The morning call., 1895-02-27
a LENTEN ADDRESS.
Bishop W. f. Nichols on Single Minded
ness of Purpose.


The Rev. William f. Nichols, Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of California, has
issued his Lenten address. He says:
Ny Dear People: Single-mindedness and
godly sincerity are ever the safeguard and the
secret OF right conduct in the midst of wor-
RED world: 1t is the opposite OF these that
makes the trouble. 1t is the double mind that
is unstable in all its ways. 1t is the having
a form OF goodness and denying the
power thereof that puts the Christian to his
wits end TO keep up appearances even to his
own conscience, and leads TO a creeping sense
OF solemn mockery in the whole life. The form
without the power becomes like the quiyering
compass needle without the pole, at no time
and a no anxious crisis is there cool certainty
about the course. f'Follow thou me- is the
Masters bidding to every life. For every life
then it furnishes the simpie-minded and sim
cere life-purpose. 1t is the supreme rule of
conduct. 1t is the good thought for good times
and bad times. Every part OF the Masters own
earthly life was in complete unity with every
other part of it, because through it all there
ran that undertaking purpose to do the will of
him that sent him. st. Paups apostleship was
a grand whole because ofhis "this one thing
do The lives to-day that are most serene in
their depths, and most profound in the peace
OF God, are the lives in which, under the notion
ful wave and storm-swept surface, there is that
great, constant tide-like push OF "the life hid
with Christ"
The way to follow Christ is plain enough
Baptism, confirmation, the holy communion
are its very 'steps" we take with the great
company of the faithful in the church of God.
30 the captain OF our salvation leads us in his
Kingdom as whole. Equally plain is the
pathway for each ones own footsteps. "If any
man Will come after me let him deny himself
ana take up his cross and follow me-" The
way only becomes puzzling when we try to
serve two masters instead of one-God and
mammon, or God and pleasure, or God and
selhshness. Then and there arise more than
| hall OF what we call the problems of life. The
service OF the one master is simple That in
wolves trlbulatlon and trial, but very little
T Texatlon OF spirit over the pathway OF duty
mat Vexatlon comes with the trying to serve
two masters
All this applies equally well to q good life
and good Lent. If the law of trying times in
the business world is that then men ere the
more thrown upon serious thought, and panics
IN the past have made powerful religious i'm
preSsions, we may all use this Lent to recall us
TO fundamental need of our present-day
ChTlstlanlty, and that is singe-heartedness
In the service OF Jesus Christ Nav the HOLY
Spirit so bless the holy season to our use, and
turn all It's helps and mediations to the better
realization OF the solemn meaning OF these
words; II thine eye be single thy whole
evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness
II, therefore, the light that is in thee be dark
ness, how great is that darkness Affection
ately your servant in the church,
WILLIAM +. NICHOLS.
United Lenten services have been ar
ranged for, to continue through the season.
Following are the speakers and their sub
jects:
Rev. W. NJ. Reilly, .The Purposes of Lifep;
Rev. J. A. Emery, "The Conservation OF Iifen:
Rev. L. d. Spalding, Lid, THE Hidden
Life; Rev. W. ii. Moreiand, "a Ruined Life' !;
Rev. H. 3. Collier 1.-THE Prayerful J3iie"; Rev
and How 10 Live IT.; Rev. Z. J. Lion. 1.-THE
Churchly Life; Rev. W w. Bolton. ''The Prin-
ciples of Ceremonial; Rev. G. E. Walk, "Eter-
nal Life"