Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-09-14
Mr. Editor:
Dear Sir:

Please publish in
the "HERALD," the following extract
from my sernon, delivered at st. Luke's
on the 18Th Of Aug. 1881.
Text Rev. ! chap. 5v.
Theme: Christian courage and its
rewards. Ny Friends: Yeu would not
have me deceive you i'll could. No
Ysu want 10 know the truth. You
want Me to be honest with you. To be a
christian, l say, requires Courage-cour-
age sfthe first order. The man whs
would be a christian, must be man Of
courage.
You ssmetines hear it said: That
religion is only suitable FOR old decrepit
men and women. Men often talk of
yemen as if she was void of courage.
But some of the most heroic dets ever
performed BY morlsls, have been ac-
cemplished by soman. She has proven
herself the braYest among the brave. -
The laSt at the cross-The first at the
Sepulcher, She has met the burning
fire and the sardge BEST with no less
intrepidity than the sterner sex.
It requires courage TO be a christian
both in men and women. 1 can didly
and truthfslly say today: if you wish to
he saved-Don't expect to be carried to
heaven on f0wry beds Of esse. MOL
would not deceive you. There are
d6Seukies. in the way. These dificul-
ties must be evereOme before you can
enjoy the rewards Of the christian. He
that svsrcometh etc.
1 will not speak to-day Of those
spiritual difficulties 20 we'll known to
every faithful soldier of the cross-of
these have formerly spoken: but speak
Of these sviLs, which are so prevalent in
our day-and 50 common in the church
Of eur Lord Jesus Christ. 1t requires
strong moral courage to oppose and 10
denouncs these evils. But it 10 the
christians duty to oppose and to de-
aouRce these evils 10 high and low
places; lfhe would be faithful christian.
He must have courage TO overcome
these evils himself; and be brave to
dsHeuncs them in others. He that
ovsrconeth etc.
Take for example: The evil Of in
temperance. 1 need not tell ysu that
intempsrance is an evil, You know it
is. 1t exists In high and low places
among all classes. New it requires
moral courage to denOunce this evil in
high places-among the 6rst circles OF
society; but any body can denounce the
psor drunksrd, and tits all right. Min
listers are afraid to denounce this evil
from their pulpits, for fear OF losing q
few dellars Of salary.
But to condemn iHtsmperancs among
the great and rich, man must expect
to meet with opposition aud yet at tho
same time, the infueree put forth by
the higher circles sfsociety, does more
harm, than from the lower classes.
Ts illustrates: Just last week in
Woodstock on a table before one Of our
public speakers seeking the highest
pesitisn within the gift Of our people, =
glass With colored substance or liquid
IN it, from which the speaker sippsd
Now iftbis cslored liquid was soine:
then the influence which that speaker:
put forth that night, ameng the boys
(and there were many there, listening
TO his eloqusncs) was more damaging
thaA the infYssss Of six drunkards lying
in the cutters OF Woodstock.
| Now I'll shsw how this is.
Suppose that We, who are fathers,
would have our little sons with US on
such occasions: and our little sou would
sy, Pa. what is that which-Goy. oil
Gen. or that great man is drinking out o.
that olasE aud 1 would reply: that n
sins nv son: Well Pa. ii Mr. so and &C
drinks wine, can't L!
while in the other case: II that sol
would see these men lying in the streets
anh ask; Pa! What is the matter will
thsse men? would say: These msn
have been drinking wine, and are drunk
Well Pa, II that's the way wine doe
men, III meyer drink vine.
have resolved not to support any
: maa for any public Office. who 10 win
tppler. hsvei heard others say tn
same. Brethren, you may tbiak m
, position an extreme enc: and 90 1t ma
be (; but Il ysu witnessed as I do, th
dunklug going on in wsodstock, evel
among our youths, you toe perhaps
weuld say: that you would not supper
with your yete sny msn, who 10 tip
pier at tbs siw cup. God helping me