THE CHRISTIAN RACE

"So run that ye may obtain."—St. Paul.

N the days of St. Paul, the Apostle, not far from Corinth, the far-famed Ithmian games were held every two years. Among

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other athletic contests was the foot race. There is no doubt that Paul, in passing by the Olympian Stadium, which was situate in full view of the city, had often watched the racers. Being such a pronounced religious worker and teacher, we do not wonder that his thoughts led him to reflect upon the race of Life, and more particularly, the Christian race.

The metaphor is indeed striking and true to life. In this race all may win or fail. To obtain the prize, should be the great objective. Richard Watson Gilder aptly says:

"He fails who climbs to power and place

Up the pathway to disgrace.

He fails not who makes truth his cause,
Nor bends to win the crowd's applause,
He fails not-he who stakes his all
Upon the right, and dares to fall,

What though the living bless or blame?
For him the long success of fame.”

According to fable, Atalanta was an athletic, yet charming maiden, who challenged all her suitors to run with her the race. She offered herself as the prize to the conqueror, but attached death as a penalty to failure. Many competed with her and lost their lives. At last Hippomenes, the judge, overcome by her charms, offered himself for the contest. Unseen, he took three golden ap

ples, as they sprang forth from the goal, and skimmed along the sand. Hippomenes felt himself failing, and threw down one of the golden apples to detain the virgin. She, amazed, stopped to pick it up, while he shot ahead. She soon overtook him, when he threw another apple, which she stopped to get. Again she shot by him. One apple remained, which he threw to one side; and she, selfconfident, or undecided, turned aside for it, and he reached the goal and won the prize.

The golden apples defeated her, as they have many others, in the race of life.

But what is the price of success? First, enlistment; next, training; finally, freedom from all hindrances. "Let us lay aside every weight" and press forward to win the goal.

THE TONIC OF SUCCESS

The exercise of the highest faculties of the mind is not only stimulating, but creates the highest character.

Perhaps there is nothing else which has such a magical effect upon the brain, the nervous system, the whole man in fact, as the consciousness of achieving that on which his heart is set. There is a wonderful uplift in feeling that things which we take hold of will move. Acievement acts like a tonic on the whole system, it quickens the circulation, stimulates the digestion, and enlarges hope. People who have been invalids for years, whom no medicine or physician could help, have frequently been entirely restored to health, by suddenly hearing some good news, or unexpectedly coming into some good fortune.

This shows that the mind is master, that the body and its functions are good servants, and that the thoughts are reflected in the physical man.-Selected.

JUNE

"And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;

Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays:
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,

An instinct within it that reaches and towers
And, groping blindly above it for light,

Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers."

-JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

A DEFENSELESS CAUSE

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise."—Solomon.

H

ERE is a true proposition: "No evil being, power or cause

can yield good fruit." Apply this, then, to the monstrous evil of intemperance that has so long cursed the world. What good has it ever done? In what way has it ever been helpful to mankind? Who are it's defenders?

Note the voice of the scientist: "I am a surgeon. My success depends upon my brain being clear, my muscles firm, and my nerves steady. No one can take alcoholic liquors without blunting these physical powers, which I must keep always on edge. As a surgeon I must not drink."-Dr. Lorenz, eminent European surgeon.

The business world-life insurance companies, railroads and nearly every honorable business man has declared against alcohol, even in moderate use.

Hear the cry of poverty. At a meeting of the Charity organization of New York City, Col. John J. McCook said: "The last year has been extremely hard on the poor, but it is a great question in my mind if it would have been so had it not been that many a poor man, many a man who had a family of starving little ones at home, went out when he got his small wages at the end of the week and spent half of them in drink. Workmen who otherwise would