Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-11-11
LIES Responsibility-Part l..
From The Jefersonian, by J. L. LODGE,
.,.". ID. D., Editor.

From The Jetersonian, by ]. L. LODGE,
t." ID. D., Editor.
This span of life was lent
For lofty duties, not for selfishness
Not to be wiled away for aimless dreams,
But to improve ourselves, and save mankind.
SIR Aubrey De We're.
In giving a serious tone to editorials which
require 1t we adhere TO the policy instituted
at the beginning, when it was determined
sedulously to guard against what merely
amuses and entertains the public. If our
endeavors are not directed TO the improve
ment of heart and mind, there is no con.
ceivable reason why the Club should exist,
at all.
The awfully solemn obligation insepara-
BILE from existence is not restricted to indi-
vlduals or classes, but includes mankind.
Every man is responsible so far as he acts
of his own volition, and freely; but more,
must account for the effect OF his example
and practice upon other men. Wherever
there is primary action there is resultant
influence. Every man leaves the world
better or worse for having lived in II. In
finity OF duration may not necessitate liked
measure Of emotion. AS, In the future
world, there shall certainly be degrees Of
pleasure, and pain, in the single subject, 1t
is reasonable to believe that each addition
OF purity and peace shall be contributory
part of the sum total of bliss. And the re-
verse. Whatever, then, produces good, or
sustains tendency thereto, is Of value in
estimable. The humanitarian principle,
when subordinate part instead OF a suffi'
Gent whole, while destitute of saving power,
ennobles the actor, and radiates benign in
fiuence This measure OF praise is heartily
accorded some of the secular orders. 1t is a
great thing to have taught blessed charity
(love), fellowship, benevolence. II is claim
ed by representatives that one cannot meet
the intention and demands Of Masonry, or
Odd. Fellowship, unless genuine Christian.
1t is not fair to single out one after the other
disgraceful examples as reprobating sys'
tenn; by this rule OF judgment the church,
Gods own institution, and regarded by mil
lions the all-sufflcient sphere for usefulness,
is the BLACKLIST example of falseness and cor
ruption. Being the best, it contains the
worst But beneath the visible there exists
the invisible, meeting the thought Of God,
realizing his whole purpose Perhaps Elmer
sons ESSAYS never led single soul To Christ;
but they unfailingly lift skyward every mind
strong enough to digest and assimilate them
The contrast between truly noble charac-
ter and mere earth worm originates IN an
Immutable principle. The low order OF
mind is intensely selfish and sordid. Its
horizon is shut In and near. lts aims &C
cord with its low ideals. The world is no
larger than its range OF vision. Its content
ment flows from ignoble sources. 10 be
full, and Astounding in provisions Tor the
animal, TO be secure from evils that oVertake
other men, to grasp the pleasures the lower
levels Weld, or are distilled from noxlous
weeds that thrive along the worlds muddy
streams, feeding on "the ashes Oh deau sea
fruit" providing for relatives or dependanS
with motives traceable to the one source In
self, to glut, and hoard the rest, distinguishes
the carnal mind. The poor, shrlVelled,
blasted, worm eaten heart, or what passes
for a heart, can hold no thought Oh do9'
whom II has not seen, for it turns unheed.
ing from the cry Of needy mortals whom IL
has seen. Thousands who manage 70 Keep
THAR bodies alive yet starve for intellectual
food which stony selfshness refuses 10 sup
ply. 1t calls no man brother, nor the
Creator, Lord. There can exist no sense Oh
responsibility, for it recognizes no sovereign
Power, who distributes lavshly that reclpl'
ents may become his agents for redistriouc
ton. There is no prospect beyond tnat Oh
the brute that perishes, no monument save
that mound of dirt heaped up to die unuer,
forgotten of all the noble, but initiated by the
evil. The natural sequence of selfish living
is the assumption of independence. There
is no sense of honor due TO God, no service
of love due to men, Society is nothing but
the instrument of profit, or the procurer OF
power The material universe exists as the
source of supply for all that self can crave.
Life has no meaning.
Religion is based upon recognition of the
Supreme as mans lawful sovereign, and the
divine claim founded upon acts of creation
and preservation, infinitely intensified In
such as know themselves objects OF the re-
demption. The same power which pre-
scribes the annual and diurnal orbits of the
worlds, and regulates the course OF constel-
lations, maps out the destiny Of men and
the mnutest affairs Of human life are affect
ed by universal government. The instructed
mind acknowledges this control. All un-
dertakings are referred TO 1t. IL truly in
spired, failure is impossible, for Almighty
energy is enlisted. Failure would show
that sanctifed wishes may lack inspiration
with definite purpose but then the disci-
pline is TO profit. Meanwhile, confidence
in omniscience brings peace as well as
power. Renewing acquaintance with an old
college companion, Shaw's English Litera-
ture, the author deprecatingly attributes
Cowper's deporable insanity to impressi-
bility, iostsred by Mr.. Newton, Calvins.
tic preacher of the Church Of England
showing the authors utter Ignorance OF
Pauline theology. 1t is precisely this refer
ence of minutest affairs TO God. abiding
faith in His power, faithfulness and truth,
his Interchangeable purpose TO override all
classes of events 10 the good Of his people,
Ia lodi In Hnallu rOOf nnt AVil and Qtah-
lish righteousness that settles calm upon
the mind, and ensures life In accord with
his will. Without this firm, settled belief
1t is impossible TO create and sustain I'M
swerving fidelity from the lifting OF the cross
TO the fitting Of the crown. The element OF
uncertainty and sell. dependence removed,
gives room for the n-working power in
agreement with purpose. The true concep-
ton balances the desires without creating
indifference:
Nor love thy life, nor hate
But what thou livest, live we'll;
How long or short, permit 70 heaven.
Here Is division Of responsibility. The length
of life is fixed by wisdom that cannot err:
We speak not wisely Of "untimely death ="
No star is dimmed In armament Till the sun
ia near his rising Those earlier 10 set shed
their whole measure Of light upon the earth.
Not how long, but how glorious was the
life Death is a dismal word with which
we have nought 10 do To grasp the iull
intention of our being, 10 realize what the
great future holds, TO grow by sublime ideal
and actions which feed the aspiring mind,
10 help forward each lettering step while
we walk grandly-this is ours Then,
whenever and wherever we may fall, after
life's fitful lever" we shall "sleep well