The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-23
STAR NORWOOD.
Continued From First Page.

I'D called the banqueters to their reve
md the dancers to their feet? / walk
upon the scene OF desolation TO find an
answer and pick up pieces OF bitumen and
brick and broken pottery, the remains of
Babylon, and, as in the silence of the
hight hear the surging OF that billow OF
|desolation which rolls over the scene, l
hear the wild waves saying: Babylon
Hon was a star, but by sin she turned
Norwood and has fallen"
From the persecution OF the Pilgrim
fathers and the Huguenots in other lands
IGod set upon these shores nation. The
council-fires OF the aborigines went out in
q greater light of free government. The
e0pnd OF the warhoop was exchanged for
the thousand wheels OF enterprise and prog
rees. The mild winters, the fruitful sum-
noers, the healthful skies, charmed from
Q(her lands a race OF hardy men who loved
Sod and wanted to be free. Before the
Woodman's AK forests fell and rose again
into ships masts and churches pillars.
hes on the bank Of lakes begin to rival
ollies by the sea. The land quakes with
the rush of the rail-car and the
MATTERS are churned white with the
Western wheat meet on the way fabulous
ons of eastern coal. Furs from the north
bass on tho rivers fruits from the south.
And trading in the same market is Maine
alderman and South Carolina rice mer-
chant and Ohio farmer and Alaska fur
joaler And churches and schools and
asylums scatter light and love and mercy
hnd salvation upon 60, 600, 900 OF people.
pray tlaf aur notipn paau moi cotNx, hn
primes Of the nations that have persisted,
md our cup of blessing turn 10 worm
wood and like them we go down. am
by nature and by grace an optimist, and |
Expect that this country will continue to
advance until the world shall put on mil
ennial era, and that when Christ comes
hgan he will set his throne somewhere
between the Alleghanies and the Sierra
Seyadas. But be notdeceived. Our only
Fafety is in righteousness toward God and
Justice toward man. II we forget the
koodness of the Lord 20 this land and
break his Sabbaths and improve not by
he dire disasters that have again and
pgain come TO us as people, and we learn
Faving lesson neither from civil war nor
faging epidemic, nor drought nor mildc W
hor scourge OF locust and grasshopper, il
he political corruption which has poisoned
he fountains OF public virtue and bcslimed
he high places Of authority, makingireeg gov.
rnmentat times kissing and a byword in
II the earth, il the drunkenness and licen-
iousness that stagger and blaspheme in
he streets OF our great cities as though
hey We're reaching after the fame OF
,orinth or n Sodom are not repentedoi we
will yet see the smoke OF our nations
uin; the pillars Of our national and State
apitals will fall more disaslrously than
When Samson pulled down Dagon, and
uture historians will record upon the page
pedewed with generous tears that the free
lation OF the west arose in splendor which
made the world stare, II had magnificent
Possibilities II forgot God 1t hated
ustice. 1t Rugged its crime II halted
N its high march. II rceled under the
plow OF calamity. II fell. And as il was
|o'ng down all the despo.isms of earth
rom the top of bloody thrones began 10
bout: "Ahal so would we have IT,"
While struggling and oppressed peoples
Doked out from dungeon bars with tears
nd groans and cries Of untold agony, the
corn N those and the woe OF these uniting
n the Exclamation: Look yonder There
I'll great star from heaven, burning rs II
we're n lamp, and IL fell upon the third
part Of the rivers and upon the fountains
waters; and the name Of thesiar is called
|Normwood."