Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-07
The Purpose of Life

with Longfellow, Life is real life is
earnest 1t may seem strange to
many, but in the ultimate analysis of
questions like these, religion and phi
losophy often arrive at practically the
same conclusion. Religion says that
this life is the preparation for a future
existence more grand and glorious
than mortal can conceive; that it is
our duty is to live, to make the most
we can out of life, to do right under
all circumstances, and do good to
Others. This last preccpt finds it's
highest expression in the golden rule;
DO unto Others as We would that
they should do unto YOU" Duty is
the keynote of religion, but it is not
the end of life. A man does his duty
to gain peace of mind, or moral and
mental happiness. Religion promises
her devotees happiness; if not COM
plete in this world, then eternal hap
piness in the world to come.
Philosophy must consider both sides
of the question. If there is q future
life. it says, then the better q man is
here-the more noble mans life on
this earth-the better will be his con-
dition on entering the next. On the
other hand, if there is no future life.
then how bright how enchanting we
ought to make this one. In either
case, the time of our sojOurn here is so
short. Compared with the vastness
of space, we are such insignificant OBJ
jects. Why should we spend our time
in quarrels and wrangling, in wars
and murder? What do we gain by
it? Why not live in peace? Why not
learn how to be happy? Happiness,
pure happiness, is also considered by
many philosophers as the ultimate
goal of life towards which all should
press. But how may we attain this
happiness? We cannot grasp it in a
day, nor in a week nor perhaps in a
lifetime; but we may approximate it
by steadily keeping in view the true
purpose of life, which is. THE devel-
opment of right character, and it's
equipment with intelligence and
power Believing in the truth Of
this teaching, and granting that hap
piness is the highest purpose of life,
we are led necessarily to the conclu-
sion that not only is it wise thing
to educate ourselves, to develop the
nobility within us, to make of our
selves powerful personalities, but in
so far as we are able to do so, and do
not make the attempt, just SO far do
we sin. But right character" can
not be acquired by the individual
alone, mo man liveth to himself
Fright character" implies more than
the sanctity of the hermit, more than
the giant intellectually of the scholar,
1t is not a product of personal am
bition, bnt is attained only as we sink
the individuality. Hence, philosophy
unites further with religion, in de
claring that the highest happiness
consists in working for the good Of
others. This destroys the hermit's
paradise at once, for his life is one Of
pure selhshness. Fin order to fulfill
the highest purpose of life, we must
confer happiness upon other individu
ais, then two things become neCcS-
sary-firSt, that we have something
to confer. This again necessitates
self-development and education: 9th
erwise we shall never be able to help
anyone else very much; second, that
we place ourselves in such q relation
to humanity that we can make use
of what we have learned. In short,
following out this line of reasoning,
it is not only our duty to do a good
deed when the opportunity occurs,
but it is our duty TO look for the OPP.
portunity; and the man who fails to
do his duty, fails in the purpose of
life, and can never know the meaning
of perfect happiness.
But what is there to- do at the pres
ent time? We need not seek far The
work is all about MS. Only a few
people, today, are really living-the
vast majority are only existing. To
a great extent it is not the fault of
the man but of the environment The
greater part of the misery today
arises either because men cannot get
enough work. or because they are
compelled to do work which is disa-
greeabe or repnlsive to them, or be-
cause they do not receive a Just COM
pensation for their labor. Many
musical genius has dragged out his
existence in some soul-killing occupa-
ton at a dollar day. Many a
painter, many sculptor, endowed
with natural gifts, which, rightly
trained, would have brought JOY
to the hearts of millions, has gone
down, unwept and unhonored, to an
unknown grave. Poverty is the great
cause which is Withholding from man.