Milford chronicle., 1904-09-23


my soul into heaven in spite Of my
own desires"
A Flight of Doves.
The selection of the figure Of a flight
Of doves is significant. 1t is, above
other things, a suggestion Of immense
multltudes. But few people realize the
marvellous numbers and prOpagating
powers of the doves of Olden times
Biberg, the Ornithologist, estimated
that if a common pair of domesticated
pigeons hatched nine times a year
which number Of hatchings is not ex-
traordinary for an average pair Of
these birds-and IL these pigeons laid
two eggs at one time, and all the
fledgelings which were Matched should
live and hatch in turn, that single pair
of pigeons would produce in four years
nearly fifteen thousand descendants.
The fecundity Of the dove is about as
great as the reproductive powers of the
English sparrow or the Australian
rabbit The most graphic description
ever written of the innumerable multi
tudes Of the doves was penned by
Alexander Wilson, the naturalist |
Statements made by this Scottish
American traveller were indorsed by /
John Audubon. Among the OrnithO- I
logical authorities there can be no bet |
ter Endorsement than this: mfr. VIII ,
son wrote that down in Kentucky, in .
n rIooo xr~bfo1, -, ir,yl 4fuo, do,-ae ,4so5 Il,
visit annually, their multitudes were .
so great that they literally destroyed
whole forest regions. In this tract .
about which he wrote the branches
Of every tree were filed with dove
nests wherever a nest could be built.
In many trees over one hundred nests
had been constructed. Above the trees
the multitudes of the pigeons wings
were so great that their tapping wings
sounded like the bOOmings of a lorna
do. So great was the noise Of their
tapping wings that the horses Of the
farmers in that region often became
and could not be
driven. Near Frankfort, Ky, Alexan-
Ter Wilson saw a flock of migrating
loves. The naturalist estimated that
his single flock was two hundred and
orty miles long and had an enrolment
If at least 2,2SO,OOO,272 birds"
Isaiah describing the consecrated
fOcking to the millennial I
.hurch could not have chosen a more
figure. These that fly as
cloud and as doves to their win I
lows" The readers Of his time would ,
ealize by it what countless throngs OF !
nen he saw in prophetic vision hasten !
ng into the kingdom Of God. Migrat-
lg doves Of old We're so many in num- :
ers that Alexander Wilson said their ,
loving wings often formed a curtain ,
bic to shut out the light of the sun !
nd changed midnoon into the twilight {
evening. The church Of God is now f
reat in membership, but. church mem-
ers, do you not look forward In holy Z
cstasy TO the time when the thou f
lnds who are wOrshiping Christ now Il
lall be changed into the millions? Do Z
Ou not long for the millenniaI day .
hen Christ's disciples shall flock q
trough the church's doors in innumer- y
BILE multitudes "as the doves hy to n
leir windows?" n
Men OF Living Faith. G
The figure is expressive not only Of t
but Of spiritual qualities. 8
he church Of the future is not to have h
padded roll. 1t is not to be composed b
lot Of members who, as the five b
'Olish virgins Of Christ's parable. Il
unged around aud slept and had no I!
for their spiritual lamps. 1t is not b
be composed of men and women 1.
no occupy their church pews only on n
lnday and then when the benedic- al
On Of the sermon is given turn and p
tut their pew doors and say: Good te
:, religion. must go home now. You s
st stay here for a week, and next ST
Inday morning l will come back and OF
e you and pat you on the back for hi
/ hour again while the choir sings 7
Id the pastor prays." But in that 81
Iurch which Isaiah saw in prophecy e'
It only shall there be multitudes Of
Orshipers, but all these multitudes