The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-21
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS.
The Parable Applied to Every Day
Life by Rev. Rnscnm Anthony.


At Trinity Church yesterday morning
Rev. Bascom Anthony presented a view
Of the familiar parable that differed in
some respects from that which is fire.
quently taken by the pulpit His text was,
But the wise took oil in their vessels
with their lamps" Matthew XIV, 4.
My sympathies when a boy" said Mr.
Anthony, were always with those virgins
who were shut out and l had a grudge
against those other virgins who refused
oil to their less fortunate companions,
and went into the marriage without them.
l always thought they might have spared
them some of their oil and am not
sure that the foolish virgins are not en-
titled 10 more consideration than they
have received. The Lord was talking in
this parable about things in this world
and not about the kingdom to come. He
Is talking about men and women having
in themselves reserves of that power that
Will sustain them IN the sudden demands
of life that may come upon them. 1t is
this crucial test that is TO demonstrate
what we are. To find the soldier you need
not look upon dress parade, but must go
to Gettysburg. Charlottesville and the
Wilderness. A man may get along all
right in the ordinary hundrum of life but
it is when an emergency comes that
man is tested. If he fails then he fails
altogether.
Sometime ago I went on the steamer
City of Augusta" said Mr. Anthony.
THE captain was walking about appar-
entity not doing anything in particular.
II felt as if / could have run the boat
as well as he did. There did not seem
to be much 10 be done. But the other
day when the Augusta encountered that
West India storm the captain was al his
post day and night, guarding with mas
ter's hand the vessel chat was in danger
of being dashed to pieces.
You never heard of Admiral Dewey
until last year" said Mr. Anthony. 1T
was not until that memorable May morn
ing when the test came and Dewey walk
ed the deck of his vessel and gave orders
that sunk the Spanish fleet. We hear it
said of men sometimes that they stub
bornly refuse to die though very sick.
They have a reserve force to draw upon.
and that sustained them. People speak
of the mysterious proydences of life, but
you and l have a great deal to do with
these mysterious providences.
There is such a thing as laying up a
reserve of character. There are men here
in Savannah TO whom You would trust
your life and property and would have
no thought of their beraying their trust.
One may come and tell you things about
those men, but you win not believe them
because they have reserves of character
that you have confidence in. We can so
lay up such reserves that those who are
taking cognizance of us will say that we
are reliable to the core and win do to trust
anywhere.
Lay up for yourselves reserves of faith,
hope and love" said the preacher. There
are times in your life when the storms
viii come. Some will sit hopeless amid
the wreck and others will go forth with
their lamps burning, and though they
Da.rr TO 81,
ness, their faith in God viii sustain them
and they viii land safely on the other
side. There are those who are
surrounded by troubles on every hand but
their pathway through life is a radiant one
because their grip takes hold of things
unseen. They march onward with stead
fast faith and with a light step. There is
a great deal of suffering in this city.
come 10 some people who refuse TO hear a
message of hope. There are others who
have laid up great supplies Of hope and
are marching through difficulties. Trouble
cannot touch a life like that except to
refine ii and purify it. Death itself cannot
harm such a life IS that but can only ex-
alt it. Are you equal to the demands that
will come upon you? You will be tried next
week, next month. Lay up this reserve of
hope and love and whatever may come
you will be prepared TO meet it, Ii viii
find you ready, with oil in your lamp"
All on negro woman WHCD the eArt0-
quake was felt at Waynesboro exclaimed:
Shake EN- aea n Lord. I've been telling
EN- the Lord ruled" She had a reserve of
faith upon which 10 lean and while others
were frightened she was joyous and hap
py. Lay up a reserve Of faith for time
Of storm for the day is coming when you
win need it,
Mr.. Anthony had announced that he
would preach AT the evening service upon
the question Of the gambling evil at pres
ent agitating the community. Ii was a
matter Of regret, therefore, that the
threatening weather that prevailed just at
the hour when services were to begin pre-
vented his coming to the church. Ii had
been stated that he would speak to the
point and his discussion of the acknowl-
edged evil and the apparent inability Of
the officers of the law 20 cope with it
would have been of interest. Il is probable
that Mr., Anthony will discuss the ques-
ton in one of his sermons on next sun
day.
MEET AND PLAN AT MACON.