The Grit-advocate., 1904-12-30
The Old Year
and the New I
SUPERINTENDENT

The past year has meant many
things to many people.
Tragedy and comedy have played
hide and seek in the most unexpected
places. Joy and sorrow have gone
hand In hand ip many lives. Wishes
have not ended In fulfillment even
when most confidently expected; and
Fortune. with ner usual fickleness. has
smiled where her presence was hither.
to unknown.
The passing year has brought many
gifts there was no refusing. On some
it showered blessings until all the
world was golden to its favorites, and
life happiness so great it crowded
out all remembrances OF griefs that
we're old. or yet to be born. To others
1t has been the graveyard of dead
hopes. the burying ground OF happI.
ness. the final resting place of energy,
ambition and ideals. To all 1t has
brought some experience that forever
will stand monument-like in our lives
to mark the birth of new capacities
within ourselves for good or evil: the
awakening OF some powerful influence
for veal or woe.
Twelve short months, and how much
they mean! A few hundred a: u some
odd days. and hundreds OF lives are
marred forever. or made happy for
time. Lived well and profitably. they
have brought conteutpent and a clear
conscience to help us face the coming
year and buoy us up in the sturdy
faith that the future cannot but be as
bright as was the past. lll-spent. those
few short months have banished hope
from many a life, and dimmed many
an illustrious name. It Is the mistake
OF the moment that makes the misery
OF a lifetime, nor can repentance
brighten 1t again. Few Of us are capa-
h'e of planning evil but many of us
succumb to the unexpected opportu.
nifty. The strong withstand. the weak
falter and fall. and yet the world In
slsts that both should be measured by
the same stern standard of right and
wrong. with no allowance made for
weakness. 1t Is SO easy to be good
when one has all one wants, so simple
ments. so comforting to sit In the con-
scious rectitudc that knows no dspo.
sition to evil. and condemn those
whose lives are constant struggle
to do the things they ought not to do,
and in whom one triumph Is greater
moral victory than lifetime OF right.
eousness on the part of the untemp ut.
ed.
We all have a we'll defined wish at
this season of the year to turn a clean
page in the book OF life, to improve,
II possible. to perform miracles of
kindness and goodness.
The universal desire is to be at
peace with mankind. To succeed one
must temper justice with mercy, until
the accepted position is reversed and
1t Is mercy which Is tempered with
Justice. To ourselves we cannot be
too severe; to the faults of others, too
ienient. BY our own mistakes let us
measure the misdemeanors OF those
about US. Let us profit by the temp
tations we have met. returning thanks
for the courage which has helped US
to withstand some, from our failures
gathering fresh courage for new at.
.empt. Each heart knows it's own bit.
:erness. A deep stratum of sorrow
often lies close to the fairest surface.
Of the knowledge born of our expert
ence we must be generous. and deal
gently with the failings hardest to
understand IN others. Charity cover.
eth much, but alas. ir too many cases
1t Is a garment worn threadbare at the
seams, and in holes in many places.
To keep 1t whole and capable Of shell
tering the needy Is a task that would
profitabiy fill the next year for those
Of us who will undertake 1t: and
there should be many such. IL we
we're only honest enough to some
times mako the allowances for others
ve never fall to make for ourselves.
IF there be some weaker one. give
me strength to help her on" Is wish
that is charitable. practical and kind
". and would make splet-id device
f.e 1905.