Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-03-24

" NAOcCh thtth
But, IL our good names are essential
TO our children after we are dead, how
much more essential are they for US
when we step out from this life into
the next. The heaviest money beg
that was ever sccreted ia the dark
vaults OF the rich man who despised
the poor Lazarus groveiing on his pal
ace steps cannot be carried by him or
his friend one single inch beyond his
grave. DO you not think ii an absurd
thing for a rich man 10 struggle and
TO keep on struggling for something he
cannot keep over a few years at best?
This money may AMI in all probability
will do his children Carnage after he
Is gone. Ii Is an old saying that
"shrouds have no pockets" yet many
men seem to live as though their
shrouds would be different from all
other shrouds Oh that they would live
on forever and never have a shroud.
Death In Sure.
But, though death may postpone Its
coming, death will surely come. Now.
my friends. what are you going to do
for your open sesame of heaven? l
grant that your name may be a very
important one on earth. How impor-
tapt 1t is but few OF us, even the hum
blest, realize. We are all Americans.
To be American means we belong to
the LLost honored nation on earth.
Many years ago two travel stained
Americans alighted from the railroad
train in the French capital. No sooner
had we registered at the hotel than
we heard that n great statue was to be
unveiled that afternoon, at which some
OF the greatest orators OF France Were
to speak. At once we headed toward
the place OF the ceremonies. The
streets were blocked with the crowds.
The police were pushing the people to
the right and to the left. We had no
friends there and no one to assist us.
At first, Ronplused. we were about TO
go back to the hotel Then a happy
thought struck me. l went ND to one
OF the guards and spoke q single mag
&c word, Americans" At that word
way was made for us. We were asked
and were given two OF the best seats.
All, the word America" Is q magic
word I'm European landsi But. when
we take that last voyage and pass over
the sea OF eternity, think you that any
national name or any family name or
any earthly name will open TO us the
gates OF heaven? Oh, no! We must
have royal blood in our veins. We
must bear the family name Of the
King Of kings or else we shall never
be allowed to enter heaven. We must
have good name.- That means we
must be "godlike." We must be like
Christ" My friends, II 1 were you,
would not center my heart and soul in
acquiring few more government
bonds and few more railroad stocks
and few more bank receipts. You
do not need them and will never be
able TO spend them. Struggle today to
get that priceless name, which moth
and rust will not corrupt and which
death as thief will not break into
your strong box and steal.
But IL the divine name Of Jesus will
give TO us abundant entrance" into
the heavenly kingdom Ii will also give
to us mighty spiritual success I'm this
world in which We live. When the am
bassador OF Germany comes to our ma
tional capital the president shows 10
him exactly the same respect and
Difference as II he were King William.
Why? At that audience truly he
stands in the place of his royal master.
At the national Inauguration the near
est seats 70 the president elect are
those OF the ambassadors who repre-
sent the kings and the queens and the
powers from across the sea- So when
you and l bear n good name we be-
come the ambassadors of the Lord God
Almighty. God will work through us.
God will be in us.
A Friend In Need.
Is this bearing the name OF the Lord
God Almighty to you meaningless
figurer VIII you not at least rejoice
in IL as much as you would for bearing
the name or human friend In your
handE You remember some years ago
your business was going absolutely to
pieces. You did not know which way
to turn. The bills were coming i'm and
had to be paid or you would be flung
into the bankruptcy court. All night
long you kept walking the floor. You
kept saying to yourself: ''Oh, God,
what shall ! do? What shall 1 do?"
The morning broke. but that morning
was as black TO you as midnight. Sud-
denly there came ring ut your door
bell. You thought 1t was one OF your
creditors. The hammer OF that bell
struck your brain as though 1t was n
butchers bludgeon. The parlor door
opened. At first you were too dased
TO look up. But when you looked you
saw not creditor. bat dear old friend
perhaps father, brother or a
Jonathan. Harry" said he, 1T hear
you are In financial trouble. You know
1 have lots OF property. Well, here is
a blank check to which / have SIGNED
my name. You can draw on me for oil
You need God bless you, my boy.
Goodby. You will come out all right"
What did you doY Did you thank him?
On, no. You were too deeply moved
for that You just cried Ike a little
child Then you brushed your tears
away and went forth to meet your
creditors Oh, your head was up; your
step was firm; your lips wore happy
smile. In your hand you bore the
name OF your friend who had financial
ly saved you.
When God gives to us a good name
he gives TO MS a pledge that he will
see US through all the struggles OF life.
lie says: THE sheep upon a thousand
hills are mine. The gold buried in the
deepest mines Is all mine The winds
obey my voice. An that have Is thine.
l will. IL necessary. give 1t thee in this
struggle OF life" Oh, my friends, can
not you today feel that God IL back of
you when he gives TO you the oner OF a
good name" Will you bear the name
or Christ as your Saviour's name? Will
you bear 1t upon your forehead? Will
you allow your name to be engraved
In the palms Of his hands? When You
choose between good name and
riches you do not choose between
Christ and poverty; you choose be-
tween Christ. with all the wealth of n
universe, and gold as an orioIe which
might spread her yellow wings and be
gone In n night
When Cyrus offered to Artabazus q
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