Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-06-18

seem wrapped in sleep, unable to compre-
bend the conflict that surges within our
soul. There are doubling days IN the cal
endar of experience when the earth trem-
stars of destiny are yelled with a cloud,
when the altar fame of life burns into
ashes. when the eyes of faith are blinded
with a mist of tears. and When nope BOWS
her serene head and hides her radiant face.
Another element of heart failure is dan.
ger. There was an element OF personal
peril that night which we must not forget
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 be the over
mastering consideration. The. retreatlng
apostles were not SO much afraid OF some
things as we are. we ak aoout ansoln.e
atrocity until the blood chills. There IS
but one absolute monarchEthe car OF hui
man opinion. The ukase which he issues
drags us all into a Siberia of meanness but
family tipyfed by the degradation OF
those gloomy mines that burroW INTO lhe
world exiles finest feeling. It dungeons
truest manhood. It rivets chain and ball
on our ~loftiest aspirations. 1t vetoes 1ade-
pendence. We dare not be free and manly
and genuine. It makes our feet fast IN the
stocks of it's whims. We are all the while
asking which way the weather-cock points
and we trim. We are dlllgent IN lnqnlr-
ing how the current sets, and we vear, 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 biiloWs. we
serve Christ, by the worlds permission.
worlds opinion? If you slip, will the
world help you up? If YOU have biotted
the fair page of your life, is the world
helping you to whiten it? If you are sick,
will the world play physician? If You are
| struggling with all the energy that IS IN
your soul to scale some starry helght OF
| purity and of nobility will the world lend
| you a hand? When your path enters the
valley of the shadow will the world walk
beside you on that lonely and mysterious
way? When your stay here IS ended WILL
the world spend one thought upon you,
keep flowers growing on your grave or tear
the lichens from your tombstone? There
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. He
will share your sorrow. He will companion
will introduce you into an unciouded
eternity beyond. Why care very much for
the opinion of the world in which we are
but a fraction now, and in which to-mor-
row we will be a 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
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 to In
dia. Begin the chronicle with. that tradi-
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-
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, aud
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
deserted Jesus to suffer in the same way
Jesus did. The whole company Of tho
apostles went sweeping home to thei1
NIoSCO1 III liza I'll Ill.,. Lucy oCdlCO
their allegiance to Him with their blood
Since the night of panic they had come te
see Jesus under a new aspect. They hao
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 :
together UP and down the field paths
They had paced side by side through the
city streets. He had colored their sym
pathies, nodded their character, enriched
their lives; but the bond of Friendship
: broke in the hour Of trial: They hae
fascinated by the crystal-clear form of Hi
statements. They. had thrilled to the
l searching and subtle touch of His noun
= tain sermon. They had felt the subtl
7 charm of His parallels, but the spell of Hi
wisdom did not keep them true on th'
$ as a miracle worker. They had behele
the storm sleep like a child at His com
. mand. They had witnessed leprosy con
. verified into purity at His touch. They hal
1 seen the winter Of the sepulcher bloom
: into the spring when His sandals touchet
the Intel of the tomb, but the power o
Jesus did not armor them to look upo1
+ the face Of fear. But since that hour o
heart failure they had come to know Hin
. as their Saviour. They had seen Jesus di
for them: They had felt the touch of low
o o that death could not quench3. They ha'
s Ueeu DeledIn Ino arms OF Cne cross OuI
n stretched to shelter them. They had caugh
n the accents of His parting prayer, "Fathel
e forgive" They had heard His trump.
shout, cit is finished" AS their Re
q deemer Jesus riveted them to Himself wit
q hooks of steel.
e In this day Of force worship it is timel
to uplift Christ as the .vitalizing energy c
humanity: It is pertinent to emphasiz
the deathless power that resides in Chris
tianity. 1t is interesting to watch it soa1
ing like q phoenix from the ashes of Jer,
salem, shifting like a mailed giant the force
Of the Graeco-Roman civilization, sweepin
like a white-winged angel of mercy beyon
the Alps and the Rhine, and scatterin
:. glorious benedictions upon Scandinavian
is Celt and Saxon: to watch it as it carrie
s. the same benefcent p~otencies to the dar
continents and hermit nations of our ow
time, and blessing with its exhaustle.
q bounty attic and cellar, avenue and ale,
y and parlor and schoolroom, and marke
&c place of latter day civilization. In this hot
" of culture craze it is timely to mark tt
'e unique wisdom Of the Christ and to moi
+ that through all the ages a train of gifte
q; minds has brought the treasures of the
$ life and laid them at the feet of Him WI
d was Graded in the Bethlehem manager.