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

ministers. we belong 10 the expiring
class; we belong to tho passing era: and
then we comfort ourselves by saying that
wo think It will last our time. So st will,
and time after time. for the vision of
John. like the passion OF Christ Is far
from being realized.
| come then to what is more material
than any police regulation restraining,
influence OF the church or religion, and
ask yon to consider that religion has Its
use. because We cannot uproot II. 1t Is
not simply that 1t Is SO deeply rooted
that II cannot be pulled up: II Is not
simply because II Is built so strong that
1t is impossible to rend IL asunder: it IL
not that II has entered in the hist ury
of the world in words that you cannot
separate from that history. hut II is
bred in human nature, and to do with
out II Is to dismemher nature and MAIN
the structure Of human life-that Is Il
reason for tile use of religion: il is Il
part of the very man who asks what is
ITS use? You cannot name n function
of human nature that It does not Icnc-
tratc nor passage OF hurnanity's his
tory but has been fed upon the body
and blood of religion as its reason and
inspiration, or as its protest ard excuse.
The white wings OF the ships that
bear to foreign shores the cagoes OF
the world. the freight OF the nations
curry also the message of religion. 10
find that before its message is spoken
religion stands the shore of the
pagan lands to welcome the new ex-
preston. or reject II. No carminc stain
WAS ever inject ID into any anatomical
specimen TO show its fibre and tissue,
more penetratingiv and intimately, than
religion Is injected into the very It's
sues of life. II is of the man. often II is
the man, In all cases It's use is wrappcd
up in his utility, and cannot he rent from
his being without leaving him MANNED
i'ut also the Use of religion appears in
that 1t offers philosophy OF life, 1t
makes an ordered life possible
Most men and women live their lives
a day at time. II is days work with
them. they have no contract nor any
plan. Their days for the most part are
to them days that cone separate from
other days: one at time they com.
in their sad procession: theirs is no or
dcrcd life hut when II man realizes that
human life Is only one aspect of the di-
Vine energy In the world, II bchooycs;
him TO ord'r his life upon some plan so
that he shall tit TO the dcvinely orderod
world in which he lives: then comes The
full-Srown man, the iGllucss of life ap-
pears; yet how rare it is. hut when it is;
seen 1t is as beautiful as il is rare
The soul tina, cannot he changed from
It's direction, that cannot be lured from
Its IDEAL. Canno, hc tempted 10 Il smaller
hie iliit Is alIhlu oil nothing except that
II shall he out Of harmony with the uni
verse-this is powerful life. IL is a life
according to the measure of the fun
ness of Christ" The life oil the monk IS;
ordered, but it is an effort To be perfect
in loneliness there is no cloistcr large
enough for the universal soul hut the
universe: the life of the pcntcnt in New
Mexico Is ordered as he plies thu, cac-
tus rope upon his flesh until he stands
in pool OF his own blood Iat IL is
but the substitution OF seif-!nflictod tor
lures for self-dcvotion to the beautiful
order OF thcwor!d. II is not necessary
10 he less man To he more like God
The use of religion is to permanently
raise the temperature of the human
soul not to fever but TO potency and
action. So 10 whom religion has come
hnds life SO beautiful that II In In no
danger of spending its strength upon
selI-0ity, and 1t 10 not Hkaly tc sc-.e.