Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-01-14

.vUs".aI cnarm 81 the ages, the st. Sophia
once n church, but now u mosque l do
not wonder that when Lamartinc SAW it
he thanked God. and Pouquevillc felt
himself lifted into some other world.
What pillars of porphyry, and walls of
malachite. and lowering arches, and gal
lerics which seemed to have alighted from
heaven instead Of being built up from
EARTH Mosaics and mother of pearl, and
seraphim with wings bcdiamonded, and
dome which scoops the sky and staggers
with its height and circumference all those
who gaze into IL until they can look no
more. but each succeeding time you look
il seems higher and wider and grander,
and more supernatural All the then
known world taxed To furnish the SPLEEN
dor Of the mosque. and many of the great
blocks Of stone brought from Alexandria.
from Athens, from Thches. from Baalbec.
Marbles veined, and starred, and striped,
and interlaccd. and the whole building
adorned with depths of blue, and wilderness
of snow, ana glow Of fire, until all terms
of magniiiccnec are IA depreciation and
years after !oJr most cXtravagant dreams
struggle 10 rebuild il But aftcr all can
not forget that it Is "A destroyed church,
and that ore day that building, which had
titlt NtGlfSttA ~ Aittii WIS lEAilNltITtti W
that religion rich has Mohammcd for
its prophet. One day. centuries ago. i00
900 people had fled between its walls from
the devastating war of the Turk, but all
In vain, for Mohammed ii, on horseback
and followed by infurinte mo5s, rode into
that church. the houfs gathering the sacred
floors, while the corqueror shouted tho
victory Of superstition and invoked Allah,
the god Of Arabs and Turks, TO accept the
stupeudous pile In dedication What a
dissertation. and what worldwide despair
But that which the nations now most
need is hero, IA leader, "a champion, an
inCarnated God, to turn all thc mosques
of superstition and all the basilicas of sin
into temples Of righteousness and TO re-
dedicate this world, So long given up TO
wiCkodness ana sin. So the God who in tho
beginning pronounced il very good. such
a hero, such leader, such u champion
such an incarnatcd GCd we have. He
Genes riding in upon the white horse of
eternal victory. and We can in more cx-
allied sense than that which the soldiers of
David fclt cry out. Thou art worth TO-,
600 Of us
The Might. Chorus.
Thowoiiu has bad otfcr conquer rs. yet
they suhdu,d only II natiun or "a continent,
but here is on" who j. To be "a Conqueror
of hCmisl hoIts Other physicians have
cured suiierinps. hut here is "a Docf r who
gave sight to those who were born blind
and withSut surgery Strengthened the
crooked back ard changed the numbncss
of paralysis into warm circulation and
who Will yet cNjiIVatc all the ailments of
the world. until the last cry of the worlds
distress shall change into song of con
yalcscencc Other kings have ruled wide
realms. hut here is u King that will yet
reign in ali the earth * Ia Eow Trigns in
heaven There have lcsu Other historians
who told the story Il nations. tut here is
one who tells us of things that occurred
before the world WAS There have been
other generals who con uinrdcd men. but
here was General who con. mandCd seas
and hurricanes There have been other
prophets. hut here i one ont of hose life
and career Nc st. and David and Jeremiah
and Ezckiol and Micah ami Malaci aud
Zcchnriah Dipped their inspiration There
have been other mcrcitul hearts all up and
down through the ages, but here Is ono
who loves us with an everlasting love ard
whose mercy an;cdates the birth ~ the
first mountain ana the wash OF the first
sea, ard the radiance of the first aurora,
ana the chant of the morning stars at the
creation, and will continue after tie last
rock has melted in the final conilarra,ion
and Atlantic and P;scilic oceans have roll
cd snt Of their beds. and the last night
shall have folded up its shadow, ard oGr
Lord shall have cried out In the same
words that soundcd through tho night of
Johns punishment Oh patmus. Il am
Alpha and Omega. the ucginning and tho
end The first and The last Then all tho
mighti,st OF L,n,,n will gather around
the inearnGtcd God Il whom prcat h
each ono saying ii ter himself, but al tn
geihcr uttering 1t III mighty chorus
n hon son OF David. thou son of Many.
thou son of Cod. thou art worth 10. 200 81
ne