The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-05-03

still in the bottom of the mouth n,
though struck with paralysis. w,
were mute. Though God had giver
us the physiological apparatus fol
speech and our lungs were filed with
air which by the command of ouI
Will could have made the larnvgeaI
muscles move and the vocal organs
Wbrate, we were wickedly and fatal.
I ly silent. For all time and eternity
we missed our chance, or it was a
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 a 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 flusLea 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 the
meeting was slain. But what killed
II? The dumb devil. This is the way
! account for the fact that the stu
pldest 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
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 Op-
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 coy- /
red because we do not recognize Op-
'ortunity when it comes, and the
wings to the feet show tnat Opportu-
'ity is swiftly gone.
But do not let the world deride the
hurch because Of all this, for the dumb
.evil is just as conspicuous in the world
he great political parties assemble at
he proper time to build platforms for
he candidates to stand on. A commit
ee OF each party is appointed to make
he platform. After proper deibera-
lon the committees come in with
nging report: "Whereas." and
Whereas and "Whereas." Pro-
unciamentos all shaped with the one
Tea of getting the most votes. All ex-
resslon in regard to the great moral
Wis OF the country ignored. No ex-
ression in behalf of temperate liy-
g. for that would lose the vote Of the
luor traffic. No expression in regard
the universal attempt at the demoli-
On OF the Lords day. No recognition
God in the history of nations. for
at would lose the vote Of atheists.
lt Whereas" and Whereas" and
Whereas" Nine cheers will be given "
r the platform. The dumb devil Of 6
e text puts one wing over one plat :
rm and the other wing over the other q
attorm. Those great conventions
opened with prayer by their chap
ms. If they avoided platitudes and I.
10 the honest truth in their prayers d,
ey would say: 20 Lord we want TO
postmasters and consuls and foreign
nisters and United States district
torneys. For that we are here. and p
that we will strive till the election
Nt November. Give us office. or we
p. Forever and ever, amen" The
rid. to say the least, is no better than
church on this subject Of silence al le
wrong time. In other words. is II If
time for Christianity 10 become iu
'nounced and aggressive as never be-
eY Take sides for God and sobrietv
righteousness. IF the Lord be 81
d. follow Him." Have You oppor- an
ity Of rebuking a sin? Rebuke II.
'e You a chance to cheer a disheart-
q soul? Cheer it. Have you a use
word to speak? Speak It. ia
'e out and out. up and down for III ~.
hteousness. II your ship is ahoat T"
the Pacific ocean of Gods mercy.
lg out your colors from the mast
d. Show your passport, If Won vii
c one. DO not smuggle your soul
the harbor of Heaven. Speak
Tor God! Close up the chapter
ost opportunities and open n new -"
pter Before you get 10 the door "o
your way out shake hands with Pn
Ie one and ask him to Join you on
road TO Heaven. Do not drive up
Heaven in two-wheeled "sulkyv
b room only for one. and that
rself, but get the biggest GOSPEL Til
'on you can find and pile il full L
friends and neighbors and shout the
they hear you all up and down
skies: "Come with us. and we
do you good. for the Lord hath
missed good concerning Israel" iar
opportunity for good which you ar a.
consider insignificant may be 80
lendous for results, as when on
sea Capt. Haldane swore al the
s crew with an oath that wished 10
q all in perdition, and a Scotch for
n touched his cap and said:
tain. God hears prayer. and we -
Id be badly off if your wish were u
Tered.' Capt. Haldane was con- ~
d by the sailors remark and con- IA
ID and became the means of the -
ltion Of his brother Robert, who io'.
been an infdel, and then Robert .s''
me minister of the Gospel. and usn'
r his ministry the goddess Felix
hnnn mo IL. r..,rll ~. Il -.