The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-06-27
Ca(r11aQe
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmage, b. D.

valley and for his theme the vivid i'm
pressions awakened by his inspiring
surroundings The text is Psalm xiv,
4, 1.-The strength Of the hills Is HIS
The word big is absolutely appro-
pirate when applied to the United
States. Big are we in geographical
area. individually, many Of the Euro
pean monarchies could be placed inside
Of our state Of Texas, and yet there
would be enough left to set up in gov
ornamental business a Bulgaria or a
Portugal or Switzerland, besides hay
ing to spare front yard and back
yard large enough for the kingdom Of
Il prince Of Monte Carlo. Big are we
in natural resources. No harvest fields
and cotton plantations greater than
ours. No area of coal and iron beds
and gold and silver and copper mines
greater than ours. Big are we in the
conceptions Of our people. The might
lest railroads, the largest tunnels, the
mightiest aqueducts, the mightiest
bridges are here. Big are we in the
numbers Of our inhabitants, besides
being big in our way Of doing things.
big" is a word which can be applied
to the United States, but that word
big especially can be applied to her
natural wonders Of Niagara falls and
Yellowstone park and the Grand Can
yon of Arizona, and, above ALL to Amer
ica's wonderful Yosemite valley, which,
as a wonderland, has not its superior
in all the world. The first time
viewed it was under specially favor
able circumstances We left the rail
road in the early hours of the morn
ing for a long, seventy-two mile drive
to this wonderful place. 1t was a day
passing description and crowded with
marvellous memories. Sometimes, dur
ing that long, twelve hours ride, we
could pick whole bouquets Of wild
flowers. The flora Of a luXuriant
springtime was bidding us welcome.
Then the storm clouds shut us~in and
the sun disappeared. Then, as we
climbed up and up the heights Of the
Sierra Nevadas, we shivered and shook,
first in rainstorm, again in hail
storm and then in a binding snow
storm. Our limbs became so cramped
that circulation was almost stopped, but
on and on and on we went until it drew
near to the evening hour. Then the
storm cleared away. God lifted the Cur
tains Of the clouds, and suddenly the
grandest view ever panoramaed before
mortal eyes was mine.
There" said the driver, lis Yosem-
lite yalley!' ''Then," said l, zone Of
the dreams of my life is fulfilled" But
though I have dreamed many wonder
full dreams, though l have seen many
Of the wonder scenes Of the world |
never dreamed of or saw a sight like
that. Chaos and cosmos, love and hate,
beauty and revolving hideousness, sum-
mer and winter, hoary headed noun
tains with their snowcaps of spotless
white and with their limbs lined knee
deep in wild flowers; appalling preci-
pices and lovers retreats; roaring,
rushing cataracts, with their "spirits
of the evil Winds" and rainbows play
ing amid the mists, and as passemen-
teries coloring the neither robes Of the
different falls; repulsions and fascina-
tions-all seemed to be there. They
were stretching out their hands toward
me and calling, Come, brother, come
and sit at my feet. Come, and l will
hurl thee from yonder cliffs and upon
thy poor mangled body l will let the
vultures and the wild beasts banquet.
Come, and l will show thee sights and
wonders of which thou hast never con-
ceived. Come, Gomez Amid ten thou
sand different voices in one great chorus,
"Come, come, GOMEZ" they kept call
ing. And the echoing mountains off in
a distance threw back the calls as
from great sounding boards. Come!
Come! Gomez Even today in imagina-
ton I can hear those strange, weird,
conflicting voices calling me. Oh, the
many emotions that surged through
my heart and soul when / first looked
down from "Inspiration height" and
descended into the farther valley. As
the rocks and the cliffs began to close
in around me 1 felt as did Dante with
Virgil by his side that was descend
ing into hell At the next moment l
seemed to feel that angelic companions
were by my side and that the para
disiacal gates Of pearl were opening
for my celestial entrance. Michael An
cello painted BSth heaven and hell in
one picture. Yosemite valley is Last
Judgment"
Coronation Robes.
| Everywhither | turned joy and sor,
row, peace and anguish, happiness and
terror, celestia! Gabriels and demoniac
Frankensteins, white winged hopes and
raven garmented messengers Of de
spair, side by side as cliff dwellers
were inhabiting the dark caverns OF
those rocks, or were waving to me from
| those dizzy heights, or were lowering
under those tents Of snow canvas, OF
were dwelling in enchanted palaces fal
above, yet within the range Of my won
dering sight Are those storm clouds?
| l asked myself. Then would answer
mo. Those are not storm clouds
Those are coronation robes, for / sec
them waving over. eathedrals and over
Village kirk spires Angels seemed