The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-25

tablish new theories, laws and philoso-
phies, RELOCATING the teachings of the
Bible to the scrap pile of Hebrew
myths, fables, legends and allegories,
furnishing the switch and the derailer
which wrecks life and leaves it in the
faithless, hopeless, Goddess ditch of
despair, furnishes another picture most
threatening and deplorable in our mod
ern education. These dark pictures are
by no means universal and have con-
stituted the students battlefields in
other periods. Many of our colleges and
universities have teachers of the finest
type and groups of students with an
indestructible faith in Christian doc
trine and lofty ideals.
1t is necessary to keep ringing in
the ears Of our young manhood, BE
thou strong and show thyself man."
On the commencement day Of an AMeri
can university, as the graduates march
down the long aisle, in cap and gown,
and so through the splendid ceremonies
Of music, orations and comforting of de-
grees and honors, man on the plat
form who knows modern life and mod
ern education wonders how many in the
company could qualify as strong, clean
tasks which await supreme personalities
in this supreme hour of our supreme
nation. He wonders if the 16 years
of school and college life have not pro-
duced habits either of bookworm or
a sport; whether after all in the years
Of so-called preparation for life, the ex-
perience will not be a handicap. Wash
ington Irving gives the story of the
Dutchman who desired to jump a ditch.
He went back three miles to get a good
running start, and when he reached
the ditch he was SO out of breath that
he couldn't jump.
DIR. Marden, in the May number of
the Success Magazine, gives the story
of Harvard graduate who, after years
of secluded student life and dependence
upon teachers for directions and in
struction, had lost his own initiative.
After his graduation, finding no bet
ter task, he drifted into restaurant as
a disbwasher. In an hour of despair
he awoke to his own condition, rallied
his forces, became conscious of his ex-
cellent preparation for life and boldly
undertook on his own initiative a great
task, and won out to a big success.
David's exhortation to Solomon meant
just that-muster your powers and mas
ter the situation. A timid soldier, thor
oughly trained, with loaded gun in
hand and belft of cartridges about
his waist, standing trembling in the
trench, needs the command: BE thou
strong, show myself a man, go after
them" AT this command, his spirit
changes-he goes in to win, and does.
In the history Of the Revolutionary
war story is given Of young British
officer who returned from an official
visit to the headquarters of the Ameri-
can army. On his return his superior
officer noted his sober and discouraged
face and said, "What is the matter?
Has General Marion refused to re-
,treat?' The officer replied, mo" "Has
old Washington defeated ClintonT The
officer again answered, mo; worse
than that" The colonel inquired, what
could be worseY' The officer said, II
saw American officers without pay, al
most without clothes, without food, liv-
ing on roots and herbs, ready to starve
or die for liberty. We can't whip
manly spirit with a forward look wins.
Someone has said Bellamy was the only
man who ever made a fortune by 'Iook-
ing backward" Lots wife barely made
her salt and others have done worse.
Face to the front! Strong, manly step
-Victoryl
THAT thou mayest prosper in all that
thou doest and whithersoever thou
turnest myself, keep the charge of the
Lord, thy God, to walk in his ways"
God in the life after all determines it's
success or failure. The divine power
tempers and makes vital and efficient
all the other powers. Enter a factory
where mariners compasses are made,
examine the needles before they are
magnetized. They will point in any di-
rection, but when they have been ap-
piled to the magnet and have received
its peculiar power, from that moment
they point to the north and are true to
the pole in storm or sunshine, in the
brightest day or a starless night.
Wisdom is the principal thing, there
fors, get wisdom, and with all thy
getting, get understanding"