Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-06-28


as the moon looks tonight" Wonder
full Henry Wilson! But that was not
his original name. He changed his
name because he did not want on him
the blight OF drunken father. AS
the vice president stood i'm my pulpit
In Brooklyn. making the last address
be ever made and commended the re-
llgion OF Christ to the young men of
that city. ! thought to myself, "You
yourself are the sublimest spectacle |
ever saw OF victory over obstacles"
For 30 years the wind blew the wrong
way. yet he did not observe the wind.
but kept right on sowing.
Many of us who are now preachers
Of the gospel, or medical practitioners.
or members OF the bar. or merchants.
or citizens In various kinds OF business
had very poor opportunity at the start
because we had Ii too easy-far too
easy. We never appreciated what II is
TO get an education, because our IA
theirs or older brothers paid the school
ing. and we did not get the muscle
which nothing but bard work can de-
velop. l congratulate you. young man.
| IL to you life Is a struggle. 1t Is out OF
such circumstances God makes heroes
| IL they are willing TO be made. Cut
your way through. If 1t were proper
TO do so. and you should stand i'm any
board OF bank directors, in any board
OF trade. In any legislature. state or pa-
tional. and ask all who were brought
up in luxury and ease to lift their
hand. here and there a hand might be
lifted. but ask all those who had an
awful hard time at the start to lift
their hands, aud most of the hands
would be lifted.
Danger of Hesitation.
The Earl OF Alsatia, favorite of Ed
ward III OF England. had excited the
jealousy of other courtiers. aud one
time while the king was absent they
persuaded the queen to turn a lion
loose 10 the court to test the earrs cour-
age. The earl. rising at break of day,
as was his custom. came into the court
yard and met the lion. and the Jealous
courtiers from the windows watched
the scene. The lion, with bristling hair
and growl, was ready to spring upon
the earl when he. undaunted. shouted
to the monster, stand. you dog"
tut COuCHGu, anu the earl
took II by the name aud turned IL back
into the cage, leaving his handkerchief
on the neck OF the monster and. looking
up In triumph to the Jealous courtiers,
who he knew were watching from the
windows, cried out, LET him among
you all that prideth himself on his ped
igree go and fetch that handkerchief
And win G,,I
in your way, perhaps turned loose by
the Jealousy of those who would enjoy
your ruin But in the strength of God
make that lion couch. BY Gods help
you can do 1t and defy and challenge
your antagonists. The Earl of Alsatia
conquered the lion by sto,Sness of voice
and glare OF eye, but you may over
come the lion with the profrerei
strength of an almighty arm and an
almighty foot, for God hath promised;
Ihou shalt tread upon the lion and
adder The young lion and ths s<agoa
shalt thou trample under feet"
Columbus, by calculation, made up
bis mind that there must be a new
hemisphere somewhere to balance the
old hemisphere or IL would be n Ion
sided world. And have found out,
not by calculation. but by observation.
that there is great success for you
somewhere to balance your great strug.
gle. Do not think your case is pecul-
lar. The most favored have been pelt-
ed. The mobs smashed the windows of
the Duke of Wellington while his wife
lay dead In the house.
But my subject takes another step.
Through medical science, and dentistry
that has improved the worlds mastica-
ton. and stronger defense against cli-
matte changes, and better understand
Ing or the laws OF health, human life
has been greatly prolonged. But n
centenarian Is still a wonder. How
many people do you know hundred
years oldy / do not know one. We
talk OF n century as though IL were a
very long reach of time. But what is
one century on earth compared with
centuries that we are TO live some
where, somchow--ten centuries. n mil
lion centuries, Qulntillion OF CEN
turtles? We are all determined 20 get
ready for the longer life we are to live
after our exit from things sublunary.
We are waiting for more propitious OBJ
portunty. We have too much business
TO attend TO now or too much pleasure
10 allow anything to interfere with lis
brilliant progress. We are waiting UNI
I'll the wind blows In the right dircc-
ton. We are going to sow, and SOW
the very best grain. and we are going
TO raise an eternal harvest OF happi-
ness. We like what you say about
heaven, and we are going there, and
at the right time we will get ready, but
my lungs are sound. my digestion is
good, the examining physician of the
life insurance company says my heart
beats just the right number of times n
minute. and / am cautious about sit
ting In draft. and / observe all the
laws OF hygiene. and my father and
mother lived to be very old. and come
or long lived family. So we adjourn
ana postpone until, like the farmer
suggested by my text. we allow the
seedtime to pass and sudden pneu-
monia or n reckless bicycle or an an
governed automobile puts us out of life
with all its magnificent opportunities
or deciding Alright the question of ever
lasting residence. A Spanish proverb
says, "The road of By and By leads to
the town of Never"
Decide Today.
Whether In your life it is q south
wind or north wind, a west wind
or an east wind that Is now blowing.
do you not feel like saying: This
whole subject I now decide. Lord God.
through thy Son Jesus Christ, my Sa-
yiour. am thine forever. throw N.Y.
self. reckless of everything else. into
the fathomless ocean of thy mercy"
But" says some one in frivolous
and rollicking way. II am not like the
farmer you find In your text. do not
watch the wind. What do care about
the weather vane? am sowing now"
WHAT are you sowing. my brother?
Are you sowing evil habits? Are you
sowing infdel and atheistic beliefs? |
Are you sowing hatreds, reyenges. dis
unclean thoughts CT uacfean |
actions? If so. you will raise a big |