Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-02

Bx BISHOP WARREN A GAMBLER
With the close OF this Sabbath Day
another year will pass. with all It's
solemn eternity OF meaning
Out of darkness and eternity II
was born. and into darkness and
eternity IL has sunk forever X was
such year as never came 10 US De
fore, and such a year as can never
be repeated
IL brought its own peculiar tempta-
tions. trials. duties and opportunities
and now all these have passed never 70
return
God Himself cannot change the past
Its sins he may forgive. and its blum
eers and wrongs He may Overrule 10
good purposes; 49, its record Is IN
changeable by any power in heaven or
in earth
standing at the end OF such a wear,
and on the threshold OF the New Year
IL becomes us 10 give ourselves 10 me
most serious reflection concerning LIE
and duty and destiny.
We are not the same we were year
ago. The mere ongOing of time affects
our characters. making them better or
worse according as our hearts dispose
themselves towards God and truth we
are wiser than We were a year ago, or,
sensfbilities are more tender and more
responsive TO the influences of heavn
and the needs OF earth. or. they are hard
er and less affected by all high and holy
things Our Wills are more disposed
10 conform 10 the law Of right. or habits
of evil have made US less free 10 choose
that which is good
Our sorrows have softened our
souls. so that our sympathies run
more readily towards those who suf-
fer. or. cur griefs have made us
more stoical and more indifferent
to the distresses Of those around US
Our Joys have made US more CRATE
full to God and more generous 20
men. or. they have rendered US
more God-felring and Self-suniclent
and self-irdulgent- Let each one
take account of what effect the year
agon4 has had upon his character
And the year at hand will influence
Us in like manner. Some will begin Z
with less capacity for knowledge than
they had a year ago. with less power 10
overcome temptation. with less tor:l-
tude 10 endure trial. and with less
strength to discharge duty. Unless they
rouse themselves TO break of the chains
which the year that as just passed as
fastened upon them, the New Year will
rivet their bonds even more firmly, and
their deliverance twelve months hence
will be more difficult
Against such ever deepening
slavery il is not enough TO inter
pose a few feeble New Year resO-
Iutions- of amendment The whole
soul must be reused TO throw off
enslaving habits. and when the soul
is thus aroused, IL will speedily
discover its own helplessness, and
will begin 10 cry 20 God for de-
:lfverance. The agoniZing expert
ence OF every awakened soul Is
expressed by the great Apostle TO
the GentiIes in the piteous words,
who shall deliver us from the
body of this DEATH But let no
soul despair Of deliverance; for the
same Apostle has answered his
hezrrrending question in the cheer
ing words, IT thank God through
Jesus Christ our Lord"
The birth OF the New Year ought 10
be signaIized BY the new birth Of many
souls. Multitudes should say the time
mast OF our lives suffices sus TO have
wrought the will Of the sh and TO
have lived in alienation from God ana
goodness ...-.-. .-. a.
(-Anofher matter should engage our
consideration: Opportunities Of doing
good have passed with the year, 1915,
which will never come back a fuii
period Of twelve months has passed with
an its opportunities for sympatnizlng