Norwich bulletin., 1910-05-14
SUNDAY MORNING TALK
THE POWER OF A COMMON
PLACE TRUTH

Because a thing has been said be-
fore Is no argument against Its repe-
tftion. Circumstances may make its
reiteration exceedingly valuable and
timely. What maiden ever tires of
having her lover whisper in her ears
the words that lovers have been pas
sionately saying to their sweethearts
ever since Adam and. Eve We're alone
in the garden. There is no sweeter
music to a mothers ear than the lisp
ing voice of her darling baby saying
Il love 90"
What some cynicaIly minded persons
are prone to stigmatize as piatitudes
have recently been waited from the
continent of Europe to all parts of the
civilized world and have been read
probably by millions of persons. Here
are a few of them in substance;
1t is not enough that man should
be good: he should also be efficient.
We should all have our ideals. but
let us beware that we do not become
mere theorists.
The cynical attitude toward life is
one of the worst moods into which a
man can fall.
1t is a little short of a crime DELHI
parenthood.
Not the mere fact of wealth. but the
way it is used, entities a man to credit.
A man must pull his own weight be-
fore he can be of any advantage to
others.
Glass hatred and religious intoler-
ance are equally obnoxious
We have heard all these observations
before not only from this distinguished
gentleman, but from moralists, teach
ers and preachers in more than one
land. And yet we make a big mistake
when we toss them aside as thread
bare and trite. The question for you
and me is have we taken these truths
to heart, no matter who spoke them,
or when or where.
This nation desperately needs not a
4 4<utr. ll~
ness to old yet never outgrown truths,
and we ought to be thankful that
events have recently thrown them up
on such a broad canvas in such large
letters that the whole world must, per-
fore, take notice. True. they are but
the whole A. b. c. of morality and re-
ligion. But no greater blessing could
come to the modern world than its
indispensableness of a few of the sim
piest most elementary and most ia
milia-r moral truths.
A commonplace deliverance is al
ways in order, provided it has behind
it the sincere conviction of the man
putting it into language. The greatest
preachers seldom go far afield for their
themes. The Surgeons and the
Beechers, the Noodys and the Philips
Brooks have two or three great, deep
self evidencing truths on which they
dilate and which they apply in vari-
Gus directions. II this very day all the
preachers IN America would seiect the
truth that means most TO them, no
matter how many times they have ut
tered IL and restate and enforce IT
with all the power which they possess
a revival of religion would begin all
over 6fds country.
Yet one other requisite is essential
in order to make effective a common
place truth and that is the illustraT
tfon of the truth in the life of him
who utters it. Men will listen willing
ly to dfScourses on familiar matters
provided they know the speaker prac-
tises what he breaches.
Shun not, chen, friend, the common
place message. It may be the one
you most need. And hesitate not to
speak such a word to someone else,
provided it comes out of your heart
and life.
THE PASTOR