American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-05-11

ment. 1t corrects our decisions. 1t rights
our conclusions. 1t helps us toput true
estimate on events. 1t pricks the bubble
of some successes and proves them vani-
ty 1t puts some apparent failures high
on the roll of victories, and crowns the
heroes of them with eternal honor
Deeply imbedded in our hearts, fixed there
as an ever present and controlling tho't
it will enable every one of us to say, with
| Paul, $50 run |, not as uncertainty; so
| fight |, not as one that beateth the air."
Yea, to say that, even when the world
might be ready to shout that our cause
was lost, just as they .exultingly shouted
around the cross when Jesus gave up the
ghost. Success at the cost of truth or
honor, or any other right and noble thing
success purchased by the least defec-
tion from the path of moral rectitude is not
success. Failure that comes from keep
ing faith with principle, from unbending
regard to onviction-failure that is ours,
because We will do no wrong, is no fail
ure. The statesman who said, " would
rather be right than be President" the
merchant who said to Southern custom
er, eve sell our goods, not our princi-
Piles !" the reformer who said, "Unless ]
am convinced by the testimony of Scrip
ture, cannot and will not retract Here
stand. | can do no other, so help me
rGod;" aud the Christ who said, "If l
have done evil, bear witness of the evil /;
if well why smitest thou me-" These all
succeeded; while Pilatc, and Nero, and
Pope Leo X, and many another of the So
called great ones of the earth, though back
ed by empires and thrones, ignominiously
failed.
o, young men, when you think of sue
cess and failure, look to the Great White
Throne. Let the judgment and eternity
lash light on your path The most Of
you have, doubtless, seen Thomas Coles
series of pictures representing The Voy-
age of Life" He attempted another al
legorical series, entitled "The Cross and
the world, but died before they were com
pleted A friend of the painter, howev-
er, has given graphic and eloquent des-
cription of them, and the word picture
furnishes me impressive illustration with
which to close my subject. The eye Of
the beholder first strikes the bold termn-
alton of chain Of mountains, with crag-
gy peaks lost in the clouds. To the left
straight and narrow path takes its way up
a rugged gorge, down which their beams
a silvery light from bright cross in the
sky To the right gracefully winding
way leads down into gently undulating
and pleasant vale. Stretching forward
through delightful landscapes, it finally
fades away and leaves the eye to wander
On to dim piunacles and domes of great
city.
Two youths, companions in the travel
of life, having came to the parting of their
road, are earnestly directed to the shining
cross, while one heeds the direction, the
the other, caught by the enchantment Of
the earthly prospect, turns his back upon
the cross, and speeds forward upon the
pathway of the world"
Let us first follow the pilgrim of the
cross. GA wild mountain region opens
on the view. 1t is an hour of tempest
Black clouds hang overhead; a swolle..
torrent rushes by, and plunges into the
abyss The estorm sweeping down through
terrific chasms, filings aside the angry cat
aract, and deepens the horror of the scene
below. The pilgrim, now in the vigor OF
manhood, pursues his way on the edge OF
a frightful precipice. 1t is a moment OF
imminent danger. But CLEANS Of light
from the shining cross break through the
storm, and with steadfast look, and renew
ed courage the lone traveller holds on his
perilous and narrow path"
We turn now to the pilgrim, of the
world: Here lisa broad expanse. On the
right are the gardens of pleasure. On
the left is The temple of Mammon. Be-
meath its dome, curiously wrought foun-
tain throws out showers Of gold, which is
eagerly caught up by the votaries below.
Far distant, in the middle of the picture,
a vision of earthly power and glory rises
upon the view. Splendid trophies ofcon-
quest adorn the imposing gateway; suits
of armor, gorgeous banners, and the vic
tors wreath, colonades and piles of archi-
lecture stretch away in the vast perspec-
tive and suspended in the air at the high
est point Of human reach, is that glitter
ing success the cro,on. The picture sym
bolizes the pleasure, the fortune and the
glory of the world"
But the next, is of the Pilgrim of the
Cross at the end of his journey. "Now
an old man on the verge of existence, he
catches first view of the boundess and
eternal. The tempests of life are behind
him; the world is beneath his feet. Its
rocky pinnacles. just rising through the
| olnnm reach not nm into hia hriohtness .