Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-01
INCENDIARISN.
Observation-Disclosures.
"a Sermonette by Philosophical Friend
of OurSD

"a SermOnette by InllOSOpAlCdl riieHu
of Ours)
This great earth on whose surface we
play our parts Is a merry-go-rou on a
tolerably large scale. Many Of us think
we lead quiet lives. and yet we are in
perpetual whirl. The earth turns at an
immense speed on it's axis. and we travel
at a still greater rate around the sun.
And they say that the solar system is to
the remote stars but as one OF our planets
with Its satellites to US. Our watches
measure off and tell the time Of day.
Our newspapers tell the passing days ana
months, and our histories the passing
years-all in this toy world of ours. We
are born, mature, grow old. and PASS
away. and others take our place. That
which Is now has been. and that which
is to be hath already been. There IS no.
thing new under the sun. Things g on in
a circle, and all is a merry-go- round.
One day telleth another. and one night
certiheth another. The world seems to be
still and quiet; the heavens are calm ana
still, the stars are fixed in their places,
and only shine on forever We COutem-
plate them; we sweetly meii.dfe uIon
tutIl. anu We tlJyy our rest. anu we are
anything but sill; whirlng. whrlDE,
whiring. constant motion In every raft
OF our being. Wasting and replenishng.
tearing down. and building up. make the
life OF the body; and old thoughts. yea
ing to new thoughts. old feelings tc new
feelings, old desires to new desires. make
the life OF the soul. Call 1t evolution. or
what you please, we are revolving and
evolving, every atom OF US, and every
one Of us. And whittier are we going.
70 what accomplishment are we coming,
snl what are we turning out?
Stirs and changes. ups-anG-downings.
see-sawing is the way Of life; and tie
wheel-of-fortune is the picture OF our
being.
Rest is turning truly upon our axis. re-
volying so noisslessly In our orbits, I'm
the agreeable and pleasant fulhlment OF
our duties. thag people hardly know OF
our existence, except by something &C
complished. by a gentle. kindly influence
shed and felt. The ways of wisdom are
ways of pleasantness and peace. And
those who tread her paths mark time TO
divine harmonies, or make music In obey
ing law.
II almost makes our heads turn around
to think OF the revolutions and evolutions
in which we are involved. and the wheels
within wheels that make I'D existence.
And. yet, how we do hate the idea OF
going round and round In the same
unvarying circle and grind. We want
to make straight paths for our feet; we
want to move onward and up
ward intangents. We want to
be expanding. charging advanc-
ing. rising from height to height. from
level to level, from glory TO glory, TO the
measure OF the stature of the fulness OF
the divine image. the glorious univer-
salty and liberty OF the children Of light
And yet how common Is II in all this
unceasing movement, that involves and
operates US, to find ourselves revolv-
Ing like spndles and going over and over
the same thoughts, the same plea
sures, the same fears the same troubles,
the same conditions OF existence, no
escaping no getting out. till life itself
is stale. fiat. and improbable. and with
out growth or progress. We think we
are STILL and yet we are not stlll. While
we sit moionless the world has turned
miles in its diurnal course. and advanced
miles in its annual orbit; the consump-
ton Of our bodies has proceeded; old age
has advanced upon us with its inaudibie
and noiseless foot; only advance and
progress has been still. and we have be
winding up: only we have not moved for
ward actively, but been moved FORWARD
passively. Our consumption has bsen I'M
productive: our lamps have burned outs
our unintelligent. lnsensible, idle. listless
useless merry o-'round has ground US
to dry powder. No account has been
taken of the SOULS development and we
have withered. Dust VIC are, and unto
dust we are returned. Old age is snuffed
out smoking relic.
And 1his IS the result OF the merry-go-
round Of the life OF pleasure, whose root
Is rottenness whose blossom goes Up
as the dust This is the evolution Of dis
sIpation. And the life Of dislcyal and
'rreligious intellect has little more =
substance than this It's fire and smoke
leaves only brilliant ash, or delusi'c
vapor. OF the ungodly and unenllght-
ened, the story is Ever learning and
never able to come to a kncwlei ge OF
the truth" OF the enlightened: but we
all, with open face. beholding as In a
giass the glory OF the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory
even as by the Spirit OF the Lord" Is
not this higher education?