The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-06

NGs a Samuel that The
Lord let none Of
his words fall to the ground" In 9TH
er words, none Of them were lost,
but all found their way to their proper
destination, did their appointed work
and returned laden with blessing to
the God who gave them.
In the s~aViour's prayer recorded in
John II, He says, Father | have IN
lsheD the work which Thou gayest
Me to do" Finished Not a word
left unsaid, not a deed undone, OF
all that was given Him to do. How
unfinished and incomplete do our lives
seem In comparison.
Talking Is a very potent agency for
good. When We see how persuasive
and forceful some men are In pre-
senting a business proposition, how
eloquent In pleading a political cause,
we cannot but wish that their talents
were consecrated to the service OF
Christ. And whatever one may think
about women speaking In meeting,
certainly out OF meeting women have
\ fluency and ferVour which would
make them valuable allies OF any
cause which they might espouse.
A single word fifty spoken has
often changed ones whole career.
Said a noble man, IF l have been
happy or useful In the world, 1t Is
due largely to a chance question from
a stranger, was a poor boy and a
cripple. Watching a game OF ball
one day with envioHs feelings, n man
at my side said TO me, You wish you
were In the place of those boys, do
you notT' Yes, | do was the an
swer. I reckon God gave them their
money and health to enable them to
be Of some use In the world. Did 1t
ever occur to you that He gave you
your lame leg for the same reason,
to make a man of your ! did not ro-
ply. But | could not get his words
out Of my mind. My crippled leg
Gods gift, to teach me patience and
strength! / did not believe IL. but
l was a thoughtful boy. and the more
] thought Of It the more | was con.
WINGED that the stranger had told the
truth. 1t worked On my temper, my
thoughts and at last upon my actions.
Christian conversation seems to be
almost a lost art In some quarters.
How seldom does one hear the sub.
ject preached In public places like
a drawing room, or at a dinner party
W. when all the people present are
processing Christians! Riding In the
cars with a stranger one day ! opened
the subject OF religion. After a while
he admitted that he was q member
Of a church. III that is the case" |
said, why didn't you talk to me like
a Christian, and not compel me to
work SO long to find out 0 Ii posi-.
tion7" People don't do that down our
way" said he, III I would speak
to a man who came into my store,
On the subject of religion, what do
you suppose he would think Of me?"
"He would probably think you were
a Christian" replied. well, no
one talks about religion down our
way, not ever the ministers. We
neve hear from them on the subject.
except from the pulpit" h
That Christians do not talk nor
about the things Of the Kingdom 70
a constant surprise to the uneotea,
and often an occasion OF doubt Said
a skeptical lady to a friend mne'
Il will tell you why | ann @oubtef'
! val In a sewing societ$. NSt Week
Forty ladies were present a every
one a church member e'cept myself
| was there three houy@' we talked
Of everything down to craHy PATCHWORK,
but not q word aD'ut Jesus. can
not believe thgE -hey see In Jesus
Christ any p,l y beauty or power as
YOU sneak nj j am convinced that
there 10 a. g,cat deal of sham In the
profession II Christian people,"
On tho other hand, how refreshing
II IA 10 meet those who are evidently
In the condition Of Peter and John,
who said, W. cannot but speak the
things which we have seen and
neard." A gentleman driving along
overlook a stranger and invited him
TO ride. AS he approached him he
said to himself, Il wonder what the
man Is thinking about and what sub
ject Of conversation he will introduce,
Surely 1t will be one of three things
the weather, the crops, or the elec4
ton" II was none Of these. HIS
first words after the usual salutations
we're, "How's religion down In your
country" The question startled the
man a little by its d]irectuess, but
It showed where the others heart
was and led to q long and profitable
conversation on heavenly thugs.
That Il requires tact and skill TO
carry on religious conversation, no
one can deny, but Is II not worth
while TO study the art until we be-
come proficient in It? II we follow
Paul's advice to the Colossians, we
shall always have something to say
u we begin each day with David's
prayer. Let the words Of my mouth
and the meditations Of my heart be
acceptable In Thy sight, 0 Lord. my
strength and my Redeemer," we shall
keep In touch with God. And II we
watch for souls as those that must
give an account, we shall have oppor-
tunitfes enough 90 that, In q short
time. we shall find Christian CONVEX
sation a real pleasure to ourselves
1 ~ |N."NME HHL Ia