Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
Sunday Morning Talk
Sticking to the Main Thing.

The insight to discern and the power TO
adhere to the main concerns OF life are VAL
liable assets for any man. Possessing them
he can. II necessary, dispense with the ad-
vantages that may accrue from being well
born and tenderly reared and still climb
high on the ladder of fame. Lacking them,
he may have fine ancestry, powerful
friends, exceptional opportunities and still
be distanced in the race. And these quail
tiles are not simply the gifts of the gods:
they can be cultivated, otherwise we should
not be talking about them this Sunday
morning.
Hes a success IN everything except tho
pulpit was the keen comment in my hear
ing on certain minister. The speaker
meant that this particular parson could do
many things well and some things extraor-
dinarily we'll, but that he couldn't preach
effectively. Too bad, isn't II, that the fol-
lower of any professionalism medicine the
ministry, journalism, teaching-should get
the reputation of being more of an adept
In other departments of activity than in
the one vocation to which he is supposed
to have consecrated his life? Why did he
choose it. then. in the first placer
Lie, to be sure, is a complicated affair."
Duties throng upon u.s. Pleasures multiply,
The will is drawn in this. that and the
other direction. But when we simplify
life down to limited period of time is It
not possible to see and pursue the main
in the week just closed We accomplished
all we would like to have done There were
allurng by-pat tbs into which we were tempt
ed to stray. There were side issues with
which We would like to have dealt. But there
were only seven days and we had strength
and time to do only the main things, and
II we have done those well we knew
how We ought not to be wholly discouraged
or vainly self-reproachful now that the
week has vanished. And for the coming
week why need the accumulation OF ap-
pointments scare us. when we only need to
do the really important things. and for
them we shall have ample time and
strength. OF course the emphasis must
vary according to local conditions. Perhaps
next week. Mrs. Weary Worker, is to give
yourself entirely to rest and your main
duty, Mr.. Haughtyman. may be to compose
the differences between yourself and the
man who thinks you have wronged him.
1t is through such concentration as this
that we grow intellectually and morally.
The man who wants to profit by the print
ed page must often put aside the beguiling
novel or Illustrated magazine in order to
get at the heart of the solid books. And
the man who turns his batteries on one be-
setting sin and keeps them in action until
that Sin is dislodged wins his character In
time.
So, too, in the realm of human service.
Read again the parable of the good Samari-
tan and see how thoroughly he did his
work, not leaving the wounded trave,er UNI
til everything possible had been done for
him. He bound up his wounds and put him
on his horse and took him to the inn and
paid for his keep and said he was ready to
do more for him. The business of each Of
us Is to stick to some wayward boy. some
needy family. until We have done them per-
manent good
One of the greatest educators and leaders
whom Japan has produced, Joseph Neesima
when 1t was occasionally suggested to him
that he should do this or that minor thing
would reply, Il can't, have a pillow on my
hands" He meant that he had put his
hand to the great task of establishing a
high-grade Christian school in his native
land. Let US all keep to the great highways
of duty. Let US cleave to the main con-
Germs. THE PARSON.