The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-15

- - WAS EOOu CTOWu
lRASICR RQSSELD and closest atten-
tion given through
out. The speaker said in part:--
The world does well to keep up a
cheerful. outward demeanor-to drive
dull care away" to the best of its abil-
ity. Nevertheless, there is great force
and weight to st. Paul's words to the
effect that 1.-The whole creation is
groaning and Travelling in pain togeth.
er, waiting" for Messiah's Kingdom
and its long-promised blessings to lift
the curse of sin and death and to re-
store to mankind the smile of the Fa-
theirs favor. Reason though they may
that there is no personal God-that
there is merely blind god Of nature
an evolutionary force. etc, neverthe.
less, deep down in the heart men be
lieve that there Is God. Almost un.
consciously the mind attributes to Him
Wisdom, Justice and Power-but little
and it's frailties.
This very intuitive knowledge of
God is closely associated with many
human troubles. As the root of near.
ly every trouble. perhaps deep below
the surface. Is sin--diSobedience to
recognized principles Of righteousness
and a fearful looking for of retribu-
ton, and uncertainty as to what II
will mean. This is true. not only of
many Christians, but frequently true
also of others who have made no pro
fession, who have taken upon them
mo solemn vows of obedience.
This. troubled heart condition does
not always show upon the surface
Sometimes the troubled heart is in the
theatre to try to forget its troubles
Sometimes its owner is immersed In
sinful pleasure-seeking, in endeavor to
drown some haunting grief. Some
times relief is sought through intoxi-
eating liquors or narcotics; sometimes
in suicide. Sometimes the troubled
one is on the stage. One cannot sure
ly know that the merry laugh and witty
joke and CHEEKY song do not come from
a troubled heart. We are sure that
they do, IN many instances. for fire.
Quently those who have been indulg-
ing In merriment have committed sui
eide few minutes thereafter, leaving
messages that their hearts had been
severely burdened, while outwardly
cheerful.
We have much sympathy with these
sorrowladen hearts. AS race we
are walking through "the valley of
the shadow of DEATH" day by day.
On every hand we have reminders of
this-grief, disappointment, headache
heartache, etc. If we are measurably
sympathy, we are panied in the inter
est of others. If none of our own
dear ones has recently died, the great
Enemy, Death, has laid hold upon the
home of neighbor, a brother, and he
is bereaved and reflex shadow falls
upon our hearts; and further, the
thought comes that our home may be
invaded by the great Enemy which has
already swallowed up twenty thou
sand millions of our race-and that by
Divine permission. because we are sin
ners-and because sinners are un-
worthy of everlasting life.
The Fear of the Lord.
In our troubles we, sooner or later
realize the lack of human sympathy
or, at least, its impotency. Feeling
our helplessness, we instinctively lOoi
to our Creator In the hour of trouble
remarkably few doubt the existence OF
God. AS Jesus said, aye believe In
Eod." But as we look to the Almighty
for protection and consider Divine
Justice and realize our own weakness
es and shortcomings, the heart of man
fails. How could he think that the
Omnipotent One would have interest
in or care for such worm Of the dust
as he feels himself to be? How could
Divine Justice look with any sym
pathy upon the course OF sefishness
which he recognizes stretches out be
hind him In full view of the All-Seeine
Eye?
"The fear of the Lord is the begin
ming of wisdom" is the inspired Mes
sage. Surely many have this begin
ming of wisdom come to them at some
period in their life's experience. But
such fear is the start to wisdom only
when 1t leads the fearful one to great
er carefulness Of living and to de
sire for the Heavenly Fathers approv'
al. If this be the leading of the fear
1t is indeed the precursor Of, the lead
er TO, wisdom. AS proper fear or rev
erence for the Almighty comes In, II
acts as restraint upon sin. 1t tends
to make one more thoughtful. more