The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-22
RIGHT LIFE IN THE LILY
BEAUTY THE REWARD OF GOOD
NESS AND PURITY

Rev. George e. soper breaches Ser
mon on Christian Living, Draw
Ing Illustrations From the Lily
as the Exemplar of What Is Good
and True and Beautiful In All
tife.
Rev. George d. soper, In his sermon
at plymouth church yesterday morn
ing, saidi
The words of Jesus, Consider the
lilies OF the field" appeal to life 1t is
the foundation Of all true science, art,
Philosophy and religion. ARISTOTLE
philosophy began by forming theory
of how things ought to be, and then
TO discover facts and figures and
concrete illustrations to prove it's prem
ises. In this way men studied the
binle as Well az nature. In this way a
man man can can prove anything. he chooses
from the Bible, because he over1ooks
or rejects everything that does not ac-
core with his theory, and, with the
eagerness of the special pleader, he
grasps at everything that in any way
promises to help his own cause.
IN me same way men studied hui
man nature. Educational theories were
AA1ASN SpOii ta2lB Dabl6s ChllQ study
ID new thing in the world. Yet the
great Teacher set a little child in the
midst OF his disciples as an object les
son for them to study,
MODERN philosophy says we must d.
vest our minds of all theories and fam
cles and prejudices, as Tar as possible,
go to nature and study It's laws and
moods, and, when we have the facts,
classify and arrange them into the
most consistent theory possible. So,
from this new standpoint, men are find
ing the Bible new book full Of In
tefest and power In spite OF the fact
tnat many old notions are being dis
carded. The teacher and the parent,
TOO are coming to the child 70 know
what Is Its bent and composition be-
fore running 1t through some eduoa-
tional mill. 30, too, the religious teach
or Is going back Of theology to the
study OF man. His physical, mental
ana moral capabilities are being ana
lyzed. his social conditions are being
weighed. The difficulties which oon-
front the natural unfolding Of all that
Is best in man are also subjects OF real
and profound reconsideration in this age
A change for the better In social and
Industrial conditions will never come
through guessing and thsorizing, how
and complicated and fascinating the
theories. The flower tells at once the
Kind of life within. Each variety OF
fish and bird and animal having its
own peculiar life takes to itself an out
ward body that distinguishes 1t from
all others. Man takes to himself an
outward shape whAch distinguishes him
among all the other created things.
Ihe Apostle Paul believed that the pc
culiar life which takes possession Of a
man by means of which he becomes
spirttual-manded and begins to bear
the fruits OF kindness, courage and
self-sacrlace. as naturally as the peach
tree bears peHches will take to itself
IN the life beyond body suited to lis
needs and conditions.
know Of no solution to the question
why the same soil gives nutriment to
seed and produces one flower that is
white and another that Is red, except
that there Is hidden In the seed a. mys-
ter1ous life which expresses itself in
It's own peculiar dress. Christian
graces that are not the product Of the
IRE OF CHRIST IN the human soul are
snam. Assumed generosity, interest In
otners, goodness voiced through plati-
tudes Of speech, however. elegant and
attractive, will never reform society
Ut is good for us to go apart from the
conventionalities of an artificial social
Ire, with Its unnatural parade and
snow and slavery Of fashion. When we
W i0eSi dItu meet real neO-
pie with NO motive for parade, but ara
willing to stand for just what they are.
ana nothing more, man becomes
something more than a hand in a. fac
Tory and woman becomes something
more than frame to stretch clothes
on for the admiration of those whose
ne Is spent In studying fashion plates.
ana aaa we prize as never before those
graces OF mind and heart which grow
ot.rward from q beautiful life within.
what we call progress is sometimes
nothing more than endless movement
IKE that Of the squirrel twirIing in
ms cage. Many man puts forth
strenuous efforts and makes a great
elioW OF movement, but does not get
really live who has begun to appreci-
ate the love and cherish the good viii
or those about him. Such a man will
work In the place where he finds him
ser enormously and bravely without
Inought OF what men will say Of him.
b ne is n e narassed by vaulting am
pltlon FOR something beyond his rea ch
and does not eat his heart out bv
| struggles in which his cage holds him
prisoner. He will not waste one mo-
ment or neglect one duty or uisa one
| rational pleasure which comes within
| his reach. Reputation is bubble. and.
wnen men seek 1t and fall they set up
are
faithful to their lot win the love and
respect Of those who are about them
and sometimes their larger ambitions
| are realized.
To live in the lives Of those about II.
| today in the home and church and
business and social walks If life, not as
fostering and noisome weeds. but like
some beautiful and fragrant lilly, is an
| ambition which ought to stir the purest
and strongest blood Of youth to the
! most earnest and courageous Twin q.
The lily sets before US not only a life
| Of naturalness and fidelity, but also
| life of beauty. The life Of lawless-
ness produces distortion and ugliness
Of disposition and character in the long
run. The life Of truth and purity. the
| life of sympathy and thoughtfuiness
for others, the life of sef-sacrifice for
| the welfare Of those who are needy.
a real interest IN the joys and sorrows
Of others is the natural and beautiful
life Of Christ In the human soul. and It
produces beauty in form and face and
| temper and character as naturally al
the life of the lily produces its charm
| ing flowers.