The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-03

indeed no counselor whom we can so
little trust as he who feeds us continu-
ally on hope. Said minister not long
since to layman, intimating that their
church should reach out for stronger
hold upon spirituality, 81 positively
forbid your speaking to me upon
church matters. L never leave you
without feeling Of Encouragement.
Have L not labored with all my might
in this parish and built up splendid
membership? Have we not outgrown
these narrow walls, which but short
time back would have held three times
the number we had to fill them? What
would you have? No, no, 1 will not
hear your fault-fnding. Others offer
me the encouragement which L must
and will have" 1t matters not to us
as regards the case in point, whether
minister or layman was in the right.
The illustration points to the overload
ed tendency in man to grasp at hope
and shun every disagreeable feature of
effort, even if based upon truth.
Dare we content ourselves with hope
full views only? Do we not grow only
through profound discouragements?
and are the highest ideals of life ever
set for us by the great masses, or do
these pronounce success upon super
fetal grounds? And, above all, may we
not justly tremble should we lack that
true friend coming to US like an accus-
ing conscience, and bidding US go up
higher-higher, spite of the thorns
along the way.
Another typical case of dangerous
optimism is that of the potent individ-
uality who finds his limitations in his
environment. Your friend has soul
stirred to divine harmonies by music.
He has no money, no influence, posi-
tion or aught that will bring to him the
musical culture which is his by the
right of inborn genius. But the soul
within him stirs, pleads to be heard.
Without the necessary preparatory tut
tion he composes, and his work, though
breathing with the spirit of power, is
full of faults. 1t falls dead born from
the press. An infallible instinct told
him the truth, but only part of it.
He realizes he has not his due, without
appreciating the terrible incubus under
which he labors. The sequel is one of
two results. Either our musician be-
Games a fierce WOrld-hater and icOno-
clast, or settles back upon the principle
of self-hood-he submits to a humdrum
life with the optimist's consoling refec-
tion that the gods judge not of results,
| but o. the spirit prompting them--6hc
hermit shall be exalted though he scrub
his floor, polish his stove and bake his
own bread, provided that all be con-
scientiously, aye, artistically done-the
motive "makes that and the action
fine." Is the pessimist not right when
he pronounces this a most dangerous
doctrine, declaring that he truly de-
serves the highest commendation who
polishes his stove superbly, if he have
not superior undeveloped capabilities
which, if he have and feed them not,
the curses Of the gods shall fall merci-
lessly, aye, justly upon his head.
The solution of the whole problem is
that we must not lose sight of our line
of direction, but along that work, how
ever laboriOusly, however YEARLY, yet
unfalteringly; that not only must we
not lose sight of this line, but pursue
| it along the most elevated plains-like
a banner lift it aloft, up, up far above
us, that it may not be trailed in the
dust of conflict, but draw our footsteps
to the nObler levels of life. Thus may
we mark the line between too fatter-
ing optimism and too despairing pes
simism, for after all the world is al
ways young to him whose heart is
| young, and our aged enthusiasts need
never give up that, to most people,
youthful penchant reforming the old
world.
The dear old world, yes, the good
old world Growing every day more
beautiful and better; and judging by
her heritage to past generations, what
shall be her bequest to the future2 We
alone can tell, as we weave the flowing
robes with which we shall sweep down
the coming centuries. The gems of
brotherhood and humanity already
sparkle in her diadem, but in a tissue
of what fine, firm, yet tender fiber shall
she, mOther-like, warmly enwrap the
grown-up children of the future years?
Strength and honor are her vestments
and she shall rejoice in time to come. -
AGN0STIOISM AND THE FUTURE
LIFE.