Valdez daily prospector., 1912-03-06
THE BIBLE A
 WONDERFUL BOOK
Memorial Services In Congrega- tionaI Church Sunday by
 Pastor J. Bunting Johnson

church Sunday evening, when the pastor, Rev. J. Bunting Johnson, delivered sermon with special reference to the sudden deaths which have recently occurred in this vicinity.
 He took for his text Rev. xiv:i3: Blessed are the dead" In open ing his address he said: The Bi- blc is the one book to which af- nicted humanity may turn in the great emergencies of life for light, hope, guidance, support and consolation. It is as the moon rising above the horizon on a dense night, piercing the dark ness with it's silvery light reflect cd from the sun. so the Bible illumcd the dark night of be- rcavemcnt with the silver line of hope reflected from the God of Hope. Wonderful book, lifc's chart containing instruction for the young, counsel for the youth, invaluable knowledge for man. hood, consolation for the aged and inlirm. The Psalmist aptly de- scribes it as "a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" It has safely guided millions through the maze of life and lighted them through the valley and shadow of death.
 In the remarkable volume from which the text is chosen we have a record of the vision of God to John, the divine; a glimpse into the unseen world. We catch some of the brilliancy of the aug ust throne of Jehovah. There breaks on our ears as distant thunder, something of the halle lujah chorus of the numbcrless whitc-robed throng whose ora toria sounded to John like the roar or many waters, then he heard a voice saying unto him: "Write--'Bless are the dead who die in the Lord" Blessed, yes happy and highly favored are such dead. We'll was it that he was told to write such a glorious message to be handed down through the ages, a bright star of hope to SOlace the bcreavcd. Death is a solemn reality, pro- ducing changes where nothing else could in the nation, con- munity and the home, turning joy to sorrow, happiness to misery, rejoicing tO mourning. Yet 'tiS inevitable and visits all. The time ls unknown and uncertain as evil d"nced by it's visitations a short week ago, calling away two of our .cIghbOrs who Wcr2 II the prime of life and apparently in the pink of health; the one by sudden heart cessation, the other by an appalling accident, throwing the whole community into gloom, rroIh which it rose and by the very kindlinesa expressions of re- spcct for the dead, paid that splendid tribute in the beautiful service conducted by the Frater- nal Order of Eagles. When the whole business of the town ceas- ed and the lDwnspeople filled the spacious hal! bccomingly attired t" bow in humility and to give reverence to the memory of the dead.
 The preacher enlarged further upon the text as follows: The state of the pious death. They die in the Lord. To do this it was necessary to live in the Lord. To personally accept the Savior and serve Him in daily. life; in other words, to live the Christian life the best life, the only real life which would consumate in Q hap py death. Tell mo how a man lives and I will tell you how he will die. Death to such is said in the text to be rest; blessed rest from the cares and tolls of this life--thc best life, the only real life--which would consummate in a happy death.
 Consummating in glorious re- ward for active service there is added, Their works shall follow them" Yes, our works here shall influence our destiny hereafter. Then lis well to live and labor in the servicc of righteousness, to shun every evil way, because this is but tho sowing time. It is an unaltcreble law "As we SOW so shall we reap" Iris no vain thing to serve God here; though