Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-17
CalrnaSe
Sermon
by Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaec. ID. ID.

Los Angeles. Cal. Sept l1.-In this
sermon the preacher considers some of
the besctting sins of modern society
and warns Christians against yielding
TO their allurcmcnts. The text Is Isa-
iah xxi. IL. "Watchman what Of the
night
Have You an active Imagination? II
so. you do not need To go 10 Palestine.
the land I'm which the ancient prophet
wrote. for an illustration of the words
of my text. There are watchmen
rywhere-men who ut night. while
others sleep. are on guard protecting
property and by their vigilance foil
ing the plans of thieves and conspira-
tors who prowl around i'm the dark
hess.
l was deeply impressed with this
duty of the Waterman by Il spectacle
British capital. 1t WAS that of the an
cicnt ceremony. still observed. Of
mounting guard mt the old Tower of
London. This tower. as you may
know. is not really II tower. but col
lection of buildings covering an area
by strong and high wall i'm which
there are four gates. called respec-
lively the Iron gate. the Water gate.
the Traitors gate and the Lions gate.
Within those walls some of the ancient
kings held their courts and PASSED the
mia I'm. xrilH nnH E..npfintr0
designations 1t WAS the place also
where some of them defended them
selves behind the barred gates against
domestic enemies. as well as foreign
foes. Here also many OF the insurrec-
tionists were incarccratcd and put to
death. The execution axes which to-
day hang upon the museum walls were
wctted with the blood of many victims.
Upon the blood stained block. which Is
still kept as Il grewsome reminder Of
the awful past. many bodies were de-
capitatcd. The frightened eyes that
looked up ut the rising sun for the last
time from that block did not all belong
TO the masculine sex. There poor Lady
Jane Grey died as well as the hand
some Earl Of Leicester. and Lords Kill
marnock and Balmerino and Lovat.
But l am DEPRESSING from my SUBJ
ject. | would not have you lOiter Ion
ger among these historic stones mere
ly to see few crown jewels and rcga-
lia. which are guarded I'm the jewel
house. l would not have you linger
longer among the breastplates and he'll
NETS and battleaxes and pixies and
spears and casting nets of chivalric
times which are now on exhibition side
by side with the guns and bayonets
and swords and cannon of the modern
British soldiers. But l would hasten
you out into the open square. where
the shrill flies are calling and the roll
ing of the drums tells us the guards are
forming to take their places by and in
these watchtOwers. just as the watch
men did away back In the time Of VIII
liam the Conqueror and during the
reigns of the Plantagenet kings.
Soldiers ON Guard.
'Stand back. stand back!' cry the
officials to the sightseers. You must
keep off the parade ground and give
the soldiers ROOM" \ field officer in
gold lace and clanking sword comes
out of his quarters and takes his posi-
ton on the right of the ground. Fall
in. fall inn cry the corporals to their
men. The different squads are quickly
formed into one line. The sergcants re-
port to the adjutant; the adjutant re-
ports to the commandment of the Tower.
The evening orders are now read. The
bandmaster lifts his signal. The must
clans pass down in front Of the line
and wheel back to their places. Tattoo
is sounded. The flag is lowered. The
sunset guns cultural voice Is heard.
Then the soldiers march to their re-
spective posts. and through the night,
as on every night for well nigh 500
years. on every tower and at all the
gates Il soldier is stationed as militia
day breaks.
1t is merely formal routine duty that
the British sentinel ON the Tower now
has to perform, but In former times
there was need of all his vigilance.
From his watchtower he might see
the approach of foreign foe or in
some part of the great slumbering
city spread out OH all sides below him
he might witness the outbreak of in
surrection. We can imagine how anX-
ious In those unquiet times might
he the tone of the officer of the guard.
who. visiting him. would ask. Watch
man. what of the night That
means: How goes the night! What
Is the news! Tell me what you have
seen. What are the prospects ahead!''
This Is the symbol of the Waterman.
1t Is thus that the ancient prophet
represents himself as observing the
signs of the times. The people cry to
him. what have you seem" And he
answers them not only by describing
the spectacles he has witnessed. but
warming them of the Judgment i'm
pending over them. Ii Is so that every
minister of the present day is COM
missioned. II Is his duty TO observe
the habits and customs of his time
and warn the sinner of the evil of his
way. III the question is asked him,
"What of the night!" he must often
give sad and painful report. When
men haye left their daily tasks and Civ.