King's Business - 1922-05

473

T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

convenient delivery of bricks, he lays 350 an hour with no more exertion. Tools are necessary for a preacher as well as for a bricklayer. Of what practical use is a library full of books or a box full of papers, if one cannot find what he wants when he wants it? There are many who have tried to in­ vent a filing system of their own, but these are usually crude, involve much work to keep them up, and do not avoid the difficulties that have been solved in the perfected indexing systems. Such home-made affairs are also bulky and cannot be conveniently carried about. We strongly urge Christian workers to do away with the makeshift, and even though a little extra work is involved in tabulating material anew, start right away with the very best indexing sys­ tem, which will set one straight for a lifetime and save many hours of search­ ing, as well as much tax upon the dis­ position. Some years of investigation have con­ vinced us that the most concise and practical indexing system is the “ Wilson Clergyman’s Index— Topical and Text­ ual.” (Wilson Index Co., East Hàd- dam, Conn., or Biola Book Room.) Thirty years of experience are woven into this scheme. It does away with card index and envelope systems and combines all tabulating in a specially ruled book, substantially bound and providing ample space for a lifetime of gathering. The book has three sections. One section provides space for a register of all volumes in one’s library. These are entered alphabetically and each book receives its proper letter and number. There are two distinct indexes, one for topics, and one for texts. One may lo­ cate instantly all his matérial bearing on a given text or on a specific subject. One great advantage of the system is that one item may be tabulated in dif­ ferent connections, thus making it of access in more than one way. Material

good as your think and your think is just as good as my think, and both our thinks put together are worse than no think at all.” Preach Your Best Sir Joshua Reynolds was one of the most distinguished painters of his day; and, in answer to the inquiry, how he attained to such excellence, he replied: “ By observing one simple rule, viz., to make each painting the best.” Depend upon it that the same thing is true in the service of God. He who wishes to preach well should endeavor each time to preach his best. The audience may be small, and the hearers illiterate; but the best possible sermon will not be thrown away upon them. It may be that the minister is invited to make one among several speakers at a tea-meet­ ing. Never let him talk mere nonsense to fill up the time, as so many did in the days past; but let him use the oc­ casion as an opportunity for quietly ut­ tering most important truths. It is for the preacher’s own good that he should never descend into mere drivel. Be­ yond all expectation, he may be ac­ complishing a great work, when his only idea is that he is doing a little one as well as he can. Our firm opinion is that' we often accomplish most when the occasion appears to be the least favorable.— Sel. Here’s the Starting Point We are so frequently coming in touch with ministers who are without any system of tabulating their Bible ma­ terial, that we feel constrained once in a while to emphasize the importance of the index systdm for those having mes­ sages to prepare. Many have said to us: “ I know I have the material but I have to spend hours looking for it, and then very often have to giye up -in despair.” Why should ministers worry along without the business system so essential to all lines in these days? A bricklayer formerly laid 120 bricks an hour, but with an adjustable table and

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