The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-21
THE LIFE WORTH LIVING.


Biblical Recorder BY Mr.. Dixon's
Rook-
This Is the title Of the latest book
by Thomas. Dixon, Jr.: not n novel this
time, but a description I'm great de-
tail of the life that he lives on 4 rare
old country estate in Tidewater, vir-
ginia. IL Is most readable; the style
is franklin the spirit OF confession,
almost Of boasting-and enthusiastic
to the rare degree characteristic OF he
author. The subject matter is Of that
order which. so far as We know, APP
reals 40 all normal men-the life OF
o~ut-of-doors. hunting, fishing, dogs,
horses. cattle, flowers, birds boats and
children.
But is that the life worth living:
Eighteen years ago the young old
boro or Raleigh pastor proclaiming the
gospel with all the eioquence for which
he is famous and enauiored OF his
great calling 10 tle point OF complete
absorption, might have written quite
another Life WORTH Living y few
years later the New York pastor who
had ,aken arms in the name OF Christ
against the terrible array of evil in
thai corrupt city. might have written
even another Life Worth Living. To
hin, then the stalwart life of the lonely
hero shifting the giants of his time was
worth while.
Rut his impatient spirit grew weary.
Too much earnestneSs broke that heart.
He escaped from the city. He "es-
capped" from the passionate And nov
this is the Life Worth LivinS-this
.eau-iful life, this nburdened lie, this
life unrelated to his fellowman, this
selfish life, the luxurious, easefui lie
is the Life Worth Living.
This writer knows somewhat OF that
life. and he ventures TO think he has
. somewhat of fellowship in Mr.. Dixon's
1 t>,."r'encp. ~ first i youth plunges
+. gladly ard with tremendous hopes into
the arena of life. He forgets his I'M
| serious nyhoGd. Taking himself seri-
ouSly. utterly misapprehending the
l freshness o. lis own zeal and the an
[ tiqt:ity of the worlds ways, he hurls
himself against everything that Is
, wrong. in appearance or reality. He
would save the world. But the world
l hearkens not. At length he wearies.
Shall his heart break? Snail he de-
I spair? Il is the crisis of his career. 1t
5 Is GnthSemane
: Remember when the apostle says,
AS for me, Il go Il fishing'-I let it all
/ go Back to my little life for me. 1t
0 required the Risen Christ to save Him
): from that,
One day the young man goes fish
ing. II is 10 years since he has wet a
J. line. The call of the wild comes with
impelling power. 1t is worth While. Free
4 seriousness gone. heartache gone. he
n lives for himself, he lets go the great
i calls and causes of mankind. why
break ones heart against a stupid
IS worlds stupidity? Here by the water
g the stiffness and the separation there
D are no tears. no burdens-0nly the
e game of the moment. quiet nerves a
moor and rest at sundown, rest anC
h the soft-speaking stars. dreamless sleeT
IF and with the return of the kindly SUI
and appetite and Il new heart
% It is worth while. But it is not al
IS worth while, not worth all h While
as Mr. Dixon himself suggests.
r. O. for the call of tie Risen Christ ii
# such an hour.
"a The greatest of temptations is no
r. the temptation to actual wrong. 1t j
the temptation to Self-indnl@enco.
II is at this point that the youni
man u.1.ing from The romantic to tn
proSair years is most seriously menaC
ell. Shall he abandon all his lofty yea
;s for the Tiehting Cf 4 world of wrongs
Shall Se.f-induigencc diSplace self-sac
rif"e:
10 We answer No. The life worth Will
is the life Of self Sacrifice-nOt of littl
;. Genials, but of denial of self. lie ma
- rot cmev his Jrealns. but if he aban
of don thep he is =, man lost TO his race
IS hopes and lost t. the larger self. IL
him rather MAINTAIN his dreams earl
=, eStly but with less of Over-wrouSht Sc
IL robustness. Let him find poise. I'll
level point: fishing and hunting whe
4" there is need to relieve the strain, bait
rs ing in sweet human. sweet nature
,st sweet animal fellowship lest too Gres
cl- seriousness swamp hin in a tide of dt
spain. but Ttwtn" onward through IL
III prusaic ,"a-S with Il heart ready ft
-es hard work, ~ ','"I:S nd the joy of tt
as a,.rirnt StrUg:l N'tE. evil.
This is the L.itc V orth Living.
N Or. Dixon IL Is:&ken. He
MI not regard lis 'iinLrc and fishing Iii
lie worth while / lie lad not serious wor
no to do. rlay is good. And his DOCK
,ad ono Of the - II a.. POSITIONS Of pla
he that we have. We commend 1t TO a
q over-serious souls. But work is Il
X blessing of mankind. As n Frenchma
once said, God did not give men VOL
re- as Il curse. but He gave us life, al
is. added work as an ameliOrating cond
ne ton Of life.-B:biical Recorder.
NJ ORDER REVOKED