The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02
CITIZEN HITE TINE"
Rabbi l.. y. Calisch's Int resting Dill


course AT Beth AhHba.
Rabbi Z. y. Calisch gave a short hon.
fly yesterday morning on the subject.
when l Have Time" taiing his text
from Eccleslastes III. and II.
lie SAM tnat wnen ne went 10 TIE gram
mar schools there was a poem in one OF
the Geadeis, whose each verse ended with
the refrain. The mill will never grind
with the water that has passed"
AS q boy. he had often wandered why
the poet found II necessary to accentu-
ate In rhyme so simple and patent fact
as that. But as he grew older the deep
er meaning OF the simple truth came
home TO him.
Each human life is a mill that grinds
out deeds. good or III, with the waiers
Of daily opportunities, and the wasted
waters of one day lost will not return.
iyr The mill Will never grind with the
water that has passed"
In similar line OF thought Is 4 beautiful
German lyric that represents repentance
as having been awakened by gazing from
a b. idge upon Il river as II rolled its
steady course beneath. The reflection
OF the beholder was mot d wave rolls
back again.
In life many of us arc apt TO forget
this irrevOCab leness of time gone. obi
cations present themselves. not urgently
pressing. and the thought too often en-
tertained is, when l have time, I'll at
tend TO it,"
man IL busy garnering an accumula-
ton. In the fun tide OF his manhood
ana strength he deyOtes every hour and
every energy and every waking thought
10 his business. His wife. the faithful
friend of his life. the sharer of his hopes,
does not see much OF him. lie Is work
ing for her. he says, and that must suf-
fee. He IS too busy now 10 be much
with her to give the happiness Of his
presence or the attentions or pleasures
of companionship. lie does not see
much of his children He is often late
in his Office. and they are in bed when
he gets home. and often he is away for
mayhap weeks at time.
He sees these things are so. and he
says that when he has time he is going
10 change them. An. but when. after
years. he attempts 10 turn from his desk
10 his hearfhefone, II NAV he th0f he rth
stone is desolate. and she upon whom
ne would nave lavisned attentions and
devotion and unstinted JOY, is beyond
mortal touch.
or, if size be spared him. he will find
that their souls are strangers. The
sympathy that was between them died
for lack of nourishment:
The electric spark OF heart-intimacy
cannot lean over the chasm OF the years
or its current be carried over broken
wires.
You have friend who is III. OF friend
who is in trouble, and you say. When
l have time. I'll go to see him and give
him a word of cheer and encouragement
but I'm busy now"
When Won do find time the illness is
over and the trouble has vanished, or
become irremediable. and your friend may
never know of your sweet intent. You
have had "A quarrel with a friend and
you say. when l have time. Ill make
1t up
effect upon our puffed-up pride. and you
don't find time, I'll a, last time mas
found you or your friend. and an eternity
will no longer give you opportunity.
An ANONYMOUS writer speaking on
grand scale of opportunity. makes 1t
thus to speak.
Master Of human destinies am /
Love fame. and fortune on my loot
steps wait;
DER cities and fields I roam, and passing
mart and castle,
I knock, unbldden. once, at every gate,
II sleeping. wake. II iedstlnS, rise, ere
II is the hour of Fate.
And those that follow me attain every
wish that mortal desire.
And conoucr every foe save death.
pnt thev who doubt or hesitate, con-
demned TO misfortune. penury. woe.
Seek me i'm vain and uselessly implore-
| answer not, and return no more!'
Though life is not always on so epic
scale as this. yet it is none the less true
that we are letting opportunities for
doily deeds of kindness. for generous
Thought and generous speech and gencr-
Gus acts slip from us. Though similar
ones one nav offer, these never come again.
and though we may set at the wheel OF
righteous resolve at work and do grind
o,st tbe fou~ Of nOber deeds. IL is ever
with new waters. aid never with those
HiIlel OF old said. Repent one day be-
fore thy DEATH" The keynote OF thought
our death. ANY day might be IT, There
fore we should consider every day as
though IL were the last we had. for who
knows whether We shall have time to-
morrow"