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12 | Pray< CAUSES OF Week Beginning The prophet begins by upon inc people ana exiu mourn and be girded with i ments would especially affei material estates. The prod ed by vast multitudes of ii of water were to be dried over fields and through fo and the herds of cattle w< had no pasture. The people were exhorte emn assembly and to gathe the Lord, and to cry unto 1 God's hand was in that wh to know that it was his cl for the day! for the day of struction from the Almigh army of extraordinary fierct make desolate their land if To avert these distressei turn to the Lord with all with weeping and with m< and the assurance is given slow to anger and of great The exhortation is repeal the congregation, assemble The priests, the ministers o "Spare thy people O Lord proach, that the heathen s] promises made that the Lc and pity his people, and i proach among the heathen. Great temporal prosperitj turning to the Lord. The I were to yield their abundan to "be not afraid," for the spring afresh. The rains we the floors were to be full ol flow with wine and oil. Thi and rejoice in the Lord. T satisfied and praise the nan: drously with them. The < snecial favor of thoir f!oH am in the midst of Israel a We are concerned especia that nation that reverence! law. His sovereignty in the of mankind is supreme. If because in his infinite kindi national prosperity it is be< there is contentment in the he administers their affairs tional peace, it is because i the earth. If we have just king's heart is in the hands me rivers 01 waters wneres There Is a tendency In hu God at the very time that 1 blessings and distinguishing humiliating commentary on in perceiving and construini less this very tendency had time that Joel wrote hq pr most fearful decree that the their guilt and peril. It Is under the curse that was 1 aiatonov in ah r maioriollaM, oiuiuuuj m 11 vui iiiaiuiiuu^tr elation of God's claims up will bring the curse upon i form as terrifying as was ei people. THE PRESBYTERIAN *r Meeting | THANKSGIVING. Nov. 21. Joel 2:21-27. proclaiming impending judgment >rts them to be warned, lament, 3ackcloth. These threatened judg r?t tlio nnnnlo i n thoir tamnni-nl on/1 lucts of the soil would be destroynsects, by drouths?for the rivers up and by fires that would sweep rests. The beasts ^ere to groan ?re to be perplexed because they d to sanctify a fast, to call a solr with their elders in the house of lim. They were to recognize that ich they were about to suffer and lastisement for their sins. "Alas the Lord is at hand, and as a defy shall it come." A conquering mess and power was to invade and they did not repent, s the people were admonished to their heart and with fasting and aurning and to rend their heart; that God is eracious and merciful. kindness. Led, to gather the people, sanctify the elders, gather the children, if the Lord were to weep and say: and give not thine heritage to rehould rule over them." Then the >rd would be jealous for his land would no more make them a rer was to follow this repenting and fields and vineyards and orchards ce and the beasts of the field were pasture of the wilderness would re to come in their proper season; wheat and vessels were to overe children of Zion were to be glad ney were to eat in plenty and be le of the Lord that had dealt won;ffect of their discipline and the would be, "Ye shall know that I nd that I am the Lord your God." illy with the promise of bounty to i God's authority and honors his temporal affairs of his people and we have bountiful harvests it is less he bestows them. If there is ;ause he is our supreme ruler. If midst of the people it is because i. If there is internal or internale rules among the inhabitants of and wise rules it is because "The of the Lord and he turneth it as oever he will." man nature to feel independent of lie is most lavishly bestowing his ; his people by his favor. It is a our ingratitude and our stupidity g the realities of our life. Doubtbecome dominant in Israel at the ophecy; and it was only by this iy were aroused to a conviction of possible that America may come threatened by this prophet. Perc mania and our practical renunon our reverence and obedience is, that may be in degree and in rer threatened against his ancient f OF THE SOUTH. On the other hand grateful a bounty is the condition upon whi< that bounty continued; and what i dition upon which God's gifts are real and highest happiness. As a "He hath not dealt so with any ni we live is the most favored of th limitless are its resources. Year al "ruin front hoovon -. v/4.1 hvutvu auu nuiuui nt'il place among the nations, which is portunity for moulding the futuri other age or nation has possessed, of this trust and devoutly fulfil thl Young People "THE BATTLE OF Topic for Sunday, November 28: 1 tie of the Slum." Lt DAILY READ Monday: The way downward. Tuesday: Exceeding bitterness. Wednesday: Prodigals in the si rnursaay: The Saviour in the Friday: The slum worth saving Saturday: Tears for the city. L The problem of the slum is but o: missions. That the slum is found city missions still keeps It close phase of home missions. The slum is as inevitable as sin worst forms congested. And it is i that it is intensfied and increased, "loves company,", and binds its vo Many n time, however, denizens willingly. Wives are carried by 1 ents, not by consent. Poverty has I quarters of the purlieus of better And all in the slums, whether un' souls to be saved. Jesus came to Were he here today, could we beli the wretched streets and the more ters of these souls? The problem is not to be dealt v rious. Those who go "slumming,' gratifying a morbid curiosity. So I concerned thev are nlavinp' with fit roaring. There are those who may safelj parts of our cities. They are not t the old, the settled, the recognize Salvation Army people have been ment of work. Only as one goes into this work i need one expect to accomplish got purity, his tact, his tenderness, his men must be in the heart and mind worker here. "Social settlements" have been results have seemed to vary, so thi ioi miiit-ci juai now iar mey will i apart from the religion of Christ experiments they will do little pen Institutional churches have not i and are not likely to do so Amus something to do are not enough, inner life. Their work is too muc working from the circumference from the center to the clrcumferen The invitation to the gospel feat nate people of the slum no less t rich. "Go out quickly into the stri and bring in hither the poor, and and the blind. Go out into the I compel them to come In, that my l November 17, 1909. ppreciation of the dlv.ine ?h we may expect to have 8 more important, the conto be most fruitful to our people we may truly sav. ition." The land In which e earth, How vast, almost [ter year God has given us isons." He has given us a second to none, and an opb of mankind such as no Shall we be found worthy is mission? 's Societies 1 THE SLUM." Home Missions: "The Baiuke 14:15-23. INGS. rroverDs 1:20-23. Jeremiah 2:9-19. uin. Luke 15:11-32. slum. Luke 5:29-32. ;. Luke 7:36-50. -uke 19:41-46. ne of the problems of home only in the city and is for to us as a most practical . it is sin in some of the sin brought so close to sin Sin no less than misery taries together, of the elums are not there lusbands, children by parforced many into the cheap life and homes, willingly or of choice, have seeK and to save the lost, eve that he would pass by ! wretched homes or quarkith as a fad. It Is too se' as it Is called, are only far as they themselves are e, with the flames already r and wisely go into such he young or the giddy, but d wise and discreet. The most usual in this departis Christ would have gone, >d in it. His purpose, his yearning for the souls of i and hands and lips of the tried in the slums Their at it can hardly yef be de t?rove enecuve. uertainly and solely as sociological manent good, so far solved the problem ement, entertainment, and They do not reach to the h surface work, too much to the center Instead of ce. it is to go to the unfortuban to the palaces of the seta and lanes of the city, the maimed, and the halt, tlghways and hedges, and touse may be filled." \