The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-27
SERMO ON
SUCCESS AND THE STONE WALL
By REV. d. J. OUILL.AN

SUCCESS AND THE STONE WALL
Today we live in an age of action,
rather than of contemplation, perhaps
excessively SO, and therefore st.
Paul's words, IF any mans work
abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward appeal to
us. They have in fact a peculiarly
modern ring, for the first impression
they produce is that of measuring the
value Of acts by the results attained
rather than by the moral purpose in
volved. We are prone to rate among
the virtuous those who have confer
red benefits upon mankind regardless
of the motives that actuated them ;
and the effect Is good insofar as it
encourages others to do the like. But
this is not the attitude expressed by
st. Paul. He treats only of works
done for what he esteems the highest
possible motive, for he speaks OF
building upon this foundation OF
morality, saying that no other can
any man lay. He assumed the moral
purpose.
Observe also, for the same reason,
that he is not contrasting good acts
with evil ones. II is not the COMPARE
son oil the sheep and the goats; OF
the good man whose works will fol-
low nIm, and the bad man who will
be weighted down by them. He dis
eliminates among the different works
all well-intentioned: among those
which he compares to gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay and stub
Dle, although all done from moral
=. - AhN .nrI -0aI
works of high, of moderate or Of tri-
fling value, and he rates them accord
ing to their enduring quality when
'triedby fire. 1t is this that gives the
serious aspect to his statement Of the
severe ordeal to which a good mans
good works will be subjected.
! Every mans work is in fact tried
by fire, that is, by the most search
ing test which, in the lapse of time,
can be applied. What is trivial or
ephemeral rs soon destroyed, while
that which has a permanent merit
will endure. 1t is a laudable ambi-
tion to strive to achieve results of
lasting value, although these are by
no means always the ones that bulk
largest at the time or are the most
conspicuous. IL fame delight you, IL
to be talked about, to have your
name and portrait In the public press,
the object is not difficult to attain
for people who care about 1t, and will
devote some effort aud a little skill
thereto. They have their reward, and
one that, like riches and other world
" prizes, is a qualification to those
whose hearts are set upon it; but In
the sight of God not to be compared
with work, inconspicuous perhaps to
men, that has been built into the per-
manent fabric OF other human souls
II your aim be more than selfish
qualification, IL 1t be to accomplish
something that will make men hap
pier and better, then the more endur'
ing It's effects the more II is worth
doing. 1t may be done in any line Of
human activity. 1t may be done, in
deed Is most commonly done. In con
nection with earning a livelihood
One does not have to seek strange
paths to find 1t, for It lies close 81
hand in every familiar field of en-
deavor; not only in the great arts
science and literature, but In the pro
fessions ana in business OF all kinds
The man who carries on his work
!. whatever IL may be, with a cleal
view Of its total effect for good upoI
the community; the upright man wh'
SO conducts himself that II other