The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-28
LOST OPPORTUNITIES
SUBJECT OF SERMON BY REV. F. c. | HASTINGS.
An Impressive Discourse at the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church by Visiting Miu-
 &Nfer.

gone"
 MT. Hastings, in a very simple. straight forward, yet impressive way called attention to the manifold trusts that are given by the Maker, q the many opportunities for doing good both for oneself and for others which if be allowed to pass by could never he reaained and then warned all that they would have to give an account Of all this at the last Great Day.
 He said in part: "our time Is one of the greatest trusts that the lord
 had given us. each hou that est wfthn
 had given us. each hour that rests with
 us In its rapid flight. each moment
 which goes to make ID the sum total of our existence are trusts not to be lost or cherished as the passing fancy takes us. Each day is laden with pos abilities of good for ourselves In self discipline. self-culture and clearer vision and closer walk with God;
 also of good for others by kind deeds and gentle words or of some task begun for the blessing of our fellow man. of some deed sown that in time will rinen to a harvest of benehcent
 achievement If we lose this opportu- nity or betray this trust that God has so willingly and sacredly placed in our hands. if we let the golden grains of time slin through our hands, they l fall away into that great ocean of the I irrevocable past never to be regained again" Here MT Hastings touched on ] the opportunity for doing great good 1 in our city bv removing the bucket shops He said! "Not long ago the people of this city were shocked by a bold bark robbery by a voting man. who, previous to this time lad stood
 as a peer among his associates. Just few days ago we read of the sad ln trVF
 ham who had used the banks money In his speculations and. daily, we have records of many who. having been led on by the tempting offers of the busket shop have wrecked homes He then showed wherein most of these cases
 were due directly tn the bucket shop.
 As young man appealing Tor the young men of this city. he said At the next meeting of the City Council
 an important matter Is going to come up--that of doing away with this
 gambling hell operating under license
 in our city" Every Alderman, he said,
 SO far as he oou1d learn. was mem
 har of some Christian Church. and for tho nA1st part q reeular attendant
 and. in face of all that was going to
 come m m that nieht. he honed and nraved that the man would rise to
 meet the occasion regardless of what it nieht mean 10 the city in tte form If revenue for there was something
 far more nrerious than money invoIv-
 ed. the salvation of hunnan souls. The Aldermen. hA said. hold the trust of the people If the cttv and it remains
 to ha seen if thev let this great oppor- tunItv slin pass thern.
 From this he went on to speak Nf
 the lives o'F the men who have n1outd-
 Ad the destinies of nations who have changed the current of history and made existence much ppbfer and sweet CT for millions of the race. He spoke | feraerlv. Of the life and trust of the | mother and the teacher and the good that thev noula do nv 1i~tn~ their lives arfeht Tho souh he said, was spark
 sronn the fire of the Fternnl Being. a
 Iieht ret down to us from the Central
 sn, of Universal Existence and that 1t
 was trust not oF death, hut of an
 in1-arishatle ine~tin euishAbte life. TTe said fhat thA soul was trust
 hat we had to hr'ne to God far ra~-
 don and in the end he ren1 for Hts
 crown or. 1t wac trust that we ware
 Iad nwav from God and in the enA ha
 % ct into utter darkness and an unend- | in1 woe
 Some trusts such as health. wealth and friends. when oncA lost may he
 recovereH hut in 1ifA there are irr"-
 "arab1e faiIuras snch as a boy who | fhrows away his time and money at school or that nf hraakinC a mothers 1 heart ana sendIup her to an nhtimelv 1 grave. Such As this. he saih could
 never he renovefnd.
 l Tn conclusion, he said the failure to | l,AAn trnst or fo lose An opnortun'tv | to do good was the saddest of all for
 when we meet the innuiring God we
 ,vfl, hoar thn wo~ds. "Dauart from ue.
 etc" tTe said that Iovire Savior h. I
 come to each in childhood ana had
 pleaded avsr sincs for accordance. He
 heSged that TIa hA accepted now or the snirit roieht cease to plead and
 wovld fold His wings for final hight
 ord we would ba loft t1 ap"ear before tho throne of God with the excuse. | tberc he was gone" TTA said that all
 alsa nav nass away. Mt for us all to | cIeave close 10 the Divine Guest, for
 on a s'n stained mast and our faces to
 life. His power will enable us to l,de
 the wavns of FAath Tn safety ld at
 last stand ir snotlcss roheS of white before the throna Of God with the
 sword If e1rthlv conflict exchanged l for a crown of victory and fadeless rest
 1 Mir Hastinss is a young man and of
 this citv He has lived aiI his life 1 here until four years ago. when he went to school to prepare himself for the ministry He preached at both the morning and evening service at the Dexter Avenue Church. and both ser vices were attended by large congrega- finns