The Washington herald., 1910-12-25

tended that mans happiness should be
deferred until some far distant future
time The greatest prOmissOry note ever
drawn up was 20 be discounted for man s
enjoyment here below. For happiness is
one of the rewards Of optimism, and is
for the man who sees glimpses OF the
good in everything, no matter how dim
they may be, and who has the patience
and the judgment 10 discern the slow but
sure advance Of earthly things toward the
kingdom of heaven in which all things
shall be perfected.
With the Master the great scientific
fact OF growth and development in ma
ture, in character in things social and
political. and in things spiritual and re-
ligious. which II has taken men 50 many
centuries To arrive al, was a fUndamen-
tai fact IL is only necessary to remem-
Der the beautiful story of the grain ci
mustard seed 10 understand the clearness
of His knowledge.
The greatest optimist IN the world to-
day is the man who plants a seed in the
ground with .he firm conviction in his
heart that a blade OF grass stalk OF
corn, or a mighty oak will be the out
AOlllt u ilt1 at AfNl Afbl u hllNN AAalH Eftt
fectly well, but He also knew that the
conviction was not enough. The hus-
bandman must not stand idly by waiting
for the blade TO develop from the germ.
He must water the ground and work IL
and keep the weeds out, and then, bar
ring the accidents of nature and the
ravages of the elements, his conviction
viii be confirmed.
SO, too, is every growing boy the en-
bodiment Of optimism. He contains the
germ of a potential power which depends
largely on his early training and environ
ment and the wisdom shown in his edu-
cation. Every social or political system.
every Institution which men look up 10
and honor, is the result of a slow growth
and development and the man who I'M
dertakes 10 reform the one or 10 change
the course of the other fares badly IN
less he recognizes and allows for this
fact Let him he ignorant OF il or intol-
Grant Of il and his efforts viii be futile
and his energies wasted. No man who
cannot discern the great vine OF human
progress. civilization. charitable feeling,
ard brotherly love slowly growing in spite
of all obstacles, whether the machina-
tons of wicked men or the opposition or
unjust Institutions, is worthy Of the name
Of opitmist Faith and hope. cheerful
ness illimitabe. and charity unbounded
must be his. 1t is the seemingly oyerpow-
ering and crushing force of hostile things
which makes pessimists Of men. II IS his
failure to see Gods hand behind the
murky clouds of personal loss of friends
and fortune, the grinding Of the poor by
the rich, the delay and miscarriage OF
justice that makes him a coward, and
takes the heart out OF him.
On this morning OF the greatest ami
versary of the year let us try to plant in
our hearts a true realization of the gift
the Child Of Bethlehem came to this
earth to bring to each one of us. and let
us pray that We may so realize its growth
and gather its fruit that we may learn
TO live ourselves. and above all to teach
others 10 live. CHARLES B. CHENEY.
in all things show thysef pattern
of good works
The power of goodness is divine. II
cannot be recoined in dollars and cents.
II is majestical in its influence on the
mind OF man, and he who permits the
power Of goodness TO permeate mis- heart
is the man who has the broader cOncep-
ton of things. He does not observe from
a narrow and mercenary view. His
scope OF observation is as wide as the
east is from the west" His pOssibili-
ties have no bound. No monetary consid-
Grafton is colossal enough TO purchase
such a conception, or such a scope 1t
Is something that is not limited to this
bank note world
IAN who JOY would win, must share IL;
happiness was born a twin" Blessed is
he who is governed by the power of
goodness! III entertaining any PROPOSE
ton. this man is not actuated by selfish
ness. On the contrary, he is prompted
by altruism. and this imbues him with
certain enthusiasm, celestial in its in
huence; it causes him to feel indebted 20
his feIlow-man. and thus brings out the
best that is within. The efforts of this
man are not expended for himself alone.
While working for himself. he is stimuli
taneously benefting others. His Voca-
ton is not merely a money-maker, but
a panaeea for the distress OF suffering
humanity. He enjoys the happiness that
can be derived from no other source. the
happiness OF sharing his joys with others.
His earthly reward is his happiness.
But his reward is not confined to the
earth alone: nor does goodness exert its
greatest influence here. In eternity. the
iteils LtiE u bN PpWNi VI cvbuilNoo WIN DC
demonstrated. Goodness, as We are in
structed in Holy Writ being one of Gods
virtues, will be we'll pleasing in His sight.
and all who practice its beneficence here
viii be rewarded "a hundred fold" The
power of goodness is therefore a means
to the enc, of heavenly opulence. Lay
we treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal -
Thanks be to the Father, to the Son.
and to the Holy Ghost. blessed Three in
One! Each is a contributor TO the power
of goodness. The first granted il; the
second, after it was lost, retrieved it and