Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-11-17

street along which she walks and the
rickety stairs up which she climbs, but
she is accompanied by an
unseen cohort of angels with
drawn swords to defend her.
and with garlands twisted for
her victories, all up and down
the tenement-house districts. / tell
you there was not so much excitement
when Anne Boleyn, on her way to her
coronation. found the Thames stirred
by fifty gilded barges, with brilliant
flags, in which hung small bells, rung
by each motion of the wind, noblemen
standing in scarlet. and wharf spread
with cloth of gold. and all the gateways
surmounted by huzzahing admirers.
and the streets hung with crimson vel
vet. and ,trumpets and cannons sound
Ing the jubilee, and Anne, dressed IN
surcoat Of silver tissue, and brow.
cleaning with a circlet of rubies. and
, amid fountains that pored Rhenish
wine, passed on to Westminster Hall.
and rode in on caprisoned palfry. Its
hoofs Gathering the classic floor, and,
dismounting. passed into Westminster
Abbey, and between the choir and high
altar, was crowned queen, amid organs
and choirs chanting the TIE Deums--i
say. there was not much in all that,
glory which dazzles the eyes OF his
tory when it is compared with the
heavenly reception which that minis
tering spirit of the back alley shall re-
ceive when she goes up to coronation.
In this world God never does his
best. He can hang on the horizon
grander mornings than have ever yet
been kindled, and rainbow the sky with
richer colors than have ever been
arched, and attune the oceans to more
majestic doxologies than have ever yet
been attuned; but as near as l can tell.
and speak it reverently. heaven is
the place where God has done his best.
He can build no greater joys. lift no
mightier splendors, roll no loftier an
thems, march no more imposing pro-
cessions, build no greater palaces. and
spread out and interjoin and wave no
more transporting magnifcence.
think heaven is the best heaven God
can construct, and it Is all yours for
the serious asking. How do you like
the offer? Do you really think 1t is
worth accepting? If so, pray for it.
Get not up from that pew where you
are sitting, nor move one inch
from where you are standing.
before you get full title
for it. written In the blood of the Son
/ of God. who would have all men come
to life present and life everlasting. II
you have been in military life you
know what soldiers call the "long roll"
All the drums beat 1t because the ene-
my is approaching, and all the troops
must Immediately get into line What
scurrying around the camp and putting
of the arms through the straps Of the
knapsack, and saying Goodbye" to
comrades you may never meet again:
Some of you Germans or Frenchmen
may have heard that long roll just be-
fore Sedan. Some of you Italians may
have heard that long roll just before
Bergamo. Some Of you Northern and
Southern men may have heard it just
before the Battle of the Wilderness.
You know its stirring and solemn
meaning; and so / sound the long roll
today. l beat this old Gospel drum
that has for centuries been calling
thousands to take their places in line
for this battle, on one side of which
are all the forces beatiflc and on the
other side all the forces demoniac. Here
the long roll-call: who is on the
Lords side?" Quit yourselves like
men," In solemn column march for
God, and happiness, and heaven. So
glad am that / do not have to wish
myself accursed," and throw away my
heaven that you may win your heaven.
but that we may have whole conven-
ton Of heavens-heaven added to heav-
en-, heaven built on heaven-and while
/ dwell upon the theme begin to expe-
rience in my own poor self that which
l take to be something like a passion
for souls. And now unto God the only
wise. the only good, the only great.
be glory forever! Amen!