The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-07-11
TALMAGE IN ATLANTA.
ELRQUENT SERMON At THE CHAU-
TIUQUA SUNDAY NIGHT
AT Evening Time 1t Shall Be Light Was
the Text-Death Brings Light and Is
Net to Be Dreaded by Christians.

| Last Sunday night Dr.Talmage preached at
the chautauQua tent on Jackson street.
it had been announced that the services
would begin ut o'clock. An hour before
that the tent began to be filled. Until long
after = o'clock Il stream of people poured
into the grounds. Young and old were
there. The chorus took the chairs above
the platform and made ii beautiful back
ground for the famous pulpit orator Ey-
cry seat appeared to be occupied under
the canvas and hundreds sat on the bench
eS outside the tent. n number of carriages
stood within hearing distance ana there i'll
the shadows were many other listeners.
Between five and six thousand persons
heard his voice and heard him distinctly
for the acoustics Of the tent are excellent
The services were opened by song from
the chorus, Il Bible lesson and 4 prayer by
DR.. liolder!,y and Il solo by MINNIE. Decca.
The sweet voice soprano sang Come Thou
Fount of Every Blessing"
There was a hush and now DIR. II. De
Witt Talmage rose and announced his text
to be:
LAT evening time it shall be light
Zach. xiv, I.
While night in all languages is the sym
Dol for gloom and suffering, it is often really
cheerful, bright and impressive. l speak
not of such night rs comes down with 10 star
pouring light from above or Silyered wave
tossing up light from brneath-murky, hurt
ling porlcntiouS, but such rs you often see
when the pOmp and maSniiiccnce OF heaven
turn out on night parade, and 1t seems as
though the song which the morning stars
began so long ago were Ginning Yet among
the consultations and the sons OF God
were shouting for joy. Such nights the sail
or bcSsrS from the forccaStle, and the trap
per OH the vast prairie, and the be!atcd
traveller by the roadside. and the soldier
from the tent, earthly hosts gazing upon
heavenly, and shepherds guarding their
tlocks aiicd, while angel hands above them
set the silver bells a-ringing: GLORY to
God i'll the highest, ana Oh earth, peace;
good will toward men,
What solemn and glorious thing night
is in the wilderness. Night among the
mountains! Night On the ocean, Fragrant
II .ght among tropical groves, Flashing night
amid arctic seventies, Calm night on 10
man Cumpagnai Awful night among the
CordieraS. Glorious night mid sea after
Il tempest. Thank Cor tor the night. The
moon and the stars which rule ii are Light
houses on the coast toward which hope we
all are sailing, ana blind mariners are we
if, with many beaming, burning, flaming
GloricS to guide us, we cannot find our way
into the harbor. My text may well suggest
chat, as the natural evening ~ often lu
mnous, so it shalf be light III the evening
of our sorrows-of old age-of the worlds
hstory-of the Christian life. AT even
time it shall be light"
Every sun Must Set.
This prophecy Will be fulfilled in the even
ing Of Christian sorrow. For Il long time
it is broad daylight. The sun rides high.
Innumcrablc activities go ahead With 4
thousand feet, and work with Il thousand
arms, and the piclaX struck a mine, and
the battery made Il discovery. and the III
yeI;memt yielded its - per cent, and the
book came TO its twentieth edition. ana the
farm quadruplcd in Yalne. and sudden for
time ho,Sted high position, aud children
were praised, and friends without number
swarmed into the family hive. and prosper
ity sang in The music, and stepped in the
dance, and g!owcd i'll the wine and ate ut
the banquet. and all the gods of music and
caSc and qualification gathered around this
Jupiter holding in his hands so many thun-
dcrbolts of power. But every sun must
set and the brightest day must have its
twilight. Suddenly the sky WAS overcast.
The fountain dried up. The song hushcd
The wolf broke into the family fold and
carried off the best lamb. 4 deep howl Of
woe came crashing down through the joy
Gus symphonies. At one rough tWang of
the hand Of disaster the harp-Strngs all
broke. Down went the strong business
firm! Away went Iong-cstabliShed credit
Up flew Il flock Of calumnicS. The new book
would not sell. A pftcnt could not b. Sc
cured for th" invention. Stocks sank
Ike lead! The insurance company, cM-
plodcd. How much" says the sheriff,
much for this library" How much for
this family picturc:' VIII the grace of
God hold one up in such circumstances?
What have become of the great multitude
Of Gods children who have been pounded
of the frail. and crushed under the wheel.
and tramplcd under the hoof? Did they lie
down in the dust. weeping, waling, and
gnashing their teeth? When the rod of
fathcrly chaStiScmcnt struck them. did
they strike back? Because they found one
bitter cup on the table OF Gods supply.
did they upset the whole table? Did thcy
knerl down Mt their empty money vault
ana say. "AlI my treasures are gone?
Did they stand by the grave of their dead
saying, There never will be reSurrcc-
ton"
Everlasting Light.
Did they bcmoan their thwartcd plans
and say, The stocks are doWn-would
God ! were deadY' Did the night of their
disaster come upon them moonlcSS, star
less, dark and bowling, slnotherin% and
choking their life outt No. No! No. At
cvcntdc it was light. The swift promises
overlook them The eternal considerations
from their circuit about It's throne, poured
down an infinite luStcr. Under their shin
ing the pillows OF trouble took on crcsts.
and pumes of gold and jasper, and anne
thyst. and flame. All the trees of life
rustlcd III the midsummer air of Gods love.
The night-blooming assurances of Christ'S
sympathy filled all the atmosphere with
heaven. The soul at every step seemed to
start up from It's feet, bright-Winged joys
warbling hcavcnwari. 1T is good that |
have been afflicted" cries David. The
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away"
eNciaimS job. "Sorrowful, yet always re-
jocng," says ST. Paul. and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes, .cX-
claims John, in apocalypic vision. At
cvenidc it was light. Light from the
cross. Light from the promises. Light from
the throne. Streaming, joyous outSuSnIng,
everlasting light.
The text shall also find fultilmcnt In the
time of old age. II is n grand thing to
be yOung-to have the sight clear and the
hearing acute, and the step elastic and all
our pulses marching on to the drumming
of stout heart Aiidlifc and old age viii
be denied many of us. but youth-we all
know what that is. Those wrinkles were
not always on your brow. That snow was
not always on your head. That brawny
muscle did not always bunch Your arm
You have not always worn Spectacles
Grave and di~uitip1 els Won now are Won