The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1895-03-29
Cease Worrying.

New York Herald.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
Matthew, vi, 81.
Circumstances have very little to
do with human happiness We labor
under the impression that if we could
have our own way and create our own
environment we should be continually
contcnted, but the impression has no
basis in fact. Indeed, the plainest of
all truths-if we think seriously on the
SUBJECTS that we are independent
of everything except our own souls.
If the soul is bright and CHEEKY, a
simple geranium on the window sill
will give US pleasure, whereas to the
soul that has formed the habit of
fault-fndinga whole conservatory can
furnish no enjoyment. In the last
analysis, therefore, neither wealth
nor poverty has very much to do with
your happiness or misery, because the
source of both lies in yourself. There
are people who would not be satisfied
if they were seated next to the Throne
in heaven, and there are others who
have that within them which would
make even a corner in purgatory COM
Portable.
Now, the purpose Of religion is to
give YOU peace Of mind amid the incv-
liable hardships of life. If it fails to
accomplish this result you may be
sure that your religion is a counter
felt or that you do not know how to
use it to the best advantage.
AS there is always music in the
harp when skilled fingers strike the
strings, so there is always happiness
in religion when it is properly under
stood and as the harp is worse
than useless instrument when ignor-
ance produces discord, 50 religion Is a
mere caricature of itsclf when IA man
pretends to have faith in God, but
finds fault with everything He does.
If you have thoroughly convinced
yourself that the Captain of the ship
will carry you across the ocean in spite
of waves and tempests, you can watch
the lowering clouds with Il serene
sense of security-not without de-
gree of tremulous anxiety, perhaps,
but certainly without any fear that
matters will not come out at the
end OF the voyage. On the other
hand, II you have suspicion that the
Captain is not equal to the emergen-
cy, and rather regret that you took
passage in His vessel, you keep your
self in wretched state of mind until
the anchor drops on the other side.
], Therein lies the difference between a
religion which you fully accept and a
religion which you only say you have
accepted.
No one doubts that to the great ma
jority of us life is hard and at times
almost unbcarablc. We are forced
into experiences which cut like a To
led0 blade, the soul Is wrenched in It's
effort to endure, the heart beats like 9
muflled drum, the eyes grow dim will
tears because we are on the way
to the grave Of some dead hope
a bitter disappointment stings us lik,
hornet, farewells are in the air ant
unanswered prayers smite us will
heavy blows. Who Of US have enjoyed
immunity from these Affections? l
is the common fate, and apparentl.
! an inexOrable necessity. EscaDe Il
: impossible, for there is no purchasing
: power in wealth, and the patheti
h plea of poverty avails nothing. King
and beggars, the cultured and the ig
norant, the high born and the lowl
born-one thing happens to us all.
What shall we say? Have we any
. thing to say? Is there anything tina
anybody can say?
If religion Is not pleasant dream
:. only, there is great deal to be salt
; and much to be done. II We have no
4 believed in vain, we can pass through
# fEthcse flames unscathed. II tile fait
e we have professed Is not delusion
we can master the situation an
r wiring from 1t hard earned victory
!, Circumstances may impede our prou
s ress, but they cannot prevent ou
u reaching the journeys end.
The soul conQucrs all things, but |
y never conquered. There Is in II a
element OF divinity. which disdain
the odds against itand seeks from tn
!, Almighty the energy which oyel
q comes. Religion alone can put you o
. borrowing terms with God. He lend
e to those who have faith, and who
God and a man fight the good tigh