The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
Clutches; A FEW REFLECTIONS
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO USE THEM.
By the Rev. George l.. Perrin, ID. D.,
Pastor of the Everyday Church.
Universalist, Boston, Mass.

staff Of this bruised reed."-II Kings,
xviii, u.
A year or more ago a man climbed la
boriously up the stairs to my church study
on crutches. He was seeking for some
thing to do-something that even a lame
man could do. His was pathetic case.
After asking him a few questions L came
directly to the point and said: "Well, my
friend, what can you do?" He named over
a few things that he thought he might be
able to do. but added, sorrowfully: "A man
compelled to spend his days on crutches
doesn't amount to much
! have thought of his words many times
He probably had in mind the chances of
man on clutches in the competitions of life,
and from this point of view he doubtless
spoke truly, for so fierce and continuous
are these times that man needs all his
faculties and bodily powers at their best
If he is to keep pace and fare well in the
struggle.
AS l was standing in the door of st. Vim
cents Hospital, Norfolk, Va, one morning
with one of the hospital physicians, he
said, pointing to the pathway leading to
the gate: do you see that man walking
on crutches?" YES" l replied well"
he answered, there hasn't been a day for
three months that he could not have
walked without the crutches if he had only
thought so''
There are people everywhere who seem to
be constitutionally inclined to lean upon
something or somebody. There are, of
course, many accidents and incidents of life
which make this temporarily entirely legit-
innate. Men need at these times temporary
external support to tide them over an ex-
igency, but aside from these accidents of
life there are many who seem to be born
without any moral or mental stamina. One
sees this even in the attitude. 1 know a
man who cannot sit down for five minutes
anywhere, in public or private, without
Topping oyer TO one side or the other and
seeking Somewhere a reclining or half-re-
Ginning position, if he were always tired,
probably born tired" You have doubtless
seen more than one public speaker who ex-
hibits the same tendency. If he could find
some desk, pulpit or table to lean upon he
was sure to seek support. Let me point
out few of the commonest crutches which
men are in the habit of using
FOUR CRUTCHES.
1. The crutch of friendship. 1 would be
the last to deny the obligations of friend
side. 1 believe God intended that in the
exigencies and accidents of life men should
be worth something to each other, but at
the same time think He meant that every
man should have the power of independent
locomotion and achievement. He did not
mean that we should ever overburden our
friends; He did not intend that we should
use them for crutches for life. Yet this is
hat
stead Of calling on the friend in the hour
of emergency. they call upon him at all
hours OF the day and night, year In and
year out. Having leaned upon him for a
little while, they demand the right per-
manently and without interruption, and IL
the overwhelmed friend demurs even mild
ly to being used as perpetual crutch he
is charged with being disloyal to the claims
of friendship 1t is only an illustration of
substantially the same thing.
2. Society as a crutch. 1 occasionally
hear a man say, with some degree of en-
phasis, 1.-The world owes me living and
intend to have it, Those who are ready
to indulge fiippantly in EXPLANATIONS of this
kind are seldom very particular as to how
they get their living. The one sure thing
is that they do not mean to work for it,
They are dependents. They are parasites.
They are incompetent by nature, by train
ing and desire. They do not mean to live
by their own efforts, but by the efforts of
other people. They make some vain and
selfish definition of society which excuses
them from all personal responsibility ex-
cept drawing their own breaths and putting
food into their own mouths when it has
been prepared for somebody else.
OF course, do not deny that society was
meant to be used. 1 do not deny that God
taught men to come together because they
are stronger in communities, because the
strength and wisdom Of one adds to the
strength and wisdom of another. God
meant men to be helps to each other, but
He meant that it should be mutual and
not one-sided, and man has right TO
use society as special crutch TO aid his
own hating and worthless existence.
3. Yet other men will the home as
a crutch That is, they use it merely as