Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-06-14

idea. The Christian religion came sin the
fullness of the times, when il could have.
as its foundation upon which to build, the
culture OF the Greek, the law OF the Ro-
man, and the piety of the jew, These
must flourish and pass that better than
they might come.
This growth of the race from ignorance
to knowledge, from weakness to strength,
has come slowly, but in accordance with
the law that men are transformed into the
likeness of their visions OF the best. Only
as we dream Of better things do we grow
to better things. Where we stand now
the seers and the prophet foresaw u.s.
What we have achieved was the Utopian
hope OF past ages. What nations enjoy OF
freedom and insight was given first as
a hope to individual souls, to men who
suffered that we might enter into their
inheritance. Free government, the right
OF private Judgment, the liberty Of men to
choose for themselves not only what, but
how, they shall serve and worship, these
realities of to-day were first visions seen
OF prophets in moments Of transferring
insight.
1t was precious prophecy to the Jewish
nation that their young men should see
visions, and their old men should dream
dreams. There is more to our life than
merely living, more to our labor than the
use and perpetuation of institutions. To
labor rightly we must have our calling up
into the mount, wherein we receive COM
mandments, craven upon the tables of our
hearts, by which we must shape our lives.
We must not seek to abide in the realm of
dreams, but be eager, rather, to make our
visions to be manifest in our lives. Truth
is revealed, first of all, to the individual,
and does not easily come to be the posses
sion of the majority. When all men stand
where once the prophet stood, another
prophet is far ahead, urging us to new
heights. Lincoln, the champion of union,
became, through the grace of God, the
champion OF humanity. His first vision
took on the TRANSPORTATION of nobler
insight. Whatever may be the outcome of
the great Peace congress, it is good for us
because it holds out the promise of bet
ter time. That wise and earnest minds
are seeking to mitigate the horrors arising
from the conflict of nations is the best
assurance of universal peace. Having
once seen it in vision the race will never
rest till it is an accomplished fact.
When Jesus led his disciples down from
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION, he brought
them to scene of suffering and service,
and SO gave them and us the key to our
seasons OF uplifting. We hear sweet music
and gaze upon wonders of art that we may
transform our world into harmony and
beauty Jesus saw vision of humanity
made perfect and alien races drawn to-
gether by universal love and righteousness.
Into the seething unrest and immortality of
his time he brought his ideal, and it has
been we'll said that the most convincing
proof of his divine mission was the fact
that he had the faith and courage to believe
in the success of his gospel. You and /
are not responsible for the performance of
other peoples duties, but upon us is laid
the imperative duty of being faithful to
the best light revealed to us. We must
toll to make the world brighter by the
radiance of our visions of righteousness
and truth.