St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-03-16

selves in generalities. Not one OF ii
but has had our lives sometimes
touched by the evil spirit o.
the text-this awful dumb devil
, We had just one opportunity Of say
ing q Christian word that might have
led a man or woman into . Christian
life. The opportunity was fairly put
before us. The word Of invitation OF
consolation or warning came to thu
inside gate of the mouth, but there
it halted. Some hindering power
locked the jaws together SO that they
did not open. The tongue lay fat and
still in the bottom of the mouth Al
though struck with paralysis. We
were mute. Though God had given
us the physiological apparatus fol
speech and our lungs were filled with
air which by the command of our
will could have made the larnygeal
muscles move and the vocal organs
vibrate. we were wickedly and fatal.
ly silent. For oil time and eternity
we missed our chance, or it was .
prayer meeting, and the service was
thrown open for prayer and remarks,
and there was . dead halt-every.
thing silent as . graveyard at mid
night. Indeed, 1t was q graveyard
and midnight. An embarrassing pause
took place that put a 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 flusLeu under
the awful pause and made their fans
more rapidly futter. Some brother.
with no cold. coughed, by that sound
trying to fill up the time, and tho
meeting was slain. But what killed
it7 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
a man can keep any grace if he regu-
larly attends them. They are spirit
nal refrigerators. Religion kept ON
ice. How many of US have lost occa-
sions of usefulness? In . sculptor's
studio stood a figure OF the god OPP
portunity. The sculptor had made
the hair fall down over the face Of
the statue SO as to completely cover
it, and there were wings to the feet.
When asked why he SO represented
Opportunity, the sculptor answered:
'The face of the statue is thus Gov.
cred because we do not recognize OPP
portunity when it comes, and the
wings to the feet show tnat Opportu-
nifty is swiftly gone.
But do not let the world deride the
church because of all this, for the dumb
devil is just as conspicuousi in the world.
The great political parties assemble at
the proper time to build platforms for
the candidates to stand on. A commit
tee Of each party is appointed to make
the platform. After proper delibera-
tion, the committees come in with .
ringing report: Whereas" and
Whereas" and Whereas" Pro-
all shaped with the one
idea Of getting the most votes. All ex.
preston in regard to 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-
ion of the Lords day. No recognition
If God in the history Of nations, for
hat would lose the vote of atheists.
But Whereas" and Whereas" and
Whereas" Nine cheers will be given
Tor the platform. The dumb devil Of
The text puts one wing over one plat
torm and the other wing over the other
platform. Those great conventions
IRE opened with prayer by their chap
aims. If they avoided platitudes and
old the honest truth in their prayers
hey would say: 20 Lord. we want to
De postmasters and consuls and foreign
minister's and United States district
attorneys. For that we are here, and
or that we will strive till the election
lext November. Give us Office. or we
lie. Forever and ever, amen" The
world. to say the least, is no better than
he church on this subject of silence at
he wrong time. In other words, il it
lot time for Christianity to become
and aggressive as never be-
ore? Take sides for God and sobriety
nd righteousness. "If the Lord be
iod, follow Him." Have you oppor.
unity of rebuking a sin? Rebuke it.
lave you a chance to cheer a disheart-
ned soul? Cheer 1t. Have you use.
ul word to speak? Speak it.
he out and ont, up and down for
ighteousness. If your ship is afloat
N the Pacific ocean of Gods mercy.
lang out your colors from the mast
lead. Show your passport, if you
ave one. Do not smuggle your soul
nto the harbor of Heaven. Speak
'ut for God! Close up the chapter
t lost opportunities and open a new
hapter. Before you get to the door
n your way out shake hands with
ome one and ask him to join you on
he road to Heaven. Do not drive up
o Heaven in q two-wheeled "sulky"
With room only for one. and that
ourself. but get the biggest Gospel
Tagon you can find and pile it full
4 friends and neighbors and shout
Ill they hear you all up and down
he skies: "Come with us, and we
Till do you good, for the Lord hath
good concerning Israel"
he opportunity for good which you
nay consider Insignificant may be
for results, as when ON
he sea Capt. Haldane swore at the
hips crew with an oath that wished
hem all in perdition, and q Scotch
ailor touched his cap and said:
Captain, God hears prayer, and we
'ould be badly OF if your wish were
Capt. Haldane waN con-
icted by the sailors remark and CON.
erted and became the means of the
of his brother Robert, who
ad been an infidel, and then Robert |
ecame minister of the Gospel, and |
nder his ministry the goddess Felix
Ell became the world-renowned mis-
ionary of the cross, and the worldly |
[erle d'Aubigne became the author
"The History of the Reformation"
nd will be the glory Of the church