HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS FLAG
OBJECTS: A Piece of Blue Bunting or Muslin and a
Yellow Six-pointed Star
Bring back Jesus into Christmas. This should be in our thoughts as we plan a Christmas program for children and young folks for this day. Christmas is Christ's birthday, but it is too often a birthday-party without Christ. We cannot truly celebrate his glad natal day if we crowd him out of the celebration.
I have attended Christmas celebrations where a cantata was rendered full of fairies, Brownies, and Santa Claus, and the name of Christ was not mentioned from start to finish. The cantata could have been given with entire acceptance at an infidel's celebration or in a Hindu temple. Christmas is a merry day, and I would not take one glad note from its music, but do not forget the King. It is his birthday we are celebrating.
To bring back Jesus into Christmas perhaps it will help a little to introduce a Christmas flag, and hang it up in sight of all the people. Before the festivities begin explain the Christmas flag, and by so doing we shall be introducing Jesus and giving him first place on the program.
To make a Christmas flag, secure a piece of sky-blue bunting or muslin, and explain that the blue stands for our faith in Jesus which is as clear as the blue sky above us without a cloud of unbelief in it.
We believe Jesus to be God's only divine Son without a single cloud of doubt. In the center of the plain blue background place a six-pointed golden or yellow star commonly called the Star of David. This is beyond all doubt the Bible star. Jesus was the Bright and Morning Star. Let this star stand for Jesus of the House of David.
The history of the six-pointed star is most interesting. It will be real news to many of the young people. This star now appears on the Jewish flag.
During the recent convention of the Federation of American Zionists in Pittsburgh, the display of the six-pointed star flag was very much in evidence. On a white background two heavy blue stripes are sewn, and between them the Jewish emblem, the double triangle, forming a six-pointed star, and known as the "Shield of David." The Zionist flag, therefore, symbolizes in the white background the priestly nation; the blue stripes stand for loyalty and unity of all Israel, and the "Shield of David" represents the star of faith in the unity of the one true and living God.
Inquiry has often been made as to the origin of the "Shield of David." The common opinion held among the Jews is that it originated with King David, and became the religious emblem of the nation, and was the conspicuous symbol on Solomon's Temple. From that time on it continued the popular sign of the Jews and may be seen at the present time on synagogues, temples, and Jewish institutions. Tell the children where they may see it in their own neighborhood.
The popular belief regarding this emblem, however, finds no historical support. Its origin is shrouded in impenetrable mystery. The Jewish Encyclopedia does not shed very much light on the subject and makes only the following observation:
The Jewish view of God, which permitted no images of him, was and still is opposed to the acceptance of any symbols, and neither the Bible nor the Talmud recognized their existence. It is noteworthy, moreover, that the "Shield of David" is not mentioned in Rabbinical literature. The "Shield of David," therefore, probably did not originate within Rabbinism, the official and dominant Judaism for more than 2,000 years, nevertheless a David's Shield has recently been noted on a Jewish tombstone at Tarentum, in Southern Italy, which may date back as early as the third century of the Common Era. (C. M. Adler in Jewish Quarterly Review, 14, 3.)
The earliest Jewish literature which mentioned it, the Eskol Hakofer of the Karaite Judah Hadassi (middle of the twelfth century), says in chapter 242 some names of angels precede the Mezuzah (a tiny tin case containing a scripture fastened on the side-posts of doors of orthodox Jewish houses): Michael, Gabriel, etc. Tetragrammaton protect thee! And likewise the sign called David's Shield is placed beside the name of each angel. It was therefore at this time a sign on amulets. Later Jewish writers speak of its popularity, but little of its origin.
In using this star you will make a strong appeal to Jewish children and to all Christian children. It will help to keep Christ in Christmas.
After you have finished your address on the Christmas flag teach them the following salute. Tell them to place their hands upon their heart and to fix their eyes on the flag and to say the following words:
"I salute thee, dear old Christmas flag, I will give my love and service to Jesus whose birthday we are celebrating. I believe in his Church and the Holy Bible, and will defend it with all my heart."
Now all stand and sing "Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come." Close by using a Christmas march. On a staff carried by a boy place the Star of David. He will lead the march, the children will follow him around the room, representing the Wise-men following the star.
45
THAT SOCIAL HOUR
OBJECTS: A Series of Stunts and Pastimes
When I ask the young folks to spend a pleasant evening with me at my home, what shall I do to entertain them and give them a pleasant time? This is a vexing question. I do not understand the children at the play-hour. What shall I do?
You are entirely right; plan a play-hour for the children of "the meeting." They have a right to their play. God gave them that right. Help them to use it to the limit. Let them make merry with their friends. It will do more for them than just give them a happy evening; it will give them a blessed memory, for when they are grown up, and look back to their childhood days, then will they remember that their religion was all tangled up with smiles and glee.
In those older days they will not say Christians are "joy-killers" and have outlawed the smile. Write it down in letters which stick. They must have their play-hour, they shall make merry with their friends.
It may help you to build your program by looking over the following simple little stunts and pastimes. A half million children have given them their O. K.
1. Doing Something No One Else Can Do
Announce that you will do something in this room that no other person can possibly do, "I will seat myself where it will be impossible for another person to do so." Now, sit down in another person's lap. Nobody else can sit there while you sit there.
2. Can't See the Candlestick
For this stunt you hold in your hand an ordinary candle in a common candlestick. State that you will put this candle in a place where everybody but one can see it, and that person will not be blindfolded, nor shall he be prevented from examining every part of the room to find it, neither shall the candle be hidden. This is done by placing the candle on his head, taking care that there is no mirror or looking-glass in the room.
3. A Coin Trick
Stand up before the children. Place a coin in each hand, and stretch out both hands as far from each other as possible. Now say, "Without bringing my hands together, I can cause both coins to come into the same hand." This is the way to do it. Place the coin on a table, then turn around and pick it up with the other hand.
4. The Prison Circle
The circle that makes you a prisoner. Draw a circle around a person, placed in the center of the room, so that he will not be able to jump out of it, though his legs be free. This is done with a piece of chalk. Draw the circle around his body.
5. Crawling into a Pint Bottle
How to crawl into a pint bottle. This is a play on words in every sense, so it is played by playing on words. Hold in your hand a little ink bottle, or a pint bottle, and state that you will ask some little boy to crawl into this bottle. Watch every movement, keep your eye upon him. Select some little boy, who has been instructed beforehand, and also rehearsed in private, to come forward and place the pint bottle in the center of the floor. He is told to go out of that room and think how it can be done, and when he is ready to do it, he is to knock on the door. You then open the door, and he crawls into the room on all fours. This is crawling into the pint bottle.
6. Candies Under the Hat
Place three candies on the table about ten inches apart, and cover each with a hat. Announce that you will now place these three candies under one hat without touching but one hat. Look wise and approach the hats with a thoughtful and solemn face, waving your hand over them and muttering some incoherent words like "Hocus-pocus," and then call upon three boys to lift the hats to see if the sweets are yet there; after they have lifted the hats, quietly pick up the three candies, place them in your mouth, and put a hat on your head, and say, "The three candies are now all under one hat, and I touched only one of the three hats." You can add a little variation to this game if you so desire by saying after you have placed the candies under the three hats, "On second thought I will turn my back, and when I do so, I would like some one to rearrange the candies under the hats." You have previously arranged with one of the boys to do this service. He appears to be playing the joke on you by eating the candies himself. When you look under the hats you will find nothing there, but when you turn around, you quietly put one of the hats on his head so the candies are now all under one hat.
7. Will Tell the Date
Ask some one in the room to select a penny and note its date. You will now say, "I am under the charm of King Copero, and I will try to tell you the date. Don't let me see the coin at close range, because I want to tell the date without seeing the coin and cause you to witness King Copero's mystic power. I will now ask you to place it under the corner of the rug, and then stand on it, and King Copero will tell me the date." You now close your eyes and exclaim, "Copero the mystic, come to my thoughts and tell me the date!" Open your eyes, and look around the room for the King, and then place your hand back of your ear and exclaim, "Speak, Copero, tell me the date." You now exclaim, "I hear you, King. You have spoken indeed." Then with great dignity say, "The date is 1925. I did not say I would give you the date on the coin, but would give you 'the date,' and the present date is 1925 or the year in which you play the game." This will produce a smile and provoke genuine jollity.
8. Making a Strong Man Sweat
Here is the way to make a strong person sweat and become tired by carrying a small stick out of the room. This seems impossible, and it causes you to smile as you think it over.
This is the way to do it. Select the strongest and tallest boy or man present, and say that you have a task for him to perform. Place in his hands a thin stick not much thicker than a pipe-stem and about six inches long. Tell him he is to carry it out of the room and lay it down one foot from the other side of the door without sweating or becoming tired. Of course, he not knowing your intention will laugh at this proposition.
As soon as he promises to do this task take the stick and with a knife cut off a little bit so small he can hardly see it; then bid him carry that first. Then give him another piece of the stick, and so until it is all carried out. This would cause him to make about a thousand trips and more before he has carried out the entire stick, and it would take him two weeks working day and night to complete the task. It would surely make him sweat and grow weary. He himself will so conclude. This little stunt seems quite insignificant at first, and that makes the laugh more hearty at the last. This was a stunt quite common in the days of Washington and the Colonial children.
9. The Disappearing Square
Draw a square about two feet square on a large sheet of common paper. Pin it up on the door and say you have the pleasure of presenting to your audience the Wondrous Square which has the marvelous power of disappearing and reappearing right before your very eyes. Then ask the audience to close both eyes and they will note the square has perfectly disappeared. Then ask them to open their eyes, and the square immediately reappears again. This little stunt has been used by over a thousand little friends of mine and has helped them to make "merry with their friends."
It will often help a little to secure a small box of tricks and show them how to do them. Sometimes one of the invited boys may own such a box. Ask him to bring it with him, and show them how to do wonders also.
This can be made a large evening for the teacher personally. Be careful to listen to the children as they speak, observe the laws of their conversation, note down the words they use when they talk to each other, and when you talk to them talk as they talk, observe the same rules of conversation, and use their words when you talk to them in the lesson, then will they hear a lesson in their own tongue. It will be something new for them, and the lesson will be a success, and you will feel well paid for the labors of your social hour.
46
"THE WORDLESS BOOK"
OBJECTS: A Small Book with Five Colored Pages1
Some years ago in one of the mining-towns of central Pennsylvania, a Christian English miner was noticed going to a secluded spot every noon, and holding in his hand a small red book. He seemed to be reading it, and was deeply interested in its contents.
This caused his fellow workmen no little astonishment as the book was so small that he could easily read it through in a few minutes, yet he continued to keep the book before his eyes each noon for many long months. What could he be doing? Was he reading it or just looking at it?
That was the big question they all had in their minds. At last they determined to find out the truth about the book if possible, so one day they approached him with the question: "What makes that little book so interesting to you? It certainly must contain a most wonderful story to engage your attention for so long a time." The man made a courteous reply by saying: "It is a wordless book, and you are quite correct when you say it must contain a wonderful story, for it does record the most wonderful story the world has ever heard; it is the story of salvation." He then showed them the book. It was a book of colors only, not words, It was the Story of Salvation in Colors. He then explained: "The first page is black; that stands for sin. The second page is red; that stands for the blood of Jesus which covers the black. The third page is white; that stands for righteousness. And the last page is yellow; that stands for heaven with its streets of gold. This is the most wonderful story of the world, because it is the Story of Redemption which never grows old, and I never grow tired of thinking about it and seeing it by colors."
Years ago when I was a child I saw a little book just like that. It was published in London, England. When I first began to use object lessons in talking, I made an enlarged copy of it.
Later I got out an improved edition of this book, using one additional color (green) and have put it on the market. It is called the "American Improved Wordless Book."
With but little difficulty you can make one for your own use. This is the way to do it. Secure an ordinary note-book and cover the two open pages with black paper; this stands for sin. Cover the next two open pages with red paper, which will stand for the blood of Christ. Cover the next two pages with pure white paper without the ruled lines on it; this will stand for righteousness. Cover the next two with green paper; this will represent fruitfulness or good works. Cover the last two open pages with yellow; this will stand for heaven, with its sheets of yellow gold. You may make this book as large as you desire, and when you have finished it hold it up before your hearers and open it at the black pages and say, "The black stands for the sinful heart of man."
Read the following Scripture, "By one man sin entered into the world, so death [black crape] passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Quote also John 3:19, "Men love darkness [black] rather than light because their deeds are evil" (black). Romans 6:23 is also a black verse; it reads, "The wages of sin is death" (black). Ezekiel 33:11 is another black verse. It says: "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil [black] ways; for why will ye die?" (Black.)
This is a picture of the heart covered with unforgiven sin, just as Jesus sees it and just as the judgment will show it.
What shall I do to get rid of the black? Look, and I will show you how. Open the next two pages, and they are red; that stands for the blood of Jesus. Now you notice that the black is hidden because it is all under the blood. Read Hebrews 9:22: "Without the shedding of blood [red] there is no remission." Isaiah 53:5-8 tells us: "He was wounded [red] for our transgressions, he was bruised [red] for our iniquities, ...the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity [red] of us all." Also quote 1 John 1:7, "The blood [red] of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." Make it clear that the only thing that will cover sin so it will stay covered is the blood (red) of Jesus. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Ps. 32:1).
God's red covering, the blood of Jesus his Son, is the only covering for sin; the Bible has so revealed it. Sometimes we try to cover over our sins with a lie or smooth words, but our sins will not stay covered that way. The Bible says, "Be sure your sin will find you out," which means, Be sure your sins will find their way out also.
I read in a little old story-book years ago this interesting little tale. Three little brothers had been promised by their father that if they planted a certain number of hills with beans they might go to the circus that afternoon, and see the clown and everything. They began early in the morning and worked with great vigor and zeal to finish their task, but just before they got to the last row they heard the circus band playing and saw the horses and elephants passing by in the great street parade of the greatest show on earth. They were sure they would be too late if they finished that row and planted all the beans their father had given them, so the Tempter said to them: "Dig a hole, put all the beans you have left into it, and fill up the hole and roll a big stone over it, and they will be hidden out of sight. Then go and tell your father you have finished your planting, and he will then give you your circus money, and you will thus see all of the show."
They listened to the Tempter, and did as he told them, and reported to their father their work was done, and the father according to his promise sent them to the circus. Some weeks afterward the father was inspecting his garden, and noticed there was an entire row of bean-hills from which no little green blades had yet made their appearance. The father sent for his sons and called their attention to the fact that in every row but the last one the beans had sprouted; he wanted to know if they could explain to him the failure of the last row. The boys assured the father that the seeds had been planted and if he would wait just a little while longer they would come up like the other seeds. The boys were troubled a lot about it, but they thought their father would never know why the seeds did not come up, because they had been cast into a hole and a great stone had covered them over so no one would ever see them. But one day a week or so after this the father was walking out again in that part of the garden and thought he noticed some little green blades pushing themselves out from beneath the stone; so he rolled away the stone and there in the hole were the little seeds trying to sprout and come up out of the dust.
He called his boys to him and showed them the sight, and they confessed their wrong-doing and promised they would never deceive him again, even to go to the greatest show on earth. So we see how their sins did not stay covered, they found their way out. So it will be with all our sins, they will find us out, and at the day of judgment will find their way out also.
The only thing that will cover sin so that it will not find us out is to put it under the Blood. There it will not find its way out, because forgiven sin is taken away to stay forever.
Open now the next pages, and you will find them pure white. The white stands for righteousness. Read Psalm 51:7: "Whiter than snow." This is the Snow Prayer. Ask the children to repeat it in concert. Read John 13:10: "Clean every whit"; this means all the black has gone, and the all white has come in its place. Only the blood of Jesus can do this. Make no effort to explain this, but quote it as a fact. It is so stated in the Bible and the Bible is true.
Now open the pages showing the green and say: "Green stands for fruitfulness, as it is the green branch which bears the leaf, blossom, and fruit, so should we bear much fruit or as the great Sankey sang in other days, 'When Jesus has found you, tell others the story'; that is what I am doing now, telling you the story and trying to bear fruit." Read Matthew 21:28, "Son, go work today in my vineyard." Read also Galatians 6:10, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men."
Say to the children that as the pine and ivy are green all the year around and never change with the seasons, so should the Christian always be abounding in the work of the Lord. Read Galatians 6:9; "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."
Now open the last pages and you will note they are both "yellow"; these pages stand for heaven, with its streets of yellow gold. These pages remind us of our eternal home, the home of the soul to which we will all go if we follow the teaching of this book. Quote John 14:2,3: "I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also." Read also selections from Revelation 22.
You now say I have finished my story. It is the most wonderful story in the world, because it is the story of salvation. It is a story without words, because it is a story in colors.
Close the book, and ask the children how many colors they saw in the book. Ask them to name the colors in their proper order. Drill them in repeating the colors of the book. Then ask them to give you the meaning of each color, after this fashion: Black for sin, red for blood, white for righteousness, green for fruitfulness, yellow for heaven.
Drill them now in the meaning of the colors. When I am giving this lesson I ask some little fellow to come to the platform, and offering him the book, I say: "Would you like to have this little book as your own?" Of course, he says, "Yes," and as you offer it to him he reaches out his hand to take it, and you explain that this is just the way to receive salvation. You simply "Take it." Conclude by quoting "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and whosoever will let him take."
A private use may be made of this book in the devotional hour. Look at every page and read the Scripture noted, and then meditate in silence.
1The author has prepared such a book. Write to him about it in care of the publishers.
47
THE HEART OF SEVEN DEVILS
OBJECTS: Cardboard Hearts and a Number of Colored
Cards
Text, Luke 8:2: "Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils."
The heart of this unhappy woman was like a steel-girded prison cell. It had locked in it as prisoners seven devils. Jesus opened the door, and cast them out, and went in himself, and shut the door after him, and when he shuts no man can open. Mary Magdalene was in the hollow of God's hand forever.
Let me tell you how the seven devils got into her heart, and the story of how they were cast out when she met Jesus.
Mary Magdalene was just like the rest of us, for we all have seven devils in our heart, and some have a few more. She was born in sin like all of us. She was not born a sinner; none of us are, for we do not become sinners until we arrive at that age when with a free choice we choose to do evil, then we are sinners.
Mary Magdalene began like a pure stream which starts in the mountain; but as it descends to a lower level polluting streams of water flow into it, and by and by the river is dark with impurities.
The Hudson River has its head in the highlands of the Adirondack mountains, 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. It has a good start. It is almost "holy ground." There the trees have grown tall and beautiful for hundreds of years. Beneath the shade of these the baby river rolls out and on. It plunges over the rocks in beautiful cascades and races on to its river bed. Wild beasts wade through its cooling waters, slake their thirst, and at night sleep by the river's side when the high sky hangs out its golden lanterns and smiles at the little baby climbing over the sides of its mountain cradle. And so the river rolls on larger and larger with the benediction of God and nature.
At first the child river is as clear as the air, as polished as the fairest diamond. So Mary Magdalene started life as fair as the mountain stream. She was born on the shore of the blue waters of the Lake of Galilee. She was not born in the slums, nor was she in her early days surrounded by the vicious, she did not spend her childhood in rags and filth. Beyond all doubt she was well born, and belonged to the upper class.
She seems to have inherited wealth which she spent in after years, ministering to the work of the Saviour. She was like a zephyr, pure as the mountain air; she was as free and cheery as the birds of the high hills. Then temptations came, and the polluting streams of sinful rivers flowed into this little mountain stream. At last her beautiful heart became the prison house of seven devils.
To illustrate this lesson prepare a white cardboard heart. Make it a double heart with the top of it left open, so you can put into it seven small cards, representing so many devils.
Call this heart Mary Magdalene, and then as you talk of the polluting streams which flow into it deposit the cards standing for the seven devils into the heart that is clean and white.
Name the devils:
Disobedience. This is the sin that is ready to grip us as soon as we tumble over the side of the cradle of life. She went wrong just by disobeying her parents; at least most little folks do, and I suppose she was just like the rest of us. Once there was a prisoner who sat in his cell awaiting the fast approaching hour of his execution. While he was thus waiting, with a piece of clay he drew on the wall of his cell a picture of the gallows upon which he was soon to die. He made a number of steps which led up to it, and called each step after a sin which he had done that soon would lead him up to his doom on the gallows. The first step he marked was "Disobedience to Parents." That was his first great sin, as he saw it. Now take a small black card on which you have written the word "Disobedience" and put it into the heart. This is the first devil.
The next polluting power which entered the heart we will call "Sinful Dress." In the land where Mary Magdalene was raised the people dressed in gay colors, and wore much and very elaborate jewelry on the ankles, arms, neck, and head; there they placed their bands of gold. They had large opportunity to overdo the dress question, and they did so. The rich owned many changes of raiment, and often like the leaders of fashion today could boast that they could change their costumes hourly if they so desired. She was doubtless very beautiful and charming. Her Oriental garments made her look like a queen in royal splendor. She soon "fell" for this polluting poison called "fashion," and like millions of her present-day sisters her feet got tangled up in her robes of fashion, and she slipped and fell from the pinnacle of purity into the madly burning lake of sin. As you make this remark drop in the heart a pink card on which the words "Sinful Dress" have been written. This is the second devil.
Make it clear to your hearers that carefulness in dress is not wrong, and neatness is not vanity.
Now produce a blue card on which you have marked two large letters "CO.," which stands for "Company."
Soon Mary Magdalene found evil company as did the Prodigal Son and soon she was a common sinner.
Evil company is like evil spirits seeking to pull down to their level the highest and best. As you say this deposit this card into the heart and say, "This is the third devil."
The next devil to enter the heart we will call "Bad Money."
Write down on a yellow card the dollar sign ($), and say that once a minister of the gospel read from his pulpit a request for prayer which was as follows: "Prayers are requested for a young man who has just inherited a fortune."
He certainly did need the prayers of good people, because money can be made a mighty curse unless God is in it. Money is like a skeleton key which unlocks a multitude of sin doors through which we enter to the eternal hurt of our soul. Mary Magdalene found it paid for a season in dollars and cents, but this is tainted money and slips through the fingers, and on wings supplied from the demons themselves flies away to come back no more forever. "His money was his curse," that the people often say when like a devil it has entered and destroyed a human heart. We are now speaking only of the evil use of money. Put the card with the dollar mark on it into the heart and say, This is the fourth devil.
"Temper" is the next devil to enter the sinner's heart. Write this word down on a fiery red card. In anger folks seem to be under control of another power; they do not seem like themselves. There is a strange look in the eye, another expression has seized the features of the face, and they seem for a few moments to be "changed into other men." The reason for all of this transformation is that temper is a devil, and it has taken possession of the heart.
When I was a little boy there were two little brothers who lived on the same street with me. One of them, the older one, had a very bad temper, and when he grew angry he would fling himself upon the ground and kick and scream. All the neighbors noticed this and when they spoke to his mother about it she replied, "Willie is not himself when in temper."
She was speaking the truth, he was possessed by the temper devil. One day this brother was playing with his little brother and in a moment of anger struck him in the face with his clinched fist. When the doctor came he said the little brother would never see again. He would be blind for life. Both brothers lived to be men. The elder brother never had a happy hour afterward. He would often say, "I don't see how I could have done it." This was why he did it; as with Mary Magdalene, the devil had entered his heart. The temper devil had entered the soul and taken full possession. As you say these words put the card into the heart and say "Temper is the fifth devil."
"Unbelief" is the sixth devil. Mary Magdalene had sinned and lost her standing in the synagogue. Her sins were punishable by the laws of Moses with death; she was a doomed sinner, she had left God and was alone. If she had kept the devil of unbelief out of her heart when she was first tempted, she never would have fallen into his black hands. It never pays to leave God. Believe his word. He has spoken, trust him. This will keep the devil out. Many years ago in a New England town there was a minister who preached a carefully prepared sermon on "Casting all your care on him, for he careth for you," and on his way home from church fell into a well and was severely hurt. It was laughing-stock for a common community, and it did seem just a little strange that after he had so carefully prepared his sermon and assured the people that if they put their trust in God he would take care of them, and then an hour afterward he should fall into a well and injure himself. The devil of unbelief whispered in his heart, "God did not keep his word, you are a fool to trust him," but the young preacher resisted the whispering devil and said, "Wait a little while, God will make it plain to me," and God did. He was sent to a hospital in Boston, a town he had never seen but always wanted to visit. While he was there some friends urged him to write the story of "How God cared for a man by casting him into a well."
He was a better writer than a speaker; an essayist, rather than an orator. He wrote his story and told the world how he believed God and did not doubt his promises. He told the story of Joseph who had been cast into a well and came forth to be a prince in Egypt. He thus attracted the attention of the entire city of Boston. He leaped into fame at once. He became one of the most famous writers of America, and for years was the leader of religious thought in all New England.
God took good care of him so he should fall into the well, for that was the first round in the ladder of his great success. Many a man has doubted God and stayed down the well of misfortune and upbraided God, denounced him, and so lived the rest of his days in darkness, and dying went into eternal night. Put this card into the heart and say "Unbelief is the sixth devil."
"Unholy Pleasure" is the seventh and last devil of this black-winged group. Have these words written on a piece of gold paper.
This devil of "Unholy Pleasure" is in full dress and a gentleman of the world. A "regular fellow," so the people of the world declare, but he is a deceiver and destroyer. Seek pure pleasure. Play, but play straight, or the lamps of sin over the pleasure garden of the world will blind your eyes, so you cannot see the evil of sinful pleasures.
This devil will be at the end of the road to make captive your soul forever. Place this card in the heart and say: "Unholy Pleasure is the seventh devil, and now there is a full house of devils. The heart will soon come to the end of the way as it is now full of devils and full of sin." As you say this produce a red heart the same size as the white heart you have been using, and put it in front of the white heart. You can now see sin covers her heart entirely, she is down but not out, because where the "out" begins Jesus stands and waits. He always gives special attention to hard cases, and Jesus found Mary Magdalene just there, and saved her soul by casting out the seven devils and making her clean again. He had forgiven all her transgressions and remembers them against her no more forever.
As you say this, still holding the red heart in front of the white heart, take out all the devils at once if you can, and as you do so take away the red heart also, drop them all on the table together and say, "Please note that when the devils all go out sin goes also [having reference to the red heart], and the heart is now white and clean, and it will so stay, for the devils have gone out to stay out."
This is the story of how seven devils entered the heart of Mary Magdalene, and the glad story of how they were cast out. God will do the same for you, for he is no respecter of persons.
In delivering this address always keep the heart of Mary Magdalene in full view of the audience. Hold it in your left hand if possible, and load the cards with the right hand. Be sure and make the heart large enough to contain the seven cards you put into it. Practise and rehearse.
48
SHOW YOUR COLORS
OBJECTS: An Eighteenth Amendment Flag; a Church
Flag; a Conquest Flag; an American Flag
Text: Psalm 60:4: "That it may be displayed because of the truth."
This is an expression we often use when we want to be out and out for any cause we wish to represent.
When the World War was on we pinned a small flag on our coats because we were glad we were Americans and wanted to be out and out for our country; we "displayed our colors."
Let us all try to show our colors as good Americans. Produce a flag from an inside pocket and say: "As an American citizen I will now show my colors; our text says, 'That it may be displayed because of the truth.'"
When I was traveling in Europe I always had a little flag in my hotel room. I did not keep it in the bottom of my trunk, nor did I keep it shut up in the closet, but I placed it in a conspicuous place where everybody who came into the room could see it.
I can show my colors also by obeying my country's laws and always speaking well of its President and those in authority. I am not ashamed of them, so I show my colors as an American citizen, I now will place this flag over the pulpit where you can all see it, and place my hand on it and vow I will always show my colors as an American; and lifting up the other hand I say, "So help me God."
From another pocket produce a white piece of bunting with the figures "18" marked on it, and say: "I am a temperance advocate. I believe in the Eighteenth Amendment, and I will support it with all my heart. It is a glorious part of the Constitution of the United States. I will not call it a failure, and thereby cause the wicked to jeer at it. I will not speak slightingly of it, and thereby cause the weak to disrespect it. I believe it came from God and it has come to stay. I am for it with all my soul."
A visitor once came as a stranger to a Southern town on the eve of "a license" or "no-license campaign," and was asked by one of the liquor men which side he was on, He replied: "You just step up to God and ask him which side he is on; step up to the wives and children of the drunkards, and ask them which side they are on; I am on the same side."
He was out and out a defender of the glorious Eighteenth Amendment. Now place this flag over the pulpit next to the Stars and Stripes. At this time produce from another pocket the church flag, which is the white flag with a red cross in its center, and as you display it, say: "I am out and out for the Church of God. I love its walls and its glorious old songs. I live in it and live for it, because I want to do good by my example. I need the church. There is mighty power in 'the assembly.'"
This I say with my lips, and this I say also by my example. Jesus was a church-goer, and I want to be like him. It was his custom to go to the assembly. It was a good custom. The Church is "the meeting-place," not the place where we meet each other only, but where we meet God. It is good to be there. Jesus went there to meet his heavenly Father, for "God is in his holy temple." Heaven bless the meeting-house.
God feels hurt if we do not come to see him, because we are the children of his heart. Let us go to church.
When Mr. Moody was converted he went out every Sunday morning and collected half a dozen boys and brought them into the church, and they sat in the same church pew with him, "He showed his colors." Here wave the church flag and place this flag beside the Eighteenth Amendment flag.
Draw out now from another pocket a missionary flag (the conquest flag) and say, "I believe in spreading the good news of the gospel to all the world." Here is a good story about a missionary potato. A little boy, a son of a rich and prosperous farmer, came home one day from Sunday school very much excited about the stories he had heard about the heathen people who worshiped idols. "Never mind about them, John," said the father, "we have no money to send them, besides we have heathen enough at home."
This did not satisfy John, and he puzzled his curly head with his own plans to help them.
One day he said to his father who seemed to be in a good humor, "Daddy, if you will not give me money to help the heathen will you give me a potato?" "Why certainly, son, I will give you a peck if you like." John said, "No, daddy, only one good one, and give me land enough to plant it in, and all it will produce in four years."
This pleased the father greatly and he promised him he would be glad to do this and he said to himself, "This lad of mine will make a good farmer some day." So John planted his potato, and the first year it rewarded him by producing nine. These he carefully kept for planting, and the second year he had a peck. These became seven and a half bushels the third year, and when the fourth harvest came, lo, the one potato had increased to seventy bushels. When he took them to town he told the store-keeper that he had some missionary potatoes to sell. "That must be a new kind of potato," the store-keeper said, "well, bring them over and if they are all right I'll take 'em." So he sold his potatoes for a good price and gave the money to missions. His father seeing this, concluded he would become a missionary helper also, and gave liberally each year of his money for the cause. So John showed his "missionary colors" and won his father by so doing. Jesus wants us to come out into the open and tell the world the story of his love. "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed [show your colors] because of the truth" (Ps. 60: 4). We are the flags in full view of the people. Let us display our colors.
49
THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
IN STORY FORM
A MEMORY LESSON
It is of the highest importance that we teach our children the names of the books of the New Testament, and that they shall be able to recite them from memory in their proper order.
This is not an easy task as it requires some memory effort, but it is worth the while and the effort. All children love stories, and instruction by stories is always winsome to them. It is easy on their heads. This method puts life and movement into facts, and the little folks like it much because the story method of learning things turns labor into play.
In this chapter the names of the books of the New Testament have been put together in story form. Cause the children to commit to memory the story and then to recite it in concert frequently during the meeting. After they have learned it well, ask them to think of the story, but repeat out loud the names of the books. By this simple method the books of the New Testament will be nailed down in their memory for years to come. This is the story:
The Books of the New Testament in Story Form
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John determined on Acts of discovery, accompanied by seven brave Romans, started on a pilgrimage to find the Temple of Truth. First and Second Corinthians gave them all two changes of raiment, and, as they were passing out of the city gate, they were met by Galatians and Ephesians who supplied them camels for their journey, and there the two famous sword-makers, Philippians and Colossians, gave them swords and shields for the conflict. As they journeyed on, they met First and Second Thessalonians seated at Jacob's well reading First and Second Timothy. With hearts stirred by the truth, they marched bravely on when they noticed the approach of a lone camel upon which was seated Titus, who was returning from a visit to Philemon, who he announced was keeping the true faith. They then passed through the encampment of the Hebrews, where they found James expounding the gospel to First and Second Peter, who announced to them that the Palace of Truth was at the end of the road leading out of the encampment, and that First, Second, and Third John had been watching for their caravan all night. When they arrived at the Palace of Truth, Jude the door-keeper gave them an open door and told them to enter in peace. As they retired to rest in comfort after their long journey, Revelation stood on guard in the tower, watching the signs of the times.
Ask the children to repeat this story in concert as an opening exercise for their meeting.
This is a New Testament rosary. The beads are the books, the string is the story.
50
WHAT TEN CORDS COULD NOT DO
OBJECTS: Ten Cords Three Feet Long and a
Double Heart
When the children of Israel were tenting and wandering in the wilderness God called Moses their leader up into the heights of Mount Sinai. He wished to speak to him alone, and so Joshua, who had gone up with him, was left in the lower parts of the mountain to await his return, while Moses went up to the cloud-crowned top of the mountain to be alone, all alone with God. This conference with God continued forty days and nights, and when it was concluded Moses came down from the smoking top bearing two tables of stone, upon which were chiseled the ten laws or, as we say today, the Ten Commandments. In few and short words they were as follows:
1. Thou shalt have no other God before me.
2. Thou shalt not make graven images.
3. Thou shalt not take in vain the holy name of God.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy parents.
6, Commit no murder.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Tell no falsehoods.
10. Do not covet thy neighbor's things.
These ten commandments instruct us in all the duties of life. Yet we may keep all these laws and not be a Christian. Once when Jesus was here among men a rich young ruler came to him asking what he must do to be saved, Jesus asked him about the Ten Commandments. He replied that he had kept them from his youth up, but when Jesus asked him to sell all and follow him, he then saw that the commandments had not gone through to his heart, for there he had the gold idol which he would not give up even to follow Jesus. He had not kept the first commandment. So we can all learn by this story that he was not a Christian although perhaps he had kept all the commandments, as he thought. They cannot change the heart. The law can never do that.
These Ten Commandments are like ten shining cords which may hold us back from evil-doing, but which can never change our heart and make us Christians.
To illustrate this point of the lesson secure ten strong cords, each of them at least three feet long; hang them over the back of a chair where the audience can see them. Call these ropes the Ten Commandments, and name each rope after one of the commandments. Then tell the following story. The ancient Greeks had a strange fable about the Sirens. These were bewitching little sea-nymphs who sat on a great rock in the sea called Sibylla, and as they sat there they sang such charming and wonderful songs that they lured the sailors to their destruction on the rocks. One day when the charming Ulysses was passing that way with his great ship, Circe warned him of the peril of these dangerous singers, and assured him that many a gallant ship had been lost in these stormy waters. So Ulysses took heed to the word of caution and ordered that the ears of the sailors should be filled with wax. Then he had himself fastened to the mast by many strong cords, so when their ship reached the place where the beguiling sea fairies worked, the sailors could not hear their music, and although Ulysses was enchanted by the music and struggled to break the cords which bound him, he failed to release himself, and so passed the temptation rock in safety and soon the music died away in the distance.
Some days afterward the brave and wise Argonauts were sailing over the same enchanted waters, but they had on the ship with them the famous Orpheus. He was a masterful player on the lyre, and when the ship came near to the dangerous rock he poured forth such heavenly music that the sailors had no ear for the tempting tones of the Sirens' songs, and so passed by in safety. The Sirens, seeing that their spell was broken, leaped into the sea, and their alluring tones were never heard again.
The Ten Commandments were like the ten cords which bound Ulysses to the mast but did not keep his heart from desiring to fly to the sinful song-makers. The cords kept him from sin, but did not take the love of sin from his heart.
The Ten Commandments may keep us from doing and saying wrong things, but they will never take the love of sin away or change our hearts. The two new commandments of Jesus are like the music of Orpheus; they fill our hearts with a holy spell, and we lose all love for the pleasures of sin, because the two new commandments have reached our hearts and made us Christians. To love God with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves is the full teaching of Christ's two new commandments.
To illustrate this truth, make a double heart out of strong cardboard so it will open by a hinge. Call this the Christian's heart. Mark it on the outside with a cross. As you open the heart let them see the word "God" marked on one side and on the other side the word "Man."
In the heart of every Christian you will find love for God and love for man. This heart will keep us from evil by taking away the call to evil. This the ten cords could not do. The only way to get such a heart is to go to Jesus. He gives new hearts for old. This is the only heart he gives away. If you will take it he will take all your sins away to stay.
51
OBJECT-LESSONS EXTRAORDINARY
OBJECTS: Pictures of Animals and Living Objects
This chapter is simply a study for the object worker. It is an illustration of how ponderous and unusual objects can be used to teach religious truths. It is a far swing from the smaller and common objects which are available for the regular teacher who employs the eye appeal. Yet it is well to remember that ponderous things talk for God, for it is written that the heavens declare the glory of God, and there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
It is our big business to interpret the language of things in terms the people can understand. Translate the voice of the heavens into English. Some starlit night use the sky as an object-lesson. Gather the children around you and ask them to look up at the sky. Tell them a few things that astronomy has told you, concluding with the story of the Wise-men and the Christmas Star and other Biblical star stories. By so doing you will make the stars a golden path to Jesus and the objects in the heavens will preach of righteousness. If some day you can stand with the children by the side of the sea you can use the ocean as an object-lesson. Tell them stories of the wonders in the deep.
Tell them the tales of sea adventures by the hardy mariners. Talk about the ocean shells and sands at their feet. Conclude by telling them Bible sea stories; how a runaway prophet was cast into the sea during a great storm and what happened to him. Tell them about the storm on the sea of Tiberias, and how Jesus commanded the winds and the waves to obey his word. Tell them about Paul's sea journeys, and the wreck of the prison ship, and how they all escaped to a friendly island. In concluding tell them about the heavenly land where there shall be no more sea, and of the mercy of God which is like the wideness of the sea.
You will note that you have used ponderous object-lessons, the sky and the sea.
Sometime when it is possible use household pets as object-lessons. Tell them how to be kind to animals. Explain to them the habits and needs of the little creatures. Tell them when possible Bible stories in which these animals figure. A bird in a cage, a fish in the bowl, etc., will make most interesting and fascinating object-lessons.
When this is not possible use pictures of the animals you want to talk about. Let me tell you how once upon a time I gave an object-lesson extraordinary by using living wild animals. From childhood I have been a lover of wild beasts. I could sit up all night and read about wild animals, I loved these stories more than I loved my play. As I grew older I made them my special study. In later life it was my good fortune to study them at close range which finally enabled me to go into their cages with them. They became my good friends. They treated me with the greatest consideration. It seemed to them I was their second keeper. Let me tell you about the wild animals that I have met, and whose pictures you will see on the following pages.
"ATLAS" THE BIG LION
Atlas was four years old and as friendly and gentle as the house dog. Wild animals, like humans, differ as to their dispositions; some are snarling and cross, others are gentle and winsome. Atlas belonged to the latter class.
One evening I invited 1,000 children to come to his winter quarters and see him. In the center of a large room there was a great cage into which the animals were taken one by one for their daily exercise and run about. Into this big cage Atlas was brought, and I went in with him. While we were together in this great cage he was as friendly as any of my little pets. He purred away like the family cat behind the kitchen stove on a snowy day. He would take his meat from my hand, displaying at all times great concern lest he should in any way harm me. I did not use a whip or a gun, simply a little rod to urge him on a bit, but controlled him by tones, persuasive tones to which he made quick response. I told the children to use kind words with animals as well as humans, as these were very winsome powers. A lion of docile disposition was dangerous only when sick, hungry, in temper, or acting in self-defense. When the lion is seeking food he displays great intelligence. The monkey is a mimic, and can only do what it is taught to do, and even this he cannot in turn teach to its offspring, but a lion seems to think out its problems.
A man in Central Africa was once out late in the day and far from home. He saw a lion at some distance from him. The lion saw him and also followed him slowly.