Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-14
Calnna9e
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank Dc Witt Talmaec. ID. ID.


creatures is the preachers theme. and
he pleads that man should value the
affection of the dumb creation no less
than he should respect its rights. since
divine wisdom has placed il in his
care. The text is Deuteronomy XIV. 4.
Thou shalt not muZZle the OK when
he trcadetb out the corn
This is the age OF machinery. This
is the time when man is not limited in
his operations Ia the work of his two
hands but with his little finger can
lift lever which has the strength Of
n thousand hands: when. instead Of his
being content with seeing only such
things as his eyes perceive he calls TO
his aid the telescope and the microscope
that multiply his power OF vision n
fhousI ndfold. The old fashioned spin
ming wheel has been developed into the
mighty Belfast linen mills. The old
fashioned scythe has evoluted into the
swift moving machine. which goes
singing through the harvest fields.
The old fashioned prairie schooner has
long since given place To the tireless
W tAltFSS. W hi'u
never stops by day or 10y night except.
like thirsty monster. 10 take a drink.
The old fashioned messenger. who on
horseback used TO carry back TO n
king the news of battle won. has
been superseded by the telegraph wires
and the electric cables. which in almost
an instant can put continents within
speaking distance and have put the Is
lands of the seas in communication
with the mainland.
The patent Offices in Washington are
crowded with innumerable inventions
for the saving of labor and time. In
none of them. however. Is the contrast
between modern and ancient methods
SO marked as we see il when the
mammoth -four mills of Minneapolis
are compared with the custom referred
10 In the text. In that great city Of
the northwest not only is the grain al
most Instantly changed into flour by
the best of modern machinery. but
practically not one grain Is lost. Upon
the old fashioned thrashing floor every
thing was different There n team Of
oxen would lie harncssed TO a cOllec-
ton of boards nailed together. Then
these boards would lie dragged over
the grain and the chaff would be bro
ken from the kernels of wheat. Then
the winds would blow over the thrash
ing floor AMI separate the chat from
the wheat.
Wisdom of Moses.
Such were the thrashing floors OF the
ancients Now. rs Moses went in and
out of the country he saw great
many of these thrashing floors. Fur
thermore. he saw that among their
owners there were a great many mean
men in those days. ms there are i'm our
own days. lie saw that these mean
men nearly always first showed their
meanness Ia their beasts. They not
only overworked their oxen. hut they
unlerfeti them. Their meanness was
most cmphatically demonstrated when
thrhshing. Fearing lest their hard
worked oxen might reach down and
pick M from the thrashing floors a
stray mouthful of grain To eat. these
mean farmers would muZZle their
beasts 50 that the hungry animals
could see the food and yet not eat any.
Now. Moses says in a practical way:
"IhcSe men must he taught to he
merciful To their beasts. have
made u law requiring them TO obey
God AMI be just in their dealings with
their ncghIors Now will make an
tlntn f.a Lao
in their provision for the animals which
work for them" Then the great law
giyer of the Hebrews sits down and
writes these words of my text: Thou
shalt not muZZle the OK when he tread
eth out the corn"
Moses was the first great Statesman
that | know of who recognized the
rights of dumb animals. Ii is sig
niiicant fact that IN this early code OF
laws lie should have given legal rights
To animals rs well as To men and wonI-
en-. IL was n sound and righteous
course, and | am glad TO remember
that we. too. have not only laws Ia
prevent the III usage of animals. but
also in the Humane society an organ
iZation 10 see that those laws are Ell
forced. want To show you this morn
ing why every Christian should be in
touch with that society AMI that its
principles should be applied TO all
classes and all ages. There is no rea-
son why the admonition should be liIn-
tied to the farmer. The hoy should he
taught Ia he good 10 his pet dogs and
squirrels: the drayman should be- COM
PEELED Ia tighten the load il his horse
is too weak To draw il: the hackman
should he required to blanket his stced
shivering In the chill blasts of winter;
the sportsman should be prohibited
shooting the mother bird in nesting
time. would try 20 show that the
Christ who was born amid the lowing
OF the cattle and the bleating of the
sheep and the neishing Of the horses
whinnying for their oats. is today the
friend and protector Of the dumt
brutcs as well ms of our fellow men.
Cruelty DeErades.
The Humane Society of Amcrics
should be accounted one of the best oi
societies. Its work has Il deeper and q
e.ta ln. of tts