Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-17

I interpret there are said to be, as far as l
can figure it no from the reports, about
three hundred thousand honest poor who are
dependent upon individual, city and State
charities. If all their voices could come uD
at once il would be groan that would shake
the foundations of the city and bring all
earth and heaven to the rescue. But for the
most part it suffers unexpressed. 1t sits IN
silence crashing its teeth and sucking ths
blood Of its own arteries waiting for the
Judgment day. Oh, should not wonder II
on that day it would be found out that some
of us had some things that belonged TO them,
some extra garment which might have made
them comfortable in cold days; somo bread
thrust into the ash barrel that might haveap
peased their hunger for little while; some
wasted candle or gas jet that might have KIN
died up their darkness; some fresco on the
ceiling that would have given them roof;
some jewel which, brought to that orphan
girl in time. might have kept her from being
crowded off the precipices to an unclean lie;
some New Testament that would have told
them of Him who ''came to seek that which
was lost"
Oh. this wave of vagrancT and hunger and
nakedness that dashes against our front
door step If the roofs of ali the houses oil
restitution could be lifted 50 we could look
down into them just as God looks, whose
nerves would be strong enough TO stand itf
And vet there they are The fifty THOUSAND
sewing women In these three cities, some OF
them in hunger aud cold, working night
after night. until sometimes tho blood sourts
from nostril and lips.
How well their grief was voiced by that
despairing woman who stood by her Invalid
husband and invalid child, and said to the
city missionary: II am down hearted.
Evezything's against us; and then there are
other things" what other things| said
the city missionary. "Oh. she replied, INV
sin" What do you mean by tnatE "Well,
she said, II never hear or see anything good
It's work from Monday morning till Satur-
day night, and then when Sunday comes |
can't 90 out, and | walk the floor, ana IL
makes me tremble TO think that [ have got
to meet God. oh, sir, it's so hard for u.s.
We have to work so. and then we have so
much trouble and then we are getting along
so poorly; and see this wee little thing grow
ing weaker and weaker; and then to think
we are not getting nearer to God, but foat-
ing away from Him. Oh, sir, L 90 wish L
was ready to die"
/ should not wonder if they had good
deal better time than we in the future: 10
make up for the fact that they had such
bad time here It would be just like Jesus
TO say: Come up and take the highest seats
You suffered with Me on earth; now be
Clorified with Me in heaven" Oh, thou
we5ping One OF Bethany. Oh, thou
diving One Of the cross. Have mercy on the
starving. freezing, homeless poor OF these
great cities.
have preached this sermon FOR four OF
five practical reasons: Because | want you
to know w1o are the uprooting classes oil
society. Because | want you to be more
discriminating in your charities Because
Iwant your hearts open with generosity
and your hands open with charity. BE-
cause want you 20 be made tho sworn
friends of all city evaDgelizatoD, ana an
newsboys' lodging houses, and all chidren
aid societies, and Dorcas societies. under tne
skillful manipulation OF wives and motnerS
and sisters and daughters; let the spare gar
mcnts Of your wardrobes be fitted to the
limbs OF the wan aud shivering. | should
not wonder if that hat that you give should
come hack a jewee1 coronet, or If that gar
ment thai YOU hand out from your wardrobe
should mysteriously be whitened. ami some
bow wrought into the Saviour own ron2
ca in the last day He would run His hand
over it and say. 81 was naked and We clothed
Me- That would be putting your garments
to lorious uses.
But more than that, 7 have preached the
sermon because thought III the contrasg
Won would see now very hhiuiG PO' "''N'
dealt with you, and / thought that thou
sands of you would go to your comfortable
homes and sit at your weli-6llsd tables ana
at the warm registers, and look at the round
faces of your children, and tina. then you
would burst into tears az the review OF God
goodness to you. and that you would go TO
Your room and lock the door and kneel down
and say: II.
80 Lord. | have beeu an ingrate' make
me Thy child. o Lord there are so many,
hungry and unclal ami unshelsered TO-DAY
thank Thea that all my life Thou hast take:
such good care of me. Q. Lord, there are 5,
many sick and crippled chiliren to-day
thank Thee mine ara well-some OF tieal on
earth. some of them in heaven. Thy Sood
ness. D Lord breaks Inc down. Iaas IN,
! onca and forever Spr,nklel rs | w3s many
wears ago at the altar, while ms mother aei'
me. now | consecTate my soul TO ihse ii
hoier baptism of repenting tears.
"For sinner, Lord. Thou cams 10 biccj,
And I'm sinner vile indeed.
Lord believe Thy grace in rec
Omsgnify that gsace to me.