Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-05


their infrmity, claimed exemption from
service against the enemies of their ma
ton, and played the part of "slackers.
But they took the nobler course, and
made for themselves a place in sacred
history in which they will be honored
as long as the Hebrew Scriptures are
read Perhaps they attained degree
of skill which they never would have
reached if no physical disability mad
rested upon them. Their hlndrance
thereby became a help to them. IL
moved them to much patient practice as
stone-slingers, by which they developed
a degree of ingenuity which otherwise
they might never have acquired.
The men who have no difficulties are
not generally they who achieve the
most, and many men who have struggled
through obstacles to success might wen
be thankful for what seemed to handl-
can them in the race of life. Ease is a
heavier handicap than hardship. Many
people have been made great by their
difficulties who would have come 10
nothing perhaps if all things had been
easy for them.
would Helen Keller. without her af-
1ictions, have been the great woman
she has become through them?
Prescott's defective sight did not him
der him from becoming the historian or
Mexico and Peru, but did rather slim
ulate the effort by which his famous
works were produced.
Difficulties tend to beget patience,
and patience promotes perseverance
and perseverance brings power. These
left-handed men of the tribe of Ben
iamin were not at first able to throw
stones at a hairs breadth and not miss.
Such skill came to them through per-
In facility
in doing anything, whether great or
small. is accomplished by oft-repeated
efforts. Demosthen was a stammerer,
but he found the way whereby he over
came his infirmity of speech and MADE
himself the greatest orator of the world
If he had been naturally fluent, 1t is
quite probable his oratorical powers
would have never developed beyond
mediocrity. There is a maxim to the
effect that an orator is born, not made;
but the history of oratory in all lands
contradicts the proposition. The great
est orators, Moses and Demosthenes
were certainly orators by effort and not
by birth. They wrestled with their
disabilities until they turned hindrances
into helps.
The North American Indians believ-
ed that the strength of an enemy slain
entered at his death into the arm of
the slayer, and made the victor doubly
strong for future conflicts. Such is
the case with a vanquished difficulty
over which one has triumphed; it in
vigorates him who overcomes it-'Each
Vitory helps us some other to win"
This is true with reference to relig-
ious faith and force as well with regard
to natural powers The greatest faith
is found amid the greatest difficulties.
1t was concerning the faith of a Roman
centurion and not the faith of a ia
vored priest, or Levite, that Jesus said,
81 have not found so great faith, no,
not in Israel" The life of a soldier is
not favorable to faith even in our
times, and in a Christian land. But that
Roman soldier of the first century had
turned military regulations into slim
ulation to trust and an argument for
faith. 81 am a man under authority,
having soldiers under me: and ] say
to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to
another Come, and he cometh; and to
my servant, Do this, and he doeth it,"
CMatthew VIII: 81. From. the analogy
Of military law ne strengthened his
faith to believe that all the forces of
health and disease were subject to the
Lords command, and with implicit con-
fidence he said to the Master, speak
the word only and my servant shall be
healed" Out of the unfriendly condi-
tions of the Roman military life sprang
a faith surprising anything found in
Israel, although to Israel pertained
the adoption and the glory, and the
covenants, and the giving Of the law
and the service of God and the prom
ises." CRomans IN: -. The Jews, with
everything to inspire faith, were faith
less, while the Roman centurion with
little to aid pety, was one of the great
est believers.
In like manner the Wise Men of the
East who came with their precious
gifts to honor the infant Saviour had
no such religious advantages as the
members Of the Jewish sanhedrim to
whom they came weekly inquiring,
Where is he that is born King of the
Jews for we have seen his star in the
east and are come to worship him.
Matthew II: p. The chief priests
and scribes, holding in their hands the
prophetic scriptures, knew the Messiah
was to be born in Bethlehem, but they
went not thither TO find Him. But the
devout Magi came from afar to wor-
ship Him, guided in long, expensive
and dangerous journey by nothing more
definite than the uncertain light of
star Thus they, with the best advan-
taSes, had the least faith, while pagan
sages, with the poorest opportunities,
had the most NOBLE ana adOrlng trust
In this case is exemplified the truth of
They worship least who live nearest
the church"
Easy conditions frequently put the
soul to sleep, while hard conditions stir
the soul to strive for the highest things,
which otherwise might be neglected.
Daniel was a man of the most heroic
faith, although an exile in Babylon,
surrounded by the most adverse cir
cumstances. Would he have attained
to such an elevation of piety if he had
not been carried into captivity but had
remained amid peaceful conditions in
Jerusalem? Certain none of his prede-
cessors in Jerusalem were enriched with
a like precious faith as that which en-
robbed his life in Babylon.
Joseph in Egypt maintained his faith
despite the corruptious of court life and
the cruelties of his prison days. But
his brethren seemed not TO have done
80 well in Canaan, although in daily
association with the patriarch Jacob
who saw the ladder and the angels at
Bethel and met God face TO face at
PCniCL
Let 10 nan be discouraged by ha rd
conditions, nor despair of the highest
GOOD because beset by adverse circum-
stances. Let him purpose III his heart
to be what he ought to be, and the
NEST hostile things will become the po-
tential allies of his soul.
Let no man POSTPONE the effort to be
the Lest he can until all circumstances
have become faVOrab bic. We are not to