Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-08
MONT FREDERICK COUNTY Md FEBRUARY g. 1906.

inspiring loc llities than those areas in
/ some of the great cities of Europe
where churches have stood since the
days of Charlemagne, of Constantine,
and possibly in some cases from the
age of ST. John. Where God had re-
vealed Himself hundreds Of years be-
fore to Moses He now shows His glory
to Elijah. "What dOst thou here, Eli
| iah" The answer illustrates mistak-
en-, thoughtless zeal The Tishbinte is
seve: on Israel and caref for his own
life, and betrays wrong spirit. Very
good people, even in their religious
opinions, their most piOus aspirations,
err greatly. They show overwhelming
cOnceit, or unworthy estimates of 9th
ers, or the most wrongheaded choice
of means. or q selfish regard for their
own comfort, and even life. Among
the mistakes of good men think of the
miserable narrowness of those who
talk against missions to the heather
and refuse to contribute; or the cold
ness of those who discourage under
the term stunning efforts by Chris
tan people to fight the devil in his own
stronghods of the brothel and the
rummery. Elijah, though good man,
made some mistakes. So far has he
turned aside that we are tempted to
think his estimate is just that he can
henceforth be of no service to his Lord.
But we shall see that heaven can make
abundant use of even cross-grained en-
ergy, so only it have good heart See
His method with this devout, heroic,
but misguided saint.
God showed Elijah the impotence of
the Carnal. There is no reproach. "Go
forth and stand on the mount before
the Lord There came sweeping down
the granite crags of Sinai gust and
then blast and then a hurricane that
uproOted the ancient trees, and rolled
| the loose fragments of rock against one
another till they flew in pieces like
mllstones subjected to too swift rcvo-
luton. The appalled, saint knclt
| hreathless, and as the tornado spent its
force he lifted his eyes for nearer
view of God. But the Lord was not
in the wind" The earth rumblcd, the
crags We're split, the mount itself
rocked. the ground opened great iiS-
sureS, the day of the dissolution of ma
turc itself appeared to have come. He
looked again. but the Lord was not
| in the earthquakes" The lightning
darted out of the clouds, flash follow
! ing flash in the terrible SplCndOr of
Oriental tempests till the atmosphere
seemed charged with continuous flame,
and Mount Sinai and the cave and the
firmamcnt itself seemed ablaze. Again
he strained his vision to discern in the
| binding glare One yet more glorious.
But the Lord was not in the fire.
As has been finely said Elijah had
conceived God simply rs power. His
own achievements bad been wrought
| by power. lie is now made to recog
niZc the futility of mere force. This is
Il needful discovery for us. Espcci.
ally for the worlds great ones. The
man who in finance or industry has
won the greatest success is speedily
! convinced of the impotcncy of that
which men ordinarily consider victory.
Whatever teaches us this is good. Fail
urc. disappointment, sickness, each is
blessing in disguise if it lifts us out of
ourselves and makes us feel that with
all the world can give there is some
! thing else needed
He showed Elijah the inGnitude, the
ineXhaustible power ana goodness and
glory of the divine. The cyclone was
stilled, the earthquake spent, the light
nings burned out and yet God came
not. "Then on pcrturbpd and torment
ed nature q silence rested as when the
dashed galley slave is permitted to rest,
as when the Atlantic roaring for days
falls into a calm" The cave, in its
deepest grotto was penetrated with
| the spirit of stiffness. No breath
stirred. Tho seer felt an awe, not less,
| but greater than before. when there
came Il voice, mysterious, thrilling his
| heart and asking the old question. The
old answer was given, we must believe.
with Il new meaning for the great les
son of time ana eternity had been
| taught
In the cave of Horeb the fundamcnt-
al truth OF the Christian religion is re-
vcaled, truth every mission, however
humble: every church, however
adorned; every cathedral, however
magnificent, must illustrate. Not the
earthquake, cyclone, hurly-burly, but
the still small voice. Here is the Sc
cret of God Not the startling, but the
pleading: not the violent, but the ten
der; not force. but pity; not Sinatic
| ihI y, bul SpSbti Sl"Nt, lIOl ~ iilShL
nor by power. but by Ny spirit, saith
the Lord" God is love. Not an un-
seen God, but Il saving Christ. 'IIc
came to Horeb a voice, he left it an in
itiated man." says -d.urce.
But from the living Of the Christian
turn to his dying. The close of every
good life has dignity like unto "char-
lots of fire and horses Of fire" But the
likeness rms on immeasurably beyond
death. st. James tells that Elijah was
n man of like PASSIONS with us. Then
/ our infrmties, thank God, allow us a
life that does not end with earth The
thought Of All Saints is of the steadily
accommodating honors and joys of re-
deemed souls. We see Elijah go. But
it is not the last Of him. Malachi said
he would come back on earth. Cen
turtles later the world asked John the
Baptist il he were Elijah Some be-
lievcd Jesus must be. { ! the day of
| Transit suratioE, Elijah for Il moment
was with us, at once on earth and i'll
glory.
We can trust those dear departed
ones, who's memorials cluster around
us. with the Lord God Of Elijah.
Cni