The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-07-22

against Vashti and the children.
During the war Iwcnt to Hagerstown
to lcck at the army. and stood III the
night Oh hilltop and locked Gown up
on them. l saw tie carlptircs all
through the valleys and al over the
hills. 1t was weird spectacle. those
calnpfrcs. and I stccd and watched
them, and the soldiers who were gather
ed around them were, I'D doubt, talking
Of their homes and Of the long march
thew had taken and of the battles they
were to fight. But after awhile | saw
these canlptires begin to lower, and they
continued to lower until they were al
gone out and the army slept 1t was
imposing when saw the campircs; 1t
was imposing i'll the darkness when
thought Of that great host asleep.
We'll, God looks down from heaven,
and he sees the fresideS of Chrlstendom
and the loved ones gathered around
these fresides. These are the campfires
where VIC warm ourselves at the close
CT the day and talk over the battles OF
life we have fought ard the battles that
are yet to come. God grant that when
at last these fires begin to 90 out and
continue to lower, until finally they are
extinguished and the ashes Of consumed
hopes strew the hearth of tho cid home
stead, it may be, because we have
Gene to sleep that last long sleep
From which none ever wake to weep.
Now we are an army Cn the march
Of life. Then we will be an army biv-
ouackcd in the tent CT the grave.
Waiting.
Once more l want you to lcok at
Vashti the silent. You do not hear any
outcry from this woman IS she goes
forth from the palace gate. From the
very dignity CT her nature, you know
there will be no vouiferation. Some
times in life it is necessary to make
retcrt; sometimes in life it is necessary
20 resist, but there are crises when the
most triumphant thing to do is to keep
silence The philosopher, confident in
his newly discovered principle, waiting
for the coming of more intelligent gen.
erations, willing that men should laugh
at the lightning rod and cotton gin and
steamboat - waiting for long years
through the scoAing Of philosophical
schools, in grand and magnificent 81
lerce Galilei, condemned by mathe-
maticians and scientists, caricatured
everywhere, yet waiting and watching
with his telescope to sec the coming up
of stellar endorsements, when the
stars in their courses would fight for
the Copernican system, then sitting
down in complete blindness and deaf
ness to wait for the coming on of tie
generations vino would build his mon
ument and bow at his grave.
The reformer, cxecrated by his con-
temporarics, fastened in a pillory, the
slow fires CT public contempt burning
under him, ground under the cylinders
of the printing press, yet calmly wait
ing for the day when purity of soul and
heroism of character will get the sane
ticn Of earth ard the plaudits of heaven.
Afflicticn, enduring without any COM
plaint the sharpness of the pang, and
lllC NlO1tLSC VI (llC SlO1us, anu tAS ASAo
of the chain, and Of the darkness of
night. Waiting, until divine hand
shall be put forth to soothe the pang
and hush the storm and release the cap
tive. A wife, abused, prosecuted and
perpetual exile from every earthly COM
fort-waiting, waiting, until the Lord
shall gather all his dear children in a
heavenly home, and no poor Vashti will
ever be thrust out from the palace gate.
Jesus, in silence and answering not
word, drinking the gall, bearing the
cross, in prospect Cf the rapturous con-
summation when
Angels throngcd his chariot wheel
And bore him to his throne,
Then swept their golden harps and sung
The glorious work is done.
Oh, woman! Does not this story of
Vashti the queen, Vashti the veiled,
Vashti the sacrifice, Vashti the silent,
move your soul? Ny sermon converscs
into the one absorbing hope that none
of you may be shut out of the palace
gate of heaven. You can endure the
hardships, and the privations, and the
cruelties, and the 1aisfortunes of this
life if you can only gain admission
there. Through the bleed Of the ever
lasting covenant you go through these
gates or never go at all. God forbid
that you should at last be banished from
the society CT angels and banished from
the companionship Of your gloritied
kindred and baniShcd forever. Through
the rich grace Of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
may you be enabled to initiate the ex-
ample cf Rachel, and Hannah, and Abb
gail, and Deborah, and Mary, and Es-