The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-06-10

ed themselves to the kingdom. From
that day to this has been the day Of moral
illumination. The gates of heaven have
been opened and more have entered than
on al other days.
There are in Sunday Schools some fifty
millions, and from these the great
mission in fulillment of the commission
must draw for messengers to go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every
creature; they have a great work to do be-
fore them This is characterized by the
Saviour. His reward is with him and his
work before him. They who are with
him overlook earth and heaven, time and
eternity. To them the field is the world.
In the light of prophecy we look down
the vale of time, and we work for the com
ing ages, and in view of the consumma-
ton when the workers will come to Zion
with songs and everlasting Joy up on their
heads The prophetic voice sounds
through the hall Of this institution; the
Lord gave the word and great was the
company of them that published it, In
the graphic style the vision, 81 Heard the
noise of their wings, like the noise of
great waters, as the voice of the Almighty
the voice of speech, the noise of u host"
When millions are assembled in the Sab
bath Schools of the world, reciting the
word of God, all in hearing of the Lord
and his host on high, this language will
not sound eXtrayagant. In view of our
relations to the glory of God in the re-
demption of the world, We can gain some
idea of the sort of literature called for. |
am not about to NEEDLE just now with
other departments of science save to sug-
gest that intelligence, knowledge is every
where called for to ensure success. In the
name of Him who came to bear witness to
the truth, in the name of the light of the
world, | ask that we have knowledge, and
the higher order of knowledge. We have
to do with immortal beings while they are
forming their character for the everlasting
future. The influence for veal or woe of
those in Sunday School will be felt for
ages till time shall end, and the result
will pass over into the boundess; men
without brains will be of little use any
where, so books without ideas ought not
to have place here. The romance of
our day has but few ideas and these are
rotten and yet they pass for literature.
Clouds without rain carried about by a
l Of nycifoI noSSinp rcoI T., COW
if a minister would bring out one new
| idea in discourse / would call it good
sermon. So now say if Sunday School
book or paper will give Us one new idea
that is worthy this department | will call
it good choice.
There may be new thoughts enough or
want such as are worth something. We
| are likely to forget that we are in a world
of realities and passing to a world still
more real have hunted for ideas, sub
stantial truth in lectures and books hay
ing world wide fame and to me they are
thin, and cry out give us facts and prin-
ciples. If men and women of romance
choose to live in a fancy world, they
ought not to carry the Sunday School with
them. Literature becoming this depart
ment cannot do justice to US nor honor
God till such works do justice to two
worlds of realities.
All the fine writing that conceals reali-
ties suited to the day and those who come
to the weekly celebration, should be ex-
School literature there is plenty of mate
rial for criticism. | wink at it for the pre-
sent. The Bible is the great text book
If our books and papers do not speak ac-
cording to this there is no light in them
suited to us. Many of the writers do not
understand the first principles of scrip
ture language; the light in them is dark
ness. They use cross and blood and life
and death and many other terms in way
that perverts their true meaning; but
largely writers continue to amuse by keep
ing clear of all distinctive ideas of the
gospel. We ought to reject all works of
imagination that have not decided. reli-
gious character The entire design and
adaptation should be christian. We
should reject all mere historic works. bird
stories, dog stories, bear stories, all TO-
nance that leaves the mind bordering the
unreal, because this as far as it goes
destroys all that is real and responsible,
and fosters mental luxury while world
of immortals for the want of truth and
good examples are crGwding the broad |
road. Imagination is given for an import,
ant purpose but like conscience it may be |
perverted and become earthly. Profes.
sional writers ask and obtain leave to
politely tramp over all the celestial flowers |
in our earthly paradise, and they will see
to it that we shall reap such as they sow;
l could select Sunday School Library
called literature, that should the thought
cross the mind of the author of an edition
in the future state it wouloShock their pure
and set them to conjecturing
whether such edition would be of any use
when songs of redemption are sung Be
lot deceived, we want reading that will
lelp us in our work. The past six thou
,and years furnish record which ought
o be wrought into ourLiterature. The pre-
'ent state Of the world ought TO furnish