The Red Cloud chief., 1892-05-27
Jesus, the namo that Gains our scasa
IT'S music in the sinners carr,
Ills life and health and peace.

had our lives sometimes touched by the
evil spirit of the text-this awful dumb
devil. We had just one opportunity Of
saying q Christian word that might
have led a man or woman into a Chris
tian life. The opportunity was fairly
put before us. The word of invitation
or consolation or warning came to tho
inside gate of the mouth. but there 10
halted. Some hindering power locked
the jaws together so that they did not
open. The tongue lay fiat and still in
the bottom of the mouth as though
struck with paralysis. We were mute.
Though God had given us the physio-
logical apparatus for speech, and our
lungs were filed with air which, by the
command OF will, could have
made the ~laryugcal muscles move md
the vocal organs yibrate, we were
wickedly and fatally silent. For all
time and eternity we missed our chance.
Or IL was a prayer meeting, and the
service was thrown open for prayer and
remarks and there was q dead halt
everything silent as u graveyard nj
midnight. Indeed IL was IA graveyard
and midnight. An embarrassing pause
took place that put a wet blanket on nll
the meeting. Men, bold enough on
business exchange or in worldly
circles, shut their eyes as though they
were praying in silence, but they wero
not praying ut all. They were busy
hoping somebody else would do his
duty. The women flushed under the
awful pause and made their fans more
rapidly f1utter. Some brother, with no
cold, coughed, by that sound trying to
fll up the time, and the meeting was
slain. But what killed 1.-THE dumb
devil.
But do not let the world deride the
church because Of all this, for the dumb
devil Is just rs conspicuous in the world.
The two great political parties will soon
assemble to build platforms for the pres
idential candidates to stand on. A COM
mittee of each party will be appointed
to make the platform. After proper de-
liberation the COMMITTEES will come in
with a~ringing report: "Whercas," and
"Whercas," and Whereas" Pronun-
ciamentoes all shaped with the idea OF
getting the most votes. All expression
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 regard to the universal at
tempt ut the demolition of the
Lords day. No recognition in the his
tory of this nation for that would lose
the vote Of atheists. But "Whereas,"
and "Whereas," and Whereas" Nine
cheers will be given for the platform.
The dumb devil of the tex will put ono
wing over the republican platform and
the other wing over the democratic plat
form. There Is nothing involved in tho
next election except offices. The great
conventions will be opened with prayer
by their chaplains. II they avoid
platitudes and tell the honest truth 1e
their prayers they will say: 30, Lor&.y}
we want to be postmasters n on
suls and foreign minister's and United
States district attorneys. For that
we are here, and for that we will
strive till the election next November.
Give us Office, or we die. Forever 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 before? Take sides
for God and sobriety and righteousness.
III h Lord be God, follow Him; IL
Baal, then follow him." Have you OPP
portunity of r%cbuking n sin? Rebuke
it. Have You a chance to cheer a dis
heartened soul? Cheer IL. Have you q
useful word to speak? Speak it.
BE out and out, up and down for
righteousness. If your ship is afloat on
the Pacific ocean Of Gods mercy, hang
out your colors from masthead. Show
your passport II you have one. Do not
smuggle your soul into the harbor Of
Heaven. Speak out for God! This
morning close up the chapter of lost
opportunities, and pitch it into the East
river, and open a new chapter. Before
You get to the door on you way out
this morning shake hands with some
one, aud ask him to join you on the
road to Heaven. Do not drive up to
Heaven in n two-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 ncighbors, and
shout till they hear o all up and
down the skies: Come with us and we
will do You good, for the Lord hath
promised good concerning Israel" The
opportunity for good which you may
consider insignificant may be tremend-
Gus for results, as when on the sea
Capt. Haldane swore mt the ships crew
with an oath that wished them all in
perdition and u Scotch sailor touched
his cap n said: Captain, God hears
prayer and we would be badly off II
your wish were answered" Capt.
Haldane was convicted by the sailors
remark md converted and becama
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
|, renowned missionary of the cross, and
: the worldly Merle D'Aubignc became
,, the author Of 1.-THE History of the Re-
. formation" and will be the glory Of the
church for all ages. Perhaps yoa may
: do AS much Us the Scotch sailor who
. inst timed hia can and ucad op-a hs,oLop