Democratic messenger., 1904-06-25
Calnage
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee. D. d.


usual text by drawing the broad dis
tinction between the life that is in
spired by a loye of all that is noble and
pure and one that has become degraded
and brutal through the indulgence OF
selfish passions. The text rs Revela-
tion xii. II. Without are dogs
Il never could sympathize with the
slur which tile Bible casts upon my
canine friends" once said an old man
To me- st John i'm that passage OF
Scripture, Without are dogs. seems tn
despise the dog rs despise the buzz
zard or the hyena. He seems 10 pie
ture the Internal regions rs the only
suitable place for their kennels. He
insinuates their compaiiionship for
man to he humiliation and u degra-
dation. Now. in contrast Ia that as
sertion. have far more respect for an
honest dog than have for Il dishonest,
deceitful man. Icoum among my dear
est friends some of the representatives
Of the canine race. Indeed go so far
I'm my respect for dogs that IL In that
heavenly land found one of the beau
tiful dogs have owned on earth sleep
ing at my feet i'm that abode of bliss
or looking up into my face with the
expression of love and fidelity | have
seen so often l should not feel il any
blight. but rather an enhancement OF
my happiness"
| could understand my friends feel
ing. and l love dogs well enough to
sympathize with IL. There are no
grounds for believing in II future life
for animals. but confess that II In the
boundlcss love of God we should find
that even for the faithful dog there
was paradise I for one should re-
joice have that. affection that Sir
Walter Scott had for the canine race.
and ! always feel Il sense of compan-
ionship when n dog is dozing in my
study. As boy | delighted 10 have
a canine companion in my rambles. and
TO this day feel. as Bismarck used TO
say. that no man should dcspise the
friendship of dogs or need hesitate TO
confide In them some Of his innernost
thoughts and secrets. When we are
rambling over the hills or I'm our city
walks and my dog friends stop and
listen TO what I say | am always sure
of one fact-that they will not betray
my confidence as have known some
men to do. Yes, yes" l said to my
aged friend. like you. have always
loved the dog: but. unlike you. do not
believe the Bible really depreciates the.
faithfulness of Il good dog" This pas
sage of Scripture. without are dogs"
is not casting slur upon the dog. 1t
is not sneering at the ancestors of some
OF those noble beasts belonging TO the
royal families of dogs which we have
adopted into our homes rs honored
habitues of our iiresidcs. The seer of
Patmos had never seen such dogs as
ours. The dogs with which he was IA
miliar were such homeless. carrion eat
ing dogs as those which TO this day
roam the narrow streets Of Jeru-
salem and Damascus. degraded curs.
whose presence would have been de-
filing TO that beautiful city which he
saw In vision. Therefore IL is 10 the
eastern dog. homeless and friendless.
which | have SO often seen in my
travels and by whose howlings | have
been awakened at night and have
watched while standing upon the ho-
tel porch of the far east. when he says
with evident qualification. Without
are dogs"
The Quarrelsome Were Excluded.
But ! believe the apostle had fur
ther and deeper meaning than this.
think he meant that the qualities
which the dog represented To his mind
were excluded from the heavenly city.
Selfishness. degradation. quarreisome
ness. all that rendered dogs hateful TO
the Jews of the orient. whether in
beast or man, We're outside those
heavenly walls. And. first. I believe
he meant that in heaven there would
be neither physical nor mental mon
str0sities. Ii Is TO be- place where
there would be a perfect mind in har-
mony with II perfect body and the per-
feet soul in every way shall have per-
feet externalities. There are some iuen
~ WIN NANtS iilsit
very forms and features have become
repulsive. They bear the same rcla-
tiOn To good living. intelligent men that
the oriental dogs bear To our house
hold pets.
We love TO look at the masterpieces
Of Sir Edwin Landsecr. the painter of
dogs. There seems 10 lee something
even more than human in his High.
land Shepherds Chief Mourncr." some
thing more than mere brute fcrociiy il.
his Stag ut Bay" something more
than sportsman's halloo in the "I,e.
turn From Deerstalking' I:ut the.
flashing eyed. powerful chestcd. clear,
limbed. glossy coated models of Land.
seer are entirely different physical
specimens from the outcast dogs 0f thu.
east. Have you ever stopped and look.
ed with pity upon poor NANCY cur
crawling along the street: Have you
seen disease like porcupine qIiills stick
ing out all over him: Have you seen
the people shy Off as he came alon;
and heard the passersby say: Poor
dog, Why do not the dog catclers
come along and put him out of his
misery" Have you ever seen dogs
with their ears torn off aud their tails