Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-21


whclming. and the accumulation Of In
fiueucc Is not less remarkable than that
of force. This il not surprising for all
the elements OF influence have their
home within the Christian precinct.
The art the literature the systematiZed
industry invention and cOmmerce-in
one word. the power Of the worlI-are
almost wholly Christian. The nations
Of Christendom nre everywhere arbi-
tiers of the fate Of mont hristian ma
tions." Where people as nation have
honOrcd God. there God has always
honorcd and blessed those people. The
signs Of these blessings everywhere
prove that God Is looking after and
caring for his own. Now. having seen
how God blesscs his own In great nun.
bcrs. ! am ready TO believe that he IN
blessing his own even when he permits
the heavy hand of trouble to fall upon
them. ] cannot understand always
why this trouble comes. but am ready
by faith 10 accept II as II blessing. And
why should not we accept as Il blessing
the troubles which come To Gods dear
ones although we cannot understand
why these troubles Gomez DO we not.
as parents. often have 10 do that which
ma. seem cruel or hard 10 our chill
drcn. and yet We thus atllict for our
childrcn's good? Let me illustrate my
thought from two incidents Of my per.
sonal life.
NhAf. I .snIl...1 To ha atfN of I M
Angeles. two years ago, within half Il
block of my church there were two lit.
Tie children about two years of age.
They were twins. They could then
just toddle Almost every day of my
life passed their fathers home Those
two little babies were the pets OF our
neighborhood They attended some OF
our Sunday school entertainments One
was called "Bluey'' aud the other
"rnkey." Why could never make
out. for they always dressed alike and
looked alike. and. like two red apples,
both of size. you could not distin-
guisl one from the other. When you
thought you We're talking 10 one you
We're almost sure 10 lind out that you
were talking to the other. The other
Sunday one of those little girls. then
about four years old, went into the
kitchen and began 10 play with matches.
She struck one. II ignited Her little
fluffy dress took fire. And before We
pronounced the henediction of the even
ing sermon "Blucy" was dead. Elk
plain this tragedy cannot | do not
wish To try God knows best ! will
leave il 10 the next world to find out
why "Bluey" was taken and "Pinkey"
left.
Act of Loving Father.
But can explain To you how avert
ed tragedy in my own home some
two years ago. one Of my little chill
drcn. then about three years OF age.
came running to me- calling. Papa.
there Is Il fire. | never waited mo
mcnt leaped up the stairs. and there
| found that my little boy had been
playing with matches and had set fire
10 the closet was practically alone
In the house | went into that closet
and tore the clothes down from the
hooks and threw them out of the win
dow. ! burned my arms and my face.
But what of that? saved the house.
The boy was too frightened 10 speak.
so did not punish him. but the next
day found that this little boy OF only
three years of age went and built an
other fire In the back yard. He seemed
TO have the same fascination for fire
that the moth miller has for the even
Ing lamp. There he was. lying upon
his stomach. playing with the burning
sticks. What did do? | loved that
boy just MS much as | did any OF the
other children. but / knew severe
course had To be taken To save him
from horrible death First whipped
him. Then took match and lighted
II and said MY boy. II you ever touch
matches again | shall put your little
finger into that fire and burn your skin
just us much MS papa's was burned
yesterday In that fire you made"
What was the result? That little hoy
found out what deadly enemy fire
could be- aud he has never touched II
match from that day 10 this. Was !
cruel father to punish the child. or was
true parent 10 save my little boy
from tragic death? Cannot God in
the same way be a loving kind Fa
Their when he sometimes permits tron-
blcs 10 beat on the thrObblng hearts or
his own children?
In closing | would bid you set your
gospel compass. | want You TO be ike
the traveller going through the western
country guided by the beacon light OF
the rising and setting sun. ! want you
10 be like voyager setting sail across
the Atlantic He does not 60 in II hap
hazard way 10 a fisherman Of Nan
tuckct and say. "Will you with your
sailboat take me 10 Europe" But he
goes down to the office of a great trans
atlantic line There he selects his
steamer. lie knows that this steamer
is managed by competent crew and
commanded by an able captain. When
the storms come and the winds blow
and the pillows heave. he does not rush
upon the deck and say. Let me take
that wheel" Nay. lie says. The cap
tain knows best, and he will see Us