You'll Not Be Sorry

1910

If You Follow the Following Suggestions

You'll never be sorry—
For living a straight life.
For doing your level best.
For being kind to the poor.
For looking before leaping.
For hearing before judging.
For thinking before speaking.
For harboring clean thoughts.
For standing by your principles.
For stopping your ears to gossip.
For being as courteous as a duke.
For asking pardon when in error.
For bridling a garrulous tongue.
For being square in business dealings.
For giving an unfortunate fellow a lift.
For promptness in keeping your promises.
For putting the best construction on the acts of others.
You will never never be sorry, for giving light to the blind, knowledge to the ignorant, strength to the weak help to the struggling and a Savior to the heathen. — New Orleans Times Democrat.

Many Clowns in the Pulpit

1905

Prominent Clergyman Makes Startling Statement at Chautauqua

Chautauqua, New York, dispatch — Dr. James M. Buckley, chairman of the episcopacy committee of the Methodist Episcopal church, declared in an address that a clergyman has no right to make his congregation laugh and that to do so is irreverence. "Yet there are a good many clowns in the pulpit," he concluded.


The Secret of Happiness

The man who can drill his thoughts, so as to shut out everything that is depressing and discouraging and see only the bright side even of his misfortunes and failures, has mastered the secret of happiness and success. He has made himself a magnet to draw friends, cheer, brightness and good fortune to him. His presence is like a sunbeam on a dull day.

There is no accomplishment, no touch of culture, no gift which will add so much to the alchemic power of life as the optimistic habit — the determination to be cheerful and happy no matter what comes to us. It will smooth rough paths, light up gloomy places, and melt away obstacles as the sunshine melts snow on the mountain side. — Success.

Good Cheer in Religion

1902

It is a happy thing to live. It is a happy thing to die. Our religion has the promise of the life that now is and also of that which is to come. It makes the world ours and all things in it.

We rejoice in its beauty and its joys, the laughter of little children, the love of young men and maidens, the grave friendship of the old, the confidence of life and the calm and trust which belong to us all. Our religion now tells us to look upon these and all the beautiful things of life, and to take them, holding them in holiness as the happy gifts of our glad God.

And, above all these, and in all these, Christ is now revealed to us. He was and He will be. Yea, and He is. No other day ever set Him so high or loved Him so dearly. To be sure, there is enough that is dark still, and the shadows could be drawn heavily, sadly, but this hour let us see the sunshine and play in it.

The Lord Christ! He is the good cheer of religion to-day, as He has been in all days. If our good cheer is better and cheerier than any of old, it is because we see him more clearly and love Him more dearly because we have gone a little further in making our life His and Him our life. — Congregationalist.


Rewards of Life

The man who sees in life the opportunity to express himself in the highest terms, who after ascertaining what faculties he has determines to develop them to the highest possible efficiency, who is capable of seeing the sweetness and joy that he has about him, who, being proud, does not allow his body or mind to be defiled, he is the one who obtains the big rewards, the big successes. — Mental Growth and Control.