The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-05-14
Yours,
Bittle. Webb & Co.

Mississippi is nothing but snags,
just because an occasional one
thrusts its scraggy branches up
through the gliding waters. The
very rariety of these distractions
and their entire lack of conformity
to tbs stream around them makes
them the more noticeable. Just so
with hyprocites. The total differ
ence between them and their
church background throws them
into bold relief, to use an art ex1
preston.
Imature judge, lend thine ear
once more to the thoughts OF one
outside the church. There are some
few ministers make a "fat" thing
out of their ministering; There are
some who do not. For the years Of
college preparation, the conscien-
tious concentration of his power
upon spiritual lines, many a min
lister reaps the notable reward of
less than $500 year. He is too
often poor in this worlds goods,
but rich in faith. To thinking
man, this patient toiler along the
higher ways of lie, the mountain
1
tops of thought where personal
gain is forgotten, is benefactor to
the race for under our present con-
ditions of CIVILIZATION, churches are
absolutely essential to society.
They are the social, mental as we'll
as the spiritual salvation of large
sections OF eur population. Two
thirds Of our entire population liv-
outside of towns. The men are
largely isolated from their fellow
men by reason Of their toiisOme
farm duties. The women are al
most entirely isolated, because of
distance frem neighbors, pressure
Of home duties, and distaste for
walking. The church is store
house for kindly greetings one
toward the other. 1t Is the cham
ber OF winds to drive the cobwebs.
Of solitary life from off the weary
brain. We animals are gregarious,
like sheep. We pine when alone.
We become the victims of miser-'
able phantasies and unhealthy
grOwths Of thought. The church
steps is as the Divine nervine to
give us back our mental tone.
\ A few words and we can dispose
of the "Jangling Voice" object to
all the varied denOminational
splits. Stand on \ lofty mountain
and look around you. Do you see
all the view? No. The view. of
the mountain from the valley is
absolutely beyond your ken, unless
you change your points of view
If the valley dwellers meet you to
say what wonderful verdure clad
mountain is always in sight to tn"
west, will you say "Mountain?
L never say that But I do have
ever before me a fruitful valley
laid out like some vast patchwork
You both describe what you see
but you have different points OF
view; that is all. The fool hath
said in his heart, "There is no God"
But an equal fool is he who says
j"My view of God is the only view.
If James Jones has three individ-
ualities; James Jones as he really
is; James Jones as he thinks he
is; and James Jones as his fellow
creatures think he is, then you and
James Jones can never exactly
agree in yonr estimate of him.
But when you and James Jones
take opposite views of the Al
mighty and get into a discussion
regarding one so many side In His
activities and only partially reveal
ed to each, the best thing for you
and James Jones is TO agree h,
disagree and go about your buis-
ness. That is what the various de-
nominations have done; nothing
, more.
; Youths with broadening minds
that have followed me thus far.
guard against growing narrow.
Encourage in yourself and others
broad-minded freedom and origin
, ality of thought If youth ,s
found thinking it is a hopeful sign
The most hopeless are those who
open their mouths like young roh.
ins just waiting for some one r.
3 drop into their emty heads a read !
prepared mOrsel.