The Delta independent., 1909-01-01
How to Enjoy Old Age.
NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER ONE.
In writing few articles under this
heading. wish to say first of all, in
order for happy old age it is impor-
tant to prepare for it.
A number of years ago l was at
tending religious convention and they
were discussing a certain line of work
and the question was asked at what
age should we prepare for this work?
The answer was, with their grand par
ents.
There is principle in this we would
do well to stop and seriously consider.
The wise man says Train up a child in
the way he should go, and when he is
old he will not depart from it."
The preparation then for happy old
age lies in the early training. The
strongest impressions of life are made
in childhood.
At the age of nine years Hannibal
desired to accompany his father in the
warfare against Spain, and before
starting his father took him and bow
ing before the altar had him swear
eternal hatred to the Romans. As he
witnessed his fathers achievements
and finally his death, that hatred was
increased. At the age of % he began
his life work of violating all treaties
with the Romans.
That work he carried on over forty
years and finally when defeated in bat
. Ia h.. arlttra hn Iic1rara Of
surrendering, he took poison.
You may take all the great men of
history and invariably their early train
ing was what prepared them for their
life work
This is forcibly brought out in the
life of Charles Wesley. His mother
was one of the most remarkable char
acters in history of the Christian church
and her great earnestness in the Chris
tian life followed him through his long
and useful life.
In his preaching all who listened
were impressed with his intense earn
estness in insisting upon personal god
liness.
His mother early taught him to ever
stand by his convictions of right, no
matter where it led him. In following
out his early training soon the estab
lished churches were closed against
him and he then began preaching in
fields and on the street.
Many times he was mobbed and ran
for his life. and yet that principle
taught in early life followed him. At
one time the Wesley's were holding
meeting on a common and when at
tackled by a mob fed in the darkness
and hid in a spring house, where Charles
hammered piece of lead into pencil
and wrote that wonderful hymn that
has been sung ever since:
Jesus. lover of my soul.
Let me to thy bosom hy.'
History tells us that the ance stors of
Napolean had their highest ambition in
gaining renown on the field of battle.
This ambition was seen IN Napolean
in an early age and followed him
through life. When defeated at the
baetl- of Waterloo and banished to st.
Helena, with no opportunity to follow
out his natural trend, it no doubt broke
his heart and he could not enjoy his
old age.
will only refer to one more case
from history on this faze of the ques-
tion, and that is in the life of the great
reformer of the Sixteenth century.
The parents of Luther were people
of great firmness and he was early
taught to stand firmly for his convic-
tions of right, and in his labors would
sacrifice his right if need be, but the
truth never.
His words are LET US only take care
that the gospel be not exposed to the
insults of the ungodly, and let us shed
our blood in its defense. rather than
allow them to triumph. Who will say
whether my life or my death would
contribute to the salvation of my
brethren?"
The Bible and history are full of IN
stances illustrating this question, show
ing the Importance of training in the
right in order to look upon life spent
in uplifting humanity.
There is time for the training of
children, and that time is in their very
infancy. Suppose the parents of Lu-
ther or Wesley had failed to give them
the right training in their very infancy.
If they had the world would never have
been moved by their zeal as it was.
The world today is in crying need of
men of strong convictions of right and
those that will stand firm for right