South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-17
EPWORTH LEAGUE HEARS
ANNIVERSARY SERMON
Owe 1t to Ourselves to Keep at
Highest Point Possible in
Personal Efficiency Says DR..
Edwards.

Rev Or. Loren NJ. Edwards, in the
Methodist Memorial church Sunday
evening preached the Epworth league
anniversary serman. taking fOF his
subject The Noblest Quest" In the
course of capital discourse the
preacher said that seeking the King
dom of God was the noblest quest be-
cause it brought the individual life
up 10 its highest reach. The quest
of many Of LIES ambitions and desires
was at the expense OF the best within
US When the attainment Of our de-
sires skaters the nerves, Weakens the
body. saps the vital strength, burns
up the nervous forces. deadens the
finer sensi bilities, inflames the pas
sions, dulls the intellect. or weakens
the will, then our quest is a personal
detriment and an enemy to our own
individual welfare. We owe il to
ourselves, said the speaker, to keep
ourselves at the highest point possible
in personal efficiency; physical, mental
and spiritual
Seeking the Kingdom is the noblest
quest because it means the elevation
and redemption of society. This quest
begins in the individual life but it
does not end there Whenever ones
life infringes upon the lives of others
the quest of the Kingdom continues.
This is a social as well as a personal
quest. Thy Kingdom come" is a
prayer not alone for my prayers and
my songs but likewise for my rela-
tions and my dealings with others In
pleasures shared by others. in the
home, the school, the shop or the
office, our constant aim should be to
bring in the Kingdom of Christ.
In our relations with employer or
employee, in our dealings in business
in our thoughts and actions toward
those classes of society not particu-
larly our friends or of our set-here
are fields for achievement in righteous
ness that challenge the truest and the
strongest.
The Christian young people OF
Mishawaka who have their homes
here should feel a social and moral
obligation toward the many young
people employed in our industries who
are away from home. Not only are
the latter deprived Of the comforts
and restraints of home, but they are
under peculiar temptations from the
lack of agreeable cOmpaniOnship. If
seeking the Kingdom is the means to
personal nobility that is one thing
and a worthy thing: if seeking the
Kingdom means to make a cOntribu-
ton TO the betterment of society. that
is even a finer and WOrthier thing;
but if seeking the Kingdom means for
us to mellowship with Divinity in the
worlds redemption then life has come
TO it's worthiest goal, the pyramid of
achievement has reached its final
crowned with heavenly fire
The child's heart swells with pride
in the thought that he is helping
father or mother; the employe is fiat
tered when the employer asks for sug-
gestion and advice; the ambassador at
foreign court magnifies his work in
importance and dignity as he remem
bers that his great nation acts
through him. Ambassador Gerard is
man of far more importance than
his own ability or brilliance justify,
because as the representative of the
United States to the imperial German
government at Berlin what he does
means the act of America; and his
conduct and the action of the Ameri-
can government are so cOnfederated
that every word and deed of his rises
into the world significance. SO ii is
with our lives. Their real dignity and
nobility appear when perfectly har
mOniZed with the redemptional plans
Of our Heavenly Father.