The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-12
Religion's Essential Element.

There is an old saw which tells us Lnat
nothing succeeds like success, which is an
other way of saying that success vindieates
its own methods. The statement is false
and misleading, and as an incentive to
youth it Is wholly disastrous. To put
disregard of the means employed into
Young mans mind and so convince him
that if he accomplishes his purpose the
world will ask nothing more, is to wound
him as fatally as though you drove knife
into his heart.
In very truth, there is kind of ap.
parent success which spells defeat, and
kind of apparent failure, which is reckoned
success in Heaven. In other words, the best
thing for man is to be manly always. A
lie is apt to come home to sleep and bring
with it large brood of unpleasant mem
cries, and the man who cheats cheats him
self out of more than he cheats his neigh
Dor. To be straightforward is worth some
thing, and especially in times when temp
tations are both many and strong.
1t is beautiful world and at the same
time an almost cruel world. That is to
say, it is governed by law, and the law is
inexorable. There are no circumstances
under which you can gather figs from this
ties. The universe is built on the basis
of honesty, and dishonesty finds no nook
or corner in which to hide itself. You
may QeLluT dt tulS duu Ieu ule snoe Aaouy
rogue is happy, that many man deals
in crooked measures and has the respect
of the community. I doubt both PROPOSE.
tions. Men are measured pretty accurate
" in the long run, and man is not likely
to wear his heart on his sleeve and pro-
claim his regrets. The world has not yet
been turned upside down. Every man
loses unless his life is square. Eternal
logic runs in that direction. Wrong is al:
ways wrong and right is always right. II
you look at life from that standpoint you
are safe; if not, you are in danger.
Beneath mans reputation, which ID
sometimes mere mask with false features,
is his character, his real self: If that is
not upright he has hornets nest in his
soul and he is being stung to death. de Is
not at peace with himself, is not content, is
not happy, and cannot be happy. If this Is
not true, then we have. made mistake In
our conception of God. I do not care for
what that man seems to be, nor for what
he poses as being, nor yet for. what the
people say he is-he has -trampled on his
immortal nature, has misdirected his ener-
gies, and until you can find figs on thistles
he will not be satisfied with himself: As
far as the east is from the west, 30 far is
he from what God and nature intended
him to be. .,
Strip off his wealth, tear down his social
and commercial position, lay bare his in
most soul, and what do you find? Any ma
terial on which to build character fit for
Heaven? And yet unless man lives TOR
Heaven he does not live at all. This little
life, a mere hands breadth of time, is as
nothing. It is the eternity ahead OF US that
gives significance to the present, and 1t Is
a mans fitness for Heaven which stamps
him as real gold or counterfeit coin: 1t Is
not what we appear to be here, but what
we shall honestly be when we get there,
that counts. The day after death, when
we leave all these trappings behind US,
life's falsities and wrongs will tell the
story. Earth fading away in the distance,
| immortality looking us in the face, asking
| us who we are and what we are-then we
| shall step on the scales and be weighed.
| If we are found to be just and true and
loyal the angels will be glad to welcome US,
| but if we bring nothing but our mlsdeeds
we shall be pitied because of the great mis-
take we have made. Gods blessing on q
| mans honest life will be worth more than
the whole worlds wealth.
The first thing for a reasonable human
being to do, therefore, is to get, into har;;
.1ony with the universe, and the second
is to stay there. In that statement is in
eluded the essential element of religion.
| 1t marks an ascending grade from the
lower to the higher altitude. of mind, until
at last We step across the grave into
| Heaven. Nothing equals in value noble
| life. Live web. then. live nobly; live for
others, as the blessed Christ did. When
YOU 20 leave this old earth little better
| ior your having been in it. Guard your
peace of mind, which is the best of all
! treasures; walk humbly doing the Lords
will, and you will have nothing to. complain
of here or hereafter. There you have your
creed, a short one, indeed, but quite long
enough for your purpose H. Hep
worth, in the New York Herald.