Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-09-28

SsSt VI tue ttcthcut tduluui. was w3lk-
Ing throegh Tie streets OF Paris with
bis mind so concentrated upon his sci
entific problems that he was utterly
unconscious OF his surroundings. When
n heavy truck rumbled down the
street bis ears were deaf TO the noise
and TO the warning calls OF the driver,
and he was crushed to death IN an in
stunt. as the car of the. Indian jugger-
paut would crush out the lives OF the
devotees who flung themselves under
its revolving wheels. My friends, how
many times during the week do you
withdraw yourselves from man to COM
mune with Codr How many times do
you seek him in prayer and I'm holy
communionr How many times q week
do you say to your loved ones, Come.
let US go and talk with God for little
while IN the sectet places Of thunder.
az Noses talked With him upon Sinai's
heightsT - AZ
HsfI end that GoA,s aecset places OF
.9eA1ee are upon the Eqeustain tops OF
dimcostiAx a. web a Ia the quiet
1Anee4 SeRasea frem the Q7dipary habi;
tatiQns Of man. They are to be found
only among the steep heights where
the eagles build their aeries and where
oRly the most persistent of Alpine
chmheFs Is willing to 90. DO you sup
pose FOR one Instant that the psalmlst
hsd an easy time finding his Lost sheep
IN the secret place Of the thunder?
Nay. Methinks that ope OF the other
shepherds at hrst went forth with him
to hunt the lost sheep. David said TO
him at starting: '.Ephraim. you go
down the valley In this direction, and
Will travel In that direction. You keen
calling. and I will do the same. Then
We shall meet at the foot OF yonder
hills. Then IL we do not find the sheen
IN the valley, why. we must seek her
in the hills" Thus they do, and the
lost sheep is not found. Then up the
rocks they begin TO 60. higher and high
er. Now the darkness settles. Now Is
heard the blood curdling scream OF the
wildcat. Now comes the roar OF the
mountain lion hunting his prey. They
climb on. Their flesh is lacerated.
Their clothing is torn. They stumble.
They fall Now they have to go over a
narrow ledge by the side OF n steep
precipice. Ephraim grows tired. He
trembles with fear. He says: David.
/ am going back. We can never find
that lest sheep. She has either been
dashed to death upon the rocks or else
she has been slain by the wild beasts"
But David keeps on. He keeps on climb.
ing and slipping but higher and higher
he goes as he calls, "Yoohee! Yoohee,
On, lost sheep, Yoohee! Yooheew At
iast--yes, at last, he finds her In the
secret place OF the thunder.
--~, e.- On -Monnt.in Tops.
All, yes; the secret place of the thun-
der is always to be found upon the
mountain. tops OF difficulty. 1t is no
easy matter to be real Christian. II
IS no small task to listen to the voice
OF God In the secret place OF thunder
and hear Alright and obey Alright. I
was never more impressed with this
thought than some time ago. As 7
was tramping along the country roads
OF the lowland a couple OF automobiles
passed me. The women In those cars
were dressed In the latest fashion.
The men were loungIng back in their
seats. The gentleman with whom
was walking said, How would YOU
like to be riding In one or those ma
chines| NO." answered: that Is
not the way people get health. Nature
does not give strong lungs and stout
limbs to those who are seeking the
easy times, but only to those who are
willing to make sacrifices for it" But
the work OF tramping over the low
lands was nothing to the work of
climbing the San Bernardiuo hills. In
the first place. even though we were
walking. we had to take every ounce
or weight out OF the wagon that we
could take. We kept In the wagon
only q light camp stove. few bIan-
kets and enough to eat for few DAYS
We threw aside every extra pound
and had our goods carried up by the
heavy team wagons. Then we made
our trip TO the foot OF the mountains
early In the evening and went to sleep.
and when the night had settled down
and the moon had come up and the
heat OF the day was gone we were up
and 90 our way.
s sAy. what journey Il was! The
grade was the steepest I ever climbed.
xhey say 1t Is about fve miles 10 the
sNnmit but r-.would willingly 20 six
times that distance on the level road.
every few yards we had to stop and
LET. the horse rest One man handled
the Break. the other led or drove the
horse. zissag. backward and forward
the switchpack road went. In one
place you could look up and see who're
the road. Ike a lazy river. .cu,yed /
backward and forward In seven dis 1
tinct places. II was only by the most |
persistent effort and struggle that ut |
hast. tired and exhausted and hun
cry, We came to the top. Then we /
reached the ruvines where the thunder
storms Were Graded and the mighty
tempests were sent forth ON their mis-
sion OF giving drink to the furnished |
crops and orchards Of the valleys be
law. Yes, truly i am right when I as
sert that the secret places of the thun-
Der are -always built, upon. the high
peaks or the mountains Of difficulties.
Low Valley Christians.
My friends. the great trouble Is with
most OF us we want to be Christians.
But we want to be low valley Chris
tans. We want to be Christians not
u the erass and cliffs. but OF the or
fhardsa and the harvest fields and OF
me nower gardens. We want to be
me iezy Shristians, lying spon beds Of
ease. where the bees VIII bring to US
'A<ir honey and the sun Mill smile upon
y continual benediction. and the
tumbiing fountains win slake
Dur thirst. and where the birds will
never cease to sing for IN their sweet
EST iullabies. All. no. that Is not where
we viii hear Gods vOasp speaking to