The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-24
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
BY THE REV. FRANK DE WITT rALMAeE. D. D.

would not have the minister or the law yer or the merchant or the inventor say: T have no time to look after the nursery. I must work and work. l must work and work even though my own boys and girls have to suffer-" He would not let Abraham offer his boy Isaac upon his alter, neither will he ever require us to sacrifice the spiritual and temporal lives of our children upon the alters of fame.
 And yet, today. see how many men neglect their own children for the pur- suit of silver and gold-men who in one sense try to justify themselves for this neglect. Some time ago 1 was walking along one of the eastern streets, and saw sweet faced old man leading by the hand little girl and boy This little girl was shaking her hnger at the old man and telling him long story of some sort, and the old man was smiling and holding and saying: "Yes my darl- ing, that must be so if you say 1t is so. Of course, of course, 1t must be so." slowed up in my walk and joined my self to the little group. l smiled as 1 saw the contentment with which wrink- led and snowy January was nesting up to gentle spring and the fragrant blos- sons of youth Well, my friend" I ac- costed the aged traveller you have there very pretty girl companion and a. fine looking boy. Yes" answered the old man, these are really the first two children l ever had time to love. They are my two grand babies. The great trouble was that when 1 was young man and had my own children I had to work so hard I never had time to pet them and spoil them as they say I am spelling these. There little one, be care full, or you will tumble down., I heard the old man say. But as l walked on and left the happy group the questions came to me: Did any father have a right to make such an excuse for negleeting his children? Can any work be so important that a man dares to say, as did Jephthah. oh God, if thou wilt allow me to succeed in life l will sacrifice upon thy alter. if she comes forth to greet me. even my on- ly child, my lovely daughter?
 A Sacred Trust.
 Oh, parent, it is an awful crime to en- danger the physical and temporal and spiritual welfare of your children! No crime among all recorded crimes ought to he more summed or condemned And yet this crime we see Haunting itself every where. Parents seem to be too busy seek ing earthly fame and temporal success to care for their own flesh and blood. Said a prominent English judge to a young man standing in the felon's dock. Do you remember your father?' Per fectly," said the youth. "Whenever I en- tered his presence he would say: Run away run, my lad don't trouble me. 1 must write now; l must write" Who was that father? He was the great lawyer" said Dr. Potter, who was the author of the famous book on The Law of Trusts and his only son in due time furnished a practical commentary on the way in which his father had discharged the most sacred of all trusts committed to him in the person of his own child"
 Ed, where Is your mother?" I once asked young school friend when dining in the home of his mother. "Oh, mother is not here to dinner today. Mother is very seldom at home. She Is always off addressing those religious meetings" Do wonder that in this answer l read the future doom of this son? Do you wonder that that boy turned out bauiy What right had that mother to attend any series of meetings that would compel her to systematically neglect the spiri- tual training of her offspring by her own fireside? No temporal success of life should be allowed to. demand for it's alters the sacrifice of a mans children, the sacrifice of a mothers home.
 Christian Integrity.
 For temporal success, no matter how great God would never have us destroy our Christian integrity. He would never have us mix an alloy in with the pure gold of Christian character in order to make it harder and to give it louder ring. He would never say to us, "Oh, child of God, you can tell just one big lie or commit one big sin if by that means you can win q great earthly success, and then you will be ready to reconsecrate your whole life to me-" And yet there are many men and women who believe that in the sight of God and man great temporal success in one way may atone for the illegitimate and dishonest means by which that success is won. To them the cloven foot of Saten may be al- lowed to stand in the front rank of the worlds honored ones if 1t be only cover ed with the shining kid of patent leath- CT shoe.
 ''Who is that gentleman riding down the street?' I ask "Oh," he answers, that is one of the most influential and respected men in our town. He is not only at the head of all reformatory move ments but he is one of the pillars of Rev. So-and-so's' church." How did he make his money?' "Well' he answers. and with that he looks around to see no one is within hearing distance. there Is a dark story connected with his life. Peo- pie do say he got his start by dishonest means He is said to have been once very poor young man and clerk in his uncle's office. This uncle was the owner of some very valuable coke lands This uncle was a director in one Of our large private banks and had his name, with six or seven other directors. upon notes aggregating some millions of dollars In value The bank failed. These direc- tors were responsible for the notes. In order to liquidate those notes that uncle would have had to hand over most of