Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-04-02
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE''
Sunday Sermon By the Rev. Dr.
Frank Oliver.
Says We Must Learn How to Face the Pros
perlty as Well as the Hard Conditions OF
This World.

New York CITY.-The Rev. DR.. Frank
Oliver Hall, pastor of the Church of the
Divine Paternity, preached Sunday morn.
ing on Facing the Circumstances or Life
He took his text from Philippians iv; y;
II know how to be abased, and | also
know how to abound. [ have learned the
secret" Dr. Hall said:
In other words. Paul said, 81 have
learned the secret of how to be independ-
ent of circumstances. | know how to face
humble circumstances, and know how to
face prosperity"
That is great lesson. and one which few
men ever do learn. But it 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-Lct us look first for the secret OF
how to 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 it may be
all swept away. If you put your money in
bank the cashier may abscond With it
and leave YOU with nothing but I book
with certain hieroglyr cs scribbled !here'
in to indicate that you we're once Hfiluent.
II you put your money in mining stocks,
the ore may give out, or bad management
may ruin the enterprise. J. You invest in
railroad, a rival line may get all the traffic,
or some INSCRIPTIONS Spectator may
wreck the business for his own enrich.
ment II you buy real estate, it may de-
preciate upon your hands. or fire may
sweep away your holdings in a night II
you conclude to wrap your treasures in a
napkin and hide it in a hole, some thief
may discover and steal it. So no matter
how rich yoI may be, tomorrow you rray
be as poor as any. ProSerbally, riches
take to themselves wings and fly away.
1t is, therefore, extremely important that
one learn the secret of how to face humble
circumstances. What is the first step to
be taken in this direction?
(D 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 he
dropped down in any portion of the civil.
lied globe absolutely without resources,
and vet be able at once to command at
least the necessities of life from the com.
munity in which YOU find yourself. in re
turn for the service which you are able to
render.
| take it that this was one of the great
reasons for the contcntment Of the man
who wrote the words of our text. He was
independent because he was a skilled work
man, and knew how, by the use OF hi,
hands. to command in any community the
necessities of life. The Jewish people were
extremely wise in many directions, and
their wisdom was nowhere more manifest
than IN the rule which they made rs to
the education of youth. Every Jewish boy,
no matter what the circumstances of his
'ife, must be taught trade The boy
Saul, although probably from an cary age
predestincd by his parents to become Il
scholar, teacher, religious leader, was
nevertheless taught to make tents. That
l. h,, ,,nl'
other material into the fabric OF which
tents were made. Thus, alter his conver-
sion to Christianity, when his wor.d,,y
prospects were ruined. and he had cast in
his lot with the poorest ard humb,est peo-
PIE on earth, he was, as far az it IS posi-
bic for man, independent. How was it
that this man was abe to travel over the
word delivering his message TO saves and
people without resources; When he went
to new community he &C once sought
work, and found it because lie was skilled
in making something winch that commu
nifty needed. He earned his bread hy the
work Of his hands, and spone his message
because he loved it. Aud when the peo
pie to whom he spoke came tp him out Of
gratitude and wanted to contribute to.
ward his support, he accepted their hum
bic gifts on the principe that the iaborcr
is worthy OF his hire, and thanked them,
but repeatedly declared that such gifts
were not necessary to his life. For | am
not in want he said. Il can earn the
necessities of life"
stands. How much better it would be it
every religious teacher OF our time had
been taught some useful Occurat;nl by
which he could command tho necessities Of
life. lie might never bn called upon 70
use his ability III that direction. bat the
possession of it would mean liberty. He
would no lsnger be haunted by the fear
that if he did not conform his opinions to
those of the church authorities the bread
would be taken from the mouths Of his
children. The knowledge that he had pow
or to command bread for his family bv the
toll of his hands wOutd give to him entire
freedom in search for truth and in utter
ing it.
And if this is true OF religious teachers
it is just as true people in C,her depart.
ments of life. Lit rty is bat dream for
any man who must conform his political
opinions to those Of his emn.over u1.ess ne
would see his supply Of food cut of. Many
a man in the business word works for and
votes for measures in which he does not
believe, or becomes party to trickery and
dishonesty, because these are for the in-
terest Of the employer, and unless he works
will lack food. Many girl marries Il MAJ
she distru'ts, or even despises, because shc
must marry or become pauper.
Therefore .et those VINO Wovid find the
secret Of independence in the face OF hum.
bic circumstances first learn to work, learn
to command some useful occupation by
which they may win from the word the
necessities OF life in return for honest and
worthy service.
9. But this is not the who,c OF Pan. :
secret. For ore who has known prosperity
to be obliged to face humble circumstances,
to maintain courage and cheerfu.ness, is
extremely difficult. How shall he be abe
to do this?
Let him mediate upon the relation OF
values. Paul had been a man of great
promise, and was on the high road TO
wealth and exalted position but he lost it
all and came to associate with slaves and
people held in social contempt; he went
back to tent-making, and from being a re-
ligious leader became a common laborcr.
But his courage, instead OF being dimin-
ished, was increased No Drawer man ever
lived His cheerfuiness was constant.
When they had scourged him and paced
him in the torturing stocks he sang. No
pessimistit word ever escaped him, no
gloomy reflection can be found in his let
ters. How did he escape gloom and de.
spair under such circumstances? He had
learned the relation of vaucs. "A,l things
which once stood to my credit have row.
for Christ's sake, come to reckon as loss.
More than that, | reckon everything else
as loss, on account of the exceeding value
of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. And
for His sake / have lost everything. and
reckon it all az the merest refu,,s il can
but gain Christ, and be found in union
viii Linn, n