March 13

And took upon him the form of a servant. — PHIL. ii. 7.

I am among you as he that serveth. — LUKE xxii. 27.

HERE is the true criterion of greatness, — willingness to serve. Judged by the canons of the gospel, the most illustrious life is that which has in it the largest ingredient of sacrifice. "O God, author of peace," runs the old prayer, "whom to know is to live; whom to serve is to reign."

Even in the traditions and mythologies of the old heathen races, the heroes are men who proved themselves such by their readiness to dare and to suffer in the service of others. The legend of unselfish, much-enduring love has always been the fascinating one, has always laid hold of the imagination and swayed the heart as none other does or can do. Whether the central figure be that of the warrior going out unattended into the wilderness to fight the dragon which has laid the country waste, or that of the brave youth leaping full-armed into the gulf, because the soothsayers have declared that only the sacrifice of the best will suffice to save the city, the secret of the story's power lies in the spectacle of a life laid down in order that other lives may be lifted up and blessed. To be as Christ was in this world, we also must serve.

W. R. Huntington.

O Lord, with sorrow and with shame We meekly would confess How little we, who bear thy name, Thy mind, thy ways, express.

Give us thy meek, thy lowly mind; We would obedient be, And all our rest and pleasure find In fellowship with thee.

J. G. DECK