Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-16
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Paator Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Cnurch, Chicago

real heroism and true nobility are dis
played In ordinary. inconspicuous lives
a. shown by Rev. Frank De Witt Tai
mage In this sermon on the text Mat
thew 1. 4. and Naasson begat Sal
mon"
Why did Thomas Carlyle entitle one
OF his books Heroes and Hero Wor-
shipT' He knew that the vast major
ity OF the human race loved to study
the lives OF its great men and women.
Most people are Boswells, bowling be-
fore some Johnsonian shrine We want
10 see the hero as a divinity, prophet,
a priest, a man OF letters or a 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 rule, over
wrought with excitement when we
come In touch with seeming mo-
body" but we will travel far TO sit at
the feet Of a great orator or to clasp
hands with a Goethe or Victor Hugo
or to see one whose dictum may influ-
ence the destiny of nation.
We NO We'll " hOlOi Nnt NldhSNChOChN
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 q benef-
cent influence on their own contracted
circle. These are men who If great
crisis came or q great opportunity
opened, would achieve fame, but with
cut II will die unhonored save by the
few who know them well. 1t is such
men would hold up for your admira-
ton today. and choose at random as
an illustration of the class an obscure
name from a genealogical table.
- The Cradles Influence.
First, Naasson's cradle must have
been an important part of his life's
ministry. 1t is very common custom
for people to sneer at the helpful in
1iuence OF cradle. Many critics are
apt to say that all baby is good for
IL to eat and sleep, to cry and get sick
and to keep the house in uproar from
the time he gets into ii until, as q
young man, he goes forth to start a
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 Ii with a chain of steel. For
four or Ave years the baby is utterly
helpless. III turned out in the cold, he
would not be able to take as much care
OF himself as a fve-month-old puppy.
For the first fifteen years of a childs
life his opinion upon any subject is
practically valueless. The first twenty
years are for the most part preparation
for LIES work rather than the achieve.
ment Of any high purpose. There
fore" some one says to me. ~ do not
see how you can affirm that Naasson's
cradle could have been very impor-
tant part OF his life's ministry"
While admitting these facts, l still
contend that the first few years of 9
child's life have momentous influ
ence. They are important not only t
the Guild, but to his parents. Who has
not witnessed the influence of cradle
In a house? I appeal to your own ex
cipleS parallel of mine My cradle
and the cradles of my brother and sis
tiers rad u hallowing influence in on
hoIne. They were an inspiration to IN!
father and mother. My father preach
ed better sermons on Sunday becaus
he knew that In his nursery the chill
dren With whom he rompcd during tn
week would look to him as an exampl
and a model. My mother was all TIN
more consecrated and circumspect be
cause her daughters were looking t
her Tor guidance and maternal train
3ng. Aud. my brother, when any on
says that your childhood amounted t
nothing. you derry ii. BY the sainte
graves Of your dead father and mothe
You declare that you know they wer
letter Christians and better citizen
because you. as a little stranger. ono
crept into their hearts. Your parent
not only gave sou to the Lord Jesu
Christ when they stood with you 6
the baptismal altar, but they also q
the same time. on your account. r,
Oewed their conservation vows to til
Christ who loved their little child.
Child In Camp.
The purifying. ennoJling and Chri
thanking influence OF little child wa
once Illustrated by brother ministe
In the following story: one day. in Ii
tar west. a stalwart miner was return
Ing to his encampment when he foun
lost child. She was Il beautiful lit
girl Of about five summers. Where al
your father and mother. little onei
asked the miner. Don't know" sal
the baby. What are you going
doE" Well" she answered. not II
least abashed. Il guess | will go hon
with you and wait until mamma come
and gets me-" The miner. with laug
clicked her M in his strong arms al
started up the mountain side. The II