Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/92



been in existence 100,000 years, a separate grave could be provided for every individual of the race within a part of the United States east of the Mississippi River.—, New York Journal of Commerce. (327)   Censure, Misplaced—See. Census-taking, Primitive—See. CENTER OF LIFE  Some men have a Ptolemaic notion of life; their little earth is the center around which all things move. If I have been of that sort, I will remember that the age has outgrown that. It is time to reconstruct one's life on the Copernican theory, admitting that ours is only a little earth in the great universe, and finding our true solar center in the great moral gravitation of the divine love.—, "Sermons in Illustration." (328)   Ceremonial Purging—See. CEREMONY, USELESSNESS OF  At Teschen, which town Stephen Schultz, missionary to the Jews, visited several times, he entered the store of a Jewish merchant to buy some articles. He conversed with one of the Jewish clerks on the necessity of an atonement for sin, when the Jew asserted that every man can atone for his own sins. Schultz made him agree to the statement that we are all become altogether as an unclean thing, and then asked him: "How, then, can we pay our debts to God or atone for our sins?" "We must pray, fast, give alms, etc., for altho we dare not now offer any sacrifices, yet if we read over the institution and rites of sacrifices, it will be accepted." Schultz, without paying any attention to this absurd statement at this time, asked: "How much do I owe for these articles I bought?" "Fifty-seven cents." "Please write it down upon the counter, lest I forget it." The Jew did so, and Schultz read ten times: "Fifty-seven cents," and then walked toward the door as if he would depart. The clerk called him back, saying: "You have not paid me." "What! Have not yet paid? Have I not read over ten times just what you wrote?" "Yes, but that will not pay your debt." "And will you then deal so treacherously with God, and think to pay your debts to Him by repeating some prayers?" (Text.)—Missionary Review of the World.

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CHAINS

David had twenty-four columns of marble around his banqueting room, and he chained a bandit and an old enemy to each column, and in the presence of his enemies feasted. Christ enables the soul to chain hate, envy, lying, avarice, gluttony, jealousy, evil-speaking, sloth, and then the soul exclaims, Thou hast spread me a table in the midst of mine enemies! (Text.)—

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CHALLENGE

The outburst of the matchless hymnic genius of Isaac Watts was the response to a challenge. When a youth of eighteen he complained to his father, who was a deacon in an Independent church at Southampton, England, of the poor quality of the hymns sung in the nonconformist services of the time. "Suppose you make a few," said his father, with more than a suggestion of gentle sarcasm. Taking up the challenge, the poet retired; and soon, out from his seclusion where he had put on his "singing robes," came the hymn: "Behold the Glories of the Lamb," which was sung at an early meeting; and so began a career of hymn-writing which continued through the author's life, and which later aroused to song a whole nest of singing-birds.

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Chance and Work—See.

Chance, Decision by—See.

CHANCE FOR THE BOY

From Congregational Work is taken the following incident:

Patrick A. Collins, Mayor of Boston for a number of years past, believed that a boy's word is worth listening to. One time complaint was made to him that a saloon was located too near a certain public school. The politicians and others interested in keeping the place open urged him not to interfere with the resort. The school authorities desired it closed and removed.

After the Mayor had listened to arguments from both sides, he said:

"Well, I'm going to let the boys of the school tell me what they think of the place. Send me," he said to the principal of the