Evening journal., 1916-02-07


much the more sad and bitter.
Throughout the ages memory viii be
awakened. You will remember the
chance you had, how near you came
to salvation. with how little effort
you could have crossed the line and
been saved.
They told me up in South Dakota
that i'm the early settlement Of that
region a farmer started out from
home on a bright. clear winter morn
ing, with his horses and sleigh. 10
make a trip across the country The
weather was ideal and he reached
his destination, and after a dinner
and rest started to return When he
got out upon the prairie. suddenly
the sky became overcast with heavy
clouds and the wind began to blow,
and the snow began to fall. and it
became intensely cold. There came
on one OF those Dakota billiards that
no one has even been able 10 fittingiy
describe Before long the track IN
the road was ohliterated. The man
became numb with cold the lines
dropped from his hands. the horses,
then unguided. directing themselves
by their homing instinct, started
across the prairie All that night the
storm ragged about the cabin. The
wife and family OF this man spent the
hours IN sleepless anxiety. When
daylight dawned they shoveled the
snow from the front Of the house
which was banked almost 10 the
caves. and ont in the dooryard. be-
tween the house and barn, they found
the faithful team and the sleigh. and
i'm the bottom of the wagon box they
found the frozen body Of the husband
and father He had died in his own
dooryard. almost home
There are those in this building.
who night after night have heard the
gospel Of Christ. who have been CON
vinced that the Christian life was the
right life to live You have reioiced
10 see others coming out for God. You
have enjoyed the preaching of the
word and these gospel songs. Can il
be that you will hesitate on the bor-
der Of the Christian life. almost in
the kingdom. and yet be eternally
lost?
When the English steamer. "The
Royal Charter" some years ago.
sailed from Liverpool on a long sea
voyage, it contained. in its list Of pas
sengers and crew. some relative or
friend OF almost every citizen i'm that
city. When the time came that the
steamer was expected in port. a large
share OF the people of that city
thronged the pier at daybreak. watch
ing for the first sight of the incoming
steamer AS they were anxiously
awaiting the terrible news came that
the ship had struck upon rock at
midnight, and had gone down with all
its passengers and sailors. Said DR..
William Taylor, a pastor of Liver
pool: "The first mate OF that ill-fated
steamer was member Of my own
church" The sad duty fall TO that
/ pastor to break the news OF the death
OF that husband and father to the
members OF his family. Fastening
/
door The daughter opened the door
and the mother. looking over hei
daughters shoulder. exclaimed, Pas
tor. we are glad TO see you Com,
right i'm, we are waiting breakfast
"The Royal Charter" is due into
port now. Husband will be her'
soon You stay and sit down Will
us. and our joy will be complete
Then said the pastor. 81 took the tw'
hands of that wife in mine, and look
ing into her face, said. L will hav,
to tell you that you will never SEE
your husband again on this earth.
The Royal Charter struck upon q
rock at midnight and all on board
have perished" Said DR.. Taylor. "T,
my dying day I viii never forget the
sad. heart-broken wall Of that wife
as with blanched face and bloodlesi
lips, she paced up and down thu
room, wringing her hands and moan
ing. oh, husband husband. so nea
home: so near homol and yet lost
God grant that it may not be said o
you. upon the judgment books o
eternity, that you were so near hom
! and yet lost.