South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-06
ReU. EeILS Returns to Pulpit
After Long Siege of Illness

After months OF inactivity be-
cause OF illness Rev. Alfred VI. Eells.
d. D.. pastor Of Westminster Pres
byterian church, occupied his pull
pit yesterday morning Speaking on
the subject, "Lifes Meridian" he
selected as his text. Song OF Solemn.
IL. Tell me, where Thou makest
Thy flock 10 rest at noon He said
1t was the custom for the Oriental
shepherd TO lead his sheep out of
the noon day sun 10 sheltering trees
or beside a murmuring stream. The
question is asked, what period OF
life enables man 10 best Judge life.
Il is not the morning tide Then
life is just begun. Youth lacks ex-
perience. Before the feet are un-
trod paths. before the eyes are un-
tried scenes and before the thoughts
are untried problems. LIES even
tide is not the best time. Then age
becomes conservative, the thoughts
are turned backward. vitality has
begun 10 decline and man plans to
retire from the struggles OF the
world. Therefore. the most favor
able period must be the meridian OF
life. Then the vi,s- is retrospective
and prospective. man conquers the
past with the future and experience
is combined with energy. Thus
Solomon covets that pause and
poise OF life when he prays. Tell
me where Thou makest Thy flock
TO rest at noon"
Life's Meridian.
Lies medidian is the best time
TO appreciate natural ability. The
individual is born 10 certain
sphere OF usefulness One says IF
I had that mans wealth, brain or
personality I could do much" IN
the building OF the temple every
stone. before il left the quarry. was
marked for a certain place in the
edihce II il occupied that place IL
was useful II II occupied any
other place II was useless. In the
temple Of life each soul is ordained
for a special mission.
To a certain extent every life is
a law unto itself. To be natural
the Frenchman is emotional. the
German phlegmatic the Spaniard
impulsive. the Oriental mystical and
the American restless. This is true
OF individuals. While he was in
the seminary a professor told young
T. De Witt Talmage that he would
have TO change his style 10 succeed
veloped his wonderful imagery he
preached before royalty. Whitfield
was criticized because he carried
dramatic art into the pulpit He
was advised 10 quit the ministry.
But that power OF expression en-
abled him TO arouse England and
America with gospel enthusiasm.
Because ne was noble and sublime
Isaiah became the prophet OF the
court, because he was grave and
gloomy jeremiah became the seer
or disaster. because he was loyal
and constant John became the dis
ciple OF love. because he was re-
sponsive and eloquent Peter be-
came the preacher OF Pentecost. and
because he was meditative and logi-
cal Paul became the great theolo-
gian.
Not Same Place
No two shepherds would lead
their sheep 10 the same place OF
refreshments. Therefore. IL was a
special life for which Solomon
prayed when he said. Tell me
where Thou makest Thy flock TO
rest at noon
Lies meridian is the best posi-
ton 10 Judge the value OF time IL
is when the DAY is half gone and
the evening Is approaching that we
realize the fleetness % the passing
hours Lost time IS irretrieva bic.
Napoleon at Waterloo pointed 20
the declining sun and said. What
would I not give for the power OF
Joshua so that l could retarc thy