The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25
HONORABLE FAILURE IS
NEXT BEST TO SUCCESS
DR.. Albert Hurlstone Speaks at
Roberts Park Church Of 1.-The
Glory of Failure"
FAILURE OFTEN BEST

The best thing is. to honorably succeed,
the next best is to honorably fall These
words sounded the keynote of DR.. Albert
Hurlstone's sermon last night at the Rob-
erts Park NJ. E. Church. The theme of his
sermon was the GLORY of Failure" the
text from John xvi, 80. DR.. Hurlstone
spoke in part as follows:
The familiar cry in the temple at Ephe-
sus was Great is Diana of the Ephesians.'
The dominant note in the music of our
own age is Great is Success, the Goddess
of the Americans The worship of success
by itself, apart from the means used to get
1t, is one of the worst faults OF human
nature. The only success worth the name
is when man gains living, or a compe-
tence, or wealth. without paying too dear
for ii. True success is when a fair share
of this world does not cost either moral
or intellectual or physical health or life.
Character is the best capital in the end. To
have lived well is better that to have made
money.
The greatest conqueror this world ever
saw was the NaZarene peasant He had no
money, was ANONYMOUSLY murdered and
yet was rich in untold wealth and truly
and gloriously said L have overcome the
world The best thing is to honorablv slIc-
coed, the second best, to honorabIy fail.
Failure is honorable because il pre-
supposes effort. The prophet Samuel was re-
Jected by the people in mis- old age. After
all his noble and lifelong devotion to his
country and his efforts to establish the
theocracy they clamored for a king. Rut
II you look at the manner in which Samuel
chose, you will see the true grandeur Of
soul which marks one of natures noble
men. After the modification of his own
f fels'. was displayed the real glory of
Failure is often only the prelude to sue
cess. The pioneer and the explorer owe
not little to the priceless tradition and
literature. of failure. If the north pole is
ever reached, half the glory will be due 10
those who failed, but who have shown
by their failures and sufferings and pitt
able deaths what routes are hopeless II
is something TO know our limitations of
temperament and circumstance. II is So
in religion. Failure to save ourselves re-
suits in our acceptance of the glory of
Christ's salvation This is the VICTOR ~
that overcometh the world, even our faith
The glory OF Hagars failure TO find the
water Tor her dying boy is seen in that
God opened her eyes and gave her 10
drink OF the living water and to minister
to all succeeding ages in their sorrow
Men frequently fail in business and health
cause they leave God out of the question
And their failure is the prelude TO a true
success.
Failure in. one thing often leads to suc-
cess in another. General Lew Wallace felt
that he failed to hold his own i'm a con.
versation with Col. Robert c. IngersolI
This drove him TO an investigation of the
New Testament and Christian evidences
the result the world knows. He received
inspiration TO write 'Ben-Hur a work OF
genius and merited popularity. DaviC
failed TO build the temple. but he was en-.
nobled by the ideal and God said Thou
didst we'll that IL was in thine heart We
call il Solomons temple. but the brain OF
David conceived the idea and the heart OF
David gave its treasures i'm preparation.
Can we then believe that great ideas
ligin thoughts. pure high feeling be.
lieving supplication can fruitlessly pas.
away? Is all this wasted power? Doe.
the spirit of God inspire all this in vain
IL cannot be, Much that we count failure
| will be seen in another light hereafter
| Following in the footsteps of Christ tn,
| young the poor. the beaten man. the un
| successful man may yet say. Il have over
| come the world. And even in the presence
| of DEATH our last enemy. We may say
! Thanks be 10 God which giveth the VIC
tory through our Lcrd Jesus Christi"