Evening star., 1914-04-25

ike the shepherd and the woman seek, to
recover the lost.
The Lost Coin
This section, or parable enforced the
Masters argument that justified Christ's
care for the lost souls. The message will
have added weight when We remember
that the houses of the poor in the east
had no open windows to fill them with
light, and that the broom had no handle
like those We use but was more like
| brush that required the housewife to
bend. as woman does in scrubbing. TO
sweep her house to find the piece of sill
Yer. that she wore as any woman wouid
q wedding ring. 1t was not the value OF
the coin, although 1t meant more then
than it would today with us. but because
1t was one of her wedding gifts which
she wore as a token of her fidelity and
faithfulness. That caused her to seek
for the lost coin.
Christ found His sympathetic friends
not among men and women whose broth
ers had been lost, but among the angels
of heaven. who are not absorbed in their
own pleasure. but are filled With the de-
sire to see the will and work of God done
among men. Our indifference as well as
the attitude of those that condemned the
Christ is due to our ignorance of the con
dition of men, for no one can be lndif-
ferent to the needs of men who are IN
danger of losing their lives. We have all
| followed IN the press the story OF now tAc
four gunmen met their end in Sing Sing.
and watched every detail of their night
for a new trial because We knew their
danger.
The story of their fate shows the world
the danger of evil companions and weak
character. The coin fell because 1t had
no power in itself to resist the laws of
gravitation. Many a soul is lost in the
crowds of the modern city life VINO nav,
no power within them to say no to the
temptations of life that drag men down
While the sheep was lost because OF Its
nature just as some men are lost De
cause of their birth, more souls are lost
through the downward pub OF bad
environment and evil companions. like
the four who were electrocuted Easter
Monday, than are lost because OF their
birth.
IL we were possessed of the spirit OF
Jesus We will not consider that the lost
are beneath our notice The very fact
that they are in danger will draw Us TO
them
There is an interesting story Of how
physician. filed with the spirit of our
Lord by means Of a mast and rope
rescued many souls. including the coolies.
when an English vessel was wrecked at
Suva, where he had been made a com
missioner. In his report he spoke OF the
heroism of others, all Of whom received
honor from Great Britain. He was silent
about his courage and conduct.
Years afterward Queen Victoria 4cci-
dentally heard of how the young Scotci,
doctor had rtsked his life more thar
once to save the people whose lives wer.-
endangered. among others a woman. who.
mad with drink, had fallen overheard in
the surf. Two men jumped in to say.
her. but were being driven by the force
of the waves hopelessly out to sea. Mac
gregor "let himself down by a rope
caught the woman's hair in his teeth
grasped the two men with his hand. and
brought all three back into safety" The
queen conferred on the modest hero the
Albert medal and the young doctor be-
came Sir William Macgregor of New
foundland.
Our Lord never once directly referred
to Himself as He unfolde dthe joy Of this
heavenly host over the recovery Of a los;
soul, but rejoice today in the repulse O"
the rnaliciou attacks of His enemies
who sought by subtle suggestions to low
er the position Of Christ, because We have
found 1t Is true that Jesus is the friend
Of sinners.
The best news ever proclaimed to men
was told. about our Lord, when the
Pharisees pointed out that he receiveth
sinners and eateth with them. II called
forth the message that still touches our
hearts. for we know that He came to
seek and save that which Is lost. He has
told US how it filed the angels of Cod
with Joy over one sinner that repenteth
and showed forth the love of the Father
for the lost. SO that we have been drawn
unto Him and been saved