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THE CHATHAM RECORD H. A. LONDON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR Terms of Subscription $1.50 Per Year Strictly in Advance THE CHATHAM RECOHD Rates of Advertising Ota Sqoara.Mwa mMmHarn J tUB On Square two ktMrtioM tLQ Oam Square ooe mcti $23 For Larger - Advcrttscnisnts Liberal Contracts xU bo -made VOL. XXXVII. PITTSB0R0, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. C, .NOVEMBER 11, 1914. NO. 14. -a SUMMARY EUROPEAN WAR FOR ONE WEEK READ AT A GLANCE November 1 Turkey has definite ly thrown her lot with Austria and Germany, and if Portugal is counted there now are eleven powers at war with prospects of three more Greece, Bulgaria and Rumania being drawn in. . The fighting in the last few days in Flanders and France has been but a repetition of what has been going on for days past. The Germans have continued to push their attack, aimed ultimately at French coast ports, but as before, it has been a ding-dong af fair, one side making progr&ss only to lose the grownd gained the next night or day. The German armies are said by the Russians to have been defeated be fore Warsaw and Ivangorod. They continue to fall back and the new Russian front now extends in a semi circle from Plock, northwest of War saw, through Lodz and Piotrhow and Ostrow to southwest of Rouom. In Gaiicia the Russians are having more diffiiulty in dislodging the Aus trians from their positions on the San. "As showing the huge German losses in the Ypres region It is stated the British soldiers have buried more than 25,000 Germans," says a mes sage to the Weekly Dispatch. November 2. The renewed assaults of the Germans, which have led in the last few days to the most Violent fight ing of the war, still are progressing with fury almost unparalled, but there feave been no changes of importance at any point along the 300 mile line of battle. The German and Austrian forces in the east, compelled to retire before the Russian advance, have taken up new positions, and a renewal of gen eral fighting impends. Austrian suc cesses on the Russian left flank are claimed in Berlin. Heavy fighting has been resumed along the Austra-Servian border. According to official advices from Vienna, the Auetrians crossed the Save and Drina rivers, drove back the enemy and occupied several towns. This is disputed by Servians, who state that the Austrian attacks were repulsed with heavy losses. All accounts agree that the loss of life of the last fortnight has been tremendous, owing presumably to the fact that the fighting has been large ly in the open. The long dispute over the indemnity which the city of Brussels is to pay the Germans has been settled, Berlin reports. The amount is said to have been fixed at $9,000,000. November 3. The German war ships Gneiseman, Scharnhorst, Nurn berg, Leipsic and Dresden attacked the British fleet off Coronel, Chile. The British cruiser Monmouth was sunk. The cruiser Goodhope was very badly damaged and she was on fire and is supposed to have been lost. The British cruiser Glasgow took refuge In the harbor of Coronel and is now bottled up. The German bat tleships Scharnhorst, Nurnberg and Gneisenau anchored at midday to day in Valpariso harbor uninjured. Emperor Nicholas left Petrograd for the front, accompanied by General Soukhomlinoff, the minister of war. The British submarine D-5 was sunk in the North Sea early this morning by a mine which was thrown out by a German cruiser retreating before British cruisers. The French official announcement says the Germans would appear to have completely abandoned the left bank of the Yser below Dixmude and that troops of the allies have reoccu pied points on the river without any great difficulty. Russia has apparently welcomed the war and will not give the Turks a chance to draw back. The British cruiser Minerva has smashed the Turkish base of operations against the English at the head of the Gulf of Akabah. The Turkish ambassa dor in London has as yet made no ar rangements to leave and the embassy still maintains a conciliatory attitude. The closing of the North sea to all Shipping except that which places it self under the protection of the Brit ish fleet is recognized as the first -stroke of Admiral Baron Fisher, the new first sea lord of the admiralty, and as one of the most important events of the war. November 4 Turkey has definitely broken off diplomatic relations with Great Britain, France, Russia and Servia. Her diplomatic representa tives in the capitals of those coun tries, acting on orders from the Porte, demanded and received their pass ports. Some already have left. Official reports of the fighting on land as issued recorded only advances at various points and repulses of the enemy's attacks at others. There is, in fact, no great change in the situa tion, according to these reports. A large German trawler has been destroyed by a mine south of the Dan ish island of Langeland in the great helt. The fate of her crew Is not known. "The situation in Gaiicia is un altered. Until now 2,500 Russian prisoners have been brought in from recent engagements. Our Hussars surprised a Russian ammunition col Brief OF THE umn at Rybllk in Stry Valley and cap tured many wagon loads of artillery ammunition." The British cruiser Minerva has bombarded the Arabian town of Jed dah on the Red Sea. A sudden change has been noted since November 3 on the East Prus sian front, where the enemy, which recently has been on the defensive almost everywhere, has begun to fall back at certain points. This retreat is precipitate on the left wing of the enemy, which was vigorously thrown back toward Biala and Lick. General French, commander-in-chief of the British forces in the field, has expressed himself as greatly pleased with the bearing of Indian troops and has sent the following message to the Indian corps com mander: "Please congratulate your Indian troops on their gallant con duct and express my gratitude to them." November 5. No decision has been reached at West Flanders sand dunes and the opposing forces of the Germans and allies now stand virtu ally as they have stood for many days. A Petrograd newspaper says a Turkish army of 90,000 men is on the Caucasus frontier and has occupied many villages. A dispatch from Odessa says 12 German and Turkish colliers have been sunk off the coast of Anatolia. France, following the lead of Great Britain, has declared war en Turkey. Persia has sent a note to the powers announcing that it will maintain strict neutrality. The Spanish premier also says that Spain will not become em broiled. American marines are said to have landed in Beirut, Syria, to protect the Christian population. According to a Rotterdam dispatch the people of Ostend have been warn ed to take to their cellars with a five days' food supply. A German officer in Alexandria, Egypt, has been sentenced to life im prisonment, on a ckarge that he in tended to blow up the Suez canel. The British mine sweeper Mary has been sunk in the North ea b ya mine. November 6 The first decisive vis tory of the war has been won. Tsing Tau, the German fortress on the Shan Tung peninsula in China, has surren dered to the allies. On the European battle front Rus sian claims, through Grand Duke Nicholas, her commandeT-in-chief, the greatest victory since the beginning of the war in the driving back of the Germans to their East Prussian fron tier and defeats to the Germans and Austrians below the river Vistula. In Austria, according to the Ger mans, the Russians still are continual ly harassed by the troops of Emperor Francis Joseph. - In the extreme western zone, south and east of Ypres, hard fighting con tinues, but with neither side having a distinct advantage. On the Aisne Ihe French say they have retaken the town of Soupir. The Germans assert they have won im portant positions near St. Mihiel. As for the 'operations t)y Russians and Turks against each other, nothing new has developed. The Turks are said to be advancing in the Sinai pen inside, in the direction of Egypt. Ber lin declares the ameer of Afghanistan has sent 170,000 men to the British Indian frontier and also that the Shei-kul-Islam, the head of the Mohamme dan church In Turkey, has had spread throughout the world a decree say ing that in the war with Russia-, Great Britai nand France, it is the duty of Mussulmans to be true to their faith. Greece, it Is said, has satisfied the desire she had at the close of the late Balkan war, by taking Epirus. November 7 Both sides claim to have made progress here, the Anglo French forces southeast of the town and the Germans southwest. Correspondents in the rear of the armies say the fighting has not ap preciably lessened and that both sides are using a tremendous weight of ar tillery in an endeavor to clear the way for an infantry advance. Elsewhere along the line the usual attacks and counter-attacks have been delivered without material change in the situation. Things are moving slowly in the near East, so far as is known here. Russia is said to be finding useful allies in the Armentirans, who at last see a hope of freedom from Turkish rule. There is no change in the political situation in the Balkans. It is said, however, that agitation has been re newed in Roumania for the participa tion of that country in the war on the side of the Allies. The fall of Tsing-Tau caused re joicing here. It is believed that with the surrender of the German fortress the Anglo-Japaneses fleet which took part in the siege will be detailed to hunt down German cruisers still at large in the Pacific. No announcement has been made concerning the amount of booty the Allies obtained through the surrender of Tsing-Tau but it is believed the. Germans destroyed every thing pos sible before captulatin. GOITON SEED WILL INCREASE IN PRICE COTTON IS STATE'S BIG MONEY CROP BUT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. LATE STATE CAPITOL NEWS Review of the Latest News Gathered Around the State Capitol That Will Be of Interest to Our Readers Over North Carolina. Raleigh. Washington. E. W. Thompson, for merly of Charlotte, now to be com mercial attache of the American Em bassy at Berlin, is perparing to de part for Rotterdam, where he will stay for a time, until the war slack ens, before going into Germany. Mr. Thompson brought back very encouraging reports from cotton growing states. He did not see any body on the verge of starvation, but, on the contrary, met many happy people. He thinks that the Southern farmer will pull through the present crisis of an uncertain cotton market. He takes a very optimistic view. More wheat, he says, is being ship ped from Galveston than ever before in the history of the port. More cot ton seed oil is going to Europe than ever before as the export reports for last month and September, show. Mr. Thompson was asked why Great Britain took so much cotton seed oil last month, and the month be fore. "Great Britain makes normally about 100,000 tons of artificial butter," said Mr. Thompson. "She puts in that butter either cotton seed or peanut oil. The French supply of peanut oil has been interfered with by the war. Cot tonseed oil is taking its place. I look for cotton seed to increase in price as the war goes on. "Holland makes 150,000 tons of butter in which she uses 150,000 bar rels of cotton seed oil or peanut oil. Denmark is coming to the United States for great quantities of cotton seed oil cake to take the place of the sunflower cake she has 'been getting from Russia." Mr. Thompson thinks that business conditions are improving in every sec tion of the country. He believes that new markets in Latin-America and many nations of Europe will be open ed for American-made goods because of the war. Although cotton is North Carolina's greatest money crop it is not the only one. The North Carolina corn crop for last year was worth $48,648,000; wheat $7,502,000; oats $2,736,000; rye $465,000; buckwheat $136,000; pota toes $1,968,000; sweet potatoes $4, 880,000; hay $6,914,000; tobacco $30, 988,000, and there are many smaller crops. Experts in the Department of Agri culture believe that many of these crops can be doubled next year. The war has. created an enormous demand for wheat oats and other foodstuffs. New Charters Issued Recently. Ashley Horne Corporation, Clayton, to manage the estate of the late Ash ley Horne, authorized capital stock $100,000; subscribed $400. Incorpor ators Mrs. Ashley Horne, Charles W. Horne, Mrs". Nellie Home McCullers and Miss Swannanoa Home, all of Clayton. Call For Bank Statements. The Corporation Commission has issued a call for statements from the banks an4 trust companies doing bus iness in the state as of date of Octo ber 31st. This call was made to con form with the same date as that of the national banks a call having been issued for statements from the Comp troller of the Currency for the same date. Internal Revenue Collections Increase Internal revenue colections for the eastern district during October aggre gated $513,468, compared with $479, 056 during September, a decided gain in spite of the European war condi- Medals for Expert Riflemen. Adjutant General Laurence W. Young is mailing out to companies composing the First and Third Regi ments the qualification medals for ex pert riflemen, sharpshooters and marksmeri awarded in connection with the contests on the encampment rifle range the past summer, there being 27 expert riflemen, 59 sharpshooters and 108 marksmen. The Second Regi ment qualificatinos were through home target practice, the regiment not having had an encampment last summer. Governor Says Aid Belgians. Governor Craig issued an appeal to North Carolinians to contribute to the relief of the many thousands of home less and starving women and children in Belgium whose husbands and fath ers have been killed in battle. The appeal is in response to a cablegram received from Herbert Hoover, Lon don chairman of the Relief Commis sion, which informed the governor that one or more shiploads of food stuffs fron North Carolina would be a godsend in the present dire distress. 755 Miscellaneous Factories in Stat. The. report on miscellaneous facto ries to be included in the annual re port of Commissioner of Labor and Printing M. L. Shipman was complet ed a few days ago. The figures quot ed shows the state's manufacturing industries to be in satisfactory condi tion. The division of establishments treated under this head includes manufacturing enterprises 'that are not treated under cotton, woolen, silk or knitting mills, or furniture facto ries. - As has been the case in- former years the manufacturing - situation shows a steady advance. Up to the end of the period covered by the re ports received June 30,. 1914, no un toward conditions have affected the industries covered. While sales have not been below a normal level, it is also noticeable that there has been no abnormal demand. As it appears to the department officials, this is a condition much more desirable than one which ranges from one extreme to the other, and makes for a growth consistent with the development of the entire state. It would be, of course, desirable condition if- the state's manufacturing industry was of a 'greater magnitude, but taken as a whole, the showing made is of a very satisfactory nature. The total number of miscellaneous factories reporting to the department for the year ending June 30, 1914, is 755. Agregate capital reported - by 639 factories, $88,811,810. Six hundred and forty-nine factories report the estimated value of plants to be $20, 738,301. Six hundred and forty fac tories report the output to, be $97,062, 107. Six hundred and fifty-three fac tories report a pay roll of $15,681,563. Seven hundred and twenty-three factories report power used as fol lows: Steam, 419; electric, 186; wa ter, 21; hand, 19; gasoline, 26; steam and electric, 29; steam and gasoline, 2; steam and water, 2; steam and gas, 2; gas, 4; steam and oil, 1; elec tric and gasoline, 1; kerosene, 1. These establishments, exclusive of the 19 using hand power, show the employment of 88,590 1-2 horsepower. The average hours worked per day, 10 hours and five minutes. . Three hundred and eighty-four fac tories report increase of wages; two hundred and eighty report no cange; six report decrease. Five hundred and nine factories pay wages weekly; fifty-seven monthly; one hundred and fifteen, semi-monthly; two daily; one semi-weekly; 6 weekly and monthly; six on demand; one toll. Seven hundred and five factories re port 38,655 persons employed. This number is made up of 31,134 males, 5,588 females, 1,933 children. High est wages per day: males, $2.92; females, $1.47. Lowest -average wages: males, $1.06; females, 86 cents. Eighty-six per cent of adult employees read and write; ninety-five and one-half per cent of children. Three hundred and four factories re port improvement in financial condi tion of employees; two hundred and ninety-two no improvement. Two hundred and eighty-seven fac tories report improvement in general proficiency of employees two hun dred and seventy-four no improvement. Opinions by the Supreme Court. Nelson vs. A. C. L. Ry., from Pitt, reversed; Tyson vs. E. Ca. R. R. Co., from Greene, no error; Huggins vs. Waters, from Sampson, reversed; Rouse vs. Rouse, from Lenoir, affirm ed; Forsyth vs. Oil Mill, from Wake, no error; Yelowday vs. Perkinson, from Wake, no error; Tilghman vs. R. R., from Wake, n oerror; State vs. Powell and Pridgen, from Pender, no error; Ward vs. A. C. R. R. Co., from Columbus, reversed; McPhaul vs. Wa ters, from Hoke, new trial; McCallum vs. McCallum, from Robeson, affirm ed; Haar vs. Schools, from New Han over, cause remanded Flowe vs. Mc Neill, from Cumberland, affirmed; State vs. Ross, from Forsyth, no error; Daniel vs. Bethel, from Rockingham, n oerror; Ivie vs. King, from Rock ingham, no eror; Seagraves vs. City of Winston, from Forsyth, new trial; Helsabeck vs. Doub, from Forsyth, no error; Cox vs. Boyden, from Surry, error; Dillard vs. Simons, from Gran ville, motion for new trial for newly discovered evidence allowed; City of Wilmington vs. Cowan, from New Hanover, the court being evenly di vided in opinion (Walker, J.) not sit ting, the judgment stands affirmed; Climbing Toward 15,000 Mark. Had it not been for the European war and the resultant depression In the cotton market, the state depart ment would have had to laid in an ex tra supply of automobile numbers. At the beginning of the fiscal year only 15,000 were bought and .up to one day recently 14,489 of these had been sent out in the state. It is estimated that the low price of cotton has seriously interfered with the automobile indus try, especially in the South. The Western portion of the state is buy ing more than the Eastern. Maj. Graham Marries Miss Clark. Maj. W. A. Graham, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Miss Sallie Hill Clark, sister of Chief Justice Walter Clark of the Supreme Court, were married at the home of Chief Justice Clark, and Major Graham and his bride are now taking their bridal trip in Florida. Rev. J. D. Arnold of Waynesville performed the marriage service in the presence of quite a company of relatives and friends. Miss Lucile Clark, sister of the bride, was maid of honor, and Judge A. W. Graham of Oxford, best man. S DEFENSIVE T RUSSIANS GAIN ADVANTAGE IN GALICIA AND ARE PRESSING IT TEUTONS RETREAT. ARG0NNE REGION IN DOUBT Germans Claim Success In Only One Point. French " Retake 'Positions " They Had Lost. London. The German and Austrian armies are now on the defensive on the east and west. They have given up, at least for the present, their effort to break through the Allied lines around Ynres, in Belgium, where the British and French have taken the of fensive, and, according to the reports from French headquarters, have com menced to advance. In the east they have fallen back over their own fron tiers in East Prussia and in Poland, while Russian cavalry had penetrated Silesia to the north of Kalisz and cut the German railway. The Russians also are following up their advantage in Gaiicia, and it is said, have cut the retreating Aus trians off from Cracow, while the Ger mans are retiring through Poland. At only one point at two battle fronts do the Germans claim success. That is at the west of Argonme region, where they have taken from the French an important height near Vienne-Le-Chateau. French troops have re-taken the po sitions which they had lost during the course of the week. That is nota bly so in the Aisne Valley around Sois sons, where they have regained the ground which the Germans by fierce assaults have tagen from them. The Belgians, holding the line reaching to the coast also have made progress. The fighting was carried on in a fog, which interfered with the work of the airmen and likewise with the artillery. While the Allies' offensive in the west has given hope in London that the Germans will fall back to a line further removed from the sea, all un easiness has not passed, for they pre viously have shown wonderful recup erative powers. The presence of the Russians in East Prussia and Silesia, however, will, it is believed here, pre vent the Germans from sending any more troops to the west, if it does not compel them to withdraw some al ready at that front. The Austrians apparently have sent stronger force sagainst Servia and have driven the Serbs out of Slavonia. Of what Is going on in Bosnia, which the Servians and Montenegrins invad ed almost to the capital, Sarajevo, nothing has been disclosed for weeks, but operations against their northern border might have had an effect on the Servians plans there. Nothing of moment has occurred in the Near East, but Turkey is being attacked in isolated spots by the Rus sians and British. The Turks also are apparently comng very close to war with Greece, the situation having been aggravated by the sinking. of a Greek steamer by the Turis and the threatening of Greeks in Asia-Minor. Neither Bulgaria nor Roumania has yet made any move. The Union Defense forces continue to round up the rebels in South Af frica. Those in the northern part of the province which have been a worry to the government have been com pletely routed, whll those in Trans vall, where another 400 have been captured, are scattering. In Orange Free State, however, sev eral small commandoes have been looting towns and damaging railways. . ) Made Vigorous Attack. Paris. A Havas dispatch from Nish, Servia, says : "The enemy made a vigorous attack November 4, southeast and south of Shabats, but by a counter attack we put the Aus trians to flight. They left 500 dead and 200 wounded. During the same night and again on November 6 .the Austrians attacked our positions at Borgas and Goutchevo, but were re pulsed with heavy casualties." Big Russian Victory. London. The Rome correspondent of the Weekly Dispatch sayij: "Ac cording to the Russian embassy the Russians took 30,000 Austrian pris oners, 200 guns, six trainloads of sup plies and 40,000 rifles in a victory on the San in Gaiicia. The Russians at tack on Przemysl has been renewed violently. On the East Prussian front thousands of bodies of Germans have been burned because the frozen ground prevents burial. As no arm istic is granted for the removal of the wounded many die of cold." Out After Japanese. Amsterdam, via London. The Ber lin Lokal Anzieger commenting on the fall of Tsing-Tau says : "Germans will never forget the heroic fighting at Kiao-Chow and those who defend ed the colony. Never shall we forget the brutal violence of the yellow rob bers nor England who instigated them. We know we cannot settle our account with Japan at present. Our mills will grind slowly, but even if years should pass before the right moment comes, a shout of joy will re spond 'doe to you, Nippon.' " GERMAN BOTH EASTANDWES COTTON LOAN FUND PLAN NOT ILLEGAL ATTORNEY GENERAL GREGORY SAYS PLAN DOES NOT VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW SUCCESS TO M0VEMENTSURE President Wilson . Asked the Attorney ' - General For-An Opinion. Up- to . New England Bankers. Washington. No violation of Fed eral anti-trust laws is threatened by the cotton loan fund plan recently perfected by bankers and members of the Federal Reserve Board, accord ing to an opinion handed down by Attorney General Gregory at the re quest of President Wilson. Success of the $135,000,000 pool now is believed by treasury officials to be assured. More than $80,000,000 of the $100,000,000 to be raised among northern bankers already has been subscribed and practically all of the remainder, it is understood, had been promised on condition of a favorable opinion from the Attorney General. New England financiers, it was said, were reluctant to enter the plan until definitely assured that the method of raising the fund would not be con strued as unlawful. Attorney General Gregory's opinion was rendered after a conference with President Wilson. The Treasury De partment made public the following correspondence: "The White House, "My Dear Mr. Attorney General: "I am sending the enclosed papers, submitted to m by the Secretary of the Treasury, in order to ascertain whether in your opinion the proposed' cotton loan fund may be lawfully formed. I know that' it is contrary to the practice of the department" of give opinions beforehand as to con templated transactions, and I think that such opinions ought never in or dinary circumstances to be given; but the circumstances with regard to the handling of the great cotton crop which have been created by the Euro pean war are most extraordinary and seem to justify extraordinary action. It is for that reason that I venture to ask you to depart in this case from the usual practice of your department. "It occurs to me that the fund con templated stands in a class by itself. It is hardly conceivable that .such ar rangements should become settled practices or furnish precedents which would be followed in the regular course of business or under ordinary conditions. They are as exceptional in their nature as the circumstances they are meant to deal with and can hardly be looked upon as, by possi bility even, dangerous precedents. It is for this reason that I feel the more justified in asking for your opinion in the premises. "Cordially and sincerely yours, (Signed) "WOODROW MILSON." Mr. Gregory replied at once to the President's letter stating that he was unable to see how such a plan could be thought to fall within the purview of -the anti-trust laws. VICTORY UNDER SHEMAN LAW. Railroads Give Up Stock in Coal Mines Valued at 3,750,000. Cincinnati, O-Stock in Ohio and West Virginia coal mines valued at $3,750,000 passed into the hands of John S. Jones, a Chicago coal opera tor, as a result of an entry made by three Federal judges here in a suit brought by the government against the New York Central and the Chesa peake & Ohio Railway Company, their subsidiaries and various coal com panies they control. The case was brought under the Sherman law and federal officials de clared It was the most sweeping vic tory ever accomplished under the act. The case has been known as the "East Ohio and West Virginia bitu minous coal case." Attorneys for both the railroads and the government appeared before the court with an agreement that the properties of the railroads be disin tegrated and owenrship .dissolved. Capital Paid in by Banks. Washington. Payment of the first Installment of the capital stock of federal reserve banks, called for .Nor vember 2, practically has been com pleted. The paid in total, the Federal Reserve Board announced has reach ed $17,947,106, as follows; Boston $1,617,925; New York $3,320,380; Phil adelphia $2,068,559; Cleveland $2,012,-. 353; Bichmond $1,063,458; Atlanta, $777,248; Chicago 2,191,000; St. Louis $912,000; Mineapolis $794,500; Kansas City $916,000; Dallas $951,335; - San Francisco $1,322,346. Cattle Quarantine Covers 10 States. Washington. Officials of the Bu reau of Animal Industry enlisted the cooperation of state officials in the fight to stamp out the epedemic of foot and mouth disease which has resulted in a cattle quarantine covering 10 states. With strict maintenance of the quarantine, immediate destruction of all infected herds and close inspec ion of all suspected centers, the Bu reau believes it now has the situation under control. Practically every shipment of cattle, which passed through Chicago has been traced. MlMriONAL SllNMfSaiOOL LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director Sun day School Course, Moody Bible Insti tute, Chicago.) LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 15 JESUS AND PETER. LESSON TEXT Mark 14:27-31, 53, 64, 66 f2. " - GOLDEN TEXT Let him that thlnketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Cor. 10:12. " " - ' ---..-wr -- The record of Peter's failure Is a sad story. Mark, who received his Gospel from Peter, gives It in clear outline. This suggests that Peter did not spare himself. I. After Passover Feast, vv. 27-31. On the way to Olivet Jesus warns the disciples that all would be "offended" (caued to stumble) because of what was about to occur. Not one escaped, Matt. 26:56, Zech. 13.7. Peter, assured In his own mind, denies that this Bhou'd be true of him, so confident wag he of himself and of his devotion. Over against this warning Jesus sounds the note of his resurrection, and, it was chiefly in their inability to catch, or comprehend this note, that they stumbled. Particularly is this true of Peter. That Jesus could found a church on the vulgar tragedy of a criminal's death was beyond the range of his understanding. This self-confidence was the beginning of his fall, Prov. 16:18. It is pride like this which men have in their own strength, that is the chief reason why they are not saved. If they are able to care for themselves, why do they need the help of another? . Peter's Denials. Peter trusted his own heart. A man is a fool who will trust such a deceitful member, Jer. 17:9, Prov. 28:26. Peter's loud profession is answered by a definite prophecy of his utter fail ure, v. 30. "Before the cock shall crow twice, thou shall deny me thrice." Again Peter contradicts the Lord, "I will not deny thee." Peter's later denial of the person of Jesus in the judgment hall is prefaced by a denial of his master's assertions on the way thither. He had to learn wis dom and humility in the Litter school of experience. Peter is quite like us all, but he did learn and profited there by (I Peter 5:5), which cannot be said of all of us. " ' II. Following Afar Off, vv. 53, 54. Peter "followed afar" into the court of the high priest's palace. We have suggested (Lesson of Nov. 1st) that zeal and affection prompted Peter, yet he was expressly forbidden and fore warned, John 13:36-38. Some one has said that the development of Peter's weakness began in the garden when he ceased to pray. That courtyard and Its brazier of coals was'a danger ous place for any disciple of the Lord. The servants and soldiers of the pow ers against Christ were congregated about that first. It is never safe to warm oneself at the enemies' fire though we see it constantly being done, Matt. 6:13; Ps. 1:1. III. "I Know Not This Man," vv. 66. 72. While at the fire, a serving maid looking at Peter said, "Thou also wast with the Nazarne, even Jesus." Im mediately and without any seeming hesitancy Peter, denied, and declared his ignorance both of the man and of understanding what , ehe said. Peter did not sympathize with what was be ing done .to Jesus, but at heart he was not brave enough ' to"" separate him self from the enemies of Jesus thereby to draw ' upon himself some sort of censure or. condemnation. Thus con forming to the world about him made It easy for Peter to utter his first jwte of denial. Having done so he passed on into the. porch and heard the first crowing of the cock. The apparent contradiction between Mark and the other writers over the ques tion of the number of maids seems to be solved by John 18:25, where reference is made to several who spoke at the same time. Doubtlesa the words of the first maid are re enforced by: those of another on the. second occasion; they both brought an accusation against him. Speech Betrayed Peter. This ' second maid addressing the onlooking. spectators said, "This is one of them,'' and again Peter denies the accusation. He- had escaped one pre dicament only to. be plunged into an other and perhaps more dangerous one. To deny afresh seemed to be the only way of escape, James 4:4; I Cor. 15:.32vR.i V. A few words of a serving maid filled Peter with dis may 'butWa.secpnd denial did not de liver him. from his predicament. After a little those " standing with him de clared he must be one of the follow ers of Jesus, for his speech betrayed him to , be. a Galilean. Then Peter touched the' r bottom, for hej accom panies his denial with curses. From his high and exalted state of mind, his high hopes as to Jesus, he sees himself a traitor and Jesus about to be crushed by the hand -of man. Peter was passionately devoted 'to Jesus-and had felt that he could go with him to the limit. Once before at vCaesarea-Philippi Peter, had been warned. He had been mystified by what Jesus said about the-"cross and had protested. He had high and noble aspirations but they carried him be yond the limits of his permission into danger and defeat. ' There is always the gravest danger in aoibition that is not controlled.
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