The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
That man may last but never lives,

g. sit is more blessed to glve-be-
cause ones standing or worth is thereby
fixed.
A man is worth just so much as he
gives out. His rating is to be determined,
not by the inflow, but the output. He is
measured, not by his capital, mental cal
iber, brilliancy of genius, quantity and
quality Of talents, birth. social gifts or
standing, graces OF mind or body-by
none of these in the possession, but in
the use of them. In themselves they are
no more than beauty and fragrance i'm
| prisoned in a rose, than gold in an inac
cessible mine. What is love or capacity
or brotherhood uneXercised more than
Shakespeares plays lying dormant in
his brain, than Titian's genius left to
wither in his soul?
"They shall call His name Emmanuel,
| which being interpreted is, God with us
1t is GOd-With-us, not God in Heaven,
our text calls to mind; not clOistered
| love, remote and passive. but active, en-
ergized sef-eiving-mOved with compass
ion. "1hOu art worthy to take the book
and open the seals thereof, rthOu vast
slain and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood"
You are worth just what you mean in
the service OF humanity-your part in
the NOTk Vi ldltu anu lue pdtlelCe vi
hope" Apart from that it matters not
what beauty, talent, capacity you pos
sess, your life is no more than painted
sunrise, . wreath of wax flowers. At the
last you will drop out of life as a pebble
sinks or bubble bursts.
How did we ever get the expression,
"a man is worth a milIiOn?' 1t is true
that mans wealth determines his
worth very often in that it shows his
capacity and character in certain re-
spects and to q limited degree. By his
accumulations he may manifest his in
| dustry and honesty, and by the spirit in
which he holds them and the use he
| makes OF them he may reveal his inward
character and his worth Though even
| here it is an uncertain and Oftentime de-
| ceptive criterion. But the expression in
| it's ordinary significance, that man is
| to be measured by his bank account, is a
| fragrant insult applied to any true man.
He will consider the dollar mark a low
estimate though he be rich as CrGsus.
| Such a scale Of valuation is false and de-
| grading unless we be idolators and wOr-
ship the golden calf; unless man was
meant to be sponge or sort OF money
grub that fattens on gold, and the ideal
character is that Of the miser. We pay
| Cliouee W lo iOy any DuO C1dIdttel, anu
the highest character is Love that
seeketh not her own" The kingly life is
crowned with seif-Sacrihce and we honor
those that serve.
| A man is worth What he is and does.
lie is worth most to church and common
wealth who gives most of character and
strength and opportunity; the man who
by the use of his money promotes sound
business, fosters uprightness and integ-
rity, keeps the wheels of industry turn
ing, thus furnishing employment and dis
covering and developing the talent and
capacity of Others, and who dispenses
his charities with Wise and liberal hand;
the man who by his learning illumines
mankind, banishing error and supersti-
ton and guiding to the true Light; who
by genius or research enriches the world
with invention and discovery; who by
art beauties and adorns life, smoothing
the rough edges and relieving the drudg-
cry; who by his refinement and culture
of heart and soul seeks to win men % the
ideal, to lead them to see his own true
and exalted vision; in fine the man whose
being and springs OF action are not self
centred but Christ centred; whose life
points unerringly to Him who "came
not to be ministered unto but to minis
|
possible TO all and most attractive to
| all.
| EmersOn-'He is the richest man who
enriches his country most; in whom peo-
pie feel richest and proudest; who opens
the doors of opportunity widest. Such "a
man makes every acre of land worth
more-makes richer every man who
touches him. Neither mans means nor
his worth are measurable by money. Ii
he has fat purse and a lean heart,
what is he worth? How poor is he, if
his soul has shriveled to that of a miser
and all his nobler instincts deadr'
Who was worth the most?
One born in manger-who had no
where to lay His head. And He deliber-
ately chose this form to teach that a
"man's life consistent not in the abund-
ance OF the things which he possesseth -
His is the real valuation that is placed
upon life. with what measure We mete
it shall be measured unto you" As we
measure out our goods we ourselves are
in turn measured.
''He that soweth bountifully shall reap
bountifully." Not he that hath the full
est granaries but he that sows most
freely and wisely, OF heart wealth and
soul-power and hand-craft and money.
o. s. Marden tells of the statue of Mar
garet of New Orleans, erected by that
city to one of it's inhabitants. She was
OF poor and obscure family, and pos
sessed none of the gifts and graces of
body or mind that naturally attract.
Unhappily married she was early left a
widow and supported herself by her
needle. She was moved by the defence
less condition of the many girls and
young women, who like herself were ex-
posed to all the dangers and temptations
OF the city, to seek protection for them
by providing home and self-support in
honest work. In her poverty she began
by taking a few into her own home and
from this small beginning the work grew
and increased till her influence was felt
throughout the city's length and there
were thousands OF her "chidren' to "rse
up and call her blessed And thus she
passed through life, at the end, as in the
beginning, poor in purse, plain OF face,
with none OF the endowments or accom-
plishments that naturally please. But
at her death New Orleans came together
as one man to embody in chseled marble
the praises of her whom above all others
the city delighted to honor. Such life
is like sweet incense on the altar 1t is
the alabaster box, not locked away but
broken, and whose fragrance fills the
house. More blessed they who give?'
Yea, blessed by all who feel the healing OF
their garments, and when the course is
ended theirs to receive the welcome
Come, We blessed of my Father
'Where is he that is born King of the
Jews?' Let us follow the wise men in
their quest. The star leads to Bethlehem
The King lies in the manger, the manager
of self-forgetting and service. 1t leads tc
Him who has shown how much more
blessed it is to give than to receive
Follow the Star. 1t may not lead thy feet
Through pleasant wales where bloom ana
fragrance wait:
Nor may it lead thee to those mount all
heights
Where worldly fame and honor hold theil
| state;
Yet follow thou Forget not It's the Star,
And il shall lead TO no one less than God