The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-10

ana preacher OF his time, became Chris
tian at seven years,of age; and Robert
Hall, who afterward shook Christendom
with his sacred eloquence, became a
Christian at twelve years of age; and Isaac
Watts, who divided with Charles Wesley
tho dominion OF holy song, became O
Christian at nine years OF age; and il in
any large religious assemblage 1t were
asked that all the men and women who
learned TO love Christ before they were
fifteen years OF age would please lift their
right hand, there would be enough hands
lifted to wave a coronation. What il true
in religious sense is true in secular
sense. Themstocles amazed his school
fellows with talents which in after years
made the world stare Isaac Newton, the
hoy, by driving pegs in the side OF house
to mark the decline of the sun, evidenced
q disposition toward the experiments
which aiterward showed tho nations how
the worlds swing. Robert Stephenson,
the boy, with his kite on the commons OK.
perinentod with electric currents and
prophesied work which should yet make
him immortal. Get out OF my way!''
said rough man to boy, ''get out OF my
way! what are you good for, anyhow
The boy answered: "rhey make men out
OF such things MS We are" Hear il, IA
theirs, mothers! hear 1t, philantliropists
and patriots; hear it, all the youngl The
temporal and eternal destiny OF the most
Of the inhabitants OF this earth is decided
before fourteen years Of age. Behold the
Nazareth Christ, the village Christ, the
country Christ, the boy CHRIST.
But having shown you the divine lad in
the fields, / must show you him in the
mechanics shop. Joseph, his father, died
very early, Immediately after the famous
trip 10 the Temple, and this lad not only
had TO support himself but 10 support his
mother, aud what that IL some OF you
know. There Is royal race of boys on
earth now doing tho same thing. They
wear no crown. They have no purple robe
adroop from their shoulders. The plain
chair on which they sit is as much unlike
a throne rs anything you can imagine.
But God knows what they are doing and
through what sacrifices they 20, and
through all eternity God will keep paying
them for their iilial behavior. They get
full measure OF reward, the measure
pressed down, shaken together and run
ming over. They have their example in
this boy Christ taking care OF his mother.
lie had been taught the carpenters trade
by his father. The boy had done the
palmer work ut the shop while his father
had put on tho finishing touches OF tho
work. Tho boy also cleared away the chips
aud blocks and shayings. lie helped hold
the different pieces Of work while the
father joined them. In our day we have
all kinds OF mechanics and the work is
divided up among them. But to be a car
penter In Christ's boyhood days meant TO
mako plows, yokcs, shovcls, wagons,
tables, chairs, sofas, houses, and almost
everything that was made. Fortunate
was II that the boy had learned the trade,
for, when the head OF the family dies,
IL is grand thing 10 have the
take care OF others. Now that Joseph, his
lather, Is dead aud the responsibility OF
family support comes down upon this boy,
! hear from morning to night his hammer
pounding his saw vacillating, his AK de-
sccnding, his gimlcts boring. and standing
amid tho dust and debris Of the shop lind
the Precipitation gathering on his temples
aud notice the fatigue Of his arm, aud as
he stops a moment TO rest see him pant
ing. his hand ON his side, from the exhaus-
ton. Now he goes forth in the morning
loaded with implements Of work heavier
than any modern kit OF tools. Under the
tropical sun he swelters. Lifting, pulling.
clcaving, splitting all day long
Al nightiall he goes home to the plain
supper provided by his mother and siis
down too tired 10 talk. Work. work.
work. You cannot tell Christ anything
now about blistercd fingers or still joints
or rising in tho morning as tired ~ when
you laid down. While yet "a boy he knew
IL all, lac felt Il all, lao suffered II all. The
boy carpenter Tho boy wagon-makcrl
The boy houso.buldcrl q Christ, We have
seen Thee when full grown in Pilates 20.
lice courtroom, we have seen Thee when
full grown Thou vert assassinnlcd on Col
ro,ha, but, o Christ, lot all the weary arli-
sans aud mechanics OF the earth SEQ Thee
while vet undcfsizod aud arms not yet
musculariEcd and with tho undcvclopcd
strength OF iuyencscenco trying 10 take
Thy fathers place In gaining the livelihood
Tor the family.
hut, having seen Christ, the boy Of the
fields, and tho boy In the mechanic shop,
| show you mora marvellous scene
Christ, the smooth-hrowcd lad among tho
long. bearded, white-haircd, high-iore.
headed ccclesiastics OF the Temple. Hun.
drcds Of thousands OF strangers had come
TO Jerusalem TO keep great religious lcs-
tval. After the hosptablo homes were
crowded with visitors, the tents were
spread all around the city 10 shelter i'm
menso throngs OF strangers. II was very
easy among the vast throngs coming and
going 10 lose a child. More than 2,Ol1,-
90 people have been known TO gather nj
Jerusalem for tina, national feast. You must
not think Of those regions ~ sparscy set.
tied. The ancient historian Josophus say.
there were m Galilco two hundred cities,
the smallest oi them containing 1900 PEG,
pie. No wonder that amid the crowds al
the time spoken Of Jesus the boy was lost.
His parents, knowing that he was mature
enough aud agile enough TO tako care oI
himself, are on their way homo without
any anxiety, surprising that their boy 1.
coming with some Of tho groups but after
a while they suspect hc Is lost, and with
flushed cheek and tcrrorized look, ihcy
rush this way aud that, saving. "llaye you
seen anything OF my boy1 lie Is lively,
years of age, OF fair complexion, and ha.
blue eyes aud auburn hair. Have YOU
seen him since we left the cityY Hack
they 20 In hot haste. In and out the streets,
In and on, the private houses and among
the surrounding hills. For three day.
they search and inquire, wondering II h,
has been tramplcd undcr foot Of simo ol
the throngs, or has yonturcd on the clin.
OF iallcn or piccipicc. Send through all
the streets aud lanes Of the city and among
all the surrounding hills that most dismal
sound, ~ lost child 4 lost child" And
10, after three days they discover him In
the great Temple, seated among the might.