Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-12-27
absolute evil. But you, and men like
you, make her
STEPS TO WICKEDNESS VERY
EASY.

dUEDlult evil. DuI SOus anu AAASAA A'-NN
you, make her
STEPS TO WICKEDNESS VERY
EASY.
You pay her the doubtful compliment
you murmur to her the jest that has
a double meaning, and you urge her 10
cultivate an easy manner with men
that certainly makes the descent to
the devil very much quicker. How
does that page look? Take up an
other
Are you innocent of stealing? Where
is the 1.-THE you should have given to
the poor? How about the doubtful
deal in the stock market? What do
you think you would have been if
your last investment had failed and You
had been discovered? The polite
world would have called you an en-
. bezzler-the more crude people would
have said you were a thief, but as the
venture was a success and you did not
disturb the money that belonged to
others. you count yourself free from
blame. Are you? In the great Judg-
ment Book intent and act are synony-
nous. You have an idea that you
leave gOssiping to women; there is no
feminine gossip who can compare with
a man like you. You say things that
women are afraid to hint. OF the
Young woman who is overhOwing with
happiness, who cannot keep her joy to
herself. and who believes that All men
are gentlemen like her husband and
her father. You speak with a shrug
that means much and a sheer that tells
all that is in your own wicked mind.
You are always
BEARING FALSE Witness
AGAINST GOOD WOMEN.
1t is part Of your mean, cynical belief
to deny purity 20 women. 1t is part Of
your dastardly unfaith to claim that no
man is decent. You are sure that every
kindness shown has a hidden motive.
Oh. how smeared this page is, Soiled
and smirched, until reading 1t becomes
abominable.
Indeed. l drop the book, I, who am
human, cannot try you any longer with
those stone tablets as the questioners.
But you will be tried, and that book
will make or mar your future. But al
ways there is given TO you a choice.
God is more merciful than man. He
gives you this chance to read your Life
Book. to see, as in a lOokingglass, the
story of your life unfold, and He says:
Repent and do better while there is
yet time" What are you going to do?
Now the time has come for you to de-
eide The new Book is white and
clean. and on it is written: The story
Of 1897" What will il be? You are
to write it. and it is in your power to
fiji it with a history of kindness done,
of mercies shown. of good gifts given,
of an increasing faith, and of sweet
and pure life. How can you long for
ANYTHING else? How can you, origin
ally kind of heart and strong Of brain,
be satisfied to kill yourself for the bene-
ft of the brutal world? For after all,
even the world respects a good man.
1t may be cynical; it may be bitter; 1t
may have very little faith; but 1t bows
with respect before that man who keeps
the Book of his Life a clear one, a clean
one, and one full of faith, hope and
charity.
The New Year has come; I greet
YOU. my friend and my neighbor, where
ever YOU may be. hope that this year
will bring to each one of us the greatest
/ of all possessiOn-a true knowledge OF
ourselves Then we will be sure TO
make a better Life Book. You will for
give me for preaching to yo1, my
friend: cannot help it. AS turn the
/ tiny calendar that marked the last day
of the year. it read: Eye hath not
seen nor ear heard, neither have enter
ed into the heart of man the things
which God hath pa, pared for them that
! love Him." And it seemed that | must
remind you. before the bells rang in an
other wear. and before the fresh Book
was opened. of the wisdom Of reading
The hook marked 1896" We have
done IL together; we have clasped
hands and promised each TO help the
other. and so we will begin with belief
in humanity. faith in God, and great
Willingness to hold up whoever Is weak,
and to lift up that one who falls and
give him another chance. Then, II we
frv. even if we do not succeed in It all,
we may rest assured that on the black
paees Of the Judgment Book there will
: not be written your name, or that OF
your neighbor. or that which belongs
- Bah.