the wonderful experiments, or the eloquent lecture. All was so new to
him--so interesting. But the lecturer himself was, above all the rest,
the object of his admiration. Our youth, having been a reader, knew that
Sir Humphrey Davey was not born of rich parents, though his kindred and
his breeding were virtuous and respectable. In the remote town of
Penzance, in Cornwall, from the most western extremity in England, the
great man had come. He had taught himself nearly all he knew; and now
the youth saw him standing before the mighty and the noble of the land,
the light of genius in his flashing eyes, the words of wisdom on his
eloquent lips. "Oh, if I could but follow the steps of such a master!"
was the involuntary wish of the youthful hearer.
This thought soon produced action. Promptness was a leading part of the
young man's character, so he resolved to write to the great chemist,
and state that he wished to follow some other trade than that to which
he had been apprenticed; that he loved science, and would think himself
happy to be employed in any way in the laboratory of so great a man. It
was a bold step, but the request, though urgent, was full of the noble
humility of real worth. His letter was not neglected. Inquiries were
made. The good master had no wish to prevent the youth entering on a
career for which his talents and studious habits fitted him. The
electrical apparatus was another aid to him, so the wish of his heart
was granted. He entered the laboratory of the great man, and had ample
opportunity to study and to improve. There is no need to say he did not
waste his time or neglect his opportunities.
Sir Humphrey Davey died, leaving a name dear to the philanthropist, as
well as the man of science; but his place was not long vacant. Who
filled it? He whose youth we have feebly sketched; he whose lectures at
the Royal Institution were listened to by the Prince Consort and the
Prince of Wales--the celebrated and much-beloved Professor Faraday.
"Seest thou the man that is diligent in business? he shall stand before
kings."
Professor Faraday was not only one of the greatest scientific
authorities that ever lived, but he was a companion of humble-minded
Christians. His weekdays he devoted to science, but on the Sunday he
might be heard telling the story of redeeming love to delighted
listeners.
CHRIST'S time was largely taken up in making people happy. We do well to
remember that, and to do our best in ministering to the happiness of all
around us.
OUR BIBLE CLASS.
GOD'S INDEPENDENCE OF ALL, AND HIS DECLARED NEED OF SOME OF HIS
CREATURES.
(PSALM l. 12, AND MATTHEW xxi. 1-3.)
That God is independent the Bible everywhere declares. All beings beside
Himself are His creatures, and He is Lord of all. He needs nothing, for
He possesses all things.
No _supplies_, for, though He ordained sacrifices and planned His
temple, heaven is His throne, and earth His footstool, and His own hand
gives life, power, and sustenance to all (Acts xvii. 25).
No _tribute_. The free-will offerings of David and his people, for the
building of the temple, were a sweet sacrifice to God; but David truly
described matters when he said, "Of _Thine own_, O Lord, have we given
unto Thee" (1 Chron. xxix. 14).
He needs _no information_ or _guidance_ (see Isa. xl. 13-15). "Who hath
directed the Spirit of the Lord? or being His counsellor, hath taught
Him?" The question is not asked of angels, but of men; and "all nations
before Him are as a drop of a bucket"--the little drips that fall from
it as it is drawn up from the well--while "He taketh up the islands as a
very little thing"--a light thing, lifted easily with the fingers.
No creatures can give their Creator a single new thought, or any help of
any kind (Rom. xi. 34-36). "For who hath _known_ the mind of the Lord?"
Who then could have been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him?
This can never be, "for _of_ Him, and _through_ Him, and _to_ Him are
all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
Therefore He needs give no _explanations_ to any of His creatures. "Who
can say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Dan. iv. 35.) Thus God is above
all, and independent of all.
Yet Jesus "needed" the ass and colt (Matt. xxi.). We read of "coming to
the help of the Lord against the mighty" (Judges v. 23); and Paul spoke
about "working together with God" in teaching His people.
The Bible is full of these contrasts. God is so high, and yet so
condescending; full of majesty, yet "plenteous in mercy to all who call
upon Him."
There is no contradiction in the contrast; but God's needs are never
necessities. Our needs arise out of our _nature_. We need food,
clothing, and comforts, friendship and sympathy; but all God's needs
come from His _will_ and His _love_.
How beautifully this appears in the life of Jesus! He came to earth as a
little Infant, needing a mother's care. He grew up in humble
circumstances, and when He went forth, at thirty years of age, to preach
the Gospel, "the Son of Man had not where to lay His head." He also
needed the many ministries of love His devoted followers rendered to
Him. And when He died, others must provide the grave-clothes and the
tomb, for He had none of His own.
"Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through
His poverty might be rich."
"For our sakes!" This is the keynote to all the needs of the Almighty.
The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ chose His people in His Son before
the foundation of the world, and the father of a family needs his
children because they are his own, and he loves them.
The shepherd needs his sheep to be safe, and will not willingly lose
them. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who bought His sheep with His own life
and blood, and must needs gather and keep them every one.
The physician needs patients whose healing shall proclaim his knowledge
and skill, and the Great Physician of sin-sick hearts will glorify
Himself by bringing perfect health and cure to all who are led to Him by
the Holy Spirit.
Do we feel our need of Him? Have we discovered that we are fallen, lost,
guilty, and diseased? Then _He needs us_, and has shown us our need,
that He may relieve, supply, and bless us with His great salvation.
In the same way He needs His people's services for _their own_ sakes.
By fighting the Lord's battles of old, His servants were interested in
His cause. By working with Him now, in preaching, teaching, warning, and
comforting others, Christ's followers still are honoured and blessed.
When Saul of Tarsus, breathing out slaughter and bitterness against the
sheep of Christ, was hastening like a wolf to Damascus, Jesus stopped
Him, made him a new creature, and caused him to utter that cry of
anguish, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Like the jailer's
question, "What must I do to be saved?" it came from a convinced and
burdened heart.
Saul suddenly discovered that his life had been one terrible
mistake--that Jesus of Nazareth was the Lord of heaven--and tremblingly
he wondered, "Could there be pardon for such a rebel as he now felt
himself to be?"
Could not the same almighty voice have spoken peace to that troubled
conscience? Certainly; but Jesus required Ananias to be His messenger to
the humbled Pharisee; and, after three days of suspense and blindness,
while his tears had been his only food, Ananias arrived with the message
of peace.
How tenderly it was given! He put his hands on him, and said, "Brother
Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to thee by the way as thou
camest, hath sent me unto thee," and comfort, sight, and joy followed,
while the believing penitent was baptized in the name of his Lord.
How gracious and wise was all this! How closely it drew Ananias and Saul
together as brethren--children of the same heavenly family. Paul always
lovingly remembered his first Christian friend (Acts xxii. 12, 13), and
we are sure that Ananias never forgot that memorable day.
And in the same way Christ still needs the loving services of His people
to one another; and those who are taught and helped, love their
Christian helpers, while the helpers feel a double love towards those to
whom they have been made useful.
Thus the great and glorious independent and almighty King condescends to
make use of feeble worms. And which should we most admire, His majesty,
or His tenderness? We cannot tell. He is all-wise and all-powerful,
and--
"With heaven and earth at His command,
He waits to answer prayer."
Therefore, "blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness,"
for the time is coming when "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst,
for the Lamb in the midst of the throne" shall fill them with all good,
and there will be no more "need" on either side. Jesus shall see His
people fully saved, and "shall be satisfied"; and they, "beholding His
face in righteousness, shall be gratefully satisfied, when they awake,
with His likeness" (Psa. xvii. 15).
May this joy unspeakable be ours.
Our next subject will be, _The Good Shepherd Gathering His Sheep_ (John
x. 16).
Yours affectionately,
H. S. L.
BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN MAY.
May 6. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 31.
May 13. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 32.
May 20. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 33.
May 27. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 34.
PRIZE ESSAY.
HOW TO BE USEFUL IN THE WORLD.
There are five heads under which this subject may be placed--Love,
Truthfulness, Obedience, Cheerfulness, Peacemakers.
_Love._ If true love is inspired in our hearts, our chief aim will
consist in trying to be a help to others, which is very useful and
needful, even in our own homes. The power of love is of such value, that
those who know it esteem it as a precious gem set in gold, for without
it, our life would be a path of misery and woe--two of the most terrible
burdens in the world. Love is the true spring of usefulness.
_Truthfulness_ is always needful. He who is tempted to tell a lie should
consider that he may be struck dead while doing so; and then, where will
his soul awake? Truth _will_ out, if it be a long while hidden. It will
stand like the mountain against the roaring sea--nothing can move it;
for with it, is a clear conscience in the sight of God. If truth were
spoken more freely and carefully, we should be far happier. Its
preciousness cannot be sufficiently prized.
_Obedience_ is often the root of cheerfulness. An obedient child has
this motto in view--"Thou, God, seest me." Obedience is useful in
preserving us from many dangers, which our elders can often foresee, and
which might prove the ruin of our immortal souls if we were to be
disobedient. Thus it brings happiness into the homes and hearts of
children and parents, and so produces cheerfulness.
_Cheerfulness_ is sure to arise, in due course, from godliness. If we
have trials, we should not give way to despair, and make those about us
unhappy; but we should try to attend to our work, and look at the
brighter side of our troubles, and encourage those whom we often find
in greater difficulties than ourselves; at the same time, not forgetting
to take our crosses to God. We may cheer many a saddened heart by
cheerful words, and sometimes entice the young revenger to forget and
forgive.
_Peacemakers_ are thus spoken of--"Blessed are the peacemakers; for they
shall be called the children of God" (Matt. v. 9). Christ teaches us
this in His sermon on the mount; and He also set us the example. A
little child may be a peacemaker, if it is only to say a word of love,
and so stem the rising tempest. In time, it may develop itself more
fully, and we may thus honour our holy Master by treading in His
footsteps, and proving a help to all who know it, in speaking His truth
boldly and sincerely.
For an example of usefulness, we must consider the precious Jesus, and
pray for grace to imitate Him in all His ways; then we shall not
willingly do wrong, for He is superlatively good.
MARGARET CREASEY
(Aged 14 years).
_Sydney House, Sleaford._
[Our young friend tells us her age will not admit of her writing the
Essays in future, but we hope she will not forget us, and we pray that
the Lord may give her grace to live a useful and honourable life as a
disciple of Jesus.
We have received several creditable Essays this month, those from E. B.
Knocker, Jane Bell, Lilly Rush, Florrie Rush, and W. E. Cray deserving
special mention as giving signs of approaching success.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "Notable Workers in
Humble Life."
The subject for July will be, "The Difference between 'Uncertain Riches'
and 'The True Riches'" (see Tim. vi. 17; Prov. xxiii. 5; Luke xvi. 11;
Prov. viii. 18, &c.); and the prize to be given for the best Essay on
that subject, a copy of "The Story of the Spanish Armada." All
competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of
age, and that the Essay is their own composition, or the papers will be
passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary
information. Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117,
High Street, Hastings, by the first of June.]
We insert the following to show what even very young children can
accomplish by trying, and with a desire to encourage our young friend
and others to _try again_:--
HOW TO BE USEFUL IN THE WORLD.
Little children can be useful in many ways. First, learn to be useful at
home. Lay the meals, and do the dusting; go on errands, and be kind to
brothers and sisters. Always speak the truth, and obey your parents; and
if you are sent out on an errand, or with a message, and any other
little children try to persuade you to go with them, mind and obey your
parents. Be gentle in your manner and duties, and be careful with little
children, if you have to see to them, and with your brothers and
sisters, and in all your duties. We should be very careful to do what we
are told to do, and also very careful not to do what we are told not to
do. Be kind, not selfish; dutiful to parents; and do little things
willingly; try and persevere at school; be strictly honest, whatever
occupation you may be in; always be just, and if you do this, people
will feel they can trust you; but if you do not, people will say they
cannot trust you. Set an example not to be cruel to anything or any
body, but to be kind to all, and love and obey your parents.
MERCY PHILLIPS
(Aged 7 years, 10 months).
_Lindfield, Hayward's Heath._
Interesting Items.
OVER 10,000,000 eggs now arrive in New York city weekly. One recent
Canada train had thirty-one cars, with 200,000 eggs in each. The chief
supply to the New York market comes from Canada and Michigan.
UNITED STATES' FLOUR EXPORTS.--The United States now manufacture yearly
70,000,000 barrels of flour, and of this one-seventh part is exported.
The great bulk of this flour is sent from eight Atlantic ports to
Europe.
AMONG the "fowls of the air" are three, the eagle, swan, and raven,
which live to the age of one hundred years or more. The paroquet and
heron attain the goodly age of sixty years. The sparrow-hawk, duck, and
pelican may live to be forty, while the peacock and linnet reach the
quarter century, and the canary twenty-four years.
A SAGACIOUS DOG.--Just recently a dog, of the black and tan terrier
species, entered the Bolton Infirmary unobserved, and forced itself upon
the attention of the house-surgeon, who found one of the animal's legs
broken. With the aid of nurses he set the limb, the dog meanwhile
licking the surgeon's hand. It refused to leave the institution, and was
installed as an in-patient. How the dog got into the infirmary is
unknown.
WE understand that the hall which, for the last nearly sixty years, has
been appropriated in Glasgow to caricaturing religion, and where mockery
of the Sabbath, recitations, comic songs, dancing, and all sorts of
diabolical devices to entrap weak souls, were revelled in, where many
Sabbaths Mrs. Besant and Mr. Bradlaugh gave vent to their mockery and
blasphemy of God, is henceforth to be used for the worship of the
Almighty.
ORIGIN OF THE WORD "NEWS."--The word "news" is not, as many may imagine,
derived from the adjective "new." In former years (between 1595 and
1730) it was a prevalent practice to put over the periodical
publications of the day the initial letters of the cardinal points of
the compass, thus--N E W S, implying that those papers contained
intelligence from the four quarters of the globe, and from this practice
is derived the term of "newspaper."
A TELEGRAM states that the body of Alexander the Great has been found
among the sarcophagi lately unearthed at Saida, in Syria. It is stated
that the body can be positively identified by its inscription, and other
particulars. Alexander is known to have died at Babylon, and on his
death-bed he is stated to have told his sons to convey his body to
Alexandria, the city he had founded at the mouth of the Nile. Although
the monarch did not live thirty-three years, or reign thirteen, he did
more than all before or since his time.
AMONGST the most curious of recorded wills is that of a Mr. Thomas Tuke,
of Wath, near Rotherham, who, dying in 1810, bequeathed a penny to every
child that should be present at his funeral. Another provision of the
will ordered a shilling to be given to every poor woman in Wath, whilst
to his own daughter he only bequeathed the pittance of four guineas per
annum. An old woman had for eleven years attended him. To her he
bequeathed the munificent sum of one guinea only, for, as he expressed
it, "tucking him up in bed." A further whimsy of the selfish humourist
was a bequest of forty dozen penny buns to be thrown from the church
tower at noon on Christmas Day for ever.
ONE day, a gentleman's attention was attracted by an unusual commotion
in his stable, where two carriage horses were kept. Looking in, he saw
that one of the animals had got out of its loose box, and was helping
itself to a bucket of mash which the coachman had left at the door. The
other horse was neighing loudly, evidently demanding a share in the
feast. What was the gentleman's surprise to see the first horse fill its
mouth with the mash, and then push its nose through the bars of the
loose box, for its imprisoned companion to take the relish from its
mouth. This was repeated several times. The horse which was thus fed had
often been seen to push over some of his hay into his companion's rack,
when that was emptied first.
A SUBMERGED FOREST.--During the late violent storms in the Channel, the
sea washed through a high and hard sand-bank near St. Malo, nearly four
metres thick, laying bare a portion of an ancient forest which was
already passing into the condition of coal. This forest at the beginning
of our era covered an extensive tract of the coast; but with the sinking
of the land it became submerged and covered up by the drifting sand.
Mont Saint Michel once stood in the middle of it. The forest had quite
disappeared by the middle of the tenth century. Occasionally, at very
low tides after storms, remains of it are disclosed, just as at present.
It is believed that, some centuries ago, the highest tides rose about
twelve metres above the level of the lowest ebb. Now the high-water
level is 15.5 metres above the lowest.
PREACHING at Kensington the other week, Cardinal Manning said that there
are labouring in London no less than 350 Roman Catholic priests and
1,000 nuns.
A SNAKE THAT UNDERSTOOD ENGLISH.--It is related that some Americans
recently going through the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, stopped to look
at a big rattlesnake in a cage. It lay motionless, apparently asleep,
but when two of the party who lingered behind began to speak in English,
it moved, lifted its head, and gave every sign of interest. They told
their companions that the snake understood English. The whole party then
returned to the cage. The snake was apparently asleep again. They
conversed in French, but the snake made no movement. Then the ladies
began to speak in English. The snake started, lifted its head, and
showed the same alertness as before at the sounds. The rattlesnake
proved, on inquiry, to have come from Virginia.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD FIELDS.--The _Natal Mercury_ says:--"The gold
exports for January, 1888, from Natal were L31,447, and from the Cape
L26,115, making a total of L57,562. This is a capital opening for the
first month of the year, and if continued in the same ratio, will mean
the handsome total for the year of L690,744. Glowing reports continue to
come in from the Waterfall, at the Kantoor. A number of buildings are
going up. Last week a seven-ounce nugget was brought into Barberton. Two
Portuguese are said to be making, on an average, four ounces per day,
say L100 per week, and their ground is described as a regular 'bank.' Of
course they and a few others are exceptionally lucky ones; but all are
said to be making a good living."
ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN NEW YORK.--The following "open letter" has been
addressed to the Mayor of New York:--"69, Wall Street, New York, March
19th, 1888.--My dear Sir,--While coming from Washington yesterday on the
limited express, my eye caught the telegram printed in a Washington
paper announcing your order forbidding the display of the Irish flag
from the City Hall on St. Patrick's Day. I could not repress an audible
and emphatic 'Amen,' quite to the surprise of the ladies and gentlemen
in the car. For many years I, in company with thousands of Americans and
adopted citizens from England, France, and Germany, have been outraged
and scandalized by this annual insult to our intelligence, our pride of
country, our religious belief. In the minds of many others besides the
writer, that banner represents in a large degree the worst elements in
our body politic--ignorance, vice, bigotry, and crime. It is displayed
on the 17th of March in nearly every rum shop, gambling hell, and
thieves' den in New York. It was borne in the ranks of the murderous mob
that held possession of the city in the July riots of '63. But, aside
from this, no legal or other right exists for the display of that flag
or any other, except the ones you indicate, from the City Hall of the
great metropolis of a land whose people are by a large majority
consistent Protestants, on a day set apart to honour the memory of a
fabulous Roman Catholic saint. Furthermore, this is literally a
rum-sellers' and a rum-drinkers' procession. The wholesale rum-seller
rides on horseback, the retail rum-seller rides in a carriage, the
drinkers walk, until many of them, overcome by rum, fall in the gutter,
are gathered up by the police, cared for in the station houses and the
penitentiary, cleaned, and clothed, and fed at the expense of the
long-suffering taxpayer. I respect the honest, right-living Irishman or
woman, Catholic or Protestant, and would not deny them a single right to
which I, a native-born American citizen, am entitled; but I enter my
indignant protest against the steadily increasing attacks upon our most
valued institutions by this largely foreign-born and most turbulent
portion of our population. It is high time to call a halt and compel
obedience to decency and law. You will certainly receive the heartfelt
thanks and unanimous support of every lover of our city, our country,
our institutions, our laws.--I am, my dear sir, very respectfully yours,
GEORGE SHEPARD PAGE. To his Honour A. S. Hewitt, Mayor of the City of
New York." [We say, All due honour to the noble Mayor of New York, for
such a common-sense decision.--ED.]
KEEPING WARM.--It may not be generally known that, when exposed to
severe cold, a feeling of warmth is readily created by repeatedly
filling the lungs to their utmost extent in the following manner. Throw
the shoulders well back, and hold the head well up. Inflate the lungs
slowly, the air entering entirely through the nose. When the lungs are
completely filled, hold the breath for ten seconds or longer, and then
expire it quickly through the mouth. After repeating this exercise while
one is chilly, a feeling of warmth will be felt over the entire body,
and even in the feet and hands. It is important to practise this
exercise many times each day, and especially when in the open air. If
the habit ever becomes universal, then consumption and many other
diseases will rarely, if ever, be heard of. Not only while practising
the breathing exercise must the clothing be loose over the chest, but
beginners will do well to remember, in having their clothing fitted, to
allow for the permanent expansion of one, two, and even three inches,
which will eventually follow.
[Illustration: "SHE NOW FELT THAT SHE HAD LOST HER WAY." (_See page
122._)]
LOST AND FOUND.
A TRUE STORY FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
Little Janet Bruce lived in a pretty village in Scotland. Near to her
home was a large wood. If you were to go into it without a guide, you
might go on for miles before you could find your way out of it. In some
places no path is to be seen, and tall trees and creeping plants cast a
deep shadow over the ground.