The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-27


gan their career in the world OF finance
by performing the most menial tasks.
Ii may have been that of a messenger
boy or OF sweeping a dirty floor. That
was the narrow gate 70 banking. But II
you appeal 10 these same men TO live
the life OF the carpenters son they would
probably object to II on the ground that
IL meant coming down from their proud
position as bank president and becoming
as little child. IL would mean humanity
and limitation. II you refer 10 their en-
trance into the world OF finance. they
would reply that they did their humble
tasks as a boy. To which Il might be
retorted IL is better to begin Christian
living as a boy. but II you don't then
one must act just as one must act in
banking II one waits until manhood to
begin. enter in at the narrow gate
But to show the reasonabeness OF
this command OF Jesus, while II may re-
move prejudice. does not remove the
practical difficulties in the way OF rs
fuhllment.
SERIOUS OBSTACLE
This IS a more serious obstacle than
prejudice itself for IL is the soil out OF
which grow, much hostile and contrary
opinion -tep-Feet-eE prejudice -
self interest We find people in business
and in the church with abundant excuses
against such and such n policy when II
these excuses were tested they would
reduce themselves into the one objection
II will cost me something.
We can deceive ourselves In this re-
spect into making ourselves believe that
there Is n principle at stake which Is
about TO be violated There is. But too
often IL is the fundamental principles OF
self-sacrifce and heroic action which are
violated for some small prejudice that
orlV I'm ma Uipafinn has N An
n true standard of conduct.
AS oliver Wendell Holmes said: THE
human race is divided into two classes
those who go ahead and do something
and those who sit and inquire why It
wasn't done the other way"
The practical difficulty in going ahead
and doing something in connection with
the command OF our text springs out OF
the statement OF the text itself. We are
commanded TO begin by entering In at
the narrow gate that is by doing the
small and insignificant tasks commanded
us IL We are commanded to believe our
faith is to be like a grain OF mustard
seed, which Is indeed the smallest OF
all seeds" IL we are urged 10 act Il is
giving a cup of cold water In the true
spirit. It's the smallness Of the task and
not its greatness that causes our feet TO
stumble at the very entrance OF all life.
You remember that Naaman went to
Elisha to be healed. He was commanded
10 go and wash In Jordan seven times
Naaman was indignant 1t aroused his
patriotism. Are not the rivers OF Da-
mascus better than all the waters of
Israeli
He went away In rage. II was then
that his servants came near and spake
unto him and said, My father. II the
prophet had bid thee do some great thing.
woudest thou not have done IL? How
mach rather then, when he saith unto
thee wash and be clean"
This spirit Is as old as humanity II
Is bone OF our bone and flesh Of our flesh.
IL every young man graduating from our
colleges was assured OF a church on Fifth
avenue or on Euclid avenue or I'm the
Back Bay district with a comfortab BILE
salary Of, say ten thousand year, In
stead OF the possibility and probability OF
going through life on less than n thou
sand. the question OF the Presbyterian
general assembly, why are not more
young men entering tho ministry %
would be unmeaning
II we could all start IN life as heads
OF corporations and bank presidents the
professions would be begging men. Al
about the time We are ushered into the
practical affairs OF life we are so con
scous OF our own ability that doing any
thing small means a shcre waste OF
| energy. We have just enough science toe
20 teach US that wasting our energy IS
opposed to the law OF the universe and
OF course. Is not 10 be considered.
How ridiculous 10 expect "A young man
or woman who has attended n summer
conference and read two or three books
on foreign missions. and has the dlsposi-
tion 10 go as n foreign missionary. "a
cramp their genius into the narrow task
OF teaching n Chinaman the alphabet here
I'm our own school
DUTIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Yet these things are the duties and the
opportunities that test the stun out OF
which our lives ara woven They are
the narrow gates 90 life. They are ths
warp and woof out OF which characteS Il
made.
Saws Prof James. The eminent psy.
chologist Keep the faculty OF effort
alive in YOU by a little gratuitous exer.
else every day. That Is be systematical.
~ ascetic or heroic in little unnecessary
points: do every day or two somethins
FOR no other reason than that YOU would
rather not DO n; so that when the hour
% dire need draws nigh. Il may find YOU
not unnorvcd and unframed 20 stand the
test Asccticism Of this sort Is like ths
Insurance which n man pays on his hous
and goods. The tax does him no good a-
the time and possibly NAV never brinf
him return. But n the FIRE does come
his having paid n VII Do his salvation
from ruin"
In ne the IRE always comes We are
continually confronted BY moral crises
and connnrrations. How many mer
emerge from these things 90 nnd them.
selves on the broad road % destruction
They had not taken out IN prosperous
DAYS any moral insurance. They had
entered the church. but they had never
entered the narrow gate. They had ~
called religion. but not veritahle life Bet
ter look every day at the sign boards Of