Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-24

the Allegheny to the Rocky noun
tains, with an immense range both
north anu south, is a very garden spot
for fertility. Then think of our IA
vored climate Robert Burdette says
We have the most wonderful climate
in all the world He tells the story
of a man who went to California with
only one lung. and at the end of 10
years he returned with three-he mar
ried the other two. Our entire coun-
try lies within the healthful zone. It's
territory running far enough south to
avoid the hot regions of the tropics,
just far enough north to escape the
uncomfortable cold. The United States
lies in the most productive belt on
the face of the earth's surface. 1t
has the soil, climate and resources to
support and develop the most energet-
ic and intelligent race of people in the
world In addition to area, soil, eli
mate. we have untold mineral wealth,
so needful to a strong nation.
Unsurpassed Commercial Advantages.
Our commercial advantages are I'M
surpassed. We live on the great high
ways of the globe. 1t stretches from
ocean to ocean, thus lying between the
other great continents. We reach out
our commercial arms in every direc-
ton Besides our country is peculiar
" situated for safety. We are de-
Tended by two mighty oceans. Three
thousand miles of water on one side
and 5000 on the other. On the north
M
threatening population can ever be
gathered there. On the south it has
also placed its guardian waters and
long slender strip of land connecting
us with races who can never expect
to cross the sea or march up the 18TH
mus in war. The above forms the
basis for a wonderful future in this
country. The signs of the times, too,
indicate the same.
IF We have Christ. we should be
thankful To have Christ is to believe
in Him, to love Him and to obey Him.
This is the needful thing, and the only
needful thing in what We call religion.
If We have Christ, He is a real factor
in our lives. AS one to whom we can
go as to a wise and trusted friend; as
crises of experience: as one who
walks the waters of this troubled
world. coming TO us in the night
watches of distress with words of
strong assurance. If we have Christ
as a real presence in our home; if He
is the honored guest at every meal,
the remembered listener to every con
versation, the trusted friend; if his
hand has placed halo of glory
around the brow of motherhood; if
helpless little ones are welcomed with
love like His, if growing sons and
daughters have learned from His lips
TO honor parents and do Difference to
age: if we have Christ as a counselor
in the larger responsibilities of life:
if we have learned TO look for His foot
prints when We come to the fork in the
road, to listen for His call when night
fall finds us in some distant, desolate
place, to wait for the still, small voice
of His direction in the midst of tu-
multi and confusion.
Growing Spirit of Unity.
ITO have Him is to be rich indeed
What He has been to US who can tell?
But for His influence, coming to us
in a thousand unsupported channels,
how barren o. good our lives would
have been! Let pthers go the endless
round in fruitless quest of feeting
pleasure, let those who will seek
treasure of another kind, but let us be
glad-all who know Christ today,
whatever else we may have failed to
attain, we have Him, and having Him,
we are rich indeed. In the domain of
religion, there is much to be thankful
for. The growing spirit of unity among
the churches, the willingness to coop
crate as far as possible, to fight the
evils in our own land and spread the
gospel at home and abroad, and the
rising tide of missionary interest and
enthusiasm are signs that Jesus Christ
is fulfilling His promise to be with
His disciples and lead them on to final
victory The recent revival of inter
est in evangelism in all the Protest
ant churches, the laymen's mission
airy movement, and the federation of
the church is in order to hurl their
united influences against threatening
dangers. and for the Speedier triumph
of the gospel are most gratifying signs
of the times. Nor should we fail to
give thanks to our heavenly father for
the blessings which have enriched and
ennobled our individual lives. If we
have anything worth while to live for
let us be thankful. 1t is not earthly
possessions that enrich or the lack of
them that impoverishes. Impulses and
ambitions that rise within, that fire
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