The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-07
TREASURES OF
THE SNOW.
A lSerm0n Preached by
Rev. John Shape, Feb.
End, 1902.

| 3S 22.
| The word snow is found twenty.
three times in the Bible, but the
thing itsell has been in evidence
very much this week. We have
read Of snow-b bound roads. and gale
driven vessels. ol snow-stoppsd troll.
leys, and lev pavements, and have
watched the mercury 10 our ther.
mometer slip gradually down and
We have gone Immediately and done
likewise, though more quickly.
The little boy has taken his sled
and the big boy his sleigh, aud to-
gether they have gone forth 10 pleas
ure, while preachers land other
poor folks) press under loot the
beautiful snow on the icy pavements
as they pass ON errands OF mercy
and duty. But here we are gath
cred IN the house Of God, contented.
warm and happy, neither ice
bound, snow bound, nor frozen,
and ready with Job 10 enter iuto
the "treasures OF the stow.'
|. Let us enter into the discus
sion OF the formation of the snow,
Snow, scientifically is nothing more
| than the frozen visible vapor OF
which the clouds are formed; frozen
moisture which lal'sl from the atmos-
phere when the temperature falls
to 3! degrees or ,ower Its flakes
are crystals. delicate n their struc-
ture and regular 10 their measure.
ments. They belong to the hexa-
gonal system OF CRYSTALS. and fur.
nish perhaps a thousand variega.
ted forms. Every little flake of
snow is such a perfect crystal. and
they fall together so gracefully as
II fairies Of the air caught water
drops and made them into artificial
flowers 10 garland the wings OF the
wind. Oh the snow, the beautiful
snow. Hast thou catered into its
treasures! 1t is beautiful in itself.
Poets have sung about it. and
painters on snowy mornings have
We'd with each other iu producing
winter scenes Ii 10 a synonym for
brllliancy. Three times sthe word
is coupled with the name Of Him
whose name is above every name
Once III Daniel & V where the
prophet describing the brightness
ol the vision OF the Ancient OF davs
upon the throne cXCla,ns: ~ beheld
TIL the thrones we're cast dowu. ana
the Antieut Of days did 81. whose
garment was white as snow and
the hair oil his head like the pure
wool. Once in the account o! he
TRANSPORTATION when the gospel
writer says: (Mark .: H.
"And his raimcnt bee anne ,hlning,
exceeding white as snow, SO as no
fuller on earth can whiten them. y
And once John the apostle. see, in
Apoca alyptlc vision in the midst OF
the seven candesticks one like unto
the Son OF Man whose head and
halr were white like wool, as white
as snow ard the br,lIancy OF the
sight 80 oyercame the cxlIcd seer
that he fell at his leet as dead.
There IS treasure ia the wonder
and beauty and br,lliancy OF The
snow.
II. The uses of the snow. 1t
purilles. 1t floods the BROOK, but
puriiies It's waters. 1t falls as
frozen moisture from the atmos-
pheSc and d,drags disea ase.yerms with
the ground. lie who sw -eps the
pavements after the first snow fall
must sweep dirt also with IT, and
the air is purer and the neighbor-
hood IS cleaner. because he has
used the broom Snow truclitica.
The artificial flowers which the
lairies have flung this week as
whitened roses on the ground will
return next summer as real roses
to beautify the face OF ali the earth.
The grass on our church lava will
be greener in June because it is so
white today. rhs farmer . fields
will yield heavier crops OF nay III
July since February hides the
fields with heavy snow. The wheat
fields next year will Iced more hun.
gry mouths with bread because the
poor must struggle through the
snow to buy it for the present
needs.
Snow cleanses. Boys hands are
cleaner after snow ball fights, and
city streets also after snow stol ms
TO the delight Of city contractors
Over the black edges Of filthy cess.
pools it tiIngs its white drapery,
and noxiout impurities flee away
in shame. Snow purliies and lru:.
tifies aud Gle anses.
iii. The teaching OF the snow
1t teaches God 3 power. Man may
build railroads and shrek out from
flying engines his challenge to anv-
hing mighty or Almighty to stop
his terrific progress and then one
bv one the tiny flakes begin 10 fall
until hillside, dale aud valley are
covered with the spotless snow. lie
who hcids the Winds in his fists
opens his fast closed hand aud the
snow is caught and carried in great
drifts, in the midst ot which The
painting. shreklng engine pauses
and stops. All traffic is halted,
passengers suffer and cat
tie are frozen. "Fire and hail, snow
and vapors. stormy wind fulfilling
His word" lie giveth snow like
wool; He scattercth the hoar-frost
like ashes; He .casteth forth his ice
like morseIs Who can stand be.
fore his cold' Gods Almightiness
IL in flake OF snow. Our little
flake sells forth both d.
vine omnlpotency and human impo.
lency.
Snow teaches God s providence. In