The morning call., 1890-08-11
ENTHUSIASM NEEDED.
Rev. HareOurt Says All the City
Churches Are Asleep.

At the Howard-street Methodist EpiSco-
pal Church the pastor, Rev. DR.. Harcourt,
had as his subject, ''Some of the Elements
of the Successful Athlete" His text was
taken from 2d Tim. iY;7, Il have fought
good fight"
This is not the language Of coward"
said the preacher. 1T has in it the ring OF
victory and tells of hardness endured, diff
culties overcome and opponents yanquished.
PauFs early training marked all Of his
after years with the sturdiness and prompt
ness of the athlete an his writings are the
tell-tales of what were his early thoughts
and life.
Indeed, this is largely so with all men.
The early impressions are lasting, and time
cannot wear them off. In view of this the
greatest care should be exercised by parents
to make the early years and surroundings
of the child such as shall have upon the
mind and heart only healUhful and helpful
Impressions.
Associated with true courage is heroism.
for they always go together. They might
be called twin sisters. When Regulus was
sent to Rome by the Carthagenians, whose
prisoner he was. it was on the condition
that he should return to his prison if peace
was not effected. He took an oath to do so.
When he appeared at Rome, he urged the
Senators to persevere in the war and not to
dsltt 70 llc tACIdu5C VI plloOuCio' Hlo
advice involved his return to captivity.
The Senators and even the chief priests
held that as his oath was wreSted from him
by force he was not bound to return.
a. Have you resolved to dishonor me,
asked ReguluS | am not ignorant that tor
lures and death are preparing for me; but
what are these to the shame of an Infamous
action on the wounds of a guilty mind?
Slave as l am to Carthage, [ have still the
spirit of Roman. l have sworn to re-
turn. 1t is my duty TO 60. Let the gods
take care of the rest That was true
heroism.
''Another essential success in the arena
was enthusiasm. Have you ever taken
part in or witnessed college boat-race or
ball-match? If so you know what Is
meant by enthusiasm. Indeed, little II
anything can be accomplished in this life
without this element. Our politicians un-
derstand this. Hear them tell of the good,
noble virtues of their candidates. Look at
their meetings. Study their methods.
Enthusiasm is thought to be the right
thing in politics, in business, in pleasure,
aud the only place where 1t seems not TO be
wanted is the church. The idea is enter
tanned by some that church sery ices should
all be formal, stately and stiff as death.
81 recited the burial service in one OF our
cemetery vaults last week, continued the
preacher. Il read aloud, enGnciating every
word distinctly, but there was not the slight
est approval from any Of the inmates. Do
you know the reason why? They were all
dead.
l believe in religion says one, but
then | believe there is moderation in all
things No, there is not. Not much mod
Grafton in your anger, not mucL in your
eating and drinking, not much when you
are after money, not much moderation eX-
cept in your conscience; that is extremely
moderate.
Enthusiasm in religion is the highest
wisdom. The world is dead in earnest and
why should not the church be? We hear
great deal about the intidelity and skeptI-
cism that is spreading outside of the church.
l am more afraid OF the Journalism and in
differentiSm that is to be found inside all of
our churches.
The church was never meant to be home
for invalids, rather it is a recruiting office,
an arsenal for equipment and drilling of re-
cruits for active service, The grave is the
only place for superannuates. Most all of
our churches in San Francisco are asleep.
and the victories of the enemy seem to have
10 good effect upon us-we are not up TO
the standard of good respectable heathens."