The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-11-21

street along which she walks and the
rickety stairs up which she climbs, but
she ia accompanied by an
unseen cohort of angels with
drawn swords to defend her,
aud with garlands twisted for
her Victories all up and down
She 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, runs
by each motion Of she 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
Sllrcoat of silver tissue, and brow,
cleaning with a Circiet of ruDles, ana
amid fountains that pOrcd Rhenlsn
wine, passed on to Westminster Hail.
and rode in on Caprisoned pallry. l1S
hcofs gathering the classic floor and.
dismounting. passed into Westminster
Abbey. and between the choir and high
altar. was crowned queen, amid organs
and chors chanting the TIE Deums-l
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 co0rs than have ever been
arched. and attune the oceans to more
majestic doxOlOgies than have ever yet
been attuned; but as near as ! 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 sple1dors, roll no loitier an
thems, march no more imposing pro-
cessions, build no greater palaces, and
spread out and interjoin and wave no
more transporting magnificence. l
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 it 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 a full title
for it, written in the blood of the Son
of God, who would have all men como
to life present and life everlasting. If
you have been in military life you
know what soldiers call the long roll
All the drums beat it because the enc
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
NAV 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 it's stirring and solemn
meaning: and so sound the long roll
today. | 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 beatific 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
slad am l 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 l begin to expe-
rience in my own poor self that which
I 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!