Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-01-31
Calnase
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase. d. ID.


versal problem-that OF social compan-
ionshlp-and shows the perils of evil
associations and how to avoid them.
The text is Proverbs Kill. 90. "a COM
panion OF fools shall be destroyed"
1t Is good for man ever and anon to
into desert place to pray. but I notice
that these periods OF solitude in Christ's
life followed or preceded times of large
association and social activity. Jesus
went into seclusion either to recover
from an uncommon strain or to prepare
for an approaching demand on his ener-
gies. He never sought solitude for its
own sake. He loved to have his dis
ciples around him and evidently gained
help and comfort from their presence
In that supreme crisis in the night pre-
ceding his death he longed to have
them near him and was hurt when
they cared so little for his trouble that
they went to sleep. Could we not
watch with me one hour?' he asked
them in pathetic ereproach.
God never meant man to live q her
mit's existence. Man is naturally a
gregarious animal. 1t was meant that
he should associate with men. AS God
said at the creation, lit is not good that
man should be alone" He needs COM
panions, associates. friends. He needs
them for the development of his own
character. and he needs them that ne
may aid in the development Of theirs.
The psychologist looks with suspicion
on the nature that avoids society and
perpetually Graves solitude. Such
man, he says, is abnormal; he is mo-
rose; he Is liable to become demented
Even piety does not thrive in seclusion.
The old monks thought 1t did, but their
experience proved the contrary. The
youth brought up carefully, apart from
boys of his own age, is saved from con-
Elimination, but his innocence is not
virtue, and it does not become virtue
until it has been tested in society.
Association, then, is necessity, but
Il should not be indiscriminate associ-
alton. A man is not only known by
the company he keeps, but he is liable
to become like the company he keeps
1t is not possible TO avoid contact with
evil, but to seek out evil and volun-
tarily associate with 1t is suicidal. II
is not capricious punishment that
Solomon pronounces in my text, but n
philosophic conclusion, when he says,
"A companion OF fools shall be de-
stroyed." This danger, then, is serl-
Gus, and l want this morning to point
out TO you four kinds OF character that
come under the designation of fools
characters to be avoided because they
bring destruction on their companions.
The Atheistie Fool.
In the first place, there is the athe-
fstic fool, whom David describes
psalm xiv, II, in some respects the
most dangerous OF companions, 1.-THE
fool hath said in his heart, There is
no God" Then, as though not salts
fed with once hurting his condemna-
ton against the atheist, the inspired
writer repeats the same words I'm the
Fifty-third Psalm. BY this repetition
he seems to say, Il cannot warn
young people too much against asso.
citation with those who are denying
the existence OF God" But, though
the Bible so vehemently and emphat-
tcally denounces the atheist, yet how
little some of us heed the warning
against associating with the atheist,
who hath said In his heart, There Is
no Cod" We are willing to obey Gods
command, which says, Thou shalt not
associate with murderers or with
thieves or drunkards." We are willing
20 say Amen" to the divine COM
mand, Thou shalt not be unclean In
morals" But we are not willing to
discontinue our fellowship with those
whose whole lives are spent denying
God and that Christ who is our only
hope for this world and for the next.
now. do not believe it is possible
TO love God Alright and at the same
time go with those who do not love
and honor him. No; we cannot do this
any more than we can love our wives
and mothers and yet associate with
those who despise pure women and are
continually speaking evil about them.
II l should come into your home and
begin to talk against your dead mother
and by letters and newspapers try to
prove 10 you that she was bad wo-
man you would not let me go very far.
You would turn upon me with all the
Indignation in your nature and would
bid me desist or quit my company
You would say: You are no longer my
friend. ! lived with my mother too
many years not to know that what YOU
say Is false. Furthermore, no man can
stay IN my home who would utter such
language as you have done. could
10 mi
mother II | believed the charges you
have made, and 1 will not associate
with one who despises her as you do
Therefore We must forever part" But,
though You would speak like that In
yeer defense OF father, a mother, a
brother. sister, a wife or a child, vet,
strange TO say. some OF us continue TO as
socfate with those on earth who openly
and bratafly deny the goodness and the
very existence OF that God whom we
love and worship. Now, my friends,
you are at the fork of two divergent
roads. Either you must bring your
atheistic friends to the foot OF the cross
aid lead them to bow and worship at
the manger or else, for Christs sake,
Yen must refuse any longer TO be yoked
with unbelievers.
second character against whom the
Bible warns us is the sIanderer. Solo
mon says proverbs K. fS), 'He that ut
tereth slander Is fool" What does
mat mean! Why, simply this: IL yor
Rear an evil report about your neigh
Dor and you repeat this evil report be
Tore you have Investigated it, and you
go on repeating this evil report when
II Is unsubstantiated by one scintilla
or proof. and you run around spread
ing that report from house to house
you are In Gods sight n fool. Now