Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-05-12
LOOKING BACKWARD.
DR.. TALMAGE SAYS 1T is WELL TO
REVIEW THE PAST.
Tic Would Arouse the Soul TO Remi-
nfsccnce of Dangers Escaped and
SORROWS Suffered - Old Memories
Have a Purifying Influence.


nisccnce of Dangers Escaped and
sorrows Suffered - Old Memories
Have "A Purifying Influence.
lcopyrlght. Louis Klopsch, 1901
WASHINGTON. May This sermon
If Dr. Talmage calls the roll Of many
stirring memories and interprets the
meaning Of life's vicissitudes- The text
is Psalms xxx. 3. while l was mus
ing. 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 a small island off the coast OF
Nova Scotia | once passed Sabbath in
delightful solitude, for l had resolved
that | would have one day Of entire
ouiet before / entered upon autumnal
work. thought to have spent the day
in LAYING out plans for Christian work,
but instead Of that it became day OF
tender "reminiscences l reviewed 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 10 years OF age and
was s. and l was 5. There was but one
bouse on the island. and yet from Sab
hath daybreak, 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 It's
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 SC
mucb in the present as in the future
find that you mean to make reputa
ton. you mean to establish yourself
and the advantages that you expect tC
achieve a bsorb a great deal Of your time
) Rut | see no harm in this il 1t does mol
make you discontented with the pres
: ent or disqualify You for existing du
ties It is a useful thing sometimes u
look back. and to see the dangers w
have escaped. and to see the sorrows W.
{ have suffered. and the trials and wan
derings of our earthly pilgrimage an'
10 sum up cur enjoyments | mean Sc
far as God may help me, to stir mp you
O.. memory Of the past. so that IN the re
view you may be encouraged and hum
bled and urged to pray
A Precious Harvest.
There is chapel in Florence with
! fresco ty Guido 1t was covered u
n with two inches Of stucco until on
American and European artisH wen
there. and after long toll removed IN
p, covering and retraced the freseo Ana
b am aware that the memory OF the past
with many Of you. is all covered n
with obliterations, and | now propose
so far as the Lord may help me. to tax
o away the covering, that the old pictur
y NAV shine out again. want to oind
one sheaf all your past advantages an
want TO bind in another sheaf all you
,. mast adversities. 1t is precious bar
/. vest and | must be cautious how
swing the scythe
Among the greatest advantages
. vour past life were an early home an
a. its surroundings The bad men OF IN
, dav. for the most part. dip their heate
passious ont of the boiling spring OF a
II nphapoy home We are not surprise
~ TO find that Byron's heart was col
d, centration Of sin when we hear b
mother was abandoned and that sh
y made sport Of his infrmity and ofte
] called him "the lame brat He wh
d, has vicious parents has to fight ever
inch Of his way If be would maintai
" his integrity and at last reach the hon
IT Of the good in heaven. Perhaps yor
q. early home was in city II may ha,
been when Pennsylvania avenue, Masl