The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-22
Religions Essential Element.

There is an old saw which tells us that
nothing succeeds like success, which is an
other way of saying that success vlndicate3
its own methods. The statement is false
and misleading, and as an incentive to
youth it is wholly disastrous. To put a
disregard of the means employed into a
young mans mind and so convince him
that if he accomplishes his purpose the
world will ask nothing mor,, is to wound
him rs fatally as though YOU drove knife
into his heart.
In very truth, there is a kind of ap.
parent success which spells defeat, and a
kind of apparent failure which is reckoned
success in Heaven. In other words, the best
thing for a man is to be manly always. \
lie is apt to come home to sleep and bring
with it large brood OF unpleasant mem.
ories, and the man who cheats cheats him
self out OF more than he cheats his neigh.
Dor. 10 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 saile
time an almost cruel worlG. That is to
say, it is governed by law, and tie law is
ineXorable. There are no circumstances
under which you can gather figs from this
ties. The universe is built OF the basis
OF honesty, and dishonesty finds no nook
or corner in which to hide itself. You
may demur at this and tell me that many
a rogue Is happy, tnlt many man deals
in crooked measures and has the respect
OF the community. 1 doubt both PROPOSE.
tions. Men are measured prett accurate
ly in the long run, and IA mcl is not likely
to wear his heart on his sleeve and pro
claim his regrets. The world has not yer
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 IL
sometimes a mere mask with false features,
is his character, his real self. Ii that is
not upright he has a hornets nest in his
soul and ne is beng stung to death. He ls
not at peace with himself, is not content, is
not happy, and cannot be happy. Ii this il
not true. then we have made mistake in
our conception OF Goa. | do not care for
what that man seems to be, nor for what
he poses as being, nor yet 70: what the
people say he is-ne 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. \.
far as the east IS from the west so tar Is
he from what God and nature intended
him to be.
Strip of his wealth, tear down his socia,
and commercial position lay bare his in
most soul, and what do you tnd? Any ma.
terial on which to build character TIT for
Heaven? And yet unless a man lives for
Heaven he does not live at all. This little
life, mere hands breadth of time, is as
nothing. 1t is the eternity ahead OF us that
gives significance to the present, and i, 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 ialsities 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 lis,
but il we bring nothing but our misdeeds
we shall be pitied because of the great mis-.
take we have made Gods blessing on a
mans honest life will be worth more than
the whole worlds wealth.
The first thing for Il reasonable human
being to do, therefore, is to get into har
mony with the universe, and the second
is to stay there. In that statement is in.
cluded 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 a noble
life. Live well, then, live nobly; live tor
others, as the blessed Christ did. When
you 20 leave this old earth a little better
tor your having been in it. Guard your
peace OF mind, which is the best OF all
treasures; walk humby doing the Lords
will, and you will have nothing to complain
OF here or hereafter There you have your
creed, short one, indeed, but quite long
enough for your purpose George H. Hep.
worth, in the New York Herald.