Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-01-23

asked noted musical critic who was
present what he thought of Der voice.
"She lacks one element which would
make her the greatest singer of Eu-
rope" answered the critic. she lacks
soul power. II I were young man
and could marry her and III treat her
and break her heart. then on account
or her grief aud her talent she would
be one or the brightest stars in the
musical armament" Time passed on,
and this woman's heart was broken by
cruel husband Then came the true
days OF her power and fame. God.
when he wishes TO 1T Us for great and
true work, sends US hurricane OF
trouble. He compels US TO battle with
the Galiiean tempests for whole
night. Do not be weary OF well do
ing. my brothers. You are one OF
Gods favorites. There is q great tri-
umph OF gospel usefulness for you
ahead.
IT'S easy enough to be pleasant
When life flows along like song.
But the man worth while Is the one who
will smile
When everything goes dead wrong;
For the test OF the heart is trouble,
And IL always comes with the years.
And the smile that Is worth the praise OF
the earth
In the smile that comes through tears.
The dark. tempestuous nights OF
fina ncial ruin have often been, In Gods
sight. the bright. blessed. sunshiny
days for the merchant. How is
George Watson getting along!" l ask
you. well" you answer II do not know
how ne Is getting along now. We were
boys together In the same town We
came to the city at the same time. We
used to room together. but we have
drifted apart In the last few years AZ
first George made quite n success. He
saved up little money. and then start
ed In business. But George was al
ways a trustful fellow. and he had a
dishonest partner. ] believe the part
ner swlndled him out OF some money.
Then the panic came, and bis creditors
began to press him Then the next
thing ! heard was that George had
failed lie moved out OF our oelghbor.
hood. I have not seen him for a long
time ] heard. however. that he is now
quite ON active member In church work
He Is also one or the active men In the
Young Peoples Christian Endeavor So
ciety. but l fear George Is not doing
very well. When business man be-
gins to get mixed up In church matters,
as q rule. II implies be has not a very
big business to run. However. to tell
the truth. do not know what George
Is doing. except that have O feeling
that his credit is not very high In the
business world" Is that all you know
about Georgei "Well. my friend. CO o
tell you that George Watson Is getting
along great deal better than you are.
It's true he was caught In a INA neial
storm as fierce as the 0alilean tempest
which threatened to engulf the disciples
after Christ had fed the multitudes.
but after that tempest abated he heard
the voice OF Jesus calling him to the
truer and nobIer life. And George
would never have heard the voice of
Christ had he not frst heard the hurri-
cane OF financial storm shrieking
about his head"
One Mans Experiences.
George Watson landed In this city a
Christian boy from 4 Christian home
He carried In his satchel the Bible
which his mother gave TO him the
Christmas before be left the old home
stead. The very first Sabbath after
he came TO Chicago be hunted I'D a
church and Joined a Sunday school
class. The girl whom he afterward
married was a member OF that same
Sunday school. The trouble was George
Watson made too big a success in bust
ness. He worked hard and had promo
ton after promotion. Then Sundays
he would feel tired. He neglected
church. His wife would stay home
with him. The more money he earned
the greater were his responsibilities
and the less his religion. Then came
the panic and the financial cyclone.
george wos at nrst overwhelmed by
the catastrophe. Then bis brain began
to clear. He called his wife into his
study and said; Kate. this is the hap-
plest time Of all my life. can truly
say that tonight l am glad God took
my money. i know. Kate, that I was
only thinking OF my gold and not about
the good which could do with II
Kate. we will give ourselves to God
tonight. We will give TO him our chill.
dren and our whole future lives. and
we Will promise God that never again
shall we work six days and twenty-five
hours each week for the world and
only give to God two hours OF a church
service on Sunday" That is the his.
tory or your friend George. That is
the reason you now hear OF George as
an elder In the church, as a leader In
the prayer meeting. as director in the
Young Mems Christian association. n.
church visitor who never refuses to
call on the poor. Ii was n dark night
when that financial storm overlook
George on Lake Galilee, but that storm
drove George 10 Christ.
My friends, you think Georges fig
urative history cannot be duplicated In
life. tell you that 1t can. declare
to you today that there are thousands
and tens Of thousands OF American
merchants who would never have been
able to see clearly the spiritual face
or Jesus except through a financial
tempest. The best merchant ever
knew was consecrated TO Christ
through. a Galilean tempest. Mr.. A. n.
Brooks was not only the chief member
OF the old Second Presbyterian church
OF Pittsburg wnen 1 was there. but he
was also the most influential Christian
layman In the city. He told me Just
before his death that the cause Of his
10 Christ came TO him
when dishonest partner made him
lose millions OF dollars. Had II not
been for the action OF that dishonest
partner at that time Mr. Brooks would
nave become before closing his career
1ot only one OF the wealthiest men In
Pittsburg. but also one Of the wealth
est men In the United States. Oh, We
In those hours of trials and
financial embarrassment want you to
make your troubles the stepping stones
% complete conservation TO the cross.
want you here and now to feel that
Christ constrained you to enter the
eaky boat of financial shipwreck so
that you might truly see his face, Is
the disciples saw the living Christ In
the fourth watch OF the night on Lake