Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-03-14

flee today prepared 10 fight the saloon?
Does this Saul promise TO obllterate
the gambling hclls of the city, Does
he promise Ia close mp the dens OF In
fanny? Does he want the Bible In the
public schools; Is he the friend or the
foe Of the dissolute members OF the
community With whom Is he train
Ing: DO you elect Saul 10 position OF
political life aud keep him there mere
ly because hc IS brilliant OF tongue aud
overlook the fact that he Is rotten In
morals? That Is the question Samuel
had 10 answer. And that Is the reason
God Is hurting the rebuke or my text
at the prophet of old. as well as at
some Of us today: How long wilt thou
mourn for Saul? How long: How
long,
His Political Protege.
But there was still another reason
why Samuel chung TO this recreant
king Saul was Samueps political pro
tcge Samuel was the instrument in
Gods hands chosen To make him king.
Samuel lifted the amounting horn 10
pour the sacred oil upon Saul's head
and In one sense Samuel looked upon
him ms loving parent sometimes looks
upon the crring deeds ~ favorite
child. He tried 10 shield him and pro
tect him ana 10 ward of his coming
doom. And when Samuel did this he
was like Eli He only hastened the
coming tragedy OF this handsome king
Oh II is an awful thing 10 see In
Their and mother shutting their eyes TO
the sins OF child. | almost tremble
when | speak upon this. Yet am
firmly convinced that many young men
and women have gone To destruction
In the past not because their parents
have been too strict. but too lenient
with the self evident shortcomings Of
their children.
There Is only one way 10 deal with
the sins OF children, and that Is TO Grad
icate them while they are young. And
the more insignificant those sins seem
10 he If let alone the more surely they
will destroy the temporal and spiritual
life Of the child. DO you see that mag
nIlicent oak tree growing there ON the
hillside? Yes, ii Is II beauty. II has
lifted itself like mighty giant. No
tornado is strong enough 10 blow that
tree down. II has struck its roots
clear down TO the solid rock.
But" you ask. what are those
strange looking vines crawling up the
sides Of that tree" Then you come
nearer and say: why. they are the
vines Of the wild grapes. See how fine
they are, | must take some home TO
the children All" say, lis that
so: Is that tree covered with the
ing the Wild grapes you are eating the
Likelihood OF the tree II you VIII
carefully examine the stems OF the
Wild grapevine. you will lind them
filed with lot of roOtlike suckers.
These suckers fasten themselves into
the tree ana draw the life out of the
tree. and. give them time. like all vam-
plre lyics. they will grow bigger and
bigger Then the suckers will sink
deeper and deeper into the tree until
after awhile that mighty tree viii
droop and die Those few Wild grapes
may be very appetizng to your palate.
They are very costly when they Kill
tree TO produce few punches OF fruit.
Such are the bitter vampire Sins Of
the child. IL may not seem 10 he much
when the child steals the candy after
you have forbidden him To have II. IL
may not seem 10 he much when child
tells you falsehood. II may not
seem TO be much when child pre-
tends 10 20 TO school when he Is going
skating. II may not seem 10 be much
when schoolboy commences TO smoke
cigarettes and drink beer 1t may not
seem 10 be much when the boy refuses
TO 60 TO Sunday school or TO church.
These are little things IN a chlld's life
But. though the wild grapes are appe'
tizIng. remember these little sins arr
the vampires sucking away the ehild's
spiritual life. That fruit Is made out
Of the lifeblood of the chlld's spiritual
existence. Beware parent, how you,
like Samuel. allow the sins of Saul 10
develop unrebuked.
No One Like Saul.
But. lastly. I think Samuel grieved
for Saul because he said: III Saul
fails. who can make succcssf Why.
IN on Israel there Is not another like
him He Is the handsomest and the
best What shall we do? What shah
we dof" But God said Fear not.
Samuel will raise up another Take
thy amounting horn and go where tell
thee David viii do for me what Saul
has failed 10 do" So when We ind a