The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-29
SERMONS OF THE DAY.
RELIGIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED BY
PROMINENT AMERICAN MINISTER'S.

The Fourth Of the New York Herald's
Competitive Sermons In on "Enthus-
iasm," and the Author is William G..
Cassard, Chaplain at Fortress Monroe.
TEXT: whatsoever thy hand hndeth to
do, do 1t with thy might. t."-Eccles., k, 10.
Solomon in this text gives US one very
essential plank In the platform Of success.
It Is not enough that we should find work,
but to this must be added the quality OF
intense enthusiasm In its performance.
Enthusiasm Is at once the proof OF sin"
cerity and the advance guard OF victory.
There are two ways OF workiDg-as hire
ling and as an enthusiast. The hireling
gets through with his work and is glad
he is done. SO Is his employer. The en-.
thusiast does his work, finds happiness and
profit and further and more remunerative
employment. 7 sat at my window watch
] ing boy shoveling coal into the cellar.
His steps were toilsome and slow, his coun-
tenance detected In the extreme; he ap-
peared to be almost sick. I left the win
dow to escape painful sight.
An hour later crossed nearby vacant
lot and found the street gamin engaged in
game Of baseball. "Jones at the: batl'
shouted the "umpire." Jones stepped out
with lordly mien- and seized the bat, eager
for the fray. How he did bang the ball!
founded to discover In Jones, the hero Of
the ball field, my erstwhile martyr Of the
coal pilel At putting away coal he was
dismal failure; at playing baseball he was
first choice on q scrub nine. At the one he
was the hireling, at the other the enthusi-
ast. The conqueror, the discoverer, the
inventor, the great leader Of men have all
been enthusiasts. They have blazed the
pathway of triumph along the march Of
lkx, <Rsn al
them.
Enthusiasm is not permitted to work in
isolation, but begets enthusiasm, compels
hearing, secures constituency. A one
armed newsboy In Baltimore Is an en-
thusiastic paper seller. He has the first
morning edition and the last evening
extra" Workmen hurrying to their
work buy papers as they return his CHEEKY,
business-like greeting, while the tired mer-
chant on his homeward way at evening Is
willing investor In the wares Of this en-
thusiastlc little news agent. The spirit OF
that boy Is the pledge Of his future success.
Men-do net need opportunity so much as
opportunity needs men. An enthuslastio
quest will discover countless opportuni-
ties. This continent waited through un-
known centuries for Columbus. A mate
rial world with resources little more than
dreamed Of awaits the coming Of countless
enthusiastic searchers, who will pre-empt
their rich claims. The spiritual world
awaits the coming Of the enthusiastic
church. The Divine teacher has shown the
way. A life OF righteousness, faith and sac
rifce will win victories and receive crown.
There is one point at which we must
watch. Enthusiasm must not be con-
founded with the mere effervescence Of
spirit aroused by passing novelty. Some
really brilliant men waste all their energies
In running after some new thing only to
lose interest when the newness Is gone. ;,
True enthusiasm Is q great purpose per-
sistently, earnestly and intelligently ad-
hered to, and as such has been and will
continue to be- a conquering force In what
ever field its activities may be employed.
- '.i'T' WILLIAM G. CAssARD,
Chaplain q. 8. Navy, Fortress Monroe, Va.