The editor of the Louisville _Christian Observer_ is the author of
the following:
Coming down to the office one frosty morning we saw a workman
kneeling on the pavement trying to hammer straight a bent
rusty nail. The pavement was slippery, the nail was obdurate,
the man’s gloved hands were clumsy, the only tool he had was
a stone. Consequently, he had lost much time and quite all of
his temper and was using language that is never heard in polite
society. Economy is a good thing, but now and again is it not
better to leave the bent nail to itself, at least until a moment
of leisure comes, and take a straight, new nail from the box?
In our church work are there not old, bent, rusty methods that
should be abandoned? Always is it not wisdom to seek formation
of character rather than reformation--to endeavor to keep the
nail straight instead of pounding it so later? And in conducting
the financial affairs of our churches is there not often an
economy that really is wastefulness? A spiritual new nail is a
good thing to be put into the hand of the master of assemblies
that he may drive it into a sure place. (Text.)
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