The Monroe journal., 1916-12-15

probably outlive all the rest of my
speeches, both moral. religious and
political. | delivered that speech to
a number of audiences in England
years ago. and many in that country
expressed surprise that public man
in American life should have the de-
sire, not less the competency, to
deal with such a subject Yet it may
interest you TO know that another of
my religious speeches. "lmmortali-
ty." has ten times greater phono-
graph record sale than any of my
other speeches"
1.-The Larger Life"
In the haste to get to the church
TO hear Bryan. probably none of his
audience had given the slightest
thought as TO what subject his al
dress would deal with. Not few,
unconsciously thinking of Mr.. Bryan
as a great political leader. had taken
il for granted that his speech would
deal with some diplomatic or ecOnom-
ic phase of American life today. and
many, thinking of the remarks he has
recently made on prohibition. con-
cluded that his subject would or
course deal with the eradication of
rum from he United States. No one.
net even the ministers. we venture to
say, had the slightest idea that Mr..
Bryan's subject would treat with
spirituality" and so when he an
nounced as his subject, 1.-THE Larger
Life" every one was surprised and
pleased as well
Every one knows in a way about
Mr.. Bryan's consecrated Christian
life and his church work. but the ex
tent of his influence was not proba-
bly, known by Monroe folks until they
came in actual contact with the man
and his message. Mr.. Bryan's mes
sage will have a far-reaching influ-
ence over the people of Monroe. es-
pecially with the young men. as he
directed his remarks especially to
them.
MY passion" Mr.. Bryan rumbled
on in his smooth. clear sounding
voice, has always been for young
men, more so than for women, for
the young men need talking to. Our
colleges today are not doing what
they ought to. Some years ago
went to certain college to speak to
the young men at my own expense.
| talked TO the boys on religion. and
| emphasized as much as possible the
joy that comes in this life to the
Christian.
ION leaving learned that col
lege professor. an instructor in phil
osophy, had lectured the preceding
night on the same topic. He had de-
clared that only two books In the
Bible had literary merit; that relig
ion was only state of mind. |. for
one. protest the teaching of infdelity
to the children of christians by per-
sons paid to teach at the public ex-
pense. lApplause.)
Joined the Church at Fourteen.
Il joined the church at the age of
fourteen. and | am glad that did so
before going to college. am glad
that Joined at such an early age be-
cause i got into the church and Sun
day school attending habit. have
heard many people protest the TAX
ing of young children into the church.
but | would not set an age limit on
the confession of Christ. | would not
take the responsibility to discourage
them. Very recently in Boston. while
attending one of Billy Sundays meet
ings, saw 400 school children
march up to the front at the conclu-
sion of the sermon and accept saliva
ton, which brought to my mind the
time when seyenty-five fellow stu
dents Joined the church at the same
time | did.
young man, be christian not be-
cause you fear death, but because
you'll live. Christianity Is intended
to add and not substract from life.
Christ came that we might have life.
and life more abundantly. And the
Apostle Paul made the same refer
ence to a larger life.
Let me illustrate the spiritual
life Say a community depends en-
tirely on farming for means of its
A stranger comes along
and startles the inhabitants by tell
ing them that there is strata of coal
their land. seventy-five
feet benath the earth. To extract
that coal does not substract one par
ticle from the fertility of the land
above. yet the people are enriched
UNNECESSARILY. That is the way of
the spiritual life. You do not de-
tract, but add to the enjoyment OF
your life.
Spirituality does not detract from
the physical life. The body would
run away were IL not for the control
exercised upon the mind. And the
mind would also run away II Ii were
not for the check which spirituality
places upon the mind. BY spiritual
addition both the mind and body are
purified.
Christ came to add to life and to
take nothing away. He left that
which is eternal. The mind only
reaches its maximum strength
spiritual control.
mot for ten minutes have | doubt
ed the Immortality of the soul.
would hate TO think that we would
give up that which we have labored
and fought for on the decease of our
physical body.
The Righteous Shall Shine.
The righteous shall shine as the
sun. That does not mean that intel
lectual achievement. or the achieve
ment Of wealth shall shine, but that
n.