Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
III East Broad Street:

chaldeans. slain, and Darius, the Median.
took the kingdom. The account OF He
rods great grafton. that the people said
Yves the voice OF a god, tell US that
thereupon the great King fell down and
was eaten OF worms. Even that most
royal occasion, the dedication OF the
wonderful Temple OF Solomon, was only
a great occasion. The great King in
spite Of his bounty, afterwards made HIM
self odious to his people, and with all his
wisdom turned fool, and the temple failed
OF its purpose and was destroyed. Tho
pomp and glory and greatness Of occa-
sions give no assurance OF their useful
ness. nor Of any good results. They perish
IN the using.
Cheeks and disasters grow in the veins
of actions highest reared"
In very truth the chronicles OF man.
kind tell of little more than the rise and
fall OF greatness and glory. and the dis
appointments following grand promises
and displays-the nothlngness Of great
occasions. And the history Of high so-
ciety Is history Of burlesques. daily 81
Illustrated.
the reverse of all this. It's beginnings
are the smallest, its growth slow. its lat
ter end greatly increases and expands
into the infinite. Its forecastings have
been as mere glimmers OF light. Increasing
in brightness and splendor as the dawn
ing OF the day bespea6ing a noontide Of
glory. Its actual outcomings have been
out Of the very dust, as a root out OF
dry ground from the depths Of ignominy,
from the dregs Of humanity Yet out Of
these have grown the highest estate %
manhood--kings and priests unto God. IL
doth not yet appear what we shall be.
A great part OF Scripture history hai
been TO illustrate how the Almighty uses
the least occasions 10 accomplish great
results, while the great and splendid
pomps and displays are magnificent fail.
ures.
Whether the Mosaic account was specl'
flcally true or not. It is certain that
very small occasion proved man disloyal
and lost him his hold on eternal life. II
was a small occasion that showed HAMS
want OF respect for his father; but IL Wal
enough to brand his posterity. The sim.
pie narrative of Scripture dignifes little
occasions by the faith or loyalty that
they reveal. as opportunities and tests oil
spicuous absence of great crowds. OF lead
ing citizens, Of bands Of music. Of grea,
ovations. OF special reporters. OF dn(
writing and large headlines. and elabo'
rate Biographies.
The poor instruments that 90 noble
Offices. the common, familiar occasions
that are used for displays OF Almighty
power and the proclamation OF eternal
truths are among the wonders Of Gospel
history. A visit OF poor. young woman
to her friend in the country was the &C.
casion that gave the world the Mag
nihcat." a common tax-leyy carried
carpenter and his wife 20 Bethlehem. and
a season of great inconvenience, discom-
fort. and humiliation was the occasion
that witnessed the birth OF the Messiah.
Peter and James and John were mendins
their nets by their boats when they were
called 10 be apostles. Matthew vas at
tending to his unpopular business when
the call came to him. The daily walk
and work of the Saviour is 10 make little
incidents and occasions 10 be centres Of
immeasureable importance and conse-
quence. The gathered starving multitude
was not to him a many-headed monster
or profane rabble. He pitied them as
human beings, as sheep without a shep-
herd. Common crowds were the occa-
sions Of the Sermon on the Mount. Of
the gracious words, the wonderful para
bles that came from the divine lips. a
conversation with a woman at a well
and the Acknowledgement OF the beautiful
courtesy OF the precious ointment were
the occasions OF utterances thGt will abid,
forever in the human heart. And the
greatest displays OF divine power wer,
vouchsafed to hungry rabies. 10 scared
boatmen, to bereaved widows. and blind
beggars on occasions that were no occp
sions at all. And the occasion on which
ail torture and suffering and pain an.
sorrow and ignominy and blackness wai
concentrated has made the Cross the oh.
Ject Of the profoundest reverence 10 all
mankind. II, IL be lifted up. will ORA.
al men unto Me-; that at the name Of
Jesus every knee shall bow"
HOW idle, how senseless, are all great
human occasions compared with the d.
vine simplicitIes OF the Holy Scriptures
And these comparisons OF great shows
and little results, and of humble begin
nings with great consequences. are tho
most familiar teachings OF everyday life.
Great occasions and great promises and
great efforts mean great disapDolntmenu
and great disgus,s; while mere chances
and incidents and unexpected events
make the successes OF our lives. The pic
mic is delight and the ball bore The
spider taketh hold with his hands and is
IN kings palaces. The comics are feeble
folk. but build their houses in the rocks.
We little know In advance the great oc-
casions and opportunities OF our lives.
The leaden casket that rather threatened
than promised aught, held the likeness
OF the lovely lady. and bestowed the
fortune.