The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-16
TALK ON HAPPINESS
Rev. 4. 0. Ballard Discusses 1t
Before Young People.
Its Sources and True Tests-SermOn of
Rev. DR.. Tevis at Fletcher
Place Church.

Rev. Frank o. Ballard preached at Me-
mortal Church last evening on 1.-The Duty
or Happiness" This was the third of a
series Of five sermons to young people.
we have here what l may call a general
CHARTER s.tl Of happiness" said the minister
Inc right OF being happy is declared the
right, VIZ, OF getting the full sweetness out
OF lie, and, as necessary part OF IL, the
risnt OF Spreading happiness as bust
nesS- Notwithstanding the woes and suffer-
lngs OF life, declare that joy is king, and
must rule IN every life which is TO greatly
upIift the race. By this it is not meant that
We are sent out like hounds on the scent
or pleasure TO hunt it down into every cor
ner or the world. 1t is meant that God has
organized us, intending that the wise and
right management OF every life shall yield
glad, joyous, cheerful people
. "A good many young people believe that
the devil Is the patron or JOY. They think
that the call to come TO God is a call to
come away from freedom and from delight
Ihey think that God is disconsolate, NOR
Did, murmuring, Grabbed and sour, but that
the devil Is a jolly fellow, who doesn't care
Tor expenses, so he can give the people
good time; L would as soon believe that
the kind housekeeper meant to make the
mouse happy when she so carefully toasts
the cheese on the trap; for pleasure which
bait in the hands of the devil. As it is the
bait which lures the animal and not the
Jaws OF the trap, so under every specious
there are the sharp teeth of pain and shame.
How can men be such fools as to believe
that the most unhappy of beings. he who is
himself an outlaw and refugee, with a
hook in his own joy, and all the strings
broken on his once sweet harp, can, or
would, II he could, make anybody really
the great author and patron of
human happiness. He planted the
desire to be happy in man.. He consti-
tuted the world so as to make 1t a great
storehouse of pleasure for the eye, the ear,
all the sensea and for the mind and heart.
He filled the Scriptures, as He did the
world, with sunbright joyousnesS. Even the
more solemn portions of the New Tesla
ment, which n recount d the v sune rnfgs
ing gloomy in them, but from
the darkening shadows of Calvary we hear
Christ's strong, bright words TO His appre-
henslve dlsciPies, be OF good cneer, W stIi
ecstacies like sea against the very throne.
Meantime all that destroys human happi-
quit our carking care Peace is spoken to
the troubled conscience of the penitent and
fear is allayed by the assurances of the
Happiness is a duty because unhappiness
robS a man of his usefulness. An unhappy
man makes a poor husband and father, an
unhappy woman poor wife and mother.
An unhappy scholar never can get his les
sons right, an unhappy clerk or mechanic
will not earn half his wages, an unhappy
minister cannot make a sermon, and II he
could he couldn't deliver it unhappy. I'm
happiness cuts down usefulness every where.
Then unhappiness robs one OF his health.
medicine but a broken spirit drieth the
bones Many a faithful physician cannot
cure the patient, and the wonder is why.
The remedies and the diet are all right, the
surroundings are pleasant, but ah! there is
some secret-some envy, some jealousy,
some sorrow, some heaviness-and the doc
tor at last says: Unless you can relieve
this patients mind and make him quiet,
happy, hopeful, can do nothing. Heart
is hs1e it as
physical explanation of death, but take 1t
in the mental sense and 1t Is fruitful
source OF death. A great many die OF heart
failure, /. e., failure of joy. hope, gladness.
Now, see how religion works. 1t fills the
heart with hope, and that works toward
ward health. 1t fills the hands with useful
work, and that works toward health.
II now happiness is a duty, and If all desire
it, one would think that everybody would be
happy. Yet this is not the case. "A man
comes down to his breakfast; the meal Is
ruddy yet he will not be happy until he can
find something to make him miserable, and
if nothing is underdone and nothing is over
done he will look and look until he discovers
then all the Walls of his discomfort and all
the eloquence of his accusation will be
poured out upon the heads of his family.
lone of the chief sources Of human
happiness is noble. aim in lfe'
restless and unhappy. Buoyant spirits are
necessary to happiness and noble aim
produces them Mems spirits are like
brooks which flash, and sing, and leap when
they know that they have set out for the
ocean. But waters that have no infinite aim
and are in fixed ponds stagnate and are
mantled with corruption. Consciousness OF
a worthy and noble aim breeds self-respect.
exhilarates the conscience and begets manly
and enduring joy. Again, happiness is pro-
NOTED by industry and by innocence.
1.-The tests of happiness the Vtc1SSftudeS
of life and the lapse of time. You can be
happy when fortune courts you, but when
she iouts you what then? 1t is common to
see persons happy in one fixed state. The
poor get ftted to their poverty, and are con-
tented, the rich are contented in their grade
of life, but where man goes from poverty
giadness and his peace he indeed is strong.
There was one who said. i have learned
in whatsoever state am Herewith to be
content But the supreme test Is time:
good many young people think they will
be happy always because they are so now.
but anybody can be happy In childhood ana
youth The bitterest lives were happy In
youth. Then the blood was young the cur
rent was strong. 1t was only afterwards
that the pace Of life with its misfortunes
and cares began to tell upon the man. 1t is
gin happy, as ii is whether We can continue
happy If a life Is not to lose the bead,
If it is to keep the color and the fragrance
OF its Joy on 10 the end and close strong
as II began Ii must be built upon principles
which will carry 1t through There must
be health innocence, nobleness of aim,
usefulness Of work May your lives be
caught with mock bats of false joy; not
spent inrthe tartarean haunts OF vice: not
sealed up under the devlrS ruling cneat;;
and pure. and may Death lay his hand
upcn your heart gently not smiling II,
but as a harper lays his open PAIN upon his
harp TO deaden its vibrations, ana may you
IL in pvhi Wonder.