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THE GEORGIAN’S NEWS BRIEFS.
9
FUNDAMENTALS
IV.—CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
A SERMON BY REV. W. H. FAUST. LEXINGTON. GA.
THE DUEL
A Short Story By Rene Maizeroy
Text: “Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye looking- into Heaven? This
Jesus which was received up from
you into Heaven shall so come in like
manner as ye beheld Him going into
Heaven.”—Acts i: 11.
Christ in speaking to His sorrow
ing disciples had said, “I will come
again and receive .you unto Myself;
that where I am 'there ye may be
also,” and in their dark hour of grief
they Ifad accepted it, and handed
down the consoling fact to their suc
cessors. There are few more com
forting doctrines than this in the
Bible—the coming of the King to
establish© before all the world His
kingdom and to own and crown all
His loyal and true subjects. We have
too long made this a more or less
gloomy truth, and when speaking or
referring to it we have used lan
guage more adapted to departure
than to advent, more pitiful than
joyful. But to the true follower of
his Lord, the contemplation of His
return, clad in power and glory,
amidst throngs of angelic beings
shouting hosannas, can but mean
lasting joy, and much profitable con
templation can be spent upon so im
portant an event. If Christ never
comes again, then our hope is vain
and we are as a bride without a
bridegroom,
Not Death.
Some day we shall stand face to
face with the Death Angel and yield
to his demands and shuffle off this
mortal coil and go home to our eter
nal reward. For century after cen
tury men have lived and died and
gone home to God, but thinking men
have never confused the death of a
saint with the coming of a Saviour.
Men who think now don’t confuse
the death of believers with the sec
ond advent of our Lord, but the trou
ble is when this subject presents it
self for consideration we fail to let
our minds work. That day, w'hen
from Olivet the disciples had watched
His ascension and the waiting angels
had told them that in like manner He
would come again, they hoped and
waited, prayed and expected His re
turn. Even now we unthoughtedly
criticise those who really at any mo
ment look for His coming and refer
to them as religious fanatics.- Not
so Paul in I Thess. v:l, for he says:
“But concerning the times and the
season, brethren, ye have no need
that ought be written unto you. For
yofirselves know perfectly that the
day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. When they are
saying peace and safety, then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child, and
they shall in no wise escape. ’ Mat
thew 1 , in reefrring to the second com
ing, says: “For as the lightning com
eth forth from the east and is seen
even unto the west, so shall be toe
coming of the Son of Man.
^ No One Knows Exact Time.
Not even the angels in heaven know
the exact day and hour. Because of
this it behooves all men to watch, for
at the very hour when we least expect
Him He is liable to come. Some seem
to feel that this wondrous doctrine
encourages slovenliness and indiffer
ence, but not so. Servants are left
by the Master in the fields to work
while he goes off on a journey, prom
ising them a sudden return and re
wards to the faithful. Instead of
slovenliness and neglect they mani
fest neatness and energy and perse
verance, because when the Master
comes they desire to be ready, with
their work performed and tasks fin
ished, so that they may meet with
their Lord’s approbation. And so it
is with the Christian who toils on
day after day, expecting his Christ to
return. Because of this very uncer
tainty watchfulness is encouraged.
Yonder is a great factory. Inside are
numbers of operatives and numerous
spindles and machines going. ine
owners hire and expect mechanics.to
look after the work and keep the ma
chines going. The machines are run
ning smoothly, because he knows not
at what time something might occur
to stop the machinery. Because he
doesn't know the exact moment a bolt
might become loose and stop work,
he is all the more watchful. Is it not
thus with the workers in His vine
yard? Because they know not the
exact moment of His return they are
all the more watchful to be ready
w hen He does put in His appearance.
Importance of Preparation.
The thrifty housewife as she re
members the promised visit of some
important guest gets busy and makes
ready for his appearance. The yards
are made ready, the house swept and
garnished and the larder filled with
good things to eat. In fact, every
thing that could in any way look to
ward the pleasure and comfort of the
guest is provided. Now, is it not
worth while to prepare for Christ’s
coming? A short while ago a new
administration came in, and a new
President was to be inaugurated in
the United States. The citizens of
the entire Union began to make prep
aration for the event, and w r hen-
Woodrow Wilson took the oath of
office and came to the people as ruler
for the next four years there was a
great time in the nation’s Capital. The
scenes of festivity, the throngs of
visitors, the marching soldiers, the
playing bands, the long lines of pa-
raders, the grandstand cheerers. and
all the money and time and effort
spent in preparing for the event.
Why? Because the ruler of the great
est nation on earth was coming to
his kingdom that day. So all the
time and money and effort that we
could possibly expend until our Lord’s
second advent would be worth while,
because when He puts in His appear
ance again all the kingdoms of this
world will become the kingdoms of
our Lord and His Christ, and the
perils of the preparation will be for
gotten in the crisis of the consum
mation.
Churches Need to Prepare.
A casual observer can note the lack
of spiritual power in our churches
to-day. The mechanical aspect of
church life is all that could be de
sired in many flocks. The buildings
are splendid and well adapted to the
needs of worship. Hundreds and hun
dreds of thousands of dollars are
placed in large structures of granite
and marble and slate, and towers
that send their glittering spires
heavenward are seen on every hand.
Pews, cushioned, soft, finished in
hardwoods are the comfort of hosts
of church-goers. Music that satisfies
the souls of connoisseurs can be
heard in almost any of the churches
in large cities. Agencies, such as
the mission boards, educational com
mittees, B. Y. P. U.’s, Y. M. C. A.’s,
Epworth Leagues, Royal Ambassa
dors, Sunbeam Bands, prayer meet
ings, teachers training classes,
ladies’ aids and hosts of other or
ganizations within the church are at
work, but, after all, it is the spirit
ual, not the mechanical, aspects that
need to be stressed and strengthened.
Man looks on the outward appearance
and is satisfied. God looks within the
heart and desires more spiritual prep
aration, more loyal, unselfish service.
More of the sacrificing spirit of Jesus;
more of the faith that overcomes the
world when He puts in His appear
ance will He be delighted to find
manifest among His churches.
Homes Need to Prepare.
Again, with all the culture and re
finement that exists to-day, with all
that wealth can add to our homes
to make them attractive and pleasant,
they are not ahead of the standard
set up by God in the beginning.
There is a spirit of restlessness that
bodes no good, manifest in country
and city. A great cry is being raised
in our rural sections concerning the
fact .that our brightest boys and most
beautiful girls are yielding to the
lure of the city and are leaving their
homes. In the city the cry is that
home life is too tame and the boys
and girls are going out to theaters
and beer gardens and places of
amusement, and day and night are
searching in all manner of forbidden
and hurtful places for pleasure. If
we would only remember that Jesus
Christ is the unseen guest in every
home, the listener to every conversa
tion, we would have better homes. If
wo could once get the fact fixed
in our minds that we are simply
tabernacles here and that our real
home is beyond this life, we would
then recognize the importance of
preparing our homes for the coming
of the Lord. Study the visit of the
death angel to the homes of Egypt
and apply its lessons to our homes
as concerns the second coming of our
great King to reign and rule forever
and forever.
Individuals Need to Prepare.
The followers of Christ during the
years immediately following His as
cension doubtless expected He would
come again, but not in their day.
Then century after century rolled
away, and now, to-day, men lecture
on the doctrine and feel that He is
coming, but they feel that it will not
be in their day, but in the distant
future. The now—the present—fails
to impress as it should. As individ
uals composing the homes and
churches of our country we need to
put a new emphasis upon this great
doctrine. From pulpit and press should
come no uncertain teachings regard
ing this fundamental doctrine. When
temptation comes we should resist,
being strengthened by the fact that
at any moment Jesus might come. We
should go nowhere, do no thing, speak
no word that we would not be willing
for Christ to see and hear us. Facing
this gracious doctrine we should pray
for cleansing from all impurity and
sin, for Divine guidance and direction,
for the abiding presence of the Spirit
to lead us in all the ways of truth
and righteousness, so that when at
last the King in His beauty shall
come He shall find us clothed in the
garments of His righteousness, ready
and waiting for His advent. When
the day, oh Lord, shall come may we
every one be enabled to stand in His
presence joint-heirs with Him to all
the glories of Heaven.
Up-to-Date Jokes
“That last thing you sent in was
good,” said the editor; “we all enjoyed
reading it very, much.”
“Well, in that case,” said the youthful
poet, “I take back what I said in the
letter I wrote to you yesterday about
my determination never to send you
any of my work again.”
The editor slowly shook his head.
“Don’t do that,” he murmured; “why,
that letter is what I referred to!”
• * •
“Noodles is the laziest man I know.
He has an invention fixed so that bj
merely pulling a wire in bed he can
light the fire; but that doesn’t seem to
improve matters.”
“Why not?”
“He’s too lazy to pull the wire.”
* • •
Purchaser—But is the parrot a good
bird? I mean, I hope he doesn’t use
dreadful language.
Dealer—’E’s a saint, lady; sings ’ymns
beautiful, and I ’ad some parrots wot
used to swear something hawful, but, if
you'H believe me, lady, this ’ere bird
converted the lot
I had left ihe train at Plaqueville and
was now walking across the vineyards.
I walked slowly through this country,
where I knew almost every house, al
though I had not been here since I was
a child. I was now on my way to Metz
to take lunch with two old relations,
who had not had the strength to tear
themselves loose from their beloved
country, even when it fell into the hands
of the hated enemy.
I had deliberately crossed the line
marked by the black and white sign-
poses that surround the plain of Ban-
Saint-Martin. I remembered the tragic
days of the siege, when regiments were
camping here in the mud, discouraged,
forced to remain inactive against their
will by their miserable commanders,
waiting in vain for the command to try
by a supreme effort to break through the
human barrier, which was drawn around
them closer and closer every month. I
saw once more the Esplande and Place
Royal, with their long dark lines of
wagons transformed into ambulances,
and the statue of Marshal Ney, with the
colors which Lieutenant Chabal tore
out of the hands of a Westphalian of
ficer.
In front of me large bodies of troops
came filing out from the immense bar
racks, squadron after squadron.
Suddenly, I do not know for what
reason, everything went to smash. The
troopers shouted, wheeled about, rushed
right and left like a flock of sheep scared
by the appearance of a wolf. Excited
officers shouted and cursed, rose in
their stirrups, waved their swords;
quartermasters addressed the troopers,
tried to calm them and make them try
over again the complicted evolution in
which they had failed; cuffed them,
swore at them and threatened them.
I was delighted at this unexpected
sight, and only wished I had my camera.
I laughed aloud at the sheepish expres
sion in the faces of those clumsy farm
boys who had lost their heads com
pletely, who swayed in their saddles and
clung to the manes of their mounts.
One of the captains discovered my
presence and my amused expression. He
made a rush for me immediately, but
I did not budge. He contracted his
brows, bit his teeth together and turned
quite livid with fury. The points of
his blonde mustache quivered and his
steely blue eyes shot fire. He was broad
shouldered, high-chested and his ex
pression was insolent. He wore the blue
tunic and uniform of the Bavarian drag
oons.
“What are you doing here?” he roared
in German. “Nobody is permitted to
trespass on this field. It is written
on the signboards.”
I feigned not to understand him and
did not answer.
“Are you deaf,” he screamed, “or are
you a d d French cur?”
I forced myself not to reply to this
last insult and remained silent.
He then decided to address me in my
own language, which was rather diffi
cult to him.
“Monsieur,” he said slowly, “I can
not allow a foreigner to spy on us and
laugh at us. I want to teach impudent
louts like you a wholesome lesson and
show you that we are the masters here
I will have you taken to the nearest
police station by four of our men.”
I shrugged my shoulders and said sar
castically:
“Do as you please. Might is right here
now. I suppose, but allow me first to
give you my name. Jean Rosarieulles,
and I have the honor of holding the
same rank in the French cavalry as
you hold in yours. Let me add that if a
similar accident in my regiment oc
curred and I had been annoyed by dis
covering a German officer enjoying the
sight of it, I would not have lost my
temper, but would calmly have chal
lenged him for his untimely mirth.”
Fortunately the man was not a coarse
Prussian. The lesson took effect imme
diately. He straightened himself up, sa
luted stiffly and mastered himself. We
exchanged cards.
Pourparlers were held and seconds
were chosen. Two fellow officers acted
for Count Ludwig von Sonnenthal; a
young doctor and a pensioned French
colonel who had lost an arm at Grave-
lotte for me.
The duel took place at dawn the next
day in a secluded garden in a suburb of
Metz. We fought with sabers and I can
not tell you how happy I felt when our
swords crossed. I had already risked
my skin in other encounters over mere
trifles, but this time I felt a different
being; it was as if I represented France,
and as if this combat was the preludium
of new battles between our hostile
races, as if the tricolors and the blacx
and white standard were about to try
their strength once more.
I saw in the captain’s cold, steely eyes
that he was inspired by the same feeling
of deadly hatred.
We fought furiously, but growing more
and more excited, my adversary exposed
himself for a fraction of a second and
my saber cut his shoulder to the bone.
His arm fell limp, the blood gushed from
the gasping wound and he fell back into
the arms of his seconds.
And while the surgeons busied them
selves with him the veteran of 1870
embraced me and whispered into my
ear:
“Bravo, my boy! That makes me for
get the loss of my arm. Vive la France!”
An hour later one of the Bavarian
officers generously conducted me back
across the frontier.
By Force of Habit.
Sandy had come to London for the
holidays, and, being solely on pleas
ure bent, resolved for once in his
life to do himself really well.
Accordingly, on the day following
his arrival, he entered the grill room
of a first-class restaurant and or
dered a lamb chop for lunch.
After a long delay, the waiter re
turned, deposited a chop of micro
scopical proportions on the table, and
then retired.
“I say,” bellowed the lusty son of
Scotland after his retreating form,
“waiter!”
“Yes, sir,” replied the imperturable
one.
“Where’s my chop?”
The waiter said nothing; merely
looked at the Scotsman’s plate. So
Sandy followed his gaze. Then:
“Sony!” he remarked. “You’re
quite right At first I thought it was
crack in the dish!”
HOME
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
Copyright, 1913, by American-Journal-Examiner.
T HE greatest words are always solitaires,
Set singly in one syllable; like birth,
Life, love, hope, peace. I sing the worth
Of that dear word toward which the whole world fares—
I sing of home.
To make a home, we should take all of love,
And much of labor, patience, and keen joy,
Then mix the elements of earth’s alloy
With finer things drawn from the realms above,
The spirit-home.
There should be music, melody and song;
Beauty in every spot; an open door
And generous, sharing of the pleasure store
With fellow pilgrims as they pass along,
Seeking for home.
Make ample room for silent friends—the books—
That give so much and only ask for space.
Nor let Utility crowd out the vase
Which has no use save gracing by its looks
The precious home.
To narrow bounds, let mirrors lend their aid
And multiply each gracious touch of art.
And let the casual stranger feel the part—
The great creative part—that love has played
Within the home.
Here bring your best in thought and word and deed,
Your sweetest acts, your highest self-control;
Nor save them for some later hour and goal.
Here*is the place, and now tbe time of need.
Here in your home.