poor, and had just come through some trying times, she could not buy any other clothes. She couldn't spare the money. Yet this young convert was harassed by unwise people begging her not to wear those waists to church. She did not wish to admit her poverty, wisely and naturally, and she did so much love to go to church. But she had to give up church until she got money to get new clothes. It would have been the part of wisdom for the saints to have helped the girl get a new waist, instead of hounding her until they kept her away from church. Lovingly, wisely, we will teach the new converts how best they can exemplify the Spirit of Christ, and put off worldly pride. Concerning Swearing, and Membership in Lodges "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by out from among them, and be ye separate, saith "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, That taking oath is prohibited specifically by these Scriptures will in itself prevent members of the Church of God from being members of secret orders, as oaths are invariably required. But the instructions are still more specific: Not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers and associating with them. In fact the Church of God member doesn't relish such association. The members do not withdraw from lodges so much by the orders of the Church, as they just turn about and do not care for the old associations in the lodge room. When the new converts are first told that they will have to forego their lodges it comes rather as a shock, to some at least. But if they follow the church services, and do the will of the Lord, they will find that they are simply not interested in the secret order activities any more. The women will not care for afternoon teas, and card parties any more. It is not so much that you come out of the lodges as the lodges come out of you. Some feel that lodge and secret order association is essential to business success. There are few business men that recognize that their lodge association has helped them greatly. Contrariwise, those who are constantly to be found in lodge rooms, chewing the rag, hashing over inconsequential news will usually be advised by older heads to spend a little more time in actually doing something, instead of trying to pull yourself up by your acquaintances. Some new converts are considerably involved with the insurance features of the lodge membership. They hesitate to surrender the accrued value of their premiums up to that time. However, they may withdraw the cash value of their policy, and that cash value will cover premium for a number of years in a regular Mutual Insurance Company. The amount of money they lose will not be great, and will have faithfully served its purpose, in the protection it has afforded year after year. If the insurance division of the Lodge will carry the insurance of a member who withdraws without their continuance as a member, it is quite the same thing to leave the insurance there, but by all means withdraw membership. When brought before the courts the Church of God members may be affirmed, instead of sworn; Thus you can ask the judge to repeat it to you: "You affirm that the evidence you give in this The Gifts of the Spirit ...... "Now concerning Spiritual gifts, brethren, I You will observe that there are nine gifts of the In our material affairs we have men who are gifted along mechanical lines; another group are gifted for speaking; another are gifted for writing; another group are gifted for business management; another group are gifted in music; another group are gifted in art. It takes all the special talents to make up a well balanced community industrially and socially, as we consider them. The Church of God is blessed with the gifts that are essential to the prosperity of the church both physically and spiritually. Let us consider the gifts that are bestowed upon the Church. The Word of Wisdom. As near as we are able to determine its function in the Church, it consists in giving the possessor thereof good judgment in deciding all affairs of the Church, and in counseling the members. It means more than worldly wisdom, which is usually dependent for its decisions on temporal things. It is difficult to say definitely that a person has the Gift of Wisdom. The best index is to watch such a one's decisions and see if in the aggregate they redown to the good of the Church and the salvation of precious souls. The humble Christian with the Gift of Wisdom will no doubt feel the assurance of the Spirit in some unmistakable way. The Word of Knowledge. In order for a man to make a decision with confidence it is essential to know all the facts bearing upon the subject in hand. You can see how essential is this gift to be present in Church counselseven to supplement the Gift of Wisdom. Like the Gift of Wisdom, it is difficult to say when you have this gift, even partially. But you may watch for an expression of it in this manner: One person is especially successful in determining just what the trouble is, when a revival fails to revive; or why it is that the power fell so wonderfully in such and such a place; or why some soul is distressed with heavy burdens. And knowing these things he is able to impart the knowledge to the individual of the whole church interested. This is often very comforting. Many are gifted more or less along this line, but not in the fullness of the gift. Let us pray that we shall see its manifestation more general in all the churches. Faith. This gift is more generally understood, perhaps than the others. But in the limitations of the gift per |