Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-04-03

nCt 30 Llutt ltnbieSStJ Win Tue SscdA
tidal waves OF sound which dashed
themselves against his cardrums as
the waves of the mighty deep IN mid.
winter beat against the Holland bikes
or with the volume OF mingled sounds.
as when the voices of the ce,estials
seemed to blend with the voices of the
terrestriais. as he was impressed with
the deep silence which suddenly en-
sued when the orchestra leader lifted
his baton IN the midst OF the piece aud
commanded Lis musicians TO halt. "Me-
thought he wrote. this short inter-
val OF silence had more music In IL
than any short space Of time before or
after it, The most eloquent passages
OF our spiritual development may Of
ten be found when we press the golden
lips OF gospel silence against our neigh
boris faults. when we are dumb and
say nothing. absolutely nothing.
Scandals Publish Themselves.
The golden lips OF gospel silence
should remain closed because, as a
rule. it Is not necessary TO emphasize
scandals. Scandals are always loud
voiced. They publish themselves. AS
L speak some one sitting in n pew has
been saying to himself: us ii not right
to denounce other peoples faults?
Shall we not warn our friends against
these sins? Shall we not point out
mems errors as well as their virtues?
Did not Paul write TO young Timothy
enjoining him TO rebuke as well as to
eXhort, TO reprove as well as preach
the wordy Yes. that is true; but, as
a rule, when a man sins be docs not
find very great lack of reprovers and
rcbukers, while there is generally
great scarcity of exhorters and encour-
ayers when he does right.
The late DIR. Joseph Parker, the great
London preacher, once said: THE aver
age newspaper prefers not to print
that which Is only commendatory. IL
1 should arise this morning and preach
the most eloquent evangelistic sermon
ever delivered from any English pull
pit. no special notice would be taken
of the same, but If | should preach in
an alpaca coat and stand under an
open umbrella. which l might hold In
my left hand. every newspaper in Aus
tralia. New Zealand. America or the
British isles would have an account OF
thermore. in every community there
are scores of men and women who
consider themselves self appointed
messengers OF evil. They arc even
willing 10 leave the home on wash
Monday or on Saturday afternoon,
when they ought to be preparing for
the sacred Sabbath, il they eau only
peddic SOME story OF Satanic gossip
about the neighborhood. And so, my
brother. you need not be afraid that
enough condemnatory emphasis will
not be placed upon your neighbours
faults. The simple fact is, II some OF
Us do not tell and Systematically talk
about our neighbors' virtues. the sin
full world may come 10 the conclusion
that they have no virtues: that they
are startling examples Of total deprav-
ity through and through.
a clean heart instlnctiveIy ends some
good I'm every mans nature. A honey
bce always scents tho flower II Is the
FREELY OF the night who loves 20 light
his little lantern and 20 hunt for the
creeping vermin In tho quagmire and
IN the disease breeding rccesscs OF che
miasmatc swamp. An old and yet n
very suggestive story goes thus: One
Hay n wagon was driven up n country
road In front OF Pennsylvania farm
house. The driver had all his children
and goods and chattcls I'm his vehicle
He was moving and wanted TO find a
new home. He called out TO Quaker
farmer sitting upon the porch: "Stran-
ger, what kind OF people live I'm the
next town. mean in that town which
is just over the hill? I want TO settle |
there" "Well. friend" answered the
Quaker farmer. "what kind OF people
did thee leave in the place from whence
thee came?" "Oh." replied the farmer.
they were the meanest people on
earth. Every one OF them would stab
you in the back IL no could. They
would cheat you and cut your throat.
l never could get TO like them. That
Is the reason I am leaving and trying
TO find a new home" Friend" an.
swered the old Quaker farmer. "thee
VIII find the same kind of people living
In the next town." Next day another
emigrant drove up TO the same farm.
house. He asked the same question.
Friend" asked the Quaker farmer
what kind OF people did thee leave In
the place from whence thee came ?"
on answered this new arrival. thew
were the kindest. he dearest people on
earth. would never have left them.
but my dear wife died. Thea the old
homestead became intoierable. Every
room reminded me OF her. Every friend
would open the bleeding wound OF my
heart. l could not believe that anvil
people could ever be SO kind as nv
old neighoors were during my late
trouble" Friend" answered the Qua.
Rer farmer. thee WI. rad The same
KIND OF neigLbors In The next Town as
In the place from whence thee came"
Speak Only OF the Good.
Like the old Quaker farmer. would
declare that each hearer San end good
10 all men or bad in ali men Just sn
proportion as his own heart Is good or
bad. And If We have any good In our
own makeup II Is very important that
we have the silver tongue of speech"
n order TO talk about other peopies
virtues. Let others, il they Will adj.
'eruse tie errors; We Will only speak
about tie good
4Ee so'oea APPS OF goSpe. silence new
n fooishly whisper sinful tales into
lie ears OF wrongdoers by which they
'ha'i try TO justify their own sins. A
'ood example is infectious. When Mr.
8eecher was young pastor In Indiana.
le made up his mind that he would
~ 10 preach the love OF God from a |
lower garden as well rs from his pull.
'i'' lie laid out his parsonage grounds
II rows OF roses and geraniums, VIC
cts and hydrangeas One year he !
planted bed of over 5000 hyacinths.
" nrst the village people i'm great
vonderment would come and look ar
us garden. Then they would solilo-
luize. Why cannot we have flowers
n our front yardsr" After awhile the
little flower gardens began to grow CIV.
ny wherefore one, there another. At
asst Mr- Reecher was able to say pub.
lciy. Let your flowers so shinr that
men. seeing how beaufiful thor, o. |