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THE KING’S BUSINESS One o f the most interesting autobiographies that has
Business Success appeared of late is that of Charles Francis Adams, and Solid Character, cohering a period from 1835 to 1915. While one may differ widely from many of the things said, in conclu sions drawn, many of the opinions are certainly full of suggestiveness, but one of the most striking and suggestive is found in the following words: “ As I approach the end, I am more than a little puzzled to account for the instances I have seen of business success—money-getting. It comes from a rather low instinct. Certainly, so far as my observation goes, it is rarely met with in com bination with the finer or more interesting traits of character. I have known, and known tolerably well, a good many ‘successful’ men— ‘big’ financially— men famous during the last half century; and a less interesting crowd I do not care to encounter. Not one that I have ever known would I care to meet again, either in this world or the next; nor is one of them associated in my mind with the idea of humor, thought, or refinement. A set of mere money-getters and tracers, they were essentially unattractive and uninteresting.” of God, he gets on his back and rides him to death with engagements.” Many a promising minister is robbed of his largest usefulness in this way. If a min ister of the gospel attains to any celebrity in his work he is immediately over- whelpied with invitations to all kinds of conventions and to membership in all kinds of philanthropic and educational societies. Many and many a promising young man has made a complete failure in his true work because he has not had the wisdom and courage to say “ no” to the major part of these invitations. The pastor’s first duty is to his own church and his own people. If he makes full proof of his ministry” he will not have much time for outside work. He may be allured by fields o f larger and broader usefulness, but the man who sticks to his own proper busjness and faithfully works the field that God has assigned to him is the man who will accomplish the most of permanent value in the long run. Early in the writer’s experience as a minister o f the gospel he found himself loaded up with societies and committees in which he was an officer. He was president of the Associated Charities of his city, vice-president of the News Boys’ Home, chairman of the finance and printing committee of the State Association, chairman of the executive committee of the Congrega tional Club. There were three other offices that he occupied. Sitting one day in his study looking at the various pigeon holes in which the papers connected with various societies were arranged, he was confronted with the question, “ To What work did God call you?” The answer was immediate, “ To preach the gospel.” And he wrote out seven resignations and gave himself up to the work of preaching and teaching the Word of God. From that day until this he has never regretted the decision. All these various lines o f work were^good, but they were not the best. It is hoped that these words will be of help to some young brother who is now confronted With the temptations that then confronted him. Stick to Your Proper Business. One of our exchanges quotes the late William M. Tay lor, D. D., of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York, as saying to Dr. James Stalker: “ As soon as the devil 5 sees a young minister likely to be of use in the kingdom
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