Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17

world, it could be allowed to mankind TO
turn over large assortment of lives that
have been led here on earth, and make
selections TO suit, what would come or IL
In other words, suppose that a pre-emoou-
led spirit Of the average Intelligence Oh
men should overhaul our libraries exam
ine our biographies and make cholce OF
life that ne would Ike 10 lead, even AZ
lowing the fictions and Misrepresentation
TO bs all true what might be eNpecteu oL
him? Would he accept the privilege OF
a life on earth? Or, still farther, suppose
him TO come and see things and people
with his own eyes, would he wish 10 en-
ter mans cstate2
Taking the world merely on It's own
merits. and not rs only the first act OF q
great drama of infinite import II IS not so
certain how such questions might De an,
swered. Ii Is not certain how the World
would fare, tried on its own prlhciplea'
ana in it's own judiciary. Lives nave
been lived I'm this world worth living.
And even allowing for disappointment
and admired and loved, 10 crafty Us ana
there Is q great deal here 20 be enjoyed
and admired and losed. 70 gratiIy us, ana
MIKE us bappv. And there are really 50
NAM chances for having good tiIhe
that. I'm spite Of the past or present, ai
Intelligent being might be tempted 10
take his chances. Nevertheless, 'heIe 81
many who are slow TO offer thanks 70,
their creation, and THINK 'hey arc 80
onouqh not to complain, owning no oON-
CATION Of gratitude for thelr sullo '1-ioo
mos They claim that their prese nee
hero &c no business of theirs; that lhgy
have only 10 float along, and live ana ule
ike vegetables and other animals.
n &c very true that our life is very
brief. enruug from life in darkness lost,
| as the passing Of n post; as an arrow ny
| inc through the air; as snip salilhs
across the water; as q smoke, or mist APP
nearing and vanishing; as the gidss-in
| The morning green. IN the evening WITH
| cred And yet, in its brevity and Meet
ness what infinite and eternal cohse-
| ouences are involved! We nave no o.'-yI
| explain ton of our fathers ana ou4 oN wv
| being than that we are the very nature
| ~ cod gnimating ourrnortality. we are
| nor brutes. or vegetables, or mere eVolu-
| tions. And we impress our divineness on
! All arcund us. God made man OF the aust
| al the earth. after the image OF Hlmseil,
! and breathed into him His own life ana
| U,Ff and spirit. His creative nature ana
| energy He cave 70 him the earth ioi
| his possession. And how wondertul IS
the Divine Spirit, showing itself IN 0UI
| dayi Electricity is the next thlng 10 n.s
| itself. the border-land Of the spirit. Light
ming has been in the material world Wna'
! life is to mankind. Electricity ana ns 5i
! ming are the same. Ana man Is ue"iii'
! Fam Iiarly with divine power. And VIII
| that divine power he Is giving nervous
| system to the whole earth, and iInpartMs
| sensitfveness and show Of. intelligence
| IN rner, matter Look at all the won
| defflI powerful, delicate, and miraculous
machinery that IS found everywhere. II
looks like the presence ~ The great pow
! on III cod. We are exploring the infinite
| and the infnitesimal, and opening and utl'
| Iizing the most secret forces aud powers
! OF Nature We seem 10 be asking al
| mission 70 the presence and power oil
| God and acting Deity. If this Is the dlS'
| nity OF human life. might not an angel de
sire TO look into it?
And vet. 10 our common eyes, and IN
| awakened energies, and dropping, godles'
souls. how poor and undesirable thine
II NAV bel A birth I'm helplessnessi a
! youth IN idle pleasures; manhood with
ont intelligence: a life without JOY or ia
yor but idleness. sensuality. and mad pas
sion: an age OF wasting powers. disap
pointment. and hOpelcssness, dislntesfal-
ing dust and ashes. and Q darkened, be-
wildered. dying soul Varieties OF thes'
general features make The life OF th'
wording. and the unnamed being. ms
assortment Of these lives is Infinite; bu
not one worth living. All are vanity, an
vexation OF spirit. The MANHOOD that
with all its powers and possibilities, Il
divine was revealed Ia the Divine Ideal
Whose life was the light OF man; Who re
stored man to his primeval greatness, an
| assured him as the son or COD.
4