The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-13
os ANGELES, Cal. october 6.-ln this sermon the preacher pictures


 this sermon the preacher pictures L life as a journey and the world as a great temporary camping ground ana shows what preparations and precautions are necessary to avoid it's snares ana pit falls. The text is Luke ii, A, went Days Journey" n
 In olden times man could nVe WlCl less dependence than now on ms leiloW men Yet there were certain necessities i+ ,,as imneratiye for hlm to take along when he went on a long journey. So essential were these necessities that no man in the east ever b-1ke away from cix,ilization until he had first made sure that he had them all along, for when the home cities had once been left De- hind the hills and the journey hao com menced there was way of procuring these necessities. Thus in Palestine, when a caravan or a party of travellers were about to journey from one region into another region and go through wilderness of rocks and trees infested py wild beasts and '.rig~nas, they would always start their first days journey about or o'clock in the evening. Then they would journey five or eight miles ana pitch camp. Then they would overhaul their baggage and look to the trapplnSs Of the horses and see that thelr spears and their bows and arrows and swords and hunting weapons were at band ana in good order. Then they would count noses and find out whether all the mem- hers of the families were present. Then if anything or anybody was absent or forgotten. and there was almost sure to be something or somebody lett Dehlno' messenger could return to town and re- plenish what was needful or bring pach the person who was inadvertently iost' A wise camping party going to the M Woous for a summer vacation in this country does well to practice the same custom Always start your hrst days journey in the morning. Almost without eXcep tion. careful as you may be, you VIII find that some essential upon whlch the happiness of your summer trip IS more or less dependent has been leit pe- hind. A.,
 Now. when Joseph and Mary, after the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem, had turned north for their home city or Nag areth they followed the custom or the east. They started in the evening. Alter they had pitched camp with the other members of the travelling party they pe- gan to overhaul their goods to see II they had forgotten anything. They were going through wild region, not only infested by robbers and wild beasts, but by their unfriendly neighbors, the Samar- itans After they had looked over their clothes and food supplies Mary turned to her husband and said Joseph, dear, where is Jesus Y on, answered JOSepnp T think he is all right in the camp.
 saw him when we were in Jerusalem, and l supposed that he was with friends But I have not seen him since we started" A the night had almost fallen, Mary, motherlike, became anxious. She went from tent to tent and from camp fire to camp fire. Everywhere she kept asking ths questions: Have you seen Jesus? have you seen my boy? Did he not leave a1a,, 1l. xrrtfI of1ff ind my Jesus anywhere Well. Mary" said an old Hebrew, never mind. It is only a few miles back. We have only travelled our first days journey. We will walt for you a day, and you go back and you will find him. Nearly always some body is left behind. That is the reason we always start our first days journey in the evening hour.'
 Life as Camping Journey.
 As one who has camped good deal in life and spent many months in the open. this text has taken a firm hold upon my mind and heart Life always seems to me to be camping journey. When we plunge into the woods we break away from the old homestead. Then we have to be surrounded by new faces and de- pend upon the strength of our own hands for our success or failure Now, some people start forth on this journey of life
 
 to care what they have in camp or what they have left behind. They start off on their journey of life early in the morn- ines, and when they pitch camp at night they are so far away from the home city that they cannot go back and procure what they lack Others start their journey of life in the evening. Then if anything is lost they return for the necessary supply. So may it be with us. As some of us just pitching camp a few miles away from the old homesteads, I want you to take an inventory and find out what essentials you lack and go back and procure them.
 l want you, in the first place. for this journey of life to overhaul your men, tai equipment I am not asking you whether you have mind. There is not a man or woman here who has not gray matter enough to make success in life if that brain is used aright. But what l am asking you is this: Have you a developed and educated brain? Have you brain capable of accom- pishing results? Have you brain that has been taught and trained so as to enable you to excel in some department of the worlds work? We cannot all be lawyers or physicians. but every man be. fore he sets out on his journey in active life should have found out what is his speciality and should have been trained to succeed in it. It may be only to make a table or construct a watch, but he should be able to do that better than other people. If he is a lapidary he should be able to distinguish the precious stone from the common pebble and should know how to cut and polish it. If you find when you make your first halt that you have not this capacity to do some one work better than others, l would ad- wise you to go back and acquire this power. this trained brain, before you pro- ceed further. Remember you are pitch ing camp as did Joseph and Mary after your first days journey.
 In camp every one must be willing to do his part, and more than his part, or else friction will surely come. Some