The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-21

the sake of self-aggrandizement; his fate
will be TO sit sour, sore-headed, on the bare
rocks and make faces a the passing world
Or one may be faithful to an ecclesiastical
organization, with its historically accepted
doctrines and form and symbols Perhaps
he superstitiously believes that in some
SpookiSh fashion dead men have got a
mortgage on his conscience and he is
bound sacredly to honor it.. Perhaps he is
so shallow hearted to think that princf-
pie Is no great matter anyhow-it is so
much easier and ones interests are thereby
helped along nicely. Verify, he has his
reward; brief time exaltation among peo-
pie namely ignoring the reality of religion
and substituting therefor what is nothing
more than an empty shibboleth-guarded
bond of social union. God help the man
whom the applause of such can satisfy.
Surely he cannot be satisfied for long Sure
ly there will come day when he will have
time to consider-to think on what all this
outward walk and conversation, this hollow
done for his own soul, and If that soul be
not starved and dead within him, he II
thing to himself of his own false life. his
prostituted talents, his wasted opportuni
ONE VIEW OF OLD AGE.
Il have noticed certain seeming contra
dictons in life. to me most meaningful. /
have seen in their old age men, who, at
one time, took part in the worlds affairs,
in church and in state and in social and
humanitarian movements-now grown acrid,
respondent. pessimistic-fuIl of all
dissatisfaction and unhappiness? Alas
for us if the service of God and
humanity can conduct us to no
better estate than that! Nay, this
is what it means: These had been selfish
in their service. They served their country
FOR office; they served their God for gain
Faithful? To what, then, shall a man be
faithful? To the spirit that God has put in
MIN. That Is what we are here for-to be
faithful to the best that is in us; to give to
It objective reality. And to such as are so
faithful 70 them is promised the crown of
life. What is the crown of life? Jewel
starred tiara? Nay-this: More life broad
er power, healthier capacity, larger useful
ness-here and hereafter-in future worlds
when?-where? God knows Finally l ex-
hort you to be faithful Faithfulness in
you We're beautiful. / am thinking now
in sadness thinking-how the experiences
of life tend to drift one away from the
anchorage of youth. This season will mark
sundering of home ties. You shall in new
sense now go out from the family roof
for henceforth more and more as the years
go, you shall be stranger to 1t. Be faithful
to its memories. pity him who looks back
to the home of his early years as prison
house from which he has escaped him to
whom in the after time there remains not
the recollection of a happy childhood, of
youth in which have been exerted the In
fuence of wise and loving parents, the ten
der association of brothers and sisters. L
know nothing holier. Without such recol-
lections, to me, life seems cold and dead,
robbed of sanctity, uninspired by heartfuI
impulse Therefore, oh, young men and
young women whatsoever pure associa-
TONS whatsoever holy memories, whatso-
ever high ideals, your life has known, to
these / pray you be faithful And strong is
faithfuness. / would have you strong. You
are not in the world simply to be nice, TO
be smooth in intercourse with your fellows
to plaster the worlds wounds with soft
phrases-you are not here merely to be
good; you are here to do good-the good or
your own conscience-and to do 1t in siren
uous fashion. Passivity is negativeness, IT
is nothing. 1t is good to be cultivated and
refined, certainly, and obliging and SYM
pathetic-it is good to be good; Dut no
amount of cultivation and retinement-no
amount of even morality can atone for de-
fciency of aggressive strength; me word
admires the soldier, and rightly. The sol
dier is obedient; but the soldier Is not
sheep He has given his allegiance once for
all to an authority which he recognizes as
worthy and to that henceforth is he faith
full This is his ruling principle. over
against it he places cold and hunger and
hardship even death itself, and counts
them nothing. In this is his strength 1t
idealzes his life. So YOU A higher power
claims YOU. Your strength, the idealization
of, your life, is in unselfsh loyalty to that
higher principle-to God and your con-
science The true soldier is reckless OF re-
suits He knows the duty to which ms
honor binds him; beyond that his calm soul
cares not to know. Results belong TO
others he is not responsible 1t is his part
to do and if need be- to die. So you; DO
the thing that conscience dictates ana leave
results with God. You have nothing TO 90
with results This is your strength, the
only worthy strength of which human ma,
ture is capable, Faithfulness! Beauty ana
strength strength and beauty! God SO
adorn us and give to us the crown Oh NE.