The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-23

For as he thinketh in his heart SO is he.
Proverbs xxiii Z
Meditation in the mind of the modern man
savors of the medieval monk and monas-
terry In these days of imperious mercan-
tie demands this art of personal silent in
terco1rse with oneself has little place
Ever the capacity for absorption in thought
on high and uplifting themes is in peril
what power we are thus daily losing we
may never know.
when the Roman soldier at the fan OF
Syracuse came upon old Archimedes work.
ing mathematical problems in the sand and
challenged him to salute the Roman IN
SIGMA. the only reply he received from the
deeply engrossed geometrieian was, Get
out of my light" Nothing could break into
the sacred cIoisters of his thought, where
he held communion with the greatest reali-
ties OF life to him. This was not pitiable
freak Of absent nlindedness that cost
Archimedes his life but it was deliberate
shutting, out of mind the world about him
in order to the discovery of new principles
and powers for larger life. This is what
makes the Archimedes of the world
AS a practical power in every walk of life
to arrest men and bring them back to the
only true lines along which the human soul
can grow to its largest capacity well-di-
rected meditation cannot be overestimated.
This may be contrary to the general sup
position for meditation seems to this busy
age to have in its very nature something
Intangible, visionary, impractical. Let US
see
Two things must be remembered: First,
that a mans soul is the place of his great
est possible growth He is only great as
his soul is great. He reaches his highest
s,1 ct
list was a most perfectly developed physical
man, but the physical overshadowed both
the mental and the spiritual, and he will
be remembered as a brute.
The most ilimitabe field for a mans
growth lies on his spiritual side. He has
power in this inner world of his soul, as
nowhere else, t. move on towards the high
est and hottest and lay hold on the deepest
and most enduring things possible to hui
man character. The spiritual. as a part of
every mans nature and as the field of his
greatest growth, is not wildly enough
grasped by this practical age. The wants
and longings of his spiritual nature are not
thrust upon him are other wants of his
being. Hence the spiritual nature is not
so keenly appreciated. But, for ali that the
soul is the place of the most conspicuous
and enduring growth, and we must realize
1t in order to grow.
The second thing that needs to be remem-
bered in order to give meditation the right
place in our lives as a means of growth is
that all growth is silent and inward.
This is true in spite OF the fact that we
measure growth by increased diameters,
longer scepters of power, and larger accu-
mutations of wealth This is the bias of our
times We are impatient with anything in
visible or silent, and have little faith IN it's
actual reality. We stand on this point while
every analogy of nature is against The
strongest forces of Gods natural world are
silent and invisible Electricity. that
strange, urgent fluid, now such a necessary
factor in the business life of the world
5 flows ON in a current as silent as it is in
visible. The mysterious energies bound up
in little seed. strong enough to burst a
mighty rock, passing through their marvel
Gus evolutions from inert nothingness to
final flower and fruitage, never break the
profound silence nor exploit their wonderful
secrets. So IT is with the growth of a mans
seul. and, viewed in this light meditation
seems to be more in harmony with our
ideas of power.
We cannot. however, declare that there
is power for growth of soul in meditation,
and urge 1t as profitable duty upon busy
men of the world without first making
clear what kind of meditation we have in
mind Is this some visionary, monxsh con-
ception, or is there enough substance in it
to commend it to practical reasoning men,
who are really anxious to be the best and
do the most in this life of which they are
capable?
The kind of meditation that this work
aday, material age needs if it is to have
serious, thoughtful men and women in
state and society and church, must have
Que large characteristic. 1t must be practi-
CAL 1t must be practical or it will not only
be useless, but contemplate in the eyes of
the world, in spite of its holy theme. Old
Peter the Stylite stood for a whole genera
ton on a high pedestal meditating and
preaching before the people without APP
parent results. On the other hand. Rev.
Francis u. Clarke, d. D., the founder of
the Christian Endeavor Society, also medi-
tated; but his meditation was struck
through with a practical spirit, and over
two millions of young people were gath
cred under the Christian Endeavor banner
within a decade.
Meditation in order to our growth must
be related to some outward purpose and
controlled by it. 1t is not reverie Reyerie
is the mind on a pleasure trip and its
most unimportant consideration is it's des-
tination. 1t enjoys the beauties and pleas
ing experiences of the journey and is
satisfied.
Neither will mere lofty abstract thought
renlarge a mans soul without some practi-
cal connection with life. 1t may even dis
tract him, and throw kim from the track
Of large usefulness in the world.
Nor can meditation, thus qualified be
mere thought about ones self. That may
be beltting to a man under certain cir
cumstances. Beyond certain point intro
spection becomes an unhealthful process,
and makes men desperate and pessimistic
The great characteristic of helpful,
strengthening meditation for which we
plead. that which makes it the most prac-
teal force in the world for building char
acter, is that it be in live active touch with
this needy outward world. 1t then becomes
a man-making power.
This misunderstood and ill-appreciated
process of mind of which we speak is
mans soul retreating into itself, not for
refuge and rest, but in order to emerge
again clothed with greater. nobler powers
for service in the world about him.
We are now at the point where the prac-
teal meaning of our text falls with great