Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-27
Sunday Morning Talk
UNNOTICED LOSS.

Most people take it for granted that they will have forever what they once have had. Such strength, character, or ability as they possess must remain is for multitudes of the sons of men to discover, some day, that gifts they supposed were theirs have quietly talk en their departure!
 Everywhere there are men and women who are trading on the repu- tations of yesterday, relying on pow CTS that have long since slipped away from them. Like Sardis of old, they have name to live, and are dead. Life tragedies abound more pathetic than those of sudden fall-namely those of such gradual and unconscious deterio- ration of character that the victims are wholly unconscious of the change that has ins.ts taken s;, place; The . sudden fall is, from the gradual decay. A tree that stands apparently green and firm may still be riddled by insect enemies un- der the bark with such havoc as spells sweeps the wood.
 The years come to US as angels bearing gifts, but to most of us. withal, as vandals despoiling our treasures. As regards physical strength, for instance, half the race is steadily sliding down hill. One may be bliss fully unconscious of the process. Be- hold these college men of the early ,''90s" playing ball at some commence ment season. Where is the prowess where the star stunts of yester-year? They gallop out on the diamond feel ing as lit as ever, but limp back to the benches after the fifth inning for treat nent. The veteran may think he looks as well. plays as well, sings as we'll as in the flush of youth. but his friends smile knowing better. As the prophet says of Ephraim, Gray hairs S1Tinkled him he eth it not
 Not otherwise, mental powers may flag during years when one is least conscious of such loss. The youth of himself to no endeavor. concentrates his energies on no task. may awake some fine morning to find his powers ned. He does not know just when or knows that in some crisis, he seeks to rally resources that are not there Coleridge was not the only idier who has realized the Nemesis of sloth:
 Oh, woeful impotence of weak resolve, Recorded rasfly to the writer's shame! Days pass away, and times large orbs
 reVOlve,> And every day beholds me still the
 same, Till oft-neglected purpose loses aim, And Hope becomes a flat, unheeded lie.
 It is when spiritual capacities fail that the loss, with most of us, is most ignored. We take the atti- tude that the inner life can be trusted to take care of itself. It is bound to thrive whether we will or no. If re- ligion be real at all it will somehow, break in upon our experience by force. | Our own capacity is constant and un- A man may ignore eV- 1 cry religious motive and scorn every religious exercise. but call all these powers back to him, we assume, in the hour of need. He has but to wave a 1 wand and his soul garden will spring | up and bloom.
 There can be no greater mistake. l While one imagines that his religious | faculties are only locked up for a time | awaiting his gracious word of com mand. the tragic fact may be that they | nave well nigh disappeared altogether. ! Of Samson in his later years it is re- | corded that He wist not that God had 1 departed from him." When the Phil | had but to go out. as aforetime. to | scatter death and ruin. In fact Sam i sons strength was gone. The giant l was an easy victim for his enemies 1 and thereafter he ground in the mill.
 When God departs from a man. it is | There may be no outward sign in a | human life to indicae the heavy loss i that has been sustained. Men go through the years assuming that the l treasure of faith is still somewhere n the baggage they have accumulat- such valuables in hand and ready for Ise lest some day we seek them in | anguish, and find their place vacant.
 THE PARSON.