If a man tries to live on his own moral resources, without new supplies
of divine grace, he will experience a shrinkage of character like that
of the sun, as described in this extract:
The sun is gradually falling into itself, the outer layers
are falling toward the center; the sun is shrinking, growing
smaller; and this contraction, this falling in of the outer
particles, produces the immense outflow of energy. The whole
sun contracts, every particle of its whole mass falls toward
the center and contributes its mite to the total supply of
heat. The surface particles move, of course, through a much
greater distance than do those within the sphere. On account
of the tremendous mass of the sun a very slight contraction
will suffice to maintain its supply of heat. A shrinkage in the
solar diameter of some 300 feet a year is all that is necessary
to account for the great outpour of energy.--CHARLES LANE
POOR, “The Solar System.”
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“SHUT-IN” MISSIONARY WORK
In 1891, Miss Mary Ashton, a “shut-in,” zealous for the
spreading of the gospel in foreign lands, and desirous to do
her share, began the sale of ribbon bookmarks and leaflets on
which were printed Scripture texts and choice poems. With a few
helpers, the sales and her income increased from year to year,
so that, at her death in 1899, she was supporting a Bible woman
in China, another in India, and four missionaries in those
countries.
After her death, Miss Theodosia Haine, of Warren, O., also
a member of the “Shut-in” Society, volunteered to undertake
Miss Ashton’s work. This she is successfully doing and much
literature is being disseminated through her efforts. The
profits resulting from the sale of Miss Haine’s work go to the
Mary Ashton Fund of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.--_Record of Christian Work._
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