The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-16
1'oFF S soUNDENCs. :"

.,,yc, A, pppoRT FOR THE EVENING TBLBGRAPH.l
The Rev. Dr. TalmageA Church, Seventh,
.bove Brown street, wss filled by large Assem-
b,aye of our citizens, on last Monday evening,
=. hear the lecture of Rev. A. A. Willis, d. D., OF
brooklyn, on the above subject. The object Of
the meeting, the well-known capabilities of the
lecturer, the beautiful moonlight evening and
the mild weather. we're the inducements which
Grew cut SO large gathering.
The call of the meeting was in aid of the
Charity Hospital situated in the northwestern
mart of our city which, SINCE the establish
ment of this institution, has grown so rapidly as
20 treble its former population. The object OF
the institution is TO aid all in a destitute and
suffering condition, to give medical aid, and to
preserye the lives of injured and povertystricken
peoDle, without which gratuitous aid, advice,
and medical skill, their injuries, coupled with
their wants, would prove fatal. A series OF lec
SUres have, therefore, Oeen commenced to help
this charitable institution. Before the COM
nencement Of the lecture, sweet music was dis
soursed by the choir; after which MIR. Talmage,
M a few pertinent remarks, introduced the Rev.
Or. Willis.
Mr. Willis remarked the great difficulty eX
perienced in determining upon theme OF suO-
iect of discourse without selecting one Whlch
had not more or less been touched upon by
numerous orators. The whole earth seems lald
under contribution, and seems to have been
Pansacked, and nearly upset, Ia order TO hnd
subjects for the innumeraoe writers and
speakers OF the present day. My subject 5h's
evening, said Mr.. Willis, is "Oh Soundings,"
which, if not entirely new, had often been
salted, was yet good enough to be refreshing,
aud one which would not be entirely dry. Mir.
Beecher says that one pleasing reflection OF the
TntuTe state is, that there Is to be no more sea.
/ admit that it is not very delightful object to
Nh q
narrow berth, and to feel that the billows are
rolling within instead OF around you.
heard of one poor fellow, who was the gayest
Of the gay at the first table, but when we had
fairly reached the off soundings, and INTO the
deep blue sea, suddenly disappeared, and was
not seen again during the whole voyage. But
when we reached the port pale spectre came
creeping from his state-rCom. and when accOsted
as 70 how ne ielt intimated, that ne had but two
desires: one was 10 reacn terra tlntd, ana the
other 10 ind and beat the man who wrote "A
Life on the Ocean Wave.n But the trip pur-
pose tonight has this great advantage, that in
il you run 10 risk Of sea-sickness, for we 60 bat
IN imagination, aud that seldom affects ones
equilibrium. Born upon the sea-COast, and
standing al Its very edge, have often witnessed
the sublime scenes Of the ocean. Nothing can
be more lovely than the sea; there Is rapture on
It's pebby shores; music IN Its tar-resoundlng
waves, refreshing Inspiration in Its pure, sweet
breath, which lind nowhere else under heaven.
But apart from tuis personal attachment, there
Is ar intrinsic richness Iar beyond that which
many persons imagine. NOWueIS 6isS III h@tuIC
can be found such noole chains, 10 where else
does she teach such sublime lessons.
Few persons are aware OF the vast DEBT Oh
gratitude we owe to the sea; because very leW
consider the unspeakeble benefits we derive
IRON this generous part o. nature. Inc apostle
has sald The earth is tuli OF Thy riches, but so
IS this wide sea- He then referred 70 the Medi-
terIanean thai little arm OF the great ocean
What would ne have SAID had he known, as we
do, OF tnat mighty deep which covers three
foul1hs Of this gloUe, and is filled from its
CLASSY bosom to its deep bed, from It's centre TO
it's remotest shore, filled bcim foil with beauty
and mystery; wien power and sublimity; with
benehcenCe and riches. II you would see all
the varying beauties OF nature, you must 20 10
sea, there will they be found, whether the sea be
calm or convulsed. Ii you would witness the
peacefully sublime, you must stand on some
high and OverhangIne Cliff, and looE forth
upOn the gently heaving surface, when II
hes still and calm, like sleeping infant,
while the smooth glitterng expanse grows
out before you, bOundless, trackless, tathomless,
mysterious. Would you have the grandest and
nOblest reflections OF the invisible that can be
found IN the universe, you have but to gaze on
the ocean, with its varying scenes, to learn oi
the inhIlty, the immensely, the eternity and
mystery OF Jehovah. As Byron expresses IT.
the ocean is
"Tbe glorious mirror where the Almightys form
glasses itself"
Would yOu have the terribly sublime, look out
upon that mighty deep, when the stOrm-spiri
walks the waVers, majestic waves roll up with
with the bowling winds, black clouds, and the
thunderbolTs of heaven, going forth to do the
AlmlghtYs bidding. How sublime the oceaI
then; how sublime Its vastness, its actions; how
terribly sublime its power In such sea, il
such a presence, how feeble and impotent II
man, and how omnipotent the Almighty! Bu
not only for sublimlty or beauty does the ocean
stand unrivalled. To find this beauty you neeC
not IN imagination descend with the Dearl-divel
into its watery depths but go down 10 Its surf
beaten shores and there pick up the glltterint
pebbles on its silvery beach. You have bat t
raise your eyes, gaze out upon its broad eX
panse and behold the most beautiful sight IL
nature. A mountain wave rolls up to breal
upon the beach AS it rises with the yer
poetry of motion into the air, its lofty cres
curling into line of matchless grace, it forms
miniature cascade TO breBk IN foam at your feet
But the sea has not only the richest charms o
her own, but it mirrors the beauties OF cart!
and heaven. Here they come to reflect thei
highest charms. The clouds love to move owe
ITS bosom and see the gorgeous dyes OF thei
wardrobes blended Over the sea the rainbo
spans the silVery sheen rejecting and perfect
inglts circle of beauty. The sunoeams cast then
selves into its unfathomed depths, and dance t
and fro with the wind and waves IN freedom
The sistcrhood OF stars and planets find thei
mates there; the sisterhood of stars in the SIX
find brotherhood efstars in the sea; Tor
every wave with ghtterlng face that Ieaped int
The ar,
Caught star in its embrace, and holds it there"
What music so beautiful as that upon the bo
ders OF the sea? What cliffs and helds an
dwellings so enchanting as those by the reflec
ing sea? The spirit OF beauty and loveline
has It's home III its depths, and on Its surfac
and along its shores.
But the ocean mas not only the charms
sublimity and beauty, but it is filled with Il
riches Of benehcence to man. That man is il
debted Tor all the beauties and necessaries
life hold to be truth. OF course those wi