The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-05-27

| Il IKE
to see some great musician of our time
lift the baton and Marshal Lutter's
Judgmen: Hymn, Yarmouth. Dundee.
Ariel, Erattler Street, Uxbride, Plevers
Hymn, Harwell, Antioch, Mount Pisgah
and Coronation, with a few regiments
OF mighty tunes made in our own time
and storm, Asia, Africa and America
for the kingdom of God. But the first
thing to do is to drive out the dumb
devil OF the text from all our churches.
Do not, however. let us lose ourselves
in generalities. Not one of us but has
had our lives sometimes touched by the
evil spirit of the text-this awful dumb
devil. We had just one opportunity of
saying a Christian word that might
have led Il man or woman into Chris
tian life. The opportunity was fairly
put before us. The word of invitation
or consolation or warning came to the
inside gate OF the mouth. but there it
halted. Some hindering power locked
the jaws together so that they did not
open. The tongue lay fat and still in
the bottom of the mouth as though
struck with paralysis. We were mute.
Though God had given US the phvsio-
logical apparatus for speech, and our
lungs were filed with air which, by the
command of our will, could have
made the laryugeal muscles move and
the vocal organs vibrate, we wcre
wicl1edly and fatally silent. For all
time and eternity we missed our chance.
Or 1t was a prayer meeting, and the
service was thrown open for prayer and
remarks and there was a dead halt
everything silent as a graveyard at
midnight Indeed it was graveyard
and midnight. An embarrassing pause
took place that put wet blanket on all
the meeting. Men, bold enough on
business exchange or in worldly
circles, shut their eyes as though they
were praying in silence. but they were
not praying at all. They were busy
hoping somebody else would do his
duty. The women flushed under the
awful pause and made their fans moro
rapidly fiutter. Some brother, with 10
cold, coughcd by that sound trying to
fll up the time, and the meeting was
slain. But what killed it?-the durab
devil.
This is the way account for the fact
that the stupidist places on earth are
some prayer meetings. do not see how
a man keeps any Graces if he regurlarly
attends them. They are spiritual re-
frigerators- Religion kept on ice. How
many of US have lost occasions of use
fulness? In seulptor's studio stood a
figure of the god opportunity. The
sculptor had made the hair fall down
over the face of the statute so as to com
pletely' cover it, and there were wings
to the feet. When asked why he SO
opportunity, the sculptor
answered: 'Thc face of the statue is
niac opportunity when it comes, and the
thus covered up because we do not recog-
wings to the feet show that opportunity
is swiftly gone"
But do not let the world deride the
church because of all this, for the dumb
devil is just as conspicuous in the world.
The two great political parties will soon
to build platforms for the pres
idcntial candidates to stand on. A com
mittce of each party will be appointed
10 make the platform. After proper de-
liberation the committee will come in
with aringir- report: ''|Thereas." and
''Whereas," and ''Whercas." Pronun-
,iamentoes all shaped with the idea of
yetting the most votes. All expression
IN regard to the great moral evils of the
country ignored. No.expre5sion about
.hc liquor traffic, for that would
Ose the rum vote. No expression !
n regard to the universal at
.empt at the demolition of the
Lords day. No recognition in the his
.ory of this nation for that would lose |
.hc vote of atheists. But Whereas |
md Whereas" and "|Yhereas." Nine
,hcers win be given for the platform. |
the dumb devil of the text viii put one |
wing over the republican platform and |
he other wing over the democratic plat |
orm. There is nothing involved in the |
ie,lt election except offices. The great |
will be opened with prayer |
" their chaplains. If they avoid |
,latitudes and tell the honest truth in |
heir prayers they will say: 30. Lord, |
&c want to be postmasters and con-
ul5 and foreign ministers and United
itates district attorneys. For that
We are here, and for that we will
trivc till the election next November.
live US Office, or we die. Forever and
yer. amen" The world, to say the
east. IS no better than the church on
his subject of silence at the wrong
ims. In other words, is il not time Cor
to become pronounced and
ggressive as never before? Take sides |
Or God and sobriety and righteousness
If the Lord be God. follow Him; if
;aal, then follow him" Have you op-
Ortunity of rebuking sin? Rebuka
!. Have you a chance to cheer dis
eartcned soul? Cheer it. Have you a
seful word to speak? Speak it.
BE out and out, up and down for
righteousness. If your ship is aAoat on
ne Pacific ocean of Gods mercy, hang
,ut your colors from masthead. Show
our passport it you have one. Do not
muggle your soul into the harbor of
Ieaven. Speak out for Godl This
lorning close up the chapter of lost
opportunities, and pitch it into the East
iver, and open new chapter. Before
on get to the door on your way out
his morning shake hands with some
ne. and ask him to join you on The
Dad 70 Heaven Do not drive up to
Ieaven in a two-wheeled ''suiky''
18th. room only Cor one, and
hat yourself, but get the biggest
ospel wagon You can find. and pile
full @! friends AID neighbors, and
lout Ii. they hear you all up and
own the skies: Come Nth US and we
i'll do yOu good, for the Lord hath
romised good concerning Israel" The