Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-30

/ turn from courses tnat cultivate the mind
! TO those which prepare for business Our
| theatres nave teit the influence and think
more OF pieces which will draw than az
those which VII elevate a. vel As amusc
| aud reereate tht--a who see and hear
I ca, y y conceivable that even the
.urch may not escape. The ministry
! thai sets saia ABOVE usefulness has caught
! the eoniag.on. "Put ire INTO ;he priesthood
! thai may eat piece of bread" 30 cried
one 81 Old. The very thought was desc
Grafton The ministry that ! sought Tor
| the sake ot the pieces OF bread Tor 4 I've
mood. whether It he large or small Is a
ministry not 10 God. not to these among
whom 1t i exercised. but TO the man that
mods IT. The clergy who are ia orders
chiefly Tor what they can WIN in the way
"i comfort: or responsibility or income are
unfit for their place. They serve not God
their fellows. but themselves. And so
the church whose Chief aim is a large pew
rental and Il fashionable conversational
getting the while that The Masters boast
was that To the poor the gospel was
preached. Is tarred with the same stuck.
fes. commcrcialsm Is in the air. 1t is
the spiri that now works-that stea.ihily
penetrates every Il 'nartment of modern ac-
tivIty, always seeking To make gain the
dominant motive. There is no line OF work,
no business. no profession safe against its
insidious influence. Ii inyades law and
medicine. even divinity. we have seen.
IL Is telt IN halls of legislation and seat; OF
government. Yea. It pervades even So
ciety. making the fine raiment and the gold
ring and the large bank account more 10.
tent to open doors than gentle birth and
fine breeding
How are we TO resist this influences.
cape this spirit: just as we resist the con.
taglon OF an epidemic. the depression al a
malaria. by iortifving the powers OF lie.
\ man IN whom the tide OF life Il full and
strong viii walk unscathed through the
plague laden air. The health shat is in
INN resists the disease that rushes upon
him. The bacteria that floats into throat
or lung. ar stomach finds no indus and
dies Ii must he thus. then. that we es-
cape the spiritual danger Fortify tine life
within. Remember that lie is more than
meat: that the kingdom OF God and His
righteousness are infinitely worthy OF our
seeking. DO not forget the possibilities OF
your lie. what you can make OF it in the
way OF growth. what YOU can make OF il in
TIE way oi usefulness Keep YOUR eve on
the Master, In Him see what YOU may be
~ Him see VIVA; you may do. Yea. not
ONLY keep YOUR eve on Him. hut keep in
living touch with Him. that the tides of
His life may flow into your soul. and carry
YOU on and up to the measure OF the stlt-
ure OF he perfect man in Christ Jesus
Finally. my brethren. Whatsoever things
are honest - whatsoever things are just.
whatsoever lnlngs are pure. whatsoever
things are iove.v. whatsoever things are OF
good repor5, think on these things" Turn
voGr thought and your eyes away from the
dazzling bait of the age Escape lis snare.
Seek first the kingdom of God Determine
10 he a man. mentally. morally. spiritually;
determine TO be a brother 10 your fellow
man. and do for him brothers part: de.
terrnine to be child az the heavenly
Father aud obey His will. so far As Won
know it. resolve that in YOU the splcndid
possibilities hidden in the gift of life shall
be realized. and You shall have learned
how 10 use this world without abusing it.
Then commerce. business success shall
minisseT to You but not enslave YOU; shall
enbeliish your life but not absorb H. shall
bring YOU. perchance. an abundance OF
things 10 POSSESS. hut leave the while
strong and pure within YOU the life of
God. Then shall Won in very deed possess
the abundance OF the things which aic
yours. Let them once get the better of
yon. climb into the throne OF your hear.
and life. and then they possess You and
Nou are their slave and their victim: nailed
and incoHined IN yOur own strong box
which has. a'as. with your treasure. shu;
N yoGr soul also.