body missed him. No one could find him. He was the subject of conversation in the village, the chief topic of the city. Men wondered how they ever would get along without him. "He was not" seen around any more. But "he was not" permitted to see death. Death is not a necessity to reach heaven, though "we shall all be changed" to meet the new conditions into which we shall be taken. However, the thing that should concern us now is not what about the "change" but what about the "walk" with God. Not about the end but the way that leads to the end.

"God took him" back to himself. That cheers the toiler along the upward way. "God took him." That confirms the soul's declaration of itself, "I shall never die." That witnesses to the universal belief in immortality. That confirms the soul's faith in a place of future habitation. "God took him" somewhere. God has a place to take those who walk with him. There is a place where the weary shall rest, where the victor shall be crowned, and where the sun shall not go down. I have no theory about heaven, but I most firmly believe that God has a "place" that is glorious as well as a "condition" that is immortal for those that love him. Did not Christ declare, "I go to prepare a place for you"? "I will receive you unto myself." Certainly, God took Enoch, and God delighted to take him because of Enoch's fidelity. They were friends and companions, and had walked together so long that God would have

been lonely without Brother Enoch. Heaven was more gloriously heaven with him.

I have seen some of these modern Enochs whose lives have made glorious the communities in which they lived. There was Brother Atkins, who was ignorant of the literature and the activities of the world, but he knew God and walked with him so winsomely that multitudes of others were constrained to join their company. Hickory Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, Sussex County, Delaware, is to-day largely what it is because this modern Brother Enoch lived and walked with God in that community. Then there was my own dear father, whose walk and conversation in his community made him one of the most conspicuous of modern Enochs in his own State. For fifty years this lay prophet of God gave himself unsparingly to the one supreme task of blazing away in the moral firmament, and men saw his light and glorified his Father in heaven. Wonderful was he in prayer, and powerful in exhortation. Many the camp meeting service that was brought back to life under his exhortation after some of us theologians had tried and failed. Isaac B. Short walked with God just as truly and willingly as Enoch ever did, and when he died the community asked: "Who will now conduct the revival meetings? Who will pray the dying sinner up to God's holy hill?" We have all known these modern Enochs, these choice spirits of the earth, these souls that will make

heaven glorious. But they are not. God has taken them. The loss of earth proves the gain of heaven. Brother Enoch is not among us any more. God has taken him.

What have we learned from the study of Enoch's life? That religion, one's right relation to God and man, should be the chief and serious concern of life:

That the religious life requires companionship for its development; that companionship decides character.

That companionship is the result of the common interest, which is expressed wherever men are associated.

That God plans and points the way, and men will ever do well to give his plans a large place in their calculations.

That death is not a physical necessity, though a change is required.

That God is morally bound and also pleased to reward those who walk with him in the midst of an unholy generation.

That Christ is the proof of our companionship with God.

That immortality is assured in our Lord Jesus Christ.

That there is a place prepared for those who have and enjoy the holy companionships of earth. That fidelity shall receive its reward.

These are some of the lessons that I have learned from the study of Brother Enoch's life.

I've tried to impress these lessons upon your minds and hearts, this morning, with the hope and the prayer that we may all so walk with God here that we shall have his companionship hereafter.

GABRIEL SYKES

WATERVILLE, WASHINGTON

Gabriel Sykes was born in Blackley, England, a little Yorkshire village, on October 20, 1863. He began school and work at the same time when eight years of age, working in the factory half of each day and attending school under the auspices of the National Church of England for the other half. At thirteen attendance in day school ceased. In 1889 he came to the United States and after one year as a supply was admitted on trial in the Oregon Conference. In 1901, after years of hard study, preaching, and teaching he received his B.A. degree from Willamette University. He was transferred to the Columbia River Conference in 1903 and was stationed at Pullman, Washington, and after two years' pastorate was appointed superintendent of Walla Walla District, where he served with efficiency for the full term of six years. At the conclusion of his term he requested an appointment on circuit and his wish was granted.