Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1910-02-05
THE CHRISTIANS DOUBLE LIFE.
The international Sunday School Les
son for February 6 is "Almsgiv-
ing and Prayer, Matt.
s: 1-15.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

In sinister sense it is often said
that man is leading double life"
tOftener this is~true in beautiful sig
hiflcance. Everybody whose life Is
large and broad and deep and high
lives two lives: one in the world OF
things, which all of mankind may see,
and the other part near the sources of
power, which no man knows. To find
the explanation Of every great life we
must trace it back to these hidden
springs, where the character is form
ed in fellowship with great ideals and
with God. This double life, one in the
world and the other in the closet of
prayer and communion and study, Is
consciously coveted by every seeker
Rfter a Christ-like character.
There may be some sort of satisfac-
tion in living double life, one-half OF
which is submerged in the mire Of
evil; but there is an infinitely sweeter
satisfaction in having great and noble
secrets from the world, which are
shared only with God. A certain Bal
timore man, whose wide benefactions
have reached literally all around the
world, was really panied when 1t be-
came public that he had done monu-
mental work in Asia. He said, "Hav-
ing people know this takes away the
peculiar satisfaction from it. Before
1t was my own secret and privilege,
which | shared with nobody but the
Lord. Now that the people know
about it the bloom Of delight has gone
from it,
The statement may even be made
that 1t is impossible to live a great
aife, even as the world counts great
ness, without the cultivation. of these
secret springs Of character aWhen I
visited Port Arthur shortly after the
Russian-Japanese war, l journeyed
out to the wintry heights Of 203 Metre
HILL where the top of that historic
mountain was literally blown off by
the fierceness of the battle which rag
ed around it. There I discovered, just
over the crest Of the mountain, on the
Russian side, a great spring of un-
failing water, which had sustained the
soldiers during the conflict. To me 1t
was symbolic of the battle of life. In
the thick of conflict there is need for
the spring that fails not Except a
man have for life's struggles, sources
Epf power that cannot be touched or
cut off by the world, he is in sorry
plight indeed. Jesus pointed out this
source of power in the Sermon on the
Mount, when he pronounced the
words, "The Father which seeth in
secret" His conception of the great
fife was that which had the basic
lparts of it's nature open toward God,
tand closed toward the world
The Secret Springs.
A two-fold life is yet profoundly IN
ter-related. The outer life is affected
Eby the inner What man does out in
the world will be determined largely
by what he thinks in his heart. The
wise word is eternally true, LAS a
man thinketh in his heart, so is he
If this yelled existence consist of COM
munion with the noblest, most beauri-
full and divine, then the other conduct
will take on the character of the quiet
hours In his tumultuous career Jesus
was sustained by a consciousness Of
the approval of the Father In heaven.
The world misjudged him, as it al
ways misjudges it's greatest helpers.
THE Father understood him. That was
comfort enough.
No strong life may look for other re-
ward than this, Except it be supported
by this deep confidence in the divine
approval, it cannot stand steadfast
Lofty motives need ever to be fed from
the secret springs of relationship with
God. If a man works for praise or
approval, he must soon quit in weari.
mess and disgust. everybody has seen
the spectacle of high-minded, useful
men who have turned sour because of
the ingratitude and lack of apprecia
tion of those whom they have helped
Even the utmost applause that may
come to man in this world is unsat,
isfactory. The desire for praise grows
by what it feeds upon The persons
who live in the limelight of public life
measuring their success by the hand
clappings and eulogies of their fellow
men are never satisfied: They are
not the ones who show forth the
peaceful face.
The other evening | travelled on q
train with a theatrical troupe, whose
conversation was much on 1.-The hand
that this or that person got from the
crowd. In all the company there was
not serene. quiet, satisfied counter
ance. Fame, honor, recognition
these are not satisfactory rewards o,
sources OIL power. one must draw MS
spirits sustenance from the deer
hidden we'll of q consciousness of tbs
approval of "the Father who seeth ir
secret
The Benefits of Hypocrisy.
There is, and always has been, {
sort of philanthropy for revenue only
"A few days ago a lawyer in the south
was declaring that he had no time fol
foreign missions, because he had tc
give to home charities in al, the neigh
boring towns where he did business
An associate, who was not himself
known for any interest in foreign mis-
sions, retorted, you know better thar
that, Blank. You are not doing {
thing for charity. You're simply serv
ing your own pocketbook. You dc
these things because you know tht
money will come back to you many
fold It's simply good for your bust
ness. Don't you take any credit Il
yourself for your thriftiness"
That was a blunt putting of no
UncomHsc.N situation MANY buSipe5,