The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-28

non tne sony Vi inc unkcls snuli Durst
upon our enmptured ear, We will scarce
regret that our ears were never marred with
earthly sounds" OH the brightest eyes
in Heaven will be those that never saw ON
earth. The ears most alert in Heaven will
be those that In this world neither heard
voice Of friend, nor thrum OF harp, nor
carol OF bird, nor doxology OF congrega'
tons.
A lad who had been blind from infancy
was cured. The oculist operated upon the
lad, and then put bandage over the eyes,
and after a few weeks had gone by, the
bandage was removed, and the mother said
10 her child: "Willie, can yon see2' lie
said: "0h! mamma, Is this Hcaven?" The
contrast between the darkness before aud
the brightness afterward was overwhelm-
ing. And tell you the glories of Heaven
will be thousandfold brighter for those
who never saw anything on earth. While
many with good vision closed their eyes in
night, and many who had good, artistic,
and cultured ear went down into discord,
these afflicted ones cried unto the Lord In
their trouble, and He made their SORROWS
their advantage, aad so "the lame took the
prey"
In the seventh century there was
legend OF St. Modobert. II was said that
his mother was blind, and one day while
looking at his mother he felt 40 sympa-
thetlc Tor her blindness that he rushed
forward and kissed her blind eyes, and,
the legend says her vision camo immcdi-
ately. That was only a legend, but II is n
truth, glorious TRUTH that kiss Of Gods
eternal love has brought 10 many blind
eye eternal illumination.
A step further. There are those In all
communities who toll nightly for n
livelihood. They have scant wages. Per-
haps they are diseased, or have physical
iniirmities, NO they are hindored from do.
ing continuous days work. A city
missionary finds them up the dark alley
with no fire, with thin clothing, with very
coarse bread. They never ride In the
street car; they cannot afford the FIVE
cents. They never see any pictures save
those in the show-window ON the street,
from which they are often jostlcd, and
looked nj by some one who seems TO say in
in the look: "Moye onl what are you do.
ing here looking at picturcs2"
Yet many OF them live on mountains Of
transllgumtion. At their rough table lie
who fed the 9, 900 breaks the bread. They
talk often oil the good times that are
coming. This world has no charms for
them, but heaven entrances their spirit.
They often divide their scant crust with
some forlorn wretch who knocks nj their
door ut night, and on the blast OF the night
wind, as the door opens 10 LET them in, Is
heard the voice OF Him who said. III wm
hungry and ye fed me-" No cohor OF
heaven will be too bright 10 transport
them. by Gods help they have van
quishcd the A@yrian host. They have
divided among them the spoils. Lame,
lame, yet they took the prey.
l was riding along the country road one
day, and ! saw man on crutches.
overlook him. lie was very old. lie wa
going very slowly. At that rate, II would
have taken him two hours 10 90 n mile
said: Wouldn't you like 10 rider" II
said "Thank You, | would. God bles
YOU" When he sat beside me, he said
"You see, am very lame and very old
but the Lord has been n good Lord 10 me
have buried all my children. The Lor
gave them, and the Lord has n right {,
take them away. Blessed bo his name
] was very sick, and had no money, anC
my neighbors came In and took care o
me, and / wanted nothing. | suffer .
great deal with pain, but then have n
many mercics left. The lord has been
good Lord 10 me-" And before we hat
got far, | was In doubt whether ! was Civ
Ing him ride or he wns giving me ride
lie said. "Now, II you please, Ill gc
out here. Just help me down on IN,
crutchcs, II you please. God bless you
Thank you, sir Good morning. Goot
morning. You have been feet 10 th,
lame, sir, you have. Good morning.
Swarthy men had gone the road that day
do not know where they came out, bu
every hobbie Of that old man was towar,
the shining gate. With his old crutch h,
had struck down many a Sennacherib o
temptation which has mastered you anS
me. Lame, No icarully lame, 80 awiullI
lame; but hc took the prey.
A step further There are In all com
munitics many orphans. During our las
war aud in the years Immediately follow
ing, how many children we heard ny
= "Ohl my father was killed In the war.
I Have YOU ever noticcd-l fear YOU hav
not-how well those children have turnc,
, ont2 Starting under the greatest disadynn
tagc, no orphan asylum could di
. ior them what their father would havi
done had he lived. The skirmisher an
! one night, by the light Of iagots, In th'
I swamp, writing letter home, when
] sharpshooter's bullet ended tho letle
{ which was never folded, never posted
: and never read.
Those childred came up under great dis
advantage. No father 10 hght their wa
for them. Perhaps there was In the OLD
family Bible an old yellow letter paste,
fast, which told the story Of that father
long march, and how he suffered In th'
) hospital; but they looked still further oI
, In the Bible, and they came 10 the sior,
0i how God Ia the Father Of the father
: less, and the widows portion, and the,
D soon took their fnthcr'H place In tia
! household. They baitlod the way 70
y their mother. They came on up, and man,
4 Of them have In the years since the war
|. taken positions In church and State. Will
! many Of those who suffered nothing dur
1 ing those times have had sons 40 out int
r lives Of Incidence and yagabondagc, thos
! who started under so many disadvantage
because they were No early bercft, Ties
I arc the lame who took the prey.
4 A stop further There are those VIII,
l would like 10 do good. They say "Oh
r II / only had wealth., or, II had olo
qucnce, or II had high social position
: how much | would accomplish Tor Co
/ and the church, ] stand here today 4
4 tell you that you have great opportunlie
/, for usoiuldcss.
1 Who built the pyramids7 Tho Kin
y who ordered them builti No; the plail
4 workmcn who added stone after stone an
/, stone after stone. Who built the dikcs q
Q Holland2 The government that orderc