The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-02-01

| Mo Hoeufto VI uld earthly DououCoAOo ohs
adelity. while on the street where HI
did business, and in the orphan asylum
in which he was director, and in thu
church of which he was an officer, when
ever his geniality and beneficence ant
goodness are referred to, bank director
will say to bank director, and merchant
to merEhant, and neighbor to neighbor,
and Christian to Christian: "That is re
ligion. Yes, that is religion.
| Saved From Degradation.
| There is a man seated or standing
very near you. Do not look at him, fol
it might be unnecessary embarrassment
Only a few minutes ago he came down
off the steps of as happy home as there
is in this or any other city. Fifteen
years ago. by reason of his dissipated
habits, his home was horror to wife
and children. What that woman went
through with in order to preserve re-
spectability and hide her husband dis
grace is tragedy which it would re-
quire Shakespeare or Victor Hugo to
write out in five tremendous acts. Shall
tell it? He struck herl Yes; the one
who at the altar he had taken with vows
SO solemn they made the orange bios.
SONS tremblel He struck herl He made
the beautiful holidays "a reign Of ter
ror" Instead Of his supporting her, she
supported him. The children had often
heard him speak the name of God, but
never in prayer-only in profanity. 1t
was the saddest thing on earth that !
can think ola destroyed homel Walk
ing along the street one day an imper-
sonation of all wretchedness, he saw a
sign at the door of Young Men s Chris
tian association. Meeting For Men
Only"
He went in, hardly knowing why he
did so, and sat down by the door, and
young man was in broken voice and
poor grammar telling how the Lord had
saved him from dissipated life, and
the man back by the door said to him
self, why cannot l have the Lord do the
same thing for me?" and he put his
hands, all a tremble, over his hloated face
and said: 30 God, want that must
have that'' and God said, "You shall
have it, and you have it now" And the
man came out and went home changed
man, and though the children at first
shrank back and looked to the mother
and began to cry with fright they soon
saw that the father was changed man.
That home has turned from Paradise
LOST to Paradise Regained. The
wife sings all day long at her work, for
she is SO happy, and the children rush
out into the hall at the first rattle Of the
fathers key in the door latch to welcome
him with caresses and questions of,
"What have you brought me?" They
have family prayers. They are altogeth-
er on the road to heaven, and when the
journey of life is over they will live for
ever in each others oompanionship.
Two of their darling children are there
already, waiting for father and mother
to come up What changed that man?
What reconstructed that home? What |
took that wife, who was slave of fear
and drudgery, and made her queen on |
q throne of affection? l hear a whisper |
ing all through this assemblage. Iknow
what you are saying: That's religion
Yes, that's reiigionl'' My Lord and my
God, give us more of it'll
Why, my hearers from all parts of the
earth, do you not get this bright anG
beautiful and radiant and blissful anc
thing for yourselves, then
90 home telling all your neighbors OIL
he Pacific, or in Nova Scotia, or in Lou.
siapa, or Maine, or Brazil, or England,
" Italy, or any part of the round world.
hat they may have it too. Have it fol
he asking Have it nowl Mind you,
do not start from the pessimistio stand
Joint that David did, when he got mad
md said in his haste, "All men are
iars" or from the creed of others that
very man is as bad as he can be. Irath
r think from your looks that you are
DING about as we'll as you can in the
which you are placed, but
want to invite you up into heights OF
afety and satisfaction and holiness, as
luch higher than those which the WORLD
ffords as Everest, the highest mountain
4 all the earth, is higher than your
ront doorstep.
The Redeemer.
Here he comes now. Who is it? ] I
light be alarmed and afraid if / had | .
OF seen him before and heard his voice. !
thought he would come before l got
trough with this sermon. Stand back :
nd make way for him. He comes with
,ars all around his forehead; scars in
he center of both hands stretched out
greet yOu scars ON the instep of both
le feet with which he advances; scars
1 the breast under which throbs the
reat heart of sympathy which feels for
ou. announce him. introduce him
you Jesus of Bethlehem and Olivet
I'd Golgotha. Why contest thou hithe1
lis winter day, thou of the springtime
Id summary heavens He answers: To
We all this audience pardon for guilt,
incidence for grief, whole regiments
help for day of battle and eternal
to for the dead What response shall
We him? In your behalf and in my own
half | hail him with the descriptions:
Unto him who hath loved us, and
ashed us from our sins in his own
ood, and hath made us kings and
tests unto God and his Father; to him
glory and dominion forever and ever.
men,. E"