The Eucharistic Congress at Chicago. The boldness of Rome, in its continuous efforts for world-power and recognition among nations, led it to gather a host of its ecclesiastical celebrities from many nations to make a bold and gorgeous display before the American people, with grand pageants and processions at their Eucharistic Congress. We quote the following from the Catholic paper "America":,,;,

"The appeal to eye and ear and emotion was so great at the Eucharistic Congress that there was real danger of people forgetting the greater appeal, and that was the appeal to a nobler faculty, the intellect……* *Not to the intellect, indeed, but to grossest superstition.-[Ed.* …Pageantry, trumpet calls, electric light, radio amplifiers, banners and flags of every nation, solemn Pontifical High Mass in the Cathedral in the presence of the Legate and 300 Bishops and Archbishops and ten Cardinals, three great unforgettable Masses in the open air at the Stadium, the crowds at the Coliseum moved to the depths of their hearts by the world's best oratory, the crashing climax of the Eucharistic procession at Mundelein, all these went down on paper and over the wires and cables to every corner of this country and every foreign country, and it was well that it was so. This was an occasion when Christ was publicly honored in a great city, and by a great city, as rarely He had been honored before."

But some reader may ask:What is the "Eucharist" so honored by Romanists? Alas! it is the debasing falsehood that a Roman priest, be he honorable or corrupt, can by a few words in Latin over a little piece of dough pressed into a wafer, turn it into the very flesh and blood of Christ to be offered at Mass in sacrifice to help the souls of the dead, whose friends on earth pay for the Mass said by the priest!! Such a wafer too may be carried, in a little box called the Pyx, to the sick and dying, by the priest accompanied by an attendant ringing a little bell, at the sound of which the faithful kneel or uncover their heads before "The Host" passing by. Great processions too are made in honor of "The Host" accompanied by a cross borne aloft, for the Mighty God which the priest has made is thus celebrated!! Yet such is what the great Eucharistic Congress was meant to impress upon the American people at Chicago last month. Oh the shame and daring of it all!

"Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Graces." This is the title of a circular recently sent out by the principal Roman Catholic publishing house from which we quote the following:

"The announcement of some new honor to be paid to the Blessed Mother of God, of some new jewel to be added to her already brilliant crown, sends a thrill of joy through the heart of every true child of Holy Church….

Recently, a very important step was taken by the Holy Father, in the appointment of a special commission of theologians, whose duty it should be to examine the question maturely and from every angle, and to give their verdict as to whether or not the universal mediation of Our Lady is capable of being defined as a dogma of faith.

The concession by the Holy See of the Mass and Office of Our Lady, Mediatrix of all Graces, to certain Bishops and communities who have asked for them, may at least be taken as a happy presage of what the final decision of the Church will be."
Thus sinful man upon earth may soon confer upon Mary in heaven, "the Blessed Mother of God"(!), new honors and power, even of Universal mediation in the salvation of men! Scripture says, "there is one god, and one mediator between god and men, the man Christ Jesus " (1 Tim. 2:5); but the daring impiety of Rome knows no bounds. t. o. 50:

"That ye be not slothful" (Heb. 6:12). We have reached that time of the year when there is a general, and to some extent necessary, relaxation from the more strenuous labors of cooler weather. We can accept with gratitude the periods of vacation from the normal routine of the year, and enjoy the rest for tired bodies and overwrought nerves.

But it may not be out of place to remind us not to let our rest periods and the hot weather of the summer lead us to mere indolence and the neglect of what will tend to true restfulness of spirit. This is specially observable of our spiritual interests.

"Slothfulness casteth into ,a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger" (Prov. 19:15). This suggests the utter indifference to divine things which all too easily intrudes into our times of relaxation. Let us be careful not to neglect the daily reading of the word of God and prayer under the plea that we are resting:"He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame" (Prov. 10:5). It is always harvest time, if we "lift up our eyes and look on the fields" (John 4:35). The golden grain of divine truth, and the souls all about us, all call for "awakening out of sleep" (Eph. 5:14). "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?" (Prov. 6:9). "Love not sleep lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread" (Prov. 20:13). How pungent are the words of truth-"Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags" (Prov. 23:21).

But there are obstacles, difficulties to overcome, and these are insurmountable to the slothful heart. "The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns" (Prov. IS:19). The sharp pricking points are sufficient to deter many. Or the difficulties are even greater. "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets" (Prov. 22:13). But faith stops the mouths of lions (Heb. 11:33; Dan. 6:22). Or there may be mere disinclination because of discomfort. "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing" (Prov. 20:4). How many of us excuse ourselves from the diligence of quiet spiritual work, because of such reasons. Alas, if the cold deter us, we will find when the harvest time comes we have missed our opportunity.

These are some of the reasons against a quiet and patient "continuance in well doing." Many others can be thought of, for "The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason" (Prov. 26:16). Both for the sinner in making excuses why he cannot come to the Gospel feast, and for the believer proving why he should not "gird up the loins of his mind," there are all kinds of reasons. The yoke of oxen, the piece of land, the wife, may be urged why they should neglect the great offers of God. Alas, O sluggard, thy reasons may keep thee from salvation. Beware how thou seekest for excuses.

The soul begins to be awakened. He is roused out of his slumber sufficiently to see the need of doing something, but there is nothing effectual. "As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed" (Prov. 26:14). There is barely energy to turn over to fresh sleep. One says, "Yes, I must make a change, this indolence must not continue." There are resolves, promises, slight efforts, and he settles down into slumber again. "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth" (Prov. 26:15). The hand simply turns to self, and is exhausted in that effort-cannot even be brought to the mouth. This is like the movements of a door fastened on its hinges. It moves but makes no progress. "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing" (Prov. 13:4). The desire was not sufficient to lead to accomplishment. He neglects the word of the apostle, "As there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance" (2 Cor. 8:11). "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor" (Prov. 21:25). Like Lot, he vexes his soul with the evil in which he lives, but lacks the faith to separate from it. Some have enough conscience to make them uncomfortable in the state in which they are, but not enough to lead them to real purpose of heart.

At last the soul makes a start. It is no longer the uneasy turning on the hinges, but he arises from his bed of ease and goes forth to do something. And he succeeds. But here a fresh snare awaits the slothful. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting" (Prov. 12:27). We see him with apparent zeal going forth, hunting, like Esau, for something to meet his hunger. He finds it, and brings it home-and casting it down falls into the same sleep as before! Here we are awakened to the need of studying the word of God. We read the Scriptures, and search their pages for precious truth; our search is rewarded, and we have gained fresh apprehensions of grace and truth. And that is all! Our knowledge is of no value to our souls. We do not "roast it," take it to God in prayer, and have the Holy Spirit apply it to our souls. This is the "roasting." "Eat not of it raw," was the direction as to the Passover lamb. The "fire" of divine holiness prepared the food for the soul. The Galatians were good "hunters," they sought the truth and found it. But they did not submit to its heart-testing and emancipating power. "Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth" (Gal. 5:7)? The mark of the godly man-seen in its fulness only in the Perfect Man-is that "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper," or, "he carrieth through to completion" (Ps. 1:3). May the Lord grant us this in some good measure.

For partial performance is but another form of idleness. "He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster" (Prov. 18:9).

But we are feeble. This is quite true, more so than we have imagined. But this need not discourage us. It is not by great efforts, large accomplishments, that the result is reached. "Much food is in the tillage of the poor" (Prov. 13:23). It was the poor of the land who were left to be vinedressers, when Judah was carried into captivity (Jer. 39:10). The emphasis is put, not upon the person, but upon the land. After all it is not we who are the producers, save as we make use of that which is put into our hands. The "land," the fulness of God's provision in Christ for our blessings, is the real producer. Hence we are not cast upon ourselves. "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).

What encouragement therefore we have to go on in the simplicity of dependence, "that the power of Christ may rest upon us." We have abundant assurance that our "labor is not in vain in the Lord." "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness" (Prov. 21:5). Let there be but the quiet continuance, the true diligence which uses the golden hours that are entrusted to us, and "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9). "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich" (Prov. 10:4).
The same great truth is seen in service. "As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him" (Prov. 10:26). How sweetly solemn are our Lord's words, "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). What a mission! How shall we fulfil it? No matter how small the service, let it be marked by diligence:"He that ruleth (taketh the lead), with diligence" (Rom. 12:8). Soon we will render account of our stewardship. How cheering will be the words to each one, no matter what the ability, of whom it will be said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:ENTER
THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD" (Matt. 25:21). S. R. S. R.

"Go, labor on, spend and be spent
Thy joy to do thy Saviour's will;
It is the way the Master went,
Should not the servant tread it still?

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;
For toil comes rest, for exile home;
Soon shalt hear the Bridegroom's voice,
The midnight message, 'Lo, I come.'"