The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-07-26
The Egis & Intelligencer

Bel Air, ND, July 20, 1853.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Delivered at the Hartford y. =. Con
yentIOn, Aberdeen, by Rev. David
JamisOn.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; The most pleasing
task has been assigned me of putting IN httlng
words the warm welcome with which the Sunda!
school workers and all other, OF Aberdeen greet
YOU We ar. AN XiuuS to show You, In Il more sub.
Stantial way than glowing periods and fine Ian
gllagC can do, that We earnestly desire thil YOU
may greatly enjoy your visit 10 our busy niue
town. Unlike our more famous namrsakr. Ahcr-
deem, Scotland, We cannot point you 10 hurlrht
architectural monuments or very OLD institutions
Of learning. The fact is, We are OF yesterday.
measured On the great Calendar uf Time; and We
are not therefore able to lead you TO classic shades
and show You renowned ruins, "r any venerable
relies of Il long antiquity. nave moi gone mo me
geological record Of this important part OF liar-
lord county, and hence ! am not prepared to say
that the broad acres which stretch out before YOU
are handed down 10 Us from great father Adam;
possibly had better say great mother Eve, he
cause il does seem as if She we're the stronger uf
the two, did the leading, anyhow. and She ought
to have held the deed vi all the property.
Aberdeen Is place, as you no doubt are aware,
of corn would not dare to add, and 0f wine: hut
oil Is used, II not produced 10 Il considerable rN-
tent II grcvcS us very much that there J. 10
Earl of Aberdeen 10 give You - garden party. dur
Ing yOnr stay with lis, as i gentleman, WIN lhit
honorable title, gave the Worlds sunday school
Convention, across the mighty Atlantic, the other
day: but. rs loyal Americans you are not likely 10
blame us for lacking titled class in is much rs we
hope to furnish YOU with right royal American
lunch, after You have enjoyed feast ol reason.
Ladies' ana gentlemen: ~ this IS IN address OF
welcome, | suppose welcome ought 10 com" IN, like
the refrain or burden of grand old hymn. We'll!
YOU are very welcome, ~ welcome a a
company of earnest buyers Of canned goods
would be, in these rather dull times. |
don't know that could improve on that
Illustration. but let Us try II again; you are rs
welcome as welcome can be; just as welcome as
curious Mrs. a. makes Mrs b., coming in with Il
budget of news; Just as welcome as Mr.. G., Il lover
of the angler friend, Mr. d.,
another lover of the anglers art, for they are sure
10 have Il good time talking over their last imc
catch. This reminds me of Daniel Webster pro-
penSlty 10 go fishing. when he had an address or
speech to make Don't you know that he could sit
there, putting down and drawing up the line, and
pouring forth q Hood OF el0pucmcc al That poor,
iutterng member Of the fnEy tribe ? | fancy
that fishes wished that that noble orator wOGld not
De asked very often to make an address OF welcome
To Gen. Lafayette, or anybody else; the fact Is,
they feared HIM AS much is chickens are said To
fear the preachers. Ol course Hartford county
and Baltimore city preachers are to he excepted;
hut they like pies and cake and Ice cream. must,
however, move OF from the table, as there are not
many Bayard TaylOrs who write or speak best
when they are full still 1t is Il question: whether
any man is at his best before dinner; 1t Is too nc
hc.ringimg time.
Again say you are welcome to an Opcn. handed
and Opem-hrarted hospitality. We, out here IN
Aberdeen, though not laying any special claim to
great antiquity. are not lCrgctiu Ot the fact that
some have entertained angels unawarrS. sunday
School workers indeed are angels, after fashion;
not that they would he considered immaculate, al
together spUtlcSS, free from any sort OF sin; but
they are messengers, who 20 with Il message. sab
bath after sabbath To Il class ui pupils they are
mInStcrng spirits. mlni>rring To heirs ui saliva
ton In that resides the angelic quality earnest
tOlling ever about the Masters business, drdcnlly
attached To the good and the true AT all times and
under all circumstances We welcome NOu, ladies'
and gentlemen, Tor your work sake: common
bond untcS us; the golden chain Of glorious
Christianity makes us one, blessed Christ iS'.rll-
thrOned in every heart.
Don't talk to us to-day of denOiniuatiOnal lines.
There are periods when we Know Wesley, GAVIN,
Luther. Lwnglc: but to-day, II is WcSleyS, Cal
wins Luther'S ZwIngleS Lord that We are think
ing OF only and the grand cause which lie has ap-
pointed us to further. There might be written
over the door through which We enter this house,
dedicated To the worship of God. Faith, Works
and II would receive the silent or LOUD Amen of
every one passing through. 1t is Justification by
faith alone, the rallying cry OF the great rrlOrlua
ton but Christ, in the heart, means ClristS spirit
Of work in the life Who says Christians don't
love one another? Who says there i, not coming,
In the near future, the millennium of the hrartcSt
lraternal relations among all evangelical bodies Of
Christians? Who says that the gospel is not
bringing forth, in the lives Of mutitldes the peace
able fruits OF righteousness and holiness" CrOak-
ers and GROWERS 10 the rear! To the front. yc
that prOphesy good things concerning Zion, the
blessed heritage OF Gods people, whatever he the
name or denomination. We welcome You to
Aberdeen; a town, where you will be in easy dis
lance OF abundance al water. having the theSa-
peake bay and SuSuuchanna river near at hand, II
you prth'r immersion Ia Sprinkllng; a place where
MethodSts, EpScopalians, LuthcranS, ircSbytc-
rans-all get along together in the most harnlpni'
Gus manner.
We say to you as the old Romans said to their
guests, "Salyc!' WELCOMED welcome To or
churches! welcome to our social circle. welcome
To our homes! welcome To all yOu see. far rs II
may he necessary to your comfort. while You r"-
man with MS. We feel that you are worthy of the
most cordial and hearty welcome for the cause IN
which you are engaged Is the grlndcSt of all
causes distinguished orator on Il similar orGit'
sion, many years ago, drew Il parallel between tile
welcome given to ten. Lafayette. on his visit IN
INA to this country, for whuNr independents" he
had done much and the welcome which would
he accorded Robert RaikcS, the founder of the
modern Sunday school, were he still alive, show.
Ing how much more splendid the formers rwcp-
tnn was than the latter wOuldhr. And then adds ::
Such was the reception of Lafayette. the warrior;
such would be- that Of Robert RalkeS. the Howard
Of the Christian church And which is the nublrr
brneiactur, patriot ami phianhropiSt" Mankind
may admire and eNtOl Lafayette more than the
founder Of the sunday schools: but religion, phil
anthrOpy and enlightened common SENSE must cS-
TEEN Robert RaikeS the superior of Lafayette.
His the virtues. the services. the sacrifices Of
more enduring and exalted order OF being. His
cOunscS and trlumphS belong -lcss to time than to
eternity. The fame OF Lafayette is of this world;
the glory Of Robert RaikrS is Of the Rcdrrmcr'S
his own age. and chiefly for his and our country.
But Robert RaikeS has lived for all ages and all
countries, Yes! You pillow deeply in the moral and
can tell You what may hc the outcome OF your
work. This sunday school influence is to spread
around the great globe and 20 down to the last
generations; and is it not To break over the bounds
Of time and be felt in the higher and more blessed
life. which is to be lived in eternity" surely il Is
the reward Of the humble sunday School teacher
IL to grow brighter and brighter, as the ages of the
future roll on. The impressions yOu are making
on young hearts, who can estimate their value"
lOu are stamping, with Heavens help. ideas on
fresh souls concerning God, human responsibility
and immortality, that Satan himself shall not he
able to erase.
Thrice welcome then, yon are. because of your
vital interest III our common work. amt because OF
the unSpeakable Importance of that work. Go on.
God lie with you. Let us all feel that We are called
upon TO start healthul and holy Influences in human
hearts. that may never. never die out. Aud then
after We have gone the way Of all the earth, IN the
words Of George Eliot may We
Join Il choir invisible
OF those immortal dead. who live again
In minds, made better by their presence: live
In pulses stirred to generosity,
In deeds OF daring rcctitudr. in SCurn
For miserable aims that end with self.
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like
stars,
And with their mild rcrS s,cncc urge mans
search
To NaStcr issues.
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