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February 14, 19121 TH1 1
THE RED ROAD.
BY J. H. JOWETT.
During a recent holiday 1 was crossing the
shoulder of one of the lower, the Furren Alp,
whose bold, rocky head looks down into the
lovely valley of Engelbery. My guide-book told
me that I should reach a place where the visible
track would cease, but it vouch-safed no further
information. I reached the place, and with the
place the end of the beaten road. For a time
I wandered about uncertainly, guided only by
the somewhat vague and capacious counsels of a
compass. And then I caught sight of what seemed
like a splash of blood upon a rock, and then
at some little distance another rock similarly
splashed, each one I came to bringing into view
another further away. And then I inferred that
these were to be my dumb guides across the
trackless waste: I was to follow the blood-marks!
By the red road 1 should reach my destination.
Those red marks upon the Fiirren Alp brought
me back to myself, to my ministry and to my
people. I seemed to see more clearly than I had
ever seen before that the only wise and safe
course for them and for me and for all men. in
the midst of our trackless years, is to follow the
red marks and to pursue the sacrificial life. "If
any man will come after me," let him follow the
red road. "Let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow me."
But what is the sacrificial lifef It is life with
the emphasis placed upon our brother. It is
life devoid of unlovely aggression. Its main enterprises
are impersonal crusades. It is selfcurbed
and harnessed, with strength enlisted in
the public service. The sacrificial life is life
pooled for the public good. It has many varied
expressions. It may enshrine itself in lavish devotion
to some noble cause, or in the glorious
service of a people, or in selfish ministry in the
home, or in the unwearying service of little children,
or in the patient and chivalrous befriend~c
?j i 1? ?a ? i
lug ui sunt huu uupeiess outcasts, i ne expression
may vary, but the spirit is one; it has many
types, but a common movement. The emphasis
gathers round about the brother,* and self is
effaced.
And so the sacrificial life is the cultivation of
a certain way of thinking. It is the culture of
the inclusive mood. It is discipline in mental
hospitality. The mind is not a cloistered cell,
but "a house with many mansions," in which
our fellows have high and distinguished place.
Now it does appear as though some people have
much of this mental inclusiveness by nature.
They seem to be comprehensive from their childhood.
But to the majority of us it only comes
as "a second nature." Self is uppermost and
needs to be crucified, and we may depend upon
it that the real self-crucifixion takes place in the
realm of the mind. It is there that self must be
faoo/l ari/1 ?li !! # ? *** *?? *1 **.*2 <>>*.1 -1- - ?
*uwu uiiu iuugui, auu intanj nuuuui'U HUU ami LI.
The effects of the fight will be seen in outer conduct,
but the real struggle is within. The blood
of self, slain in secret, will stain outward, and
crimson all the issues of life. "Who is this that
cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from
Bozrahf . . . Wherefore art thou red in thim
apparel? ... I have trodden the tcineprcs*
alone." That is it? The outer vesture of life will
bear the marks of sacrifice when there has been a
lonely struggle with self, and self lies atrieken
and overthrown. Our garments will be sprink ed
with blood, but the blood will be our own. We
shall "bear the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Now the red road is the way of life. If life
consisted in "the abundance of things" whHi a
roan possesseth, then I think selfishness might
carry the victorious flag. Bnt life consists in
moral health, in mental soundness, in nndis^srd
and harmonious powara, in waalth of fellowship,
PElBBfTEBIAN 07 THS SC
in refilled appreciation, in richee of affection, in
a secret glow not to be chilled by gusty circumstance,
in a peace placed beyond the assaults of
the tempestous day. This is life?a pure heart,
a clear quiet eye, and the perception of the unfolding
harmonies of God's richly varied world
T say the red track makes for this kind of life.
We can test the truth in any sphere we please,
and we shall find that self-crucifixion is the way
to vital enrichment. By self-erncifixion we
acquire a new telepathic equipment: or shall I
rather say. we unpack one. We enter Into finer
correspondencies with humanity, and we possess
a more intimate way into the secrets of natnre.
When self is overthrown, unexpected avenues
open on every side.
And the red road is the way of communion
with the Divine. Here, too, the principle holds.
We become telepathic toward our God. We apprehend
our Lord just in that part of our being
in which we resemble him. When a man
takes up his cross, and marches up the red road,
he will surely know something of the heart of
Jesus Christ, and will enter into sympathy with
his deepest purpose. The trouble is, that in so
many of our lives our eyes are "enclased in fat,"
and wc cannot see him. We are blinded by selfindulgence,
and we have no deep communion
with the deeper things of God. We shall see
more of the secret of the Atonement along the
red road than in a lifetime spent in selfish, bloodless
quest in books. "In thv liffh* shnl! ? ??
light."
And the red road is the path of noblest influence
with our fellows. Self-denial strikes the
common life with tremendous impact. And I do
not wonder at this. The self-crucified man becomes
identified?nay. incorporated?with the
Lord Jesus Christ. There flows into him and
through him the native powers of the Infinite,
the impressive virtue of the Almiehty. The
sacriflcial life is one with Chri?t. and it is hound
to te'l. Tf the Chnreh of the livine Ood were
sacrificial she would thrill the world.?The
Christian World.
THE DREADNAUGHT.
Th* invincible dreadnaught,
Harveyized steel bell-wrought!
TTWvnrr.1.... A .
. .Vt.uiu6 uuhu tu auuguiea sea:
Has It come at length to be
That we must win the glorious boon of peace
At such a price that war would be release?
"In time of peace prepare
for war?" The hideous blare
Of the fierce Bellona's horn
Thus insults the roseate morn;
And lo! Furies crouch to rouse their ire.
And whelm the nat'ons in a sea of fire.
Titanic engines fash
Over the waves, and crash
Alike Jei.ovah'8 thunder!
And fools awake to wonder
How marvelous and wise has modern man
Become, since but a savage he began.
A savage! Ah, forsooth,
If we would see the truth,
'lis not the Christly culture,
But 'tis the ancient vulture
Which even In our day would journey far
To glut its lust upon the carcass, war.
The Christ who came to men.
And sendeth yet again
To find His image in us.
Or that bis love may win us,
Shall He be pleased to see on every swell
Infernal engines of the nether hell?
It is a dreadful lie!
And . ations nadly vie
To fling th* Insult to Heaven,
An tempt th* avenging levin.
rui uiud 11 cuud, who spread tne reaay snare
Shall wake to And their own Nemesis there.
Oh terrible dreadnought!
Harveylied siee! hell-wrought,
Frowning down th* sfTrirhted ssa!
How long, O !.?ord, shall it be
That fear and murder is, or far or near.
The only wisdom that the world will bear?
araaaah, Va Isafriala a Also mav.
I U I H " (149) 5
THE ELDER'S REWARD.
C. C. WYLJK.
The Elder was a busy man. For five years his
business had grown each year until he was one
of the commercial leaders in the new city. Day
by day it was a race with the fleeing hours so as
to keep up with the demands made upon him.
Sometimes it seemed as if he must drop out of
the work he had been doing for the Church. He
sorely needed the Sunday for rest and recreation.
His life was full enough without adding
to it the duties of an Elder.
To-day he had been around his district distributing
the cards for the coming communion.
It had been almost impossible to escape from his
office where much called for his attention.
He was near the end of his task and in spite
of himself the thought was forced upon him that
he was wasting precious time. Some one less
active might have taken his place and perhaps
done the work better.
His last visit was to the home of a laborer who
had just returned from his day's toil. As the
Elder told his mission and gave the cards the
man said: "I tell you mister, to see a busy man
like you doing this kind of work makes a fellow
feel there is something worth while in relisrion."
The Elder went ont and as with lightened step
he hastened homeward his heart told him that
life's greatest investments are not made in land
but in souls.
HOW TO HELP IN CHURCH WORK.
Be alive.
Be God *8.
Be patient.
Don't balk.
Never quit.
Be hopefuL
Keep sweet.
Be a Christian.
Don't be an idler.
Don't pretend?be.
Be loving at home.
Be present at church services.
Do not be easily weather-scared.
Expect much good and you'll get it.
Have room in your heart for children.
Be early and take a seat well forward.
Don't talk sugar and live vinegar, and don't
talk vinegar.
Don't wait to be better clothed. Do the best
you can and come.
Send or carry the Gospel?or help?to every,
body, everywhere.
If the pastor or singers are helpful to you,
tell them so. It helps.
Make your home God's house and you 11 be at
home in God's house.
See that there's no spiritual iceberg in your
Sabbath (or week day) suit.
"When you ride or walk take Jesus Christ?
the loving, happy Christ with you.
"Now, look pleasant," as the photographers
say. "Be not of a sad countenance."
But do not try to get people who already have
a church home to ehumrp
- ? O" *" / ?*
Pray for yourself, the home, the country, the
church and the great needy multitudes.
Ask others to attend church with you. Do
it so heartily they will know you want them.
Keep your wireless telephone connected with
our Father, both to speak with and to hear him.
The religion that eounts is not a commodity,
but God personally with us. We need him. not it.
Be specific, too. Pray for pastor, the singers,
workers, young, needy ones and the troubled.
Be careful to see that strangers are welcome
and welcomed at your ehurrh. It's lonely, being
a stranger.?H. K. Partridge, hi Cwmlcrtoad
? WiPjf I ffWb