The evening Republican., 1902-06-26
.''THB MED /
DLING FOOL. .
A Sermon Preached by
the Rev John Shape,
June END, 1902.

Text: 1T is an honor for a man
to cease from strife, but every fool
will be lneddling." Prov. 2O-3.
A young cub once asked his father
fox IL he could teach him some
trick to defeat the dogs in case he
should fall in with them. The old
fox had grown gray in long decep-
tions and depredations, and bore on
his body the scars OF many an en-
counter with the masters Of the
hounds, and OF ir-brsadth escapes
in the chase, but he answered with
sigh: AFTER all my experiences
with the hounds am forced to con-
fess that the best trick know is to
keep out Of their way"
Under this homely allegory lies
the kernel of all that it is necessary
to SAY tonight on the "Meddling
Fool" He is new Wind of fool
that we study in brief way at this
hour. He is different iron all and
more numerous than any, except
perhaps the garrulous fool, ,-of whom
we speak in the next sermon.
You find this fool-The Msddllng
Fool--at every turn. He is in the
workshop, at tine office, in the fac.
tory, In the farm, in the pulpit, and
In the pew. His stock In trade, Is
the stock that belongs to his neigh
bor. He does business (his misch,e-
vous business) on stolen capital, aud
himself deserves capital punishment.
You will find him In the domestic
circle where nothing ever suits him
(not even the pie his mother used to
make). He Is quarrelsone with her
who has ever tried to be help mate
to him. 1t maybe he is not wholly to
blame in this particular, for 1t is
true that there are feminine fools as
well as masculine madmen. II she be
senselessly jealous, and he be over
bearingl7 bo0r;sh; If she be insaaely
sensitive, and he be unpardonably
Inc0nsiderate; II she be poet, and
he ploddcr; If she find her greatest
enjoyment in the company Of con-
genial feminine companions, and he
in the company Of other female
friends; if she be welded to her home
aud he to his profession; if she neg
lecIs hefhome, and he neglects her
II he know naught of wife appre-
citation, and know naught OF hus-
bands praise-the only thing that
may be justly said OF such couple
is ia PAIR OF fools wel-met and i'll
mated"
They meddle with the sanctity Of
the matrim onial relation when
they got married. and the only
thing now to do 10 10 acknowledge
they we're fools, and make the best
oil it, The meddllng fool is to be
seen in social circles, where the
hig hest premium is often paid for
social advantage over ones
neighbor and where thousands Of
dollars are spent in single night
lor the purpose OF outshiuing a
social rival.
The mcddling fool is seen at Base
Bail games where IN boislerous and
boorish slang. be clamors for the
blood OF tue umpire.
O He is seen ip the pulpit where Qf
he be big enough meddler, and b..
enough tool) he NEEDLES with every
subject, imaginable under the sun
and above it. He NEEDLES with
national politics, when statesmen,
ADLER than he, marvel at his
temerity. lie irstructs councilmeu
us TO civic duties, aud takes the
broom out OF the Street Commits
sioners hand to sweep the city
streets. lie fights for the opening
Of a new street as assiduously (and
asinnically) as If he were fighting
for the opening Of world Tor tile
spread ot the gospel.
lie demands the re-paving OF the
avenue OH which he lives as earnestly
as lie demands the regeneration of
individuals, and il he does not get
what he wants, he proceeds to know
the reason why-from his pulpit. lie
instructs dry goods merchants when
to close their doors, and coal dealers
how to screen coal. He settles strikes,
fights beef trusts. reviews novels, re-
Dukes magistrates, denounces the
tariff, and takes a whack atthe Pres
ident of the United States. He is IL
meddling fool, and wastes much val
liable time that ought te be given to
the legitimate preaching Of the gos-
pei.
The meddling fool is also seen in
the pcw-and is often In evidence es-
peciallyat the close OF prayer meet
ing, when he spoils the best meeting
held for year by meddling in an
other mans business. II he be not a
trustee, he knows exactly whether
the water spout needs tixing-and
painting; if he be not deacon lie Is
perfectly qualified togive instructions
on the best way of administering the
communion; If he be not chorster, he
gives suggestions (and criticisms) on
the last solo and the next anthem; II
he be neither sexton nor usher, he
pays strict attention to ventilation
and congregational seating; il he be
not Superintendent he is the better
able to discuss school affairs; il he be
not preacher would still like to
run the whole thing and in any event
he is a meddling fool.
J "Work for every man, and every
man for his work" Is motto he
has never heard. because he was
so busy meddling with other mems
work.
The meddling fool is found at tuner
ais sy mpathlzing with the mourners
discussing the expenditures of