The Newtown bee., 1892-12-23
The Secular Pulpit.
THE SERMON.

The Preacher Discourses on Practical Topic If you are nobleman you must act as mo-
 bleman should 9
 My text beloved, is saying of one of the wise men of France and reads "nob- lisse oblige," which means, "If you are nobleman you must act as a noblemap should" or "Rank impresses duty"
 It is pity that the whole round world does not think more of this saying and obey it better. If they did we should have fewer scandals to read about con corning our English cousins and the Prince of Wales would have a more savory reputation in the mouths of men. Even fair France herself would have been saved much bloodshed had her kings obeyed this proverb of their na- tive land.
 The fact is we forget sometimes that we are noblemen. Just let me illustrate little. You all know Parson Slowboy. Now we expect that minister of "the gospel will not descend to personalities in his pulpit. It is his throne and from it the people expect to hear words of con- fort and help each Sabbath day.
 But last Sunday as I sat in the pew 1 heard him preach sermon that 1 know comforted no one. It was written just to hit John Jones with whom he is not on the best of terms. l know another minister who always rides his hobby when he breaches.
 | HE Is JUST GONE CRAZY
 on Supralapsarianism m and week after week his long suffering flock all that same old stage horse driven round the theological track.
 Oh, why does not some one tell the man that his position ought to compel him to preach the gospel of grace and of comfort and not rattle the bones of some religious skeleton.
 Mark you, too, how this text applies to Lawyer Sharper. You all know what a good position he has in the community He wants all the people to think we'll of him. But last week when Tom McSlivil- ian was arrested for selling rum without a license, Lawyer Sharper was down in his saloon trying to get the jnb of de- lending him. Everybody who knows anything about the case knows that Tom broke the law with his eyes wide open and would do it again.
 Why then should decent respectable lawyer mix himself up in such mess as that. Some one ought to shout in his ear the word of the text 5ill it should run in- to his brain that his position ccmpels him to have nothing to do with such a rascal.
 Ana did you know that this text
 APPLIED ALSO TO" FARMER LIGHTFOOT. 1 bought a barrel of apples of him three weeks ago. On top they looked very fair and nice so much so in fact that I com plimented him on the nice apples he was selling. That compliment was all vast ed. For when I got half way down the barrel 1 found bushel of the smallest and most knotty fruit that I ever set eyes on. He was shrewd to put his poor bush el in the middle but oh the smallness of the soul of man who for p cents will sell himself to such a practice. l Now the farmer ought to think that, being an honorable man in general com- pels him to act honorably. Let his rank compel him to give honest measure, good fruit and straight goods right through. The man who cheats in that way is spoil ing his own market and he will find it out next year if not before. 'Noblesse oblige."
 Our text applies to the rest of us as we'll as to the gentlemen referred to. WE ARE ALL NOBLEMEN
 in this country and there ought to be no meanness among us. So when you are tempted to do some small mean thing, a thing that in your inmost soul is con- temptible. Just stop and don't do it. Be noble as you may be. Show your royal blood. Act out the traits of kingship which Shakespeare has given in Macbeth : l The king becoming graces ] Are justice, verity, temperance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, loveliness, I Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude.