Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-02-26
RIGHT DECISIONS.

An Interesting Address BY General
superintendent @. II. Plat OF the |
Consolidated H dAd, at the Howard |
Avenue Congregational Church.
General SUP erintendent O. d. Plat, OF
The Consolidated railroad, addressed large
audience at the Howard avenue Copgrega-
tional church last evening, nearly every seat
In the entire church being occupied. The
subject of his remarks was "Right Deci-
sions," and he gave an earnest and practi-
cal as we'll as exceedingly interesting ad-
dress.
In his address he said: "The intellectual
often has to do with the spiritual in
our lives. 1t is the things which are reen
that are temporal, but those that are I'M
seen which are eternal. The artist stands
before the canvas, which bare and plain
enough to US, and sees depicted there the
conception of the picture which is to adorn
1t. He forms the plan of ooloring, of light
and shade and takes thought of all the de-
tails with reference to their effect
on the entire picture. We should
ask ou1 selves how to decide the different
in great and important questions In life by
present conditions and environments9 If
we do We decide wrong. What we hope
aud expect to BIS is what should influence
US. Like the artist we should look to
what the effect is going to be on the whole
panorama of our life. Thus, if right de-
oisions are of 80 much importance in tenn
poral matters then of how much more i'm
portsnce are the matters which pertain to
our moral and spiritual character. When
Abraham was called upon to sacrifice his
only son Isaac, he wavered not. Moses,
educated in all the learning and art of the
Egyptian court, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter, but chose
rather to be known as a Hebrew of the
Hebrews.
This habit Of right decision, which is
the spirit of right action, should govern
our lives, no matter In what temptations
or surroundings We may be placed. Dare
to do right for rights sake is motto that
should be deeply inscribed on the tablets
of the heart Of every young person. We
always know what is right II we are hon
est with ourselves. Hesitating to
do right is deciding in favor of
the wrong, for the time at least. The
question before Us, however, ia will we &C.
cept the atonement of Christ for our sins
from the dark and gloomy paths of Sins
and transgrsssions to the bright and shiny
ways of eternal life. St Paul says: Now
is the accepted time. Now is the day of
salvation Away up in the Alps of
Switzerland are two lakes known as the
Black and White lakes. The waters of one
find their way to the Black Sea through
the Danube; the waters of the other reach
the Mediterranean. In the Rocky noun
tains there is ridge which separates the
waters which flow on one side through the
Columbia to the Pacific, and on the other
through the Mississippi to the Gulf of
Mexico. Thus our lives find their
way to the vast ocean of eternity. But
like the rivers SO near together at their
sources. how widely separated they may
choose on which bank you will walk.
"Fsw of US give these matters the serioue
attention they deserve. A Railroad man il
so taken up with his daily cares that neg
lect of the spiritual part of ones nature IL
when the activities of life are OF
no more account. When we have
made right decisions the final outcome
of life is good, true and virtuous life,
But when our decisions have been wrong
the result of life ia utter and blank fail
ure. Michael Angelo, when dying, said
Scripture and painting, rival artsl Ye nc
more soothe my breast. Love of divine
alone bears promise of the rest to come
On that my soul reolines. My hope is IL
the skies.'"
After Mr.. Platt had finished speaking
Rev. Mr.. Mulch thanked him for the excel
lent address with which he had favored
the congregation.