The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1901-02-15

| lOthtu the Jaws ioSf' Acr SO inht they
did not open. The tongue L1y fat xai
still in the bottom o: tEe mouth -
| though struck with paralysis. We
were mute Though God had given
us the physiological apparatus for
| speech and our lungs were filed with
air which by the command of our
viii could have made the larnyreal
muscles move and the vocal organs
vibrate, we were wickcdly and fatal.
| ~ silent. For all time ans >sern;ty
~ missed our cha,cc, or il was
! prayer meeting, and the service was
thrown open for prayer and remarks.
and there was a dead halt-eyerv-
thing silent as a graveyard at mid
night. Indeed, il was a graveyard
and midnight. An emba ssing pause
took place that put wet blanket
on all the meeting. Men, bold enough
on business exchange or in worldly
circles, shut their eyes as though they
were praying in silence, but they
were not praying at all. They were
busy hoping somebody else would do
his duty. The women fusl ca under
the awful pause and made their fans
more rapidly futter. Some brother.
with no cold. cOughed. by that sound
trying 10 I'LL up the time. and the
meeting was slain. But what killed
it? The dumb devil This is the way
| account for the fact that the stu
pideSt places on earth are some
prayer meetings. ! do not see how
man can keep any grace if he regu-
larly attends them. They are spirit
/ ual refrigerators. Religion kept on
ice. How many of us have lost occa-
SionS OF usefulness? In a Sculptor's
studio stood a figure OF the god on
portunity. The sculptor had made
the hair fall down over the face of
the statue so as TO completely cover
it. aud there were wings TO the feet.
When asked why he so represented
Opportunity. the sculptor answered:
The face of the statue is thus COW
cred because we do not recognize On
portunity when il comes. and the
wings 10 the feet show tnat Opportu-
nifty is swiftly gone.
But 60 not let the world 6eride The
church because of all this. for the dumb
devil j. just as onspicuous in the world.
The great political parties assemble at
the proper time TO build platforms for
'he candidates 70 stand on. \ commit
tee of each party i appointed TO make
the platform. After proper delibera-
ton. the committees come in with a
ringing report: Whereas" and
Whereas" and "Whereas." Pro.
nnnciamentoS all shaped with the one
idea of getting the most votes All ex.
preston in regard 10 the great moral
evils of the country ignored No ex-
preston in behalf of temperate liv-
ing. for that would lose the vote Of the
liquor traffic. No expression in regard
TO the universal attempt at the demoli-
ton OF the Lords day. No recognition
OF God in the history of nations. for
that would lose the vote of atheists.
But Whereas" and Whereas" and
Whereas" Nine cheers will be given
for the platform. The dumb devil OF
The text puts one wing over one plat
form and the other wing over the other
platform. Those great conventions
are opened with prayer by their chap
iains. II they avoided platitudes and
! told the honest truth in their PRAYERS
they would say: 20 Lord. we want "a
be postmasters and consuls and foreign
ministers and United States district
attorneys. For that We are here. and
! for that We will strive till the electio,
next November. Give US office. or we
! die. Forever and ever. amen" Ths
Woric. 10 say the least, j. no better than
the church on this subject of silence at
the wrong time. In other words. is i.
not time for Christianity 10 becou.
pronounced end aggressive as never be-
/ iore? Take SIDES for God and sobrietv
aho righteousness. "lf the Lord be
God. follow Him" Have YOU oppor.
tunity OF rebuking a sin? Rebuke If.
Have you q chance 10 cheer disheart.
( ened soul? Cheer it. Have YOU use.
full word 10 speak? Speak it.
lie out and out, mp and down for
righteousness. If your ship is afoat
on the Pacific ocean of Gods mercy
/ hang out your colors from TIC mast
B head. Show your passport. If vo,,
/ nave one. DO not smuggle Your soul
/ INTO the harbor of Heaven. Sneak
out for God, Close mp the chanter
/ of lost opportunities and open a new
chapter. Before YOU get TO the door
/ on your way out shake hands with
some one and ask him 10 Join Won IN
the road to Heaven. Do not drive mn
! TO Heaven in a two-wheeled ..sulL.,.',
with room only for one. and tba.
yourself, but get the biggest Gosns,
wagon you can find and pile it full
OF friends and neighbors and sbopt
till they hear you all up and dow,
the skies: Come with us. and vva
will do you good, for the Lord batb
promised good concerning Israel"
The opportunity for good which vo,,
may consider insignificant NAV ba
tremendous for results, as when ON
the sea Capt. Hsldane swore at the
ships crew with an oath that wished
them all in perdition, and a Scotch
sailor touched his cap and said.
Captain, God hears prayer, and we
would be badly OFF il your wish wers
answered" Capt. Haldane was con-
victed by the sailors remark and con.
verted and became the means of III.
salvation of his brother Robert. who
| had been an infidel. and then Rohor.