The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-25
YESTERDAY AT THEY. M. G. A.
Special Musical Programme Postponed
Until Next Sundsy-Fine Address
Given by Rev A, r. Irvine Yesterday

Given by Rev. A. f.. Irvine Yesterday.
On account of the heavy rain the Y.
M. G. A. meeting was not held in the
Grand opera house yesterday afternoon
as usual but at the association rooms.
The special musical programme arrang-
ed for Sunday in which Prof. and Miss
Peterson were to assist will be given at
the opera house next Sunday. Mr.. Ir-
vine delivered his address on Eyes,
Human and Divine" to about sixty men
gathered in the parlor where a cheer
full fire was roaring in the CRATE. A
synopsis Of the address follows:
Mine eyes effecteth mine heart
Job.
Ruskin says: 1.-THE greatest thing a
human soul ever does in this world is
to see something and tell it in a plain
way. Hundreds of people can talk for
one who can think; but thousands can
think for one who can see. To see
clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion
allin one."
There are people who go through life
without seeing very much. They have
eyes to see and see not Some years
ago L took a trip through the Rocky
mountains Before entering the Royal
gorge an observation car was attached
to enable us to view the marvellous
rock formations. To my surprise only
about fifteen people came out. The ma
jorfty of the travellers had never been
through it before. They were simply
not interested. The same kind of seen
cry in Italy might excite admiration
and wonder. Year after year thousands
travel through the greatest mountain
scenery in the world and never see 1t.
On an ordinary Journey in spring or
summer what a collection of pictures
one can make by the use of their eyes!
Landscapes more beautiful than in
spired brush ever put on canvas; forms
more charming than ever chiselled in
marble or moulded in clay of bronze.
The eye is the door to the chamber of
imagery When that chamber is filled
with beautiful pictures how can one be
at a loss for subjects of conversation?
But, alas In many cases the blinds
are down and that sombre room is filled
with pictures that degrade the soul
and keep it from the higher levels of
life and Service.
Let me tell you of what some blind
men saw. The first great book on the
life and habits of bees was written by
Francois Huber who was totally blind
He saw through the eyes of his wife.
Milton, too, was totally blind when he
enriched the English language with his
epic poetry. This list Of blind men
who were world teachers might be
greatly enlarged. Now there have been
men, and famous men, too, who with
good eyes have been as blind as bats
Among these were Darwin, who served |
the world we'll but who, when he scan
ned the heavens of higher truth put
his eye to the small end of the telescope.
He lived to confess and regret this. He |
made intellect king and heart bond |
servant. This list might also be enlarg-
ed.
There is story of painter, who |
had the misfortune to bitterly offend a
woman. She resolved to be revenged, |
and this is how she went about it. He |
was about to paint a picture for an
exhibition at a famous gallery where he
hoped to gain the first prize The wo-
man resolved to spoil the picture Be-
ing in intimate association with him,
she daily administered a small white
powder in the coffee, unknown to him
The painter labored diligently and was
we'll satisfied with his work He was
so confident that he would carry off
the price that. when his picture was
hung in the gallery, he placed curtain
before it which he did not mean to take
down until the last moment before the
Judges gave their award. The other
pictures seemed to be very badly
colored; the trees in them were all yell
lowish their flesh color more like
leather than flesh, and the tint of their
seas like that of boiled green's. He felt
sure his picture far excelled such sorry
daubing When he drew aside the
curtain from his picture he was gratified
to see that a crowd gathered around it.
But the crowd did not admire. On the
everyone burst into laughter
and people called their friends to come
and see the droll thing. His picture
was entirely blue. What he had meant
for flesh color was violet in shadow,
what he had meant for emerald green
was like blue ink; his trees were the t
tint Of blue serge. Of course he could !
not see that it was So but his friends l
assured him of the fact His enemy
had poisoned his eyes with the powder.
In few days, taking no more of the
powder, his sight was restored and ne L
saw how ridiculous was the picture he c
had painted. Let the doctors decide S
the scientific points but asa parable I
the story Is entirely true. We are all d
painters at work upon picture, the n
picture is life, character. The powder n
;elfishness has made us color blind to 2
he realities of life. A selfish man il
thinks himself the cream and every e
me else the skim milk of humanity.
Are you ready to lift the curtain?
Brother man, what kind of a picture
ire you painting? The church of La A
,dicea was a club of lukewarm religion a
SITS who had not need Of anything. AS c
hey saw themselves they were all O.
light. Housed, fed, clothed and hav- c.
ng silver and gold to spare. But as "
Tod saw them they were wretched and 81
faxed. God challenged them to buy ly
lin a raiment of Righteousness, gold II
ried in the fire, the gold of character, Il
nd one thing he particularly advised d.
hem to get was eye salve. They were il
blind. God and service and a
he beauties of nature and life were p
hut out He wanted them to have ell
GOD eyesight sight sufficient to see v
themselves as He saw them. W