Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-04-16
What II the great opportunities Of
history had all been embraced by

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small man does wickedly-a big man
does righteously, and his is bigness
that outlives his age and perpetuates
itself In song, story and lasting mon
uInent. Gods man-the Christ
fills the pre-eminent place In history.
His bigness Is the greatness OF SIN
lessness and goodness.
The opportunities of our day are OF
God. All possibilities are launched
by God for the accomplishing by men.
We think Gods thoughts after Him
and work Gods works with Him. The
main demands of our times are of ne
cessity those of development and or
ganization. The business of our day
are large enterprises which bestow
great gain. Are these important and
great opportunities to be filled by the
emissaries of the devil? Instructive
ly all right thinking men cry, no.
Are wicked and selfish men large
enough for The times? How the
wicked have fallen and what mighty
cry goes up for men.
God give us men," good men.
Hark, the clock Is striking a new
hour. It has sounded many before.
None, however, more important and
far reaching than the present. AS al
ways 1t is an hour of change and re-
form. It tolls in the music of mag
ical charm these letters, HOMES
T-Y! This Is the old word Of new
national anthem that shall save us
and rejuvenate our country. Like
all hours marked by history's strokes,
1t has its demand. The greatest hour
Of history demanded a world saving
and all times point back
to Christ. saying: First, Behold
the man!"-the greatest man of
earth's greatest hour. Second, BE
like Him, serve, sacrifice, save" And
the Christ gives US our motto, our
principle of financial salvation:
twist ye not that I must be about
My Fathers business?" Earth's bus
Iness must be made Gods business.
Christianity has given the world
It's greatest and best. AS it has been,
30 it must be. We may truly say, so
It Is. The demands Of the world on
the. church are seldom disappointed.
The few failures but prove the rule
that the bank of faith can supply
the calls of sight. I hail the coming
day, the advent of the most exalted
type of Christian. In law and litera-
ture, in art and science, among capi-
talists and laborers, statesmen and
let us have what we need,
men-that is, men
The third treasure he secured was
wisdom. We see in Zaccheus one
who could make money, but was now
bound to make 1t honestly and will
ing to use it we'll. 1t may be OBJ
iected that all his money was not
dishonesty obtained. Let us accept
that as a fact. for 1t Is not possible
that the gifts of few thousands or
should give the guilty con-
science peace. He found this as far
as 1t could be obtained in restitution.
The restitution proved what he want
ed to be; his gift Of half his goods,
what he was. We can almost feel his
as his actions accuse him
self of boarding and indulgence. His
fesires seem to broaden from being a
AXE of pleasure to becoming a river
)f blessing. The use of wealth is
great art and wise wealth user is
indeed an artist. Let us presume the
same conditions to prevail in our day;
)ne-half OF my goods to the poor, one
half of the accumulated wealth-the
wealth that is making people selfish
and self-indulgent, often wasteful and
this wealth would
prosper charity. missions and the
cause of Christ beyond all our fond
,st dreams. Yet let us remember the
church is blessed with great wisdom
and willingness to use wealth for the
good of the race and the glory Of God
rhe wealth of all the world is held
largely by the professed followers of
Christ. This Is as it should be, not
because it is by them most deserved,
but because 1t Is by them best used.
The wealth of the world may be held
largely by Christians, but 1t belongs
TO God. No man is truly a Christian
-ich man, unless he is liberal giver,
md even the Christian poor often
prove that it more blessed to give
han to receive.
The fourth treasure that he Sc
cured was salvation. This day is
salvation come to this house. so said
Christ. Does 1t pay to get right with
God and to square up with men? AS
we'll ask, Does 1t pay to buy gold
eagles with trade dollars? Salvation
IS truly the Pearl Of Great Price
which, once found, 1t Is worth all to
obtain 1t. Directly, salvation is ever
md always free-without money and
without price; indirectly. it is secured
by humiliation, restitution, confess
on and liberality.
Salvation is SO great it must cost
and so great it cannot be purchased.
Not all of earth's wealth and treas
ures can buy salvation, for we were
redeemed not by silver or gold, but
BY the precious blood Of Christ. FAC.
,heus was to have less of material
things, but SO much more of spirit.
ual things. There are lives loaded
with material wealth and blessings
that are just sinking them In sin and
They are sure to strike
the rocks of an accusing conscience,
and condemning heart. Man lightens
the ship. Restitution and liberallty
will prepare the way for Gods great
of salvation.
How rich Zaccheus became that
day! Like Mary, he found that bet,
ter part-a treasure that the world
cannot give, neither take away. lie
Is a living testimony that honesty
pays and the square deal Is profita'
BILE. He gained life's greatest pos
session-the salvation of his soul
And strange to say, he began to be
doubly rich when he was converted
He learned to give to the poor, and
thus started to lend to the Lord. His
treasures were simply transferred;
for every honest dollar sincerely Civ,
en- in charity and liberality is so saved
beyond the rainy day, treasures laid
up in Heaven. God give us the feal
of doing wrong; a daring courage tc
right our wrongs, and an unwaverins
faith to do we'll with what is truly
our possessions. TO hold Is to l2s2.
To give is to save God grant that il