The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22

opportunities are not exhausted in a
day. They are continuous; they
last all the year round, and it is i'm
possible to exaggerate their impor
lance.
When fathers and mothers learn
to do their full duty in the home,
when farmers are faithful in the field,
mechanics in the shop and lawyers
are true as defenders of justice, when
preachers preach we'll and live we'll,
authors and editors write in the best
and truest way and the teacher learns
to teach we'll, when the merchant is
faithful in the world of trade and
the banker is an honest banker
when all these learn to do their full
duty just where they are, the oppor-
tunities will be seen to be myriad
and the moral interests of society
will be comparatively safe. The
moral energies of society will have
received such strength that it will be
an easy matter to reach down, lift up
the fallen and give them strength.
No, no, good friends. am con-
vinced that what most of us need is
not exceptional opportunity for doing
good, but simply the resolution and
the moral purpose to work where we
are. There is not person here to-
day, with legitimate business or an
honest purpose in life, who has not
a grand opportunity for doing good.
The great trouble with most of us
is that we are not aiming to do good.
We are pursuing our work, whatever
it may be, with the one unqualified
thought of what we are going to get
out of it. evil it pay?" is our
thought. If it has in it the one ele-
ment of material profit we accept it.
If it has everything else, without the
profit, we reject it, and thus close the
common avenues for doing good in
our own field. IL we can only keep
our hearts open to the incoming of
the divine spirit, whose aim is to
transform everything into good, then
how large is the field of our moral OPP
portunities! Our trade, our profess
sion, our common toll are transformed
into opportunities for doing good.
And just here is the connection be-
tween religion and life. religion and
morality.
(2) But aCe need not deny that
there are also the occasional Opportat-
mites. The home, the school, pro-
fession, trade, business-these stand
constantly before us, inviting our
best efforts and noblest sacrifices;
and if in all these places the ideal
could be realized, then we should
have little need of special effort to
redeem society. But as a matter of
fact, most men are not altogether
faithful where they are. Neither the
merchant, the lawyer, the farmer, the
teacher nor the preacher does the
best he can. So it comes about at
last that there are special needs,
which become special opportunities
for those who are ready to meet them.
1 can only hint at a few of such pos
sible opportunities. CD Some ext
gency in the government of your city.
(2) The suppression of dens of vice.
(3) Securing better temperance laws.
(4) The charitable needs, ordinary
or exceptional.
But, after all, these latter you will
never meet well unless you have al
ready met the former. The Holy
Grail is not on the other side of the
mountain nor on the other side of
the world. 1t is on your side. 1t
is not very far away. Look for it
at your feet. Do your common every
day duty, and this will give you the
moral nerve to meet the opportunity
born of the exigency. Listen and
God will tell you what to do.