Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-07
2ELIG.oNIN COMMON LIFE.

| Mrs. Julia Ward Howe. by special re-
| quest OF the pastor, occupied the pulpit O.
/ the First Unitarian church Sunday morn.
| ing. Not only the seating capacity but tbs
standing room of the beautiful little hal
| where the church meets was fully tested
For one of the psalms the pastor, Rev. Mr..
Hoagland, read part Of her own Battle
Hymn" thinking, doubtless, that living
psalmist may be no less inspiring than a
dead one, especially when the singer is to
be the preacher for the occasion. Dear
friends" she said, "let Us pray" There
was something very sweet and touching,
uplifting and inspiring in her appeal &c
the Dear Father Of Us slln to guide Us IL
His ways.
Her sermon was Ike a day IN June,
clear, genial, serene, e1hilerating to every
pure emotion. One seemed lifted up as by
the tidaliwave Of a summer sea. IL was
strong without being emphatic Or volcan-
ic. 1t showed reserve force and controlled
strength. II was beautiful and tender
without being insipid or rhetorical. There
was nothing strained or forced. The mu-
sic Of her words came as naturally and
smoothly as the purljng Of the brook over
its pebbly path. Her subject was 'The
Power of Religion in Common Life" aud
was suggested and requested, she said, by
a very dear, sweet friend now passed
away, Miss Abby May, who wanted her TO
prepare it for one Of the National { nitari-
an conference meetings at Saratoga some
years ago.
The subject was treated under the three
divisions, gratitude, contrition, hope-
She spoke OF gratitude as the natural ex-
preston of a healthy soul, and the worth
TO ones self Of habit ofgratitude. Some
times the persons who have most are
least grateful The butterfly of fashion
who retires with sigh and sleeps only 70
begin the same rapid round next day Is
less grateful and less happy than the hard
working seamsuress who Is wise enough 70
preserve her souls health and sweetness by
daily act or feeling OF gratitude for the
blessings at her command. The freshness
Of the morning the beauty Of the hills and
the glory OF the silent stars, the treasures
Of friendship, the sweet and holy IN
fuences that come 70 Us il silent hours By
ways not understood, are al sufficient
ground for the feelings Of gratitude.
Classic art represents devotion standing
WIKI AQHH E65E Eyes. 6A4 -@8No SN-+%SA-
across the breast Bu. why should not
the upturned face and outstretchsd hand.
be al attitude IS reverent and religious,
The story Of the ter iepers describes bu-
man nature today. Give men health and
fortune aud they straightEay busy them
selves with their own selfshnsss and for
get % be grateful 20 anybody for any,
thing. The story OF Peter and Mary Nag
dalea represented different phases q graf
itude. One was erultsnt, the other
humble and o. co1trite heart. We al az
times are sensible, deeply sensible, OF cur
failures and mistakes We are conscious
Of not having thought, CT fslt, or acted ss
well IS We knew. Sometimes our IDEAL
towers so fair and high by Tire side c:
what we really are, that We fee Ike CIV
ing Up. Some people feel co1tritioa bat Il
works them 10 beneAL Hopeless eoatr.-
don Is q dead weight On tie other hao1
coutrtticn Tia: is Il: By oos heavsaly raY
Of hope gives impulse 20 lott-r tssliog
and noble. living. One cannot rl.e mil
he sees hov low Is Is and looks ADORE 70
TO the higher Life with loving desire a;
times We 1Ess walk tzroGg TIE DARK va
Lev g co1tritlo1, bet never let tat valley
Dc 70 Us q closed wall, OF that dzrkDszs
without souus ray q cheer and hope. Tie
power CT reIig goa il cCunoa life - tie
hors il br5ngs n dz-kss- hours. TIE peace
i whispers whea hearts are tSzched with
yr.et aasf faces stained wiki tear 4 re-
I.zIs- - NEEDED wA1ca gives al upllft
% TIE daily lie "A re4lgzoz q Eope
however, dAEk EEs coed o. AZ. soTsys,