The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-05-26
Or. 1ALMAGE'S SERMON.
PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG
AND OLD.
Subject: "LoukinG Dackward"-I 10 Well
to Review the Past and Arouse the
Soul to "Reminiscences Of Dangers Es-
capped and Sorrows Suffered.

TEXT: while l was musing. the FIRE
burned. Psalms xxx. 3.
Hele is David, the psalmist, with the
iorefincer OK his right hand against his
temple and the door shut against the world.
engaged in contem plation. And it would
be well for US to take tho same posture
often, while we sit down In sweet solitude
10 contemplate.
In a small island OF the coast OF Nova
Scotia / once passed a Sabbath In delight
ful solitude, for l had resolved that I would
have one day OF entire quiet before l en-
tered upon autumnal work. thought to
have spent the day in laying out plans for
Christian work, but instead Of that it be-
came a day OF tender reminiscence. I re-
viewed ny pastorate; l shook hands with
an old departed friend, whom l shall greet
again when the curtains OF life are lifted.
The days OF my boyhOod came back, and /
was ten years Of age, and l was eight, and
Twas five. There was but one house on
the island, and yet from Sabbath daybreak,
when tho 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 E.uch to spend all its time in looking
back ward. People in midlife and on the
apex look both ways. 1t would be we'll for
= III W SIcuu " t1IIc
In "Reminiscences. By the constitution OF
our nature we spend most Of the time look
ing forward. And the vast majority of peo-
pho live not so much in the present as in the
future. l find that you mean to make n
reputation, you moan to establish yourself,
and the advantages that you expect to
achieve absorb a great deal Of your time.
But | see no harm in this il it does not make
you disconnected with the present or dis
qualify you for existing duties. 1t is n use
full thing sometimes to look back. and to see
the dangers we have escaped, and to sec the
sorrows We have suffered. and the trials
ard wanderings Of our earthly pilgrimage,
and to sum up our eDjoyments. l mean, SO
far as God may help me, to stir up your
memory Of the past, 50 that in tho review
you may be encouraged and humbled and
urged to pray.
Among the greatest advantages of your
past life were m early home and it's sur
rouEdiDgs. The bad men Of the day, for
the most pit, dip their heated passions
out Of the boiling spring Of an unhappy
home. We arc not surprised to find that
Byron's heart was n concentration Of sin
when we hear his mother was abandoned
ana that she made sport OF his inflrmity
and often called Kim 1.-The lame brat" He
who has vicious parents has to fight every
inch OF his way If he would maintain his
integrity and at last reach the home OF tho
good in heaven. Perhaps you early homo
WIS III u CITY. II may nave DePn WntL
Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, was
residential rs now 1t 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 sacrilcge to you--for there was
moro meaning in that small house than
there IS in n granite mansion or q turreted
cathedral. Looking back, you see 1t as
though II were ycsterday-the sitting
room, ~hcrc the loved one sat by the plain
lamp light, tho mother at tho evening
sand, the brothers and sisters perhaps
long ago gathered into the skies. then
plotting mischief on the floor or Uuder tho
table; your father with firm voice COM
manainE aHilenccthat lasted half a minute.
Perhaps You We're brought up in tho
country You stand now to-day IN men
Cryundcr the Old tree. You clubbed it for
fruit that was not quite ripe, because you
rouliu t wait any longer. You hear the
brook rumUllnS along over the pebbles.
You step again into the furrow where your
father IN his shirt sleeves shouted to the
lazy oxen. You frichten the swallows from
the raItcrs Of the barn and take lust ono
egg and silence Your conscience bv snving
they will not miss it. You take q drink
again out Of Che very bucket that the old
well fetched up. You so for the cows at
night and find them pushing their heads
through the bars. Outlines in the dusty
and busy streets YOU wish YOU were
home again on that cool grass, or in the
rag carpeted hall ofthe farmhouse. through
which there came the breath OF new mown
hay or the blossom OF buckWhe
You may have in your windows now
beautiful plants and flowers brought from
across the seas, but not one of them stirs
In your soul SO much charm and memory
as the old ivy and the yellow sunf,ower
that stood sentinel along the garden walk
and the forGet-ine-nots playing hide and
seek mid the long grass. The father who
used to come" in suuhUrned from the field
and sit down On the doorslii and vino tn,
sweat from his brow may have gone 70 Ii
everlasting rest. Tho mother who uset l.
sit II the door a little Dent over. cap ana
spectacte- on her face meiiowinc with II