Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-07
CALLS CONTENT TRUE
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
HAPPINESS TO BE FOUND IN
USEFUL ACHIEVEMENT
Notoriety Mere shoddy and Wealth
an Obstacle Rather Than an,
Aid to Peace of
Mind

Last evening, to an audience which
filled the First Methodist church in
every part, the pastor, DR.. Charles Ed
ward Locke, delivered the first of two
sermons on 1.-THE Fountain of Eternal
Youth and Beauty Discovered-Con-
tentment" The text was: II have
learned, in whatsoever state 1 am,
Herewith to be contest" Philippians
All. DR.. Locke said in part:
European adventures sought in
this country for a tabled foun-
tain whose waters would insure per-
petual youth. Though Ponce de Leon
and his companions sadly failed in
their quest, it is my joy and triumph
to announce to you that this mystical
stream has been discovered. 1t bursts
forth from beneath a ledge of rock in
the uplands of truth, and as it hurries
down the hillside it sings in musical
numbers, I have learned, in whatso-
ever state 1 am, herewith to be con-
tent
1.-THE universal quest of mankind is
for happiness 1t is the business of
Christianity to point the way to hap
piness. Goodness with oontentment is
great pain, but goodness without con-
tentment is poor substitute for real
happiness.
"If any man would be happy he
VIZ NS~NN
piness alone will never find it, but they
who seek to be useful will find happi-
ness at every turn. Contentment
united with usefulness is the assurance
of life of peace and Joy.
Addison likened contenment to the
philosophers stone, which is able to
transform all the dross and crude
metals of life into the purest gold.
1--WE should strive to learn to be con-
tented with our place in life. 1t is an
easy error to imagine that others are
more highly favored than ourselves.
The skies under which others sail seem
so much bluer than our own; the bur-
dens others carry so much lighter than
those which our shoulders bear.
Wealth an Obstacle
wealth and affluence do not usually
encourage contentment. Prosperity
brings responsibilities and anXieties in
business, and invidious distinctions
and bitter rivalries in social life. Lux
ury fosters idleness and dissipation,
and often reduces the individual to a
childish thing, looking only for amuse-
ment and pleasure. F'ranklin's wise
remark seems truer than ever: Money
never made a man happy, nor will it.
There is nothing in it's nature to pro-
duce happiness. The more man has
the more he wants. Instead of filling
vacuum it makes one. If it satisfies
one want it doubles and trebles that
want another way A wiser man than
Franklin said: Better a little with the
fear of the Lord than great treasures
and trouble herewith
1--WE must be content as our plans
unfold. Time is a factor in all prog
ress. We must learn to labor and to
wait Fabius MaXimus, a dictator of
Rome two centuries before Christ, con-
quered Hannibal by invincible patience.
Montesquieu, the French philosopher
gave twenty years to the writing of his
Magnum Opus, The Spirit of the
Laws What is invested in anything
determines its value.
"Notoriety and success are frequently
COMPOUNDED by those who are seeking
to make a life. Notoriety is shoddy
tinsel within the reach of any, while
success is a precious jewel worn only
by the dutiful and diligent A darting
meteorite drives away no darkness. A
skyrocket ascends with flash and noise,
but in a moment it comes down a
charred stick. Do something we'll. 1t
was said of Lincoln, He split rails
WE'LL Do faithfully the tasks of today
and your life will shine with. the
brightness of the sun and the per-
manency' of fixed star.
"'Be content with such things as ye
have. Lie - llOl iilctNl6 VI Illib6Ss DuL
of thoughts, of deeds of holy impulses
"A mans life consistent not in the
abundance of the things which he pos
sesseth' The best use of things is to
give them away to those who need
them.
Learn to be content with your pres
ent ability to labor while you are en-
deavoring to add to your talents and
efficiency. 1t has sometimes been sug-
gested that discomfort is the mother of
progress, but this is mistake for it
is possible to be reaching for higher
attainments without being depressed
by despair. To be grateful for the
small victories of today is a helpful
tonic in striving for a larger achieve
ment tomorrow. In the race course
the competitor who loses his heart fails
of the goal.
Sometimes men, to supplement their
slowly developing talents, resort to
doubtful and sinful expedientS, and
thus stain all future pages of their life
before the leaves are turned.
Move upward, working out the BEAST
And let the ape and tiger die.
Remember that success is founded
upon conviction and character and
that is not only the mother of achieve
II