The Washington herald., 1913-01-06
SERMON ON SOME
NEW YEAR CALLS
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe Tells Con-
gresation Of Opportunities
- for Fuller Life.

| How the spirit of the New Year should
enter our homes, was the topic chosen
by Rev. Wallace Radcliffe for his Sun
day evening sermon at New York Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church. "A New Years
CALL was the subject of his discourse.
DIR. Radcliffe pointed out the cheer and
opportunity of the season, and how II
urges every one on to better and higher
things. He said, in part:
Everybody on New Years Day keeps
open house. We all are at home and re-
ceive many visitors. At the first knock
We open the door and TO our surprise
the caller has gone. but left his card.
1t is the old year. His call reminds of
mistakes and loss and change. Out of
the distance come back many voices that
tell of cheer and song.
"A second knock and enter the group
callers, sport-gay, festive and enticing
who think only II the moment. Disap-
pointment of the sad brow and raimert Of
sackcloth who enters every day: avarice
Of set continuance and hardgrip whose
breath Is frost and whose presence is
disease. and sin of many attractive forms
and species, tongues whose companion
ship is ultimate despair.
Another knock is opportunity. He
visits. and his calls are not so rare and
choice as many think. He beams at every
hearthstonc and reaches out the hand
TO the humblest life. They make us
known to others and often to ourselves.
The sadness too often is that We are un-
prepared and do not recognize the ap-
preaching friends. II the student had
been more faithful. the workman more
honest, the statesman more patriotic, he
would in moment answer the smile and
grasp the hand that leads to fortune.
THE old Latins were wise who imag-
ined opportunity with only a lock OF
hair in front. who seizing that, held her
but escaping. not Jupiter himself could
catch her again. Opportunities are worth
to any man exactly what his antecedents
have made them worth. An opportunity
is only a bugle call. II the soldiers have
not been drilled, it means disaster. To
be, to do, to Eet-these opportunities
crown the year and summon the man
and the nation to the open eye and
ready heart.
Welcome Friends.
Another knock is the friend; he is the
inestimablc treasure. His presence is
strength. His silenre is comfort. He
fortliies life. tie crowns victory. He
is the gift Of God. The way to have a
friend is to he one. The passing years
remove them. but the coming years
bring them. lie that has no friend and
no enemy is one OF the vulgar. Keep
friendships in repair. make them steady.
OIL, old age will be lonely. Another knock
is the new creature. The year should
mean growth. We should know and be
beyond any past attainments. The bet
ter hope. the kindlier eye. the manlier
man is the possibility and the duty.
"A man should he ashamed to carry
into the next year the faults, the preju-
dices. the littleness. angers and sins OF
the past. How stunted and dcformed
We all continue to be.
Another knock is the Elder Brother.
He comes TO claim kindred and endow
with Inheritance. The incarnatc God
makes Himself at home with humanity.
The best thing that can come to any
man this year is that he recognize and
welcome Christ in the Deity of His ma
ture. in the beauty of His person, in
the graciousness of His words, in the
efficacy Of His sacrifice. In the rich
ness of His gifts. and in, the intimacy
of His brotherhood"