THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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THE POPE ’S TOO LATE CONVERSION The Pope seems to have gradually wakened up to the fact th a t he p u t his money on th e wrong horse in backing the Kaiser. In various ways he has recently indicated his g reat in terest in th e Allies. B u t in th e days in which his in te rest would have counted for something he seemed to show none. Even when his own people were being outraged beyond description he u ttered no word of protest. He never backed even Cardinal Mercier w ith any en thu s iasm, if anything he stood in his way. But now th a t th e Germans are being forced not to destroy cities as they leave them he is trying to get the credit for it. The following came by Asso ciated P ress Day W ire: “Rome, Oct. 22.— An appeal was made to P rince Maxmillian, th e Imper ial German Chancellor, by th e Holy See, asking th a t the Germans refrain from devastating portions of Belgium through which they are retreating , according to the Osservatore Romano, the semiofficial Vatican organ. A reply was received October 13th giving assu r ances th a t categorical instructions have been issued by the German general staff th a t localities should be preserved and respected in every way possible.’’ Now th e tru th is th a t P resid en t Wil son and th e Allies have given th e Ger mans to understand th a t if they con tinued th e ir work of destruction they would have to pay for it. The appeal of the Pope had nothing to do w ith it. If his appeals have any weight w ith th e K aiser why did he not make them long ago against th e awful atrocities of th e past? But he was mum, except in sending fo rth peace appeals th a t were evidently instigated a t Berlin. Whoever comes ou t of th is present con flict w ith glory, th e Pope df Rome will come out covered w ith shame.— R. A. T.
THE NEW YEAR God make your year a happy one—- Not by shielding you from all sorrow and pain, but by streng then ing you to bear it if it comes. Not by making your path easy, but by making you stu rdy enough to tread any path. Not by tak ing hardships from you, bu t by tak ing all cowardice and fear from your h ea rt as you meet hardship. Not by g ran ting you unbroken sun shine, bu t by keeping your face brigh t even in the shadows. Not by making your life always pleas ant, bu t by showing you where men and his cause need you most and by making you zealous to be th ere and to help. Not by keeping you from b attle but by bringing you off every field more than conqueror through Christ “who loves you.” God make your year a happy one!^— Selected. THE CELLARS OF AFFLICTION Samuel R utherford used to say “when I find myself in the cellars of affliction, I look about for the Kings wine.” He would look for the wine bottles of the prom ises and drink rich d raugh ts of vitalizing grace. T h at is the best deliv erance in all affliction, to be made ,so sp iritu ally exh ilaran t th a t we can rise above it on the wings of God’s promises.
GOOD RULE FOR 1919
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, A t all the times you can, To all th e people you can, As long as ever you can.
When th e way is blocked, use the blocks to m ount upon.
— JOHN WESLEY.
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