The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-08-17


plate the Panorama of Our I.ivee In n
Spirit of Gratitude to God For His BIess-
lnss.
BROOKLYN, Aug. G.-Rev. DR.. Tai.
mage has chosen as The topic for today
D panorama OF "reminiscences appropriate
TO the season. the text selected beng
Psalm xXAiX, 3, "Whle was musinG
the fire burned"
Here is David, the psalmst, with the
fOre6nger of his right hand against his
temple, the door shut against the world,
engaged in contemplation. And II
would be we'll Tor us to take The same
posture often, closing the door against
the world, while we sit down IN sweet
solitude 10 contemplate.
In small island of the coast J once
passed Sabbath in delightful solitude,
for l had resolved that l would have one
day OF entire quiet before ] entered upon
eutumnal work. | thought to have
spent day IN laying out plans for Chris
tian work, but instead OF that 1t became
q day OF tender Renaissance. | re-
viewed my pastorato. | shook hands
with an old departed friend, whom !
shall greet again when the curtains OF HE
are lifted. The days OF my boyhood
came back and was 10 years OF age,
and | was $, and | was 5. There was
but one house on the island, and yet
chant woke me, until the evening melted
into the bay, from shore to shore there
were ten thousand memories, and the
l. lN,l l,l
long ago ceased.
Youth Is apt too much to spend all
its time in looking forward. Old ave i9
apt too much to spend all OF its time in
looking backward. People in midllc
and on the apex look both ways. It
would be we'll Tor us, think, however,
to spend more time in reminisccncG. BY
the constitution Of our nature we spend
most of the time looking forward. And
the vast majority OF the people live not
30 much in the present as in the future.
l find that you mean to make Il rC puta.
ton, You mean to establish yourself,
and the advantages that You expect 10
achieve absorb a great deal of your time.
But l see no harm in this if il does not
make you dscontentcd with the present
or d'squalify you for existing duties.
1t is useful thing sometimes to look
back and to see the dangers we have cs-
capped, and to see The sorrows we have
suffered, and the trials and wanderinGs
OF our earthly pilgrimage, and to sum III
cur enjo, ments, | mean today, 80 tal
as God may help me, to stir up y0ul
memory of the past, 80 that in the re
view you may be encouraged and urgct
to pray.
There is Il chapel in Florence with
frescO by Guido. 1t was covered II
with two inches of stuccO until on
American and European artists wen
there and atteri dong toll removed III
covering and retraccd the iresco. An
/ am aware that the memory of the pas
with many of you is covered uD with ten
thousand deliberations, and prOpOs,
this morning, so for rs the Lord may
help me, TO take away the covering tina
the old picture may shine out again.
want to bind in one shcaf all youl
past advantages, and want to bind in
another sheaf all your past adversitics
1t is precious harvest, and | must bC
cautious how l swing the scythe.
Among tho greatest advantages OF
your past life was an early home and It's
surroundings. The bad men OF the day
tor the most part dip their heated pas
sions out of the boiling spring OF an un.
happy home. We are not surprised
that Bylon heart was concentration
of sip when we hear his mOLher was
abandoned, and that she made sport of
his intirmity and often called him "Lhe
lame brat" lie who has vicious par
ents has to tight every inch Of his way il
he would maintain his integrity and 1t
last reach the home of the good in hcav-
On
Perhaps your early home was in the
city. 1t may have been in The DAYS
when Canal street, New York, was far
up town. That old house in tho city
may have been demolished or changed
INTO stores, and it seemed like sacrilc.c
to you, tor there was moro meaning in
that plain house, in that small house.
than there is in granite mansion or II
turreted cathedral. Looking back this
morning, you see it as though it were
yesterday-the sitting room, where the
loved ones sat by the plain lampliyht,
the mother at the evening stand, the
brothers and sisters-perhaps lony AGO
gathered into the skles-thcn plotting
mischief on the floor or under the table:
your father, with firm voice, command
Ing silence that lasted half minute.
Oh, those were good days. Ifyou had
your loot hurt, your mother always had
soothing salve to heal it. If you were
wronged in the street. your father was
always ready to protect You. The year
was one round OF lrolic and mirth.
Your greatest trouble was an April
shower, more sunshine than shower.
The heart had not been ransacked by
troubles, nor had sickness broken in,
and no lamb had warmer sheepfold
than the home in which your childhood
nestled.
Perhaps you were brought up in the
country. You stand now today in
memory under tie old tree. You
dubbed it for fruit that was not quite
ripe, because you could not wait any
longer. You hear the brook rumblinr
along the pebbles. You step again in.
TO the turrow where your father in bis
shirt sleeves shouted to the lazy oxen,
You frighteM the swallows from lhc
raiters of the barn and take lust one COO
anu silence your conscience by savInc
they Will not miss it.. van 1oi,o