West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-09-10
the Interests the d Mechanic Community and the State Generally

monish against injustice. My faith I'm
the future rests upon the belief that
Christs teachings are being more
studied today than ever before and
that with this larger study will come
an application OF those teachings 20
the everyday life OF the world. In
former times men read that Christ
came 10 bring life and Immortality 10
light and placed tho emphasis upon
Immortality; now they aro studying
Christs relation 20 human life. In for
mer years many thought to prepare
themselves for future bliss by n life
OF scclusion here; now they are learn
Ing that they cannot follow I'm the foot
steps of the Master unless they go
about doing good. Christ declared that
he came that we might have life. and
have II more abund0ntly. Tho world
Is learning that Christ came not TO
narrow life. but TO enlarge It,
But this Prince OF Peace promises
not only peace. but strength. Some
have thought his teachings ut only for
the weak and tho timld and unsuited
To men OF vigor, energy and ambition.
Nothing could bc further from the
truth. Only the man of faith can be
courageous. Confident that ho fghts
ON the side OF Jehovah, he doubts not
the success OF his cause. What mat
tcrs Il whether he shares In the shouts
of triumph III every word spoken I'm
behalf OF truth has its influence and
every deed done for the right weighs
In the final account. Il Is immatcrial TO
tho Christian whether his eyes behold
Victory or whether he dies In the midst
OF the conflict
Only those who believe attempt the
seemingly impossible and by attempt
Ing prove that one with God can chase
thousand and two can put ten thou
sand 10 flight. can imagine that the
early Christians who were carried into
the arena To make spectacle for
those more savage than the beasts
We're cntreated by their doubling com
panlons not To endanger their lives.
But, kneellng I'm the center OF the are
ma. they prayed aud sang until they
were devoured. How helpless they
seemed. and measured by every hu.
man rule, how hopeless was their
cause! And yet within few decades
the power which they invoked proved
mightier than the lcglons OF the en-
peror. and the faith In which they
died was triumphant DER all that land.
lt Is said that those who went 20 mock
at their sufferings returned asking
themselves. what is II that can enter
Into tho heart OF man and make him
die as these dle2" They were greater
conquerors I'm their death than they
could have been had they purchased
lifc by surrender OF their faith
What would have been the fate OF
the church if the early Christians had
had ms little faith as many OF our
Christians now have? And, on the
other hand, IL the Christians OF today
had the faith OF tho martyrs. how long
would 1t bo before the fulHllment OF
the prophecy that every knee shall
bow and every tongue confess2
Our faith should bo even stronger
than the faith OF those who lived 1000
years ago. for we see our religion
spreading and supplanting the philoso.
phies and creeds of the orient.
As the Christian grows older ho ap-
preci0tcs more and more the complete
ness with which Christ fills the re.
qulrements OF the heart, and, grateful
for the peace which lie enjoys and for
the strength which he has received,
ne repeats the words OF the great
scholar Sir William Jones:
Before thy mystic altar. heavenly truth.
] kpeel In manhood as knelt I'm youth.
Thus let me knecl TIN this dull farm de-
cay
And litC's last shade be frightened by thy