The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-24
STUDENTS VESPERS
GIT Is MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN
TO RECEIVE THE TOPIC.
Rev. Allan II. PbiIputfs Address Mt
Closing Spring Service of U. Of LIS
sons and Daughters.

The closing service of the spring vesper
series of the University Of Indianapolis was
held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the
First Baptist Church. and a large congrega-
tion was present. Rev. Allan 3. Philputt.
of the Central Christian Church. gave an
interesting address, and a varied musical
programme was rendered by the choir OF
Rev. Philputt's church, a quartet from the
University OF Indianapolis Band and a
quartet from the University Glee Club. Mr..
Ihilputt took for the subject Of his dis
course the saying which st. Paul attributed
to Jesus: ut is more blessed to give than to
receive"
mo instance is recorded in the gospel"
said the minister. "of Jesus having used
this language. We owe it's preservation to
st. Paul. Doubtless. students of his epistles
wish he had more often flashed some say
ing of the Man of Nazareth across the dark
places of his thesis. This maxim applies to
human life in its widest sense. and is really
a bit Of the soundest philosophy. 1 should
be sorry to think that any of you doubted
the coming of the millennium. You may
question this or that method of bringing it
in; you may not. as some do, see the prom
ise of it I'm the strange, mysterious visions
of the book of Daniel, or the fiery apoc-
alypse OF st. John; you may have grown
skeptical OF Edward Beilamy's theories,
and not yet attained the crack-sureness of
the single taxer-but If you do not believe
that it is coming, somehow, some time, you
ought not TO be at large. One thing must
be admitted-if the maxims Of Jesus were
universally practiced. the millennium would
be here now. We can hardly believe it will
have a dramatic beginning. The curtain
will not roll up at the tinkle Of any re-
formers bell. Humanity's golden age will
probably come in a very gradual, plain and
homely way, and it's path will be the ardu-
Gus one marked out by the Sermon on the
Mount.
IF men would only set their hearts on
these sayings of mine as Jesus modestly
cdlls them. to know their meaning and how
rational they are, We would hear less of
their being visionary. They are infinitely
precious, and the world has been unwilling
to let a single one of them go. Their author
took humanity at it's worst and has brought
II TO its best. There is a blessedness in re-
ceiving. 1t is the diverse side of giving,
and in the end the total of each must be
equal, as we learn in physics of the conser-
walton Of matter and of force. But why is it
more blessed TO give than TO receive? First,
because it brings into play greater energy
and a. wide range of faculties. The mother
bird exerts herself more in going afield and
getting food for her nestlings than they do
in opening their mouths to receive il. The
elements have a greater struggle to produce
rain han the earth TO drink it up. And then,
in giving, a higher range OF feelings Is en-
ployed, such as gets little cultivation other
wise. In leading a selfish life the better
part of human nature atrophies. Benevo-
lence, sympathy and sacrifice find small
place. and one never knows the deeper heart
throbs of the great worlds life.
THE secret of happiness is found in
giving. ! cannot but think that the social
unrest of our time is due to the getting
spirit. Its cure must lie in the Opposite.
If God be infinitely perfect He must be in
finitely happy. And yet, how can he be IN
finitely happy when He looks down on a
He is infinitely giving? The richest lives
are often those that find themselves unable
TO dance when the world pipes, or lament
when the world mourns. Lincoln. carrying
a pensive mood for days at a time, Wander
ing, as he once did, all the night through,
is a sad picture. Men thought him peculiar.
even insane. But a day came when the light
shone from his great soul along a very
dark way. He gave to the world the best
that was in him, and his fame now belongs
to the ages. A man must make his gift
along the lines of his own Hfe-what he does
and what he is. Measure not the quality OF
your work by your wage. but do the best
you are capable of. and who does this gives
in the highest sense. wished the
world to know him only by his works, but
where there is great achievement there Is
greater soul behind il. The world knows
II, and knows the man. AT this very hour
he who will may see a vision of patient
toilers on sea and land. in laboratories. hos
pitfalls. in the cities and in the desert, peer
ing with telescope among the stars. and
with microscope hunting the cause of dis
ease and death, and in a thousand other
ways trying to make some contribution 10
the sum of human knowledge. Many OF
them die content If they add but one iota.
These know the blessedness of giving, and