Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-06-04
WAS A GRAND SUCCESS

iut LiStpi MAY FOi
the Good of the Community Raj.
ly' the 3lSt at the Wilson Farm
vas a grand success.
From l,3oo to 1000 people as.
Sembled on the GaSconade from
Hartvillr, Mansfield and vicinity
and spent the day singing songs
and studying the regular lesson.
One of the features of the pro.
gram was the old time Christian
Harmony Singing Class" who
entertained the audience with
sacred hymns.
Promptly at IL o'clock a. m.
the Hartville and Mansfield
bands gave a sacred concert of
a number of sacred and patriotic
pieces after which the Sunday
lesson was read, the subject be.
ing the The Good Samaritan
Prot. Hylton, superintendent
of the Mansfield schools, lead in
the responsive reading of the
lesson.
In the absence Of the speaker
chosen. j. Lon Dennis was called
upon to speak, and his response
was appreciated by all present,
as was proven be the attention
given him. He said in part
Ladies and Gentlemen
| never agree to try to make a
talk on any occasion unless |
think | can say something that
will be appropriate to that occa-
sion. Today | am somewhat at
a loss what to say or what line
of thought would be most appro.
pirate 10 this occasion.
| know there are some people
who Ire opposed to Sunday pie
MICS or outings of this kind on
Sunday. and | myself do not de.
sire TO engage in anything that
might be considered a desecra.
ton of the Sabbath. But when
the sunday schools and Christian
people come together with Bible
and song books and spend the
day in singing songs of praise
to the God of the universe who
has created these beautiful
scenes of nature. for the pleas.
ure and instruction of his sub.
jects. and to listen to these bands
render the sacred songs, | do
not think it a Dissertation of the
sabbath day.
think it a good thing for US
to meet together in these beauti
full groves amidst these beautiful
scenes of nature and sing songs
Of praise to the great God who
created them. Bryant in his
beautiful! and suggestive poem
"A Forest Hymn uses these
words The groves were Gods
frs temples, ere man had learn.
ed to hew the shaft and lay the
architrave and spread the roof
above them. Ere he framed the
vaults to gather and roll
back the sound of anthems, in
the darkling wood amidstcoOl and
silence he knelt down and offered
to the mightieSt solemn thanks.
All, why should we, in the worlds
years neglect Gods ancient
Sanctuaries and adore only among
the crowd, and under roofs that |
frail hands have raised: Let
me at least. here in the shadow S
Ot these aged woods, offer one q
hymn. thrice happy if it ind
acceptance in His ear. These
express my ideas on this
subject better than | can ex. i
press them myself. /
God has written the Gospel not
n the Bible alone but on trees, I
lowers. the clouds and stars. i
Shakespeare wisely says that a
Our lives exempt from public
tiud, tongues in trees, s
books in running brooks, SER a
mons in stones and good in a
sverything.' t
All nature speaks in language a
plain to be understood of the 5
majesty and power of its Au- p
.hOr. The mighty oak that il
to the mountain side rears
is giant branches on high and Ii
waves defiance TO the rushing b
speaks Of the power of d
iod. The beautiful and fragile e
lowers which open their petals v
o the sur and dew, and fill the h
lir with fragrance speak Of His |
infinite love and tender care. BY s,