The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-01-25

for they have none, and they are the
joke OF hell. But let them live conse-
Grated and Christian life, and they will
soon run against sneering opposition.
OF thousands, but by millions must we
count those slain for Christ's sake. No
wonder John Milton put the groans of
the martyrs to an immortal tune, writ
ing:
Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints,
whose bones
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold.
The smoke of martyrs homes and
martyrs bodies if rolling up all at once
would have eclipsed the MONDAY sun
and turned the brightest day the world
ever saw into a midnight. who is this
that cometh out of the wilderness like
pillars of smoke?''
Has persecution ceased? Ask that
young man who is trying to be Chris
tian in store or factory, where from
morning to night he is the butt of all
the mean witticisms of unbelieving EN-
ployes. Ask that wife whose husband
makes her fondness for the house of
God and even her kneeling prayer by the
bedside derision and is no more fit
for her holy companionship than a
filthy crow would be fit companion for
robin or a golden oriole. Compromise
with the world and surrender to its con-
ventionalities, and it may let you alone,
but all who will live godly in Christ
Jesus made suffer. Be a theater-go-
ing, card playing, wine drinking,
round dancing Christian, and you
may escape criticism and social pres
| sure. Be an up-and-down, out-and-out
| follower OF Christ, and worldling will
wink to worldling as he speaks your
name, and you will be put in many a
doggerel and snubbed by those not
worthy to blacken your oldest shoes.
| When the bridge at Ashtabula broke
and let down the most of the carloaS Of
passengers to instant death, Mr.. T. P.
Bliss was seated on one side Of the aisle
of the car writing down Christian song
which he was composing, and on the
other side group of men were playing
cards. Whose landing place in eternity
would you prefer-that of p. P. Bliss,
the Gospel Singer, or of the card play
| ers?
/ A great complaint comes from the
theaters about the ladies' high hats, be-
cause they obstruct the view of the
stage, and a lady reporter asked me
what ! thought about it, and told her
| that if the indecent pictures of actress
es in the show windows were accurate
pictures of what goes on in many Of the
theaters night by night then it would
| be we'll if the ladies' hats we're mile
high. so as to completely obstruct the
vision. IF professed Christians go tc
such places during the week, no one viii
ever persecute them for their religion
Meet me at any depot the world over
and with my eyes closed take me BY
the hand and lead me so that my fee,
will not stumble, and without my ones
looking down or looking on the level
take me to some high roof or tower and
let me see the tops of the churches, and
| I will tell you the proportion of SUI
cides, of arsons, of murders, of thefts
According as the churches are numer
GUS are the crimes few. According al
the churches are few the crimes are nu
merous. The most beautiful organiza
ton the world ever saw or ever will Sc,
is the much-maligned church, the frient
Of all good, the foe of all evil, "fair al
the moon and clear as the SUM-" Beau
tiful in her Author, beautiful in he
mission, the heroine of the centuries
the bride Of Christ, the queen of tn
nations!
Men may desecrate it, as Cromwell
when he stabbed his cavalry horses il
st. PauPs cathedral; or break off tn
image of Christ, as did the iconoclast
ii York minister; o. hurl against it au
gust literary antipathies, as did Glib
bon; or plot its overthrow. as do som
J, in every community whose pride an
hate and debauchery are reproved b.
the Ten Commandments which it thun
ders and the sermon on the noun
which it breathes. But it will stand a
long as the earth stands, the sam
unique and woodworking an
beatific and miraculous thing for whic
God decreed it. Small wits tax thei
brain to say things that will put her a
! disadvantage, but many of them wi
5 send for its coincidence when dying, an
: their children will be gathered up III
= der its benedictions after the parents
t curse has been removed. Through he
gates will march all the influences fo
E good that shall ever reach our worls
$ Take her membership as mass, ne