The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
Christianity and Old Age.

1t remains to claim that Christianity
has helped to make age noble and
happy. When a popular philosophy
has come along with simple and clear
teaching that we are all the children of
God, and leave this world only that we
may pass to better one, and when this
philosophy points to one that came back
from the dead, it must be admitted that
such belief must make the last border
of life glow with light greater than that
which falls upon even smiling infancy.
1t cannot be doubted that much of the
praise of those who stand on the further
contine has sprung up from the as
sumption that our fathers are not
about to be blotted from existence,
but are going away to the presence OF
God. GRAY hairs are but signal that
the ship of the soul is about to sail over
the great sea. 1t may be that in So
ciety wholly pervaded by atheism and
its consequent absolute death there
might be built up grand old age of
man and woman. But one cannot but
deeply feel that in the midst of such q
belief man would be broken-hearted
or become a creature of low passions,
eating and drinking because tomorrow
he was to die, and that woman would
soon feel that the fading of the
face was the end of all worth or hap
piness. / do not believe that a grand
old ace can find in atheism an adequate
cause. At least into the composition
of the modern estimate the idea of
another world has entered deeply.
Madam De Stael says: "A noble old
age is not the decline of life, but the
dawn of immortality" Jean Paul
Richter says: 1.-The evening shadows
of age are long and cold, but they all
point toward a morning." Another
says: IAN honorable old age is the
childhood of Immortality" These
sentences culled from the wise and the
good assure us that into the modern
estimate of mans last years on earth
the doctrines of immortality enters as
a drop of carmine that cOlOrs all the con-
tents of the crystal cup. If this feel
ing may be cold in some few hearts, it
was warm in the souls of our fathers
and mothers. and when unable to de-
fine the thought and prove its worth
Illt UOuDIlul OntS VI OJlI dtO Stlh
encompassed by the old faith and are
touched with its pathos, In intelIec-
tual hours, they will doubt, but when a
near friend passes down into the grave
they will join with the most devOut
Christian in shedding tears of hope, of
reunion.
In the lofty philosophy of the present,
old age is, therefore, not desert in the
earth, but a continent rich in resources,
in products, its fruits, its flowers, and
mild and peaceful in its sky. Where
the most violent passions have become
softened, the mind learns to take wide
survey, and the heart doubles its love
to all and deserts no one. In that con-
tinent men forgive and are forgiven.
Woman is beautiful in mind and soul,
and this charm makes up features too
divine to be perceived By Greek or Ro-
man. Here the heart ceases to be sec
tartan and becomes religious. Here
temporary fashion throws away her
despotic scepter, here jewels diminish
upon the person, and simplicity like
that of the blue sky or OF the sea s
bosom comes back to that mind from
which it was driven by the phantasies
of youth; and across this continent,
feared by all. but by all to be entered,
shines the warm sunbeams of second
life.-From Recent Sermon By Prot.
David Suing.