Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-10-25

this world. the prosperities or the ad-
versities. the conspicuities or the OBJ
securities. Just as soon as you have
enough success TO attract the attention
OK others the envies aud jealousies are
let loose from their kennel. The great
est crime that you can commit I'm the
estimation OF others is TO get on better
than they DO. They think your addition
Is their subtraction. Five hundred per.
sons start for certain goal OF success.
One reaches IL. and the other four hun
dred and ninety-nine are mad IL would
take volumes to hold the story of the
wrongs, outrages and defamations that
have come upon you as a result OF your
success. The warm sun of prosperity
brings into life n swamp full OF annoy
ing insects. On the other hand, the un-
fortunate classes have their struggles
Tor maintenance. To achieve n liveli-
hood by one who had nothing to start
with and after awhile for a family as
well and carry this on until children
are reared and educated and fairly
started In the world and to do this
amid all the rivalries of business and
the uncertainty Of crops and the tickle
ness OF tariff legislation, with an coca
Sional labor strike and here and there
a financial panic thrown in. is a mighty
thing TO do. and there are hundreds ard
thousands of such heroes and heroines
who live unsung and die unhonored.
What We Most Need.
What we all need, whether I'D or
down in life or hnls way between. is
the Infinite solace OF the Christian reli-
gion. And SO we employ the word
come" 1t will take all eternity to find
out the number OF business men who
have been strengthened by the prom
Uses of God and the people who have
been fed by the ravens when other re-
sources gave out and the men and wo-
men who, going into this battle armed
only with needle or saw or Ak or yard
stick or pen or type or shovel or shoe
last. have gained a victory that made
the heavens resound. With all the re-
sources OF God promised for every ex-
igency no one need be left in the lurcb.
like the faith displayed years ago
in Drury lane, London, I'm an humble
home where every particle of food had
given out and kindly soul entered
with tea and other table supplies and
found a Kettle on the fire ready for the
tea The benevolent lady said, How Is
IT that you have the kettle ready for
the tea when YOU had no tea In the
houser' And the daughter In the home
said: Mother would have me put the
nr0 lA
what Is the use Of doing so when we
have nothing In the houser she said:
My child. God will provide. Thirty
years be has already provided for me
through all pain and helplessness. and
he Will not leave me TO starye at last.
BE will send us help though we do not
yet see how We have been waiting nil
day for something to come, but until
we saw you we knew not how Il was To
come. Such things the world may call
condolences, but j call them Almighty
deiiverances, and, though you do not
hear or them, they are occurring every
hour Of every day and in all parts of
Christendom.
But the word come" applied to those
who need solace will amount TO nothing
unless 1t be uttered by some one who
mas experienced that solace. That
spreads the responsibility of giving this
gospel call among n great many. Those
who have lost property and been con-
soled by religion in that trial are the
ones To invite those who have failed i'm
business. These who have lost thcir
health and been consoled by religion
are the ones TO invite those who are In
poor health. Those who have had he
reavcments and been consoled In those
bereavemcntS are the ones TO sympa-
thize with those who have lost father
or mother or companion or child or
friend. What multitudes of us are alive
today and I'm good health and buoyant
In this journey OF life who would have
been broken down or dead long ago but
Tor the sustaining and cheering help of
our holy religion! SO we say, Gomez
The well is not dry. The buckets are
not empty. The supply is not exhaust
eel. There is just as much mercy and
and soothing power In God
rs before the first grave was dug. or
The FIRST tear started. or the first heart |
broken. or the first accident happened. |
or the first fortune vanished. Those of |
US who have felt the consolatory power |
OF religion have n right to speak out OF |
our own experiences and say, Conner
The Star OF Faith.
what dismal work of coincidence the
world makes when il attempts TO con-
dole! The plaster they spread does not |
stick. The broken bones under their
bandage do not knit. \ farmer was
lost In snowstorm on n prairie OF the
Iar west. Night coming on and after he
was almost frantic from not knowing
which way TO go, his sleigh struck the
rut or another sleigh, and he said. 81
viii follow this rut, and Ii will take me
out 10 safety" He fastened on until
he heard the bells OF the preceding
horses; but, coming up, he found that
mat man was also lost, and, as is the
tendency or those who are thus con-
FUSED in the forest or ON the moors
they were both moving in a circle, and
me runner OF the one lost sleigh was
Ioiiowing the runner of the other lost
'ieigh round and round. At last it oc-
Cured to them to look Mt the north
STAR which was peering through the
nlght, and by the direction of that star
-hey got home again. Those who fol-
ow the advice of this world In time of
perpiexity are In a fearful round. for II
5 one Dewildered soul following anoth-
r pewildered soul, and only those who
laVe In such time got their eye on the
Aorning star OF our Christian faith can
IND their way out or be strong enough
o lead others with an all persuasive
invitation.
But" says some one, "you Christian
'eople keep telling us TO come vet
'ou do not tell us how to come" That
barge shall not be true on this occa-
Ion Come believingl Come repentingl
,ome praying! After all that God has
zen doing for six thousand years,
ometimes through patriarchs and
ometimes through prophets and at
ist through the elimination OF ali the
ragedies on Golgotha, can any one
llnk that God will NOT xyaIoo,s~o x--.-