The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-02-20

IHAT-l ~ llIp i''f''H
ways of pleas, tness'"
You have IN heard of Gods only
begotten Son. Have you ever heard OF
His daughter? She was born in heaven
One day she came down over the hiIls
of our world. She he'd queenly step; on
her brow was crles \, radiancej her
voice was music. Her name was rellg'
ion, and my text introduces her "Her
ways are ways Of pleasantness, and all
her paths are peace"
Much has been said Of late concerning
my theories of religion. Are they crtho-
dox or heterdox2 l shall in this and
other sermons from time to time state
nv religious doctrines, The effect OF
theological study on me is different from
the effect on some. Every year | tear
leaf out of my theology, until it has be-
come very brief statement, and only
have three or four leaves left, | giveyou
page of to day The first element Of
nv religion is sunshine. As soon as l
get into a room have passion for open
ing all the shutters. That, by Gods
help, l mean to do to day. We put
much Of the sepulchral in our religion,
and are so disposed to pull down re
shades and close the blinds, that lis only
through here and there a crevice that
the light streams. I want now to pull
inside the curtain and food your souls
with eternal sunshine. Wherever car
GET hold of a bell l mean to ring it. If
there be those who have determined to
hug their mieanthropy they had better
90 now, before the fairest, and brightest,
and gladdest bengof the universe comes
in. Gods son has gone, but His daugh-
ter is here. Give her room. Make this
house thy throne'room. Hail! thou
daughter of the Lord Almighty
I find much of the sunshine of relig-
ion in Christian society. The most dole
ful people have ever met are the per-
petual n-makers; such men as Charles
Lamb, Thomas Hood and Artemus Ward
and Others might mention, whose lives
have been to make sport. They make
the world laugh, but their biographies,
and their autobographies, tell US that
there is down in their soul deep dis
quietude. -,
Laughter is no sign of happiness. The
hvena laughs, the maniac laughs, the
loon among the AdirondaGks laughs, the
bacchanal crashing his decanter against
the wall laughs. From mere worldly
mirth there il dreadful reaction. such
men are always cross the next morning,
Thev snap at you on Change or pretend
they do not see you on the street. gave
nm mere worldly society long ago, because
it was 80 dull, 80 stupid and 20 insane. |
ALWAYS walk on the sunny side of the
street. For that reason | have crossed
over into Christian society. ike
better their modes of repartee and their
etVles of amusement There is more
real genuine exhileratiOn among truly
Christian people than any other class.
They are better natured the next morn
ing aud live longer Long after the lungs
and the brain and the heart have failed
TO do their work, or dOit in an apologetlc
way, have known these people to i've
on: have known Christian men. whom
the doctors say ought to have died years
ago. and their living for day is def
ance OF all the laws of anatomy and
physiology, They have within them the
aupernatnral vitality of the Christian re-
ligiou. When a man is filled with the
peace of God he is not only happy him.
self. but he makes all around him happy.
Put dozen Christian people in one room
in social conversation, and between 8
and 10 o'clock they will have more re-
sounding gIee, more bright strokes of wit,
more thorough satisfaction Of soul, than
all the worldly parties that will be gath
cred for the next 1000 years. l mean
that coming together of people who are
invited, because it is best, under all the
circumstances, that they be invited; and
who 90, because under 6ll the cir
eumstances it is best that they go, leav
ing their shawls on the second floor and
their hats on the third, marching
ia to greet the lady and gentleman Of the
house with formal salutatiOn, and then
spending the evening in discussion OF
the weather, apologies for treadlng on
long trails and perpetual effort 10 keep
the corners of the mouth up 10 al ap-
pearance of pleasure, and so about with
an idiotic hee-bee about nothing till the
late collation. is.served, then return to
the parlor to resume the weather, there
with the assurance that he has really en-
loved the hour, starting home with a
sense of relief, that is the chief satlsfac'
ton Of the evening. Young man just
come to New York, where are yon going
to spend your eveningsP 60 to Nlblos
aays one; 90 to Booth, and to the Opera.
Take my advice, and throw yOnrself,soul
and body, into Christian society. Report
yourself to me five years from now, and
let nae see how the advice works. Bring
with you that young man that refuses
the advice. At the end of that time he
will come up dissipated, shabby in dress,
not disposed to look any one in the eyes,
aud with moral characl er 85 per cent off
You will come with physical health con.
flrmed, eountensnCe frank, habits hon-
Orable, soul saved, and ell heaven, with
the Lord Almighty your coadjntors,
Mind you this is not the advice OF a
misanthrope, the world is magnificent;
nor Of dyspeptie, my digestion is per.
feet; nor of man who can not under
stand joke, or see the eludicrous, or who
prefers iunRraE nor Of an old man, my
pulse is bound in earthly anticipation
Considering myself competent judge Of
What good cheer Is, come out 10 tell
these people that the brightest and most
jubilant Of all association Is Christian
association
Again, find too much sunshine in |
ChFistian and divine explanation. To |
most people life is an ineKplicsble tan
gle. Things turn ont opposite TO what
you might suppose, There is a useless |
woman perfectly well, and there is an in. |