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

mon on Christian Living, Draw
ing Illustrations From the Lily
hs the ExempIar Of What Is Good
and True and Beautiful In All
Life.
Rev. George e. soper, in his sermon
at :Plymouth church yesterday morn
Ing, saidi
The words of Jesus, Consider the
lilies of the field" appeal to life. It is
tqe foundation Of all true science, art
philosophy and religion. Airistotle's
pniitosophy began by forming a 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
bloIe as well as nature. In this way a
man can prove anything he chooses
from the Bible, because he overlooks
or rejects everything that does not &C
cord 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 the same way men studied hu-
man nature. Educational theories were
formed upon this basis. Child study
ls new thing in the world. Yet the
sreat Teacher set 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 fan
oles and prejudices, as far 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
terest and power, in spite Of the fact
that many old notions are being dis
carded. The teacher and the parent,
too, are coming to the child to know
what is its bent and composition be-
1ore running 1t through some eduoa-
tlonal mill. So, too, the religious teach
er Is going back Of theology to ths
STUDY of man. His physical, mental
and moral capabilities are being ana
lyzed, his social conditions are being
weighed. The difficulties which con-
front the natural unfolding of all that
Is pest In man are also subjects Of real
and profound consideration In this ge.
change for the better in social and
Industrial conditions will never come
through guessing and theorizing, how.
ever shreWds the guesses and specious
ana complicated and fascinating the
theories. The flower tells at once the
Klno OF life within. Each variety of
nsh and bird and animal having it's
own peculiarlife takes to itself an out
ward body that distinguishes it from
all others. Man takes to himself an
outward shape which distinguishes him
among all the other created things.
The Apostle Paul believed that the pc
cul1ar life which takes possession of a
man by means Of which he becomes
spiritual-mtnded and begins to bear
the fruits of kindness, courage and
seif-sacrlf1ce, as naturally as the peach
tree bears peaches will take to itself
In the life beyond a body suited to II
needs and conditions.
l 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, excapt
that there is hidden In the seed a mvs-
terious life which expresses itself In
It's own peculiar dress Christian
graces that are not the product of the
lie or Christ in the human soul are a
sham. Assumed generosity, interest In
others, goodness voiced through plati-
tudes OF speech, however elegant and
attractive, will never reform society.
1t IS good for US to go apart from the
conventlonalities' Of an artificial social
NE, With. its Immature parade and
snow and slavery of fashion, When we
get back to nature and meet real PEG
pie with no motive for parade, but are
Wiling to stand for just what they are.
ana nothing more, a man becomes
something more than a "hand in a. fac
tory, and woman becomes sometime
more than frame to stretch clothes
on Tor the admiral ton of those whose
Ire is spent in studying fashion plates.
AND we prize as never before those
sraces OF mind and heart which grow
or"ard from beautiful life within.
what we call progress Is sometimes
nothlng more than endless movement
IKE mat OF the squirrel twirling in
strenuous efforts and makes a great
snow OF movement. but does not gel
forward at all. He has lust beg11n tr
really i've who has begun to aDprecI.
ate the love and cherish the good will
OF those about him. Such a man will
work in the place where he finds him.
SELF strenuously and bravely withouT
IHouent or what men will say Of him
he is not haraSsed by vaulting am.
b1tion for something beyond his rea cl
and does not eat his heart out by
struggles In which his ca ee holds hin
prisoner. He will not waste one mo
ment or neglect enc duty or miss on.
rational pleasure which comes With,
his reach. Reputation is a bubble and
"HSu liieH Seeh II ana rail-, they set III
a pitiful wall. But those who arr
faithful to their lot win the love an(
respect OF those who are about them
and sometimes their larger ambition.
are realized.
To live in the lives of those about u.
today in the home and church AND
business and social walks if life. not a!
fostering and noisome weeds. but Ike
some beautiful and fragrant lily, is al
ambition which ought to Stir the pures
and strongest blood Of youth to thu
nrost earnest and courageous living
The lily sets before us not only a III
Of naturalness and fidelity. but aIst
a life of beauty. The life of lawless.
ness produces distortion and uglines,
Of disposition and character in the Ions
rur. The life cf truth and purity. The
life of sympathy and thoughtfulness
for others, the life Of self-sacriflce fo1
the welfare OF those who are needy
a real interest in the joys and sorrows
Of others IS the natural and beautifu
life Of Christ in the human soul. and i
produces beauty in form and face anf
temner and character as naturally as
the life Of the lily produces its charm.