Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-07-27
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Psrk Presby-
terrain Church. Chicago

NnlcaRO. July [b.-ln these Gays OF
social and domestic struggle the prob
lem Of family help is rapidly becoming
one OF the first importance in our great
cities DR.. Talmage's sermon shows
that domestic service. far from being
vocation TO be desplsed, should right
~ be regarded as one OF honor and lu-
crative reward. The text is Matthew
II, u. "whoeoever will be chief among
you, let him he your servant"
Startling theme! Apparently q con-
tradiction In terms but really a pro-
found truth proved by reason and ex-
perience. The men most honored in the
world today and the men of the past,
whose names history will never for
get, are the men who have rendered the
world the best service. EmiDence and
lasting fame gre won not by riches or
titles, but by doing something that ben
efts others. That IL a sound general
principle which applies not only TO the
highest walks OF life, but TO the
humblest II may correct our views OF
n station which II IL now the fashion
20 hold in small esteem II we see how
Il Is affected by this principle. speak
OF the girls who, In performing the
humble duties OF domestic service, con-
tribute so much TO the comfort and
happiness Of family.
The tremendous opportunities OF use
fulness open TO a consecrated domestic
Is the subject. No position today ac-
cessible 10 woman OF ordinary men,
tai and physical capabilities will bring
greater returns, financially and spirit
ually, than that offered to the average
servant girl. The gods were supposed to
have allowed the beautiful queen Of
Cyprus TO bless her little kingdom in a
wonderful way. Every place Of the
rocky island which her foot might
touch would instantly be covered with
brilliantly colored fora or with rich
green verdure. Not so does God endow
any human being; but in a better way
does the fable come true. The humble
domestic servant. be she cook in the
kitchen, or a guardian in the nursery,
or a waitress in the dining room, or
simply a chambermaid. may live life
which will carry fragrance wherever 1t
goes.
Two Classes of Servants.
But this sermonic theme has its dark
side as well as its bright. 1t is shad-
owed either by avoidance or by sloth-
fulness-by avoidance because in de-
spising 1t and seeking other occupa-
tons Inconvenience and social diff
culties are entailed on others; by sloth-
fulness because no one can do a duty
badly or carelessly without deteriorat-
ing in character. The kitchen or the
nursery may be a throne room, with a
consecrated domestic servant as q
queen, or 1t may be den of miserable
drudgery and the scene of constant
pickering and discomfort. In olden
times there were two classes of serv-
ants. both male and female. The one
was that consecrated band of workers
which clearly realized that true serv-
Ice, no matter how humble, implied
honor and usefulness. Thus Joshua,
great man that he was, gladly and
willingly became the servant of Moses,
and Elisha was the servant of the
great Elijah. and Eliezer was the serv-
ant of Abraham and Samuel of Eli
These men knew that they. in their
humble sphere, were working for the
advancement of the world as truly as
were their masters in their more con
spicuous sphere.
The second class of servants was
composed of the sullen slaves captured
In war They were. for the most part
~
They felt that the tyranny of fate haC
placed the captives' manacles upor
their wrists, and as soon as possible
they would fee when chance for es
cape offered. So there are women to
day serving in the kitchen and in the
nursery who act as If they believe tina
they are captured slaves. They ar,
grumbling against their work anC
meager pay. They are spending on,
half of their time in finding faul
with their mistresses and the othe
half in trying TO find out a way of es
cape into some other occupation wher
they can have more liberty and in
creased emoluments. AS we woul,
praise the grand work of the conse
NAbANh hVAAtNAAts 81 We NOuih hthOuAAO
the evil behavior of the wicked an
Elothful servant" We would try (
show that the servant girl who burie
her one talent In a napkin and refuse
10 do her legitimate work is Just a
reprehensible in Gods sight as tn
king or queen who deliberately squar
ders a life's capital of ten talents. d
vine rewards and punishments are nc
dependent upon the amount of return
accomplished by Gods children. bu
upon the faithfulness and consecr;
don with which we perform the task
be has given US 10 do.
Concerning the Word "Royal."
The word royal is not restricted I
station. 1t is legitimately applied {
any woman whose conduct in her ow
sphere is noble and faithful-condu,
(which is becoming or fitting TO