Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-03

tions for q song. Only once did
yield minor point which | considered
TO be for the best interests OF the con-
gregntion. But only once. The rest
of my three ycars' of service are open
to the most critical inspection. never
shirked a duty. never considered any
work too much. My labor is labor
of love! I love my calling, bec1use
to me 1t is the noblest profession to
which any honest man can consecrate
his life. feel that have done my
duty even though success may not
have crowned my efforts.
"But what, after all, is success?-
| Ministerial successT The ability to
get a fcw customers to sign the con.
gregationnl roster? What is minister
lal success" The ability to increase the
surplus fund Of the congregation, or to
decrease its debt? The power to nt-
tract outsiders to tho church? The
ability to BIZ smooth talkcr" or to
secure corner in the heart Of every
old woman and every crank" What
is ministerial successT The diplomat
ic smoothness to win the good opinion
Of every Tom, Dick and Harry? II
that constitutes ministerial success,
then am glad to be failure, and to
remain a failure all my life. But that
| is only the success Of the unprinci.
pied hypocrite, who has no higher am.
bition than to advance his own selfish
motives and interests; who 'stoops' to
conquer; whose (prince.apples) princi-
pies stand for so many paper dollars;
whose whole life is one good-sized lie.
"rhe honest preacher does not meas
ure success by the foot rule of smiles,
mods, KISSES nor kicks. To him, sue
cess in only divisable by his spiritual
life which his teachings, his manhood,
his character, his truthfulness, his sin.
cerity, have enlarged and deepened.
He measures success by the value of
deeds, by the evidence Of the improved
spiritual and moral condition of his
people, by the genuine good he has ac-
complshcd not by the dollars he has
made nor by the smiles and mods he
has secured. IL, therefore, | have
succeeded in making you conscious of
your obligations; If have. in meas
ure, been tho means Of actuating you
to o nobler life to a higher ideal, to
a truer purpose in life, have not fail.
cd. If I have been tho means of maxi
ing you realize that you owe yourself,
your wife, your husband, your father,
mother, child, friend, and your God
a duty---if have at all succeeded In
making you realize what that duty is,
have not failed; may, l am on the
road to success. 80. Fw
"On the third anniversary of our re.
lation as preacher aud people, again
seek at your hands that devotion to
our religion, that zeal for It's truth,
that firmuess for the principles which
is my right to demand ask your
co operation, your interest, and your
encouragement. do not ask for your
praise. l need 1t not. l do not seek
your approval it would not alter my
course. do not ask Your friendship
that must be mutual, 1t must he
sclf-elective.. l am proud of my
friends. but am just as proud of my
enemies. They are the mercury In tho
thermometer Of my efficiency, my prin-
ciples and my worth. They are the
exponents of my value as d preacher
Of the truth.
"a final word: AS you love truth,
do not, do not tie my hands! Do not
gag me, do not compel me to be I'M
true to my God, to myself, my ideals,
my convictions, my calling. Remem-
ber that Rabbi is prophet. He Is
here not to praise; he is here to ad-
monish; to do what an Isaiah, MI
cah, n Malachi did--admonish; to brave
all danger, TO he courageous; aye, to
go before the kings of today and say:
'Ye have done wrong Yc have not
done your duty; ye shall mend your
evil ways; We shall be pure, and hon
est and truthful aud sincere"
"Yes, 1t required courage then: 1t re-
quires courage today. Help mo to
increase this courage; help me TO
,,ca.oh tho t,y,th he1n me ia he n