Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-01
NUMBER ~.
SOME RAMBLING THoucu1s.
BY "NEMo.r
(CoDyrfyhted

SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
BY "NEMo.r
Comparatively
To THE ENvIoUs How do Won better
yourself by covetilg the prosperity Of
othersg DO you not rather let loose In
your heart ravening wolves whose teeth
are whetted to tear down those who run
well! Many untOward things have hap
pened to you, doubtless, and you feel
sick at failures, but envy only leads you
further astray. Concentration upon
your own affairs Zone of the ways TO
success) IL impossible II your maleyolent
mind spends It's strength in estim ting
the seemingly unfair distribution of
worldly goods. The brighter the sun
shine, the darker the shadow. and your
heart would almost stand still with dread
could you see the gloom along some OF
the ways you think so bright and happy.
Tread serenely once more your own way,
holding life TO be proving place of
merit, and at the end there shall be
peace.
10 BEwILDERED ONES :-Bufieted by
iii-winds, with faith shaken by miseries
that seem undeserved, you sometimes
are tempted to cry out tn life Is naught
but chance and mischance. But every
analogy OF nature Is against you. There
and with you too everything Is con.
cluded TO be the result OF cause and effect.
There Is a reason for all that IL happen
Ing to you, difficult though IL may be TO
discover II. Learn from the scientist.
In number OF sciences for instance.
the study OF the stars or the study OF
lie, there Is point reached beyond
which the light OF reason fails, and all
becomes imp"netrable darkness. The
scientist must choose one OF two WAYS.
either conclude that the origin OF things
comes by chance, or that all Il ordered
and directed by power beyond his ken.
Which seems to you the more reasonable?
need hardly inquire! Then let your
reason lead you 10 the same conclusion
In relation to your own problems.
TO FRIENDLY Souls In ancient
Mythology the world was believed TO be
held on the shoulders OF Atlas. This
man Of mighty frame has his counter
part In these later years, and the fancy
OF the ancients does not seem so very
remote, for | see this grand old age
marked world rolling quietly along and
the most sustaining influence Ia IL Il
friendship. The unseliishness OF those
who wish Us well, out of pure goodness
OF heart, keeps many toiler cheerfully
In his place. Gods vicegerents on earth
are the friends we have. When tempted
and tried, even before we turn TO God
for guidance, our thought is almost in
variably "What would dear, my
friend, Think You magnanimous
ones, whose eyes are blinded to our outer
faults. but keen-visioned for the ideals
and grandeur we are capable OF, still
exert your power unsparingly. The
ways are hard and weary: stay not the
precious influences that help US TO be-
lieve In good and in effort and In our
selves.
To MINISTER'S Let no man deprive
you OF your right 10 take active part in
our country's affairs. You have the
right and the responsibility as well.
Bear with me for 4 few lines in order 10
see whether we agree.
The highest civilization Is undoubted-
ly that in which there IL the readiest
interchange OF advantages and Oppor-
tunities among the members OF the na-
ton. We not only boast Of high civil
lZation but we even dare 10 call ourselves
"Christian." What Il Christian ciyiliza-
tion! The reply must be made that civil
izition, In order TO be Christian 10 any
sense. must be one that, as far as posi-
BILE, from the highest 10 the lowest, ia
actuated by Christian principles. n this
be true then, there IL. az yet, very little
danger OF our going too far in such a
direction. In fact, glance over our
political life up 10 this time, and con-
sideration OF the motives that prompt
many men into IL, Il quite sufficient rea-
son Tor our not yet even approximating
the Christian standard. II must be
borne In mind that any further intro
duction Of Christian principles into poll
ties and business will never be made by
those who oppose such principles. The
only hope that gradual bettering OF
conditions and a gradual moving OF our
civilization forward 10 the humanity and
brotherly kindness that ought to charac-
terize IL, has 10 be found In the active
participation in all affairs OF life by
those who are the leaders OF men along
moral heights. The fact that our spirits
take on certain form OF belief in rela-
ton 10 the future life does not In any
way free Us from responsibility here.
We still need food and raiment: we still
need money for the comforts OF life and
they are still obtainable only by toll.
That toll still remains hampered by the
social conditions of the day In which We
live. and those conditions must necessari-
~ remain hard and Objectionable so
long as they are solely brought about by
those who are prompted by selfish mo-
tiyes. Let your light so shine before
men In all the ways of life that, in their
reaching after higher life they may not
stumble and fall over material conditions
that you could better. Hunger and
thriftlessness and oppression are remova-
BILE enemies TO the faith you preach.
study them and wrestle with them, that
straight paths may be made for feeble
feet.
10 SELF-SEEkING PREACHERS: 1T IL
forbidden to speak lightly of the Lords
anointed. This do not, for the Lord
has nothing to do with the spurious oil
OF desire for ease and comfort, that sets
some Of you above the throng. Too
polite TO be honest, too gentle to stir this
tle-down, too inexperienced to know
life as 1t is lived, too indolent to grasp
the vast opportunities Of your position,
you pass through life like children play
ing on the sands. You have no hand TO
spare for those who founder and expire
in the shadows Of truth, for both hands
are busy holding close to the ear in
childish glee empty shells Of theory and
bair-splitting and mental pleasures that
shut out the ocean-like sounds of human
anguish and human aspiration. You set
before your hearers mere husks, fit for
swine and unfit even for prodigal sons.
You draw your topics from every place
except the human heart, forgetting the
while that II IL were not for the human
heart and its yearninzs for truth and a
guide and seer, there would be no pull
pit for you to fill.
The prince Of grumbiers has been dis-
covered, and strangely enough he lives
In the country. He says the high prices
he has been getting for his early lambs
- - ~. IL