Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-12-15
LESSONS FROM NATURE.
Rev. w. 7. Spsrhawk Speaks Of
Beauties of Yosemite Valley.

/ AT the union meeting in the Cong1
church last Sunday evening, Rev. w. T..
| Sparhawk spoke TO a congregation Of
about 200 on Some Lessons from NV Pill
/ grimage,n taking for his text, 80 Lord,
how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom
hast thou made them all: the earth is full
Of thy riches
California enabled HIM to present word
picture OF the natural wonders OF the Yo-
semitic and the grandeur OF its scenery,
whose majestic peaks, so inspiring,
are not the eompanionable hills OF old
Vermont, but seem the manifest tokens
that "ln the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth-and il was very
good
Inspiration Point, the gateway TO the
valley, is well named Spread out refore
the traveller is panorama unmatched the
world over. On the left looms up El Cap
itan; higher still, far away in front,
Clouds Rest and the Half Dome tower
skyward, while to the right Bridal Veil
fall is in full view. This last is the result
OF the wind meeting and spreading the
water out over the rocks like a filmy veil
that touched by the suns rays gives back
the colors Of the rainbow, shimmering
and melting from one amazing ehromatic
change into another. The water, a pure
white sheet, looks like silk or spun glass,
and, swayed in the breezes as il hangs
aloft, might be taken for the veil OF some
airy and graceful giantess OF the noun
tains -consort Of the naughty FL Captain
opposite.
In the heart OF the valley itself towering
cliffs shut one in on either side, and the
subdued roar OF the Yosemite falls salutes
the ear in the silence OF the night like the
sound OF distant train crossing some
airy trestle.
deep answereth unto Deep To one
who has reverence in his soul, the valley
itself is gorshipful. II is not "a big show:
1t is cathedral. II is here in its sim
plicity, witness to the wonder working
OF the Architect Of the Universe. Heat
and cold, wind and water, ages OF time,
mighty upheavals and recessions; the
forces OF nature have been at work 10
fashion this valley. Yet what are all
these forces but obedient servants under
the hand OF the Omnipotent behold
what God hath wrought"
A trip 10 the Yosemite is not complete
unless one can visit the big trees OF the
Mariposa grove. The general stopping
place Is the cabin OF the superintendent of
the grove, in front OF which are three
magnificent specimens OF the Sequoia
Gigantea OF almo identical Dimensions
Grant fisherman" and sheridan"
having an average height OF 275 feet and
an average circumference OF 50 feet.
These trees have a distinct individuality
and plainly marked characteristics.
Many OF the tops have been struck by
lightning, some have limbs broken down
by the snow and others nave been
SCARED by fire.
One gazes at the Sequoian giants in
wonderment. They are not inorganic,
but alive and growing and have been
since the world was young.
Even the telescope tree, whose interior
has been burned out, still lives at green
old age, giving assurance by its yernal
foliage that il is thrifty tree yet and
good for many generations hence. Still
putting forth fresh leaves, though its
heart has been consumed by deyouring
flames, il is an inspiring example to those
who, with scared and stricken hearts, can
vet know a larger spiritual growth for
/ he Affections that have visited them.
The speaker drew many helpful lessons
from the scenes which he described, but
warned his hearers that though "the
groves we're Gods first temples, he who
fails TO worship in the temples reared 10
the Almighty will seldom worship in the
groves. What we bring TO the contem-
plation OF nature is the gauge Of what
we shall get. even from the grandeur and
beauty Of the Yosemite valley.
Mr.. Sparhawk was listened TO very
attentively, in an address that was both I
and interesting.