Connecticut western news., 1898-12-01

great a BTain, just as noble heart, just as high purpose, just as sublime a courage passing in procession one way through that avenue as the other pro- cession passes the other way. Yea, the men coming out of the twentieth cen tury in some respects surpass those com ing out of the nineteenth century, for they have had better advantage, and will have grander opportunity, and will take part in higher achievements of civilization and Christianity.
 The Century's Watch Night.
 What a meeting on this midnight 12 o'clock, the two processions of the mighties of two centuries! Uncover all heads and bow reverently in prayer. Thank God for the good done by the procession coming out of the past and pray to God for good to be done by the procession coming out of the future But halt, both processions Haiti Halt! Break ranksl Back to your thrones, ye mighties of the nineteenth century and enjoy the reward of your fidelity Back to your homes, ye mi2hties of the twen- tieth century, your congressional chairs, your judicial benches, your presidential mansions, yoIr editorial rooms, your stupendous responsibilities and do the work for the twentieth century, Fare well and tears for the one procession. Hail and welcome to the other process sion.
 It has been a custom in all Christian lands for people to keep watch night as an old year goes out and a new year comes in. People assemble in churches about 10 o'clock of that last night of the old year, and they have prayers and songs and sermons and congratulations until the hands of the church clock al- most reach the figure 12, and then all bow ill silent prayer, and the scene is nightly impressive until the clock iu the tower of the church or the clock in the tower of the city hall strikes 12 and then all rise and sing with smiling face and jubilant voice the grand doxology, and there is a shaking of hands all around.
 But what tremendous watch night the world is soon to celebIatel This century will depart at 12 o'clock of the 31st of Decent Der, of the year 1900 What night that will be, whether starlit or moonlit or dark with tempest ! It will bc such night as ycu and never saw. Those who watched the coming in 0f the nineteenth century long ago went to their pillows of dust. Here and there one will see the new century arrive who saw this century enter, yet they were too infantile to ap- preciate the arrival. But on the watch night of which l speak, in all neighbor- hoods and towns and cities and couti- nents, audiences will assemble and bow in prayer. waiting for the last breath of the dying century, and when the clock shall strike 12, there will be a solemnity and an overwhelming awe such as has not been felt for l0U years, and then all the people will arise and chant the welcome of a new century of joy and sorrow, of triumph and defeat, of happiness and woe, and neighborhood will shake hands with neighborhood and church with church and city with city and continent with continent and hemisphere with hemisphere and earth with heaven at tEe stupendous departure and the majestic arrival. May we all be living on earth to see the solemnities and join in the songs and shake hands in the congratulations of that watch night; or, if between this and that any of us should te off and away, may we be inhabitants of that land where 'ta thousand years are as one day." and in the presence of that angel spoken of in the Apocalypse, who at the end of the world will, standing with one foot on the sea and the other foot on the land, "swear by him that liveth forever and ever, that time shall be no Ionger."