Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-11-18
Caln1aSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee. d. d.

lsoS AuSelcs. tHl., NOV. rom
the Incident of the broken alabastcr
box the preacher In this sermon draws
lessons Of the gratitude which men
should feel for the self sacrifice Of
mothers, sisters and wives. The text Is
Marx xiv, 4. "Shc hath done what she
could"
Some people are like the Dead sea
subnerging the "clties of the plain"
They have no outlets. They would
make all the streams OF the surround
voirs. They would gather into their
depths the waters from the fountains
beneath and from the showers over
head. But. though they take in every
thing they can. they never have any
outtlowings. They would never give
anything 10 anybody else unless they
were compelled SO to do. Their hands
are like steel traps. They keep the
palms open only as long as they have
nothing OH them. But as soon as any
thing touches their skin their open
palms fly shut and every finger be-
comes wise and every muscle as rig"
Ill ais IL band OF steel. Their doctrine Is,
what IL yours ought to be mine and
what Is mine Is my own" Truly they
hang on TO everything they can. Their
appctites are omnivorous. But. like
great stagnant pools. they become
stcnchful through their imm0bility.
Their love of other people is completely
circumscribed by their love of self.
Selfish love has even Il more con-
tcmptible characteristic than mere
men consider IL Il personal reflection on
themselves if other people are not just
us mean and selfish rs they are When
any ohc makes Il sacrifice for another
they give themselves to fault finding,
are always complaining and always
trying TO dcpreciate the good which
that person has tried TO do. If u man
like Andrew Carnegie cndows Il libra
ry they raise II protesting voice and
cry. saying: What Is the good of CIV
ing pile OF books to lot of work
men who never read? Why does he
Of printed page:" If II philanthro-
pist offers TO give Il loaf of bread every
midnight TO every person who comes
for IL they say: What Is the good Of
feeding u lot of dirty tramps ana dead
beats: These men ought TO be made
10 work as | have To work. Thus
wherever we turn we find some men,
and. alas. they are many. with these
two miserable characteristics. They
refuse To do anything for any one else.
and they find fault with all those who
are trying Ia do what these selfish men
ought 10 do.
Some OF these carping. selfish, fault
finding critics were In the home of 81
mon the lcper In the time OF Christ. as
they are in the homes of our modern
Bethanys. They never give a cent to
any one II they can help II. ana they
hate 10 see any one else give away Il
cent Thus when the woman Of my
text. 10 show her love for Christ. en-
tered the dining hall and broke an
alabaSter box and poured the oint-
ment of spikcnard very precious upon
Christ's head they commenced TO COM
plain. absurd. absurd" they cried.
THAT ointment could have been sold
for 800 pence AMI given 10 the poor.
Why all this waste:" Then said Jesus:
LET her alone. She hath wrought
good work OH me. for We have the poor
with you always. and whatsoever We
will We may do them good. but me ye
have not always" Then Christ utter
ell the words OF my text, "She hath
done what she could" That means TO
the very best of her power she had
shown her true love for Jesus Christ.
a Noble Sacrifice.
Genuine and significant must have
been the act of this woman OF my text
to have brought forth such an encomi-
-. Ifsat In