal River. bounding
, It upon its upper limits and vast an,
unexplored desert forming its lowe
, boundary. Vice and crime abound. In
, Vulnerable drunkards and criminal
, are found there. Prisons and poo
, houses take the place OF churches an,
, school houses.
I The man In the coming tower q
the junction of the Black Valley raj
/. road with the railroad to temperance
J. would guide all youthful travellers t
). the better way. He urges all to see
, the highest and best life.
+. We are building a house for oul
e selves body in which we must live
:. and a character In which our sou
}. must abide. God would have us po!
1 sess a perfect body. and to put ava
0 everything which Injuries health. whic
I brings weakness or disease. He woul
e have us form a noble character {
l. which we will not be ashamed. whic
= will fit us for heaven and usefulness
= and the company of the good. We cal
I not cheat God, but we can cheat on
I selves. BY using strong drink In an
4 quantity whatever we are skimplni
r degrading. making poor and weak th
0 house We have got to live In.
Il Every drunkard was once an inn
a cent child. Every one was first a mo-
r crate drlnker. No one ever yet b.
3 came a drunkard who refused to touc
Intoxicating drink. Not all who drin
Z moderately do become drunkards. b,
. no one ever became a drunkard VII
did not first drink moderately.
= 1t is terrible to let habit begin 1
"a youth which will impel us to go on d
ing wrong against reason. against III
power to help others, against love
3 God. of man. and OF country.
l. "The story is told OF rich youn
man who sat at dinner table with
o number of friends, and babbled drum
d en- foolishness all the long evenln
e One OF his friends was court steno
D. rapher. Seized by an idea for th
1t help of his friend. he stenographicall
reported every word that the latte
u uttered. The next day he had thes
It notes transcribed and sent to the ma
y himself. The latter. shocked. cou
n scarcely believe that he himself ha
10 descended TO such level OF imbec