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# Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter IX

CHAPTER IX.
THAT ALL THINGS ARE TO BE REFERRED UNTO GOD, AS THEIR LAST END.
Y son, I ought to be thy supreme and ultimate end, if thou desire to be truly blessed.
By this intention thy affections will be purified, which are too often inordinately inclined to selfishness and unto creatures.
For if in anything thou seekest thyself, immediately thou faintest and driest up.
I would therefore thou shouldst refer all things principally unto Me, for I am He Who hast given all.
Consider every thing as flowing from the Highest Good; and therefore unto Me as their original all must return.
2. From Me, as from a living fountain, the small and the great, the poor and the rich, do draw the water of life; and they that willingly and freely serve Me shall receive grace for grace.
But he who desires to glory in things out of Me, or to take pleasure in some private good, shall not be grounded in true joy, nor be enlarged in his heart, but shall many ways be encumbered and straitened.
Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good to thyself, nor do thou attribute goodness unto any man; but give all unto God, without Whom man hath nothing.
I have given all on thee, and My will is to have ​thee all again; and with great strictness do I exact from thee a return of thanks.
3. This is the truth whereby vain-glory is put to flight.
And if true charity and heavenly grace enter in, there will be no envy nor narrowness of heart, neither will self-love busy itself.
For divine charity overcometh all things, and enlargeth all the powers of the soul.
If thou rightly judge, thou wilt rejoice in Me alone, in Me alone thou wilt hope; for none is good save God alone, Who is to be praised above all things, and in all to be blessed.
# Of the Imitation of Christ/Book II/Chapter XI

CHAPTER XI.
OF THE FEWNESS OF THE LOVERS OF THE CROSS OF JESUS.
ANY love the heavenly kingdom of Jesus, but few care to bear His Cross.
He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation.
He findeth many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence.
All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to endure anything for or with Him.
Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of bread; but few to the drinking of the cup of His passion.
Many reverence His miracles, few follow the ignominy of His cross.
Many love Jesus so long as no adversities befall them.
Many praise and bless Him so long as they receive any consolation from Him.
But if Jesus hide Himself, and leave them but a little while, they fall either into complaining, or into too much dejection of mind.
2. But they who love Jesus for his own sake, and not for some special comfort, bless Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart, as well as in the state of highest comfort.
Yea although He should never be willing to give them comfort, they notwithstanding would ever praise Him, and wish to be always giving thanks.
​3. O how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, which is mixed up with no self-interest, or self-love!
Are not all those to be called mercenary, who are ever seeking consolations?
Do they not show themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, who are always thinking of their own profit and advantage?
Where shall one be found who is willing to serve God for nought?
4. Rarely is any one found so spiritual as to be stripped of all earthly things.
For where is any man to be found that is indeed poor in spirit, and thoroughly void of all leaning on creatures? "From afar, yea from the ends of the earth, is his value."
If a man should give all his substance, yet it is nothing.
And if he should practise great repentance, still it is little.
And if he should attain to all knowledge, he is still afar off.
And if he should be of great virtue, and of very fervent devotion, yet there is much wanting; especially one thing, which is most necessary for him.
What is that? That leaving all, he forsake himself, and go wholly from himself, and retain no self-love.
And when he hath done all that is to be done, so far as he knoweth, let him think that he hath done nothing.
5. Let him not think that of great weight, which is greatly esteemed; but let him in truth pronounce himself to be an unprofitable servant, as the Truth ​Himself saith, "When you shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants."
Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and say with the Prophet, "I am desolate and afflicted."
Yet none is richer than that man, no man more powerful, no man more free; for he knoweth how to leave all things, and to set himself in the lowest place.
# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Pine Tree

THE PINE TREE.
The tremendous unity of the pine absorbs and moulds the life of a race. The pine shadows rest upon a nation. The northern peoples, century after century, lived under one or other of the two great powers of the pine and the sea, both indefinite. They dwelt amidst the forests as they wandered on the waves, and saw no end nor any other horizon. Still the dark, green trees, or dark, green waters, jugged the dawn with their fringe, or their foam. And whatever elements of imagination, or of warrior strength, or of domestic justice, were brought down by the Norweigian or the Goth, against the dissoluteness of degradation of the south of Europe, were taught them under the green roofs and wild penetralia of the pine.—John Ruskin.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/Tree Planting: The Choice of Trees

TREE PLANTING.
The Choice of Trees.
1. General Considerations—Trees for school grounds and yards, along roadsides and streets, must be such as are least liable to suffer from injuries; they should be compact and symmetrical in shape, free from objectionable habits, such as bad odors, roof sprouting, frequent dropping of parts, etc., and from insect pests, and, if planted for shade, should have a broad crown and a dense foliage budding early in the spring and retaining leaves long into the fall.
Trees native to the region in which the planting is done usually have more promise of success and are generally less costly than exotics. Trees from well managed nurseries are preferable to those grown in the forest, because their root system is better prepared for transplanting. Rapidly growing trees, although giving shade soonest, are mostly short-lived and become the soonest unsightly.
2. Size—Although as a rule small plants have a better promise of success, other considerations recommend the choice of larger sizes for roadside and ornamental planting. Trees of any size can be successfully transplanted, but in proportion to the size grows the difficulty, the amount of work and the care necessary. As a rule the largest size should not exceed two to three inches in diameter at the base and 10 to 15 feet in height. Those one-half that size will probably make better growth, because less of their root-system will be curtailed in taking them up for transplanting.
3. Diagnosis of a Tree Suitable for Transplanting: (a) An abundance of fibrous roots.
(b) A normal form and well proportioned development of shaft and crown.
(c) The position from which the tree came has some influence on its further development. Trees from the forest have generally a wide spreading root-system, which is difficult to take up and transplant. Those which have grown in the shade of the forest as a rule do not start easily in the open sunlight; those from cool north sides are apt to sicken when placed on hot exposures, and vice versa. A healthy tree from poor soil transferred into better conditions will show itself grateful by vigorous development.—Circular No. 5, Forestry Division, U. S. Department Agriculture.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The First Arbor Day

THE FIRST ARBOR DAY.
What is now known almost throughout the civilized world as "Arbor Day" originated in Nebraska. At an annual meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, held in the City of Lincoln, Jan. 4, 1872, the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska City, introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted, after some little debate as to the name, some present contending for the word "Sylvan" instead of "Arbor."
"RESOLVED, That Wednesday, the 10th day of April, 1872, be and the same is hereby set apart and consecrated for tree planting in the State of Nebraska, and the State Board of Agriculture hereby name it Arbor Day; and, to urge upon the people of the State the vital importance of tree planting, hereby offer a special premium of one hundred dollars to the agricultural society of that county in Nebraska which shall, upon that day, plant properly the largest number of trees; and a farm library of twenty-five dollars worth of books to that person who on that day shall plant properly in Nebraska the largest number of trees."
Mr. J. T. Allen offered the following resolution, which was also adopted unanimously:
"RESOLVED, That the newspapers of the state be requested by the State Board of Agriculture to keep the resolution in regard to the ​anniversary day for tree planting, standing in their columns until April 10, next, and to call especial attention of the people to the importance of the matter from time to time."
The newspapers of the state were generous, and kept Arbor Day well before the people. The result was that over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872. The day was again observed in 1873 with increased interest and results.
March 31, 1874, the first Arbor Day proclamation was issued by the governor.—From "Arbor Day," published by Hon. Robert W. Furnas, 1888.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Trailing Arbutus

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THE TRAILING ARBUTUS.
I wandered lonely where the pine-trees made Against the bitter east their barricade, And, guided by its sweet Perfume, I found, within a narrow dell The trailing spring flower tinted like a shell Amid dry leaves and moss at my feet.
From under dead boughs, for whose loss the pines Moaned ceaselessly overhead, the blossoming vines Lifted their glad surprise, While yet the bluebird smoothed in leafless trees His feathers ruffled by the chill sea-breeze, And snow-drifts lingering under April skies.
As, pausing o'er the lonely flower I bent, I thought of lives thus lowly, clogged and pent, Which yet find room, Through care and cumber, coldness and decay, To lend a sweetness to the ungenial day, And make the sad earth happier for their bloom.
—John Greenlief Whittier.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/To the Teachers of Oklahoma

​ TO THE TEACHERS OF OKLAHOMA:
Permit me to call your attention to the provision in our statutes which designates the Friday following the second Monday in March as Arbor Day, and to urge you to suspend your regular exercises on that occasion and observe the day with appropriate ceremonies.
This year Arbor Day accordingly will come on Friday, March 12, and I wish to call on you and all progressive citizens everywhere to observe the day by providing for and conducting such exercises as will tend to encourage tree planting and also to provide for the protection, and preservation of trees and shrubs, and to acquaint yourselves with the best methods to be adopted to accomplish such results. Let this be an occasion not only for beautifying and ornamenting the school grounds, but also for beautifying and adorning our roads and highways, and the yards and walks around our own homes.
In view of the fact that no provision has been made in our statutes for Bird Day, I also wish to recommend that a part of Arbor Day be set aside for this purpose. I would suggest that special prominence be given to the subject of bird study and that on this occasion Audubon Societies be organized for protecting and taking care of our birds. Impress upon your pupils the folly of killing birds for past-time and for gratifying the whims of women who desire the plumage of our feathered friends for the adornment of their hats. Caution the boys against wantonly destroying the nests and stealing the eggs of our beautiful birds, and urge them rather to protect these innocent creatures that do so much by destroying injurious insects and eating the seeds of so many troublesome weeds. Teach them to look upon birds as their friends and that they should love and protect them instead of destroying them.
Show your pupils the beautiful colored plates of the American Bird and Nature Chart and explain to them the names and habits of the different birds shown on these plates. Valuable information and suggestions about birds may be found in Hodge's splendid book on Nature Study, which may be used in connection with the chart mentioned above. Please do all you can to create and interest in birds and urge your patrons to insist that our present Legislature pass some law before adjourning that will protect our birds from wholesale and useless slaughter.
Yours sincerely, E. D. CAMERON, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Gladness of Nature

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​"Nature is mythical and mystical always, and works with a license and extravagance of genius. She has her luxurious and florid style as well as art. Having a Pilgrim's Cup to make, she gives to the whole—stem, bowl, handle, and nose—some fantastic shape, as if it were to be the car of some fabulous marine Deity, a Nereous or Triton."
—HENRY DAVID THOREAU.
THE GLADNESS OF NATURE.
Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, When our mother Nature laughs around; When even the deep blue heavens look glad, And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?
There are notes of joy from the hand-bird and wren, And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by.
The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green vale, And there they stretch to the frolie chase, And there they roll on the easy gale.
There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea
And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles On the dewey earth that smiles in his ray On the leaping waters and gay young isles; Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.
—William Cullen Bryant.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Oak

THE OAK.
A gentleman once stood before an oak tree pondering deeply. Nine miles from the coast of Cornwall lay some dangerous rocks on which many a brave ship had been wrecked. Twice a lighthouse had been erected upon them, and twice destroyed. On what plan could he build a new one, which should stand firm through storm and tempest? The oak tree stands for hundreds of years; branch after branch may be broken off, but never the oak. Mr. Smeaton wondered if it was not the peculiar shape, the broad base and curving waist, that made this tree so strong. He went away, and in 1759 the new Eddystone Lighthouse was built, broad at the base and sloping upwards like the trunk of the oak tree; and it stands firm to this day.—Mrs. Dyson.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Spring Time

THE SPRING TIME.
I love to trace the break of Spring step by step. I love even those long rain-storms, that sap the icy fortunes of the lingering winter,—that melt the snows upon the hills, and swell the mountain brooks.
I love the gentle thaws that you can trace, day by day, by the strained snow-banks, shrinking from the grass; and by the quiet drip of the cottage eaves. I love to search out the sunny slopes under some and when the first Hepeticas, or the faint blush of the Arbutus, in the midst of the bleak March atmosphere, will teach your heart, like a hope of Heaven in a field of graves. Later come those soft, smoky days, when the patches of winter grain show green under the shelter of leafless woods, and the last snow drifts reduced to shrunken skeletons of ice, lie upon the slope of northern hills, leaking away their life. Then the grass at your door grows into the color of sprouting grain, and the buds upon the lilacs swell and burst. The old elms throw down their thin dingy flowers, and color their spray with green; and the brooks when you throw your worm or the minnow float down whole fleets of the crimsoning blossoms of the maple. Finally the oaks step into the opening quadrille of spring, with grayish tufts of a modest verdure, which by and by will be long and glossy leaves.—Ike Marvel.
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# Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The Woods

THE WOODS.
The woods at first convey the impression of profound repose, and yet, if you watch their ways with open ear, you find the life which is in them is restless and nervous as that of a woman; the little twigs are crossing and twining and separating like slender fingers that cannot be still, the stray leaf is to be flattened into its place like a truant curl; the limbs sway and twist, impatient of their constricted attitude; and the rounded masses of foliage swell upward and subside from time to time with long soft sighs, and, it may be, the falling of a few raindrops which had lain hidden among the deeper shadows.—Oliver Wendell Holmes.
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# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume VI/The Letters of St. Jerome/Letter 83

Letter LXXXIII. From Pammachius and Oceanus.
A letter from Pammachius and Oceanus in which they express the perplexity into which they have been thrown by Rufinus’s version of Origen’s treatise, On First Principles (see Letter LXXX.) and request Jerome to make for them a literal translation of the work. Written in 399 or 400 a.d.
1. Pammachius and Oceanus to the presbyter Jerome, health.
A reverend brother has brought to us sheets containing a certain person’s translation into Latin of a treatise by Origen—entitled περὶ ἀρχῶν. These contain many things which disturb our poor wits and which appear to us to be uncatholic. We suspect also that with a view of clearing the author many passages of his books have been removed which had they been left would have plainly proved the irreligious character of his teaching. We therefore request your excellency to be so good as to bestow upon this particular matter an attention which will benefit not only ourselves but all who reside in the city; we ask you to publish in your own language the abovementioned book of Origen exactly as it was brought out by the author himself; and we desire you to make evident the interpolations which his defender has introduced. You will also confute and overthrow all statements in the sheets which we have sent to your holiness that are ignorantly made or contradict the Catholic faith. The writer in the preface to his work has, with much subtlety but without mentioning your holiness’s name, implied that he has done no more than complete a work which you had yourself promised, thus indirectly suggesting that you agree with him. Remove then the suspicions men cannot help feeling and confute your assailant; for, if you ignore his implications, people will say that you admit their truth.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume VI/The Letters of St. Jerome/Letter 87

Letter LXXXVII. From Theophilus to Jerome.
Theophilus informs Jerome that he has expelled the Origenists from the monasteries of Nitria, and urges him to shew his zeal for the faith by writing against the prevalent heresy. The date of the letter is 400 a.d.
Theophilus, bishop, to the well-beloved and most loving brother, the presbyter Jerome. The reverend bishop Agatho with the well-beloved deacon Athanasius is accredited to you with tidings relating to the church. When you learn their import I feel no doubt but that you will approve my resolution and will exult in the church’s victory. For we have cut down with the prophet’s sickle certain wicked fanatics who were eager to sow broadcast in the monasteries of Nitria the heresy of Origen. We have remembered the warning words of the apostle, “rebuke with all authority.” Do you therefore on your part, as you hope to receive a share in this reward, make haste to bring back with scriptural discourses those who have been deceived. It is our desire, if possible, to guard in our days not only the Catholic faith and the rules of the church, but the people committed to our charge, and to give a quietus to all strange doctrines.

## Footnotes

* ↑ Joel iii. 13.
* ↑ Tit. ii. 15.