The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-20

most famous poetieal line is, An honest mans the nobles work of God" How can a man be made truly honest sooner than through the constant absorption of the Scriptures?
 A Young Mans Safeguard.
 The Bible is the greatest safeguard a young man can have Some time ago an old soldier showed me a mutilated Bible He had carried that book next to his heart all through the civil war. In one battle. however q bullet from an enemy's rifle tore it's way three-fourths through the leaves of that book before it was halted in it's deadly mission. That Bible saved that soldiers life in a physical sense. But in a spiritual sense the word of God can stop the onrush of every Sa- tanic arrow. That book can be a breast plate as well as a moral compass It will teach us, no matter what the crisis of life may be, to do as Jesus would have us do. It will teach us the great lesson which Charles Sheldons book tried to teach to follow in his steps"
 Granting, then that each nearer sitting before me has accepted the Bible as his guide against temptation, the next great step forward in the right start in life is for every young man to take the first honorable position which he can get and not wait for what he wants and cannot get Likes and dislkes may be very im- portant factors in a young mans decis- ion when he has two or three different positions offered to him. But in most cases with young man he does not have choice. When he leaves school or col- lege a single opportunity arises generally r in a very humble sphere. Then he must take that and go ahead with full steam on and not hang around waiting for some
 thing else to arise
 Welcome Opportunity.
 God never calls man to what he can not get. Bishop Potter, l think 1t was, once made this very wise saying Our best thoughts are those which seek us and not those which we seek" Gods op- portunities in the same way are those which seek us when we are at work. Christ called to Peter and Andrew when they were laborlng at their nets. Our
 best opportunities are not those after
 which we are running around. neglecting the pressing duties at hand. They are the horny hands of toil which, if necessary, are just as willing to firmly grip the handle of a blow as to weild q pen or
 unsheathe a glittering sword. Gods mes sengers of temporal and spiritual success sometimes appear attired in the rough garments of laborer instead of being covered with the white robes of a coro- nation. When Abraham sat at the door of his tent and welcomed the three dust stained travellers he thought they were common men. When the guests left they revealed themselves as angelic ambassa- dors. God sometimes sends his greatest opportunities clothed in homespun. We
 had better grasp as a friend each oppor-
 tunity that comes. We must welcome it with full welcome no matter how hum bly, it may knock at our doors.
 Russell Conwelfs greatest lecture Is
 founded upon this idea. His Acres of Diamonds" draws its inspiration from an
 eastern legend. An oriental farmer was one day shown a beautiful diamond by passing traveller. In order to find such a diamond this farmer sold his farm and went forth on an endless search. He south it through youth and middle age and far into old age. Like the Wander ing Jew. he had no home. He was con stantly on the move Finally, after many years of fruitless search, he returned to the home of his childhood. There he found that the Golconda mines were upon his former property. There were literally
 acres of diamonds" under his feet So young men turn their backs upon their best opportunities in the hope of finding greater opportunities far off. Young men about to start in life take what you can get. Grasp the position which is nearest at hand and fill 1t. Cease to dream about
 air castles and get down in the mud and dirt and build foundations of solid stone and mortar. Do not do as Ahimaaz did.
 Run no foolish race when you have no
 message to carry and your business is to stay at home and clean camp.
 Reward of True Service.
 Advice the next After you have &C., 1 cepted the honest position make your employers interest your interest. What shall I do that shall benefit myself?" is
 the maxim of failure. What shall I do tl,, |
 maxim of success Success does not al-
 ways. as a bee, fly in straight line for
 it's hive. Success, like an Australian l boomerang, nearly always goes in q circle. 1 That circle may widen out and out larger and larger, but after awhile the boomer
 ang may be made to come back to the
 place where it started When a man
 serves his employer best then he will
 find that the best rewards shall be placed 1 at his own door
 True service always brings its right re- ward This fact was well illustrated in a | conversation 1 had with one of the most distinguished ministers of the world now l living. One day he placed his hand upon my shoulder and said Frank, the best | way to attract the attention of the world
 to yonr worth is to fill to the best of your l ability the position to which God has | called you" For some years I was very
 much dissatisfied with a church in which | at that time I was laboring. I felt I l could not do myself justice in that field | I wrote to John L. Withrow, the pastor | of the Park Street church of Boston, | asking him if he would help me to another pulpit. pr. Withrow wrote back this let | ter, which changed the whole course of my life. My dear brother. I am very sorry to hear that you are not happy amid your present surroundings, but, to tell the truth, I never heard of you be- fore in all my life. Perhaps you may be a young man of estimable genius, but the way to prove this to the world is to serve your present charge so well that your light will shine forth to ether localities
 Then there will be no need of looking for another pulpit. Other chitrches will then be seeking you, instead Of you seeking them" Grand advice that, as grand as any ever given by a noted pastor to q struggling young clergymanl Useful ad- vice also is 1t for me to gvt to you, young men starting forth in a business career. When you serve others Faithfully, then. in the end you will also Serve yourselves well.
 Duty to Employers.
 | But a step further: Yoa must not only serve your employer arifht during the hours you work for him 4within the four walls of the store, but yoL must also con- | secrate to good service the other fourteen hours when you are away from his watch | ing eye. He has a right Bto expect that 1 you will spend your leisuret in a way that will render you more efficient in your l service. That means your employer does