West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-03
A PREACHERS
PORTRAIT.
The Pen Drawing Of Fac, Eallowsd
by Life ofGooa Work in the Vine
yard for the Master.
An Example Of the Ideal Old Minister.
Bv McCluRr MASON

From the Piusburg sunday Post
Ny oRTRAITS Of celebrie,ies. pro.
| u iessional people aud others who
~ have acquired notorie,y are public
property; morning and evening the news
papers display them to millions they look
out from show windows where in the form
OF autographs they are posed Tor our
notice. and as posters in loud colors and
heroic size they are made to brave all sorts
OF weather on the billboards
So in taking privileges with the minister
portrait. | plead custom to probable
charge OF irrevSrence and beg to remind
the public OF the Indulgence il gives that
ineNtinguishable entertainer. the stereopti.
can. who. not only names and describes.
but even criticises the subject on his can.
vas. Let me draw for few moments your
attention from the visionary writer. talker
aud thinker. TO the worker: the man who
every day wages hand To hand con let
beating the devil back from your own
doors the huSbandmau. who. while re-
Iigious bodies consider the grating on OF a
new doctrine. continues his humble work
OF cultivating the roots making il possible
of what proves to be foreign and unhealthy:
the soldier who while the generals hold
council OF war. informs the enemy OF our
alertness by keeping the camphres bright.
and while strategists are busy formulating
tactics. is busy on ihc litten edge % the
battle.
And we will profit 10y getting a view of
ourselves from the minister's standpoint
and be paying deserved honor Il we study
the life that is devoted to our creates,
interests
What is il that distinguishes the clerical
face from thai OF tho man OF the world II
has it's own peculiar individuality that is
readily recognized wherever met. The
face OF the worldly man. whose energies
are exerted in race for honors and
wealth Is intense with the pursuing
passions OF ambition aud greed. Some
types arc piled with the flxshy folds Of i'm.
dolence and gluttony or ~ pale pictures
OF guilty Indulgence. They reveal minds
willing to have a feather piucked that a
clod may be added look into them in.
spires us TO nothing higher than the
ground-in comparison it is clcvating and
JOY to b hold face where grossnoss is
denied, that proclaims mind free and
winged. strong with carnestucss in a great
mission. rejecting a high ideal noble
mirroring holiness, spiritual. human in the
display of feelings that are born of
sympathy
Giving age the precedence. we will 6rst
exhibit the portrait OF the old minister. the
features taken singly are almost homely.
but grouped here express an intelligent
and. IL the term is allowed. stored sweet.
ness. Beauty may be discovered in the
wrinkles Of old age as wclI as i'm the
dimPles Of youth. Looking at this portrait
we imagine that Time long denied the
moving has lain down the scythe taken
up the knife whose cuts are wrinkles aud
revengcfuiiy slashcd check and brow. The
mouth looks TO be as capable as the
tongue-its corners ready to raise with the
buoyancy of mirtb are lower 10 an ex.
preston OF seriousness when delivering
reproof and is the eyes hearty support in
the beautiful pantomimc OF a smile. The
white hair has won back the faint flashes
OF gold that love to play about the heads
of childhood
These arc not eyes set on some earthly
goal, shallow aud rejecting only the sur
face OF things we look through them into
depths and distances aud meet the wisdom
of an observant life. They are notdreamy
with the hallncination OF the vision. seeing
seer; falling al the gates they arc content
TO remain the eyes OF faith
want to call your attention to the won.
derful light that seems to illuminate this
picture. Don't credit the artist with il. il
came mysteriousiy over the face when the
features were correctly reproduced in de.
tail and combination. Its an element OF
heaven. light from the source Of Right.
makes angels fair and homely old features
beautiful. II proclaims finish by the
Divine Painter. who that the human face
might be thus liz. submitted the hands that
hold the palette and WELD the brush TO
be nailed through
The original Of this portrait. clothed
with age and holiness seems the proper
person to perform the solemn and tender
Offices Of his calling lie erascs the line
which the crawling serpent drew between
the sexes and no shadow Of guilt need
darkeu union pronounced by one who
can aaix the sanctity OF heaven when
the doctors ministrauons faiI he. advises
the rcstful y tion OF Gilead's balm We
reach for the comforting warmth Of his
hands when ours is growing cold. In The
last we * moments we cutreat him with
the wistfu looks Of child % cali words Of
cheer as we drift away. Eyes closed by
him should be opened by angels
Here is his dchution Of lifc-f gathered
IL from between the sentences Of his ser.
mon last sunday. Il is short but I accept
it as sufficient for hc has lived Tie intcIIi.
gently and his concern has been its
destiny. It's the pportunity 90 earn ard
enjoy heaven That simple philosophy
was the inspiration Of his activities and
blcsscs The feeble years with q conscious.
ness of work well done and reward I'm
store itreminds uc that wc would have
no such word as rest had 'wearincss
never been written that strife makes
poaSc a blessing that shame makes glory
! shine that the darkness of dcs pair On ikcs
beautiful th star Of hope and ,i,at tho re-.
mcmbrancc Of sorrow adds uhsnkfuIucss
Returning TO the ermor ! wish 60 feil
/ you about its delivery an reception. That
| day The pulpit was mo- great height from
| which oratory elcqucnce. and rhetoric
rolled in rythm--thcre is no bHiows Of
voice roaring oracles and bearing frothy
/ flower of spcech on every crest no level
flow that gave aii sentiments thc same six.
uifcsacc. no rcgulafrise and fall Of waves
/ shat rocked to sleep each word voiced us
/ own weight and art would have been an
/ intrusion We were hearing the Impressive
| pcroration Of a life and listened as 20 one
/ Tor whom the chariot was waiting The
speaker was clear medium. through
which divine message was being ,rans.