The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-02-18
Joy IS IN SERVING
BY That, and That Alone, Is the
Strength Of the Spiritual
Nature Developed.

Two things more contrary than so
ciety and solitude can hardly be mag
ined. 1t is possible to have solitude
only. Such isolation from others has
it's advantages 1t is next to imposst
BILE to concentrate thought and atten'
ton in the midst of the confusion oil
life. Yet the life that is spent apart
from others misses something of high
est worth. God has not given his un'
qualified approval to that type Of life.
At the beginning OF human history he
said. at is not good for man to be
alone" ne
It is possible to have society only
The farm is deserted because 1t is too
lonely. Cities with their opportunities
for society and excitement are increas
ing with rapidity which is alarming.
Society has many advantages, yet the
one who lives only in society misses
something of supreme worth. God
has blessings which are given only in
solitude.
In order that life may be symmet'
rical, there must be proper combina'
ton OF the two AS such contrary
things as winter and summer combine
to produce abundant harvests, so so
ciety and solitude properly mingled
will enrich life. Contrary as these con
ditions many appear they seem TO be
divinely welded in the familiar ex
preston, God settles the solitary in
families" Such an arrangement may
sound impossible. When family Ii
formed theirs must be intimate Eel
lowship. A family composed Of indi
viduals of solitary disposition would
soon disintegrate. Yet in the tru'
family there is a place both for society
and for solitude. Common interests
and strong affections bind the family
into a unit, 30 intimate that wha
touches one member OF the famil!
brings Joy or sorrow to all. Sull, eacl
member has his. peculiar disposition
and tastes, and there are districts Il
his life into which others are not ad
mitted. In the family society and soil
tude may exist side by side. In tn
one we find our strength, and in tn
other we find our weakness. TIL
financial giants and captains Of indus
try would never have accumulate
such wealth or gained such power ha
they lived isolated lives. Their sue
cess has depended on their being in
large community and enlisting tn
members of that community in thei
interests. Those who have rename
poor and weak have lacked ability I
relate other lives to themselves. The
have stood alone in their struggle fo
existence, and in that solitude the
have found only weakness.
Developing Strength.
Strength In spiritual matters Is
, be found in a proper intercourse wit
others. He becomes the greatest VIII
I is most the minister to others. W
3 cannot minister to others without el
/ tering into society, and 1t is by sue
}. service that strength is DEVELOPS
a Nor can we, without mingling in s
;, ciety and loving our neighbor as on
Q self, put ourselves in line for the gre;
a rewards of him who says, "Inasmuc
; as We have done 1t unto one OF II
8 least of my brethren, ye have done
o unto me-"
o But we need the solitude as we
4 1t is in the hours spent apart fro
n men that we are most apt to ha'
j visions of God and be drawn to hil
e 1t is in such hours that our gaze CT
D. penetrate farthest into our own live
% and we discover our weakness al
o need. Those who say that they a
d rich and have need Of nothing, viii
: they are poor and wretched and M
cradle, have spent too much time
society and too little in solitude. F.
lowship with others has its advs
q tages, so God sets us in families al
ID gives even wider associations, but Z
y, hours spent alone with God are
n less yaluabIe.-The United Prest
he terrain.