Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-28
CalnnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Taimadc. b, D.

VSSbsu@
better appreciated than on return after
absence. The text IL Ephesians v. 20,
"Oiving thanks always for all things
unto Cod"
Some people are weeping Jere.
miahs." They are always seeing op-
nous visions and dreaming %portentous
dreams and prophesying evil. Their
prophecies are never like the chirps
Of the red breasted robins. h~arbtnsers
Of the spring. They are like the au.
tumnai frosts. forerunners Of winters
storms. They prophecy pains and mis-.
cries and wars and massacres and
t0mahawks and fortunes at the stake,
amid q chorus OF blood curdling yells
and indian whoops. They are not Ike
the ancient astrolosers, who used to
foreteil q glorious career for the new
born babe from the relative position
Of the stars Of the solnr system how.
ering over the cradle on the night Of
the babes nativity. They never zee
stellar letters Of gold. They only see
eclipses and tornadoes and absence Of
all light. In the black pages of the
might they read the histories Of tho
troubles that are past and the forecasts
Of the troubles that are TO come.
These pessimists arc always droning
a 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 like the farmer who when 1t rains
grumbles and says: This rain Is kill
Ing my corn. Corn needs sunshine"
And when the sun shines then he COM
plains that the drought is killing his
hay. Grass" he says, needs rnin.
not sunshine" These pessimists are
always g%rumbling. 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 grumhle
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
smashup. They are les happy un-
less they are miserable. If they ever
reach heaven, unless their natures nra
completely changed before they get
there, they will complain about the
architecture Of the white mansions and
complain about the glare OF the streets
Of gold and complain about the weak
ness Of the gates Of pearl and complain
about the style Of the celestial music.
These pesslmists were not born under
"a lucky star" They were born. ac-
cording to the teaching Of ancient as
trology. amid the absence Of all light,
unless that light was the flashing ligh.
Of the lightnings. These pessimists lie.
rive the motive Of their music from the
growlings Of q tempest and not from
the notes Of q sweet throated, happy
nightingale.
The Chronlc GrumbleP.
Paul. In the words Ct my text. hurls
his anathema against the chronic
grumbIers. He BIDS US look upon the
bright side and not the dark side OF
life. We should dnd q sweet nectA,
in every flower ana a blessing In every
moment. We should DO like O bee
gathering honey and not like a wasy
thrustins a sting. We should have
that beautiful spirit Of contentment
and thankfulness to God as had ar
aged oc~togcnarian. Some one said &c
him. Grandpa, when Is the happies,
time Of lifeY He answered: "Whcr
spring comes and under the influence
Of the gentle warmth Of tho atmos
phere the buds commence to turn into
flowers l think to myself, oh. what g
beautiful season Is spring. Then
when summer comes and covers the
trees with thick foliage. when the birds
are so happy In singing their pretty
songs. l say to myself. oh. summer Il
a hne thing! Then when autumn
comes and see the same trees loaded
with the most tempting fruits. l cr9
out, oh, how magnificent Is autumn!
And finally, when the rude, hard win
ter makes Its appearance AMI there
are neither leaves nor fruits on thu
trees. then through their naked branches
/ look upward and perceive better thar
l could ever do before the stars tina
glitter IN the sky" Aye. like the aged
Christian and like Paul OF my text
amid oil things we should learn to Civ,
thanks unto God.
Give thanks unto God for all things
Yes. we ought to be ready to do that
But in order to bring our spiritual les
son a little nearer home let US max,
an inventory OF some OF the blessing'
which naturally have come to those O.
US who have just returned home from
our summer vacations. Many Of u
during the past summer have bee,
away to the mountains or down to tn,
seashore. seeking rest and physica
and mental strength and recreation
We IRE now back to the old treedmill
bf city HE. Some Of US when board
big the testn for home did 90 wth
Sigh. WELL" we said. "fnu ts over to
one year. Now for another twelv'
months Of hard grind" We siehe,
thus. ~ though all the pleasures Q
life were found 10 vacations. Are they
Let " Gee. Let N study for a littl
while the blessed resuscitation whacl
should rome to every healthy maj an,
healthy woman from q summe vacf
ton. Let rs make a short summary q
the blessings OF our city lives and &c
how much there 10 In them for Whjc