Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-01-31
Weekly Sermon
EMsEes REklNpLEp.

IT - something Of a trick to keep a fire
! going on a hearth Especially when it has
burned. iow. 10 ceaX it back TO a blaze re-
| aufres uatience and even a degree of skill
The scattered pieces must be arranged to
| advantage. a draft created. and the Goals
blown upon till the smoking pile yields
TO the inevitable and leaps into fame.
II were fortunate if We could as easily
revive interests and purposes III our lives
that nave burned low. The problem with
many a man or woman past 40. say. Is to
keep into mature years the Zest of youth
The r.kindling of smoldering enthusiasrns
becomes a difficult but important task
with no small number OF MS.
Few people. other than actual physical
sufferers. merit more sympathy than
those who have outlived their enthusi-
asns. They are bereft OF a prime source
Of cont-nt!nent. A blaze spirit is a heavy
burden. A heart that has ceased to thrill
10 The beauty of the world or anticipate
the activities of each new day as it comes
turns all scenes to drab.
Ii We are to come back as regards our
mental and spiritual interests We must
be willing resolutely to pay thcfcost of a
cure. II men will go to Muidoon's to labor
and sweat for their physical Regeneration
they should not balk at as hard a disci-
pline in behalf of their spiritual welfare.
Most of ollr ertliusiasms perish because
of our sloth. The fire burns low because
the fuel has given out or the chimney has
been allowed To clog with SCOT. No fire
does we'll that is neglected and, no en-
thusiasm. however lusty, will survive il
left to its fate.
Ii one would keep the spirit Of perennial
youth. let him cultivate the acquaintance
and sympathiZe with tine enterprises of
young people. The youngsters who think.
read. play and do things will do much
To keep him out of a .rlit which differs
v.a.- -. ~. :- -. y
head of ~, who sinks into his morris
chair every evening after supper and he
gins To yawn for bed at $50 O'Clock. had
better go out occasionally and help the
Boy Scouts Tie sailor knots or rig their
wireless telegraph on top of the high
school building. The exercises will do him
good and the mental stimuli will delay
by years his approach to the dead line.
Wholesome games. good stiff reading.
the cultivation of some fad OF other. all
these are devices TO preserve health and
efficiency. In any of these pursuits our
interest Will flag unless We deliberately
set out TO cultivate and increase ii. But.
iud.ciouSly fostcred. it is astonishing how
an enthusiasm Kill stay with as even
into life's sere and yellow leaf. giving
Zest to hours that otherwise would h,
flat and Improbable.
Many a man thinks that his interest in
religion is dead. but in ~ cases out of ION,
he is mistaken. Through long neglect he
may have lost interest in amy church. His
bible may have gathered "a thick coat of
dust and the language of prayer become
u forgotten tongue. All this may easily
be true. but it is far from saving that tn.
old eternal instinct of faith is obliterated
from his soul.
His need is to fan the snolderins en-
beers till they ignite once more. lie shoula
follow the advice of ST. Paul to his young
SON in the faith. Timothy and stir mp in
TO q flame the gift of God" which was in
him. There are millions of men and WON
en- in America who would kindle into gen
uinc religious enthusiasm. if they woula
geek again the associations and resume
the practices of devotion which once
meant for them power and JOY, and the
comfort of an eternal hone.