The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-10
ature, science, or art
Roll OF the Departed.

ature, science, or art
Roll Of the Departed.
And 1t is significant that these great
men are all dead men. The world
has a universal habit Of finding out
that 1t has been entertaining angels
unawares. Blessings brighten as they
take their flight. The Washington
monument erected among the sky
scrapers OF New York would not at
tract so much attention as 1t does
standing out solitary and alone on the
banks Of the Potomac. We are too
near the men of the present to proper
ly estimate their proportions. Some
OF them are much bigger than they
appear. and some of them will shrink
nightly when We get the proper per-
spective. 1t is quite likely that the
neighbors of Abraham thought him a
deluded, addle-brained visionary when
he gave up his pleasant home in Ur
of the Chaldees. and started out on a
wild goose errand TO a land that he
expected to receive for an inherit
ance, and We know that even Moses
the greatest statesman of the ages
was criticised by his brother and sis
ter, and that the common rabble OF
the street took up stones to pelt him.
We have frowns, and criticism, and
abuse and mud for our living leaders
but fragrant flowers for their collins,
and soaring monuments for their
graves.
Have TO Die to Be Appreciated.
People have to die to be appreciat
ed. Joan Of Arc was burned at the
stake as vile hereto. but she has
recently been beatified by the Pope.
The flames did not harm her great
spirit. and the beatiication will not
add any lustre to her glory. The Incl
dent only serves to point this moral
and adorn this tale. There were
thousands OF men who abused Abra.
ham Lincoln. They never could speak
of him without sneer. He was a
"railsplitter," black republican. an
uncouth interloper. He was abused
by the newspapers, caricatured on the
platform. denounced by the politi-
clans. The waves OF assault rolled Up
10 his feet from the south, and dashed
over his head from the north, aa1
they never ceased to roll over him
Till his gentle heart broke in death.
But 40 years after his assassination
Columbia caryes his name in her tenn
pie OF fame side by side with Wash
ington, and the whole country, yea.
the whole civilized world uncovers
and bends the knee at the grave OF
Abraham Lincoln.
A MatchIess Pantheon.
The Hebrew people have their hall
OF fame. II is found in the eleventh
chapter OF the book of Hebrews, writ.
ten very likely by Apollos. lover o!
his race. He goes into that matchless
Pantheon. and beginning with Abel,
the first martyr. he writes upon the
pages OF an imperishable book the
names Of the heroes Of faith for 1000
years. The nations visit that sacred
edifce and read the deathless names.
Abel. Enoch. Noah, Abraham, Isaac.
Jacob. Joseph. Moses. Barak. Samson.
Jepthae. David. Samuel. the Prophets.
"a cloud Of witnesses. an honor roll
whom the proudest nations OF earth
might coyet.
The Living Dead.
And yet these heroes are not dead.
They never began to have the inau-
ence In the world that they have al
this very moment. Their contempora-
ries never were affected by them as
the whole world is to-day. When
Abraham set out from Mesopotam,a
he took none of his nelghbors with
him. When Enoch walked with God.
he went alone. In life and in transla-
ton. When Noah sailed over the
Judgment food he could induce no one
else to embark with him, save his own
family. They had little success. as
men count success with those who
were coeval with them. But today
wherever the Bible Is read Enoch is
Walking With God. Abraham is inherit
ing the promises, the father OF a
multitude like the sands OF the sea-
and Moses In breaking the bonds OF
Tie oppressor and shouting In the ear
6 every taskmaster. Let my people
90. No great man ever really dies.
When Jesus was In the flesh he was
United TO the narrow confines o.
fslestine. II was only at his depart
Vfe that he could really say, Go ye
ifto all the world. and 10, am wl,h
you always. The Christ Is the rcoz'
binmpresent personality 10 the worlc
to-day. But the ssme thing Is tue In
lesser degree In respect 10 every
Sfeat soul Of man. Thus the pres
u Is peopled with the shadowy forms
u the past II IL imposgibie 10 r.
T.. 3 the iL.y.o.