The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-19
Sunday Sermon.
WE sIIALLTIyE AGAIN.


there is no grief for the departed! The
air is full Of joyful greetings for those
who have Just come and Of sad farewell
for those who are just going.
We know by experience what awaits
he new Corners into this short but beau
tiful life, but what have we to say of
those who have whispered their good
night and are about to fall asleep? Are
we left in the dark concerning them, and
must we weep until forgetfulness dries
our tears, or can we look serenely into
Che future and think of them as in some
foreign cline, where they are rejoicing
at their larger opportunities and await
ing our coming?
This is the great problem, and until it
is solved to the SOULS satisfaction we
really have no God to worship, for
God who has made love the mightiest
element of our natures, but breaks our
relationship to others at death as
giant snaps a thread, is a being to be
feared, but not one in whom to repOsC
cheerful confidence. and unless our re-
ligion has as much to say about the
future rs about the present, it neither fits
our needs nor responds to our cravings.
Ii is weakest where il should be strong
W
win the victory.
Unless YOU can tell me something
about tomorrow ! do not care TO ask any
questions about today. If the journey
ends at sunset it makes very little dirt
ference to me where ! wander or what
happens TO me. The time is too short for
the accomplishment OF any high pur-
pose, for While | am engaged III my
work and just as | get accustomed to
myself and learn how to use myself to
the best advantage | drop out of sight,
leaving nothing behind except the mem
DRY of an unfinished task, and become
mere nothing III the midst of nowhere.
My moral sense is destroyed, and in
stead of that self sacrifice for the good
of others which is at once the most
heroic and admirable quality Of my
nature ] eat and drink and am merry,
because tomorrow / shall die.
How can / care for a God who cares
SO little for me that He makes me
thirsty, leads me to the fountain and
then refuses to let me drink? ] may be
convinced of His power, but | am suspi-
cious of His alleged wisdom and
stoutly deny His goodness. An earthly
father who should act thus toward his
family would neither receive nor deserve
the affection of his children.
The denial of immortality, therefore,
Ay those who are constituted as we are,
and who are as dependent as we on that
affection which develops all that is high
est and noblest III our natures, is
preposterous libel against Him who
taught ms the Lords Prayer. 1t chills
every warm motive that leads to holt
ness. and so dwarfs the soul that it be-
comes hardly visible. No man can at
tain his full stature except under the
influence Of a faith which once In a
while catches a glimpse Of heaven any
more than a rosebush will blossom III
the damp darkness of cellar. Men
and plants need light--the plant the light
of the sun and man the light of immor-
tality.
But once convince a man that as he has
fallen asleep so often in this life that he
looks forward to it after the hard days
work, sure that he will wake again at
sunrise refreshed and ready for addl-
tional toll, so will he close his eyes at
last only to open them in a brighter
world, and you make new creature OF
him. lie is transformed and transfigur~
IL. L
changed. his incentives lead him to
higher level of action, he is no longer
like the musician who plays out of tune,
for he keys his instrument to the con-
cert pitch which the leader gives and
and produces the best music of which
he and his instrument are capable.
Our lives are based on thoughts, and
the loftiest thoughts make the hottest
lives. There is no conception which
EQUALS that of Immortality in its benign,
lnvigorating and inspiring influence ON
the characteristics of a man. 1t conse-
crates all his energies and sanctifes all
his affections. 1t brings him into har-
mony with the universe and gives him
the right to call on God i'll time of need.
He lives for eternity, makes plans which
reach far beyond the confines of our
earthly life, bears with resignation the
burdens which Providence places on his
shoulders, and tearfully says "Goodby,"
with the glad certainty of saying Good
morning later on.
But whittier do they go who are sum
moned hence? DO the bonds by which
they and we are united in life break at
death? Does memory die when the body
is worn out? u memory physical func-
ton, or does it belong to the soul, to
live as long as the soul lives? Will they
be so enraptured by the glories Of the
future that their interest in us will
cease?
This cannot be true. Neither reason
nor revelation gives utterance to such a
prepostcrous statement. True love, the
love that has grown sweeter and more
tender with the passing years, the love
on which two souls have leaned for sup
port and comfort in the various yissi-
tudes of this lower world, is as much
stronger than death as a giant is strong
or than Il child. The change from our
life to another can produce no change
in love, except, indeed, to make it purer
than ever. Love will not, cannot die.
And they who go go not so far but
they can return 1t is not a long journ-
ey from here to heaven In Jacobs
time it was only a ladders length, and
it is the same now. Our loved ones are
close to us bringing help and good cheer
The angels ministered to Christ, and
che law has not been repealed. They
minister also to MS, and when we die
our opening eyes will see familiar faces,
and in our WEAKNESS we shall find rest