St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-30
LAW OF development.
Kew. A. r.. Moore Discusses Life. Hu-
man to MOIIuscau

HeV. "A. n. Moore Discusses Life, HUI
man to MolIuscan.
Under the title of Spiritual Environment
or Men and Mollusks,'' Rev. Addison r,
Moore spoke follows yesterday morning at
woodland Park Baptist church:
Inc nineteenth century has been one of
M tiaI telous progress. In science and phil
Str9a ots1Rny' IN art and in religion great forward
classlned and new facts have been brought
TO Nght: Chiefly has advance been made in
tne study OF mankind. In 1902 certain facts
regarding the development of human life
were stated in terms of a new science. that
OF biology. Since Treviranus put forth his
hrst crude conclusion, he has been followed
by German, English and American scholars
until To-Day biology treats of the whence and
Whlther OF man in terms of a science that
ranks second to none in all the field Of
scholastic investigation. Biology has declared
Tor the law of heredity, modified by the nat
ural selection Of qualities fittest to survive
these being again modified by the law of en-
yironment.
And the struggle for life grows fiercer as
we advance from lower to higher forms of
life in the natural world while only such
forms CT life as conform to environment
succeed in securing identity in the strife.
But progress in life depends not only upon
conformity to environment; there is a higher
phase of conformity which must also be en-
tered into if identity is to be not only Sc
cured, but preserved from stagnation The
mollusk conformed to environment; and Sc
cured by it's shell from its enemies, can live
a life of ease and of freedom from discom-
fort, but progress has ceased. The mammal
chose rather to seek future good than pres
ent ease; so the mammal conformed not
only to environment, but conformed also to
the laws OF development, which steadily
brought something better by gradual trans
formation. At first crabs. not fish, were mas
ters of the sea; and reptiles, not mammals,
were masters of the land. But reptiles and
mollusks stagnated. They merely conformed
IN hot
Higher forms developed when life was not
only conformed to present environment, but
changed according to the laws OF progress
sion.
In spiritual experience there are certain in
fuences at work to make natural men into
spiritual beings. The man who conforms only
to his sensual world Of appetltes and desires
is doomed to a worldly form that must give
way to higher forms. He who refuses to ac-
cept conformity to worldly life as finality OF
existence and surrenders his mind to the in
huences that make for spiritual progress be-
comes transformed into the likeness of the
master mind which is his true environment.
The environment of the true soldier is the
personal influence of his general; the en-
personal influence Of Jesus Christ, the great
captain Of our salvation. Life is battle; not
only a struggle for existence, but a struggle
for higher forms of existence than we now
possess. He who fights and runs away may
live to fight another day; but it will be the
same old fight with the same sad retreat after
by the renewing of our mind; a renewal that
will strengthen our trembling knees, and bring
the color Of life again to our bianched faces,
until we fear no foe; but rush into the fight
again to conquer or to die.
We may have to leave this bundle Of bones
and muscles, Of nerves and sinews, which we
call .eur. body, upon the field; but, If so, then
our soul will go marching on, and on, and up
to heavens gate, which no warrior can enter
save angels bear him on his shield.
Faith is the door leading into the environ
ment which transforms men into martyrs and
heroes. But there is need that, having come
into our proper environment, we should be sus-
sained in the new atmosphere and enlarged to
receive the fullest measure Of the new
strength Cromwell and his Ironsides had
faith, and they prayed.
The transforming power of prayer upon the
mind is illustrated by. the effect of prayer
upon character. Swiftly our thoughts give
shape to our lives. Thinking much about
heaven, st. John becomes the apostle of the
apocalypse; thinking much about immortal
thinking much about the development of life,
Bunyan becomes the interpreter of the "Pil-
grim's Progress We become like the
thoughts we think, just as it has often been
noted that old persons who have lived long
together come at length to possess resem-
blance of features. And by prayer we open
channels through which God can pour His
thoughts into our lives. Put million China
men into our country and their thought will
establish shrines of Buddha, systems of an
tiquity, and the stagnant customs of the long
dSO fuC d u1lilOn Americans 1nIO ASIA, ana
their thought will establish farms and fac
tories, colleges and churches the arts and
the sciences of modern days. Put God into
your life and He will establish
49, HABITS OF VICTORY,
so that by faith and prayer we shall triumph
over evil and win conquests over self and
SIM. BY faith in God we come into our true
environment; and through the channels of
prayer, the influence of this environment
comes into u.s. transforming us into the like
ness Of God, with whom We hold COM
munion. The mollusk stagnates, hav-
ing conformed to the only world it knows,
nor can we blame the mollusk. But man
knows higher ways and larger environment
than this present world affords. Conforming
to the world means for man. as for the mol
| lusk, stagnation. And worse than this; for
man rebels against the law of development
when he is content with conforming only to
this world. and for man that means degen-
seration.
Those who know prefer the Gordon
Hat; two ysasens~style and price.