Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-09-14
TRUE
SUCCESS
ByRev. Stephen Paulson

ByRev, Stephen Paulson
TExT-The righteous also shall hold On
his way and he that hath clean hands
shall wax stronger.-Job IT'S.
Every right-minded person should
desire success. The young man who
does not desire to be successful
might just as well pick out his coffin,
for he will never be Of much account
In this life. But what is success?
That is what We want to talk about.
for there cen to be widely divergent
opinions on that subject.
Over 400 years ago Columbus was
about to discover a new world. His
seamen grew impatient Of the priva-
tons and hardships of an apparently
hopeless voyage. Westward sailed
the little fotilla over a shoreless sea.
where no island or cliff gave relief to
the weary eye. Now and then a
bank of cloud on a far horizon re-
vived hope only to plunge them into
deeper gloom. At last detection rip
ened into discomfort, and terror into
mutiny, which was stilled only by the
courage and resolution Of the great
explorer. No land was yet In sight,
but Columbus persuaded them to hold
on three days longer. On the second
day some tree-twigs were seen float
ing by; then a plank cut by a hatch
Z ct; then q branch of hawthorn In
flower. These silent witnesses told Of
land not far OF: and now the men
who the previous day were breathing
rebellion, gathered around their com
mander with extravagant fattery Inn
ploring his forgiveness.
It is no doubt a truth old as hui
mainly that nothing succeeds like
success" One stroke of good bust
ness gives a man a better chance for
a second; but let a man equally de.
success sinks further away.
One of the worst features Of our
age is the worship of mere success.
apart from the means by which it
was attained. Personal worth may go
to, the wall; a man is measured &C
cording to his prosperity. There is q
success that is not worth having, and
there is failure that is more to be de-
sired than success. The fact is that
the common conception Of the subject
requires emendation.
What is your ideal nf success? In
the majority of casea the answer
would be, fortune or position. Well.
these are fine things to have, but they
al be bought too dear. They are
bought every day at the price Of
honor. self-respect, q good conscience.
peace OF mind, and ever immortal
hope. The price Is too great Amer
lea is full OF the get-rich-Quick'
spirit. We revel In stsries of million
aires who were bare-fuoted newsboyl
In their youth. And 1t Is true thai
many Of these men deHerve credit 70,
their energy and foresight. But car
we not get q higher IDEAL OF success,
than the mere accumulation o
4 riches?
sary elements Of success. "The right
eous also shall hold on his way. ant
he that hath clean hands shall wa,
stronger and stronger" Here ar,
mentioned three things which are alb
solutely necessary to every young
mans success in life, and they arr
piety, perseverance, and purity.
First we have piety, or love AMI
trust in God. mo true success can b
ohfoinNI uifho,, - %h4% - ~ l.. <.r.- a.,
by throwing consciencu to the winds
you may occasionally make gains
which to the upright are impossible;
but there is q curse which pursuef
such profits even in that world. There
is no doubt that the youth who enters
upon life with a sense Of accountable
fty to God, has great advantage. Lord
Lytton says, "A man is already ol
consequence in the world when it il
known that he can By implicitly re
lied upon" It is a great mistake that
many young men make to drop their
religion as oon as they get out into
active business life.
Our next quality is perseverance,
"The righteous man shall hold on his
way" The failure Of many young
men in life is due to the lack of this
power to hold on. A young nan en-.
ters business, but after a few months
he thinks he has made a mistake, sc
he begins to study medicine. >Soon
he grows heartily weary of that, and
he thinks he is cut out for the law
Thus he drifts from one thing to an
other, and makes a success Of none
He lacks perseverance, the power te
hold on It is an excellent thine
for a youth, as oon as his school
days r over, to have to depend tt
a great extent upon his own exer
lions. President Garfield once said
I'm nine times out Of ten, the bes'
thing that can happen to a youne
man is to be tossed overheard ani
compelled to sink or swim for him
self. In all my acquaintance. l never
knew a man to be drowned who wal
worth saving"
The third requisite to success Il