Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-02-20

his way along in the practice of law until the
case of Ackroyd versus Smithson was to be
tried, and his speech that day opened all ave
nries OF success. That was Lord Eldon's. OPP
portunitv.
William Il. Seward was given by his father
$1,000 to get q collegiate education. That
money soon gone, his father said, "Now you
must fight your own way" and he did, un-
til gubernatorial chair and United States
Senatorial chair were his, with right to the
Presidential chair il the meanness OF Ameri-
can politics had not swindled him out Of it.
rhe day when his father told him to fight his
own way was William Fl. Stewards oppor-
tunity. John Henry Newman, becalmed
whole week in an orange boat in the Strait oil
Bonfacio, wrote his immortal hymn. "Lead,
Kindly Light" That was John Henry New
mans opportunity. You know KIRK White 3
i'm mortal hymn "when Marshaled on the
Nis,htls Plain He wrote it in a boat by a
lantern on a stormy night as he was sailing
along n rocky coast. That was Kirk Whites
Jne Importance OF making the most of op-
pouunities as they present themselves is ac-
knowiedged in all other directions. Why
not in the matter of usefuless? The differ
ence OF usefulness Of good men and women
Is not so much the difference in brain or So
ciai position or wealth, but in equipment OF
Christian common sense-to know just the
time when to say the right word or do the
right thing. There are good people who can
thing at the wrong time, A merchant selling
goods over the couner to a willy customer
who would like to get them at less than cost,
the railroad conductor while taking up the
tickets from passengers who want to work of
last years free pass or get through at half
rate a child fully grown, housekeeper try
lnR to get the table ready in time Tor Enests.
although the oven has neglected to fulfill the
order given him-those are not opportuni-
ties for religious address. Do not rush up to
man In the busiest part of the day and when
half dozen people are waiting for him and
ask, How Is your soulT, --z
But there are plenty of fit occasions. 1t is
interesting to see the sportsman, gun in
annd and pouch at side and accompanied by
:hs hounds yelping down the road, Off on
hunting expedition, but the best hunters in
his world are those who hunt for oppor-
:unities to do good, and the game is some
thing to gladden. earth and heaven. Will
point out some OF the opportunities. When
soul Is in bereavement Is the best time to
talk Of gospel consolation and heavenly 70.
union. When man has lost his property Ia
the best time to talk to him OF heavenly in<
'heritance. that can never be levied on. When
one is sick is the best time to talk to him
about the supernatural latitude in which uns
health is an impossibility. When the Holy
Spirit Is moving on a community Is the best
time to tell man he ought to be saved. BY
3 word, by a smile, by look, by Q prayer,
the work may be thoroughly done that all
eternity cannot undo it. As the harp was
invented from hearing the twang Of a bow.
string, as the law of gravitation was sug-
sested by the fall of an apple, as the order
in India for the use of creased cartridge
started the mutiny of 1857, which appalled,
the Nations, SO something Insignificant may
open the door for great results. Be on the
watch. 1t may be gladness, it may be
horror, but It will be an opportunity.
A city missionary in the lower parts Of the
Fa,, 49,
and sin. He said, "Why do you not go
home?" She said, "They would not receive
me at home" He said, "What Is your
fathers name, ard where does he live?"
Having obtained the address and written to
the father, the city missionary got reply,
on the outside of the letter the word ''imme-
diate" underscored. 1t was the heartiest
possible invitation for the wanderer to come
home. That was the city missionarys op-
portunity. And there are opportunities all
about You, and on them, written by the hand
of the God who will bless you and bless
those whom you help, in capitals of light the
word '.Imm ediate."
{ A military officer very profane in his hab-
its was going down into a mine at Cornwall,
England, with Christian miner, for many
OF those miners are Christians. The officer
used profane language while in the cage 60
ing down. As they were coming up out OF
the mine the profane officer said, ''If it be SO
far down to your work, how much farther
would it be to the bottomless pit?" The
Christian miner responded, 81 do not know
how far it is down tothat place, but if this
rope should break you would be there in a
minute" 1t was the Christian miners op-
portunity. Many years ago clergyman was
on a sloop on our Hudson River, and hearing
man utter blasphemy the clergyman said,
You have spoken against my best friend,
Jesus Christ" Seven years after this same
clergyman was on his way to the general as
sembly of the Presbyterian Church at Phila-
delphia, when young minister addressed
him and asked him il he was not on a slooI
on the Hudson River seven years beforei
The reply was In the affirmative. "Well,'
said the young minister, 81 was the mar
whom you corrected for uttering that oath
1t led me to think and repent, and am try.
ing to atone somewhat for my early behavior
am preacher Of the gospel and a delegate
TO the general assembly," Seven years be
fore on that Hudson River sloop was thu
clergyman's opportunity.
stand this minute In the presence OF many
heads of families. I wonder II they all real.
ize that the opportunity for influencing the
household for Christ and heaven Is very briei
and will soon be gone? For awhile the house
is full of the voices and footsteps of children.
You sometimes feel that you can hardly stand
the racket. You say: "Do be quiet 1t seems
as If my head would split with all this noise"
And things get broken and ruined, and it is,
"Where's my hatr' "Who took my booksi''
'Who has been busy with my playthings?"
And it is a-rushing this way, and a-rushine
that, until father and mother are well nigh
beside themselves. = -.--a.
: 1t Is astonishing how much noise five or si1
:hiidren can make and not half try. But the
years glide swiftly away. After awhile the
voices are not so many, and those which stay
are more sedate.s First this room gets quiet
and then that room. Death takes some,
aud marriage take others, until after awhile
he house is awfuHy still. That man yondel
would give all he is worth to have that boy
who is gone away forever rush into the room
once more with the shout that was once
thought too boisterous.
That motherw who was once tried because
her little girl, now gone forever, with care
less scissors cut up something really valuable
would like to have the child come back,
willing to put in her hands the most vaiu.
able wardrobe to cut as she pleases. Yes, yes.
The house noisy now will soon be still
enough, l warrant you, and as when you be-
gan housekeeping there were just two ofyou,
there will be Just two again. Oh, the alarm
Ing breyity of infancy and Childhood The
opportunity is glorious, but it, soon passes.
Parents ma say at the close of life, "What
pity we did not do more for the religious
welfare OF our children while we had them with
u.s. But the lamentatiOn will be OF no avail.
The opportunity had wings, and it vanished.
When your child gets out of the cradle, let II
climb into the outstretched arms OF the beau
into the ark"
But there is one opportunity SO much
brighter than any other, so much more invit-
ing, and SO superior to all others that there
are innumerable fingers pointing to it, and it
is haloed with glory all its own. 1t is yours!
1t is mine! 1t is the present hour. It is the
now. We shall never have it again. While
l speak and you listen the opportunity is rest
less as if to be gone. You cannot chain it
down. You cannot imprison it. You cannot
make it stay. All its pulses are throbbing
With haste that cannot be Kindred or con-
rolled. 1t is the opportunity of invitation
IN my part and acceptance on your part The
ioor of the palace of Gods mercy is wide
open. Go in. Sit down and be kings and
queens unto God forever. SWELL" you say,
4 am not ready" You are ready. care
you sinner" eyes" "Do you want to
be saved now and forever" "Yes."
"Do you believe that Christ is able and will.
ing to do the work?" ''Yes." Then you are
saved. You are inside the palace door OF
Gods mercy already. You look changed.
You are changed. "Hallelujah, It's done!"
Did YOU ever see ANYTHING done 80 quickly?