Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-20

George C. Ball. Nineteenth street between
Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High
lands Telephone $685.
Must we in all things look for the how
and the why and the wherefore"
Why should we? Is life SO long, so I'M
burdened with duties that we can spend
our years in useless speculation? Is the
space between the day of our birth and
the day of our death so barren of posi-
bilities that there remains to US opportu-
nifty to question the providences which
fall to ur lot? There are limltless why's
and hows and wherefores to the unoccu-
pied 1t is the laggard who has time fon
questions that can never be answered; 1t
Is the idler who sits and Vainly wonders
while the rest of the world gathers the
sweets and makes the honey, content 10
accept the sunshine and flowers, even
though there be thorns and clouds. One
of the first great lessons of life to be
learned is to accept the why's and hows
and wherefores with faith in the hnal un-
tangling. You and l have been put on
this beautiful earth for some great pur-
pose for some ultimate good, and we are
required to fulfil our part in the divine
plan of the universe. What right have
we to frtter away the talents God has
given us, or to clog the way OF others
with doubts and questionings? You and
must accept the sphere in which we are
placed with a supreme faith in the God
who directs the affairs of the world and
also with an absolute belief that there
need be no limit to our Improvement OF
that sphere, provided we have the Will
and the mind and the heart for that hign
purpose.
Leave the enigmas to be solved by
those who have no object to attain ana
are Indifferent to the record they make
for the good of humanity. There can
come to mortal ears no satisfactory an
tO OJlr
light of eternity will it be seen that the
why's and the hows and the wherefores
had their object and wrought their work.
There is nothing for us to do bun TO press
forward always striving for the right,
content to leave in Gods hands the ques-
lions that can never be answered save by
Him and believing with an absolute
faith that finally justice triumphs.'
And deny it as we may, strive against
n as we may we cannot alter that law,
which will hold us responsible for the
manner in which we have used the tai
ents confded to us by our Creator. Ihe
immutable fiat stands, and 1t is just ana
right If God has given you genius in
any direction then you are thrice guilty
If 1t is buried In napkin because or
sloth or cynesm. Every man ana wo-
man have their place in the great whole
which constitutes the universe, and the
failure of you or me to fit in our posi-
lions makes not only blurred picture,
but destroys the harmony which God
intended should exist. So, my friends,
iusts let the why's and the hows and the
wherefores take care of themselves while
we take care of the tremendous POSSIBLE
tiles and opportunities that have been
given us by the God who made us. And
at the end, when the untangling comes,
we shall see
1.-THE world far below u.s.
Dark no longer, but all illumined with
love; and the pathway
Which we have climbed so far lying
smooth and fair in the distance"
The Episcopal convention at Minneap-
oils according to the kilograms OF last
Friday, came to vote on subject winch
caused much excitement among the cier-
CIV as well as laymen. And that subject
has been one of serious consideration for
many years with many members of the
Episcopal church. 1t is simply state
the proprety of granting to certain par
ishes the privilege of altering the liturgy
of that church to suit the apparent needs
of the members of particular parishes
DR.. Huntington's resolution granted to
bishops the authority to do this. Many
of the most faithful and devoted church
men objected seriously to this power be-
ing given to any minister, contending that
if the liturgy is deemed necessary and
right in other parishes there is no rea.
son that it should be altered to suit in
dividual needs. And this view of the
question seems emnently the correct
one One of the unfortunate conditions
of the Episcopal church at this time is
the variety of services employed in diff
ferent parts of the United States by the
different clergy. Either the regular rit-
ual of this church is right or 1t is not. If
right why alter it, if not right, why not
all parishes change it in the same way?
In many of the churches in large cities
1t is difficult to a casual visitor TO dis
tinguish between the ritual used and thaE
of the Roman Catholic church. In other
churches the services have a simplicity
utterly at variance with the ritual of the
Prayer Book. Those churches which
have attained the greatest growth and
power have adhered to the liturgy pre-
sccibed by the proper authorities in all
parts of the world, with scarcely jot
or little of change. Take those two great
bodies of Christians, the Methodists and
Roman Catholics-who could ever hest
tate to decide upon the particular denon-
ination upon entering their churches? So
It is with the Baptists and Presbyterians
They hold steadfast to their peculiar
forms of worship. believing them right
and proper and knowing that their sew
eral branches of the Christian church
have been selected by individual MEM
bers because their faiths and their SER
vices are preferred The agitation at
Minneapolis may result some day in a
regular Interchangeable liturgy, which