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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.