Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-25
ATTRACT MEN BY
 THINGS WORTH WHILE.
Rev. C. H. Ricketts Speaker at Y. M.
 C. A. Shop Meeting.

Vocal selections were rendered by Mrs. L. O. Potter, accompanied by Miss Letitia Kramer. at the shop talk con- ducted by the r. M. c. A. at the Rich mond Radiator plant on Wednesday at noon. Rev. Charles H. Ricketts, pastor of the Greeneville Congrega- tional church, was the speaker, and he chose for the topic of his address Fish CTS of Men.
 Rev. MT. Ricketts said the increase of sunlight and warmth makes some thing within a man respond to the lure of the wild. In order to be really hu- man, one must have at least few drops of sporting blood in his veins Sport as the main thing in life is ob- jectionab1e, because it can successfully appeal to only comparatively few; but as pure recreation it cannot be too highly praised. The man who has brain and brawn and nerves, and who uses them, oftentimes to the utmost limit, during the long winter months, is touched more or less by a dull mo- notony when spring arrives. What that man needs is not so much patent medicine as the invigorating odor of the new life of the forest and field and the sight of the winding trout stream. It even does ministers good to steal away at dawn for the distant brook where they can forget their poor ser mons, their burdens and even the cranks in the parish
 To catch either men or fish is fasci- mating. Did you ever see a real live boy who didn't love to fish? Some bcys prefer it to compound fractions. To land a pickerel beauty that has been real gamy, weighing a pound or more, arouSeS sensations that cannot be put into words. To lure some un- fortunate man away from his drink, away from his bad shabit of swearing, away from his licientious practices, away from even his disposition to do a mean thing, yea, away from all his temptations discouragements and dis pair. I say to have such attractive power over men, drawing them as it were like brands from the burning" man soul from the blackness of a damnable life is fascinating beyond all power of description. Catching fish in all ages has been attractive, so also has been the winning of men.
 To catch either fish or men we must use bait. Both Smen and fish have been known to jump at the bare hook, but it is the exception. What both are after is feed, and 1t is amazing what may be done in angling by a sl1ilful use of feed. There are many kinds and conditions of feed as there are species of fish and varieties of men. Gamy fish like live bait best, so do real men. There is certainly more enjoyable sport in landing a black bass that has put up stiff fight than in dead when he bit. It is safe to say that most satisfactory results come from the use of live bait. It is no use to dangle dead bait before live men, especially in this age of the world in which scientific thinking has created "a new heaven and new earth" Men are not eager to grasp after things that do not strike them as worth while, or that seem to be a misfit in modern conditions.
 It is quite important to rebait the hook often. God wants us to be fish CTS of men, and if we are winsome and if we offer what is worth taking and present our bill of fare in at tractive form, men will come to our table, and, through our agency, to the table of our Divine Lord.