3
GREATEST TRUTHS OF LIFE ARE NOT MYSTERIES, BUT MANIFEST
All Essentials of Existence May Be Known and Appreciated by Common People Delving Into Depths Not Necessary to Obtain Best Out of Life, Dr. Joshua Stansfield Declares.
THE SUNDAY OREGOMAX, PORTLAND. DECEMBER 21, 1919.
BY DR. JOSHUA STANSFIELD.
Pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal
Church.
I WANT us to think together this
morning on "The Simplicity of the
Truth," and especially the sim
plicity of the truth In religion.
The text you will find in the Book
of Deuteronomy, chapter 29, verse 29,
and In the Gospel by Matthew, chap
ter 11 and verees 25-26. "The secret
things belong unto the Lord our God,
but those things which are revealed
belong to us and to our children, that
we may do all the words of this law."
And, "Jesus said, 1 thank thee, O
Father. Lord of heaven and earth, be
cause thou hast hidden these things
from the wise and prudent and hast
revealed them unto babes. Even so.
Father, for so it seemed good in thy
sight."
The secret things belong to the
Lord our God, those things which are
revealed belong unto us and to our
children forever.
There are many persons who im
agine that the great truths of life
an be known only by persons of
keen intellect, and special genius and
ability for looking into things and
understanding mysteries. This is a
great mistake. The greatest truths
ana realities of life are not mysteries,
they are indeed most manifest. All
the essential truths of life are such
' that they may be known and appreci
ated hv I'nm mrm n, im'.- Inuim wont
so far as to say by babes, and he
Baid, "I thank thee, O Father, that
thou hast hidden these things from
the wise and the prudent." the far
Koelng. the deep-seeing, the knowing
ones, thou hast hidden fiom them,
and hast revealed them unto babes."
T wonder why they were hidden
from the deep and far-seeing ones.
Was it because they saw too deeply
and too far? Wert these things
Known to babes and common people
because they were on the surface and
easy to be understood? Our text says,
"The deep things, the mysterious
tilings, the hidden things, belong
unto the Lord our God. but the things
that are revealed belong unto us and
to our children." The things that are
revealed are of such nature and
character that ordinary folks can see
them, even children may know them.
There is not anybody but can see
them, except they look beyond them,
and get below them, and thus miss
them while looking too far.
I read some years ago that in the
early days of gold mining in Cali
fornia they did a good deal of what
was i-nlled "deep level mining." They
IUeIi Bonlon, ly William Heyligcr. Illus
trated. D. Appleton Co., Now York City.
The reading world for boys has
long: been waiting for a strong, sen
sible, red-blooded, manly story for
boys one that boys will like instinct
ively, without being pestered to death
nearly to read it. Here it is "High
Benton."
Steve Benton is the boy hero's
name, and he was called "high" be
cause he aimed that way. Steve had
a dog that was a strange, correct
leader of human character. The dog
never made a mistake in that direc
tion. Steve was at high school, and
wanted much to leave school before
he had graduated just to earn
money that he was tempted to quit
Steve wants to be an actor in the
moving picture business, but gives up
that ambition. He works on a farm.
He enters a machine shop in vacation
time and works hard, but quits when
the boss uses foul language to him.
Steve's pet ambition was to be some
day a salesman In the agricultural
implement business of the Tarkan
Boylert company, and he wants to
learn Spanish so that ho could work
in the South American trade.
There are various difficulties in
the way. Whether or not Steve
overcomes them makes up this de
lightful, natural American story of
American boyhood.
A "Y" Girl Overseas, by Ada Alice Tuttle.
Miss Ada Alice Tuttle is a well
known Portland pianist, and lecturer
on kindred musical subjects. She
went to France in the fall of 1918, just
in time to see Paris celebrate the
signing of the armistice. She became
an esteemed and faithful Y. W. C. A.
worker, and worked most assiduously
with willing spirit, and often when
she must have been weary, entertain
ing and otherwise socially caring for
the mental enjoyment of soldiers
whom she met in Y. W. C. A. hostess
houses and elsewhere.
Letters were written from liurope
, to Miss Tuttle's parents In this city,
"and from them extracts have been
made which now appear in this little
book of 120 pages.
It Is a pleasure to meet with these
letters in book form. They are
written with spirit, kindness, bright
Intelligence and deserve the large
audience which they will now meet.
BeattT. Telllroe. Sims and Rodman, by
Lieutenant Francis T. Hunter, United
States navy. Illustrated. Doubleday,
Page & Co., Garden City. N. Y.
It Is significant of the friendship
felt by an American naval officer for
his recent British comrades in North
sea battle patrol, to read the sub
title of this book of the sea: "Yankee
Gobs and British Tars, as Seen by an
An gl oman lac."
Our author was sworn into the
United States naval reserve force as
an ensign, March 13, 1917, and as
signed to duty as assistant in estab
lishing a base for submarine chasers
and for training men, in New York
harbor. This was nearly a month be
fore President Wilson was empowered
to declare a state of war. About the
month of June the same year our
author was sent to. the first reserve,
officers' training class, at Annapolis
naval training center, for Intensive
training. September 15 Lieutenant
Hunter was fortunate enough to be
ordered for duty on board the war
ship New York, afterward the flag
ship of Rear-Admtral Rodman, in
command of the ninth division of the
Atlantic fleet.
The ninth division of this fleet was
about 100 miles off the grand banks
of Newfoundland when it ran Into a
severe storm and hurricane. Captain
Hughes had been at sea for 30 years
and he said that on two occasions
only had he seen the equal of the
storm both being typhoons in the
China sea. In his description of this
storm and the scenes of damage it
caused on board the New York, our
author roaches his most dramatic and
thrilling interval.
What follows in this well-written
yet modest volume of 204 pages is a
familiar recital to us who have read
recent naval history of the late war
at least familiar so far as scenes and
great historical figures are concerned.
But Lieutenant Hunter writes of these
events with intimate touch, and in
thought the best gold was to be
found there, but it was not so; the
best gold was nearer the surface, and
they missed it in going too deep.
When I read that fact and illustra
tion, 1 said, that is the way it is in
religion " and philosophy, and the
highest and finest and best things of
life. There are so many persons who
go down Into the depths to find that
which is much nearer the surface and
may be easily understood. Jesus Baid,
"1 thank thee, O Father, that it is
thus, that thou hast hidden these
things from the deep seers, and hast
revealed them unto babes, for so it
seemed good in thy sight."
Indeed It is just like God to make
it thus. All the essential things of
life in the physical world are near at
hand. "We live in them, and about
them, and can scarcely get away
from them. Light and air and water
and bread and common food. Now it
is possible for the epicure to go far
into the food question and dig down
and down to delicacies and luxuries,
O, not near at hand, but from all
parts of the earth. But the necessary
and essential things of existence and
life are near about us. We do not
need go far to get them. Anything
that is necessary and essential to life,
is not hidden as deep.
This is true particularly in religion,
and it is on this theme that we are to
think for a few minutes this morn
ing. Why was it that the Pharisees and
the scribes and the rulers did not ac
cept the truth of Jesus? Why?, be
cause the truth He gave was common
to all and for all. They rejected it
because they were the Pharisees, the
superiors, the uppers, the betters.
They were the scribes, the superb
scholars, and teachers, and under
standers of deep things. They were
the rulers, persons off and apart and
different from the rest of folks. It is
said that the common people heard
Jesus gladly, these other folks did
not want anything to do with him.
This spirit of phariseeism and the
scribes and rulers may be in poor
folks as well as rich folks. It is not
a question of riches, or poverty, it is
a matter of the spirit. The reason
they did not accept the truth by
Jesus was because it was plain and
simple and common and everyone
might get it. It was not deep enough
for Pharisees and rulers and scribes.
Jesus never revealed truth in any
terms that an ordinary person could
not understand, he usually spoke in
such words and terms that children
could understand. Jesus Christ did
not preach ieep mysteries. He him
self was not a mystery.
Theologian and others have made
.................. ........
' jjjj
Copyright Bain News. t
Copyright. Bain News.
Admiral William S. Sims. prin
cipal figure In LteateBuat
Francis T. Hunter's new book.
jects a personality Into these recitals
that Is frank and charming.
Lieutenant Hunter details his expe
riences in North sea patrol duty, wait
ing vainly for the German fleet to
come out and fight, and apparently
no one was more sorry than he that
this did not happen. Our author had
several opportunities and took them
to meet and talk to two British and
two American sea-dogs Admirals
Beatty, Jeillcoe, Sims and Rodman,
but it is noticed that much of his
recital concerns itself with the say
ings and doing of the American ad
miral, William S. Sims.
On page 54 we read: "Admiral Sims
was dispatched at once to organize,
advise and command the naval forces
of the United States which would
actively engage in the world war.
What lie asked for was given him;
what he advised was executed; what
he commanded, succeeded. One year
after Admiral faims had reached Eng
land with his embryonic unit of de
stroyers and patrols, thousands of
weather-beaten jackles on short leave,
while scores of sea-scarred vessels
took on new life in fuel and stores
could be heard through the seaport
towns, whistling, singing or playing
the tune of which they were so proud
'Admiral Sims' Flotilla Is the Terror
of the Sea." "
Lieutenant Hunter brings down his
recital of the . world naval war to the
surrender and afterwards sinking of
the German fleet. It is Interesting to
read on page 177 that when the Ger
man fleet passed May island, on It:
way to the Firth-of-Forth to sur
renaer. Admiral Heatty signalled one
of the German squadrons to put on 17
knots and close up in formation. The
reply came to him: "We cannot do
better than 12 knots. Lack lubrlcat
ing oil." What chance then of ;
modern engagement where a speed of
at least IS knots Is sustained? Ap
parently they were no better off for
food. Hardly had they anchored
when the crew turned to with hook
and line to catch what they might for
dinner.
What Wilson Did at Paris.
nard Baker. Doubleday,
Garden City. N. Y.
by Ray Stan-
Page & Co,
iniormation mat is graphic, re
vealing and always Interesting giv
ing Mr. Baker's impressions of what
President Wilson did at Paris in the
recent peace conference activities.
It is shown how President Wilson
lived and worked during these trying
weeks, with President Wilson as the
chief heroic figure of the entire re
cital. Mr. Baker shows that the pres
ident at first surprised and scared
away many French people, when he
first unfolded proposals affecting the
niuch-talked-of league of nations, and
accordingly was often misunderstood.
Mr. Baker's view of the president is
T
him such, but Jesus was not a mys
tery, he was a manifestation. He was
a manifestation of life, human life,
filled with the spirit of God; He so
manifested himself in both word and
deed that those who knew him best
said "He is the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace of truth." He
so manifested himself that they rec
ognized him as the divine one, and
they began to proclaim him and to
preach him through all the world.
-Te Way, the Truth, the Life."
Jesus himself was not a mystery,
he was a manifestation. Jesus Christ
never dealt in mysteries in religion,
and he never preached doctrine that
is a mystery, not even the doctrine of
the "new birth." He said the new
birth is as clear and plain as the wind
that blows, but if you would peer
down into it to find how it is, and
why it is, you can no more see it
than you can see the wind. That is
what Jesus said. If you make it a
mystery you will never get it. If,
however, you take it as a fact and
reality that tells upon you, blows upon
you, then you feel it and know it. "So
is everyone Who Is born of the spirit."
Again, Jesus Christ never preached
any mysterious doctrine of the
antonement. He said. "God so loved
the world that he gave his only be
gotten son that whosoever belleveth
In him should not perish but have
everlasting life." "God sent not his
son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through
him might be saved."
Was that all he said? Oh, no. "I am
the good shepherd, the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep." I am
that and I do that. There Is not any
one in heathen lands, or in civilized
countries, except scholars and theo
logians, and extreme doctrinists, who
have any difficulty from Jesus on the
question of redemption and atone
ment, and salvation. It is the men
who go deep below the surface and
have sought to know the why and
the how of redemption and the atone
ment, who mostly miss it. God loved
the world and sent his" son to die for
it, but how did he send him, they ask?
Christ was here as the Savior, but
how did he get here? Was he born of
a sinless woman? "Was he of a human
father? How did he come? Christ de
clared he came from heaven and he
showed clearly heavenly character In
all his life, but the deep diggers, the
critics and tee philosophers and the
ologians go deep down below the fact
and seek to explain just how he got
here, and' which way he came. Jesus
declared." "The good shepherd giveth
his life for the sheep." "Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man die
for his friend."
Christ preached that he came to live
always favorable and appreciative.
The president is shown to have been
in Paris, in that anxious time, a hu
man machine for work. It's a wonder
his health stood the test so well.
The Health of the Tearhrr,, by Dr. Will
lam Krtabrook Chancellor. Forbes &
Co., Chicago.
Dr. Chancellor Is well known for
his sensible, conservative and illumin
ating books on schools, hygiene and
kindred subjects. Educated in medi
cine, and always a student of health
conditions, he has had favorable op
portunity as superintendent of schools
In Washington D. C. and other east
ern cities, to study the special health
needs of teachers. In this book he
presents the thoughtful observations
of a long life of professional experi
ence in such matters.
The chief purpose of the book is to
get teachers to take care of their own
health on the ground that the occu
pation of school teaching has high
rates both of death and disease. The
alms of the personal hygiene now
taught are these:
1. To increase strength, health and
efficiency for daily work.
I. To thwart and, if possible, over
come tendencies in diseases, both self-
originated and infectious.
3. To quicken and develop joy in
being alive.
4. To postpone death.
Tbe Country I.lfe Press, Illustrated.
Doubleday, Page & Co., Garden City,
N. Y.
Quite an original, charmingly pre
sented message, describing the erec
tion and the growth of the printing
plant of the well-known firm of pub
lishers, Doubleday. Page & Co. and
located In Long Island. N. Y., the
corner stone having been laid by the
late Colonel Theodore Rqpsevelt, in
July. 1910.
From the beautiful pictures shown
and the appearance of the book, the
publishing plant described must be
and no doubt is on a more ornate.
artistic basis than such plants
usually are, and is a wonderful,
pretty-to-look-at home.
Congratulations to this honored
firm of publishers on the prosperity
they have so deservedly earned. May
their ways continue to be in the sun
shine path.
The Little Lead Soldier, by Anna Franchl
illustrated. The Penn Publishing com
pany. Philadelphia.
Anna Franchl was born in Leg
horn, Italy, In 1867, has written scv
eral well-known and liked books, and
at present resides in Milan. In this
story of 188 pages she relates the
curious experiences of a toy that
talked, a little lead soldier dressed
in the old uniform of the French
army, and named Tamburino. The
latter suddenly breaks Into speech
and tells his story to his new owners
two children, Nino and Lena, who live
in Florence.
The author possesses a brilliant
imagination, almost equal to that
possessed by the late Robert Louis
Stevenson.
Just the pleasant gift book to give
to some lucky child.
Dave Darrin's South American Cruise and
Dave Darrin on the Asiatic Station, by
H. Irving Hancock. Illustrated. Henry
Altemus Co., Philadelphia.
These two admirable, manly stories
of the sea reflect the adventures of
the young naval officer whose name
appears in the titles of the two
books.
The latter describes wholly dif
ferent scenes and incidents in En
sign Darrin's naval life. The books
are just the proper mediums to in
terest youths and young men who
like to read about the heroic deeds
of the American navy.
Tbe Supreme Adventure, by Sarah Lowe
Twiggs. Tho Academy Book Room. Brya
Athyn. Pa.
As may be surmised, the phrase
"The Supreme Adventure" means the
state of passing to another world; in
being dead. This great adventure is
visloned by our author In poetry that
will live in remembrance for its fine.
spiritual quality, its leap into the
.world beyond; will live long after the
and to die for human beings, and
wherever that truth Is seen and
heard and felt, the love of God stirs
the heart to a new affection, and a
new fellowship, and a new following.
"The love of Christ constralneth us."
But the deep diggers, the critics, the
scholars, the theologians go down and
down, and say, "Well, yes. he died, he
died for the world's salvation, but
how could his dying save the world?
And Jesus never tried to say how it
could, never a word about that." But
It does. Jesus declared the great
truth of redemption, and salvation,
and suffering, and death, and atone
ment, but he never tried to explain
the how of It. Never.
And so It Is in the whole realm of
religion. Our troubles are from
scholars, and some who are not schol
ars, trying to peer into the mysteries
of religion and going beyond the
things that are revealed. The book
says: "The hidden things belong to
the Lord, our God. but the things that
are revealed belong to us, and to our
children."
I do not know how the death of
Christ can make atonement for hu
man sins, and there Is not any other
man who does, although some think
they do and loudly say so. We know
the fact, we believe the fact, that
Jesus Christ died for our sins, and be
lieving, we have life. And do you
know, a person can believe that down
in a rescue mission and get as much
out of It as we do. A person can be
lieve that over in the Philippines, who
hasn't even been to public school, and
yet get salvation out of It as we do.
A person may believe that and be
saved In the heart of Africa, and If he
believes that fully he gets more out
of It than some scholajrly deep digger
who mostly labors to find out how
the atonement atones; how the re
demption redeems; how the Savior
saves.
May I suggest to you in passing
that there has been little controversy
in the church of Jesus Christ in the
two thousand years of Its history
upon any really essential saving fact
or truth. Oh, there have been many
controversies as to how the world was
made, and how long it took to do It,
and controversy goes on yet, whether
It was In six days or millions of years.
They are still wrangling, but which
ever way it was it will neither save
nor damn anybody. It is not neces
sary to life. However, the world was
made, and whenever the world was
made, it was God who created it. All
the wrangling has been as to how it
was done, and how long it took.
And so with the Holy Book. O,
what a book this Is. the Book of Life;
the Book of God, coming through hu
man lips and hearts Inspired by the
divine one, and in it and through It
typed message is read, through its
medium of printer's ink.
The poet describes the passing of a
scul Into the unknown, his shrinking
at finding himself in an unknown
state, and his great joy when he ex
periences the knowledge that he has
entered into new, unspeakable happi
ness. The relator In verse tells how he.
a cripple on earth, meets In the new
life of the spirit, with Gamaliel and
Azarael and other exalted ones. He
finds out also that there 1b no well
hades.
These are rosy views to take about
our future, and the reader hopes sin
cerely that the poet is correct in his
predictions.
But suppose our poet has sruessef
incorrectly? That is where the trou
ble lies.
This Is a good world and we are
In it, anyhow. We have courage.
Picric, by Kleanor Gates. Illustrate!
D.
Appleton & Co., New York city.
Who says that little pigs can't be
pets, and can't show affection for
each other, and for human-kind they
know?
Here is a charming, amusing story
which tells a wonaerful tale that one
little pig at least was a pet and did
talk language at least pig talk lan
guage, principally to hiss'mother.
The story can be commended for its
fresh, spontaneous originality.
So far as this book is concerned it
la a novelty In book-making, for the
message was written on a typewriter,
the typewritten pages photographed
and the book printed from the photo
graphic plates. This Innovation was
made necessary, it is explained, by
the recent strike In the printing
trades In New York, which prevented
the publication of books In the usual
manner. The type is easy to read
and has a surprisingly clear appear
ance, although the right hand margibs
of the pages are not filled out evenly
to the end of tho lines.
Conservative Dnnocrary, by Paul Kester.
The Bobbs-Merrlll Co.. Indianapolis.
Mr. Kester. in clearly expressed
vigorous English, contrasts democracy
and socialism, and shows how the
former has the advantage in contrast
and should be preferred.
We are told that for the sake of
the common weal and for the hope of
the world, we must put aside the
blandishments of imperialism and
autocracy, and all the plausible
sophistries of socialism and cleave
unswervingly to true, temperate and
simple democracy.
In other words, we Americans have
tried and live under democracy and
find it safe and preferable to any
opposing new fangled theories that
are untried.
Just the safe book for these
troubled times of unrest.
Girls Book of tbe Red Cross, by Mary
Kendall Hyde. Illustrated. Thomas
Crowell Co., New York city.
From the time that the Red Cross
was officially established In August,
1864 largely through the labors of
Jean Henri Durant down to recent
war activities In France, makes up
the subject of this informing book.
A great white light of information
is shed on all Red Cross activities.
In mothering armies of men. A won
derful, moving record.
The Test of Scarlet, by Coningsby Dawson.
John Lane Co.. New lork city.
Mr. Dawson's stories of the big war
In France, a conflict In which he was
a brave soldier and was wounded,
have achieved deserved popularity.
Here is another of these Dawson war
books, with each chapter like
cameo true war pictures, dramatic,
pulsing, full of fire and with mingled
laughter and tears.
Bed Ben. the Fox of Oak Ridge, by Jo
seph Llpplncott. The Penn. Publishing
Co., Philadelphia.
With Illustrations by the author.
this pathetic and almost-human story
of a fox named Red Ben, living on
the lands of Ben Slown, a farmer In
New Jersey, Is Just the animal story
treat to entertain children. It's a
gem story of its kind.
Celebrated Spies and Famous Mysteries of
tbe Great War. By George Barton." Il
lustrated. Tbe Page Co., Boston.
Much of what readers could not un
derstand as to big personalities in
the late war is explained in these
dramatic and often exciting recitals.
With rare skill and searching
literary qualities, Mr. Barton gives
us a portrait gallery of famous fig
ures of the war, such as: The Queer
there have come the most marvelous
life-giving messages. Yes, they are
and the deep digger, and the far-seer,
and the scholar maybe you call him
a critic or "higher critic" and let me
say that the critics and the scholars
have done the world and religion
great service, very great service. But
what I am now pointing out is, that
they are so apt to miss the essential
things and lose themselves' in the
depths and the dark, that is all. They
came to the book, exen the great book
of Isaiah, and when they read the
wonderful message, "Ho everyone
that thirsteth come ye to the waters."
and so forth, they said: "Tea. that is
fine, but how did it come to be? Who
wrote it?" And they first found one
Isaiah and then a second and then
the fuss began, and they have been
at It for forty years, as to whether
there is one Isaiah or two, or more.
And may I say to you without ir
reverence, it does not matter the snap
of one's fingers whether there are
two Isaiahs or two and twenty, it
does not matter where he lived, or
Just what color scheme of man he
was. This matters, that the truth of
God, so plain and full, came through
the Hps and lives of somebody called
Isaiah, but It Is not Isaiah that is
going, to save you or help you. It is
the truth of God that came through
Isaiah. And so going over In the
New Testament as to how Jesus
came into the world. If perfectly
pure, as the Divine One, the deep
thinker said. "Well, but how could
he be perfectly pure if lie came
through an impure mother?"
Then to help out an intellectual dif
ficulty there came the dogma of the
"Immaculate conception," whatever
that may mean, and so the contro
versy has lived for 1500 years as to
how Jesus could be pure and without
sin. We know that he was the pure
one. "in him was no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth." So pure
that even his enemies could not
charge him with sin. We believe he
was pure and good, and perfect, and
divine But the deep digger Insisted
that this was not possible, for how
could God become man and the
divine live in human personality?
How? How? How?
And so too with the doctrine of the
atonement.
It Is not the business of a preacher
of the gosoel to declare on the how
and the mystery of the atonement. It
is his work rather to proclaim Christ
as the only Savior of man, and that
God sent Christ as such, and that
there Is none other name by which
they may be saved. That Is the gos
pel he should' preach, and not elabor
ate queries as to how Christ can do
this, or how It can possibly be.
So with other controversial points,
the preat "symbols" of the Christian
disappearance of Lord Kitchener.
Miss Edith Cavell, the fate of Nicho
las II, the murder of Captain Charles
A. Fryatt, "The Mad Adventure" of
Sir Roger Casement, the artless Ger
man who dynamited the Vanceboro
bridge, Maine, tho mystery surround
ing the murder of the Archduke Fer
dinand, and others.
RIW BOOKS RECEIVED.
Baudelaire: His Prose and Poetry, edited
by T. R. Smith, poems and prose essays,
many of them daring In thought and treat
ment Baudelaire was born In Paris.
France, in 1S21. and died there In 1867; and
The Cobbler In Willow Street, and other
poems, by George O'Nell. 86 poems, many
of them of fine quality, and all of them
thoughtful and profitable to read (Bonl A
Llverlght. N. Y.)
John Adney, Ambulance Driver, by Dillon
Wallace, the human-Interest story of a
Duluth. Minn., youth who is an ambulance
driver In the big war In France, and makes
good (McClurg & Co., Chicago.)
Stuff C Dreams and other plays, by
Rex Hunter four plays entitled "The Wild
Goose-," "Stuff O" Dreams." "Hands and
the Alan. and "The Romanv Roiil"
plays that are skilfully constructed, but
with, morbid endings (T. S. Denlson tc Co..
Chicago. )
The Golden West Boys. "Injun" and
BANK CASHIER THINKS
READY CASH IS DRAWBACK
Jam.es J. Montague Relates Comment Attendant Upon Many Unusual
Expenditures by Official Connected With Institution.
BY JAMES J. MONTAGUE.
THE cashier of the local bank came
gloomily into the restaurant and
took the chair opposite me. He
picked up the bill of fare, glanced
down the price column, and ordered
the cheapest lunch he could find. He
was obviously low.
"What's tho matter?" I inquired,
"Christmas shopping got on your
nerves, or did the Thanksgiving tur
key last too long?"
"Don't talk to me about Christmas
or Thanksgiving." he said. "They're
nothing in my lrfe."
"Anybody sick at home?"
"Nope !"
"Then what Is the matter?"
"Oh, the usual thing. My kid girl
wore a new dress to a party last night
and this morning six women came in
to withdraw their accounts."
"You don't mean "
"Yes, that's just what I do mean.
These six women heard about the new
dress from their kids, and figured
their money wasn't safe in the hands
of such a reckless spender. It always
happens."
"Pretty tough," I said by way of
consolation.
"Tough"'. Say, 'tough" is putting it
mild. If you knew more about It you
couldn't keep your language Inside
the law. I get a pretty good salary
not much, but enough to live on com
fortably, and what does it get me?
What does it get me. I ask you?"
This being pialnly an oratorical
question1 I Inquired politely what it
did get him.
Pastor Adds Word of Advice.
"Nothing! Nothing whatever! Two
years ago an aunt of mine died and
left me $6000. The wife and the kids
wanted a car. I knew if I got a big
car It would stop the bank, so I just
got a flivver, and a second-hand one
at that."
1 "The minister of the church we go
life, adopted cr commanded maybe by
Jesus Christ; the symbol of water or
baptism "slgnifyir.g that inward
purity which dli-poseth us to follow
the example of our savior Jesus
Christ." And then the "deep diggers"
came In, and some of them were
scholars, and some were not, but they
were all of like temperament, and
they said, "Well, now, how can water
do that? If It Is In the name of the
trinity, then It ought to be water
three times;" and others said, "Indeed
if it is to be a perfect thing It ought to
be water seven times, find if this
symbol fully signifies how It is done,
then the believer must be 'buried with
Christ In baptism' and put under ,the
water." Others contended that Is not
so; It Is enougb If the subjects of
baptism are touched with water by
holy hands.
Se the controversy has waged for
centuries and there are some persons
even yet who actually wrangle about
that thing, but In the light of the
teachings of Jems Christ, I assure
you that It is not a matter of water
at all, either In tho person or on the
person, the person In the water, or
the water on the person, it Is rather
a matter of having that new life of
the spirit which baptism signifies.
Oh. how these non-essentials have
wasted the energies of good people,
and weakened the church of Christ on
the real essential Christian doctrines.
Now there are only. I think, per
haps three or four really essential
doctrines In all the Christian teach
ing; there are dozens maybe that
grow out from these Inferences, de
ductions, speculations, but there are.
say. three great essential Christian
doctrines. One is, as taught by
Jesus, that Qod is our Father, that
we belong to God, and ought to Jive
the kind of life that the children of
God should. The second Is that we
are weakened, ruined, broken, lost by
sin, and that Jesus Christ, the Divine
One, God's Son, our Savior, came into
the world to seek us, and save us, and
make us what we ought to be. The
great doctrine of God our Father,
the great doctrine cf Christ our
Savior, and the great doctrine of
Christian character, holiness and
destiny I say holiness and destiny
because If a person Is holy, I use that
word In the New Testament sense,
and not In the extreme sense In which
It la. sometimes used by doctrinaires.
If a person is holy and his char
acter made good by the spirit of God,
his destiny is fixed: for holiness be
longs to God, and will be with God,
either here or anywhere; so we put
the two together. These, then, are
the three great Christian doctrines.
First the doctrine of God our father.
we his children. Is there anyone
here, rot a Christian, who Is living
the life that Is unworthy of God's
"Whltey." by William S. Hart, exciting
and well-told stories of adventure and out-of-doors
In the west, stories written by the
celebrated movie picture star known as
"Bill" Hart: and The Man That Never
Grew Up. by Mabel C and William A.
Lathrop. a refreshing, healthy, American
story, picturing character work In a small
town a whimsical story of the good old
David Harum type (Brltton Pub. Co.. New
York.)
Kent of Malvern, by T. Truxtun Hare, a
genial, sensible and lively story of a boy's
school depicting lots of out-door games a
story of boys from 12 to 16 years old; and
Don Hale With the Flying Squadron, by
W. Crispin Sheppard. the lively story of a
young American who became an aviator In
the big war in France a story for boys
ftom 10 to IS years old (Tha Penn Pub.
Co.. Phlla.)
Have You a Strong Will? by Charles
Godfrey Leland, with Introduction by John
Herman Randall, a reprint of a valuable
and thoughtful book, written by a gifted
American author who died several years
ago in Italy a book showing how to de
velop and strengthen will power, memory
or any other faculty or attribute of the
mind, by the easy process of auto-suggestion.
125 pages ( Brent.. no's. N. Y. )
Bob Thorpe, Sky Fighter a rousing, ex
citing book of adventure for boys, showing
how two American young men who were
aviators la France, did good work In
crushing the Hun (Harcourt. Brace &
Howe. N. Y. )
to came into my office the next day.
T see you have a car," he said.
"'Yes.' I told him. 'A second-hand
one."
" "In your position." he warned me.
'a man should be absolutely aloof from
all temptatione to spend money."
" Well, I can't spend a h I mean
a great deal on a second-hand flivver."
"'No, but It will lead to a desire
for a larger car. And then wll. you
know there have been bank cashiers
who' he coughed.
"Of couree I refused to sell the car.
So he took out the church's deposit
and his personal deposit. Eight or
ten of his parishioners came in the
following morning and hurried their
funds to a place of safety. I sold
the ear.
"Once my wife and I were Invited
to a dinner at a big restaurant where
they had cocktails and wine and the
rest of it. Some rubberneck spotted
us there and got busy around town In
the morning. That cost the bank
about twelve good accounts.
'"Ifs-wlne now; it soon will he
women and eong,' I heard one old
goat say as he went out of the bank
tucking; his money into his trousers
pocket.
"Why, I can't buy the kids new
shoes without its getting around and
starting half a panic. I've been sav
ing for 20 years to get enough money
to build a new house. Do I build it?
I do not. If I was so much as seen
talking to' an architect there'd be a
line in front of the paying teller's
window as soon as the place opened
for business.
Ready Money No Advantage.
"I like to pay my bills promptly,
but I have to let them drag along
from month to month for fear some
body will euspect I have too much
ready money. I got in a terrible jam
In war time. They came after me for
liberty bonds, of course, but as soon
aa I subscribed for $1000 worth the
members of the loan committee looked
at me cross-eyed, and another bank
was selected to handle the funds.
"My wife has been wearing the
same clothes for two years. If she
got a new outfit it would probably
child? My friend, think of It. You.
a lost, fallen, unworthy, sinning,
shameful child of God. If you could
only come to yourself and know
really who you are and what rela
tion you sustain to God, I think you
would not continue In some of the
things you now do.
V
It is the philosophy of the Chris
tian gospel to hav the world by
bringing men to a consciousness of
who and what they are. We call It
the "witness of the spirit," the
"spirit bearing witness with our spirit
that we are the children of God"; a
fine personal consciousness and reali
zation of who we really are and of
what we should rtuly be the chil
dren of God.
You never can win the world by
damning men. God sent not his son
into the world to condemn the world, J
but that the world through him
might be saved. Christ came to seek
and to save the lost children of God.
The second great doctrine of Chris
tianity Is the savtorhood of the divine
Christ. The .third great Christian
doctrine is personal holiness of char
acter, made possible and experienced
by and through the Holy Ghost. The
essential doctrines of Christianity all
center in and spring from the per
sonal nature and character of God as
humanly experienced -God our father,
God our saviour, God the Indwelling
spirit, the triune God, Father, Son,
Holy Ghost.
. Now just take the third doctrine. Do
you know where all the trouble has
been on the question of holiness
not on the fact, not-on-the-fact. There
Is not, that I know of, a communion
of the church of God on earth, the
Roman Catholic church and the Greek
church included, that does not teach
that through Jesus Christ we are
called unto holiness. They all teach
that, but some of them say we do
not realize It in this life, but we will
move on In that direction, and what
we do not reach In this life the pur
gatory fires may make right later on.
but we will have purity and holiness
sooner or later. Purgatory is a pro
vision made for completing the work
of holiness that is not done here.
There may be good logic in purga
tory, but I do not think there is good
teaching ip it, and it has been the
occasion of most shameful abuse;
anyhow, either here or somewhere,
we are to be holy.
How, then, has the controversy
arisen aabout holiness? Well, mostly
among the "deep-diggers" and the
far-seers, who have concluded and
have explained from what they know
of human nature and what they have
thought as to the character and won
of the holy spirit that there must be
a "distinct blessing" or work of grace,
and that they are to get this In the
wreck the bank. When I send the
kids to college I'll have to give out
that a tight-watl uncle of mine who
wouldn't give a cent to his dying
mother is paying all the expenses.
"When my landlord raised the rent
on me last month I had to move to a
cheaper house. I liked the place and
could have stood the rent, but I know
what would have happened If I had
paid It. I can't' even order more than
a ton of coal at a time and will prob
ably freeze to death when the famine
shows up because I won't have any
In the cellar.
"And that isn't the worst of it. The
other day I heard a "couple of de
positors talking on the other side of
the glass-partition. One of them was
saying:
" 'I'm going to go some place else.
I'm sure this guy hasn't got a raise,
and he Just couldn't keep up his fam
ily at these prices on his salary. No
srr. The only way he can do It is to
dip Into the vault and help himself
to your money and mine. We've got
to protect ourselves, that's all. And
they did."
He finished his lunch and rose.
"You lert your check," I said.
"YsDii'll have to pay it." he replied.
"You're one of our depositors, and if
I settle it you'd think I was using
your money."
And he went out.
(Copyright. 1919. by the Bell Syndi
cate. Inc.)
PATIENTS TO GET CHEER
Red Cross and Olympic Club Will
Visit Lettcrmau Hospital.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 20. In every
ward at the Lctterman general hospi
tal here, where sick and wounded
A Million Copy Novel
Your Best and Most Helpful Gift for Christmas
Will Be This New Ozark Story of Life and Love
Harold Bell Wright
Your Favorite Author His Greatest Novel
the re Creation of Brian Kent
Cloth, 12mo., $1.50 Illustrated
The story is as sweet and clean and wholesome as
the atmosphere of the out-of-doors of God's un
spoiled world of the Ozark 'hills. Charming in
description, rich with philosophy, tender and sweet
with pathos and sentiment, characters true as life,
and dramatic with thrilling incidents and tense situ
ations that hold the reader breathless with interest
to the last page.
Other Books by Harold Bell Wright
That Printer of Udell's The Shepherd of the Hills The
Calling of Dan Matthews The Winning of Barbara Worth
Their Yesterdays The Eyes of the World When a Man's
a Man.
Over Eight Million Sold Buy Them Anywhere
Publishers, THE BOOK SUPPLY CO, Chicago
Browse at Your Leisure Among
the Books at
Gill's
"second blessing," etc Then the fuss
began, and out of the extremist and
most intensely pious of Christians In
the Protestant churches we have had
the fiercest fights on "holiness."
I am not speaking carelessly when
I say that some of you have met
cases In your life where persons "were
so holy that the rest of the church
could not get along with them. I
personally have known some who
were so "holy" that their own family
could not get along with them. I
know two such cases now.
Now. where is the trouble? Holi
ness, which Is human character car
ried to its best by the grace and spirit
of God that Is what it is. "Holiness'
is that to which we are called, and
there is not a man or woman in this
house can get up an argument on
he Christian doctrine of Godliness
'and holiness, except the deep-diggers
and mystery-makers!
O brethren, I have said enough.
"The secret things belong to the Lord
our God," but the things that are re
vealed the fatherhood of God, the
savlorhood of Jesus, the reality of
the holy spirit, the experience o'f re
demption and salvation, and the life
of holiness- the things that are re
vealed are for us and for our chil
dren. I beg of you not to lose your
mind in the mysteries of the deep
things of religion. Rather take the
things that are revealed.
Fascinating as it may be. do not
spend your time and waste your
thought and strength In thinking
about the glories and beauties of a
world to come, and what it shall be
like. Do not waste your strength
In imagining and wondering what the
great white throne will be like, and
how It will appear when the Christ
comes in judgment before all the
world. O brethren, these things are
not revealed. This is revealed Jesus
brought it, and It is good enough
and plain enough for anybody. Jesus
said that heaven the place that he
went to heaven is the "father's
house," the "father's house," and in it
there are many rooms, prepared for
the father's children. There is not
anyone who cannot understand that;
a child can understand that, common
folk can understand that. But who
may understand the wonderful, fanci
ful, grotesque pictures of the future
life, the future judgment and the fu
ture destiny as they are often por
trayed by persons of lurid imagina
tion and apocolypttc mysteries?
Do not waste your time and
strength in things that are not re
vealed. The things that are revealed
are moral and vital and belong to
us and to our children; and why?
"That we may follow the law of our
God."
The end of all true and essential
Bible doctrine Is life. The knowledge
of. salvation by and life with God.
soldiers are being cared for, there
will be a big. brilliant Christmas tree
at Christmas time. At every bedside
the Red Cross will have candy, cake
an" tobacco.
Entertainers from the Olymplo club
ot San Francisco will visit each sec
tion of the big hospital, singing and
plnying music selected by the men.
At the hostess house a programme
of music and vaudeville specialties
will b presented.
It is expected several thousand sol
diers will be entertained in private
homes during the holiday.
OREGON HENS SET RECORD
Agricultural College Fowl Beat
World In Kgg 1'roduclion.
CORVALL1S. Or.. Dec. 20. A dozen
hens at the Oregon Agricultural col
lege's farm at Salem, Or., have set a
new world record for egg production,
James S. Dryden, professor at the
college, has announced.
Each of these hens in one year
laid more than 300 eggs, the best
producing 330 and two others 323.
All these hens, according to Profes
sor Dryden. are of the strain that
several years ago developed Lady
McDuff. the lirst hen to have laid
more than 300 eggs a year In a uajj
nest. Her record was 303.
I'uir Stri Knows Beat.
"Yes, grandma." said the fair young
thing. "I am to be married during the
month of January." "But, my dear,"
said the old lady, earnestly, "you are
very young. Do you feel that you are
fitted for married life?" "I am
fitted now, grandma." explained the
prospective bride, sweetly. "Seven,
teen powns and three costumes."
The J. K. Gill Co.
Booksellers, Stationers
Office Outfitters
Third and Alder Sts.
1
1.25