The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-14
VOICE OF THE PULPIT
A PLAIN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION,
us RELIGION OF ANY USER,
Rev. John vi. Scott, OF Ithaca, y. r.,
Contends that It Possesses Great
Value for the Average Man.

OF no use. say some: OF little use. say
others OF the greatest use. say others,
who are its devotees. Amid contending
opinions the one extreme saying that re-
ligion is nothing. the other saying that II
is everything, let us suggest something
about its reality and usefulness for the
average man. the man whom Lincoln
called the common people saying God
must think very highly OF such because
he has made so many OF them.
There is religion in mans nature. Just
as there is music in IL, and art. and
science. and invention. and humanity. and
these countless talents that develop into
our varied lives, into our activities. by
which we live and through which we make
the world richer by our services. What
is within US. a very part of our ma
lures, will seek TO nourish itself and ex-
press itself. So grow all these things in
forest and in field. Every seed becomes
its flower or tree. because what is within
seeks nourishment and expre sion. We are
not complete. cannot passion after perfec-
ton, except as we seek TO let what. is
within of nobleness and Joy have nour-
ishment and expression. even as a field
cannot complete itself in harvests except
it is nourished into its own expression
To say that religion is OF no use is to
say that the complete man is of no use.
but only that partial man which inter-
ests most. the man that grubs. the
man that trades, the man that invents.
1t is like having some gross idea OF util-
ity. and-banning music and art. and the
countless things Of refinement which go
into the furnishing of the complete
man. into the living OF the complete life.
If the idea OF completeness is an idea OF
utility. then is religion, its nourish-
ment and expression. a part of that util-
ity. Just as we need that touch toward
our perfecting. which is in a picture TO
which hearts stir, a poem TO which
our soul sings, sunset to which the
beauty within US answers, so do we need
that uplift and outlook toward moral
perfection which we call religion: that
stirring of the soul at the thought OF
one infinitely holy and infinitely low
ing, in whom we live and move and
have our being: that stirring of the soul
at the thought Of our relationship TO one
another; that joy of soul in service. that
passioning OF the soul after the perfect
To answer all that life and longing which
We call religion, to>devote ourselves TO the
living of such life as the ideals of reli-
gion approve, this is great self-need; the
soul must here have nourishment and ex-
preston if we are 10 live out our little day
in any grandeur beyond the life Of beasts,
If are to perfect the blossoms stirring
within us and hungering to open into the
glory of loves sunlight.
Some one has defined religion as NOR
ality touched with emotion" and This is
| truth. 1t is our right relations with the
universe. with God, touched with emotion.
! And that emotional touch is of the great
! est worth. Without ii nothing is well done,
/ what do unsanctiHed by the passion for
/ perfection. In the heart OF What thinker
| gives us great thoughts or inventions or
great art or great statesmanship. there is
| great emotion, as great as the things with
which he enriches the word-greater. in
| fact as a creator is always greater shan
| the creation. Indeed. in the stirring Of hif
heart was born the idea his patient think
| ing has wrought ont unto this service
| wherewith the work OF his hands is serv-
| ing. All the more emotion is It. that IL
may be subdued and trained, not wildly
wasting itself in idling ecstacy, but d.
rected so as to fulfill itself I'm some noble
| creation.
| The beloved physician OF Ednbrrg said
| of the doctors, that pity with them had
ceased as an emotion and become a motive.
So any one who is working a righteous
ness. while his heart glows in the work, is
| in a religious mood, is realizing the blessing
of religion. He may be at work on metals.
| at love with his work and that work is
perfecting and service, yet he is ennobled
in the spirit of religion. He is in a mood
to worship, although he may not call il
/ so; not so recognizing il, he does not give
his soul that uplift which belongs TO its
| mood, uplift that touches the infinite
heart and mind at It's work. working even
within such worker TO will and to do OF his
own good pleasure. to accomplish that
caretaking OF all which we sometimes call
the divine providence.
So any righteousness that serves. the
daily toll. the citizens aspirations and du-
ties, the father and mother love making
the home. all this daily round. touched
with noble emotion, hallowed in noble mo-
| tfves, is religion, and has unsuspected
wings on which to lift and choir at heav-
ems gate. praising for the reality and JOY
Of being working part of the divine prov
idence, working part OF Gods creating
worlds and men. evolving out OF the deeps
Of His loving wisdom human race. a
working part OF that perpetual sustenance
which is perpetual creation
Creative JOY is religion. 1t Is Fellowship
with the one creative life at the tasks
of the universe and man. The passion for
perfection Is just passion for holiness
and somehow meets and mates the pas
sion for perfection with which God is at
work upon His problems OF man and the
universe. The conservation OF service In
what we do. doing IL for the JOY and praise
Of others. doing II for what enlargement OF
life 1t may be for others. adding some
thing to what supplies their need. this IS
religion: and II becomes at fellowship with
the everlasting creative spirit at service
in all life that Is in all growth and change
and becoming OF the world and OF man
The love of others is religion: the. delight
we have IN those nearest and dearest to
US; the hallowedness. OF friendship; the
thrill OF admiration with which certain
noble men and their lives take us-aif this
enlarging Of our heart towards our fell
lows. making unseifsh. making forget
ourselves In service. I'm all these incom-
ings Of others in service TO US. there Is
shown religious need and reality.
An this. lifted into a lofty mood. trans
figures more and more In an unselfish pur-
pose. makes of the very essence of prayer
and praise and the service OF God, gives