Connecticut western news., 1891-09-10
ETALMAGE AT THE FAIR.
CALL TO THE WELL OF ETER-
 NAL SALVATION.

% WALL 10 IRE WELL Of etEH-
 NAL SALVATION.
 Sermon Preached by tho B, ooklyn Divine
 at Elmira. N. Y.. Where an Interstate Fair Is i'm Progress - An Interesting sAnd Appropriate Discourse.
 ELMIRA, Sept. 6. The Rev. Dr. Tal mage preached here today to the fun mense multitude who had come to at tend the New York and Pennsylvania exposition, which is being held here Sept. 1 to Sept. g It is a combined exposition of cattle, sheep, horses and valuable stock of all kinds from the two states. The sermon was preached on the fair grounds to great audience of farmers horsenen. drovers and stockraisers from near and far, as well as citizens from the adjacent cities Secretary Stanley, of the Young Mems Christian Association of Elnlira, pre- sided. Dr. Talmage's text was Genesis xix, 8, And they said. we cannot, until all the focks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the wells mouth, then we water the sheep" ..a. ..-.. r...,
 SPEAKING TO THK SHEPHERDS
 There are some reasons why 1t Is ap propriate that should accept the in vitation to preach at this great inter state fair. and to these throngs of countrymen and citizens horseinen just come from their fine chargers the king of beasts. for take the crown from the lion and put it on the brow of the horse. which Is in every way nobler and speak to these shepherds just come from their hocks the Lord himself in one place called Shepherd. and in another place called I.alnb. and all the good are sheep and preach to you cattlemen come up from the herds, your occupation honored by the fact that God himself thinks it worthy of immortal record that he owns ''the
 
 It Is appropriate that l come, be cause was farmers boy and never saw a city until l was nearly grown, and having been born in the country never got over 1t, and would not dwell in cities day if my work was not appointed there. My love to you now. and when get through will give you my hand, for though have this summer shaken hands with per haps forty thousand people in twenty one states of the Union, all the way through to Colorado and north and south, will not conclude my summer vacation tilfI have shaken hands with you You old farmer out therel How you make me think of lny fatherl You elderly woman out there. with cap and spectaclesl How you make me think of my motheri s4l
 grounds is filled with the bleating of sheep, and the neighing of horses, and the lowing of cattle, cannot hnd a more appropriate text than the one read. It is a scene in Mesopotamia, beautifully pastoral. A we'll of water, of great value in that region. The fields around about it white with three focks of sheep lying down waiting for the watering. hear their bleating coming on the bright air. and the laughter of young men and maidens indulging in rustic repartee look off, and I see other hocks of sheep coming. Mean while, Jacob, stranger, on the inter esting errand of looking for wife, comes to the well. A beautiful shep herdess comes to the same well. see her approaching. followed by her fath CTS flock of sheep. It was mem orable meeting Jacob married that shepherdess, The Bible account of it Is, "Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept" It has always been a mystery to lne what he found to cry about!
 But before that scene occurred. Ja cob accosts the shepherds and asks them why they postpone the slaking of the thirst of these sheep. and why they did not immediately proceed to water them The shepherds reply to the effect We are all good neiYhbors, and as a matter of courtesy we wait until all the sheep of the neighborhood come up Besides that. this stone on the wells mouth Is somewhat heavy. and several of us take hold of it and push it aside, and then the buckets and the tronghs are filled and the sheep are satisfied. We cannot. until all the hocks be gath cred together. and till they rolls the stone from the wells mouth; then we water the sheep" s-. THK WORLDS GREAT WANT.
 Oh, this is a thirsty world! Hot fo' the head. and blistering for the feet, and parching for the tongue. The worlds great want is cool: refreshing, satisfying draft We wander around and find the cistern empty Long and tedious drought has dried mp the world's fountains but nearly nineteen centuries ago Shepherd. with crook in the shape of cross, and feet cut to the bleeding. explored the desert passages of this world and one day came across we'll a thousand feet deep, bubbline and bright and opalescent. and looked to the north. and the south, and tht east, and the west, and cried out with { voice strong and musical that rang through the ages: "Ho, every one tlla thirstetll. come ye to the watersl"
 Now. great flock of sheep today gather around this Gospel well. There are great many thirsty souls. l won der why the hocks of all nations do no l gather why so many stay thirsty. ane