The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1890-12-22
REV. MR.. CURTIS, SERMON.

Supposed reference to the prevalence
of the Messiaric kingdom, which shall
be an era of peace and righteousness,
when the sword and the spear shall be
replaced by implements of husbandry
and enterprise. Seven hundred years
after the word of prophecy was re-
affirmed with angelic voices declaring
the birth of the Messiah and proclaim
ing "Glory be to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward men,"
Not yet has this good time come, not
yet do we see violence and selfishness re-
placed by the rule of right and love
the supremacy of the moral and spiritual
elements. But for all that we are not of
those who believe that the world is GO
ing. God is at work with the nations
and with men, building from theI foun-
dations, first that which is natural and
afterward that which is spiritual.
At the time of the redeemer, to all in
tents and purposes, modern Europe had
no existence. Spain, France, Russia
and Austria were sunk in barbarism.
Britain, almost as completely as this
and Syria were sinking fast. The power
of the world lay in Italy Greece and
Palestine. The power of Palestine was
in moral and spiritual element which
was to give law and power to the world.
| She herself has gone under but the
power of her civilization asserts itself in
every nation that has ascendency in
modern civilization. The power of the
world is in Christian bands (nominally
SO at least, giving pledge and prophecy
of the complete control of right and love.
The time may be far off but it is COM
ing. More and more the light is appear
| ing; the day is becoming broader and
fuller. That is the kind of power which
is to rule.
= The text tells us also of the kind of
character which is to prevail in the COM
ing age-the child character, in which,
if you will analyze it, you will discover
among others, these elements:
! First, Innocence; it is this which
makes it necessary that to enter the
kingdom of God we must become as
little children. The task of the child is
to retain its innocence; the man must
regain it. 1t is no arbitrary requirement
but of such is the kingdom that is the
rule of God in the earth and universe.
| Second: The spirit of childhood is a
spirit of faith-trust in father, mother,
friend, God. The religion of childhood
and youth is to keep this spirit. When
the man has lost it he can only enter
the kingdom of God and becorne a part
of it by retaining the faith of his child
hood. 1t must be so and thus his child
spirit becomes his guide: GA little child
shall lead them.'
| Thirh-More definitely may it be said
that God develops the moral and spirit
ual life of the world through the child
rem. We teach the children but they
teach us full as much and more than we
teach them, for it is through them that
we learn the real meaning of the great
word we use in our religion, parent, love
and self sacrifice. Back of the industries
of the world is the force of the love we
bear our children. One of the greatest
of English barristers is said to have
remarked that he never pleaded case
without feeling his children Juggling at
his coat tails, meaning, suppose, that
their support and education and qualifi-
cation for position and usefulness in the
world was an ever present thought and
stimulus to him.
Behold how this love new born in the
woman, who but a year or two ago was
a thoughtless belle, transforms her into
a very providence of God for the help
less babe on her BOSOM See, too, how
with men who seem to have no other
thoughts the day and the week through
but business; the thought of the little
child rules them. Often will such stop
in the very midst of the most pressing
work to tell of the bright-eyed beauty at
home, or with fearful eye and trembling
voice of the little boy that died, and
heaven is more real and nearer because
of him. ga little child shall lead them"
Let us seek the happiness of all about
us but let our hearts be turned as they
will, especially to the children as we
come to the day we love, be of its asso-
citation with the advent of Him who was
born in Bethlehem of Judea. While we
seek to lead the children Alright and fill
their lives with joy, they will as surely
lead us and minister to our larger and
better life.