The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-23

the world. The lesson nf Simeon ana
anna which the Sunday Schools study
cday. Is ore thar needs learning.
tFere Were . man and woman. waiting,
watching, working ii the temple for
the salvation III Israel. Their first
'onc-rn vas for the religious welfare
Of their nation. All about them ragged
ecclesiastical strife, ruthless business.
high politics.: they went steadfastly on
thclr pray.rfrl way, seeking the one
ttSt thing There were many others
like them IN the land. SO there are
Today. This IS the first great lesson. I
God still has his seV"ns of thousands.
IheTA are a countless host Of people
Who care more for the kingdom than
Tor aught else. They do not make so
much noise and display as the men
WI" are Interested il baseball; but
~velopmcnt.
W Old folks and a Baby.
This i Nhat newspaper editors call
"a human interest story. Stately in
its simplicity. it has to do with two
ola persons in the temple, unprofeS-
Slona1 religious d~evotees, and with d
little baby brought by its parents 20
fulfii the Mosaic rites of publication.
There is spiritual ecstacy Of a high
order narrated: but it is the human
ness Of it all that first holds the read
er.
The old folks were heart-hungry
and spirit-thirsty. They did 0 real
ly know what they wanted save that
a great spiritual longing possessed
them. Their mystical desires We're
satisfied. they suddenly realized when
this chubby, cooling, beautiful baby Of
six weeks was brought before them.
Then their vigils and prayers bore
fruif in an instant's flash of recogni-
ton. where others in the temple court
saw only 3 Galilean artisan and his
young bride and their baby. these
saints, with spiritual discern
me.nt, saw the Coming one. AS the
sculptor saw the angel in IN. block Of
marble, as the farmer saw the har-
vest in the seed, SO, in the helpless.
indifferent infant, these deep eye
perceived a Eedeener.
The Old Mans Song.
Titiere and giggjes on the part Of the
young sometimes greet an old mans
ardent expression of religious fcrvor.
I saw an aged Afghan praying aloud
one day in the Mosque of st. Sophia.
Constantinople. and ii ever devotion
and supplication We're real, his was.
4 Jew persons. mostly elderly, gath
cred around bin, but most passed by.
regarding him as a curious spectacle.
More than a dozen years ago a n old
man. q country preacher from Maine,
came down to Boston to Clarendon
Street Baptist Church.. II was d time
OF crisis for the Missionary Union. and
l Or. a. +. Gordon church was famous
for its missionary interest. SO he nat
uraIly went there to pray with fellow
disciples. lie was asked to AXE one
Of the pr,ycrS-and he prayed FOR an
hour. The young folks were amused
but the spiritually ripe said they had
r never before heard such agonizel
l praying. A missionary secretary was
e present.; and the following week told
. the story in New York. Whereupon
Z one rich man WAS so moved that he
n l~iquidated the society's debt; thus
quickly bringing an answer to the ole
] cOuntrymAn'S prayer.
Such rapt and e~ngrossed spiritua
a devotion sprang to Simeon's lips, an6
c he cried, In words which millions
have sung IS the "Nunc Dlmittis,"
Now lettest thou thy servant depart
Lord.
according to thy word, in peace:1
For mine eyes have seen thy sal
Walton.
= Which thou hast prepared before tn
face Of all peoples:
i \ light for revelation to the Gcntles
j. And the glory OF thy people Israel
: What is involved in that beautifu
o psalm. OF salvation and light ant
Y glory, may not be ampIified here
d though it is a theme for deep study
II le:Ads straight out into the Office
II and character Of Jesus Christ. Wise
4 than many since Who have known
more of thc life Of Jesus, Simeon per
ctiyed that he was first Of all to b
a saviour. This old world, then a
nov, needed noi 50 much more Wis
dom, more. cIUditiOn. more prosperity
but ii needed salvation from its s!1s
and light for life, way.
= The Dedicated Baby.
~ While list ming to SiuleOD'S song, Il
us not overlook the occasion for i
and the theme Of this lesson. JeSu
was born Z: Jew: that is the fact Whic
/ has been in the background Of III
1e thought Ot TnulDtnOtS OF people. a
IL - -. .n.aal-.. thn,- ~ ~ rood i