The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-23

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concentrate our thoughts and aims
upon ourselves, our own interests,
our own happiness, persistently closing
our eyes to the needs of those around
us, children of common Father, and,
therefore our brothers and sisters, our
hearts will narrow and harden; our
aims become groveling, and finally our
capacity for love and happiness be lost.
The Selfshness which we all find lurk-
ing in our natures might be eradicated
if we early began to cherish and exer-
else sympathy for others, following the
precept and example of our bles
Master of whose divine as well as
human nature we are partakers.
Superstition and tradition for ages
checked intellet tual grow tn, making
our very cor scientiousness bar to our
enlargement. While we believed it a
sin to allow a doubt of what we had
been taught of the character of God
and the duty he required of Us to
enter the mind, though our reason and
instincts rebelled against it, how could
we grow into an appreciation of his
love and justice? Our religion was
one Of fear, doubt and dependency;
but, thanks to the courage and firmness
of those who first threw off the tram
mels of superstition and dogma, we
have come out into broader light, and
our hearts expand in our growing per
ception of the love and wisdom of our
Creator, as a flower does in the sun
light.
Unhealthy growths are sometimes
developed in the body which show dis
eased conditions, and, if not removed,
will absorb the nourishment which
should build it up till the vital force S
are destroyed. Growths orrespond-
ing to these may also be found in the
heart. Among the most prominent
are vanity, envy and jealousy; if al
lowed to grow they will distort our
thoughts and sentiments till our hearts
become hot-beds of disease, and all pure
and lofty thoughts and affections are
stified within us. The preacher of the
doctrine of total depravity would tell
us that these sirs are born with us, and
that the only way to rid ourselves of
the hateful load is to cast it on the one
who of all the human race alone came
into the world pure and spotless.
But we will take the broader view of
the Christian scientist, and look upon
health of mind and body as the natural
condition, in which we may live if we
will to do 50, and obey the laws which
nature lays down for our guidance and
which may be comprehended and intel
ligently acted upon.
But even to the Christian death
comes, and we are powerless to resist
his call. The body has done its work,
the senses grow dull, the vigor lessons
day by day till the worn-out frame,
with all vitality departed, returns to
the dust. In the spiritual life we find
no such signs of decay. The last look
the mother casts on her children is as
full of love as when she frs t pressed in
her own their baby fingers; the patience
and sympathy that have through long
years grown up in her soul still flow
from the pale lips while they can utter
a word, and the "peace that passeth
unders tanding' lies on the marble
brow when life has fled. Is not this
one proof of the immortality of the
soul? that it does not perish with the
body, but passes into that everlasting
kingdom where we hope still to grow
till we have reached a perfection that
seems impossible here.
LOUISE PEARSON.
Woodlalcn Park, III.
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