The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-06-12
,r, rhe-, are doubling days in the cal.

her serene head and hides her radiant face.
Another element OF heart failure Is Ian.
ger There was an element of personal
peril that night which we must not forget
10 introduce into our analysis Of the I'M
pulses that drove the apostles away from
Christ. In all likelihood the thought OF
danger little affected the comrades OF
Jesus. With US u is apt 10 be the over
mastering consideration. The retrea'ins
apostles were not SO much afraid of some
things as we are We talk about absolute
monarchy. We rehearse stories OF siberian
atroeity until the blood ehills. There Is
bu; one absolute monareh-ths efar OF hu'
man opinion. The ukase whth he issues
drags us all into Siberia Of meanness but
family tipyhed by the degradation of
those gloomy mines that burrow into the
Asiatie mountains The opinion Of the
world exiles finest feeling. IL dungeons
truest manhood. II rivets chain and hall
on our loitisst aspirations. IL vetoes inoe-
pendenee. We dare not be free and manly
and genuine. IL makes our feet fast in the
stocks of It's whims. We are al the while
asking which way the weather-cock points
and we trim. We are diligent IN inquir-
ing how the current sets, and we veer, IN
stead Of asking whittier the needle points
and setting our prov 10 the pole star; in
stead Of reading the chart and laughing 20
seorn the fret and roar of the billows. We
serve Christ, by the worlds permission.
Whv should we be so deferential 70 the
worlds opiniong II YOU slip. will the
world hep YOU up? II YOU have blotted
the fair page Of your life. is the world
helning you % whitenl 1t! II you are sick,
will the world play physician? II You are
struggling with all the energy that is in
your soul 10 scale some starry height OF
purity and of nobility will the world lend
| YOU hand? When your path enters the
valley OF the shadow WI il the, world walk
beside YOU on that lonely and mysterious
way! When your stay here is ended will
the world spend one thought upon you,
keep flowers growing on your grave or tear
the lchens from your tomhstoney There
| Is one who loves you, one who. whenever
YOU slip. has an arm Of love ready to catch
YOU: when YOU fall has messages OF hope
ready TO whisper in your ear. He Will
whiten your soul. He will grid your weak.
ness. lie will school your ignorance. He
will share your sorrow. He viii companion
| YOU as you cross the frontiers OF time. He
will introduce you into an unclouded
eternity beyond. Why care very much for
the opinion Of the world in which we are
but fraction now, and in which to-mor-
row we will be a cipher? Why not very
| keenly care for one whose love envelops
our being as with an atmosphere
Turn the page and read the later story Of
apostolic loyalty. The sequel is different
from the preface. Call the roll OF that
| glorious company of the apostles and hear
every compass point ring with fidelity 10
| Jesus Read how they sowed the earth
| with martyr blood from Ahvssinla 10 In
dia. Begin the chronicle with that tradi'
tion of Simon Peter, who was led out 10
death in the Roman amphltheatre while
his wife was crowned with martyrdom
before his eyes, to shake If possible the
stanch rock of his bedded faith. And
while she suffered he called her by name
and addressed her in terms Of most endear
ing affection and exhorted her TO remem
her the love of the blessed Lord and to be
firm until the very end. His turn came
next. He had but a single favor to ask
from God as he stood there in the old
Roman circus face 10 face with death, and
that was that he might remain firm for
one more hour. He had but single favor
10 ask from man. and that was that he
might be crucifed head downward. as il
was too great an honor for one who had
deserted Jesus 10 suffer IN the same way
Jesus did. The whole company of the
| aposties went sweeping home 10 their
Master in chariots Of fire. They sealed
their allegiance 10 Him with their blood,
Since the night OF panic they had come TO
see Jesus under a new aspect. They had
known Him as friend. He had place
at their table and voice in the home talk.
He had a seat at their hresidss and 2
together up and down the field paths
They had paced eide by side through the
city streets. He had colored their sym.
pathies. nodded their character, enriched
their lives; but the bond OF friendship
broke IN the hour Of trial. They had
Known II i'm as teacher. They had been
fascinated by the crystalelear form OF His
statements. They had thrilled TO the
searching and subtle touch Of His noun.
tain sermon. They bad felt the subtle
charm OF His parallels, but the spell of His
wisdom did not keep them true on the
night of His betrayal They had seen Him
as a miracle worker. They had beheld
the storm Sleep like a child at His com.
mand. They had witnessed leprosy con.
verted into purity az His touch. They had
seen the winter of the sepulcher bloom
into the spring when His sandals touched
the hnte, of the tomb but the power OF
Jesus did not armor them 20 look upon
the face Of fear. But since that hour Of
heart failure they had come 10 know Him
for them. They had felt the touch Of love
that death could not quench. They had
| been beneath the arms OF the cross out
stretched 20 shelter them. They had caught
the accents Of His parting prayer, Father,
forgive" They had heard His triumph
shout, 1T IS finished AS their Re.
deemer Jesus rveted them TO Himself with
hooks Of steel.
In this day OF force worship it is timely
20 up.ift Christ as the vitalizing energy Of
| humanity. IL is pertinent 20 emphasize
the deathless power that resides IN Chris
tianity. IL s Interesting 20 watch IL soar
ing like phoenix from the ashes OF Jeru
| salem, shifting like mailed giant the forces
| Of the Graeco- Roman civilization. sweeping
like a white-winged angel Of mercy beyond
the Alps and the Rhine, md scattering
glorious benedictions upon Scandinavia,
Celt and Saxon: 10 watch il as II carries
the same benefieent potencies 10 the dark
continents and hermit nations OF Our own
time, and blessing with It's exbaustless
bounty attic and cellar, avenue and alley,
and parlor and schoolroom, and market
place OF latter day civilization. Ia this hour
OF culture craze IL is timely 20 mark the
unique wisdom OF the Christ and 20 note
that through all the ages a train Of gifted
minds has brought the treasures OF their
life and laid them az the feet OF Him who
was Graded in the Bethlehem manger; 20
| observe She masters Of human thought
bowing with wondering homage before the
sweet and the clarity OF Christ's insight;
20 remark how the boldest OF the skeptics
become deferential and unsandal when
they pass within the charmed circle OF this
singular personality. But when i see one
who dwelt in the light Of the face Of God
| fastening down into the shadows and mis-.
eries Of this stricken earth; when behold
Him stripping Himself Of those robes Of
divine majesty which He wore before the
world began and appareling Himself with
| that sad dhued vesture which we mortals
wear, stained with woe and broidered with
tears; when ] behold Him who was the
| centre OF angelic alteration. in pathetic
| Loneliness, becoming target for the seorn