The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-07-21

tor, that we may justly claim him in part
at least, is the Bishop Of Fond du Lac.
Some things to be said towards the end
of this story may be assigned to license
rather than liberty of speech. But this
history must be truth; it must be permitted
its facts or be confounded with fiction.
The interest shown in this simple nara
tive is tribute to its truth The world
practices much of evasion, much of perver-
sion, and somewhat of downright falsehood.
When treated to truth it does not fail to
feel warmed and drawn towards it.
As to the poetic eye "loveliness needs
not the foreign aid Of ornament but is,
when unadorued, adorned the most" So
might not truth, il freed from the obscura-
tions of peryersion and evasion, and held
up in the simple beauty of her own pro-
portions, to the gaze of us of this day, COM
mend herself by her own loyeiness, and
invite to practical remembrance that high
law which commands that we "do unto
others as we would have others do unto
us. Truth was nailed through both hands
and both feet to a cross nineteen hundred
years ago. Then there was education and
refinement and advanced civilization, as it
was called. No temple since has displayed
so much of shining gold, and glittering
emeralds, or reared so lofty or grand
front to the arbitration of men. Amid it
all truth was crucifed From that day to
this it has made its painful way, slowly,
at times, under the heel of power, and
oppression, and through the more than
volcanic fires of persecution, and well nigh
drowned in rivers of blood. Still it lives,
and is ever crying out, "Do to others as
you would have others do unto you. 1t
will not be finally crushed out Whilst
God lives, truth must and will live.
And now where are all those who par
ticipated in the cares and labors of organ
izing this parish and congregation, and of
building and of consecrating this modest
Temple to the Living God? Gone All
gone, and only fifty years gone BY Yes,
all gone but three-two women, sainted on
earth, and one besides. To one of these
women, Mrs. Shellman, has been accorded
by Divine Providence the high privilege
of giving to the church on earth sons and
daughters, to aid in sending its prayers and
praises Heavenward; and the yet higher
privilege of exhibiting to wondering men
and women practical example of how it
is that pains and sufferings and feebleness
can be endured, not with merely patient
to the will of Him who sends
them, but with joyfulness that she is
permitted to give the proof; whilst her
eyes of faith and love see, through the far
off, the Heavenly Vision beaming with eyes
of love supreme into hers down here, and
SO making her to know that, if she be but
faithful to the end of His trial of her
faith, there is joy everlasting awaiting her.
To the other, Miss Lucretia-all know
her without surname-has been accorded
by the same Divinity, the glorious privilege
of passing long life, as men count life,
in unremitting labors of love to God, and
to her neighbors. We all know that she
has loved her neighbor not as herself, but
clear above and beyond herself. None,
but she herself, through modest timidity,
doubt that she sits today pure as purity,
cleansed of earthly drOss as is allowed to
mortality, ready to obey the call from earth
at that moment when the Eternal One
may please to send it. And We all know,
because He has said it of such as she, that
the messenger with the call, will be accom-
panied by choir of bright and beauteous
angels sent to bear her disembodied spirit
to rejoin her mother and her sister, and
her loved ones, and the now sainted ones
who loved and were loved, and worshipped
with us fifty years ago in this Temple
sacred to the ever blessed Trinity, with
their Rector with them, all perpetually
singing Hosannas to the Lamb that was
slain, and is alive again, and sits the
Almighty Ruler of worlds, and angels, and
saints and men.
There is but another one left, with his
feet caught, and family struggling for re-
lease, in the meshes, full of thorns and
briars and thistles, which the world, the
flesh and the devil have so unremittingly
woven, and still do weave. Lord have
mercy!
Come Holy Spirit Heavenly Dove.
With all thy quickening powers
Come shed abroad Saviour's love
In these cold hearts of OURS"