Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-02

| virtues. Let OtncrS, IL tney WILL au-
vertise the errors; we will only speak
about the good.
The golden lips of gospel silence new
er foolishly whisper sinful tales into
the ears of wrongdoers by which they
shall try to justify their own sins. A
good example is infectious. When Mr..
Beecher was young pastor in Indiana,
he made up his mind that he would
try to preach the love of God from a
flower garden as we'll MS from his pull
pit. He laid out his parsonage grounds
in rows Of roses and geraniums, vio-
let's and hydrangcas. One year he
planted bed of over 5000 hyaclnths.
At first the village people in great
wonderment would come and look at
his garden. Then they would soilo-
quize. "Why cannot we have flowers
in our front yardsi" After awhile the
little flower gardens began to grow ev
crywhere-herc one, there another. At
last Mr.. Beecher was able to say pub
licly, LET your flowers so shine that
men, seeing how beautiful they are,
will go and make gardens for them
selves" The young preachers love of
mowers began 10 luke TOOI anu DlOSSOm
in many hearts.
What is true in reference to the in
lection OF good example is also true
Of the infection of bad example.
Some Of the toll keepers in New Yea
land have trained sheep, which, for n
small consideration, they let out to the
sheep drovers to lead their focks of
sheep across the bridges which span
the rivers or the ravines. When the
sheep which are being driven to mar
ket come up to these bridges, they are
frightened and will not go over. Then
these trained sheep come to the head
of the flock and lead the way. When
the unframed sheep see that some Of
their number can cross the bridge,
with steady rush they follow after
their leaders. There are scores and
hundreds and thousands of men and
women who want to do wrong. They
! are afraid to do wrong. But when
. they hear of the shortcomings of their
fellow men, they say to themselves
well If So-and-so can sow his wild
oats. guess we can. If So-andso can
safely cross the rickcty bridge span
! ming the river of death, | guess we can
also trust ourselves upon the swinging
span. Here goes" Finder Is not
more apt TO take fire" once wrote
Phillips Brooks. NOR wax to take the
, impression of the seal nor paper the
, ink than youth is 20 follow i'll exam
, pies" when the abbot throws the
dice" goes an old legend, 1.-THE whole
convent will gamble also" The reason
, the Chinese ladies Of today crush and
, distort their feet is because centuries
= ago a Chinese empress was born with
. deformed feet, and they are initiating
the dcformity. Everywhere we find
, that when a great man does wrong his
evil conduct is taken as an example. or
, rather as an excuse, for hundreds and
+ thousands Of similar sins.
| The Artists Masterpiece.
|, Never give any man a chance by the
;. recital of some wrong or sin to turn his
face for one instant from purity and
: right When Leonardo da Ninci fin
). ished his great painting. the Last
{ Supper" he made n cup which was q
E masterpiece. In form and character
h and in the luster Of the precious meta
n this central cup was clearly and beau
l. tirully wrought out. The common
n praise which was first heard from ev
n cry lip was this: How marvellous is the
n art displayed in the wine cup" Thi:
II eulogium so incensed the great Italian
s. artist that he took a great brush ant
Q blotted out the splendid cup as he said
f Il meant the face of Jesus Christ Il
~ ,,,1 Ia.
q most important part of that picture
o Whatever draws away the eyes OF thu
d beholdcr from that must be blottet
n out" And so whatever draws away
II the thoughts and the desires Of on
I, hearers and companions from trut
n and purity and love must be blotte'
V out. And mark you this, my brother
p in ninety-nlne cases out of hundred
V no man is as good man after hearing
It the rehearsal of 4 scandal or sin a
II he was before. There may be eXcep
S tons. There may be times when pee
IF pie, by illustration, ought to have tn
k red light of warning flashed befor
T. their eyes But in ninety-nine case
N out of hundred a mans spiritual lif
y IS developed better by hearing of III
e. virtues and self sacrifices and Chris
tan purities of his fellow men than b.
le wallowing in the mud of scandal an
v of sin.
,e The golden lips OF gospel silenc
1t never demean their owner in the eye
10 Of his fellow men When people 81
I'd around and hear him talk, If he doe
le talk they say to themselves: "Well,
do not know whether he IL Il good or
le bad man. One thing do know-he a
y ways speaks we'll of everybody. Tha
n is certainly good characteristic.
IN feel that | can trust him on that a.
e. count | always like him around.
n know when | am absent he will spea
er well of me, az he does of others q
n the other hand. when n man has NJ
ne the golden lips OF gospel silence poop
IN say of him: II do not like that ma
lie He may be good, kind and true, but
ne certainly has a poor way of shown
lie It. You cannot be in his company fly
ce minutes before he is harshly criticism
r. some one. He critcises his wife, h
Oh mother, his employer, his absent frier
nd as well as his absent enemy. | alwa,
ey feel when l am with him that he
IT. watching me, so that he can harsh