The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-20
A TALK TO RAILROAD MEN
DELIVERED AT CALVARY BAPTIST
CHURCH. LAST EYENING


BY Rev. Mr.. Poteat--Traits of Character
Necessary to Railroad Ien-How They
May be Acquired-Great Responsibility.
AT Calvary Baptist church last even
ing the pastor Rev. Mr.. Poteat, preach
ed special sermon to railroad men,
who composed a goodly part of the
large audience. After reading from the
91st psalm, Mr.. Poteat said that it was
fitting there should be a sermon to
railroad men in Baptist church as
that church was the first one to operate
west cars have been fitted up as chapels
with seating capacity of from so to
to 100, and these are moved from place
to place, and religious services are
held in them. The community at large
is unaware of the large colony of rail-
road men in New Haven and does not
appreciate the great service which
those men perform, just as we little
realize the important services perform
ed by the police and firemen. We
should be mindful of those men and as
sist them in every possible way, and
appreciate the value of their service.
When death comes to railroad men it
usually comes suddenly, and in this
connection it is appropriate to quote
the following scriptural passages:
Proverbs, 1926 'Be not afraid of sud-
den fear, neither of the desolation of
ha Wi 1ut nnn,ptb - Psalm
91:7. Because Thou hast made the
Lord, which is my refuge, even the
Most High, Thy habitation." Mark Az.
And there arose a great storm of
wind, ETC."
No lie in the modern community is
so responsible as that Of railroad
man, judged from the standard of
faithfulness, Cor his chances for I'M
faithfulness are numerous and the
consequences of his unfaithfulness are
extremely dangerous. Every man en-
ployed in the construction of the mod
ern train and roadbed must be man
every inch of him, in doing what he is
at
The life of the travelling public, as
well as Of the railroad man, is one of
constant peril, and said Mr.. Poteat, II
never get aboard a train that don't
think about the engineer and commit
myself to God"
The railroads of the United States
kill every year on an average $500 en-
ployes and injure 25,000 more, and kill
800 passengers and injure 5000 more.
The traits Of character needed by
railroad men are self-control prompt
cto in
control of himself is an educated man.
In the terrific speed of our modern life
nothing is more important than self
control. In this connection Mr.. Poteat
said: II never find that trainman
has had a glass of beer, and feel secure
on his train. All these vices that loos-
en- the foundation of mans character
must be left alone. ] one time on
train heard one railroad man tell anoth-
er how much he had won at play.
wished to be off his train. ] don't
think that kind of a man will keep his
position long. A gambler is a thief"
Railroad men know the value Of
time. A few minutes delay lost Wa
terloo to Napoleon. There is story of
man who missed a train and friend
said to him, you didn't run fast
enough" "You are a liar" said the
man, II didn't start soon enough.
Said Mr. Poteat: Il never learned that
minute has really sixty seconds until
I came to New Haven. I came from
the south, and there every minute has
sixty seconds"
Nerve is what a railroad man must
really have. 1t is a serious business
when a man undertakes to run a train
and character of the highest rank is
needed. The great question is how to
acquire such character and equip one
self for such a life. These traits may
be acquired by self culture. A man
NAV train himself under a resolute will
to be prompt, sure and to have
steady nerve Let him make up his
mind that as man he will set himself
to high resignation to the position.
Heroism of the highest type can only
be obtained by self-surrender, not to
a. high ideal but to Jesus Christ, who
illustrates utter self-abnegation, who
gave His life a ransom for many. That
is why He was so meek, humbel and
Godlike 1t was because He had only
concern for others. God builds Him
self around such men. God saves the
man who makes God His strength. "Be-
lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ and you
will be saved" May God incline you
to believe In His son and so be sound
and saved"