THE GLEANER.

Evening Star, Issue 14535, 10 December 1910, Page 3

THE GLEANER.

[By Duncax WniGiir. Dunedm.] No. 149. SWEET SABBAT'H CHIMES. Charles Lamb sings, and I sing with him: Tho cheerful Sabbath bells, wherever heard, Strike pleasant on the sense, most like the voice Of one who from the far-off hills proclaims Tidings of good to Zion; chieily when Their piercing tones fall sudden on the ear Of the contemplant, solitary man, Whom thoughts abstruse or high have chanced to lure Forth from the walks of men, revolving oft, And oft again, hard matter, which eludes And baffles his pursuit, thought-sick and tired. .Of controversy, where no end appears, No clue to his research, tho lonely man Half-wishes for society again. Him. thus engaged, the Sabbath bells salute; Sudden his heart awakes, his ears drink in Tin.' cheering music; his relenliug soul Yea ins after all file joys of social life, And softens with the love of human kind.

So much do I belong to (he old school and the old style of things that if I were a pastor my heart, would often sink within me to see how God's house is forsaken and the Sabbath bells bring no message of mush: and merer ! When one looks over the majestic old I'etdm wheie wo iea<l tho woid.s : "I was giud when they said to me Let. us go into the house of the Lord," sometimes shame conns to us when we see the eager crowds pushing along to spend, perhaps in idleness and fnvoblv. the JV.y of Besl, and the preacher is' b fi. to give his message to emptv p.ws. I hope tii" day is coming when' evetv hotnv erected to the glory ot God will be crowded with eager, earnest, devoot wo:shippers. is this a narrow view'.' 1 ben I am itaiiow; but, I am neither a bigot no: a pessimist so far as mv judgment goes. 'Someone ;ir-:cd Kinersoii why he. so clever ,: man, took the tumble'to go tohear a vety poor preacher. His itoble reply \\a-:'"i have in my heart, a tittle [han't tilled icvii'.-mo. and I go 10 church to hj tve il watered once a week"; ami, adds the wilier of the paragraph : "People ii-11 ; tiiti' i.-e tiie pi each' r and the choir, ami il:e o.cer of ■e.-vicc. might well remeniho: that tiie chief object in going ti tinned i> io vo.-ship Gcd. ii 'the little piani caiiid icvercnce' i; not refreshed Hgulailv, ii wiil -con wither a.ud die." \Vh a' mice \})y foot enters the church. Ih d ,s uor tln-ie than thou : for thou {):<'.;■ bv lite : ■ rini.-si- n. Tie. n beware. And 'make thy eii ail levereiice ami fear. Ki-eelira; ne'er spoil d silk slocking: 'juit All u'pni are within the church's gate. L i v.-i:: . r be.;,- though; .have iJ.pie ::,, palt ; Bring uit tt.y ph.:-. lay plough, tin Christ pmged Hi..-. Tempie --o must thou lily in nit. Sir .Job.i Cnh'oi. formerly Picinier of South Australia, was a st: iking example of the best ivne of British colonial state.-man. lie was 'ai.-o a. Java! Method!-! and a ioca! pieacber and cI.W leader. Tho story of how he received his high ollice of Premier is this : The Governor on a, Saturd-y afternoon sent a message to Sir John n-qnesting to havo an interview. Sir ,lohn Coiton courteousiy ivplhd (hat lie must ask tiie Governor tr postpone the interview until Monday, as be had a preaching engagement on Sunday, and he needed S'atuiday to make preparation for it. Bravo! Pray don't abuse the high name of Christian by applying it to a Large and growing (lass who refuse to go In God's house because their favorite preacher is not to- be present. fine's, foul revolts at the very thoughi of conduct o mean atid miserable.

City people i!i):l city worshippers, are Foroiv lil.-inv.'d, when on holiday in ilie country ;ii!.l at the pea-sidr. he.-jWc (hey often l'c;;il".-r. t}'.-.' liiul duties of Worship (111 lilC DaV of Host. 0110 lC'lSl'll (liven is because the. pivuluT is not what is called a (living. S'nanic upon you, whether vealihy man or liL-li-born lady! Could any reader tell mo correctly the. nauio of the poor, unlettered man who had the pricclcs joy of the youm.; man (.'harks ]la<!<ion Spur_ r eo.'i into Chi it'.-; kingdom'.' 7t. were well if m\l l/ni'.'f Day all •>;" us witk (dm-cro p'.'aiteie'e wave to say : " J'Vfim all blindi.ess of heart; fiom pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from invy, lialicd. ami iiialicc. ami all unehaiitatikness, [,'ond Lord deliver us." WILLT\M I.WAJVr CLAD.STOXj; was o!.en heard to remark th.it. if it- had not been for hi.s .Sunday vest he would mil have been the nifni he- was. Physically, intcllctually, and fipiiituailv his Sunday was to him a, piieekws hit s-.--ing. From Saturday to .Monday morning Mr Gladstone ]itit- away ail business of n secular nature; kept to his Sunday special books and oeeupat inns. He never travelled on Sunday, and it. is. well known that whop, hrr late Majesty Queen Victoria invited him to Windsor ( asiie on Sunday for one. niilht he made airaniomonts. to rtav in Wind For the Saturday niudit. 1o avoid Sunday travelling. And note this: Two «r vices at- least saw him at worship on Sunday. Tall spire fiom which the sound of cheer ful bells Just, uudulatco upon the listening oar.

A WOliKlXi; MAX'S I.riTTKlt to a well-known London prca< h-rc read a. fallows :—■

"Dear .sir,—Will you paidon me !'<-r writing to you, at; one of those who listened to you last night, to tell you how wo working men and women always lon-j for si. real" Gospel message after the week's toil?

'' Do, dear sir, let us g<:(. someihhi", about Christ and Jiis love "to the weak and heavy -laden.- Many hungry one;; like myself "went c.vay .last, ui;_dit and hungry-fiuulod. Nothing but Christ can satisfv .sinners who want rest and

peace." With all my heart and soul T wish real working men and women would son'] to pre:ujhers jtiot such a let!or. It would help the preacher and move the stagnant pool. Working people despite, fawniujj and flattery and palronafje, but they never despise a manly mail who speaks out in a brave hut kindly fashion. There its a happy medium between the poiii]jo<j.s style and the " dearlybeloved brethien*' business. What is true in Britain is also true in New Zealand On both sides of the sea men. and women are hungering for Jesus Christ, tho Bread of Life. If wo were thought-readers, it would rot be hard to tell, from the anxious faces of business men, that they too Ion .4 for "a. real Oosj.-el message after the weck'.s toil." The man who wrote the sentence "lie who ordained the Sabbath love.s the. poor "' was both poei and plrlofiopher. Welcome the hour of rweot re]K*e, The evening of the Sabbath day : In peace my wcirkd eyes «lnll close, When I have tuned my vesper lay, In humble, gratitude to llim Who waked the morning's earliest beam. In such an hour as this, how sweet, In thrr calm fioliutde. of even. To hold with Heaven communion meet— Meet for si spirit bound to Heaven; .And, in thiri wilderness beneath, Pure zephyrs from above to breathe. TRUE RICHES OV THE CHURCH. Some years ago, 011 a, wintry morning, ft boy in the garments of poverty entered an old echoolhoiißp among the western mountains and expressed to the master his desire for an education. That hoy was Jonas King, who .served well his generation.

Carey, on his cobbler's bencn, laid well .ind deep the l'ouudatioisfi oi' British Baptist missions.

John Newton found in his congregation a friendless Scotch boy, whoso soul was all aglow with love 1o Jesus Christ. He took him to John Thornton, a noble merchant, whoso wealth, whoso piety, and whceo beneficence increased together. They educated hin.i; and that boy was Claudius Buchanan, whose name India will remember when the names of Give and Hastings are forgotten. Was not John Banyan, the immortal dreamer, a gift to the* Church ?

Zwingle, the reformer, canio forth from an Alpine shepherd's hut. Melancthon, another honored name, came from an armorer's workshop, and Luther from a miner's cottage. «*** ' # # *

Hung on a pillar of the nave of the church at Hawardeu, where Mr Gladstone regularly .attended church when at home, arc his rules on church attendance, md are a fitting memorial of a great character :

1. On your way to the Lord's house be thoughtful or say but little, and that little good., Speak not of other men's faults. Think of your own, for you are going to seek forgiveness. 2. Never stay outside: go in at once, lime spent inside should be precious. 3. Kneel down very humbly and pray. Spend the lime that remains in holy thought and prayer, and remember the awful Presence into which you have come. Do not look about to see who arc coming late. Fasten your thoughts firmly on the sorvice. Do not miss one, word. 'This means a hard struggle; you have no time for vain thought. The Blessed Spirit will strengthen you if you persevere. 4. When service Jd ended remain kneeling, ami pray. Be intent, and speak to no nr.fc until you are outside. The church is [ God's house oven when prayer itt over. 5. Oil your way homo bo careful of your talk, or the world will >oon clip back into your lieall. Bemember where you have been, and what you have been doing. Besolve to try to live a better life. ■x- ***** * Henry Ward Beeeher. in my judgment, 'r. not lar out when he. wrote tho following sentences which most thoughtful rcadeis witt readily endorse ; j "it is ;i joy to me to know Ihut the ! ("niistiata-: within the communion of this .'nuieli (h.: r > own church. 1 presume) are not all the Christians to be found in fhe con- • gicgation. Wo are liche-r than we appear to be. Here are glowing pear frees, apple tree-, '.lurry trees, and shrubs, and blossoming vines, and iknvers of every hue and odor; but I am glad lhat some s.or-ds have blown over tho garden wall, and that fruit trees and flowers most pleasant to the eve ate springing up theio alco. Atid though i wiitii titty were wit bin the enclosure, where the. boar out of the -wood could not waste them and the wild boast of the hold devour them, yet f love litem, and am glad to see them growing there." : How beautiful they idattd, | The, o ancient aitans of our native land' Amid the pasture iic Id and dark green w< iod.s. : Amid tiie mountains' cloudy solitudes; | By rivers broad lhat rush into the sea ; I lb.- Jittie brooks that, with a lapping found, Like j.lavful children, rumble- bv cops; and 'lea. Kach to its little plot of holy ground. How beautiful they stand, T'ncv crov old chinches of out native J a ml!' And 'tis for this (hey stand. The old giev churches of our native land ! ' And i veil in tho gold-corrupted mart, In the great- eityV heart. They stand ; and chantry dim. and organ sound, An.i stated servh cs of prayer and praise, Like to the righteous ten which wwo not found Fvf the polluted city, shall, upraise Moolc faith and love, sincere. Belter in liiuo of .need than shield and fjioar! ******* Note. -■■-' Christmas Bells' will lie our no.tt subject, and then a break of iwo or three weeks.