The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-04-22
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ures Of Egypt. choosing rather 10 suffer
afiilctlon with the people OF God that l
might he a statesman for the oppressed,
hberate a nation Of slaves. endure 20 be
veXed tried and discouraged through forty
weary years that al last | might stand IL.
lumined in the TRANSPORTATION Of the Son
Of God Let David answer with his wall
OF anguish: %. my son Absalom, nv
son. my son Absaiom, would God | had
died for thee. O Ahsalom, NV son. my
SOM II was in the depth Of his mourn.
ing that he sung those poems which have
eomforted the aching heart for ages. Let
Joseph and Daniel answer as from a pris.
on and den tney ascend the steps 10
ROYALTY and fame Let Savonarolo answer
loving the red hot iron ot martyrdom
more than the red hat Of a cardinal. Let
Bruno answer. let Galhleo. let Newton.
Let Luther answer, and Wickhff and John
Huss. and Wesley. and Francis Ashury.
Ii Is a noble company. But there are some
whom reverses have ruined, whom af'
fiictans have spoiled. who refuse 10 be
suhlimated by suffering or ennobled bv
calamity. / see yonder a Napoleon, Of
surprising genius. the worlds autocrat.
He builds a throne Of steel only 20 see Il
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. Upon the
hon at bay. a soul cowed, phoenix life
in hopeless despair BY his side and tow.
ering above him rises Washington. He
comes 10 the government when there -
nothing to govern. He bee, mes command.
er of the American Army when II Is small
and defeated Without navy. without
money, without munitions, with traitors
and Tories abundant, with generals con.
nlving for position and grossly SANDER
ing his character. he meets and defeats
the most thoroughly equipped and ap,
pointed government Of the world and
then, notwithstanding the opportunities
OF a people he has freed he refuses n
royal crown and passes into history-an
embodiment Of unsel6sh service.
Far IN the past ! see corrupt Nero loll'
inc In his chariot of regal magnlficence;
diving bv inches n loathsome death. a VIC.
tim Of the very luxury and extravaganza
in which he delights. Rolling over the Ap.
pian way on toward the city. he passes the
Roman guard leading n prisoner TO exc
cution Unto the prisoner the Emperor
gives but a contemptuous glance. That
is all-and yet not all That captive com.
mands the gaze of mankind. The name of
Nero is a synonym for vice and shameless
ness. while the name of Paul wields
mightier Influence with each succeeding
century. Paul still lives, Die he cannot
1t Is true that for this purpose Nero led
him forth from prison. But sc! Does he
tremblc? Does he ,hrink from his last
enemy? Does this spiritual hero who
fought with beasts. struggled with waves,
was SCARED by the LASH incarcerated,
smitten. stoned and left for dead, does he
who, when each stroke of the "trhulum'
fell upon him. shouted None of these
things move" does he now finch?
The block is there. The blade is readv.
The headsman spelks, Prepare" Where
is the tremor in the aged form? With ra.
diant brow and stately mien immortal he
stands With eve flashing in hope with
voice strong and confident. hear him de-
clare, 81 am now ready TO be offered: the
time of my departure is at hand. ! have
fought a good fight. have finished my
course. I tave kent the faith Nero's
axe cleaves his head and Paul, the hero, is
crowned with the abundant life,
How has the ministry of the Christ been
wrought out? In all the centuries OF sor..
row whose grief compares with that Of
viour Of mortal man? With uncovered
head how we before the sublime sufferer.
Behold Out Of the anguish Of the garden.
ont Of the Gloom Of the tomb He OF the
rven side. He of the thorn crowned head.
He Of the broken heart walks down the
ages elcvating sorrow until II grows with
heavenly hallow, lifting the burden OF
woe from bruised and staggering human.
itv This il He who oxalts the lowly ard
raises toll 10 nobility, declaring that pam
shall no longer be accursed, but that hfe
shall he triumphant IN adversely. IL this
our hfe| Not vacillating. meagre. indo-
lent, but sturdy. unAinchng, enduring,
overcoming. decisive-a triumphant hfoy
This only is life with deathless possibili-
ties and he only who lives for the future
catches the secret OF the present and lts
4. \. .lss-
tions gaugng the sweep OF the planet IN
its course around the sun. Trials and
tests. ISLANDERS and betrayals. desertIon
and opposition are for to-day; character
for eternity. If man in the future eX-
poets 10 rest upon his knowledge OF truth.
he must find some trial 10 test IL now. "
character Is to count forever. some sharp
snd morclless criticism must prove It's
integrity now.
There is no more pathetic figure in the
world OF TO-DAY than the shlllv-shally
youth cuddlinC in the lap Of wealth and
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 10
recoil in impotent fury. The need OF this
hour ~ strong manhood. Perseverance Is
the characteristic that wins. Eyuect not
10 glide through easy seas. with sllken
sails tense in the breeze OF favor. You
must steer through narrow straits; here
a whirlpool Of doubt, there a hidden rock
OF skcpticism. where adverse currents
would strand the bark high on the barren
beach Of despair. You must fail by the
Siren Isle Of insnuating desire; must re-
sist enchantments which lull 90 the sleep
Of voluptuous death: must feel the grip Of
eternal realities; rnust move on and out 20
The unfoldment Of the soul with an iron
TO wrest victory out Of de
feat, and weave a garland OF praise out ~
he failure Of friends, the malice Of enc
-rlls The nnntntnrt nf rLnala and Tho hArd-