ANNUAL BOOK NUMBER VOL. IV NOVEMBER, 1913 NO. 11
FIFTY CENTS A YEAR
MOTTO: “I the Lord do keep it. I will water it every moment lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.”—Is. 27:3 THE KING’S BUSINESS R. A. TORREY, Editor J. H. SAMMIS, T. C. HORTON, J. H. HUNTER, Associate Editors Entered as Second-Class matter November 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Organ of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles [Inc.] Auditorium Building, Cor. Fifth and Olive, Los Angeles, California. Lyman Stewart, President. Rev. A. B. Prichard, Vice-President. J. M. Irvine, Secretary-Treasurer. T. C. Horton, Superintendent. R. A. Torrey, Dean H. A. Getz. Giles Kellogg. E. A. K. Hackett. Robert Watchorn. S. I. Merrill. „ William Thorn. DOCTRINAL STATEMENT. We hold to the Historic Faith of the Church as expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including: The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ. The Personality of the Holy Ghost. The Supernatural and Plenary authority of the Holy Scriptures. The Unity in Diversity of the Church, which is the Body and Bride of Christ. The Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth. The Maintenance of Good Works. The Secorid Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Soul. The Resurrection of the Body. The Life Everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Impenitent. The Reality and Personality of Satan. DIRECTORS.
OUR WORK.
(4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night. (5) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories. (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work among the Hebrews. (7) Bible Women. HouseTto-house and neighborhood classes. (8) Oil Fields. A mission to men on the oil fields. (9) Books and Tracts. Sale and dis: tribution of selected books and tracts.
Piirnrme Tlle Institute trains, free of r u ip u a c cog^ accredited men and women, in the knowledge and use of the Bible. Departments g L t lV e fd ^ ^ cept Saturdays and Sundays. (2) Extension work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by our evangelists.
BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS For Christmas Presentation There can be no better g ift-nothing of more lasting benefit—thanTa well-bound Bible or Testa ment. T H E B O O K R O O M O F T H E is prepared to offer you a better selection of really desirable Bibles and Testaments than ever before. We can supply both the authorized (King James) and the Revised Versions in any style of type or binding that you may desire. Orders by mail or in person promptly attended to A D D R E S S The BIBLE INSTITUTE of LOS ANGELES A U D I T O R I U M B U I L D I N G
B I B L E I N S T I T U T
Noted for their especially clear print and good binding*
We are offering two special
Sunday School Scholar Bible
No. 1 That are the best value for the price we have ever been able to give.
These Bibles are beautifully clear black-faced nonpareil type, are bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, with round cor ners, and red under gold edges. Size 65/& x 4¥2 inches: This beautiful new illustrated edition contains alphabetically arranged helps, colored maps and illustrations of Palestine. Our Price, only $1.00 each Postage 10 cents extra. No. 2 Sunday School Scholars’ Self- Pronouncing Pictorial Bible. containing thirty-two photo views of scenes in Bible lands, carefully selected with questions and answers and presentation page. Six colored maps. Printed in nonpareil type on Oxford white paper. Size 7x5 inches. Bound in good quality French morocco leather, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. - • Our Price, only $1.35 each Address All Orders to Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Builsing.
in best Persian Levant leather, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $8.00. Will be appreciated as a present by father, or mother, or pastor. The Largest Type Reference Bible in the Smallest Compass Ever Published Beautifully printed from clear-faced long primer type on the famous India linen paper. " Bound in the best grade of Levant leather divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silked sewed, round corners, % red under gold edges. Thumb index. Price $8.00. An Easy-to-Read Oxford Teachers’ Bible Printed from beautifully clear, long primer type, is self-pronouncing, and has all the helps of the smaller sized Bible. Bound in French morocco, divinity-circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Size 8£ x6 inches. Our price, $3.00. Pictorial Palestine Bibles Containing 116 beautiful chromographs and engravings. Black-faced minion type, beautifully clear and easily read. . Oxford India paper. Size, 6 | x 4f inches. Bound in French Levant leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $4.50 The Long Primer 8vo., Self-Pronouncing Oxford Teachers’ Bible, India Paper Edition is a wonder of printing. Size 6x8J inchea. and only 1J inch thick. Contains all the helps, concordance, Bible dictionary and maps. Bound in morocco leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, .round comers, red under gold edges. Price $6.00. One of the very best Bibles we have. Address All Orders to Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building,
Oxford Red-Letter Bibles With all the words of Christ in the New Testament printed in red and all the references to him in the Old Testament also in red.We have a special Sunday School Teachers’ Edition of these which contains splendid new and up-to-date helps arranged under one alphabet. Printed in minion black-faced- type. Size 7J x 5 inches. Bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners,* red under gold edges. Price $2.75 Minion Black-Faced Type Bibles Beautifully printed on Oxford white paper. S ize 7J x 5 inches. Bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Advertised by the Oxford University Press as the pest minion black-faced book made—and it is a marvel of cheapness when eompared with that you have been used to paying for a Bible not nearly as good. Our special price on this Bible is $2.00. Oxford Self-Pronouncing Teachers’ Bibles The largest type (brevier) self-pronouncing Bible in the smallest compass yet made. Printed on Oxford fine whitepaper. Size 51 x 81 inches. Contains a practical Bible Dictionary, including index, concordance, glossary, weights, measures, coins, botany, etc., all arranged under one alphabet. Practical, scholarly, simple. Bound in 'French morocco, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Our price for this Bible is $2.50. The Old Folks’ Easy Reading Oxford Reference Bibles Printed in large clear pica type on the famous Oxford India linen paper. Bound
New Testaments We carry a very splendid line of Testaments and can supply almost any want in these. Prices vary according to binding and paper and range from 10 cents to $3.75. We submit a short list of a few of our best values : At 7c Each We have a Testament that is indeed a marvel of cheapness. Printed in agate type ; size 32mo., 3 | x 5 inches. Bound in cloth, cut flush, with round corners and red edges. At 15c Each Two for 25 cents We offer the well-known and much-used Marked New Testament, bound in cloth, cut flush, red edges. Size, 3fx5§ inches. God’s Plan of Salvation underlined. At 35c Each Workers’ Testament With select passages printed in bold-faced type, arranged by Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman and used by him in his evangelistic tours. Printed on the finest linen paper, bound iu French morocco, limp, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $1.00. A very desirable Testament to own. T he W orkers’ T estam ent as above, except that it is bound in finest velvet calf skin, divinity circuit with art edges. Size 2 | x 4f inches. Price, $1.50. A beautiful Testament and one that ought to last through many years of hard wear. The New Black-Faced Type Testament Large minion type on India linen paper. Vest pocket size, 2 | x 4§ and only \ inch thick. Bound in finest French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under edges. Price $1.50. A splendid easy-to- read Testament. The “Very Best” New Testament We have a splendid cloth-bound edition of T he W orkers’ T estam ent, which has all the passages needed in showing the way of salvation printed in black-faced type. Size 2 | x 4 | inches. At 50c Each We offer two very desirable small Testaments as follows: Handy Vest Pocket Testaments Printed in the finest Oxford India paper, bound in Venetian morocco, limp, round corners. Size, 2 Jx 4 f inches and only \ inch thick. Just the thing for a boy or young man. Handsome Small Testament Bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, linen lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Splendid size for a lady to carry in handbag or in jacket pocket. Bound in finest Alaska seal leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Printed from large, black-faced minion type on the celebrated “ Oxford” finest grade India linen paper. Price, $2.00. This is the very finest Testament issued by the Oxford University Press. Address All Orders to Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building.
New Testament with Psalms For those who like this combination we have selected what we think are the choicest styles from Oxford University Press. V est Pocket Edition, printed on finest India linen paper, bound in French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners and red under gold edges. Size, 3f x 5£ and only | inch thick. Price 95 Cent*. We have a larger type edition; size 3£ x 4£ inches. Bound in French morocco, limp instead of with the over-lapping leather as in the ones designated divinity circuit, has round corners and red under gold edges. P rice 75 Cents. The “Easy-to-Read ” Edition has black-faced type, printed on finest white paper. Bound in Alaska seal leather, divinity, circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Price, $2.75. Another style much liked by ministers
and Bible class teachers is is the brevier 16mo., black-faced type edition. Size, 4£ x 6§ inches. Bound in Alaska seal leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.25 Apocryphas Printed in minion type, 24mo. Size 3jx5£ inches. Bound in French morocco leather, limp, round corners, gold edges. Price 65c. Book of Psalms Printed in minion type. Size 3£x4| inches. Bound in French morocco leather, limp, round corners, gold edges. Price 35c. V est Pocket Edition of S ep arate Portions of th e Scripture Bound in cloth, cut flush, flexible, with round corners and plain edges. We have every book in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation which we will be glad to send you by mail post-paid at the rate of 3 cents each.
American Standard Bibles Ordinarily called The Revised Version In response to a very general demand for the Revised Version among Christian workers, we have stocked what we consider to be the Very best styles put out by Thomas Nelson & Sons. In regard to the use of the R e v is e d V e r s io n B ib l e , Dr. Torrey says: “ Every Bible student should always have a copy of the American Standard Version. This is unquestionably the most accurate and satisfactory translation of the original texts of the Old and New Testaments. As we believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures as originally given, we should desire to have as accurate a translation as possible, and we find it in this edition of the Bible.’’ Self-Pronouncing Reference Bible for $2.50 Black-Faced Type Teachers’ Bible, $200 The Publishers say:—“This is the largest type in the smallest compass ever produced.” Minion, black-faced, self-pronouncing. Size, 4 | x 7 inches. Contains Bible dictionary, concordance, maps and Bible study helps. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, round corners, has head bands, silk book-mark, red under gold edges. Address All Orders to Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building Printed from minion, black-faced type on fine white Bible paper. Size 4 | x 7 inches. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed round corners, red under gold edges. Same Bible as Above, but printed on Nelson’s Indian linen paper and only £ of an inch thick. Price $3.50.
Revised Version—Continued
Special Sunday School Scholars’ Bible for $1.00 Printed from good readable type, yet the book is small in size, being 3J x 5§ inches. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. The “ Easily Read” Reference Bible $2.00 Contains also the Apocrypha. Printed from clear face bourgeois type. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, limp, round corners, red under gold edges. Revised Testament with Psalms Nelson’s India Linen Paper Edition. Size, 3J x 4J inches; only 7-16 of an inch thick. Bound in Egyptian seal, flexible, limp, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $1.00 Bound in Real Sealskin, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $3.75. The most »attractive Testament in our stock. The Self-Pronouncing Emphasized New Testament Printed in clear-faced nonpareil type, with words of Christ all emphasized in blackfaced type. Bound in extra quality tan suede leather, flexible covers, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges Price 75c. Same T estam ent as above, bound in Egyptian Seal leather and leather lined. Price $1.25 Same T estam ent as above, but bound in the very finest Persian Levant leather, divinity circuit, finest calf lining to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.50.
Splendid Large Type Flexible Edition
Printed in large clear-face minion type. Size of book 31 x 4J inches. Thin, flat, flexible. Bound in Egyptian seal, limp. Price 50c. Egyptian seal, divinity circuit, Price 75c. Palestine Levant, divinity circuit, full leather lined. Price $1.00. New “Vest Pocket” Edition with the words of Christ all emphasized in bold-faced type. Bound in extra tan suede leather, flexible covers, Roycroft style, round corners, red under gold edges, silk sewed. Size 2§ x 4 inches, only 7-16 inch thick. Price 50c. Same Testament as above, but bound in finest French morocco, and divinity circuit instead of limp. Price $1.00. The following Styles are very desirable for presentation p urpo ses: Printed from large and clear long primer type. Size 6f x 8 | inches. Nelson’s India P ap er Edition. Only 13-16 of an inch thick. The thinest printing paper in the world. 273X. Egyptian Seal, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $6.00. 274X. Persian Levant, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners red under gold edges. $7.50. 275X Best Levant, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $10,00. 277X. Sealskin divinity circuit', calf lined to'edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $12.00. Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building.
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The Cross Reference Bible is the most remarkable analyzed Bible ever published.- Contains A complété topical analysis of the Bible. A complete alphabetical index to every topic. Excellent biographies of; 300 Bible characters. Marginal index of all foot notes and of the text. Complete outline studies or introductions to every book of the Bible.
And is the only modern Variorum edition of the Bible. In the July “ King’s Business,” Dr. Torrey had this to say about, the Cross- Reference Bible: There is an especial edition of the American Standard Version which is almost indispensable for any one who aims at a thorough and exact study of the Word of God. I t is called THE CROSS REFERENCE BIBLE. It represents a vast amount of labor both by the immediate editors and by others, the results of whose labor have been incorporated in the book. I t is a very large book, 2414 pages. It can be had in a variety of editions from $6 to $16.50. The difference is in the paper and binding.”
Special Low-Priced Bibles For Sunday Schools, Churches, and Y. M. C. A.’s and other Bible Classes We have lately made arrangements with the American Bible Society by which we can supply their Bibles at New York prices. We carry four styles in stock, which we are prepared to offer you as follows : . At 17c. An agate type Bible; size, 24mo., 4 x 5J inches. Bound in cloth, red edges. At 23c. A minion type Bible ; size 18mo,, 4J x 6 inches. Bound in cloth with round corners and red edges. At 38c. An easy-to-read brevier type Bible ; size 12mo., 5J x 7 inches. Bound in cloth, red edges. fi t 45c. A splendid brevier type Bible that you will be glad to own; size, 12mo., 5£ x 7 inches. Has good cloth binding; round corners and smoothly burnished red edges. These four styles of Bibles at the prices we are now able to supply them to you are the cheapest and best Bibles for the money that it is possible to buy. If ordered by mail postage will be extra on these. Address All Orders to Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building
Remarkable Values in BAGSTER BIBLES With Flexible Bindings that Open Flat These splendid Bibles are printed from beautifully clear and easily read type on fine quality very thin India paper. Have all the marginal references and full set of good maps. The Concordance is quite comprehensive, and will enable you to find all the principal passages. These Bibles are spendidly bound in French Levant morocco leather and lined with nice smooth kid with with no padding or stiffening, thus making a perfectly flexible cover that is not apt to crack or break. And another feature that these Bagster Bibles possess is that they will open perfectly flat at any point, will lay flat and stay open. We consider the following Bibles the best value at the price charged, of any Bibles we have ever sold : THE LARGE TYPE CONCORDANCE BIBLE The SELF-PRONOUNCING REFERENCE BIBLE
With Concordance In every way a similar Bible to the one sold at $5.00, only this is printed from smaller type—clear face min ion; and is self-pronouncing. Size 5V2 x 7% inches and only seven- eighths of an inch thick. A splen did medium priced Bible, worth much more than $3.75, the price at we are selling it.
Has all the marginal reference and full set of maps. Printed from primer type that is very easy to read. Size 6 x inches, and less than an inch thick. Very thin, light and flexible. A remarkably good Value at our price of . . . . $5.00
Especially Good for Presentation Purposes Address All Orders to
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES Auditorium Building
The King’s Business Voi. 4 NOVEMBER, 1913 No. 11 T ab le o f C on ten ts. Editorials: The Winter’s Work—Do not Forget the Children................. 507 A Great Gift from that Generous Giver Mr. Charles M. Stimson........................ ’• ..................................................... True Stories of Conversion................................................ .. • • • .510 With the School Girls at Lolodorf, West A frica................... 513 Studies in the Gospel According to John (continued). R. A. Torrey........ ............................................................. “ Go, Reaper” (Poem). Seosamh MacCathmhaoil........... 521 The Montrose Bible Conference of 1913................................. 522 The International Sunday School Lessons. J. H. S............ 524 “ Thanksgiving’’ (Poem). Adelaide Proctor .................... 530 The Heart of the L e s so n ...............................................................33* Junior Endeavor Topics. J. K. H. S ................................. . • 533 “ Sin” ( P o e m ) . . . . . . .................................... ,.......... | ............. 535 Hints and H e lp s ...................................................................... At Home and Abroad........................• • ................................. Questions and Answers. R. A. T o rre y ................................. 545 “One Thing” (A New Song). L. F. Peckham................. 546 A Good and Profitable Investment: Our Bond Issue....... 547 Bible Institute of Los Angeles.................................................. 548 SUBSCRIPTION RATES . . . FIFTY CENTS A YEAR Published by the Bible In stitu te of Los Angeles Auditorium Building, Cor. Fifth & Olive Sts.
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The King’s Business
Voi. 4
NOVEMBER, 1913
No. 11
THE WINTER’S WORK M OST of our pastors are now at the beginning of their winter’s work, can make this the best winter that our churches have ever known. The people are back from their vacations. If we begin at once, we The world, including worldly professors of religion, is preparing for its winter’s pleasures. It is mapping out its receptions, card parties, dances, concerts, operas, church bazaars and other church frolics. It is time for us to be just as diligent in the work of the Lord as they are in the service of the world. Indeed, we ought to anticipate them. There are at least three lines along which we should prepare for aggressive effort to win the unsaved to Christ. The First Line is that of Prayer Let us organize in each of our churches a concert of prayer for revival. Let us push the prayer meeting to the front and make it a real prayer meeting. But in addition to the regular prayer meeting of the church, let ^us organize neighborhood circles of prayer. We cannot get the' people to praying as they ought by simply giving out invitations from the pulpit and urging the people from the pulpit to attend. We must deal with individuals and set before them very patiently and persistently the duty and need of prayer, and give them something definite to do along the line of prayer. We should get our people to make prayer lists, explain to them how to do it and see that they really are faithful in prayer for the people on their lists. The Second Line is that of Personal Work It is generally agreed by successful soul winners that as a means of winning men to Christ, Personal Work is far more effective than preaching. £ The ideal is to get eyery member of our churches to doing personal work. It is not likely that any of us will attain perfectly to that ideal, but we should keep it before us and keep persistently working for the realization of our ideal. It is not enough to urge our membership to do personal work ; we should show them how to do it. T'o this end, it is wise to organize classes for training in personal work. It is best as a rule to have one class for men and another for women and still another'for our Endeavorers or other young people. Having trained them to do personal work, we should see to it that they actually do it. In fact, the best training of all is in the actual doing of the work. One of the most efficient pastors in the, Presbyterian Church takes the men qf his church with him when he goes out to do personal work, oftentimes men- who have never done personal work in their lives, nor dreamed of doing such a thing, the first they know he has them actually engaged in the work. This is one of the greatest secrets of his almost unparalleled success. His church was, at the time he took it, one of the most unlikely of any in the country to be interested in personal work. Many thought it impossible to get the members of that church to do anything directly and personally aggressive, but this pastor has accomplished it, and others can accomplish the same.
508 THE KING’S BUSINESS The Third Line is that of Special Evangelistic Services Of late years most of us have got to depending upon a few great evangelists and union evangelistic services. It is time that we got back to the evangelistic service in the individual church. This does not mean for a moment that we should have no union evangelistic services, but it does mean that we should not depend upon them. We have had one “movement” after another, most of them along lines that were bound from the first to be ineffective in definite and lasting results, until the individual churches have so exhausted themselves in these “movements” that there is no strength nor time left for definite campaigns in the individual congregation. Is it not time that we rested at least from some of these “movements” and attended to our business as churches of Christ, the business of winning souls to Christ and building men and women up in Christ? If the pastor is absolutely sure that he has not the evangelistic gift himself, then let him call in some other pastor or some one else who has the gift. It would, of course, not be wise to plunge at once into special evangelistic services, because there needs to .be preparation if they are to be successful, preparation by prayer and by training the members of the church for effective service. But why not get back to the old-fashioned method of following the WEEK OF PRAYER with one or more weeks (preferably more) of special evangelistic effort. If we are to do this, we should begin to prepare for it at once. , DO NOT FORGET THE CHILDREN! C AN young children be converted? Does not conversion imply an apprehension of Divine truth of which they are incapable? Our faith is, indeed, based on knowledge; it is rational; it has depths too deep for angels to fathom. But its essentials are very simple, appealing to conscience and the affections. A sense of sin and sorrow for it, with a sincere turning from it, is a common experience of the child. To weep out its contrition on the breast of a loving and forgiving parent, and to taste the sweets of reconciliation ahd restored communion is familiar. To their trustful and imaginative hearts the fact that the great Father is unseen is no hindrance. Above all God’s part in the transaction must not be left out of the question. It is to “limit the power of the Almighty,” and to question the sincerity of Him who bade us bring the babes’to Him for blessing, as children of theh covenant and Kingdom, to doubt His ability to receive and regenerate them. Many an infant pillow has been wet with tears of penitence. Dr. Hammond tells us that while holding meetings in a Scotch city, Dr. Alexander, the pastor of the church in which he was laboring, was so suspicious of "the work among the children that he, unwilling to endorse it, got his hat intending to withdraw; but passing through a company of young inquirers he was so moved by their evident intelligence and sincerity that he at once admitted it to be from no other cause than the workings of the Holy Spirit. He saw, however, a little fellow “just out of petticoats,” in a corner crying inconsolably, and said to a girl standing by, “That poor child is tired, someone should take him home.” But she replied, “No, sir, he’s greetin’ aboot his sins.” He had walked four miles to the meeting because of anxiety for his soul. The present writer was never more truly convicted and concerned for his soul than at nine years of age. David Gregg was but ten when he wrote, “Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend.”
A Great Gift from a Generous Giver
MR. CHARLES M. STIMSON OF LOS ANGELES Gives $100,000.00 to the Bible Institute M R. CHARLES M. STIMSON has been a friend of the Bible Institute since its inception. He has manifested his interest by contributing to its work. Intimate acquaintance with the large plans which the Institute has for the spread of the Gospel throughout the world has resulted in the bestowal of this magnificent gift for the ex tension of our work. The Scripture says that the Lord loveth a cheerful (hilarious) giver, and Mr. Stimson is an exemplification of this kind of a Christian. With a beaming face and loving heart, he has for years ministered large funds to various causes and people. He has helped to build institutions in this country and upon the mission %slds and has made multitudes of people to rejoice.
True Stories of Conversion Only!” 01A fi h h By MRS. HARVEY-JELLIE.
O N the lonely rock of Gibraltar he stood looking over the sea, longing once more to see the old folks away in the homeland. A fine man he was—stalwart and strong, with a face that bespoke fearlessness. As the sun sent its fast departing beams across the peaceful cemetery, below the rock, the soldier turned to give one tender glance over a spot where they had laid his only child. A stillness reigned on all around, and no one was near to hear that heavy sigh, or to see the mist in the eyes of William Coombes. A few persons might be making their way up the steep path, and from beneath, now and again, he heard the faint sound of music or children’s laughter ; yet he was all unnoticed, and the scene, though grand, gave him a sense of desolation. Yonder was the African coast, ancj, between rolled the deep blue waters, speaking of naught but separation. Ten months ago his wife and he had stood beside a little grave; his very heart had seemed torn when they lowered the body of his precious boy, and .forever hid it from his sight. Then he watched the mother sicken and pass away, and he sought to harden himself; but Coombes, though strong oh parade,,fearless in duty, was sad in heart and desolate indeed. Twilight, and then the gloom would quickly follow; he must.dash the vision from before his eyes, join the fellows in the games, and forget—ah, if only he could forget the old home far away, the dear ones down there just below where he was standing! But there was not a louder laugh than his, or a more reckless gambler on Gibraltar Rock than he that night.
On the next evening a hand was laid on his shoulder as he walked along, and the doctor spoke to him: “Coombes, I want you here for a little while;” and, opening a door, he led him in.What could the soldier do as he found himself in a bright room where singing was heard! Before him stood his colonel and several well-known faces. The doctor took the lead, telling the wondrous Story of redeeming love; and to- his own astonishment he listened without resistance to prayer and praise to a God whom he had rejected as hard and cruel. William Coombes never could tell quite how it all happened, but in that hour the tenor of his life was changed, the chain of evil habits snapped; and was heard to say: “It was the voice when speaking of it afterwards | he of a higher Commander saying within : ‘Right about face.’ I was turned completely round, and life took on a new light, a new path opened before me.” The regiment was under orders for England. Most of the men were wild with excitement, and all the old courage, seasoned by grace, was needed to withstand the taunts and jeers from his. former comrades; but Coombes testified to the reality of his conversion before them all. Duties were over when for the last time he stood on the rock at evening hour, and of that time he said: “What a vision to my soul was that, when standing firmly there, I could thank my God for the ‘Rock of Ages.’ I could hear in that sea the voice of the Eternal One. Yon cemetery lost all its shadows and shone with resurrec-
THE KING’S BUSINESS
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tion hope, and I had bec'ome a soldier of the Cross.” Stationed subsequently at Dover, he found new opportunities for showing his allegiance to the King of kings, and proved that he would rather die for the new flag he carried than be faithless. During his furlough later he gladdened the old home near London, and among the friends of his youth he was able to open the door to a better life, for the old story did its ever-mighty work, lighting a flame that will never go out. Returning to his regiment, he heard news of the doctor’s illness, and that he had asked for him. Sitting by his bedside, Coombes said: “How can I ever thank you for what you did for me ?” Rousing somewhat from the sad depression which had come over him, the doctor answered: “For you, my dear fellow, I only opened the door that evening, and asked you in! Alas, my trouble is that I have done nothing!” “Only, did you say, doctor ? Listen, while I tell you what that meant. You opened the door for a sad, embittered life to find salvation. Not only that, but many others have been sought and O NE of the evidences of a real conversion and change of heart is the immediate desire and longing for the salvation of others. Our friend C-------- , the tailor, as soon as he was saved, sought out his old companions in sin and told them what the Lord had done for him. Some of them laughed heartily, and said one to the other: “What is this new role he is playing?” never dreaming that God by the Holy Spirit had wrought a work of grace in his soul; yet could not understand
led to Christ. One day the great roll- call will sound out, and many will answer ‘Here,’ because of what you did that evening for me. Will you say then ‘I only opened the door’?” Thus the doctor found encouragement, and as his strength returned God gave him grace to see the grandeur of opening a door for those who are lonely and far from God—and his heart was glad. Workers for the Master, think not to measure your work by others. Look straight to Him. Hold out those feeble hands and ask: “What wilt Thou have me to do?” Seek not the loud applause of earth, but listen for His sweet approval of the cup of water, the visit to the sick and long imprisoned ones, the gracious deed of love. Say not “only,” when it may be yours to open the door to some sad heart to a brighter way; but stand ready in the hidden paths, if need be, to have the heaven-given honor of simply opening the door. Only some act of devotion, Willingly, joyfully done; “Surely ’twas nought,” so the proud world thought, But yet souls for Christ were won. how it. was that he was sober—a very rare occurrence indeed. He declared that he was a new man, and that he had done with drink, gambling and other sins of the past, and begged that they would come with him to the Mission Hall. There was consternation among them, and one said, half sarcastically and half angrily: “Oh, wait till he gets his pay on Saturday. I have seen him try this on before, but it doesn’t wear long.” But another, a tall, fine, athletic Scotchman, named M----- , a
A Scottish Prodigal’s Return By THOMAS M. WINTLE
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my father, and he intended soon to retire and give me the business, but I picked up with gay companions and stayed out late at night and began to drink, to the great grief of my parents, who, though not professed Christian people, yet lived very moral and circumspect lives. “They remonstrated with me again and again, until things became very strained indeed, and I ran away without giving them any indication I was going to do so; and1 I am now ashamed to tell you, Sir, but I have never sent them a line or any tidings since that day, which is over seven years ago now. Oh, the pain and sorrow I have caused them, and I am determined to go home and ask their forgiveness; and, if they will allow me, to settle down and give them all I can in their last days, and by that means offer some little atonement for the great wrong I have done them.” He was then completing an important piece of work for his masters, and he made up his mind that when that was finished he would, like the Prodigal, return home. He wrote to his parents telling them of his conversion, and expressed his sorrow for his waywardness and ingratitude, asked their forgiveness for the sorrow, anxiety and pain he had caused them, and informed them of his decision to return home. By return of post came a reply couched in the most tender and affectionate terms, and begging him to come home at once, that they were “wearying” to see him, and his mother added her postscript, advising him to wrap himself up well, to prevent taking cold in the long railway journey from Wales. M----- was received with open arms and loving hearts, and the friends and neighbors were called together as of old to rejoice because the son that was dead was alive again and he that was lost was now found.
foreman bricklayer, who had been a boon companion of C---- - since he came to Pontypool, said: “C----- , I ’ll come to the Mission Hall with you tonight.” This encouraged him, and he arranged to call for M——. They came together on a Sunday evening. The Gospel was preached, Christ was lifted up as the Saviour of sinners, God honored His Son and blessed His Word, and many seekers entered the inquiry room. Among the first were M----—and C----- , and they went home together rejoicing in God and the power of His grace. M----- was at the prayer meeting on Monday night, and in his public prayer said: “O God, I am only a wee lamb, one day old, but I want to be fed with the sincere milk of the Word, that I may grow strong and be of some use in Thy service.” He was present on Tuesday again, and repeated the same prayer, substituting “two days old” for one. Wednesday night, Thursday night and again Friday he was there, offering much the same prayer, adding day after day till Saturday, when he completely broke down in prayer, and it was evident that he was in anguish of spirit. At the close of the meeting he came and asked for a few minutes’ conversation alone. I took him into my private room, and he introduced the subject at once by saying: “Mr. Wintle, I am sorry I shall have to leave you.” “So am I sorry, M----- ,” I said. “But why will it be necessary to go away? Are you out of work, or is there anything that I can do to help you so that you might stay?” “No, I have a good, regular job; but the fact is I feel I must go home. My father and mother are living in Westmoreland, and I .am the only child. My father is a builder in a good way of business and in comfortable circumstances. I was assisting
With the School Girls at Lolodorf West Africa By MISS CHRISTINE SUDERMAN (T he w riter of th is in te re stin g article, a form er stu d en t of th e Bible In stitu te of Los Angeles, 1911-12, is now one of th e m issionaries in th e W est A frican Mission of th e P resb yterian Church in th e U. S. A. T he article is reprin ted from T he A ssembly H e r ald.—E ditors.) *
M ISS SUDERM AN AND HER G IRLS
T HE girls of our school come to us by many and varied ways. Some are sent by Christian parents, some we beg for until they come, others run away from husbands or other ties which are hateful to them. But they are coming. I heard through a Christian woman about a number of little girls who ought to be in school, but their fathers objected. I went out to see about them, not one time, but many times. The first time I couldn’t do much more than tell the father and mother what I wanted. The relatives were not all present and above all one of the fathers was not there, consequently abso
lute indifference to my requests. A few days later I went again. This time they began to think I wanted something, they were somewhat interested in having their girls come. The mothers, as Christians, couldn’t do anything but give their consent, the fathers still looked at me with misgivings, and at their little daughters with indecision, -as they were promised in, marriage and they might lose their money if they let them come. I went away with half a promise that all but one *would come, the father of this one had not yet arrived. As I was leaving, the shy little things, who had not dared to lift their eyes in the presence
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path to a forbidden marriage, and she would spoil’ his money and all his plans by running off with some school boy. She would receive an innocent enough looking bundle of food, but as she opened it, there would be a letter, and the unfathomable mischief in that letter. And the heart of his daughter was so bad that I would never ‘see anything but trouble’ if I took her. No, no, his girl could never, never corpe to school; it would be her ruin.” I told him I had other girls quite as bad as his and I was not at all timid about managing them, and if her heart was so bad, we would do our best to change it. But no, there was no thought of letting his girl come. There was evidently no use talking so I got up to go. The mother had given her consent, but the father now sat in stubborn silence. I turned to him, “I’m going now, you say your daujgh- ter cannot come to school, but we’ll pray God that He will change your heart, and Sunday I want to see this little girl in Sunday School and from then on she will be my child.” He shook his head. But I waited till Sunday and what satisfaction and joy it was to me, when shortly after the opening, down the aisle came my girls, no less happy than I was. And since then this has been their home. They have been perfectly obedient, easily allowing themselves to be tied by all the rules of the life they have now commenced to live. One night, at the beginning of school, as I came to the dormitory, I found a girl of about fourteen years lying on a bed panting and moaning. Very soon I learned that she had come that day some twenty-five miles. About three miles from the Station she- had seen a herd of cattle by the roadside. True African cattle are ferocious looking creatures with their long horns. With genuine African imagination,
of their elders, now followed, begging to go with me that very minute. My part of the agreement was that I would come to get them if they didn’t come by the following Sunday. Before Sunday arrived, I went again to see about the one girl who was not yet promised to me. Everybody along the road now knew I was after school girls, and all little girls that were not to go to school Were carefully kept out of my sight. I found the father at home, and his whole court, consisting of every available relative, assembled in his hut. I took the little box offered me for a seat, and placed in the middle of the house. I suppose 'at least fifteen people were squatted here and there and everywhere around me. The father sat in front of me, eating in the true insatiable African fashion, the little daughter sat beside him. They knew why I had come, so I didn’t open the conversation, but waited for them and they soon commenced. Such talking and discussing for the next fifteen minutes, as if it were a question of life and death. I didn’t try to get a. word in until they were through, then I explained that it was no unreasonable demand I was making. I described the school life, the girls in their dormitory, how they would learn to read, write and'sew. A smile and much eagerness came info the face of the little girl. “Do you want to come ?” She didn’t venture to answer, but her eyes told me how eager she was to come. The mother quietly nodded. The father ate on, seemingly indifferent to all I had said. With sudden abruptness he looked at me, “Are you through ?” I told him I had nothing more to say, and I wanted him to let me take his daughter. Then he burst out in a most dramatic monologue. “Teach his girl to read, and write, that would be the worst that could happen. She could learn to sew, but knowledge of letters was only the
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the making of a very fine Christian woman; the best we can give her is not too good. Each little girl comes to us with her own little history, and so many times when we consider how little the girl is and how innocent her young life ought to be, that little history is quite tragic, and only then do We realize what a shelter and sanctuary they have come to when they have become our little girls. It never surprises me to see them try to break rules. No, I marvel, the way they allow their wild, unregulated natures to bend under the restrictions of a Mission School. How different from what they have been used to, is it to live on a clean cement floor, to eat their meals at regular times and off real plates and tables, to sleep, not beside a smoking log, but under a blanket without any fire in the house, and fold that blanket up carefully every morning. How hard for them to learn that chiggers in their feet and itch on their bodies cannot be tolerated. Yes, no doubt, there are times when their little hearts long for that dirty, smoky hut, where they can crouch by the fire, eat their food out of a kettle and have nobody after them when they do just as they please. But they never complain, but repay, with all the love their little dark hearts can give, the efforts we put forth to help them on and on unto those paths where the Lord Jesus wants them to be. And He is gathering them in, even though often we cannot see it as yet. A child coming from a walk in the garden said to her mother: “Mother, every rose in the garden has an ugly thorn on it.” Soon her little sister, who had been in the garden, said: “Mother, every thorn-bush in the garden has a beautiful rose on % it.” It depends upon whether we are seeking thorns or roses.
she had started to run, because the cattle must certainly be following her. In her mad hurry down the hill she had stumbled and sprained her ankle. Hobbling along the rest of the way, she had finally reached her destination. Never a word of complaint during the days she could not use her foot. Of course, I had to know her past history, and neither did she make a secret of it. The serious expression on her face almost made me laugh, for she always speaks in such a droll way. She had run away from an old husband, whom she most thoroughly hated, and “now,” she concluded, “I am looking for a new husband.” No disgrace in this land for a girl to be looking for her husband. I had to talk so much to her about walking, she always hung behind, and didn’t want anybody to go with her wherever she went. When I demanded that she never go anywhere by herself, she looked at me with a half-hurt, half- appealing look on her face. “Ah, Frau- lein, have I come all the way from my town alone, and you don’t want me to walk alone when I ’m here at the Station?” I have never been quite certain what her object was, whether she just loved to be alone, or whether she thought her search would be moré successful. If ever a girl was conscientious about little matters, it certainly is this girl. She wouldn’t for all the world do anything that she didn’t consider absolutely proper. She was shelling peanuts for one of the ladies here, in order1to earn a little money. She received her pfennigs, took them without a word. A few days later she came back with five pfennig. In a very dignified manner she said she had something very real on her heart. She thought she had received five pfennig too much for her work and she wanted to give them back. All her actions and words correspond to that. We believe she has
Studies in the Gospel According to John* By R. A. TORREY [These Studies are for careful study, not rapid and heedless reading] II. The Public Ministry of Jesus Leading Those Who Were of the Truth to Believe in Him as the Christ, the Son of God. Ch. 1:19—12:50. (Continued.) 6. The Testimony of the Signs Wrought by Jesus in Jerusalem, Leading Nicodemus,“The Teacher of Israel” to Believe in Him, 3:1-15 (continued). V. 8. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, (rather, will), and thou hearest the sound (or, voice) thereof, but cttnst not tell (rather, knowest not) whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of (rather, out of) the Spirit.” ■ The key to the rich treasures of truth that are revealed in this verse is found in the fact that in the Greek text in which we have the report of this conversation (as well as in the language in which our Lord probably spoke to Nicodemus) precisely the same word is used for “wind” and “Spirit.” The verse might be translated with perfect exactness, “The Spirit bloweth (or breatheth) where He, will, and thou hearest the voice of Him, but knowest not whence He cometh, and whither he goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” ; or it might be translated with equal exactness, “The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the wind.” There might have been an advantage in some ways' if the word which is translated in this verse, “Wind” and “Spirit” had been translated uniformly throughout the New Testament, “Wind” or “Breath,” and if we had thus come to know the Holy Spirit as “the Holy Wind” (or, “the Holy Breath”), which is what His name, “the Holy Spirit,” really signifies; but as it was not so translated, and as consequently we have come to know the third person of the Trinity as the Holy Spirit and not as the Holy Wind, it saves confusion for the ordinary reader of the Bible to have the wofd translated as it is here, i. e., “wind” in the first part of the verse and “Spirit5’ in the latter part of the verse, though it needs to be explained, if the verse is to be properly understood and its precious lessons grasped, that it is precisely the same Greek word that in the one case is translated “wind” and in the other case is translated “Spirit.” The word which is here translated “wind” and “Spirit” is not the word for wind which is generally used for wind in the New Testament. Dean Alford thinks the reason for this is that the word here used might indicate a gentle breath of the wind, that is heard not felt, while the usual word might indicate a violent gale. This will hardly bear careful examination ; for (to say nothing of the fact that a breath of wind that is strong enough to be heard will most certainly be felt) in Acts 2 :2, where the Holy Spirit came “as the rushing of a mighty wind,” the word translated “wind” is' not the word ordinarily used' for wind in the New Testament, which Dean Alford says is not used here because it might in- *Gopyright. 1913, by R. A. Torrey
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dicate a violent wind, but a word closely related to the one used in the passage now before us. It is true the Holy Spirit often comes as “a still small voice” (1 Kings, 19:12, note context), but it is also true that He sometimes comes as the sweeping, irresistible cyclone (Acts 2 :2-4; 6:10). The real reason why this particular word for wind is here used is, that there might be no mistaking Jesus’ meaning, viz., that the wind was an emblem of the Spirit; and herein lies much of the rich significance of the verse. This brings-us to the vital question in the whole matter, Why is “the Spirit,” or “the Wind,” so named? This question is very fully answered in the verse we are now studying. There are seven reasons: (1). Because the Spirit like the wind is Invisible, but none the less Perceptible; though none of us have ever seen the wind, we have all “heard the sound thereof.” We have also felt the wind as it blew upon our faces or upon our .bodies,/ and we have seen the great effects thereof. Just so is it with the Holy Spirit; no one has ever seen Him, but He is none the less real and perceptible. We have heard His “voice” as certainly as we have heard the voice of any man we ever saw with our eyes. We have as distinctly felt His presence and His touch as we ever felt the presence’and the touch of any person whom we at the same time saw with our eyes. And we have also seen His mighty effects both in ourselves and others. There are no effects of any kind visible in human society to-day more evident and visible, or nearly so beneficent, as those of the Holy Spirit’s unquestionable working. Nothing is more foolish than for men to say that they do not believe that the Holy Spirit is, or that God is, because they never saw Him. Did they ever see
the wind? Have they not heard the sound thereof? ' Have they not felt the wind? Have they not seen the mighty effects of the wind? Do they not believe that the wind is ? Do they not know that the wind is? So we also know that the Holy Spirit is: “we have heard the voice of Him.” It is quite likely that just as Jesus spoke these words He and Nicodemus heard a sudden gust of wind, sweeping through the till then silent night streets of Jerusalem. Probably Jesus pointed toward the door, as much as to say, “Nicodemus, listen. Do you hear that wind? Isn’t that taysteri- ous ? You don’t know where it comes from, or whither it goes, but you believe in it just the same, don’t you? You hear the sound thereof, don’t you? Well, just so believe in the Spirit, and the birth out of the Spirit, and hear His voice.” (2 ); Because the Holy Spirit like the wind is Inscrutable and Mysterious : “thou knowest not whence He (or it) cometh, and whither He (or it) goeth.” The doctrine that our Lord was trying to teach Nicodemus seemed to him too mysterious to be believed (see vs. 4 and 9), but Jesus said to him, in effect, is it any more mysterious than the wind which you hear outside there? Many in our day say, “I will not believe in mystery, I will not believe anything I can’t understand.” But we live in a world that is full of _mystery that we are bound to believe in and do believe in. Who understands how the apparently dying seed fives again and multiplies through its very death (ch. 12:24) ? Yet all intelligent persons believe and know that it does. So is it with the Spirit: He is indeed Inscrutable and Mysterious in His workings, but they are none the less sure and they are beneficent. Our Lord must have had Ecclesiastes 11:5 (see R. V.) in mind when He spoke the words, “knowest
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