Christ a Protector—See Protection.
CHRIST, A THERAPEUTIC
An experiment in treating neurotic patients
was tried in the Massillon State Hospital,
Ohio, when a picture entitled, "Christ Knocking
at the Door," a copy of Hofmann's masterpiece,
was unveiled during the religious
services. The painting was life-size, on
cathedral glass, and illuminated by electric
lights. The hope was that by flashing the
lights suddenly on the picture a beneficial
therapeutic effect would be produced on the
minds of the inmates of the hospital. (Text.)
(388)
Christ as Pattern—See Following Christ.
CHRIST, DESTROYER OF SIN
Recent science has enabled us to solve
enigmas of the physical universe which
once seemed forever impenetrable. Cholera
has been, for example, through long ages "a
pestilence walking in darkness." There was
no denying the plague; it demonstrated itself
in the most awful manner, but none could
divine its active principle, the secret of its
power. But at last the cholera-germ has
been tracked out, and the fatal pest never
before seen by human eyes can now be
studied under a powerful microscope, large
as the human hand. The immense significance
of this discovery to our race who may
say?
For ages sin has been preeminently
the pestilence walking at noonday, and
the world has stood aghast before the
obscure and terrible destroyer; but the
glass of revelation in the hand of Jesus
Christ has shown large and vivid the
fatal principle which has tainted and
decimated the race.—W. L. Watkinson,
"The Transfigured Sackcloth."
(Text.)
(389)
CHRIST, FAITH IN
The last hours of the great Archbishop Whately are a brilliant testimony to the simplicity of his faith and complete devotion to Christ.
To one who observed his sufferings and
asked him if he suffered much pain, he
said:
"Some time ago I should have thought it great pain, but now I am enabled to bear it." His intellect was unclouded by illness. He could think and speak. Some one said to him, "You are dying as you have lived, great to the last." The reply was, "I am dying as I lived, in the faith of Jesus." Another said, "What a blessing your glorious intellect is unimpaired." He answered, "Do not call intellect glorious; there is nothing glorious out of Christ!" Another said, "The great fortitude of your character supports you." "No, it is not the fortitude of my character supports me, but my faith in Christ." (Text.)
(390)
CHRIST FOR ALL
In an Austrian city there are twelve
figures of Christ, each representing a different
aspect. The country folk, crossing the
bridge to the city in the morning, worship
them as they pass. The stockmen pray to
the image of Christ the Shepherd, the
artizans to Christ the Carpenter, the market-gardeners
to Christ the Sower, the ailing and
infirm to Christ the Physician, the fishermen
to Christ the Pilot, etc. "Enlightened minds
will never forget that there is but one Christ,
and yet to each follower the thought of Him
that is born of a special need will always be
the one that makes His image in the soul."
(391)
Christ, Glory of—See Glory of Christ.
CHRIST, GOODNESS OF
A missionary was speaking with a Tibetan
Lama about Christ. The Lama exprest himself
charmed with the gospel story and then
added, "Our saint Tsong K'aba was like
Christ. He went about teaching and leading
the people, and he was persecuted, too."
Then he added, "Even to-day it isn't wise for
a Lama to be too good!" (Text.)
(392)
CHRIST IN THE CONGREGATION
Dr. George A. Gordon, the Boston preacher, tells of a dream that transformed his ministry:
I was in the pulpit before a great congregation,
just ready to begin my sermon, when
a stranger entered and passed slowly up the
left aisle of the church, looking first to one
side and then to the other, as tho silently
asking with his eyes that some one would
give him a seat. He had proceeded nearly
half-way up the aisle when a gentleman
stept out and offered him a place in his pew,
