The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-08-24
WHERE ARE THE STRONG?
(1'he North State EndeavOrer.)

Is it ever so in Society that the
most talented shrink from the i'm
portant places?
A young man would make good
president but he has never led in
prayer. He shrinks from it for
diffidence or some other reason.
Some one who knows nothing of
the plans of the Society is chosen, he
is willing to pray in a service. He
may have no tact for good work.
A Will you, a half dozen
Question vigorous young people in
your church, standby and see your
Sunday School 90 down, your c.
E. meetings dwindle, in spite of the
faithful efforts of some noble veteran
or on account of the unwise and
shiftless doings of some quack Chris
tian wOrkere
How it must grieve our Master to
see the strong stand with hands
off, leaving the work to be done by
the faithful week.
Reckon Before you say that
Well you cannot do certain
work for Christ, suppose you sit down
and count your powers one by one
and ask: Why did God give me this?
If do not use this for my Master
what shall do with it?
What if had been born into the
world without this talent?
Suppose I had no eyes, no voice,
no physical strength, no money, no
carriage?
Your Il have laid help upon
Powers one that is mighty"
You know that you do not fail at
other things. Your business succeeds
under your direction. He who calls
you into His work would have you
mix your virtue (whatever excellence
gives you success) with your faith,
your knowledge too, and your self
control and your endurance.
A faith in God linked to these human
traits is surety against failure.
And you must he Cody, and have
sympathy for your fellows, and love
must pervade the whole. If you are
idle in Gods service is it not because
you have thought that one who sue
ceeds in worldly affairs cannot sue
ceed in spiritual service?
Another can You first say some
do Better one else can do it bet
ter than you. Why can you sell
goods as well as any, or do school
work, or teach, or make political
speech, or talk in a crowd, or why
can you use your hands so deftly as
a carpenter, or persuade men" tt
| insure or give you an order looking
at your samples?
| You learned to do these things
better than others by trying. An
honest service to Christ cannot be
surpassed.
| This is so often the cry
Can't Do you really mean thai
you cannot? You mean that it is
embarrassing, or it would take some
of your time, or your money. When
you say that you could not be a
the Prayer meeting you mean tina
you went somewhere else, or tina
you did not make up your mind tt
attend your own church service.
Is it not so that you have a gooC
opinion of yourself about everything
else?
Be | can't, does not 81
Careful. often mean, cannot, a
it means, care not.
Tell me, is this not the fact, il
your heart?
Two ladies have home duties
Each has a church engagement, on
says: I have company, we como
take our children, just can't 60 t.
the meeting. The other excuse
herself from two customers five hun
dred miles away from the home
leaves them in her parlor to avail
her return, while she goes to fill a
engagement:
The Master q, young peopl
Calleth for Thee. of our believe
, North State, our historians hav
rightfully resented the charge tina
the North Carolina men tlinched i
. the battle at Guilford Court Hou sc
}. The salvation of our State depend
. upon our unfiinching obedience t
our Captains call.
, 1t is far more embarrassing to le
the cause fail than to endeavOr an
) succeed, a more stinging remors
t not to have tried than to have don
our best.
l The Master calls. 1t is ours not
2 shirk but to work.