Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-24

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assuredly inspired for his work by thu
Holy Spirit. For quarter Of a cen
fury his critics have been trying b,
Analysing his character and his ser
mons to discover how he came to at
tain worldwide success. Some attrib
ute his power to word painting. He
was an unequaled master in the art OF
portraying before an audience ancient
and modern scenes and events and
opening up to the entranced gaze of his
hearers the palaces of dead kings and
queens. He could. with few words,
transport an audience into the hanging
gardens Of Babylon or make them hear
the harvests sigh or the nightingale sing.
Some have attributed his power to IN
vective. No rapier was sharper than
the stiletto Of his tongue when he want.
ed to execrate sin. Some again have
ascribed his popularity to his loving
personality. But the critics who only
60 as far as these do but touch the
outer garment Of his power. These
traits were all present, but the source Of
my fathers power was not in what he
himself could do. AS he often averred
with the sincerity Of profound convic.
ton, in and Of himself he could do
nothing. With the power Of the Holy
Spirit he could accomplish anything.
The true history Of the Brooklyn
tabernacle REVEALS has never been
written. I will declare 1t now for the
first time. AS a coming storm signal
can be seen in the dark cloud which is
hung high in the heaven Of blue, !
could tell weeks before when the abun-
dant showers Of blessing would fall
upon our church affairs. My fathers
face would be set and anxious. He
had an air distraught as Of one whose
thoughts were far Off. When passing
his study. would hear him pleading
with God in prayer. The Bible was
often in his hand. The family altar
would become a holy Of holes where
the children would feel a supernatural
influence was at work. My fathers
power was not his own. 1t was i'm.
parted to him from above. 1t is in
these days of unutterable loss the
chief source of consolation to know
that such power is still accessible and
that it will still be given to the servant
Of God who will wrcstle with the angel
of the Presence. declaring. as jacob
did, that he will not let him go without
a blessing.
Sermons With Comfort In Them.
1t was because my fathers sermons
were the products of Spirit filled life
that the millions were able to find
comfort in them. Whenever he would
take n lecture trip the people would
crowd about him by the thousands, ut
tering such greetings as II read your
sermon on Tears by my baby's casket,
and have found Christi" IL read your
sermon upon Recognition of Friends
In Heaven to my mother when she
was dying" Il read this or that when
was in certain trouble, and the SER
mon brought light to my SOUL" Let no
hearer or reader of this sermon think
for one instant that my fathers work
was a man made work. My fathers
work was a divincly inspired work
He was called as certainly to do his
work as Paul and Peter and John were
called to do theirs. He was inspired
by prayer and communion with God.
Would you 60 with me into the death
chamber? His passing away was as he
himself would have had 1t II his own
wish had been consulted. He prac-
tically died in the harness. One Sun
day he was preaching in Mexico, the
next on his deathbed. For five long
weeks he fingered. but God mercifully
benumbed the wornout and tired brain.
| Co..
enough to recognize and at times call
for his wife and children. But con-
versation was an impossibility between
him and the members of his family
during the weary days and nights he
was sick. We were all there, all ex-
cept those Of the family who had
preceded him to the other side and
who were waiting to give him well
come. We repeated the old verse 50
often spoken by his own lips:
When round my dying bed assemble those
] love-
A dear old family friend uttered a
sweet prayer. That was oil. We watch
ed and waited until his mortal life was
lifted into the heavenly life. There
were a few tears, a few callings OF
goodby. He slipped away SO quietly
we could not tell when he was gone.
He was asleep. The tired heart ceased
to beat. The old sweet restful look
came back to the loving face. We laid
him away for q little while in the fam
lily plot in beautiful Greenwood. AS ]
lifted my hand over the open grave to
pronounce the benediction. l said to
myself 80 may we oil live and labor
that when our work is done we may
20 to our rest in the full conviction
TINT when we awake it. will be like this
glorlfied spirit in the likeness Of his
Lord"
(Copyrirh' 1oro. Louis KIopsch. N. VI
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
Artlessness is at the head of the high