Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-05-12

his auditors heads. yet they were
ready 20 risk all because he was plead
ing for sweet Libcrty's shrines. Why
DID John Krpx's eloquence set all Scot
land aare? WV did Martin Luther's
invectives thrill all Europe with the d.
vine lovel Why did Savonarola arouse
Italy until its inhabitants were tumul-
tuous I'm agony and strife? Why did
Cicero's arraIgnment of Catiline and
the philippics that n mosthenes hurled
against the king OF Macedon create
armies and make men enthusiastic In
battle2 Were these orators declalming
for selfish political purposes. merely
trying TO destroy rivals who were OBJ
structing their path? No They were
attacking lust and Righteousness and
tyranny and crime of all sorts IL was
their mighty themes that made their
eloquence effective. You must have a
great theme TO have great Grafton.
Must Have Great Theme.
This contention is true. Where. then.
can you find greater themes for true
eloquence than In gospel oratory? Is
there a sounding line which can go to
the bottom OF deeper sea? Is there
any power ON earth which more surely
can transform wrong to right, make
the strong care for the weak, make Tyr:
amy take her iron heel of the neck of
PROSTATE Helplessness. than the power
OF Jesus? Where can you find an I'm
mortal panacea for the graves horror
and for the cure OF sin save In the
crucifxion and the resurrection and
the atonement OF Jesus Christ? The
themes OF gospel oratory are not only
wide enough and great enough to put
n man in right touch with God and
heaven. but they are so great that il
we once accept them and practice
them they will give us perfect homes.
perfect neighbors, perfect nations and
a perfect world. They are SO great
that IL we only practice them 'love,
Joy. peace. long suffering, gentleness,
goodness. faith. meekness. temper
ance." shall everywhere be supreme in
the human heart. Could we have n
surer cure for all the evils OF the world
TO come than is offered in the themes
OF gospel oratory?
To make right might and to redress
the wrongs OF limited class have been
full orations during the past years.
Watch the lightnings of invectlve that
have leaped out OF the eyes OF the ora.
tors during the dark days OF the aboli-
ton movement. Amid that mighty bur.
| ricane Of oratory we can see William
Lloyd Garrison. with clinched fists, de.
| flying the Boston mobs. We can hear
his biting words, amid a perfect pande.
monium OF wrath. crying: You will
hear me, In spite OF yourselves you
will hear mew You can see Wendell
Phillips standing amid n shower OF
brickbats waiting for n lulI In the storm
to drive into the hearts Of his hearers
another sentence to prove TO them why
the black men should be free. We can
hear glorious John Bright pleading for
the rights OF the black men from the
other side OF the sea. And II injustice
against the black men offered such n
mighty theme for the eloquent tongue
shall not modern Injustice against the
white slave offer just as great a
theme for gospel cloquence? oh. yes.
gospel orators have the mightiest OF
themes for eloquent speech! The Cos
pei Of Christ will right all wrongs
1t will emancipate a sinner from all
sins. II would make all men conquer
ors In this world as well as I'm the
world TO come. Man. would you be
truly eloquent? Then by the power of
the Holy Spirit have your tongue plead
for the universal acceptance of the
gospel in impassioned oratory.
The Cure For Ills.
Gospel oratory gives the sublimest OF
ali themes. 1t does more than that. II
offers the greatest OF all authorities by
which those themes are discussed. II
comes to man and places In his hand
the Bible and says: MAN. here is the
word OF God. These are not my state
ments. These are promises made by
our divine Father. IL you will accept
Gods word and do as this book directs.
your life will be blessed" Now. Il is
nm easy ematter to discuss wrong 1t
Is often very easy for n physician to
diagnose cancer. But the cure-aye,
that is the rub! Easy TO attack n
moral wrong. Yes. But IL is another
matter TO find right solution for that
wrong. This the Bible offers. 1t
comes not as theorist. Ii comes to
the gospel orators hearers as did Jesus
Christ. 1t comes rs one speaking with
divine authority. No men I'm the
world have greater influence over their
hearers than those who are backed
with the positive authority OF the
Bible.
When man speaks with authority
ne becomes imperative in his demands.
Why is Helen Hunt Jackson's master
piece Ramona" one OF the most elo-
Quent books ever penned? She plead-
ed for justice TO the American Indian
with the idea that the law OF the land
would uphold her in her plea. She was
not pleading for the red man IA N
ntopian. a theorist or a social dreamer.
She was pleading for the red man Mt
the bar OF American law. When she
represents poor Alessando as being
driven from farm TO farm she was nor
picturing scoundrel, but a man de-
rrauded or American rights. When
she finally describes this poor. inno-
cent Indian as shot down by a drunken
white loafer and then pictures that
drunken loafer as being allowed TO 60
free. she was not appealing to human
pre1udices for favoritism toward the
red man. She was saying: what is
the law? What is the American law
The law Of America upholds me I'm NV
claims"
AS Helen Hunt Jackson pleaded for
the rights OF the Indian under the
American law the Christian orator
PLEADS for the emancipation of man
from sin under the law of the Bible.
he does not say. Il hope this may be-"
He does say: II know this can be and
shall be through the blood OF Jesus
Christ. The divine statutes declare IL "
When n gospel orator stands upon the
promises OF God found in the Bible he
speaks with certainty; he speaks with
absolute conviction; above all. he
speaks as no other advocate unsup-
ported can speak. No other man I'm
pleading for simple. justice has such
emphatic divine authority behind him
as Is found in the word OF God when