The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-14

At the First Methodist church last
night Rev. Henry, the pastor, preached
an eloquent sermon on the use of the
senses in the building of character.
The text was taken from Mark 4-24:
Take heed what you hear and also
from Luke SIS: Take heed how you
hear"
The building OF character. said the
speaker. should be one great object of
every human life. as it is that alone
which survives. Character is but an
and hence the Importance of its devel-
oDment
Character is influenced in a multitude
of ways. A mans occupation or voca-
ton in life has much to do with it..
Then there are friendships and more
OftentimeS SufferingS. 1t is also largely
influenced bv what we admit into our
inner lives through the avenue of the
senses. The latter is probably the
most potent factor in influencing our
character. The painters soul is stirred
by the light and shades on canvass;
the musician hears melody in the roar
pebbly ground, and his spiritual make
up Yields to the wonderful influence.
Here at once is apparent the import
ance of wisely exercising our power
of selection. We are endowed with the
power to choose what we may see and
hear, and this power may be culti-
waited. n well known worker among
the s!ums of New York has stated
that on her tour through the vilest sec
.f -
hear word o. profanity. though the
very atmosphere was reeking with vul-
garity She had so trained her sense
of hearing that she could absolutely
not hear anything but good words.
We may go out on the street corner
almost every day and hear stories sat-
urated with vulgarity and profanity
or we MAJ hear stories breathing the
very atmosphere ot heaven and our
souls are touched according to the de-
gree in which we exercise the power of
selection.
But, new. while it is true that what
we hear largely determines our char
acter, it is equally true that what we
hear is largely determined by our char
acter.
The will is the doorkeeper of the
mind A great MANY different people
knock at your doors every day. a wise
housekeeper exercises care as to
whom shall be admitted. Ought not
our inner lives to be kept with equal
care and discretion? 1t may be true
that il is impossible to include every
thing undesirable from our mind, but,
as DR.. Bush says. you cannot prevent
the birds from flying over your head,
but you can prevent them making
nest in your hair
Take heed what you hear" Christ
was speaking of the reception of sDir-
itual truth when he uttered these
words. We should be good listeners
and take every subject in its entirety.
We come to church and find fault with
a sermon because it does not deal with
every phase of the subject. which, in
most cases. is an impossibility. If you
come to listen for fine word painting
Won NAV be disappointed. If you listen
for fine oratorical points you are also
apt to share disappointment. Ii you
listen for mispronounciations you may
occasionally find them. But if you
listen for Gods message to your indi-
vidual soul. ministering to your peculiar
needs, you will also be apt to find what
you are looking for. God delights to
communicate with souls that are open
to receive the limitations of his spirit.
Remember the fundamental facts of
our faith: God is, God is interested in
us; God can help US; God does speak
to those who will listen to him; God
does impart wisdom, strength and
grace.
The poverty of our religious life. if
such poverty exists. is because of our
Observation-Disclosures, our dullness of hear
ing. our neglect to receive what he
would imDart. The things that affect
our hearing is -sufficiency. pride, evil
cherished in the heart, worldliness,
materialism, morbid self-consciousness
and prejudice. Look up and listen. God
speaks. He speaks TO you Il know
your life. your ambitions. your hopes.
your disappointments. your cares, your
sorrows, your temptations, your envi-
ronment. My grace is sufficient. Come"