The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-27

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| ". But WHAT OF THE VICTIM?
WHAT ARE HIS CONVERSATIONS?
Suppose the air is purified by
lightning, what of the man that was
struck Suppose the earth saved by
an earthquake, what OF those who
went down9 Suppose the mistakes
and accidents that happen are means
of education and safety to the world
at large-what of those who persisted?
What of those who are left to mourn
1. The acorld of nature and hu-
manity are made of one stuff. Hon.
is 1t that great principles are ad-
RANGED? Is 1t not by suffering and
death?
Does not the atonement run
through all things? Is not liberty
fact everywhere A man dies at the
stake, and then others exam
inc and adopt what he had to say.
How is it that liberty is secured?
Men give up their lives in battle.
Is that love on the part of God any
less which permits man to be rended
in tornado, than the love which per-
mits him to be stricken down in bat
tle7 Is the love less which permits
him to be swallowed up in an earth
quake than the love which permits
him to die at the stake for truth
Are those specially honored who die
at the stake or on the field of battle?
Why are not the victims of disaster
also to be held in honor? Not that
they purposely designed to accom-
plish what they did, but that they
served as though they knew it not?
May we not conceive of them as look
ing back and being satisfied with the
outcome? May they not even rejoice
that their death served the magnifi-
cent purpose of the worlds greater
safety and happinesss Verestchagen
says that, "After Shipka, everyone
kept holiday except the dead" But
another asks, "Who dares to say that
the dead men were not glad that all
the banners foated triumphant
there?"
That one life should be tributary
to another,-to some larger and
stronger life, is fact in which many
who give themselves to others, re-
joice. They are glad to say, "Let me
find in the work may do, my rec
ompense; let me interpret my own
SORROWS in the light of his success!"
There are many unselfish enough to
be willing that what brings pain and
loss to them shall be made helpful to
others. Do not parents lose them
selves in their children9 How many
give up their personal hopes and am
billions that they may find in their
children all they had hoped and
dreamed for themselves! For years
they deny themselves; for years they
toll to educate and train for useful
ness a son or daughter in whose
achievement they find their own glory
and honor. So friend often gives
himself to friend. Why may not
those who fall in any way that others
might live, experience in the life to
come the satisfaction of knowing that
they did not die in vain? that their
fate served the onward march of the
race they left behind9
| believe that it is SO. If on the
mount of eternal triumph martyrs
exult that their blood became the
seed of the church, that the flames
which consumed them gave light by
which the world spelled out the truth
of God, l see not why the victims of
storm or holocaust should not be glad
in all that they contribute to the
serenity and peace of the world. l
believe that those who went down
into the chasm of the earthquake re-
ioice that for that disaster the earth
became firmer under other feet. |
believe that the victims of accident
rejoice that the very calamity in which
they persisted became at last the
means of preventing calamity for
thousands. Thus they have their re-
ward; it is their crown and glory that
the pathway of humanity's progress
is marked by their blood.
2. Let as learn this also: There is
no true life or happiness for the midi
uiduol apart from the race. Let us
remember it when we mourn.
Who are we that we should stand
bargain with God for our own safety
and prosperity, apart from the safety
and prosperity of others9 Who are
we that we should say, "Let the bolt
strike where it will, so that it comes
not nigh my dwellingl Let death
enter where he will, SO that the cradle
and couch in nv house be exemptP'