The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-07-13
COMMONER'S LECTURE.
CONTINUED from page g.
t effects is permanent one.

am an optimiSt, my faith and my
optimism rests upon the belief that
Christs teachings are being more
studied to-day than ever before, and
that with this larger study will
come a larger application Of those
teachings to the every day life OF
the world, and to the question with
which we deal. In former times
when men read that Christ came
to bring life and immortality to
light they placed the emphasis up
on immortality; now they are
studying Christ's relation to hu-
man life. People used to read the
Bible to find out what it said of
Heaven; now they read it more to
lind what light it throws upon the
pathway of to-day. In former
years many thought to prepare
themselves for future bliss by a
life of seclusion here; we are learn
ing that to follow in the footsteps
of the Master we must go about
doing good. Christ declared that
He came that we might have life
and have it more abundantly. The
world is learning that Christ came
not to narrow life, but to enlarge
1t, not TO rob IT of it's joy, but to
fill it to overflowing with purpose,
earnestness and happiness.
But this Prince of Peace promises
hot only peace but strength. Some
have thought his teachings fit on
~ for the weak and the timid and
unsuited TO men of vigor, energy
and ambition. Nothing could be
farther from the truth. Only the
man of faith can be courageous.
Confident that he fights on the
side of Jehovah, he doubts not the
success of his cause. What matters
hot l,n,. la che
OF triumph? If every word spoken
in behalf of truth has its influ-
ence and every deed done for the
right weighs in the final account, it
is lmmaterial to the Christian
whether his eyes behold victory or
whether dies in the midst of con-
flict
Yea, tho thou lie upon the dust.
When they who helped thee flee
in fear,
Die full Of hope and manly trust,
Like those who fell in battle here.
Another hand Thy sword shall
wieid,
another Land the standard wave.
Till from the trumpet's mouth is
pealed,
The blast of triumph DER thy
grave.
Only these who believe attempt
the seemingly impossible. and, by
attempting, prove that one. with
God, can chase a thousand and that
two can put ten thousand to flight
can ina CINE that the early Chris
tlanS who we're carried into coils
cum 10 make spectacle of or those
more savage than the beasts, were
eEtreated by their doubling COM
panlons hot to endanger their
lives. But, kneeling in the center
OF the arena, they prayed and sang
untl! they were devoured How
helpless they seemed, and, measur-
ed by every human rule, how hope
less was their cause! And yet
within a few decades the power
which they invoked proved mightier
than the legions of the emperor
and the faith in which they died
was triumphant DER all the land. 1t
is said that those who went to
mock at their sufferings returned
asking themselves, What is it that
can enter into the heart of man
AM and make him die as these die?"
They were greater conquerers in
their death than they could have
been had they purchased life by a
surrender of their faith
What would have been the fate
OF the church if the early Chris
tlans had had as little faith as
many of our Christians of to-day
And if the Christians of to-day had
the faith of the martyrs, how long
would it be before the fulfillment of
the prophecy that every knee
fess?"
l am glad that He, who is called
the Prince of Peace - who can
pllng peace to every troubled heart
and whose teachings, eXemplified in
life, Will bring peace between man
and man, between community and
community, between State and
State, between nation and nation
throughout the world - | am glad
that He brings courage as well as
peace so that those who follow
Him may take up and each day
DraVely do the duties that to that
day fall
AS the Christian grows older ne
appreciates more and more the COM
pleteness with which Christ salts
fies the longings of the heart, and
grateful for the peace which he
enjoys and for the strength which
he has received, he repeats the
words of the great scholar, Sir
William Jones:
Before thy mystic altar heavenly
truth,
l kneel in manhood, as / knelt in
youth,
Thus let me kneel, till this dull
form uecay,
And life's last shade be frightened
by the ray
HEAD OF TOBACCO TRUST.