The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-08-26
9aturday Digit
By Rev. r. E. DAWSON
utAAS Rutland, VI
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THE KINGS TRIuMPHAL ENTRY.
international Bible Lesson for Aug.
2s, 'to-(Matt. 21:1-17).

Of David and the King OF the Jews.
For three years the evidence of
His Messiahship had been accumu-
lating in the minds of the common
people, but It had been sternly re-
pressed and held in allegiance. But
on the morning of the first day of
that week which was to crown His
life-work the Christ deliberately re-
moved all barriers, made definite ar
rangements for the Triumphal Entry,
lifted the food gates of popular en-
thusiasm and accepted the hosannas
of the multitudes as His legitimate
right.
The crowds were quick to respond
to the permission Like the bursting
of the JohnstOwn dam the pent-up
feelings of the people broke loose,
and in the mighty excitement of the
hour they tore the branches from the
trees to wave before the advancing
King, and counted it a glorious privi-
lege to spread their garments in the
way that the beast of burden upon
which he rode might not defile his
feet by contact with common earth.
1t must have been exceedingly graft
flying to Him who had been so oft re-
jected, to be thus publicly, tumultu-
ously accorded his rightful place.
Yet there were critics then and
there are critics still who object to
enthusiasm over such a subject. They
do not see any objection to the excite
ment of politics. Men can work
themselves into a frenzy in a party
convention, and act as if they had lost
their reason while putting in nomina-
ton a candidate for the presidency,
and 1t Is only a subject for passing
comment. The bulls and bears Of
Wall street meet on the floor of the
Stock Exchange, and yell like mad
men while fortunes are lost and won
but that happens every day. There
is no criticism of the excitement in a
city when Chicago, Boston or Balti-
more is seething volcano of fame.
Men do not criticise the widest ex-
citement when a theatre burns or
boat becomes a floating holocaust or
the earth trembles until whole city
Is tumbled into heap of ruins.
But when 1t is a question of reiigi-
Gus enthusiasm, we pronounce our
verdict against it, lest it should lead
to excess, extravaganza fanaticism,
and upset the mental balance of peo-
pie. AS matter Of fact, more peo-
pie are rendered insane by politics,
high life, the mad scramble for money
in a year than were ever demented
| by religious excitement. The natural
inertia of the human heart, and the
training of the centuries hold the vast
majority of people steady, so that
they are in little danger of criticism
on account of being righteous over
much.
Most people could thaw out several
degrees before they would be in dan
ger of generating steam. We need
spurs more than we need checkreins.
On the heavenly road there are
multitude of brakemen, but a great
scarcity of firemen. We have apo
| theosized Prudence and Caution too
| long. Prudence is a beautiful grace,
but she is very likely to be married
to Laziness. Sloth or Stupidity. There
are thousands of sluggards in the
vineyard of God who pride them
selves on what they call their pru-
dence. In the eyes of the world, the
most imprudent men that ever lived
were Martin Luther, and Paul and
John Bunyan, and Savonarola, and
| John Wesley Yet they turned the
world upside down-which brought II
right side up. The most imprudent
and reckless thing is to be unemotion-
al and stolid.
Staanatlon the Worst Heresy
We hear a great deal about heresy
these days. The most dangerous foe
of Christianity is not the man who
openly assaults the faith of the Bible.
wrong and their influence goes for
little. The greatest foes are the in
different and stolid professors.
The world needs more men with
souls ON fire. We have had religious
I icicles enough, only thawed sufficient
ly to drip, drip, drip, in cold talk. 1t
Is time some one opened the dampeTs
| ana set the luTutce dlAdlllt. bTlBut
ness and elasticity would be greatly
appreciated. We have sat under weep
ing willows and juniper bushes long
enough; let us begin to wave palm
branches. If holiness is to be by
and by "on the bells Of the horses, q"
we care not how much they prance.
The more speed and spring, the more
music. The thermometer of the
church universal could go 20 degrees
higher without any discomfort except
TO the religious icebergs.
A religion without any enthusiasm
in 1t, is not worth having. Who wants
a wooden Christianity or a logical
Christianity only? II loses its power
when II loses its pathos. We need to
be warned against deoorum. The
soul has wings as we'll as feet. Alas
for those who are compelled to sing;
Loon, how we grovel here below,
Fond of these earthly toys.
Our souls can neither fly. nor go
To reach eternal joys.