The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03
A NEW YEAR RESOLVE.


other, it is customary for men to make fine
resolves Of what they will and what they will
not do during the new year. They will give
up habits that are vicious or Improbable;
they will forego pleasures that are expensive
physically or financially; they will observe
more conscientious discharge of even the little
duties that have been neglected, purposely or
carelessly, and altogether viii do better. This
is but natural to every one who reflects, and
regarding the last past year, sees how it might
have been bettered It is creditable to human
nature that it is so. The desire to do right is
one of the noblest impulses, and sincere re-
greet for wrong committed is its twin
brother. But high resolve is better
than deep repentance. The face sunnily lifted
to the future is greater aid to struggling man
kind than the sight of head bowed down in
the humiliation of regret. The world has
sympathy for him who says ri am wrong"
But for him who expresses determination to
sin no more the feeling is that of admiration
and desire for fellowship.
The meditations of the thoughtful man in
stinctively turn in upon self during the clos
ing hours of speeding year, and the intro
spection, if honestly made, must nearly al
ways reveal some flaws, some blotches, that
more careful conduct would have saved. AL
most as cert ain as it is to indulge these seri-
Gus thoughts at this season Of the
year, is the fact that they hinge
on a better line of moral conduct
The fight Of time suggests the end of | ife. A
year goes by so hurriedly, the swift-footed
months count twelve so frequently, that life
seems a passing show, soon to be done with
The average man would like to quit this ex-
istence with "a decent record. AS it may not
be spotless from beginning to end, he would
like to have it honorable in purpose and exc
cution. This thought naturally suggests at
tention to the future and extends beyond the
bounds of life. And this in turn, directs
the thinker to a contemplation Of the church
and his relation to it, and it's effect upon
mankind individually and collectively. Few
can give serious attention to this without
being impressed with the feeling of obligation
to afford some kind Of moral support. As the
balance-wheel Of all human action, as the
governor that keeps the vast engine called
mankind from running to destruction and
tearing itself to pieces the Christian church
is Indispensable in the moral economy of the
world.
Among the good resolves for the year should
be one self-pledging to be better friend of
religious organization. 1t need not necessar-
lily be that one should be an active member of
any church, or subscriber to any particular
tenet. No more does lack of such member
ship excuse one from the moral obligation to
afford every reasonable aid and encourage
ment to religion. For whether it be regarded
as of divine or of human origin, few care to
deny that it is the salt of the earth, without
which mankind would be infinitely worse off.
It were a work Of supererogation to attempt to
detail the great work Of the church and its
salutary effect upon society. Millions
of homes throughout the world are
built upon this foundation, and other mill
ions recognize it as their protecting
agis. The family heavens best gift, is the
outgrowth Of religion. There is a kind Of
animal family relationship among savage
tribes; but the family of civilization, where
love and not brute strength is the ruling force,
is the gift of religion, because religion is its
surest guaranty. Every man, every woman,
is in debt to religion and the church. 1t is an
obligation that cannot be discharged per-
functorily, nor in lump. The good it con-
fers coming hourly, the duty to acknowledge
it is continuous To-day is very good time to
make good start in this matter, and it will be
found, at the end of the year, that if the re-
solve be rightly kept, there will be crafty
ing balance on the credit side of the ledger.
The influence of every moral man should be
unqualifedly on the side of religion.
A Y. N. @. A. BUILDING.
A new building for the Young Mems Chris