Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-09-14
for the hands, healthy for
the feet, healthy for the heart,

healthy for the liver, healthy for the
spleen, healthy for the whole man. 1t
gives man such peace, such quiet
ness, such independence of circum-
stances, such holy equipoise. Oh. that
we all possessed it. that we possessed
it now, 1 mean it is healthy if a man
gets enough of it. Now, there are
some people who get just enough re-
ligion to bother them, just enough re-
ligion to make them sick, but if
man takes a full, deep, round inhala-
ton of these pine branches of the gos-
pei arbor he will find it buoyant, ex-
uberant undying, immortal health.
But this evergreen of my text also
suggests the simple fact that religion
is evergreen. What does the pine
branch care for the snow on it's brow?
1t is only a crown of glory. The win
ter cannot freeze it out. This ever
green tree branch is as beautiful in
winter as it is in the summer. And
that is the characteristic of our holy
religion. In the sharpest, coldest win
ter of misfortune and disaster it is as
good a religion as it is in the bright
summer sunshine. Well, now, that is
a practical truth. For suppose if 1
should go up and down these ais1es
people who had had no trouble. But
there are some of you who have es-
pecial trouble. God only knows what
you go through with. Oh, how many
bereavements, how many poverties,
how many prosecutions, how many
Misrepresentation, And now, my
brother, you have tried everything
else, why do you not try this ever
green religion? 1t is just as good for
you now as it was in the day of pros
perity- 1t is better for you. Perhaps
some of you feel almost like Muckle
Backie, the fisherman, who was chided
one day because he kept on working,
although that very day he buried his
child They came to him and said,
1T is indecent for you to be mending
that boat when this afternoon you
buried your child" And the fisherman
looked up and said, Sir, it is very
easy for you gentlefolks to stay in the
house with your handkerchief to your
eyes in grief; but, sir, ought I to let
the other five children starve because
one of them is drowned? No, sir We
maun work, we maun work, though
our hearts beat like this hammer"
The Significance of the Palm.
But my text takes a step further,
and it says, Go into the mountain and
fetch olive branches and pine branches
and palm branches. Now, the palm
tree was very much honored by the
ancients. 1t had $50 different uses
The fruit was conserved, the sap was
beverage, the stems were ground up
for food for camels. The base of the
| leaves was turned into hats and mats
| and baskets, and from the root to the
Of iob
fulness. The tree grew S5 feet in
height sometimes, and it spread leaves
| four and five feet long. 1t meant use
fulness. and it meant victory-useful-
ness for what it produced and victory
because it was brought into celebra-
! tions of triumph. And oh, how much
we want the palm branches in the
| churches of Jesus Christ at this time!
A great many Christians do not
amount to anything. You have to
shove them off the track to let the
Lords chariots come along.
1 know the old plan was, the plan
| now is, in regard to worldly invest
ments-you hear it, merchants tell you
do not put everything into one thing,
do not put all your eggs into one
basket But I have to tell you in this
matter of religion you had better give
| yOui Gil " Oou anu lutu get III your
self. Oh, says some one, MY busi-
ness is to sell silks and Cloths Well,
then, my brother, sell silks and cloths
| to the glory of God. And some one
says. My business is to raise corn and
carrots Then, my brother, raise
corn and carrots to the glory of God.
And some one says, My business is
| to manufacture horseshoe nails" Then
manufacture horseshoe nails to the
glory of God. There is nothing for you
| to do that you ought to do but for the
| glory of God.
| The Victory Over Satan.
But the palm branch also meant vic
| tory. You all know. that In all ages,
in all lands, the palm branch means
| victory. Well, now, we are by nature
the servants of satan. He stole us,
| he has his eye on us, he wants to keep
us. But word comes from our Father
that if we will try to break loose from
this doing of wrong our Father will
help us, and some day we rouse up,
and we look the black tyrant in the
| face, and we fly at him, and we wrestle
| him down, and we put our heel on his
neck, and we grind him in the dust
and we say. Victory, victory, through
our Lord Jesus Christi Oh what a
grand thing it is to have sin under
| foot and a wasted life behind our
backs. Blessed is he whose trans
| gression is forgiven and whose sin is
| covered"
Some one says How about the in