Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-02-23


locked the Jaws together SO that they
did not open The tongue lay fat and
etill 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 larnyceal
muscles move and the vocal organs
vibratc. we were wickedly and fatal
" silent. Fer all time and eternity
ve missed our chance. or 10 was
prayer meeting. and the service was
thrown open for prayer md remarks.
and there was dead halt-everv-
thing silent as n graveyard at mid
night. Indeed. n was n graveyard
and midnight. An embarrassing pause
took place that put 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 az all. They were
busy hoping somebody else would do
his duty. The women ausLec- under
the awful pause and made their fans
more rapidly fiutter. Some brother.
with no cold. coughcd. BY that sound
trying 20 fill up the time. and tho
meeting was slain. But what killed
it2 The dumb devil. This is the way
I 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 IL he regu-
larly attends them. They are spirit
ual refriccrators- Religion kept on
ice. How many of us have lost occa-
sions Of usefulness? In sculptor's
studio stood a fgure OF the god OPP
| portunity. The sculptor had made
the hair fall down over the face Of
i the statue so as to completely cover
| 81. and there were wings 10 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
| portunity when IL comes. nnd the
wings TO tho feet show That Opportu-
nifty is swiftly gone.
But co not let the world 6cri6e the
church because or al this. for the dumb
devil Is just as conspicuous in the world.
The great political parties assemble ~
| the proper time TO build platforms for
the candidates 10 stand on. A commit
tee OF each party is appointed 20 make
the platform. After proper de.ibera-
ton. the committees come in with
ringing report: Whereas" ard
Whereas" and Whereas" Pro-
nunciamentos ali shaped with the one
idea OF getting the most votes. AL ex-
preston in regard 20 the great moral
i evils Of the country ignored. No ex-
preston in behalf OF temperate liv-
ing. for that would lose the vote OF tho
liquor traffic. No expression in regard
20 the universal attempt at the 6emoli-
tioa OF the Lords day. No recognition
of God in the history Of nations. for
that would lose the vote Of atheists,
But Whereas" and Whereas" and
whereas" Nine cheers will be given
FOR the platform. The dumb devil OF
the text puts one wing over one plat
form and the other wing over the 9th er
platform. Those great convention,
sre opened with prayer by their chap
lsins. II they avoided platitudes and
told the honest truth in their prayer,
, they would say: 20 Lord. we want q
be postmasters and consuis and foreigr
e. ministers and United States cistric
- attorneys. For that we are here. an,
E for that We will strive Till the electio:
? next November. Give us Office. or ",
D die. Forever and ever, amen" Tn
r. world. TO say the least. is 10 better thai
o the church on this subject Of silence a
Z the wrong time. In other words. IS
5 not time for Christianity 10 becom
. pronounced and aggressive as never bs
2 fore? Take sides for God and sobriet
c and righteousness. eff the Lord /
O Goo. follow Him" Have YOU oppor
:. tunity Of rebuking a sin? RsoulSe 8
Is Dave You q chance 20 cheer 6ishear
V ened soul? Cheer Il. Have You US,
I, ful word 20 speak? Speak 81.
y BE out and out. up and down IL
Il righteousness If your ship is afos
a. ON tho Pacific ocean of Gods mere
h hang out your eolors from tho mas
Il head. Show your passport. 10 ~
ID have one. Do not smuggle your so
r into the harbor of Heaven. Spes
le OFT for Godl Close up the chapt
g OF lost opportunities and open ne
Of chapter. Before you get 10 the do
IS on yOur way out shake hands wi
some one and ask him 20 Join you
ID the road 70 Heaven. Do not drive
to 20 Heaven in two-wheeled "sullx
10. with room only for one. and IN
ad yourself. but get the biggest Gosr
p" wagon you can find and pile IL Il
90 OF friends and neighbors and sho
or till they hear you all up and doN
OF the skies: Come with us. and
VIII 60 you good. for the Lord ha
promised good concerning Israe
The opportunity for good which V
may consider insignificant may