The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-06
THE GREAT REUNION.


THE GREAT REUNION.
"And they sfall come ron. the cast, and
from the west, and from the north, and
from the South, and shall sit down a the
kingdom of Gcd.''-Luke 1920
1 confess that my subject tonight was
suggested by thoughts of The reunion of
native North Carolinians il our city next
week. AS l unused upon that gathering,
out of almost every State III the Union,
to be held within the gates of this good
city. and thought OF all the deep and
tender interest which attaches to It, my
heart joyfully anticipated the great re-
union above, and 1 come to talk to you
about that.
l joyfully anticipated it, because my
heart, and the heart of every man the
wide world over, needs it.
This life is married by separation.
Goodbye" is q word whose sad meaning
has been learned by universal experience.
and it is echoed in every language Of
the world. Love may whisper.
Earth holds not lonesome glen,
So secret, but we meet again.
but alas, here we meet only to part
Many of those who will hasten to enter
our wide-open gates will then meet for
the last time on earth. That thought
will obtrude itself into the festivities of
the most hilarious occasion and some,
times still the musics joyous beat
Somewhere there must be place to abide;
some day the heart must hold its treas
ures with a clasp that will not relax, else
the profoundest yearning of the soul is
Vanity of Vanities, AS the burning thirst
of the furnishing proclaims that there is
water somewhere; as the gasps of the
dying are natures recognition of the ex-
istence of the air which her weakened
and disorganized powers cannot appro
pirate, so the Hearts cry CIR reunion
with the loved and the lost is tie pathetic
logic of life demonstrating the actuality of
Heaven Did not our Lord say IF it
were not so l would have told your
I anticipate it because it is the prom
Use of God
In that beautiful chapter, the 14th Of
John, whose mild and tender light has
so often beamed like a soft-eye1 star on
the couch of the dying, the Master says,
''In my fathers house are many man
sions'' What sort of a strange fathers
house, think you, must that be which
celebrates no reunions ?-and does not the
Shulmaite typical of the church triumph
anti in the Song of Songs exultantly ex
claim: HE brought me to the banquet
ing house, and His banner over me was
love?" mighty throng gathered "out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and ration throughout all ages to ban
quet with Jesus beneath radiant canopy
of love. What sublime spectacle. How
blessed it will be to be there!
But some one may enquire, how can
you speak of reunion where there could
have been no union between multitudes
who will then meet for the first timer
why, many of them were separated by
thousands of miles, and many spake a
different language on this earth! True,
hut never the less there was union-the
sweetest and profoundest on earth-Blood
relationship-the blood which flowed on
Cavalry; fellowship founded on birth,
born in Zion! Those are two of the
most powerful forces at work in human
history. The one we call Patriotism, the
other we denominate, consanguinity. The
one joins the hearts in eternal bonds of
affection To the place of ones nativity.
1t imparts a holy charm to even the
most rugged and barren prospect-the
very skies bend over the place in tender
est and lovelcst arch, the flowers bloom
there as no where else, and the simplest
brdnote wakes an orchestra in the soul:
"How dear to my heart are the scenes Of
my childhood
When fond recollection presents them
TO view
The orchard, the meadow, and the deep
tangled WILDWOOD
And every loved spot that my infancy
knew!'
Ones feet may wander far, and the
years may sweep their billowy experiences
between, but one passes not beyond the
reach of that holy influence.
The other force intensified utters the
sacred words, mother, father, sister, broth
er. He who with myself sprang from
the same loins, pillowed his head or the
same soft bosom, felt the same magnetic
fingers toy with clustering locks drank
balm for childish sorrows from the same
ruby lips, and went forth to LIES hard
fought battle with the same mothers
blessing on his head.-he, go where he
may and do what he will, must ever be
to me more than citizen of the wide
world, dearer than a stranger! So nc
who rightfully claims nativity of my be-
loved State. and, wherever he may dwell,
cherishes ner traditions and illustrates her
virtues,-that man is to me manhood's
noblest type,
ssThe courtier's, soldiers, scholars, eye,
tongue, sword,
The expectancy and rose Of the fair state.