The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-12-30
OLD YEAR.

In Palestine there is a counterfeit
olive tree called the wild olive or ole
aster. 1t looks like the real tree ex-
cept it bears no fruit.
When person takes up a large
space in the Divine orchard and alb
serbs the sunlight and soil but yields
no real fruit, he is an oleaster.
A woodman, bitterly opposed to re-
ligion, went to the woods one Sabbath
morning to fell trees. He saw one dead
and dry and said, 81 will cut that tree
down; it is dead and dry and only fit
to burn" The thought came into his
mind, 'Am not dead tree, fit only
to be burned?" He tried to Danish the
thought, but could not. evil not God
say of me, cut him down, for he cum
bereth the ground Every blow of the
axe seemed to deepen his conviction.
He could not endure it longer, so he
shouldered his axe, went home to his
room, fell on his knees and cried to
God for mercy.
AT this season of the year we should
appreciate the debt we owe to Gods
mercy. Mercy has surely been ex-
tended to us during the year. 1t is
very unwise to make the forbearance
of heaven an encouragement to sin.
We have been spared this year, my
friend, that we may bear. An account
must be rendered for our deeds for
everything: For thoughts, words.
deeds; for the use we make of our op-
portunities, our privileges and our
means. Just here is where one of
the great failures is made. People in
general do not seem to realize their
relation to money or their obligation
for its proper use. What is our rela-
ton to money? Have we any respon-
sibility as to the use we make of it.
and so liable to be held to a strict ac-
count for its use? Is each one a
law unto himself, or is there a law
regulating the proportion we should
give? If there is, then we are as
much bound by it as by any law, such
as the law of the Sabbath, or the Col
den Rule. We are stewards to whom
is entrusted money as well as other
things. Are we boarding it, wasting
it or putting it out on interest, or hold
ing it for ourselves regardless of the
calls of humanity, the cries of the
starving or the needs of a world per-
ishing without the Gospel. If there
is no law, then every man can do as
he pleases. He can give literally or
nothing. This would be unjust. To
illustrate: One man with an income
of $4,000 year could give $40 and
be equally true to the law with the
man, who with the same income, gives
500 year. Either one of them gives
$50 too much or 800 too little.
Then the covetous, selfish person
can give dollar or nothing.
But the Lord does business on a
strictly honest and just basis. So He
gave the rule for all alike, which is
the tenth of our income. Are we stag
gered at this? 1t was made for our
benefit and will tend to His spiritual
growth and usefulness. The pricipal
rests on moral considerations. The
law Is for our good in every way.
AS we look back we can but recall
the mercies of God in the harvest; in
domestic joys; in health and spiritual
gifts. The experience of the year Just
closing should enable US to avoid its
errors. Our days are fast being num-
bered. The sands of our life glass are
falling fast. Soon there'll be vacant
seat. Death is certain; life is repre-
scented as Journey We are pilgrims
we have no abiding city. We can
hear the tramp of the hosts as they
march across the plain of earthly ex-
istence and thirty-two millions entered
eternity.
What should be our attitude toward
the past? Forgetting the things of
the past, press forward. Let the sor-
rows do their intended work for and in
us. Let the mistakes-and there are
enough of them-be stepping stones
to success.
A military critic says that Bona
parte made more mistakes than most
generals, but he surpassed others in
the quickness with which he let the
mistakes go and tried something bet
ter. And what about the sins ? They
are a burden. If you have received
Christ, they do not attack to you. Why
should you attach yourself to them?
Are Won distressed at tho dahi+ side