The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-17
AN MORN WIN uonArrrs poS.R


DIR. Bonar tenderly loved children. and
wrote sweet hymns for them How kccnly
Those in Edinburgh will feel his loss Being
III that city a few years since IL was my
good fortune to hear him address an assem-
bly, OF Sunday school children, and, before
h. entered the pulpit sing with thcm some
OF his children songs. When he went ur the
long pulpit stairs the children caught tho
inspiration Of his presence, and sang with
new strength and impressivcne,s. As has
been said, his personal appearance aud bear
ing reminded ono Of his hymns" tender
sweet and tranquil
His long white hair made him look vencra.
blc. but he had no other mark of old age. His
prayer was as simple as q child His voice
was low, quiet and persuasive. IL had do
clIcd Scotch accent, hut wns clear aud
pleasing. His whole manner was suggestive
of his lines:
Calm mo my God. and keep mo calm;
Let Thine outstretChcd wing
Bc like the shade of Films palm
Beside her desert spring.
He leaned over the high pulpit and spok.
Tor nearly nm hour, in quiet manner, vet
with magnetic power that rivctpd every
eNc The children looked steadily in his
face. The nddro.s fastened itself upon my
mind. lie rcad with the children the first
part of the third chapter of John. His
manner of reading the Scriptures with them
was to mo novel Ms well as interesting,
though judge II to bc n Scottish custom.
lie read: There was a man of the Phari.
secs nnmcd'-herc he paused, and tho chill
drcn responded, "Nicudcmus" eth, same
came TO Jesus by'-"night," responded tho
children so, through the reading, tho
children rcad tho word at which he paused
Tho harmony aud promptupss rcuuircd md
the fact that they did not know the word at
which he would stop mnde the strictcst Mt
tontlon necessary on their part Occasion
My he would say, very kindly "Bc careful,
childrcn.n
The reading over, hc spoke Of tho two
questions which Nicodcmus nskcd Jesus. Tho
first wa one Of curiosity: How can "A man
br born when he is oldy' The second. one of
intense personal interest: "llow can these
things bcY rs II he had asked, "llow can
bc born agnin" lie then. in most interest
ing manner, told the story Of the lifting up
ot tn" brazon serpent aud portrayed vividly
the scene of the suffering lsraclitrs He do
scrlhod painting illustrating that scene;
where some were turning their backs to tho
brazcn serpent though sprcy bitten, others
were employing physicians to heal them,
while others were binding mp their own
wounds, and "A few were obcyinE the com
m7nls of loses 10 look To- the only source of
help Thon ho went ON: "Must that old
man look? Yes. Must that young man look2
Yes. And that young woman Ncs. Must
that boy LOOK, and that girl Yes Must
that mother, carrying her poor little smticn
boy IN her arms, turn his face 50 that ho can
lookl Yes. ii w long must they look-a
yrari No. a month"; No. \ day No, not
n day. An hourY Not an hour 4 minutc9
] hardly think IL. Only jus, n look and in
moment they will bc hcnlod.'
lshall not attempt 10 tell how he showed
to the children that:
There's life for n look nt the crucined One
10 needs the tcnder persuasive tone, Of that
ht hnI Ia. ...Ts Il
now closed, 10 give tho cmph isis This
was memorable Sabbath evening hour to
tho three Americans who were present
This sweet and impressive hvmn writer has
joined the heavenly Choir. Whntn welcome
he must have! How casy for him 10 take
up the new song; and even Lis earthly faco
would not seem out of place in that choir
Praise Him above, We heavenly host,
we are singing here aud now hc is respond
Ing there. Where N the Christian heart no
has not helped aud 10 whom has ho not en-.
denrcd himself?-Ihe COHgrcgutipndiiSt