The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-20

kzE0F EG&S EtssAAS SN sAh~S
Him" Z. Jehn. ill.,
Our ideas Of life DEPEND somewhat upon
cur disposition and somewhat upon our
surroundings. Life is what you make
It says the man IHo has risen from
comparative obseuriiy into mercantile.
political or professional prominence Pow
.srty--what cared Ee for that? He had
two strong aYms and "A clear brain: he
knew he could make his mark. Obstacles
what cared he for them? He knew he
could scale the highest difficulty or fling
the r1ightiest implement out OF the way.
Competition he. cared hs for that? It
was the immense s0ui in the mar that
conquered. Success in his estimation WIS
not to be measured by length OF sword,
bat by strength of viii. And 80 casting
.-.i other lives In bis mold. the self-ma6e
sran cries out: Life is what you make
IL" He would not say il he had not
made IL.
on tbs other hand. the creature of cir
eamstAnce IL ready To exeiaim: Life IS
"a lottery" To him fortunate surround
iIgs are the conditions OF victory or the
signs Of failure. How Gan a man seize
opportunities IL they never GOMEZ Lcok
al the men who WELD tremendous inter
sats. What would their shTewdness have
awaited apart from the fortuitoUs open
ingg that came 10 them? III al / been
rich. says the victim OF chance. II
should doubtless have had the wits TO
manage my pafFimony-" While perhaps.
III = moment os extraordinary honesty
and frankness. come rich nonentity has
been willing 20 admit: IL Is "a good thing
for Iae that ] inherited wealth. for left
To ms own resources / should have Jared
poorly enough. Yes. life is a lottery
Perhaps both are right and both are
wrong. Circumstance Is not. properly
considered. L foundation 10 build on. at
keen blade in the hand OF aspiring
greatness with which 10 hew its way
through ranks of opposing competitors TO
its goal OF ultimate success OR IL is
heavy CHAIN around the neck of him who
b1fEets waves, and in desperate earnest
ness struggles from shore 10 shore. Ener-
81 of soul must have material aid la
der To reach It's aim, y man cannot feed
upon ideals. or ciothe his family with
golden fances. And yet all the raw ma
terra IN the world is valneiess unless skill
DEF rhine the design and cunning guide
tHe hand. Brain. hrawEi and breadstuffs
are necessary ia any favorable considera-
tion OF this mysterious problem Ne call
life.
Successful Life Must be Energetic.
Are not our views Of Christian life also
dependent upon disposition and surround
.ngsg There are some who live continual
Is In a sort OF ecstatic vision. They seem
lifted out OF all connection witi time and
Bse. Faith. 10 them. IS not the vigorous
thing ii f. To those who are In the midst
of the conflict. II Is n fiimsy. boneless
serpcntne sort of possession. II sus-
tains itself In an atmosphere of supersti-
tlon. II thriyes on hailucination. IL often
wool gathers. nut seldom works. IL be-
lieves because It belongs 10 a mind too
indolent 70 demand a reason, and too in
ert to hestIr itself TO action. That kind %
f.s.A III. y.,tf
eanvassed ship. careening over as the light
winds iii har Sails and splitting the spray
or either side her gilttering PROV. but LET
her poke her Jibhoom into the eye OF a
nor easter. and she viii give up the con-
test and founder In midocea an. The Chris
tIan course Is no more apt 10 be smooth
than the ocean track and that visionary
spirit which basks but never battles will
wake up TO 6nd itself rudely shaken by
temptation or disaster when for dreamy
faith viii have 10 be substituted "A rock
ribbed strength In God. or IL will fall be-
fore the onslaught.
\ feather bed ON a spring mattress is
poor place IN which To plan life of
active toll cad "A pillow Of visions general
~ holds head I'll prepared TO shape a
Christian career for the glory of God and
sthe good OF man. This Book gives no such
view of the Christian course. Sometimes
II Is a Journey. behind II sin. along the
roadside allurements right In the track
Of Il pitfalls. siantiug across it's way sun
beam aud shadow. enemies To the right
and left. and heaven. with It's blazing por-
tails and white-rubed host and endless
biessedpess A. it's glorious termination.
Paul. who had more spiritual muscle than
amy conietnporaneous or succeeding
preacher. was as robust In his thought as
Ia his faith Converted while Gods Hight
niuES flashed All about him. he seemed TO
save the thun3erboits 20 hurl by speech
and pen throughout his ministry. Ask
him whether man who starts I'm the
Christian life sits down upon hank of
Niolets aad sings palntieely of ''Thc land
81 pure delight whore saints immortal
rsiEn." II 81. Why does he talk 80 much
OF struggle. Of hand-to-haHd grapple with
tuiuuitYf Go not uuarmvd into such a
rrat. saws he, SO Say We Let there lac
not one vulnerable point helmet FOR the
head. breaatplsto for tho heart glrdle
about the waist. sandals for the feet the
whole armor Of God and fer weapons the
sword Of the Spirit aud Sire shield ~ faith.
8elted With truth, rau}S Christian stands
erect. firm. soldier iike. master Of she
slsla. invincihle before his snemicst la
tbs chapter fFata which I fead the lesson
iais morning he gives another figure
oqGsily intense Isl SIS conception. Herr.
the Christian is "a racer. speeding toward
the soai See h.u bTndins - h3s task pv-
cry muscle strained ~ fnc utmost teu-
sien his eye naShing brightly As ne t.,-
holds the mark ahead. his whole frame 81
a uUiVeg of excitement,
what shall lie His Inspirations.
fmt there must he something 10 hoclan
him on. Every successful life must have a
purpose ard therefore an iuspiratE9o
ftaul understands t}}is and urges his racc~
t. keep looking uuto JeSus" John un-
dersJands that. too. lie had hts intense
ftvHars afso tie MAS Ut-ef ~ foot g. n
race- Sic ceuid Jean en- the Master'~
taSesa ia 3h@ a@cetest cf ala rest falutSs.~e
hut So ccald also cnn down ure from
heaven upon recalcttf&ut Samaritan sil-
iaEe lie was a Scp of thunder as wen as
SCH ~ t3od In thtS verse frc,n which I
have selected ny text. be burns wifN ir-
Tease earnesfa~sa as he Etves vent 20 q
thoush1 similar So that az the Ereat
almstie, Ne <uow tNat ,ec shall s,4 like
HfEa' Was tisscc ever ns7rc ambitious
ssafeneut7 And set Is il not a natural
uH,e
ENorv man has souaa ides after which
n "a eu3eavoflpw - shape hls UTv-ruurse
nwar3 watch Ae fooks. ard na man is
greater than his Ideal Before we EN-
h5rA un any vaysEe. enter any enter
irf~r snake tse draft fer any mechanism
Rouse cer ct'a3a ana hearts for any
achievement. Eherc is formed within us
a. iteal og tHe s0ecesSful 'ssue II e.
20 ners dream bEt "a r.a''eab8e t,ltteru
cf what NAV tFuly Re. We muse over
81. Nc ina eGr taoueht and skin rsx-
t-T - .teet IT. The eaersv - execution,
Ne@arTfotY infTvasrs ta satisfy ftS Ss.
usrfs. A. tA~Cpgh r.. taH II IS lsss
3 Gag Before ar s-fes~rr-s sas. 7.. rr-.-