The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-04-04

text, fSalm cXVill, Ia, 'Ihe LORD is my
strength and song"
The most fascinating theme for heart
properly attuned is the Savior. There
is something in the morning light to sug-
gest him and something in the evening
shadow to speak his praise. The flower
breathes him, the stars shine him, the
cascade proclaims him, all the voices of
nature chant him. Whatever is grand,
bright and beautiful if you only listen to
it will speak his praise. So when IN the
summer time | pluck a flower | think OF
hin who is 1.-The Rose of Sharon and the
Lily of the Valley" When l see in the
fields a lamb, say, Behold the Lamb Of
God that taketh away the sin of the
world" When in very hot weather L
come under a projecting cliff, | say:
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee
Over the old-fashioned pulpits there
was sounding board. The voice Of the
minister rose to the sounding board and
then was struck back again upon the ears
of the people. And so the 10000 voices
OF earth rising up find the heavens a
sounding board which strikes back to the
ear of all nations the praises of Christ.
The heavens tell his glory, and the earth
shows his handiwork. The Bible thrills
with one great story Of redemption. Upon
q blasted and faded paradise it poured
Il light Of glorious restoration. 1t look
cd upon Abraham from the ram caught
in the thicket. 1t spoke in the bleating
of the herds driven down to Jerusalem
for sacrifice. It put. infinite pathos into
the speech of uncOuth fishermen. 1t lift
cd Paul into the third heaven, and it
broke upon the ear of ST.. John with the
brazen trumpets and the doxology Of the
elders and the rushing wings of the
seraphm.
Instead Of waiting until you get sick
and worn out before you sing the praise
of Christ, while your heart is happiest
and your step is lightest and your for
tunes smile and your pathway blossoms
and the Overarching heavens drop upon
you their benediction, speak the praises
of Jesus.
Power of the Hymn.
Taking the suggestion OF the text, L
shall speak to you of Christ our Song. L
remark. in the first place, that Christ
ought to be the cradle song. What our
mothers sang to us when they put us to
sleep is singing yet. We may have for
gotten the words; but they went into the
fiber of our soul and will forever be 4
part Of it. 1t is not so much what you
formally teach your children as what you
sing to them. A hymn has wings and can
fly everywhither. One hundred and fifty
years after you are dead and odd Nor
tality" has worn out his chisel recutting
your name on the tombstone your great
grandchildren will be singing the song
which last night you sang to your little
ones gathered about your knee. There is
a place in Switzerland where, if you dis
tinctly utter your voice, there come back
ten or fifteen distinct echoes, and every
Christian song sung by mother in the
ear of her child shall have 10000 echoes
coming back from all the gates Of heaven.
Oh, if mothers only knew the power of
this sacred spell, how much oftener the
little ones would be gathered, and all our
homes would chime with the songs Of
Jesus!
We want some counteracting influence
upon cur children. The very moment
your child steps into the street he steps
into the path of temptation. There are
foul-mouthed children who would like to
besoil your little ones. It will not do to
keep your boys and girls in the house and
iHdke lueHl IOuSc ufaHlS. 1uoy must
have fresh air and recreation God save
your children from the scathing, blasting,
damning influence Of the street. / know
of no counteracrinG influence but the
power of Christian culture and example
Hold before your little ones the pure life
of Jesus. Let that name be the word
that shall exercise evil from their hearts
Give to your instruction all the fascina-
re >...b4
Let it be Jesus, the cradle song. This is
important il your children grow up, but
perhaps they may not. Their pathway
may be short. Jesus may he wanting
that child. Then there will be a sound
less step in the dwelling, and the youth
full pulse will begin to futter, and little
hands will be lifted for help. You cam
not help. And great agony will pinch
at your heart, and the cradle will be
empty, and the nursery will be empty,
and the world will be empty, and your
soul will be empty. No little feet stand
ing on the stairs. No toys scattered on
the carpet. No quick following from
ing questions. No upturned face with
laughing blue eyes come for kiss, but
only grave and wreath Of white BIOS
ton and signing at nightfal with no
one to put to bed. The heavenly Shep-
herd will take that lamb safely anyhow,
whether you have been faithful or un-
faithful but would it not have been
pleasanter If you could have heard from
those lips the praises of Christ? / never
read anything more beautiful than this
about a childs departure. The account
said, "She folded her hands, kissed her
mother good-by. sang her hymn. turned
her face to the wall, said her little prayer
and then died.
Oh, If I could gather up in one para
graph the last words Of the little ones
who have gone ont from all these Chris
tian circles and / could picture the calm
looks and the folded hands and sweet de-
narture, methinks it would be grand and
beautiful Us one Of heavens great dox-
ologiesi
Songs for the Old.
| next speak of Christ as the old mans
song. Quick music loses its charm for
the aged car. The school girl asks for
gchottish or q glee bur her grandmother