A Secret of Progress.
'This one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those
things which are before. I press
toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of Gob in Christ
Jesus. Philippians, iii., 13, 14.
TPaul is teaching by symbolism.
He is using the figure of the foot
race. In his imagery he is a
runner speeding over the course,
with every faculty focussed upon
the goal before him. A runner
cannot waste any time looking
behind him.
Similarly, life is a struggle,
altogether too serious a struggle
'to -permit the attention to be di
verted for a moment from the
earnestness of the present duties.
The lesson is at once one of en
couragement and ot warning.
We may forget the sins of the
past. A man's character is
measured Hot by his sinlessness
but by the intensity of his strug
gle against fin. His destiny does
not depend upon his making no
moral mistakes, but it does
depend upon what he does after
their occurrence. He may look
back upon them with indifference
and he will partake of their na
ture; they will transform them
selves into habits. He may look
upon them with dread, he may
call them by their right names
and turn from them, and they
will then become stepping stones
to higher things. If we think of
the sins at all let us think to act,
not to idly brood. Salvation is
separation from sin. Ilemorse
does not sever one from his sin;
only repentance can do that.
Sorrow for sin avails absolutely
nothing except as it sends one to
the Christ for a new power to
overcome the forces that tend to
his ruin. The darker the past
the more completely turn from it.
We may forget the failures of
the past. There are things upon
the record which are less than
sinful, which are the. product
often of the sincerest effort, but
which have left a legacy of loss
and regrets. They are the un
wise acts, the blunders, the fail
ure of our yesterdays. How
many they arel A great artist
once said, "Nobody ever does
anything; he only tries.5' . Yet
here, too, Paulas secret of pro
gress applies. Errors have a
distinct value if they are rightly
regarded. A failure is the pro
duct of energy that is either in
sufficient or misdirected. A
crown yet awaits every man who
will learn from his failures.
Frankly met, bravely faced, the
failures are life's best teachers.
We must forget the successes
of the past. There have been
victories in our yesterdays. Each
of us has some memories which he
prizes as a priceless heritage from.
the days that are gonemem
ories of some deed of kindness, of
some sacrifice of love, of some
vision of holiness, of some crisis
when he was true Must we for
get these things? Yes, exactly as
we must overlook the other
things. It is the time of effort
now, not of attainment. As long
as there is any ideal of life un
realized, any duty remaining un
performed, We are still in the
midst of the race. Satisfaction is
as fatal to progress as despair.
Whatever, of attainmentthe past
has won for us must be the point
of new departure and the pledge
of better things to come, for
growth is the law of life. No
man is good to-day -unless he is
better than he was yesterday.
No wasting time with vain
regrets, no satisfaction with the
second best for us before whom
stands the Christ in His peerless
manhood. Let usfollow Him to
life's end and crown. Let
nothing in the past cheat us out
of His riches nor swerve us from
His high aim. We have nothing
to do with yesterday but to get a
sunlit to-morrow out of it.
Milton S. Littlefield, The First
Union Presbyterian Church,
New York, in N Y Herald.
NOTICE TO EXECUTORS, ADMIN
ISTRATORS AND GUARDIANS.
North Carolina, Forsyth County :
Administrator and
Guardian is required, by law, to file
with the Clerk of the Superior Court,
annual reports so long as any part of
an estate remains unsettled, - and
when settlement is inaae lome uutti
report. When such reports are not
filed, as required, the law directs the
Clerk to issue legal Citation, and then
if report is not filed within twenty
days from service of Citation the
rM.tr a HirAAt.Ad to nroceed a&ainst
VICIA M.B V.x vv- X . .
such delinquent Executor, Adminis
trator or Guardian oy removal auu
attachment. ,
There are at present, nUnibers of
Executors, Administrators and Guar
dians, in Forsyth County behind on
reports, notwithstanding the fact
that I have faithfully endeavored, by
persuasion, to secure the same. Since
notices by mail or publication have,
in many instances, proved unavail
ing, I feel it my official and BWorn
duty to try legal means. Therefore
I trust that parties behind on reports!
to this ofilce will file the same prompt
ly, otherwise they may expect such
proceedings as. are prescribed by law,
without further notice.
Very respect! uily
R. E. f RAKSOtf,
Clerk Superior Court.
BENNETTS'
Marble
Works
Main Street, opposite Browjrs
Warehouse,
WINSTON, X. 0.
Monuments,' Tombstones, Tablets and
all kinds Cemetery" work. See
their stock of finished work, N
and let them help you
select your designs.
J, A,&C. E. BENI1ETT-,
PROPRIETORS.
We sleep in peace in the arms
of God when we yield ourselves
up to His "Providence, in a de
lightful consciousness of-. His
mercies; no more restless , uncer
tainties, no more impatience at
the place we are in, for it is God
who puts us there and who holds
us in His arms. Can we be un
safe where He has placed us?