The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-18
'RUNANINATURE IS
EHE||.il|NE|0FSERMON
Character Of Namaan Used as
Basis for Discourse
by Beddow.

2tANNrNGToN. Dec. 1S.-Na-
lnas1A the leper, who was healed
bY christsi Older TO battle seven
lines in the river Jordan, was the
tbiect Of the Rev. John Beddow's
etmon at the First Methodist
piseopal Church last night.
The Reverend Mr.. Beddow de-
SEED that a study Of Namaan's
e. reading between the. lines,
one a much clearer concep.
OF Just what faith is, and a
conception Of divinity.
ISL of what we term promo
ts not gained except because
ersonals worth. He went on TO
" that advancement in any oc.
tation depends upon the activ.
Of the person most concerned.
/ The thing commonly called
iluck ~ he. said, "stould be spelled
y wRs shown that Namaan was
wen devNoped mentally, physical.
~ and had been financially sue.
eessful but he had leprosy. He be-
liiel "a that IL this disease could be
saaNsd Tia Reverend Mr.. Beddow
luechhred That he would need moth
|lng else. However. tho speaker
POINTED out how Namaan had other
rs some Of them not OF the flesh
|oi which he was ignorant, Per.
lhaps he did not know he had them,
" was shown that these we're
lspiEitusiss or deficiencies in the
lman's character.
What was the matter was M.
g,aan the Reverend Mr.. Beddow
Efed Why, he was selfish, he
Fas egotisfcal, bombastic, proud.
MS heart was not right" Most OF
hese faults, II was pointed out,
lnight have been present because Of
he teaehing Namaan had received
y 9 child; possibly the lack of
eaching,
FolleEingsn mp this thought, the
reverend Mr.. Beddow said. 1--WE
ilnght 70 think more Of our chill.
liret: We ought to use more care
n teaching them the great, fundn.
mental truths Of life, 10 put into
heir hearts the right sort OF
fieasss
He scored what he termed Stub.
porn human nature" heavily, de
;laring that besides interfering
nd interrupting Gods plan stub.
Pori1less holds hack human growth.
progress, and enjoyment. "ATost
1eople want to do tho big things IN
pc he said, "but too many OF US
re unable to distinguish between
he big and little. and 50 many
mes the little things are empha,
ized while the bigger ones arc Left
or oshers.'
Namaan dipped himself seven
ines in the river Jordan. and came
NJ With his flesh as little
hhdfss said; tho Reverend Mr..
seddow. "What had happened to
ini2 ale had humbled himself.
pst his1 pride, his egotism, and had
eceiyedt In return new concep.
ION ~ divinity"
IN not your sins that burden
nt trouble YOU" he declared. cts
he tacts that you are wrong. Your
eart ts not as It should be-" He
ient on to state that the mere 40.
encesot wrong does not necessar.
mean that one is right. That.
2 declared, is merely the negative.
pheeptionS OF II; He expressed the
lea that one must be either wrong;
right, actively.
epoubttns Thomas" was charac.
arized as b man with an analyti.
al mind accustomed to investigat.
ag and questioning everything
ew He was a cautious man, and
Fobably especially SO in a bust.
less Way He further stated that
here are many similar ,"doubting
honases,, in the world today, and
rged that there be no let.up in
eir seeking after abiding faith.
''Faith,s he said. comes BY dc.
GEES and will in time, iG given an
pportnntty, erase all doubts from
le mind Regarding Christs teach
hII1f5ifs M. 4 81, --f