The Newtown bee., 1904-04-15
SOCIAL TOPICS.
IMPEDIMENTA.-BY o. o. WRIGHT.

The more material things we car possess and use for the kingdom Of heaven the better: but if the things o1 the world only hinder our progress toward the attainment of the highest ideal, the less we have the more we shall gain. Whether we overcome the world, or are overcome by it is all the difference between success and failure. We may convert mammOn to the Serv- ice of God, but we cannot serve God and mammon. God and mammon do not go together. If we love the one unfailing test of the spirit of the life that is in us. As St John declares: "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.''
 The good things of this world wealth, honorS, prosperity, health and happineSS-are all good in their right uses; but they are bad for us so sure as they defeat the great divine end of life, which is the evolution of moral spiritual character, which fits us for the higher relations of the life eternal. Thoreau says that, "Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the fictitious
 
 of life that it's finer fruits cannot be plucked by them. Their fingers, from excessive toll, are too clumsy and tremble too much for that. Most of the luxurieS, and many of the so called comforts of lite are not only not indispensable, but positive hinder anceS to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wiSeSt have ever lived more simple and meagre life than the poor. :"
 And is it not the simple truth that in many cases a man in active business life has so many cares that he is really less man of leisure, culture and char acter, and more of a drudge and a assists him to bear his burdens, and lives in humble conditions according to his wages? The one possesses much and enjoys but little; the other having little enjoys comparatively much, and is free from consuming cares. And so, 'bleSSed be nOthing."
 Moreover, the limitation of capaci- ty to use and enjoy steps in, and be- comes law of equalization. When one possesses more than he can use for his own best good, and the highest in- terests of others, in justice the sur plus belongs to some one else, and the wise man is not anxious to take more care and responsibility than of right whom the luggage belongs bear the burden, and have the care.
 There are none too many good things in this world, and it is best that every one should have his share. And if one man monopolizes the necessities of life, so as to make dependents or pauperS of others, in the long run it will prob ably result in the privilege or duty of | his providing for those deprived: and 1 in some respect the towns poor are the best conditioned of any. They can put the burdens and cares of life be- hind them if they will.
 Excess of activity and superfiuity of things may be seen in all the depart. ments of life. The welfare and happi. ness of many households is brought tC ruin by the tickle and foolish tyranny of fashion. Multitudes of homes are crowded with useless rubbish which is of no earthly good, serving only tc waste time, strength, and the sensibil ities to the finer things of life. One often sees ten things for ornament ir a room where one would be ornament al. Our system of education is marrec by the same grave error. We give the children so, many | pldy UudU UuCJ dlC COll uS0u dul cannot play. We invent for them tht things they ought to discover for them selves; and we cram their heads witt the thoughts of others, Ewhen WI should leave them to think for them selves.
 And so in various ways the march o our spiritual life is impeded by tn, useless impedimenta we try to carr, with us, which it is better to use ant done with them. We have no time t, treat each other as immortals. w have so many things to see to that w can scarcely honor God. We may hay so many cares that we really care fo nothing Life does not consist in tn abundance of things we possess. Tn, excess of things only flinders and stiiie the higher life. The burdens of th worldly life tend to death, only. Tn purest, noblest lives are least dependan on;things, and thrive most by reason 0 , the lack of earthly treasure.
 There are many ex-clam- a tions tha . you will make after attending tn clam-chowder supper given by the me
 of the Congregational church in thei lectIlre-rOOm WedneSdav evenino