The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-02-20

locked the Jaws together so that they
did not open. The tongue lay fat ana
st;u IN the bottom Of the mouth as
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
will could have made the larnygeal
muscles move and the vocal organs
vibrate. we were wickedly and fatal
" silent. For all tiRe and eternity
we missed our chance, or it was
prayer meeting, and the service was
thrown open for prayer and remarks,
and there was a dead halt-every-
thing silent as graveyard at mid
night. Indeed. it was graveyard
and midnight. An embarrassing pause
took place that put q wet blanket
On all the meeting. Men, bold enough
On business exchange or in worldly
circles, shst their eyes as though they
were praying n silence, Eot they
were net praying at all. They were
busy hoping somebody else would Go
his dsty. The vTo1ner 6usked under
tle awful pause and made their fans
more rapidly hutter. Some brother,
! with no cold. eoushcd. BY that sound
trying to Ill up tie time, and the
meeting was slain. Eut 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. I do not see how
. man can keep any grace If he regu-
| Iarly attends them. They are spirit
tai refrigcrators. Religion kept on
ice. How many Of US have lost oeca-
sions Of usefulness? In soulpter's
studio stood q figure of the god eP-
portunity. The sculptor had made
the hair fall down ever the face Of
The statue 50 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 COW
cred because we do not recognize OPP
portuaity when it eeraes. and The
wings TO the feet shew that opPoItu-
nifty is swiftly gone.
But Go not let the world 6erde the
church because Of all this. fer the dumb
devil is Just as cor sp;eHeusin tbs world.
T5e great political parties assemble at
the proper time to build platforms for
the candidates to stand On. A coEn1it-
tee Of each party is appointed to make
the platform. After proper delibera-
tioa, the committees come il with q
ringing report: Whereas" and
"Whereas." and whereas" Pro
roeianentos all shaped with the enc
tsea ef getting the Hest votes. al eS-
preston in regard to the great neral
evils Of the country ignored. No ex-
pressien in behalf Of temperate N7-
ing, for that would lose the vote Of The
Geuor traGc. No expression in regard
70 the universal attempt at the deDeli-
tien Of the Lords Gay. Ne recognition
Of God in the history OF nations, for
that would lose the vote Of atheists.
Bat "Nhereas," and whereas" and
"Wbereas." Nine cheers viii be given
fer the platform. The dumb eevi, Of
the tsxt prts ore wing ever cae plat
form and the other wing over the other
platform. These great conventions
are opened with prayer by their chap
iains. If they avoided platitudes and
told the honest truth IN their prayers
they would say: 20 Lord, we want to
be postnasters and coRsuls and foreign
ministers and United States district
attorneys. For that we are here, and
! for that we will strive till the election
next November. Give Us Office, OF we
die. Forever and ever, anea." The
world, 70 say the least, Is 60 better than
the church On this subject Of silence at
she wrong time. In other words, Is it
net tine for Christianity TO become
pronounced and aggressive as never be-
fore? Take sides for God and sohriety
and Righteousness. "If the Lord be
God, follow Him" Fave you oppor-
tu2ity OF rebuldrg G. sin? Rebuke it.
Fave yen a chance to cheer 6isheart-
e1ed sozl? Cheer Il. Fave you . use
Sul WORD to speak? Speak it.
Be cut and out, up and down for
righteousness. If your ship is aaoas
ca the Pacific ocean of Gods mercy,
hang cut your eoIors from ti,e mast
! head. Show your passport, If you
have oEc. Do not snusglc your soul
! into the harbor of Heaven. Speak
out for God! Close up the chapter
of lost opportunities and open new
chapter. Before you get to the door
Oh year way out shake hands with
soue one end ask kim 70 join you CT
the road to Heaven. Do not drive up
10 Heaven in a two-wheeled "sulky"
with room only for one, and that
yourself, but get the biggest Gospel
wagon you can find and pile it full
Of friends sEd neighhors and shout
till they hear you all up and down
Che skies: "Corne with US, and we
viii dc you good, for the Lord hath
promised good concerning Israel"
TIE opportunity fer good which you
! may consider Insignificant may be
tremendous for results, as when on
the sea Capt. Haldane swore at the
/ ships crew with an oath that wished
chem all in perditien, and Scotch
J sailor touched his cap and said:
| "captaiR. God hears prayer, and we
! would be badly off If your wish were
| answered" Capt. EalaaRe was con-
! victed By the sailors remark ana con-
| vcrted and became the means Of the
salvation of his brother Robert, who
! had been an infdel, and then Robert
! became minister Of the Gospel, and
! under his ministry the goddess Felix
! EeS became the world-renowned mis-
! donarF Of the Cross, and eae worldly
. Merle a'Aubisne became the author
Of 'aThe Hstory 81 tae Reformation"
ar9 viz be the glory OF the church
for all ages. Perhaps yoa may do
, - rruch as tie Scotch sailor who Just
efpped his cap and used one broken
senSeAce By which the earth and the
heavens see still resoundiug with Po"
tent influences. Do something for