Alma record., 1912-04-04

ters is ostracised in some sections be
cause he happens to be black.
knowledge introduces its fortunate
possessors into the world OF refined
society.
3. knowledge is power II will
help you succeed where others have
failed. 1t gives one reserve power
which enables him to overcome diff
culties sufficient TO crush those not so
equipped. The journey of life is no
easy journey and safe passage is not
guaranteed to the weak and in
efficient. Success, no doubt is the sur
vival of the fittest and we are coming
to see that fitness is largely depend
ent upon knowledge The confident
man, the strong man is he whose
mind is well equipped Solomon said,
"A wise man is strong; yea man Of
knowledge increaseth strength"
You are securing foundation upon
which you may build successful
business career, you are acquiring a
culture that will give you entrance TO
good society, you have fund of re-
serve power that you can draw upon
when the need arises, and ii Will
arise. Yet, when you have secured
your educational training, you have
a limited equipment 1t may enable
you to make money, 1t may introduce
you to good society, it may secure
you position and a certain sort of
power, 1t will not make you live. II
will give you a clearer knowledge of
right and wrong but your training
may help you become more wicked
than you could have been had edu-
cational opportunities been denied.
Jeremiah said of his people, They
are wise to do evil" Sydney Smith
says, Every increase of knowledge
may possibly render depravity more
depraved, as well as it may increase
the strength of virtue. 1t is in itself
only power and its value depends
upon its application" All you can
know will not make you true and
good. And recent history in our own
country has proved that he who has
money, social standing, and mental re-
sources, but only these stands in very
slippery places. The regulations Of
many distinguished men have been
blasted during the last ten years, be-
cause they would not bear investiga-
ton A blackmailer wrote to the late
Charles Spurgeon threatening to pub
lsh certain charges against him un-
less paid certain sum of money.
The fearless preacher, conscious Of
his own integrity, answered the letter
with the words, Write ii on the
sky. Young men and women, if you
are TO achieve real success your life
must be guided by such principles
that you would welcome rather than
fear the publication of the true his
tory of your career. There is no
royal road to such career, it is the
straight and narrow way that leads
to life. A professor, noted for the
nobility of his thinking, prefaced his
grandest flights with the words, AS.
was walking in my garden" His
students came to think that the pro-
fessor's garden must be indeed mag
nificent to inspire such wonderful
teachings. At length student dis
covered it, and was surprised to see
that it was little narrow back yard.
Your garden" he said, how narrow,
how secluded, how poor" ''Ah!" said
the professor, but look how high il
is, it reaches to the heavens. Your
training is not meagre, but how high
does it reach? Does 1t reach to
the heavens? Does it come to the
throne of God?"
Temple of Solomon was being built
ers had laughed at and cast aside.
but when the wall was nearly finished
there was a cry made for the head
stone of the corner And this very
stone, which had been the object Of
the builders scorn, was just fitted for
that most important place. If 1t be
possible that any of you young peo-
pie, while building your temple OF
knowledge, have neglected that which
was most essential, / trust you will.
speedily find that there Is one thing
needful: faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. That essential will glorify all
that you have attained or can attain
, of knowledge and power. Some one
has contrasted two lamps, made ex-
actly alike, but, in the darkness of the
! night one sends forth only feeble
light, while the other sends forth it's
bright rays far into the darkness. Be-.
hind the latter has been placed a re-
flector, which gathers up the diverg-
ent rays, converges them, and filings.
them out in a glittering flood of light
So religion, IL you embrace Il, win
take the gifts which you have been
permitted to develop, and will pro-
ject them to the uplift and blessing
of others. Your gifts may not be
| BIedItI ludu luOSe Ol your uOO-
Christian neighbor, but If you are
guided by Him who is all-powerful
, your gifts shall bring forth more
abundant blessing than his, both TO
yourself and to the world.
:. And, moreover, while knowledge
will give you some preparation for the
life that now is, it will not equip you
for 'eternity. 1t is no better than
money in that respect. The foolish
man, whose story Is told in Scripture,
had gathered great wealth, and was
about to take his ease, eat, drink, and
be merry, but he was told that that
night his soul would be required Of
him. OF what avail was his money!
And of what avail would be your
knowledge II you should suddenly be
summoned into the presence of your
Maker? On the other hand, religion
does prepare one for the eternal ages.
He who believes in Jesus Christ fears
neither the struggle of life, nor the