Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-01-19

cry Mission saves some. The Central
Mission saves some. But one hundred
thousand who are annually slain py
strong drink are not saved at all.
nave been at a concert which went
on for two hours and half, and many
people got up and left because 1t was
too long; but 50 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 it, and the galleries of earth
and heaven and hell will stay filed
with the astounded spectators. 1t is
such a continuous and prolonged song
that one feels like making the prayer
which reformed inebriate once made:
Almighty God! If 1t be thy Will that
man should suffer, whatever seemeth
good in thy sight impose upon me. Let
the bread of affection be given me to
eat. Take from me the friends OF my
confidence. Let the cold hut OF pow
erty be my dwelling-place and the
wasting hand OF disease infiict its PAIN
full torments. Let me SOW in the whirl-
wind and reap in the storm. Let those
have me in derision who are younger
than l. Let the passing away of my
welfare be like the fleeting Of cloud
and the shouts OF my enemies like the
rushing of waters. When l anticipate
good, let evil annoy me. When l look
for light, let darkness come upon me.
Let the terrors of death be ever before
me. Do all this, but save me, merci-
full God. Save me from the fate of
drunkard. Amen"
You see this sermon is not so much
for cure as for prevention. Stop be-
fore you start, II you will forgive the
solecism. The clock Of ST. PauPs ca
thedral struck thirteen one midnight,
and SO saved the life OF a sentinel.
The soldier was arrested and tried for
falling asleep at his post one midnight;
but he declared that he was awake at
midnight, and in proof that he was
awake he said that he had heard the
unusual occurrence of the clock strik-
ing thirteen instead Of twelve. He
was laughed to scorn and sentenced to
death; but three or four persons. hear
ing OF the case, came up in time to
swear that they, too, heard the clock
strike thirteen that same midnight, and
so the mans life was spared. My
nearer, IL you go on and thoroughly
learn the Drunkards' Song, perhaps in
the deep midnight of your soul there
may sound something that will yet eff
feet your moral and eternal rescue.
But it is risky perhaps" 1t is ex-
ceptional. Go ahead on that wrong road
and the clock will more probably strike
the twelve that closes your day of op-
portunity, than that ii will strike thir-
teen, the sound of your deliverance.
A few Sabbaths ago, on the steps of
this church, man whom had known
in other years confronted me. At the
first glance, l saw that he was in the
fifth and last act Of the tragedy of in
temperance. Splendid even in his ruin.
The same brilliant eye, and the same
courtly manners, and the remains of
the same intellectual endowments but
a wreck ! had seen that craft when
running by true compass; wife, and
children, and friends on board, himself
commanding in voyage that he eX-
pected would be glorious, putting into
PROSPEROUS harbOrs Of earth and at last
putting into the harbor Of heaven. But
now a wreck. lowed along by low ap-
petites, that ever and anon run him
into the hreakersa wreck of body.
wreck of mind, wreck of soul.
Where is your wife," 81 do not
know" Where are your children ?"
II do not know" Where is your God"
81 do not know" That man is coming
to the last verse of that long cantata,
that protracted threnody, that terrific
Song of the Drunkards.
But if these words shoNld come-for
you know the largest audience l reach
never see at ALL say If these words
should come, though at the ends of the
earth, to any fallen man. let me say to
him: Be the exception to the general
rule, and turn and live, while l recall
to you scene in England, where some
one said to an incbriate, as he was
going out of church where there was
great awakening, why don't you sign
the pledge?" He answered, Il have
signed it twenty times, and will never
sign it again" why, then" said the
gentleman talking to him, don't you
go up and kneel at that altar, amid
those other penitents?" He took the
advice and went and knelt. After
awhile little girl in rags and soaked
with the rain looked in the church door
and some one said, What are you do
ing here, little girl?" She said please
sir; heard as my father is here. Why,
that is my father up there, kneeling
now" She went up and put her arms
around her fathers neck, and said
Father. what are you doing here?"
and he said. Il am asking God to for
give me- Said she, ''If he forgives you
win we be happy AGAIN." Eyes, my
dear" VIII We have enough to eat
again." Yes, my dear" "And will
you never strike us again." NO my
child" Walt here" said she, 'till
go and call mother" And soon the
child came with the mother, and the
mother. kneeling beside her husband.
said. Save nue., too, Save me t0op'