Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-16
THE UPGRADE LIES
BEFORE EVERY MAN
In Moral and Spiritual Things, Says
Rev. Ricketts, at Shop Talk.

A very practical talk along moral
and spiritual lines was given by Rev.
Charles H. Ricketts,, pastor of the
Greeneville Congregational church, at
the Y. NJ c.. A shop meeting held
Wednesday noon at the plant of the
Richmond Radiator company.
Rev. Mr.. Ricketts, said that all forms
of organized life are creeping ahead
or falling behind, are growing up or
down or are getting better or worse.
There is no standstin anywhere in ma
ture, simply because it is a scientific
impossibility. In common language we
talk about things coming to a stand
still" and of persons we say they are
Just holding their own" or there is
no change" We oftentimes talk this
way because changes are so slight as
to battle our observation, but it is in
correct just the same.
If we admit that this is the cor
rect position then the great question
arises how far does man possess the
power to go UP or down in this jour-
ney of life? How far does his own
will decide whether he shall make a
success or a failure of life? Am l
myself to decide whether 1 shall go
forward or backward, upward or
downward The answer to this ques-
ton lies in the kind of goal he is
striving to reach.
Lively HAL NclII ne "lIcAI AAC wants
to be, is a common saying, but this,
l think, needs some modification. l
hold rightly to the belief that along
moral and religious lines man may
be about what he wants to be, but as
far as material things go he is large
ly controlled by outside forces.
Is there any power over you in the
workshop that makes you swear un-
less you want to? Does authority
here ever say that you shall lie, steal,
or drink? Are you ever forced against
your will to break the laws of the
state or the law of God? 1t is, then,
within 4 mans own power to proceed
along the upgrade of life as far as the
inner life is concerned.
Certain features of your work you
are unable to control. You do not say
what kind Of castings you shall make;
whether they be large or small or the
quality of the iron used. There are
many features of the work here which
from the nature of the case must be-
long to the company only.
Therefore it must be clear that the
moral and spiritual are within a man S
own hands, but along material lines
his acts are modified by others. If
a man has the desire and determine
ton to be good there is no power on
earth that can make him bad. But
mere desire and determination, how
ever strong, in themselves are not
enough to make a man great. OF
course these are necessary, but some
thing else is needed. Unless a man
is born with a capacity for greatness
he cannot make himself great.
Then again a man may want to be
skiIful as a workman, and nay work
hard with that end in view, but some
natural impeachment or accident may
make him go down hill rather than
up. Many a life has been blighted in
not being able to do what he wanted
o do.
In closing Rev Mr.. Ricketts, said it
lies within every mans power to cut
out the saloon; to close his lips forever
against profanity; to give Joy to the
heart of father, mother, wife, chill
dren; to stand we'll with his shop
mates; to be respected in the commu-
nifty as a man of integrity. The up
grade lies before every man. To take
it means hard and constant work. TIE
take the down grade means no exer-
ton. We have simply to float as dead
fish.
Vocal selections were rendered by
Mrs. L. o. Potter and she was accom-
panied by Miss Letitia Kramer.