The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-28
TnE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
GAS A LEAF A DISCOURSE APPRo-
PIRATE TO MEMORIAL DAY.
BY Rev. Thcwas Il. Eaton, ID. ID, Ii. d.,
Pastor Of the waInut-street Bap-
fist Church, Louisville, ky.


We ali do fade as a ~eaf'-Isaiah XIV o.
From the earliest historic times people
have placed flowers on the graves of their
dead. flowers which symbolic the beauty
and fraflty o. human life-As the loved ones,
whose memories are cherished. have faded
and wifhered, so these flowers, placed
above their graves. fade and wither. telling
the story OF human life.
Flowers are but leaves, the botanists tell
Us. and every leaf teaches the great lessons
OF our earthly exist ence. AS we gather on
Decoration day 10 place fair leaves upon
the graves of our heroic dead, it is fitting
that we should consider the lessons of the
leaf 10 our souls
First-Leaves soon fade. Bright and beau
tiful for a season. the frosts and blasts soon
wither them and sweep them away. Inc
generations of men are ike the successive
generations of leaves, which pass away
with the season. while the great tree of hu-
manlty remains 10 bear other leaves. which
shall pass away in their turn. In our text.
the prophet is reminding the world Of the
brevity OF human life.
Second-IAaves work faithfully In their
appointed places. teaching US TO be con-
tant with our lot in the world There is
among the leaves no wild scramble TO reach
the topmOst branches; no refusal 10 WORK
because OF the places they occupy Wnere-
ever they are on the tree they cheer1uly
turn their bright faces TO the sun and
faithfully do the work appointed them
There are no envies and jealousies among
the leaves. Those on the upper branches do
not array themselves against those on the
lower ones. nor do those below complain
OF those above. They all, in their several
places, work together in beautiful harmony
for the upbuilding of the tree.
Why may not our lives be Xix that!
Wherever re are. whatever our lot. let
US labor heartily and gladly to build up the
great tree of humanity. to benefit the world
and TO glorify God. The tree needs the work
of every leaf, and would be sadly marred
IL only the leaves on the topnost branches
did their work A leaf in the humblest place
does as good and as lasting work as does
the leaf in the highest anu sunniest place.
OH to be "as a leaf in this.
GOOD AND CONSTANT WORK.
~Third-Leaves purify the atmosphere by
absorbing the carbonic acid gas and CIV
ing OF oxygen. They take away what is
noxious and furnish what is health-giving.
What Injuries man they remove and they
supply what helps him instead. To be "as a
leae' then. we must purify the worlds at
m~osphere by removing whatever Injuries
men. Alas! how many hurtful things there
are in the understanding. gambling, i'm
purity, selhshness, dishonesty, hatred-it is
a long black catalogue.
1t Is the work of the leaves on the great
tree OF humanity TO remove these by the
blessing OF God. and to impart instead faith,
hope and love; peace, JOY, Righteousness,
justice. mercy and truth; and all the bright
catalogue of blessings.
U-.-&A TN ro~1- - -o--T--I- Nv1N
a moment of their brief existence is lost.
Every hour finds them doing their work
with all the energy of their being. There
Is no leaving their posts for a season, no
relaxation of their diligence and no aban-
dorment of their unfinished work. The sea-
son is too short for idleness. Their work
will not be overdone if they do their best.
Need 1 make the application? Shall W. not
all be "as a leaf in making the utmost of
or opportunities? In view Of the great
work before US, OF the shortness of our lives
and OF the weakness of our powers, shall
we not make every hour redolent of service,
fearing. most Of all, lest the coming night
OF death shall find our work un6one?
We honor our soldier dead precisely be-
cause of their faithful service to their
country. They faced danger and welcomed
ddSyiiyvha n This Is' IS What What our our cheTrishing their
memory means. This is what renders II
hitting that we should put flowers each sea
son upon their graves, and keep their mem
oTies ever green in our hearts.
Fffth-The leaves work unselhshiy- They
strive 10 promote. not their own advantage,
but the advantage of the tree. They live
rot for themselves. They absorb the carbon
from the air. not that they may retain it foI
themselves, but that they may give 1t TO tht
tree. What an unsightly and a useless thins
a leaf would be that retained all the carbon
It could get, and gathered only TO use upor
itself, 1t would be swollen. heavy and un.
slightly, and would soon fall from its place
10 the ground to perish.
gathers. but gives 1t of that men and ami
mails may breathe it and be strong. Con
stantly and unselhshly does the leaf worl
oxygen for mankind, and thus ceaSelessl,
laboring for the betterment of the world
What a rebuke do the leaves administel
TO the grasping. self-seeking spirit we see
around us How marred is the great ire.
of humanity by the selfshness of its leaves
Shall we not be 'as a leaf In our unSelf
ish devotion to the good of others?
Sixth-Brief and frail as is the existence
Of the leaves, they yet do lasting and valu'
season. but their work remains through the
centuries. From each leaf there runs a hbel
TO the root of the tree. and 10 build tina
fiber is the special seasons work of tn
leaf. The increase in the size of the tree
by the leaves: so the tree is the work Of
the leaves. The fiber remains, though tn
leaf withers.
LESSON OF THE LEAF.
All wood Is the work OF leaves. The ship:
that pillow the deep and bear the commerc
OF the world. are made of timbers made
by the leaves. All wooden structures ow'
their existence TO the leaves. The beds OF
which We repOse. the chairs in which we sit
the desks at which we write. the cases il
which we put our books. the musical in
struments that brighten our lives. the car
IN which We journey, the houses in which
we live, the vehicles in which we ride-al
these and more, in so far as wood enter
into their structure. we owe TO the leaves
The very coal that warns Us. that give
heat TO our fOundrieS and factories. tina
furnishes steam for our locomotives an
sreamers-the coal-is the work OF tn
leaves Of the long past. stored UP in III
earth for our use. Who can estimate our In
debtedness TO the leaves We are to-day en-
Joying the work OF leaves that faded an
passed away many centuries ago. FTail
short lived and soon forgotten, the leave
do enduring work. blessing the world 70
ages after the faithful little workers hav
passed away.
This is the chief lesson OF the leaf 10 Us
We are 20 be las a leaf" in doing lastin
work. Brief and frail as is our earthly Ire
we can do work that shall outlast the star:
We work upon character. upon immOrta
souls. and our work shall never perish. Ho'
H. AAFa - -. - =