The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-19
AT
METHODIST
CHU URCH
WELL ATTENDED BY MEN AT
EVENING SESSION.
"Be Strong the Topic Of Short Ser
mon by Reverend g. w.
McCreery--

The evening service at the Metho-
dist church was especially for
men. q largo number OF whom were
present and sat in body. A bcauti-
| full carnation was presented to each
man and following the services
others were distributed to the wo-
| men.
Mr.. McCreery delivered the follow
ing sermon on BE Strong"
There is line of development of
animal life that is marked by the
changes In the backbone. The feat
ure In which man is distinguished from
all others--is that all his active life
! is engaged In with erect body-with
vertical backbone. When sick or tired
he is not himself ne fights his battle
with backbone weary The sneak-the
criminal, the coward does not stand
erect-the line Of criminals In your
penitentiary has distinct lean for
ward. Very few OF them stand erect
Man should be erect-hc should stand
up straight. He fights HIS best battles
erect. This is what Paul means when
no urges the Corinthians TO quit your
solves like men-be strong" To be
strong is a necessity OF manhood.
J. One must be strong in evory
part OF life. We nre no stronger than
our weakest point and oven our
strongest N neglected may be the
the point whore wo break.
/. We must he strong in our
thoughts. "As a man thinketh in HIS
heart so is he" is true. Our thoughts
arc often the cause OF weakness. Do
you always think yourself strong?
When you imagine nny possible situ'
alton, do you imagine yourself as talk
ing n strong part or that OF n weak
ling? DO you believe that thero is any
temptation. which would overcome
you? You may rost assured that 1t
will when II comes. AS thoughts arc
the impulse of action. they must be
strong.
g. Because we must be strong In
action. The life about us demands
strength. There are so many temDta-
tions which surround us--it is not
easy to stem the tide and overcome
the downward tendency all about us.
Indifference to the good and salts
faction with tho present Is so easy
There is story told OF man un-
der fina for tho first time and he
noticed that his knees werc trembling
and he spoke thus to shake!
shake II you will, II you knew where
am going to take you, you would
shake more"
g. But our purposes which give
meaning to acts must also be strong.
Purpose-aim is essential There arc
few who foil that meant TO do so. They
wanted TO do better, but tho strong
purpose for tho good which is pcces
sary was lacking and so they drifted.
Purpose thrusts ahead against the
current. because mon know 1t is right,
It is the necessity OF back bone In
purpose Two officers wero riding into
battle when tho younger noticed that
the older one had blanched face
tho oldcr man said. "Yes, / am
afraid, but II you saw the danger as
/ do-you would turn and run"
We need a purpose that will drive
against fear, against all else.
We must be strong in every part
Of life.
H. We must have backbone at all
time. Ono nevor dares to weaken IN
the least. Tho spinal cord Is very
delicate. II IL easily effected by phys
ical condition so any weakness OF the
spinal cord Of character has It's effect
upon our development of character.
Character is mado up OF the little
things oft repeated. Granite is broken
by many little blows along a GER
tain line where the mason wishes to
break the rock. Habits become fixed
II they are for good-thcy become es-
tablishod In character. II they are
weak-the character Is weak-if
strong so Is character, 1t is easily
seen that It Is essential that we
should be strong at all times.
The surest way OF doing this Is TO
have tho ideal of Jesus Christ In our
hearts and do everything as no would
have us do IT,
III. The elements OF backbone. are
all those tendencies which require an
effort and which leaves us better after
the acts OF life.
!. The most important is decision,
1t is said of Disraeli-thst he was once
ridiculed of the floor OF the House of
Commons-but he replied that ho had
begun many things in failure but that.
he would vet succeed In speech max.
ine-that they would hear him. They
did, he became Prime Minister One
must have decision. He must rrasp
opportunity as 1t fits by He must
be able to dare-to risk that which is
right. Not long ago a man advocated
that there was great value in drink
because 1t gave men the necessary
dare. Yes, but II takes Judgment out
of the dare and many men fail simply
because they dare under the influence
of intoxicants-when they would
not under ordinary circumstances
and come to themselves to
tind that they have overreach.
ed. Most men who fail do so be.
cause of lack of decision But do.
cision must be made wher manhood ia
at its best
2 Another element OF backbone is
determination. If ono has a strong
backbone he can carry 4 heavy load
for long time. When that gives out
he is broken In strength. The back.
oone OF character. Perseverance IS
essential. The one easily changing his
employment never makes the success
that he would IL he had mastered one
line. 1t is not often we'll to make a
complete change in ones occupation,
even IL 1t seems to provide a better
roturn. To learn new trade Is diff.
cult, but the master of an occupation
Is always In demand. Stick to 1t.
3. But the elements of strength are
all summed up In one word-Jesus
Christ. Behold the mani" what q