Oration: Gems of Beauty
Dublin Core
Title
Oration: Gems of Beauty
Subject
travel, progress
Creator
W. L. Payne
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
February 1884
Contributor
Kayla McNabb, Joel Sprinkle
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
speech
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.2, v.1, no.1 (February 1884), p.3-4
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Delivered by W. L. Payne at Conintencenteia of '83.
The great treasure house of our God has various apartments, extending into the immensity of space as wide as the scroll of heaven rolls and as far as the beams of morning fly, each of which is filled with countless gems of beauty.
When in the dark realm of infinity God pronounced the words, "let there be light," the sun burst forth in its unveiled glory, illuminating the newly made earth, and at the same time revealing, scattered throughout the wide expanse of space, myriads of these gems. And although no being had yet been created to gaze upon their splendor and admire their loveliness, yet their brilliant rays penetrated the portals of heaven, and shed their golden light around the Great White Throne of God. And as He sat thereon and thundered those mighty commands that out of a dark and gloomy mass of matter brought order, life and beauty, each new creation seemed but a brilliant gem with which to deck the sacred crown of His glory. In whatever direction one turns the eye, they greet us upon every hand. If we look from earth, the beautiful gems of night, far off in the azure fields, look down from their celestial home with angelic eyes of tender pity upon the sorrows of humanity. The queen of night, as she silently climbs the crystal walls of heaven, casting her mellow beams o'er sunny plains of southern climes, where, basking in heaven's serenest smile, the palm tree waves its feathered branches by sparkling fountains, is one of nature's brightest gems. And whether her silver lustre kisses the ocean waves as they play o'er the coral strands of India, or whether she makes wild, grand and beautiful the frozen fields of the North, where the sun never casts the rosy tints of summer, but where the snow queen rears her glittering spires toward heaven, she reveals to us countless gems which vie with herself in beauty.
Or if we traverse this our own world, everywhere do we behold gems too grand, too sublime, too beautiful for description. On one hand the everlasting mountains lift their rocky summits toword the skies; on the other, plains stretch out until their graceful outlines are lost in the distance. Crystal rivers roll their limpid waters, now dashing o'er giddy heights and rushing through mountain gorges; now threading their winding course like silver bands through flowery fields, until they are lost in the bosom of the deep. Old ocean heaves his mighty sighs, and in his fury lashes the rock-bound shore; now rising in mountainous billows, as if to clasp the clouds in his watery embrace, then sinking to rest within his limits, with surface as smooth and placid as the face of a sleeping infant. The great orb of day rolls his fiery chariot across the azure fields above, and throws his golden light o'er all the world; but fairer yet than the dazzling glory of the sunbeam, or the halo around the brow of Saturn, is the bright Bow of Promise. This comes from out the darkness of space and hangs its arch of peace and beauty across the sky, bidding man hope that when life is o'er he may enter the pearly gates of heaven, and with God and angels walk its golden streets. Go climb the summit of some ragged mountain, whose snowy crest kisses the clouds, and look forth upon this vision of beauty which once seen can never be effaced from the inmost chamber of the memory. We gaze with rapture upon its variegated hues until the mind is lifted in contemplation of the revealed splendor of that kingdom eternal in the heavens. There is nothing in painting, nothing in statuary, nothing in the most elaborate decoration of architecture to be compared to the gems of beauty which nature presents on every hand. What can rival the exquisite beauty of the rose, or vie with the lily that floats like a bridal veil o'er the dark waters? All the efforts of human hands, all the skill of art, cannot create a gem of such perfect beauty as the delicate moss which grows where the foot of man never trod.
The Divine Artist delights to scatter gems around us, yet how few attempt to grasp what is within their power, but like the lone Indian, we stand upon a bed of brilliant diamonds and search the sacred canopy above for brighter and more beautiful gems than those which sparkle in silent beauty at our feet.
So in the world of music nature has her beautiful gems of song. Strike, O weird musician, with a hand of fire thy harp, strung with Apollo's golden hair! Fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies grand and sweet. Blow, bugle, blow! until thy silver notes touch and kiss the moon-lit waves, or charm happy lovers wandering 'mid vine clad hills; but your sweetest strains are discord when compared to the soft, sad music of the zephyrs among the leafy branches of the trees, or the song of the wild bird as it carols an anthem of praise to its creator.
But more precious than all the other gems of the earth, is God's greatest gift to man—woman: and earth has no greater joy than a word of warning or sympathy from her pure, sweet lips. To one around whose pathway the bright star of hope has ceased to shed its golden light, they come as soul-refreshing heavenly dews. They awake to life slumbering emotions that have hitherto lain dormant in the heart, but which, aroused to activity, spring forth in themselves things of joy and gladness, which will ever shine as glittering gems in the crown of her rejoicing.
But there is yet another gem without which man would be tempest-tossed upon the sea of life and left to the mercy of wind and waters; it is the priceless gem of the soul—the Bible. This book, of which Omnipotence is the author, tells us how we may win the priceless gem of eternal life. It tells us that in "the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and looking back across the wide waste of ages, this sentence in majestic grandeur closes the portals of the past. Beyond is the silence of chaotic night. It tells of man created in the image of God—of one of seraphic purity, grace, and perfect love. It tells of an Eden bearing no unworthy resemblance to heaven, encircled with every living beauty and magnificence. But man's song of bliss was short. The Serpent entered that blessed abode, and "innocence laments her robes defiled." The black pall of sin shut man out from the face of his Creator; but a great light from off the Eternal Throne threw its rays into the darkness and bade man hope. God took from His crown a gem as beautiful and bright as the morning star, and sent it upon earth that whosoever looked upon it might live. This Star of Bethlehem, whose glorious splendor many a rash and unbelieving spirit has sought to extinguish, is to-day gathering new brilliancy, and, throwing its divine rays far out upon life's tempestuous sea, it becomes the beacon light of the soul, without which man could never glide safely o'er its raging billow and reach the golden shores of that brighter land; "where music fills the air, and every breeze is laden with the breath of flowers; where crystal waters murmur o'er golden sands and jewels sparkle in the bright sunlight of fairy lands." But brighter than all the gems that deck the earth or glitter in the stars, brighter than the sun-fire when it plays upon the clouds, or the lightning's halo on the brow of night, is God, the Maker of them all, the Eternal Gem of Beauty, whose glory fills the universe and illumines a thousand worlds.
The great treasure house of our God has various apartments, extending into the immensity of space as wide as the scroll of heaven rolls and as far as the beams of morning fly, each of which is filled with countless gems of beauty.
When in the dark realm of infinity God pronounced the words, "let there be light," the sun burst forth in its unveiled glory, illuminating the newly made earth, and at the same time revealing, scattered throughout the wide expanse of space, myriads of these gems. And although no being had yet been created to gaze upon their splendor and admire their loveliness, yet their brilliant rays penetrated the portals of heaven, and shed their golden light around the Great White Throne of God. And as He sat thereon and thundered those mighty commands that out of a dark and gloomy mass of matter brought order, life and beauty, each new creation seemed but a brilliant gem with which to deck the sacred crown of His glory. In whatever direction one turns the eye, they greet us upon every hand. If we look from earth, the beautiful gems of night, far off in the azure fields, look down from their celestial home with angelic eyes of tender pity upon the sorrows of humanity. The queen of night, as she silently climbs the crystal walls of heaven, casting her mellow beams o'er sunny plains of southern climes, where, basking in heaven's serenest smile, the palm tree waves its feathered branches by sparkling fountains, is one of nature's brightest gems. And whether her silver lustre kisses the ocean waves as they play o'er the coral strands of India, or whether she makes wild, grand and beautiful the frozen fields of the North, where the sun never casts the rosy tints of summer, but where the snow queen rears her glittering spires toward heaven, she reveals to us countless gems which vie with herself in beauty.
Or if we traverse this our own world, everywhere do we behold gems too grand, too sublime, too beautiful for description. On one hand the everlasting mountains lift their rocky summits toword the skies; on the other, plains stretch out until their graceful outlines are lost in the distance. Crystal rivers roll their limpid waters, now dashing o'er giddy heights and rushing through mountain gorges; now threading their winding course like silver bands through flowery fields, until they are lost in the bosom of the deep. Old ocean heaves his mighty sighs, and in his fury lashes the rock-bound shore; now rising in mountainous billows, as if to clasp the clouds in his watery embrace, then sinking to rest within his limits, with surface as smooth and placid as the face of a sleeping infant. The great orb of day rolls his fiery chariot across the azure fields above, and throws his golden light o'er all the world; but fairer yet than the dazzling glory of the sunbeam, or the halo around the brow of Saturn, is the bright Bow of Promise. This comes from out the darkness of space and hangs its arch of peace and beauty across the sky, bidding man hope that when life is o'er he may enter the pearly gates of heaven, and with God and angels walk its golden streets. Go climb the summit of some ragged mountain, whose snowy crest kisses the clouds, and look forth upon this vision of beauty which once seen can never be effaced from the inmost chamber of the memory. We gaze with rapture upon its variegated hues until the mind is lifted in contemplation of the revealed splendor of that kingdom eternal in the heavens. There is nothing in painting, nothing in statuary, nothing in the most elaborate decoration of architecture to be compared to the gems of beauty which nature presents on every hand. What can rival the exquisite beauty of the rose, or vie with the lily that floats like a bridal veil o'er the dark waters? All the efforts of human hands, all the skill of art, cannot create a gem of such perfect beauty as the delicate moss which grows where the foot of man never trod.
The Divine Artist delights to scatter gems around us, yet how few attempt to grasp what is within their power, but like the lone Indian, we stand upon a bed of brilliant diamonds and search the sacred canopy above for brighter and more beautiful gems than those which sparkle in silent beauty at our feet.
So in the world of music nature has her beautiful gems of song. Strike, O weird musician, with a hand of fire thy harp, strung with Apollo's golden hair! Fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies grand and sweet. Blow, bugle, blow! until thy silver notes touch and kiss the moon-lit waves, or charm happy lovers wandering 'mid vine clad hills; but your sweetest strains are discord when compared to the soft, sad music of the zephyrs among the leafy branches of the trees, or the song of the wild bird as it carols an anthem of praise to its creator.
But more precious than all the other gems of the earth, is God's greatest gift to man—woman: and earth has no greater joy than a word of warning or sympathy from her pure, sweet lips. To one around whose pathway the bright star of hope has ceased to shed its golden light, they come as soul-refreshing heavenly dews. They awake to life slumbering emotions that have hitherto lain dormant in the heart, but which, aroused to activity, spring forth in themselves things of joy and gladness, which will ever shine as glittering gems in the crown of her rejoicing.
But there is yet another gem without which man would be tempest-tossed upon the sea of life and left to the mercy of wind and waters; it is the priceless gem of the soul—the Bible. This book, of which Omnipotence is the author, tells us how we may win the priceless gem of eternal life. It tells us that in "the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and looking back across the wide waste of ages, this sentence in majestic grandeur closes the portals of the past. Beyond is the silence of chaotic night. It tells of man created in the image of God—of one of seraphic purity, grace, and perfect love. It tells of an Eden bearing no unworthy resemblance to heaven, encircled with every living beauty and magnificence. But man's song of bliss was short. The Serpent entered that blessed abode, and "innocence laments her robes defiled." The black pall of sin shut man out from the face of his Creator; but a great light from off the Eternal Throne threw its rays into the darkness and bade man hope. God took from His crown a gem as beautiful and bright as the morning star, and sent it upon earth that whosoever looked upon it might live. This Star of Bethlehem, whose glorious splendor many a rash and unbelieving spirit has sought to extinguish, is to-day gathering new brilliancy, and, throwing its divine rays far out upon life's tempestuous sea, it becomes the beacon light of the soul, without which man could never glide safely o'er its raging billow and reach the golden shores of that brighter land; "where music fills the air, and every breeze is laden with the breath of flowers; where crystal waters murmur o'er golden sands and jewels sparkle in the bright sunlight of fairy lands." But brighter than all the gems that deck the earth or glitter in the stars, brighter than the sun-fire when it plays upon the clouds, or the lightning's halo on the brow of night, is God, the Maker of them all, the Eternal Gem of Beauty, whose glory fills the universe and illumines a thousand worlds.