The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-24
Sunday Sermon.
\ GREAT SECRET.

"Nltlier ne Ialnt MISUNDERSTANDING, W., 4.
1t is said of the Buddhist philosophers
that they are the most sclf-contained
or men. They are qu;eScent even under
very embarrassing circumstances, Sc
rene when the rest of the world would
he turbulent and happy when the rest
OF the world would he miserable.
Their state of mind is certainly envia-
Die. and if it is the result of their re-
ligIon then we ought to he them. success
ful competitors in these respects for
cur religion is rs much better than theirs
as full grown man is stronger than Il
hoy. If anybody has at hand the ma
terlal of mental peace it is the Christian
who understands the New Testament.
On being questioned a. to his secret. a
famous Buddhist once replied, Il never
get angry. because it is not worth while
and | never worry, because it does 10
good He had disciplined himself along
these lines until he had acquired rs firm
control over his rebeIious thoughts as
skilful driver has over his team Of
spirited horses. The horses recognize
the iron hand which guides them and
learn to he obedient. SO the thoughts.
the Impulses, the passions can be forced
to do what the soul bids them do. They
can he held in check. they can be for
hidden to mutiny. they can be made
docile when they know they have a
master.
If YOU could abolish anger and the re-
sutant crimes and agonies and heart
aches and heart breaks this world would
be very different place to I'VE in. 1t
is really the cause of half the ills to
which flesh is heir. No man is just when
he is angry. He is simply a runaway
horse, who in the wild frenzy of tenn
porary insanity dashes the carriage and
himself to destruction. Anger is a de-
lirious impetuosity which makes tha
heart beat like a triPhammer and sets
the brain in whirl which renders a
sound Judgment impossible. Anger is
generally cgregious folly. followed by
loss of self-respect and by sting,mg re-
grets. Habitual anger creates physical
disease, and when it is sufficiently ve-
hement DIT may cause sudden death. 1t
is practically form Of blood poison de-
structive alike to health and happiness.
Anger may be classed as one of tho
stupidities OF weak humans nature. The
control of your temper is absolutely
necessary if YOU are to be good citizen.
a loving father. faithful friend or a
worthy Christian.
If we could also overcome our tendency
to worry we should change the whole
complexion of life We should Zoe
stronger, healthier and happier. Worry
is not remedial of disease, but is cauSa-
tive of it. To have that degree of anx-
icty which prompts us to DO what we
cam to prevent an impending evil is slim
ulating and invigOrating. 1t calls out
all our latent capacity, puts us on our
mettle, quickens the pulse and some
times develops a herOism which seems
incredible. The man who has never
been in an emergency and has never
made himself the master of it does not
know how mach character he has and
has missed ONE of the most glorious eX-
peGiences in the career OF the soul. AT
such time the man actually quivers
with life; his meryes thrill with a new
sensation; he is in a fight with fate. and
to win the victory will be a precious
memory forever.
All that is legitimate is in accord with
a religion which tells us how to hammer
ourselves into shape when we are in the
fiery furnace But by worry | mean
that useles breeding which saps your
strength because Won live in the trouble
before it comes and, again live in it after
it has passed. ! have known persons
who never seemed to be happy unless
they We're trying to make themselves
miserable, who always wanted some
thing other than what they possessed,
were everlastingly discoGtented because
if the sun shome on Monday they were
sure that there would be a tempest or
an earthquake on Tuesday Worry for
worry's sake is poor rule to adopt.
God still lives. The world has many
beautiful spots in it if You will search
for them. The habit of dwelling on the
eeils which beset us rather than on the
pleasant things we may enjoy is almost
criminal. The religion in which | be-
lieve teaches me to look at the bright
side and to ignore the dark side as much
as possible.
A sweet temper and a contented Sou
are treasures worth working for With
God above You and heaven ahead of you
YOU ought to bear with patience, and
by lbeing cheerful yourself give good
cheer to others. If the Buddhist car
attain that eminence with difficulty the
his heart must be able TO achieve the
task more easily.
This whole matter is largely under
yCur own control. You can give yourself
a lcoge rein, let your passions drive YOU
whittier they will, and plod through life
with load whose weight you have eX-
aggerated by your mental attitude, or
You can keep yourself well in hand Gre
ate a tendency to make the best of hard
experiences, and so surround yourself
with high and encouraging thoughts
that when it rains you will think of the
sunshine instead of thinking of the rain
when the sun shines. You cannot fulfill
the spiritual law or realize the blessed
ness of life lnless you stifie the querulous
ard cultivate the acquaintance of what
ever can make You strong i'll body and
cheerful of soul Determine to be happy
and YOU will be surprised at the amount
of happiness which will come to you.
GEORGE II. IIEPWORTH.
\ POWDER MILL EXPLOSION