The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-07-28

at the Union Sunday.SchoosP Picnic
at Liberty Christian Church at Ep.
som, July Is, 1904.
Communicated
On Friday, July ID, a Union Sun,
day-schOOl picnic was celebrated at
Liberty Christian church, of EPSON
The day was exceedingly enjoyed by
all. The address of the occasion was
delivered by Hon. r. NJ. Pittman, oil
Henderson, His subject was, "know
Yourself" The welcome address was
delivered by one of the brightest
young men of our community, Mr..
George Il. Whitaker, graduate OF
Elon College. His address was one
that was elevating and inspiring
He held the attention of his hearers
throughout. He spoke as follows:
"Members OF the Sunday-schools as
sembled, and visitors present:
1T becomes my pleasant duty,
though somewhat trying one, this
day to address an audience composed
1 OF people whom have known from
chlldhoOd, many of whom | lave
been intimately associated with; a
few OF whom have been my teachers
i'll the Sunday school work, all of
whom yet regard as my superiors.
Thus, say it is somewhat embar-
RAISING, coming back home, as it
were, to address you, for 81 prophet
is not without honor save in his own
country Yet, my friends, this thing
is hardly applicable to myself, for in
the first place | am no prophet; and
i'll the second, | am not rejected at
Nazareth, for | esteem it very great
honor which you have conferred upon
me in thus placing me upon the pro-
gramme Ofwhat is to be the greatest
and grandest picnic that ever graced
the annals of this community. Great,
! say, because it is but the fOrerunner
of the movement which is to char
acterize the twentieth century.
Every century is known in his
tory by few of it's most marked
characteristics-by the general turn
or bent OF mind us interpreted
| through the wOndrous results of its
workings. Thus the 10th century
was one of great discovery and ex-
| ploration of hitherto unknown lands.
The 18th century may be known as
| the age of colonization and attempts
at the settlement of colonial prob
lens, disputes and difficulties. Dur
ing the 18th century we notice these
colonies one by one revolt from the
parent country and establish govern
ments of their own. Therefore, We
say that the 18th century is properly
known as the birthday of civil liberty
| throughout the world
| ''During the last century all nations
seemed to have bent their energies
toward internal development of the
latent powers which they were con-
sciOus of possessing. Thus the nine
teenth century has gone down in his
tory us the age of inventions, scientif-
ic discovery, and marvellous develop
ment OF the material universe. And
now, standing upon the Threshold
OF the twentieth century we are
| brought face to face with the ques-
ton, what will this age bring forth
! to leave as an eternal monument of
it's existence?
This is a question of much specu-
lation among the great minds of our
country and of other countries as
well. The conclusion reached is this:
Just us religious development has
kept pace with the progress OF civil
ization along material lines through
all history, just SO, now there must
be a great advance in the Christian
izing of the wOrld-a stride no less
great than that of material progress
during the last century. Therefore,
it is generally believed that during
the Goth century the kingdom OF
Christ will be extended over hitherto
uncOnUuered lands at q tremendous
rate and that to this purpose the
minds of the worlds greatest men
will be turned. Looking around us
every indication points to this end,
yea. even more; from Bible readings
we may say that destiny itself de-
mands that the world be quickly
Christianized. Then will the words
of the Saviour be fulfilled: And they
shall gather together His elect from
the four winds. from one end of
heaven to the other.
The apostles firmly believed that
this saying would come to pass with
| in few wears But they looked at
| Christianity from Il Jewish stand
point and their ideas OF His kingdom
were tarnished by materialism.
| History is replete with predictions
| which once were the hues of destiny,
| but which failed of fulfllment because
those who uttered them saw too
small an are of the circle of events.
When PharOah pursued the fleeing
Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea.
he was confident that their bondage
would be renewed. and that they
would again make bricks without
straw. but destiny was not revealed
until Moses and his followers reached
the further shore dry-shod, and the
waves rolled over the Egyptian horses
and chariots. When Abderrahcan
swept Northward with his conquer
ing hosts his imagination saw the
crescent triumphant throughout the
world. but destiny was not revealed
until Charles Mortel raised the cross
above the battlefield of Tours and
saved Europe from the sword o!
Mohammedanism. When Napoleon
emerged victorious from Marengo,
from Uhlm, from Austerlitz, he
thought himself the child of destiny.
but destiny was not revealed to him
until Blucher's forces Joined with
Wellington's and the vanquished
Corsican began his melancholy march
toward st. Helena. When the red
coats of George Ill routed the New