The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-03
.PARSON S|MPK|N ON
NEW YEAR PROBLEMS
Interesting Discourse Is Deliy.
cred at Phillips Congrega-
tiOnaI Church.

The sermon at Philips church last
the new year, The pastor, Rev. p. A.
Slmpkin. prenched upon Facing the New
Year" saying In part:
ALREADY the precious days OF another
year are slipped away and swallowed
In the past,
'Tt is well for you and all your fellows
10 pause and formulate purpose and
catch a sense OF the abiding value that
"It is not the making OF resolutions
but the resolution that has any value for
life.
The thought OF amendment is not an
unworthy one, 1t Is we'll that human be-
inGs at certain stages IN the road OF life
should vow to refrain from that which Is
harmful or seek 10 strengthen that which
But while habit. character and testing
are closely related, there is a problem
deeper than that OF personal culture that
needs to be solved in every life-thc vital
relation with God needs to he found. and
the true meaning and end Of existence
determined.
'These two days OF the New Year that
have gone-what did they mean in liv-
ing? Two pearls OF the string on the
years golden thread are eone-barter
for what? Have they brought YOU nearer
TO that which you know ought TO be
yours and you?
"Onc would not take single flower
ot gladness out OF the hearts garden. or
a note of music from the SOUS lyric.
But It is to be desired that the time
should know more OF deep seriousness
about life and its purposes and pursuits.
The journey we have entered upon
has so many surprises for us-perhaps
the surprise eternal. as the road and its
end are alone vital It's roughness or
ugliness, it's beauty or ease, its verdant
banks. fragrant with flowers, or its bor-
II Iarlr Cab nf lt
are only incidental.
The thing Itself. life, its motive. and
end. It's purpose and passion, its hard
ships and end, are alone worthy our
thought.
1--WE are journeying to eternity-march-
ing TO meet God
'If we do not compel our souls 10 sense
this we arc craven and tr!flIng Not that
life Is simply to reach out to the eternal,
but that we are to lay hold on the
eternal now, and put the value of that
stately infnlty we think about into the
now.
There should be a well-defined pur-
pose in every intelligent life as 1t faces
the new year. one that will touch all the
range OF service within us.
1T is well that in the souls chamber
each life should sit and dream OF wider
personality, a developed selfhood. There
is ever lcssened need to appeal for de-
velopment. The time Is awake to that
But that wider. sclfhood to be a thing
blessed and satisfying must all be alb
sorbed in two ends, the yielding OF God
and our fellows all the power of our per
sonallty in service,
Tho Shedy OF a modern Midas throned
on monopoly's money bags may interest
for a moment. but that which never pals
and ever inspires is found only I'm the
lives of those who have found the happy
end OF life service TO God and their fell
lows.
Each life finds its truest fulfllment in
others.
But the dominant all-important con-
sideration that should influence us is the
thought Of living the year 10 God. That
saying OF the wise old priest, that before
every soul three urns are set; the golden
one marked conquest, that brims with
blood tho amber one filled with ashes
and marked glory, and the earthen one
empty, hut inscribed with the name OF
God. and that he who has the vision true
takes that OF earth with Its name and
glory abiding. has a living value for us,
For llfes end is not to have, but tc
give and to be in the spirit and love oi
God. our Father.
III, therefore, you would find in the
year a salvation divine, gladness in al
the days, the true success tnat abides
you must first yield life TO God, and then
as a part OF his plan and purpose you
one Of blessed happiness and life full and
abiding.
For then, whether the road winds
through long years. or finds It's terminus
in some sudden chasm that ends the
earthly. you shall living with God and
expressing his will in the common serv-
ice, only lose the earthly to find the
eternal whose untrammeled fullness shall
make the happiness unendinG.
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