The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-06-11

endar of experience when the earth trem-
bles beneath the feet. when the guiding
stars OF destiny are yelled with a cloud,
when the altar fame of life burns into
ashes. when the eyes of faith are piindeo
with a mist of tears. and when nope ooWs
her serene head and hides her radiant face
Another element of heart failure is dan,
ger. There was an clement OF personal
peril that night which we must not forget
70 introduce into our analysis of the i'm.
pulses that drove the apostles away from
Christ. In all likelihood the thought OF
danger little affected the comrades OF
Jesus. With us it is apt to DC the over
mastering consideration. The retreasing
aposties were not so much afraid OF some
things as we are. We talk about a6solute
monarchy. We rehearse stories OF Siberian
a~trocity until the blood chi'ls. There Is
bu. one absolute monarch-the car OF hu-
man opinion. The ukase which he issues
drags us all into a Siberia of meanness OUT
family tipyfed by the degradation OF
those gloomy mines that burrow into !he
Asiatic mountains. The opinion OF the
world exiies finest feeling. 1t dungeons
truest manhood. 1t rivets chain and naii
on our Hottest aspirations. 1t vetoes l?de-
pendence. We dare not be free and manly
and genuine. it makes our feet fast IN the
| stocks of its whims. We are all the wniie
| asking which way the weather-cock points
and we trim. We are diligent IN lnqulr-
| ing how the current sets. and we veer. IN
| stead of asking whittier the needle points
and setting our PROV to the pole star; IN
| stead OF reading the chart and laughing to
scorn the fret and roar of the pillows. We
serve Christ, by the worlds permission.
| WHY should we be so deferential 10 the
| worlds opinion? Ii You slip, will the
world help YOU up? II YOU have blotted
the fair page Of your life. is the world
helning you to whiten it? Ii you are SICK,
will the word pay physician: II You arc
struggling with all the energy that Is IN
vow. soul to scale some starry height OF
purity and of nobility will the world lend
YOU a hand? When your path enters the
valley Of the shadow will the word walk
beside you on that lonely and mysterious
way? When your stay here Is ended VIII
the world spend one thought upon YOU,
Keep flowers growing on your grave or tear
| the lichens from your tombstone? There
is one who loves you. one who: whenever
YOU slip, has an arm of love ready to catch
You: when you fall has messages of hope
| ready to whisper in your ear. He will
whiten your soul. He will grid your weak
ness. He will school your Ignorance. de
will share YOUR sorrow. He will companion
you as you cross the frontiers of time. He
will introduce you into an unclouded
eternity beyond. Why care very much TO.
the opinion Of the world in which we arc
but a fraction now, and in which to-mor-
row we will be q cipher? Why not very
keenly care for one whose love envelops
our being as with an atmosphere!
Turn the page and read the later story of
apostolic Loyalty. The sequel is different
from the preface. Call the roll of that
glorious company Of the apostles and hear
every compass point ring with fidelity to
Jesus. Read how they sowed the earth
with martyr blood from Abyssinia 60 In.
dia. Begin the chronicle with that tradi.
ton of Simon Peter. who was led out to
death in the Roman amphitheatre while
his wife was crowned with martyrdom
before his eyes, to shake If possible the
stanch rock of his bedded faith. And
while she suffered he called her by name
and addressed her in terms of most endear-
ing affection and eyhorted her to remem-
Der the love of the blessed Lord and to be
firm until the very end. His turn came
next. He had but a single favor to ask
from God as he stood there IN the old
Roman circus face to face with death, and
that was that he might remain firm for
one more hour. He had but a single favor
to ask from man, and that was that he
might be crucified head downward, as it
was too great an honor for one who had
1 GU "CSuS W suliS III e"S "oH'N 10y
Jesus did. The whole company Of the
apostles went sweeping home to their
Master in chariots of fire. They sealed
their allegiance to Him with their blood.
Since the night of panic they had come to
see Jesus under a new aspect. They had
known Him as a friend. He had a place
at their table and a voice in the home talk.
He had a seat at their fresides and a
share in their plans. They had strolled
together w and down the field paths.
They had paced side by side through the
pathies. nodded their character. enriched
their lives: but the bond of friendship
broke in the hour of trial. They had
known Him as a teacher. They had been
fascinated by the crystai-ciear form of His
statements. They had thrilled to the
searching and subtle touch of His noun
tain sermon. They had felt the subtle
charm of His parallels, but the spell OF His
wisdom did not keep them true on the
as a miracle worker. They had behold
the storm sleep like a child at His COM
mand. They had witnessed leprosy con.
verified into purity at His touch. They had
seen the winter of the sepulcher bloom
into the spring when His sandals touched
the Intel of the tomb, but the power OF
Jesus did not armor them to look upon
the face OF fear. But since that hour or
heart failure they had come to know Him
as their Saviour. They had seen Jesus die
for them. They had felt the touch of love
that death could not quench. They had
been beneath the arms of the cross out
stretched to shelter them. They had caught
the accents of His parting prayer, Father,
forgive" They had heard His triumph
shout, at is finished" As their Re
deemer Jesus riveted them to Himself with
hooks of steel.
In this day Of force worship it is timely
to uplift Christ as the vitalizing energy OF
humanity. 1t is pertinent to emphasize
the deathless power that resides in Chris
tianity. 1t is interesting to watch it soar
ing like a phoenix from the ashes of Jeru-
salem, shifting like a mailed giant the forces
of the Graeco-Roman civilization, sweeping
like a white-winged angel of mercy beyond
the Alps and the Rhine. and scattering
glorious benedictions upon Scandinavian,
Celt and Saxon; to watch it as it carries
the same beneticent potencies to the dark
continents and hermit nations of our own
time. and blessing with its exhaust!ess
bounty attic and cellar. avenue and alley,
and parlor and schoolroom, and market
place of latter day civilization. In this hour
of culture craze If Is timely TO mark the