The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-27
breaches TO MEMBERS
OF OLD LADIES' HOME

DR.. W. L. Pickard, pastor Of the Cen.
trail Baptist church, delivered q special
bers Of the Old Ladies' home. The
sermon in full follows:
",'The hoary head 10 a crown Of
glory. if4it be found in the way of
Righteousness xvi:31.
''Honored and beloved members Of
the Old Ladies' home, we are happy
in the privilege of your presence with
us at this hour Of worship. and desire
to dedicate to you, and to all pilgrims
OF many years, some lessons for your
comfort and announcement; The sub
ject of our text is The Glory OF a
Righteous Old Age
zone could scarcely conceive OF any
thing sadder or more tragic than
goddess, wicked old age. Such a life
has gathered about It the tragic shad-.
ows Of wasted years and q future OF
cuss 1t now. but turn from its horrors
to the glories OF the righteous old age,
ut is commonly accepted view that
old age is a period when life can 90
nothing worth while. This view IS
false. There are but few, relatively,
who live to ripe old age. But ven
ture the assertion that for the number
who do live to be old there are greater
blessings going forth from their lives
to the world than the younger people
"Some of the greatest things OF his
tory have been done by those called
Martin luther did much Of his An
est work after he was so. Milton wrote
Paradise Regained' in his old age.
Masinssa, king OF Numidia, at the age
OF 90 led his soldiers to victory against
the Carthaginians. John Wesley lived
until he was SO and was vigorous
preacher and writer until within two
years OF his death. Herschel,. the great
astronomer. was doing some or MS best
work at 80. Lord Palmeston did much
OF his greatest work as statesman
after he was 10. Most OF Americas
really great statesmen have done their
greatest work after they were 90.
Abram was not youth when he left
Ur of the Chaldees, and Moses was ~
years old when he was called to lead
Israel out of Egypt.
"Youth has dreams. Age has wis
dom. Youth builds It's castles in. the
air Age builds them on the earth.
old Age and Happiness.
as the period OF life when there Is not
much happiness This, too, is false.
"Righteous old age has In 1t great
sources OF exquisite happiness
"One Of these is found In the count,
less blessings It has already bestowed
youth may be- It has had but small
chance to be or do much. Its phenom33
email bestowals are more exceptional
than those Of age. Unless man IN
herits great wealth, It takes him, as a
rule. long lifetime to accumulate
enough to be a great philanthropist,
But the greatest philanthropy is not
measured by dollars.
ANY good man or woman who has
lived to be so, 10 or so years Old
lettered, has done countless sacrifGial
deeds In his sphere to bless and help
others Much of the greatest history
OF the world is unwritten history. Many
OF the truest heroes OF the world are
the unsung heroes. Their blessings go
to bless, yet as unheralded. Now, In
the old age of good life. there Is a
consciousness OF having lived to help
others, and this consciousness has as
much Of heaven n i as can be ot tSsna
and aged maidens, and bachelors have
sacrificed and toiled to make homes,
and schools, and churches, and busi-
ness, and cities, and country and CIV
illzation worth while. For long years
the feet OF their tired, footsore fellow
travellers, The world calls them old
now, but they have much OF the Joy OF
heaven pilsing In their hearts. They
have not done as much as they have
wished to do. but they have done much,
can never know.
In many trying hours the kindness
Of friends and the sustaining grace OF
God and His sweet and merciful provi-
dences will be apparent. Such an one
will know by rich experience the love
and goodness OF the heavenly Father.
and the blessings Of His tender care.
God does great things for His people
here In this life. And the aged can
take an inventory of these blessings as
youth and strong manhood can not DO.
David wrote the Shepherd Psalm when
he was young. but he knew the truth
OF II far better when he was old. He
wrote II as a poet. He proved 1t as
saint.
Another glory OF righteous old age
Is the great respect which people have
for II. II is enshrined In human SEN
timent as sacred. Hearts respect and
love dear old people. and all hands are
ready to minister to them In love. We
love and care for children because OF
what they are and are to be. We love
and care for the aged because OF what
they are and have been and have done
for us and humanity.
Guide Younp.~
'1t 10 rich in its blessings upon young
people, Its wisdom guides the younger
lives. Our privilege OF ministering to
the aged deepens and sweetens every
wellspring OF our hearts. YOU, In the
GA Ladies' home, may sometimes feel
that you are very much past usefulness
and can be Of but little service. You
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