The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-27
DR.. SIMON At The Y. N. C. A.
Interesting Address 10 Men on tho Influence
Of ChIdIIkeness.

The meeting for men at the Y. NJ. G. A..
yesterday afternoon. was addressed by
Rev. B. F. Simon, Ph. D.. pastor of the
St. Paul's NJ f. church. and the thought
was that Of the influence of childlikeness.
After the usual opening. DIR. Simon spoke
In part somewhat as follows:
I'm Matthew xviii;4, we read: Whose
this little child. tho Same is greatest In
the kingdom of heaven All the good
that the Jews expected was to come by
O. king. They associated the religions
with a material prosperity. Their idea OF
a kingdom was founded upon the king
dom they saw. the Romans.
THE Jews looked that they might have
the same thing. In place OF Rome being
the centre, Jerusalem should be the CEN
tire. Jesus didn't introduce anything OF
the sort He said that among the rulers
he that was great received great atten-
ton. but among them service was the
road to greatness. Our Lords work was
to be carried on through His disciples
Now He tells them how this kingdom In
to win.
'It Is very natural for people who are
great to act great. He is a man who
has appreciated himself more than other
people appreciate him. II our Lord Is TO
Ike a kingdom. II can't be done In that
way. IL is we'll for us 10 enjoy the good
will Of our neighbors, but self-importance
In not going to win, and the world is not
going to be made better by tina: sort ce
thing
LET us see something about what the
Lord means by this childlikcness. The
child asks more questions than we can
answer. To be childlike and to be will
Ing to learn doesn't mean that you will
accept everything without investigation,
for the child doesn't do that.
That spirit that says How do you
known and isn't willing to try doesn't
accomplish much. The larger part of
keeping things back Is that people are not
willing to take new truth. and people
die nghting new truths. because they are
20 enanored of the old. The child will
believe in you longer than an adult will.
Forgiveness is part OF the spirit that our
Lord would have In His kingdom.
Another element is that OF appreciat-
ing goodness. II Is essential 10 the world
that We should do what a child does and
that is help. Before the world is made
better, you and I must help one another
We never say cooperation IN business,
G. A., church. but we don't say CO.
operation and form a union OF churches
We never Say cooperation in business.
except when two are In partnership. and
then not with you outside
while II IL all right and proper that
we should have this humility. II r. apt to,
be carried too far If there IL any sun
day school superin tendent here ana has
sought teachers. ne has probably had the
answer. 4 can't Humility r. a means to
an end. We are 20 help a. quietly ns
possible.
How shall We prevent the evil ~ be-
ing over-important7 we'li stand IN the
world in our allotted place. and We won't
be over estimating ourselves nor putting
ourselves IN the hack ground Submit
ourselves unto the Lord. and He Will
eiorify us.
For knowledge for beauty. for infu-
ence In life. let va seek for the character
of childhood As little child ne rsy
enter the Kingdom. and be more beautl-
ful ana exert a wider influence"