The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-03

| NEW 1edT Sermon WIS DItdtHtu w
Rev. DIR. James Mcleod to a large
congregation in the First PresbVter-
ian church yesterday morning. "Fidel-
ity i'm Little Things" was the topic of
the discourse which was from the text,
"He that is faithful in that which Is
least, is faithful also in much. and he
shat is unjust in the least is also un-
just in much" Luke, xvi:10.
| Dr. Mcleod held that life was
stewardship for which men would be
held responsible by their Maker, re-
sponsi5le for what was entrusted to
them. Man, he said, was only a ten
ant at will; what he had was not his
own; he did not make himself nor his
| property-all was the gift of God.
| There was a responsibility placed on
each of mankind to deal faithfully
with his trust. DIR. Mcleod said:
| 1t is by neglecting little things that
| great commercial, political and religious
failures have resulted. As in great COM
mercial failures from little beginnings,
| so in the sphere of morals and religion
| has the result been too often observed.
| The application of the parable is end
| less but there are many things to covet
| yet unlawful covetousness or lust leads
| to ruin in the former case and to death
| i'm the latter The covetous desire leads
| to theft, theft on small scale to theft
| on large scale. Angry sentiment or bit
| ter utterance seems a trifie. but each has
| led TO a blow a blow to prison, to trial
| for murder, to conviction. to the gallows
ABOUT DRINK.
| There is no better time than the pres
| ent for making resolutions as to the
management of ones self, ones steward
| ship. We all of us have our perfections
| or think we have; let us be as conscious
| of our failngs. How about drink? Some
| of us think there is no great harm in
| taking n little drink. The other day l
| saw a man who a few years ago, thought
! ii no harm to take q little drink, but
| he is going toward a drunkards grave,
| and will fall into 1t just so certain as
| the sun will rise tomorrow. Little foxes
| do as much ultimate harm in gnawing
| the vines as do the bigger foxes.
The principle speaks particularly in re-
| ligion. In nothing did the character, life
| and teachings of Christ speak palmer
| than i'm the little things which attended
his time on earth. "lnasmuch as ye did it
| unto one of the least of these, my breth-
| rcn, ye have done 1t unto me-"
| If one has faith no larger than the
| grain of a mustard seed, he has faith,
small perhaps. but faith enough to save
| the soul Nothing exists else it has its be-
ginning. Any soul which has but u lit
tie of faith in It has faith and Christ can
Cold water is a little thing, but of one
who gives a cup of cold water to one of
His disciples Verify" He says, "he shall
not lose his reward"
| Life is made up of little things. That
! truth is a law which governs everything
| The very law that mouids tear
| And makes it trlckle from it's source,
| That law preserves the earth a sphere
And keeps the planets in their course.
NO DISTINCTION.
| And SO 1t is in the moral world and
! spiritual realm. There is this law for
| rich and poor alike and for the wise and
| ignorant. the same for those engaged in
| great enterprises as for those laborins
for an occasional days pay. In regard
to all mankind there is no deviation from
the law which holds good that he who
is faithful in little things is faithful in
| all things. Men are apt to forget this.
| Often they are honest at home and scorn
men who are dishonest in business,
| who are INSCRIPTIONS in public life and
take up with those who forget in wrong
doing.
If a principle is worth anything it ap-
plies to a corporation, or a political body,
or millions of people. Each member of a
corporation or political body is as much
bound by principle and law as is he who
should be governed by 1t at home or in
business. The virtue of fidelity among
those who accupy positions of power and
trust is something this nation needs no
less for it's prosperity than-aye, it's per-
petuty. Let it be virtue for that class
which places gold above honor, eXpedi-
ency above principle.
No man is more useful to society, to
his country, to himself, than he who prac-
tees and clings to the virtues and prin-
ciples of our Lords words as revealed in
the parable of the steward. They are
the men the goodness of whose lives can
not be computed for the good they do.
As the new year dawns they will be use
full and happy, too, not alone for the
good they do themselves, but for what
they do for others.
To young men especially wish to speak
on this matter. Those returning to col
lege should take heed of their steward
ship and be circumspect in little things.
little acts, rules of study, rules of con-
duct. Let them so mould themselves in
their susceptible youth and manhood they
that when their morals are moulded they
will be creditable and influential for good
in society and worthy of their fathers
places in the business or business world
If they would have a place OF honor in
the years to come they must be erect and
manly in the little things of present
years.
NEW YEARS HARDNESS.
pr. Mcleod remarked yesterday that
if flfty-pine of his congregation had
intended taking a train at 1920 o'clock
they all would have been left behind
1t was as important, he said, to reach
a house Of worship on time as to reach
a depot on time. He hoped his people
would be prompt in attending service
during 1898. His comment was re.
ceived with smiles and was evidently
appreciated.