Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-01
THE DkPAKTED YEAR.

what II Brought-Tho Long Train OF
DisastrOus Events-A Vivid Picture
by Rev. DR.. Smyth-The Cheering
Evidences Which the Old Year
Brought.
Rev. DR.. Smyth delivered an admirable
discourse at Center church yesterday fore
noon from tho words II Peter, 1913,
"And think it right Is long as am In
this tabernacle to stir you up by putting
you in remembrance"
The old year pssses, much in 1t that has
been cslamitous, many things behind will
ingly by us to be forgotten; signs enough
Of degeneracy In 1t, and notes Of peoples
folly; its literature without Q great light;
its art capable of depicting with realistic
touch the paralytic's throes, but not pure
enough to ascend the holy mount and
behold the TRANSPORTING beauty; its theol
ogy given over to the critics, and moving
no MASTERS voice; its sciences seeking
with even finer instruments Of investjgs-
ton, yet never coming to . knowledge
of the simplest secret of divinity
which all things might tell; It's
industries confused by their own hum
ming, and Its distressesf magnifying them
selves; its politics without firm leader
ship of principle, and It's municipal life .
wr.ngls for place; q year in which our
education as his willing bond servant, and
on the day of our fathers Thanksgiving
made exhibition of his strength to the
glory of God; q year in which the Chris
tian faith itself turned bandmsster and
furnished the music for all the religions of
tho world to 60 on dress parade, while
learned scholars smiled and the people
stood agape, and the heather laughed; q
year ut whose disasters and wrongs devils
might rejoice, In whose vices, corruption,
gambling and briberies, the frmness
Of society might seem to be dissolving,
and government by the people falling
from the earth; year amid whose darker
shadows cynics incapable of faith, and
pessimists who believe not in the Holy
Ghost, might find signs enough of univer-
sal sin and omens dire of approaching
doom; nevertheless Il has been Q year Of
grace, one of the years of the most HIGH
Il has kept unbroken In its spiritual com
munioEs the Christian memory of the ages:
u has given ito faithful witness of many
an unselfsh and noble life; It has heard At
times the higher voice Of conscience; 1t
hss dreamed its dream of the white city
above its sordid gains; Its unsolved prob
lems of Christian citizenship It bequeaths
restless thought has been the agitation of
the Spirit of Him who IL to come; the old
year passes to the now the sacred ere of
unspens devotion; the work 1t has left
undone ID Achievements offered by the new
years summons; faith abides, and hope,
and clear eyed charity; and the Christ Of
history bids 40 All Hail from the futures
hsighti II y grand time for serious
living. II u good day Of the Lord for
any man With trus soui and clear pur-
poss. II - IN aeoeptabis time for any
man Who trusts truth, and can commit
himsslf to the right, and who loves his
fsllowmen. Now IL the tine Tor simple
Christian living. Now e the opportunity
for hopeful, helpful, brave devotion.
Now IL the opportunity of God shaping
itself to every oonsecratsd power. Other
days may have BEEN more helpful for quiet
saintliness, but these years now passing arc
the Lordss good time for mon and women
whose profession Of religion In Christ's
name shall man : simple faith, IN earnest
character, . life rejoicing and enlarged in
Ohristian usefulness. In such . time q
this let mono Of u fail 70 take his own
Christian place and part.