The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-03
PERCEPTION OF TRUTH.
IArrn READ BEFORE THE Hous-
row T1snOsOPHICAL SOCIETY.
law the work Of the Divine spirit
II Manifcsted Through Man.
An Able Address,.

~
cumming:
Iohn xviii, 81: ITO this end was born
"A for this cause came unto the world
raj should bear witness unto the truth
very one that is OF the truth heareth m,
oice."
"pilate said unto Him, What is truthY'
yohn does not toll us that Jesus gay,
In any answer, nor does II appear from
M gospel that Tilate gave Him any op
,ortunity to enlarge upon the theme. bu
rent out Immediately TO inform the jew.
nat he found no fault In Him." and, In.
plate sufficiently indicates why an,
rplanatIon would have been vain. for liz
aid. Every one that lis of the truth hear.
IN My voice" PLATE, Roman official
rhose mind was wholly; occupied with the
lh,sions Of ambition and power, pomp and
wealth, as Is shown in the statement that
he feared the people," and consequently
allied to do an act of simple Justice, and
hat ono of the Justice OF which he was
conscious, could no more be expected to
realize spiritual truth than could con-
rressman be expected to support good
and wise measure but one which he feared
would be unpopular in his district and his
support Of which might operate against his
re election to office.
II the mind OF man or woman is filled
With Illusions, they will see nothing but
illusions. and the deepest of symbols Will
be but pictures without meaning to them.
They look upon the pictures in the book
of nature but are too indolent to learn to
read the text, and finally arrive at the be-
lief that the pictorial illustrations are the
very facts that they were merely intended
10 illustrate; because it is so much easier
10 believe than 1t is to think.
The expression of the opinion Of one per-
SON can become knowledge In another only
whom corroborated by the personal expe-
rionce OF the latter. person can only
truly believe that which he knows, and he
can only actually know that which he has
perceived.
There is n great difference between the
perception and the understanding ofstruth.
| We may perceive the truth by the spirit
/ aud understand 1t by means OF mind or
brain. In other words, we may feel it In
| tu,tvely and understand 1t intellectually.
We would soon witness vast Improvement
In tho happiness of the race. But the great
teliectual faculties to the uttermost to ex-
anime the external form OF things, without
seeking by the light of intuition to dis
cover their spiritual character and bear
kgs.
Man. instead of worshpping in the sane
tuary of the interior temple OF the heart,
passes most of his life gazing from the
garnet windows at the illusions that sur
round him. Here he keeps watch night and
Anxy f,,1 hat nf
IONS escape his notice, and while his at
tention is absorbed by these idle shows,
thieves enter the sanctuary and steal away
the treasures Then when death destroys
the house and the illusions pass away,
like the baseess fabric of vision" the
naked eye. ignorant OF and unsustained by
the living truths that he might have
Erasped while seeking these illusions. Will
be in poor condition, indeed.
The real object of a religious system
should, therefore, be to teach way by
which the power to perceive the truth may
be developed. To ask person to believe
In Tho opinions expressed in books or by
other persons is to ask him to remain In
ignorance and TO trust to influences wholly
exterior to himself. 1t is we'll TO study The
opinions of others and store them up in the
book OF memory till we have opportunity to
weigh them by the scales of intuitive Wis
dom and of justice.
Even the teachings of the worlds great
esq adopts can only instruct MS, but not
give us real knowledge. They can point
out to us where the ladder stands, but we
must climb 10 the temple of truth our
selves. 1t is a weary task, requiring stead
fast purpose, self-denial and patience.
Steep and rough are the steps, and there
arc many side platforms on which stand
the sirens OF illusion, such as worldly
Pleasure, ambition, pursuit of wealth, anu
they chant their seductive songs and
stretch forth their arms to lure the tollers
aside from the goal Too many, alas! are
thus drawn aside from the upward path.
Many more. growing weary after they nave
climbed u shot distance. drop back into
the valley of doubts and conflicting oplr-
ions and picking out a shining pebble,
called creed, from the vast number OF
these pressed upon him sby the creed ped
Oilers of the valley, he holds 1t aloft and
cries; Behold. | have found the dia-
mond OF truth" 10 all who will listen. But
those who have purchased pebbles OF dit-
ierent color from other creed peddiers
raise great cutlery, declaring that his Is
only worthless pebble, and theirs the |
true diamond: and finally either doggediy |
resolves TO still declare his the true gem.
without believing SO himself. or. wearled
with the tumult and clamor, he filings II
away and declares that there Is no such |
.hing as diamond--no such thing as
truth
But for the one who steadfastly holds his
Upward way. resisting both allnrements
ana WEAKNESS. there is a glorious reward.
Al each upward step the clouds of error
and doubt become thinner--the fogs and
nlis'3 of creeds. dogmas and superstitiops
roli away as he rises above them, and the
! uhooscnred rays OF the great Sun of Truth
Place full upon him and light up in his
oeihs the deathless lamp of the self-eon-
scious soul. Then will he realize that to
escane the punishment OF sin he must
svoid the commission OF sin, He viii
NOW that the Supreme Spirit Is uncbange-
~. .o,e and that 1t is vain to implore his as
,is.ence to escape the penalty he has pre-
' w or broken law. He VIII rise 10
he conception that God is that supreme
,hu universal power. which acts through
ne law, which is Himself the law and
an not be changed
j. nat 10 break the law Is TO break the
Tread OF harmony between himself and
iat supreme Power, and that the only way
II.