The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-01-05
DAWN OF A CENTURY
pr. Talmage breaches Of the Bright
ness in Which 1t Comes.
a-.rica To-day the Chosen Nation OF
coJ-What the Old cntury Leaves
BehiDd dlt-Christianity IL
Spreading.
downright, 1851


urges preparation for stirring events;
.ext Chronicles. l2:32: The children
~ Issachar, which were men that ha'!
understanding of the fines, to kno"
what Israel ought to do
Great tribe, that tribe of lssacha".
When Joab took the census. there were
1A5.6OO OF them Before the almanac
was born. through astrological study.
they knew from stellar conJunctlons
all about the seasons of the year. Be
fore agriculture became an art they
were skilled in the raising of GRIPS.
Before politics became science they
knew the temper of nations, and when
ever they marched, either for pleasure
or war, they marched under three
colored fiag-topaz, sardine and .a:-
buncle. But the chief characteristic
Of that tribe of Issachar was that they
understood the times. They were not
like the political and moral incompc-
tents of our day. who are trying 10
guide 1898 by the theories of 1928.
They looked at the divine indications
In their own particular century. SO
we ought to understand the times, not
the times when America was 13 colonies
huddled together along the Atlantic
coast, but the times when the nation
dips one hand in the ocean on Cnc
side the continent and the other hand
IN the ocean on the other side the con-
tinent; times which put New York
Narrows and the Golden Horn of :he
Pacific within one fash of electric
Biography; times when God is as d.
rectly, as positively as solemnly, as
tremendously addressing us through
the daily newspaper and the quick
revolution of events as he ever ed-
dressed the ancients or addresses us
through the Holy Scriptures. Tn,
voice Of God in Providence is as i'm
portant as the voice of God in typology,
for in our own day we have had our
Hinais with thunders of the Almighty,
and Ca'varies of sacrifice. and Geths. M
anes that sweat great drops of blood,
and Olivets of ascension. and Mount
Pisgahs OF far-reaching vision. The
Lord who rounded this world 6,Co)
years ago and sent his Son to redeem II
near 1900 years ago has yet much to 10
with this radiant but agonized planet.
Nay God make us like the children e
Issachar (which were men that had
understanding of the times, to know
what Israel ought to do"
The grave of this century will soon be
dug. The cradle Of another century will
soon be rocked. There is something
moving this way out of the eternities,
something that thrills me, blanches me,
appalls me. eNhilarates me. enraptnres
me. 1t will wreathe the orange bios
SONS for millions Of weddings. 1t will
beat the dirge for millions of obse-
quies. 1t will carry the gilded ban
ners OF brightest mornings and the
black flags of darkest midnights. The
/ world will play the grand march of its
heroes and sound the rogues' march OF
us towards. Other professions may
malt or break down or fall back, but
tne procession led by that leader moves
steadily on and will soon be here. It
VII preside over coronations and de-
shronements. l hail it. I bless it! l
Weicome it! The twentieth century of
the Christian era.
what may we expect of it and how
sha'l we prepare for it are the momen-
.ous questions Ipropose now to discuss.
as IN families human nativity is an
nc'pated by all sanctity and kindli-
ness and solemnity and care and hope
.uiness, so ought we prayerfully, hope
au'iv' mdustriously. confidently pre-
pare for the advent of a new century
ane nineteenth century must not treat
tae twentieth on its arrival as the
.yhteenth century treated the nine
I senth. Our century inherited the
wrecks OF two revolutions and the su.
pefstitioas of age. Around its cradle
.'ood the armed assassin of old world
srannles; the reign of terror be-
4aea.hlng its horrors; Robespierre
piottlng his diabolism; the Jacobin
c'uo' with its wholesale massacre; the
suniofine, chopping its beheadments
ne ground quaking with the great
guns OF Marengo. Wagram and Bad.
Jos. All Europe in convulsion. Asia
= comparative quiet. but the quietness
Y y. Death. Africa in the clutches of the
save trade. American savages in full
S'!, their scalping knives lifted. This
s.nansteh and poverty struck people
!. america sweating under the debt oi
s-oV'ooo ,0e0, which the revolutionary
var had left them. Washington lust
sone into the long sleep at Mount Yer
aon' and the nation in bereavement
aaron Burr, the champion libertine, be
coming soon after vice president. The
government of the United States onl,
~ experiment, most of the philoso
p.e.s and statesmen and government:
= 'ne earth prophesying it would be
s'seraceIul failure. No poor founding
$50 at night on the cold steps of {
%ansion. - be picked up in the morn
was poorer off than this century a
1auvitY, The limited States oovern