The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-30
DR.. Hidcu's "Glauccs at the Bright
side"


Under tho title Of Chances M the
Bright Side" Rev. DR. j. G.. Hidcn of
Richmond, thus discoursos i'm the Chicago
| Standard:
Macaulay once said that it was a sad
fact that there were thirty thousand
thieves I'm London: but that there was o.
bright side TO this fact. for what other
| city in the world could support thirty
thousand thieves? And how immense
must Doe the honest gains and the solid
thrift i'm city. in which the mere pilfer-
! ings support so many.
The newspapers. during this summer.
have reported quite a noticeable number
of cases of death by lightning. TO one
who read nothing but the newspapers
these items may seem appalling but If
We know anything of the atmospheric
conditions which produce thundcr-stOrms.
We may not forget 10 ask how many
hundreds of lives have been saved 10y
the storms which killed perhaps 70 dozen
people. If the air had remained stasnant
and impure. how many people. now
strong and hearty, would have died Of
malarial fever. or of other diseases bred
by the atmospheric conditions which a
thunderstorm dispels2
Last Thanksgiving Day. a New Eng
! land preacher said IN his sermon.
Some of you. perhaps think that the
habit Of smoking is very bad: and when
you see the draymen on our streets smok-
ing their cigars, YOU think IL u bad sign
But there is bright side TO this DO
/ YOU know Of any other country where
draymen can get cigars 10 smoke?
An English traveller az 81 New York
hotel inquired for the hC0tblack. and
after some search De found the knight
Of the backing brush at q restaurant
across tho street dining ON roast tur-
key ! don't say the boot" was making
the wisest investment Of his means. but
do say that European b0ot-blacks would
not be likely TO have money 30 invest in
such n way
There are soni Scriptur1l grounds for
believing that God will finally over-rule
all the sins 81 the world 10 His own
honor and glory and 20 the highest good
of His redeemed people. That every
gr)g-shop and gambling den shall Doe
forced 90 pay us tribute 90 the glory Of
God and 10 the happiness Of His saints
II this Is not true. how could Paul say
that call things work together for good
10 those that love Goi?'
Tho existence Of personal dcvil-a
deeply malignant and miraculously vigi-
liant enemy OF all righteousness-is one
~ the darkest facts revealed 10 MS I'm
the word Of God with the tendency 10
speak lightly OF this august prince OF
darkness I have not the least sympathy
But even the fact Of Sdtan's existence
"a not utterly without its bright side
What a powerful thing righteousness
mus. be- in this world when Il can fur
nish fun employment for an the time
and AN the dreadful ingenuity Of such
q being as Satan. whose sole business IS
10 oppose 70, 4. b Brown. I'm splon-
did sermon ON "All things work together
for good 20 them hat love God. includes
I'm the "ail things The Devil and an hts
angels. whom ne depicts as q scowling
chain-canr working upon the road thar
leods the saints 20 glory
The Socialists OF orr day are giving
n good deal of trouble and uneasi-
ness. Not few thoughtful speak
ers and writer's seem diSpoSed 20 re-
gard them as an unmihgated nuis-
ance have not the slightest sym
pathv with the principles. nor with the
practices Of the sect. But ] cannot helm
hoping that along with a good deal Of
harm-nay. bv means Of the harm-which
they are doing. they are unconsciouslv
stirring up people 10 look more narrowly
and more clearly AZ some or the great
principles upon which civil government
and society must rest. II indeed they arc
70 rest al ALL and not be I'm a perpetual
state Of confusion and agitation. The
statesman who Salf mat THE price or
liberty is eternal vigilance" knew what
he was talking about Eternal vigil
lance" Is not an easy thing. The gene
raj tendency Of the American people OF
late years has been I'm the direction 81
apathcUc Indifference 10 the general prin-
ciples of government. Great social prob
lens are ruled out OF Society" as too
metaphysical:" and then they have been
turned over TO "cranks' and fanatics
who have deluged the country with the
widest "isms' OF the age. The Social
lists" are doing something IN the way OF
waking MS up 10 the importance Of having
some real knowledge OF the fundamental
principles OF human government and So
cioty-and this IS the bright side Of So
cialism.