The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-07
The international Sunday School
Lesson FOR Oct 10 10 "elJah
Taken Up Into heaven."-ii.
Kings 2:i-i2a.
10y WILLIAM r. sLLis.)

(eY WILLIAM T. eLLis.l
There is one short phrase that Is
found in the written or spoken rec
ord OF every life. II will be said.
sooner or later. OF every reader OF
these lines. That phrase is He
died" That inevitable record can
not he escaped But its meaning
can be enlarged. so that the He
died" OF one man Is as different from
the HE died" Of another man as
the great marble mansion is diner
ent from the tin-can shanty on the
dump, as an Interpretation OF the
word blouse"
Here we have the moving story OF
man whose quitting OF life was
wholly sublime. Elijah had lived
greatly, and so he died greatly. A
| ccnqueror even IN Death. be bad q
fiery chariot for hearse and ret
inue OF singing angels who were
honored by the assignment 10 be his
funeral cortege.
This harrieL. hunted. hairy old
prophe; OF the wilderness. deniren
| OF caves and deserts. was so heav-
enly in heart that, when his hard
errand on earth was over. he swept
triumphantly through the front door
OF his real home which was heaven.
Even the splendid escort that was
sent 10 bring him back home was
not his highest honor; for when God
wanted messengers for the highest
service He ever asked His favorites,
He chose Elijah and Moses, storm
battered heroes. TO go 10 earth to
comfort His Son on the Mount Of
TRANSPORTATION And when God
wanted to prepare the world for
That Sons advent, He sent before
Him a man "iu the spirit aud power
OF Elijah"
OF this prophet was different from
that held by King Ahab and Queen
Jezebei. Heavens point OF view is
not the same as eArth's: and SO
long as one is popular with God. he
may afford TO get along without
mems praises.
The Last Test Of Greatness.
How did you die" That IL the
ultimate test Of character and faith
A great soul cannot die ignobly. nor
can o mean spirit Pass-eway mag
nincently. Death Is the crown and
climax OF life. Only one who had
lived as Elijah had done could come
to his end In Elijah fashion. A few
weeks ago a New England minister
lost his life In rescuing some girls
from drowning: and straightway a
friend pointed out the beauty and
appropriateness Of Il: he died as he
had lived. serving people. My bril-
liant young friend Mann. OF St.
Johns college. Shanghai, had made
Q real impression On the Chinese
students, bur when, one summer
day, he plunged unhesitatingly to
death in a vain. effort 10 save his
ccmrade Seabury, he brought his life
To . sublime climax OF impressive
ness The Chinese see that Great
er love hath no man than this. that
q man lay down his life for his
friend" There's nothing that equals
dying true to type.
Elijah was one Of those fortunate
ones who saw his end as IL drew
near. Like Paul he could say. II
am now ready to be offered. and the
time Of my departure Ii 1t hand. I
have fought a good tight. have IN
ished my course, have kept the
faith" How sweet the prospect Of
heaven must have been to that
weary old warrior. He went open
eyed toward what Charles Frohman,
as he faced death on the Lusitania.
called. The greatest adventure of
all"
True 10 bis past, with the Lords
work ever uppernost in his mind,
Elijah used his last hours for the
testing and training OF his dear dis
ciple and friend. Elisha Blessed is
he who has a iriend by his side for
lies ultimate experience. Because
he wanted only irresistible devotion
and friendship az this hour, the old
man eace the younger TO rem ain at
Gflgal, while he went on TO Bethel
He wanted. also. 10 spare Elisha the
pain OF parting.
| But the friend saw through this
loving artince, and answered In.
stantly. "as the Lord hveth, and az