Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-02-26
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= A Preacher =
= Among the People. !.

THE OPEN CATHEDRAL DOOR,

| WAS uuTTyiuB dtOHB a SEO"uSu
street in a great city. Dark clouds
gathering in the sky indicated a COM
ing storm. Pedestrians cast glances
upward, and Quickened their steps.
Anxious to dispose of his wares before
being compelled to seek shelter, the cry
OF the hawker became more shrill. The
teamster urged his faithful servants to
redouble their gait. and iron hoofs
and rumbling wheels added much to
the noise Of the coming storm. was
a long distance from my destination. but
the open door of the cathedral seemed
to bid me welcome, SO | sought shell
ter under fits protecting roof
be 1t was as though I had entered an
other world. The confusion that
reighed without was no longer heard.
The great bryan was f,laying softly.
The huge Corinthian columns seemed
| like so many sentlnels jealously guard
| ing the the traditions of a brilliant and
heroic past, and the stations on the
wall told their own peculiar story of
suffering and love- Upon entering
was SO impressed with the grandeur of
the place that ! did'not note the pres
ence, of others. Soon, however,
became conscious :. that was
no t alone in, that vast room.
Her and there were, faithful
worshippers on their knees, saying
their prayers A. sister of charity, who
had just told her beads, arose, stepped
into the broad aisle, bowed reverently
before the altar and went out. A man
whom took to be a mechanic, came in
crossed himself, entered his pew, and
began his prayers. There was some
ming SO sincere about 1t all, something
that indicated such child-like, un-
4 shaken faith, that 1t set me thinking.
These people," finally said to my
SELF believe in the real presence,
hence the sincerely of their worship" /"
As the sister passed me on her way
out, thought, mo doubt the poor
sufferers at some one OF the city hos
pitfalls will be all the more tenderly
Jared for, or the children of some one
of the parochial schools more faithful
y taught because she spent few min
ties here" 1 could not but respect the
feelings and convictions of those
lOout me, but that which was so real
Ind full Of meaning to them was mean
ngless to me. Perhaps my early edu-
;ation had unduly prejudiced me
! against the church under whose roof l
| sought protection from the storm
| However that may be, only know
that while respected the worshippers
{ could not enter into the spirit of
--eir worship.
looked at the altar. AS work of
art, it excited my admiration. In a
sense, it had been consecrated by the
genius of the man who had construct
I'd 1t. Beyond that it seemed common
material to me. l knew the host was
there hidden. away from sight; but 1t
appealed to me less than did the bread,
,onsecrated by honest toll, which the
mechanic on his knees before me was
.aking home to his wife and child.
While l was musing upon these
.hlngs and wondering about the vary
ing convictions and sentiments of diff
,erent people, heard the sound of
oattering feet behind me. / turned
about and saw two little girls entering.
1t was necessary for them to stand on
toptoe, in order to reach the conse-
erated water with which they crossed
themselves. Hand in hand they walk
I'd up the aisle. their faces beaming
with childish delight My interest was
aroused in moment. On reaching
...eir pew, they made obeisance before
he altar with much apparent lack OF
reverence, but with that air OF inno-
cence that is known only to childhood.
When they knelt to say their prayers,
[ could only see the tops of the close
lifting hoods they Wore on their heads.
But had lost interest in all else about
ne; and anxiously waited to see them
step back into the aisle. Their pray
ers were not long. Whey should they
be? "Of such is the kingdom of hea-
ven" Hand in hand, each seeming to
feel responsible fon the welfare and
safety of. the other, they came back to-
ward the. door. They were just oppo-
site me and would be gone in a NOM
ent more, thought. but no! A real
blessing was in store for me. They,
stopped, and began a whispered but
earnest conversation. l heard none of
,heir words; but / looked into their
beautiful innocent faces, their deep
blue eyes, and there / saw a witness
Of the presence of God A change
came over me. realized then that
cher was something more than COL
umns, stations, and affairs about me-
I, too believe in in the real presence"
said to myself, bowed my head in
reverence for moment, and the SEN
timent OF one of my favorite hymns
took possession of me:
God of the earth, the sky, the sea,
Maker of all above, below,
Creation lives and moves in thee,
Thy present life through AL doth
how.