The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-09-16

thorns pressing our throbbing brows,
but this faithful God has sent One before
us to bear the bitterest woe, the cruelest
cross, to teach US how to follow in his
footsteps and to make adversely and
trouble the means Of weaving halo of
hope about our heads, in whose radiance
darkness and gloom shall disappear and
the day star shall arise on our horizon
with healing in its beams. 1t is easy
for careless, buoyant Youth to hope. We
need to nurture, to cherish its sweet in
fiuence when the stern realities dispel il
fusion. The good patron places faith in
God, the kind, loving Father, blessed
and blessing forever and nurtures hope
born of child's confiding, trusting con-
| fidence in that sweet comfort, source of
| joy and peace in many foreboding
hour. With the Rock of Ages firm be-
meath his feet, the good patron, who
places faith in God and nurtures hope, is
on a secure foundation where he can ex-
tend helping hand to those in distress
and, naturally, he dispenses charity.
No absorbing selfishness in this view of
| life. Our gratitude is too deep, our
bounty too Astounding to be boarded.
Our Fathers table groans with plenty
and we gladly run to place the plate and
chair, to proffer the good cheer that has
gladdened our heart. Faithful God
ward, we can be no less faithful man
ward. AS we have received freely,
beautifully, ofa Fathers best treasures,
| so let US bestow freely, beautifully, that
we may catch faint CLEAN of the di-
vine satisfaction that sendeth rain upon
the evil and the good, the just and the
unjust, an overfiowing.. Omnipitenee
that reckons not the recipient, but re-
joices to dispense charity wherever need
is found. We too often rob our charity
| of its pleasures by not following this di-
vine example, for ingratitude, almost
universally, follows our attempt to seek
self glory or praise from those benefited.
He who came not to please himself was
reviled and rejected of men and died the
felon's death and, even yet, that divine
exhibition of love and piety fails to soft
en- hard hearts. What better fate, then,
can our good patron, who places faith in
God, nurtures hope and dispenses chart
ty, expect? Our closing clause shows
that even this is not co daunt his trusty
soul, for the good patron, who places
faith in God, nurtures hope and dis
penses charity, is noted for fidelity.
This is the sublime test, that unwaver-
ing constancy, founded on divine faith,
bright with hope that can smile in the
face of disaster and death itself, dis
pensing a charity, both Of material
a constancy, say, that knows no such
word as fail. There is no room for sui
eide among such patrons, no drifting to
sea because they are wrangling with fell
low voyagers over the course to be steer
ed, no giving up the ship because tenn
pests lower and winds howl. "Be thou
faithful unto death and l will give thee
a crown of life,'' their Father whispers
in the ear. This patrons heart is stay.
ed, his conscience clear, his purpose
firm, his friendship worth having. Not.
ed for fidelity. Like the noble, tower.
ing oak, gathering strength and useful
ness from the fiercest blasts. Noted fol-
fidelity. A heart too large and generous
to be disturbed or alienated by TITLES
Noted for fidelity. Enlisted for life il
the service of all that is good and true
Noted for fidelity, until the plaudit Of
"Well done' marks the Fathers wei
come home. 1t is because I have found
so much personal comfort in the grange
that have sought to fix your minds up
on this noble sentiment of our order
ga good patron places faith in God, nur
lures hope, dispenses charity and is not
ed for fidelity" God grant that it may
be a fitting inscription on every one Of
our monuments and let US strive, as W.
repeat these words, that we may appre
ciate their full meaning, that they make
our lives richer, fuller, happier and We
all, each one for himself or herself, be
good patron in the fullest and bes
sense of the word.