Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-23
world and the other must be conscious

possible that does not recognize an ex-
istence beyond the horizon; and that
does not stretch itself up into the pro-
portions which belong to it as a Great
ure of the Infinite. Even if n were
to look only upon natural results and
economic courses, he is best prepared
for this life who considers life to be
made up of this life and of that which
is to come. In every outstarting in life
it is not enough that you propose to
yourself to do well in. this world; this
world for you must reach to and find
it's end in the other.
And this is not all. When you lay
the course of your life out before you,
and say to yourself that you propose
to achieve in your mortal life such and
such things, it is not a matter of in
difference Ito you how you achieve
them.
When youth first opens, if it has been
instructed in Christian principles, the
impulses generally are noble and up
right. Youth Enthusiastically aspires
to do things that are right, and to do
them in a right manner. Yet n of
| the earliest experiences-is that of sur
prise and horror at the worlds ignoble
ways; and. as a result. the temporary
withdrawal of the young soul from its
first contacts with life. It's first COM
prehension of actual life, and of what
must be done in the world, if one
would succeed, violates it's romantic
notions of manly t~ruthfulness and hon
orable dealings. Ay, when that period
Of life comes when young men are
to break away from the home which
sheltered and protected them from their
infancy, they go out into the world
with the most generous purposes.
Their inspiration is for truth, honesty,
fidelity, enterprise, generosity, honour,
and even heroism, and they mean new
er to forsake these things; they mean
to carry these out in their lives to the
very end. Do youdoubt that these are
Gods good angels to you? Not that
there are non better; but it may be
said truly that these noble indictments,
motives and aspirations stand along
the line of a mans plans in life as so
proposes to work out his ideal in life.
Let every one, then, who begins the
real struggles of life have a plan along
which are clearly seen noble senti-
ments and convictions; viz: Gods an
| gels; for no plan is fit for achieve
ment which you cannot achieve by
| open, honest, upright, Christian mo-
tives. You cannot afford to succeed by
any other course. Your ladder, though
standing on the ground, must rest its
top in heaven so that the angels of
God may constantly pass up and down
upon it. 1t is bad enough to have a
plan that begins on earth and stays on
earth; but for a man having a good
plan to consent to execute it from base
sentiments or by base influences, is
objectionable.
Your life will task and prove you.
Do not, however, let it drive away from
you those influences for good which
overhang your childhood. Have they
not already gone from some of you?
Has not an enamel already formed over
your tender feelings? Have not some
of you boosted of forgetfulness? Have
you not boosted that you no longer re-
membered or were influenced by the
youth? That you have strengthened
yourself against them? That you
have devastated, to some extent, puri-
ty, delicacy, refinement, truth. honour,
justice, rectitude? Are not some Of US
already working down toward the n
imal condition of life? Do not, how
ever, trust alone to those generous
sentiments. You will find, if not now,
hereafter, that morality is not piety.
Morality is but one round of the lad
der that you must, day by day, be
striving to climb.
Out in mid-ocean.a ship is tossing
on the waves; the night is dark; the
winds are high. The angry elements
rage and howl as if determined to tear
the troubled Vessel in pieces or sink
her in the deep. A sailor-boy has Just
climbed down from the swinging mast,
and crept, wet and cold, into his warm
bunk to rest. He sleeps unconscious
of the howl of the storm and the roll
of the groaning ship. His heart is far
away in that quiet home which he has
left for a rowing life upon the seas.
He hears again the voice Of evening
prayer as it is said by parental lips,
and one %fervent, tender petition bears
his own name to the throne of Infinite
Mercy. The church bell calls, and he
goes in the light of memory with his
youthful companions, along the green
walks and beneath the shade of ancient
trees to the village sanctuary. And
agains he hears the comfortable words
Come unto Me all We that labour and
are heavy laden, and | will give you
rest" God is speaking to that wand