The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-17

e,cudriE 10 emphasize the ideal that
should govern the Epworthian. 700 Of
. ten the fact is overlooked that the es-
Sentlal characteristic of a religious life
IS the moral element. Ethics are at the
very basis of all true religion This fact
is frequently sadly obscured by the stress
that is laid upon the ritualistic and emo
tional phases of religious observances.
but Christ places the emphasis where IL
ought to be placed, and no one who loves
Elm aad knows his teachings dare con-
tinue in sin and still call himself the dis
ciple of Christ. A life of impurity, sell
ishness and dishonesty is utterly alb
horrsnt to God, no matter what forms of
wo--A-o the guilty one engages in, or
what fervid expressions of piety he may
give expression to- As previously init
mated emotion may or may not be pres
emit to the soul of the true worshiper,
but purity of conduct is always essential
It seems strange that such doctrine
needs TO be emphasized, but it is only too
evident that millions who seem to take
it for graDted that they are. accepted of
God are being dragged to the bottom
less -it by the self-imposed chains OF
lust. ayarice and dishonesty God abom-
mates any fracture of the moral law. and
will punish such beyond the question of a
doubt. 1t is to be feared that many in
our own organization are inclined TO look
with tolerance upon immortality, ana Ii IS
for this reason that l desire TO plead
with all the fervor of my being for ideal
standards of conduct
g. Spirituality-By spirituality / mean
genuine piety, as distinguished from cui-
ture of mind and uprightness in life. True
piety is not confined TO the heart alone.
There is such &. thing as religious thought
as well as religious sentiment. Indeed,
some men seem to touch a very high point
in the religious life by the exercise OF a
godls will. But. as has been said before.
the soul is one and in its enjoyment or
God thought, sentiment and will are in
extricaby interblended. Sometimes one
function of the soul is in the ascendant,
sometimes another. Sometimes with the
wings of thought we soar up to God and
are awed by the conceptions of his dig
nifty, his honor and his grandeur that we
gain by such a fight of intellect. Again
we lay our will parallel with his will and
are thrilled through and through by cleo
tr:c currents of power that flow forth
from the divine life and stimulate our
wavering purpose to perform actions
worthy of our high calling. Or, finally,
with the barred head and unSandalled foot
of Affection. we steal into his presence
that we may cast ourselves upon his
throbbing heart and be ravished by his
love. In each of these exercises we wor-
ship God in spirit and in truth; and 1t is
such spiritual communion with God that
1 would fam see fostered among our
young people.
Among young people spirituality is the
exception rather than the rule. And this
is not strange, for it is in youth that the
senses are most alert. and that the sensu-
Gus nature clamors loudest for gratifica-
ton. At this period of life sound. form
cination, while the pure and silent voices
from within appear to be needless and
unwelcome restraints. But there is de-
ception here. The voices of pleasure would
sing us to our DOOM while the still,
small voice of duty invites us into the
sure pathway of honor and blessedness.
Grant to the senSuous nature all that is
pure and ennobiing, but see to il that the
world of sense is subordinated under the
SWAY of a purified spirit. In the alembie
of the soul every beauty of nature may
be transmitted into purest spiritual IN
cense. Whatever may be the ideals of life
held by other young people it is eX-
pected of the Christian youth that he al
ways enthrone the spirit at the expense
of the flesh
L. Sympathy motto of our league
is Look up; lift up." So far we have
been dealing solely with the first injunc-
tion-for the cultivation of our intellec-
tual. moral and spiritual power, | con-
ceive to be a harmonious upward march
of our entire nature. But now il is time
for us to attend to the second part of
our motto. Sympathy means fellow suf-
fering: and one-of the most marked
characteristics of the true Christian is
that he is willing to suffer for his brother.
HelofulnesS Is a word that has become
the keynote of our modern Christian and
ohilanthropic movements; and the fact
is that the continued prosperity of the
cause of Christ. if not the perpetuity OF
our modern. civilization. depend very
largely upon the spirit iii which Chris
implied in the words sympathy and help
fitness. There is untold suffering all
about us. Much of this is caused by ig-
norance: much by sin. and some by
mans inhumanity to man. But what
ever has brought about the condition of
our unfortunate brother who lies pros
trate and helpless at the bottom of So
ciety. Christianity is the only antidote
for the evil. How to save the weak. the
errirz and tho ignorant from themselves
and from those who torture and Cypress
them is the problem of the age 1t is
problem that no intelligent and humane
person dare ignore. 1t is to be hoped
especially that every Epworth Lacquer.
with inspired zeal and intelligence, will
set TO worl1-in his own sDhere-to mas
ter the problem. and to bring relief and
encouragement those who are nearest
them.
In conclusion. j point you to Christ as
the source and the perfect exemDiiflca-
ton of all our ideals and aspirations. He
IS the solitary adequate ideal that chal-
lenges the admiration and invites the ef-
fort of mankind. Some falsely conceived
ideals we surpass and are compelled to
discard: some perish or fade from our
vision as more splendid conceptions pos
Sess our souls, land some seem so cold
and cruel that we lose our love for them
because they chill our hearts. But the
character of Jesus Christ shines on with
increasing luster as the ages wax ana
wane; more stately and unaDproachabie
he seems the nearer we come. yet more
magnetic and irresistible. We are awed
by his grandeur fired by his enthusiasm.
neryed to action by his courage. inspired
by his devotion. and melted to tenderness
by the match1ess exhibition of his love
and sympathy. We never tire of him; we
never surpass him; he never loses the
fascination that he exerted over us in our
childish years. We ascribe unto thee.
Lord, ali glory and honor, and power;
ard with angels and archangels and all
fhe company of heaven we laud and mag
nIfy thy glorious name, evermore praising
thee. and saying holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, heaven and earth are full
of thy glory. Glory be to thee, o Lord