The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-08-07

SDlAS INC CeQLrlp petal. rs Wneu There
is a mighty tide of good in q
family that may be overcome by
determination to evik as in the case OF
Aaron Burr, the libertine, who had for
father President Burr, the conSecratedl
as In the case of Pierrepont Edwards,
the gcourge of New York society sC
years ago, who had a Christian anees'
try, while, on the other hand, some OF
the best men and women Of this day
are those who have come of an anccs'
try which it would not be courteous to
speak in their presence. The practical
and useful object of this sermon
Is 10 show you that If you have come
Of Christian ancestry, then you are
solemnIy bound 20 preserve and
develop the glorious inheritance,
or, if you have come of a depraved
ancestry, then it is your duty 20 brace
yourself against the evil tendency by
all prayer and Christian determination,
and you are to find out the family
frailties, and in arming the castle put
the strongest guard at the weakest
gate. With these smooth stones from
the brook, 1 hope to strike yea; tot
where David struck Goliath, in the
head, but where Nathan struck David,
in the heart. "Whose son art thou,
thou young MANI"
There is something in all winter
holidays to bring up the old folks. ]
think many of our thoughts at such
times are set to the tune of "Auid
Lang Syne." The old felix's we're sd
busy at such times In making Us happy,
and perhaps on less resource made
their sons and daughters happier than
you on larger resources are able ia
make your sons and daughters The
snow lay two feet above their graves,
but they shook off the white blankets
and mingled in the holiday festivities
the samo wrinkles, the same
stoop of shoulder under the weight OF
age, the same old style of dress oh
coat, the same smile, the sathe tone OF
voice. hope you remember them BE-
fore they went away. IF hot, hope
there are these who have recited to
you what they were, and that there
may be in your house some article OF
dress or furniture with which you as
sociate their memories, | want I'd
arouse the most sacred memories OF
your heart while l make the impas-
stoned interrogatory in regard to
Your pedigree: Whose son art theu.
thou, thou young man2'
First, aecost all those who are
descended of a Christian ANCESTRY. do
not ask IL your parents were perfect.
There are no perfect people now, and
1 do not suppose there were any per.
feet people then. Perhaps there was
sometimes too much bleod Ia their eFs
when they ehastised yea. But from
what know Of you, you got no more
than you deserved, and perhaps little
more chastisement would have been
salutary. But you are willing 10 ae-
knowledge, think, that they wanted
to do right, From what YOU eFaF.
heard In conversations, and from what
you saw at the family altar and at
heishhorh0Od obsequies, you know
that they had invited God into their
heart aud their life, There was stine-
thing that sustained those old people
supernaturally. YOU have no doubt
about theif destiny. You expect if you
ever get to Heaven to meet them as
you expect to meet the Lord Jesus
Christ. That early association has BEEN
a charm for you. There was time
when you got right Up from house of
iniQtity and walked out int
the fresh air because yeu thought
your mother was looking at
you. You have never been very
old face that Would present itself.
Ite@Ol6us voices from the past ac-
costed you until they were seemingly
audible, and yo,, locked around to see
who spoke. There was all estate dot
mentioned in the last viii and testa-
ment vast estate of prayer and holy
example and Christian entreatv and
glorious memory. The Survivors of
the family gathered to hear the will
read, and this was to be kept and that
was to be sold, and IL WAS share and
share alike" but there was an un-
written will that read something like
this: I'm the name Of God, amen;
being of sound mind, bequeath 10 nv
children all my eraTsfs tGr their sal
vatiens bequeath to them all
the results of a lifetime's toll; | be.
queath to them the Christian religion,
which has been SO much comfort to
me, and hope HAY Be solaee for them;
bequeath 10 them hope of reunles
when the partings OF life are over.
Share and share alike may they in
merit eternal riches. 1 bequeath to
them the wish that they may aveid my
errors and copy anything that may
have been worthy. In the name of
God who made me, and the Christ
who redeemed me, and the HOLY
Ghost who satellites me, / make this
my last will and testament. Witness
all you hosts of Heaven. Witness
time, witness eternity. signed,
sealed and delivered in this our diving
hour. Father and Mother" You did
not get that will proved at the sarro-
gates Office, but taleo It out to-day
and j read it TO you. / take it out of
the alcoves of your heart. / shake the
dust off it. l ask if you will accept
that, inheritance, or will you break
the will?
Oh, We of Christian ancestry! You
have responsibility vast beyond all
measurement. God will not let you off
with just being as good as ordinary
people when you had such extraordi-
nary advantage. Ought not a flower
planted in hot-house be more thrifty
than flower planted outside in the
storm2 Ought not factory turned by
the Housatonic do more Work
than u factory turned by thin
and shallow mountain stream ?