South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-09
SAYS LIFE WITHOUT
IDEAL IS USELESS
Rev. c. A. Decker Says Study
of Some Great Character
is Invaluable.

THE life that has no day dreams.
that has set up no high ideals is un-
happy in its present drudgery and
will never find a way out of it,, de-
clared Rev. Charles A. Decker in "A
sermon at the First Baptist church
Sunday on Joseph: The Patriot
Prince. who rose from Slave to
Sovereign. Rev. Mr.. Decker en-
phasized throughout the value of
the study of the great characters
both Of sacred and profane history
as a stimulus TO idealism without
which true greatness is almost i'm
possible TO attain. He described
the character of Joseph and said in
part:
Joseph is one of the finest char
acters in the Old Testament. In
many respects he s a type of Christ.
He followed in an illustrious line,
aud performed an important service
for his country. His was a busy
life, full Of adventure as boy, and
full of great achievement as
man. In order to understand him
as the ruler Of Egypt we must fol-
low him in the various stages of the
journey.
Interested Much.
First, il will be noted that Jo-
seph owed much 10 his ancestral
inheritance Abraham, the friend
Of God, was his great-grandfather
Isaac and Jacob both contributed
important elements TO his character.
But he owed his mother Rachel for
the finer qualities of love and for
bearance that he afterward eXhib-
tied We inherit traits Of character
and il is our business to select the
good and rejec+ the bad. We are
not responsible for what comes TO
US through our ancestors, but we
are held accountable for how we
use the material thus handed on to
us, and also how we select it.
Because ne was one Of the
younger children of Jacob he es-
capped much of the evil influence
that surrounded the family when
they dwelt in Haran. His father
had several wives and it can easily
be imagined what sort of a family
life they maintained. But when they
left the city Of the north the char
acter of Jacob changed somewhat
and conditions were improved
Pities Idle Man.
"As a boy Joseph had work to do.
He had TO take his place in the field
tending the fiocks and tilling the
ground. This was good for him.
It prepared him for heavy tasks and
responsibilities later in life. The
man who hasn't a job, or doesn't
want one is 20 be pitied. The idler
does himself as much injustice as
he does society that is called upon
TO support him.
Another fine thing about the
early life of Joseph was that he had
dreams and visions. He was not al
ways wise in telling them. for he
made his brothers jealous. but it
was splendid that he had them.
They directed his thoughts TO the
future They gave MIN something
to work for He believed he was
of some consequence TO the world.
The life that has no day dreams.
that has set up no high ideals Is
unhappy in its present drudgery and
will never find way out of it.
Though Joseph was sold into
slavery. this but helped him on to-
ward the goal God has set for him.
This was a part of the plan by
which Joseph achieved his place
and character. In all his troubles
ne was straight on the road 20 pros
perity Trouble is not a hindrance
if it is a part Of Gods plan for our
lives.