Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-20
ton sang:
81 love the high ENDOWED roof

ton sang:
Il love the high endowed roof
With antique pillars massy proof,
And storied windows richly Digit,
Casting dim. religious light"
But Milton was poet. He looked at the
matter from the aesthetic point of view.
The minister is set to instruct and arouse.
He must insist upon right physical con-
ditions for this work. The whole atmos-
phere of many churches Is somnolent. The
decorum-the routine of worship-the alb
normal hush-the whispered chants-all
tend to drowsiness; and the droning voice
of the clerical reader completes the sleepy
spell. Hence, the congregation settles into
the "sleepy hollow" of the pew and plays
Rip Van Winkle as naturally as Joe JEFF
ferson. And no wonder-for now 1t is not
&C ting. Here, there, and yonder heads nod
assent to the sermon in the wrong places.
"Oh," said one who was troubled with in
somnia, would that man could carry his
pew to bed with himT'
Preacher, take lesson from the politi-
clans. During the late national canvass,
with a theme not half as vital as yours, they
broke through decorum and convulsed the
continent How? By talking from the
heart to the heart amid congenial surround
ings. Our Methodist brethren keep things
lively BY exploding amens. Well, they have an
apostolic warrant. For Anciently in a religious
assembly, as in a modern political meeting. the
speaker might be assailed by a rattlng fusllade
of Interruptions, assent, dissent, questlons-an
were orthodox. In such circumstances he
could not glue his eyes to manuscript. He
had to be minute man." like our revolution
ary sires. Such was the scene when st. Peter
preached on the day of Pentecost, and the peo-
we do?'
Let the preachers themselves wake up, if
they would awaken others. An English bishop
once said to the great actor. Garrick: "Why is
it that You act to full seats, while preach to
empty pews" WELL" replied Garrick, Il
preach fiction as though it were truth. You
1t is stated that the most splendid tomb in
England is that of the Duke OF Hamilton, in
the grounds of Hamilton Palace. 'Tis a
model of the castle of San Angelo in Rome.
The gates are copied from the Ghiberti
gates at Florence The coffin of the Duke
is enclosed in an Egyptian sarchophagus of
black marble. brought from Alexandria. Thus
The immense sum of $500, 900 is lavished upon
this monument OF pride.
This matter of mortuary decoration is every
where overdone. The cemeteries are populous
with ostentatious monuments An effort is
made (vain and absurb) to carry the dis
tinctions of time into eternity. Meanwhile the
worms are busy under ground refuting the
vanity above. Death is JacObln-it levels all
with an undistnguishing hand. Let those stay
equal who have been thus equalized. Ostenta-
tion at the grave is grotesquely out of llace-
like advertising disease. or boasting OF de-
parade their sores.
No one criticizes when private grief sets up
the modest commemorative headstone, or
molds and unveils the beloved form in
''Stone that breathes and struggles,
Or brass that seems to speak"
But the expenditure of S9OO,OO upon mauso-
leum does not honor the dead-it commemor-
ates vulgarity.
Coleridge was an admirer of John Wesley,
the founder of Methodism. Southey's Life
of Wesley" was constantly in his hands,
He gave his copy of it to Southey on account
of its marginal annotations One of them con-
tanned the grateful apostrophe: "Oh, dear and
honored Southey, this book is the favorite of
nv library among many favorites, the book
which can read for the twentieth time with
delight, when can read nothing else"
Coleridge's fascination lay not so much in the
charm of the story teller, as in the charm Of the
story itself. And Wesley's was wonderful
life! If you would learn how great things may
be modestly done, what Joy may be found in
grief, what peace may be had amid tempests,
study the career of this hero of faith.
"Carrie," said the kind maiden aunt,
show was it that your brother johnnie got
so much of the cake, when 1 gave to you?"
"Because," replied Carrie, rubbing her eyes
he snatched itr' God gave mankind the good
things of the earth-gold for money, coal for
fuel wheat for bread. cotton and fax and wool
for clothing, iron for building; the raw material
for supplying every need. How did the John
ME whose name IS Monopoly get so much cake?
Because he snatched itr' Uncle Sam should
step in anh interview Johnnie and make him
disgorge that cake. This is the view of Judge
Barrett, of the Supreme Court of New York,
who, in recent Judgment, has soundly spanked
Johnnie Monopoly and commanded him to re-
turn the cake. Johnnie is aghast. But such is
the law-God's law even more than mans. 1t
is both genuine democracy and New Testament
Christianity.
Here is clipping which carries its own
moral: "My son, observe that you are
reading that sage headline in this mornings
paper Don't Be Clam Now take your
fathers advice rather than that of the news
paper, and remember that you might do
worse than be a clam. The CLANS that
have met in this world have minded their
own business; have kept their mouths shut;
have avoided indorsing their friends notes;
have never embezzled trust funds: have never
come reeling home at midnight under the iniu-
ence of cocktails; have never told lies about
their neighbors or indulged in ribald jest or
wounding repartee. Remember these things,
my son. Emulate the clam, and If misfortune
overtake you as it often does the bivalve of
whose virtues have Just spoken, you will at
troubles will not be due to your own foolish
ness"
This is a telegraphic age. We speak by
We travel by steam. We light
our houses by electricity. We live longer
in year than our ancestors did In half
by what we accomplish.
Mere length is out of date-like last years
almanac. People nowadays skip long edi-
torials, and don't read long books, and
avoid long takers, and stay away from long
get up and go out. Time is
feeting." There is much to do.
The application is to ministers: Don't preach |
long sermons and thus Oblige your Darishion- |
ers in self-detence. 10 pull out their watches |
and shut them with an admonitory click. Cut |
it short. Make up in quality for any lack in
short; good one is tolerable if il be long. The
application is to Christians: Whatever thy |
hand findeth to do, do it with thy might"-the |
night cometh. Therefore improve the passing
occasion. Speak your word; perform your
work, and then, like poor Joe, in Dickens |
story, move on. Don't wait to be run over.
The application is to the household: Draw to-
live a tip-toe !? Settle down on your heels, and |
enjoy the present. Love one another, help one |
another, forgive one another, sympathize with
one another, now.
A fool never has enough, though he has
everything.-Lucilius
He who has grown weary of remaining at
home often goes forth and suddenly returns,
inasmuch as he discovers he is nothing better |
for being abroad.-Lucretius.
BY examining the tongue OF patient physi- |
clans find out the disease of the body. and |
the disease of the mind.-Justir.
never knew a bad man who was not un- |
Mutu faith abolished, all human safety is |
The only path that surely leads to life of |
peace lies through goodness.-Jurendt.
The seeds of our own punishment are self |
sown the same moment that we commit SIM
Hesiod.
The man is not moor who hath the use Of |
things necessary.-Hordce.
Perverse mankind whose wills created free,
Charge all their woes on absolute decree.
Homer (Odyysey).
Virtue (sings wise old poetl though in rags |
Irao VI n,