The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-05

tho unhcroic but sacramental details of
common duty. Old men who lie down
and say that the end is near, look back
upon such life, filled with activities
ana ruiz OF brightest seasons, which It's
struggles canaot impair. and say to me,
as one said not 10 days ago, 81 think |
nave got through. but am not afraid
Life Is the most beautiful thing that
we nave to look upon. We realize IL In
the Joyousness of children, whose per
feet grace is a witness of their uncon-
seriousness: We realize IL I'm the glad
prospects of the young man, that feel;
mat the book OF life has been opened TO
me lrst pages, and il is interesting 10
thc last degree; and In the man OF
business and aTairs, in his strong grasp
OF situations that are difficult and his
ialng enterprises that are just travel
Ing upon the verge of constant danger
To all these life is beautiful in its 10Y.
BUSINESS, in its interest. in It's strength
Aye, ii is beautiful in it's decline: just
as all the fields presently shall be rudy
with autumn grass. just as all the woods
shall be atlame, like the bush that
Moses saw on Horcb. that burned
ana was not consumed" just as all the
burrows shall lay bare their breasts for
the wheat that in the spring shall rise
anew from underneath the snow; SO IS
the human character. whose ordcrc,!
HE inds "A moral Use in dark things"
ana religion ceases to be to such an one
useTul guarantee of n remote salvation:
1t Is aiready salvation. moral health and
constant power
The most beautiful people in this COM
munity are III" old men and the old
women that are satisfied with life. IL
religion does not do this then for us
max. life strong, fun of nerve in it's
activities, and full Of peace at It's close
IL hhS not served MS well, but ii Is not
the iault OF rcliEon--it is only the fault
Of that phase OF religion which has failed
10 satisfy.
And. now last for all, the use Of reli-
Gicn as the instrument of regeneration
again We come TO the very question OF
use, that We must deal with religion be-
cause ii belongs TO us, is IA; truly the pro-
duct of evolution as its scriptures are the
product of itself No man sat down in
barbarian strength ana unculturcd mind
ana wrote the prophecy OF Isaiah: no
man rose from tile crude beginning in hf,
ana sat among the simple Galileans. 10
whom were uttered the bcatitudes
Think Of the conditions that existed III
the centre of Germany. for instance, be-
tween the rush OF Caesars cavalry meet
,nS the stroke of the Germans club AMI
mace. ana the same Germany which in
the last part of tho 18th century sung
The great ornt"iios which have for their
theme religion. and for their inspiration
religion. The rise of human life finds
thus its Towering in religious art
! believe more than all other forces
religion has its impact upon mans char
tctcr. lie bcroIacs human only whc, he
becomes n little like God. Ii is the power
Of the invinci5lc that is the source OF all
poetry III life Tho poet does not sim,
Of the thing il- d, $. but of the thinr
which lie sees bcyond the things of sense
1t IS faith as a motive in human life, as
II is written in the opstle to the Hebrews
1f hin who led his people through the
wilderness Into land flowing with milk
and honey" 'lIc endured rs seeing i'm
who Is invinciblc." 1t is the power Of the
Invisible which enlarEcs life 1t is IN,
rrcroGativc of faith, that IL shah Ia. ..iIc
substance of things hoped for. the cvi.
leuce OF things not seen" We are haunt.
ed by our ideals as we arc by '.rcmcr,ber
.: s.sses after death" Thus religion be-