Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-07-28

we are created for a purpose and
that God has work for us to do, but
just drift aimlessly through life. A
little homely illustration of a col
ored minister, / think, will impress
upon your minds how the evil one
deceives us.
An earnest old minister, in trying
to impress his audience with the
Importance Of serious thought in
serving God, said: Brethren, let
me tell you, the devil is just as
smart as he kin be; he tells you it
amt nothin for you to do and tbs
plenty of time to make peace wild
the Lord, jist go right along and
have good time; den he gwyne to
have you zactly whar he wants you.
You gwyne to mount the horse of
time on the saddle of sin wild the
martingale of pride and gwyne to
ride right down to the door of tor
ment, dar de horse gifts to foolin and
you scuffies, but fust thing you know
he dun flung you right in de middle
of de devils prison house."
The saddle of sin that our young
men and boys mount is alcohol and
its accompanying evils and, sad to
think, it carries one every six min
utest TO the devils prison house."
Can we see this wreck and ruin
throughout the length and breadth
of this lovely land Of ours, wrought
by the most destructive agency
known in the history of the world,
and not feel that we ought to help
over throw the evil power2 How
many girls, there are who feel that
there is nothing that they can do?
Dear girls, no service for our Lord
is trivial, and it is not fine talk or
a great display OF any of our talents
that causes us to be beloved, but
our lives. To be q woman means
something more than to live eigh-
teen or twenty years. 1t should be
the highest ambition of every young
woman to possess true christian
womanhood. Beauty and style and
the admiration of few young men
are not the surest passport to wom-
anhood; some of the noblest speci-
mems of womanhood the world has
ever known have presented the
plainest and most nprepossessing
appearance.
| A woman S worth is estimated by
the real goodness OF her heart. the
greatness of her soul and the purity
and sweetness of her character; for
a woman with kindly disposition
and a we'll balanced temper is both
lovely and attractive, be her face
ever so ugly. 1t is she who always
has time to brighten the lives of the
aged, to talk to them of heaven s
Joys and to read to them from Gods
Holy Word. The dear little ones
will appeal especially to her love
and sympathy. She will enter into
their joys and sorrows, win their af
lection then lead them in the foot
steps of Jesus.
The young heart is the soil in
which the seed of evil will take root
and grow more easily than those of
good, so you girls should be careful
about your example before children,
and not only the children, but the
young gentleman with whom you
associate. Why is it that girls do
not have a better influence over
their gentlemen associates? Be-
cause they do not possess sufficient
force of character, they have not
sufficient resolution OF purpose.
They would not have a drunkard
for husband, yet sad TO think, they
will take a glass of wine with
young man, play game of cards.
which may kindle the fires of intern
perance and gambling that will burn
forever. A jest even at the ex-
pense of religion, a light trifling
manner in the house of God, or any
of the numerous ways in which we
may show our disregard for the souls
Of others may be the means of ruin
ing many for time and eternity.
Dear girls, let me urge you to take
Christ into your lives, talk to Him
freely, let Him talk to you through
His blessed word; put aside fashions
and worldly show and live for dear
Redeemer who loves you, wants you,
and needs you.
If we want to win souls for Christ