The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-06-26
THE LIFE EXCELLENT.
Theme of Foresters' Memorial
Sermon at the Baptist Church.

Members Of Court Owosso No. 600 /.
o. f. and the Lady Foresters attended
their memorial day service at the
Baptist church Sunday morning and
listened to strong, practical sermon
by Rev. j. Alexander Clyde upon
"The Life Excellent. The singing
by the quartete and the solo, "Lord,
Speak to Me-" by Miss Lyon added
to the helpfulness Of the services. A
synopsis OF Rev. Clyde's sermon fol-
lows:
Dan. vi;3-"An Excellent Spirit
Was In Him." To Shylock, that
marvellous representation Of human
shrewdness overreaching itself, no
nobler model of personal uprightness
exists than this Daniel of bible story.
To his distorted soul Daniel was the
personiication Of honesty, learning
and wisdom and his Judgment was
right. Even his enemies could rally
no charges against him.
Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans
had been slain, the empire of the Chal-
deans had ipasSed under the conquest
Of the Persians and Darius had been
established as governor at Babylon.
In his efforts to organize the empire
and install stable government, Darius
selected from the princes, three to
serve as presidents in the state councils
and over all Daniel was made premier
Of the realm. Now Daniel was a
captive, hostage, a despised Jew.
Atsuch an appointment the princes
OF Babylon were flied with envy.
They aimed therefore at his speedy
deposition.
But close watch Of his career and
personal life furnishes no clue TO Sus-
piciOn. A second plan is resorted to.
AS celebration of the Persian con-
quest and to teach the mighty power
OF the Persian empire, as an object
lesson of all this, cause Darius to be as
God for thirty days! 1t will awe the
people and flatter Darius. But chief
est OF all reasons, 1t will declare Dan
iel's lack Of loyalty to the king who has
so highly honored him.
The edict is published. Babylon
falls in homage, but Daniel moves In
perfect fearlessness because an excel
lent spirit was in him." His bearing
In the face Of this dilemma gives evil
dence Of the excellence of his life. The
subsequent lstory lis but an assurance
that no man can do right and fail.
Every true life must be, as his, a
"heart life" rather than "head life"
"A life that feels more than it knows
Daniels story is not unique. 1t can
be initiated. We can be what he was,
do what he did, attain what he attain.
ed. To US, as to him, is given the
chance to attain the excellent life.
To gain such life we must handle
ourselves Alright, facing squarely the
problems Of convictions, consequences
and compensations.
We call this an "age Of Steel" Steel
has supplanted wood and stone and we
have made gains In durability and di-
mansions. The modern building
framed In steel presents most formid-
able front to the wrecking influences
Of time; and character to be stable
must have such strengthening frame.
So important are right and truth that
we cannot afford to live without them.
Conscience must play as constant
factor through the whole fabric of
living. Through the thoughts and
acts Of every man should thread his
moral convictions. Else his house is
one Of gauze.
We must learn of the noblest char
acters in history that moral convic-
tions are not to be despised. Man
must do the right. Other wise he does
the wrong, and all that is wrong is
failure. Conscience lays on us the
perpetual obligation to be true In its
every dictate. Henry Clay once said
81 would rather be right than be
president. This is gaining in ex.
cellence as we gain in righteousness.
But In the struggle for the right,
dangers confront us. II we could
only see just what would follow every
act, it would be pleasant; and to
know that every consequence is pleas
ant, this would make us happy.
But to understand that evil sometimes
comes, this is distressing and leads to
hesitation. Now, in moral issues we
must learn that duty, not conse-
Quences, must be in front Of US. Duty
must be done. Nothing excuses from
that. However unpleasant prospect
stretches before us, the most un.
pleasant thing to an honest man is
duty shirked. We must play a brave
mans part.
All consequences can be left with
God. II He has called US to do the
right, He must answer for the course
He bids us take. God can stop the
lions mouth, but man must brave the
lions den.
In the nature Of life there is no