The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-05
SERMON ON GIANTS BY
REV. MR.. CHAMBERLAIN.

"Giants' Is the subject or the followin8
sermon In the New York Herald prize Sc
ries, and 1t was written by James III.
chamberlain, Ph. d.. pastor OF the First
Congregational Church Of Newark. N.
j.:
There were giants In those days. -
Genesis, W., 4.
This text represents the wall OF the
morbid man who refuses to enter into ths
activities of life aud linda no fit loader
ship among the men OF today. He views
the men Of yesterday, and, by comparing
them with his own nothingnass, calls
thcm giants. Unwilling to follow his
rightful leaders, he pines for the mighty
mon of the past
II the wall were only the expression Of
dissatisfied do nothinRs In the world 1t
would be Of little account: but the cry
regarding the ancient giants has con-
nected with 1t an inierencs shat no giants
exist today, because there Is no opportu-
nifty for giant life. This pseudo reverence
or the great men Of the past carries with
1t the poisonous Yessimism that says
90 There can be no giants now" 1t is
discouragemsn boiled down aud sugnr
coated with pious worship Of ancient
WORTHLESS
"Caesar, Napoleon and Wellington were
great generals, but th.re never will tie
any Llcre;' There will never be another
poet like Homer" "No more orators like
Burke, ritt ana Webster" "No more
preachers like Wesley, whitefeld and
Edwards" "No such statesmen an Madi-
son and jefferson" There is no chance
for such mec TODAY and no demand for
thsm."
This is "a fair specimen Of the idle talk
of men who pretend to appreciats the
greatness OF the fathers. and with this
pious plant unnerve the ambition Of
youth. Were this simply tho silly talk of
imbecilltv no protest from the pulpit
would be in place, but in behalf of dis
couraged youth I purpose to enter an
unqualified dopial OF the spirit OF oil this
word. DID II not seem like iDpious re-
lection of sacred writ, would affirm that
there were no giants In those days The
men Of today.
Physically men are better than ever be-
fore. The average man of to-day is too
large to wear the English armor lizard d
by giant warriors OF q few centuries back.
The collrgian OF today surpassss the an
cient Olympinp. Cicero and Demosthenes
were giants IN oratory by comparison.
Orators were few and poor at that time,
80 these wero easily noted. There are bet
ter preachers today than Wesley. Ed
wards lie far surpassed la truthful presen.
tation Of the word by modern sermon
makers Bismarck, Blaine and Glad
stone oversbadow ancient men OF state
craft. Macaulay tells us that men usu-
ally put the golden age of England at
time wien noblemen We're destitute OF
comforts which would he intolerable to
modern footman. and storekeepers break
tasted on loaves that would cause riot in
modern workbousa.
SO men are CT constantly placing the age
Of mental and spiritual greatness in
times when men were conspicuous not so
much for their own individual merit as
because OF the lack OF ordinary merit
among theIi fellows In every true sense
we may say that in the light of the nine
tenth century men there were no giants
In those days. There Is a proper egotism
which boasts Of today, and imperiously
declares that Eo such men lived in the
past as our generation has produced.
Turning fr N tlis, we may low with
Difference to lne coming man. The
youth Of today may rise above the best Of
their fathers. There was never greater
call tor giants than now; not giant
here and there, but a race OF giants.
Every profession Is crowded with little
men and is seeking for giants. Profes.
sions, like modern skysorapers, have va
cant rooms on the top floor
Railroads are anxious for first class
men; editorial offices will give handsome
salaries to skillful writer's; pulp'ts seek
commanding preachers; corporations seek
in vain for properly qualified counsel; the
nation calls for better statesmen, the COL
leges for better teachers, the merchants
for better saiesmsn, the manufacturer for
letter artisans Top floors for rent" is
hung out at evory corner, inviting boys
who are willing ah able to climb the old
fast ionei stairs There Is no elevator for
carrying idle seekers to the top Of busi-
ness and professional life. Men who
work at the head OF profession or busi.
ness must have sirenRth, and that
strength best comes by toiiing up to the
high places
Giants are not born, they are IN aGe. In
herited adsptability will have some bear.
ing. but earned qualities will have more.
Common strength, common sense, COM
mon honesty are the first reauisit,s The
giants of hard work, frugaltiy OF time
and power, controlled by an indomitable
II viii, " must enter into the makeup Of !
a great man. Time. money and nerve |
power disslpated by young men, not in
true recreation and relaxation but in Idle |
lettering. would, II truly directed, make
many great
Nor will we forges that "Godliness IL |
rroftable ~ The GIANTS snokan ,f Ia /