The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-31
GIr ! SHOULD DIE TONIGHT"
,ouN ID. JORDAN's SERMON
NJ At THE FIRST BAPTIST.

Vbnt 1t Does Not Apply to
a,n,-..iIow 1t Would Affect 9th
ri should Die Tonight" and
,,,,, 7, should Affect Me to Know
Must Die Tonight" Were
,,o phases Considered.
,oreregation for Sunday night at
..,san. was large at the First Bap-
4 .,-rr.b last night. The pastor, Rev.
4 IN Jordan's. announcement of IF
o.-...7 D., Tonight" as the subject Of his
4 -, drew many, as in the subject they
9r,r,ise of the excellent discourse that
was given.
Shaving several hymns in which the
,--ssart5u Joined and a solo by a mem
.,t tbs choir. all of which were greatly
-.,rst was the sermon, the pastor pre-
- tbe thoughts he had worked out
l.,-, his subject by the story Of the author
tho posn If I Should Die To-night."
~ ,.t5 of the peculiar circumstance of
,5., author having recited his poem at
s..tsr.rs and having then retired with a
--,a,r,. TO a hotel, where a supper was
l IL was when the beMboy of the
,,,sl called the man the next morning in
-..5rl.a,e with Instructions that the dis
.,. WAS n1ade that his words, though
.....rv il.v SPOKEN, were more serious
IT,, ~ dreamed. He had died during the
nigh.
ur jordan said:
o,u through the scriptures we are
,,,obr th4t life is short and uncertain,
aT3 re- warned to be prepared at any mo-
mem for IFS close. These same lessons
,-e r., us almost daily in the death or
wen women and children, yet We are
''r.r4 IA fancy that such will not be the
ts.s with us. and TO prolong the time for
mn ur4,aration. The wisest and best
t5inq fol us to do is to live each day as
lnoush III were our last day on earlh ana
air. an3l preparation for eternity This
ijs7 need in no way hinder the fullest en-
ioyment and best service for the day, but
+ ought To call forth our purest and best
rr5gr9ts. our noblest and wisest actions,
and Increase our faith and enlarge our
bop,s so soon to be realized.
.In order to give detiniteness and point
f., fine thought let us consider this cues
zion: IF should die tonight
How would it affect others If 1 should
55. to-n.g ht?'' many would my many
faults forget and my few virtues eXtoi
and magnify. Then it would be too late
l,r ME TO appre ciate these kindly offices.
Why not serve me thus while live ana
crave and ICED such a service. The better
ser, .ca is o help the living overcome their
faults and enlarge and improve their VIZ
tgt.. We look uron The hands that move
rql We slroke them with loving caress,
and. recalling some gentle deed which they
performed. we praise the hands for il.
Thele IS no need to Caress the hands OF the
dad. lul there is imperative need TO
strengthen The hands of the living.
/ The feet hat walk no more, we praise
4 fer some kindly errand run, but we for
gal TO smother the pathway for running
iect pierced by many thorn.
"Ihe lips that move not, we kiss ana
4 rra So for their geutleness, wisdom ana
eoQu5u-e of Other days. Poor lips, how
much more gentle, wise and eioquent they
rieht have been had their service been
Wrought before death kissed them into
he eloquence of silence.
we put our hand above the silent heart
and say poor heart kind heart, it beats
4 10 more. and We forget that ii was TINS
very heart hat we wounded sorely and
never tried TO heal that wound. Though
The heat beats not the scar is still there.
We stroke the marble brow and de-
A clare that in heaven it will surely wear
Tie brightest crown of purest gold, yet,
taat was the very brow that we crowned
win a horn.
IF / should die tonight" some would
even Weep because l had gone. l care
not SO much for your tears when 1 am
dead but do crave your smiles while
am living: Let me withhold my tears in
death if I withheld my smiles in life.
"If l should die tonight friends would
cover my grave with flowers of rarest
beauty and richest fragrance, designed
by exquisite art. Then my eyes could not
see them my nose could not smell them
and my heart, so cod, could not apprecia-
ale them. one little rose is of more value
10 the living than carloads of flowers 10
the dead
IF ] should die tonight" all hearts ever
ahenated from me would turn to me and
an would be forgiven. If 1 am to be
forgiven when l am dead, why not while
am living? Also loving hearts of friends
uIed and true would be sad. These are
inc hearts that make life worth living and
'eath worth dying. To all such hearts
"oud leave an oil of ointment in the urn
Of gratitude.
Lee my last days work be well done,
;" ! could eXclaim with my God, Father
nave finished the work which thou CAV
nave finished my course l would have
iNy last Day spent in the highest and best
service visiting the sick, comforting the
.0'Io"IAg, feeding the hungry, clothing
,"e poor admonishing a sinner, cheering
saIht and communing with my God.
~ would want to die at peace with end
'.Sslhs all mankind. 1 would freely for
eve my le!lowmen all, and crave a like
tSl3l'euess at their hand. No more could
49, rt,se lAlngs be desired were this my last
tt7 on earth than they are now with
I''[ prospect of years before me. There
o., o. 9ul one thing better than to be forgiven
1'I l3a' is 10 forgive.
Ava would want to die at peace with God
r1 we at peace with God tonight? Il
qol Jet us seek that peace. NV peace
coiI5 5e unto YOU saith the Lord. If ]
n. - ~ order it my last day on earth would
and '1 w preaching the gospel of peace
earn Wy last text would be, Peace on
f.5i good will toward men Then would
resl ,, asleep in Jesus and pass into the
ever - VI eternal day and be al peace for