The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-08


1t is seldom that people arrive at pc
sitions of responsibility until the,
have been tested over and owe
again. If the theory of the pessimis
were accurate, society would Ions
ago have gone to pieces, and civiliza
tion would have been submerged will
barbarism, and the wheels of the cen
turtles would have turned back to the
Dark Ages. A wrong impression il
made that because tw men falsify theii
bank accounts, these two wrongdoers
nothing is said in praise of the hun
dreds of bank clerks who have stood at
their desks year in and year out until
their health is well nigh gone taking
not pins worth of that which be-
longs to others for themselves, though
with sSillful stroke of pen they nigh t
have enriched themselves, and built
their country seats on the banks
of the Hudson or the Rhine.
1t is mean thing in human nature
that men and women are not praised
for doing well, but only excoriated
when they do wrong. BY divine ar
rangement the most of the families of
the earth are at peace, and the most of
these united in marriage have for each
other affinity and affection They may
have occasional differences, and here
and there a season of pout, but the
vast majority of those in the conjugal
relation chose the most appropriate
companionship and are happy in that
relation. You hear nothing of the
quietude and happiness of such homes,
though nothing but death will them
part.
We need more cheerful front in all
our religious work. People have
enough trouble already, and do not
want to ship another cargo of trouble
in the shape of religiosity. If religion
has been to you peace, defense, an
inspiration, and joy, say So Say it
by word of mouth; by pen in your right
hand; by f:ce illumined with divine
satisfaction. If this world is ever to |
be taken for God, it will not be by
groans, but by hallelujahs. If we
could present the Christian religion as
it really is, in it's true attractiveness,
all the people would accept it, and ac-
cept it right away. The cities, the ma
tions would cry out: "Give us that! Give
it to us in all its holy magnetism and
gracious power Put that salve on our
Throw back the shutters for
that morning light! Knock off these
chains with that silver hammer! Give
us Christ-His pardon, His peace, His
comfort, His Heaven! Give us Christ in
song; Christ in sermon; Christ in book,
Christ in living eXample!" AS system
Of didactics, religion has never gained
one inch of progress. AS a technical
ty, it befogs more than it irradi-
ites. AS a dogmatism, it is an
awful failure. But as fact,
Is reinforcement, as trans
iguration, it is the mightiest
hing that ever descended from the
heavens, or touched the earth. Ex-
mplify it in the life of good man or
good woman, and no one can help
'ut like it. A city missionary visited
house in London and found sick
nd dying boy. There was an orange
wing on his bed, and the missionary
aid: where did you get that or
nge?" He said: "a man brought it
o me. He comes here often, and reads
he Bible to me, and prays with me,
nd brings me nice things to eat"
What is his name?" said the city
Missionary. II forget his name,"
aid the sick boy, but he makes
reat speeches over in that great build
n.y." pointing to the parliament house
f London. The missionary asked:
Was his name Mr.. Gladstone?" "Oh, I
es, said the boy, that is his name;
lr. Gladstone" Do you tell me man
an see religion like that and not like
:? There is an oldfashioned mother
| farm house. Perhaps she is some |
here in the seventies; perhaps seventy |
We or seventy-six. 1t is the early Il
vening hour. Through spectacles No. t
she is reading a newspaper until 9
ward bedtime, when she takes t
p well-worn book, called the c
ible. know from the illumination b
her face she is reading one of the a
Psalms. or in Revelation I
lie story of the twelve pearly gates. a
fter awhile she closes the book, and u
lids her hands, and thinks over the t
ist, and seems whispering the names A
her children, some of them on earth
i'd some of them in Heaven. Now
nile on her face, and now tear, and {
'metimes the smile catches the tear. {
he scenes of long life come T
aclS to her. One minute she sees all n
lie children smiling around her. with n
leir toys, and sports, and strange n
Then she remembers d
veral of them down sick with in n
ntile disorders. Then she sees a "
Iort grave, but over it cut in marble: Il
Suffer Them to Come to Me-" Then m
ere is the wedding hour, and the