The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-07
In the Religious World
A Chariot for a Hearse


thee" That is the sort OF spirit
that gets the great rewards. II can
not be daunted or turned aside. Nor
does IL shrink from even the hard
experiences. George Eliot put mis-
truth which our times needs. OF the
Importance of going open-eyed and
fearless 10 our fate. when she said:
II have learned that the greatest
thing In life Is TO do without OPT
um." AS the dying Christ spurned
the pain-deadening narcotics. 40
Elisha would not shun- the agony
of the final parting from his dear
est friend.
coarss-FIngered Sympathy.
A very human and familiar pic
ture Is shown In the narrative when
the sons Of the prophets at Bethel
came TO Elisha and. in clumsy and
wordy sympathy, tore at his heart
with. "Knowest thou that the Lord
will take away thy master from thy
head today" They meant well,
these crude comforters. but they did
not understand the finer sympathy
OF silence. II Is not the noisiest
mourners who suffer most.
Stabbed. and writing under these
cruel thrusts, Elisha turned from the
curious sensation-lovers with the
curt words. Yea. know IL; hold
your peace" So also at Jericho the
sons Of the prophets put Elisha
through the same ordeal. They had
not learned In their school the fine
ness Of sympathy. The art Of com
fort Is no easy one. Whenever we
go to a house OF sorrow. let us re-
member these heavy-handed theo-
logues, who were not yet ready
/ for the most delicate part OF their
ministry.
Even between the master and his
| intimate there were few words.
True sympathy does not need them.
| We picture these two walking over
I the long Journey from Gilgal to the
Jordan at Jericho. mostly in silence.
What an experiences for the younger
man 10 remember, as he faced his
own new mission.
A Token Of Remembrance.
4 few weeks ago there was a
meeting In Philadelphia Of leaders
OF the Worlds Sunday School as
ISOLATION. among them the most
greatly beloved personality in Sun
day school leadership. DR.. George
w. Bailey. who had practically risen
from sick bed IN orter TO be pres.
ent. While the little group was met.
Mr.. John Wanamaker took from his
pocket a beautiful amethyst, too
large for setting, and approaching
DR.. Bailey, said. II hold in my hand
something which I have carried a
long time; cannot remember how
long When things have gone a
little bit astray with ne and I am a
little bit stirred up take il out
and look at II, and somehow I find
a consciousness of peace and quiet
as look upon II. am now hand.
ing II TO you as an expression OF my
personal regard. there being no one
to whom would rather give IL than
yourself"
A friendship token was offered by
Elijah to Elisha II was a gift OF
love and remembrance. TO be chosen
by Elisha himself This was the
legacy that the passing prophet was
to bequeath to his successor. OF
lands and money he had none. Pow
erty had been hts lifelong lot In
deed. we all feel a sense of shock
and Of the unfitness OF things when
we read Of ministers leaving
fortune His real bequest should be
spiritual.
The request that Elisha made re-
vealed the sort OF spirit that was
within him. II was even finer than
Solomon's prayer for wisdom.
While by implication II was the m
est tribute that he could have paid
to his departing friend. II was also
a welcome proof to the latter that
Elisha coveted earnestly the best
gifts For his request was Il pray
thee, let q double portion Of thy
spirit be upon me-
In the case Of Elijah, that meant
a boon. Would II mean that your
son and mine were asking for the
highest and noblest inheritance, IL
they sought double portion OF our
spirit In the candor which pre-
walls AZ death, can we wish for our
sons more OF ourselves and our like
ness Would II be a blessing or a
curse. II fathers could pass on their