Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-22

multittideS, has never been called
common bird. The dove always has
been and always will be the symbol
Of purity, gentlcncss and love. This
symbol was recognized in heather
times. Because the dove signifled pu-
rity Venus hnd this bird as her en-
bicm. Dean Stanley in relating his
oriental travels writes thus about the
ruins of Ascalon: "Thc temple erected
to the Syrian Venus Is destroyed, but
the sacred doves-sacred by innumer-
able legends of the spot and celebrated
there even as late ms Eusebius-still
Hll with their cooings the luxuriant
gardens which grow In the sandy hol-
lows within the ruined walls"
Nurturcd ny Dove.
In the beautiful NEUROLOGICAL legend
Semiramis. the queen, was said in her
youth TO have been nurturcd by a dove
and at death to have been changed
into dove We find, however. in
Christian nomenclature the dove Is
also the symbol Of purity and gentle
ness and divine love. In tho Bible the
dove has the most hallowed of asso
Citations. 1t was as dove that the
Holy Spirit appeared at the baptism
OF Jesus. 1t was two doves that the
Blessed Virgin presented at the temple
as an Oblntion for her publication aft
or the divine birth. What says the
pSalmiSt in reference 10 the mans re-
dcmption from sin and his cleansing
through the blood of Jesus Christ?
Though 30 have lain among the pots,
yet shall yc be as the wings of dove
covered with silver and the feathers
with yellow gold" oh, my friends,
IN the beautiful vision OF the doves.
the poor, the gentle. the loving, the
innocent doves. fiuttering to their win
dows. cannot you see the symbol OF
future glorified aud consecratcd as
semblaCe crowdng about the sacred
altnrs ~ Jesus christ?
This migration of the redeemed and
spotlcss multitudcs Of human beings
To Christ's churches shall not only
come with the purity " the dove but
also with the swifr velocity of the
dove. II will not come with the lead
en- feet of n man who. having been
born III Il Christian home. takes ten.
fifteen. twenty. perhaps thirty years,
to make up his mind to be Christian.
II will not come with tho slow proc.
cSSeS some churches have. whereby
their sessions or VcStrics or boards of
deacons place the applicant for church
membership on probation. But these
new acCcSsions to the churches Of
Jesus Christ will come 10 the front
rank OF Christian service and worship
as quickly as the name Of Saul was
changed into "A Paul. The new mem
hers whom Isaiah saw In vision fled to
Christs altar as quickly rs the doves
fly 20 their windows.
Not only is the doves wing power
fully hurtled for quick flight. but that
flight can he kept up for almost incred-
ible distances. We find these wonder
full flights recorded by the different
columbinc societies in different parts
Of the world. In 1868 thirty pigeons,
which are only HE dOmestiCatcd names
Of the wild doves. were thrown into
the air at Liverpool and started for
two places on straight line Is ove-
800 miles. The first bird which arrived
home made that distance in lively"
hours and twenty minutes. II this
looming pigeon flew in a direct line he
Travelled at an average speed Of TWEEN
ly-fve miles per hour for twelve long
hours. once pigeon was let loose in
I Il OF.
miles distant. In five hours. He made
an average OF about thirty-six miles
per hour. In 1914 the doves speed was
tested. when seventy birds few from
st, Sebastian. Spain, to Venice. ON
straight line they travelled n distance
IF over 600 miles. IIoming pigeons
have flown from Arizona to New York.
The enduring swftncss Of tho dove Ia
such that il can overly mountains and
wen defy seas.
Come to Christ Now.
The swiftness Of the doves fight Is
bne Of the greatest Inspirations 10 me
" all of Isniah's vision. Why the
twiftness: Because | know that wa
ran come TO Christ now. oh, my broth
tr. ii takes q swift wing for you in an
Instant Of time to cross over all that
Tar country OF sin which separates
,ou from Gods dovecOt The distance
from Arizona to New York or from ST.
sebastian, Spain, to Venice. where
loves have flown. is not rs far. Tell
ne. q man, did You not start forth on
:our Journey Of sin ten. twenty, forty
Years ago? Why. let me recount the
years You have not seen n commune
ion table since your mother died. You
have not made one earnest prayer for
ten years. If was today to count
lver the list of your intimate friends
would find them without exception to
De men nnd women who have not been
IN the past and are not now living
,'hrisiian lives. oh. my brother. my
poor sin sick brother you have long
distance to como back 10 God. But
you can come by divine grace You
can come now. You can come as quick
- as the new converts of the church
which Isaiah saw in vision came tn
the mercy seat. You can 60 no with a
supcrlative swiftncss. You can come
with the lightning velocity Of flying
dove
But why talk about Isnlah's church
of the future? Why caption this ser
mon With the title. The Coming Awak-
puingT When Isaiah saw this migr0t