Democratic messenger., 1893-02-25

over il Il flourish like the swing of q
teamster's whip. and we put this inter
rogation point at the end of a question.
but III the Spanish language the intcrro-
CATION point is twice used for each ques-
ton At the beginning of the question
the interrogation point is presented up
side down. aud at the close of the ques-
tion right side mp. When intidelity puts
a question about the Scriptures. as ii
always indicates Ignorance. the question
ought TO be printed with two intcrroga-
tion points. one at the beginning and
one 1T the close. but both upside down
THE ROYAL FAMILIES OF NATURE
THINK God for the wealth of mollusks
all up and down the earth. whether feed
ing the lsraelites on their way 10 the
land flowing with milk and honey. or. rs
we ase better acquainted with the mol
luskA when flung 10 the beach of lake
or sea- There are three great families of
them II | should ask you to- name three
of the great royal families of the earth.
perhaps you would respond. the house
of Stuart, the house of Hapsburg. the
house of Bourbon. but the three royal
families of mollusis are the univalve. or
shell in one part; the bivalve. or shell of
two parts. and the multivalve. or shell
in many parts. and see God in their ev
cry hinge. III their every tooth. in their
every cartilage. in their every ligament.
in their every spiral ridge and in their
every color. prism on prism and their
adaptation OF thin shell for still ponds
and thick coatings for boisterous seas
They all dash upon me the thought of the
providential care of God.
What is the use of all this architecture
of the shell. and why is it pictured from
the outside lip clear down into its laby
rinths Of construction? Why the infinitv
of skill and radiance i'll Il shell: What Is
the Use of the color and exquisite curve
of thing So insignificant rs a shelliish:
Why, when the conchologist by dredge
or rake fetches the crustaceous speci-
mems TO the shore. does he find at his feet
whole allambras and coliseums and
parthcnons ana crystal palaces of beauty
in miniature. and these bring to light
only an iniinitesirnal part of the opu
lence in the great subaqueous world.
Linnpus counted 2.500 species of shells.
but concholosy had then only begun its
achievements
While exploring the bed of the Allan
tic ocean i'll preparation for laying the
cable shelled animals were brought up
from depths of 800 fathoms. When
lifting the telegraph wire from the Med
iterranean and Red seas. shelled crca-
lures were brought up from depths os
1000 fathoms The English admiralty.
exploring in behalf of science. found
mollusks ut depth of 2.435 fathoms. or
l4.2lO feet deep What u realm awful
for vaStness!
As the shell is only the house and !,
wardrobe of insignificant animals OF the
deep. why all that wonder and beauty of
construction? God'scare for them is the
only reason And if God provide so
for them. will he not see
that YOU have wardrobe and shelter:
Wardrobe and shelter for periwinkle,
Shall there not be wardrobe and shelter
for man. Would God give a coat of
mail for the defense of II nautilus and
leave you no defense against the storm:
Docs he build stone house for crea-
turc that lasts n season and leave with
ont home a soul that takes hold on CEN
tur:cs and cons:
Hugh Miller found 'the Footprints
of the Creator in the old red sand
stone" and hear the harmonies of God
in the timkle of the sea shells when the
tides come in. The same Christ who
drew lesson of providential care from
the fact that God clothes with grass
the field instructs me TO draw the same
lesson from the shells.
THE CORAL INSECT TEACHES FAITH.
In almost every mans life, however
we'll born and prosperous for years. and
in almost every woman's life. there come
Il very dark time. at least once a con-
junction Of circumstances will threaten
and homelessness and starva-
ton 1t may he that these words will
meet the ear or will meet the eye of those
who are in such state of foreboding
Come. then, and see how God gives an
ivory palace To Il water animal that YOU
could cover with l0-cent piece and
clothes in armor against all attack
coral no bigger than n snowflake. do
not think that God will take better care
Of bivalve than of one of his own chill
'ircn
rake TO your .cet with the gospel
rake thtAmost thorough evidences of
tiod'S care for his creatures. pile around
Won great mounds of shells that they
may teach Won most comforting theol-
ogy oh, We Of little faith. walk among
these arbors Of coraline and look at these
bouquets of shell til 10 be handed
queen ON her coronation day. and see
these fallen rainbows of color. and ex-
anime these lilies in stone. these prim-
roses III stone these heliotropes in stone
these cowSlilS III stone, these geraniums
in stone. these laponicas III stone.
o We who have your telescopes ready
looking ont on clear nights. trying TO see
what is transpiring i'll Mars. Jupiter and
Mercury. know that within few hours'
walk or ride of where you now are there
are whole worlds that you might explore,
but of which you are unconscious, and
hlutIl1 INC ulOSL DeiullIuI ana suggest
i've of these worlds is the genealogical
world Take this lesson of providen-
tial care. How does that old hymn go:
We may. like ships, 10y tempest bc tossed
On ierilou> dccls. but cannot I've lost.
Th"ngh satan enra.cs the wind and the tide,
Tie promise assures Us the Lard will provide.
Gop's CARE AND MANS FREEDOM.
But while you get this pointed lesson
of providential care from the shelled
creatures of the deep. notice III their
that God helps them to help
themselves. This house of stone in which
they live is not dropped on them and is
not built around them. The material
for il cxudcs from their own bodies and
is adorned with colorcd fluid from the
pores of their own neck. 1t is a most
thing 10 see these crustacean
fashion their own homes ont of
of lime and membrane.
And all of this is mighty lesson to
those who are waiting for others to build
their fortunes when they ought TO go TO
4 II. 4 a..