Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-17

place. each moves IN its own circle. and
So systematic are these movements that
astronomers can calculate down TO the
very minute when II star will pass u
given place or disappear" Thus we
find that the Ornament Of the heavens
Is great COSMOS II is a collection OF
stars gathered into groups. each star
having its own place In separate
group with other stars.
This WAS conclusively proved by
William lIcrschel. the great English
astronomer. Hers 'hcl for years studied
the laws which bound star TO star. In
his day no man knew more about them
than he did. In nearly every branch
Of modern physical astronomy he was
pioneer" wrote his biographcr: che
was the virtual founder of sidercal sci.
cncc. AS an explorer OF the heavens he
had but one rival, his own son" After
years of study, William lIerschel evolv.
cd this beautiful theory Of the heavens,
which. believe, Is the symbol OF our
future celestial existence The ancient
Chnldcans first gathered the stars into
groups or consultations They had the
Dippcr and Orion and the Bear and the
Bull. the Ram. the Twins. the Water.
and others too numerous To mention.
But il remained for the modern astron-
omer To show how these various groups
were related. IIerschel mapped the
motion of these groups around their In.
dividual ccntcrs; then he went higher
and higher in his astronomical theory,
aud lie showed how these centers NOV
cd around other ccnters and these other
ccnters in turn swing around other cen
tiers; then al last he swings all these
groups and considerations and solar
systems and all these centers around
one great center, which he calls the
great white throne OF God" Cannot
you grasp the parable?
They shall shine az stars.
In heaven all the soul winners OF
earth shall shine as the stars forever
aud ever. liut these stars shall not be
simply great multitude of stars shin
ing as Il mass of light Each star will
he the member OF certain group.
What is the group? Why. the family
We shall shine like Moses and Joshua
ami Paul and Peter Yes. but we shall
shine alongside Of our fathers and
mothers and brothers ana sisters and
wives ami husbands and children. In
groups in family groups-wc shall be.
d t,n1 | fhunis fhan fhnf In hnn
my loved ones shall be by my side as
they have lived by my side on earth.
All the soul winners shall be there, but
my dear ones shall live as close TO me
as though our mansion In heaven were
the only mansion built upon the Boule-
ward of Gold down near to the Beauti.
full Gate.
But there Is another fact about these
stars Ia which | would call your at
tcniipn today If we turn many to
righteousness we shall shine. What
does that mean? Shall we bc as min
crs with our little llickering lamps go
Ing into the dark places of the earth
10 hunt out gold for our own selfish
purposes? Shall we become msers
wlp are ready to shut themselves up
into solitary rooms. SO that with lit
tie lliclcriug candlclight they can open
their iron vaults and in safety exam
Inc their jewels and piles of silver and
of goldt Nay. II we turn many to
righteousness we can never shut our
selves up In heaven. We must shine
rs the stars We must shine not so
much for the benefit of ourselves as
for the benefit of others Heaven IS
10 be u place Of eternal enjoyment be-
cause IL Is place where we shall
spend the millcnnums in helping 10
make others happy. oh. blessed. thrice
blessed Is this thought, Is II your
hope:
When Cyrus W. Field was about to
lay the first successful Atlantic cable
he had two vessels, the Agamemnon
and the Niagara. Each loaded with
the precious cable. they met IN mid
ocean Then the two vessels parted.
and one sailed toward Valcntia and the
other toward Trinity bay. Farther and
farther apart they went, each paying
out its end of the cable. But during
all that long journey toward the old
world and the new these two vessels
could keep sending messages TO each
other So on the great sea of space
the stars seem To he floating ships.
Aye. more than that they seem TO be
creatures of life And these stellar
creatures of life seem TO be always
signaling. always talking to each other.
They seem To me To keep saying. "Oh,
child of Christ, when thou dost shine
as the stars forever and ever thou
shalt he shining for other worlds and
not for myself" Is II not n beautiful
thought TO you that all through eter-
nifty YOU shall he shining TO make your
dear ones happy? Heaven can never
be 10 your loved ones II perfect heaven
unless you are there 10 shine for their
glory and eternal joy.
Even the stars Differ.
But how are these celestial stars go
Ing 20 shine: Shall they all look alike
and have Just the same color aud the
same characteristics? Are they TO he
similar to each other, like the pictures