Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-02-11

but there it halted. Some hlnQer1ng
power locked the jaws together so that
they did not open. The tongue lay
fat and still 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 filled with
air which, by the command of our will,
could have made the laryngeal muscles
move and the vocal organs vibrate, we
were wickedly and fatally 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-everything silent as a grave
yard at midnight. Indeed, it was a
graveyard and midnight. An embar-
RAISING 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 at all. They
were busy hoping somebody else would
do his duty. The women flushed I'M
der the awful pause and made their
fans more rapidly f1utter. Some broth
er, with no cold, coughed, by that
sound trying to fill up the time, and
the meeting was slain. But what kill
ed it? The dumb devil. This is the
way l account for the fact that the
stupidest places on earth are some
prayer meetings. 1 do not see how
a man keeps any grace if he regularly
attends them. They are spiritual re-
frigerators. Religion kept on ice. How
many of us have lost occasions of USE
fulness! In a sculptor's studio stood
a figure of the god Opportunity. 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 covered up because we
do not recognize Opportunity when it
comes, and the wings to the feet show
that Opportunity is swiftly gone"
aggressive Christianity
But do not let the world deride the
church because Of all this, for the
dumb devil is just as conspicuous in
the world. The great political parties
assemble at the proper time to build
platforms for the candidates to stand
on. A committee of each party is ap-
pointed to make the platform. After
proper elaboration the committees
come in with a ringing report, where
as" and whereas" and whereas"
PronunciamentOs all shaped with the
one idea of getting the most votes. All
expression in regard to the great moral
evils of the country ignored. No ex-
preston in behalf of temperate living,
for that would lose the vote of the liq-
uor traffic. No expression in regard to
the universal attempt at the demolition
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 where
as" Nine cheers will be given for the
platform. The dumb devil of the text
puts one wing over the one platform
and the other wing over the other plat
form. Those great conventions are
opened with prayer by their chaplains.
If they avoided platitudes and told the
honest truth in their prayers, they
would say: 80 Lord. we want to be
postmasters and consuls and foreign
ministers and United States district
attorneys. For that we are here and
for that we will strive till the election
next November. Give us office or we
die. Forever and ever, Amen" The
world, to say the least, is no better
than the church on this subject of 81
lence at the wrong time. In other
words, is it not time for Christianity
to become pronounced and aggressive
as never before? Take sides for God
and sobriety and RICH -eousness. IF
the Lord be God, follow him; if Baal,
then follow him." Have you opportu-
nifty of rebuking a sin? Rebuke it.
Have you a chance to cheer a dis
heartened soul? Cheer it. Have you a
useful word to speak? Speak it.
Be out and out, up and down for
Righteousness. If your ship is afioat
on the Pacific ocean of Gods mercy,
hang out your colors from masthead.
Show your passport If you have one.
Do not smuggle your soul into the
harbor of heaven. Speak out for God!
Close up the chapter of lost Opportuni-
ties, and open a new chapter. Before
you get to the door on your way out
shake hands with some one, and ask
him to join you on the road to heaven.
Do not drive up to heaven in a two
wheeled "sulky'' with room only for
one and that yourself, but get the big
gest gospel wagon you can find, and
pile it full Of friends and neighbOrs,
and shout till they hear you all up
and down the skies, "Come with us,
and we will do you good, for the Lord
hath promised good concerning Israel"
The opportunity for good which you
may consider insignificant may be ire
mendous for results, as when on the
sea Captain Haldane swore at the
ships crew with an oath that wished