The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-05-04

takes the place of what is better. The
steam-chest gives up its place to the
safety valve; aud the power of the en-
CINE is wasted on the breeze instead of
moving the piston and turning the fly
wheel. Wealth, which ought to be only
a means TO a higher end, is often made
not only an end in itself but the chief
end. 1t engrosses the time, absolutely
The affections, Injuries the morals, and
after all dissatisfies. Though, in the
West, men are eager to make money.
| am glad tie see little disposition to de-
sire it for its WI sake. Men seem to
want money in order to use IL, They
have public spirit to IN extent rarely
seen in the East. Still, wealth has here
its fascinating power. and men need. to
guard against. Its al)urements, Notmon-
ey, but The love of money is the root
of all evil" or "a roo of all kinds of
evil as the new version has it. Like
other good gifts of God TO men, it is not
It's use but Its abuse that leads to evil.
Reputation or fame holds out tempting
offers to youth. AS ne grows older he
learns her tyeachery, but cares none the
less for what she can give. Reputation!
For what? Sullivan seeks the reputa-
! ton OF the champion boxer. All admire
manly prowess. Almost any. mans
pulses would throb with enthusiasm at
the thought of acquiring such physical
strength and skin. But true men Q II
denim the cruelty by which such reputa-
ton is reached. and despise 1t as the.
chief sim in life. Reputation Is an,
idle and most false imposition; oft got
without merit, and lost without deserv-
ing. But there is a reputation which
] iS rynrtb afTnrt a ,;,, no,,aj ga
good name is rather to be chosen thar
great riches The lieutenant who said
20 | have lost my reputation! | have
lost the immortal part Of myself, and
what remains is beastial," was not far
mistaken, for he had deserved the loss.
Pleasure, wealth, fame. are all desirable,
b t no one of these is fit to be made the
chief purpose of life. The best choice.
is religion. This is n bold high claim.
Is it a just one? Car. the claim he made
good? This is too important u question
to be nightly answered. Some would be
too ready to answer affirmatively with
out examination, More do not believe
the clam; or if they do, believe in q.
vague distant way, and their belief does
not influence their conduct. If religion
IS the best of all choices why Is il so2
1t is best because it satisfies mans no.
blest faculties. We justly despisc him
who is satisfied with supplying the wants
of his body, who is content to eat and
drink and sleep. who cares not 10 feed
HIS intellect or his affections. He who
does not neglect these, but gives no heed
to the demands of his moral nature can
not acquire our respect. The history CT
our rece shows, If our own conscious
ness does not teach us. that man has re-
/ lfrr, ~ ,,aA1, t1,s l., .,,,-. 49,. .,o
thing TO worship in order to satisfy his
higher faculties. He who understands
himself and knows the needs of lis own
soul, knows that neither intellectual
power nor requited affection nor strict
morality can satisfy his soul. Religion
is best because it purifes and sweetens
every other good aim. There is no
other aim which Is not likely to he faint
ed with Il selfish element. Let all good
aims be kept; but let them be snbordi-
nate TO the one great ann of serving
God. Religion requires us to give up
nothing which true morality does not
require US to be given up. Morality rec
ognizes our duty to help our fellow men.
Ii Is u perfectly harmless thing to drink
u glass Of wine. But if i fiud that wine
will injure me physically, mentally, or
morally, it must be let severely alone.
If wine has been adopted by the Devil,
and is II OF his f~avoiite means of dc.
coying men from the path of virtue,
morality, as we'll as religion, demands
that it should be avoided. If card play
ing and horse racing are direct roads 10
gambling, their immoral tendency makes
them immoral in themselves. If the
theatre, which might be the school of
virtue, has become one of the most sue
1..TF,l ..i,Aat,- 8 -. : . :. $500, =,
eyitebly ccrrupts the players, and soils
the moral purity of the beholders. NOR
aiity cries out against it. If the parlor
youth on its weakest side and "Blurs
the grace and blush of modes,y," it is no
more opposed to religion than to NOR
ality. In our earthly relations, religion
commands nothing which true morality
does not forbid. If the desire of wealth,
pleasure, or fame is n praise-werthy
ambition r~e!igion only p~urifics it of its
selfish elements and swectans it with the
peaccfuineSs of a good conscience. FL
naity, religion is the best choice because
ii fits US FOR eternity. Childhood and
youth ought to be cheerful and happy,
bat not thoughtless and empty in mind
That parent best directs his love toward
his child, who aims TO make it happy
and, at the same time, fiji it for the du-
ties of life just in the same way,
earthly life is the childhood of III SOIL.
lis manhood is in the spirit world. Ii
childhood is spent in careless levitv,
manhood must suffer for it, If child
hood is spent in prepsra;ion for the du
ties of manhood. childhood is Aappiel
and manhood more successful. Relig
ion is best both for this life and that
which Is TO come.
"a few more years shnll roll,
Il few more seasons come;
Aud we shall be with those that rest,
Asleep within the tomb"
''Then, o my Lord, prepare
My soulfor that glad day;
Oh, WISH ne in the precious blood,
And take my sias away"
9
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