Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-16
hidden TALENTS"
q Dfiiiiant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Or.
Henry c. Swentiel.
draws New Lesson From the Pssable-A
Person Without Grievance.

sunday morning on 'Hi!der. Talents" n,
LOON ms text from St. Matthew xxv:lS;
ne that had received one talent went and
ulgged IN the earth, and hid his lord.
money. Dr. Swentze, said
God holds the cornucopia Of infinite and
omnipotent love. With open-handcd gen
crosby He dispenses the gifts of HI.
boundless wealth throughout the length
ana breadth OF the Whole creation. From
myriad Puipi;s nature prea.hes eiopuently
OF the divine philanthropy. The universe
Is not only vast workshop, but a mag
nihcent pleasure house for enjoyment.
f;very held is designed for harvest. all
the forests resound with symphonies and
oratories; everywhere are mines of riches
awaiting the toiler. Gods plan includes
al the best things for the multitude, and
he who serves his mission NAV well say,
Il have al and abound"
ana yet how many are almost persuaded
TO protest against the doctrine of the lib.
sraity OF the heavenly Fathers pro, is;ons
Ihey have more than suspicion that our
interpretation of His tn,inty does not
square W.tn the facts ana experiences OF
human life. They are disposed TO intimate
that Ills ways are not equal; that He has
iettered Himself by harl and fast doe
trine OF Denomination. predestination and
election; that HE counse.s are married BIZ
what amounts practically to unjust dis
elimination and favoritism. Without
clsin2 Almighty God or to expose the fu.
tility and vanity of passing judgment uDon
his program Tor humanity, we ought 10 be
persuaded even by Our surroundings that
the Lord is prompted ever by a masterful
desire to promote the health and wealth.
the power aud happiness, Of His children.
III we were qualified 10 appreciate His
plans. Tor mankind. we would accept the
world with its beauties AMI harmonies. its
lights and shadows. its Respondent heav-
ems and fragrant flowers, its OVERLOOKING
granarles, its countless picture galleries.
ITS monumental g.ories, az parab.es OF di-
vine sovereignty.
But the man with one talent is Likely 10
present himself as an objector to this at
tractiye and inspiring view of the Fathers
ruiership. He is dissatisfied lie has n
grievance. He is persuaded that he ought
TO have 4 better chance, larger privileges,
create; opportunities. more encouraging
outlook. Ii IS perfectly true that there are
inequalities. All are not endowed with
the same gifts. Some seen TO have more
while others have less; tut there is UNI
douotedy a law OF compensation which
opens the way for high general average
OF satisfaction in living. satisfaction
winch Is not affected by what are called
success and failure, riches aud penury
Tod never gives everything to any one
person. but He does offer generous gift
TO every soul, and all will find life 10 be
worth thousand times more than 1t costs
II they viii but do their drty. Ii the many
would honestly do their best with what
tney nave. large share of present inc
qualities would disapear. and it would be
clearer TO all that the Almighty is truly a
universal Father. Alas, who has done his
best! II the complaner had but half filed
the measure of his possibilities, il he had
been willing to do what he easily could
have done, If he had not hidden his .a,ent
IN hsrv. 49, -. II.
and he would be more perfectly in har-
mony with the life-creed proclaimed by
revocation and by all the worlds.
lnasmrch as our Lord is the author of
the parable OF the talents. the religious
story with its moral Should be received
with the utmost thoushtiulness. Accord
ing TO His teaching, everybody receives
something, and the very smallest gift is
one talent. A talent Is u goody sum of
noney-equal to a little less than 5000
That amount would be a promising start
spg capital to Young man of fair business
z aoiiity- Many, u Will be alleged, must be-
GIN life on a much smaller basis, for which
there may be human reasons which are
both regrettable and ineSorab.e and which
we cannot stay to disclss Ordinarily
however, each soul has good.y start and
sets out with fair nd1wment. Gener-
ally speaking, everybody 1as chance-he
can be something he can do somethiug-he
can serve his mission. 1t is wholesome 10
be reminded betimes that many of the
men who have made history have sprung
form comparatively low origin. in eyerv
nation saints, heroes and leaders are. fo;
the most part, born in humble cottages.
the poor boys of not many yesterdays ago.
10 every soul God gives ali adequate enuIp.
ment Work Is the on,y royal road to ex-
ceLence There are peopse who expect IN
he carried on angels wings to the goal OF
.neir ambition. but angels and their wings
were made for no such purpose.
The trouble with the complaining man
OF one talent is that he has hidden his
power IN the earth. God made him 10 live
splendid life; the man has failed moro ar
less utterly. lie may BE- misunderstood.
put tar cfteaer he misinderstands himself
IN taxing stock OF his assets he neglects to
rate them even ut their face value He
wonders why he is where he is: he al,cges
ihsaperab.e obstacles and insists that he
has been sorc.y handicapped: he reg,-I;s
nlmsei: rs victim. Ii may be aunaron,
tnat he IS not so richly gifted MS certain
otnsss are, out that Is no reason why he
sshonid set. mp an inferior standard fo,
himself and expect nothing as the outcame
OF rs existence. Success. is NOT n mat,
oil taseass. IL is not true that they whose
achievements have given them a mace IN
tne "or,c legion OF nonor were mer
mh1Se s,Inins talents, without industr,
ana without development won for thc,-
immortal distinction. All who have rea'
strength are hard workers. whose ,owor;n.
oo9ect was not to get through the ,yor'G
WIFI the east possible outlay of energv
VINO are Wiling TO spend and be sDcn, I,
living their lives. Brilliant abilities conn,
Tor httie The high places in the wor'd
are seldom flied by people of genius bnI
DV men and women who have simn,v M AZ
the most OF their capacity. IL is an owe,
recurring surprise that most unlikely SOM.
come 10 the front in al the spheres of ne
.Miiy. Many genius goes at the last tc
me potter : field, while memorials in mar.
D!e or bronze are reared to com,nemora,.
the virtues and triumphs of Characters thai
were hot so rich III natural gifts as they
Were abundant in iabois. Eyerybody !.
well enough endowed The least we have
IS one talent. which, If it be rightly nsed
VIII suilce Tor our energies and fin 49,
measure OF iaudabie ambition.
Everybody is good for something. no.
bocy II necessarily good for nothing The
man with one ta.ent has some power I'VE
DO not refer TO mis- attributes. though fh.se
may DC admirable; he rlay have facnlti,s
which are more or less notable: he mar
nave memory, lmaglnat on, various GIFTS
which perhaps ne does not susnect In,
ne mas Inner talent &, lie 4 man-the tail
eht OF iaithiuiness 10 the right. OF cou-.
age Tor maintaining principle OF honesty
ana sinrdIness for work; he has A talent
that wall give him stlnding among h;s
fellows: and that will make him ya,,iah'c
amid the various relationships of his lie
By the grace of God b.. may hone to no
something and do sonnet hing, and he is in