The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-23

with handsomer faces. but there was
no grief at their departure like this
1T the death of Dorcas. There was not
more turmoil and upturning in the
sea, dashing against
the wharfs at that seaport, than there
were surgings to and fro of grief be-
cause Dorcas was dead. There ara Z
great many who 60 out Of life and are
unmissed. There may be very large
funeral, there may be great many
carriages and q plumed hearse, there
may be high sounding eulogiums, the
bell may toll at the cemetery gate.
there may be very fine marble shaft
reared over the resting place, but the
whole thing may be falsehood and
sham. The church Of God has lost
nothing. 1t il only nuisance abatcd.
It is only a grumbler ceasing to find
fault. It is only an idler stopped
yawning. 1t is only dissipated FASH
ionable parted from his wine cellar.
while on the other hand no useful
Christian leaves this world without b.
,ing missed.
The church of God cries out like the
prophet: "Howl, fir tree, for the cedar
has fallen!" Widowhood comes and
shows the garments which the depart
ed had made. Orphans are lifted up
to look into the calm face Of the sleep
ing benefactress. Reclaimed vagrancy
comes and kisses the cold brow Of her
who charmed it away from sin, and
all through the streets Of Joppa there
is mourning-mourning because Dor
cas- is dead. When Josephine Of Francs
was carried out to her grave. there
were a great many men and women
Of pomp and pride and position that
went out after her, but I am most
affected by the story of history that
on that day there were 10000 Of the
poor of France who followed her cof-
fin, weeping and wailing until the air
rang again, because when they lost
Josephine they lost their. last earthly
friend. Oh, who would !not rather
have such obsequies than all the tears
that were ever poured in the lach-
rymals that have been exhumed from
ancient cities? There may be NO mass
for the dead; there may be no costly
| sarcophagus; there maybe no elab-
crate mausoleum, but in the damp cel-
lars of the city and through the lonely
huts of the mountain glet there win
be mourning, mourning, mburning. be-
cause Dorcas is dead: BLESSED are
the dead who die in the Lord; they
rest from their labors, and their
works do follow them"
! I speak to you Of Dorcas the resur-
rected. The apostle came to where
she was and said: "Arise, and she
sat up!" In what short compass
the great writer put that "She sat up"
Oh, what time there must have been
around that town when the apostle
brought her out among her old
! friends! How the tears Of Joy must
have started! What clapping Of
hands there must have beenl What
singing! What laughterl Sound II
all through that lanel Shout II down
that dark alley! Let all Joppa hesr
it! Dorcas is resurrectedl
You and have seen the same thing
many time; not 6 dead body re-
suscitated, but the deceased coming
, up again after death in the good ac-
complished. If man labors up to 50
years OF age, serving God, and then
j dies, we are apt to think that hia
, earthly work is done. No. His in
, fiuence on earth will continue till the
, world ceases. Services rendered for
) Christ never stop. A Christian WON.
| an tolls for the upbuilding Of church
I through many anxieties, through
3 many self-denials, with prayers and
: tears, and then she dies. It 10 Il
! wears since she went away. Now ths
: spirit Of God descends upon that
|. church, hundreds Of souls stand nj
e and confess the faith of christ. Hal
J. that Christian woman, who went awey
r Is years ago, nothing to do with thest
o things? see the Towering out o
4 her noble heart. / hear the echo O
!. her footsteps in all the songs over sinl
4 forgiven, in all the prosperity Of th,
church. The good that seemed TO b
!. buried has come up again. Dorcss i
a resurrected!
al After awhile these womanly friend
= of Christ will Iut down their needl
3 forever. After making garments 70
/. Others, some one will make carmen
3 for them; the last robe we ever wear
= the robe for the grave. You will hay
Il heard the last cry of pain You VI
!. have witnessed the last orphanag
- You will have come in worn ont frol
"A your last round Of mercy. ! do NJ
n know where you will sleep. nor VIII
\ your epitaph will be, but there will
a 4 lamp burning at that tomb, and
d angel Of God guarding it. and throul
"a all the long night no rude foot viii d
ID turb the dust. Sleep on, sleep Q
-s. Soft bed, pleasant shadows, undl
IN turbed repose! Sleep on!
Of Asleep IN Jesus! Blessed sleep
"A From which none ever wake 70 M'ep
~ Then one day there will be q
Vii rending and whirr Of wheels and I
Of fash Of pageant, armies narchir
ia chains clanking, banners waving, ths
,e- ders booming, and that Christian wo
A.. an will rise from the dust, and she y