Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-11-13
THE OLD WRITES

W nat mas become OF them The
common virtues, as they are called.
are after all, like common sense, ,rath-
er uncommon. To be a true man, or
true woman, is now, and has been
from the foundation of the world, the
greatest success in life that any one
can achieve. More than this-it is the
only success that is achieved on earth.
amid poverty and riches, Obseuriiy or
renOwn. And yet, although it is now,
as it ever has been and doubtless
always will be-, the lot of but few to
live and move amid gilded circum-
stances, how eagerly are almost all
eyes strained for the procurement. at
whatever cost of effort, of such de-
sired result. And how sleekly con-
sciOus of their enviable position do
they appear, who look around unon
large and growing gsins, as if, after
all, the Savior OF the world had made
mistake. and mans life does, not
withstanding His denial of such a
fact, consist in the abun dance of the
things which he possessed th.
There Is everywhere a powerful.
and ali penetrating, moral miasm in
the social atmosphere, sitting to man
ly principles of thought and feeling.
Physical prosperity is estimated by
even good men, at an inordinately
high rate, and nobility of character. /
excellence of life and high moral
aims and pleasures are held at a fear
ful discount. But the great historical
foundations of all individual and pub-
lie greatness are the same, as they
ever were; and are all the more man
itestly so, now, than in days gone by.
from the evidence Jf ages of aecumu-
lated testimony to their value. Hon
esty, industry, economy, prudence.
mOdesty, the spirit of earnest self
culture, and habits Of moral thought
fulness. viii never cease to bring a
rich reward to their pOssessor, and to |
all who draw light and life from his |
presence or example.
Personal religion, and all true
church life. and progress are put to a |
terrible strain by the material aspects !
and influences of the times. The |
question is a pressing one, at every /
hour, and in every possible form Of ]
application, with the army of the I.
Lord on earth, which shall eOnquer.
in the hot strife Of opposing forces
the right or the wrong, God or the |
devil, the mere fieeting present, or
the great enduring future.
We are fast becoming, if it be not /
already so, q mere nation of greedy |
mOney-makers, Our many thousand /
miles of railroad have opened, all at /
once, to our but small population as /
yet, the immense resources of climate. |
coast and soil adapted to sustain 1
twenty times as many inhabitants. 4
who will ere long dwell where we |
now do, and in the midst of overflow |
ing abundance. Fortunes. therefore. I
are easily made in many directions, |
With but brief and moderate OUTLAY |
of labor and skill And this is all Of |
God, and, If rightly used, greatly for
our good, and Tor that of all mankind. |
We rejoice iB IT.; and bless, not our
selves, but Him, for having dealt so I
bountifully with US and our fathers
But how powerfully does he summon
US. by the very greatness of his bounty
toward US, the people of his name, to
be not the less devoted to His praise,
but only all the more so, on account
Of the multitude of his benefits. Ev
cry blessing from above brings with
it corresponding responsibility 10 its ;
recipient. for its right use.
Never, in all time hitherto, has the
Church, and each enc belonging to it,
been under so great a pressure Of duty
~ now. to heed well the Masters (
will, and to do with all ones heart. :
soul, might and mind his work in all I
The world Ii the Christianity of the
age does not abound in the common /:
virtues as well as in any, so-called, 1
graees, it will not COM /
nand the respect or win the hearts of {
hose who now look upon its profess
iions and professors, and if not iLdif- I
'erent, only wonder and perish.-IR- l
eTiOT 6