Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-04
Calnase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talrnaae. ID. d.

OF q gospel OF good cheer and helpful
ness and shows that Christianity bars
no one from innocent enjoyment The
text il John H. IL. This beginning OF
miracles did Jesus In Cana OF Galllee"
Finding the rational causes for the
inception OF things Is a passion In the
human heart and mind. But next to
It is the desire Of making a right start
when. after years OF hard work and
toll. We would give to the world the
results OF our labor and our investiga-
ton. When Henry NJ. Stanley came
from has exploration Of the dark con-
tinent be did not let the facts thus
gained lie dormant in his mind. He at
once headed toward the great metropo-
liz OF LoRdon. There, in Albert Me-
mortal hall, before the representatives
Of the English throne and the greatest
OF scientists. he described the results
OF his daring journey. What he did
not tell by lip he told a. soon as pos
agble to the world by his pen. No
sooner did Samuel r. Morse cry, IS
did the Greek mathematician. "Eurekai
have found II! 1 have found that
q telsgraphlc message can be sent over
tho wires" than at once he applied to
tho American congress to help him
build q line from Baltimore to Wash
inRton. He would prove to all the
world. In the best and most emphatic
way, that telcgraphy was to be elassed
among the found arts"
I enter a great artists studio. ! say
60 Jean Francois Millet, "What are you
working so hard aboutT' "Oh," he
says, 81 have consecrsted my life to
a new mission OF art. 1 used to be
noted for the skill with which 1 ap-
paalsd 10 the lowest passions OF life
to the evil desires OF the world through
suggestive figures OF the nude. Iheard
some bystsnders looking at one Of my
pictures say, 1t is too bad that Millet.
with such 4 genius as he has, paints
pictures like THAR at once left Paris
and went back TO my old home. There
among the hamlets OF France began
60 study the pure beauties TO be found
I'm the face OF my old grandmother.
Now am trying as an artist to depict
the homOly virtues Of the French peas
ants. As this is my FIRST peasant pic
trrs to be sent TO the French salon, 1
want to make my mark in my new
neld, for when n man il to make a
great success In any one line he must
De very careful about his beginning.
This q q new beginning for me as a
Christian artist" To make a right be-
ginning for his new art-his Christian
art-Tissot. the former artist OF the
French society women. secluded him
self fer years In the Holy Land that he
might walk and live amid the scenes
where Christ lived and died. AS q
Christian artist he wanted. to make a
right beginning.
Right beginning.
The desire TO make right begin
ming Is implanted in every ones life
who starts upon great career for the
reformation OF the customs and the
habits OF the world. Thus, when be-
gan to think upon this subject. this
miracle at the beginning of Christ's
ministry began to grow and widen and
deepen and lift itself higher and high
or In the purposes OF Jesus Christ
Why1 II was Christs first miracle.
For thirty long years he led the life
Of cbscurity. Now Jesus comes forth
and practically says: 81 have come 10
reveal my Father 10 the world want
20 win the belief and trust OF the peo-
pie. How shall | begin my work In
the most attractive and impressive
n Will 10 10 a..
Cana OF Galllee." Thus we must APP
prOach our subject with awe and rev.
srence. This miracle 10 not n mere
happen so. The first miracle OF Christ
was one by which we may catch the
keynote for the onward musical move
mentE OF perfect life.
Where does the active scene OF
Christ's earthly ministry openl At
Auptial song AT time OF joyful fes-
tivitiss. AT time when not only the
young bus also the old and the middle
aged ara trying 70 be happy and to
make every one happy. At a time
when Laughter and merriment and
good ehsar are making tired men and
women feel for time at least that
care and worry and anxiety and dis
49, - v" - par ~ lfA1 AL RlCAl
social economy. The celestial song
which was sung on the morning Of the
Nativity was no more joyful In note
shan the songs We hear as we come
over the hills and see the wedding
party dancing upon the grass upon the
outskirts OF the Galilean village Of
N. Cana.
Would you have me describe the Joy
OF a wedding festival 1 once witnessed
In the east7 j did not see il at Cana;
i did see Il, however. at enc OF the
Aeighbcring towns OF Galilee First j
found the wedding guests came from
far and near, as they once came to
Wsstover. where Colonel William
Byrd. lawyer. statesman and landed
gentleman. married his daughter to
distinguished representative OF Vir.
Giniais aristocracy, or TO Mount Yer
NON when Martha Washington's grand
daughter Eleanor Parke Gusts, was
married to young Major Lewis, or to
Monticello whep the great Jefferson
ana the RANDOLPH families became one
at ma marriage altar. There the guests
came not emily by the tens. but BY the
hundreds. The bridal borae was full.
and all the neighboEIng houses were
crowded with the Invited guests.
A Week Of Festivity.
1hen tns ceremony was not finished
BY few words mumbIed OF by a min
lister and quick scurryIng away for
the train by the bridal couple after a
Few grains OF rice had been thrown
But days and sometimes even a week
were given up to the festivities and to
the hiiartties- AS came over the hills
toward this village saw the maidens
by the score. with their hair decorated
with flowers and their garments of the
bright, gorgeous coiorings of the east,
shining In the sunlight. With their
arms encirciing each others waist
they were as Miriam of old dancing
over the greensward and singing In
time with the moving feet The young
men came there with their feet horses
caparisoned with the finest trappings.