The Brinkley argus., 1898-09-01
THE DUTY OF THE COMMON MAN
Need of the Individual InAuence-A
 Society of One.


 The questions of chief interest to- day are social rather than individual. We discuss communities, classes, na- tions, races, not persons, when we are considering moral renewal. Problems, perplexities, perils, are thrust before our eyes from pulpit, platform and review. But they concern opposition between the rich and the poor, the strife of po- litical parties, the contentious of organ ized bodies, the government of cities and of nations. Never, apparently, was there so much work on hand for those who would do good as now. The whole church needs to be purified; social bar riers must be thrown down; class of men must be raised up with education, leisure and patriotic spirit to hold the balance of power in government. The competition for gains and honors must be checked. Systematized charities must be administered so as to diminish, if not abolish, poverty.
 But work for great bodies of people must be done by organized bodies. The tasks set before us are too large for m individual even to take hold of. We are assured that, unless something is done, social revolutions and cataclysm will be upon us. Whatcan the common man do? Will any unorganized serv- ice avail against the dangers which threaten the body polite? 70
 We believe that the opportunity of the common man 10 make his life useful was never greater than now. He can do large service to his fellowmen by be- lieving in and asserting his individual influence as against the passion of our time for merging all effort into organ nations, for marshaling every philan- thropic impulse under q banner and q boss. Let him realize that he has a place of his own to fill, that he cannot throw the responsibility for filling it on any leader in social reform or any organization. A great need of to-day is a multiplication of societies, each of which is limited to one person. Each of these societies must face world com posed in large degree of millions of ig- norant. struggling. baflled men and women. pulling down one another in their selfish eagerness 10 get some thing for themselves in this brief life. Int each society of one has for it's first duty 70 find for itself the place where it can do the greatest service
 Did we say a society of one? No, there are always to be two, the man and his God. And in measure it should always be q secret society. Every per son who insists on providing for it a constitution. bylaws and business should be urged to organize by himself and devote himself to the administer ing of his own society. The common man with his God. in his own place, has an exalted task and high honor He need not wait moment to take mp his work. At once he can begin to deal justly, 10 love mercy, to walk humbly with his God. He can put before him. self the reward of self-sacrifce. can strive for it and enjoy it. Every day he will find as many opportunities as he can meet In his home, his neighbor- hood, his business, he will face the whole world. and by the simple exercise of the spirit of Christ in him he can in- spire and lift mp the world. He can make the sacrifice of the Son of God his own. and can share in its sufferings and its joy. 1t is daily experience In his mistakes he can learn patience with others. In his triumphs he can assume the approval of God.
 The common man who does these things is not common in Gods sight. He is not alarmed when the perils of society. seething with its sins. are held up before him. for he is doing his part in his little corner of the world to avert these perils. and he knows that there are many others doing likewise He knows. too, that each one, like him. self. has God for hi partner and in such q partnership he does not expect 10 fail. His daily life may be humble and un- known. But the Almighty One has ac- cepicd it as m instrument for trans forming he world into the kin gdom of God. and he rejoices in its strength and in it's results. which are sure.-Congre- yationalisf