Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-09-16
Calnase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase, ID. ID.

"
to their allurements. The text is Isa-
iah xxi, IL, "Watchman, what of the
nightI'
Have you an active Imagination? II
so. you do not need to go to Palestine,
the land in which the ancient prophet
wrote, for an Illustration of the words
of my text. There are watchmen
everywhere-menw who at night. while
Sthers sleep. are on guard protecting
property and by their vigilance foil
ing the plans of thieves and conspira-
ness.
l was deeply impressed with this
duty of the watchman by spectacle
1 witnessed some years ago in the
British capital. 1t was that OF the an
Gent ceremony, still observed. OF
mounting guard at the old Tower OF
London. This tower, as you may
know, is not really a tower. but a col
lection OF buildings covering an area
of thirteen acres. They are surrounded
by strong and high wall in 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
nights I'm wild orgies and licentious
dissipatfonS Ii 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 incarcerated and put TO
death. The execution axes which to-
day hang upon the museum walls were
wetted with the blood of many victims
Upon the blood stained block, which is
still kept as a grewsome reminder OF
the awful past. many bodies were de
capitated. The frightened eyes that
looked up at 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 sub
ject. 1 would not have you loiter Ion
ger among these historic stones mere
~ to see few crown Jewels and regn-
liza, which are guarded In the jewel
house. 1 would not have you lipgey
longer among the breastplates and he'll
mets 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 ] would hasten
you out into the open square, where
the shrill fifes are calling and the roll
ing OF the drums tells us the guards are
forming to take their places by and in
these wntchtowers. just as the watch
mon did away back in the time OF VIII
liam the COnqueror and during the
reigns OF the PlAntagenet kings.
Soldier ON Guard.
stand back, stand backr' cry the
officials TO the sightseers. You must
keep Off the parade ground and give
the soldiers room" 4 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 in" cry the corporals TO their
men. The different squads are quickly
formed into one line. The scrgeants re-
port 10 the adtutant: the adjutant re-
ports 10 the commandant OF the Tower.
The evening orders are now read. The
bandmastcr lifts his signal. The must
clans pass down in front of the line
and wheel back TO their places. Tattoo
is sounded. The flag il 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 soldier is stationed MS n militia,
ny Waterman 10 keep vigil until the
day breaks.
Ii Is merely formal routine duty that
ahe British sentinel on the Tower now
has to perform, but I'm former times
There was need OF I'LL his vigilance.
From his watchtower he might see
the approach OF foreign foe. or in
some part OF the great slumbering
city spread out on ell sides below him
HE might witness the outbreak OF In
We can imagine bow anx-
Hous I'm those unquiet times might
doe the tone OF the officer OF the guard.
who, visiting him. would ask. Watch
man. what OF the nighty' 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.
IL is thus that the ancient prophet
represents himself rs observing the
signs or the times The people cry TO
him, 'What have you seen?" And he
answers them not only by describing
~ haS NIT l,,,A
warning them OF the judgment lu-
pending over them. 1t IL so that every
minister OF the present day is COM
mtssioned. Ii is his duty TO observe
the habits and customs of his time
and warn the sinner OF the evil OF his
way. If the question is asked him,
-'What OF the nightY' he must often
give sad and painful report. When
men have left their daily tasks and Civ
sn free rein TO their inclinati0ns, WHIT
do they do? How do they spend the
own city?
As i see the sun sink behind the Los
Angeles hills see ignited one by one
the different lights OF the many places
ar pernicious amusement. These diff
ferent lights. as destroying flames. be-
gin to beckon the young men and the
young women into their fascinating
haunts- see the stage curtains lifted
before many an alluring group of
actresses and chorus girls, such as was
seen In the wealthy capital OF Samaria
on the night when dEreputable dane
ing girl, Salome by name, danced
among the licentious guests of her STEP
Herod, and by sinuous move
ments Of limb and suggestive look OF
sin so captivated the drunken king that
ne promised her anything that she |
might ask OF him, even to the half OF |
lis kingdom.
Dance Cost Life OF a Saint.
John the Baptist lost his life on ac-
count or that dance. But many a man, |
not, like John. in prison, but in orches-
ia chair, has lost his head, both moral
y and spiritually, as the result of an
show on the thenter boards. ]
There may be good theaters. | know
hat some people whom / reSnecf at