Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-04-04
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE"
Sunday Sermon By the Rev. Dr..
Frank Oliver.
Gays We Nus: Learn How to Face The Pros.
psriiy as Well as the Hard Conditions OF
This World.

Tins World.
New DIRK CITY Inc Rev. D.. Frank
Oliver Han. pastor OF the Church Of the
Divine Paternity. preached Sunday morn
ing on Facing the Circumstances OF Lie.
lie took his text from Philippians ": T.:
Il know how To be aoased, and / also
know how to abound | have learned the
secret DIR. Hall said:
In other words. Paul said, Il have
learned the secret OF how to be independ.
ent OF circumstances. | know how 10 face
humble circumstances, and l know how &c
face prosperity
That is great lesson. and one which few
men ever do learn. But II Is lesson
which we all need to learn in order TO pre-
serve happiness, the integrity of character
and to make the most of life.
First-Let us look first for the secret OF
how 10 face humble circumstances. Every
one stands in danger OF being reduced to
poverty. No matter how much you may
possess to-day. on the morrow II mag be
all swept away. Ii you put your money in
bank the cashier may abscond with il
and leave you with nothing but book
with certain hieroglyphics scrubbed there
IN TO indicate that you were once affluent.
ii You put your money in mining stocks,
the ore may give out. or bad management
may ruin the enterprise. ii you invest in a
railroad, a rival inc may get all the traffic,
or some interruptions SPECTATOR may
wreck the business Tor his own enrich
ment. If yoa buy real estate, il may de.
prec:ate upon your hands, o.: 4 fire may
sweep away your holdings in a night. II
you conclude TO wrap your treasures in a
napkin and hide X IN n hole. some thief
may discover and steal it. So no matter
how rich you may be, tomorrow YOU may.
be as poor as any. Proverbially, riches
take to themselves wings and fly away.
IL is, therefore. extremely important that
% a NJ 70
circumstances. What is the first step to
be taken in this direction:
ID My first word of advice is this: Train
yourself to work. Learn to be useful in
some specific way. Learn to perform some
service OF importance so that you might be
dropped down IN any portion OF the civil
lied glooe absolutely without resources,
and yet be able at once to command at
least the necessities of life from the COM
munity in which you find yourself, in re-
turn Tor the service which You are able to
render.
! take il that this was one OF the great
reasons for the contentment OF the man
who wrote the words OF our text He was
independent because be was a skilled work
man, and knew how, by the use of his
hands, to command IN cny community the
necessities of life. The Jewish people were
extremely wise in many directions, and
their wisdom was nowhere more manifest
than IN the RUE which they made as to
the education of youth. Every Jewish boy,
no matter what the circumstances OF his
lie. must be taught trade. The boy
SaGl. although probably from an cary age
predestined by his parents to become a
scholar. teacher, religious leader. was
nevertheless taught TO make tents. That
Is, he knew how TO weave camePs hair and
other material into the fabric of which
tents were made. Thus, after his CONVEX
sion TO Christianity; when his worldly
Nkrnz &c L.. Ill
his lot with the poo.cs; and humb'est peo-
pc on earth, he was, as lar as it is posi-
bic for man, independent. How was it
that this man was abe to travel over the
world delivering his message TO Saves and
peop.e without resources. When he went
TO new community he at once sought
work, and found it because he was skilled
IN making something watch that commu-
nifty needed. lie earned his bread by the
work of his hands. and spoke his message
because he loved il. And when the PEG.
pie TO whom he spoke came TO him out of
gratitude and wanted TO contribute to-
ward his support, he accepted their hum
be gifts on the principle that the laborer
is worthy OF his hire. and thanked them,
but repeatedly declared that such gifts
were not necessary TO his life. For / am
no: IN want, he said. Il caa earn the
necessities of life"
In what an env.ab,e position such a man
stands. How much better it would be il
every religious teacher of our time had
been taught some useful occupation by
which he could command the necessities OF
life. He might never be called upon tc
use his ability in that direction, but the
possession or it would mean liberty. He
wound no longer be haunted by the fear
that If he did no: conform his opinions tc
those of the church authorities the bread
would be taken from the mouths of his
children. The knowledge that he had pow.
CT TO command bread for his family by the
toll of his hands would give to him entire
treesom IN search fo- truth and in utter
ing it;
And ii this is true OF religious teachers
II Is just as true OF people in other depart
ments OF life. Liberty is but dream for
p who must conform his po.itica,
'n.oons TO those OF his employer unless he
oald see has supply OF food cut off. Many
man in the business world works for anc
)tes for measures in which he does moi
eiieve. or becomes 4 party TO trickery anc
ishonesty. because these are for the in
crest OF the employer, ard unless lac work.
,or the interest OF his employer his family
Will lack food. Many girl marries mar
she distrusts, or even despises. because she
must marry o. become a pauDer.
Therefore let those VINO wo,i,d find the
ret of independence in the face of hum
circumstances FIRST earn 10 work. learr
command some useful occupation by
. .
ycessities OF lie in return for homes: and
lorthy service.
.. But this is ros the who.e of PAU:
= secret. For one who has known prosuerit,
TO be obliged to face humble circumstances
TO maintain courage and checriulness. il
extremely difficult. How shall ne b. abe
TO DO this:
Let him mediate upon the relation o.
values. Paul had been a man of great
promise, and was on the high roa Il
wealth and exalted position. but he lest il
all and came to associate with slaves anC
people held i'll social contempt: he went
back TO tent-makns. and from being a re
ngious leader became a common laborer
But his courage. instead of being dimin.
lshed, was increased No drawer man ever
lived. His checrfu,ness was constant
When they had scourged him and placed
him IN the torturing stocks he sang Nc
/ pessImistic word ever escaped him. nc
gloomy reflection can be found in his let
tiers. How did he escape COON and de.
pair under snch circumstances: He hac
armed the relation OF values. "All thing,
hich once stood to my credit have now
ChrIsts sake, come TO reckon as loss
re than that, ! reckon everything else
oss, on account of the exceeding value
moving Jesus Christ my Lord. Anc
LIS sake | have lost everything. anc
II all as the merest refuse IL | car
ain Christ, and be found in unior
lin" Here was 4 man who counted
position. country. home. every
ls so much refuse il only he cou,t
he possessed true. honest Christ
racfer