The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-19

| the Bible in her lap, the knitting in heI
J hands, Emitting for mel the silver
| trimmed spectaeles, the locks that hung
over the sunken temples and the smile
| that welcomed me a boy trooping up
| the walk from school. | know now why
| it was | loved and reverenced her. 1t
| was because of life in her, the unfolding
life of God which the years had
| brought to her. We have just begun to
Hive. Life ought to strengthen and null
| tlply as we move on and out into eter-
nifty. 1t ought to be eXerting its
strongest influence when the hands are
| feeble and the steps falter. President
Dwight, of Yale university in explain
ing why he resigned, said Il lay down
my office not because / am old-Seyen-
ty is not old-but it is the end of the
summer term and vacation time has
come. I believe life was made just as
much for one period as another, child
hood, prime, and later life, and every
man should prepare himself for the late
afternoon hour. so that life may grow
happier till the golden time, late in the
afternoon. I look forward to coming
years of greater happiness than l have
ever known"
And why the happiness? Because
there is in him life as it never has been
before And why our deep reverence
for him? Because we feel that in him
is life abundant Life that has grown
under the nurture of Jesus Christ for
seventy years A striking contrast will
illustrate my thought little time
since Gladstone and Bismarck, each
with their more than fourscore years,
presented a contrast of which the
whole world took note. Utterances at
tributed to Bismarck made him declare
that his existence was no longer of any
use; that he had lost interest in forest
ry and agriculture; and most remark
able of all, that politics tired him. In
short, there was no JOY in his life and
apparently very little power. No more
of that splendid force and mighty ease
in doing great things. He was restless,
lamenting, respondent. On the other
hand Gladstone was still strong to la
Dor, high in courage, benignant in spr-
it. A noble life sending its light far
and clear from the serene heights
where a lifetime given conscientiousy
to God had placed him. Bismarck
spoke and the world was deaf. But
when the little kingdom Of Greece was
facing alone the diabolcal rulers of
Turkey and the concert of the powers,
Mr.. Gladstone, a man past eighty-sev-
en-, stepped into the arena and sum
moned Europe to the judgment seat,
and the Christian world listened as
though it We're the voice of a prophet
fr hi nc nf
for the grand old man the greatest mo-
ment in his earthly life. We bow to
Christian old age because in it we be-
hold the abundant life which the Sa-
vior promised. and in it we mark the
earnest of that complete life above.
We press on further in the develop
ment of this promise of the more album
dant life for old age.
Old age very often means inactivity.
1t is a great blessing if up to the day
of our departure we can be doing some
thing. But usually we must be idle so
far as bodily service is concerned. Then
are we impatient? Are we restless?
Are we melancholy? Are we depressed
and inconsolable? Not if we are in
Christ and He is in u.s. There is
these many years laid aside from the
he loved, broken in health
and left alone without hope of return
ing strength or the possibility of ac-
tive life. In a recent talk with him
his face was radiant with happiness;
every tone of his voice expressed peace
and comfort and spirit lifted above
anxiety. and far away from the dwell
ing place of discomfort How beauti-
fully he talked. He said: God has
been good to me. | do not know how
He could have been better | cannot
think what more ] would ask Him to
give me. My life has been full to over
flowing with His kindness" He is one
whom some thoughtless persons might
pity, but he lives in a serene atmos-
phere, an atmosphere so clear that all
the time he sees what is granted to us
only in rare glimpses. The more
abundant life has come to him. Yes,
you may be compelled to sit idle and |
muse upon the gradual failure of your
physical powers. Your eyes dim and |
your ears become deaf. Do not worry. |
Tune your ear to hear the Masters |
voice within. 1t is told that a tele- !
graph operator at Springfield, Mass, |
vas kept at his post of duty for many |
hours receiving special news. After
osing two nights sleep he was relieved |
rom duty to get some rest He went |
o his room at the hotel and soon was
asst asleep. When the time came for
him to return to his instrument he |
}ould not be awakened Loud pound
ng on the door did not result in arous-
ng him. An operator then, with his
tapped "Springfield'' on
he door, in imitation of the clicking of
he instrument. At once the sleeping
perator sprang from his bed, and was
Don ready to continue his work
Do not worry. In this abundant life
ou will always hear Gods voice and
he music of the spirit world
Old age usually means suffering, in
ense physical suffering. And can
here be growing life in this? / know
f another minister. He has seen ,
lany years. almost the fourscore; he
; minister of great intellectual pow
r, whose pulpit ministrations We're Of
rank to which few attain, and whose
resence was felt in any assembly of
hitch he was a member. He these
lany, many years has been a sufferer;
ltense pain has racked him, bereave-
lent has darkened his days, and to |
egree unknown to many, he has been
hut Off from enjoying many things in |