Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-09-29
CalnaQe
sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmasc, d. d.

vacations end, when the multitudessare
fiocking back from seashore and noun
tain. shows Us that home has its own
peculiar blessings, which are never
better appreciated than on return after
absence. The text is Ephesians V, 20.
Giving thanks always for all things
unto Cod
Some people are weeping Jere-
miahs." They are always seeing om-
inous visions and dreaming portentous
dreams and prophesylng evil Their
prophecies are never like the chirps
OF the red breasted robins, harblngers
OF the spring. They are like the au-
tumRal frosts. forerunners OF winters
storms. They prophesy pains and mis-
cries and wars and msssacres and
tomahawks and fortunes at the stake,
amid a chorus or blood curdling yells
and Indian whoops. They are not like
the ancient astrologers. who used to
foretefi glorious career for the new
born babe from the relative position
OF the stars or the solar system how
ering over the cradle on the night OF
the babes nativity. They never see
stellar letters OF gold. They only see
eclipeea and tOrnadoes and absence OF
all light. In the black pages OF the
might they read the histories OF the
troubles that are past and the forecasts
OF the troubles that are to come.
These pessimists are always droning
. dirge- They never make an inven-
tory OF their blessings. They are never
happy for what they have. They are
always dwelling on the things which
they have not and which they would
like to have. These modern pessimists
are Ike the farmer who when It rains
grumbles and says: This rain Is kill
Ing my com. Corn needs sunshine"
And when the sun shines then he COM
plains that the drought Is killing his
hay. Grass" he says, needs rain,
not sunshine" These pesSlmists are
always grumbllng. always complain
Ing. Every Monday is for them a blue
Monday and every Sunday a blue Sun
day They grumble IN the morning.
They grumble at night. They grumble
all the time. They think they live in
the poorest country, surrounded by the
meanest people. at the most unfortu-
nate OF all times The country Is for
them always rushing toward hopeless
smsshup. They are never happy I'M
less they are miserable. II they ever
reach heaven. unless their natures are
completely changed before they get
there they viii complain about the
architecture or the white mansions and
complain about the glare OF the streets
or gold and complain about the weak
ness OF the gates OF pearl and complain
about the style or the celestial music.
These pessimists were not born under
"a lucky star" They were born. &C
cording 70 the teaching OF ancient as
oloRy, amid the absence OF all light,
nless that light was the flashing light
OF the lightnings. These pessimists de-
rive The motive OF their music from the
growlings or n tempest and not from
the notes OF sweet throated, happy
nightingale.
Ths Chronic GrumbIsr.
Paul, In the words OF my text, hurls
his anathema against the chronic
gFumblers. He bids us look upon the
bright side and not the dark side OF
life. We should lind sweet nectar
In every flower and n blessing In-every
moment We should be like bee
gathering honey and not like a wasp
thrusting n sting. We should have
that beautiful spirit OF contentment
and thankfulness TO God as had an
aged octogenarian. Some one said to
him, Grandpa. when is the happIest
time or hfeT" He answered: when
spring comes and under the influence
OF the gentle warmth OF the atmos-
phsre the buds commence to turn into
Aowers 1 think to myself, oh. what a
beautiful season is spring. Then.
when summer comes and covers tho
trees with thick foliage, when the birds
are 10 happy In singing their pretty
songs. say TO myself, oh, summer IL
me thingg Then when autumn
CONES and see the same trees loaded
with the most tempting fruits, cry
out. oh. how magnificent Is autumn
And finally, when the rude, hard win
Ter makes ats appearance and there
are neither leaves nor fruits ON the
trees. thon through their naked branches
look upward aud perceive better than
could ever do before the stars that
glitter In the sky" Aye. like the aged
Christian and like Paul OF my text,
amid all things we should learn 10 give
thanks unto God
Give thanks unto God for all things.
Yes, we ought 10 be ready to do that.
But In order to bring our spiritual les
son little nearer home let us make
an inventory OF some OF the blessings
which naturally have come to those of
u who have just returned home from
our summer vacations. Many of us
during the past summer have been
sway 10 the mountains or down to the
ssashore. seeking rest and physical
and mental strength and recreation.
We are now back TO the old treadmiIls
OF city life Come OF US when board
ing the train for home did so with a
sigh. We'll" we said, .'fun n over FOR
ons year. Now for another twelve
months or hard grind" We sighed
thus. an though all the pleasures OF
Tie were found IN vacations Are they
Let NJ see Let us study for a little
While the blessed resuscitatIon which
should come to every healthy man sne
healthy womsn from a summer vsca-
tion- Let N make a short summary OF
the blessings OF our city lives and see
how much there II ia them for which
we ought to thank God.
We should In the first place thank
God FOX our homes. do not here use
the word home in the broad. but In the
narrow. sense. 1t may be but a humble
cottage with poor. worn furniture; but
Il II home, and every article In It has
its tender associations. Perhaps it Ia
more af1uent Then there is the more
cause for gratitude TO God Then we
should humbly thank God for our beds
and carpets and pictures upon the
walls, our dining room tables and
Kitchens and for the four walls OF our
own libraries. I want you to thank
God today for your city house which a
few weeks ago you looked upon as a
prison. but now. with fits rooms and