CHAPTER XXVI

THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THE CANDLE=

_Objects used: A Large Candle, standing for the story of Joseph and His Brethren_

THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THE CANDLE

ONE day a candle spoke out from a shelf in a minister's study and said "I see you watching me and with your eyes you seem to say--what shall I say next to the Juniors. Listen to me and I will answer your question." And the Candle said "Well now, Mr. Preacher-man, I will take your place next Sunday and preach for you. I have a message hidden away for your people." Then I though as I watched the candle that a hidden hand, holding a lighted taper thrust itself out from the mystic land, and glowed and throbbed as a little star of light which crowned its upright form. Then said I "Now, Mr. Candle, what will you tell the people?" and it said "Hold me above your head and thus exalt me, or debase me by putting me on the floor, I will still keep on shining. In whatsoever state I am, I shine just the same. Men may honor me by placing me on the King's table before the lords and ladies, or place me in a humble cottage window, to help the pilgrim of the night to see his way onward, I will still shine. I was made to shine. It is God's will that I shine--just shine." Learn, ye people, the lesson. It is a message from the candle. This is true goodness. This is pure Christianity. This is Jesus' way--no matter where--just shine." "That is beautiful, good prophet," said I, as I drew out a golden dart from my own heart. "That arrow of light pierced me." "But," said the candle, "Do you know my true name? Well, I will tell you. My name is Joseph. I was shining long ago when the race was just tumbling over the side of the cradle of infancy. I was there and did what I ask you to do. When I was in Father Jacob's home, or in the field tending sheep, or carrying messages to my brother shepherds, or when I was hated by my home folks, or cast into the pit with creeping things and devouring mouths, or sold into Egypt as a slave, or robed in grandeur as a mighty ruler with Pharaoh, or when I was covered with the poisonous lies, or cast down into prison, or when I stood before Pharaoh, and made clear his dreams, or when I was exalted to Pharaoh's side, and lived in untold glory, or when I met my brethren who sold me into slavery, and with whom I could even up the old score and sore, or when I stood face to face with my dear old father in Egypt land, and found myself and the boys and home folks all united under the royal canopy of Pharaoh's care, I just kept on shining all the time. Up or down, in or out, over or under--just shining all the time. Go thou and do likewise." Then I saw the mystic hand come out from dreamland, and remove the white robed priest, and I heard him exclaim as he was removed out of sight--"Here endeth the sermon of the white candle." When at last my thought spoke out, I said, "God was with the white minister and his message was like an echo of the sermon on the mount." To visualize the lesson, place a plain candle on the table, and be seated a little distance from it. Secure a good reader, who will not be in sight, to speak the part the candle says, and you in turn make the answer. Make it a dialogue with the object.

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