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

Farewell SERMON of Rev. -. II. Huags
delivered 81 the Presbyterian
Church. Sunday, Apsii S, EsSS,.
MATT, VII, u;-tVERILY SAY UNTO
YOU, HEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.
Though a man aim may be unworthy,
if he has followed it with u%niIagging
zeal and real ability until he has reached
his object, he commands our admir-
alton. We admire him more if his aim
has been worthy. Often the admIyer
fails to see that he also might accom-
plish what is worthy of praise. The
choice of an end and consistent persist
ent working toward it, generally secures
the desired result. 1T is true this is not
universally the case. Natural lini,a,
lions and unforeseen difficulties hinder;
sometimes prevent the attainment OF the
desired success. Each one may we'll
study his abilities. Ia les and limi-
t%ations, and no. aspire SO high AS GER
tainly never to reach his goal. But
many often place too low an estimate on
their W powers, and fail TO obtain
what they desire, simply because they
are too cowardly tee try. The Phari-
sees shrewdly and preservingly worked
toward HI aim. Not holiness of char
acter, but thu reputation of it, was the
object sought. They understood the
character OF their times. Jewish ideas
of religion Were much distorted. So
many centuries had they been under
their ritual law, and so formal had their
teachers made religion that the Jews
thought it co2aistad principally in
works. They were easily deceived by
hypocrites and by those who in self
Righteousness We're in themselves de-
ceived. Praying on street corners, fast
ing with a gloomy oountenanoe aud
snowy giving to beggars, obtained for
them what they desired, the praise OF
men. Jesus words about them have
deep significance. almost awful solem.
nifty: They have their reward" What
u reward How much they miss in Oh
tanning that reward! Gods blessings
abused become curse. That we can
choose ends and generally obtain them.
makes it possible for us TO inj1re our
selves. Man is free TO choose. He is
responsible Tor what lie Obtains or fails
to obtain, The choice Of aim then is or
great Importance. In the first place we
are obliged to choose. When God APP
peared to the youthful king of Israel
and offered him whatever he desired. he
EiaNSt pi tVltLAA'I INT iGS t'utSIbllllN tl
deciding which of many things Ii wouid
have. AS he chose wisdom. the most
valuable Of these, he obtained il, and
many other things besides. Though
God does not now make us such q direct
personal offer, he comes to us in the
line Of his ordinary pr whence saying
Choose ye what | shall give yon."
Things desired are to be obtained by the
use of means. They cannot all be OBJ
tanned; for many times we are unable to
secure all tbat VIC desire. The effort to
obtain too many different things often
divides effort and d|i3sipatad power. For
this reason: Division Of labor is bcre-
Ticial. 1ae can be q farmer, another q
mechanic and another a merchant better
thsn one man could perform all these
various duties. So every one is driven
to a choice in order that his efforts may
not he d~issipatad and lost. He who
would be a scholar must o expect to he
8 universal scholar. Life is too short
to acquire the knowledge which man
kind possesses, and If 1t could be OBJ
tanned, no time or opportunity would he
left IN which to put into use. In order
t. galn anything WortH having. more
must be given mp than is obtained. in
regard to knowledge, perhaps The high
est ideal which can be reached is con
tanned in the advice of John Stewart
Mil, "Know something about every
thing, and everything about something"
Even this. seems u high ideal, and diff
cult to reach. The same necessity for
choice of which meets lis in the field of
requirement, meets us again in the field
of execution. The worlds work is
great. Tho brave enthusiastic heart dc
sires to do much OF it. II may do
much; but in order to accomplish great
things, one must resolutely shut him
self up to %certsin lines OF work. The
soldier cannot ordinarily be = statesman,
nor the preacher II physician. Mr.,
Eurgh has accomplished u great deal di-
rectly IN preventing cruelty to animals.
He has accomplished u great deaj more
indirectly by SrOusing and educating
public sentiment on this subject. In
order to accomplish this he was obliged
TO give up his prospects of y diplomatic
career and devote himself with persist
ent purpose to this one work. Anthony
Comatock is equally noted for his Efforts
aud his partial success in preventing tie
sending Of vile literature through the
mails. Does anyone suppose that if a
minister of the gospel had undertaken
the work, he could have accomplished
it so well without neglectiug his own
proper work? Not only is it impossi.
bic to obtain all things and to do all
things, SO that one must make . choice.
but some things are in their nature OPP
posed TO II another. The gambler
cannot well be a sabbath school super.
~inteudent nor the ~sQloouist a preacher.
Any business which is immoral prevent,
HIM who engages In it from cultivatipe
properly his own moral character or cx
crcising II moral influence on others. II
would be very comforting sometimes il
he whose influence Is evil could quiet his
conscience with the thought that he is
doing something 20 neutraliHc that inTu
ence. More often perhaps, the conflic'
is between positive duty and what is nat
urally negative. Many Try to avoid ev-
en- the appearance OF evil who sadly ne,
elect duty. One may rest in the sweet
feeling that his sabbath has been spot
less!y observed when he has NOT made
the least effort TO do himself or another
any good. 1t is much picGs&ntcr II
think that we have done no harm III tiC
world, than to be obliged to confess tina
our. influence has been evil; but NEGATIVE
christianity and negative morality a
. well. are not commemorate in the sigh
of eithar man or God. There is Away
nm opportunity to perform duty, or yiell
to INDECENT pleasure. Hers again thu
choice is forced upon US. Az q stimuln.
To duty, w may remember that Eve
Christ plc4sed not Himself" 'CoDside
him that endured such contradictions o
sinners against himself, lest We he weaI
iei ard faint IN your minds In ta'
r second place, the second Of choice, &C
tually, il Is for the most part outside IN
tlnences. Beliefs received from parent
! have great influence upon us. As ou
parents have believed in politics ard re
ligion. so ne are likely to believe. Som
shock TO the feelings, considerable indie
, pendencc of character, or the strong in
huence Of later associates is necessary f
: cause f. change Of belief, and This belief
t almost inherited, determines in man.
S cases our choice. Parents, how great i
your responsibility. Your opinions an
your example will be a part of yonr lee
acy to your children. II yon teach Thea
that morality must give way 10 CONVEX
fence, you need not wonder that Won
children learn 20 practice the principl
in WAYS 10 which Won would object.