Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-08-04
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor OF Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago


erence and appreciation for people who
have passed life's meridian is contain
CD In this discourse by Rev. Frank De
Witt Talmage on the text Psalm xcii,
IA. They shall still bring forth fruit
In old age"
Old age is a haunting specter. 1t has
1errortzed the generations past more
than even the fear of death. The most
hated and feared of all the Grecian
philosophers was he who used to stand
upon the street corners of Athens
frightening the passersby with these
solemn words; 'You will be an old
man. You win be an old woman" He
frightened the passersby because most
people do not want to become old.
They are afraid Of coming to the time
when they will be burden to their
children and their friends. They are
afraid or the time when their earning
capacity shall cease, for then, in the
race Of life. they will be jostled and
left far behind by the speed and the
strength Of the younger generation.
They are afraid of the years when
Ehey win have to walk with cane or
crutch or sit In an invalid chair wait
ing for the time when the coffin maker
will finish their casket and the under
tnker win order their grave to be dug.
To show how depressed some people
are over the fact OF growing old 1
would read letter which received
some time ago from one of my people:
Dear Mr. Talmage-Last night in your
sermon you stated that this is the age for
young men. You did not have time to
speak one word In favor of the useful
ness of the old people. 1 was sorry. I
knew Of some sitting near to me who
would be heavy hearted on account of
their old age. This morning an aged
member Of your church called upon me.
lie said he was so depressed over your
remarks last night that he could not
sleep With tears in his eyes. he said,
II wonder II old people will be wanted in
heaven" Now. my dear pastor. l would
like YOU II possible. to preach a sermon
upon the blessings Of old age l would
like you to preach a sermon to cheer up
those who have passed the zenith of their
earthly life and are sliding down the 9TH
er side and nearing the landing place of
eternity. You will. will you not?
1t Is in answer to the request in this
letter that i am going to speak this
morning to the old folks. l will gladly
try to refute the popular fallacy that
old age for the Christian is merely
time for tears. for physical and men
tai pains. and for depressing helpless
ness II was true thing that an aged
minister said to Jacob A. Riis, the
New York reformer. MY son, l am on
the SunShiny side of sixty, because l
am near to the glories of heaven"
The words Of my text do not state that
an aged Christians twilight of life
upon earth is q gloomy and a sullen
sunset. They do emphatically imply
that the last days of an aged Chris
tian's earthly life should be among his
happiest and most useful days. Those
days should be compared to the time
when the orchards branches are bend
ing under the heavy load of the rip
ened autumnal fruit.
Old Ages Testimony.
The aged Christian is able from his
own experience to testify of the pro-
tecting care Of Divine Fathers love.
The difference between the testimony of
an old man and q very young man is the
olfterence between knowledge and sup
position. between fact and surmise. 1t
Is the difference between the words of
veteran who carries the scars the
sword cuts and the bullet wounds of
many battlefelds and the words of the
ruddy faced youth who has not yet
won his shoulder straps or seen any
thing but the recruiting officers pa
pers. 1t Is the difference between the
experience Of an old pilot of the Hugh
river. the most dangerous navigable
river In the world. who has for many
years guided the boats up to the
wharfs or Calcutta. and the experience
or the cabin boy who has not yet
earned how to handle q wheel 1t Is
the difference between the diagnosis
or the old. gray haired physician who
has prescribed for hundreds of fever
patients and the diagnosis of the young
medical graduate who has just re-
ceived his diploma. 1t Is the difference
between the words OF the young states
man lust elected to congress and the
words Of the first president of the
United States when he was about tt
teave the presidential chair for the
last time. When George Washington
delivered his farewell address at tn,
inauguration of John Adams, tn,
American people did not reverence hil
words because he welded NOR,
trenchant pen than Thomas jefferson
OF because he was a more impassionet
orator than Patrick Henry. They rev
erencea his words because he spok,
as one having authority. He spoke al
one who had led the American armies
during the darkest days of the Revo
tutionary war. He spoke as one VIII,
had stood the helm when the shil
or state was just launched. He spok
as one who had been willing to offe
his life as sacrifice for his country
good. The American people lstene,
20 hftn Ia the same spirit with whic
che French audience heard the age
patriot Lafayette when the chairma
introduced him with these beautiful