Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-16
Sunday Morning Talk
TIE FABIAN POLICY.

There is an old story to the effect
that Satan once sent forth three of his
fallen angels il the enieavo- to cor
rupt the world. The first was com
missioned to go about with the mes
sage, There is no heaven trying by
robbing men of the hope of immor-
tality, to take away their zeal for good
works. Some were. to he sure, dis
heartened by the news, but the ma
jority were brave enough to plod on,
even if no reward Gor their labors
could be hoped for.
The second had spirit was commits
stoned to whisper in all mems ears the
words: There Is no hell" This, too,
proved sufficient to corrupt the morals
of some. Such was the lima te nobility
of the larger number, however, that
they kept on living purely and use
fully. even though convinced that no
punishment would follow their mis-
deeds.
But the third messenger went forth
with the simple words: There is no
hurry When men heard that and
long in being manifested. ( There was
a general postponement of good pur :
poses. All men were led into deferriug
the execution of their right resolves,
till the world was brought to such a
state of perdition that even Satan was
satisfied.
His countrymen called the Roman
general Fah;us Maxims, "Crnctator,"
or .'Delayer,' because he was never
quite ready for a pitched battle with
the enemy. Such was the dissatisfac-
ton with this extreme policy of watch
full waiting that the Senate finally de-
manded his resignation. The Fabian
policy has ruined ,n:iny who lived be-
fore and who have lived after the
originator of it.
Let one beware the error that "there
is no hurry" About seine things in
life there is the need for hurry, ami it
is proper to realize tho fact. Phillips
Brooks once said: Man is made so
that some sense of criticall;eSs is nee
essary to the most VIGOROUS and best
life always. Let me feel that nothing
but this moment depends on this mo-
ment,s action and / am very apt to
let this moment act pretty much as it
will. Let me see TIE spirits of the
moments yet unborn standing and
watching it anxiously, and l must
watch it also for tlleir sakes" In
other words. the present moment is
important not for itself alone. but. be-
cause or all that follows in it's wake.
In most ruman concerns we are
made to realize the fieeting nature OF
opportunity and the value of resolute
decision. The merchant hangs Up over
his desk the motto do it now" re-
HlEf1QlIlS nlHSNlI anu all Otle1S tnat
promptness is a chief part of efficiency
The golfer tells US that the perfect
stroke can only be made by so timing
| our movements that we hit tho middle
of the ball with the middle of the
| club at the MIDDLE of the swing. The
astronomer will use up six n1oEtfls in
an expedition to Africa in order that
! during the single half minute of the
transit of Venus his eye may be glued
| to the telescope.
| Commercially we know the meaning
of he word opportunity, but not al
ways do we know it in tE.e realm OF
] the spirit. We should learn to "do il
now in the great concerns Of the
moral life. There is no time like the
present to begin to live better. to make
| the right choices. to put in practise
the Ideals we have cnerisred. Now
| is the acceptable time" says the
l Scripture. Now is the time to quit oul
meaness, to give up cur grudges, tc
write the overdue letter or to make
| the long promised cell. Why delay TIL
sharp sickness calls to thought the
/ imperfect record of our life, or Billy
/ Sunday comes to town to stir oul
sleeping conscience,
The Fabian policy has won few hat
| ties on material or spiritual fields. Be-
ware its dilatory promises.
TIE PARsoN.