Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-03
POISON SERPENTS
COMMON THINGS IN
OUR EVERY DAY LIFE
BAPTIST CLERGYMAN LINENS
TEMPER EMBlTTEREO TONGUE,
COVETOUSNESS AND INNER
TIED WEALTH AS OF THAT
CLASS

A splendid musical program was
given a. the Baptist Church Suhaa1
night The pastor, Rev. G. w Chess
man. gave the third in series on
tremendous Issues, Illustrated by
Old Testament Characters, Wv men
Moses Laid Hold Of the serpent
Text Fix. As. And Moses put lof'A
his hand and laid hold OF the ser
pent. and ii become rod IN ms
hand" The pastor said:
"A thing deadly, dangerous deS'ruc'
tive was transformed into ROD d
support, a stay. The reptile LAID hoti
of stiffened into a useful instrument oil
service. Many poisonous things arc
thus transformed Poverty, to many
is poisonous serpent, spoiling thei'
lives. They are made bitter by the
hard grind Why have they not thelt
share OF this worlds goods MS
protest breeds the l. w W. the Dor
sheyist, the anarchist. 1t Is spur
to provocation to endeavur. Ii urges
out latent powers. il uncovers great
inherent potentialities in human NE
James Watt. Horace Greeley, Carr
baldi. Thorswalden. George Peabody
Michael Farraday. Jean Paul klcnte
Ole Bull. Lincoln born INTO dife5,
poverty and all mastered 1t, utlii1eu
it as driving power to achievement OF
noble and worthful ends
Inherited wealth is often poison
GUS serpent. II annihilates ambition
breeds idleness. loating and super
fetal pleasure seeking existence
Harry Thaw, without the handicap oi
inherited wealth. might have been a
great achiever. Or he might have
mastered his wealth and made II
serve him instead of serving it. John
Ruskin laid hold of wealth and made
1t serve noble ends. Theodore Hoose
welt was born into wealthy home
but money did not prove a curse Il
hint.
Uncontrolled temper is poisonous
serpent II spoils men, homes WORK
shops and social groups, There are
highly combistible people, tirecrackeE
types, ready to go OF at the ias'
provocation. do not need to inform
YOU of the existence Of such. You
are acquainted But temper is an
asset if controlled and directed. Jesus
showed temper in driving out the
money changers from the house o,
God Temper is meant to be exercised
against iniquity. against the eVll that
hurts people. 1t is social redemp
tive force. We ought to manifest
strong INDICATION in the face of incar
nate evil in The community life.
AN uncontrolled tongue is a poison
Gus serpent. What more deadly thing
Character blaster Dissemination oil
choice morsels of gossip that stabs
at somebody's heart. Oh what the
tongue does to disrupt homes, blight
and blast regulations, separate friends
and make hell of life 1t is all too
commonplace a fact in the common
life But the tongue, laid hold OF
transformed by coal from Coo E
altar. is a golden messenger, bIlneer
of good tidings, magniter of the good
in others. love and mercy messenger,
uplifter. blessing dispenser. contagloH
spreader of good will, healer of hear
wounds
"Covetousness is poisonous So"
pent Many people never note thell
own blessings They see only thai
Others have what they want. They
want the other mans house, job. sal
arv. automobile. CovetousneSs be
traved Jesus Christ to His enemies
with a treacherous kiss. II blight
and blasts and ruins. But, unpervert
ed. it is a good thing. Properly di
rected, it is virtue. Listen, to PAM
! Covet earnestly the best gifts. SCI
you a man giving his life in sacrificii
/ service? Covet that See you a ma
4 bent upon mission or love an
mercy? Covet that. See you TN
/ Christ on the cross? Covet His tota
self-abandonment to redempti'
work. Yes, covetousness when lai
hold Of and transformed in this wise
/ is noble human trait
is there some serpent poiSonln
your life? Is il in the saddle. ridin
with bit and bride on you? Is it cor
Eliminating your blood with its frieh
full virus? No matter what it is, Co
says what He said to Moses, Lay hol
OF the serpent II at His comlnan
We do it. IT we call in the great d
vine ally. that serpent can be trans
formed from a curse to a blessing.