The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-06-21
LIFE EVEN|NC
HOURS"
r { V. q '. | G I'll S. BAYlE Y
breaches HELPFUL SERMON
TO ELDERLY PEOPLE,.

In spite of the dsagreeable weathe
and the bad going. a goodly numhe
OF elderly people We're present, III tn
First Congregational church yesteraa
morning in response to the announce
ment that the pastor would preach
sermon especially for them, The sub
iect was: "Life's Evening Hours
and the text taken from Psalm 11:g
Was' Cast me not off in the time a
old age; forsake me not when IN,
strength lai}eth,' MIR. Bayley Spok,
in part as follows:
Life may be thought of as II day
We begin it in the gray dawn of in
fancy before the awakening of self
consciousness, somewhat as ~ MAJ
waking in the early morning hover.
Tor Il time between night and day ii
q state of semi CONSCIOUSNESS. Thor
we come on into the bright hours attel
sunrise, the years of childhood an(
early youth. Warmth and brightness
surrounds as. and we are carc-fger ale
hght-hearted. Most of our time is
spent in play. These are the hours OF
early morning before the DAYS Worl,
begins.
Then follow the years of youth and
maturity when we do our mare of
the worlds work. These may be com
pared with the forenoon hours. our
physical and mental energy are at
thelr height, and we enjoy our great
est efficiency as workers. This por-
tlon OF life extends to two or three
Q clock in the afternoon, for the con-
SerNation of energy through Ial,it car
ries our limit Of highest efficiency be-
You'd the meridian. But as the sun
begins to sink toward the west we find
ourselves Wearyng With our labor and
looking eagerly toward quitting time.
Finally the day Of activity has
reached its close and we are in old
''se' Whethef our years be more or
less than the four score and ten Of
tie Psalmist. Then we are in life,s
evening hours. Our tools Of labor
nave been laid aside, our working par
nents hung up, and we spend the
evening OF life in slippered ease and
WITH the delightful CONFERENCE.-The or
hose we love. Soon we see the re-
'lctant ray Of the departed sun fad
hs from the sky; and almost before
we rellaze it the chill darkness Of
llght is upon us. Then our good
lights must be said and we must lie
Town for our long sleep.
one Of the things Of which the
Dsalinst was conscious in his even
hg hours was the failing Of his
strength; and this is Il sure ana often
pathetic accompaniment of ola age
During most Of the day we have done
y we would in our own strength;
'ut now in lfes evening hours we
must allow others to do fol. us, we
Vho have been strong to go ana come
/ Will must now submit to being
arried by others. Little wonder that
WIN the realization Of failing strength
ne Psamist cries out for the never
alling divine strength.
'Other features of the evening hours
oWever are more pleasant. Old age
rings certain poise and balance, a
use conservatism Which is somewhat |
lcking in ones earlier years. This
mould be shared generously and tact
nlly with those of the younger gen
ration. There comes also, with the !
feater amount of leisure, consider |
pie opportunity for study, for read |
~ and for general intellectual en- I
chment. During the active Years of |
re the demands Of business and FAM
cares prevented such things; but
oW business cares have been passed
] to others and family cares have
fgely disappeared, so that much
me is available for learning. How !
en- you may make these evening
ours OF yours, my friend, by delying
to science and history and phil
ophy.
But I think the best opportunity
men comes with old age is that of 1
edltatlon and enrichment in the |
lngs of the Christian faith. Here
the Bible, in which the greatest
lnds OF many centuries have found
spiration for life and comfort in the !
'ur Of death. Sir John Locke died
the age Of II, and his last request
as for someone to read to him from I /
G Psalms. Scott, Byron, Tennyson,
mold and Browning, together with
lstin and Carlyle, acknowledged
eat Indebtedness to the Scriptures
ost OF your life you have been too
sy-at least you have said so-but
W in old age you have abundant |
ne to enrich your mind and heart
I'm this great book. You may also
I'd of the progress of Gods king
m through the efforts of tnachars
aachers and missionaries. And.
st of all, you may find time for
let meditation and drawing nearer .
God in personal acquaintance. :
Thus old age, enriched by biblical
the sweetest portion of life, and
d Christian literature by spiritual
oWth and religious helpfulness, may
lr evening hours tinged with the
Try of the blessed hereafter