man in Macedonia crying for help.
The speaker portrayed in burning words the condition of Macedonia, the
heathen gloom and utter hopelessness of her people, the vision that
came to Paul, and his going to preach to them. Then, passing to
England under the Druids, he described the dark paganism, the
blood-stained altars, the brutal priesthood of the age; and told of
the cry that went forth for light,--a cry that touched the heart of
the Roman Gregory into sending missionaries to show them the better
way.

Like some royal poem was the discourse, as it showed how, through the
storms and perils of more than a thousand years, amid the persecution
of popes, the wars of barons, and the tyranny of kings, England had
kept the torch burning, till in these latter times it had filled the
world with light. Beautiful was the tribute he paid to the more recent
defenders of the faith, and most intense the interest of the
listeners; for men sat there who had come over the seas because of
their loyalty to the faith,--old and grizzled men, whose youth had
known Cromwell and Charles Stuart, and who had in more recent years
fought for "King Monmouth" and shared the dark fortunes of Argyle.

The old Governor was roused like a veteran war-horse at the sound of
the trumpet; many faces were flushed with martial ardor. The young
minister paused reflectively at the enthusiasm he had kindled. A
sorrowful smile flitted around his lips, though the glow of
inspiration was still burning in his eyes. Would they be as
enthusiastic when he made the application of his discourse?

And yet England, yea, even New England, was false, disloyal. She had
but half kept the faith. When the cry of pagan England had gone forth
for light, it had been heard; the light had been given. But now in her
day of illumination, when the Macedonian cry came to her, she closed
her ears and listened not. On her skirts was the blood of the souls of
men; and at the last day the wail of the heathen as they went down
into the gulf of flame would bear witness against her.

Grave and impassioned, with an undertone of warning and sorrow, rang
the voice of the minister, and the hearts of the people were shaken as
though a prophet were speaking.

"Out from the forests around us come the cry of heathen folk, and ye
will not listen. Ye have the light, and they perish in darkness and go
down to the pit. Generation after generation has grown up here in
forest and mountain, and has lived