The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-18
STRENGTH NEEDED
 IN CHRISTIANITY pr. Steele Breaches Special Ser
 mon on That Subject AT THE FIRST CUMBERLAND Takes for HisText Reading: Moses, When He Was Come to Years,
 Refused to be Called the Son
 of Phsraohs Daughter"
AT THE FIRST CUMBERLAND

The Rev. I. D. Steele preached a special sermon yesterday morning at the First Cumberland Presbyterian church on Strength of Christian Manhood
 The church was filled to the doors when the preacher read his text. Heb. xii A. Moses, when he was come to years, re- fused to be call the son of Pharaoh s daughter"
 Dr. Steele said the center of the sermon of the morning would be the strength that enters strong. manly life; that the life of Moses presented a life both monly and strong.
 First of all" he said. Moses had faith in God and faith that the right would stand forever.
 He had will power to refuse some Of the greatest things earth could offer him. The use of the will is the making of men or their ruin. The strength of life is not wholly made by circumstances. In morals and virture we all decide what we are and what we will be. God gives grace and strength; 1t is with us whether or not we will use it. A course of life may be not only outlined but it may be followed to completeness in a life righteous ana virtuous Both Moses and Joseph are shining examples of this truth.
 Some Have No Strength.
 "Some men have no strength in the d. reetion of pure living, they fall the frst step. They should learn there is some thing greater than self, and back of self, and that is divine power to help Moses refused more than one some times. lm- agine he refused power, influence ana wealth. He refused family and social prestige. He walked out and turned his back on those things he knew were wrong, he cut forever away from them.
 The power to say no at the right time and place is a conquering power. Many men have shown their ruin by not being able to say this with all it means. \ strength has convictions. Not hair splitting conviction on non-essential in life or religion. Many so called convictions on hair splitting terms in religion, are
 
 the convicted. But strength has convlc- tions on fundamental truths. One with out these convictions is as a tree with out roots, as a ship without anchor
 Great force of character comes from great convictions Those who have no con- victions as to the destructveness of gambling, drinking, licentousness and kindred evils, are loose in their theory and practice concerning these things. A righteous life refuses those things, tnoughythe refusal may lead to a loss of all things earthly, it can never lead to surrender.
 Convictions and Courage.
 With convictions is coupled courage In moral elements. Courage must not be confounded with buster, or the loud bark ing of the small dog. Christian comage makes but little ado, but moves steadily on in a great purpose. MT. Folk now of Missouri is a fine sample of real strength of righteous citizenship. He seems to do his duty fully in dealing with great forces of evils, regardless of what he may lose or gain. All clean. men hon or such a man.
 Strength of manhood must be strong enough to bear self denials. Many enter life with no idea of self denial. With many it is a lost art (yirtue). They are not to be refused anything, they are not to deny themselves anything One os the elements of strength is self denial. Self wants the best of everything Self must have the easiest chair in the circle, the best place at the table, and the best on the table. It must have the best ossible garments, no one must dress bet ter than self. Self ietires first at night, self sleeps latest.
 Self wants the most money, self can not bea- any disagreeable things Really, self is a weak brother. strong only for self indulgence Christ pleased not Him. self. but we want self pleased regardless of others.
 Many of us would be ashamed to see how much we laud self Self must rur get in the way of duty. Strong faith in God will cause us to nail self to the cross of Christ, for He pleased not Hlnl- self. If you would be strong. you must crueify self"