The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-11-30
RELIGION
AND FUN
BY DIR. William 8. Jacobs
Psssor d Era Presbyseriss Church.
Housfoa. Texss

idea that they are more pious because
Of this. But I don't like that kind OF
a man. You remember the poet was
once calling in his old classmates
after they we're old men. and after he
had enumerated all, he spoke OF the
laughing boy, the one whom you
might think was all fun. but others
laughed at his good deeds, and his
poor friend laughed loudest OF all.
believe II Is true In the great poem
Of life, said Or. Jacobs, that the best
life is given TO the man who can go
through It with a smile.
have had some experience with
this matter. When ! was In college,
when I needed help and encourage
nent. I did not go TO the austere man,
but to the man with the smile. II
seemed ! could approach him easier.
have had some experience along
these lines since | have been In the
ministry. Many men with sorrows and
trouble have come TO me for advice
and assistance, and | do not believe
Il was because of any profound I'M
preston ! had made upon them by
profound exposition, but because had
met them with a smile, and they felt
they could come. II the little bit Of
good ! can do inside the church was
all that ! could do. ! would resign
| from the ministry and take up secu-
lar calling. Preaching sermons is not
| the main work. The meaningless OF
words. Any man can say things; any
man can preach. II had nothing TO
do but get up sermons ! could get
them up by the barrel. My opportunity
| for real work Is TO 90 and meet peo-
pie with burdens on their hearts, and
to help them.
We find out great many things
about the world when we get >out In IT,
After an. II was not the sermon on
the mount. but his life in the valley
and on the seashore that gives us
our conception of Christ. All the world
is trying TO get away from Its sorrow.
I think We have grown more and more
into incor pcrating sorrows into our
faces. voices and manners.
What kind of a memory do you wish
|
your friends a happy thought that
viii strengthen them and comfort
them after you are gone? This bust
ness of long-facedness is one-half self
ishness and one-half a lie. II your
soul is az sorrowful as your face ap-
pears, you are not content The more
see Of long faced piety, the more
I n ehat a. ta .nt IN a
. always had respect for the Methodist
amen" 1t Is sort of applause al
lowed In church, which serves TO en-
courage the speaker and help him
along. II may not be as formal az
the amen of the Episcopalian or as the
J silence of the Presbyterian. but Il
Leans something. wish enough
Methodists would Join my church &c
furnish an amen corner. ] like FOL
you 10 respond when | talk. Some
times see someone nod his head anC
! see that I have met with his ap
prevail. And then again see another
shake his head, and ] know he doesn'
believe It, At any rate. whether yo'
like II or not. like the response. al
feel we are talking and there Il
some thing between us.
There is as much religion in happi
as In sorrow. ! say there Is more
There should be only one kind OF sor
row. and that Is godly sorrow. Ant
there Is more reason for cody hap
piness than sorrow. After all. Their
is not very much 10 worry about II
! this world, II we will but keep up
smile. II we only look at IL In tn
light way every sorrow has its mean
ing. The bitterest sorrows OF my lif
have been my greatest opportunities
They have enabled me 10 find myself
| 10 see whether ! was right or wrong
those with no hope, but they shoul
rejoice. Have you ever noticed HOY
serious sin is? Who are the peopl
who laugh They are the people VIII
| have down in their hearts the cor
| sciousness of purity and right Twins
\ The happier side Of life is the tr
umphant. the other fatalistic. A Ion
/ face is an indication OF defeat an
. despair. The Christian needs no Ion
: face. The man on the way TO inheri
a great fortune does not stop TO griev
n over dime lost in the sand. SO wit
!, the Christian. He ought TO go laugh
ing as he walks. even to the toni
q making stepping stones OF gray
: stones to higher things. II you ar
on the way 10 your inheritance, 20
A should be happy. Next to the gift
( immortality is the gift OF the poss
bility C. joy.
|. Some MEN ask. what about God
/. house? Is IL place for laughter an
merriment? What does the churc
;. stand for? Is IL morgue, or is II
a place or resurrection ! will let 20
answer the question. The Bible says
!. make joyful noise unto the Lord
n But this doesn't mean snickering
church.
a Let me impress this thought upo
a YOU. Go into the world and see no
= happy you can be and make IT, God
n idea was 10 make us eternaily hapr
Il and not eternally sorrowful
Pleasure.
MN.NNN