Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-02
GODS BOUNTY
Miracle OF Feeding 5000 Is A
Miniature OF Feeding The
World.
MANS CO. OPERATION NEEDED.
Bringing Our Brothers Aud Our Re-
sources To Christ Will Hasten His
Kingdom.

In the Gospel appointed for las
Sunday-'tTh Sunday next befor,
Advent we have the account Of oul
Blessed Lord feeding the FIVE thous
| and. Let US notice five verses, St
John. 6:S-12: 7sS@
lone of his disciples, Andrew 81
mon, Peters brother, saith unto him
There is a lad here which hath
Eve barley loaves and two small
fishes; but what are they among SC
many? -
And Jesus said, make the men sill
down. Now there was much grass in
the place. So the men sat down, in
numbers about five thousand. -
And Jesus took the loaves; and
when he had given thanks, he distri.
buted to the disciples to them that
were set down; and likewise of the
sfihes as much as they would. =
"When they were filled, he said
unto his disciples, Gather up the
fragments that remain, that nothing
be lost. ~
These verses abound in rich teach
ing. We notice the evidence of boun-
tiful Providence, coupled with wise
economy. This on Gods side. When
we notice the human cooperation
with the Divine manifested by boy
ana st. Andrew. ~
Happily, st. Andrews Day and
Thanksgiving Day coincide this year.
And the incident before us links the
Apostle beautifully with Thanksgiv
ing sentiments. We shall consider,
therefore, in order, these two great
subjects. First, means cooperation
with God. Second, Gods bountiful
provision for man. - =
Twenty-Five years ago the Brother
hood of St. Andrew was started in
Chicago. It's purpose is to bring men
and boys to Christ. Subsequently
the Daughters of the King was
founed to do a similar work for women
and girls. The men chose the name
of St. Andrew for their Brother
hood from the familiar incident Of
his bringing his brother to Christ.
There is, therefore, an inspiration
in the very name itself-Andrew. 1t
means manly from the Greek
(Aner Andros). This manly man
found the Messiah. His first impulse
was to tell his brother, "Simon, we
have found the Messiah, and he
brought him.
This is real deep Christianity. SEThe
man or woman who does not believe
in bringing a brother, "a sister to
Christ, or who does not believe in for
eign missions (Which is only the same
principle extendeD such person is
21y very e ysR1peerrsg IL Rfs fengoE.i Il rs
doubtful whether he has really found
the Christ. Such find is too precious
to be kept to ones self.
1t has that vital character which
insists upon growing. Jesus, allow
me to introduce my brother" That is
the attitude of st. Andrew, and the
Brotherhood of st. Andrew.
Now this Apostle was a practical, re-
sourceful man. When the Lord faced
the problem of feeding five thousand
men, besides women and children, St.
Andrew faced the situation. He saw
Jesus, he saw the multitude, he saw five
loaves and two fish. What did he
do? He brought the material resour-
ces to the Master. How absurd A
little basket of provisions for an
army? But Andrews faith was grow
ing. Perhaps he saw the purposeful
look in Jesus face. And so we car
imagine Andrew saying in effect
Lord, this little bit of bread and
fish is the best we can do. We leave
results with Thee" We know the
grand sequel to that exercise of faith
Brothers of St. Andrew, let us bring
our brothers and our resources to the
Lord Jesus and leave results will
Him.
There is message here also fol
| the boys, the Junior Brotherhood
Don't you see that it was a lad, {
mere boy, who produced the provi
sions? That fish-boy, we don't know
his name or position, but it was HI
who was instrumental in furnish
/ ing the resources for the great mir
acle. Who can limit the possibilitie
of even a little child, when i
brings its resources to Christ? Tn
children of this parish have thi
morning brought their toys to Chris
for oilers. Who can tell how far
reaching the blessing may extend
Men and women, boys and girls, lie
US bring our material gifts, as wei
as our brothers and sisters to Christ
When this is done faithfully we shall
see miracles.
We turn now to the consideration o
Gods side. Jesus multiplied the ma
erial bought to Him. 1t was a mira
Icle; yet, but that should not stagge
any mans credulity. What Jesus di
then was the miniature of what Go
is doing every day. God feeds 1900,
LOCO, 600 people daily. 1t is a gran
miracle of multiplication. The tin
seed is placed in the earth, and the
man says in effect, as st. Andrel
did: Lord we leave results wit
Thee" And the sequel is the abur
dant harvests of the world.
But faith is sometimes shaker
Almost every Spring we have th
"fruit scare" Frost threatens th
peaches and men get uneasy. The
the Summer drought causes anxiety
Last Summer, as you remember, tn
| cops were threaened, and we praye
repeatedly for rain. Those of US WI
visited the country remember the no
dusty roads, the dry fields of corn, Il
bacco, etc, thirsting for rain, and tn
anxiety of the farmers. Then, just
the nick of time, the gracious rai
4 l. L Il =