The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-08

Rev DIX IALMAGE- ter is CHANGING and
becoming fit for creatures like the hu-
man race, and that Mars would do for
the human family with little change
in the structure of our respiratory or
gans. But that there is great world
swung somewhere, vast beyond imagi-
nation. and that it is the headquarters
of the universe. and the metropolis of
immensely, and has a population in
numbers vast beyond all statistics. and
appointments of splendor beyond the
capacity of canvas or poem or angel to
describe, is as certain as the Bible is
authentic. Perhaps some of the as
trOnOmers with their big telescopes
have already caught a glimpse of it,
not knowing what it is. We spell it
with six letters and pronounce it
Heaven.
That is where Prince Jesus lived 10
centuries ago. He was the Kings son.
1t was the old homestead of eternity,
and all its castles were as old as God.
Not frost had ever chilled the air.
Not a tear had ever rolled down the
cheek OF one of its inha bitants. There
had never been a headache, or a sui
eide. or a heartache. There had not
been funeral in the memory of the
Oldest inhabitant. There had never in
all the land woven a black veil, for
there had never been ANYTHING to
mourn over. The passage of millions
of years had not wrinl1ied or crippled
or bedimmed any Of its citizens All
the people there were in a state of
eternal adolescence. What floral and
pomonic richness! Gardens OF perpet-
ual bloom and orchards in unendiug
fruitage. Had some spirit from an
other world entered and asked, What
Is sin? What Is bereavement? What
is sorrow? What is death?" the
brightest of the iutelligences would
have failed to give definition. though
to study the question there was silence
in Heaven for half an hour.
The Prince of whom l speak had
honOrs. emoluments. accamatiOns.
such as no other prince. celestial or
terrestrial. ever enjoyed. As He passed
the street, the inhabitants took off
from their brows garlands of white
lilies and threw them in the way. He
never entered any OF the temples with
out all the worshipers rising up and
bowling in Obeisance. In all the pro-
cessious Of the high Gavs He was the
one who evoked the loudest welcome
Sometimes on foot, walking in loving
talk with the hum blest of the land.
but at other times He took chariot. and
among the 10000 that the psalmist
spoke of His was the swittest and most
flaming; or, as when st. John described
Him, He took white palfrey with what
prance of foot. and arch of neck, and
roll of name. and CLEAN of eve, is only
dimly suggested in the Apocalypse. He
was not like other princes, waiting for
the father TO die and then take the
throne. When years ago an artist in
Germany made a picture for the royal
gallery representing the Emperor Will
liam on the throne, and the crown
prince as having one foot on the step
Of the throne, the Emperor William
ordered the picture changed, and said:
Let the prince keep his foot off the
throne till leave it.
Already enthroned was the heavenly
Prince side by side with the Father.
What circle of dominion. What null
titudes of admirers! What unending
round of glories. All the towers chimed
the Princes praises. Of all the inhab-
itants. from the center of the city on
over the hills and clear down to the
beach against which the ocean Of i'm
mensitv rolls its pillows. the Prince
was the acknowledged favorite. No
wonder nv text says that He was
-ich." Set all the diamonds of the
earth in one kcepter, build all the pal
aces of the earth in one Alhambra,
FATHER all the pearls Of the sea in
one diadem, put all the values of the
earth in one coin. the aggregate
could not express his fiiuence.
But one day there was a big dis
ister in a department of Gods uni
verse. 4 race fallen! 4 world in ruin,
Our planet the scene of catastrophe. a
ylobe swinging out into darkness,
with mountains. and seas. and islands,
an awful centrifugal of sin seeming to
)verpower the beautiful centripetal Of
righteousness. and from it q groan
cached Heaven. Such a sound had
never been heard there. Plenty of
sweet sounds, but never an cutlery of
distress or an echo Of agony. At that
me groan the Prince rose from all the
,lissful CIRCUMFERENCE, and started for
he outer gate and descended into the
light of this world. Out Of what
fright harbor into what a rough
ca, ''Stay with us" cried angel after
nigel. and potentate after potentate.
No" said the Prince, Il cannot stay;
must be off for that wreck of a world.
must stop that groan. / must hush |
hat distress l must fathOm that |
.byss. must redeem those nations
farewell, thrones and temples, hosts
herubic, seraphic, archangelic! Twill |
ONE back again, carrying on my !