The Newtown bee., 1895-12-20
THE VIEWPOINT BEE. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1898.
 CIRCULATION: January 1, 1889, 610 Last Week, 3200
Around the Preside.
CHRIST As THE LIGHTNING.

ATOullu IlC F HOSlUO.
 CHRIST As THE LIGHTNING. A SERMON BY REV c. A. KNEsAL, PASTOR
 OF THE METHODIST CHURCH, BETHEL.
 Text, Luke 17: A, Zech. 10:1.
 Jesus Christ expounded his character and mission in many striking figures in bold and rich imagery. Frequent use is made of illuminating agencies, Christ the Upright and morning star," the ssSun of Righteousness" or the flight of the world" Here Jesus presents him self as the electrical phenomenon of the spiritual world, and in this suggests the glory efficiency and mystery of his king. dom. Liberty enlightening the world'' is the message of the statue that guards the gateway into our country, but back of, and over al, is this lighGning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven and shineth unto the other part heaven, the light, and life, of our liber- ties. This is truly the age of electricity, or as we might say, the age of s'applied lightning" The mysterious agent not on ly dominates all our industries, and drives our vehicles, but intoxicates the brain by it's possibilities. 1.-The modern race,' ; all seem surcharged with the invisible, all powerful fluid. The very atmost- phere in these closing years of the nine- teenth century Is pregnant. The social life-intense, exciting and excitable, un- controlled, irrepressible, brilliant and often deadly--the forked lightning that runs it's zfggag course through many a life and home with naught but fair forms and charred spiritual remains, in evi- dence. The business life less in- tense with much that is unnatural and uncertain. Unduly stimulating because unnatural and breeding anxiety because uncertain; no man knowing just where the lightning will strike, but sure that 1t is certain to strike somewhere; not knowing either whether it shall be the which kills and burns, whether it shall be success, or total collapse. This is the rapid transit system of business m these days, and
 IF A MAN FAILS TO GET HIS TROLLEY ON
 THESE LINES
 there is small hope for him. Granted the right of way over these lines, an oc- casional victim is crushed beneath this progressive and swiftly moving car; hut why should he venture if not able or morally agile enough to escape the danger?
 It is not strange that the political life of our times should be amply sur charged. Every politician imagines that his tarticular party Is great Niagara, whose vast energy is simply wasted uD- til it's forces are gathered, converted into n1o nd fro kxaA< personal wire. Now there are vast pos sibilities in Niagara. but the great Em- pire state concluded some time since that it was public and not private prop erty. The politicians of the Empire state and otherwheres have learned the useful lesson in these last years that the light ming of public opinion is rather dan ger0us element; and to play with it about the public offices and polling places Ia expedient. All hail to these electrical phenomenon! There will needs be yet other electric storms before the civic atmostpere Is wholly purified The weather is not yet settled, they will moro than likely come in due time. Yes this truly Is the electrical age. We talk by 1t, ride by 1t, and run our mills by It. It really does Illuminate, and when 1t warns 1t satisfies. Tho doctor renews our lives with it or the execution CT resciDda, just as occasion may require. It SO pervades all our activities and va-. rious fellowships, inhaled of all in the very air we breathe; that it's mighty pulsati0ns arc felt to the remOtest rim of society.
 A rather conspicuous exception to this 10 h the church of Jesus Christ. There is but little fear in these days of being charged with excitement and enthusiasm. The electrical displays are mostly out side-in the race for gain or fame or h Nothing could moro fltly describe the extraordinary manifestations attendant upon the ap0st0lic church, than the live ly imagery instinct In electricity. Pen- tecOet, with fts sound as of rushing mighty wind, its cl0ven tongue of fire, and fts electrified people was . workable electric storm fn the infant church. It was As powerful n 1t was mysterious, and unspeAkAbly glOrious. All thr3uRf her histOrY the church has experienCe(1 these inducti0na, wigh many Of the at- tendant phen0mena. There aEe now the minister6 under whose preaching the people cfy ont, Men and brethren what nust wo do,
 WHEHK ABE THE JONATHAN EDWARDs,
 on wHITE1ELDs on FLNNEYs2
 
 We are dolng thjnes n decentlY and n, order as t0 bo p0sitlvelY stupify yinR. Tho church of ChrsDt hns certainly: Chafeed the world with much Of TT spIrik Not that lt has converted it, m frpm that, but nnA1o pbfedly it refieefx Inoro If t1le Chfist lfkeneas than ths world which 1eeua knew in tlle naS1T. Int IT Eh11 n GeGG IT hage Io0t much IT th&t peculiaf enexgy beet 1kened fo tl.4' elocfE3G 3ufY. n 6oc1 1loqa1 ftaah ff0xn3 1Gg4 mi Nny kNen IT h6t IT xaxg ID IT. cellex paxf TIT
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