The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-03-29
Wrecks.

wrecks.
If you will read again the article in
last weeks issue you will have the con-
nection complete and car begin with
me now. Some may think, we'll I'm
safe, I've maintained my integrity for
ten years, I'm all right. True, you are
not like those poor fellows on whose
brow is the mark of dissipation. They
may not stand it long at their present
rate of speed. There1l be a crash, a
wreck and they are off the track for
good, broken and useless. No, no.
They may yet be lifted up and saved to
home and society; to the church and
God and amidlthe rejoicing of angels
be received at last into the glorious
home of heaven, but ye who are so con-
fident; who feel no need of a divine
helper; who are satisfied with your own
condition, may go out into the world
and besborne!down by flood of temp
tation, overwhelmed by misfortunes
and sink deeper and deeper until in
despair and under the burden of sor-
rows you try to drown them in the
wine that at last stings like an adder
till your brain is on fire, your mind
muddled and you think you're one of
the lords of creation and are having
the time of your life. Perhaps you may
M hnvr Cv1lln nr
and swearing, raving or hooting to the
mother who is dependent upon you; or
the sister who follows you with her
prayers; or the wife whom you vowed
to love, honor and cherish as long as
life lasts. You smite her heart when
you enter and though she says nothing
she looks what she breads is coming.
She sees want shiverifg for lack of
fire; she hears hunger crying for food:
witnesses crueltles that will stab her
heart and if she in her extremity some
night shall open the gilded palace where
her self confident companion was ruin
ed, she will stretch forth her thin arms
from under the ragged shawl, the relic
of better and happier days, and with
the eloquence that springs from soul
that realizes the horrors Of the pit into
which her loved one is falling that
yearns for the happy days gone by. She
will plead for her husband and beg that
she be not defrauded of her natural
protector. She will plead with the
enemy not to destroy him soul and body
and drive her to poverty's hovel, or the
cell of maniac. But the denizens of
the pit, with breath perfumed and rum
soaked bodies and lips laden with OBJ
scenity and blasphemy, will stop lust
long enough in their carousal to de-
mand that she be put out
Such an angel of mercy entering the
vestibule of the pit were enough to
touch their hearts and rouse their man.
hood, but alas! honor is drowned, man
hood destroyed, the sense of obligation
is blunted, love consumed by the fires
of lust, so that rescue is impossible
save by divine power and nothing but
the grace of God in Christ can bring
their former selves. Yet LIES path
way is strewn with such wrecks. Oh
that | could shout it out so loud that
every one in the land could hear, when
| say, the moral man, the self righteous
man, the man WHO'S depending on his
own strong will is in danger without
God as his helper. Nothing but divine
power will keep US amid the temota-
tons of life. Thousands are going
down under the pressure to a death
more terrible than that which filings
its pail over Verdum or Atlantic. re-
call wreck in which young man was
supposed to be. Friends wired, but no
answer, at last friend came to search
for him, but no clue. Then word was
received at home that he was safe in
another place. How many parents
hearts would rejoice to know that their
boys were safe amid the wrecks of
life. We call to them as they start to
De careful.
Here's a safe guide, my son, saws
mother as with full heart and tender
voice she slips a Bible in his trunk.
Consult this daily, 1t will be sure light
and safe guide. Good bye, and she
prints the kiss of affection on his cheek.
All right mother. You needn't be
afraid of me. But he forgets his chart,
he runs without orders, he heeds net
the signals and the result is a wreck.