117
March 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
The Bishop and the Flamingo Bishop Taylor-Smith, of Great Britain, tells the following incident. It is one of many wonderful stories of his missionary journeys in Africa. He, the only white man in the party, was making his way through the jungle with his native servants and helpers when he met an African carrying a flamingo. The cruel way in which the bird was tied, swinging head downward, roused the bishop’s anger. Himself helping, he made the savage release the bird which scurried into the bushes before its surprised cap- tor realized what had happened. When the owner did understand what had taken place, he turned and without a word ran as fast as he could go. This somewhat surprised the bishop, but the black men of his company understood and were par alyzed with fear. But, at the bishop’s bidding, preparations for his supper and night’s rest continued. As he was enjoy ing his meal, the chief dish of which was a wild bird, the bishop heard drums beat ing and coming nearer as he listened. Looking at his men, he saw them stand ing as if rooted to the ground with ter ror written on their faces. One of them, with chattering teeth, told his master that the drums announced the coming of the flamingo man’s tribe; they were coming to kill them all for the insult. It was a serious matter indeed, but the bishop knew at least the first thing to do. So, while he ate (for he did not stop), he prayed. Soon a mad mob of black men swarmed into the clearing with shouts and brandishing weapons. They were led by their chief, and beside him capered, in fiendish glee, the flamingo man. The bishop looked up, bowed, smiled, and with out a word went on eating. This sur prised the band so much that they did not know what to do. A man not afraid of them! Never was such a thing known. Who was this man? At last the chief approached, and the bishop arose, still quietly and in no haste. He then bowed low as he offered to the chief the leg of the bird that he had been eating so leisurely. The effect was start ling—even to the bishop—and also myster ious. He had unknowingly done just the right thing, and his men as well as the intruders showed their satisfaction. The chief took the bone as ceremoniously as it was offered, and, after picking and eating a shred of the meat (the bishop wondering at his finding it), he turned and shared with his men such morsels as there were. Then they all crowded near, showing every evidence of friendliness. The bishop had showed them an honor not to be despised in sharing with them his food, especially that from which he had eaten. Why did the bishop do this? Some might say, “To gain time.” But the man of God knew that the thought which led to the action was given him by the One who says: “Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver - thee” (Psa. 50:15).
The Story of the Great King By H elen H owarth L emmel
i DAM was very happy in the Gar den of Eden, but the Great King desired still more happiness for him. He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” So He f made a woman, and gave her to Adam to be his wife. Eve was living.” And that is what Eve was—the first mother in all the world. But where all this time was Satan, the wicked prince ? He was not far away. Through the long ages after he and his bad angels were cast down from the Kingdom of Marvelous Light, they had roamed the air and the frozen, ruined earth. He had seen all that God had done. He knew that Adam had been given the power that once was his. He knew that Adam had a place even nearer to the Great King than his own had been. And a wicked plan came into his heart. “Perhaps I can win this man and wo man to serve me instead of God. If I can once make them believe me and dis obey Him, He will perhaps drive them from His presence too. I will go to the woman.” With the power that was still his, he entered into a serpent, and went into the garden. Although the Book of the Great King does not tell us all that was said, it would be something like the following: “Beautiful Eve, you are happy in your garden, are you not?” ■ “Happy indeed, my Serpent, for the Great King has given us everything to make us happy.” “What has He given you?” Satan would ask. “He has given Adam and me to each other, with all these dear creatures of the garden to love and serve u s; and of them all, my Serpent, you are one of the wisest and most beautiful. But best of all, God, the gracious King, comes in to the garden to walk and talk with us. We are happiest then. For all His good ness to us, we will love and serve Him all our days.” “And the fruit of the trees—is it good to the taste?”
“Good indeed, and we many eat of it freely.” “The fruit of all the trees?” “No, not all. There is one in the midst of the garden, the fruit of which we may not eat.” “Why? What said He of that tree?” “He said—but why, my Serpent, do you ask? It is not for Adam and me to question. It is for us to obey, if for no other reason than to prove our love and obedience; surely that is a little thing. Just one tree in all this great, glorious garden!” “Beautiful Eve, what said He of that tree?” “He said that in the day we ate of it, we should surely die.” “Beautiful Eve, you have said truly that the creatures of the garden love and would serve you. You have said that I am wise. I say to you that in the day that you eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, you shall not surely die. God knows that if you eat of it, you will be wise as He is wise.” And Eve believed the serpent rather than God, and at last ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree. And because Adam loved her, he ate, when she offered it to him. Thus sin entered the world through Satan, into whom, as Lucifer, it entered, in the Kingdom of Marvelous Light. By sin, death came into the world that day, and that is what God meant when He said, “In the day that thou eatest, thou shalt surely die.” In the day that they ate, • death instead of life became the rule in the world, because, as the Book of the Great King says, “the wages (or that which sin brings) of sin is death.” (To be continued) — o — Count Them How many letters of the alphabet are there in Ezra 7 :21 ? —o— Will you pray this month for missions to Jewish children in this and other countries; also for children in Africa?
her name, and that means “mother of all
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