The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-26
IN THE FURROW.
Tho Sermon That Secured Rev
Moulton q Good Vito.

When the new minister arose In BIZ
pulpit and announced his text, the con
Rregation settled themselves in th,
pcws with m air Of satisfaction. They
were confident that they were about e
listen 70 a fine sermon, and they were
not to be disappointed. They admired
and esteemed Rev. Thomas Monlton
who had come to them from a country
parish which his liberal views and tai
ents had outgroyyn. Modest and sincere,
the young man. appealed to his hearers
by his good sense and by the simple
beauty Of his thoughts. In laundering
oratorical power he was deficient, but
his voice was clear and pleasant, hi,
manner WAS earnest and pleasing.
When he addressed an audience, he
won their confidence, and they believed
him TO be what he was, q thorough
gentleman, a man cherishing high
ideals and sym~pathizing warmly with
the trials Of his fellow men.
Rev. Mr.. Monlton was unusually
happy in the sermon TO which particu.
lar reference has been made. He
spoke feelingly in behalf OF the thou,
sands who are the victims Of m nnfa.
vorable environment, who are pre-
vented by thwarting circumstances
from attaining those places 10 society
in which their naturally high qualities
Of mind could best flourish. There
was astrange inequality In life. Choice
gifts and excellent opportunities often
fell TO the lot Of dull or ignoble per.
sons who failed to use them properly;
on the contrary. these good things
were rs frequently unaccountably
withheld from those to whom they
were admirably adapted Fortunate
ty, Of the millions in the world who
lived in poverty, squalor and ignorance,
the greater part did not possess keen
sensibilities and ambition, and conse.
quently did not experience the suffer
ing which tender-hearted but unphilo.
sophie persons imagined for them. In
deed, the capabilities of this large class
OF people were so limited that when
they were sometimes placed by Jealous
philanthropists in a sphere higher
than that to which they were acccus-
toned, they became positively misera-
BILE and longed to return to a lower
condition. Nevertheless, a gradual inn
provement in the environment OF the
MASSES was accompanied by a like Inn.
provement in these people themselves.
Therefore the fact that they were so
largely wonted to their present condi-
ton did not excuse the more, fortunate
frnyy4 HaNCinp 4kAtr A-l~o. -Y.
vate them. The millions deserved at.
tention, but inasmuch as they did not
suffer acutely, and in many instances
were happier than were people above
them, 1t was not necessary % lie awake
nights for the purpose Of devisinp
plans In their behalf. But In the same
environment with the millions were
thousands q superior people who were
the great sufferers, and who deserved
speedy and generous aid and sym
pathy. They were daily and vainly
making desperate efforts to overcome
the circumstances that thwarted them.
They were fitted for something better
and they longed to attain 1t, bnt there
was some lack, either Of health, Of
money. Of energy DR. of something else
which prevented them from escaping
from their u~nfavorable surroundings.
Only the strongest and best equipped,
unaided, Asrrmounted greatest obsta.
cles- Yet there were hundreds 81
others not less worthy. although less
able, who, II they should receive time.
~ assistance, could climb the heights
that now discourage them. Strange
to say, the last-mentio ned class. al.
though they deserved the most atten.
ton, received the least. The unprom
Using poor were pitied and given aims
and the successful great were Landed.
But those who We're gravely but inef
f~ectually struggling against adverse
circumstances'were coolly ignored. II
was the much and undeservedly neg.
lected class, the noble unfortunate.
whose claims, for sympathetic aid from
the Christian world were greater than
those Of any other portion Of humanity.
To elucidate his subject in 4 manne
al effective as possible, the preacher
employed several illustrations. One Of
them briefly outlined was as follows:
One day afarmer while walking over
q AACSh4I PAOMCu ucIug eSpleQ In a fur-
row something which sglittered He
bent down and picked up a diamond.
ring There were spots Of dry mud on
the rim, and the once clean ornament
looked neglected and weather-beaten.
A few years before the farmer found
il, it had been Most by a rich city
woman during a rural ramble. The
farmer took the ring home, washed ii.
FURNISHED it, and then it looked as
beautiful as when it was new. He re.
stored It TO the owner and she wore
it again.
Thus was It returned to its proper
place, where Ecould fulfill the purpose
for which il was made, viz, to be a n
ornament to be a thing Of beauty for
the admiration Of all observers. But
had the farmer not CHANGED TO 20 by.
or had he mistaken the diamond in the
ring fora shining bit Of quartz, and
been too indifferent TO make an ex-
animation, the ring would have re-
manned in the furrow, 1t would have
been left to its obscure fate. Soon II
would have been covered with earth