News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1906-08-22
Al The UniversaIIst Church

AT the Universalist church Sunday
morning the pastor, Rev. Otto =.
Raspe, preached from the text found
in the 2Sth Chap. OF the Book OF
Acts, And the barbarious people
showed us no little kindness for they
kindled fire, and received us every
one because Of the present cold" HE
topic deduced was "Kindling a Fire"
He said In part -
The Apostle Paul had set sail to-
ward Rome, his heart burning with
enthusiasm to evangelize the Mistress
of the World. But before he was pei
mitted to set foot upon the soil OF
! the noble Caesar, there arose in the
| sky black and treacherous looking
cloud, which soon burst upon the
little craft like q demon fresh from
the household of Satan. and which
combined with the tempestuous sea,
soon stranded and wrecked the mis-
sionaries upon the barren shores OF
little island in the Mediterranean.
Cold and dreary the shipwrecked men
sought warmth and shelter from the
half barbarious people who Inhabited
these isles of the sea. With great dis
play of generosity and hospitality
the dwellers on this lonely island
kindled q fire around which the SER
wants OF Jesus Christ gathered, thank
ing God for His Fatherly protection
and care. and warming themselves
back into the spirit of new adventure
co evangelize the world in the name
of their Lord and Master.
In like manner to day, men find
themselves wrecked In a cold and
dreary world. Where souls are
chilled and too often frozen by the
black selfishness of business competi-
ton. Everywhere men rushing and
scheming to grasp the almighty dol.
lar before it rolls into the pocket of
his neigbbor. Everywhere fattery
and hypocritical tact to drain the
last penny from the poor fool, who
buys more than his purse can aft ord.
Everywhere loss of Aerve-power-long
hours, over work, worry-debilitating
the body; everywhere loss of moral
life-dishonesty, selfishness, gold en-
misunderstanding the temple of
God. Cold and storm-bouhd, mans
heart is broken and shattered on the
rocks of selfishness in goddess ocean
of cut-thrOat competition.
This is also true of the modern
atheistic reasoning which banishes
God from the universe as the great
Geomatrician. Indifference to relig-
ious culture, the moral life and the
efficacy of prayer stand in our midst
as an immense iceburg; to say moth
ing of the frigid effect upon the heart
of sin. What benign influence will
kindle a fire to warm our chilled
souls? There is but one to whom we
can look for succor, even God, the
source of all good. His gracious
providence ruleth over all. Anchor
securely upon His shores, when ship
wrecked and cold in this great sea of
life, with it's wild waves of trouble
and sorrow dashing over us and
threatening every moment to engult
us, and He will kindle In our breasts
the F TBS of Love. The man who feels
this fervent passion will never be cold
and dismal in this life or in the life to
come.
Special music consisted of violin
solo by Nat Freeman, and choir
composed of Mrs. |. U. Andrews and
her daughter, Mrs. Otto S. Raspe,
Henry Fisher, Miss Alice Gile and
Mark Cutting, rendered the anthem,
go Taste and See." Mrs. Ida Chur-
chill, as usual, accompanied at the
piano.