The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-11-30
RELIGION
AND FUN
By DR.. William S. Jacobs
Pastor Of First Presbyterian Church.
Houston, Texas

faced Christians, and some have the
idea that they are more pious because
of this But | don't like that kind oi
a man. You remember the poet was
once calling In his old classmate es
after they were 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 It is true in the great poem
of life, said DR.. Jacobs, that the best
lie Is given to the man who can go
through 1t with a smile.
| have had some experience with
this matter. When | was in college,
when | needed help and encourage
ment, did not go to the austere man.
but to the man with the smile. It
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
1t 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 a 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
hem up by the barrel. My opportunity
for real work is to go 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 all. 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 10 get away from its sorrow.
! think we have grown more and more
into incorporating sorrows into our
faces. voices and manners.
What kind Of a memory do you wish
to leave? Are you going to leave
your friends happy thought that
will strengthen them and comfort
them after you are gone? This busl
ness of long g-facedness is one-half self.
!shness and one-half a lie. II your
soul Is as sorrowful as your face ap-
pears, you are not content. The more
| see Of long faced piety. the more
convinced ! am that II is not genuine.
always had respect for the Methodist
amen II 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 as
the amen of the Episcopalian or as the
silence Of the Presbyterian. but II
L. cans something. wish enough
Methodists would join my church to
an amen corner like for
you 20 respond when | talk Some.
lines see someone nod his head and |
! see that | have met with his ap- |
proval And then again see another
shake his head. and know he doesn't
believe It. At any rate, whether you
like ii or not, ! like the response, as
feel we are talking and there is
some thing between us.
There is as much religion in happi.
rs In sorrow | say there is more
There should be only one kind of sor.
Tow. and that is godly sorrow. And
here is more reason for godly hap.
Diness than sorrow. After all. there
S not very much TO worry about In
his world, If we will but keep up a
smile II we only look at 1t In the
light way every sorrow has its mean.
ng The bitterest sorrows of my life
iave been my greatest opportunities.
rhey have enabled me to find myself.
o see whether | was right or wrong.
Christians ought not TO sorrow as
hose with no hope, but they should
eioice Have you ever noticed how
erious sin is? Who are the people
Who laugh They are the people who
laye down In their hearts the con-
clousness of purity and right living
The happier side of life is the trl.
Imphant, the other fatalistic. A long
ace is an indication of defeat and
despair The Christian needs no long
ace The man on the way to Inherit
great fortune does not stop to grieve
,ver a dime lost In the sand, SO with
he Christian. He ought to go laugh
ng as he walks. even to the tomb.
making stepping stones of grave
tones to higher things II you are
N the way to your inheritance you
hould be happy Next to the gift OF
ls the gift OF the possl'
'illty I. Joy
Some men ask, what about Gods
Iouse? Is It a place for laughter and
nerriment? What does the church
tand for? Is 1t morgue, or is It
lace or resurrection? | will let you
nswer the question. The Bible says:
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
,ut this doesn't mean snickering In
hurch
Let me impress this thought upon
ou Go into the world and see how
appy you can be and make II Gods =
lea was to make us eternally happy ,