Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-08

Robert Louis Stevenson said, There
is an idea abroad among moral people
that they should make their neighbors
good. One person l have to make good:
myself. BY my duty to my neighbor Is
much more nearly expressed by saying
that 1 have to make him happy,-if
may" There was a minister who &C
cepted this view, and in all good will
and sincerity undertook to fulfill it in
his ministry to his flock. His sermons
were framed with this intent, and in his
pastoral rounds he sought to make all
merry and happy. Both in the pulpit
and out of the pulpit he brought in
view only pleasing subjects. He wished
above all things that his people should
be happy, hoping that if they were hap
by all the lIme they must inevitably he
holy in the end. If any OF them pur-
sued dubious courses of life, he offered
no rebulxes in public or private. He did
not interfere with the JOY the men had
in making money, nor with the pleasure
which their wives and children found in
spending money. In turn they sought
to make him quite comfortable in so
far as money could supply him with
comforts. He was very popular with
his congregation, and they were we'll
pleasing to him. So matters went be-
tween them for a time.
But at last he perceived that his peo-
pie were not happy people Most Of
them were restless. not to say peevish.
They were perpetually pursuing happi-
ness, but seemed never to overtake it.
On the contrary, some of them overlook
more pain than pleasure In their chase
of happiness. For example. one family
in which banquets and wine-drinking
prevailed awaked to the tragic fact that
the eldest son had become a drunkard.
Another which was much given to the
diversions of the card table were filled
with distress because a son had become
a gambler and a daughter had become
the wife of a modish black-leg whom
she had met first at bridge parties.
childless couple had separated be-
cause of disagreements which began be-
cause the husband pursued gain so
greedily and increasingly that he saw
little of his wife, while she was so abb
sorbed with society that she lost IN
terest in him and affection for him.
Another household was disgraced by a
defalcation on the part Of the husband
and father who was addicted to specu-
lations. Still anoter was Swallowed
with sorrow by the killing of son In
an automobile race. Even over the
homes which had suffered no such
shames and griefs there seemed to
brood a spirit safety and discomfort
Worst of all the poor pastor found
that he could not console his people with
the solaces of religion; for they neither
understood nor cared for such Acomforts.
They were not used to finding comfort
In such a source. Their knowledge Of
the Bible was not great and their ac-
quaintance with the God OF the Bible
was less. They had joined the church,
but they knew nothing of union with
- ". -
promises tof God as they lived in COM
parative indifference to the requirements
OF the gospel; but 'of course they were
christians; for they professed and called
themselves christians, and who would
dare question their sincerity? He would
not impeach their christian character
and yet he could not vindicate 1t by the
Scriptures; 1t seemed not to be of the
pattern shown in the mount, but of
some lighter and less serious type In
fact there was nothing very serious
about his people. Their test of the ex-
cellency of a sermon was In its brevity
or lack of brevity: they particularly dis
liked sermons about cross-bearing and
kindred themes. The only crosses of
which they had any knowledge were
those irritations which they INDUCED
when they crossed. one another in do
nestle contentious or in social competi-
tions. What could he do to make such
people happy? What could any man do
to make them happy?
He began to suspect that he had been
working in a wrong way. that the prin-
ciple he had been following was not
sound. that his chief concern should
have been about the holiness OF his
people. and that he had bestowed too
much care on trying to make them
happy. He sought to change his man
ner of preaching. He rebuked sin more
than had been his habit. He insisted
more earnestly upon such themes as re-
pentance, salvation by faith. and the new
birth. He was less disposed to approve
the banquetings. revelings. and worldly
diversions Of his people. But his changed
method brought him criticism and oppo-
sition. A change Of pastors was desired
and obtained.
Now he had time to discover that try
ing to make men and women good Is
far more difficult. as 1t is far more i'm
portant, than making them happy. At