South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-05
REV. j. s. DAVIS
TALKS ON LIVING
Gives His Idea of the Proper
Way to Spend Life
Strong Convictions.

If I Could Live Ny Life over. "
was the title Of the subject chosen
by Rev. L. s. Davis, pastor OF the
First Baptist church, for his sermon
which was delivered at the church
Sunday evening. Rev. Davis gave a
brief review OF the way he would
lead his life. provided he could begin
all over again. His sermon In part
follows:
Living is an art. Wise men have
given much instruction in the art Of
just knowing how to live. They
want 20 save US from the regret OF
old age. They want 10 warn Us
against the folly Of youth. I do not
expect TO say the last word on the
art OF making a life" 1 will at
tempt only to be suggestive
If / could live my life over again.
/ would give 20 minutes every day 10
physical exercise. No man can be
happy or succeed in life without
health. Health depends upon the
blood Good blood is made by regu-
lar exercise. / would not worry. a
good laugh kills worry. 1 would cul-
tivate the ability &c laugh. Few men
die while laughing 1 would learn
10 sing. Singing produces q merry
heart, Even though I owned an au-
tomobile. would take a good walk
every day in the open.
Would be Original
would strive to be original. There
are too many imitators. 1 would
not be a parrot. If 1 went away to
school / would not think IL a great
accomplishment to fall in to accent
OF down east or down south. Be
yourself, be natural. Do not take
things for granted. Think yourself
through prejudice. precedent. GUS
toms, convention. style, fashions.
l would have convictions. The
failures of life are mostly because
of the lack OF convictions. Convic-
tlons hold men TO the course.
would know what the experience of
the race is as expressed in such great
words as God. truth, right, love, law.
7 would settle once for all that right
IS better than wrong. that honesty
is better than dishonesty. that love
is better than hate. l would stand
by my convictions.
Public Spirited.
would take my stand with the
men and women who are trying TO
bring TO pass some worthy human eff
fort would join the organizations
that seek the betterment Of the COM
I
] would strive 10 be a worthy citi-
zen. / would give attention TO poll
ties ! would vote for the best man
irrespective of party. ] would fight
for the cause that was right, even
though IL put me in the minority.
would try and perform one kind
act every day. Just the art OF being
kind IS what the old world needs.
! would have a few choice friends.
l would have at least one friend who
is much older than 1. His expert
ence would help me in the hour Of
emergency. 1 would read the best
books. would read history. biOg-
raphy. travels and occasionally a
novel. ] would read the four gos-
pels once every year. The heart Of
the bible Is the life of Jesus. 1
would know the life of Jesus.
Keep Note Book.
! would have a note book. ! don't
mean a diary. II matters little per
haps what I say or do, but il mat
ters much TO what wise men have
said and done. In this note book 1
would write the gems of thought.
the golden deeds. the heroisms, the
faith Of the great builders of cvili-
cation.
I would give my youth TO Jesus
Christ. l would not consume my life
in the pleasures of the world and
then offer the worlds Redeemer the
ashes of a misspent life. ! would
put myself on the side Of Jesus in
the task OF making civilization chris
tian in spirit The world today, calls
for the conservation Of youth, TO
build the vast places on earth. We
trust that young men who went over
seas in the spirit of idealism 10 save
humanity, will not let the world slip
back into the old ways of hate, strife,
and might, but bring the world into
its new day of love, hope and good
mill