The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-23
THESTORY OF DORCASI
Dr. Talmage Draws a Lesson from
q Noble Woman's Life.

|
-. a Noble Woman's Life.
Work Assured Of .
RlcA Reward Hereafter-Help-
ful Words for Those who
Alleviate SUFFERING.
1Copyright, 1900, by Louis Klopsch.1
~ Washington,
DR.. Talmage, who is still travelling in
northern Europe, has forwarded the
following report of sermon in which
be utters helpful words to all who are
engaged in alleviating human dis
tresses and shows how such work will
be crowned at the last; text, Acts $3.50:
"And all the widows stood by him
weeping and showing him the coats
and garments which Dorcas made
while she was with them"
Joppa is a most absorbing city of
the orient. Into her harbor once float
ed the rats of Lebanon cedar from
which the temples Of Jerusalem were
built. Solomon's oxen drawing the logs
through the town. Here Napoleon had
500 prisoners massacred. One of the
most magnificent charities of the CEN
turies was started in this seaport by
Dorcas, a woman with her needle en-
broidering her name ineffaceably into
the benefcence of the world. I see her
sitting in yonder home. In the door
way and around about the building and
in the room where she sits are the pale
faces of the poor. She listens to their
plant, she pities their woe, she makes
garments for them, she adjusts the
manufactured articles to suit the bent
form of this invalid woman and to the
cripple that comes crawling on his
hands and knees. She gives coat to
this one, she gives sandals to that one.
With the gifts she mingles prayers and
tears and Christian encouragement.
Then she goes out to be greeted on the
street corners by those whom she has
blessed, and all through the street the
cry is heard: "Dorcas is coming!"
The sick look up gratefully into her
face as she puts her hand on the burn
ing brow, and the lost and the aban-
doned start up with hope as they hear
her gentle voice, as though an angel
had addressed them, and as she goes
out the lane eyes half put out with sin
think they see halo of light about her
brow and trail of glory in her path
| way. That night half paid ship
wright climbs the hill and reaches
home and sees his little boy well clad
and says: "Where did these clothes
come from?" And they tell him: "Dor-
cas- has been here" In another place q
woman is trimming lamp. Dorcas
bought the oil. In another place q
family that had not been at table fol
many weeks are gathered now, fol
Dorcas has brought bread.
But there is a sudden pause in thai
woman's history. They say: "Wher'
is Dorcas? Why, we haven't seen he1
for many a day. Where is Dorcas? ?
And one of these poor people goes NJ
and knocks at the door and finds th'
mystery solved. All through tn
haunts of wretchedness the new
comes: "Dorcas is sick!" No bulleti1
flashing from the palace gate telling
the stages of kings disease is NOR
anxiously waited for than the new
from this benefactress. Alas, TO
Joppa there is wailing, wailing! Tha
voice which has uttered so many cheer
full words is hushed; that hand whic
has made so many garments for tn
poor is cold and still; the star whic
had poured light into the midnight 9
wretchedness is dimmed by the bline
, ing mists that go up from the river 9
, death. In every forsaken place in tha
town, wherever there is sick child an
no balm, wherever there is hunger an
no bread, wherever there is guilt an
, no commiseration, wherever there is
broken heart and no comfort, there al
: despairing looks and streaming eye
and frantic gesticulations as they cry
"Dorcas is dead!"
:. They send for the apostle Peter, WI
happens to be in the suburbs of Il
y place, stopping with tanner of Il
name of Simon. Peter urges his Wa
s through the crowd around the do
L and stands in the presence of the dea
What demonstration of grief all abo'
3 him! Here stand some of the poor pc
pie, who show the garments whi'
Q this poor woman had made for thel
. Their grief cannot be appeased. II
IS apostle Peter wants to perform
" miracle. He will not do it amid the E
cited crowd, so he orders that t
whole room be cleared. The door
!. : shut against the populace. The apost
stands now with the dead. Oh, it i.
serious moment, you know, when y
= are alone with q lifeless body! T
!. apostle gets down on his knees .
:, prays, and then he comes to the Ii
less form of this one all ready for
= sepulcher, and in the strength OF Il
- who is the resurrection, he crit
~ :, "Tabitha, arise!" There is stir in
fountains of life; the heart flutters;
:. nerves thrill; the cheek fushes;
- eye opens; she sits up!
q We see in this subject Dorcas the
~ ciple, Dorcas the benefactress, Dor
IL. no&