Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-04-26

opening up to thF entFsatS es tseef ttIsss
hearers the pal6ces ofSsdelHr lps
queens. He could, with af1 wosds,
transport an .audienceSnto. .tnafpangingS
gardens of Babylon & ma Re them heatS
the harvests sigh or the niaDtinEalsFg.
Some have attributea his power toTrE
vective. No rapierfwas 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
90 as far as these do but touch the
outer garment of his power. These.
traits were all present, but the source q
my fathers power was not in what 70
himself could do. AS be often averred,
with the sincerity Of profound conYe-
ton, In and of himself he couldEpo
nothing. With the power of the Holy
Spirit he could accomplish anything.
The true history of the Brooklyn
tabernacle revivals has never been
written. | 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 rail-
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 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 wrestle with the anger
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 a lecture trip the people would
crowd about him by the thousands, ut
tering such greetings as Il read your
sermon on Tears by my baby's casket,
and | have found Christ" Il read your
sermon upon Recognition Of Friends
In Heaven to my mother when she
was dying" II read this or that when
was In a 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 q man made work. Ny fathers
work was a divinely 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 go with me into the death
chamber? His passing away was as he
himself would have had 1t If his own
wish had been consulted. He prac-
tically died in the harness. One Sun
day he was preaching In Mexico, the
uext on his deathbed. For five long
weeks he fingered. but God mercifully
benumbed the wornout and tired brain.
He suffered not at all. He awoke long
enough to recognize and at times call
for his wife and children. But con-
yersation 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 so
often spoken by his Own lips:
When round my dying bed assemble those
love.
A dear old family friend uttered
sweet prayer. That was all. We watch
ed and waited until his mortal life was
lifted into the heavenly life. There
were a few tears 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 little while In the fam
ily plot in beautiful Greenwood. AS
lifted my hand over the open grave to
pronounce the benediction, said to
myself, 80 may we all live and labor,
that when our work is done we may
20 to our rest in the full conviction
that when we awake II will be like this
glorlfed spirit in the likeness Of his
Lord"
copyright, 1902. Louis Klopsch. N. ~