Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-12-03

Oluhtn iheN cannot compute. 1t Is
the nature of light to flow out sponta-
neOusl Y IN all directions and fill the
world nconsclOuSlv with its beams.
50 the Saviour calls the Christian a
light bee use his unconscious influence
Is perhaps his chIef influence. And
yet there are many who would think
that IIght Is Il very tame and feeble
instrument because 1t Is nolseless.
An earthquake for example is to them
much more vigorous and effective
agency. Hear how it comes thunder
ing through the solid formations of
nature. 1t rocks whole continent.
Little do they think that the light of
every morning, the soft and genial and
silent Iight is a Titan Giant in com
parlson. Bat let the light of day
Cease Let the hour Of morning come
and bring with it no dawa The out
cries of horror stricken world Till
the air. \ chill creeps on and frosty
winds begin to howl across the treeZ
ing earth. Such Is the light which
visits Us ~ the silence of the morning.
True 1t makes no shock or scar. 1t
would not wake an infant In It's era
die And Vt II perpetuaI ly new Gre
ates the world. As 1t rid 5 on IN Its
trlumphal career. no creative fiat
breaks the Stiffness vet the earth
brings forth grass, the waters swarm,
the to"i fy, aud man awakes in Par.
adlse made fragrant aud bright and
beautiful b. the radiant march of IL
nolseIrss but irresistible conqueror.
Now just such all-vanquishlng
might is welded in the spiritual world
bv the light OF good example or
shining deeds. 1t - hard TO tell " he
ther the great and permanent CON
quest ot Christianity have been won
Oy tn aggressive influences which
crowd the pages of her history or by
the unrccorded, unsuug influence of
holy lives aud holy deeds; whether
mnse converts were made by the
tormy eloquruce Of ChrysostOm and
Gregory or hy the slleu., subdulng.
mysterious power which fell on men s
souls when they exclaimed: "See
now thesr thrI>tltns love one another.
The pulpit may thunder at times like
the earthquake. but every morning all
through ,ht CITY aud country the light
gently enters almost every dwelling.
Rrklndled al the sun Of Righteousness
the godly man or woman shines all
Law ious. silently, uLwlli:ngly perhaps,
rrbuAIug dar Auess, tha"lng cold un-
belief at last trumphlng and making
me desert soul 20 rejoice and blossom
EAe the rose. And now these scat
fered rays are ali gathered. Ui4a.>. 81
together that they may shine AS q city
set on hill. shine from the gl~amIng
walls of SOM noble hospital or stately
temple. On, then how the light
spreads, The Saviour said: let
your light so shine before men He
saws not men Of Your nsIghborhood.
your city, your generation, men every
where aud Of all times. Let them see
1T in far off lands aud in future ages.
and men do ser, and Parish vles with
Parish and city With city and nation
contend. with nation aud century
with century in holy emulation. Holy
memorials grow and multiply. See
wonder costly pile. II Was built
FOR Christ in some bygone century.
We are wiser. and stronger and richer
now. Let us build = w"rthier temple
today and forever "Ioudsr stately
cathedral IN the old worlu reoukes us
in the new. We are young but with
the mornings freshness We have the
MONDAY strength Let u build. How
the light spreads. will spread. must
spread, flashing. leapin,. nlmbly, & lad
iy. 1t ia Ike that signal fire kindled
upon lda's height aud caught up BY
the watchers from mountain top to
mountain top:
"A rles M glesm from Ids. height,
By the ERE God seat it came:
From watch 10 wsich ii l-apsd, that light
As rider, rode the flame.
IL shot through the startled sky
nd the torch II that blazing glorv
Old LenBos caugh' on high
tn i's holy promoniorr.
But II NAV not say,
And away, away
Across continents, across centuries
II bounds 10 IL. silent might"
The light which sire ms forth from
your beautiful temple Is noiseless but
enduring and difu-ive. 1t shall mot
chine - neither shall its voice be
heardi Il! snFst-eets." But though it be
silent it shall pour forth commanding
cloquence. And as the billowy centuries
roll on through ed time aud harvest
and su +, mef and winter it will stand
and wIrhl its noiseleSs power Its
eloquenc4 so calm vet so real and sub
DUNG shall fall like sunlight on the
people who pass along your highways
and men shall lo,k and see and glorlfy
your Father in Heaven. Thus like
the silence OF Wonder star lit heavens
its silent light shall declare the glory
of God. "Tnere is neither speech nor
language these their voice is heard.
What thought in solemn silence all
Move round this Ink terri, strinl ball,
VII It though no real voice nor sound,
Aroundst their radiant orhs be fund
Ia reasons ear they all re- joIce.
And utter forth n glorious voi"e,
Forever singing as thry shine"
And shall net this temple sing Of the
devotion and sacrifice which have built
it. 1t shall sIng-such Il costly pile as
you have reared is noble hymn sing
ing Of heroic deeds across the ages to
distant peoples. 1t celebrates not the
shock of contending hosts over tremb-
ling plains, but the victory of devotion,
self sacrifice every generous and god
like virtue over greed and avarice and
the earth born new. 1t sings not of
some slain warrior ignobly dragged
at the chariot wheels of the conqusror,
but of selfshness slaughtered aud
bound and dragged in the dust, while
self denial urges on the chariot or Gin.
yincible zeal shakes loosely the slack