The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1888-01-18
Entered at the Post Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
CORRESPONDENT
For the Central Presbyterian.
Past the Dead Line.

The law of suggestion or association is
a very potential factor of our mental con
stitution, and its phenomena a very en-
tertaining subject of study. Is memory
anything other than the soul, stimulated
to exerhon by some call upon it for re-
trospection, seizing one end of an invisi-
BE chain of facts and by virtue of this
law of suggestion following it up until
the scattered but associated past is before
it for inspection and use? We had a
somewhat painful illustration of the pow
er of this law a few days since. An af
fectionate and tender brother minister
loosely said to me: "You have passed
the dead line" He little dreamed how
many sore spots he touched, for he twist
not what he said" But like the point
nf magnet thrust among the iron filings
aa a plate of glass, these words as soon
as uttered began to gather about them a
thousand reminiscenees-and as Zecha-
riah's red and white and speckled horses
"amoDg the myrtle trees in the bottom"
at the beck of the angel walked to and
fro through the earth, SO a whole troop
of varied and sad reflections, little
tinged with bitterness, as if summoned
by magic wand, waved by an evil spir-
it, coursed up and down my soul, each
leaving the deep imprint of its merciless
hoof Grace may heal the wounds but
the scars will abide. When the good
brother was gone fell into meditation
and soliloquized thus-"Oh how many
earnest and godly brother ministers in
all our churches who loved and served
Az AcnAo, i H1c ha,1 ,,k
ting in enforced silence and mute affiic-
ton, and fighting over their battles, or
meditating upon the bygones, or nursing
their voioeless woe" Yes, past the dead
line-past the day of health and sffluence
and comfort--ot push and activity-of
assiduous, incessant, ardent, and loving
toll and planning and service for the
Master. Yes. past the dead line-away
from the highways of Zion, in the cleft OF
the rock, and In dreary solitude upon
some bare Horeb--deseried, as he some
times imsgines, of God and man-out OF
the memory Of the Church, out of the
mind and heart of his fellow Christians,
his name, his labors of love, his sympathy
and tears and prayers at the bedside OF
the dying, at the grave of the dead, and
in the chamber of affection, are but as
"a dream when one awaketh his very
existence almost forgotten even by his
brethren with whom he once took sweet
counsel and thought and worked for the
King-unthought of at the Presbytery-
unmissed at the Synod-unrememb bered
when living and loving brethren in sweet
sympathy, sing, "Blest be the tie that
binds, and Hope to meet again"
Yes, past the dead line "Smitten and
afflicted of God, his obligation to his
family undiminished comforts growing
fewer, the lights one by one dying out,
clamorous want, imperious and tyraniz-
ing poverty with each day drawing the
lines nearer to the besieged, and hasten
ing the hour OF the dreaded surrender
and sack-an object Of pity to a few and
of tender love to little clinging circle
of dear ones who look hopelessly into the
future; the shadows thickening, the dark
ness deepening, the night coming on, and
the servant waiting till his change come.
Yes, past the dead line; but, thank God,
his face is toward the morning, and the
gates aJsr, and the coming gladness and
glory, and he can almost see the lights OF
the city and hear the harpers harping
upon their harps and the halleluiah, and
as he looks and listens his unuttered cry
is, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. -
Servant Of God, well done, be patient,
wait and watch, for the day breaketh.
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