The Cairo bulletin., 1904-01-10

W. !. 4. !. !. !. !. !:
~ A-f " IN make TO the 10
Hl. INV .gIA days. The to-day:
klH ~ Tfxku| are wisely anc
V NaBMySV probably lived in
MIN VYEssrs9S so far as they APP.
VIZ propriate and as
EA VI a..s-1M simulate the lessons
- and experiences OF
ss5 h G yesterdays.
Days should speak. and multitude OF
years should teach wisdom" That Is,
The yesterdays should speak their mes
sage OF admonition, of encouragement,
oil hope to the to-days, they should
bring of their stores of wisdom which
have been gathered as the frnitase OF
wars and give instruction to the young
to-days The words OF our text are the
words of Elihp, the young man who
speaEs after Jobs three aged friends
have concluded their long harangues TO
the AFFLICTED man. Elihu was modest. or
at least affected TO be, and with becom-
Ing difference, Of which he is conscious
~ proud. he waits until the men OF gray
hairs have spoken. Well would il be II
young men OF to-day were as modest and
deferential In the presence Of their
elders. Men OF mature years and veneer
able age should speak first. says Elihu.
But Ia his words there is an implied re-
bnke which is suggestive II is as
though he said to these three aged phil
osophers: The days and multitude OF
years OF your observation and expert
snce and learning should have enabled
you to speak and teach wisdom. but. he
goes on to say in the ninth verse. great
men are not always wise. neither do the
aged understand judgment Years do
not always bring wisdom. nor do they
always qualify man to speak protitably
and wisely Days should however.
speak, and multitude of years should
teach wisdom, Each day should bring
forth Its treasure to add to the life, and
each year should teach its lessons and
hestow the wealth Of wisdom with which
II has been endowed. But too often the
days neit into weeks, ard the weeks are
swallowed up Of the months, and the
months are soon lost In the years as they
Glide swiftly by. and thoughtlessness
and heedlessness. worldliness and self
seeking rob the days and weeks and
months and years Of their offerings of
true wisdom and enduring blessing.
CUSTOM has marked the first day OF
~ the New Year as the occasion Tor
noting in an especial way the flight
of time. From the most ancient tines
the beginning Of years as marked BY
the calendars Of the different natioas
and peoples has been chafaetC rizCd By
ceremonies and observations OF special
recognition. The Jews. the Egyptians,
the Chinese. the Romans, the Moham-
mednns and other nations, although
differing as to the time from which
they reckoned the commencement Ut
the year. all regarded II as a day OF sDe-
cial interest. Americans in the lareer
cities Of the country where the Chi
nese are found in any numbers are
reminded at the present day of the
difference between the calendar COM
monty In use among the principal ma
lions OF the world and that Of China.
BY the elaborate celebration OF the CHI
nese New Year II Is the great day In
the Chinaman's year. and the day Is
given over 10 festivities and religious
ceremonies of various kinds. The Jews
10 this day observe the New Years
day of their own Jewish calendar with
great faithfulness and solemnity. Tile
celebration Of New Years day is of pa
gan origin. The early Christian Ia
thers--Augustine, Ambrose and others
forbade In Christian use all festive
celebration OF the day. because OF the
immoral and superstitious observances
Of the pagan festival. The Christians.
however. were directed TO open The
year with day Of prayer. fasting and
humiliation But New Years day is
not religious or church day. except
In the Roman Catholic church. where
II Is observed as holiday of strict
observance and religious ceremony
Upon the Christian OF the Protestant
denominations IL has no direct claims.
and yet there Is scarcely an organized
body of Christians In the world bus in
some manner and to some degree gives
recognition TO the day. II. may be IN
wetch night service. in which The
closing hours OF the Old Year and tae
dawn Of the New Year are passed in
songs of praise and worship. in PRAYER.
scripture reading and testimony. 1t
may be a prayer service or other man
ner OF religious exercises on New
Years day II may be New Year
dinner or social, or II may be only a
thought and reference to the day at ne
regular religious services preceding its
dawn. II is a time of accounting. a
summing up of days past and thought
for the days which the New Year will
count OF day BY day. and only give
. 10 the secrets Of those days as they are
revealed by the. days unfoldings.
Days should speak. and the New
fears day Is the time when the days
Of the year which has gone should have
opportunity to speak and cas-; the infiu-
enee of their experience upon the days
Of the year just begun.
1T Is an old and trite saying that
! time is money" II Is a sad COM
I mentary upon the material worldly