The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-05

his words fall to the ground In 9th
er words, none OF them were lost.
but all found their way to their proper
destination, did their appointed work
and returned laden with blessing to
the God who gave them.
In the Saviour's prayer recorded In
John II, He says, Father have fin
ishes. the work which Thou gavest
Me to do" Finished. Not word
left unsaid, not deed undone. OF
all that was given Him to do. How
unfinished and Incomplete do our lives
seem in comparison.
Talking is very potent agency for
good. When we see how persuasive
and forceful some men are in pre-
scnting business proposition. how
eloquent in pleading a political cause,
were consecrated to the service OF
Christ. And whatever one may think
about women speaking in meeting.
certainly out of meeting women have
fiuency and, fervour which would
Make them valuable allies OF any
cnuse which they might espouse
A single word fifty spoken has
often changed ones whole career.
Said a noble man. III have been
happy or useful In the world, It is
due largely to chance question from
|. a stranger. was poor boy and
cripple. Watching a game OF ball
one day with envious feelings, a man
at my side said to me, You wish you
were In the place Of those boys. do
you not?' Yes. do was the an
swer. i reckon God gave them their
money and health to enable them to
be Of some use In the world. Did 1t
ever occur to you that He gave you
your lame leg for the same reason,
to <make man of your | did not re-
ply. But could not get his words
out Of my mind. MY crippled leg
Gods gift, to teach me patience and
strength! did not believe 1t, but
! was thoughtful boy. and the more
! thought Of It the more was con-
WINGED that the stranger had told the
truth. 1t worked on my temper, my
thoughts and at last upon my actions.
K Christian conversation seems to be
almost lost art in some quarters.
How seldom does one hear the sub
ject preached In public places like
drawing room. or at dinner party
even when all the people present are
processing Christians! Riding In the
cars with stranger one day opened
the subject Of religion. After while
he admitted that he was a member
Of church III that is the case"
said, why didn't you talk to me like
a Christian. and not compel me to
work SO long to find out your posi-
tion?" People don't do that down our
way" said he. IF I would speak
to man who came into my store
'bp 1.-The subject OF religion, what do
you suppose he would think OF me?"
He would probably think you were
q Christian" replied. well. no
one talks about religion down our
way. not even the ministers. We
never hear from them on the subject.
except from the pulpit"
That Christians do not talk more
about the things OF the Kingdom is
constant surprise to the unsaved.
and often an occasion of doubt. Said
a skeptical lady to friend OF mine.
II will tell you why am doubter.
was in a sewing society last week.
Forty ladies were present and every
one church member except myself.
/ was there three hours. We talked
Of everything down to crazy patchwork.
but not word about Jesus. I can
not believe that they see in Jesus
Christ any such beauty or power az
you speak Of am convinced that
there il a great deal of sham In the
profession of Christian people"
On the other hand, how refreshing
II Is to meet those who are evidently
in the condition of Peter and John,
who said, I'VE cannot but speak the
things which we have seen and
heard" A gentleman driving along
overlook stranger and invited him
to ride. AS he approached him he
said to himself, Il wonder what the
man IL thinking about and what sub
ject of conversation he will introduce,
Surely It will be one of three things
the weather, the crops, or the cleo
ton 1t was none Of these. His
first words. after the usual salutations
were. "How's religion down in your
country" The question startled the
man q little by its directness. but
II showed where the others heart
was and led to long and profitable
conversation on heavenly things.
That It requires tact and skill to
carry on religious conversation, no
one can deny. but il It not worth
while to study the art until we be-
come proficient in It? II we follow
Paul's advice to he Colossians. We
shall always have something to say.
U We begin each day with David's
prayer. Let the words Of my mouth
and the meditations Of my heart be
acceptable In Thy sight, o Lord. my
strength and my Redeemer." we shall
keep In touch with God. And II we
watch for souls as those that must
give m account. We shall have oppor-
tunities enough 20 that. in short
time. we shall ind Christian CONVEX
sation real pleasure to ourselves
and . blessing to others.