The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-20
ALWAYS READ THE TINES
SUNDAY, JULY 20, 1890.


votDING OFT HE HANDS.
Many centuries ago wise man wrote;
..ye, a little sleep, a little sumter n',''
folding of the hands 10 sleep. 30 shaIi '"S
,.ovortv come as one that trayelcth; anu
Inv want as an armed man.
The author Of Proverbs could never nave
IA IN mind the summer vacation when Is
n feature Of modern civilization No'uu
hc However. have warned vacation seek
ors ne could have chosen no better "o'u''
The context will show that 1t was mol sioel
in itself against which the solomon rals'o
his protest. but II was undue sleep u WIZ
moi the field Of the industrious man, secAihs
resi- in sleep from his labors oi the ""'
which was all grown over with thorhs ana
the face of which was covered win helueN'
Ru, Il WAS the field of the sloihll' WHO
having gained sufficient rest IN SIMMER,
still folded his hands and refused to proven
the breaking down Of the stone wall oil ms
vineyard.
Post mover did mean sloth. Laziness can
result only in poverty. Recreation j. ou' Il
change of occupation. and vacation, instead
Of being but one continuous folding oil 'hc
hands, should be but means OF recupefa'
iing hy normal pursuits from the STRAIN OF
the abnormal life Of the greater part oi the
wear and of preparation for further progress
The machine allowed 10 stand still Tor any
time becomes clogged with rust and dust
and the cost Of setting il again in motion j.
greater than that OF the ordinary wear ano
tear. had il been allowed 10 continue il'
work. ANY muscle Of the human Dodl no.
having normal exercise will deierlorale
and any faculty of the mind or soul neglect
ed for the while becomes impSir,C
4 writer has most truly said; In az
mll ofthe higher powers Of life. there I''
the opportunity and temptation Of the lower
and vicious energies. a vacation lhd'
turns its back upon the higher and iucI
utilities of life invites therein harmful ara
perilous truce with that pleasure 'NhicI
trends towards the sensuous. Pleasure "u'
of bounds is not far from dissipation. an
dissipation means wasteiul scatter
ing and squandcring of real treasure. when
the spiritual man might call real estate.
Vacation for the mind, therefore mt 81
not mean mental Incidence, and the sous
sleep must not bee that of insensibllity.
God has given man certain talents i'l
which he will be held responsible. and II is
during the summer vacation that the great
est opportunities for the neglect Of those
talents are given. With their development
are associated certain duties 10 God, ana
summer is the season when the greatest
temptations 10 neglect religious duties arc
offered.
Because the church is closed to enable
the ovcr-strained pastor To find a mucl
needed recreation does not mean that th'
congregation is to devote the whole of sun
dav 10 absence from worship. For those VIE
worship God in spirit and truth temple
made with hands are not absolutely ucccS
sary. The soiouuer during the warmer
months in fields. mountains, or 10y the sea
is brought face TO face with nature. lie
cause he may be away from the restraints
o, bone. and is prevented from attending
set religious services, he is not eNcusabl'
from recognizing in the midst of the gazette
IL social life that nature has God and ina
lac is bound TO do reverence 10 Him.
1t is 50 easy TO become lax in rcli-iou'
life, even should opportunities for it, de-
vclopment abound. But when these ar,
absent. the temptation to neglect become,
stronger Once yielding to this tends t'
greater laxity, and carclessncss Will ineN
tahly result in the sleeping souls wakenin-
finally to poverty, which comes las one thai
irayeleth. and want as an armed man.