Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-11-26
DIR. Kelley and the Coming Kingdom


arth and all the church bells 0!
chimed forth from
,hurch towers in city, town and
country, again the echoes of the
glad message borne on seraph wings
eighteen centuries since, for on that
night from their home in heaven a
of angels came to earth
and told to watching shepherds
good news and glad tidings for a
world in darkness and despair.
Their traekless pathway was lit up
by the stars as they shone in heav-
ems dome, the silent vigils over a
world under condemnation who
had yet no Redeemer. Down
through the midnight of the upper
deep and over the hills Of Judea
there rang out that night the sweet
est carol ever sung, of peace on
earth and good will toward men"
tor a King that night was born on
earth whose kingdom was in heaven
He came that man, who had
been banished from Eden, might
return and again become a citizen
of that happy kingdom. On the
Isle of Patmos, John, with prophet
ic vision, looked centuries ahead and
revealed what will surely come to
pass. In that beautiful four-square
city, the central figure in that heav-
emily kingdom which he saw de-
cending from heaven to earth, whose
streets were radiant with light and
whose beauty and grandeur pen can
not describe, all through it fioated
on every breeze the happy song of
those who had formerly lived on
earth, while the whole city resound-
ed with sweet melodies from happy
hearts made free; but he heard no
bacchanalian song or revelry around
the wine cup. For written upon
the pages Of the law of that king
dom by Him who traced in flaming
fire upon the walls of Belshazzar' s
royal palace, when in midnight rev.
elry the drunken ruler read his
doom, so, too, we read no drunk
ard can enter the heavenly kingdom
Though he may listen to the widow
wall and his hand be open tc
the orphans plea for help
though the wretched may share bis
sympathy and he weep with those
that weep; though he pays his hon.
est debts and makes the Golden
Rule his rule, still, if Gambrlnus be
his king he can have no part in thai
beautiful city which John saw
Can not the Priest unrivet thest
letters and let him in? He ha:
failed. Can not the preachers pray
ers unlock the chain? They hayt
failed. Will not sacred oaths b,
kept? They have not been, though
made upon the Bible in lodge room.
in the presence Of strongest friends
Will not the love Of wife, children
and friends break its influence
| No. They have been tried and de
MED thousand times.
| Did they not live who looked up
on the brazen serpent in the wilder
ness Yes, but others have looked
upon a Savior's suffering on the
cross through tear-bedimmed eyes
and gone straight from the sane
tuary to the saloon and drank t.
degradation. Was not Naaman, th,
Leper, healed by washing in Jor
dams waters? Yes, but others have
been buried with Christ in baptism
and arose to walk a new lite, and il
one week be further on the road tt
a drunkards grave than when they
made the good resolve. Have any
or all Of these agencies of church
home, lodge and friends ever rescued
anyo Yes, thousands, and will fol
all time to come. Have the com
bined efforts of all these ever failec
to reform the inebriate? Yes, thous
ands of times, after years Of pleading
| Then what can be done? Is ther,
no hope for the brilliant-minded
generous-hearted devotee at th,
shrine Of Bacchus? Is the door tt
positions of honor and trust foreveI
lclosed against him? Can he never
be restored to reason and to the
faithful wife, who still clings to hin
in his degradation9 Can it neve
be made possible for him to be en-
titled to an interest in that King
dom of endless splendor and happi
nessp We point for an answer tc
Preachers of the Gospel, Judges oi
the Supreme Courts, Governors o.
States, scientists, lawyers, doctors
artists, men of every rank and call
ing, scattered all over the States, WHIT
are now honored citizens, usefu
citizens, good husbands, protecting
parents, who were once slaves ant
victims to a malady that baffied al
will and skill until rescued by DR.
Kelley at Dwight, Ill.
] Respectfully,
i J. V. WILLIAMS.
To Produce Rain.
;,