Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-14
WAY TO PROMOTION.
Fourth Talk by Rev. DIR. Northrop in
His Series to Young
Men.

1.-THE Apprenticeship; or, the Way OF
Promotion" was the subject of the fourth
In a series of Sunday evening talks to
young men by DR.. Northrop, of the First
Baptist church, last night. His text was:
Thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things"
Matthew Xxv:21.
Were I at liberty to divulge to this aud
fence and the public generally the names
of representative Kansas Cityans who
filed out certain blanks 1 sent TO them"
he said, chow lowly they began life and
what they did on the start, there would be
a genuine sensation. They did very hum
BILE things from the first, 1 assure you. be-
fore receiving any special recognition from
their employers-sweeping out offices. black
ing boots, cleaning cuspidors, selling papers.
and like mental duties. Many an editor
in-chief of our cosmopolitan ape was a
printers devil in the composing room;
many a bank president did the dirty work
for some official in some mart of COM
merce before he was promoted. There are
men on this continent worth their millions
who were compelled to do the drudgery in
Shop or store from early morn till late at
night before there came the welcome voice:
Come up higher' TIL wealthiest man and
the greatest philanthropist of modern times,
John d. Rockefeller, once carried water in
the hot sun for ditch diggers. Commodore
Vanderbilt was once a truck gardener;
Greeley was a printer on a small scale;
Garfield was a mule-driver on the canal.
1T is almost a misfortune to be born with
a silver spoon in ones mouth. l pity the
son of a rich man more than the street
arab; the former makes no effort to climb
up; the latter is constrained by force of
circumstances, driven into a corner by
poverty, they are compelled to forge their
way to promotion and success. To be sure,
there are exceptions to every rule and once
in a while We find a young man of social
standing and wealth who amounts to some
thing. 1t Is through hard work. attention
to details and the most minute things that
puts one in line of promotion. Qualifica-
ton is essential in the highest degree. 1t
is the indispensable man that II is demand
to-day. You note the text paves the way
to prosperity: 1t begins with few things
and climbs up the ladder to many things
The careless, sluggish, uncleanly lad will
stand a poor show of getting to the top;
able to do many things because he does
poorly few things
There is one word I would like to brand
on the arm of our American youth: IL is
Such discipline will be required in the high
er walks of life. The lawyer, the detective.
the physician, the financier, plod their Way
TO success, step by step. by attention to de-
tails. Promotion comes slowly but surely!
Recognition of faithfulness is by no
means lost. l am one of those who believe
that II a man fails in life II is his own
fault. There may be many Instructions in
the path. but we can use them as stepping
stones to higher places when the time
you spend your leisure moments: be hard
over your own selves: be rigid
in making rules for your own life and char
acter, and then when you have gone
you will be ready for the Well
done, good and faithful servant Thou
hast been faithful over a few things.
will make thee ruler over many things"