Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-07-27
SATURDAY NIGHT
n SERMONS
Vs. BY
g REvSAMUEL
I" WpURVISDD
THE SUICIDE OF FEAR.

HOSTS vi int ! Ntlu saw INV
ghost Of Samuel he was afraid. When
Belshazzar saw the handwriting on
the wall he was afraid When
the Jews threatened PLATE he WIS
afraid Most OF us are born cow
ards. As babes we were rocked In the
cradle OF fear All men fear. The only
question is. What do we fear-men.
ridlcule. danger, poverty. reputation,
failure. sin? Yes; I've heard men say
that they feared nothing. But they
were making n statement not In har-
mony with fact-whlch is longer
way Of saying shorter thing. Even
the men without physical fear are as
scarce as clover blossoms In January.
The traveller met the black plague on
the way TO Bagdad. Where are you
going?' ITO Bagdad TO slay 5000"
Weeks later the traveller met the black
plague returning. "You said you were
only going TO kill 5000. but am told
10000 have died" Il slew only 5000;
the other 1900 persisted from fear"
True legend Disease kills Its thou.
sands. fear Its tens of thousands.
Power Of Fear.
Fear paralyzes. At sight OF hawk
the partridge will stop as though
struck with stupor and so incapable
OF flight that Il Il absolutely immov-
able and doesn't regain self control
until the enemy Is gone. That in ex-
IRENE Is the horrible effect on man.
Often the mind becomes stupetied and
the tongue speechless. II is powerful
motive. Fear compels man 10 sow
crops. build fireproof houses, save
money. Fear Is the fog bell on the
hazy coast OF life. II will compel ac-
ton when other things fail. One good
scare Is worth ton OF advice. Any
one who says there is no use trying TO
scare men into doing right hasn't
studied humanity. The opposite prin'
clple of fear Is love. They rise and fall
as pair Of balances. When love fails
try fear: when fear fails try love.
However. there IL limit to fear,
though not TO love. Water Is good TO
doat timber. but n waterlogged tree
will certainly sink. The water Is not
only about H. but in II. Care must be
taken not TO be waterioGgcd by fear
and anxiety. II can be an irresistible
spur. When his dwelling took fire II
made a rheumatism crippled man rise
from rolling chair In which he had
spent two years and escape down the
stairs.
Fear In Religion.
In religion fear came first. love last.
Mems earliest impressions of religion
undoubtedly carried with them large
element of terror. The fear that he
was In the hands OF vast unknown
become hostile to him drove the savage
70 prayer AMI sacrifice. The CLEAN OF
lightning. roll of thunder. tremor Of
earthquake. were sure indications Of
supernal wrath Early religions We're
based on hostile rather than benevo.
lent God The theology Of the church
OF the middle ages was full of it. God
was as deinoniacal as Satan. Dante
Dore and Michelangelo had God sweep
ing the generations into he'll fire
Ike one might sweep u handful Of
flies. Now we've swung 10 the other
extreme. and the church is pale. blood
less and dying. \ religion without
rod Is sweet and pretty. but Il doesn't
save men II neglects fundamental
element in our mental and spiritual
fiber. Law without n penalty would
he Jest In Maine or California. As
long ms the wolf and serpent are in
man fear must be necessary weapon
The greatest check on wrongloing In
the world Is fear Of punishment. II Is
a powerful deterrent TO the clerk who
would take his employers money. aud
the man and woman who would Violate
the seventh commandment pause In
fear OF scandal and ostracism.
The Power OF Trust.
Fear Is suicidal TO those who have no
cause for fear The world Is given as
a nriza 70 fha trttcfful Thorn Il noxver