Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29


one revealed employment OF the sin
less and redeemed in Tho heavenly
presence. From this bud tho flower Of
thanksgiving naturally comes which is
INC true expression Of gratitude. one
~ the sins OF uis world is ingrati-
'ude. Where arc tho nine? still rings
down The centuries. Give. give, cries
INC world. and after tho gift has been
received. like the swine al the trough
IT Is silent and Unsuitable
Aristotle. tho Greek philosopher. on
being asked what grows old the quick
est replied. Thanks" How true the
answer: The sponge. like type OF
lifc. ~ a selfish type Of life !, re-
coircs but never gives. 1t IS more
blessed TO give than 10 receive. This
eternal truth is self-evident. How
nearsiGhted human natur is when /,
comes to give the helping hand IL the
ono who is in need. How dun OF hear
ing TO the cries and appeals for help.
How slow for errandS or mercy, Sin
and Sclfshncss tho two weights
that drag and reiard tho souls prog
ress. In the store OF life we have too
many packages Of personal pronouns
tied with the cord OF self Let us note
with JOY and eladness. however. that
there are some who never forget those
who have tcfricndcd them when AT
the crossroads or life. There goes my
friend" says ono. who wax friend
ness TO mo In my moments Of poverty.
always make II point To send him
= few bowers on his birthday" Hero
is the expression OF gratitude. \
wealthy Maryla nd planter was riding
day To one or his plantations
whore his slaves were holding revival
meetings. From out the doorway OF one
liitle cabin nc heard the voice or
prayer and prais" He listened and
heard thr fcrvcnt thanksgiving for tho
blessings OF their depressed lot. His
heart was touched and with emotion
he looked up and exclaimed: Alas. .
Lord. have my thousands and tens OF
thousands. and yet mngrateful wretch
that ! an. never thank Thee.
these poor slaveS do. who have scarce
~ clothes Ia pui on or food 10 satisfy
their hunger.
10Y THE GROt >D-TO>t:
or ST. PAJL's LIFE
In our tc1t the Apostle bids MS lin
everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests
he made known unto Cod, Again
we read: rejoice IN tho Lord always.
and again ] say rejoice" Here is u
Christian saint shackled in the Irons
of imprisonment with only vision Of
death before him showing remark
able love for his Master Joy WAS the
Iround-tonc Of his life and his whole
Christian career was one ~ Jubilee
aud enthusiasm. II any class OF peo-
pie ought IN he happy ii is the Chris
ttan because the track OF life ~ clear
fnr tho wreckace of sin has been
cleared by the Son OF cod Notwith-
standing this supreme truth. we ind
many mutes in the Church Ears
have they. but they hear not Eyes
nav" they. hut they see not Feet
have they. hut they walk not. Ouiet
and ornamental these Christians arc
moved about from pew to pew.
sometimes wonder when this 0uict.
army expects TO work? When do they
cNpccf to grip the wholcsomcucss Of
Christian scrvice the vital thing
IN religion? The droncs Of the church
are Today creating an atmosphere that
Is almost satanic in character VS.
know that our Christian religion is the
sons or life From the slave TO the
kinG II has given new impetus in the
working out OF ones salvation II has
living Christ and an inspired Book
who's" rules are ideal. It has a
Church that is the greatest organize
non In the world. the adhcrcnts OF
which represent rhe hirhes, and besu
iNpe OF human life. II is the noon
tine sun that keeps the world in
light.
Christianity is not failure as has
hcrn suggested over and over again by
'hc critics Is teachings fail only
whcn It's members fail 10 daily trans
iatc the love and character Of Christ,
MI mat is false and abnormal is a
result OF just this condition Is the
physician failure because the patient
does not take his Incidence Is the
lawyer a failure because his client
fails TO take his advice Is the ba-
romctcr failure because the captain
does not heed its warning: Is Chris
lianity a failure because the sinner
docs not accept the blessed Invitation
cf Come unto Mo" God cannon fail
Ia any OF his divine purposes He is
rnrc, just, holy and wise. The word
failure Is not found in the heavenly
vocabulary. Life is too precious for
God TO he interested in failures: we
arc the ones who. through various
causes. fail TO ring true. How few
Of Gods people really. catch the vision
or Christ and His apostles. How often
selfshness crecps in. like a thief in. the
night. and the individuals life is
st6ntcd in growth.
REAL THINGS Of
LIFE ARE PRICELESS
The real things OF life arc priceless
They cannot be bought. Let us see
what few OF them arc Salvation is
free. The heavenly gifts such as life.
rain. sunshine and the pure air. Char
actcr stands out as unpurcira Sa bile
II is not quoted on the exchange nor
Is II traded in on the curb The divine
spirit or God is invaluable as il con
trolls the soul Godward These things
that we have Just mentioned arc with
out money and without price. And
vet men Will push aside Gods com
nandments they Will sidcstep the
EcatitudeS and wcnd their way around
the Golden Rule in order to satisfy
their selfish ends How can men truly
praise God when they arc daily taking
advantage OF market situation:
boldly sitting tight. merchant
expressed il. waiting for advance
in price"
If ever our ministers should thunder
ont their voices on Christian ethics
and the Christ way OF living. 1t is now.
The present situation of the market
and high prices is Scanda ious Is IL
not un-Christian: Is IL moi uu-Amcri-
can: God gives. Man holds until he
can get his price from his fellow men.
The lure Of gold has craZcd many OF
oar people. Add 10 these things the
extreme amusemcnts. intcmperance and
the immodest fashions OF our day. and