Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-03
Weekly Sermon
NO PROXY.

Life issues a perpetual summons to each
man 40 stand on his own feet. Each ono
has duties that no one else can do for
him and responsibilities that cannot no
laid on other shoulders. No substitute can
take ones place iii those crises of which
human experience is full.
1t is important 10 realize oneself as a
being separate and distinct from all 9TH
ers. We are all called to use the capital
l at times. and with Il full realization of
what the proioun means. We must share
the experience OF the philosopher Des-
carries who. musins 10y the Danube river
one night. made the experimenting dis
covery. lch hin lcf-i am myself. Tho
clear sensing OF personality is a first re-
quisitc for right thought on any subject
whatever.
Each person in the world il an uniuue
product. No one nature is quite like any
other. In any group OF people there arc
really as many kinds as there are indiyid-
uals. People are built like Swiss watches,
each one of which is an Individual prod
uct. You could not mix UP the parts of q
dozen Swiss watches without spelling the
whole lot. The nachine-tnade parts OF
American watches are exactly alike and
interchangeable. The former ana not tho
latter arc types of human beings.
Az natures differ so do environments.
Men and woman awaken EACH morning to
u million different tasks, duties and pleas
ufes. Living on the same planet we vet
inl,ahit different worlds. The victory set
!or You to achieve on amy given day may
be wholly apart from my line OF endeayor.
The burdens D have 10 carry you NAV
know nothing of.
1T follows that personal responsibility
cannot be evaded. There Is Il certain Lone
hness about life that must I've recognized.
friendship and sympathy may do much
out IN the last analysis my friend cannot
stand IN my place any more than / can
stand IN ms. Each one must live his own
life and take his OWE medicine.
sorrow is essentially an Individual ex-
perience. THE heart knoweth It's own BIT
ierness.' as the scripture says. We ask
inc impossible Of the most loving friend
when we expect that our pain shalt really
become his. The distresses OF tho sufferrr
on the bed cannot he shared by those who
watch with him. however willing thu
watchers might he tina. suciI o. transfer
be made.
Those important, decisions that mark the
various stages of mans earthly career are
personal matters. You may counsel with
the young man and advise him, but you
cannot decide for him. After ali the tes-
timony and all the pleading he is both
Judge and jury and his verdict is the final
one.
So 1t is with character. A man NAV
leave his son $1,00O,0W but, unfortunately.
cannot surely leave him the energy, tnN
dustry and probity that made tho fortune
possible. That Is why it is so often about
three generations from shirt sleeves to
shirt sleeves. The father spends his years
IN hard work: the son spends his in high
play. losing ground steadily, aud wonders
in the end why Dads luck didn't stay
with the family.
Daniel Webster, once asked what was
The proroandest .hought thai had ever
entered his mind, replied. THE thought OF
my personal responsibility to Cod" Tho
answer hewed close to the mark. Alone
man comes into the world. essentially
alone he meets its varying experiences.
and alone he shall appear at the last great
assize to render up his final account.
THE PARSON.