Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-09-18
TALMAGE

By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
y Pastor Of Jefferson Park presby.
6>-<v. teri~n Church. Chicago


1.-The wrong start" which must end I'm
ultimate disappointment or ruin. The
text is III Samuel xviii. 30, Wherefore
witt thou run, my sonT'
Every great movement inevitably
unds Its capitalization in the personal
atty Of one or more leaders. Soon art
er Oliver Cromwell died the Iron
sides melted away. The monarchicai
throne was again established. The son
OF decapitated ruler was crowned
sn Westminster abbey as Charles III.
When Harold the last OF the Saxon
kings. fell mt Hastings, William the
CcnQueror became the undisputed
claimant of the English throne. and
the Norman dynasty was established.
When Robespierre and Marat and Dan
ton died. the "reign OF terror ceased.
Mob anarchy" had to bend the knee
ut the shrine OF established law"
When Prince Absalom, brilliant men,
tally and handsome physically, but de-
PRAYED morally. the INSCRIPTIONS lead.
or OF all the insurrectionists of David's
kingdom. died, at once his followers
Were scattered. and the national up
heaval which threatened TO demolish
his fathers throne was stiiled.
No sooner was this tragedy over than
General Joab. the commander OF the
royal forces, wished to send the news
90 the anxious king. He wanted to do
as other generals have done before and
since his time Commodore Perry, aft
CT his great victory on Lake Erie sent
70 the president this significant mes
sage: I'VE have met the enemy, and
they are ours" William T. Sherman
In 1868 telegraphed TO Abraham Lin
coin the news that his journey from
Atlanta to the sea had been accom-
plshed. So General Joab turned to
one OF his young men, Cushi by name.
and in tones of authority said: GO tell
the king what thou hast seen. And
Cushi bowed himself unto Joab and
ran"
The Race of Life.
Hardly was this command given and
the messenger on his way when a stall
wart young soldier approached the
general. He was n physical athlete.
His chest was broad and deep. his
eye clear and quick. The muscles of
his sinewy limbs were moving in per-
feet action under the covering OF his
skin His name was Ahimaaz He
young fellow OF intense energy. He
Hrst saluted the commander in military
fashion, and then said, Let me. l pray
thee. run after Cushi." General Joab
sooked ut the young man In surprise.
He then asked this pertinent question:
Wherefore wilt thou run. my son. see
ing thou hast no tidings TO bear? Why.
Cushi will tell the king all he wants TO
al..A
out OF breath. and run and run and
run and run. and yet accomplish MOTH
tns- But the young man would listen
70 no reason. He again begged the
commander 20 let him run. Then. Cen
erai Joab. impatient TO get rid OF the
persistent suppliant sharply replied,
Run" And Ahimaaz ran. His race
was foolish. because IL was without an
object, unless he wanted 10 outstrip
Cushi, the authorized messenger. us
the bearer OF evil tidlngs. In such a
race there could be no prize worth the
winning. no goal but disappointment.
no recognition OF the tremendous ex-
penditure or energy. lie ran as thou
sands or young men do who, leaving
xheir proper post or duty, come in
eager haste TO our large cities. neither
knowing nor caring for what purpose
they are entering the race OF life.
Ahimaazes OF the twentieth century.
clear eyed and broad chested, IL is very
important that you get the right start.
The stronger you are mentally and
physically the more important is it
that you direct your energies Alright.
The swifter the locomotives velocity
the more essential is il that IL be under
The charge of a sklllful engineer. for IL
10 have good straight track and TO be
equipped with a safety brake. The
songer the carrying range of a rifle the
greater the necessity OF having the bar
rel aimed straight before the marks
man places his forehnger upon the
hair trigger. Therefore the object OF
tnis discourse is TO tell young men not
only low they are TO start. but also
low they may have an overruling prov
ioence to guide them when they start.
A rtoneer Journey.
Lie, in the first place, can be aptly
compared to pioneers journey across
tne American continent where no
white mans foot ever trod before.
it Will be such a journey as John G.
Eremont took I'm 1912. or as David
Crockett took in 1910, or as Sam Hous-
ton took when. on account of a domes-
Tie sorrow. he resigned the gubcrna-
eorial chair of Tennessee in 1920 and
plunged into the dark forests OF the
west. or as Lewis and Clark took when
they explored the northwest In 1sO4-O5.
IT will be a Pathfinder's journey. be-
cause there will always be strange and
unknown mountains 10 climb and
m
over and quicksands 10 avoid and
ozark continents" TO explore. Although
millions and billions OF human beings
nave lived, there is not one OF all those |
muititudes who has had just the same
hangers 10 face as have you and l.
Nacn man as an individual must be-
come free thinking and free acting. He
must decide his own course No other
can place himself In exactly his posi-
don.
was never more impressed with
this fact than in my relationship with
my father. / do not believe that
man and his son ever lived closer to-
gether than did my father and / for
over twenty years. There Is hardly |
city In the United States OF any size |
which together we have not visited. |
Upon the high seas we always occu-
pied the same stateroom. in the ho- |
tells our rooms opened into each other. |
When at home many a night have I |
sat up with him in his study talking
until after midnight But, though i |
entered the same profession and was
his constant companion, yet found |
out that when g crisis came in my life
had to decide it by the supreme
court OF my own intellect, and not with
his. 1 would always ask his advice.
BE would gladly give me that advice.
But he would always end up his advice
with these words: Now, my boy, re-
member that you must decide this