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“I Am
The Way,
The Truth, and
The Life.”
Man’s Power to Convert Good to Evil.
By A. M. Walker.
One of the most flagrant transgressions of the
Divine will of the present time, in my humble judg
ment, consists in perverting the blessings of God,
by diverting them into the channels of wickedness
—by using the means given by Him, for the good
of the human race to their detriment, by placing
temptations in their way, thereby leading the mul
titude into the paths of transgression and final dam
nation. While it may be true, that our heredity and
environments exert, in a measure, a controlling in
fluence in shaping our conduct in this life, and
determining our future destiny, still if the grace
of God be shed abroad in oiu- hearts, if we will
listen and give heed to the wooings of the Holy
Spirit, our lives can, to a great extent, be weaned
away from our wicked inclinations and tendencies,
and brought thoroughly into subjection, and our
hearts and natures opened up for the reception of
higher, noblier and holier impulses and operations,
thereby adding to the material betterment of our
environments. Faith in the blood of the crucified
and risen Savior, is the golden key which unlocks
the mysterious chambers of the Divine laboratory
of all knowledge, and leads us into that marvelous
light, without which, we will ever remain in utter
darkness and deepest despair.
So it is, with all the gifts of God. We can use
them so as to drag our fellow creatures down into
the lowest depths of shame and degradation, or we
can use them so as to lead others upon a higher
plane of living and Christian citizenship, thereby
immeasurablv benefitting the human family, and
leaving our “foot-prints on the sands of time,” as
a guide for others to follow.
Wealth—money—is one of these gifts, while it
is true that it is a matter of utter impossibility
to buy one’s way into the kingdom of Heaven, or
persuade the angels to pass us through th® pearly
gates for our acts of charity here below. Yet money
can be used to the glory of God, and for the up
building and 'hastening of the coming of His king
dom here on earth. He who oppresses the poor, by
taking advantage of their necessities to enrich him
self—he who takes a . dollar from honest toil, with
out giving a just equivalent in return therefor, is
a thief and a robber in the sight of God. He who
hoards his money, and is stingy with God, will
never be permitted to enter into the realms of glory,
I care not what professions he may have made,
while on this earth.
Again, take the small grains of our country—
corn, rye, barley, wheat, etc. These cereals were
given unto man as a great and lasting blessing.
They furnish food for man, the beast of the field
and the fowls of the air. They are the mainstay—
the foundation stone, around which agricultural
success clusters—upon which, it is entirely and al
together dependent, and without which agriculture
would be a dismal failure, and this country would
be a howling wilderness. Their beneficial uses are
immeasurably multitudinous.
But pervert them while they contain the elements
of so much good, of such vast benefits to both man
and beast, they also possess that ingredient which
has broken up more happy homes, orphaned and
made dependent more children, made more paupers,
-' -sißi
The Golden Age for April 5, 1906.
filled more jails, and peopled more penitentiaries
than any other agency recorded m tne annals of
time.
That element is alcohol, the greatest curse known
to man. It has wrought greater ruin, and caused
more suffering than all the wars and pestilences
since the creation, and has damned more souls than
all other agencies combined. So we readily perceive
that our All-wise Creator, in His infinite wisdom,
has combined the good and the evil into one, leaving
it to man to discover the hidden mysteries in His
creation, and either use them for His glory, or
man’s ruin and final destruction and damnation.
Now, therefore, it is very evident to the intelligent
mind, that God has placed at our command, all
the things essential for man’s pleasure and happi
ness—when rightly used—and at the same time,
has given him the power to pervert these blessings
into curses—which bring misery, woe and suffering
in this life, and everlasting punishment in the un
known beyond.
The Atlanta Young Woman’s Christian
Association.
The Atlanta Y. W. C. A., although a compara
tively young association, having been organized only
four years ago, is already doing excellent work for
the young women of that city, despite the lack of
adequate facilities for carrying on the work al
ready begun.
The association now occupies a part of a build
ing in the heart of the busiest section of Atlanta,
and its chief efforts are devoted to the young busi
ness women of the city, many of the features being
planned for their special benefit. Notable among
these is the excellent luncheon which is served
daily and at a most reasonable rate. The “capite
ria” system, so favorably received in other cities,
which consists in patrons serving themselves, and
thus saving from one to five cents on individual
dishes, is used with excellent results, and there is
also a regular service system, those in attendance
being voluntary workers from the membership of
the association.
Classes in stenography, Spanish, English and sew
ing are held during afternoons and evenings, and
these clases are largely attended. Their usefulness,
however, is greatly decreased by the fact that suffi
cient room is lacking, and pupils from one class
must often pass through the ranks of another, in
terrupting the work to a greater or less extent.
There is also a well equipped gymn’asium, with
competent instructors, and an employment bureau
for the use of the members, while a most comfort
able “rest room,” library and bath and toilet
rooms are also provided.
The association is about SO per cent, self-sup
porting, and its usefulness is greatly cm tailed by
lack of funds. At present there are only 525 mem
bers, which number, though seemingly large, is not
half what is required for carrying on the good
work. This fact is evidenced by the needs still be
fore the management.
The Principal and Most Urgent Need at Present is a
New Building
and the association has received a donation of $20,-
000 for this purpose on condition that the people of
Atlanta, or any other source furnish a sum amount-
iug to $23,000 to purchase a lot. The location be
ing a matter of great moment, and the high price
of building sites in Atlanta, together with a cer
tain lack of interest on the part of many citizens,
have resulted in nothing of consequence being yet
done to this end.
It is believed, however, by the members of the
Atlanta Y. W. C. A., that it is only necessary to
call attention to the good work done by the asso
ciation, to the urgent need for this work, and to
the welcome it receives from women of all classes,
for the required response in the way of contribu
tions to be made.
Membership in the Association
is one of the best and most practical mediums for
helping on the good cause, and this membership is
earnestly solicited. Its advantages to women of
means as well as to the working woman, cannot be
overestimated. One point which must accrue to the
direct interest of the former, is the Department of
Domestic Science, which it is planned to make a
feature of the association. Already a donation to
support this department has been made, but has
not yet been accepted because of the same condi
tion that prevents the fulfilment of other plans—
that is, lack of space for its successful operation.
Unlike most women’s clubs organized for purposes
of education or civic reform, the Y. AV. C. A. has
no object save the betterment of women. Again,
the individual woman holds no place of public
prominence—she works as a part of a system, con
tent to serve “in His name,” and to sink entirely
her own personality. This fact must appeal to all
who have given sociological problems careful
thought, for it, means the ultimate success of any
enterprise if its members are large-souled enough
to sink the “peisonal note.” This can be truly
said of the Atlanta Y. W. C. A., and it is hoped
the future of the association will meet in every ‘
way the plans, hopes and wishes of its noble organ
izers. S. T. D.
A Real Revival at Way cross.
The First Baptist church at Waycross has re
cently closed a two weeks’ revival, conducted by
Rev. W. L. Walker.
The meetings were marvels in attendance and
spiritual inspiration. Mr. Walker, though well
known, has but recently entered the evangelistic
field.
There were more than fifty converts received into
the church, also a number by letter, and the spir
itual life of the town has gained an impetus which
has manifested itself in the organization of a weekly
undenominational class for Bible study, and plan
ning for a Bible conference to be held in Way
cross next October. Mr. Walker was assisted in his
meeting by the sweet singer, Mr. Rad Bell.
On the last day of the meeting the church gave
six hundred dollars for the preaching of the Gos
pel in foreign lands. This fact gave special joy
to the honored pastor, Rev. W. H. Scruggs, who,
for more than twenty years has been deeply loved
for his work at Waycross.
Mr. Walker is now conducting a meeting at Ce
dartown, which began April 2d; on the ISth inst.,
he will beegin a meeting at Eatonton, and on May
2d, at Covington. A. A. H. <
“The Entrance
of
Thy Woras
Giveth Light”
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