The record-union., 1899-04-03

"
culture, the world of pleasure, the world
of fashionable society-is crucified unto
US, and we unto the world. We do not
glory in that cross in the true sense
until we can say with truth: Through
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the
world has been crucified unto me, and I
unto it,
| If that cross means anything it
means that the more a man has Of
wealth and talent and culture, the
more is he under obligation to render
service to humanity. He who would
| be chiefest and greatest must make
himself the servant and slave of all
Increase of strength means increase Of
obligation to help the weak. Increase
| of culture means increase of obliga-
ton to enlighten the illiterate In
crease of virtue means Increase of OBJ
legation to reform the vicious Christi
anity is not separation, it is imparta-
ton. The throne must bend to the
howell. The monarch must minister to
the mendicant. Heaven must come to
earth. That is the meaning of the
cross That was the governing law in
the life of Jesus. 1t must be the gov
erning law in our life. 1--WE that are
strong ought to bear the infirmities of
the weak and not to please ourselves,
fer even Christ pleased not Himself. y
He died for all '3that we who live should
not henceforth live unto ourselves but
unto Him who died for us and rose
again. Our life belongs to Christ and
therefore to humanity.
No man ever came to greatness along
any other path than the way of the
cross. The truly great have felt the
truth that their life belonged to the
race and that what God had given
them was given them for the service
and salvation of man. The enthusiasm
of humanity that made beautiful the
life of Jesus, has irradiated the lives of
men and women and lifted them to
thrones of distinction Not to be min
istered unto but to minister has been
the one motto and ideal of their life.
1t was the motto and ideal of Peabody
when he used his millions to endoW
schools for the enlightenment of the ig-
norant and erect homes for the well
being Of the poor. 1t was the motto
and ideal of Florence Nightingale when
she cOnSecrated her WomanhOod to
the service of the wounded and dying
on the battle fields. 1t was the motto
and ideal of John Howard when he de-
1voted himself to the betterment of the
criminal population of the world 1t
was the motto and ideal of Wendell
Phillips, when he turned from the hon
ors and emoluments of the law to cham
| plOn the cause of the dumb down.
Itrodden slave. It was the motto and
idea of Wesley when he turned away
from the classic halls of Oxford to go
out and preach the gospel of God to
the people in the lanes and highways
of the nation. 1t was the motto and
ideal of Livingstone when he consecrat-
ed the valor and genius of his manhood
to open path and carry the light of
the gospel into the dark jungles of
Africa. These are illustrations of the
high serving the low, the strong min
istering to the weak. They receive the
homage of earth and the hallelujahs of
heaven They declare with trumpet
tones the truth that the great life is
the life that serves
! Men and brethren, we live in a world
that needs our help. We are here to
serve. Itch Dien,'' serve, is the roy
alest, most Christian motto ever adopt
ed by King or Prince Our great err
rand in life is to be useful We are
not here to seek rank or reputation for
ourselves. He who in a world like this
seeks place and fame for himself, who
lays up treasures for himself and is not
rich toward God in service to man. is
blind with an objectionable blindness
and is doomed to derision and shame
This world is keyed to redemptive ends
SO that he who works for man works
with God and has for allies all the
moral forces of the universe. He who
in the spirit and after the example of
Jesus, gives his life to the service of
man. shall be loved of God, be honored
on earth and beyond the vale shall re-
ce1ve crown that fadeth not away
| forever