The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-21

England's Greatness and Glory.
The closely approaching jubilee of
Queen Victoria suggested q sermon
on the reign and character of that
sovereign yesterday morning by Rev.
Dr. James Mcleod, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church. His text was
MANY daughters have done virtuous-
ly, but thou excellest them ALL" Pro-
verbs, xXxi;29. He said:
These arc the words OF a king. They
are the climax of a noble speech, in
which the king describes a virtuous wo-
man. The woman upon whom King
Lemuel pronounced this high euogy may
have been his own mother. or. perhaps.
the queen-hls own wife. In the word
picture which he paints, he had the as
slstance of his mother. He says he only
uttered what his mother taught him."
Among the portraits of women that
adorn the royal gallery of revelation. this
portrait, by King Lemuel, occupies a
conspicuous place. For beauty of form,
for blending of solors, for careful atten-
ton to details, for richness of finish, and
for the unique and attractive way In
which II is framed, 1t Is without a rival
and 1t Is safe to say that 1t will never be
surpassed.
Instead of calling attention to any of
the great and noble women of the past,
let us look at a great and noble woman of
the present-a woman, who for sixty
years, has occupied the most exalted
station of any living woman on earth; q
woman toward whom the eyes of the
world are now directed, and to whom,
during this week, all nations will pay
their respectful homage. That woman
Is Queen Victoria! Long may she reign!
RULER, WIFE. MOTHER.
AS ruler, as a wife. as a mother, and
as a Christian, Queen Victoria Is a model
character. 1t would be difficult to find
in this age or in any other age Of the
world, a wife or a mother-and It would
be impossible to find a queen-who more
closely resembAed the picture painted by
King Lemuel. 1t may be truly said of
Victoria that the heart of her husband
trusted in her, and that she did him good
and not evil all the days of their married
life. She has stretched out her hands 10
the poor and she has always been
thoughtful of the needy. But while al
ways mindful of the poor and needy, she
has beeu able (and she had n right to
clothe her own household in scarlet, and
to clothe herself in si'is and purple. Her
husband honored both her and himself
when he sat among the elders of the land.
For sixty years, strength and honor have
been her clothing, and for sixty years the
law of Kindness has been in her tongue,
and she has spoken words of wisdom.
She has looked we'll to the ways of her
household, and she has not eaten the
bread of idleness. Her husband praised
her while he lived and her children arise
up and call her blessed.
To be able to speak thus of Queen Vic
toria, is something for which England and
the whole Christian world ought to be de-
voutly thankful. England has had a
queen, Elizabeth, whose illustrlous reign
makes one of the grandest chapters in
English history. But who would think
of comparing the era of Elizabeth with
the era of Victoria? And who would
think of comparing the intriguing and
masculine Elizabeth with the gentle,
open-minded or womanly Victoria.
MANY NOBLE DAUGHTERS.
England has had many noble daughters,
but it is only truth to say that many of
her daughters had far more nobility than
some of her queens. But it is to the ever
lasting honor of Queen Victoria. that, IN
respect of all the noble qualities that
adorn womanhood, no one of Englands
daughters has ever surpassed her. And
If, on behalf of our people, the president
of the United States should, on next
Tuesday, send to Queen Victoria this
message; "Many daughters of England
have done virtuously, but thou excelled
exact truth and pay to the queen and TO
the daughters of England the highest
compliments, and, moreover, what this
nation thinks of Enand's noblest queen
Millions in this land will join with mil
lions in England in their appreciation of
these lines just written for the occasion
of the queens diamond jubilee on "Nic-
toria, the Good"
The dew was on the summer lawn
hn
green,
When forth there came, as fresh as
dawn,
A Maiden with majestic mien.
They grt crown about her brow,
They placed a scepter in her hand,
And loud rang cut Nations vow,
GOD guard the Lady CT the Land!'
And now the cuckoo calls once more,
And once again J,nes roses blow
And round her Thrcne her people pour,
Recalling sixty years ago;
And all the goodly dcys between,
Glory and sorrow, love and pain,
The wifely Mother, widowed Queen,
The .oftiest as the longest Reign.
She shared her subjects bane and bliss,
Welcomed the wise, the base withstoud
And taught by her clear life it is
The greatest greatness to be good.
Yet while for Peace she wrought and
prayed,
| She bore the trident wore the helm,
And, Mistress of the Main, she made
| An Empire of her Island Realm.
| So gathering now, from near from far,
From Rule wEereon ne'er sets the day,
| From Southern Cross and Northern Star,
Her people lift their hearts. and pray:
| Longer and longer may she reign
! And, through a summer night serene
| Whence day doth never wholly wane,
| God spare and bless our Empress
| Queen
HER LONG REIGN.
The long and benehcent reign of Vie
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