The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-02-20
DR.. ANDERSON THIRD
SERMON OF SERIES
!" Mans Mightlest Manhood :
His Topic Last Sunday.

An abstract of a sermon on MANS
Mightiest Manhood, delivered at the
South Street church last Sunday fol-
lows: :---
Text John 2:14, Il have written
unto you, young men, because ye are
strong
tsGod give us men-a time like
this demands
Great hearts, strong minds, true
faith, and willing hands.
so cried lowell, and crying so
voiced the perpetual call of the world
in all ages and irr~every cline. And
vet it is manifest that the world has
stood in need not SO much OF More
men. as of a Better Quality OF man.
hood for ever it has come to pass
that one man in whom were the
qualities of mighty manhood has
been of more value than multitudes
of the ordinary brand. Again and
again the cry has gone forth, Wanted
men! and in answer to the cry Luther
nailed his theses on the old chufcn
door, and Savonarola preached right
cousness to wicked Florence and Knox
stood forth the savior of Scotland.
wanted, men and Cromwell marched
and fought and prayed at Marston
Moor and Naseby. Wanted. men!
and Washington lowered above the
plots and jeaiousies OF little men and
wrested independence from the tyrant
king Wanted, meni' and the great
hearted, patient Lincoln, through four
long years of agony and strife, brongh
forth a nation undivided and struck
the shackles from million bondmen
'sAnd this is the cry to-day, only
that in the changing conditions OF
human society the need is rather for
a mightier manhood in the rank and
file than for mighty man in the
Lead
Dir. Anderson discussed three rea-
sons why the highest manhood is
called for to-day, namely, the increas-
ing complexity of life's requirements,
the great want and weakness of soci-
ETY., and the possibilities of manhood
that lie dormant in every one. Then
continuing he said. -
But how is such manhood to be
attained? In this age of sordid self
ishness and grinding greed how is it
possible for one to develop that noble
character of which we have spoken
as Mans Mightiest Manh6Sd'? What
are the elements that go to make up
such a man? Let me characterize
them briefly as three: high thinking,
earnest living, and calm trusting.
III men are influenced by the things
around them, how much more are
they influenced by the things within
them. We are what we think, and
unless we think on those things
which are uplifting and ennobling we
,.sSSs2spnot he. noble. Thoughts are not
wild horses. to WANDER where they
please and browse in any pasture un-
controlled. Think on things mean
and ugly and you will soon show mud
in the bottom of your eye; nay, more,
all the streams of your character viii
flow muddy Think on things beauti-
full, and like Wordsworth's country
maiden to whom the ripping brooks
and whispering winds gave beauty
born of murmuring sound, those quail
ties will be transplanted into char
acter and conduct. Men, what are
the dominant thoughts of your lives?
Let us face the question squarely. If
our thoughts are of money fifty times
for the once we think of God, what
image is our soul likely TO bear?
"But high thinking must be fol-
lowed by earnest living Having set
before his mind that which is high,
the man musts bend every energy to
its attainment, and perseyere. Pur-
pose is the first condition of success.
An earnest purpose trains the facul-
ties into aptness and skill. God gives
to every boy capacities Of soul and
mind and hand. The problem of that
boys life is to find out what they
are for and how to use them. Pur-
pose multiplies strength; but it must
be worthy purpose Alas, that so
many seem not to carea A suit of
clothes, a well laden table, a flirta-
tion, dance, play, and just enough
work to enable them to attain such
things-this is the limit of some peo-,
pies comprehension of life. There is
no sadder sight than that of a young
man without the sense Of the nobility
of life.
"One thing more--calm trusting.
High thinking has to do with your
relation to- yourself, earnest living
has to do with your relation to your
fellowmen calm trusting has to do
with your relation to your God. There
is no manhood worthy the name that
omits the development of the spiritua
nature. / care not what your talents
and achievements; | ask not how ex-
emplary your life, how correct your
morals, how irreproachable your con
duct, if you have not enthroned Christ
as king Of your life your manhood is
sadly incomplete. For He is the SUI
preme example. He is the source of
strength, and the largest opportunity
for the achievement of Mans Might
lest Manhood is to be found in His
service who was at once the Son of
God and the Son of Man.