The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-09
EminentlY Wise.

The Associate Reformed Presby terlan a
Due West often contains great chunks Of sol
i'd wisdom, for which we always feel grateful
and never fail TO realize pleasure In reading
In the initial number for the year 1907, We
find 80 good and 30 wise a piece that We know
our readers will thank US for copying 1t into
the Press and Banner. For fear that some o
our readers having less acute perceptivet
b ourself, may think that paper came GU
OF the Same hole into which 1t went, We ado
explanatory notes In brackets, thus: sc
that the Presbyterian's meaning may bt
clear to all. The successful preaching OF the
gospel from practical effort. The es.
tablishmentofa church IL the result Of aD
eminently practical work. The civilizing o.
the human race follows faithful and earnest
work. The. purifying Of the hearts and
homes is labor along sensible lines. The sal
walton of our souls IL accomplished by practi.
cal methods. When for a quarter OF q CEN
tury absolute and utter failure follows un
wise and ipjudicious expenditure OF poor PEG.
pls's money which has been laid on the tables
of the Lord, is 1t not time 10 stop and take
notes of our bearings? The Presby terrain says
and we explain;
Gain or lose-This Is the problem Of bust
ness. Transactions are entered into or de-
clined; methods are adopted or rejected With
the question OF profit or loss In mind. Indeed
there 10 hardly any transaction IN business
not enter. land especially 10 this true Of
looking into the profit OF Mexican Missions.
It IL right that II should be 80. To Do
The very order Of nature teaches us TO c,nstd.
er our " W. Our sin Is not In carrying this
question Into all our transactions. 1t is
rather In not pushing this question INTO the
inalr results Of our actions. will IL pay In
asked. The churc before exacting tribute
from its members should be sure that the
widows mite, the childreD's nickels and
dimes, p the poor mans dollar is faithfully
and proftably speut.l
But his question Is broader than business.
1t enters Into character. In regard TO what
we are as well as what We have our actions
we receive the true gain or loss OF life. And
1t 10 In regard TO whether we are becoming
better or worse that we ought to consider our
ways with special care, land regard for the
matter Of eIacting heavy tribute from loyal
churchmen TO invest for no better purpose
than that Of prosely ting Mexican Catholics
deserves prayerful attention
this res pssp eel -" Literally no.hiSgs Have We
made progress upward or Downward? We
ought 70 answer this question not for our
satisfaction but In order that we may be
guided fn the future by the experience OF the
past. flour Of lite has helped us to
be what we ought to be, let ms push onward
in that course. But II our love for things
good has grown wea ger apd some bad haoits
have q care for our " people, who are "a
worthy as those with whom we are inter.
NEEDING, by means Of pious and highly paid
Missionaries In Mexico.1
% III. o,In ~. fhn lNpn rnnu houn Imam oN nrol
nal as TO be scarcely perceptible. We may
have to take stock to ind out just bow we
stand. To do this is the teaching Of reason as
well as ofScrlpture For q quarter Of CEN
upon our people. and the result has not been
spprecisble or ~perceptible.] The business
world regards q man as something else than
wise who continues In q course OF business
without knowing whether be is gaining or
losipg. What then shall We say OF one who
goes on regardless OF whether he is becoming
better or worfe? he who ia less thoughtful OF
himself than Of bis business is something
else than wise.
In regard TO the past there are two ex-
tremes TO be avoided. One is living In the
past. Some think so much Of the past that
thoughts are on what they have dons rather
than or what they are now doing, or ought to
do. Memory which ought TO be an aid thua
becomes a hindrance to rctiye work. And
is justified In shutting out facts about Mexi-
90, which II made known, would make the
peoplefree.I
The other extreme Is forgetfulness of the
past. tIf our people did not forget the Inn
positions Of the past. they certainly would
not longer submit to the exactions
annually for missionaries who accomplish
literally nothipg.l II they remember It at all
It Is NOT 10 be guided by II. They learn moth.
ing from experience. They profit not BY the
losses of the past. but continue onward In a
course. Such cases OF forgetful.
ness intregard TO business are all too frequent,
and far more frequent In regard 10 character.
land 10 Mexico.1 =.
The course of wisdom Is not to live in the
past but TO carry lessons from 1t for future
guidance. This course would open the eyes
Of the people TO the impositiops from which
they have long suffered to furnish an army Of
well paid but Improbable Christian servants
In Mexico In this way we may profit by
takes. To one who does 1t no loss is q dead
toss. no past experience has been In vain.
INC matter how much he has wasted In Mex
foo