The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-04-21
,wn Of thorns in the very hour Of

cascades, and from these he caught those
rapturous tones with which he charmed
the heart of the world Thus it is be-
cause men have climbed some craggy Mat
terhorn of chilling adversely, descended in
to some vale of shadows. fingered by some
wave battered cliff; because they have
braved opposition and hardship; because
they have had passages in their lives where
thew have experienced the extremities of
anguish and dsolation that they have be-
come heralds of truth, have marked the
advance of civilization, have been high
priests of science, refners of society, re-
formers of faith.
What is it that places this premium on
grief? Why are the. great doers also the
great suffers? What is it that vltailzesS
pain. glorifes sorrow, and makes oeaa ae
mems bones walk the earth clothed with
tremendous influence? Let Moses answer
from the mount of immeasurable glory:
IT rejected a regal palace and the treas
ures of Egypt, choosing rather to suffer
affection with the people of God that L
might be a statesman for the oppressed,
hberate nation of slaves. endure to be
yexed, tried and discouraged through forty
weary years that at last / might stand Ii
lumined in the TRANSPORTATION of the Son
of Cod" Let David answer with his wall
of anguish: 90. my son Absalom! my
son, NV son Absalom! would God l had
died for thee. O Absalom, my son. my
son!" 1t was in the depth of his mourn
ing that he sung those poems which have
comforted the aching heart for ages. Let
Joseph and Daniel answer as from a prs
on and a den tney ascend the. steps to
ROYALTY and fame. Let Savonarolo answer
loving the red hot iron of martyrdom
more than the red hat of a cardinal. Let
Bruno answer, let Gallileo. let Newton.
Let Luther answer, and Wickiif and John
Huss. and Wesley, and Francis Asbury.
It is a noble company. But there are some
whom reverses have ruined, whom at
lictions have spoiled. who refuse to be
sub.imated by suffering or enno5ied nv
calamity. I see yonder a Napoleon, OF
s1rnassing genius, the worlds autocrat
He builds throne of steel only to see 1t
rust and crumble e'er he dies. From his
pinnacle of power he falls and lies pros
trate in defeat. His failure is ignominious
because his spirit is ignoble. Cpo1n the
barren rock Of St. Helena he wanders:. a
lion at bay. soul cowed: a phoenix Ire
in hopeless despair. By his side and tow. E
ering above him rises Washington. ne
comes to the government when there IS
nothing to govern. He bect mes command,
er Of the American Army when it Is small
and defeated. Without navy. without
money. without munitions, with traitors
and Tories abundant, with generals con-
nivinq for position and grossly sander
inc his character. he meets and defeats
the most thoroughly equipped and ap,
pointed government of the world: . ana
then. notwithstanding the opportunities
Of a people he has freed, he refuses
roval crown and passes into HISTORIAN
en5odiment of unselfsh service. =,
Far in the past see corrupt Nero loli'
ing in his chariot of regal magnlhcence;
diving BY inches a loathsome death. VIC
tim of the very luxury and eHtrava9ance
in which he delights. Rolling over the -Ap-
pian way on toward the city: ne passes tne
Roman guard leading. prisoner to exc
cution. Unto the prisoner the emperor pei
cives but Q. contemptuous glance. Ihat
e ajl-and vet not all. That captive com.
mands the gaze of mankind. The name OF
Nero is a synonym for vice and shameless
ness. whie the name of Paul wieldss
miohtier influence with each succeeding
century. Paul still lives! Die he cannot;
r. is true that for this purpose Nero ied
him forth from prison. But see! ooeS ne
tremb,e? Does he chrink from his last
enemy? Does this spiritual hero who
fought With beasts. struggled with waves
was SCARED by the lash, lncarceratea -.
sn1itten. stoned and left for de1d. does ne
who. when each stroke. of the "trloui,m
fell upon him. shouted, None OF these
things move" does he now finch!
The blocl, is there. The blade. is ready.
The headsraan speaks, "Prepare! Wnere
is the tremor in the aged form! WIN "a.
diant brow aud stately mien Immortal he
stands. With eve flashing IN. hope: WIN
voice strong and confident; hear MN o ae,
clare, "I am now ready to be oIereq; @ ele
foncbt GOOD fight. I have finished nv
course course. rave kept the faith" Nero..s
axe cleaves his head and Paul. the hero, ls
crowned with the abundant life.
How has the ministry of the Christ been
wrought out? In all the centuries OF sor..
-ow whose grief comnares with that OF
Him who is at once the Author and Sa,
viour of mortal man? With uncovered
had how we before the sublime sufferer.
Behold! Out of the anguish OF the garden.
out of the 1:oon, of the tomb he o, the
riven side. He Of the thorn crowned heSo,
He of the broken heart walks down the
ages e!evatinc sorrow until it grows with
a heavenly balic'v, lifting the. burden OF
woe from bruised and staggering human,
itv. This is Ee who eyalts the inWiy ana
raises tor TO noOlilCv. NeSintiS
shall no longer be accursed. hut that lie
shall be triumphant in adversely. Is TINS
onr lifeo Not vacillating. meagre., 1ndo'
lent, but sturdy. unfinching. enduring; o !;
overcoming. decisive-a triumphant !, Iie: e.
This onlv is life with deathless possiolll-
ties. and he only who lives for the future
catches the secret of the present and ITS
trials. Look we beyond dinrnal revolu-
tions gauging the sweep OF the planet N
it's course around the sun. Ir,a!s ana
tests. SANDERS and betrarals. desert1on
and opposition are for to-day; character
for eternity. If man in the future eS' t
meets to rest upon his knowledge OF truth:
he must find some trial to test 1t now. II
character is to count forever. some sharp
and meraiiess criticism must prove us
integrity new. .T.* /s
There il no more pathetic fguresin the
world of to-day than the. shilly,shaiiT,
youth cuddling in the lap OF wealth aad
shrinking from hfe's combat. we are not
wooden dummies, but must be men OF
granite. against whom the leaping waves
and mountainous surges shall beat only to
reeo;l in impotent fury; The need OF this
hour is strong manhood. Perseverance ls
the characteristic that wins. Expect not
to glide through easy. seas: with sl1SeE
sails tense in the breeze of favor. You
must steer through narrow straits; mere
-t..,-..l of donht there a hidden rock