The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-04

Everything in the universe, as no one
can fail to recognize, has its contrast
or opposite-its positive and negative
side or condition. Hence, there is order
as opposed to chaos space as to area !;
form as to shapelessness density as to
rarity; heat as to cold moisture as TO
dryness animate as to inanimate nat
ure the material as to the immaterial !;
animal as to vegetable life-and so on
could one go apparently indefinitely,
yet, in naming the different objects and
conditions of creation, ever finding, at
the same time, their opposites and mega
tives.
Thus, in animate-that is, living Gre
atiou-is found death as the opposite
to life. While, again, life, and with
special reference to man, has its right
and wrong things and conditions its
bright and dark side its times of pros
perity, and also adversely.
Relevantly, it is certainly matter of
ready acknowledgements fact, one of
clear experience to all of us-that we
can seemingly, and naturally, live indef-
initely and uncomplainingly the bright
side of life, and accept cheerfully and
contentedly all the prosperity that may
come to us; while, on the other hand,
when darkness and adversely overtake
us, we invariably shrink from them
with dread, and not infrequently dis
heartened and almost in despair. But,
be this SO, there can be no doubt but
that these are natural feelings, and
that the satisfaction and peace derived
from the one, and the gloom and tend
ency to despair attached to the other,
are well calculated to prompt US to
strive for and hold fast to the former
rising above adverse conditiOns-com-
ing out Of darkness into light. Yet,
contemplating human nature, i'll the
vivid light of experience, it can but be
observed, that though prosperity and
happiness are, without doubt, the
most natural and congenial to us not
withstanding that, it is the dark
hours, in whatever direction in life,
which reveal and test the character and
strength Of a person. AS must be real
lied, any one can be strong in times of
sunshine and success, when one is there
fore free from trouble, or trial, or dis
appointment, or sorrow, or suffering.
1t is the occasions of misfortune and
detection, however, which try one, and
bring out the material one is made of.
The soldier around the camp fire, be-
fore the battle, when there are no can
non balls, or shells, or bullets flying,
and hence, no immediate danger to be
encountered, may tell his comrades
what deeds of valor he will perform in
the coming fight, and may endeavor to
picture himself to them as decided
hero; but it is the actual engagement
that will tell the story-that will prove
him.
An instance in the life of Thomas
Carlyle furnishes an example most
noteworthy and pertinent. After years
of patient and untiring labor, he had at
last succeeded in completing his His
tory of the French Revolution" A
literary friend desiring to read the man.
uscript, Carlyle loaned it to him. The
next morning, finding it on the floor,
and taking it to be nothing but waste
paper, and hence of no value, a servant
made use of it to kindle the parlor and
kitchen fires with. Here was the labori-
GUS work of years now totally destroyed.
1t would simply be impossible to de-
scribe, or even attempt to imagine what
must have been the feelings of Carlyle
on learning of the destruction of his
manuscript. Though driven well-nigh
to despair, yet he arose equal to his
great misfortune, rewriting, and, it is
said, almost entirely from memory, the
whole work. Wherefore Carlyle's mas
terpiece which has contributed so largely
to his fame in the world as writer.
The life and mission of Christ, so full
of constant Universities, afford us an
other and supreme example. Though
sorely beset, yet how in the sublimity
of his godly nature did he rise above
and overcome every unfortunate vicis-
situde. And 50 with the apostles and
early fathers of Christianity. They
showed themselves to be sterling types
of men whom every dark event of life
found ever courageous, strong, and true.
While, further on, Savonarola, John
Huss and Martin Luther proved them
selves men whose strength seemed
strongest in their darkest hours. There
fore, it has invariably been that men
who have triumphed in their undertake
ings, be they secular or religious, have
ever manifested the strength of their
character in the most respondent times
of their efforts.
In like manner, Of course, does the
theme apply to people, institutions and
organizations of whatever kind-their
true worth, durability and strength can
best be discovered in days of adversely.
In Greece, upon mountain overlook
ing the plain of Marathon, two thou
sand three hundred and seventy-fve
years ago, was assembled a little army
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