The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-20

Yesterday morning at the Second
Presbyterian church, the pastor, Rev,
Joseph speer delivered an eloquent ana
timely discourse on anticipation"
From the references 'to the children's
delightful antlclpations Of Christmas
joys, was drawn a comforting lesson,
His text was from Malachi al; And
the Lord whom We seek shall suddenly
come 10 his temple even the messenger
of the covenant, whom ye delight in,
behold he shall come saith the Lord OF
hosts" Rev, Mr., Speer said:
This Is a season Of anticipation Of old
and young alike the old anticipating
the Joy and pleasure Of the young; the
young anticipating what gifts shall be
made unto them by the old. The house
where child life dwells is full OF anticl-
patton and suppressed excitement.
waiting for the eVentful morning which
viii reveal the parental love.
What parent would think of marrlns
one of chlldhood's pleasant memories,
and in cold, cynical manner tell the
little child there Is no such person
as Santa Claus? Soon enough. all, too
soon enough they learn the reality OF
life, and for this very reason child
hood should he made as bright and
beautiful as II is possible for tho ad-
Vanced In years TO do, that there may
he the holding 90 the good and beau
ttul in the maturer years, ! know
there is no Santa Claus. So do you
ntNN fttlI hot In IL
old, mythical story there is an open
door to the young heart, and that great
and good Lessons may be taught and
learned by old and young alike at this
time.
As l have said, this is a season OF
anticipation. and none are too old to
enjoy the excitement of the Christmas
tide. and when we pause and consider
the words we have for the text, does
Il not awaken within each soul an an
tlcipation OF future events when
THE Lord shall come a dreadful form,
In rainbow wreath, inrobes OF fire.
on cherub wing on winds of wind,
Appointed Judge OF all mankind"
The whole Old Testament teaches us
great lesson OF anticipation. All that
the ages have foretold In prophecy and
song have not yet been fulfilled for you
and me This is a prophetic age as well as
Gospel age, and we are living in an
tlclpation. As you read the Old Tesla
ment history with Its deceit and degra-
dalton, its slavery and emancipatlons
It's plaques and famlnes, wars and desc
lation. It's sufferings and sorrows, indl-
viduai and national, our souls are sad;
we seek a relief from the turmoil and
ntrtF nj -
quiet: we listen amid all the clash of
battle and slghs Of oppressed for the
word OF cheer and 10, voice from the
gloom and shadow liz heard, saying I'M
to the seekers after God and the Lord
whom We seek shall suddenly come to
his temple
It has been fully demonstrated that
mankind In general are seekers after
God" That In every man there Is an
Anticipation of realizing the desires.
And thus every day becomes n day Of
anticipation. and every day a Christ
mas day when the realization of the
greatest anticipation that can possess
the heart or mind OF man Is consum-
mated by the Lord suddenly coming
to His temple" and the apostle asks.
Know We NOT tina; We ara the temple OF
God" adding that IL any man defile the
temple of God him shall God destroy.
For the temple OF God is holy, which
temple We are" When Malachi wrote
the words Of this text he evidently III
tended closer relationship between
Christ and man than the mere entrance
with or among them into the temple OF
Jerusalem The anticipation OF the
Christian world shall have something
more lasting In view than the mere
coming Of the Christmas time with Its
joys and gifts, get the Christmas time,
as has been said, makes opportunities
TO Impress upon old and young alike
the great love OF God in giving to the
world the gift OF Jesus as a Savior.
Yet the realization OF this GIft is not
what It Is suppoEed at the act OF con-
version, but the full enjoyment OF the
gift OF Christ is eternal life
1t Ia Impossible for man while dwell
ing here on this earth to- fully realize
his antlcipatlons, Philosophers, Pagan
and Christian, in their search after
knowledge. never realized their antlc-
ipations Calico, who cared FOR none
OF those things which took place before
him, was an earnest student, and while
his ambition was to be an eloqucn;
speaker In the forum, his antlclpations
were not realized Seneca his brother
sought after truth In the inward parts
but surrounded az he was by pagan
ideas and gods, cited and approved by
some OF the most eminent Christians as
wise and god philosopher vet he
never realized his anticipatlons, al.
though contemporary with 81, Paul and
doubtless mad heard OF Christ, he re.
manned "A pagan. as the term goes, yc.
when he heard OF the admirable prac.
tlce OF determination that when Tho
day was over and he hctoOk himself
70 his nightly rest, he used 90 ask him
self. What evil have you cured to-day
What vice have you resisted? In what
particular have you improvcd?" and In
speaking OF this custom In his book oil
Anger" he SAYS And I daily pleat
my cause before myself when the light
has been taken away, and my wife
who Is aware Of my habit. has become
silent, ! carefully consider in my hcnrI
tho entire day. and take deliberate
estimate OF my deeds and words" Ant
when VIC consider the surroundings ol
his children we can fuzzy appreciate Thu
sentiment OF this daily rclrospection.
The birth Of n child In the house OF Il
Greek or Roman was not necessarily
subject Of rcloicing-"No halo OF TO
nance or poetry was shed over thOgl
cnrly ycnrH" M tho innocent pleas
urcs Of Infancy the Joys Of tho hearth
the charm OF the domestic circle, tht
flow and Hpnrho OF childish gnIoty
wete by them lltlle apprceatcd Th.