The record-union., 1898-04-04
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY
CONFIRMATION AT THE GER
MAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
An Appropriate Discourse by Rev
G. z. Oehler on "Whither
"Now?"

Yesterday morning at the German
Lutheran Church seventeen young
people were admitted to the church by
confirmation, the pastor, Rev. c. r
Oehler, officiating. The church was
filled to its utmost capacity and the
ceremony very beautiful and impress
sive. In the evening again, before
crowded house, the pastor delivered
sermon in the English language, Civ
ing the young people valuable advice
for their pilgrimage through life. The
discourse was on The Critical Cues
tion-Whither Now?"
In a great many diseases, said the
speaker, there is a climax, when the
highest point Of danger is reached;
when the patients life, so to say, hangs
on a single thread. and when the doc
tor expects a change either for the
better or for worse. This state is
called the crisis"
There in yonder cottage in that
darkened chamber a loved one lies at
the point of death. How pale those
lips; the cheeks have lost their rosy
hue, the eyes their glare. Hush We
voices; step softly ye feet, that We may
not disturb his feverish slumber
may God be merciful to him, when
death is watching for his prey, whilst
life is struggling still for victory. At
the break of the morning light there is g
change The battle is fought The
pearl drops of sweat upon the sick
mans brow tell you that life has con-
quered. The crisis has been overcome;
IT is we'll with him.
But we may speak of a crisis in other
respects. So, our beloved country is at
this time at an awful suspense, at the
point of an acute crisis the question
being peace or war. Again, there
is also a crisis for every Christian at
the turning point of his life, when he
decides whether to serve God or Satan;
whether to go the narrow way to Zion
or the broad way to destruction. There
Is a crisis for you now, my dear young
Christians. But, you will say, have We
not this morning professed our faith in
Christ and promised Him fidelity unto
death? Indeed, you have made good
profession before God and man; you
have made good promise. Yet you
also know that at times of the deepest
spiritual emotions and of the best res
oluuons there is great danger of a re-
lapse; that just now Satan and the
world will do their best to lead you
away from Christ and astray. How
carefully and watchfully would YOU
the parents stand by your sons and
daughters in the critical time of sick
ness. VIII you not now also watch and
pray together that this crisis may be
favorably overcome? Forewarning
means to you forearming. Let us
therefore consider the critical question,
whittier Now?"
Where and when was it asked +?
Jesus had fed the five thousand in the
wilderness by a miracle, and in their
enthusiasm they sought to make Him
their king But Jesus, perceiv;ng
their intentions, withdrew from them
and declared that He was not sent 20
establish a secular kingdom, but to
bring the bread of eternal life. From
that time many of His disciples went
back and walked no more with Him.
The Master seemed forsaken. Then,
turning around and glancing over the
chosen twelve who were still following
Him. He asked in deepest sadness:
Twill we also go away?" He does not
need them nor the world. But the
world needs Him, the Savior, and His
glorious gospel of the forgiveness of
their sins 1t was Peter, who at this
time again speaking for the twelve,
answered with burning zeal and fervent
love: Lord. to whom shall we go?
Thou hast words of eternal life?" It
was a noble reply. But was it not af-
terward the same Peter, who. having
solemnly vowed, though l should die
with Thee. l would not deny Thee" de-
MED His Lord and Master three times
Are you so much stronger that the
fall which was possible to Peter be
impossible to you? Therefore whittier
now?
If all men that ever made promise
had always kept it; if all that ever
promised to follow the Savior and do
the will of God had never become un-
faithful and separated from their God
and Savior, this question might be
thought unnecessary. Behind you lies
the lovely age of childhood. Your
hearts have not yet felt the pangs OF
sorrow and of care. Upon your souls
still rests the morning dew of innocence
and beauty Before you is the open
world of sin and temptation, of wick
edness and deceit, with it's chances for
SUCCESS OF failure. riches VI pONSi y
fame or dishonor, the gutter or the
throne. I realize how difficult it is to
give advice to the young. They are
much wiser than their parents and old
e. friends, who have behind them a life
of experience, partly of failure and
partly of success. The young man will
not listen to the words of his father or
of his senior friends. He must expert
ence for himself When I tell him that
life of worldly pleasure is farce and
a fraud, because the world will not
give him what it promises: if / tell him
that true manliness does not consist in
smoking cigarettes or drinking wine
and true freedom not in gratifying
every sinful desire of the flesh and in
riotous living, but rather in battling
and conquering all passions and
evil inclinations; if I tell him it is bet
ter to live godly life and to remem-
her his Creator in the days of his youth
because God will hold him TO answer
for all trangressions. he would say, ]
would cheat him of his American lib
ertv and rob him of his right to enjoy
this world at his own pleasure.
When I tell the butterfly maiden
that life is not dancing and merry
making. but that the woman of to-
day has nobler aims and higher duties;
when / tell her that Satan is a de-
Mo 0rn But we :. ca, can