The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-16

conscienceless miscreant as has been too FREE
qusnt lately in other ports of our city. apply,
with infamous design the incendiarys torchl
Then God, the omnipotent, the omniseient. the
omnipresent. made the wrath OF man to praise
Him, and worked His sovereign will by
Sssn stand sep.sd rsS basd
breath, uncovered head and Bonded.
knee in the presence Of Him who, by the mere
/ fat of His will, can exert such mighty power
and before whom all mankind are as grasshop-
pers.
But He who weighs the mountains in scales
and the hills in balance tells that the bow
brings upon the earth; that when
He sends a cloud He will also send a bow.
The bow, the bow of promise. token of the faith
fitness of the divine covenant, emblem of the
truth of God. spanning with its radiant arch
the circuit of our 1ifes horizon. beautifying
with It's blended hues the warp and wool OF this
and radiant hope for black despair.
Il illumines the path which wae in darkness.
and cheers mp the spirits that would faiter ana
flag. So the clouds of this world are not IN
mixed evils, since they afford background for
tbs bow OF promise
':As Noah stood, disneartened, upon Ararat,
looking out upon the gloom and cesolation
of the food SO may we look out
to-day upon the ravages committed by the fire
fend upon seven stately buildings on our prln-
cipal wholesale thorougnfare. We have seen
the accumuations of months years swept
away in a few moments. Our business has been
damaged. our prosperity checked, the hopes of
to the winds, eaten up by the fire.
damaged by the water carried
away, perhaps, by the cormorants who live upon
the calamities of honest men.
"Whencs shall we derive comfort in such a
troubled Who're is the bow of promise that
shall deck and garnish this dark that environs
If we can can only trace it; for He whose
word Is and steadfast has prom
ised that whenever He shall bring a cloud
over the earth the bow shall be seen in it. My
fri wa find eli sta pcaq
connected with this visitation First, we ara
grateful TO God that the plague was stayed in
its progress Though the damage was great, it
might have been much greater. Though
many persons were injured in their
goods and chattels, in their personally
and realty in their opportunities of making an
honest livelihood. still the lives of all were
spared, and their health and strength spared
for renewed exertiOn in the future, and all
homes and families are intact for their comfort
and encouragement. and their credit and good
name and the good will of their business are
spared to them as a more valuable stock-in-
trade than cash. or goods, or business houses"
After stating that such occasions this
touch stones of character, showing those who
sympathize with loss and those who dis
posed to avail themselves of the general dis
tresS to advance their own ends, DR.. Jenckes
continued: "But finally we realize that the chief
source of consolation for US, the brightest tints
and colors of our rainbow. are found in the oppor-
tunites this occasion offers for the exercise of
benevolent sentiments and actions. Such exer-
else, we are assured. is pleasing in the sight of
God. 1t brings us nearer to each other and
nearer to heaven to appreciate that fellow
feeling makes wondrous kind. And for such
exercise of good feeling this occasion gives US
ample scope. All may practice resignation to
the divine will, self-deuiala economy. re-
newed energy in embarking upon new
enterprises and skill in prosecuting them. All
may help, and comfort, and encourage each
other. and sympathize with another in their
various conjunctures of embarrassment and
distress Situations may be offered to the un-
fortunate ones. who, in losing their situations,
have lost their all. And thus, by mutual dis
plays of the benevolent virtues, NAV
the rieors of this calamity be overruled
to the profit of this community rather than to
their detriment. Then let us not be cast down
when the clouds OF this earth lower about you
and ehut out the light of heaven. But remem-
Der that they all bright upon the other side.
And if the side towards you be dark, and porten-
tous, and threatening, look carefully, faithfully,
lovingly. for the token of your Fathers cove
nant of love, and peace, and hope-for He who
cannot lie has promised that whenever He shall
bring cloud over the earth the glorious rain
bow of promise shall be seen in the cloud"