Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-11-22
Subject: "Proflt and Loss"

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Preaching at the
Irving Square Presbyterian Church
on the theme, profit and LOSS" the
Rev. I. w. Henderson, pastor, took,
as his text Mark 8:36. "For what
doth 1t profit man to gain the whole
world and forfeit his life." He said:
Jesus draws the picture with
strength and In startling manner.
What doth 1t profit man II. in the.
end, he shall have gained control
over the sum total OF the material
things in the universe and have for
feited his soul life with God? "The
question is between that life which
consists mainly in having and that
which consists in being" The ques-
ton Is whether or no our efforts
shall tend to self-aggrandizement or
to soul culture. Shall we devote our
larger and finer energies to the at
tainment of possessions which are OF
use in this world alone or to the en-
largement of our spiritual powers?
The difference is between getting
and growing. The man whose ca
reer is given over to getting things Is
measured as a success according to
the material wealth he has acquired.
But the man who Is a growing man.
is marked by his richness in grace,
goodness and goodness.
There is In our time most COM
mendable spirit abroad In the hearts
of our people leading them to seek
the amelioration and upliftment Of
the conditions of life about us. There
Is an earnest desire among men OF
purpose everywhere to make the
most out of life. We have small pa
thence with the shirk and are getting
to have less with the business slave.
We read of the possibilities of cheap
power In its relation to economic af-
fairs and millions Of money trans
form Niagara into electricity and
rapid transit. Our hearts are ap-
palled at the ignorance Of thousands
of men here in America and we build
schools. We are told that in order
to q successful social system the
good wage. The luxuries of yester-
day are the necessities, and inexpen-
sive, too. of to-day. Our millionaires
have gold galore for charities and
clubs, and men in all grades OF So
ciety put more money into amuse-
ments than ever before. All this is
we'll in its way and place. Social
conditions should be bettered and the
standard of life raised. No man
should waste any of his talents, nor
should he give undue attention to
any one to the detriment Of the rest.
The latent wealth Of the world should
be made productive No man should
be sent out into the battle of life
mentally unprepared. Each member
of this State deserves and should be
enabled to acquire sufficient physical
endurance to fit him for the fight.
The man who sells his labor must re-
ceive fair wage and decent oppor-
tunity for enjoyment and for the cul-
ture of other than his business ma
ture" We cannot have too many
charitable institutions to meet real
need, nor can we do other than re-
joice over the wealth that lies at our
hands. All of these things are good.
all are necessary, each when used
properly will be found to be means
to the betterment Of this world and
life.
But in our endeavor to utilize the
possibilities of the present and mate
rial life there lies the danger to for
get the immortal and spiritual exist
ence of the soul. Education at the
States expense is cure for many
social Ills and a salve for many an
economic sore. Money may and does
bring happiness to the hearts Of all
who, righteously. may possess 1t. No
man can deny the value OF physical
culture in the cure of many bodily
ailments and in strengthening the
constitution. Fair pay for fair
days work is only just. None Of us
begrudges the man Of millions except
we are aware he has robbed us. But
brain muscle and morality are not
necessarily synonymous. Some OF
the most dissolute men the world
has ever harbored have been the
mightiest in intellect. The antics
and excuses Of not few college
men but prove that book knowledge
and purity of life are not one. Money
is not an unrighteous thing of itself,
but, oh, what slaves it does make Of
men; how soon the greed for 1t will
sti1e all that is noble in its lovers.
The size and development Of your up
per III dTlll 10 Ill lO W dy al
tion of the strength Of soul you pos
sess nor Is it substitute for 1t.
Bulk of purse, Drawn of muscle,
depth of learning and fine mental
ity are both commendable and desir-
able If 80 be they are righteously &C
quired, but the acquisition of all
these things Is as nothing II so be
man has forfeited his soul life for
them.
To-day we train our youth for
business or professionalism Is to
say, for careers of economic useful
ness. Our main aim in education is
to fit men to achieve material sue
cess. We demand that our schools
shall turn out men who are able to
take care of themselves. We pay
but scant attention to individuality
and to the leanings and peculiaritfes
of personality. Any one here can
state, as we'll as I, how much moral
training the schools give our youth.
In our fear that the Bible in the
school may SAVIOR Of UNCONVENTIONAL
ism we leave, often, a free field for the
devil. From earliest youth till the
child Is a man dependent upon his
own resources the continual cry is
for him to achieve success. Forum
ate, indeed, is the man who, by wise
direction and personal preference, is
enabled to choose the way that leads
to real and lasting success. But the
pity is that too many of us spell sue
cess in the terms of material achieve
ment Too few are they who know
that success is a matter not SO much
of getting as of being; that 1t is more
a matter of soul culture than of ma.
terial gain. Success Is measured not
by the amount you have, but by what
you amount to.
Far be it froE: me to belittle a
proper material success The wol. ID
owes a debt it never can repay to the