Evening journal., 1906-10-15
OLD FOLKS
ATTEND SERVICE
We're Guests OF Goodman
NJ. E. EpwOrihlanS
Yesterday
OVER 100 AGED PRESENT

As guests Of the Epworth League Of
Goodman M. E. Church, fully one hun
dred old folks, many of whom are well
on toward the end Of life's journey,
gathered at the morning service there
yesterday to listen to a sermon by Pas
tor Van P. Northrup.
The Epworth Leaguers had the feeb-
Ter ones Of the old folks brought in cabs
and pretty little souvenirs were given
each member Of the congregation at the
close of the service.
Pastor Northrup took for his text
portion of the sixth verse of the 64th
chapter Of Isaiah, And we all do fade
as a leaf"
He said in part: God is educating
lus by three great volumes. 1. The
4 written Word. ,. Divine Providence,
and 8, the world in which he has placed
ue.
The Bible lilkens the life we live to
voyage, a garden, to fruit, vine'
tree, and the seasons; and 80 is the
strength Of a man. The fullness Of
youth soon passes into the maturity OF
manhood and womanhood and by grad
lual and rapid steps we reach the state
Of life where people say You are Old
"AU is not lost to the tree, however,
when the leaf falls. The leaf has given
as we'll as received. In return for the
juices and sap and strength which 10
| has received it has aborbed the air,
sunshine and moisture and passed them
Into the branches SO we should be
like the tree. We should give to soci-
ETY. as we'll as take from society. Be
fore we fall we should impart wisdom,
truth. and the helpful and wholesome
principles Of a reverent and holy spirit.
''You have one great temptation-it
I is to think your days Of usefulness are
iover. / am not sure but that you are
the most useful members Of society.
'I believe old people are a blessing
because Of their accumulated wisdom.
old people supply a necessary conserv-
ative force You make society more
stable. Old people link US to Heaven.
You remind us of the future life. The
earth would be positively poor without
you
There is, however, an apparent but
ltreacherous beauty in decay The rus
set tints Of fall are exquisite and beau
ltiful but II is the beauty of decay. The
acOlOI Is uut 10 AAAC DN AAAAAAAA- va A~~'+tA
position. SO with humanity and hu-
man institutions. They may have a
grandeur and beauty external, but they
Twill not last because Of human struc-
Iture.
Then there is another thing to learn,
land that is the surety, the inevitable
ness of the decline. The time must
lcome when our physical and mental
Hsr..a a..
life force lessons each year until the
gust of the storm of death cuts down
1.-THE faded leaf TO earth.
"While all this may be true Of the
body the human heart need not fade
land the soul does not. Some are old
lin spirit early in life. Those who drink
lin the sunshine Of Divine truths, battle
in waters OF Divine wisdom shall not
iwither What JOY and peace there is
to such when the final storm comes,
but what. anguish and grief to those
lwho are forgetful OF God and have not
His Son to gather them for the King"
The speaker likened the final gather
ling to the marching hosts at the peace
Jubilee. and said:
After while the last battle will be
fought. and the big peace jubilee and
great review will take place on the
broad street of the city of the New
Jerusalem. What joy and gladness as
we march up to the throne, our uni
forms taken from the wardrobes Of
Heaven, our weapons of peace and
Gods glory and it shall be asked Who
are they?'
"And the answer viii be These are
they which came out Of great tribula-
ton and have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood Of the
Lamb"
The Rev. Alfred Scott and the Rev.
Cossaboom assisted Mr.. Northrup in
the love feast which was held prior to
the morning service. and in the latter
fservice. The church was filled.