HURRICANE LAMPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 8

HURRICANE LAMPS

THE QUIET CORNER.

(Written for THE SDN by the Rev. Charles Chandler, Assistant City Missioner.) The hurricane lamp does not give much light, hut it will not "go out" in the wind. Though the night he stormy, and chimney-pots he rocking, and sheet iron he blowing about like feathers, the old hurricane lamp will swing by one’s side, or, tied to the back axle of a sulky, will cast quaint shadows through the spokes as we make our perilous way through a patch of nativei scrub. On account of its utter dependability in all weathers, bushmen have become very attached to the hurricane lamp. Some wayback people leave one of these lamps alight on the floor by the back door, ready for the first emergency. Sometimes the glass will be smoked, and the wick, through being crooked, will form a most distorted flame, but these little deficiencies do not much, detract from a faithful friend. The best type of Christians are “hurricane lamp” Christians. They may not be radiant with faith, but whatever they have in the way of light refuses to "go out’’ in the wind. Though the way be stormy, and the far more "showy" people may desert us, the old, loving, plodding, faithful “hurricane” Christians will stay fast by outside. They will always be there when wanted, and when no one else will do, they'll fill the breach, and give to us a feeling of safety and security when all around in dark as night. Tied to a stick at the edge of a hole in the road, they'll keep us from falling in. “Hurricane lamp ” Christians rarely sit on church councils, or raise their voices in the public assembly, but when all the rest have "thrown in the sponge,” they'll be in their accustomed places, showing forth their little bit of light. There are many lamps more bright than "hurricanes," but there are none that you can grip by the hand in all weathers, and with which you can feel on such friendly terms. They will not dazzle your eyes like motor headlights, but tcill, instead, just shine enough to pierce the gloom, and show you where next to place your feet. NEXT WEEK: FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH.