The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-06
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
sv THE Rev FRANK DE WITT rALMAoe. Q. Q

T os ANGELES. Cal. July 9.-ln this
 sermon the preacher draws the les-
 - son of gospel of good cheer and helpfulness and shows that Christianity bars no one from innocent enjoyment. The text Is John fl. il, "The beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of dalilee'
 Finding the rational eausos for the 'n- ception of things Is a passion In the hu- man heart and mind. But next to II 10 the desire of making right start when' after years of hard work and toll we would give to the world the results of our labor and our investigation. When Henry M. Stanley came from his exploration ol the dark continent he did not let the facts thus gained lie dormant in his mind. lie at onee headed toward the great me- tropolls of London. There, in Albert Me- morlal hall, before the representatives or the English throne and the greatest of scientists, he described the results of his journey. What he did not tell by lip he told as soon as possible to the world by his pen. No sooner did Samuel E. Morse cry, as did the Greek mathmetician, Flu reka! have found itl I have found that a telesraphic message can be sent over the wires" than at once he applied to the American congress to help him build line from Baltimore to Washington. He would prove to all the world, in the best and most emphatic way, that telepraphy was to be classed among the found arts"
 I enter a great artists studio. say to Jean Francois Millet, What are you working so hard about?' oh he says, T have consecrated my life to a new mission of art. used to be noted for the skill with which appealed to the lowest passions of life--to the evil desire Of the world through suggestive figures of the nude. heard some bystanders looking at one of my pictures say. It is too bad that Millet, with such q genius as he has, paints pictures like thatl' l at once left Paris and went back to my old home. There among the hamlets of France be- gan to study the pure beauties to be found in the face of my old grandmother. Now I am trying as an artist to depict the homely virtues of the French peasants. As this Is my first peasant picture to be sent to the French salon. l want to make my mark in my new field, for when man is to make great success In any one line he must be very careful about his begin ning. This is new besinlng for me as Christian artist" To make a right begin ming for his new art-his Christian art Tissot, the former artist of the French society women secluded himself for years in the Holy Land that he might walk and live amid the scenes where Christ lived and died. As Christian artist he wanted to make right beginning.
 A Right Beginning
 The desire to make a right beginning is implanted in every ones life who starts upon a great career for the reformation of the customs and the habits of the world. Thus, when began to think upon this subject, this miracle at the begin ming of Christs ministry began to grow and widen and deepen and lift Itself higher and higher in the purposes of Jesus Christ. Why? It was Christs first miracle. For thirty long years he led the life of obscurlty. Now Jesus comes forth and practically says: I have come to reveal my Father to the world. want to win the belief and trust of the people. How shall l begin my work in the most impressive and attractive way2 I will do 1t at the wedding in Cana of Galilee." Thus we must approach our subject with awe and reverence. This miracle is not @ mere happen so. The first miracle of Christ was one by which we may catch the keynote for the onward musical movements of a perfect life. Where does the active scene of Christ's earthly ministry open? At a nuptial song. At time of joyful festivities. At time when not only the young but also the old and the middle aged are trying to be happy and to make everyone happy. At time when laughter and merriment and good cheer are making tired men and women feel for time at least that care and worry and anxiety and distrust have no part to play in the great social econ omy The celestial song which was sung on the morning of the Nativity was no more joyful in note than 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 vil- lage of Cana.
 Would you have me describe the joy of a wedding festival l once witnessed in the east? I did not see it at Cana; did see it. however, at one of the neigh boring towns of Galilee First l found the wedding guests came from far and near, as they came to Westover where Colonel William Byrd, lawyer, statesman and landed gentleman, married his daughter to distinguished representa- tive of Virginia's aristocracy. or to Mount Vernon when Martha Washington's granddaughter, Eleanor Parke Custis was married to young Major Lewis, or to Monticello, when the great Jefferson and the Randolph families became at the marriage altar. There the guests came not only by the tens. but by the hundreds. The bridal home was full, and all the neighboring houses were crowded with the invited guests.
 A Week of Festivity.
 The the ceremony was not finished by a few words mumbled off by minister and quick scurryng away for the train by the bridal couple after a few grains of rice had been thrown. But days and some times even week were given up to the festivities and to the hilarities As l came
 over the hills toward this village 1 saw the maidens by the score, with their hair decorated with flowers and their garments of the bright. gorgeous colorings of the east, shining in the sunlight. With their
 arms encircling each others waist they
 were as Miriam of old dancing over the greensward and singing in time with their moving feet. The young men came there with their fleet horses caparisoned with the finest trappings. There were games and feats of strength for the competitors at these festivals. At last, after days of frolic, came the wedding ceremony. Then came the great. climax of all, the wed ding supper" Christs first miracle was performed at a season of social fes- tivties.
 am glad that Christ's nativity was announced to the world by the overture of song. l am glad that his first miracle was performed at a wedding. l am glad that we do not see Jesus at this time standing clothed in the skins of wild beasts, was John the Baptist in the wilderness. Christ came to this wedding to mark his approval of innocent pleasure. His at tendance upon the wedding in Cana of Galilee proves" wrote Bishop Kyle that