The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-09-27
IT CAN" AND II CAN'T"
PAPER BY MR.. SAMUEL T. FREEMAN.
READ AT MEETING OF WEST NOTHING
HAM CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY.

3rd-Concentrate vour efforts; the battle is won
by throwing the heaviest force at the vital point
at the critical time.
4th-Never attempt the impossible do not in
dulge in dreams.
5th-Pay attention to quality and quantity will
take care of itself.
6th-Avoid debt; pay your running expenses
hrst You can pay as you co. you cant go be-
hind and succeed in the objects for which
church is instituted. The command of the
Apostle to "owe no man anything" may be dis
regarded but it has not been abolished.
7th-Don It hand the church work or collections
over to irresponsible but ignorant peripatetic
public speakers and then expect the same atten-
sion and receipts afterwards, when the people are
tired out
sth-Possess your soul in that patience which is
neither laziness and Indifference on the one hand
nor irritability, dissatisfaction or Impotence on
the other. The world was not made in a day and
yet every day it is partially completed.
To apply these principles to our church affairs ::
first to take an account of stock, how many men,
hers have we? Are they all workers? Are thev
Christ's epistles "known and read of all men?
An inactive Christian is an anomaly, had almost
said an impossibility. An overworked Christian
is a public nuisance and a private failure. When
admitted and afterwards too, is it clearly ex-
planned to those connecting themselves with the
church what this act means and what may be
Justly expected of them? The Scriptural order
is, first the individual, next the family. next the
church and finally the world. These advance in
regularly diminishing obligation and Importance;
the fulfllment of the first duty paves the way for
the second and so on. "Relgion was once pill
lar of fire which went before the human race in
its great march through History, showing 1t the
way. Now it is fast assuming the role of the
ambulance which follows in the rear and picks up
the exhausted and wounded"
In the post.apostolic church the catechumens
were not only instructed in the principles but
they were expected to peri ,rm the necessary
duties of religion. Today we are dosed with
doctored statistics frequently false and more
frequently misleading those who come in at the
front door are counted while those who go out at
the back door are omitted The statements OF
the religious newspaper frequently cast in the
shade the predictions of enthusiastic political
partisans previous to an election. Itwas probably
after reading his 'weakly" UNCONVENTIONAL news
paper that David hastily medtated on the necessity
of an Ananias club. The army of Gideon increased
in power as it decreased in numbers; the church
of today seems to decrease in power as it in
creases in numbers. The former was "faint yet
pursuing The latter Is boastful yet retreating.
for it is not by human might by human
power "but by my Spirit, saith the Lord"
The number and age of the members being
ascertained, what are their qualifications? One
may have five talents, another ten. The Lord
commands they are to develop, Ito occupy till
come" ito every man his work Either to
attempt more than his work or less than his work
is forbidden, but in the present day the former
sin receives little attention. To the prophet of
old neglecting his present duty to substitute his
idea of worship at Mount Horeb comes the sting
ing rebuke, "What doest thou here, Elijah ?" and
while it is true that the harvest is plenteous but
laborers few. there are many laborers who are
so untitled for their work that they trampe down
more grain than they cut.
Beware OF the dangers of REORGANIZATION A
church with three hundred roll of membership
should have aproportionate organization; not the
same as a church with membership of thous-
and. A ten-horse-power engine cannot do
twenty. horse power engines work. To attempt it
is generally to turn out poor work and frequently
break the engine. One church organization
thoroughly and efficiently conducted is better
than ten organizations conducted in q half-heart-
ed and slipshod manner.
The young American mind of the present day
is taught the II cam principle to the neglect of
the II can't Limitation and the result is large
mass of work which has to be done all over again.
A teacher in the Sunday School who prepares
mis- lesson will, generally speaking, do all the
church work that he can do; but it must be pre-
pared, not hastily snatched and jumbled up from
peeping at the lesson paper while teaching. The
appetite of the class will be little satisfied with
this as hungry boy with some old stale canned
vegetables instead of those fresh from the patch.
the teacher brings truths both old and new
from his own experience and observation they
will "hold as a nail in sure place." This makes
the teacher and scholar interested in the subject,
in each other and loyal to the school.
How often do we by attempting work and SUBJ
jects of doubtful necessity neglect the important
teachings that we have only too short 4 time to
enforce? These are the strange doctrines which the
Apostle would have us avoid that have not bene
flied those who have been occupied therein.
what is that in thine hand ?" says Jehovah to
the faithless Moses com planning of his inability
to do the work assigned him; and as Moses look.
ed down at the shepherds crook he little thought
of the wonders it could and would perform. So
we little think OF the result OF simple, faithful
continuous performance of our daily duties in our
daily lives In conclusion, we have the comfort
ing and encouraging thought that the really i'm
portant duties and opportunities OF life are given
to all of us in abundant measure We shall be ad-
vanced as we do these well. Thou hast been
faithful over Jtew things,I will make thee ruler
over many" To ask for more is frequently to
neglect what we have. The alleged higher po-
stons often lead to bewilder and dazzle to blind.
God has tempered the wind to the shorn lamb"
'He hath showed thee o man, what is good.
and what doth the Lord require Of thee but to
do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy GOd?" t,