The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-01
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON .
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE
subJect: PracticNl Chnrity-The Benevo
lence Of Dorcas Exiolled - Her Work
Contracted With Present Day Methods
Woman Gods HandmaIdeu.
TCopyrlght lgUu.l

SohtraSteu with frcscnt Day MetnO0s
Woman Gods HandmaIden.
Gcopyrght lauul
WASHINGTON, D. CDR. TaImare,
who is still travelling in Northern Europe,
has forwarded the following report of a
sermon in which he utters helpful words
to all who are engaged in alleviating hu-
man distresses and shows how such work
will be crowned at the last; text, Acts
tx, 80, "And all the widows stood by him
weeping and showing him the coats and
garments which Dorcas made while she
was with them"
Orient. Into her harbor once hoated the
RATS of Lebanon cedar from which the
temp,es of Jerusalem were builded, Solo,
moA b oxen drawing the logs through the
town. Here Napoleon had 500 prisoners
4assaeRd One Of the most magnificent
charities. of the centuries was started in
this seaport by Dorcas, woman with her,
needle embroidering her name ineffaceably
into the, benefcence of the world. I see
her sitting n yonder home. In the door
way and ground about the building and in
the fodm where she sits are the pale faces
of Che 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 inva-
lid woman and to the cripple that comes
crawling fon his hands and knees. She
gives aScoat to this one; she gives sandals
to that one. With the gifts she mingles
prayers and tears and Christian encourage
ment. Then she goes out to be greeted on
the street corners by those whom she has
is heard, "Dorcas is comingt" The sick
look up gratefully in her face as she puts
her hand on the burning brow, and the
lost and the abandoned start up with hope
as they hear her gentle voice, as though
an angel Ind 4dfesed them, and as she,
goes out tie HE half put out with
sin think &ee 5halo Of light about
her brSM % 81 s. 81 ,e' eloly q, in her Eath.
Dorcas boud 6il s Cther place
a family tn not at table for
many a weeksaS bw, for Dorcas
has brought hfsa1
But there is O. s1l Se in that t:wom-
ans ministry. Th here is Dor
sasi G day. WV Mhsssls gs szniaYsm'1s zaa ons Sf
the tbssS do5s gesT sna Rs 3 IN Us .gi4ss Rssl' At #
through the haunts. fsft thcdaess the
news comes, "Doreasi = ck No bnlletin
flashing from theSpalace gate telling the
stages Of kings disesseis monf enMously
waited for than the news from this bene-
factress. Alas, for Joppa there iEailing,
wailing! That voice which h3s1 EtetedSso
many cheerful words is hushed HAT hand Z
which has made so many gafme for the /
poor is cold and still; the STR Blich. had
poured light into the midnigh sf wretch
edness is dimmed by the bfHajng mists
that 20 up from the river Of death. In
every forsahcn place in that town, wher.
ever there is a sick child and no balm, 4
wherever there is hunger and no bread,
wherever there is guilt and noS Sccmnisera.s
tion, wherever thereb a broker heart and
no comfort, theretsdre deAl ifing looks
and streaming eyes and frantis sgssticllqs
tions as they cry, "Dorcsssis dsed
They send for the apostle yeter Elq'
happens to be in. the uRnrbs of the pIasS
with a tanner Of the ofss5ls
mon. Peter urges his fhrQugh 4
crowd around tie doof and A,ads5
ton of grief all about hinf Here
some of the poor, sps3 u the
garments which tbis ppf opAel
made for them. The @j9{ aps
peased. The apostle Yan@ t6s3per-}
form a miracle. He VIII not do AZ amid the
excited crowd, 80 he ordefB that the, Wholet
room be cleared. The ap6stle stand 9pn0wS
with the dead. Oh, it issaS sencuB mo-
ment, you know, when you are alone WITH
a lifeless body! The :apestl gets down On
his knees and prays, and ttheR he eoqes
the lifeless form of this one all re4{ 7dr
the sepulcher, and in the strength rs ;
who is the resurrection he criesi ablt
arise!" There is a stir in the 31F
of life, the heart fluttersJ the nerv "a
the chccHAushes, the eye opensf =
up. t . pfa5s 81; ,
We see In this subject Dor
pie, Dorcas the bepefaStTe eas the,
[amented, Dorcas the re$pH s y
If had not seen th4 lple IN
my text, ( would have known woman
was a Christian Such music as rat never
came from heart which is not ehorded
and strung by divine grace Before 4gshow
you the need!ework of thlk weiAsns iwant
to show You her rege4erst hS$ atr the
source of pure life and 9ap Ehristian
l wish that the Yixea and moth
ers and daughters and sistersf of all the
cdEIu "OulNl l/OAS(+7 IL NioStP'~.
ship. Before you cross Hf6 threshold OF
the hospital, before youEenter' upon the
temptations and trials of. tomorrow, l
charge you ir the name of God and by the
turmoil and tumult of the judgment day,
0 woman, that you attend to the first, last
and greatest duty of your l:fe-the seeking
for God and being at peace with Him.;
When the trumpet shall sound there Will
be an uproar and a wreck of mountain
md continent. and no human arm can help
you. Amid the rising of the dead and
amid the boiling of yonder sea and amid
the live, ,eaping thunders of the flying
heavens calm and placid will be every
heart who hath put her trust IN
Christ-calm Notwithstanding all the tu-
multi, as though the fire in the heavens
we're only the gldings of an autumnal sun
set, as though the awful voices of the sky
we're but group of friends bursting
through a gateway at even time with
laughter and shouting, "Dorcas the dlsci,
ole!" Would God that every Mary and
the feet of Jesus!
Further, we see Dorcas, the benefactress. |
History has told the story of the crown;
epic poet has sung Of the sword; the pas
oral poet, with his verses full OF the redo
ence of clover tops and a-rustle Wi tn the
,illS of the corn, has sung the. praises of
the blow. | tell you the praises of the
needle. From the fig leaf robe prepared
n thc garden of Eden to the last stitch |
aiken on the garment for the poor the |
needle has wrought wonders of kindness;
and benefaction. 1t adorned
The girdle of the high priest, it fashioned
The curtains in the ancient tabernacle, II
cushioned the chariots of King Solomon.
t provided the robes of Queen Elizabeth,
md in high places and in low, places, by
;he fire OF the pioneers back log and un-
Ter the fash of the chanaeiier-every-
has clothed nakcdness, ii, has
preached the gospel, it has overcome hosts
If perjury and want with the war cry OF
Stitch, stitch, stitch" The operatives
,avc found a livelihood by It, and through
t the mansions of the employer are con-