Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-18
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PEOPLES PULPIT.
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AN EVENING WITH TWO
"SHEPHERDS."

CIV ~ WIN ~ WV
SHEPHERDS"
There comes down to us through
the dim vista of years the: beautiful
Shepherd Psalm known as the Syri-
an story whose lines rightly inter-
pref the beautiful twenty third
Psalm. Please read it. 1t is short, bit
oh! it has filed the air Of the whole
world with rich melodious joy. 1t has
chs-..ed more griefs to rest--than the
Philosophy of the whole world 1t has
sung, courage to the army of the dis
appointed. 1t has poured balm and
consolation into the heart of the sick
and dying soldiers 1t has cheered
the inmates of prisons and hospitals
as 1t was read to them. Read it 1t
will go on singing through all the gem
erations of time--nor will it fold it's
wings until the last pilgrim is safe
and time is ended.
Once upon a time there came 20
this city two men filled with the
beauty of this Psalm, They came to be
shepherds to the scattering flock thai
inhabited this beautiful, Des Moines
vallev We shall long remember them
for their spirituality, their. culture.
their refinement Of manners They
found the people poor, but we often
could hear these two men with the
=
NV Shepherd; 1 shall not want Can
there be anything more poetic than the
life of a shepherd far. far way. out on
the lone mountain with the ever last
ing hills around, there to worship in
solemn silence the Most High God IN
his temple not made with hands :
These two men loved to be called
shepherds because I often heard them
say, This people needs a shepherds
watch and care They called their
little church My flock 1t was out Of
the shepherds life amid the Syrian
mountains, they; told us that there
came long, long ago, that sweetest re-
ligious song ever written,-the twenty
third Psalm. Have you read it?. One
few years. On the arrival of the last
one attention was paid to him. He
was a man of winsome mind the
spirituality Of his culture was marked
| as the refinement of his manners. while
the merriment sparkled in his lustrous
dark eyes. His face was delicate and
viyacious. He was man Of culture.
So 1T came about that these two men
were commissioner Of God to go forth
! singing new melody and those who
heard them rejoiced. AS Rev. McElroy
| came last he and Rev. Spaulding and
| others were commanded by a lady,
whose residence faced our public
| square to be her guests to supper. This
| lady of the tea cups was a great
admirer of the wonderful Psalm. She
called it The singing pilgriln.' She
loved the opening strain of its music;
| in that chord is sounded the key note
| which is never lost till the plainttve
| melody dies away at the songs end.
| Will you read IT.?
GAS we talk over the cooling cups
could see that the lady who deftly
| handled the tea ball, wanted to talk
on subject dear to her heart, so
after the lost sheep?' wish it were
possible to reproduce here the light in
his face and the interchange Of tones
In his mellow voice as he replied. The
Lamb that Is In the midst Of the
throne shall be their shepherd, and will
guide them unto fountains OF waters
Of life.' No one spoke as he sal
4 turning his tea cup. A tear started
from his. dropping eyes. Presently he
seemed to recall himself, But mus
| tell you of more scenes in the wonder
| full Psalm; He leadeth me beside the
still waters, thus shall not thirst .
know Of nothing more fit to picture
the Shepherds care of souls that trus
| him.
he said, turning to me, that sou
means the life, or ones self Thel
addressing us all he went on; The
Shepherd must ever watch over hi:
| flock Restores me from wandering Il
the way it is put in one Of our hymns,
interposed the lady of the tea ball
Then the soul is restored, then come.
the thought of deepest repose and com
| fort Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days Of my life The
song dies awav as the heart Of God has
watched and tended over his faithful
as he repeats his faith. I will dwell il
| the house of the Lord forever
His face beamed with manhood:
crown as he turned to Mr.. Spaulding
'Brotber-you and I have learned t.
bless the day that this precious TWEEN
ty-third Psalm was born. 1t is tht
nightingale Of the Psalms, it is small
of a bonlely feather, singing shyly 81
obscurity.' Reader read it. Buy II
at an art store. 1t comes framed II
red wood with large illumined letters
You will need it's sweet melody. Nav,
faith in it and when the 'Raver
Wing darkens your vision with. ITS
shadows, you will hear the sounds q
celestial joy which make heaven must
| cal forever.