The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-11-23

pursue their studies. With what en-
thusiasm the astronomer traverses the
heavens with his telescope With what
pains taking care and patience the
Bacteriologist carries on his expert
ments, carefully examining the baccilli
to discover the nature of the disease.
Their earnest perseverance brings them
the success they merit.
WiIberforce, for twenty years, work
ed and pleaded and suffered defeat only
to renew his appeals to the justice and
mercy OF British Parliament against
gigantic evil, the atrocities of the
slave trade. In eulogizing him we con-
denim ourselves oftentimes.
The times in which we live demand
that we be earnest. 1t is one of the
characteristics of the age.
Every sphere of activity abounds
with energy. Men fling themselves
with all the powers of mind and body IN
to the marks of trade. competition is
intense, there is a mania for specula-
ton, craze for gambling. Society is
in whirl, appearances must be kept
up at all hazards. We may learn a
lesson from the engrossing nature of
politics which just now holds the nation
in its grasp. There is an intense inter-
est manifested in the issues of the
campaign.
1t is all right to be expected, just
carry this earnestness of effort into our
every day work ard see how it will
help. 1t will Tighten our burdens and
make our work, however arduous, a
pleasure.
Why not carry this earnestness of
effort into spiritual work and use the
same zeal we do in everyday life, in our
efforts for our religious instruction and
progress. Consider the increasing
taste for luxurious qualifications, the
love Of amusement which neither brings
recreation to body nor stimulus to the
mind, but which is detrimental to every
element of true religion and spirituality.
Before its fascinating influences the
sanctitles Of the spirit are whitening.
Bear IN mind the intellectual ac-
tivities; the increased opportunities
and improved means of securing know
ledge in all departments; the news
papers flung at our door early in the
morning, steaming with the worlds
news, stained with the scum and froth
skinned from a seething social mass,
and with vice and crime dished up so as
to make it paliatable. The cheap litera-
ture pouring from our presses, many
publications openly hostile to, or max
ing lnsiduous invades upon Christianity,
treating it with contempt or leaving it
alone, to drift, as they imagin, down to
the gulf of forgetfulness.
To meet all this there must be earnest
ness of mind and heart and effort. We
are living in an earnest age and only
men of earnestness can succeed in any
thing. How necessary for Christians
to be in earnest, in their every effort to
live lives that will be epistles for their
religion.
Amidst the din of business, the ex-
citement of politics, the interest of
science, the dictates of fashion, the
jests of scoffers and the eloquence of
orators, the voice of the ministry will
not be heard unless they speak with an
authoritative earnestness.
Our religion will be jostled aside I'M
less it is proclaimed with our best en-
ergies and lived and commended with
our best and most conscientious effort.
The world expects this of all pro-
Tossing Christians, the nature of our re-
ligion obligates Us to it, and our Maker
and Master looks for it, while consis-
tency demands it. Let US be so earnest
that others may be impressed and led
to follow in the right way.
JOANNES.