The Republican., 1897-04-01

obligatory on you to go about with
down cast eyes, and with long face
that is never to be illuminated with
smile. Such is my opinion, is entire
ly foreign as to what Gods idea of
christian should be. They of all
Others have the greater reason to be
happy, smile and enjoy themselves.
The beautiful and pleasant things of
this world were created by God es-
pecially for His children and for their
enjoyment. He gave us the joyous
disposition to be expressed by laugh
ter and why should we not exercise it
on proper occasions? He created US
with the sense of an appreciation of
the beautiful, and why should we not
indulge that sense? Furthermore
don't come to the conclusion that
having joined the church and your
name having found place on its rolls,
that there is nothing more for you to
do; the fact is that the days of your
usefulness have just begun. A con
clusion of this kind is q snare and
pitfall and for the sake of the church
you had better be out of it than in it.
Work, assistance and cooperation is
expected from every member. The
question might arise right here what
can each one do to advance the in
terests of the church and it may be
cOntended by some that owing to an
unusual degree of timidity or from
some other cause they are inca
pacitated to actively engage in the
| spiritual work of the church, such as
preaching the gospel, doing mission
ary work, praying in public, etc. For
| the sake of argument, grant them
| this contention, and is there nothing
else connected with the church III
which they can employ their talents?
Let us see: The Lord has endowed
each one of US with talents which can
be usefully employed in the church
if we will but grasp the opportunity
when in presents itself. Has he
given you the talent of song? A good
voice is always in demand to sing his
praises, and you can find your place
in the church or Sunday school choir,
and if invited to take that place, don
let the opportunity pass you to EN-
ploy that talent for his glory. Has
he given you the talent of "sociabili-
ty," then use that talent to influence
and mould public opinion against
those forms of questionable amuse-
ments prohibited by your church.
Has he endowed you with the talent
of decorative art, then employ that
talent in beautifying and making
attractive His temple, as nothing can
be too fine, or beautiful, or costly for
His use. These are but few of the
many ways in which your talent can
be employed in Gods service, but it
is sufficient to show that there is
work for all in the church, and every
talent can be employed with profit.
There is considerable gratuitous
advice contained in this paper, more
probably than will be appreciated,
and more than the writer is ordinar-
lily in the habit of giving without
making a charge therefor, but if any
one of the objects he had in his mind
when writing it, is accomplished, he
will feel more than compensated.
And finally, don't expect perfection
in any person or in any thing. This
is quality that does not exist on
this earth We are all sinners and
the best we can do is to do our best
and if we fall get up and try it again
and leave the rest to merciful God
who fully understands our frailties
and weaknesses.