The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-04
Special Contributors.
THE MISSION OF THE SNOWFLAKE.
BY REV. M. ID. SHUTTER.
(Minneapolis.)


(Minneapolis)
1t was upon this wise: after diving
deep into my inner consciousness, if
haply I might find some pearl of an
idea; after vainly seeking inspiration
in books, and getting from much study
only "weariness of the flesh, ,"-I turned
to my window and looked out upon the
storm, as the fakes were whirled by
the wind among the dark and barren
branches of the trees along the street.
l watched, as slowly the snow gathered
npon walks and streets, and roofs of
houses, and
''The poorest twig on the elm-t1ee
Was ridged inch-deep with pearl"
until at last it all seemed pure, white
page Of the gospel, fresh from the Divine
hand. "He saith to the snow, Be thou
upon the earth"
1t surely is charged with some mes
sage from Him, for, 'tfire and hail, snow
and vapor, and stormy wind, fulfill his
word" The Almighty is represented as
asking Job, "Hast thou entered into
the treasures of the snow p'' Perhaps
he meant to ask whether Job had wis
dom enough to find out the secret store
house from which the snow came. But
we may ask, "Hast thou discovered the
wealth of meaning in its flakes Hast
thou entered into this treasure of the
snow ?" The snow-storm is revela-
tion of God. It teaches asweeter the
ology than that of Augustine and Cal
vim, and something higher than bread
and butter morality.
Old prophets and teachers did not
fear to read nature face to face, nor did
they fail to find God there. They did
not feel that they were getting away
from him when they stood enraptured
among his works. Their hearts were
stirred more deeply, and they struck
from their harps more triumphant
chords, when they beheld his great and
manifold works, and knew that in wis
dom he had made them all.
The psalmist looked out as the dainty
fakes fluttered through the still air of
Judea. and sang, HE giveth snow like
wool, soft and fleecy, so gently
did it fall, robing the valley in dazzling
garments, and setting crown Of light
upon the sacred hill. "As the rain
cometh down and the snow from
heaven" exclaimed Isaiah, land re-
turneth not thither, but watereth the
earth, and maketh it bring forth and
bud, that it may give seed to the sower
and bread to the eater; so shall my
word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth" jeremiah drew instruction
for the people from "the SHOWS of Leb-
anon." Some of Solomon's proverbs
come from similar source. "As snow
in summer, and as rain in harvest, so
honor is not seemly for fool" 1t is
very much out of place, and yet he
sometimes gets it-even from wise men.
Modern poets and prophets have also
found inspiration in the flying flakes
and drifted banks. Emerson has de-
scription of the storms arrival, "an-
nounced by all the trumpets Of the
sky" We cannot forget the pictures
in Whittier's well-known poem, for we
have all seen the realities. Bryant has
sung of the "clouds that from their still
skirts had shaken down on earth the
feathery snow and all was white" There
is an exquisite poem in Lowell on the
"First Snowfall" !" in which he sees a
reminder of great sorrow, and also a
lesson of patience and trust:
81 thought of a mound in sweet Auburn,
Where little head-stone stood;
How the flakes were folding it gently
AS did robins the babes in the wood"
We sometimes forget that God is
anywhere but in the spring-time and
summer; that he shows himself in
aught save the grass of the field, and
the lily of the valley. But a snowflake
is as wonderful and beautiful thing
as a rose. Marvelously is each one
fashioned into stellar shape, shooting
out its six rays alive with the glory of
Him who lighted the stars overhead.
1t does not seem presumptuous to
project into winter the lesson Jesus
taught when he said, "If God so clothe
the grass of the field ~ The grass of
the field is gone to-day, but here is this
feathery tuft of snow. If God so care
FULLY and skillfully fashion that, if he