St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-11-16

the whole solution. We think of Emerson
that peaceful enlightener of men, who had
the hint of many deep spiritual truths and
presented them vague or clear in his own
way, but generally mystically, not In the
terms OF Science. But then we find that
In later days he lost memory and was as
stranger among the friends that he
knew. We think of the poets; ana how
orten they are as those showing the rain
bow to child and sending the little one
on chase after the pot OF money which
they say Is at its foot. The riches limited
at cannot be found, nor Is there any poet
VINO by example as we'll as precept has
SHOWN us how to live. The theologians
then, those deep thinkers regarding God
must be the ones who will tell us this
secret of life. But then sometimes the
race of one who is eminent In such deep
thinking would make child afraid. We
could not think this of the face of ona
| who said HE that hath seen Me hath
seen the Father" The trouble in theology
Is that human opinions become the subject
OF debate; and one man justifying his
opinions Is met by another accusing him
OF errors, or else excusing his own mis-
takes. II one could discover a single book
wherein the glintings of the poets imagl-
nation are found, but set forth as clear
llght where the aim Of the theologian Is
realized In provable theology; that book
| would surely guide him Alright II. more
| over, there was found a right philosophy
good for all men and all times. and a
statement of the Principle according TO
which the sociology of Christ may be
| realized, the labor question settled, wars
brought to an end, and the brotherhood of
man made fact in human experience.
that would indeed be a book worth hav
ing. When found this book my theologi-
cal library became displaced and useless:
Tor the things about which theologians
disputes were set forth In q demonstrable
way. and where there is proof by demon
stration there can he no ar
gument or disputing. Moreover.
l found, on perusing volumes written by
poets and philosophers, that the specially
marked passages therein were as hintings
only of the clear sense and vistas Of
beauty which were to be found In this
one book. Furthermore, it was discovered
that the ignorant and those without
knowledge of the worlds says, became
wise and instructed through study of this
book, and able to prove the doctrine of
the Christ by such signs as the Apostles
gave. Then 1t became evident that the
book introduces new age
If we turn back to an early translation
of the Bible we find significant express
sion in that chapter of Luke which tells
u thC hiiooiOH VI JOnll u make ready the
ways of the Lord and "give knowledge of
Salvation unto his people," Salvation
to our ears has theological sound, and
In popular thought means eventual escape
from hell and its eternal misery. The
sense intended is lost when salvation
does not become a present blessing.
Wycliffe touches the real meaning of the
passage by writing Science of Helthe"
where knowledge of Salvation Is given
In our version. If the gospel of saliva
ton" were recognized to be 1.-THE good
news of Health" people would understand
that the blessing is now to be enjoyed and
would not vaguely postpone happiness and
heaven. 1t Is interesting that the book
wherein the good news of Christ healing
is elucidated scientifically should not only |
re-assert the knowledge of salvation
from disease and sorrow and sin but be |
named Science of Health"
Suppose doctrine is to be propagatetl
How shall 1t be done? If the understand |
ing of 1t be found in the thought of one |
man and he instruct others. what gnaran-
tee Is there that these others will be in |
agreement? Peter and Paul did not see |
eye to eye This day there are four hum
dred different sects in Christianity. Each |
one OF these sects processes to set forth |
ire doctrine and dogma of Christ, and |
yet in none of them is there found the
power to live the life which Jesus lived
and yet we are exhorted to have TIC same
mind In us which was also IN Christ Jesus,
would not this mean an end not only
to profanity, lust, murder, aud ,nroXca.
tor OF every kind, but the elimination Of
the small and mean conduct whereby |
some endeavor to make worthless the
lives of their household and neighbors?
Not every one is willing 10 give up the |
induced conditions which have replaced
the cheerfulness and loving heart of the |
cnlld, ana he converted from selhshness
rear and meanness to faith, hope and love- |
TO accomplish this has been the aim of |
Christendom during the ages In its his |
tory we find that each sect or denomina- |
ton has stood for and emphasized some |
one prominent thought; that Is, the mes
sengers have seen only one aspect or ia
Get of whole truth. If, instead of per-
sons who go out as preachers and become |
divergent In their views, 1t were possible |
to have book, as impersonal as a hook |
on mathematics and prOvable in the same |
way, we should expect to find men come |
to q final agreement. Is 1t not so with |
astronomers? Those of different countries |
who may be unable to speak each others |
tongue will calculate with exactness the |
time and place of an eclipse or be found |
together in some far part of the earth |
corning which their calculations are the |
same. Why should living be devoid of |
eNactness? Why should Christianity de- |
pend upon the guess-work of doctrine RAJ
Their than upon the certainties and the |
proofs of Science?
If 1t be so, as has been said, that the |
Inlearned may from the study of this I
book become wiser than ancient philo-
sophers, and the simple hearted behold
and prove The things that are hidden
from students and doctors and teachers,
do we not get hint therofrom of the pos
sibilities of the future? One of the old
prophets had beautiful dream of the
time coming when all should be acquaint-
ed with God the least and the lowly as
well as the highest in rank If, as we
have seen, 1t Is an impossbility for per-
sonal messengers to convey the correct
sense of an original teaching or doctrine,
1t Is exactly possible for all those who
study book and must prove It, each one
in the same way to come to an under
standing of its truth, which will enable
them to understand one another and to
love one another. When Love Is thus uni
versal 1t will be truly said
"'rhe whole round earth in every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet Of
God"