The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-02

Rev. Or. Giffin gave as his New Year
topic last night us Life Worth Biv-
ing?" speaking from Jonah. AS: 1T is
better for me to die than to live The
sermon was one of beautiful optimism.
This was the expression of "A man who
was out of humor pouring out his dis
gust.
The speaker wished no one ever said
IT except in such transient state of
feeling. To many it is a permanent
blunder and a bore from which they
want to escape. a philosophy embody-
ing this idea has been established and
it is no wonder that suicide is so fire.
quent an occurrence. Standing on the
threshold OF a new year, drawing for
ward in memory the pictures of the
past. we will try to answer this ques-
tion. The reply must he in the affirma-
tive at once. If we believe in God we
must believe that the Infinite must be
something other than the Infinite can
be if he has made n mistake in placing
us here to work out our destiny. If
God is God, the question is practically
answered.
Each Of us, however unimportant we
may seem, occupies a relation toward
a great system from which we may not
escape. Somehow for the possession of
man on this globe there is a tremend-
Gus contest between good and evil In
significant as the world may be. the
spirits Of right and wrong are waCing
a fearful warfare to control its inhabit-
ants. More than all. If Christ thought
1T worth while to come to earth to re-
deem mankind, we should consider our
lives worth something.
DEPENDS ON OURSELVES.
Whether life is worth living will de-
pend on what we put in it. 4 man who
is employed in fitting his life with evil
shapes. unhallowed designs, iniQuities
and deformities can expect nothing else
hut that he should he puzzled at the
problem.
The moment a man gives himself to
the control of right, he has no more
tormpnting suspicious as to whether it
is worth while to be right. 1t is only
the man who sits on the ash-heap Of
his destroyed excellence, who debates
the question as to existence.
There are many partialists in the
world. The feeder whose ideal of de-
light ia feasting, the money maker who
never thinks of anything except addi-
tion; when it comes. to subtraction he
becomes suspicious about existence
The place hunter Hobson. who has re-
ceived more huZzas than has come to
almost any man, had only one chance
that was important in changing the
map of the world If we had to depend
on one chance for fame or for enduring
place We would have a small hope. The
idea of being seen or heard in order to
exist in the sense desired should be
rooted out of our hearts.
Life is worth living if the heart of
a true man is put into it. The euitaph
in the old London church-yard should
| be taught to everyone:
"a l was. so he yc;
| As l am, we shall be-
What ! gained that | had,
What ! gave that | have.
Thus | count all my cost,
| What J had that l los
What a man gives of himself is really
what he saves. Every life is a romance
and some late Shakespeare should be
| able to gather up and immOrtalize the
annals of the humblest hearts.
WHAT GOETHE SAID.
! In conclusion, the speaker said inn
| preSSivelY that no man should leave
| the world without leaving an impress
| sion to make life so noble that ii may
| have been worth living. Goethe said
! II purpose to live in the hope of be-
! ing" Victor Hugo said one day: Life
| is conscience" These are true thoughts.
| Our habit is too frequently that Of dis
| counting ourselves, doubling our fell
| lows. suspecting God and then we
| doubt the worth of life. But the chief
reason WHY life is worth living is be-
cause it lasts beyond the grave through
| the ages of eternity, and that life be-
| yond must be determined by the one
| spent here.