St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-05-31

by him. God again in the course of
tine, on account of mans indifference
Itoi worship his Creator, dictated to
Moses a special code of laws, which
should be observed by His chosen
people as the best expression of their
loyalty to Him. Jesus Christ, the
promised and long-looked foc Re
deemer, came and proclaimed the
perfect religion or relation that
should exist between God and man,
and declared that no other manner
of worshipping God would be pleas
ing to and acceptable to His Heaven
" Father. To be useful and brave
citizen, therefore, one must acknowl-
edge God, love Him, and honor Him
in the manner in which He wishes to
be honored. Then mans soul be-
comes a fortress wherein are to be
found, honesty, courage, purity, self
sacrifice, wisdom and true patriot
ism; but if man forget his chief aim
in life, if he ignore his Creator, If he
has no fear of just God; instead of
the fortress of virtue that his soul
should be, it becomes den of pride,
immortality and dissatisfaction.
The question may be asked: What
is the greatest need of our times for
the betterment of Christian society?
Is it churches? Temples of wor-
ship are, indeed, very necessary. The
construction of elegant and we'll
adorned houses of worship is an ey-
idence of the faith and devotion of
the people. But they are not the
most essential thing for our day. The
primitive Christians paid homage
to God in the catacombs, and some
of our forefathers adored their Lord
and their God under the canopy of
heaven, in secluded mountains and
in caves of the earth; and they were
the best of Christians. Moreover,
what would be the use of churches,
if we had no Worshippers to frequent
them? Is it schools that are most
needed? Christian schools are GER
tainly demanded for the preserva-
ton of the faith and morals of the
rising generation. But they do not
constitute the most essential requis-
tie.
Is it hospitals and sanitariums that
the times call for? Hospitals are in
deed the landmarks of Christian civ
ilization, and they contribute greatly
to the alienation of human suffer-
ing. But they do not constitute the
greatest need of our day. They re-
lieve the misery of only small por-
y
Does the country need majestic and
colossal state houses for our legis-
lative bodies? The convention that
met in Philadelphia in 1887, to de-
wise the most momentous Constitu-
ton ever framed for the civil guild
ance of man, assembled in a hall not
conspicuous for it's majestic pro-
portions.
What is the greatest need Of the
times for cnurchmen themselves. Is
it stately palaces that are required
for her Bishops and clergy? No, my
brethren, external pomp does not
augment the dignity, nor increase
the influence of clergymen. It is not
the dwelling that ennobles the minis
ter of God, but it is the true and
faithful minister of God that en-
mobiles the dwelling.
What the times call for is men,
sturdy Christian men, endowed with
the courage of their convictions.
We need men who are controlled by
conscience rather than by expediency,
men who. are guided by principle
rather than by popularity, men who
are Influenced by sense of duty, and
not by self-interest, who are sway
ed by a. spirit Of patriotism rather
than by q desire OF political prefer
ment. Above all, we need men of
strong Christian faith, who are pre-
pared to uphold their religious con-
vfctions in the face of obloquy anc
popular prejudice. In word, we
need men and women of upright
Christian character.
If you disclose to me your char
acter, l will reveal to you your desti-
ny. If your character is above re-
proach, you will win in the battle of
life. You many not attain dis
tinction in the civil or politi-
cal, the military or eccles-
iastical walks of life. But the &C
QUESTION of these honors is not a
criterion of genuine success. The
true test of ultimate triumph lies
in the fulflment Of duty.
We need not here seek deeply for
the origin or reason of that rever-
ence which we all feel for that sacred
word; and our admiration for those
who made it the crown and end of
life. We cannot conceal our con-
tempt for the voluptuary, who goes
out of a useless life by a painless
death. It is not to such we build
temples, and erect statues. But to
the patriot, who filings away his life
y
more than physician, VINO with all
his family ties around him, takes up
the typhus or smallpox patient in
his arms, and lavishes on him every
care that science and humanity can
suggest; to the apostle, who goes out
to unknown lands, and joins the tribe
of narrow foreheads to redeem them: :
to the priest who becomes a leper
to save the lepers; to, the brave fire
man, who mounts the burning
building and sees beneath him fur
mace of fire, and nothing to save him,
but the wall that is tottering be-
meath him; or to the silent student
in the attic, who is weaving at TIE
cost of life and brain power imperial
thoughts for his brethren,-~to all
those does our admiration extend,
and their example is a tonic, and
needful tonic for a1world that is
self-seeking, and pleasure seeking,
hi ri IN hn1