Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 86, 2 July 1943, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Wliakatpne Ministers' Association).

TRUE EVEN TO DEATH In ISO!) there lived in tlie Tyrol., in Austria, ;i inn-keeper mimed Andrew Holer. He was a very Hercules for strength; a tall, middle-aged mail, wearing always tlie peasant dress of his country—a large black hat -with a broad, brim, black ribbons, and a curling feather; a short green coat and red waistcoat, (over which he wore green brakes); short black breeches,, and red stockings. The peasants all looked to him to be their leader in defiance of Napoleon, who had given their country, the Tyrol, to Bavaria. The secret signal lor all peasants to act together Avas the throwing of sawdust' into the River Jim. Led by Andrew Holer. 15,000 of them fought against the Bavarians,, recaptured their capital, and drove all foreign soldiers oil' Tyroleses oil. Later, however, through the failure of Austria to remain true to her promi.se, Tyrol was once more, given back to Bavaria, and Andrew Holer was sentenced to death. When he was ordered to kneel to be shot,, Holer cricd "1 have always stood upright before my Creator, and in that posture will 1 deliver up my spirit to Him." Bravely he lived and bravely he died. THE JAPANESE TOOK NOTE A missionary in Japan approached the Japanese iloctor in charge of a hospital and asked permission to preach the Gospel there. To his surprise he received the doctor's most ready assent. The missionary asked him, "Are you a Christian doctor?" "No," replied the Japanese, "but I will tell you something: "Twenty years ago I was over in England,, and was walking along one of the quieter roads in the West End of London. In front of me was a schoolboy who seemed to be very happy. He was swinging his stick

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

and whistling as lie walked. Suddenly the stick llew out of his hand iiitd through a window. The boy stopped,, horrified at what he had done. I stopped, too, to see what would happen now, and to my amazement [ saw the lad run up the 'steps to the door of the liou.se and ring the bell. He was shown in, and 1 was so interested that 1 thought I would like to wait and .speak to him. "When the boy came out again I stopped him and said: "I. saw what happened just now—but 110 one else was about. Why did you not run away when you had. the chance? 1 will never forget that, boy's reply: 'Well, sir, you see, I'm a Christian.'" The boy had probably forgotten the incident long ago, but God allowed that thing to happen just then, and it avh.s one of the reasons why this heathen Japanese doctor opened his hospital so willingly for the. preaching of the Gospel. But that was not all. He Avent on: "Just before I left England, something else happened, too,, which, has left an indelible impression on my mind. My shoes required polishing, and 1 saw a little shoe-black boy. How he worked! What enthusiasm lie put into such a simple task. So I said, to him: 'You are taking a lot of trouble for me, my boy.' The boy looked up, his face red with the effort he had put into his Avoi J k, and said: 'K am doing it for the Lord Jesus, sir' ! There must be something in Christianity after all." Thus, because of the testimony of these two boys, twenty years previously, the patients in that Japantse hospital were; able to hear the Good News of the Gospel. Some day when the books are opened and avc stand before the Saviour to receive our reAvai'ds for service done for Him, these boys wiill receive, their share of the Master's "Well done!" A very small Avord can be used, by the spirit of God to bring blessing to some soul. —The Herald of Salvation.