The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-05-30

lungs were filed with air whisih. by the
command of our will, could have made
the larnygeal muscles move and the
vocal organs vibrate, we were wfckedly
and fatally silent. For all time and
eternity we missed our chance.
Or it was prayer meeting, and the
service was thrown open for prayer and
remarks, and there was q dead halt
everything silent as graveyard at mid
night Indeed it was q graveyard and
midnight. An embarrassing pause took
place that put wet blanket on al 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 more rapidly futter. Some
brother with no cold couRhed, BY that
sound trying to fill up the time. and the
meeting was slain. But what killed it?
the dumb devil
This is the way account for the fact
that the stupidest places on earth are
some prayer meetings do not see how
q man keeps any grace il he regularly
attends them. They are spiritual re-
frigerators. Religion kept on ice How
many of US have lost occasions of useful
ness? In a sculptor's studio stood a
figure Of the god Opportunity The
sculptor had made the hair fall down
over the face of the statue so as to COM
pletely cover it. and there were wings to
the feet. When asked why he so repre-
sented Opportunity, the sculptor an
swered, 1.-THE face Of the statue is thus
covered up because we do not recognize
Opportunity when it comes, and the
is swiftly gone"
church because of all this. Cor the dumb
devil is just Us conspicuous in the world.
The two great political parties will soon
idential candidates to stand on. A com.
to make the platform. After proper de-
liberation the committees will come in
with ringing report. "Whereas" and
ciamentoes all shaped with the one idea
Of getting the most votes. All express
sion in regard to the great moral evils
of the country ignored. No expression
about the liquor traffic, for that would
lose the rum vote. No expression in re-
gard to the universal attempt at the
demolition of the Lords day. No recOg-
milton of God in the history of this nation
for that would lose the vete of atheists.
But "Whereas" and Whereas" and
"Whereas." Nine cheers will be given
for the platform. The dumb devil Of the
text will put one wing over the Repub-
lican platform and the other wing over
the Democratic platform. There is moth
ing involved in the next election except
Offices. The great conventions will be
opened with prayer by their chaplains.
If they avoid platltudes and tell. the
honest truth in their prayers they will
say: 80 Lord, we want to be post
masters and consuls and foreign minis
ters and United States district attor-
neys. For that we are here, and for
that we will strive till the election next
November. Give us Office or we die, for
ever and ever Amen"
The world, to say the least. is no better
than the church on this subject of silence
at the wrong time. In other words, is
it not time for Christianity to become
pronounced and aggressive as never be-
fore? Take sides for God and sObrietY
and righteousness. 'If the Lord be God.
follow Him, If Baal. then follow Him"
Have you opportunity Of rebuking q sin?
Rebuke IL. Have you chance to cheer
a disheartened soul? Cheer it Have
you useful word to speak? Speak it.
Be out and out, and down for righte-
business. If your ship is aflOat on the
Pacific Ocean of Gods mercy, hang out
your colors from masthead. Show your
passport il you have one. Do not
smuggle your soul into the harbor of
Heaven. Speak out for God! This morn
ing close up the chapter Of lost oppor-
tunities and pitch it into the East River
and open a new chapter. Before you
get to the door on your way out this
morning shake hands with some one,
and ask him to join you on the road to
Heaven. Do not drive up to Heaven in
atwo-wheeled ''sulky" with room only
for one. and that yourself. but get the
biggest Gospel wagon you can find, and
pile it full of friends and neighbors, and
shout till they hear you all up and down
the skies, Come with us, and we will
do you good. for the Lord hath prom.
Used good concerning Israel"
The opportunity for good which you
may consider Insignificant may be tre-
mendous for results, as when on sea
Capt. Holdane swOre at the ships crew
with an oath that wished them all in
perdirion, and Scotch sailor touched
his cap and said, Captain, lGod hears
prayer, and we would be badly off il
your wish were answered" Captain
HoIdane was convicted by the
sailors remark and converted, and be-
came the means of the salvation of his
brother Robert, who had been an infidel,
and then Robert became a minister of
the Gospel. and under his ministry the
goddess Felix Neff became the world re-
nowned missionary Of the Cross, and the
worldly Merle LAubigne became the
author Of 1.-THE History of the Reforms
tion," and will be the glory Of the church
for all ages.
Perhaps you may do as much as the
Scotch sailor who just tipped his cap
and used one broken sentence, by which
the earth and the heavens are still re-
sounding with potent influences. Do
something for God. and do it right
away, or you will never do it at all