Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-05-11

have been performed the miracles OF
the telephone and the photograph.
From the observatories other worlds
have been seen TO heave in sight. Six
presidents Of the United States have
been inaugurated. Transatlantic voyage
abbreviated from 10 days to 81. Chi
cago and New York, once three days
apart now only "a hours by the vesti-
bule limited. Two additional railroads
have been built to the Pacific. France
has passed from monarchy to republic
anism. Many Of the cities have nearly
doubled their populations. During that
generation the chief surviving heroes
of the civil war have gone into the en-
campment Of the grave. The chief ply
sicians, attorneys, orators, merchants,
have passed off the earth or are in re-
tirement waiting for transition. Other
men in editorial chairs, in pulpits, In
governors mansions, in Legislative, SEN
atorial and congressional halls.
There are not 10 men or women on
earth now prominent who were proml-
nent % years ago. Tho crew OF this old
shin of q world is all changed. Others
at the helm, others on the lookout,
others climbing the ratlines. Time is
doctor who, with potent anodyne, has
nut an entire generation into sound
sleep. Time, like another Cromwell, has
roughly prorogued parliament, and with
iconoclasm driven nearly all the rulers
except one queen from their high places
So far as I observed that generation,
for the most part they did their best.
Ghastly exceptions, but so far as / knew
them they did quite well, and many OF
them gloriously well. They were born
at the right time, and they died at the
right time. They left the world better
than they found it. We are indebted to
them for the fact that they prepared the
way for our coming. Eighteen hundred
and ninety-four reverently and CRATE
fully salutes 1869. Zone generation
passeth away, and another generation
cOmeth. "
There are fathers and mothers here
whom I baptized in their infancy.
There is not one person i'll this church S
board of session or trustees who was
here when l came Here and there in
this vast assembly is one person who
heard my opening sermon in Brooklyn,
but not more than one person i'll every
500 now present. OF the II persons who
gave me a unanimous call when 1 came,
only three, l believe, are living.
The Major Key.
But this sermon is not dirge. 1t is
an anthem. While this world is appro-
pirate as n temporary stay, as an eter-
nal residence it would be a dead fail
ure. 1t would be a dreadful sentence if
our race were doomed to remain here a
thousand winters and n thousand sum-
mers. God keeps us here just long
enough to give us an appetite for heav-
en-. Had we been born in celestial realms
we would not have been able to appre-
ciate the bliss. 1t needs a good many
rough blasts in this world to qualify US
to properly estimate the superb climate
of that good land where it is never too
cold or too hot, too cloudy or too glar-
ing. Heaven will be more to Us than to
those supernal beings who were never
tempted or sick or bereaved or tried or
disappointed. So you may we'll take my
text out Of the minor key and set 1t to
some tune in the major key, lone gem
Grafton passeth away, and another gen.
Grafton cometh. y
Nothing can rob Us Of the satisfaction
that uncounted thousands Of the gener-
alton Just past were converted, comfort
ed and harvested for heaven by this
church, whether in the present building
or the three preceding buildings in
which they worshiped. The two great
organs Of the previous churches went
down in the memorable fires, but the
multitudinous songs they led year aft
er wear were not recalled or injured.
There is no power in earth or hell to
kill halleluiah. 1t is impossible to ar
rest q hosanna. What q satisfaction to
know that there are many thousands in
glory on whose eternal welfare this
church wrought nightly Nothing can
undo that work. They have assembled,
the multitudes who served God in that
generation. That chapter is gloriously
ended But that generation has left its
impression upon this generation.
A sailor was dying on shipboard, and
he said to his mates: My lads, l can
only think of one passage Of Scripture,
The soul that sinneth, it shall die, and
that keeps ringing in my ears. The
soul that sinneth, it shall die. Can't
you think of something else in the Bible
to cheer me up:" Well, sailors are kind,
and they tried to think Of some other
passage of Scripture with which to con-
sole their dying comrade, but they could
not. One Of them said: Let us call up
the cabin boy. His mother was Chris
tan, and l guess he has Bible. " The
cabin boy was called up, and the dying
sailor asked him if he had Bible He
said yes. " but he could not exactly
find it, and the dying sailor scolded him
and said, "Aint you ashamed of your
self not to read your Bible;" So the boy
explored the bottom of his trunk and
brought out the Bible, and his mother
had marked a passage that just fitted
the dying sailors case, THE blood of
Jesus Christ, his son, cleanseth from all
sin. " That helped the sailor to die in
peace. So one generation helps another,
and good things written or said or done
are reproduced long afterward.
The World For an Audience.
During the passing Of the last gencr
alton some peculiar events have unfold
ed. One day while resting at Sharon
Springs, n. Y, think it was in 1870,
the year after my settlement in Brook
lyn. and while walking in the park Of
that place, found myself asking the
question: Il wonder if there is any spe'
cial mission for me to execute in this
world? If there is, may God show it to
mel" There soon came upon me great
desire to preach the gospel through the
secular printing press. 1 realized that
the vast majority of people, even in
Christian lands, never enter a church,