Pike County Democrat, Volume 29, Number 49, Petersburg, Pike County, 14 April 1899 — Page 7

IN GBIP OF STEEL. Dr. Talmagf Draws a Lesson from the Tenacity of Eleazar. We SrRea a Closer Adherence to the Gospel and Announces That He Will' Wot Cease to Preach.

(Washington, April ft. Copyright, 1S99.) In the first notice concerning Dr. Talznage that Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon, of London, wrote the great English minister said he was glad to find a preacher that believed something. This discourse of Dr. Talmage is in that vein, and urges close adherence to the old •Gospel; text, II. Samuel, 23:10, “And his hand clave unto the sword.*’ What a glorious thing to preach the •Gospel! Some suppose that because 1 have resigned a fixed pastorate 1 will cease to preach! ‘ No! No! Iexpectto preach more than I ever have. If the Lord will, four times as much, though In manifold places. I would not dare to halt with such opportunity to declare the truth through the ear to audiences And to the eye through the printing press. And here we have a (stirring „ theme put before us by the prophet. A great general of King David was Eleazar. the hero of the text. The Philistines opened battle against him, and his troops retreated. The cowards tied. Eleazar and three of his comrades went into the battle and swept the field, for four men with God on their aide are stronger than a whole regiment with God against them. “Fall back!” shouted the commander of the Philis- . tine army. The cry ran along the host: “Fall back!” Eleazar, having swept the field, throws himself, on the ground to - rest, but the musclesond sinews of his hand had been so long bent around the hilt of (the sword that the hilt was imbedded ig the flesh, and the goldwire of the hilt .had broken through the skin - of the palm of his hand, and he could *“»ot drop this sword which he had so gallantly wielded. “His hand clave unto the sword.” That is what I call magnificent fighting for the Lord God of Israel. And we want more of it. I propose to show you how Eleazar took hold of the sword and how the sword took hold of Eleazar. 1 look at Eleazar’s hand, and 1 come to the conclusion that he took-the sword with a •very tight grip. The cowards who fled had* no trouble in dropping their •words. As they fly over the rocks I hear their swords clanging in every direction. It is easy enough for them to clrop their swords. But Eleazar’s hand clave unto the sword. In this Christian conflict we want a tighter grip of the Gospel weapon^ a tighter grasp of the - two-edged sword of the truth. It makes *ne sick to see these Christian people ■who hold only a part of the truth, and let the rest of the truth go. so that the Philistines, seeing the loosened grasp, wrench the whole sword away from them. The only safe thing for us to do is to put our thumb on the book of Genesis and sweep our hand around the book until the tips of the fingers clutch at the jvords: “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.” I like an infidel a great deal better than I do one of these namby pamby Christians : •who hold a part of the truth and let the rest go. By miracle. God preserved this Pible Just as it is. and it is a Damascus blade. The severest test to which n sword can be put in a sword factory is to wind the blade around a gun barrel ' like a ribbon, and then! when the sword is let loose, it flies back to its own shape. So the sword of God's truth has . ~ been fully tested, and it is bent this : way and that way and wound this way ^ . ’.and that way, but it always comes backs t. to its own shape. Think of it! A book written pear 19 centuries ago. and some • -of it thousands of years ago. and yet in • Aur time the average sale of this Book is'

•mure iu.yi iru.uuu copies every ween, ana more than a million copies a year. 1 say now that a book which is Divinely inspired. and Divinely kept, and Divinely scattered is a weapon worth holding a tight grip of. Bishop Colenso will come along and try to wrench out of your (hand the five books of Moses, and •Strauss will come along and tTy to wrench out of your hand the miracles, and Renan will come along and try to wrench out of your hand the entire life •of the Lord Jesus Christ, and your as•sociatesln tlieoffice or the factory or #he ■banking bouse will try to wrench out of your hand the entire Bible, but in the strength of the Lord God of Israel and with Eleazar's grip hold on to it. You give up the Bible, you give-up any part of it, and you give up pardon and speace and life and Heaven. Do not be ashamed, young man, to | have the world know that you are a ifriend of the Bible. This book is the iriend of all that is good, and it is the aworn enemy of all that is bad. An eloquent writer recently gives an incident of a very bad man who stood in a cell I of a western prison. This criminal had gone through all styles of crime, ond he was there waiting for the gallows. The cop vict standing there at the window of the cell, this writer say •“looked out and declared, ‘1 am an in•fidel.’ He said that to ail the men and women and children who happened to 4>e gathered there, ‘1 am an infidel,’ ” and the eloquent writer says, “Every tnan and woman there believed him.” And the writer goes on to say, “If he bad stood there saying. ‘1 am a Christian,’ every man and woman would have aaid, ‘He is a liar! * ” This Bible is the sworn enemy of all that is wrong, and it is the friend of all that is good. Oh, hold on it! Do not take part of it and throw the rest away. Hold on to all of it. There are so many people now who do not ■know. You ask them if the soul is immortal, and they *ay: “1 guess it is; 1 don’t know. Perhaps it is; perhaps it isn’t.’’ Is the Bible true? “Well, perhaps it is, and perhaps it isn’t. Perhaps it m$y be, figuratively, and perhaps it may be partly, and w*rh»oa it may not be at all.” They

i tii despise what they call the apoatolie creed, but if thsir owe creed were writ* ten out it wc lid read like this: “I believe in noth ag, the maker of heaven and earth, and i n nothing which it hath sent, which not hing was born of noth* ing and which nothing was dead and buried and des l anded into nothing and arose from nothing and ascended to nothing and t )w sitteth at the right hand of noth! lg, from which it will come to judge nothing. I believe in, the holy agnostic rhurch and in the communion of nc i:hingarians and in the forgiveness of nothing, and the resur* rfetion of nothing and in the life that never shall b< 1 Amen!” That is the creed of tens of thousands of people in this day. If you have a mind to adopt such a theory, I will not. “I believe in God thje Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ

ana in tne nojiy catholic church and in the communion of saints and in the life everlasting. Amen.” Oh, when I see Eleazar taking such a stout grip of the sword in the battle against sin and for righteousness, I come to the conclusion that we ought to take a stouter grip of God's eternal truth— the sword of righteousness. As I look at Eleazar’s hand I also notice his spirit :f self forgetfulness. lie did not notice t hat the hilt of the sword was eating ttrough the palm of his hand. He did not know it hurt him. As he went on , into the conflict he was so anxious for the victory he forgot himself, and that, hilt might go never so deeply into the palm of his hand, it could no? disturb him. “His hand clave unto the Isword.” Oh, my brothers and sisters, lei us go into the Christian conflict with t he spirit of self abnegation. Who c: reiS* whether the world praises us or denounces us? What do we care for m ^representation or abuse or persecution! in a canflict like this? Let us forgot ourselves. That man who is afraid if getting his hand hurt will never kill a Philistine. Who cares whether you .ret hurt or not if you get' the victory? Oh, how many Christians there are who are all the time worrying about tliV; way the wojjd treats them. They are so tired, ai\d they are so abused, and they afe so tempted, when Eleazar did not think whether he had a hand or an arm or a foot. All he wanted was victory. We see how men forget themselves in worldly achievement. We have often seen men who, in order to achieve worldly succes s, will forget all physical fatigue and t,11 annoj-ance and all obstacle. Just after the battle of Yorktown, in the American revolution, a musician, wounded, was told he must have his limbs amputated, and they were about to fasten him to the surgeon’s table, lor it was long before the merciful disco very of anaesthetics. He said, “No, don't fasten me to that table; get me a violin.” A violin was brought to him, and lie said, “Now go to work as 1 begin to play,” and for 40 minutes, during the awful pangs of amputation, he moved not a muscle nor dropped a note, while he played some sweet tune. Oh, is it not s: range that with the music of the gospel of Jesus Christ and with this grand r arch of the church tpiilitant on the way to become the church triumphant ve cannot forget ourselves and forget a pang and all sorrow and all persecution and all perturbation? We know what men accomplish under worldly • >pposition. Men do not shrink back i'pr antagonism or for hardship. You have admired Prescott’s “Conquest ot Mexico,” as brilliant and beautiful a history as was ever written, but some of you may not know under what disadvantages it was written—that “Conquest of Mexico”—for f’reseott was totally blind, add he had two pieces or’ wood parallel toXeaeh other fasterte i, and, totally blind, ndtjjr his pen between those pieces of WSoq, he wrote, the stroke against one piece' of wood telling how far the pen must go in one way, the stroke against the other piece of wood telling how far the pen must go the other way. Oh, how much men will endure for worldly knowledge end for worldly Success, and yet how little we endure for Jesus Christ! flew many Christians there are that go i.round saj’ing: “Oh, my hand; oh, mv hand* my hurt hand! Don’t you see there is blood on the hand, and there is blood on the sword ?” while Eleazo \ with the hilt imbedded in the flesh of his right hand, does not

Know it. 9 * What have we suffered in comparison with these who expired with suffocation or were burned or were chopped to pieces for the truth’s sake? \Ye talk of (he persecution of olden times. There is just as much persecution going c i now in various ways. In 1849, in Madagascar, IS men were put to death for Christ’s sake. They were to be hurled over the rocks, and before they were hurled over the rocks, in order to make their death the more dreadful in anticipation, they were put in baskets n id swung to and fro over the precipice that they might see how many hundred feet they would have to be dashed down, and while they were swinging in these baskets over the rocks they sr ng: Jesus. lover of my soul. l.et tin to Thy bosom fly, While ..ie billows near me^rolU While the tempest still is high. Then they were dashed down to death. Oh, how much others have endured for Christ, and how little we endure for Chiist! We want to ride to; Heaven in a Pullman sleeping car, our feet on soft plush, the bed made np early, so we can sleep all the way, the black porter of death to wake us up only in tim'.1 to enter the golden city. We want ali the surgeons to fix our hand up. Let them bring on all the lint 41 nd all the bandages and all the salve, fur our hand is hurt, while Eleazar does not know hm hand is hurt. “Ilis hand clave unfo the sword." As 1 look at Eleazar’s hand I come to the conclusion that he has done a great i deal of hard hitting. 1 am not surprised when I see that these four men —Eleazar e id his three companions drove back the army of Philistines— tjtiat Eleaza ’a sword clave to his hand* ’ - y %

for every time he struck an enemy with one end of the sword the other end of the sword wounded him. ^ Oh, we have found an enemy who cannot be conquered by rosewater and soft speeches. It must be sharp stroke aad straight thrust. There is intemperance, and there is fraud, and there is gambling, and there is lust, and there ore 10,000 battalions of iniquity, armed Philistine iniquity. How are they to be captured and overthrown? Soft sermons in morocco cases laid down in front of an exquisite audience will not do it. , You have got to call things, by their right name. You have got to expel from our churches Christians who eat the sacrament on Sunday and devour widows’ houses all the week. We have got to stop our indignation against the Hittites and the Jebusites

aud the Girgaslutes and let those poor fetches go and apply our indignation to the modern transgressions which need to be dragged out and slain. Ababa here. Herods here. 'Jezebels here. The massacre of the infants here. Strike for God so hard that while you slay the sin the sword will adhere to your own hand. I tell you, jny friends, we want a few John Knoxes and John Wesleys in the Christian church to-day. The whole tendency’ is to refine on Christian work. We keep on refining on it until we send apologetic word to iniquity we are about to capture it. And we must go with sword, silver chased and presented by the ladies, and we must ride on white palfrey under embroidered housing, putting the spurs in only just enough to make the charger dance gracefully, and then we must send a missive, delicate as a wedding card, to ask the old black giant of sin if he will not surrender. Women saved by the gt-ace of God and on glorious mission sent, detained from the Sabbath classes because their new hat is not done. Churches that shbok our cities with great revivals sending around to ask some demonstrative worshiper if he will not please to say “amen” and “halleluiah” a little softer. It seems as if in our churches we wanted a baptism of cologne and balmfof a thousand flowers when we actually need a baptism of fire from the Lord God of Pentecost. But we are so afraid somebody will criticise our sermons or criticise our prayers or criticise our religious work that our anxiety for the world’s redemption is lost in the fear we will get our hand hurt, while Eleazar weflt into the conflict, “and his hand clave unto the sword.” ^ But I see in the next place what a hard thing it was for Eleazar to get his hand and his sword parted. The muscles and the sinews had been so long grasped around the sword he could not drop it, and his three comrades, I suppose, came up and tried to help him, and they bathed the back part of the hand, hoping the sinews and muscles ^ would relax. But no. “His hand clave unto the sword.” Then they tried to pull open the fingers and to pull back the thumb, but no sooner were they pulled back than they closed again, “and his hand clave unto the swcrd.” But after awhile they were successful, and then they noticed that the curve in the palm of the hand corresponded exactly with the curve of the hilt. “His hand clave unto the sword.” * You and I have seen it many a time. There are in the United States to-day many aged ministers of the Gospel. They are too feeble'now to preach. In the church records the word standing opposite their name is “emeritus,” or the words are, “a minister without charge.” They were a heroic race. They had small salaries and but few books, and they swam spring freshets meet their appointments. But they Alid in their day a mighty work for God. They took off more of the heads of ^Philistine iniquity than you could count from noon to sundown. You put jthat old minister of the Gospel now into a prayer meeting or occasional pulpit or a sickroom where there is some one to be comforted, and it is the same old jring to his voice, and the same old story Of pardon and peace and Christ and Heaven. His hand has so long clutched the sword in Christian conflict he cannot drop it. “His hand clave unto the sword.”

It Had in. my parish in Philadelphia a very aged man who in his early life had been the companion and adviser of the early presidents, Madison and Monroe. He had wielded vast influence, but I only knew him as a very aged man. ^ The most remarkable thing about him was his ardor for Christ. When he could riot stand up iu the meetings without propping, he would throw his arm around a pillar of the church, and, though his mind was partially gone, his love for Christ was so great that all were in deep respect and profound admiration, and were moved "When he spoke. I was called to see liim die. I entered the room, and ho said: “Mr. Talmage, I cannot speak to you now.” He was in a very pleasant delirium, as he imagined he had an audience before him. He said: “I must tell these people to come to Christ and prepare for Heaven.” And then in this pleasant delirium, both arms lifted, this octogenarian preached Christ and told of the glories of the world to come. There, lying on his dying pillow, his dying hand clave to his sword. Oh, flf there ever was anyone who had a right to retire from the conflict, it was old Joshua. Soldiers come back from battle have the names of the battles on their flags* showing where they distinguished themselves, and it is a very appropriate inscription. Look at that flag of old Gen. Joshua. On it, Jericho, Gibeon, Hazar, city of Ai, and instead of the stars sprinkled on the flag the sun and the moon which stood still. There he is, 110 years old. He is lying flat on his back, but he is preaching. His dying words are a battle charge against idolatry, and a rallying cry for the Lord of nosts as he says: “Behold, this day 1 go the way of all the earth, and God hath not failed to fulfill his promise concerning Israel.” Hia dying hand clave nnto the sword. t

DEATH OF STEPHEN J. HELD. Late Auoclate Jutlce of cite Sa»r«*e Ctirt •( the Washington, April 10.—Justice Stephen J. Field, of the United State* supreme court, retired, died at his home on Capitol hill, in this city, at 6:30 o’clock last evening of kidney complications. About his bedside were liis wife and her sister, Mrs. J. Condet Smith, Mr. Justice David J. Brewer, his nephew, Mrs. Edgerton, of California, Mr. Linton, his private secretary, Rev. Edward M. Mott, rector of the Church of the Advent, anti the family servants. He had been unconscious since Saturday morning, and death dame painlessly.

bajoyed uood Health. Ever since Justice Field’s retirement from the supreme court bench on December 1, 1897, he had enjoyed comparatively good health, and being relieved from the responsibilities which he had borne for so many years,, he became more cheerful than formerly, and seemed to enjoy the society of his friends and acquaintances moie than ever before. All during the winter when the weather was fair it was hit custom to take daily drives about the city or through the grounds of the Soldiers’ home, and always returned refreshed. About two weeks age, however, he took a longer ride than usual in an open carriage and contracted a severe cold which rapidly developed the kidney troubles, from which he had suffered, though but slightly, for some time. Sank Rapidly and Giplnd. The disease readily yielded to treatment, and on Thursday last he sat up for a time, and seemed quite himself again, but on Saturday morning a change for the worse look place, and about noon he lost consciousness, j From that time he sank rapidly, and expired at 6:30 o’clock. The Sole Survivor. Justice and Mrs. Field never had anj children, and the only surviving members of his father’s family is the justice’s youngest brother, Dr. lienry Field, the editor of the Evangelist. Mental Powers Impaired. ® During several years prior to his retirement from the bench the justice’s health at times seemed on the pojnt of breaking, but he usually recovered promptly, and in a few days would again resume his judicial duties. For the past year or more, those most intimate with him knew tbdt his mental powers were becoming somewhat impaired. STEAMER JOHN K. SPEED SUNK. Can-led by Wind and Current oa o to the Dam—Narrow Escape of All on Board.

Louisville, Ky., April 10.—The big stern wheel steamer John K. Speed, owend by the Cincinnati & New Orleans Packet Co., became unmanageable while leaving her dock yesterday af ter* noon, owing to. a treacherous current and the high wind prevailing, and drifted down the river until she struck the outer point of the Kentucky side of the dam. Almost Capsized. The force of the impact was so great that the big vessel careened to such an extent that people on shore were sure she would topple over, but she righted up again and almost in a twinkling settled down to the rock bottom, the ! water lushing into her hold through j a large jagged hole aft of her boilers on the larboard side. Mlracaloas Escn pes. The big 16-inch pine derrick pole supporting the immense staging broke in two like a match, and the staging went overboard with an awful smash. It was a miracle that several of the crew were not killed or injured in this incident, but nobody was touched. Not a Soal on Board Injured. The most fortunate part of the calamity was that not a soul of the 109 aboard was injured in the least, some not even getting their feet wpt. Good Wo^k by the Lii'e Savers. The life savers responded with the greatest alacrity with all their lifeboats, and were beside the illstarred vessel almost instantly. With two crews ferrying from the boat to the Bhore all the passengers were soon brought to terra firma, and the members of the deck and cabin crew were carried over. The Freight All Insured. The Speed was on her way to New Orleans when the accident occurred, and had 405 tons of miscellaneous freight aboard. There is no way of estimating the value of the freight, but it is all insured in open policies in the agency of George W. Neiire & Co., of Cincinnati. Will Have to be Wrecked. Eminent steamboat authorities say that at least three-fou rths of the Speed’s value will be saved, while the actual loss on the cargo will not be over $1,000. The Speed is valued aj about $25,000. She lies Hat upon the rocks, with the water over her main deck amidships. It is believed she will have to be wrecked to save whatever the underwriters may secure, such as boilers, machinery and rigging. Realistic Acting. Denver, Col., April 10.—Miss Marie Burroughs, of the Stuart Hobson company, accidentally stabbed Harold Bussell, of the same company, in the face at the Broadway theater Saturday night. Daring the act of “Two Rogues and a Romance.” Miss Burroughs' part requires that she go through the motion of stabbing Mr. Russell. The scene is in semi-darkness, and Mr. Russell leaned forward m Miss Burroughs brought the weapon down, and received a deep wound oi> the hi t side

For 45 rears we hid been imprisoned by the tee, and our situation was becoming desperate. It was not likely that we could hold out 45 yean longer. In this juncture a ship appeared. An of* Bcerduembarked and came to us. “Who are you?" he asked anxiously. «e the Smith party,” we replied. relief expedition " “You, doubtless, are our j_ ^ “No," said the officer, “the Jones party are your relief expedition. We are the rehef expedition of the Jonee party. So long." Merciful heavens! If we were not rescued aoon, we should be too old to lecture!—Detroit Journal. * America and Germany. So soon- as America showed her characteristic firmness the German cruiser left Manila Bay, and we now protect the German interests. In a like manner all stomach ills fly before the wonderful power of Hostetler’s Stomach Bitters. It strikes at the root of all diseases—the stomach, and not only cures indigestion, constipation, biliousness, liver and kidney troubles, but cures them quickly and permanently. It makes a hearty appetite and fills the blood with rich red corpuscles. .Those who are really in society are not as ndiculcus as those who are try mg to cet in.—Atchison Globe. ^ When a fool admits he's s fool he is : longer i fool,—Atchison Globe. SPLENDID FIELDS OF GRAIN. h : - ■ Following* is copy of letter received from Dennis Twohey, who went to Win* nipegosis, Manitoba, from Austin, Minn., March. 1S9S: Wir.nipegosis, Man., Jan. 23.189*. Benjamin Davies, Esq., Canadian govern* Wdnt Agent, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I have great pleasure in writing you these few lines to let you know how I like my new location, and how I .have been? getting along since 1 left Southern Minnesota. I like this country well, the climate agrees with me and iny family at all seasons, and taken all around it is away ahead of Minnesota;. I may say. that we have not had one storm yet this winter. As regards the productives of the soil, I consider it beats Southern Minnesota.. 1 am a practical farmer, but have never seen such vegetables in my life as I have seen raised here. As regards grain of all kinds, I have seen splendid yields, in fact any man who cannot get along here and make a good living cannot do it anywhere. We have abundance of wood for fuel, timber for building, and lots of hay. I have got good water on my place, about 24 feet. I have a good class of neighbors around me, and have been well used by everybody. I have been able to get lots of work for myself and team at fair wages, whenever I wanted it, and T think afiy one else can do the same, * I would not care to return to Minnesota. % I am, sir, yours very truly, (Signed) DENNIS TWOHEY. The Government has Agents in several of the States, any of whom will be pleased to give information as to free homestead lands to those desiring it. The merchant, who. sent up toy balloons with his “ad." painted on them, knew how to get his name up.—L. A. W. Bulletin.

"Trust Not Thai which seems bear may be a great hi Let us take a lesson from rough weather is doing good despite appearances* Cleanse the system thoroughly; rouik out all impurities from the Mood with that greatest specific. Hoods Sarsaparilla* Instead of sleepless Bights, with coa» sequent irritablenesa and. an undone* tired feeling, you will have atone and a bracing air that will enable you to enter I ‘a*® every day’s work wit'h pleasure* 1 Remember, Hoods rmer disappoints. Coltre—“ Goitre was eo expensive in medical attendance that 1 let mine 00), It made me a perfect wreck, until I took Hood’s Sarsaparilla wbk$i entirely cured me.” Mbs. Thomas Jones, IS) South St* Utica, N. Y. trned.” Mrs. A. W. BABBrnri 39 Powell Street Lowell, Mass. ; '■$?& only cathartic lo irta .« SarwpwUIa, katy~ih" I iterators A Snatch of Story Wherein the “Choe* Choos” Indulge In a Few Pots of Complaint. He (the switch engine) gave a vigorous push to the westbound Car as he spoke, and started back With a snort of surprise, for the car was an old friend—an M. K. T. box* car. , ‘‘Jack my drivers, but its homeless Katy? Why, Katy, ain’t there no getting you back to your friends? ^p^re’a 40 chasexe out for you from your if there's one. Who is in '" Katy. “I belong . T„ «uv out ten months, but I'm just achin’ home* uut ten muiiias, vui si<;k; I want to be in flowers bloom.” "Yard's full o’ Wanderin' Willi plained to .007. “Dun» fix it. Swap around^ I where the done my duty. She's sas via Chicago; but ful she’ll be held there convenience, and sent in the fall/’—From "007.” Not Quite Ready.to lead better lives will revivalist in a command! stood up excepting the chin whiskers who “Don’t you want to , manded the revivalist parson,” said the stra._ a better man, of course, been to town before ha calkylatin’ to have a Cleveland Plain Dealer. Katies an* ,tvh engine ex* ite how our man as; anyhow I’m ;er way to Kan* / my next boilex* wait consignee’* to us with wheal Kipling** [yard those who want ’ up,” cried the tone. They all jer with the the front row. ■iter man?” d«* fell, it’s like thin, ■ - expect to be : you see 1 hain’t ;le fun ■

lip The Pioneer Meaicme is Ayers Sarsaparilla v Before sarsaparillas we w ... _ . mufifty years ago; it began

its work. Since then you cancount ^fthe sarsapirillas ■; by the " thousands =- Wtheyery variation \s32f ofimita- .* c -1. f/£r tion of the — original,except one. They have - never been 5=^ able to im- ^ itate the ^ quality of 3j

have confide ce at once, experiment* .. ay anybody’s you want a cure, [Tie Sanaparill i __