Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1910 — RELIGIOUS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RELIGIOUS

“Thy Will Be Done.” I cannot always see the way that leads To heights above; I sometimes quite forget that He leads on With hands of love; But yet I know-the path must lead me to Immanuel’s land, And when I reach life’s summit 1 shall know And understand. I cannot always trace the onward course My ship must take. But looking backward, I behold afar Its shining wake Illumined with God’s light of love; and so I onward go, In perfect trust that Hfe who holds the helm . , The course must know. I cannot always see th 4 plan on which He builds my life; For oft the sound of hammers, blow on blow. The noise of strife, Confuse me till I quite forget He knows And oversees, And that in all details with His good plan My life agrees. I cannot always know and understand The Master’s rule; I cannot always do the tasks He gives In life's hard school; But I am learning with His held, to solve Them one by One, And when I cannot understand, to say, Thy will be done,”

“Jnat the Minister’* Wife.’* Mrs. Richmond sat by the open window. Her happy gaze caressed the distant hills, the spring-time hills that for so many weary months she had thought never to see again. Now she was up once more, a prisoner still, but able to look and listen and understand how beautiful was the world that she so nearly lost. The church bells were ringing softly, their clearness muffled a little by distance, but still potently sweet in tone. “They make me sad,” thought the minister’s wife. “I have been so long away from any service; it will be such weeks before I can go again.” Then, at the click of the gate, she pullefi herself together. Doctor Richmond and the boys would soon be coming. “Mother’s room” was their first goal, and it would never do to let them see that mother, always so bight and gay and cheerful, eVen when enduring greatest pain, was in a fit of the “dumps” Just because she was getting well, Just because the scene of the lilacs and the sound of the church bells had made her feel a little lonesome and away from the world. But it was a girl’s light step that ran quickly up the stairs, a girl’s eager voice that begged to come in, and Elinor Lane, her arms heaped with daffodils, leaned over and kissed Mrs. Richmond's forehead. “Where shall I put them?” she asked, holding out the flowers. “They’re from the church. I’ve left them every week, you know, but today, when Doctor Richmond told me that you were sitting up, I begged him to let me really bring them. Now •that you are getting well, I don’t believe the parish will give you a moment s rest. You don’t know how we’ve missed you!” “You’ve all been sg^kind— too kind!” Mrs. Richmond murmured, her thin cheeks flushing with pleasure. “I had no idea I was so blessed in friends, but, or course, you would be thoughtful and attentive because of Doctor Richmond—” "Not at all!” broke in Elinor, a little hotly, “it’s you yourself! We love Doctor Richmond, too; but dotat you realize what you’ve meant and do mean to the parish?” “But, my dear,” interrupted Mrs. flushed and a little bewildered, “you can’t know how it’s weighed on me, this uselessness of mine, for I’ve never been really the ‘minister’s wife’; I’ve just been Mrs. Richmond. I never had a voice, so I couldn’t take my place in the choir. I wasn’t the least bit musical; I couldn’t even play the organ accompaniments for the Sunday school hymns. And there were always so many, many little children about my knees that I seemed constantly conducting home kindergarten classes and sewing societies all of my own. I thought so often, as f lay here this winter, how much better it would have beel| If Doctor Richmond had chosen some one more wortlw, more able to help him, than I hafi been.” “And do you never remember,” answered Miss Lane, gently, “the year I came here, a forlorn little frightened-to-dedfch school teacher, and my Thanksgiving with you just because my home was so far away? “Don’t you ever think of the Baker twins from that forsaken copper-min-ing region? They never would have known anything of Christianity or decency if you hadn’t cared for them. “Don’t you know how much all of us realize that Dpctor Richmond’* splendid theories of JiTe and charity and love come from his happiness with you? 6, Mrs. Richmond, the parish would be so poor if it had lost you! ’’ And the girl had gone, Mrs. Richmond sat musing happily, and when the boys came trooping in they saw the same old glad, unquenchable smile that they always looked for and always found on their mother’s face. At Inst Mrs. Richmond understood that

her simple lire had "smelled sweet blossomed in the dust.’’—Youth’s Companion. The Unite* Heart. The psalmist says: “Unite my heart to fear thy name.” The only power that can do this is the spiritual life which is imparted by the Divine indwelling. The culture of the intellect, lofty as it is, does not renew man in the center of his being. Only the love and life that fill the heart can do this, by bringing all affections and volitions into harmonious activity. The new life is the normal life. It is the salvation of the whole man. To effects this peaceful union with human nature God spared not His own Son. The Christ life in the heart is the pledge of personal perfection, is the secret of self-realization, Is the hope of glory. It is life Inspired by a supreme passion, molded by a Divine ideal, and transformed by Divine -power. To its progress are subordinated the manifold discipline of all of life’s vicissitudes, its pleasures, Its sorrow and its Joy. The united heart is master of all circumstances. To it every storm of trouble is a pavilion of peace. A Prayer. O, Thou who has given us love without measure and help without price, let us not weigh and mete out our obedience unwillingly, but teach us how Thy children should live before Thee in noble freedom and Joyful continuance of faithful love. Let each day of life be a day of Thy presence. Kindle in our hearts desire for holiness. May we not waver, faint-hearted and Irresolute, but aid us to be strong and steadfast, daily giving thanks for a child’s place In the Father’s house and for the opportunity of helpfulness. O, Thou, the faithful Redeemer and Shepherd of our souls, as Thou didst live in obedience and uprightness of faith and love, enable us also to be true and persevering and let Thy blessing, rest on all who seek and follow Thee.