The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-21

for him to go 1t was the staightest
road to his destination.
When he was a boy, his father had
blazed the way for him to school through
the forest, that he might not get lost.
So Christ had blazed the way for all with
His blood, and none fear getting lost if
they would follow the path marked out.
1t was only a few words that DR.. Din
widdie said. but they were from the
heart and when he said at the end: God
| bless you ALL it was with a voice full of
emotion.
After the playing of Mendelssohns
lovely expression and tone, DR. Dinwiddie
introduced Rev. DR., Frank Stringfellow,
of Boydton, Va, his lifelong friend
1t was the minister of God, and not the
famous daring scout that addressed the
young ladies. He did not entertain them
with anecdotes of other days, but brought
message full of rich thoughts and divine
inspiration, carrying with it lesson to
everybody that heard the eloquent words
The subject was Trial"
Life" said the speaker, "is a noble
gift and we only catch a glimpse of It's
greatness when we realize that each life
/ is an idea of God clothed in the garb of
humanity. Each one is a part of Gods
great plan God had an idea which he
explained in words at the creation, an
idea which he expressed in words, in the
Scriptures, and an idea which he has ex
pressed in the souls of men,"
Dr. Stringfellow then went on to say
that each life has its own definite mission,
and asked: What is your mission, your
life work?''
Then he developed the thought tina.
each life has a right to its fullest develop
ment. eve may come boldly to the
throne of grace. We must ask great
things of God, and expect great things
| from Him E" Accordingly great obliga-
tions rest upon us, which we must meet.
| We escape no obligations by failing TO
meet them.
/ The speaker dwelt strongly on the
| thought that every one must have some
definite mission in life. Many a time had
he seen the great masses of driftwood
coming down swollen streams with the
flood. And every bit of it, he had noticed
was dead A thing that drifts is dead
do not drift" exclaimed he, earnestly.
Have an aim. You are q thought of
God Keep that before your mind"
Then came a beautiful thought. "God
is building a temple made. without hands.
It is made of the sails of men. Be living
stone in that temple. Christ is the great
masterbuilder, and we are His CO
workers
Here DR.. stringfellow told of the time
when he visited Cologne, and wondered
at the great Cathedral, that miracle in
store. He remarked on it to a man stand
ing near That man said: at took Us
many year to finish it." ''And pray
what was your part?" Il mixed the
mortar"
whether you are a pillar" went on
the speaker, cor stone, or only the NOR
tar in the cracks, be a good pillar, or a
Eocd stone, or a good mortar If you
only mix the mortar, mix it we'll"
Then came the thought, BE strong.
Quit you like men, A." In this connection
warning against society.
ct is a snare" exclaimed the preacher
''the world in Sunday garb. / speak from
my own knowledge. l thank God that
was born in society, so that l might learn
of it and be tried by it,
BE above your surroundings. Lead,
do not be led" At this juncture Dr.
Stringfellow told OF his little friends the
chaveeous, when he was chaplain of Il
Virginia regiment in Cuba. He had
twenty Of these little lizards, and they
were quite tame; used to gather on his
desk and watch him write sermons and
study. There was one big fellow that he
admired as he had few of the men and
women he had known. The other nine
teen would change color according to Che
color fthe thing they rested on; but
this old fellow, whom he called elijah
the Prophet" his favorite, could sit on a
piece of white paper and turn almost
perfectly black. That was what he adj
mired so in him, his strong individuality.
Just so could we, every one of us, gain
the love of our Master by standing firm
and not yielding to surrounding influences,
just as that little chayeleous had gained
the love of his master
Temptations were profitable, said Dr.
Strngfellow, if they were managed
They will manifest the beauties of your
character Here was an apt illustration
from the cactus. how the wind storm
strips off those ugly looking leaves from
its stork, and in each place discloses a
lovely flower.
The speaker told of very beautiful
over in Russia, which only blooms in
So with some natures wnen tested by
/ trials. They bring out a.. that is best
and sweetest.
Let us begin today" urged DR.. String
fellow, ito make more On life The lament
o. Horace was: Night presseth down upon
us, and the brief duration of life forbids
the building up of ,istant hopes. ST.
Paul knew that. too. but he said: The
| time is short, but thank God it, is not too
short to do much that IS useful, and the
great Phillips Brooks suggests that we
must begin our work here, and others
will take it up and carry it on, and that
perchance we viii have our power increas-
ed in the great. new life beyond. Life
does not end Life is ever .......... of
death.
''What the girl is. the woman will be
This is as true as that-'The boy is father
TO the man
The preacher closed with magnificent
peroration or life. cit is a solmen thing