Newport weekly independent., 1902-05-30
SERMONS OF THE DAY
Preachers Draw Helpful Lessons from the Martinique Horror.ss
Business and ReIigion-Rev. G. Cam bell Morgan on Personal Con- sciOusness of God - The
 Power of the Cross.

'The universal sympathy of the world is one of the most hopeful signs of the coming of the kingdom of Heaven on earth" declares Rev. Dr. Joseph K. Mason, of Chicago. "When this same compassion toward the un- fortunate is called forth, not by the unusual, as in this sad event, but by the poor, who are always with us,' 1t will be happy day for humanity. Such calamities are not the evidence of Divine wrath, as some are saying, but the token rather of an impartial benevolence and wisdom. The calam- ity of the comparatively few, dread full as it is, is the salvation of the many, for volcanoes are natures safety valves.
 ''We shall learn some day not to defy the laws of God in nature and in mor- als. All things are ours if we are on Gods side, but if we build our cities on the sides of volcanoes or our nations on corrupt and selfish principles which disregard the rights of the people, or our personal characters on defiance of conscience, which is the voice of God within the soul of man, we must ex- pect calamity and suffering"
 In conclusion, the preacher spoke of the tender sympathy all men must feel for the sufferers in such a calamity as that of Martinique, and of the de- pressed sense of responsibility coming to those who dwell in lands where such visitations of nature are unknown.
 Mans True Greatness.
 "The recent horror in Martinique" says Rev. L. A. Crandall, D. D., "com- pels pause and serious thinking about mans boasted greatness. With the coming of a new century we have been busy recounting mans victories over the forces of nature; now nature wipes out of existence 30,OOO people in 30 seconds of time, as if to compel recognition of her supremacy. Man builds wonderful bridges, rears mag nificent cities, binds steam, chains electricity, but when nature puts forth her useful forces the works of men go down in utter ruin. Mans great ness cannot safely be built upon the place which he occupies in the uni verse. This world, which is his home, is but an insignificant speck' among the countless worlds which hang in space. Man himself is but for little hour and then goes down to decay and dust. No wonder that the psalm ist, looking upon the wonders of the star-sown sky, cried out: "What is man that thou art mindful of him?' Mans true greatness lies in the fact that the Infinite is mindful of him."
 ''The volcano is now phenomena" according to Rev. Johnston Myers. ''Earthquakes have rocked the world again and again. The cyclones have desolated the dwellings of men. The floods have swept away cities and towns. The burning sun has made a desert of the gardens. The cold has frozen the harvests., God has not given us secure place in this world. He has declared that ''we have here no con- tinuing city" We act, however, as though we were to remain where we now live. This life is only the frag ment of life. We treat it as though it were all. We build and plan as the children in the sand upon the sea shore, only to have the next wave destroy our toys. In view of death coming to us suddenly and in some unexpected way we would keep in close rela tion to the Christ who conquered death."
 x x x
 Business and Religion
 "Can a business man succeed in ha h on Christian principles?" asks Dr. c. M. Coburn, Chicago pastor. In reply to his own question he declared: "He can succeed in no other way. Can every business man succeed, then, in getting $1O,00O,O ,OOO who conducts his business on Christian principles? No, but most men will get as near to it as if they conducted their business on different principles. It is not abso- lutely necessary to be honest in order to keep poor. The deacon who said in meeting: Brethren, I've been a tryin' for 40 years to serve the Lord and get rich both to onct, and I tell you, it's mighty hard sleddin',' would probably have been on the county if he hadn't tried to serve the Lord.
 Il never knew a man to fail simply because of his honesty and integrity. The Bible agrees with common expert ence in the teaching that the chances of success in business are not de- creased, but largely increased, if man carries his religion into his business. And his accumulations are likely to stay in the family longer.
 "Integrity has a commercial value. A man Mhn has a remit a inn of hainn