Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-08-04

truth that Il man has his duty to the
world at large as well as to his father
and mother, his wife and child, his
brother and sister and friend. Be
cause men and women are bone Of our
bone and flesh OF our flesh that Is no
reason why we have not duty to our
fellow men who are not akin to us
by blood duty to your fellow men
and to your fellow mems children
whom you have never seen. A man
never learns this lesson more easily
than when he IL a soldier. | rcmem-
Der some years ago, during the Span
ish- American war, we were encamped
I'm the old fair grounds OF Springfield.
the Illinois capital. Dcwey's guns at
Manila had spoken. The troops were
being hurried to the front. Our regi-
ment wns to move south within cou-
pie Of days. The surgeon OF our regi-
ment came to my quarters one night
and said, chaplain, read that" 1t
was a letter from Chicago telling him
that his wife was lowering between
life and death as the result of a very
serious operation, and she wanted to
see him Just for few hours before
he went south. "Wby don't you run
up to Chicago tonight and come back
tomorrow we asked. You will be
here In plenty Of time" THE colo
mel won't let me. The orders have
cr.pe down that no leaves Of absence
can be granted. as we may 20 to the
front any moment" Orders be
hanged" said ] impulslvely IF my
wife were dying. orders or no orders,
| would 60 to her" Then you would
he captured rs n dcscTter and perhaps
shot" said my companion quietly
For the good Of the service / must
obey orders and go with my regiment
Ny duty to my country IS now even
greater than my duty to my dying
wife" yes, surgeon said I, you
are right There are duties in he
even greater than those we bear 10
our loved ones. dear though they may
be. God help you in this your hour
Of trial"
SO Christ In these words Of my text
was enunciating an infni and omnip-
otcnt truth. Jesus Is practically say
Ing: Young man higher than your
love for father or mother or wife or
child Is your duty TO me and to the
great world at large. Come with me
and help save the millions who are
dying in their sins. Come with me
and bring back TO Il NE Of purity and
love those who will never know me IN
less they see me as n result Of thy
guidance. Come with me. Come with
me- This sentence, Follow me, and
let the dead bury the dead" is only
another wording OF the same thought
which Christ spake unto his disciples:
"Iie that loyeth father OF mother more
than me Is not worthy Of me- and he
that lovcth son or daughter more than
me is not worthy Of me. And he that
taketh not his cross and followeth after
me is not worthy of me- Yes, there
come certain times In life when our
duty to Christ and to our fellow men
should have precedence over our de-
sires to be with our dear ones In our
own homes
But, though these words OF NY text
may St'lD W stIlhI htt oOllIt VI 10 Iol
little while from our loved ones on
earth IS it not sweet and treasured
thought that Christ will never separate
us. his children. from each ether in
that better innd? During the last Ill
ness of Or. George Grey Chicago's
great religious editor. he had n Won
derful vision. He seemed to be n boy
again. standing upon the banks of the
Ohio river. where he was born He
used to see far off, rising over the trees,
the smoke pouring out OF the tunnels
Of the river boats that would come and
take away his friends. SO in vision he
saw. rising over the hills. the smoke of
The boat Of death" which was com
Sag to take him, not away from friends.
but to the hundreds of dear ones who
had preceded him beyond Thus. ac-
cOrding TO Christ's great laws, we may
believe that the separations OF earth
are only for little while and that
these earthly separations ultimately
mean the reunion in heaven If we only
trust Christ and accept Christ for our
Saviour.
Copyright 1904 by Louis Klopschl