Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-05-27

word that might have led a man or woman
/ into Christian life. The opportunity was
fairly put before us The word OF invita-
! tion or consolation or warning came to the
inside gate Of the mouth, but there il halted.
Some hindering power locked the jaws to-
gether 30 that they did not open Tbs
tongue lay fla, ami still in the bottom of the
m Juth as though struck with paralysis We
were mute. Though Col had given US the
physiological apparatus for speech, and our
lungs were filed with air which, by the
command Of onr will, could have made ths
laryngeal muscles move ami the vocal
organs vibrate, we were wickedly and
fatally silent. For all time and eternity We
missed our chance.
Or it was a PRAYER meeting, and the SER
vice was thrown open for prayer and re-
marks and there was a dead halt-svery-
thing silent as graveyard at midnight.
Indeed it was graveyard and midnight.
An embarrassing pause took place that put a
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 slenc., but they were not pray
ing at all. They were busy hoping some
body else would do hts duty. The women
flushed under the awful pause and mads
their fans more rapidly hutter. Some
brother with no cold coughsd, by that sound
trying TO fill up the time, and the meeting
was slain. But what killed 1.-THE dumb
devil.
This rs the way account for the fact that
the stupidest places on earth are some
prayer meetings do not see how a man
keeps any grace If he regularly attends
them. They are spiritual refrigerators.
Religion kept on ice How many Of us have
lost occasions Of usefulness! In a sculptor's
studio stood figure OF the god Opportunity.
The sculptor had made the hair fall down
over the face OF the statue so as to complete
ly cover it, and there were wings to the feet
When asked why he so represented Oppor-
tunity, the sculptor answered THE face of
the statue is thus covered up because we do
not recognize Opportunity when it comes,
and the wings to the feet show that Oppor-
tunity is swiftly gone"
But do not let the world derde the church
because OF all this, for the dumb devil is Just
as conspicuous in the world. The two great
political parties will soon assemble to build
platforms for the presidential candidates to
stand on. A committee of each party will
be appointed to make the platform After
proper deliberation the committees will come
in with ringing report "Whsreasn and
Whereas" and where's" Pronuncia-
mentoes all shaped with the one idea Of get
ting the most votes. All expression in re-
gard 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 the demolition of the Lords day.
No recognition OF God in the history of this
nation for that would lose the vote of athe-
lists But Whereas and Whereas and
Where's" Nine cheers will be given for
the platform. rhe dumb devil OF the text
will put one wing over the Republican plat
form and the other wing over the Demo
cratic platform. There is nothing involved
in the next election except Offices. The'great
conventions will be opened with prayer by
their chaplains. II they avoid platitudes
and tell the honest truth i'll their prayers
they will say: 10 Lord, we want to be post
masters and consu!s AMI foreign ministers
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, 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 il not
time for Christianity 10 become pronounced
and aggressive as never beforeI Take sides
for God and sobriety and righteousness. "If
the Lord be Col follow Him; if Baal, then
follow him" Have you opportunity of re-
bukin5 a siny R.buke it. Have you a
chance to cheer disheartened soul, Cheer
It. Have you a useful word to speakf
Speak it.
Be out and ont, up and down for righte-
business. II your snip Is huDAL on L0o Ea-
cifc Ocean Of Gods mercy, hang out your
colors from masthead. Show your passport
if you have one. Do not smuSgle 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 nav 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 a two
wheeled "sulkv" 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
promised good concerning Israel
The opportunity for good which you may
consider Insignificant may be tremendous
for results as when on sea Captain Holdane
srore at the ships crew with an oath that
wished them all in perditioD, aud Scotch
sailor touched his cap, and said, Captain.
God hears prayer and we would be badly off
if you're wish were answered" Captain
Holdane was convicted by the sailors
| remark and converted, and became the
means of the salvation Of his brother
| Robert who had been an infidsl, and then
Robert became minister Of the Gospel, and
under his ministry the goddess Felix Neff be-
! came the world renowned missionary Of ths
Gross, aud the worldly Merle DAubigne be.
came the author of The History OF the
Reformation" and will lie 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 resounding
with potent influences. Do something for
God, and do fright away,or you will never
do it atall.
Time files away fast,
| The while never remember;
How soon our life here
| Grows old with the year
| That dies with the next December.