Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-13
WHERE DO you STAND
ON NEW YEARS.
One Of the Questions For the Day,
Says Rev. c. n. Ricketts,.

The shop talks at the plant OF the
Richmond Radiator company were
continued on Wednesday afternoon
after holiday recess of two weeks.
Rev. Charles H. Ricketts,. pastor of the
Greeneville Congregational church.
spoke to the men on the subject of
New Years Greetings
Although it is a little late to extend
to you the usual New Years greet
ings. said Rev Mr.. Ricketts,, as this is
our first meeting since the year be-
gan, l do so now. New Years day,
considered itself, stands for nothing
worthy of special notice. 1t is not
monument to some great deed in our
political past like the Fourth of July
or Memorial day. 1t has no place in
the religious calendar like Christmas
and Good Friday. It is simply an inn
aginary line that marks a certain di-
vision of time, and imaginary things
are of great value to the world at
least they have been in the past. Poe
try is a creation of the mind, so Is
fiction, but the world would be poorer
without them. No one in crossing the
high seas ever saw latitude or longti-
tude because they are imaginary lines,
but they serve a very important pur-
pose. Commerce could not be carried
on without Knowledge of latitude and
lonetitude, rSsther would there be any
safety. at sea.
January 1 is like December 81, and
the new year does not bring us up
with jolt
The morning of the new year has
evening Of the old year-usua1ly.
both days find us in the grip OF win
ter and many people in other kinds
of grip.
However imaginary this distinction
Is. it Is important in business and
morals Poetry may be imaginary but
it affects character. New Years may
stand for artificial division in time
but it makes much difference to q
man who has note to pay whether
his calendar rears 1915 or 1916. How
could banks do business without these
imaginary time lines? What con-
fusion in history without such letters
as B G.. and A. u. They stand far
imaginary distinction in time.
Urging men to discover their where
about in the greater practical value of
New Years. At sea 1t is very I'M
portant to know how many degrees
YOU are east of Greenwich or west of
WASHINGTON: whether you are in north
or south latitude. In business moth
ing is more important than for man
to know whether the past year has
been one of profit or loss. For that
reason, usually at the beginning of
the year, he takes an account of stock
to know definitely his financial Iati-
fude and longitude.
1t Is equally important to find out
whether a man Is going to enter the
new year as moral bankrupt or not.
It, Is duty which every man owes to
himself to discover at stated times,
Just what his normal latitude and lon
titude are. Has he gained or lost in
a twelve-month When the new year
comes in Just where does he stand in
his own SELF respect?
Suppose his family made a rating
Of his mental and normal capacity,
where does he stand in the eyes of his
family? No man in this world is big
enough to turn down the good opinion
of his own family. Where does he
stand in the opinion of his fellow
werkmen? The company he works
for2 The community in which he
lives? The God to whom he belongs?