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


wrinkles OF n smile. A rainbow can
climb over the dark clouds Of storm. If
a member of the family was dangerous
ly sick, he was not dismayed, but al
ways felt that she would get well. IL
financial trouble threatened the home,
he never was apprehensive, having un-
wavering faith that the God who cares
for the birds Of the air and clothes the
lily of the field would feed and clothe
him and those he loved. He was willing
to undertake big things because he was
walking hard in hand with his Heaven
ly Father accompanied by the sweet
faced angel of hope. The result was
that when trouble did come he was the
stronger to meet and bear it. And
when greater opportunities Of useful
ness came than even he expected he
was also able to grasp them and COM
pei them to carry him upon their broad
shoulders up the towering heights or
conspicuous service.
What spirit but one buoyed by cheer
fulness could ever have overcome the
obstacles he conquered? He was tried
by fire literally as well as figuradvely.
He had to fight the elements as well
as the human champions Of sin. Read
the history of the first Brooklyn taber-
nacle. The little handful Of seventeen
members who originally called him to
Brooklyn grew to thousands. During
time of national financial panic sue
ceeding the civil war at great expense
the noble walls Of the first tabernacle
arose. The building was dedicated amid
congratulations and the well wishes OF
the city and state. In few months
that building was destroyed. The whole
structure was tumbled into ruins so
quickly thai nothing was saved from
the huge edifice except an immense
mortgage Homeless and in debt, the
outlook for the congregation was very
dark. Undaunted, however, the stal'
wart leader called his faithful follow
ers about him. Many were discouraged,
but not this modern Nehemiah. The
second Brooklyn tabernacle, built upon
the ruins. was grander and more ma
iestic than the first This was the struc'
ture where the crowds became so great
that 1t seemed as If no man who visit
ed New York felt that he had made
the best of his sojourn In the great city
until he had heard my father preach.
But there seems sometimes Il terrible
sequence In calamitps AS certain dis-
eases have penchant for destroying
certain families. so this fire demon came
to find new prey in the place where he
had once held high carnival. The Sec
ond Brooklyn tabernacle was destroy
ed. The third building went the same
way as did the first and second.
The Crosses He Bore.
Domestic bereavement fell upon him,
and people who saw only his outward
cheerfulness had no conception how
deeply the iron had entered his soul.
When my father was dying, he con-
tinually talked about the boy who had
been his pride, bis eldest son, who IS
now sleeping by his side as he once sat
at his feet. He was a noble lad,
brilliant young lawyer. We carried
him out one cold winter day and lald
him away to rest ander soft quilt OF
snow. My father went back to MS
work. He said, II dare not lay IT
down even for an hour lest the effort
TO take it up again should be too great
for me-" He took up his cross in the
same cheerful, hopeful spirit as be-
fore. though the wound in his heart
never healed. He always carried
scar which was cut by the grayedig-
gers spade.
MY fathers best sermon was the
daily life which he lived In his own
home. bear my testimony to the fact
that from my boyhood until the time
that entered my own parsonage and
was ordained by him for my own pull
nit I had before me the example and
upon me the sweet influence OF a Chris
tion home. There never was In Amer
lea happier or more prayerful home
than that of which he was the head.
The children idoized him. The exam
ple he set before them was that OF
consecrated Christian gentleman al
WAYS anxious to do what Christ would
have him do. There was no bitterness
In the nursery. From him we learned
how TO forget as well as to forgive.
| Among ali the men have known IN
vorious walks of life | never knew
human being who was like him In the
characteristic that he could never bear
q prudge against any one. An enemy
might do everything In his power TO
destroy him, but my father never struck
| bock. II he could, he would not only
forgive. but he would go any distance
TO serve and help an enemy. Among
! the many homes | have visited as
pastor never entered one where the
porent has so earnestly sought to In
culcate gentleness Of rule as he did ID
nv old home. My father never lifted
hand to strike q blow, yet he ruled
| his children with a rod stronger than
ono made out Of iron. 1t was the rod
of love- My sisters and myself had
but one fear in reference to his life
we were afraid to do anything wrong
for fear OF seeing a wounded look pass
sver the kind face, which to us always
reflected the light which shone from
the divine face of Christ. Family pray
ers were not to us a meaningless for
mality. We felt that our dear father
was taking us to the throne Of grace,
as Joseph the Good brought his breth-
rem into the throneroom Of the Egyp-
tian king.
Reputation and Character.
Reputation Is what the world thinks
about a man. Character Is what he
really is. Reputation may be wrong.
! Character is an actual fact Man look
eth upon the outward appearance; God
looketh upon the heart. But l have
sometimes felt that God has made II
possible for other eyes, as well as his
own all seeing eye, to look into man