The Washington herald., 1922-06-05
LESSON OF SILENCE
MUST BE LEARNED
BYNATION, HESAYS
Many Build Lives on
Quivering Nerves, Rev.
Tupper Declares.
ASYLUM OF WEARY
God Reveals Wisdom in Whis.
per of Still Small
Voice.
By DIR. HENRY ALLEN TUPPER.
First Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church.
Text. Say unto him. be quiet"
Isaiah ia.
1t Is not necessary to use a gun,
a knife or a poison to commit sui
eide. BY failure to realize the
strength Of silence and the power
of repose many persons are under
mining their physical, mental and
spiritual lives. and are gradually
committing self-murder. Extreme
nervous tension. from undue agita-
ton and useless excitement, is Pc
culiarly American: and very soon
we may have a new disease an
nounced by our learned doctors
called "A mericanitis," having un-
limited varieties; and then we shall
hear more than ever of nerve medi-
cines. nervine hospitals and rest
cures. whose names will be legion.
Build Lives ON Nerves.
Is II not true that many persons
are building their lives upon their
Quivering nerves? In sleeping, tfrey
hold the bed instead Of allowing the
bed to hold them; in eating, they
rapidly. nervously dump the food
instead of quietly. deliberately eat
ing the food: in walking. they jump
and twist as II they were practicing
for a contortionist show Instead of
enjoying healthy exercise; in driv-
ing, they wear themselves out Or
the machine or horse out by their
jerks and twitching and call this
joy-riding: In sitting, they nerv-
ously hold the chair instead Of, in
a relaxed condition, allowing the
chair to hold them
This nerve disease, we may call
displays itself from
the brain centers through the ears.
the eyes. the tongue. and indeed
through all the channels of physical
and moral life. One fruitful phase
text: Say unto him. be quiet 1t
virtue of repose.
Expression Of Power.
First-Silence Is often the express
sion OF power. There are times
when silence is more forceful and
expressive than song or speech or
music or audible praise. Speech
gold.
The wonderful ministrations Of
silence are seen in worship. When
we possess our souls in quietness
before the Most High We not only
express our appreciation of Him. but
also come to have a more perfect
understanding of ourselves. Learn
to practice the presence OF a Silent
God.
Second-Silence Is often the ex-
preston of wisdom. God often
times reveals His wisdom not in the
storm. the tempest. the earthquake
nor yet In the fire, but in the gentle
whisper of the still small voice. II
you are perplexed and harassed by
the problems of life that rest heav-
lily upon you and throw a shadow
upon your pathway, leave the mad
ding crowd, close the door and there
in the silence, where only God meets
you, let Him speak in divine wis
dom, and you will go forth with new
rust and new knowledge of HIS
wondrous dealings with you.
Expression of Comfort.
Third-Silence Is often the express
sion of comfort In his valedictory
address to His disciples. the DIVINE
One. who was about to depart In
visible form from His devoted fol-
lowers, illustrated in wonderful
manner the comfort and victory of
the voiceless. How often do We
find that the cfonduct of the modern
funeral Is a pathetic mistake. The
heart-rending review Of the life of
the one who has passed away and
a lengthy eulogy are both most IN
appropriate. Would II not be much
more effective merely to commune
quietly with God through His word
and through prayer: and would It
not be far more restfnl to the be-
reaved to haze a brief service and
try to teach the wonderous lesson,
BE still and know that I am God? ?"
Fourth-Silence is often the ex-
preston of hopefulness. In the din
and rush Of our crowded life often
times doubhts and fears are born
and we lose the blessed assurance
of the Divine guidance and promise.
One of the busiest and most sue
cessful business men I ever knew,
during the last twenty years of his
life turned aside from the swift
current,o material affairs and. clos
ing his inner office door from the
world. quietly brought himself In
contact with the Divine influence.
Gustave Dore never gave to the
world a more impressive canvas
than the picture called vale of
Tears" In tDe center of the valley
there stands in reposeful attitude
the Savior of the World. the spir-
itual magnate of all souls thirsting
for peace. and with open arms He
utters that universal invitation,
Come unto Me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden and I will give
you rest"