The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-08
Saturday Digit
~ qbkc BY Rev. F. E. DAWSON
" /ntkAS Rutland, VI.
Observation-Disclosures
THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING.
international Bible Lesson for April
10, '1o-(Matt. 9:35; t0:4o.42).

| IL is an interesting study TO note
the beginning of Christ's discipleship
and the organization OF that little
company of men which has changed
the whole character of humanity.
| What a variety of personality was
there. The doubling, the impulsive,
the affectionate, the practical, are all
there. And every man, in all time,
finds himself represented among the
apostles. All kinds of men are used
in this kingdom, all sorts and condi-
tons of men are selected.
Contrasted Workers.
One of the most effective ways Of
bringing out the disciples perfections
was the grouping of the original num-
Der in their work They were sent
out two and two. But they were not
sent out in harmonious likeness; they
were sent out by contrast.
Peter. the bold, impetuous man, act
ing on the spur Of the moment, is
Joined with Andrew, the apostle, In
stinctively chosen by the Scotch as
their national patron, as far-seeing,
cautious, careful, full of the sense
of difficulty.
James and John differed greatly In
! age. John must have been very
young for he outlived the Master near
! ly 70 years. So they were paired off
young and old together.
Philip, the slow-witted, was paired
with Nathaniel, the quick-witted.
Thomas. the doubling, skeptical in
| FOL inir uyith
of the heroes of faith.
James, the author of the epistle,
the most practical of men, was unit
ed with Jude, the man of doctrine.
Simon the zealot, man of ZEAL in
dependence and patriotism, was with
! Judas, the business economist. So
the Master made one whole man out
OF two half men. Each man supple
mented the work of the other. And
in heavens arithmetic two is a great
deal more than twice one.
Supplemental Workers.
$50 when two work together, each
for each
Is quick to plan, and can the other
teach;
But when alone one seeks the best to
know,
His skill is weaker and his thoughts
are slow"
We do not read much about what
Andrew did, except that he started
Peter. and it must have been a source
of qualification to this disciple when
he heard his brother preach a sermon
on the Day of Pentecost that con-
vinced 5000 people If he was not
their spiritual father, he was at least
their grandfather.
How rapidly the number of the dis
ciples increased those early days, and
it was accomplished by each disciple
bringing in to the service just one
more. How long would it take to win
the world at that rate-if there were
but 100 believers in the world and
each should win one other to Christ
ianity a year? Just 20 years.
Figure it up and see. The first
year there would be 100; second year,
200; third year, 400; fourth year. 500;
fifth year 1900; sixth year, 5000;
seventh year, 6,40O; eighth year, 12,-
500; ninth year. 25,60O; 10th year, 51,-
200; 11th year, 1902 400; 18th year,
2O4, ,S00 18th year. 400, 500; 14th year,
$1,000; 18th year, 1,634 400; 18th
year, 3,26SS0O; 18th year, 6,5S7 800;
18th year. 13,O75,2O0 18th year, 26-
$50, 400 goth year, more than $4,000
900; 21st year, more than 1000 900;
22d year, over 2O9,OOO,0OO; 23d year.
over 41S,OO0,000; oath year, over $780,
600 900, and in the 25th year there
would be 1,6OO,000OO0.
But will it be done? No For
there is little definite purpose in life
on the part of the majority Of bellev-
ers now. We sail for nowhere, and
we draw no one after us. There are
multitudes of people who are mere
"derelicts" on the ocean rather than
life-savers.
Unity in Variety.
The selection of the original group
OF disciples was according to law as
old as the universe-the law of unity
in variety That law is written upon
the book of nature and in the constitu-
tion of man. Attraction and repulsion,
centrifugal and centripedal forces, the
like and the unlike in harmonious re-
lations, the beauty and the foil, this
Is the universal law.
If you are going TO choose mate
for life you carry out that principle in
spite of yourself. You are attracted
to your opposite. not in taste, but in
temperament. The blonde weds the
brunette, the tall the short, the thin
the plump, the aesthetic the practical,
the dignified the volatile. Often 1t is,
January and June, Beauty and the
Beast.
Nevertheless, there is a certain
value to all this which adds charm
to life which similarity and uniform
ity would not do, Variety in unity.
that is the law. Everlastingly dis
tinct but no quarrel. All stars do not
shine with the same radiance, all fiow-
ers do not bloom with the same col
ors. all gems do not sparkle with the