The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-09

26:4l.
The disciples had accepted Jesus as
the Messiah and chosen the way
which led to the establishment of the
kingdom of God. But they were In the
meantime I o endure great temptations
and difficulties; wars, famines, trlbu-
lations, hatred, prisons, death, dlsas-
tiers, earthquakes, pestilences, dlscl-
pies waxing cold, false prophets arls-
ing, stars falling, the sun d~arkened,
the noon 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
ciples, 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 We also ready. For we know not on
what day your Lord cometh.
The parable of the fig tree Is a
beautiful illustration showing US that
while we cannot know when Christ Is
coming, We have warnings so as to be
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 he
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 it. 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.
blGSSSu ID ludI foAI, iiSih AAS
lord when he cometh shall find so do
ing. Verify I 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
t~erests, 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 Crystal
River, the land Of temperance, of self
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 a vast and
UNEMPLOYED desert forming its lower
boundary. Vice and crime abound. In
Vulnerable drunkards and criminals
are found there. Prisons and poor
houses take the place Of churches and
school houses.
The man in the coming tower at
the junction of the Black Valley rail-
road with the railroad to temperance,
would guide all youthful travellers to
the better way. He urges all to seek
the highest and best life.
We are building a house for our
selves, a body in which we must live,
and a character in which our soul
must abide. God would have us pos
sess a perfect body, and to put away
everything which Injuries health, which
brings weakness or disease. He would
have us form a noble character of
which we will not be ashamed, which
will fit us for heaven and usefulness,
and the company Of the good. We can
not cheat God. but we can cheat our
selves. BY using strong drink in any
quantity whatever we are skimping,
degrading, making poor and weak the
house We have got to live in.
Every drunkard was once an inno-
cent child. Every n was first a mod
crate drinker. No one ever yet be-
came a drunkard who refused to touch
intoxicating drink. Not all who drink
moderately DO become drunkards, but
no one ever became a drunkard who
did not first drink moderately.
1t IS terrible to let a habit begin in
youth which will impel us to go on do
ing wrong against reason, against the
power to help others, against love Of
God, of man. and of country.
THE story is told of a rich young
nan who sat at a dinner table with a
number of friends, and babbled drunk
en- foolishness all the long evening.
One of mis- friends was a court stenog-
rapher. Seized by an idea for the