Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-01
SOMETHING TO RELY UPON.
BY ELLA WHEELER.

Reading and hearing SO much
about New Religion and Old Re-
hgion, ideal and practical Religious
researches and out looks and retro
spects, has filled me with a sort of
wondering surprise at the world of
intellectual people.
| can easily comprehend how, and
why, the multitude of thinkers have
grown weary of Sunday sermons
from orthodox pulp1ts, and all the
cant and wrangle over sects and
creeds and denominations. But I
do not understand why so many
seem stranded on islands of doubt
and unbelief, or why SO many more
are laundering in the waste of wa
tiers, reaching out after every float
ing straw, or imaginary straw, when
a good ship lies near them ready to
give them pleasant state rooms and
safe voyage.
think it was the SPEcTRoscoPE
or some contributor to the SPECTRE
SCOPE, who said a few weeks ago,
the world had reached a point where
it demanded new Religion, find
ing the old insufficient for it's needs.
And again l wondered how this
could be. Because the ministers of
the Gospel are narrow and bigoted;
because the church-going people
keep all their religion for Sunday,
and talk gossip and scandal week
days, must we doubt the teachings
of Christ, and reach for something
new?
Because dozen pupils have
scrawled a dozen blotted limitations
below Spencerian copy in pen
manship, shall the thirteenth pupil
declare the Spencerian style worth
less and poor?
Very likely I am nothing of a
Philosopher; presume have little
of the Scientific about me, and per-
haps | have not an inquiring mind.
But this l do know, that the simple,
direct and unauthorized teachings
Of Christ esus, s'to love thy broth
er as myself" "to do as ye would be
done by" to task and receive" ssto
strive to be perfect even as the Mas
ter is perfect" sto ask whatsoever
ye willin my name" These teach
ings do know, free from all muf-
filings and wrapping Of demonina-
tons and sects, will strengthen a
spirit for any conflict, and give to
the mind the Peace that passeth I'M
derstanding.
Once taken as life motto and
guide, they will lift the soul above
the possibility of doubt or despair;
they will widen and enlarge the
realm of thought SO that ali humani-
ty finds room therein; they will
brace the back and strengthen the
brain and hands, till the most ardu-
Gus of labors are completed, and
without the aid of sermon or pray
er book; these simple truths will
grid soul up to pass thought the
bltterest and darkest of sorrows
without once being cast down; they
will make the every day life beauti-
full, aud keep back the fretful words
and petulant tone. They make labor
beautiful, sorrow sweet and life glor-
ious. They do away withithe posi-
bility of vain glorying, or envious
strife and emulation, and yet urge
the soul on to the grandest of labors
and accomplishments .sfor his names
sake" They soften criticism and
silence hasty judgment, increase the
generous impulses, and beautify the
plainest faces. This and more, will
the love for, and faith in the pure
teachings of Christ do for man. So
much I know, and not all the
Science, or Philosophy researches,
or new discoveries can take from me
the glorious certainty of this kaowl-
edge and experience.
Being no respector of. person;