The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-24

interesting habit OF searching back TO
find the ancestral tree We may find
long list of names. but they arc only
names. The conservation or abandon.
ment OF some one 2DO years ago was not
recorded Ii would not be so important
IL Won and l. 10y our good o. bad be-
havior blessed or blasted only those I'M
mediatcly around US, bat our goodness
o. our badness will reach rs far as the
strongest ray of Alcyoue-yeo. across the
eternity. Under this consideration,
what do yOJ think OF those who give
themselves up 10 frivohty or ldlcness
and throw away fifty years OF their exist
cnCe as though they were shells or peb-
bles or pods instead o. cmbyro ecernities?
| supposc orc OF tho greatest surprises
OF the next word VIII be to see what
wide. far-rcaching influence for good or
evil we have all eNertcd. l am speaking
of ourselves. who are only ordinary peo-
pie. But who can fully appreciate the
far-reachIug good done by men of wealth
in Great Britain for the working classes
Mr.. Lister. Of Bradford; Edward
Akroyd, OF Halifax; Thomas Skies, Of
Huddersheld; Joseph Wentworth, and
Josiah Mason, and Sir Titus Salt? This
last great soul with his vast wealth. FRO
Nlded I56 houses at cheap rent for 1000
working people. and chapel and cricket
ground and croquet lawn and concert
hall and savings bank, where they
might deposit some of their earnings,
and life insurance for those who looked
further ahead, and lighthouses and parks
and museums and lecture halls with
philosophical apparatus, the generous
example of those meE OF a previous gen
Grafton being copied in many places in
Canada and the United States, making
life, which would otherwise be pro-
ionged drudgery, an inspiration and Z
Joy.
say. wait til hea- the other sideh
If disaster shall bcfall us. We know from
whom would come the first coincidence
Family friends, church friends, business
friends, lifelong friends. In our heart
OF hearts we cherish them.
When the heirs OF a vast estate in
England wished TO establish their claim
10 property worth 500 100000 they offered
a reward Of $500 Tor the recovery of an
old Bible, the family record OF which
contained the evidence requisite. But
any Bible, new or old. can help Us 20 a
vaster inheritance than the one spoken
OF, one that never fades away.
The sweet influences OF the heavenly
world, which many wise men thought
for a long while was AlcyoEe, the centre
of the constellation OF the Peiades-.
world OF our future residence, as we hope;
world OF chorus and illumination; world
OF reunion; world where VIC shall be
everlastinClV complete: world There our
old faculties will be itcnsiied and quick
encd and new faculties implanted; world
OF high association with Christ, through
whose grace we got there at all, and
apostles and poets, Ilabakkuk and St.
John OF Patmos, and Edward Young, his
Night thoughts turned into eternal
day; and Hor2tius Bonar OF modern
hvmnolCgy, and Hannah More, and Mrs.
Hemans, and Mrs. Sgourney, who struck
then. harps till nations listened; and
David, the victor over Goliath with what
seemed insufficient weapons; and Joshua
OF the prolonged day in Gideon, and
Havelock, the evangelist hero, ana those
thousands or men OF the sword who
fought on the right side. Whlt company
to move IN. What guests 10 entertain!
What pcrsouages to visit. What chOirs
to chant! What b2uQUets with lifted
chaice filled with "the now wine os the
k!ngdom." WhG. victories TO celebrate,
The stories OF that world and its holy
hlloritles come IN upon our souls some
times IN song, sometimes IL sermon,
sometimes IN hours of solitary reflection,
and they are, TO use the words of my
text, sweet influences. BU. there is one
star that AFFECTS us more with its sweet
influences than tine centre star, the
AicyOne Oh the PIelades, and that Is what
one Bible author calls the Star OF Jacob
and another Bible author calls The Morn
ing Star. Oh all the sweet influences that
have ever touched our earth those that
radiate from Christ are the sweetest.
Born an AsiatIc viliager in a mechanics
home, living more among hammers and
saws and planes than among books, yet
at twelve years OF age confounding robed
eccloslastics and starting out a mission
under which those born without optic
nerve took ~ the clear daylight and
those afflicted with unresponsive tylnpa.
mum We're made to hear and those almost
doubled mp with deformities were
Strengthened into graceful poise and the
leprous became rUblcund and the widows
only son exchanged the bier on which
he lay hfeesS for the arms of his over
Joyed mother and pronouncng nine benc-
dictionS on the Mount OF Beatitudes and
doing deeds and speaking words which
are filling the centuries with sweet IN
huences.
Christ started every ambulance,
kindled every electric ray, spread every
soft hospital pillow and introduced all
rescues and mercies OF all time.
He was the lovehest being that ever
trod our earth-more beauty in His eyes,
more tenderness IN His manner, more
gent.eness in His footsteps, more music
in His voice, more dignity in His brow,
more gracefuine-s IN the locks that rolled
upon His shoulders, more compassion IN
His soul.
Sweet influences Of the Holy Ghost.
with all His Transforming and comforting
and emanClpatiug power When that
power Is fully felt there viii be no more
sins TO pardon. and no more errors TO
correct, and no more sorrows to com
as the old-time ship captains watched
the rising of the Ple.ades for safe navi-
cation and set sail in Mediterranean
waters, but were sure TO get back into
port before the constellation Orion came
into sight-ths season of cyclone and
hurricane-so there is a time 20 seil for
heaven and that ls while the sweet IN
huenccs are upon us and before the
storms overtake and delay. Open all your
soul to the light and warmth and com
fort and inspiration Of that gospel
which has already peopied heaven with
millions of the ransomed and is helping
other millions to that glorious destina-
ton. DO not postpone the things OF God
and eternity until the storms of life
sWoop and the agitations OF a great future
ere upon as. Do not dare wait until
Orion takes the place OF the Pleiades
/ Weigh anchor now and with chart un.
rolled and pilot on board head for the
reunions and rlpturcs that await an the
souls forgiven. And they need no
| candle. neither light nor the sun. for
/ the Lord God giveth them light. and
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