Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-12-30
MISTAKES.

Rev. Mr.. Forbes of the Bates Avenue
n. p. Church, St. Paul, recently delivered
q sermon on Mistakes" The lecture
was so interesting, that we give the fol
lowing abstract: =
Mistakes are very common, Every
one makes them, and every one is theil
victim. There are mistakes social
! national, educational, political, matri
monial and mistakes in theology. Amid
the conflict of opinions some one j.
wrong. The old is narrower than the
truth, narrower than the Scripture I,
is absurd to deny the infellibility of the
pope, and then set up claim of infal]i-
bility ourselves. And yet this is often
done. In the olden times heaven was
for a believer in the true creed, and heI
for the hereto. To-day heaven is for the
pure and true, and hell is for the scoun
drels, for mean men who are worthy of
it. Good men are better than they seem
to be; bad men are worse than they ap-
pear. The church of the future will
more correctly represent Jesus Chri,t to
the world than the church of to-day.
There is not church on earth that fully
and clearly shows the genius of true
Christianity. Error dies slowly. 4
great idea has to live through the centur-
les to claim universal recognition. Yet
in our search after new truths we must
cling firmly to what Is clearly establish
ed. The Bible has demonstrated itself
as the true revelation.
1t has provoked so much thought that
the books written for and against its
claims would sink the navics of the globe
1t thus shows itself to Re great intel
lectual Quickener. Poverty and ignor-
ance are hindrances and not helps to
piety and true devotion. Wealth and
intelligence are arms Of power that the
church must learn to utilize and control.
Too much attention has been given by
the clergy to the historic Satan, to the
neglect Of the satacs now in society, who
are robbi1g US of peace and purity in os1
hearts and homes, and in the community.
We have erred in failing to value so.
called trifles. Ira world 50 full of con.
| tingsncies there are no trifes. Every
moment is full of that of which destiny
is made. This is an age that compasses
| all the former ones in intelligence, and
yet the intelligence of the average man
IS overestlmated. 1t is serious mistake
to reserve the flowers for mans coffin
some of them at least should be scattered
along his pathway. 1t is a pity that &
man must die to show how much he is
appreciated.
A kind word to an erring man may wiz
him to virtue. Blows do not convert. The
thunders of applause that greet John B.
Cough, the king Of the platform, are but
the echo of the tap on the shoulder II
| other years, when friend thus invited
him to 20 to the temperance meet
ing. A great mistake is to pretend to be
more than you are. Be what you seen
to be. Appear to be just what you are
The world is a great leveller; it has {
wonderful tact in discovering shams o.
genius. Time will bring every man tt
his true level. 1t 10 a mistake to be .
pessimist. The world is IN the youn@
morning Of its history. Only the othe
day we learned to cross the ocean by
steam. More recently we learned tn
nse Of the telegraph and telephone
Man is but learning the mastery of thi
planet. And the good is more persisten
than evil. Truth has never been con
quered. 1t is from the martyrs stake
the Masters cross we receive our hes
religious ideas. That which looked Ink
the utter overthrow of good has beef
time coming, when we shall bow aroun,
a common altar. Touch the map of tn
globe at any point at random, and
careful glance into the present and com
parison with the past will show that, a
the centuries 60 by, the world is grow
ing better Let us march down towar
the unknown future with a heart tina
beats in sympathy with others, and wit
clear idea of our mission TO live 70
others and not for self Let US live a
children Of God, who made this werl
on purpose for our playhouse and ou