The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-24
SATURDAY. NNHT
SERM0NSSEaziA,so
BY .SSAssA
REySAMuELW ". pUpvIS.D.D.
THE HIDDEN SAcKcLoTH.

the beSieged frantic animal. Benha-
dad. the Syrian, besieged Samaria. and
the resultant famine was so awful
that two mothers entered into a hide
ous compact to XIII their babies on
successive days for food, One mother
performed her part Of the bargain. but
when the turn OF the second came
she refused and hid her baby. In re-
morseful fury the first mother hurried
TO King Jehoram and poured out her
tale In his Mortified ears He was so
affected by the shocking recital that he
tore his garments asunder impulsively.
when curious thing took place. THE
people looked. and behold. he had
sackcloth within upon his flesh" 1t
was a revelation. II had never oc-
cured TO them that. their king wns
anything but purple wearing. self
loving monarch. Now they see him
wearing grief garments In their sin
cerest and most painful form The
Samaritans must have thought better
of their king after that
Psradlng the Sscketoth.
Our eyes and senses are offended
every day by the cruel selfishness OF
men who are looking out for number
one only. and women who spend their
all in dress and entertainment--a con
stant ministering 10 self. What dis.
play some folks make OF their sack
cloth, They tell the neighborhood.
Everyone knows their personal all
ments, Affections and poverty. Shall
low streams are noisy. A deep river
is quiet. especially near the sea. Most
of us talk too much with men. too
little with God. Yet there are many
who, like the ancient king, are secretly
wearing sackcloth. They greet you
with smile and apparent cheerfulness
possibly sometimes their manner is
bit constrained, or you surprise them
in tears. but underneath the smile and
chat and cheer a secret care Is gnaw-
ing with unrelenting pain. This Is
often in unexpected places. The rich.
the privileged. the gifted. men of
genius and splendid ability. back OF
wealth. honors and medals may wear
sackcloth. Carlyle said, Genius is
ship on fire at sea for the entertain
ment OF spectators on shore" The bril-
liant costume at banquet and ball may
cover an irritating. lacerating sack
cloth. Kings In Europe have scores OF
regimental uniforms. but there's sack
cloth under most of them. Three OF
our presidents have died from the as
sassiu's bullet. one even now carries a
bullet In his body. Our greatest mil
lionalre was tortured with indigestion.
Hidden Fires.
Some ssckcoth is self imposed. I've
known men and women who were
wearing sackcloth to atone for some
sin. Like Dr. Johnson standing bare
headed in the rain in the market place
in Lchfield, where years before he
had spoken harshly to his old father,
know a daughter who makes daily
trips TO a cemetery with flowers for
the same reason. Many gift 10
charity Is because the giver is wear
ing sackcloth. The conscience fund"
at Washington eases irritation to some.
Much religious observance Is an effort
in that direction. Sometimes the sins
Of others-drink. drugs. gambling
make us writhe in unsought and un-
merited anguish. Only the Almighty
knows the torture Of a suicidal mania.
dread of insanity. the hell of jealousy
that gnaws and eats like hidden fire.
Who can calculate the misery caused
by financial wrongs, wrecked reputa
tons. sights. hurts, intustices under
circumstances that compel you to keep
silent? Folks see your panied look and
tear stained face, discerning ones note
your i'll concealed anguish, but they
assign some other cause. Many suffer
from a loveless marriage. which de
velops into brutal, unsympathetic
husband, a nagging. selfish, extrava-
CANT wife A beautiful house on the
avenue may conceal domestic trag
edy. quarreling parents, a fool son. an
erring daughter. Not many sackcloths
are so hard to wear.
A Thorn In the Flesh.
I listened last night to a master mind
in a contemplate physical presence,
Many n noble soul is Gagged in an ig-
noble body. constant source of NOR
tifcation and sorrow. Many a throb-
bing heart has a big message. but,
Cassandra-like. is not believed. Health
may exist. yet there is physical de
formity-the jewel has a poor setting.
man with brains may get along with
LONELINESS: indeed it may even be cap
ital. But lack of beauty is a sore strug-
gle for a woman. Change OF outward cir
cumstances brings coldness and neglect
from others. real or imaginary. When
our usefulness is gone or our influence
abated often even home and church.
the two last places. change their atti-
tude toward us. But sin imposes the
worst sackcloth. Hawthorne had the
gift of painting the secret suffering of
sin. Remember the monomaniac car
rying the serpent in his bosom and
crying secretly, ut gnaws me-" Rev.
Arthur Dimmesdale wears the scarlet
letter within that Hester Prynne wears
without. Fine touch Of genius in that
story. Back of the black pages. the
closed chapters, the thing done in
darkness Is the sackcloth to be worn
until the shroud takes its place. What
shall we do with our sackcloth-wear
II like Jehoram under our bright robe.
parade it like peevish woman or. like
Paul with the thorn in his flesh. take
1t to God? My grace shall be suf1-
Il e 1.