The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-02
OUR SUNDAY SERMON.

OUR SUNDAY SERMON.
Somewhere between the periumed couch
e. of Svbaris and the stern shadows ri
that Athenian porch where Emo taught.
lies the true philosophy oi life. The
dreamy vOluptuarieS sOOnaiound the loss oi
misery beneath the ruby bushes of their
wine, and the warm, sensitive hearts oi
men never could wear the iron creed oil
the StOics. Pleasure crowns herself only
To die, and stoicism is accepted defeat, and
50 neither touches the goal that makes life.
worth living.
The rising star Oi Bethlehem touched
the sad brow Of Paganism with golden
light, but now, after nineteen centuries Of
filling splendOr, the banner III the Cali
lean seems to have passed to zenith and
>cepiicism arises like a cloudy spectre in
the west. The armament oi thought Is
already ol,~cured by Il misty veil OF nebu-
lOhs ideas, and a vague alarm shakes the
foundations oi the church. But what
ever becomes Of the fabric oi our belief.
the doctrines OF Christ, 50 far Us they pre-
sent rule of action for the hearts and
hands nj the race are true and eternal.
Were they civilized in the lives If men
the domain of happiness would extend Ia
its utmost limits, and the shadows OF
SORROW would only linser in the last cas-
ties Of the Olden curse. As il Is, our
lamps go out and We wander i'm crooked
ways. We have not found. or do not prac-
tice and pursue the true philosophy OF
life.
What is that philosophy Il is the art
vi moderate living, having for its Object,
generally, the greatest good To the greatest
number; and especially the greatest good
within the attainment Of each individual
Ii is philosophy that can only blossom
and bear fruit in the fragrant atmosphere
oil ireedOnl. All the positive laws of So
cieiv should >lb>erve it by maintaining =
proper balance al rights and duties. and
restraining a> lar a. possible the unequal
dency oi affairs is towards the agyrandize-
nient Of icw and the deba>ement Oi the
many. but Il wise government will contin-
ually cOunteract il aud preserve q COM
mon level of prosperity.
1t is in individual lives. however, that
the fruits al moderate living are most
beautifully displayed. In toll and recrea-
alton, in pleasure and in pain, We mus,
strive to keep tina, safe, middle way which
Pheaton so fatally iOrsook We cannot re-
turn to the idle dalliance OF Eden, for the
swords OF flame still wheeled around its
brazen gates the delusion Of the Sybarites
was q poisoned flower that faded long ago
under the soft skies OF Italy and the dark
nihilism OF the disciples OF ZenO has per-
ished from the earth. But we can accept
life ~ we find it, and turning lightly to the
duties that lie nearest, learn to labor with
method and moderation, and take our pleas
ures always within the limits Of reason
able restraint. The majority Of men look
to the future Tor some fanciful recOmpense
Of their tolls and weave no flowers about
the present. The fine line Of Pope.
Man never is. bu, always to be tleSt,
is practically true.
But it is an artificial truth, not the order
Of nature, and those who turn away from
the good that lies around them to pursue
the tricky phantom Of hope, find nothing
at the end OF life but the grave. Each day
has its rewards as we'll rs cares, and the
wine of JOY must be quafied as il flows, or
not at all. We must curb the fell fury Of
the passions that whip us naked through
the world, and WOO all tranquil pleasures
to our side. II Is fit, too, that we deck the
passing hour with garlands. since it is the
only estate we have in all the wide empire
of time. The fierce labor that brands the
brow, and the fiery ambition that consumes
the heart win no trophies but the un-
fruitful flowers OF death. All else is sound
and sham.
In America the vast energies that laid the
foundation OF the Republic and built its
cleaning turrets to the stars have been nj
repOse. The currents III activity must settle
into smooth channels. The sights Of times
are indeed propitiOus for healthier and
happier moods Of life. The nervous craze
III the national character will Soon be
modified. The reflective age is ut hand.
Already the various labor guides are NOV
ing for shorter hours III work. They de-
mand larger leisure fOrSocial and domestic
pnjoym and they will get it, The
race for wealth will subsile into the genial
industries that support u complacent and
existence the arts and sciences
will flourish literature will put forth the
golden tendrils of q better growth: and
will arise from the dust in which
The rush Of the formative years has tram
pied them.