The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-19
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
STRONG MEN WANTED: THEY ARE IN
DEMAND ALL OVER THE EARTH.
BY the Rev. Benz. f. Fritz, ID. D., PHI.
d., Pastor of the United Brethren
Church, Columbus, o.

the year were born two of the strongest
men, the grandest men, that the world has
ever seen. Last Sunday occurred the ami
versary of Abraham Lincoln's birth; next
Wednesday the country celebrates that of
it's first President its father, washington.
OF all the heroes fmmortalized by nations
in ancient or modern times, none surpass
Washington and Lincoln in exactly fulfilling
the words of the text. They were men-in
the very highest and most brilliant mean
ing of the word. Men of wisdom, men of
power; wonderfully strong in constancy,
courage and patriotism. Favors could not
spoil them nor tyranny alright; they were
supremely strong and noble.
The strength of George Washington, the
strength of Abraham Lincoln, is wanting in
the men Of to-day. Everywhere on earth
are needed more such men as they, more
such men as was he who spoke the words of
our text See for a moment what was the
occasion of this forceful utterance.
David, King of Israel, was dying. In
his younger days he had slain Goliath, but
he was now falling before mightier arm;
he had been a great man, but now he was
dying man-and dying king. Therefore,
he called for the young heir. Solomon, and,
saying: 'I go the way of all the earth,''
SAVE i1iHA Tic last anu LIlG DSob WOAu VI
counsel such father could give to his boy.
Small wonder that he was full of tender
solicitude or that his parting words were so
full of pathos. He knew Solomon was but
a lad, young and foolish, surrounded by
enemies seeking his overthrow, altogether
too inexperienced to bear the heavy burden
of throne and crown. What will become of
my boy? The King seeks to put the spirit
of his own life into that young heart and
mind: BE thou strong, therefore, and show
thyself a man; keep the charge of the
Lord thy God to walk in his ways,
that thou mayest prosper in all that thou
doest
We see what David recognized as the
source of his own strength and of his ex-
ceptional prosperity And with like direc--
tlon this call to strength runs like a cord
of silver through the whole Scriptures: BE
strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might" strengthened with all might ac-
cording to his glorious power" Brute
strength is nothing when compared with
the application of steam and electricity
which has revolutioniZed the world of labor
and commerce. So is it strength of mind
and character which is the eternal differ
ence between the good and bad successful
and unsuccessful-and the choice of either is
left to every man.
IN STATE AND NATION.
The great need of our government to-day
is strong men-legislators who will accent
no bribes; honest men whose burning words
and shining lives will be a standing protest
to any rogues who may be seeking only the
spoils of office; men in both branches of the
House who will stand on that sacred ground
and say with Lincoln these inspiring words
I'VE here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have lived in vain; that this Ma
tion under God shall have a new birth of
freedom, and that government of the peo-
pie, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth.
Now, therefore, be strong and show that
you are men by striving to obtain this ex-
altcd state of true government, by Chris
tlan lie and faith uplifting the Nation, and
by bringing the hearts and consciences of
men to see the truth and live by it, and to
follow the golden rule.
For before men can be strong in the state
they must be strong in their homes-in
their individual home life. Many homes are
made miserable by the petty tyranny exer-
clsed in them, in rude and overbearing man
ners, In unkind, even brutal, treatment of
wife and little ones. Many a brave, true
wife has become discouraged and broken
hearted through the constant, unjust re-
proaches and unfeeling conduct of a brutal
husband, pleasant everywhere except in his
own home. why should it be So? Life is
all too full Of tears and sorrows, and from
the homes of strife and anger wife and chill
dren may soon pass away without regret,
seeking that land where the wicked cease
from troubling and the weary are at rest
Be strong, loving, patient men; your
homes are being built on sand or rock,
for time and eternity. Be strong, there
fore, show your manliness to the weak ones
whom God has given you to love, cherish
and protect. Prove your manhood by being
in all things manly and kind at home
IN SOCIAL AND BUSINESS LIFE.
And as in the home, so in society, so in
the store, the office. the factory. Men of
strength are needed in commerce and manu-
facture, in business and professional
spheres. Men who will not violate that con-
fdence on which the whole commercial
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pends. Men of principle. of integrity, whose
word is as good as their bond, who can be
relied upon to represent goods as they are;
square-dealing, right-minded, above taking
a mean advantage even in the elastic sane
tions of trade.
The standards of business, social and
domestic life are too often widely at vari-
ance. Regard every man as brother: no
swindling of a fellow-being; no grinding
down of help, but fair wages and consider
ate treatment with a kindly interest in their
welfare so far as possible. And on the part
of the employed, honesty and faithfulness
to duty, making their employers interests
their own.
In the family in business and society. as
in governmental life, it is the same strength
of manhood that is called for. Washington
and Lincoln were men of strength in their
private affairs, as well as their public life
and character.
But it must not be supposed our motto
Is simply for man in regard to sex.
Character is a greater thing than gender.
>
unutterabe and inestimable its height and
depth, length and breadth have never been
sounded. God pity the boy or girl who has
no mother, or worse than none-for there
are such. 1t was well said by the good
Matthew Henry, THE worst orphans are
those who have wicked parents alive" Like
produces like and all influence, good or
bad, makes an eternal imprint on thought
and character.
Are you only a weak woman? So was
Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Fry and
Dorothea Dix, and are thousands of noble
women whose names the world has never
heard. BE strong in your determination
to bless the world in your loving labors
wherever you may be.
physical disability? So was William H.
Prescott groping on in semi-blindness, amid
stern difficulties which would have crushed
man less resolute. till at last he won
through historic pages worldwide fame and
influence. Some of the worlds greatest ora
tors also made wretched failures at the
beginning of their efforts. Demosthenas,
Beaconsfield Bismarck and Webster are
cases of weakness becoming strength, and
success arising out Of failure Therefore
be strong and show that you are a man n no
can overcome your difficulties.
TRUE SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
We are to make the most of this life and
to do our best in it, not as though that were
the end, intellectually good as 1t is, but
chiefly because it all is to have its effect in
a larger, higher sphere in tie life beyond.