The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-18
RELIGIOUS READING.,.
srr,1u1us OF coNy1or11oN9l I'd I /.

In nine cases out Of ten a man of sttong
convictions is man OF force. His actions
are prompt, energetic, decisive, persistent.
He accomplishes more than the man ofSweak
or vacillating convictions, even when the
latter Is physically or mentally better
equipped. There seems to be something fr-i
resistible and Titanic about firm believer In
anything Even the man who believes In
nothing but himself, so he believe honestly
and firmly. is distant power in whatever
movement he NAV take part. 1t Is the best
thing In the word for a young man or q
young woman to be so filed with believe In
any good thing that they cannot, even
for one moment, put 1t out OF their
thought and life. What wonderful stimu-;
lus there Is In any abiding conviction
Take, for instance, faith In parents. The
child who believes. utterly in the goodness
and wisdom OF father and mother is ineyita-
bly, moved to pattern after them; to grow
Into the same likeness, to become wise and
good In Its measure and kind. There is o
constant incentive in every kinds faith.
The man who believes earnestly In prfnci-
pie finds that there Is an undyfn9 impulse
within him to adjust, his life, and all life, to
the measure OF that principle. 1T believe,
therefore do, Is Just as much an automatic
truth az, u believe, therefore I am !" sf5,;ss
We have seen young people growing up
who had absolutely, no convictions and IN
every instance their characters showed. def
cheney In force. There seemed to be nothing
in them to overcome the mental and moral
inertia Of an .unawakened soul-no enthusi-
asm, no strong zestful grasp OF life. But on
the other hand; we have seen boys and girls
who belived in truth, or a movement or q
science. or man, with all their hearts and
have marked the force, the directness,. the
persistent, definite activity OF these young
lives. They felt, and shadowed that. they
felt, the stimulus Of conviction. 4 And the
greater, and deeper, and stronger,
and more significant the belief, OF
course the more power 1t puts into life. Ciass
feeling. for instance, Is a kind of belief in o
prevailing social rendition, that makes men
strongly and faithfully clannish, but patrio-
tism Is a higher and broader and nobier be-
Hef in the solidarity Of a naiion, that makes
men heroes and martyrs when occasion calls
The grandest and most potent conviction In
the world is the belief that God fs,x and that
He governs and loves the universe. When q
young person Is possessed Of strong religious
faith, the whole life springs into q kind OF
Joyous, triumphant enthusiasm. There Is
an unfailing source Of Inspiration in the
soul, a glad, out1owin9 earnestness In
the heart, that enrich life and make It
fruitful. The young Christian meyer knews
energy. Every day Is suffused with; mean
fng, eloquent with opportunity. The Istless
ness which so often curses q life without
faith has no place in the life. OF the Chris
tian. All isjoyous activity, grateful earnest
ness, glowing hope. Blessed are they who
In their youth are baptized with the Joy Of
Gods service They will never lack the de-
termining purpose and abundant energy
which alone can make life full, Joyous, tri-
umphant-a victory, and a song, and q
crown forever and ever. 3 9 -.