The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-04
breaches SERMON
OF MUCH INTEREST
REV. CEkELER HEARD ON
SUBJECT OF UNIVERSITIES
THAT BEAR FRUIT"

OpOH Va
ties That Fear Fruit" Rev. John
c. Gekeler of the First Presby-
terrain Church, sJo:e to his con-
gregation last night. Since many
of those who listened were of the
o; inion that the entire commun-
ity would benefit from the mes
sage. The Citizen gladly prints it
in part:
"Advers:ties were defined as
circumstances which are turned
against one. and asked the ques-
ton, may such very circum-
stances afford opportunity of dis
covering new and better methods
o. action? We may not always
control our circumstances; we can
always control our reaction to
them. When brought to the end
OF our own resources, are we not
at the beginning of Gods?
"Key West has had its adver-
sites. Shall it therefore lie
crushed upon the ground? There
is no need for Key Westers to
play the 'Pollyanra game" whist
ling to keep up courage. Let
there be a simple recognition of
the fact that Co. is still in His
heaven, and that blessings flow
from Him. Our community has
not suffered from floods, fire as
many another has. 1t has an I'M
equaled climate in which many a
sick person finds the restoration
of health.
Universities teach true values.
It is the spiritual that is eternal.
In this time of community dis.
tress let Us find the true meaning
of our religion. There is need for
material things, food, clothing
and shelter. Of thees, Jesus said,
''Your Father knoweth We have
need of these things"
uninterrupted sunshine pro-
d;.ces the desert. Trees and gar
dens, fruits and flowers are the
children of the clouds and rain.
The reaction which the people of
orr community make to the late
est disaster, tie burning of the
bridge between Big Pine and No
Name Keys, will rroNe their true
worth. We suffer today more
from greed and selfishness than
from physical disaster; from this
only a determined spirit can de-
liver. There is need in the COM
munity for unified thinking. A
leader, or leaders, who will place
the community aboTe personal adj
vantage. Let the personal reli-
ance once so characteristic of our
people be recaptured. Let the in
dir idual initiative, which to so
large an extent has been lost, be
cultivated. When that is done a
brighter day will have dawned. In
this, the Church is of supreme
Importance, since it teaches the
expectance of the good, and i'm
pells us to seek it in our fellows.
The Church inculcates the spirit
of kindness.
SIN time of war the discourag-
er is only a step removed from
the traitor. The same holds true
in peace time struggles. Mr..
Gekeler proposed to his congrega-
stien a self-discipline in the cult
walton of an optimistic spirit.
Whenever we catch ourselves ut
tering a pessimistic, discouraging,
complaining word, lets give a coin
to some worthy object. Small
discipline boxes" were at hand.
But that the matter be entirely
voluntary. members were asked
to come forward after the service
and get them. A good proper
ton of those present went away
from the church with the "discip-
line boxes" in their hands. Let
the people of Key West be on the
lookout for things cheerful and
curb every tendency toward pes