Calendar:Oct. 16th to Nov.15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING ………. Oct. 16th, Mal. 2; Oct. 31st, Matt. 13; Nov. 15, Matt. 28.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING … Oct. 16th, 1 Cor. 15; Oct. 31st, Gal. 2; Nov. 15th, Col. 1.

Having completed the reading of the Old Testament, we pass on into the New, and during the present period we will have the Gospel of Matthew. You will notice also that our Supplementary Reading is in the Epistles, so that both the regular and supplementary work are in the New Testament. It seems better to continue thus until we complete the supplementary reading, as our regular reading will be in the historical portion, and we can never, if reverent worship mark us, be too familiar with these wondrous pages.

Matthew fittingly begins the gospel story. It is, as we know, the royal history, setting forth our blessed Lord as Son of David, the King of Israel, and yet with a wider title, Son of Abraham, in whose seed all the nations of the earth are to be blessed. So we find the wise men from a distance coming to worship the Holy Babe, while the unreadiness of His own people is troubled at the thought of the coming of the King. So there is a current of rejection manifest from the start. But He presents His kingdom, both in its principles of righteousness, and its work of mercy, thus manifesting what man is in his rejection of such a King. Well does the Lord foresee all this, and predicts His being cast out. But His kingdom is established in a mystery form and goes out to the world, taking in, for the present, a mass of profession, and exposed to Satan's corrupting influences (ch. 13).Then too, as His rejection becomes more manifest, we have the truth of His Person confessed by Peter, and the promise of His church to be built upon Himself the Rock, the only foundation (ch. 16). This is followed by a glimpse of the glory of His kingdom, in the transfiguration (ch. 17).But the path to that glory is by the way of the cross, which He definitely and repeatedly predicts. So we follow Him on to the close, when instead of a throne, He gets the cross, and the grave. The closing teachings at Jerusalem unfold all this (chaps. 21-23), and the great prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives sets His coming in power in its true light (chaps. 24,25).The next two chapters (26,27) are holy ground-the upper room, Gethsemane, the Judgment Hall, and Calvary, with the tomb and the watch of soldiers, who cannot-oh, the folly of man's enmity- hold the victorious King in the grave. Chap. 28 tells of His triumph, and of the risen Lord sending forth His ambassadors to the ends of the earth, to gather in His subjects. It is not yet the Millennium, but the carrying of His truth to the world, and presenting it for man's acceptance. All power is His in heaven and earth, and His presence is pledged with His messengers to the end of the age. "Lo, I am with you always."

So we have a wonderful book in these 28 chapters. Those of you who have made the outline-several years back-will find it helpful to refresh your memories. The following is a brief outline of the prominent features.

1. The King is promised, chs. 1,2.

2. The Announcement of the Kingdom and the King, chs. 3-7.
3. The Manifestation of the King, and His rejection, chs. 8-12.

4. The Kingdom in the hands of men, chs. 13 – 20:28.

5. The Governmental Presentation, and the end as to Israel, chs. 20:29-23.

6. The Putting down of evil at the Consummation of the age, chs. 24, 25.

7. The completed purchase, chs. 26-28.

For these and fuller subdivisions, see Numerical Bible.

Let me again suggest your having a little note book, and writing out the striking features in each chapter as you read it. It will only take a few minutes longer than your regular, careful reading. Now will be a good time to begin these note books, and to continue them through the whole New Testament.

The following is another report of one of the Young People's Meetings:

97th Meeting, Y. B. D. Present:about 35.

Meeting opened with singing of hymns and prayer.

Question on Acts 1:12; explain "Sabbath's Day journey," its length and why so called.

Exod. 16:29; Matt. 24 speaks of, "Pray. ..your flight be not on the sabbath day." Much shorter journey than on the average day. The distance around the tabernacle is supposed to be the distance. Some reckoned it a thousand paces, others 2000 cubits.

What is it to be "more than conquerors?" (Rom. 8:37).

We are conquerors without fighting, for all was won through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ won the victory through being trodden down, the opposite way from the earthly conqueror. In Josh. 6:20 the walls of the city fell without effort on the part of the people, and yet connected with the Lord-they shared in the victory (1 Cor. 15:57). One used illustration that there are two ways in which a vessel might weather a storm-by coming in port hardly recognizable, and by coming in with flags flying.

Christ won a complete victory (1 John 2:14,15).

One spoke of the Assyrians fighting against Israel, and God caused an angel to slay thousands while they were asleep, and Israel, as God's people, shared in the victory. Many interesting thoughts advanced.

Is it right to ask that inbred sin be removed, that we be made pure?

Ps. 51, "born in sin and shapen in iniquity," Hos. 14:2, Acts 8:22, etc; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 5:16,17. It brought up "holiness" question, as shown in talk. If inbred sin were removed we would be pure and holy immediately, with no more possibility of sinning while in this scene. We know that is impossible, for while here there is "the world, the flesh and the devil." It would take away the sense of our own helplessness, our dependence on God, and exercise as to our ways. It is not God's order to take the root away while in this scene, though, through His grace, we can obtain victory as we go along.

While on 1 John 5:16 it was shown that the "sin unto death," for which one should not pray, is, for instance, in case of those in 1 Cor. 11 who "fell asleep" because of their walk; also in case of one who commits a murder- we should not ask for the sparing of their natural life.

New Questions for next time and old Questions left over:

1.-Are demons the angels cast out with Satan? (M. R.)

2.-As to whether there is One Person with three names in Trinity, or whether three names apply to three distinct Persons. (E. and W.)

3.-In Ezek. 47:11 the curse is removed from all except from "salt marshes." What has this reference to, and why?,asked by M. D. Given to G. S., H. P., V and R.

4.-Explain length of life in Millennium period, and on what basis it is cut short, or lengthened. Asked by C. S. Given to R. L., R. G., Mr. & Mrs. S.

5.-Explain Jas. 5:14. Asked by E. Given to G. B. & N.

SILVER BAY VACATION CONFERENCE. This is the second year we have met at Silver Bay. The Conference began August 16th and continued until the 27th. During the 11 days there was an attendance of about 200, some remaining only part of the time. A large number were young people spending their vacation in these beautiful and congenial surroundings, with the added privilege of enjoying the ministry of the Word during the first half of each day. We began each day with a prayer-meeting, from 9 to 9:30. At 9:45 there was the "open discussion" for the young people. Various topics of practical importance were taken up-"The believer's personal relation to the Lord, whose I am, and whom I serve;" "Bible Reading and study;" "Sunday School Work." These were opened by a brief address and followed by a number of shorter talks, as time permitted. Of course prayer was an important feature. The Conference on Sunday School work brought out a number of interesting accounts of how this most important branch of service has been conducted. About 10:45 each day we had a Bible Reading till past noon. The Epistle to Titus occupied the time, and many most important matters came before us. In the evenings we had addresses by different brethren, both gospel and addresses for saints. G. MacKenzie, Jas. R. Elliot, E. B. Craig, S. Ridout, Thos. W. Carroll and Fred Elliott, the latter two from the Pacific Coast, and brother Ralph West, engaged in the work among seamen in the harbor of New York, were present. The afternoons were left free for trips and recreation on beautiful Lake George and its vicinity. Some of the brothers visited the training camp at Plattsburg, where large numbers of soldiers were gathered, and many tracts were given out. Many tracts were also given out along the way coming and going.

May the Lord bless these gatherings, and make them happy occasions of much blessing, enjoyed with Him and His dear ones. -S. RIDOUT.