The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-15
CHRISTIANS AS OPTIMISTS
Bishop Walden, of Cincinnati, Explains
the Tendency of Natures Forces.
They Move to the Good Of Those Who Love
CODA Widely.known Churciman in
the Pulpit Of Roberts Park Church.

Bishop John NJ. Walden. of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. preached ut Roberts
Park NJ. 4. Church yesterday morning.
delivering q discourse as bright with
optimism as q spring day. He prefsced
bis theme with a few Thoughts on
optimism, pr~oclaiming all true Christians.
true patriots, true fathers and true
husbands as stanch ty pes of optImists.
His text was from Rom ans viii. %: And
we know all things work together for good
to them that love God. TO them who are
called according TO His purpose" This
verse, the Bishop said. was one of the
three climaxes of this wonderful chapter.
1t showed the high optimism Of the
Scriptures.
The Christian was always hopeful. con-
tinued the Bishop. for he knows all things
work to the good. the great end. The les
sons from this chapter of Romans taught
the SPECIAL providence and oversight of
God over those who trusted Him. Christ
taught this providence in the beautiful
lesson wherein He told men that every hair
of their head was aum bered. All things
are so constituted that they work together
for the good OF men that love God. These
things do not move of their own volition
IN isolated instances; they move together
only for those that love the Lord. Ma
terial and moral things have a varied
influence on men. for much depends on the
character of the men themselves. He who
il controlled by the spirit sees the wonder
full working OF all things TO his good. One
man may stand entranced By a beautiful
picture. while another passes it by with
only a careless glance; one sees and profits
by the art and beauty of the painting. the
other loses all that is to be gained from
the work of art. The wealth of the world
depends upon our capacities to appreciate
il. One woman loses her child and walls
in great sorrow, another. who loves the
Lord. resignedly mutters: The Lord Civ
eth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be
the name of the Lord" The Christian
done. and she knows that all things work
together for her good and the good OF the
baby.
bishop Walden believes the apostle also
had q deeper meaning and thought when
he altered the words recited. God had HIS
children in mind when tie constituted the
things about us. The minerals. the trees
and all things that fill or garnish the earth
work for US and have a special adaptation.
besides merely contributing to our physical
comforts. The search for the minerals and
the discovery of new forces develop the In
~tellects of men. and in making the minds
greater the moral side of mems natures is
DEVELOPED Had God merely intended the
kpiu III NhiuoOiCo VI VIC IA nc y buppiS
for mans comfort. why did He not scatter
them on the surface. where they could be
had for the taklngi The world is built for
man as he is. but God had a higher idea in
making man than to make hIn for this
earth alone. The earth ia n probationary
field adapted To his physical wants; nc was
not given him. however, as a place simply
for residence. but as a theater for his re-
demDtion. The apostle had broad views
when he said that all things work to the
end of them that love God.
1t becomes apparent. continued the
Bishop, that moral forces dominate all
forces in the world. Honesty is the best
policy" an adage that has SO often stood
dence OF this fack. The moral are stronger
than the material laws. The Creator had
the moral we'll being and destiny OF his
creatures in mind when He made the
world for them. Faith is q great moral
law. and it forms the basis of prayer. IL is
SO great that 1t is made the complement of
redemption. Love. or the spirit of God
flooding the hearts, makes oil things work
to mans ultimst end-to prepare him for
another world. The process was COM
pared . by the Bishop to the
coming of intelligence to 3 young baby.
The loving ones gathered about the little
child think OF him as n future man. and
watch each trial and each DEVELOPMENT of
the infant. SO the Lord sees the possihiii-
ties of q great sonl and thinks of the des
tiny of manhood. The parents of an infant
do not plan Tor the years OF childhood, but
plan for the after years of success when the
child shall lave become a man. Thus God
is planning for his children and subordiuat-
ing everything TO their spiritual success.
Bishop Walden will remain in the city
for q few days before returning to Cincin-
natl.
New Church In the Manufacturing District.
The members of the Second Presbyterian
Church have purchased q handsome lot on
the corner of West and Catherine streets,
and will, this morning. break ground for q
new church building. which will be at
tractive. and will be Appreciated nv the
mechanics and iaborers who reside in that
part of the city. The plans mean the erec-
ton of q church costing nearly Sl0.O 600.
one which will be q credit to the Second
Presbyterian Church people. and an orna-
ment to that part of the city.
WAGNERIAN MUSIC.