The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-14
WHY ARE WE HERE2*
BY MRS. JAMES FISH, EAGLE, MICH.

upon the mountain and had crossed
again the sea of Galilee, the people who
had received food from his hand fol.
lowed him. And when they had found
him they called unto him and asked.
rabbi, when earnest thou hither?" But
Jesus knowing why they sought him.
answered them rebukingly: "Ye seek me
not because ye saw the miracles. but be-
cause ye did eat Of the caves and were
| filed And then he added, Labor not
for the meat which perisheth. but for
that meat which endureth unto ever
lasting life
Jesus knew that they followed him.
not because they felt their need of
him as a spiritual leader. but because
he had supplied their material wants
they were there. "Why are we here?"
and for what reason do we who profess
to be following Christ meet from time to
time in this manner? What benefit do
we as Christian people, hope to gain by
being here? This is indeed peculiar
age; as one has said, IAN eminently ma
terialistic age' 1t is the time when the
cry for all things modern is heard from
all sources, and upon all occasions
Modern thought, and modern criticism.
and new ideas must have their places in
the front ranks of the social world, and
old truths, no matter how we'll proven.
must be pushed aside, because they
have their origin in ancient times.
1t would seem that the prophecy.
Gail things are become new" is being
fulfilled in the intellectual world at
least in the nineteenth century. Ideas
concerning religious truths, as we'll as
all others, must be modified, and all
opinions and beliefs which cannot stand
the test of scientific proof must be cast
aside as superstitious ideas, and old time
notions.
But. notwithstanding that there is so
much knowledge in the world to day, we
are living in very critical period. We
are walking not by faith, but by sight,
believing only what we ourselves be-
hold. and trusting only what to our
minds can be proven beyond doubt.
There is enough that we can be certain
of in this world. enough to supply all our
material wants and desires and make us
happy, and with this we will be content.
This is the conclusion that many are
trying to arrive at. The idea that hap
pinese is to be found somewhere in the
outside world. The results of this
wrong understanding of what makes
happiness are seen in society every
where. A restless, dissatisfied, pleasure
loving, pleasure seeking people. Crime
itself is born of this one false belief.
One imagines that wealth would make
bis life just what he would have it; and
that nothing else can suffice to make
him happy. And to gain the one thing
needful. theft an even murder are re-
sorted to. Prisons are built, because Of
this one false idea concerning happi-
ness.
Every crime which makes it necessary
to have such place as prison cell. is
committed with the belief that there will
be satisfaction in the deed.
Another thinks that in some other
spot in this world, there is unbounded
pleasure for him. And so whole for
tunes are spent travelling in search of
this priceless boon.
Some one else believes that social
position, an honorable place in the
ranks of men, will be heaven enough for
him.
Lord Byron believed this, and bent
the energies of his life toward such an
attainment. He won what he had hoped
to win. He said of himself that he awoke
one morning and found himself famous.
And yet it is said of him. that he once
made this confession:
II once attempted to enumerate the
number OF happy days l had lived,
which might, according to the common
use of language, be called happy. |
could not make them count more than
eleven. and believe | had a pretty dis
tinct account of every one. often ask
myself whether, between the present
time and the cay of my death, l shall
be able to make up toe round Dozen
A startling confession indeed. from
one who had realized the ambition of
his life; one who was called great among
men, and who wrote before his name
the title of Lord. But when we read
his biography and learn how full of dis
sipation. and scorn, and malice his life
was, then we know the secret of it's fail
ure to be happy.
We shall all meet with the same dis.
appointment in our search for happi-
ness, if, like Byron, we seek it outside
our best aspirations even in this age of
modern convenience. when it would seem
that there is nothing we could ask for to
add to our comfort but can be supplied
us. To enjoy life is the chief object Of
every child of humanity. and yet so few
know how to be happy, or what real
happiness means.
We look at people who are light
hearted and gay, and think the world
has more pleasure for them than for
some one who is less merry.
We point to children and speak of