For a long time we have been learning at the feet of Jesus what is the worth of man. We have been breaking the fetters from both body and mind so that he may work out his own destiny unhindered. We assert the right of every man to a free and fair chance in the race of life. Break every yoke" is the cry - every yoke of law, custom or sentiment and let the imprisoned spirit of man go free. Let him accept the opportunities freedom gives and ask no more.

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But is there not a companion truth that ought to be considered? Besides the doctrine of individualism we must place the doctrine of the solidarity of the race. We are members one of another. Liberty must walk hand in hand with fraternity. I am my brother's keeper. There is another lesson yet to be learned at the feet of Jesus. He did not so much emphasize self-assertion as self-surrender-not so much rights as duties. By teaching and example he set forth the glory of service. Whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant." He never said to the busy population of Capernaum - Let the strongest survive and the weak perish. He commended the Good Samaritan, because he neither despised nor neglected but cared for and supported the weak. Never a cry came to his ears of weakness or woe that was not heeded. The bereaved Mother, the anxious publican, the young ruler, the fallen woman of Samaria, the thief on the cross all were taken into his pity and received kind, honest, helpful treatment at his hands. Had even Judas gone to Jesus with his bitter wail of remorse instead of to the accomplices of his crime how different might have been his reception and humanly speaking his fate! Who can doubt that the word of Jesus that has buoyed many a sinking soul in all the centuries since it was uttered would have found in him a signal illustration" Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' Did he not a little later look down from the cross on his

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murderers and pray-"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Who among us can look with indifference on the fate of Johnstown? What a moment of awful agony it must have been to some, when the angry waters swept almost all they cared for on earth away from their embrace forever! What maddening suspense must have wrung the hearts of others who knew that friends were endangered and feared that they were lost! Could anyone among us have the want of heart to say - What is that to me?

Something more than a year ago the Synod of Pittsburg met at Johnstown and two of us spent an evening with Rev. Dr. Beale, an old college friend, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church. On Tuesday I saw his name among the dead at Leechburg. But though not a friend was lost or sorrow-stricken did not the hearts of all of us swell with emotions of astonishment and grief as we read of the sudden, overwhelming destruction of our human brothers? Did we not all respond in heart and as we were able to the cry of the impoverished, sorrow-laden living? The unparalleled calamity was promptly followed by a liberality that knows no parallel outside of lands leavened by Christian influence. The thousands of rich men and the small gifts of the poor came pouring in from far and near to help these strangers who are bound to us by no other tie than that of the All hail! this blessed day when the kinship of men is honored, when one member suffers and all the other members suffer with it. The spirit of the song of the angels is abroad in the earth-"Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men."

race.

Young gentlemen and ladies of the graduating class, take note of these signs of better things. Have faith in God. Have faith in the workings of divine grace in human souls. Coleridge paints by these few masterly strokes the poor blind pessimist -"The owlet Atheism

sailing on obscene wings athwart the moon, drops his blue-fringed lids and holds them closed, And hooting at the glorious sun in heaven, cries out, Where is it?"" Let the atheist be a pessimist if he will the darkness is his native haunt. Let him shut his eyes and hoot, when the sun dances joyously in the heavens and flings down radiance upon the earth. But let us who have faith in the Heavenly Father's government of the world, keep our eyes open to see all that is gladdening and beneficent in its history. Cultivate that serenity that comes from contemplation of the throne of the eternal. Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."

Recognize the brightness there is in the world and endeavor to make it brighter. There are perils and miseries and sin. There are poverty and oppression and greed and lust and violence. There are "ragged children, with hungry eyes" for whom Mrs. Browning pleads

If no better can be done,
Let us do but this endeavor
That the sun behind the sun

Shine upon them while they shiver.

There are giant iniquities that must be smitten with the fist of righteous law. In many places yet Satan is unbound. To all these sad serious facts you must be awake. There is need of earnestness and patience as well as serenity and hope.

Mordecai rallied Queen Esther from her listlessness and called upon her to plead the cause of her doomed people "Who knoweth whither thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this." And the queen answered nobly" I will go in unto the King which is not according to law; and if I perish, I perish." Equally admirable are Mordecai and Esther the burning zeal of the man and the self-sacrificing devotion of the

woman. Let us commend them to your imitation as you enter upon life with the purpose of serving God, and your fellow men.

Who knoweth whether you are coming to the Kingdom the Kingdom of manhood and womanhood for the times in which you live. Shirk not your responsibility nor seek to impose it upon others. Say not What is that to us? See thou to that." Rather press into the conflict with-" Here am I; send me." Make the world better by work under and in harmony with Jesus Christ who came to minister to others and to save the lost and count it reward enough if at the last you hear him say "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in, naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me.'

SERMON V, 1890

SOBER-MINDEDNESS

Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.- Titus 2: 6.

OUTH is impetuous. Young men are ever ready to do exploits. They are charmed by the romantic and the heroic. The element of risk only gives zest to any enterprise. They respond promptly to any appeal that calls for daring. They are not appalled but rather attracted by the perils of missionary life in the heart of Africa, they deprecate most of all what is called a humdrum life without excitement, without apprehension, and equally without expectation a calm and placid sea unstirred by storm and scarce by gentle breeze. Few of them would understand Lord Shaftsbury who when urged to accept a high office, replied, "One million six hundred thousand operatives are still excluded from the benefits of the Factory acts, and so long as they are unprotected, I cannot take office." Fewer still would understand Chinese Gordon, the hero of the century, when he wrote,-" Is it my fault or my failing that I never have a respectable assistant with me to bear a part of my labors? The men who would suit me are all more or less burdened with their families, etc.; those who are not so loaded, are for money or great acts, which do not accord with my views."

Money and great acts are apt to be the ambition of the great majority. The ideas of serviceableness to man and submission to God, are far from dominating their lives. They respond to motives of glory rather than of duty, of gain rather than of godliness, of pleasure rather than of sacrifice.