The Alaska citizen., 1915-08-09
Sermon to hePeop|e
BY THE REV. G. G. BRUCE.

had his heart strings almost snapped
 that he is able to stand and min. ister to those who need help and
 sympathy
 It is said that all great souls
 come into their being through the power of suffering. Jesus was made
 perfect through suffering" that ne
 might teach all who are perfect
 the way to perfection. No great slrg
 CT sings simply with the lips, but that voice has been mellowed and
 enriched by tho suffering through which it's owner nc. been called to pass. A phonograph can sing,
 but it cannot svmpathize Abraham
 Lincoln was great ,,ost of all be cause he suffered He was sad because he went among the troops and saw the wounds of the soldiers and felt the neartache of their moth CTS. David found suffering was gooG
 for kings, for ne said, "Defole was afflicted 1 went astray, but now have I kept thy law" It is when your heart strings are strained 10 the snapping potnt that you really become great.
 | There was a great artist, whose masterpieces had deep red color | in them. His brother artists came to look and admire They were pleased and went home to mix their pigments and produce the won derful effects. They searched in vain while his painting grew in marvel. Finally, they found him dead beside his work And when they lifted him carefully to prepare the body for burial they found a wound over his heart from whence had come the wonders of his work It is one who has gone through suffering and endured the trials of this world who is ready for the crown of glory that fadeth not away. Suffering makes us useful and worth while in the world There are three kinds of trouble. There is the trouble that is self-in- flicted We have neglected God. No man can put God out of his life without suffering. You were made without God If I should stand and hurl into space ten thousand worlds l would not fill space. But if l would tale the wines vl tlr mo n- ing and dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth ! will find God. If ! [ make my bed in hell Will find Him. If I take my stand in Hea- ven I will find Him. God alone can fill space. All the treasures. all the pleasures of earth, all the riches you can gain and all the distinction you win, will leave you .'ith an aching heart if you put God out of your life.
 Then there is the trouble that comes to us because of the weak ness of the flesh. We grow i'll, or tired almost in the first stages of the journey. The little boy has hardly started to walk until be halts in his step. and one leg is slowly growing shorter. Our admiration for him is boundless; we have map ped out great future for him, but his spine is twisted. And that is trouble indeed. The dearest one we have in the world, the one we loved above all else has slipped away, and that is trouble. But there is help for that.
 There is a third kind of trouble. It is that which comes because of others. A man betrayed you; you had your confidence in him and you felt he would be true but he failed you in your need. The best friend you had forsook you, your boy became a drunkard, your girl impure You are broken in heart and bowed in spirit. You have al ways done your best, but you are suffering There is a cure for that.
 What is the way of escape? Some one says, Be philosophical That is well enough and helps somewhat One day you stopped beside the road where the farmer was follow ing the blow as the field slowly was being prepared for the seed. You remarked, That seems to be hard work, don't you get very weary doing this?" "Why, no" is the re- ply. But" you continue, that is hard work and the outlook points to more hard work" But" says the farmer q don't look at the hard work, I look at the waving fields of corn. I see the harvest gathered, l see the comforts l am able to give to my family Yes, be philosophical about it, It will soften your trials, and sweeten your temper strengthen your soul, and build up your character.
 But let me tell you something better than to be philosophical. Be Christian. "Now no christening for tho prooopf saamatb to he iDyO1S hut