OBJECTS: An Assortment of Candles Teaching a Number
of Lessons=
In this chapter you will find a few brief candle-light lessons which
you can use when you wish to give a series of short talks of seven
minutes. They can be arranged into one whole sermon if so desired. It
is a cluster of shining truth candles, arrange them as you like.
=THE TEN COMMANDMENTS=
Arrange ten candles in a straight line. Select blue candles, because
they are called "Blue Laws," but show that the light is white because
it is night, and they have been shedding light for the whole dark
world.
The universal laws of the nations are taken from these great legal
lights. They are God's lights, because they came from God, and if the
world ever extinguishes them the world will be lost in hopeless
darkness forever. Produce two yellow candles which stand for the two
commandments Christ gave which contain the truth of all the Ten
Commandments. This is how the blue laws turn to gold.
=THE HIDDEN LIGHT=
Produce a candle from a box in the corner. This represents a hidden
light which does not shine even "in its own corner." It is a light
hidden under a bushel. Many a soul has fine powers to serve the world
for Jesus, but they are hidden in the dark box of disuse, and are
worthless in the black world. They have buried the talent. Take it
out of the box, light it, and place it on top of the box, and say,
"Henceforth thou shalt be as a city set on a hill whose business it
is just to shine."
=THE VANITY FAIR CIRCLE=
Arrange a semicircle of a number of highly ornamented candles. Name
them Mr. Fine Clothes, Miss Fine Feather, Mrs. Good Opinion, Miss
Show Off, etc. This is an exclusive circle, some of the noted 400
giving a little pink tea. Now bring in a plain white candle and say:
"After all, this white candle shines forth as brightly as any one of
them. It makes no noise, says nothing about itself, but just goes on
and shines. It is not the clothes which make the light of life shine
the brighter."
=EXAMPLE CANDLES=
Arrange on a table a long row of unlit candles. Light the first one,
the second one from the first, the third, from the second one, and so
one until the end of the line. This illustrates the power of a good
example. One follows after another.
=THE PRODIGAL SON IN CANDLES=
This is the dear old story of the Prodigal Son in candles. Produce a
solitary candle. This represents the boy at home. Surround it with a
number of other candles, calling them the Prodigal's family. He feels
he is all alone. He is not happy with parents and brother, so goes
out where he may shine. Now move the light to the other end of the
table. This you may call the "far country." Here bring a few other
lighted candles and put them around the Prodigal light, and call them
the gay company he found in the white way of the new land. Now take
all the lights away except the Prodigal light, and say: "Now he is
poor and alone. His gay companions have taken their departure, they
have forsaken him and left him in want and poverty." Move his light
to another part of the platform or place it on the floor. He is now
down and almost out. He is feeding swine in the field. He is left all
alone. No man cares for the swine-tenders. Now bring in a small
yellow candle and place this beside him and say, "This represents
memory," so he thinks of his Father's home and his Father's
bread--enough and to spare, and as he thinks he says he will arise,
and go home again. (Here remove the "memory" light.) Place another
light in the middle of the table representing the Great Father who
comes out to meet him. Now take both the lights back to the old home.
At this point bring in a cluster of lights to represent the neighbors
and friends who have come to greet him, and rejoice with his Father.
"And they began to be merry." Then from another corner produce a
candle which represents the elder brother, who would not go in to the
banquet because of his dislike for his brother. Now take a light from
the Home Cluster representing the Father, take it over to the Elder
Brother light, and bring both lights back to the feast. Sing
"Brighten the Corner," and drive home the lesson of coming back to
the light, to Father and home.
=THE HOT TEMPER CANDLE=
This candle represents the angry man, the man with the ungovernable
temper. With a good rasp, file off an ounce from the fire end of a
poker. The iron filings produced are perfectly combustible, as may be
proved by sprinkling them over the flame of a candle. As they descend
into the flame they take fire, each particle burning like a
star--producing, in fact, miniature fireworks.
[Illustration: THE HOT TEMPER CANDLE]
The little shower of sparks will greatly impress the small eyes and
will not be forgotten. (See Fig. above.)
=SHINING THE LONGEST FOR JESUS=
An evangelist was talking to a meeting of children. He illustrated
his talk by bringing out a row of candles on a board. A very long
candle was at one end and a short candle at the other. Between the
long and short candles there were candles of various heights. He said
by these candles he wanted to represent the Grandfather, the
Grandmother, Father and Mother, and boys and girls, and the baby of
the family who had never heard of Jesus until a missionary came, whom
he represented by a lighted candle, and then they gave their hearts
to Jesus, and from that day loved and served him. He then lit all the
candles and said, "The whole family are now shining for Jesus." He
then asked which candle represented the Grandmother, the Grandfather,
and so on. They all thought the tallest candle would represent the
oldest of the family, and said that one must stand for Grandfather.
The evangelist said "No, that stands for the baby, the youngest
member of the family," and then said, "Do any of you know why?"
Presently a little fellow piped out, "I know why, he has the chance
to shine the longest for Jesus." That was a wonderful answer, and it
made a great impression on the audience. It was the heart of the
lesson, Thus we find a message in the candle. Hear it. See it.
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