The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-23
Rev. Asbury E. KrOm El0Quently
POrtrayS the Cooperation of Edu-
cation, Business, Religion
and Christianity.

enters into our lives. II may be a better
home, larger income a truer friend
ship. Yet how soon we grow accustomed
To these things. IL Is hard 20 remember
that IL has not always been thus. one
day We ask ourselves II after all we are
happier than before. In most cases We
would be obliged 10 say that we are not.
Happiness does not consist IN outer con-
ditions. II depends on the character the
attitude of the man. II the man has not
changed because OF the new conditions
there is no increase OF true and lasting
JOY. But note this The surest pathway 10
larger fuller happiness I'm new condi-
tions is gratitude and thanks 20 those
who have been Instrumental I'm securing
them for you Here is source of joy and
. satisfaction that the world scarcely
knows. II r. one OF the broad avenues
through which the peace of God comes
trooping into our hearts. Consider these
nine men who were healed. In a month
they would scarcely recall that once they
We're lcpers. Other sorrows and embar-
easements would creep into their lives
and they would be as unhappy as before.
Yet that sense OF gratitude. had they pos
sessed H. would have held before their
eyes the blessing they had received and
would have been solace TO the new sor-
rows OF their cleansed and purified life.
But there may have been a better reason
for their not returning. They might have
thought that the best way 10 show their
gratitude was To go forth 10 the world
and enter into the tasks and assume the
responsibilities that their disease had
compelled them to leave undone and to
shirk. II this healing had occurred i'm the
year OF our Lord 1901 this unquestionably
would have been their attitude For to-
day men show their gratitude To other
men and TO God by doing more and by do
ing that more better than they have done
the less. But does IL satisfy you as a
man of business 10 have the young man.
whom you have helped, merely succeed
in business. youth OF promise entering
into "A business career goes 60 a man of
means and SAYS II I had thousand dol
lars j could enter business for myself The
thousand dollars is furnished The young
man succeeds. returns the money with
interest and the next day cuts YOU on the
street. That s the kind OF gratitude that
these nine cleansed workers showed TO
Jesus
Its the kind Of gratitude that even the
most sanctlhed man feels tempted 10 re-
sent with a kick.
mother Is dependent on an only son
for support. She lives In modest country
village. The son secures work I'm the citv
She mas made him what he is. Her hands
have been worn sore 10 provide him the
means for an education He prospers IN
his business career. Every week sends
liberal check TO the mother But he IS
too engrosed Ia write even a line. Week
after week and month after month she
tears open the letter in feverish haste
hoping that some word. some token OF
love and affection will be enclosed.
Nothing there but the check What
mother would not rather sit i'm a room
cold and bare and starve with a fond let
ter pressed 10 her bosom from her son
than 10 receive aid that Is not enriched
with love.
NEED OF MORAL STRENGTH
Not time In our work for gratitude 10
those who have helped US A man cannot
work without strength. lie cannot do his
best work without moral strength. The
best work done I'm this world IS done with
the conviction that one is doing ones
duty to ones fellow man. That young
man IN business will never succeed with
his base ingratitu as he would have
succeeded had he had the consciousness
that he had done his duty by one who
had given herself for him and made him
what he was. The nine mt , going TO their
work had lost the one chance I'm securing
inspiration and strength to do IL when
'hey refused 10 return with the one man
who gave Jesus thanks
Still another excuse may he found for
them In the fact that they were healed
not directly but indirectly bv Jesus III
was on the way. they may not have been
them. Perhaps it was due to some other
agency. But what blessing is there i'm
lie that does not come in some indirect
way
II is only I'm this way that all the dis
coVeries OF modern science mean anything
10 the every day life OF men.
We are tremendously Interested IN bi-
ology, I'm physiology I'm histology, I'm
chemistry. Yet these become OF no prac-
ucal service 10 man until. not the Sci
enlist but the physician takes over the
truths here revealed and makes them OF
service Between the schools Of fine sci
ence and practical life stand the schools
ot medicine. Between the scientist aud
the miner I'M the bowels or the earth the
school Of engineering Between the
thought of the one man and the multitude
are the deStitutionS Of human society
which> mediate and reveal the thinker to
the world.
Is It not true in the case OF most men.
as in the case of the nine. that they forget
"a be grateful to men and their memory.
because the influence OF these lives is
transmitted by oft-times remote agencies
We are familiar today with our political
our social and our religious institutions
We are grateful FOR them. but the men
who have made them what they are have
passed from memory. they are forgotten.
For this reason the sin of ingrattude is
extremely common. 10 makes itself and
deceiveS US hut because our ingra titude
X under disguise and we ourselves are ln
ignorance OF its presence IL does not save
refusing 20 give to man and God their
due.
This thought OF ingratitude and the pos
sible excuses of those who were so gem
erously healed by Jesus are worthy OF
note at this time IN connection with the
Christian church. We near the season
that Is commemorative OF the birth Of
Jesus Christ IL Is the great anniversary
day OF the church. II calls TO mind that
one gift OF God 10 humanity. for which.
above all other gifts. we are most CRATE
ful Science Is grateful 20 those who re-
veal little more the hidden truth OF the
universe. The state pays honor and IL
thankful to the wise and experienced mtn
who in positions Of trust reveal unknown
resources of newer that may BE- used by
coming generations for the welfare 81 all
who are governed. Humanity should bc
grateful fer that revelation of Itself
through Jesus Christ that enables it 20
40 forward by surer methods toward "A
moro certain goal than the past had re-
Nealed
The one institution that by direct effort
endeaVorg 90 promote His teaching and
life Is the church There are agencies
I'm society that look 20 the upbuilding of
men and that promote the Interests of
Gods kingdom. There are Christian men
and women who are in no way associated
with the church who used the Influence
Of their lives I'm business. in AL their SO
cial relations for the promotion Of That