The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-05
Danger That Great Oppor-
tunity May Pass, Rev.
Wells Says.
SPIRITUAL JOY THE BEST
People Who Delight in Ma.
terials Things Are Miss
ing Much.

Rev. Wells OF the Diamond Street
M. E. church. preached very power
iul sermon last night. reaching many
Of his hearers through new channels.
His subject was founded on the para
BILE Of the rich fool and concerned ALI
varieties of rich-from the rich in
money to the rich in other possessions.
and reacaed down long list Of sins
which II persisted In, MADE the man
who though himself 90 valuable 4 yeri.
table fool. There were three conyerts
last nign. and one renewal OF faith
which makes 14S who have chosen to
follow new and perhaps narrow road
leading TO eternity, since the eyanec.
listic services first began over three
weeks ago.
rev. Wells said he felt sure there
were many wto were unsayed and who
wanted to pc christians but they lack
fed courage. He asked that everyone
present pray for stronger convictions
ana stronger courage to carry. out thoss
convictions He drew 4 yery realistic
picture Of how, low men can sink tho
merely live to satisfy human desires
Ae told II thousands 81 individuals dur,
ING the San Francisco earthquake who
We're discovered tswarming out Of the
depths Of the ground from unspeakable
dtyes-as though they we're animals.
He said 1t was wonder to him God
didn't destroy more cities. Many, many
people have fair mental equipment but
refuse to usa brains except for the
purpose of acquiring material, riches,
when the greatest satisfaction in the
world comes cut of the enjoyment Of
spiritual things. Some people live con-
Istantly in the cellar OF their natures
and never get out on the solid rock Of
better things. The soul is not salts
fled with the low, base things Of life
and IL We try to satisfy the soul that
way, we are playing the fool.
Swine like mud hole and can really
enjoy wallowing in II. The physical
senses are nnimal' senses and in living
after this fashion, one is on the level
OF the beast. Consider three facts:
Worldiness Is q blindfold to the moral
understanding so that the moral senses
are dulled aud It is Impossible to see
spiritual things. II one loves material
or soc'al riches. 1t is easy to forget
the higher sensibilities-forget that
we are endowed with a finer manner
of thinking and that we might live on
"a higher plane. Some men believe the
highest enjoyment in life Is pulled
through the stem OF pips. | have
seen men find the highest Joy Of which
they were capable In he'll holes where
the nervous system was made drunk.
Men and women both may sink to
even lower depths than these and
imagine they are receiving happiness
in return. i have heard men say they
considered the liquor business hon
orable profession. Sometimes man
gets to the place where he dosen't
know the difference between black
and white. A man will say II can't see
the harm in drink now and then"
~ can't see that It hurts to gamble
occasionally. /" They don't. Their eyes
are blinded because they are trying to
get enjoyment out Of the low things in
life. They think there is no harm IN
anything wicked.
The moral deadlinei once roomed
with a man who had been in one Of
the prisons during the Civil War. For
months and months his hair saw no
comb-his slices and clothes were in.
tatters and rags-he had nothing but
cornmeal rlixed with little water
baked on a board to eat. In that prison
there was a deadline and II any man
walked across this line he was shot.
Many q man did walk across. In inst
the same wey there is a moral deadline
beyond which We can't pass without
losing the better life. There comes
time when a man or woman must make
a decision as to where he OF she shall
spend etarlity. The decision must be
made. There is no getting around It.
There are souls today as dead es
though they were In He'll this minute.
Sometimes the spirit Of God knocks
for the last time metimes the spirit
Of the Almighty pleads and leaves for.
ever; and never again does man or.
woman have the slightest desire to-
become q Christian. Not long ago
knew Q man who came so near to Eiv.
ing his heart to God that he struggled
for hours near. and yet still far
fContinuef on n0g0 AiHht.l