Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-16
JOHNS LETTER.
WHAT HE THINKS OF REFORM, AND
HOW PARADISE SHALL BE RECLAIMED.

Reform is an easy word to speak, but
| il is a word that has been transformed
many times. 1t has been mouthed ana
mumbled. 1t has been rolled and
tumbled in the dirt, until from different
standpoints it has looked and smelt like
a literary tramp, so to speak. But that
there has been an advancement in the
cause of God and humanity, in the years
that are gone, is beyond all controversy.
The car of progress has started on its
Journey round the world, and all the
d wers of darkness cannot permanently
stay it in its course.
Why? Do YOU know whose hand 1T is
that feeds the fire that impels the train?
Ii is the hand of the Angel of the Cove
nant. And in the triumphal car attach
ed. do YOU know the name of Him who
watches with sleepless eye that moth
inc fatal may befall? He is called God.
IL is not what might be called lightning
train, an express train proper, but 1T is
through train just the same, and 1t Will
get there all right and on time-God 5
time 1t is an accommodation train. 1t
will accommodate you, but it will not
stop to accommodate you. Ii moves
slowly, but it moves. and the greater the
weight it carries the faster 1t goes.
Whoever would get on board the tram
will be under the necessity of boarding
a moving train. 1t isn't considered SAFE
TO lump on board train that is IN
motion, but this is differen'. Neither is
il safe nor wise, nor expedient to stand
upon the track in front of moving
train, and particularly train whose fire
is fed by the Almighty. There is i'm
minent danger of getting all mussed up.
see no lust cause for encouragement
anywhere. Progress is fact, liked
fact, fact born of necessity; the mani
festation of God in all things, and where
He is there must be light and life and
progress. Was He not the first great
cause. and will He leave it to perish
alone, Has God forgotten the world,
and will He ever forget?
l have no proof to offer, none what
ever. that advancement in all that is right,
in all that is just, in all that is pure and
in all that is holy will ever have an end,
but an everlasting ''FIalt!" shall be called
on all retrograde movements OF the soul,
individual and national-somewhere-
sometime somehow.
We look about us and we see and say
that the world still looks upon the wine
when it is red, when it giveth its color
in the cup, when it moveth itself Alright,
and is not content with looking. The
world still swallows it, drugs and all,
with no thought of tie result. The
world still handles fire with no expecta-
ton of being burned. The world still
plays at hide-and-seek among the devils
pots and kettles with no expectation OF
being very badly smirched. And these,
too, shall pass away" and the clouds
will roll by, -,
We know, for our fathers have told us
and we have read it in the Book, that
through the agency, or partial agency OF
a woman-nice woman too-Paradise
was lost. And / believe that through
the agency of woman Paradise will be
reoained. She is looking that way now,
and not only looking but moving steadily
toward the gates ajar. And the badge
she wears is little bit of white ribbon.
O. she will get there. Don't you worry
about that, Why do we think so? She
was built that way and God is with her.
| And that is quite an encouraging item,
| if you ever noticed. -,
| Yes, she will get there, with or with,
out a Ratchet. If it is consecrateo
ihatchet all right But with or without
a Ratchet. we don't give continental
which if the work is only done and well
done. That is the milk in the cocoanut
See9 JOHN.