The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-11

But says some young man. "wh.
do you cite the careers of great men?
am not a great man and never will be.
The same gospel success which came Il
these consecrated men upon larg
scale can come to you, consecratet
young minister upon a smaller scale
Young man. l tell you that it is impos
sible for any consecrated minister cl
Their in the country or the city. to 1t
surrounded by praying. working ban'
of faithful followers and not have Iii:
life tell nightly for good in the region
in which he lives. Ought not such al
influence for good bring a joy, a rap
turous joy. in the heart of ChriSt's
preachers? Cannot all truly consecrat
ed gospel ministers on account of the
infinite opportunities of usefulness
which have been opened to them JOY
fully chorus the glad paan which was
once sung by the sainted Hora thus Bo
mar:
I thank thee, Lord. for using me
| For thee to work and speak;
However trembling Is the hand.
| The voice however weak.
For those to whom. through me, thou has;
Some heavenly guidance given:
| For some 1t may be saved from death
And some brought nearer heaven.
A Happy Fellowship.
The gospel ministry is a profession
whose members are treated with re-
spect and universal kindness. How
with respect? The very lowest and
most depraved are generally silenced
at their approach. When the minister
comes around the blasphemer's lips are
closed, the lewd story is untold. the
| evil thought Is unexpressed. When the
Catholic priest on an errand of mercy
enters the lowest dive every head un-
covers and every cursing tongue is
| stilled
How with kindness? Because from
the very moment you step into it there
are scores and hundreds of people who
will do everything in their power to
make your life happy. When installed
in a charge the church reception will
show you how many friends you have
and how welcome you are. When your
baby is sick there are always many
sympathizers to come around and bring
the. flowers and, If necessary, help in
nursing. When the autumnal fruits ar
rive there are the tokens of love in
gifts of jellies and apples. There are
the Christmas presents of chairs and
other knickknacks. These gifts may
not have much money value, but they
show the true. beatings of the hearts of
loving and sympathetic people. An
aged reformer of England when dying
was asked what was the greatest want
of this world. He answered. "Sympa
thy" The true gospel minister rarely
feels the need of this gift. He has the
sympathy of his people in his church
work. He finds sympathy. heartfelt
sympathy, wherever he goes. know
that there are certain churches which
were started in fiendish rows and are
now contemplate churches and have
i'll treated their ministers for genera
tons. But these mean churches are
the exceptions-the rare exceptions
The vast majority are filled with good
men and women who are doing al.
they can for their ministers. At great
personal sacrifice they are denying
themselves in many ways to show their
pastors love and kindness. 1t is into
such happy fellowship of pulpit and
pew that I welcome the consecrated
young men of this day by welcoming
you into the gospel ministry.
Uplifting Associations.
The Christian ministry is profes,
sion in which the members are shield
ed from many of the temptations that
confront men in other walks of life
Richard Baxter once declared that the
minister had to face the greatest of all
daily temptations. He lived in an ex-
ceptional period, and / do not believe
he would have said so haG he been liv-
ing in this day. Temptations come to
the pulpit, but not with the same viru-
lence and bitterness as they assail the
pew. The gospel minister by his oil
cial position is under the influence Of
good associates. He has surrounding
him some of the best men and women
who are inhabitants of the community
in which be lives. These Christians
eAS iio1 ohi5 Paa mOlh, Uut
also for him. We all believe in the
power Of prayer. Is there to be no d.
rect result upon the minister's life on
account of this spiritual association?
When | entered college two or three
different secret societies wanted me to
join their organiZat tons. One was COM
posed of men notorious for their dissi-
pations. They were drinkers, card play
ers, carousers. Another was poorer
society financially, but was composed
for the most part Of noble Christian
boys. said to myself: 81 cannot afford |
to place myself in a position where |
may be surrounded by men who drink
and gamble. / will join the society
which is poorer financially, but whose
spiritual members will lift me up in.
stead of dragging me Down" The con-
seerated gospel preacher in the same.