Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-08-11
On the Heights.

AShOIdnSO VI thO piOooNiO oWN6
you. A city OF tents and bunga-
lows now crowns the mountain,
and the woods TEEN with life. A
great deal has been done during
the past year toward identifying
the grounds. The surface stones
have been gathered into straight
and curving fences, leaving free
the grasses of the sward to assert
itself. The roads leading to the
summit and traversing the length
of the mountain-top have been
greatly improved = rocks and
stumps removed and the heavier
grades toned down-so that the
ascent and return are made in
safety and comfort, with leisure to
enjoy the successive pictures of
scenic beauty ever newly disclose
ing. This mountain is now the
summer home of the Missouri
Baptist Assembly, whose 1910 ses-
sion began about ten days ago.
The attendance is large and the
brethren are enthusiastic in their
possession. They come from all
sections of the State, and it swells
a Vallegian's heart with pride when
he hears their encomiums upon
this favored portion of the foot
stool. He is agreeably corrobo-
rated in his love for his surround
ings, and, naturally, his heart
goes out to the strangers who see
with his vision. Last Sunday
afternoSnI myself took heart of
grace and went upon the Heights!
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But
the closest home-stayer will &C.
casionally break bounds. No, |
didn't climb the mountain afoot;
my avordupois sorely rebels at
such attempt. But the ascent vas
comfortably and smoothly made
in DR.. Smiths two-horse surrey
without distressing the horses,
else it would have not been COM
fortable-in less than an hour. 1t
was my first visit to the Heights
this summer, but | held in remem-
brance the delight attending the
venture a year ago, though the air
was not clear and fog, lower-lying,
hid much OF the valley from our
vision. Therefore, with shining
sun and unburdened atmosphere,
what might not the heart antici-
pate and the eye behold? In this
instance the promise was not be-
lied.
Upon our arrival, having time to
do SO before afternoon services,
we drove by the tabernacle on up
to the Ozark Inn, situated upon
the highest point of the mountain.
Be it known the creature comforts
are we'll looked to up there: be-
side the Inn, which is a model
hostelry, there are restaurants and
~refresnment stands-''soft" liquid
and solid. One need go neither
hungry nor thirsty, if content to
make moderate expenditure. After
visiting the Inn and admiring the
bungalows and other accessories
to high life, we walked to a rocky
point about one hundred yards
west. Here, our feet resting upon
the everlasting granite, we beheld
spread beneath and before us such
a scene as poets dreams are said
to be, made of. Who is vain
enough to attempt to describe it?
Not |, fain as | would convey to
the reader it's glorious beauty and
the better, higher thought it in
duces to the beholder. Across the
smiling fields and inviting homes
of the valley the eye stretches its
vision to mountain range after
mountain range, until old Tom
Sank rears his higher crest in
gray-toned contour seemingly
not of earth and rock and tree,
but an unsubstantial bank of dens-
err cloud. How mans littleness
bears down his self-suficiency in
the contemplation of such a scene!
Go thou and view it, my brother,
and you will swear that never did
SO cheap expenditure bring so
dear reward!
When the hour for service came
we went to the tabernacle to find
its ample seating space closely oc-
cupied. But the air was so cool
and pleasant and the preachers
sermon so good that those of us
standing outside did not tire OF
our feet or note the passing of the
minutes. do not remember the
text-my memory is abominably
faulty-but the subject matter i'm
pressed me. DR.. Williamson
spoke of the positive and mega
tive in man, and we'll and ably he
discussed it. In epitome, he said
that one who is only negatively
good-that is, one who merely
does not do the things forbidden
by sacred and moral LAWS by
no means the man after Gods
own heart; that it is the man pos
itive-the man who goes out and
does the things he should do-who
fills the Christian bill. OF course
the preacher didn't say it in just
these words; but such was his
meaning as | grasped it. 1t is the
true view,I think, though it makes
sinners of us all. | like DR.. Will
liamson's way of preaching. He
is fluent and clear, and has a
kindly earnestness that wins the
hearer. His face beams with sim
certify, and his bearing is thai, of
one enamored of his calling. May
his shadow never grow less! Ser
vice concluded, a collection was
taken for the further Improvement
Of the Assembly grounds, and
pledges for S2,0t8 were given in
sums If from 81 tn 500.