The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-01

and skeptlcs. They may have made
a great stir, shone very bright among
the galaxy of literary stars, loosened
the faith of many christians but what
have they given to the world of per.
manent and exalting beneft1 Where
are the aslylums builded for relief Of
suffering, or the hospitals for the care
OF the sick, or benevolent schools fol-
the education Of the poor2 Wha,
have they done to benefit humanity
"By their fruits ye shall know them.
Would you call the tearing down OF
our national and religious bulwarks
success. The overturning of Semn.
aries and Colleges and the introducing
OF heresy into young minds and side
tracking them as to their usefulness
1t you could cut a wide swath here
would that be SUGGEST Until those
who oppose our christian faith can
give us something better in its place
they are more than criminals to slay
the hopes of the heat and dash their
cup Of JOY to the earth.
The Son of God has said there is
only one thing needful, and that we
ought to seek that one thing first. Is
1t not very great presumption in any
man, however learned to place other
things above that, and neglect it en-
tlrely? do not know how a man who is
not a christian can be a teacher either
in the public school or the college.
He must place his wisdom above the
wisdom of God, and, by his example
at least, teach Others to do the will Of
God, how can he succeed?
But more needful to us is this one
thing because of our individual neces-
sites. Every life has its trials and
yours more especially. You will
come in contact very frequently with
unreasonable people. Prejudiced pa
rents who will think you are mistreat-
ing their children if you discipline
them or do not show them the defer
ence they think their little ones are
entitled to, You will be obliged to
meet angry fathers and furious moth
ers who are almost ipe for lynch law,
and as steel striking the flint makes
fire, SO will an angry heart if it meets
an obdurate will, but with this zone
thing needful' tempering the heart,
soft words will turn away strife and
you will be greater than he that
taketh a city. Instead of fighting you
as an angry foe they will become your
best friends, for the wise man says
"When mans ways please the Lord
he maketh even his enimies to be at
peace with him. You need this one
thing to quiet your hearts and still
your anxiety. You will be much eS-
ercised about position and influence,
and the pleasing OF this director and
that trustee, and this large pupil and
that mischievous boy and you will be
in constant fear if you have the spirit
of the true teachers. And you will
often worry yourself almost to desper-
ton because one and another finds
fault and you will very soon learn that
the way to please nobody is to try to
please everybody. But with the need
full thing, this spirit of the Great
Teacher revealed in his word and i'm
parted In answer to prayer and study
of his word, and your effort only to
please Him, it will not be long until
even your foes will kneel at your foot
stool.
This life is one great whole. We
will not be judged even of men by in
dividual actions, but by the ruling
spirit Of our life. The World is gen
erous even to fault toward those
who have the spirit of God in them.
Joseph made mistakes, some grievous
ones, yet even Pharaoh said, "Can We
find such an one as this in whom the
spirit of God is2' And he made him
ruler over all his people and over his
own house, foreigner though he was.
The same was true of Daniel. He
was preferred above the presidents
and princes because "an excellent
spirit was in him and the king deter
mined to set him over the whole
Realm"
You need this one thing to give
you patience. You will be greatly
tired by unruly children. Some who
have had no training at all, many
worse than none, not a few sent to you
to get them out of the way at home,
some indeed because they cannot be
ruled at home and with 40 or so or
perhaps hundred, good, bad and In
different, it is a strong mind that can
keep its poise and not break away into
a fit Of passion or worse into a fit of
tears, and your power is all gone.
But with this one thing needful the
spirit Of Jesus Christ, you shall prevail.
He was buffetted and scorned and
even spit upon yet kept a calm spirit
under it all, because he was aiming
only to please God, and when it was
all over, He was the victor because of
the Spirit that was IN him.
| Won mist have This one tbjno ha