Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-19
MRS. HOMES SERMON.
IL ts Listened TO ny Immense 7hropg
of Persons.

The Temple OF Emanuel was not
large enough to sea. all who went To
hear Mrs. Julia Ward Howe preach
yesterday morning..
Mrs. Howe took her text from Mat
thew 20-9, And when they came that
vTer ehired about the eleventh hour
they received every man a penny"
There are various ways OF reading
thA parable from which the text is
chosen. 1t is generally interpreted that
the grace of God Will pardon and re~
deem at the last hour. 1 don't quay
rel with that view Bat to us who
DON'T put off repentance to the last
hour l belisye it has another mean
ing.
There is no act OF Injustice in the
parable, those who worked the elev-
enth hour were not idlers, but labor
ers who had found no task. no emploS-
er. When .at last a chance. was
given them they went in joy.ully 70
their reward. II some of us have seen
others pass beyond us in the path we
wished to tread, ii we have~e cen only
the stone walls OF difficulty across
our path, il we have 1onged and pray
e1 for something to do, and are yet
id,e, the only way for US is to stand in
the way OF work.
What must we learn at tho eleventh
sOur?Many things about ourselves and
others which are past finding out
except by experience. Sometimes we
scrimp the measure OF other peoples
desert so as to fill out our own. But
az the diamond scales OF divine justice
our weight is measured. In the end We
learn to leave with God our merits
and demerits.
When folly is crowned and wisdom
flishonored, we see John Huss led to
the stake and John Brown to the
gallows, and we stand aghast and des-
pair OF the triumph OF right. but who
lives long enough will see not miss
ing link.
believe that every year, YES
every day, has it's special lesson, and
that the value OF the lesson does not
decrease until the end comes.
The great discoveries of philoso-
ply and science are made at the elev
enth hour. The student says 1t should
be so; it may be so; it must be so.
But how?' At last comes the method
of yerification, and the work of the
eleventh hour brings him the true
task and the true reward.
To younger people, would say
that sometimes the eleventh hour
comes very soon. Suddenly they see
the measure OF their days before them.
Happy are those who die with their
tools in their hands.
II three score and ten years appear
to be the ordinary term OF life, those
who have reached or passed that mark
may well seem to be in their eleventh
hour, but it is never too late to be
better than se have been.
The vim and the dash, the concelt
ana seli-illusion OF youth are part
of its power. II may not know every
thing. IL cannot know everything. but
Sy the time it finds this out, it Is no
longer youth.
There should be more teaching ;sone
by those who have reached the e1ev-
enth hour. II = trns. OH agr Is re-
spected, bu tthe respect is a pitying
spected, but the respect is OF pity
ing and patronizing KIN = over
our dear old people with the velvet
robe OF loving care. and all this is
right for their sakes. but for your own
sakes, ask questions of them, and
learn OF them.
Sometimes. when we approach the
completion OF a thing. we are apt to
and provoking failure is the result.
We should stop at nothing but com
p'eteness.