Evening journal., 1918-10-21
"A Queer Mariners Bethel"

away, that he may take ship and sail
TO the uttermost part OF the Medlterran-
can Sea-away from God.
For while Jonah was a prophet he
had yet TO learn what you and learn
so slowly-that the entire universe has
no hiding place for the concealment OF
man who Is running away from
God. We cannot even run away from
self-hOw much less the cscapeless gaze
OF the Almighty, all-seelng one.
Jonah skulks from wharf TO wharf,
| finds the kind OF vessel he sought. paws
his fare, goes down In the hold OF the
vessel to sleep. lie gives a crafty little
smile-he has outwltted Godl / have
known men and nations TO tear up treat
| les, trample upon promises, violate the
most sacred vows, may even patroniz-
ingly take God over on 10 their side
and He that sitteth In the heavens
/ laughsl
The vessel starts. The wind rises, the
rigging creaks, the hulk grOans, the
storm Is on. snap goes the mastl The
superstitlous sailors are afraid. It's the
worst storm they've ever known. Jonah
/ Is suspected as the cause OF the un-
usual fury-he's the only one not pray
ing TO his God They accuse. lie con-
fesses. Is thrown overheard. Finds
himself In the belly OF a great fish.
There are some rare lessons
Dangers That Are Dcliverances.
Jonah now prays.
It's a queer place for prayer, surely.
But no Atlantic liner with wateriight
compartments, no Pullman train with
l nj d. snI Hnnf
cure. When God makes a ship no acci-
dents happen. Jonah was the safest
sailor In the world-except Him OF
whom he was the type, sleeping in
Gallee's storm.
God had prepared Jonah's steamer.
arranged his passage, determined his
port. You and l want to work more
and worry loss. We are in Gods
hands.
Although IL is a terrible thing when
God has 20 prepare some great ilsh
OF financial misfortune, or OF special
sickness and disease, or even bereavc-
ment. for a man to make him repent.
| 10 Is no Sign that God hates you that
/ lie sends this terrible sea monster Of
I trouble 10 swallow you up. II you con-
| tinue some day the storm viii oyerlake
you on your way 10 Tarshish. Flnlnc-
ial disaster makes your whole life an
apparent wreck. Weeks Of a wasting
fever bring you close 10 death Itself
Some day there Is a vacancy at your
/ table, or God takes one OF your little
ones, tho lamb OF the flock, and you
have nothing but the tiny garments
hanging In the wardrobe with ten thou
sand holy memories clustering about
/ them.
It is hard 20 see that these sea mon
sters, these awful calamltles, are for our
dellverancc.
answer a Fool According" Etc.
"Will some devout one tell me why
Jonah was not digested in the stomach
Of the sea monster?" asked liberal
lecturer amid convulsive laughter. The
old answer, "He wasn't ready 10 digest
yet" came 10 my mind. "lIe surely
didn't relish FISH three times a day
gurgled the witty speaker. ANSWER
a fool according 10 his folly" says The
same Scripture That records the story
Of Jonah. But the courageous lecturer
gave no such chance.
He might have suggested Jonah wal
a mighty unwilling. guest. lie wante,
20 get out. I'll guarantee he gave th'
monster no time 10 asslmilate him
Some men are so lethargic they would
have given up and lain down so quietly
they would soon have changed from
flesh 10 fish.
Many are swallowed BY misfortune