Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-02-04
Calnnage
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee, d. d.

Los Angeles. Cal, Jan. 29.-FrOm an
Incidental reference To an ancient ORR
pntal marriage custom the preacher in
this sermon draws lessons applicable
10 modern life. The text is Psalm xiv.
s. "All thy garments smell of myrrh
and aloes and cassia out of the ivory
palaces.
The marriage bells are Ginning The
glorious robes of kingly bridegroom
and of his bride. the daughter of a
queen. and the garments of her many
bridesmaids are rustling. Royal jew
els are flashing. The most skillful of
musicians are playing. And as the
wedding march sounds forth the mar
riage procession is approaching the
kings throne room over boulevards of
gold. The nuInberless inhabitants of
the metropolis of the universe. with
its walls of jasper and its gates of
pearl and its palaces of spotless ivory.
are making the welkin ring with halle
luiahs of never ending joy. The ban
quoting house is prepared with the
wedding supper for the coming guests.
for the Divine Bridegroom of my text
is bringing his queenly bride To her
place at his side. over which hangs the
banner that his hands have placed
there. tile banner of love. Never on
earth nor in heaven has been seen and
never shall Ice witnessed wedding
procession like unto this. Gorgeous
hess infinite. wealth and power unlim-
tied. spl-ndor and magnificence pass
ing all understanding. will there be
manifested on every hand.
Earth has beheld some wonderful
Emperor William of Germany was
married to the beautiful Princess Au-
gusta Victoria the representatives of
all the civilized governments of the
earth were there. Among Berlin's
guests at that time were the king and
queen of Saxony, the Grand Duke
Alexis of Russia, Crown Prince Ru-
dolph of Austria. the crown prince of
Sweden. the present king of England.
the late Duke OF Aosta of Italy and
scores OF other notableS. The young
bridegroom came from Potsdam at the
head of his gigantic foot guards to
meet his bride. On the day of the GER
emory the homes and the stores and
the public buildings were decorated.
When the nuptial vows We're taken the
cheers of the people who crowded the
streets about the royal palaces echoed
the thirty-siX salvos of artillery which
Numbered the news To the world that
Prince William and Princess Augusta
Victoria We're one.
When Napoleon Ill in 1853 rode to
the Cathedral of Notre Dame to be
united in marriage with Eugene. the
most beautiful woman in Europe. the
progress was one continuous ovation.
Seated i'm the wonderful glass coach
that had been built for the coronation
of his illuStrious uncle. the emperor
passed through long lines of his en-
thusiastic subjects. who rent the air
with their wives. When the young
queen of England became the bride of
Prince Albert in the royal chapel of St
James nothing that the money. the
wealth and the love of a nation could
do to make the wedding ceremony i'm
pressive and joyous was left undone.
Memorable SpcctacIes.
Memorable i'm the annals of the world
are such spectacles. in which all that
human ingenuity could conceive has
been done TO render the nuptials OF the
rulers of nations scenes of overwhelm-
ing magnificence. But the elimination
has yet TO come-not here. but in that
glorious realm in which the Lord of
Hosts has set his throne. The mar
riage of the Lamb will be the grandest
and most glorious of all unions. when
Christ takes TO himself his church,
which he has redeemed with his pre-
cious blood. "a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing. holy and without blemish''
Human imagination fails TO conceive
OF a spectacle so glorious. Let us in
stead of dwelling OH the marvellous
scene take but one detail of its beauty,
the wonderful garments with which
the Divine Bridegroom is TO be robed
on that glorious occasion. The psalm
list mentions them in the words of my
text. They are wedding robes that
have the aroma of myrrh and aloes
and cassia. Let us try 10 describe them
and 10 learn a few practical gospel les
sons from them.
The royal robes of the Divine Brisie-
groom will he the most expensive Of
all garments. Costly was the wedding
apparel of Louis NV. which he wore
when he was married To Maria There
sa of Spain: OF Prince Ferdinand when
he stood by the side of his bride. Isa-
bella of CASTLE: of the dauphin of
France. who. as Prince Francis. mar
ried the beautiful Mary. queen of
Scots: of Emperor Nicholas H.. who in
1894 gave his heart and hand in mar
riage To the beautiful Princess Alix of
Hesse; of Napoleon Bonaparte when
in 1910 lie welded Marie Louise in the
place of the dethroned and exiled
Josephine. But the robes of the Heav-
enly Bridegroom will surpass all these