The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-09-17
a preat disappointment. It was not ever

thus with them: no, it is OF comparatively
recent happening. Almost without note
of forewarning, in moment. IN the twink
Eng of an eye, they have had thrust upon
them al unspeakable sorrow, or some ap-
palling responsibility, or some irksome re-
straint, or perhaps it is an overwhelming
disgrace. Now are they like Simon OF
Cyrene, full of bitterness and resentment,
struggling along under their burden with
dogsed persistence, but finding no Joy and
no profit in their cross. On the other hand.
there arc the Pauls; the mLn and the
women that are bearing burdens just as
real and Just as heavy as the others. lhey
have their own responsibilities and re-
straints, their own sorrows and Gisappoint-
ments, and they are as heavy to carry,
and as painful, too, as men ever have IN
this life. But what a contrast they pre-
sent! for their life note is ,oyous and trI-
umphant, notwithstanding the cross on
their backs Simon is the man who IS
bearing his lot in gloomy and sullen 81.
lence. and bearing it in way that makes
you feel he is none the better for having
to do it. Paul is the man whose suferlngs
and losses you can plainly see are the
explanation of his buoyant and courageous
spirit. His lot, disagreeable and difficult
as it is, he accepts, not as the other man.
with bitterness and resentment, but IN that
spirit of faith and obedience that God
+ L!:..s right to expect from all HIS chill
dren. -. -,
I know there are some to whom this will
sound strange and per haps Impossible, and
know they are conscientious and religious
people, They accept it as fact that men
must expect to be suddenly halted IN HE,
~, like Simon of Cyrene, made to bear
some heavy and humilia.ing cross, aud they
cndeayor to be stout-hearted and brave
under the ordeal, but it is always and only
disagreeable and unfortunate circum:.
stance in their lives; and they resent 1t and
hate it as did Simon; and that is all. They
never seem to find the source OF strength
and happiness in their cross. Now, IS It
true that the Paul attitude and the Paul
spirit arc possible? Possible to the aver
age man, mean? Or do they require the
Paul conversion and the Paul visions! Is
it true that the Paul spirit is possible in
ordinary life, or must one have first caught
a glimpse of the third heaven? l ask you
to ponder this query, in the hope, that we
may clearly see and be convinced that it
is no unattaipab,e principle for any man,
anywhere in this world.
Here are two young men-ciassmates at
college, or shopmates, if you Please. In the
s:me Office or factory. The one IS about
as diligent as the other and about as sue,
cessful. Nevertheless, there is marked
difference The one finds study or bus,,
slavish. it neither inspires nor develops
him. He simply does what he does be.
| cause he ought to or must, and his whole
| life is nothing more than stolid persist
ence lacking the heartiness and the hope
| fulness of the other. The other man is no
better scholar, no better workpSan or busi-
ness man, but he IS contrast, notwith-
standing. Whether it is study or business,
he finds his JOY and inspiration in what he
does, and does what he does from spirit
of love. There are the same restraints.
the same burdens upon both. but the one
| eyults in them and is developed by them,
where as the other is full Of resentment,
| and is in no way benefited. While the one
is full of enthusiasm and anticipation. the
other is heartless and crushed. The one IS
4 Paul, the other is Simon.
People used to wonder why George Will
liam Curtis. the distinguished and gifted
editor OF Harper's Magazine. entered the
lecture field He was known 70 have. a
| lucrative position and considerable in:
come from his writings: and SO it seemed
strange to many people that he should
take up lecturing, with its inconveniencess
and risks. Some were inclined to regard
| him as mercenary, but on his death the
explanation appeared. Years before. so It
is said. Mr. Curtis had engaged in busl:
ness enterprise with friend which proved
unfortunate for both. 1t was in order to
meet all the obligations incurred by the
| firm which bore his name that necessitated
4 his goin:: on those extended lecture tours;
J and Mr.. Curtis lived long enough to retire
4 from the lecture pletform-and that, too,
after he had paid every dollar of indebted
ness. with interest. Some might say that
is superRuous honesty, and vet many men
/ there are to-day who would do this very
4 thing Mr.. Curtis did. and as matter ot
1 fact the number Of men who have doEe
so in the pas. is not small. Indeed. there
ire men living ii orr midst who are striv.
| inc to Go this self same thing. But all
r-Hn do not manifest the same spirit IN
/, IS otherwise noble task. One man will
ac- as If he were bord slave. and while
| he is faithful to his duty. does it in
4 ch sr'ess. heartless manner. apparently
| finding nothing in his hard experience to
| rejoice in or be thankful for. He goes
about his task as Simon bore the cross
| cursing tire luck that brought him to the
hour. and full of bitterness and resentment
on accor It of it.. Withou: heart or IN
spiration. and without comfort or Joy, he
fakes up his cross and trudges toward
Calvary. On the other hand, there are
men to whom these heavy tasks become an
inspiration and source of strength: who
ere finding their happiness and their, de.
velopmcnt in carrying the cross, hap.
piness and deve.onment that they would
otherwise never have known.
# you and I are to have the Paul spirit
of courage and contentment, even while
we staeger under the heavy cross, it can
only be by the way of the Paul attitude
toward God and the Paul relationship to
Jesus Christ. This is the same Paul who
wrote. Eve are children of I. d and if
children then heirs: cirs OF God and Joint
heirs With Christi" the same Paul who
wrote. ''All things works together for
good to them who love God" Afterward
Simon of Cyrene understood the. cross OF
| Christ. and then he became Pau. Though
the authorities turned him out of the SYM
asogue rs defled. though he and his family
| became ostracised, it mattered little to
them, since they could clearly see how
great good had come to them in the form
of misfortune.
And do we not see how true this is OF
| manv people about us? DO we not see that
the burdens OF the family to that young
mother. and that the new and heavy re-
sponsibility to Others were just what they
needed to round out their characters and
TO FIJI their careers with force and
strength?
And whatever may be the form of the
| L L L., i,