The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-03
THE OLD YEARS LEDGER.
Rev. Mr.. custer Reviews the
Twelve Months Just Passed.
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR
The Advances Made by the Various
Churches Is a Matter of Satisfac-
tion-Live During 1898 as
Best You Know How.

The New Years sermon preached at
the NJ. l.. church last night was from
the text chosen by Rev, Mr. custer, in
Ephesians V. is. "Redeeming the time"
Mr.. Custer said
1T is beneficial thing in the very
beginning of the year to look over our
possessions as a nation, a state, an in
dividual. Before doing this let us turn
over the leaves of the ledger Of 1897, of
which there are 1865. all filed with in
teresting matter, we'll worthy OF our at
tention. The worlds ledger is filled with
progress in extension of railroads. public
buildings, national waterways, reclama-
ton of arid tracts and onward march
OF commerce and trade. In spite of the
present financial system the world
marches on. showing what mighty
strides would be taken under more IA
vorable circumstances. There has been
little war excepting the foul, barbarous
and abominable blot upon civilization
by SPANS inhuman work in Cuba, and,
of course, the criticism prevails against
other nations for allowing this, as they
did the infamous work of the Turk in
Armenia and in Greece. These are the
daIks blots; but there are many bright
things, too.
when the avarice of man had about
cornered gold, Alaska comes ready TO
pour out the golden treasure for all
mankind. Prosperity has held her gold
en- wand over Montana in spite of the
adverse monetary legislation Her mines
have turned out untold wealth. new
mines have been discovered. and her
wealth increased marvelously Her
ranges and her fields, as good ms can
be found anywhere, have developed
wonderfully, and she is rapidly coming
TO the front to take her place among
the leading states of the union. and to
| be one of the very best in everything
that makes real prosperity within the
next decade.
I'm looking over the religious page of
the ledger and the moral one. we are
led to be very thankful, for we no longer
have a condition here that would cause
the most refined Eastern families TO
shun ii. nor the most religious to he
without opportunity of worshiping God
according to the dictates of their own
| consciences. All the denominations
have advanced rapidly in developing a
better intellectual. social and spiritual
| life. Here in this Western country.
where men are plain in what they have
TO say, and where there is less subter-
| fuge in language than in the East, 1t
does not take as long to advance to a
! better condition. and that advance is
| being made rapidly New and magni-
| ficent churches are being built in vari-
| Gus parts of the state. arguing the
| larger number who attend divine wor
! ship, and our schools are filled to over
! flowing in all parts of the state
"All honor be to the pioneers who laid
| the foundations of success in Montana.
! whether that be material, mental. moral
| or religious; but let 1t be remembered
| that there are many teachers to-day
teaching out near the foothills all over
| the state. who deny themselves just as
| many comforts Of home and friends as
| ever the more ancient ones did. There
| are just as many preachers now who
| live upon a bare pittance. riding large
! and difficult circuits and suffering as
| much as in the early days. They keep
! families, study for advancement, and
! keep up the work at four or five points
! for the paltry sum of $400 or $500. All
! honor be to these as well as to those
who came in earlier times The bust
ness men and miners Of the state are as
| progressive lot as can be found any
where. All the people, as a rule. are
! very liberal. for which we should thank
! God. The future of Montana is very
| bright.
'In looking over the personal ledger.
| or the personal pages. let us ask our
selves what we have gained not only
| financially-for we are apt to ask about
! that alone-but what we have gained
morally. socially. mentally and spiritu-
! ally, for money does not make the man.
! The soul that IS brave. true and noble
/ may exist under corduroy coat or be
! clothed with n jeans shirt. While the
| soul that has debauched itself even unto
| the Loss Of all principle may be under
| q broadcloth coat and back of a dia-
| mond worth half million.
| AS the new year opens UP before US,
| all the bright opportunities stand with
| hands reckoning us on, and with prom
! Uses fair and beautiful. Let our resolu-
| tons be strong and firm. for only with
| frmness and strength will we ever win
! the battle If life. Let us resolve To
! make the most of every day before US.
! The past is gone and the ledger of life
| viii be lost to us until we meet IT in
! eternity. Let us resolve tn ha rood for
/ IL is much easier to be good with the
| help Of God than to be had without Him.
| / will waste no time. Time is Gods
! most precious gift To man. 4 Will only be
a help to others is another resolution. [
| do not believe in allowing oneself to he
| 50 far from principle as to not stand for
! the right but we should help everyone
| as far as that Will be right. and while
not harming another by such help. He
! who sympathizes with evil harms an
| other who is good oftimeS. Let US re-
! solve 10 do the very best we can and
! send the days OF the year into eternity
laden with good and for God and hu-
manity."