The Detroit times., 1916-11-20

yer. That had been my fathers deal
FOR me. and u had Appeared Co Hs
Imagination and interest lts cmolu-
ments seemed greater than those of
into the arena of constructive states
manship Ia executive. judicial and
legislative spheres, were inviting So,
too rs Offering opportunities for
similar reasons, other men md other
callingS drawing them. And under
these attractions 10 Is not always
easy % keep the undivided hear r..
occupation that offer Themselves 90
the minister. lie j. called, for exam
pie. 10 lecture. This, sometimes. IL a
sore temptation 10 divide the inter
ests OF the heart Many ministers
lecture. II Is easy 70 drop into the
habit. II ls not unlike the ministry
iu both its practice and ~ puvpose.
II yields. sometimes. a little ready
money that ~ not 60 ue despised so
some ministers give large time 10
lcCturiug. Others lecture occasional -
ly. / have lectured little It mas
been at the call Of others, often 20
help church or something % the
sort And never was IL with the idea
o. abandoning the pulpit for the plat
form. And only once. In these 30
years. has II taken me 50 far that /
could not return for my SUNDAY
work. II has never divided my heart.
Another cause OF d!yided euerg es
ana interests III tue UlAlHAfi ~
created By the laying on him % so
many outside. moral interestA that
Ia ymen might more properly and
prodtably bear This div ideS and dis
slpates his energies. II wastes ms
and his peoples time. II wears out
his strength. / have suffered under
this burden. ] honestly beAeNe
have done committee work enough IN
timcs felt as I were dying OF chronic
committeeitis When ! broke down
IN the sickness or 1907 II WAS due
] am sure. in no small degree 20 this
very fact At that time ! was as
found by actual count serving on nc
less than l6 different committees. one
single function or one or which took
me az far as Lexington. Ky II The
ed heart Bs think he ought, ther
some OF these things that belong &c
the great moral interests or the com
munity ought TO be taken from his
shoulders by the latty
But. difdcult as II has been I car
honestly say that ! have honestly
tried 10 do this thing have hac
no side lines have tried 20 dc
this one thing
IL ia true that have gone out tC
help YOU help others. l have lectured
a little have helped 20 stump this
state FOR prohibition. away back In
1887 l have helped the Y. NJ and Y
W. g. A all over the length and
breadth ~ the monwealth
have lent myself in your name. 20
our educational interests in Michi-
gan. But ! have kept 10 the ministry
az my one business and ! have not
allowed these other interests to eat
into you're, save as you consented TO
a. II has been at my cost rather
than yours
Many a time when this whole town
was sleep. and when my study had
grown cold. I was there working that
| might make up 10 you time taken
for other interests and bring 10 you
the full measure of my ministry
Even when was moderator OF our
general assembly, and IN a very real
sense, the pastor Of the whole Pres-
ness faith with you. My travels
took me from ocean to ocean. and
from the lakes 10 tho gulf But this
church was never at the expense OF
supplying It's pulpit one single sun
day during that time. saving In the
time OF my vacation.
As ! look back on the faded years
omissions distress me more than
unfnlhlled So many ideals have
been uurealized, SO many plans and
purposes have fallen by the way
But II there be shadow In the pic
that should dtshoUor Him by smut
ting the eyes 10 this sweet. soft
( light How many rare and precious
fellowships have been formed here In
ries OF home. with all that Is dearest
In the home--wtfe and growing chill
dren-haVe grown here How some
! that got their faith, their hope. theii
Inspiration here. have gone up to pat
on white robes with Jesus How
others continue unto this present
here amongst va and in other
churches helpers OF the kingdom Of
/ God, How others on the continenti
/ and in the islands in the seas react
/ back 20 tell that this was to then
I the gate OF heaven. O, God be prais
/ ed FOR ~ all,
And. now. farewell For all tn,
faith. goodness. kindness love anC
patience shown, ! thank you. Coo
be with you May He purify and per
feet you. and bring all safely home
The newly elected VI sxican con
press is scheduled 10 meet at Quer.
tero today for organization