EDMUND L. SMILEY.

September 21

_We all shrink, like cowards, from new duties, new responsibilities. We do not venture to go out of the beaten track of our daily life. Close to us, on each side of the road, are those whom we might help or save with one good action, one kind word. But we are afraid. We say: "I am not prepared; I am not ready; I have not time; I am not qualified; find some better person; send some one else." Perhaps we have only one talent, and, therefore, instead of using it, we hide it, and when the Master comes we shall meet him with the old answer: "I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo! there thou hast that is thine."_

JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE.

From the base sin of selfishness, O Lord, deliver us. Teach us by Thy life of ministry and sacrifice for others that the more fully and willingly we lose ourselves in service for our fellowmen, the more surely we shall find ourselves in Thee. As we go forth this day in paths that Thou hast prepared for us, help us to so forget ourselves in acts of kindness and words of comfort that each one whom our lives may touch, may become thereby a happier, purer, stronger soul. Take Thou the care of these lives of ours, while, with Thee, in busy streets and crowded shops where greed is grasping and sin is lurking, we shall try to care for souls of others, who need the help that we might give. Then, at the eventide today or on the morrow, it will be our joy like Thine to find ourselves again in hearts made happy, in lives inspired, in souls redeemed. Amen.

GEORGE B. DEAN.

September 22

_Before G.o.d's footstool to confess A poor soul knelt and bowed his head, "I failed!" he wailed. The Master said, "Thou didst thy best--that is success!"_

ANONYMOUS.

_Straight from the Mighty Bow, this truth is driven: "They fail, and they alone, who have not striven."

Fly far, O shaft of light, all doubt redeeming, Rouse men from dull despair and idle dreaming.

High Heaven's Evangel be, gospel G.o.d-given; They fail, and they alone, who have not striven._

CLARENCE URMY.

We thank Thee, O G.o.d, for the light that reveals to us the divine estimate of life, that lifts the veil of mystery from struggle and sacrifice and enables us to interpret their meaning as elements of successful living. We praise Thee for the truth that a.s.sures us that we are in this world to win, to overcome, to be more than conquerors. We pray that we may be too busy to dream and too brave to doubt. Strengthen us for life's conflict, help us to carry our burdens cheerfully, fight courageously, strive lawfully, that we may be worthy to be counted among those who shall receive the crown of righteousness and hear at last the "Well done" of the Master. Amen.

GEORGE S. SCRIVENER.

September 23

_Be diligent and faithful, patient and hopeful, one and all of you; and may we all know, at all times, that verily the Eternal rules above us, and that nothing finally wrong has happened or can happen._

THOMAS CARLYLE.

_If you entered the workshop of a blacksmith, you would not dare to find fault with his bellows, anvils and hammers. If you had not the skill of a workman, but the consideration of a man, what would you say? "It is not without cause the bellows are placed there; the artificer knew, though I do not know, the reason." You would not dare to find fault with the blacksmith in his shop, and do you dare to find fault with G.o.d in His world?_

ST. BERNARD.

We thank Thee, O loving Father, that we are not alone in the universe with longing for the higher life. There are a thousand revelations of Thee in our fellowmen. And when we cannot find Thee, for blindness, in nature or in ourselves, we can see Thee revealed in the lives heroic that surround us. In the abstract Thou art hard to find; in the lives of men Thou art always visible. We thank Thee that there is a contagion of rightness and that love is a vital seed that fills the world with its kind. We are fearful of love sometimes, fearing to waste it on a loveless world. Help us to see that every atom we give becomes an ocean to ourselves. Amen.

ALBERT C. GRIER.

September 24

_To be at all--what is better than that?

I think if there were nothing more developed, the clam in its callous sh.e.l.l in the sand were august enough I am not in any callous sh.e.l.l; I am cased with supple conductors, all over They take every object by the hand, and lead it within me; They are thousands, each one with his entry to himself; They are always watching with their little eyes, from my head to my feet; One no more than a point lets in and out of me such bliss and magnitude, I think I could lift the girder of the house away if it lay between me and whatever I wanted._

WALT WHITMAN.

Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all the delicate beauty as well as for the rugged strength of these bodies in which Thou hast set us to live. But more wonderful than the habitation of the soul is the soul itself. Thou hast made us a little lower than the angels, Thou hast crowned us with glory and honor, and we join reverently in the words of the great poet-prophet who said of man--"In action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a G.o.d!" O Lord, we thank Thee for this great thought of our own life. Yet let us not be vain nor proud. We pray rather that we may be inspired to live so earnestly and so n.o.bly that we shall prove our t.i.tle now to all that we have dreamed as our natural birthright. So shall we feel ourselves to-day sons and daughters of G.o.d.

Amen.

GEORGE L. PERIN.

September 25

_I do believe the common man's task is the hardest. The hero has the hero's aspiration that lifts him to his labor. All great duties are easier than the little ones, though they cost far more blood and agony._

PHILLIPS BROOKS.

_Thus man is made equal to every event. He can face danger for the right. A poor, tender, painful body, he can run into flame or bullets or pestilence, with duty for his guide.... I am not afraid of accident as long as I am in my place.... Every man's task is his life-preserver. The conviction that his work is dear to G.o.d and cannot be spared, defends him._

RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

O Thou Who art the giver of every good and perfect gift, help us better to understand the measure of Thy giving; that we count not those blessings only which make life smooth and easy and of tame comfort but the things that make life resolute and hearty, and that put to test the vigor of our souls, that give us chance to prove our high n.o.bility and unfaltering courage; the things that build for the soul's fine substance of eternal worth--these are Thy blessings, too, for which we thank Thee.

Give us entrance into Thine eternal living through strong activity and zest of life; that manhood have its eager challenge and womanhood its glowing opportunity to a.s.sert themselves as winning joy through bafflement and Thy strong peace that pa.s.seth not away, through steadfast consecration to high service. Amen.

GEORGE H. BADGER.

September 26

_If I can put one touch of a rosy sunset into the life of any man, or woman I shall feel that I have worked with G.o.d. He is in no haste; and if I do what I may in earnest I need not worry if I do no great work. Let G.o.d make His sunsets; I will mottle my little cloud. To help the growth of a thought that struggles toward the light, to brush with gentle hand the earth stain from the white of one snowdrop--such be my ambition._

GEORGE MACDONALD.

Help us, our Father, to know that we have here at hand all that we need to make this day what it ought to be; that we need not look afar, but in the duty of this present moment, in the opportunity to learn, to serve and thus to grow, which the morning offers, is all that is necessary to make this day sound and serviceable; in such a day we shall find enduring joy and from it Thou, the Giver of all days, wilt derive satisfaction, since it will do its full share in fulfilling Thy purpose.

And may we see that if we make our todays what they should be Thou wilt take care of the tomorrows. Amen.

HERBERT E. BENTON.

September 27

_My neighbor hath a little field, Small store of wine its presses yield, And truly but a slender h.o.a.rd Its harvest brings for barn or board.

Yet tho' a hundred fields are mine, Fertile with olive, corn and wine; Tho' Autumn piles my garners high, Still for that little field I sigh.

For ah! methinks no otherwhere Is any field so good and fair.

Small tho' it be, 'tis better far Than all my fruitful vineyards are, Amid whose plenty sad I pine-- "Ah, would the little field were mine!"

Large knowledge void of peace and rest, And wealth with pining care possest-- These by my fertile lands are meant.

That little field is called Content._

ROBERTSON TROWBRIDGE.

Heavenly Father, as prayed Thy servant of old, so we this morning repeat "Give us neither poverty nor riches." Help us this day, in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content. May no complaining word proceed out of our mouths. Above all may no murmuring thought lodge within us.

So shall we rest in peace with Thee, and G.o.d, even our G.o.d, shall bless us. Yet, O Lord, forbid that we should remain satisfied with any portion, which our best effort, with Thine a.s.sistance, can improve. Then shall we grow in grace and more and more approach the stature of true men and women, in Christ Jesus. Amen.