Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-08-09
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE, DID,.
Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
terian Church, Chicago

Chicago, Aug. "A message OF rev
erence and appreciation for people whC
have passed life's meridian is contain
cd in this discourse by Rev. Frank Dc
Witt Talmage on the text Psalm Xcii
If, They shall still bring forth fruit
in old age"
Old age is a haunting spccter. 1t has
! terroriZed 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 will 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 Il burden to their
children and their friends. They are
afraid Of the time when their earning
capacity shall cease. for then in the
race Of life. they will he joStled and
left far behind by the speed and the
strength of the younger generation.
They are afraid of the years when
they will 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
takcr will order their grave to be dug.
To show how depressed some people
are over the fact of growing old l
would read letter which / received
some time ago from one of my people:
Dear Mr.. Tamage-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. l was sorry 1
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.
He said he was so depressed over your
remarks last night that he could not
sleep. With tears in his eyes. he said,
Il wonder If old people Will be wanted in
heaven" Now, my dear pastor. l would
like you. If 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
You will. will you not?
II is In answer to the request in this
letter that | am going to speak this
to the old folks. | will gladly
try to refute the popular fallacy that
old age for the Christian Is merely
a time for tears. for physical and men,
tai pains, and for depressing helpless
ness. 1t was a true thing that an aged
said to Jacob a. Riis, the[-
New York reformer. My son. am on
the sunshiny side of sixty. because
I'm near to the Glories Of heaven"
The words of my text do not state that
IN aged Christians twilight of life
upon earth is a gloomy and a sullen
sunset They 90 emphatically imply
hat the last days of an aged Chris
ian's earthly life should be among his
lappiest and most useful days. Those
lays should be compared to the time
when the orchards branches are bend
ng under the heavy load Of the rip
ned autumnal fruit.
Old Ages Testimony.
The aged Christian is able from his
wn experience to testify Of the pro-
Getting care of a Divine Fathers love-
The difference between the testimony Of
n old man and a very young man is the
ifference between knowledge and sup
osition. between fact and surmise. 1t ;
! the difference between the words Of
veteran who carries the scars, the I
word cuts and the bullet wounds of {
lany battlefelds and the words Of the I
lddy faced youth who has not yet |
'on his shoulder straps or seen any &
ling but the recruiting officers pa |
ers. 1t is the difference between the 7
Iperience Of an old pilot of the Hugh
ver the most dangerous navigable Y
yer in the world who has for many /
ears guided the boats up to the h
harris OF Calcutta. and the experience 4
the cabin boy who has not yet q
armed how to handle a wheel 1t Is L
le difference between the diagnosis b
the old, gray haired physician who
is prescribed for hundreds of fever
Iticnts and the diagnosis of the young n
edical graduate who has Just re- h
ived his diploma. 1t Is the difference h
tween the words of the young states /,
an just elected to congress and the r
Ords of the first president of the n
nited States when be was about to II
ave the presidential chair for the II
st time. When George Washington h
livered his farewell address at the Fl
auguration OF John Adams, the f,
nericaD people did not reverence his n
ords because he welded Il more Il
anchant pen than Thomas jefferson f,
because lie was a more impassioned II
ltor than Patrick Henry. They rev q,
enced his words because he spoke Of
one having authority. He spoke as Y,
e who bad led the American armies n
ring the darkest days of the Revo r.
-ionary war. He spoke as one who q,
d stood at the helm when the ship p
state was just launched. He spoke
one who had been willing to offer II
! life as a sacrifice for his countrys III
cd. The American people listened h,
him In the same spirit with which f.
: French audience heard the aged A,
triot Lafayette when the chairman 90
reduced him with these beautiful tb
rds: Fellow citizens. I would have o.
j listen reverentiaily to the speaker m
the day because sixty years of kr
Die life are about to address you" II,
Gods Promise True. be
fy aged Christian friend. there may hf
other brains just rs keen as yours. de
ere may be- other hearts Just as fu
ling to make sacrifice for their Lord
Master as yours. but no Christian tis
as powerfully testify Of the pro- TO
ting oarp of q Heavenly Father as ar