Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-03-27

0
It's silver buttons and shining chevrons,
was the envy Of all the neighborhood
Like most of the boys on our. street,
wanted to go to a school which would
let boys dress up in a uniform like that
And, though that school at the time
was not what it ought to be in many
respects, yet the infnitesimal thing Of
little silver button took me to that
school. where l passed four long years
OF the most important part OF my edu-
cational life. Hundreds and thousands
Of young folks go to school because
a friend goes there or because that col
lege has fine football team or because
that institution is the largest university
In the state or because that college is
sentials of the moral and spiritual
characteristics of that educational IN
stitutiOn are passed over as though
they did not amount to anything.
Did you ever realize that a univer-
sity or a college has an atmosphere or
soul? Are you not aware that just
as you have certain special character
istics that in your life stand for some
thing so an educational institution has
its distinct personality and stands for
something and that something is for
the benefit or injury of the students
who live within its walls? | received
some time ago letter from an old and
very dear classmate. He was writing
about some of the weaknesses Of the
college we both love. Then he wrote
this sentence, which l have often pom
dered over, because it presented a
truth in a way that | had never had
It driven into my mind before: "Edu-
catiOnal institutions are controlled by
individuals who are merely human,
and human actions are vital there, as
elsewhere" Do you grasp that ire
mendous fact7 Who are the men at
the head of those institutions to which
you intend to send your boys? What
is the moral and spiritual status Of the
members Of those faculties? Are they
noted for their Christian principles?
Are they professors who will instill
reverent ideas of God and of the high
er life? These are questions which
you should ponder well before you let
that boy leave your Preside for scho-
lastic halls. Better pray over that fact
earnestly and long. God alone can di-
rect you so that you viii make no
mistake.
May Make or Break.
But we cannot always remain at
Of a rrruN -s ha -
ing for the battle Of life After awhile
we must do something besides talking
about what we intend to do. So from
scholastic walls we step forth into the
struggle Of life. Then we must enter
into certain business partnerships and
professional affiliations Whom shah
we trust? With whom shall We got
Who shall we allow to enter the holy
Of HOLES Of our hearts? These are
weighty questions which 1 am putting
to you today, for a mans success is
not more due to what be himself does
than to what his business associates |
do. To a great extent they make him
or break him.
What lot Of trouble you would have
saved if you had only known what a
rascal your partner was before you
hitched up with him in business! Do
you suppose your mother and father
would have let you enter Ato that
business partnership If they had known
what kind of a man he was? ooh,
no." you reply. "My parents love me
too much to let me get into such quick
sands of trouble as that" Yes, you
are right! But tell me, friend. does
not God love you as much as your ia |
Their or your mother? Would he not /
have guarded you from that trouble
If you had only asked him? Did yOu
ask Gods advice when you entered |
into that business arrangement? Am
l making too literal Interpretation OF
the gospel7 What do you mean by |
that sign which is tackled over your Of
fee door, Business During Business
HoursY Does that mean that God has
no part in your business? No! Then,
If that is not so, why do you not ask
God to help you select your partners
and guide you in your great financial
dealsl Is that sentence Of the Lords
prayer a mockery, "Give us this day
our daily bread? All, my brother, as
a business man you had better get
down on your knees and pray for wis
dom. God VIII guide you. Yes, he
will. He viii answer your prayers
in the store just the same as he helped
the disciples to choose Matthias f0r
the vacancy in the apostOlate. God
hears his children pray by the store
counter on Monday and Tuesday and
just as much as he hears
his ministers pray on Sunday in the
church pulpit.
But, though our partnership papers
at the store are important. there are
closer and more important human re-
than even this And this
other partnership has as much to do
with what we financially make as It
has to do with the home and with the
of domestic life. l am al
uding to the partnership Of the mar
Rage altar. Some people look upon
as a joke, but it is far from
being a joke. The marriage altar
should be the most solemn place this
iide of heaven, for if 1t is not the joy