The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-07-29
Essay
Read by Miss Emma Brewer before Spen
Ger Grange Newton county M;se

Essay
Read by Miss Emma Brewer before Spen-
Ger Grange, Newton county, Miss.
Worthy Master, Brothers and
Sisters. | meet you here this eve
ming with what we suppose is
part of our mission though our whole
time almost has been devoted to
other duties. We will endeavor,
however, to give you for your con-
sideration few thoughts On the
theme
" IT'S NOT THE WHOLE OF LIFE
TO LIVE"
Patrons, did you ever contemplate
what truly solemn thing it is to
live, to pass our three score years
and ten in the contamination of
Gods time in comparative idleness?
Indeed, it is momentous reality,
something more than bare exist
ence, or a fancied illusion of beauty
and pleasure. This earth is not a
utopia, nor are we fairy forms revel-
ing amidst its imaginative haunts.
The mind of an innocent child is
often made happy by portraying an
ideal realm, where beauty, joy and
glee are incessant, but as the intel-
lect is developed this picture is
placed aside and only considered a
youthful dream. So with life, we
paint it in rainbow hues, but, alas!
it often happens that stern reality
proves otherwise. Then at such
times it is soul-cheering to know
that
For US all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes,
And in the great hereafter angels may
Roll the stone from its grave away.
Life-it is a tiny monssylable;
how soon we utter it, and with
what light careless air? But, do
you know that a vast and unending
eternity alone will unfold the mean
ing of that one word. A solemn
thought pervades our being when
we remember
That our course here shapes our ever
ldSClHS QcSIlny3
And makes that "great unknown"
which is necessarily connected with
the life of every individual. The
performance of each moment is
placed in the balance either for
good or evil. How dreadful will
it be for the latter!
IT'S not the whole of life to live.
All, no! Here we see the wisdom
of Omnipotence shining in lustrous
splendo1. Here we find blessing
for which to raise our hearts de-
votion in thankfulness, should be a
favored privilege. Says Divine
language,
If in this life only we have hope,
We are of all men most miserable.
Yes, if we thought that when the
sands that number our days shall
have run their course life would be-
come non existent, where, O!
where, could we find language that
would descry the agony of oul
soul; agony that would be felt now
even while the rose tint of health
fushes our brow. 1t would be ar
overwhelming thought to know
that the soul dies with the body.
| O, it's ignorance darker than midnight,
Of the love that created the soul,
| Causes doubt of its endless existence,
| o. a fear that the tomb is its goal.
| But this can not be-
For life is a perpetual river,
Of progressions and currents sublime
When we were formed, a jewe
glistening with divine glory wa
| given us, heavenly spark wa
committed to our care. These
bodies are habiliments loaned III
and after season we will fold then
more; they are merely caskets, only
temporary habitations. When the
silver cord is loosed and the colder
bowl is broken, when mortality
shall have fulfilled its destiny, an'
the secret spring of the human
casket shall be touched and it
bright Jewel returned to jehovah
diadem, then its mingling rays shall
expand in unclouded, celestial ligh
and in delightful perfection of tn
inafable glories of the Infinite ant
All Wise One
Like a Jewel of brightness supernal,
And defiant of time or decay,
It will break forth in lustre eternal,
A. . %aIy
AS the butterfly rises in sunshine,
When its term of probation is DER,
So the spirit ascends to the splendor.
OF a life that will last ever more.
Life is a holy thing, and result
in an ample reward if spent so a
to reflect Gods cause; but if not,
chaos of gloom envelops all.
IT'S not the whole of life to live
not all to merely develop our ia
ents. We may sit at the feet G
sages, imbibing knowledge; w
may drink from wisdom's fount; w
may become great and renowne
in worldly love; but if this is nc
tempered by the love of Deity
can not pause on the theshold G
created life, and standing reverend
aside, lay humbly down our littl
wisdom and recognize the unfatf
omable greatness of the one all wis
Creator, what will we have achieN
ed2 A something worse than moth
, ing. and we will have committed
sin that only an eternity of we
; will appease. A sting of remors
will plunge its venom into our sou
and its effects continue to tortur
; us always. Let us remember an
indelibly write on our minds tn
short but impressive sentence, "W
, have hut one life only." Now,