The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-05

UP largely Of contrast. Midnight,
midnoon; summer, winter; heat, colo;
hills. valleys; famines plenty; rain;
drought; sickness, health; vice and
virtue walk the streets; JOY and sor-
row look from the same window: tne
funeral procession follows quickly
after the bridal march.
All lives are more or less OF a con-
trast.
But no life. no history, sacred or
prOfano, to me presents larger mum
her than that OF David. the author OF
my psalm and text.
I am first introduced to him n a
shepherd lad when he herded his
fathers flocks, when Samuel was sent
by God to anoint him king OF Israel
The next vision i catch OF David Is
that he had thrown the shepherd
crook ON the ground picked up the
crown and swayed a sceptre instead
OF shepherds crook
The next vision I have Of David Is
that he has become . sinner. He for
got the God TO whom he was indebted
and trailed and dragged his name In
filth; then, by crying unto God, who
granted him pardon he became a
man of ability.
He was a musician. too, and
charmed King Saul in his melancholy
moodA He was a warrior and led tho
hosts of God to victory.
His son Absolom, had rebe1cd.
Saul sought to kill him and chased
him from the mountain like par
fridge and David went from pillar to
post. and at last took refuge in the
cave of Engedt
Then II was that the words Of my
text were wrung from his heart
7 looked on my right hand, and
behold, but there was no man that
would know me: refuge failed me; no
man cared for my soul"
Quick TO Give Aid
n seems strange to me that any
man, at any period OF the worlds his
tory. should be compelled to use
words Hike these and that such words
should be the honest expression OF
the lack OF interest manifest toward
him by those whom he knew and with
whom he came In contact: but Il II
more than passing strange to mo that
any man in your day and mine. with
such opportunities to know God with
MI the inducements that he has, his
knowledge OF Christianity. that any
man should use words like these and
that they would be the homes. express
don OF the lack OF interest manifest
toward him by those who profess to
love and know the Lord.
And yet It Is true. No man cared
for my soul"
Did you ever stop to think OF the
great concern which is manifest for
people In times of physical distress
Let the cry of a child be heard ana
wc will drop our money. we will turn
from the counter: we will stop dis
cussing politics or talking religion.
We win forget our differences Of creed
and color and will rush to the aid Of
thu helpless whose cry has called us
A friend OF mine told me that ne
sat one day in the Russell House In
Detroit, Mich, and the 3re alarm
sounded, and SCOTT the Ill rang out
That summons all the apparatus ox-
cept tho reserve.
He hurriedly finished his meal. ana
the street They stopped in front OF
building nine stories high, which
WAS reputed nreproof.
The flames had started In the sec
ond story and had driven the inmates
to the top OF the building. They had
shut OF opportunity for escape. Many
jumped from windowa The fire ap-
pAratus came and coupled onto the
stand Pipe That II where they put
1ve engines onto n huge seand-pipe.
and from the nozzle threw . stream
Of water SIX inches In diameter. but
with all thosc engines they could not
get force enough to break the win
dowA the hydrants were 80 nearly
frozen.
And when the people wa. driven
ont BY the heat they raised the win
dovs and stood on the ledge. and my
friend counted seventeen men and
women as they toppled over and
struck the street below.
Scores Of lives were lost NE city
Of Detroit was In mourning: bunnesz
WAS suspended: schools were closed
money poured In like water 70 supply
the needs Of those who had bsen pro-
mAturely deprived OF the brcad-win-
ners. d. NJ Perry the seed man. gave
5000 and q few minutes sent $1,000
more, and in less than an hour $4,000
had come In. Yen In time Of physi-
cAl distress!
solemn Tnoushs.
And when the message came tell
ing m that San Francisco was fyin1
in ruins. and the hungry flames were
Kicking up hovel and palaca, ~ ran
our hands into our pockets to our ell
bows and an endless stream OF gold
poured to the Pacific coast to supply
their needs. and you were proud you
wore an American and had some part
IN alternating human misery and SUI
fcring. Times Of physical suffering!
II is a solemn thought when II may
apply to people who come to your own
church.
Every church has q constituency
There are certain men in this town
when they go to- church they 60 be.
cause their wife In member. or be-
cause their children arc in that Sab.
bath school Every church has = con-
stituency.
A friend OF mine told mo tand he
was pastor Of one of the largest
churches In this country that . mar
and woman came regularly to hli
church, neither Of whom wan 4 Chris
tl1n.
They gave more to the current ex-
penses than any member. He person
ally had never talked with them abon,
God and he didn't know that any oil
his members had and 90 the Lord
troubled him for their salvation. and
he said: God. the next time eee
them I WIN ask them"
And II proved to be on Sunday morn.
ing. a. they sat in their accustomed
place, and when the sermon was over
he hurried down and said:
"Mr. and Mrs. Towne. i have come
to ask you to be Christians"
My friend told me that the teari
trickied down their cheeks They
thanked him and said: