Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1907-08-30

against the sinful acts OF their Dygone
years.
It does not take very much grace to
go and compliment a man on his viz
tues and praise him when he is do
ing right. But it takes lots of grit to
put your finger upon the weaknesses
Of a mans life and tell him when he
is doing wrong 1t takes lots Of grit
for a Nathan to stand up and say to
King David. Thou art a libertine and
a murderer" 1t takes lots Of grit
for the members of a privy council of
King Solomon to say to the young
prince Rehoboam: "ThOu art wrong.
Comply with the requests Of the peo-
pie. and they win serve thee" And
when they said it they knew that their
advice would cost them their official
positions 1t takes lots of grit for a
young preacher like Henry Ward
Beecher to be at the head of a church
in indianapolis, where most of its
members are antagonistic to the aboli-
Zionist movement, and stand up and
defy a whole community and say, "Ihe
slave ought to be free" 1t takes lots of
grit for a young clerk, when he is
asked to do something dishonest, to
say to his employer: NO, sir. will
not do II, because it is wrong" 1t
takes lots of grit for a young girl who
loves a young man devotedly to say to
that young man: Harry. l love you
love you with all my heart and yet
If you are not true to your better self,
and if you do not turn your back upon
your evil associates, must turn my
back upon you" In other words, it
takes lots of grit to come to your
friends and neighbors and Place your
finger upon the weak spot of their
mental. moral and spiritual life and
say: Here, you must change. In or
der to do right for the future you
must rectify this wrong of the past"
Are you willing as u friend to point /
out to your friends the weaknesses Of |
their lives, as Paul warned the sailors /
of the Alexandrian corn ship?
A story of Edward Livingston.
For my own part can think Of no
greater joy than that which would |
come to us if we were to go to those /
we love to warn them of their sins /
and weaknesses. which are threaten /
ing to destroy them. There is a beau
tiful story told about the great Ed
ward Livingston Perhaps he was the
greatest of all the great men who have
borne that family name. But few
men have been greater from a worldly
than he. He was represent
alive in congress, mayor Of New York
city, United States senator from Loui-
siana, secretary of state and minister
10 France. One day in his old age a
friend said to him, Senator, what was
he supreme moment of your lifeF"
Without a moments hesitation, he re-
1Iied: "Some years ago that supreme
moment came when l was delivering
IN address at the dedication Of the
Masonic temple at New Orleans. l
vas speaking upon the duty of man
owing man. Among other things 1
aid: My brethren. have you searched
-our hearts? DO you find any lurking
against brother? Have
-ou the felicity never to have cher
shed or are you so happy as to
AVE banished all envy at his prosper
ty. all malicious joy at his misfor-
unes? If you find this is the result
f your scrutiny, enter with confidence
he sanctuary of union. But if the
discovers either ranking
ealousy or hatred long concealed, or
ven unkindness or offensive pride, I
ntreat you. defle not the altar Of
friendship with your unhallowed Of
ering. but in the language of Scrip
ure. First be reconciled to thy broth
r and then come and offer thy gift"
IS a result of that plea. two brothers
7hom we all knew. who had been
from each other for years
rose and rushed toward each other
nd with mutual sobs flung them
elves into one another's arms"
DO you wonder that Edward Liv-
lgston looked upon that victory as the
lpreme moment of his life? With the
rm, gentle touch of a friend he placed !
is finger upon the weak spots of two {
rofhers' lives and said: Here. YOU {