The Alaska citizen., 1915-05-03
BY THE REV. G c. BRUCE.

C c. BRUCE . Hesszse rea<sst
 chi'.vJ ard desolate. but will climb
 higher and higher content only
 when the sublime heights are gain ed All the doctrines and ordinances and privileges ol the church are pathways up. up. up the mountain side to the levels where God invites man 10 dwell. The full height is ] the measure Uf the stature of Christ l .n character. habit, deed and des- tiny.
 1 Men oi high ideals were once of ! tended at David's looseness. Solo mons hare.l. Judas treason. An uanias' lying Bad men are found everywhere. The hypocrite is the meanest. crookedest man on earth. l lie can hide behind corkscrew ! T. e man who hides behind the hypo- crite just goes him one better. To | be sure men in the churches stum I ble and fall prostrate. To be sure 1 bankers and cashiers fall, and '150 Jf them last year made their way l . Mexico or Africa
 Lid you ever hear of a merchant collecting insurance on empty boxes fter tue fire? You have heard of salc0nEeepers who would not drink Ee stuff they sell. To be sure lawyers and juTiSts are tempted and all Sing Sing is boarding 100 of them sent up from Manhattan Is land alone. You have heard of doc tors and real estate agents and miners going wrong Are men stop ping business and professional lines because of hypocrites in these places?
 There are vineyards that are worthless through neglect. orchards that raise tnorns and briars, and catsrpilla1S, and sapless trees. Cruel enemies completed their curse and a lazy husbandman finished the fol- ly The church is a vineyard. an orchard where many good things STOW and a few bad things. In U9stTy clears the ground, vigilance gGarGs against innumerable enmie5, prayer calls down the dews from
 heayen, and the Son of Righteous ness warns all in a growing at uospheTe. The soul must have this or die. Character is a victory and the church the race course upon
 uhIcn pathway souls fleet and
 strong. laying aside every weight, achieve success.
 soue are offended at the limita- lions of the Christian life. They
 want 10 be free. to do as they de. gre. and lead their own reckless way They affirm that the real life Is the unfettered one-never leel ng yoke and knowing no re 7traiut. What utter folly, No man expects to disregard the law of gravity with impunity. Natures laws ask no questions-they continue the same Duty must be done.
 Nc man increases his obligations 5y joining q church or lessens them " saving out Of a church. Men are men and as such have certain duties that cannot be added to or diminished from. All are moral beings and responsible to God, moral and unchangeable Stealing is the same in church as out, likewise adultery, gossip, coVetousness. What account
 tnt would refuse to abide by the laws of mathematics? What sten- ographer would refuse to abide by the laws of spelling?
 In his early pain and delirium what patient would say he had never agreed to abide by the laws of health? Nature is very severe and stern. She disregards anything but facts. You escape no penalty by refusing to obey; you escape no duty by remaining out of the church; you must live and live well or suffer the consequences.
 Freedom comes through obedience and there is no land that will li- cense lawlessness. Happiness fol lows surrender to God, and duty is binding Lot because of church mem- ger5nIp but because men are re
 spons Die to God.
 Some are offended at the laws of
 self-sacIifice. To be Christian
 to some is to refuse the eye beauty, ,he cal music, the brain delving, the heart communion. They think of Jesus as weeping but never laugh ing. A great miss statement of the facts. Try being perfect and see how often you will laugh. Does truth make a man miserable? Does honesty harass the soul? Jesus pass ed through the daily duties casting pearls on every hand, and all these for vOu-the sweetness of music, the beauty of the landscape, the grandeur of the heavens, the laugh
 ter of children-yes, all are yours, because ye are Christ's and Christ ts Gods.
 Of course the low pleasures are not yours. The pleasures of nights revelly. of a stinging con science of inflamed nerves, of pow trty. the reward of dissipation, yes, | pleasures and happinesses of lead To. d swine life. What pleasures.
 Forever refrain from such folly and ! fling yourself into the joy of | Christian life real and abiding. En-
 ter this school and begin the highest form of culture tied to an eternity ot grander joy You may grow on
 the earth, but the flowers and fruit of life are results of contact with heaven.
 HE PROMISED HIS MOTHER. Why Capt. Jack Crawford Does Not Drink.
 ! (Scene-A crowd of drinking iron