Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-01


How shall We meet it's final day.
The time for settling up the years ac-
count and closing the book of 1892 is at
hand. We linger over its pages, noting
the many blessings showered upon us
from the hand of a merciful Father;
liberal sprinlling of sorrows and mis-
takes, many = perhaps all - readi-
" traceable to ignorant or willful sins,
for neither of which can we offer the
slightest excuse; and the golden oppor-
tunities UNDECIDED, of aiding our fellow
creatures by look, word, deed or ex-
ample.
But why should we pause to consider
the married and blurred pages of the old
year, or the pure, fresh ones of the
new? Because only the brute lives for
the moment, leading an existence of
disconnected dots. The brute-llke man,
to whom the past has no stimulus and
contains no warning. and the future no
invitation. passes the annual milestones
without thought, repentance or regret.
The wise mans life is rs line with a
purpose in it. directed by what lies be-
hind and aiming well at something
ahead. Gods labor is permanent in its
results because it looks before and af
ter, is cumulative. has its solid founda-
tions and it's spires of desire. And If
we wish our life work to have any
measure of the firmness and success Of
the Creators great works, il must be
made. like His. to grow with reasona-
bleness out of the past and look with
purpose toward the years to come.
There are no times so appropriate for
this wise and linking meditation as be
ginnings and endings-the close of the
wear when reason has action. with its
lessons and promptings. behind it, and
the start. when purpose has action, all
fresh and unsullied. before ii.
After duly considering the old year
let us turn to the new. this volume Of
three hundred and sixfv-6ve pages,
everyone of which we shall fill with
some sort of record. As we wish Il TO
be a satisfactory one. let US aim to
make the very best IF life; remember-
ing that we were created in the image
of God aud that. through His promised
strength. we are able - do all things
wei that may be given us 80 do. In
order to attain such success. however
we must keep. each day. the resolutions
made at the dawninr IF the year. and
make the very best possible record on
that day. thus opening the way for an
improvement on the morrow. and 50 on
The year 1898 viii be made menora-
bic to posterity by the Columbian cx-
position. in which the nations II the
globe unite 10 celebrate the glorious
results achieved through the constant
and persistent efforts Of one man. Let
us not. then. while garnering the ais-
dom harvested from this great inferno
tional exhibit. forget the lesson taught
by the devotion Of Coium bus % his life
purpose.
Having formulated aud crvstaliized
our New Years resolutions. lef us ever
be mindful that. as Johnson SAYS. tMell
s. paved with good resolutions. and.
unless we have resolution enough in
our character good solid resolution.
compounded II wis and wisdom. and
che mixture thoroughly permested with
the grace II trpi-to IRE them. thev
viii only % 10 Improve that pavement
which is already kept in very good re-
pair
We must net anticipate failure bnt
advance in the assurance tnst on Nauv
Years day = isas we shall ee able n
review uith Qualification the individual
and collective strides made 6a-ina egs
MsHT = psacs.