The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-05
IA. LlMAG SERMON.
HARMONY AND MELODY LAST
SUNDAYS SUBJECT.
StronE Influence In After Years of
Hymns Heard aud Committed to
Memory In Early Life-Tho Old FASH
toned Pulpit.

Hymns Heard aud Committed to
Memory In Early Lifs-The Old FASH
toned Pulpit.
Copyright. 1900. by Louis Klopsch.l
ext, Psalm cxvil1, IA: The Lord is
my strength and song"
The most fascinating theme for a
heart properly attuned is the Saviour.
There is something in the morning
light to suggest Him and something in
the evening shadow to speak His
praise. The flower breathes Him, the
stars shine on Him, the cascade pro-
claims 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 Him who is the Rose of Sharon
and the Lily of the Valley" When l
see IN the fields lamb, I say, "Be-
hold the Lamb OF God that taketh
away the sin of the world" When in
very hot weather come under pro-
iecting cliff. say:
Z Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!
over the old-fashioned pulpits there
was a 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
md 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 handlwork. The Bible
thrills with one great story of redemp-
ton. Upon blasted and faded para
disc 1t poured light of glorious re-
storation. 1t looked upon Abraham
from the ram caught in the thicket. 1t
spoke in the bleating of the herds
driven down to Jerusalem for sacrifice.
II put infinite pathos into the speech
OF uncouth fishermen. 1t lifted Paul
into the third heaven, and it broke
upon the ear of St. John with the
brazen trumpets and the doxology OF
she elders and the rushing wings OF
the seraphim.
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 fortunes smile and your pathway
blossoms and the overarching heavens
drop upon you their benediction, speak
the praises of Jesus.
The old Greek orators, when they
saw their audiences inattentive and
slumbering. had one word with which
they would rouse them up to the
greatest enthusiasm. In the midst Of
their orations they would stop and cry
out Marathon!" and the peoples en-.
3thusiasm would be unbounded. M,
hearers, though you may have beer
borne down with sin, and though trou
pie and trials >anda temptation may
nave come upon you, and you feel to-
day hardly like looking up, methinks
there Is one grand, royal, imperia
word that 9ughtg, and rKour soulte
tneesus."
rover OF the Hymn.
Iaklng the suggestion of the text.
snail speak to you of Christ our Sons
! remark, in the first place, that Chris
ought to be the cradle song. What on
mothers sang to us when they put u
to sleep is singing yet. We may hay
forgotten the words; but they wen
into the fiber of our soul and will for
ever be part of it. 1t is not s.
much what you formally teach YOU
children as what you sing to them. 1
hymn has wings and can f1y every
whittier. One hundred and fifty wear
after you are dead and "Old Mortal
lty' has worn out his chisel recut
ting your name on the tombstone YOU
Observation-Disclosures will be singing tn,
song which last night you sang to YOU
little ones gathered about your knee
There is a place in Switzerland wher,
II you distinctly utter your voice
there come back ten or fifteen distinc
echoes, and every Christian song suns
by q mother in the ear of her child
shall have 10000 echoes coming bacl
from all the gates of heaven. Oh, il
mothers only knew the power of thi:
sacred spell, how much oftener the
little ones would be gathered. and all
our homes would chime with the song:
Of Jesus!
We want some counteracting influ.
ence upon our children. The very mo.
ment 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
1t will not do to keep you boys and
girls In the house and make them
house plants. They must have fresh
air and recreation. God save your
children from the scathing. blasting
damning influence of the street! ]
know OF no counteracting influence but
the power of Christian culture and ex-
ample. 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 in
struction all the fascination of music
morning, noon and night. Let it be
Jesus, the cradle song. This is i'm
portant ii your children grow up, but
perhaps they may not. Their pathway
may be short Jesus may be wanting
that child. Then there will be sound
less step in the dwelling and the
youthful pulse will begin to flutter and
little hands will be lifted for help. You
cannot help. And great agony will
pinch at your heart, and the cradle
will be empty, and the nursery will