The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-11-24
A VACATION SERMON
Rev. Or. Talmage breaches
About the Rocks and Trees.
Wonderful Lessons In the sights of
the Yosemite valley and Yell
Iowstone Park on the Good
ness and Greatness of God.

Copyright. 1916. by Louis Klopsoh.l
LOS ANGELES, Cal, June 2J.-ln
this sermon, suited to the vacation sea
son, the preacher takes for his pulpit a
lofty peak overlooking the Yosemite
valley and for his theme the vivid inn
pressions awakened by his inspiring
surroundings. The text is Psalm XIV
4, "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, aud yet there
would be enough left to set up in gov
ernmental business Bulgaria or a
Portugal or Il Switzerland. besides hav-
Ing To spare a front yard and back
yard large enough for the kingdom OF
a 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 ana silver and copper mines
greater than ours. Big are We in the
conceptions OF our people. The might
rest 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 word which can be- applied
to the United States. but that word
big" especially can be applied 10 her
natural wonders Of Niagara falls and
Yellowstone park and the Grand Can
yon OF Arizona, and. above all. 10 Amer
lca's wonderful Yosemite valley. which,
as a wonderland. has not its superior
In all the world. The first time l
viewed il was under specially favor
able circumstances. We left the rail
road in the early hours Of the morn
ing FOR long. seyenty-twO mile drive
to this wonderful place II was day
passing description aud crowded with
marvellous memories. Sometimes. dur
ng that long. twelve hours ride. we
could pick whole bouquets Of wild
flowers The fora OF luxurant
.pringtme was bidding MS welcome.
Then the storm clouds shut us In and
he sun disappeared. Then, as we
climbed up and up the heights Of the
Sierra Neyadas. we shlyered and shook,
drst IN rainstOrm, again In a hall
storm and then in a binding snow
storm. cur limbs became so cramped
hat circulation was almost stopped, but
III and on and on we went until It drew
near TO the evening hour. Then the
storm cleared away. God lifted the cur
talns OF the clouds. and suddenly the
grandest view ever panoramaed before
mortal eyes was mine.
There" said the driver, is Yosem-
ite yalleyg Then" said |. zone Of
the dreams OF my life Is fulfilled" But
though / have dreamed many wonder
tul 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
leep in wild flowers; appalling preci-
pces and lovers retreats; roaring,
rushing cataracts, with their Spirits
of the evil winds" and rainbows play
ing amid the mists, and as passemen-
terles coloring the neither robes Of the
different falls; repulsions and fascina-
seemed TO be there. They
were stretching out their hands toward
me and calling, Come, brother, come
and sit at my feet. Come, and | will
hurl thee from yonder cliffs and upon
Thy poor mangled body | will let the
gultures and the wild beasts banquet.
Come. and I will show thee sights and
wonders Of which thou hast never con-
,elved. Come, GOMEZ Amid ten thou
sand difrsrentvOices In one great chorus,
Come, come, come" they kept call
ing. And the echoing mountains OF in
distance threw back the calls AS
from great sounding boards. Come.
Come, Gomez Even today In imagina-
don | can hear those strange, weird,
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 clifrs began TO close
m around me / felt as did Dante with
Virgil by his side that l was descend
ing into hell. At the next moment l
seemed to feel that angelic companions
were by my side and that the para
dlslacal gates OF pearl were opening
FOR my celestial entrance Michael An
gelo painted both heaven and hell in
one picture. Yosemite valley is Last
Judgment"
Eyerywhlther | turned JOY and sor-
-ow. peace and anguish, happiness and
error. celestial Gabriels and demoniac
trankensteIEs. white winged hopes and
raven garmented messengers OF de-
pair. side by side as cliff dwellers,
were lnhablting the dark cayerns Of
hose rocks. or were waving to ME from
those dizzy heights. or We're lowering
rnder those tents OF SNOW canvas, or
were dwelling in enchanted palaces far
shove. vet within the range OF my won
Iering sigit. Are those storm clOudsF
asked myself Then would answer.
NO Those are not storm clouds.
Those are coronation robes, for l see
Them waving over cathedrals and over
AnnalI gpRmpI