1898 



GI.EANINGS IN BEE CUI^TURE 



229 



is, in certain circles — was laughed and sneered 

 at. Miss Willard, as I have said, through the 

 grace of God succeeded in making it /as/uo/i- 

 ablc to turn the glass over, and to give not 

 only the waiter but every one present to under- 

 stand that she was not afraid to have it known 

 that she belonged to a total-abstinence organ- 

 ization. And now the example that she has 

 started is getting clear into the While House, 

 and into the great banquets given among sen- 

 ators and high officers of state. Do not lose 

 sight of that pearl for which you once gave up 

 all. That beautiful old hymn expresses it 

 grandly : 



Jesus, I my cross have taken, 

 All to leave, aud follow thee. 



I am not yet quite sixty years old, yet I have 

 seen young people start — yes, some of them 

 who had got to be pretty wild and wayward — 

 at a revival meeting ; I have seen them turn 

 their backs resolutely against the world of fol- 

 lies that before had been their everyday plea- 

 sure, and I have seen them commence to climb 

 from earth to heaven. Christian people al- 

 ways take pleasure in lending a helping hand; 

 and by and by, before they know it, somebody 

 says, " Well, now, that young fellow has really 

 started out to make something of himself," 

 and, acting on the thought, he makes him an 

 offer. Other avenues open. For a time the 

 young convert drops out of sight. He is off at 

 some college. Then people are surprised to 

 learn that he has been offered some high posi- 

 tion of trust. The neighbors say, " Why, can 

 it be possible?" Up and up he goes. In serv- 

 ing his Master he has forgotten that he begins 

 to be valuable to the world. He is actually 

 surprised when a call comes that sounds some- 

 thing like that beautiful verse in the 2oth 

 chapter of Matthew — " Come, ye blessed of 

 my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for 

 you from the foundation of the world." Such 

 young men do not often get to be iiiitlionaires, 

 and may God be praised that they do not; but 

 they do a work that a millionaire never did. 

 It is not alone the boys who are taking such 

 tremendous strides, for there are more " Fran- 

 ces Willards " than one in the world just now, 

 but she is not always known by just that 

 name ; and this reminds me of a touching lit- 

 tle incident I heard repeated yesterday. I 

 think some temperance ladies came over from 

 England. They were addressing some meet- 

 ings of the W. C. T. U. One of them said in 

 substance, "We love and reverence Queen 

 Victoria, the ruler of England ; but we also 

 love and reverence America's uncrowned 

 queen. Miss Frances Willard." 



Sometimes there is a little discussion as to 

 whether the world is improving in morals, or 

 whether it is going back. If we mix in with 

 one class of people, and hear them talk ; if we 

 read one class of newspapers, we might say 

 reasonably that everything, without question, 

 is going to the dogs. But if we make it a 

 point to visit the schools and the church, hear 

 the reports from mission workers who are now 

 compassing the whole world ; if we read the 

 periodicals devoted to demonstrating the 

 Christian religion, we can say that the Bible 

 promises are really being verified ; that tem- 



perance and purity are going to triumph ulti- 

 mately. Some people complain, however, that 

 the progress is terribly slow. True, it is slow ; 

 but it is because you and I are half-hearted 

 and dilatory ; it is because wc do not help. 

 No one can tell how much influence a single 

 person may have in the matter, and that per- 

 son may be just yourself. You are to decide. 

 When a young man or young woman breaks 

 away from card parties and these other things, 

 and comes out for Christ, and holds on, that 

 person is doing more than human tongue can 

 tell to further God's kingdom and his right- 

 eousness. Or, as James says, " He that con- 

 verteth the sinner from the error of his way 

 shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a 

 multitude of sins." 



While these thoughts were in mind, a little 

 bundle of tracts came floating through the 

 mail. I wonder if I hadn't bettei confess that, 

 when I saw it was just some printed matter, 

 and no money in it ( may God forgive me for 

 that last thought), I mean no business at all, 

 when the seed business and every thing else are 

 so rushing, I was almost tempted to put it into 

 the waste basket, without examination ; but 

 something said, " No, no ! not a thing that is 

 addressed to you or even to The A. I. Root Co., 

 shall be passed by until it is at least reasonably 

 well examined. Even if it is all printed, it 

 may be one of God's messengers, and you may 

 be entertaining an "angel" or casting him 

 aside " unawares." Well, here is what I read 

 on that tract ; and wasn't I glad that I didn't 

 throw it away without exaniination ! Here it 

 is: 



"unto him who loved me and gave himself 



FORME." 



(May this be my aim in all I say and do !) 

 When you think, when you speak, when you read, 



when you write. 

 When you sing, when you walk, when you seek for 



(felight — 

 To be kept from all evil at home and abroad, 

 I<ive always as under the " eye of the IvOrd." 

 Whatever you think, both in joy and in woe. 

 Think nothing you would not like Jesus to know, 

 ■^vhatever you say, in a whisper or clear, 

 S ly nothing you would not like Jesus to hear. 

 Whatever you read, though the page may allure, 

 Read nothing of which you are pei fectly sure 

 Consternation at once would be seen in your look 

 If God should say solemnly, " Show me that book ! " 

 Whatever you write, in haste or with heed. 

 Write nothing you would not like Jesus to read. 

 Whatever you sing, in the midst of your glees. 

 Sing nothing that God's listening ear could displease. 

 Wherever you go, never go where you fear 

 God's question being asked you, "What doest thou 



here? " 

 Whatever the pastime in which you engage, 

 For the cheering of youth, or the solace of age. 

 Turn away from each pleasure you'd shrink from 



pursuing. 

 Were God to look down and say — 



" What are you doing ? " 



Could any thing have been devised to so 

 neatly supplement the words I wanted to say 

 to the new converts throughout our lands ? 

 Why, it seems to cover the whole ground so 

 completely, including every thing I would ask 

 a new convert to do, that I could not but thank 

 God again and again for sending it my way. 

 Well, the best part of it is, on just one of the 

 little leaflets I read the following: " To be had 

 free of A. F. Cowles, Toccoa, Ga." You see 

 the dear brother (or sister, I do not know 



