The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-11
EARLHAM'S PRESIDENT
BEFORE THE Y. NJ, c. A.
He Discusses the Subject of meet
ing the Ups and Downs
of Life"
HOW TO STAND SUCCESS.

The auditorium of the Y. NJ. Q. A. was
filled with men yesterday afternoon to hear
DR.. Robert L. Kelley. president of Earlham
College, deliver a powerful address on
Meeting the Ups and Downs of Life" The
talk was one of the most earnest and help
full that has been given at the regular Sun
day afternoon meetings of the association
for some time manly and invigorating in
tone, and addressed directly to the needs
of the audience.
DR.. Kelley took his text from one or
PauIs Epistles: 81 have learned in what
soever state am, Herewith TO be content"
He spoke, in part, as follows:
II am going TO speak this afternoon on
Christian contentment Nothing In this
world will give contentment but the Chris
tian religion. Religion is a thing for Ire
i am not a Christian primarily and only
because l am preparing to die, but because
1 want to know how TO live II is the whole
purposo OF the Christian religion 10 teach
US how to live. how to meet the ups and
downs of life.
There are some people in this world who
are too contented too Well satisfied with
their lot TO make an effort to improve II.
PauIs message did not have reference 10
such as that; he never gave consolation or
encouragement to the lazy or the ShlftleSs-
He not only heard the word, but did IT.;
like the President OF the United States to-
day, he preached the strenuous life Good,
go hand In hand. Neither did Paul mean
that we ought to be satisfied with life in a
state of sin. He understood that there is
such a thing as sin. and he knew that the
wages of sin IL death. He drew a sharp
line between right and wrong.
Paul did mean this-that II he didn't like
the situation In which he was placed, II
he had tried to change IL and was un-
successful, and had become satisfied that
God willed him to remain In II, he knew
how to endure it. That was the thing about
H. ,Tlarwn
disaster defeat and disappointment. how
to persevere in spite of them, and how to
do this with manhood and courage.
HOW TO STAND SUCCESS.
at the same time Paul knew how to
stand success. and some men need God
more in success than in defeat. All men
can be divided into two kinds-those who
need God more and turn more 10 Him in
times of 'abasement,' and those who need
Him more and turn more 10 Him in times
Of 'abounding,' when all winds are fair
winds.
There is an heroic side 10 Christianity,
for assuredly the Christian will have trials
and needs courage to meet them. Helen
eliar lives in utter darkness and in com
plete silence, and yet she is content and
happy because she feels that Is the state
In which God placed her. That is an ex-
ample OF what / mean in to-days life. To
go back to the days OF old, there were two
things about Joseph that / have always
liked. In the days when he was under
going trials and prosecutions he did not
forget his God, nor did he fail 10 remem-
Der Him in the days OF greatest power and
influence. The individual who gets his life
coupled up To God will know how 10 do
those two things, TO live we'll and remem-
Der God in dark days and I'm bright days.
and knowing how 10 do that is knowing
how 10 live.
AT the time that Paul wrote L have
learned in whatsoever state / am. there
with TO be content. he was chained TO a
Roman soldier in dungeon of a prison
under the very shadow of the palace of
Nero, the most despicabe man who ever
sat upon a throne. He knew not whether
the future held life or death for him. Moth
ing but the presence of God I'm a man 5
heart and life could enable him TO meet
such conditions with such sublime cour-
age But Pauls days were not the only
days in which men knew the secret Of
meeting life with such Christian fOrtitude
and courage. one man in our own day
who knew how 10 go down and 10 go up
and not forget his God at any time-that
man was William Mckinley. He remcnl-
bered his God when he was gradually ele-
waited 10 the highest place I'm the gift Of
the American people, and when he was
told on his deathbed that the end was a
question OF but short time. he answered: