The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-13
The Religious
World
THE. SHADOW on \ RICH
MANS HOUSE.
TIE International sunday oc.,ooa
IesAnn for August IS is. THE IsuI-
ar.S Dau~hter.r Mark ): 21-4S.
(Ry William I. Ellis.)

IN TnOlS 1nllductpilih ,iAi@
was buried a few weeks ago. ana at
his funeral the large church was
thronged with m~Ourners, mostly "om-
en-. and mostly plain people. rms
minister, the only man OF his Calling
in the city enjoying a World-Wlde
fame. had seldom been heard at
great ecclesiastical gatherings. nor
did he make after-dinner speeches.
The home Of sorrow knew him better
than the banoueting hall. The poor
saw him oftener than the great and
the wise. Like his Master, he had
conceived his mission to be to com
fort the people. Frequently he SAID
that there was always somebody IN
every congregation wanting consola-
ton. SO in prayer or sermon ne never
failed to speak a word or comfort.
The deep human d OF this min
lister consisted largely in his recog-
milton of the prevalence OF GRIEF IN
human life. and Of h need for the
simple word Of cheer and
That same truth marches with the
present Lesson. h story leads US
into one Of earth's houses Of sorrow.
How many and how varied these are.
Brown-stone OF wood. marble or logs.
makes no difference to the democratic
messenger OF grief. Whichever way
we turn we find human hearts that
are sore and suffering. Doubtless
one reason why Jesus walked SO ten
derby through the days was His
KNOWLEDGE of the aching hearts Of
people. To him there was nothing
strange in the appeal Of Jairus. the
distinguished citizen Of C~apernaum.
coming to Him with an appeal for
help IN a personal grief.
Where Wealth and Power Fail.
The traveller who takes boat from
TiberiaS to the head of the Lake Of
Galilee finds himself amid the ex-
cayated ruins OF the old synagogue
at Capcruaum. If he has any imagi-
nation at all. the few monks who
possess the compound and the native
workers who dig and carry, are less
real to him tina the figures who once
peoDled his m~agnifcently simple
structur. AS he lands on the SIM
Die porch n looks out over the gilt
tering lake, he realizes hat on these
same stones the feet Of Jesus and His
disciples and the Roman centurian
and JairuS trod. 1t vas doubtless of
this very synagogue hat Jairus was
one Of the overseers or rulers. From
the vantage point Of these beautifully
sculDtured pillars, we look back upon
Jairus. the prosperous, influential,
learned. ciean-living, distinguished
citizen OF Capernaum. All that this
world can give q man seemed to be
possessed Of this leading pharisee.
Prosperity. influence. learning. and
righteousness cannot keep out sor-
every family hours when all stand
on the common plane Of humanity
and suffer the primal griefs of man.
King and peasant feel the same
kinds Of SORROWS IND pains. The i'm
Dotence Of worldly power to ward off
the really essential ills of life has ap-
peaied to every thoughtful man. Lit
tie did Jairus care for his standing in
Capernaum at this hour. His daugh-
ter. apparently an only child. lay dan
%gerously i'll. All that he had would
he give in exchange for her life.
That deep grief drove this proud
aristOcrat to the feet of the new
Teacher from Nazareth. Sorrow has
been the school wherein myriads have
learned Christ. "For sorrow and
death are strong messengers. and men
their ears to all Others" The proud
head Of this prominent citizen bent
in SupplicatiOn before the Galilean
Carpenter. his only hope.
Some Unknown Consequences.
Nobody can run a tape line to the
limit Of his influence. Men who write
and speak are frequently finding
cFlutACeS OIL lncfT lOuCN upon persons
in remote places. Probably the dis
ciples Of Jesus never suspected the
high circles to which the words of
the Master had penetrated. and in
which they were eagerly discussed.
Probably Jairus. the distinguished,
had more than nee stood furtively
on the edge OF a crowd. listening to
this unconventional Rabbi, or had
peered through latticed windows at
Him as He walked and spoke. We
know that. like Nicedemus, he had
become convinced OF the messiahship
Of Jesus. yet. like Nicodemus. be-
cause Of his worldly position, he had
not avowed himself a disciple. The
power Of Jesus over Jairus is a re-
minder TO us that the true life
reaches further than the one who
lives it eve dreamS.
"If only We strive to be pure and
true.
To each Of us will come an hour
When the tree Of life shall burs'
into flower.
And rain at our feet a slor'ou: