Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-06-16
RECALLS THE PAST.
Dr.. Talmage's Sermon Is Largely
Reminiscent.
Draws Helpful Lessons from the Ex-
pcrlences and Vicissitudes OF
Lifc-Mcmorics of
Home.
Copyright, 1899, by Louis Klopsch. Wash


Copyright, 1890 by Louis Klopsch. WASH
| ington, May7,
This sermon of DR.. Talmage calls the
roll of many stirring memories and in
| terprcts the meaning of life's vicissi-
tudes. The text is Psalms xXxiX, 3:
"Whie 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
1t 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 I 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 day of tender
Renaissance. Ireviewed my pastorate;
| shook hands with an old departed
| WuOll Shull SiCCt NhNh
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 reminiscencc. 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. l find
that you mean to make reputation,
YOU mean to establish yourself, and the
advantages that you expect to achieve
absorb 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 n useful thing sometimes to look
back and to sec 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 enioyments. | 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. 1t 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 / am aware
that the memory of the past, with many
of YOU, is all covered up with obltera-
tions, and / now propose, so far as the
Lord may help me, TO take away the
covering, that the old picture may shine
out again. / want to bind in one sheaf
all your past advantages, and want to
bind in another sheaf all your past adj
versities. 1t is a precious harvest, and
must be cautious Now ! swing the
scythe.
Among the greatest advantages Of
your past life were an early home and
its surroundings. The bad men of the
day, for the most part, dip their heated
passions out Of the boiling spring of
an unhappy home. We are not sur
prised to find that Byron's heart was a
concentration of sin when we hear his
mother was abandoned and that she
made sport of his infrmity and often
called him "the lame brat" He who
has vicious parents has to fight every
inch of his way II he would maintain
his integrity and at last reach the home
of the good in Heaven. Perhaps your
carly home was in city. 1t may have
been when Pennsylvania avenue, Wash
ington, was residential, as now it is
commercial, and Canal street, New
York, was far up town. That old house
in the city may have been demolished
or changed into stores, and it seemed
like sacrilege to you, for there was
more meaning in that small house than
there is in q granite mansion or tur-
reted cathedral. Looking back, you see
it as though it were yesterday-the
sitting-room, where the loved one sat
by the plain lamp light, the mother
at the evening stand, the brothers and
sisters, perhaps long ago gathered into
the skies, then plotting mischief on
the floor or under the table, your fa-
ther with firm voice commanding a
silence that lasted half minute.
Oh, those were good days If you
had your foot hurt, your mother al
ways had soothing salve to heal it.
If you were wronged in the street, your
father was always ready to protect
you. The year was one round Of frolic
and mirth. Your greatest trouble was
an April shower, more sunshine than
shower. The heart had not been ran
sacked by trouble, nor had sickness
broken it, and no lamb had warmer
sheepfold than the home in which your
childhood nestled.
Perhaps you were brought up in the
country. You stand now to-day in men,
ory under the old tree. You clubbed il
for fruit that was not quite ripe, be-
cause you couldn't wait any longer You
hear the brook rumbling along over
the pebbles. You step again into the
furrow where your father in his shirt
sleeves shouted TO the lazy oxen. You
frighten the swallows from the raft.
ers of the barn and take just one egg
and silence your conscience oy saying
they will not miss it. You take drink
again out of the very bucket that the
old well fetched up. You go for the
| ~ irb 49,, .