ENTHUSIASM

"It is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times." -St. Paul.

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F one could visit the gray, gloomy slopes of yonder valley, lying toward the sunset, would he not see the ghosts of vanished enthusiasms? "Voiceless, somber, they linger listless among the tombs and whisper to the low chill winds the tale of their birth, the flush and fullness of their strong impetuous life; then the story of their death."

That is what was meant by the aged man who said to the youth in deep confidence: "I ought to accept this call to this field of usefulness, but my enthusiasms are dead." The old veteran well knew that with dead enthusiasms he could never succeed at his task. He also knew the value of present enthusiasm.

No less a man than Emerson said: "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm."

Modern politicians know this. If a great issue is at stake and there is likelihood of a close contest, they know that somehow there must be enlisted an enthusiasm that will arouse the indifferent and bring to pass a great victory. In the social world what is more disastrous to the purposes of society than lack of enthusiasm among the members? Indeed, what a dead world this would be without enthusiasm.

In religion there should also be enthusiasm, almost without limit. Many pretend not to believe in this, though they may be

enthusiastic in other matters. But Paul says "It is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times."

Now what is better than religion? Is there any cause in which men may more safely be enthusiastic?

On the value of religious enthusiasm, Dr. J. M. Buckley writes:

"It may be necessary sometimes to check excessive emotion, but we should never do it in any meeting unless it is necessary, and then do it quietly. Of course, if a man lets go of the rudder of reason and depends entirely on the wings of feeling, he has lost his manhood for the time. But there was a philosopher, as he thought, who bought a garden and planted in it some trees, and one tree grew unshapely and he put his wits together to keep it from growing unshapely. He made up his mind the cause of its growing was the sap, therefore he drew out a pint of sap every day and the tree did not grow unshapely because it did not grow at all. He called in a neighboring gardener to explain the matter. The experienced gardener said to him: 'You took the sap out of the sapling. You ought to have drawn the sap out of your own head.''

BEULAH LAND

"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you."-Jesus.

N one of our religious papers some time ago there was related

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the story of a man, who, when dying, called his little daughter

to his bedside and told her how dreadful he felt because he must die. In her childish faith she said: "Why, papa, you have a beautiful home in the mountains, and a beautiful home in Florida; and a beautiful home by the sea; haven't you a home in heaven?"

This man who had made such bountiful provision for this life was obliged to shake his head sadly and say that he did not know. How sad. Yet does not this man represent a class in the world who are thinking very little of the world beyond this? But the Saviour of mankind has not left us in ignorance concerning the heavenly world.

Here, then, is the truth. We should make ready for eternity. A traveler, returned from Jerusalem, found, in conversation with Humboldt, that he was as conversant with the streets and houses of Jerusalem as he himself was. On being asked how long it was since he had visited it, the aged philosopher replied, "I have never been there, but I expected to go sixty years ago, and I prepared myself."

Jerusalem the golden,

With milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation

Sink heart and voice oppressed:
I know not, O I know not
What social joys are there;
What radiancy of glory,

What light beyond compare.

They stand, those halls of Zion,
All jubilant with song,
And bright with many an angel,
And all the martyr throng:
The Prince is ever in them,
The daylight is serene;
The pastures of the blessed

Are decked in glorious sheen.

There is the throne of David;

And there, from care released, The song of them that triumph, The shout of them that feast; And they who, with their leader, Have conquered in the fight, Forever and forever

Are clad in robes of white.

O sweet and blessed country,
The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessed country,
That eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us

To that dear land of rest;
Who art, with God the Father,
And spirit, ever blest.

-BERNARD OF CLUNY.

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WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

"Who do men say that I am?"-Jesus.

HIS is certainly a proper question to ask. Through all the centuries since his birth Christ has been on trial. Before the

bar of public opinion the meek and lowly one is standing. It is most interesting to note what various peoples thought of Him during his life on earth.

To John the Baptist he was "The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world". To the Roman Centurion he was "the Son of God". To the despairing Judas he was the "innocent blood". Of him Pilate said: "I find no fault in Him." The Apostle Peter declared "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God". Even doubting Thomas exclaimed "My Lord and my God", and Nicodemus said: "Thou art a Teacher come from God."

Before the gaze of men who have lived since His time, Christ is the "fairest among ten thousand, the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star". The Mohammedan world gave him the high title of the Messiah and set Him above all the prophets. To Napoleon he was "the Emperor of Love". Jean Paul Richter calls Him "the holiest among the mighty and the mightiest among the holy, who lifted with His pierced hand empires off their hinges, and turned the stream of centuries out of its channel, and still governs the ages".