The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-04-03
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
CIRCUMSTANCE or LIFE"
The Rev. Dr. Frank oliver Hall says We
Must Learn How TO Pace the Pros
perity as Well a. the Hard Condi-
tions of This World.


tions Of This World.
NEw YORK CIrY-The Rev. DR.. Frank
Oliver Hall, pastor Of the Church OF the
DIVINE Paternity, preached Sunday morn.
ING on Facing the Circumstances OF Lie.
He took his text from Philippians ": u:
Il know how 10 be abased and also
know how 20 abound. / have learned the
secret" DR.. Hall said
In other words, Paul said Il have
learned the secret OF how 20 be independ-
ent OF circumstances. i know how 10 face
humble circumstances, and i know how 10
face prosperity
That Is a great lesson. and one which few
men ever do learn. But IL is lesson
which we all need 10 learn in order 10 pre-
serve happiness, the integrity OF character
and 10 make the most OF life
Frst-Let US look first for the secret of
how 10 face humble circumstances. Every
ore stands IN danger of being reduced 10
poverty. No matter how much you may
possess to-day, on the morrow il may be
all swept away. Ii You put your money in
bank the cashier may abscond with II
and leave you with nothing but book
with certain hieroglyphlcs scribbled there
IN 10 indicate that You were once affiuent.
IL YOU put your money IN mining stocks,
the ore may give out, or bad management
may ruin the enterprise. Ii you invest IN a
railroad, rival line may get all the traffic,
or some INSCRIPTIONS speculator may
wreck the business for his own enrich
ment. II you buy real estate, II may de-
preciate upon your hands, or a fire may
sweep away your holdings IN a night. If
you conclude 10 wrap your treasures in a
napkin and hide II IN a hole, some thief
may discover and steal IT. So no matter
how rich you may be, tomorrow you may
be as poor as any. Proverbiallv. riches
take 10 themselves wings and Ay away.
1t Is, therefore, extremely important that
laa,u a.H y.sk 4. i l.
circumstances. What is the first step to
be taken in this direction?
(l) My first word of advice is this Train
yourself 10 work. Learn 10 be useful in
some specific way. Learn TO perform some
service OF Importance so that you might be
dropped down IN any portion of the civil
lied globe absolutely without resources,
and yet be able at once 10 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 contentment OF the man
who wro.e the words of our text. He was
independent because he was a skilled work
man, and knew how, by the use OF his
hands, 10 command in any community the
necessities of life. The Jewish people were
extremely. wise In many directions, and
their wisdom was nowhere more manifest
the education of youth. Every Jewish boy,
no matter what the circumstances of his
life, must be taught a trade. The boy
Saul although probably from an early age
predestlned by his parents to become a
scholar a teacher, a religious leader, was
nevertheless taught to make tents. That
Is, he knew how TO weave camePs hair and
other material into the fabric of which
tents were made. Thus, after his conver-
SION to Christianity, when his worldly
prospects were ruined, and he had cast in
his lot with the poorest and humblest peo-
PIE on earth, he was, as far as II is posi-
bic tor man, independent. How was II
that this man was able TO travel over the
world delivering ms message to slaves and
people without resources? When he went
TO new community he at once sought
work, and found il because he was skilled
In making something which that commu-
nifty needed. He earned his bread by the
work of his hands. and spoke his message
because he loved It, And when the peo-
pie TO whom he spoke came 20 him out of
gratitude and wanted to contribute to-
ward his support, he accepted their hum
BILE gifts on the principle that the laborer
Is worthy OF his hire, and thanked them,
but repeatedly declared that such gifts
were not necessary to his life. For l am
not in want" he said. Il can earn the
necessities of life"
In what an enviable position such a man
every religious teacher of our time had
been taught some useful occupation bv
which he could command the necessities of
life. He might never be called upon TO
use his ability in that direction. but the
possession OF it would mean liberty. He
would no longer be haunted by the fear
that If he did not conform his opinions 10
those OF the church authorities the bread
would be taken from the mouths of his
children. The knowledge that he had pow
er 10 command bread for his family by the
toll of his hands would give TO him entire
freedom In search for truth and in utter
ing II.
And if this is true of religious teachers
II ls Just as true of people In other depart
ments of life. Liberty is but a dream for
any man who must conform his political
opinions to those of his employer unless he
would see his supply Of food cut off. Many
man in the business world works for and
votes Tor measures in which he does not
beheve, or becomes party TO trickery and
dishonesty, because these are for the in
terest of the employer, and unless he works
for the interest Of his employer his family
will lack food. Many a girl marries man
she distru'ts or even despises. because she
must marry or become a Dauper.
Therefore let those VINO would find the
secret OF independence IN the face OF hum
bic circumstances first learn 10 work, learn
TO command some useful occupation hv
NAANH Nhtl HdN VIII iIDtu NUt WOIlu lnf
necessities OF life IN return for honest and
worthy service.
2. But this is not the whole of Paul =
secret. For one who has known prosperity
to be obliged 10 face humble circumstances
10 maintain courage and cheerfuness. j.
extremely difficult. How shall he be able
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 IL
all and came to associate with slaves and
people held in social contempt he went
back 10 tent-making, and from being a re-
lglous leader became a common laborer
But his courage, instead of being dimin-
ished, was increased. No braver man ever
lived. His cheerfu,ness was constant.
When they had scourged him and placed
him IN the torturing stocks he sang. No
pessimistic word ever escaped him. no
gloomy reflection can be found in his let.
tiers. How did he escape gloom and de
spair under such circumstances He had
learned the relation OF values. "All things
which once stood 20 my credit | have now.
for Christ's sake, come 20 reckon as loss
More than that, ] reckon everything else
ne loss, on account Of the exceeding value
Of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord And
for His sake ] have lost everything and
reckon IL all as the merest refuse II can
but gain Christ, and be found in union
with Him. Here was a man who counted
wealth, position. country. home. every.
thing as so much refuse IL only he could
feel that he possessed a true, honest Christ.
like character.
3 But that is not the whole Of the Sc.
cret. Listen: II have learned the secre.
l. IL i Ill 4 l. -. L -