Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-12-04
Building Stones.

In one of the large manufacturing
establishments Of the United States,
thousands upon thousands Of grind
stones of every size, from small ones
up to great ones several feet in diam
eter, are used. AS these stones wear
out they are replaced by new ones, and
since there is no further use for them
in the shops they are carried out of
the way. In many such establish
ments the custom is to let the worm
out grindstones lie in a heap or else
to sell them to the highest bidder, but
in this place another use is made OF
them.
The plot of ground on which the es-
tablishment is built is very large, and
it is surrounded by a beautiful stone
wall. Every stone is cut for its par
ticular place in the wall, and the
structure protects the plant and serves
to beautify the establishment BY its
symmetry and grace. The remarkable
thing about the wall is that every one
Of the many thousands of stones Of
which it is built is a grindstone that
was worn out in the shops. 1t did its
work as grindstone and then, having
given its best in that service, it was
given place of honor and usefulness
in the permanent wall.
What lesson that is to us who work
here in Gods great workshop of the
world. This is manufacturing es-
tablishment in the sense that God is
accomplishing many great things in
the world and that He is using his
people as his instruments or tools with
which to accomplish them.
He does not offer the Christian life
as life Of ease by any means; it is
life of sacrifice and hard service, ano
il is common for those who are serv-
ing with a whole heart to wear out in
that service.
But the difference-and it is a great
ifference-between the service Of our
Master who is in heaven and the ser
vice of selfshneSs and sin is that al
though we shall wear out in time ir
either service, the one offers in the end
nothing but to be cast out as worth
less when our power to serve is gone
while the other offers a place of hono'
and usefulness in the home abov'
through all the ages of eternity. More
over, it is happier life here that we
live in the service, for it means ac-
complishing something that the world
needs and that is pleasing to God, and
it affords an outlook that is infinitely
brighter than the other.
Round and round goes tine stone in
the shop as it grinds away at the tools.
shaping them, fitting them, sharpening
them. Life for the stone is a ceaseless
round of duties and ceaseless grind
but it grows smaller and smaller an
by and by becomes worn out, the tools
that 60 out from the shop tell of the
good service the stone has done and
the perfect work it has accomplish
ed.
Round and round goes life, morning
and evening, week after week, winter
and summer, year after year. 1t is a
ceaseless round over and over again
At times it seems like tedious grind,
for there are many discouragements
and difficulties to work against. Bu'
the last round comes, the last year,
the last day, and life is done. Does
completed life satisfy the Master?
Does the memory left behind speak for
you of good service done and per
feet work accomplished?
We cannot serve two masters. Le'
us be wise enough to serve Him who
works side by side with his workmen
in the shops, and who has said
"Henceforth | call you not my SER
wants; but have called you friends