The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-01
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
The Rev. George D. Latimer, Of the North
Society Speaks Religious Truths.
INTERESTING SuBJECT-.PROFIT AND LOSS
Life Consumes the Savings of Many
Lnborious Ycnrs-The Friends We
Have Grnppied 10 Our Souls with
''foOks of Steer Drop out of Our
lives-Thc Changes Come.

d. what profit hath he that worlteth
III that wherein he laborcth?-Ill Ec-
clesiastes, 9.
men Goethe began To write verse
ms friends said to him: ITS charming
out only wait until you have had cXpe-
riencei then we shall really care for
your poetry" SO the young Goethe be-
san 10 acquire experience, and after n
time, remarked that experience meant
iearning the things one didn't wish to
know.
This is more than clever epigram.
II IS n common estimate of life. The
Golden Age has been given to child
noou. Heaven lies about us In our
infancy; shades of the prison house be-
GIN TO close upon the growing boy"
gu teach your growing boy TO have
confidence in himself, you bid him as,
pre- FOR the prizes your own life has
missed, you make him familiar with
the deeds of self-made men In This land
OF stil-made men. He begins life with
ehls large capital of self confidence. He
VIII use this bequest of parental ambi
Iion, lie Will add 10 the family honor,
the world shall recognize him as one of
ATS leaders. 81 :
but the man of thirty or forty wears,
WHAT does he look forward to? WHY,
ne mas lost that splendid confidence in
iii.i'iscll' ms ambition can very easily
De measured, he has used up his cant
tal OF youthful enthusiasm. The rxne-
tlehcc ON most men is the same AT
twEntS me youth expects tn become a
tiiiiiiolalre, at thirty he hopes to be-
come a member OF the firm. at forty he
Will IKE 10 nave charge OF some de-
partnent, at fifty he goes TO work for
large firm. at sixty he is glad he has
lte insurance policy
And experience not only DESTROYS a
man faith in himself Il also destroy,
,..s iaitn IN others You have laugh;
Suui poy mat honesty is the best poll
SE' ana he enters some commercial
house 10 learn n new rule: .I}usinnss
IS BUSINESS over the door of many n
tatse establishment might well he hung
me sign: Honesty and Fair PLAY lin.
iiteu. on nave taught your boy that
sS';r;. ih,sSfl'y patriotism. public
Eplrit, Yield success and he reals tho
aaiiy paper 10 find Hamlet's curs,.' vn,-
lied; lie thou as chaste as Zee ana &c
pure as snow, thou shalt MOI csca no
calumny. He finds social life hnnryl
Sonpca with pretty little articles 70,
nisittoi!' rniilclouS innucndurS in
sincerity and tittlc-tattlc He is shnci,
Gu 70 ma that men who 81; i'm ,ho
proad aisle in church not infrcnuor,I,
.lLEc AN unsavory reputation on thr
,change. Ills confidence in his fn,In,Y.
men rapidly falls below par.
Lie also consumes the savings q,
many iaporiouS years. The friends a.,
nave Srappled To our souls with .,honns
OF steel" drop out of our lives ~
1eaVe an aching void. The ineyitahi.
changes come-thc aged parent naesa,
on. the poor relation knocks AT tht
door health is impaired, the estate !,
encumbered. there is wayward nov
religion may have ceased TO consolcd
Youth is joyous. age is sorions
Youth is full Of enthusiasm. age nrov
Tor courage. Age must live ,lpon III,
savinGs of youth, and when These mr.
1mpaired.or when dividends are naesad
there must come the pathetic strurel
for existence.
To some, life has meant an utter fai,
Gre Of character. The spiritual natur
is bankrupt Not a week passes tha
the clergyman is not called to read III
funeral service over the remains-whn
q lifting word.-of some social wreck
The INSCRIPTIONS Mr.. Hyde has de-
1rauded the upright DR.. Jekyil. and III
lrm goes under. Each morning w
open the paper to sec how wide is IN
gate and broad Is the way that leader
4 10 destruction, and how many there h
which go IN thereat On avenue a
Well as alley. there Is many q cas-
OF spiritual poverty and degradation.
Thus hastily we glance at the accoun
with life, and are appalled, to see tn
s list OF losses. Certain losses are to b
i expected, they. come Inevitably whcr
y there are large interests; but mora
faAlnre need not be one of them. lie
30 not be easily be discouraged Tn