The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-10-07
9aturday Digit
SoIkc By Rev. F. E. DAWSON
/uhVAS Rutland, We
VARIETY OF ENDOWMENT IN THE
KINGDOM.
international Bible Lesson for Oct. 9,
'1o-(Matt. 25:143o).
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Heretical as 1t may seem to say it,
It is not true that all men are created
free and equal. AS a figure of speech
and of high sounding rhetoric, our
fathers made their defiant challenge
to the world, but the statement will
not stand investigation. 1t is neither
true of nations, nor of individuals. Al
mighty God does not start every man
upon the same plane with the same
advantages and allowances. 1t Is true
of nations and of individuals that unto
one HE gave five talents, to another
two, and to another one"
inequalities Of Life.
Some people object to that distribu-
tion, and declare that there should be
a readjustment on a more equitable
basis They complain at the inequali-
ties of life, and murmur because
all men are not upon an equal
footing 1t is not true that all
the advantages and comforts OF
life are exclusively enjoyed by the
five talent people and that everything
is denied to those of one talent. Some
of the most miserable people on earth
are those who are clothed in purple
and fine linen and fare sumptuously
every day." and many a day laborer,
coming home at the end of the week
with his meager wages in his pocket,
has not a care nor a vexation in life.
We say of some men, Oh, that we had
their advantages, their houses, their
servants, their automobiles, then
would our lives be full of sunshine,
and we should never know sorrow, nor
pain! Great mistake The man who
has five talents, and realizes it is the
man who knows the meaning of the
sharpest pain, who carries daily the
heaviest burden and who because of
his refinement of sensibility is ex-
posed to the greatest degree of suf-
fering.
Whatever may be our original en-
dowments every man should strive
for his best and make the most of life.
The man who is perfectly satisfied
with his position, and has no ambi-
ton to rise In the world, has already
begun to die. Talents are given, not
to hoard, but to use. The arm that Is
not used shrivels and withers away.
Nature takes revenge for neglect by
destroying the power to do. The in.
dolent man exhausts himself, little by
little. Brain work does not destroy
life, 1t lengthens it. Worry kills more
people than work The brain was
made for activity, and the more man
does the more he can do up to GER
tain limit. However brilliant mans
endowments, If he do not use them,
put them out at interest, turn them
over and over, they will rust and cor
rode and he who started life as king
will end it as a beggar.
Activity the Law of Growth.
Activity is the law of growth. He
who would be strong must use his
strength. He will be the ablest man
who every day puts his ability to good
use. He will be the most powerful
preacher, in the long run, who makes
every occasion a great occasion, who
will make as much effort to save one
man as to save a thousand men, and
who always keeps himself at his best
When the Israelites in the desert
sought to save some of their mama
for the next day 1t bred worms and
stank." And many preacher, think
ing to save a good sermon for larg
er and more appreciative audience
has found his pet sermon fall fiat
when he brought forth the mouldy
production. The reason why some
preachers are withering up and find
ing themselves not wanted Is because
for ten years they have been preach
ing old sermons that are dry as dead
mems bones. Politicians do not spenC
much time threshing out dead issues
The world moves, and they who leaC
the procession must ride on the banC
wagon.
How about the man with one tai
ent? Well, II is ever more true, tha
the majority Of them bury it in {
napkin, and spend their time CRITICS
ing others. The fact is, the man whC
will bury one talent because he hai
no more, would do the same If he hat
FIVE hundred He thinks he wouldn't
but he Goes not know his own heart
He who made him knows him bette
than he knows himself which is tn
reason that he only got one.
One Talent Men.
History is fragrant with the deed
OF one talent men. Some of tn
worlds brightest achievements wer
wrought by men Of one talent. The
were handicapped In their birth, 4
their color. in their education, in thei
pecuniary circumstances, in their lac
OF all the things which to us seem ei
sential TO success, but they faced tn
situation, conquered the difficulties
refused to surrender TO discourage
ment, nailed their colors to the mas
and reached the goal Of their ambition
They had but one talent, but like tn
nimble sixpence IL won for them shi
lings and pounds. Most Of the poetr
and science and laws and constitI
tons and deliverances of the age
were born, like Jesus. in a mango