The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-27
THE MEDITATION
OF THE HEART.
1t Should Always Be a Prayer, Not
Lament.
STRONG SERMON OF Or. CALISCH
sic Told Of How Great Men i'm All
Ages Had Isolated Themselves,
Greater the Genius Greater
the Need of Segregation.
STRONG SERMON OF DR.. CALlSCH

Rev. DR.. Edward y. Calisch who has
Vecently returned 90 the city, preached
an eloquent sermon last night at Bctn
Ahaba lie took for his text the 18th
Ncrse OF the 18th Psalm.
MAY the words of my mouth and the
meditation OF my heart Doe acceptable
before Thee. oh God, my ROCK and my
Redcomcr.
Dr. Causch handled his subject in
most interesting manner lie said, I'm
part.
While st is true that man is a social
animal and with instructive desire seeks
10 live associated with his fellow-men
set the history OF every great achieve
mcnt will disclose TO us the fact that
the sublimest mess ages Co humanity came
from those who. if they lived not bodily
apart from their generation. were sepa-
rated from them by the solitude of their
genius.
ABOVE THE LEVEL
The men who have showercd upon the
human race the greatest benefits. either
physical mental or spiritual have been
those who were least happy in the assoc
citation with their fcllow-men. AS "a giant
oak stands out lonely and companionless
in a field OF stuntcd bushes. though 10
be surrounded boy them on an sides. so
have the giants of intellectual and spir-
stual achievements uprcarcd their isolated
heights above the level of their c0nvcn-
tional brothers. I'm q letter 90 Collins Sir
isaac Newton forbade him 10 insert his
tNewton) name with the solution of the
problem in philosophical Transactions
1t would, perhaps. increase the circle
~ my acquaintance. said Newton. "a
thing which ] chiefly study to decline"
Genius feels the necessity of isolation"
says Emerson. and each must stand upon
dis class-trpOd OF he VIII lose his electri-
city"
II is this necessity OF isolation that
makes great mon unsociable. causes them
10 be sterile Of ood-felowship. makes
them retire into the hermitage of their
own thoughts
ISOLATION OF GREAT MEN.
The greater the genius. and the more
sublime the nature OF the work I'm which
they are engaged the greater is this
need OF segregation. SO that we find
the great leaders of thought Withdrawing
completely from human companionship
and going down deep into the soil of their
souls privacy till their work shall have
reached fruition and be ready to be seen
and enjoyed of men. Thus we have a
Moses retiring 10 the loneliness OF shep-
herd life for forty years before ne was
ready for the great dcliverance.
Regard our own life. not that of others.
or If you viii compare why compare
with one you deem happier? Why not
with one more miserable? The true medi-
tatiOn leads ms 10 the contemplation
% Gods infinite Justice tempered by His
1athomless pity and mercy.
Happy is the man. SAYS the psalmist.
whose delight is in the law OF God and
who meditates therein hy day and night
We mediate iu The Word OF God and We
find therein soiace and comfort and
strength and courage ln the contempla-
ton Of the divine order of things. the
vondrous wisdom and the marvellous
methods displayed. we realize that The
ultimate OF everything is good. and only
good.
STORMS ANR TEMPESTS.
There may be storms and tompcsts. and
rain and clouds. and wind and fury. but
these are the natural aids of tho perfect
INK process OF universal life. So are tho
tears and the sadness Of uur life So are
SIS trials and its pains and IT'S woe and
anguish. So are fits disappointments and
fits denial God is as kind in what He
withhholds from MS as in what lie gives,
and We're all our wishes granted. our
lives would indeed. Doe unhappy.
Thus. let our meditation be 70 prayer
and not a lament song Of praise and
not dirge of sorrow then will we come
forth from the isolation Of thought
strengthened TO take our place I'm tho
ranks OF our fellow-men TO look on our
brother with kinder eve TO judge him
with more generous thought and be
reader 10 defend him when absent. and
aid him when present then can we with
the Pslamist plead that the words Of orr
lips and the meditation Of our hearts
viii be acceptable before our God and
King and feel that our pleading Is not
in vain.