The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-17

There is no need of satirizing Puritanism
to-day. Indeed did the Puritan ever live
of our early ages? 1t is so easy. forsooth,
to take the good things OF God, and be
thankful for them. Are not cheerfuiness
and contentment. generosity and good ma
tuie. happiness ana enjoyment OF life, viz
tues? Are they not Christian virtues? Why
not possess them. if one can? Is not heav-
OF course, yet pleasure getting after all?
Why not, then, anticipate heaven? Why
Is this not good logic, and do not good
PEOPLE use liz Surely religion should be
entertaining in the present II II Is to enter
be life, then life Should be entertaining.
If, then, life be thus good, the more or life
the better. Subtle-oh how subtle-is that
view CT existence which substitutes getting
for becoming. wearing for winning, the
10Y of possession for the joy of attainment.
ihen surely reward is pIeasure' Why Wait Wait
Tor God TO reward you hereafter, II you
can reward yourself to-day? Why not save
Him the trouble? But the nemesis comes,
sometimes later, often sooner. The apple
OF Sodom, tasted, leaves only bitterness.
satisfaction gives full rein under the lash
Is ennui at least. alas. not disgust simply
at most. The cup is drunk, 10! dregs are
the end of life. How life cheats us! how
existence mocksl Let us then play our game
as best we may. Why not checkmate life?
Why not overreach her, so far indeed as
possible-and jump the life TO come? At
victimized in the race. Let US laugh while
they follow the mirage. And so-all too
cynic. The taker of the gift has forgotten
the gver. only to doubt, and then deny,
both giver and gift.
NO HOLLOW MOCKERY.
But as yet this goal is not reached.
AS yet existence is not a hollow mockery,
a trick of fate. To-day. existence is pleas
ure getting simply. And now to this mod
puts the great inquiry. 'Believest thou in
life? What shall be his reply? What do
we in fact find il to be? Is it not in sub
L? Life is too long, it reaches too far
Why discount to-day. old age, trial and
sorrow? The sere and yellow leaf is not
pleasant. Why strain ones vision to take
in this? No, / believe in the present mo-
ment. in what is now here. Let me be con-
tent with that. Let me construct my world
of springtme. and flowers. and songs of
birds. What is the use of autumn and WIN
least. There is a class, increasingly large,
fear, who are ready TO say: Jesus by
He made sthe world a battlefield. L had
rather it should be a ballroom. He was
ever meeting the miserabie-the blind. the
Ate. all. is not the world for one about
what you make it? Why make it. then,
nSuse or a PeI minimize aH asym o
and sin, sickness and death. and then let
US close our eyes to this minimum; No. |
breadth. in its heighth and depth. Pluck
the day and wear 1t on your bosom.
Loss of virility, lack of sturdy stuff
| that men are made OF, saplings in the place
| OF oaks in the forest of life-these are po-
| tent ills in society to-day. Existence is for
| many too comfortable 10 make heroes. Per-
| the raising of many great men. Reality
| Is buried too deep under conventionality,
form and social custom. We are too fond
| of rubbish to clear it away that we may
build. We are not strong enough to suf-
fer and bear. We are athletes only for
ng at all WITH we what Bat y o we in hall the
| conclusion of the snowy struggle We have
to be cheered TO victory; temporary defeat
| brushes us. The endless fight of faith-ths
| is too much for our weak courage.
DEFINITIONS FALSE.
"Mazzini proclaims: Life is mission.
| Every other definition of il is false and
| leads all who accept 1t astray. Religion,
science. philosophy though still at vari-
ance at many points. all agree in this.
that existence is ar aim Yet even just
] here peril and temptation beset US.
Let me speak more of a third
view of life which comes to us to-day in
the guise of a seeming angel of light Sc
noble is it in comparison with those we
| have been considering. so much more heroic
| than they, so unselfish, self-sacrificing,
| that We wonder not that IL wins unto itself
| some of the nobler spirits of our race We
| will not speak unkindly of 1t: could not
| speak harshly. Well might We imagine the
| Master OF Life ready TO say OF many a
| one possessed by this spirit. Thou art not
/ far from the kingdom of God. Well might
we imagine mas me- that; looking upon this one
| sympathy for those seeking better things
he would love them. HOW shall L de-
scribe this view of life? To call il that
of the Stole would seem TO be speaking
harshly. 1t Is the spirit that endures for
blind iuty's sake. This is its creed: am
! here. L know not how. / know not why
But being here, let me stand firmly i'm my
laughing stock. Nor is life a play-day for
fancy or for passion. My fellow and my
self cannot. shall not. pink the present
! i'll. With open eye. attentive ear, unbared
breast, will we tace the sphinx. Our daily
bear. We will walk our round, then lay
us down. 10 rest. In the minor strains OF
MS wondrous song. Tennyson reverberated
| central gloom and burning fears of hiss
ing tears and shocks of DOOM II is the
enough to live without clear vision of the
| purpose of things. which would act with.
out asking to share the secret of the great
scout, sent out on picket duty with sealed
orders from an unknown hand. 1t says:
WHO breathes must suffer, and who
thinks must mourn
| AN CNQUESTIONING SPIRIT.
| ut asks not whether personal immor-
tally may be permitted beyond this day OF
| earth. 1t would bid be immortal in the
| race, in our influence, in the better day
for which we may. perhaps. dare to hope
| But here is the pertinent inquiry: Is he
whose yea Is nay nearer truth than he
| whose nay is yea? Is it a fact that the
music of the spheres is altogether set in
minor key? Is il honesty to paint only in
neutral Somber tints when all colorS are
! laid TO your brush? If one draw the cur
tain and bar the window has the sun
therefor the, fore, not risen? Is half life
nature of things. when | simply endure and
| bear? Surely no. Wondrous utterance, that
| of the man of sorrows and acquainted with
grief, Father. l thank thee Wondrous
farewell that of the man who cross-bear-
ing. goes to death. My peace j give unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled
| neither let it be afraid. The orphan spirit
| looking upon the world and life as un-
| fathered. is, however noble. not the normal
| the natural spirit of the human heart. il
| is not the spirit of true. natural religion
| sent me. And He that sent me is with me
! the Father hath not left alone, for
! do always those things that please Him.
| If any man willeth to do HiS will, he
shall know of the teaching. whether il be
| The Master of Life testified only because
| He had verified. He testified only that al
men might verify. He put the question
| Do you believe in life?' because He him.
self learned implicitly to believe in H.
'Life's but 4 means unto end-that
end