The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-06-15
RECALLS THE PAST.
Dr.. Talmage's Sermon Is Largely
Reminiscent.
Draws Helpful Lessons from the Ex-
periemces and Vicissitudes Of
Life-Mem0ries Of
Home.

NeF1CuCG0 anu V1CAUoAtWWCW Va
Life-Mem0ries Of
Home.
Copyright, 1889. by Louis Klopsch. WASH
ington.
This sermon of DIR. Talmage calls the
roll of many stirring memories and in
terprets the meaning of life's vicissi-
tudes. The text is Psalms xxx, B.:
"While was musing the fire burned"
Here is David, the psalmist, with the
forefinger of his right hand against his
temple and the door shut against the
world, engaged in contemplation. And
it would be well for us to take the same
posture often while we sit down in
sweet solitude to contemplate.
In small island off the coast of Nova
Scotia l once passed Sabbath in de-
lightful solitude, for had resolved that
would have one day of entire quiet be-
fore entered upon autumnal work.
thought to have spent the day in laying
out plans for Christian work, but in
stead of that it became q day of tender
Renaissance. Ireviewed my pastorate;
/ shook hands with an old departed
friend. whom shall greet again when
the curtains of life are lifted. The days
of my boyhood came back, and was
ten years of age, and was eight. and l
was five. There was but one house on
the island, and yet from Sabbath day
break, when the bird chant woke me,
until the evening melted into the bay
Of Fundy, from shore to shore there
were ten thousand memories, and the
groves were a-hum with voices that had
long ago ceased.
Youth is apt too much to spend all its
time in looking forward. Old age is apt
too much to spend all its time in look
ing backward. People in midlife and on
the apex look both ways. 1t would be
well for us, think, however, to spend
more time in reminiscence. By the con-
stitution of our nature we spend most
of the time looking forward. And the
vast majority of people live not SO much
in the present as in the future. | find
that you mean to make reputation,
you mean to establish yourself, and the
advantages that you expect to achieve
abso, b great deal of your time. But
/ see no harm in this, if it does not make
you discontented with the present or
disqualify you for existing duties. 1t
is useful thing sometimes to look
back and to see the dangers we have es-
capped and to see the sorrows we have
suffered and the trials and wanderings
of our earthly pilgrimage and to sum
up our enjoyments. / mean, so far as
God may help me, to stir up your mem
ory of the past, SO that in the review you
may be encouraged and humbled and
urged to pray.
There is a chapel in Florence with a
fresco by Guido. It was covered up with
two inches of stucco until our American
and European artists went there. and
after long toll removed the covering and
retraced the fresco. And I am aware
that the memory of the past. with many
of you, is all covered up with oblitera
tions, and I now propose, SO far as tho
Lord may help me, to take away the
covering. that the old picture may shine
out again. l want to bind in one shea.
all your past advantages, and want t.
bind in another sheaf all your past ad
versities. It is precious harvest, ant
I must be cautious how swing thu
scythe.
Among the greatest advantages O
your past life were an early home ant
| its surroundings. The bad men of thu
| day, for the most part, dip their heatet
! passions out of the boiling spring o
an unhappy home. We are not sur
prised to find that Byron's heart was
concentration of sin when we hear hi
mother was abandoned and that sh
made sport of his infirmity and ofte1
called him ssthe lame brat" He VIII
has vicious parents has to fight ever.
inch of his way if he would maintain
his integrity and at last reach the hom
of the good in Heaven. Perhaps you
early home was in city. 1t may hav
been when Pennsylvania avenue, Wash
ington, was residential, as now it
commercial, and Canal street, Ne,
| OTk, WAS 1NE up toWh' AA"S OAu AaO OeAS'
in the city may have been demolishe
or changed into stores, and it seeme
like sacrilege to you, for there wa
more meaning in that small house tina
there is in granite mansion or tut
reted cathedral. Looking back, you sc
it as though it were yesterday-th
sitting-room, where the loved one 81
| by the plain lamp light. the mothe
at the evening stand, the brothers an
sisters, perhaps long ago gathered int
the skies, then plotting mischief Q
the floor or under the table, your I,
ther with a firm voice commanding
silence that lasted half q minute.
i Oh, those were good days! If 20
had your foot hurt, your mother .
ways had q soothing salve to heal
If you were wronged in the street, yo,
| father was always ready to prote'
you. The year was one round of frol
4 and mirth. Your greatest trouble W;
1 an April shower, more sunshine tbs
shower. The heart had not been ra'
| sacked by trouble, nor had sickne