The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-10

pleasure and work, but between pleasure and
pleasure.
shall Judge a man by what he fits himself
to enjoy, and influences others to enjoy.
What he shall do for a living is very often de-
termined by necessity, by external circum-
stances. But the tendency of his pleasure is
almost always a matter Of choice. The range
of choice may be narrow. still there is room
enough TO give play 10 character, 10 allow a
man of his own will TO rise or to fall through
his pleasures. A man can enjoy only that TO
which nc utiusts himself with which he puts
himself in tune of which he becomes part.
The holiday garment, which the poorest
peasant in Jesus time had in readiness when
tho holiday came, was only an unconscious
symbol Of his readiness of spirit 20 meet Soy
half way with honor-to help create and in
crease the Joy which he shared with others.
Now Jesus was not afraid TO say, that in
this respect Joy was Of one piece from bottom
to top-the Joy of heart and soul as well as
the Joy Of the senses the Joy of the kingdom
of heaven as well as the Joy of the feast in the
neighbor's house.
Therefore when the high call OF God speaks
to us-"Rejoice with mel''-whether the sum-
mons comes through the grandeur and beauty
OF Nature or the responsibilities of human
affection, or the glory of human achievement
or the opportunity of humble helpfulness, we
are 70 choose, even If il be out Of the midst Of
much that has been mistaken and unhappy
and that is glad and grateful in our memory
and our hope. the garment Of praise which
year by year is woven for every life that will
receive II, and clad in that we are to enter
into the new Joy.
m u
and use happiness, however, is not only the
best equipped to take advantage of tho oppor-
tunities OF the world il is best fitted also TO
resist temptation. For 1t is unquestionable
that where we are tempted once through our
work, we are tempted 10 times through our
pleasure. Work itself will never be an in
fallible protection against temptation. unless
there is added to II some attractive force of
happiness higher and nobler than the mere
necessity Of earning living or the mere de-
sire of gaining wealth.
The influence and responsibility Of most
men does not stop with their own households.
There is a growing organism into which in
fuences go from Us, and from which influences
are received by us, consciously or unconsci.
ously; the organism Of the community, the
city, the town, which includes both the rich
and the poor the cultivated and the unculti-
vatod, the wise and the foolish. What shall
determine and set tho tendency of its charac-
ter, and so decide the kind Of life which il
shall attract to itself and build into its own
life2 Partly, no doubt its wealth. its indus.
try. But largely Il repeat with deeponed CO
viction the message with which l began,
largely tho standard Of pleasure by which the
community allows itself TO be represented
What kind Of pleasure docs IL suffer 10 in
crease in it's borders The pleasure Of "a re-
fined society. OF libraries, good schools, art
galleries, public parks or the low pleasures
that grow rapidly where public spirit is dor.
mant. and bears fruit In foolish and vulgar
display, frivolity. ennui at one extreme, and
gambling, intemperance, violence, and all
uncleanness at the other?
So il Is our duty 10 be mindful OF pleasure
from the center of our life TO its circumfer-
cnco, and from its beginning 10 its end. So IL
may be our glory that our work shall be
brightense by the thought Of the Joy it will
enable us 10 give and 20 receive. And our ex-
perience of 10Y, shall send us back 10 do
harder and better work. shoulder 10 shoulder
with our follows. and day by day we shall
draw nearer 10 the fulhlmcnt OF tho great
desire of the Master toward his Disciples,
taken our own lips, and into our own lives
--"that My Joy may be in you, and that your
Joy may bo fulfilled" And tho accomplish.
ment Of that desire is the kingdom Of God.