The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-01-16

some Inc central mission saves some. !
But 100. coo who are annually slain by
strong drink are not saved at all
I have been at q concert which Weno on
for two hours and half, and many people
got up and left because 1t was TOO long.
But % per cent Of those who are singing
the drunkards' song will to the last breath
of their lungs and the last beat Of their
hearts keep on rendering 1t, and the gel
leries Of earth and heaven and hell VIII
stay filled with the astounded spectators
1t is such Il continuous and prolonged song
that one feels like making the prayer which
reformed inebriate once made: Al
mighty God If it be thy will that man
should suffer, whatever seemeth good ~
thy sight impose upon me- Let the preao
of atfliction be given me to eat. lake from
NE the friends of my confidence Lot the
cold hut of poverty be my dwelling place
and the wasting hand Of disease tnfiiot its
painful torments. Let me SOW IN the
those have me- In derIsion W ho are younger
| than l. Let the passing away OF my vel
| fare be Ike the fleeting of cloud, and the
| shouts of my enemies like the rushing OF
waters When I anticipate good, let evil
| annoy me- When I look for light, let
| darkness come upon me. Let the terrors
| Of death be ever before me: DO all this,
but save me- merciful God! Save me from
the fate Of u drunkard. Amen!'
A Word For Prevention.
You see this sermon is not 60 much for
cure as for prevention Stop before you
| start if you will forgive the solecism. Ibe
| clock of ST. Paul's cathedral struck IL one
| midnight. and SO saved the lie OF SEN
| tineI The soldier was arrested and tried
for falling asleep at his post one midnight
But he declared that he was awake ae
midnight and in proof that he was awake
he said that he had heard the unusual oc-
currence of the clock striking 8 instead OF
~ He was laughed to scorn and sem
fenced to death But three or four per-
sons hearing of the case, came up IN eime
to swear that they, too, heard the CLOCK
strike IS that same midnight, and SO the
mans life was spared. My nearer, If you
go on and thoroughly learn the drunkaros
song, perhaps in the deep midnight OF
your soul there may sound something that
will yet effect your moral and eterna! fea-
, cue. But it is risky perhaps. 1t ID
, exceptiopal Go ahead on that wrong road,
, and the clock will more probably strike
the IL that closes your day of opportunity
than that it will strike ID, the sound OF
= | your deliverance.
T A few Sabbaths ago on the steps OK this
church a man whom had known ~ otnel
3 wears confronted me At the first glance
, saw that he was in the fifth and last act O
the tragedy of intemperance- Spiendlt
r | even in his ruin. The same brilliant eye
q and the same courtly manners, and ene re
mains of the same intellectual enoow
9 ,nents. hut q wreck I had seen that Graf
n when it plowed the waters, oil sails set ant
. running by true compass; wife and chill
q dren and friends on board. himself com
q | manding in n voyage that ne e1pecte
a would be glorious, putting into prosperou
a harbors of earth and at last putting Int
- the harbor of heaven. But now wreck
r. lowed along by low appetites, that eve
and anon run him into the breakers
# wreck of body, a wreck of mind, wrec
n of soul Where is your wifes" II 9
n not know" where are your children!
d II do not know" where Is your Coos
~ at do not know" That man Is coming
the last verse of that long cantata, eh'
70 protracted threnody. that terrific song
=, | the drunkards.
III BE the Exception
s But il these words should come-tor yc
", know the largest audience ! reach new
ch see at ALL say If these words shou
IN come. though at the ends of the earth,
Is, any fallen man, let me say to him: be
-v.rHA n