Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-19
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

Cmcago, March 10. - How much OF
real heroism and true nobility are dis
played In ordinary, inconspicuous lives
Is shown by Rev. Frank De Witt Tai
mage in this sermon on the text Mat
thew /, 4, "And Naasson bcgat Sal
mon"
Why did Thomas Carlyle enttle one
OF his books Heroes and Hero Wor-
shipf" He knew that the vast major
1ty Of the human race loved to study
the lives of its great men and women.
Most people are Boswells, bowling be-
fore some ,Johnsonnn shrine. We want
10 see the hero as a divinity, a prophet,
a priest. man of letters or n king.
What Dante or Shakespeare or Luther
or Rousseau or Burns or Cromwell or
Napoleon was in public and private
life has for most of us an absorbing in
terest. We are not. as a rule, over
wrought with excitement when we
come in touch with n seeming mo
body" but we will travel far to sit at
the feet Of a great orator or TO clasp
hands with Goethe or n Victor Hugo
or to see one whose dictum may infu-
cnce the destiny of n nation.
We do we'll to honor the transceudent
genius and to take an intense interest
in the characteristics of the great man.
but we ought not to overlook the heroic
elements in ordinary lives. There are
men among US, inconspicuous and I'M
known, who are living valiant lives.
overcoming the evil within them and
around them and exercising beneii-
circle. These are men who, If great
crisis came or great opportunity
opened, would achieve fame, but with
out it will die unhonorcd save by the
few who know them well. 1t is such
men I would hold up for your admira
ton today, and choose at random as
an illustration of the class an obscure
name from genealogical table
The Cradles Influence.
First, Naasson's cradle must have
been an important part of his life's
ministry. 1t is a very common custom
for people TO sneer ut the helpful in
fuence OF cradle. Many critics are
apt to say that all baby is good for
is to eat and sleep, to cry and get sick
and to keep the house in uproar from
the time he gets into it until. rs a
young man, he goes forth to start
home of his own. For nearly two
years at least the mother is bound to
that cradle as firmly as if she were
linked to it with a chain Of steel. For
four or five years the baby is utterly
helpless. If turned out in the cold, he
would not be able to take as much care
OF himself as five-month-old puppy
For the first fifteen years of child's
life his opinion upon any subject is
practically valueless. The first twenty
years are for the most part preparation
for life's work rather than the achieve
mcnt of any high purpose. There
fore" some one says to me, II do not
see how you can affirm that Naasson's
cradle could have been a very impor-
tant part of his life's ministry"
While admitting these facts. l still
contend that the first few years of
childs life have a momentous 1nflu-
ence They are important not only to
the child, but to his parents. Who has
not witnessed the influence of a cradle
in house? / appeal to your own ex-
perience. 1t must be in essential prin-
ciples parallel of mine. My cradle
and the cradles OF my brother and sis
ters had q hallowing influence in our
home. They were an inspiration to my
father and mother. My father preach
ed better sermons on Sunday because
he knew that In his nursery the chill
dren with whom he romped during the
week would look TO him ms an example
and q model. My mother was all the
more consecrated and circumspect be-
cause her daughters were looking to
her for guidance and maternal train
Ing. And, my brother, when any one
says that your childhood amounted to
nothing, you deny it, BY the sainted
graves of your dead father and mother
you declare that you know they were
better Christians and better citizens
because you. as a little stranger once
crept into their hearts. Your parents
not only gave you to the Lord Jesus
Christ when they stood with you at
the baptismal altar, but they also at
the same time, on your account, re-
newed their conservation vows to the
Christ who loved their little child.
Child In Camp.
The purifying, enrolling and Chris
tianizing influence Of little child was
once illustrated by brother minister
in the following story: One day, in the
far west, a stalwart miner was return
ing to his encampment when he found
a lost child. She was n beautiful little
girl of about five summers. Where are
your father and mother, little onct"
asked the miner. Don't know" said
the baby. What are you going to
doW "Well," she answered, not the
least abashed, II guess | will go home
with you and wait until mamma comes
and gets me-" The miner, with laugh,
picked her up in his strong arms and
starred up the mountain side. The lit
tie girl in his embrace was not bit
afraid. She laughed and sang and
chartered all the way. When the mia
Yer cane to camp, he asked the men
what he would do with her, and they
said, Ter ner stay here over night, and
then some one will take her to town in
the morning" After supper the little
girl suddenly stopped her chatterng
and said: NOW it Is time for me to go
to bed. Who will undress me-" That
was new task for those hard listed