The record-union., 1894-01-01
THE DEPARTING YEAR.
A New Years Discourse by Rev. W.
S. HoskinSon,
Delivered Yesterday at the Sixteenth
street Church-Retrospec
and Otherwise.

At the Sixteenth street Church yester-
day the pastor, Rev. w. S. Hoskinson, de-
livered an interesting sermon on The
Departing Year." selecting as his text:
"And then shall the end come."-Matt.
xiv, II.
AS of all things under the sun. he said,
there must be beginning, so there is an
end of all things under the sun. The
days and nights have their beginning and
ending, and so does every life and so does
every year. The beginning is important,
and so is the ending. When we step out
of the old year and into the new, it is an
event worthy of attention. We should
stop a little and look backward, that we
may be fitted to see and go forward.
1t is a time to reckon gains and
losses. Business men make an invoice Of
stock just for this purpose. They would
know whether to go forward just as 1or-
merly or pursue some other business
road; whether the returns show gain or
loss. Every person should stop and take
invoice of his stock and accounts, not
only in dollars and cents and stocks and
bonds. but in wealth of mind and heart
and soul. Not only should 10 ask, docs
my business prosper" but also, Does
my soul prosper?"
And now, ''on the last descending step
of the year, let us stop and look back"
We have lived another year, and this IS
an important fact. When we feel our re-
sponsibility TO God, how much the world
needs us, and IS helped or harmed by our
being here; and then when we think OF
the accumulated results in eternity OF a
life lived here. it is no little thing that
twelve months Of our life have gone for
ever Twelve months seem short TO live
them, but it is quite span OF the lie we
have to live here. And now, what has
involved our lives this year? This is al
ways most profitable to US.
These words will not come to a great
multitude, but still, how varied have
been your experiences. In some things
very much alike, in other things very
dill ierent. TO some it has been year OF
bereavement. These come TO its close
with memories that lie in the shadow
rather than in the sunlight. There is great
blank, gap in their lives, "a solemn,
sombre hour broke upon its excitement
and hushed it to quiet''; there is a sense
that something has gone out OF lie,
sad tone, an occasional sigh, thought
and look beyond that it did not have be-
fore. There is a voice in the air that
seems to speak out OF some far of at
tractive distance and say: Come, it is
bright and beautiful here; come.'
1t may be a cherub babe that leads the
thought so far away tO-niglt; or wife,
whose sweet life was more than half his
from whom it was taken; or 1t was hus-
band: or il was iather or mother, a
sheaf fully ripe and ready 10 be garnered,
but still the more missed on that account;
or it was dear brother or sister, with
whom we played so joyfully III all the
sports of childhood. 1t was year not
soon to be 1orgotten-that year about
which death has put black margin, and
our hearts softened and our eyes melted
10 tears at the heavy loss of loved ones.
But through the gloom there burst to us
memories most precious and pleasing.
In spite of that tear that springs from the
font of affection, there is pleasure III the
quiet meditation, if the name OF the one
we loved and lost suggests TO US at once
and always the name of her MAS er.
This brings sweetness and light in the
remem brance of our losses.
Some have had no such experience
during the year. They have only to
"bide their time," for their time will
come. May grace find them ready when
tue sun goes down and darkness settles.
Some have seen a new light this year.
TO them it has been year OF grace,
amazing grace, saving grace. And what
a wear that is to any human lille! The
y
felt my sins forgiven" l don't suppose
that all years are written i'll heaven with
the same brightness, because the one that
writes the homecoming of the soul must
be the brightest OF all. Hardly cloudy
day that year. Sunshine, blessed sun
shine; there was sunshine in my sOul'
all through the year, and birds were
singing and flowers were blooming and
luscious fruits were ripening as never
before. "That is the angel of the years to
which my soul can point and say: 1t was
during that year that l gave answer to
the Masters call and set my life to sing
ing: Jesus, l my cross have taken, all to
leave and follow theep" Yes, - heard
thy welcome voice and it spoke thy love
to me- Y es, there was rest, there was
calm, like that which comes with
the breaking away of storm, and
the sun comes out again and birds
begin to sing once more and the myriad
voices OF nature are Ginning sweetest
music.
But others have had no such expert
ence. God called them, but they gave no
answer. The message was just as dis
tinct, loving and earnest, but they did
not hear it. OF whom are we speaking ?
OF you. or you, or you? Won't you yet
redeem the lingering sands in the hour
glass Now, Just now, as the year dies
and is gathered to its grave amid the
1atoQ leaves let In6 angels SlUS y our
birth into the new and eternal life. Make
it still the brightest of all the years by
taking Christ as your Savior.
To some this year has been crisis. 1t
has brought turning point in your life.
You feel il and know it. The beginning
of the end has come. Health has failed;
the tleshly tabernacle thathas served you
so long begins TO show signs of decay.
For some reason a weight bears down on
you and you hesitate TO step out of the
old year and into the new. But why ?
Why did Caesar pause on the bank OF
Rubicon? Conscience, conscience made
him trouble. Why do you worry about
crossing the threshold of the old year
You should not at all-not unless your
feet are buried in the shifting sands.
Arouse! Be quick TO crowd the time that
remains with the power of an endless lie.
Cheer up; step OF with boldness. What
of it, if you are nearing home and some
who have gone before are already out on
the battlements 10 bid you welcome. Not
much need ior tears OF sadness II the
old weather beaten bark is about TO sal
into the harbor, the banner OF the cross
streaming from the mast, and the plood'
washed singing the glad return.
Again, 1t has been great year OF op'