Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-04-26


important what kind of white linen
operating gown the gospel surgeon
wore as ii was that the nerve Of the
operator be firm and the hand steady
that held the keen, sacred blade with
which he cut out the cancer of sin.
He dispensed with the ministerial
gown and hurled from the church the
old fashioned pulpit, but he still clung
to The old truths. He spoke the gos-
pei message in its simplicity. Because
the storyw so simply told 1t was told
with originality.
My father was gospel minister who
completely consecrated himself, body
and mind and soul, to his work. For
thirty-fve years his pulpit was the sole
business of his life. He lived and
breathed and ate and slept and walked
and nursed his strength only for that.
He had the most tremendous capacity
for work of any man / ever knew, and
even after he was turned seventy his
form was as straight as mountain
his mental force unabated. On that
last gospel journey upon which he set
out on Feb. II he preached in rapid
succession to great audiences at Ma
con, Charleston, Richmond and New
Orleans with his wonted eloGuence
and power. and 1t was not until the
deadly Mexican climate had sapped
his strength that he succumbed. Never
from the first day of his ministry till
the day of his death did he put off the
harness of the lords service. When
he went on lecturng tours it was not
to make money or to take pleasure, but
to get away from his home tasks, so
that he could come back refreshed to
do more valiant service for Christ.
Every family physician who entered
our home declared that the rest Of rail-
road travel had been his physical sal
yation. II forced him to the repose
that he would not otherwise allow to
himself.
A HardwOrlSinR Genius.
He was genius, but he developed
every one Of his ten talents by the
hardest kind Of mental and physical ap-
plication No labor for him was too full
of drudgery. Morning. noon and night
found him in his study. He took phys
ical exercise not for pleasure, but to fit
himself for the pulpit He lived not to
eat. but he ate so that be could live. He
placed his standard very high, and into
every sermon he put his best thought.
He used to say to me: Frank, do not
make the mistake of many literary
men. They say to themselves, l Will
save that thought and put it into anoth-
or speech or article. Give to the world
the best you have. Crowd everything
in that strengthens An argument but
always strive for quality and not for
quantity" When a theological student,
| wanted to occupy for some weeks the
pulpit Of a small country church. He
uttered his protest. saying, You ought
to spend at least three months upon
your first sermon, writing upon 1t from
six to ten hours a day." What testi-
mony is this to his own careful work,
coming from the cold lips which are
now closed In the casket. What q
homiletic lecture it is for the young
ministers, for the young lawyers and
budding statesmen who maintain that
the oratorical art is divine gift which
has no need for struggling upon the
rough mountain side of drudgery. What
a clarion note it is, summOning all men
and women to do their best under all
conditions. The lesson is as powerful
for the merchant of ten talents as Tor
the clerk of two talents. To him that
hath shall be given. From him that
hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath.
There is, however. a warning tnat
comes from my fathers intense appll-
cation to work which deserves the at
tention of all those who are bending
their physical, mental and spiritual
energies to accomplish something IN
life's struggle. My father had one OF
the most robust physical frames ever
given to man. He had a wonderful
mind. He had q wonderful body. lie
could speak ont of doors for two long
hours and address 10000 auditors. Yet
the last sentence would be heard as
distinctly as the first. He could DO a
ten mile tramp more easily than some
men could walk around a city square.
His chest was broad and deep. His
heart went on with the steady regu-
larity of a pumping engine. He thought
he was taking care Of himself, but ne
was not. About twenty-five years ago
the first danger signal was lifted when
insomnia. like a hideous specter, sat al
the foot of his bed and refused to let
him sleep. Night after night he would
be I'D four and five times walking tie
floor. After awhile the children be-
came used to It. We would greet him
at breakfast, saying, Father, how diu
YOU s,eepT and when he answered.
"Not very WELL" he would look SO
fresh and vigorous that we, too, were
deceived, and we would hope that be
/ had slept better than he thought ne
did. But he could not be induced 10
spare himself. lie overestimated DIS
reserve of strength. My father ought
to have lived with that magnlhcenl
body at least fifteen years longer. Hao
he economical his strength the best
years of his life might have been those
last fifteen years. He died from over
work.
Ye brain workers, listen to this warn
ing! Ye literary men. who are tull oi
great thoughts which you are eager tC
utter, beware of overdriving the brain
Remember that you cannot take YOU
workshop to bed with, you and worE
in the dark without undermining YOU
mental strength. Heed today the mes
sage which comes to all. Stop before
it is too late. God did not intend IN!
father to 90 on as be was doing
wrecking his magnificent physica