The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-29
FORGET THE PAST;
LOOK TO FUTURE"
The Rev. DR.. Belts of the First Meth
odist Church breaches New
Years Sermon.

Another Milestone" was the subjec
OF an inspiring New Year sermo
preached yesterday morning In the Firs
Methodist Episcopal church by the Rev
VIII a Belts. DR.. Belts took for hi
behind and reaching forth unto thos
things which are before"
DR.. Belts spoke In part as follows;
The new year Is a season in which
We find ourselves reviewing the past
and recalling the experiences we have
had. Such reverie usually reveals
roses and thorns, Joys and sorrows,
trlumphs and failures, life and death.
/ do not wish TO say anything against
retrospection, but / would like to get
as far away from it az possible to-
day. Frankly, | believe there are
times when IL Is good TO forget some
things. The year 1913 has gone with
its lost opportunities. achievements
mistakes, successes. sorrows and Joys
and VIC have no power to bring il
back and we would DO well To forget
IL and remember only that We arc
here TO witness the unfolding OF
new year that Is coming 70 us freight
cd with hopes adorned with prom
ises OF plenty radiant in tile smile
OF Gods favor and glorious I'm It's pos
sibilities Therefore let us forget the
old year and determine TO make the
most OF the opportunities that the
new year viii present 10 US.
The new Year calls for cotrd &C.
Gus. never-give-up type OF Christians.
At this season We arc in the habit
Of making our resolutions 10 do bet
ter and then at the first difficult eN-
periencs we sec some dropping out OF
the ranks ready 10 let the devil have
mis- way With everything and every
body until next year. when We VIII
all be ready TO resolve again. The
struggles. conflicts ana hard exper-
ieDces Of life are not sent 10 us "to
give up with, but TO strengthen. en-
courage and inspire us with a deter
mination never to falter in our serv-
Ice for God and huma nifty. II Is quite
universally conceded that man does
not become good by simply trying TO
be good. but he becomes good By do
ing good, and u we are TO be what we
ought To be during tho coming year
We must do things.
As sou take ND the score card for
1914. are you going to enter your
name as a litter or Ieaner?
The only possibility OF making the
new year What IL ought TO be is To-
live in such submission 10 the Master
that always we may be able TO say.
Not my WILL but thine be done" II
Was such life that made walking
with God possible 10 Enoch and made
possible Johns vision on Patmos.
And IL Is such life OF self if-surrender
tliat VIII enable us 10 triumph over
every experience and live a useful
and happy Christian life. Let us 90
out into the coming year with
faith such as the Quaker poet must
have had when he said
Il know not what the future hath
or marvel or surprise.
Assured alone that ilfe or death
His mercy underlles.
/ know not where Ills islands lift
Their fronded palms In air:
! only know | cannot drift
Beyond his love and care
N h. az III.
and during the conflicts OF the wear
the walls of the Eternal City should
be more clearly defined TO any OF rs.
the golden gates VIII swing noiseless-
ly Inward and the recording angel will
enter opposite our names, "He wag
''"' for God took him"