The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-24
DAWN OF A CENTURY
Dr.. Talmage breaches Of the Bright
ness in Which 1t Comes.
America To-day the Chosen Nation of
GOd-Whnt the Oid Century Leaves
Behind It-Christianity IL
Spreading.
Copyright. 1851


urges preparation for stirring events;
text, Chronicles. 1912: The children
of Issachar, which were men that hal
understanding of the times, TO know
what Israel ought to do"
Great tribe, that tribe of Issachar.
When Joab took the census, there were
145.60o of them. Before the almanac
was born, through astrological study
they knew from stellar coniunctions
all about the seasons of the year. Be-
fore agriculture became an art they
were skilled in the raising of crops.
Before politics became science they
knew the temper of nations. and when
ever they marched, either for pleasure
or war, they marched under three
colored fag--topaz, sardine and car
buncle. But the chief Characteristic
of that tribe of Issachar was that they
understood the times. They were not
like the political and moral incompe-
tents of our day, who are trying TO
guide 1858 by the theories of 1925
They looked at the divine indications
In their own particular century. So
we ought to understand the times, not
the times when America was 10 colonies
huddled together along the Atlantic
coast. but the times when the nation
dips one hand in the ocean on one
side the continent and the other hand
in the ocean on the other side the con-
tinent; times which put New York
Narrows and the Golden Horn of the
Pacific within one flash of electric
telegraphy; times when God is as d.
rectly, as positively, as solemnly, as
tremendously addressing us through
the daily newspaper and the quick
revolution of events as he ever adj
dressed the ancients or addresses us
through the Holy Scriptures. Thu
voice Of God in Providence is rs i'm
portant as the voice of God in typology,
for in our own day we have had our
Sinais with thunders of the Almighty,
and Calvaries of sacrifice. and Gethsem-
anes that sweat great drops Of blood,
and Olivets Of ascension. and Mount
Pisgahs of far-reaching vision. The
Lord who rounded this world 6,000
years ago and sent his Sou to redeem IT
near 1000 years ago has yet much to do
with this radiant but agonized planet.
May God make us like the children cs
lssachar. (which were men that had
understanding of the times. to know
what Israel ought to do"
The grave of this century will soon be
dug. The cradle of another century will
soon be rocked. There is something
moving this way out of the eternities,
something that thrills me, blanches me,
appalls me. exhilarates me, enraptures
me. It will wreathe the orange BIOS
SONS for millions of weddings 1t will
beat the dirge for millions Of obse-
quies. 1t will carry the gilded BAN
rers of brightest mornings and the
black flags of darkest midnights, The
world will play the grand march of its
heroes and sound the rogues' march of
its towards. Other professions "-may
halt or break down or fall back. but
the procession led by that leader moves
steadily on and will soon be here. 1t
Will preside over coronations and de-
thronements. ! hail it! i bless it!
welcome it! The twentieth century of
the Christian era.
: What may we expect of it and how
shall we prepare for it are the nolnen-
tous questions propose now to discuss.
AS in families human nativity is an
.icpated by all sanctity and kindli-
ness and solemnitv and care and hope
fitness. SO ought we prayerfully, hope
fully industriously. confidently pre-
pare for the advent of new century.
The nineteenth century must not treat
the twentieth on its arrival as the
eighteenth century treated the nine
teenth. Our century inherited the
wrecks of two revolutions and the SUI
perstitions of age. Around its cradle
stood the armed assassin of old world
tyrannies; the reign of terror be-
queathing its horrors; Robespierre
plotting his diabolisn; the Jacobin
club. with its wholesale massacre; the
guillotine. chopping its beheadments
The ground quaking with the great
guns of Marengo. Wagram and Bad
MOS. All Europe in convulsion. Asia
in comparative quiet, but the quietness
of death. Africa in the clutches Of the
slave trade. American savages in full
cry. their scnlping knives lifted. The
exhausted and poverty struck people
of America sweating under the debt oil
$500 900 900, which the revolutionary
war had left them. Washington just
gone into the long sleepat Mount Yer
non. and the nation in bereavement
Aaron Burr, the champion libertine, be-
coming soon after vice president. The
government of the United States only
an experiment. most Of the phiioso
piers and statesmen and governments
of the earth prophesying it would he {
disgraceful failure. No poor founding
laid at night on the cold steps of ;
mansion. to be picked up in the morn
ing. was poorer off than this century a
| its nativity. The United States govern
ment had taken only IL steps on it
Journey, its constitution having beer
| formed in 1889, and most If the ma
tons of the earth laughed at our gov
erument in its first attempts to wall
| alone.
The birthday of our. nineteenth cen
fury occurred in the time of war. Gu
small United States navy, under Capt
Truxton. commanding the frigate Coz
stitution, was in collision with Oh
l A.. ~,