Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-10-03
Calnase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talrnaee, d. d.

The besetting sins Of modern society
and warns Christians against yielding
70 their allurements The text Is Isa-
lRh xxi. IL, Waterman, what Of the
nightY
- Have you an active Imagination? II
20, you do not need TO go to Palestine,
the land in which the ancient prophet
wrote, for an illustration of the words
81 my text. There are watchmen
everywhere-men who at 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 in the dark
ness.
was deeply impressed with this
duty Of the Waterman by a spectacle
l 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 a 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 in wild orgies and hcentious
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-
donists 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
dme 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- l would not have you loiter Ion
ger among these historic stones mere
Il
liza, which are guarded in the jewel
house. | would not have you linger
longer among the breaStplates and bel
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 shrtll nfes 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
@eeigns of the Plantagenet kings.
Soldiers ON Guard.
"Etand back, stand back!' cry the
0nicials to the sightseers. You must
keep OF the parade ground and give
the soldiers room" A 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 sergeants 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 so
years, on every tower and at all thu
gates a soldier is stationed as a militia
~ Waterman to keep vigil until the
day breaks.
1t is merely formal routine duty tina
abe British sentinel on the Tower nov
has to perform, but in former times
there was need of all his vigilance
From his watchtower he might set
the approach of a foreign foe, or IL
some part Of the great slumberinG
city spread out on all sides below hin
be might witness the outbreak Of in
surrection. We can imagine how anX
ious in those unquiet times might
be the tone of the officer of the guard
who, visiting him, would ask, Watch
man, what of the nightT That
means: How goes the night? What
Is the news? Tell me what you have
seen. What are the prospects ahead p
This Is the symbol Of the Waterman
II L. thus that the ancient prophet
represents himself as observing the
signs Of the times. The people cry t.
him, What have you SEEM And h
answers them not only by describing
the spectacles he has witnessed, bu
warning them Of the judgment Inn
pending over them. 1t is so that ever.
minister Of the present day is com
qnissioned 1t is his duty to observ
the habits and customs OF his TIM
and warn the sinner OF the evil of hi
way. II the question is asked him
~what OF the nightT' he must Offer
give a sad and painful report. WheI
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