The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-31
OLD PEOPLE HEAR
SERMON
REV. G. II. GIBBS breaches AT
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH SOUTH.

oJist Episcopal church South. preached
special sermon Sunday morning TO
the old peop.c His text was G'rov.
i6:3D: The hoary head is crown
! OF glory. II IL be found in the way
OF righteousness" The following is
a part OF the discourse:
THE term good old age has very
deep meaning and should deeply i'm
press us all. The popular belief is
/ that old age is not good. IL is often
FILLED with sorrow and disappointment
The text shows us what should be
the experience and glory of all old
age. The Bible Is fun Of passages that
rccitc the glory OF the hoary head. II
Is said Of Abraham. Thou shalt go
to thy father in peace: thou shalt be
buried In q good old age
Gideon. the son Of Joasb. died in j.
good old age
David died In good old ag.. full ef
days. riches and honor.
Aged Simeon. when the ci,iId Jesus
was presented to him In the temple.
said: Lord. now lcttest Thou Thy scrs-
ant depart In peace, for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation. and Anna. the
prophecies. when OF "A great age. de-
parted not from the temple. but served
God with Hastings and prayers night
and da.. The infant Savior gave
thanks unto the Lord. and spakc Of
Him to all them that looked for re-
dcmption I'm Jerusalem duke 2:29 49,.
II Is the Christian religion that makes
old age glorious. There Is always
something better ahead for the right
eous. Childhood Is blessed period,
but all the giadncss of life does not
cease with childhood. ! did not believe
II did when ! was IA child. ] now
personally know that II does not II
Is good to be "A child: il is better to be
a youth: Il is splendid to be a young
man: but the last years Of a normal
life should be the best Some of the
best and most admired friends have
had all through my life. even In my
childhood. wcfe those on whose
wrinkled faces already was shining
the light Of tly eternal world. II is
u great mystery to me why SO many
people have the idea that the begin
ming Of earthly life is better than its
end. Nobody really believes IL. except
those who have spent life In sin
Neither children nor youth will believe
II. The thought OF growing older fills
the chiid's heart all the day long. and
even at night the boy VIII dream of
being "A man: and happy il the boy II
the time never comes when he would
like 10 turn the flight OF time back
ward. The boy feels. I'm spite Of all
warnings and all the cautions that
come from his seniors. that there Is
something better ahead. There Is a
very sweet sort of happiness in a
child's life. but II takes something bet
ter than that to support the man
Can you not remember how. as a boy.
you We're not satisfied" Have you
sometimes stood M the window and
tried to look beyond where eyes could
see, and you felt that there must be
somewhere in this universe something
for you, better than anything of which
childhood ever dreamed. We can re-
member how people used to say to us:
These are YOUR best days.. The same
remark Is often made to the youth i'm
school Older friends say: You will
have no more days like these: and the
college student Is constantly hearing
his seniors say: Just about the second
day after commencement you will
strike the real thing. and then YOU will
learn how poor and mean life is |
thank God that neither children nor
youth will believe these false prophets.
And it is a profound pity that anyone
should SO live that he could believe II.
God would have us take things In
such wise that life Is always growing
into something larger and better. This
Is Gods plan in everything. The
worldly man would take the best first
regardless OF what Is to follow. Christ
wrought a miracle in the land Of Gal
lie" in order To give the people the best
last. That "A pcrs"n should rejoice i'm
growing older stili locks like "A mir
aclc to those who have lost the Diyin.
order. II does take a miracle. The
miracle of conversion and Christian
growth is the only thing that can bring
the crown of glory in old age. The
last of the Christians life. for which
the first was made. Is the best To
regret growing older is 10 regret whole
ness, completeness. Is the nursery
better OF more beautiful than the or
chard" Is the foundation better than
'"' i''ShN" oaia'hs psath. OF the
end of earthly life, Is only the time
OF tearing down the scaffniding Of the
building. that the finishing touches
may be nut on ii. When this church
building was erected We We're glad tn
see the scaffoiding GO up. and We were
as glad To see it torn down. 1t had
To be taken out OF the way before the
building could be completed. So i'm
eternity We will he glad these mortal
bodies are out NJ the way. .rhe path
Oh The Just Is as the dawning light
SHINING more and more unto the per
iect daN PROV. f:isl. The righteous.
though they travel in a shining way.
sometimes have sore trials and fiery
temptations while in this world of sin
and sorrow. These are common to