Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-13
JOURNALS
SATURDAY
SERMON

mental and moral. throughout the WnOle
and in the minutest detail these are
forces which in their resultants, are what
they are and exist in their multiform
modes because of the operation of coun-
ter-forces. The reign of law is SUI
preme everywhere. The worlds that re-
volve in space are held in an even bal
ance by laws suited to invest matter.
The old idea that an invisible spirit held
each star and planet in its place has
long since given way to this reign of
law"
If 1t were not for centripetal force the
earth and every star in the solar sys-
TEN would plunge into the sun. This
force or law attracts to a common center
and holds the multitudes of the heavenly
hosts each evenly balanced in its place.
Were it not for centrifugal force which
balances the centripetal, not only would
our earth refuse to revolve upon its own
axis but 1t would not and could not move
in its revolutions around the sun, there
by producing day and night in the one
case and change of seasons in the other.
And yet some people say Inls just hap
pens that way. AS well might man UNI
dertake to prove that the "girders" that
span the Whitehall street crossing with
every exact measurement of each piece in
the whole structure Just happened" be-
cause he did not see the iron ore formed
in and dug out of the earth, worked into
into steel, shaped and drilled and riveted,
shipped to Atlanta and placed. Whine
law was behind every stage and change
there was also an intelligence there-a
"purposiveness." AS the multitudes look
ed upon those enormous beams OF Steel
weighing thirty-five tons each, perhaps
not one thought of the fact that, when
each one swung, poised in midair there
was an illustration of force and counter
force that holds the universe together
and in shape. Gravitation drew each mas
sive piece to the center of the earth,
while two locomotives furnished the
counter-force that held them evenly bal
anced in the air.
But let us take another look at what we
call nature, and we WIN see that the very
chemicals that support vegetable and ami
NAL life and enter into the composition
of each-say grass or wood and flesh and
blood, are counter to and balance eacn
other as the rule-alkali and acids. And
yet this ''just happened" or nature,
''blind nature" does it, And so it may be
said that everything in the universe is
evenly and safely balanced either natu-
rally or artihcially; moreover, there
would be no safety anywhere but for this
great fact For instance the whole city
of Atlanta might be deprived or human
life in one moment If the exact chemical
balance of the atoms of oxygen and hy-
drogen that make air, were to become dis
arranged. The Empire building or Pru-
Dental or Equitable with their hundreds
of occupants might fly into the "Dlue
ETHEREAL sky or sink into the heart OF
the earth if the even balance of forces
were disturbed.
I spoke of artificial balances" by Whicn
we mean the application of force and
forces by man, as for instance the air
brake on train of cars. No train would
be safe without a counter-force artihcially
applied at will when needed. And may
add again, Just here, that that train
that makes forty miles an hour safely
up and down grade does not Just hap
PEN to do it, When the kissing air-brake
hugs the huge drivers 1t does not Just
happen" that way.
If. now, we come up a step higher we
will find that this exact balance obtains
also in the mental sphere.
We find II in the grouping of faculties,
in the human mind, and their classifca-
ton into the constructive" and into the
destructive" faculties. This is the rule
the basis or the plan Of every human
mind.
need not dwell at length on this phase
of the subject. 1 mention it merely to
make the chain complete. And yet what
kind of a human world would we have
If all minds belonged to the analytical or
destructive class? One man can tear
down much faster than dozen can build
ordinarily. What for instance would be-
come Of us If all men and women were
possessed of only the athletic faculties?
Indeed the world would be bedlam, but
for the even balance of the mental fac
ulties of the race in correspondence to
the environment and possibilities all
around us. For instance, the world needs
newspapers, but what a calamity IL all
men were editors 1t needs railroads, but
suppose we had no men with the talent
to do anything else? Indeed art, science
and literature owe their existence to the
fine adjustment of mental faculties, so
grouped and balanced that each acts and
reacts, checking and counter-checking
in a manner and degree that makes the
limit to variety in the world almost In
finite. Out of balance, and the whole
world may become raving maniacs.
No rational being can take this
view of the universe without feeling emo
lions of wonder at the great wisdom and
foresight, to say nothing of the benevo-
lence of the great Creator.
But we come next to ask what about the
sphere of ethics or morals?
If the great Cod or, as the skeptic would
say, the great First Cause" has shown
such wisdom and bensvolence in the con-
struction of every other part of the uni
verse, is 1t possible that He has left the
sphere of morals without a balancing
power? If He has not so marred His
creation, where do we find this power?
1t is not in gravitation or the natural law
of attraction, cohesion, adhesion, etc. They
do not apply to a moral being. VIII some
one say where?
If he has placed that power anywhere in
the universe is il unreasonable to believe
he will show it to this rational creature?
Is 1t unreasonable to suppose he is not
able to manifest himself, his will, his ma
ture, his disposition toward us? If he
built all the vast universe above and be-
meath and put their laws within reach of
human knowledge, is 1T unreasonable to
believe that, having made such knowl-
edge possible by implanting in him fac
ulties capable of comprehending them, he
will not also put not only the moral
law within his reach, but also the facul-
ty of getting hold of it and of understand
ing it?
He who denies these great truths con-
tanned in His Word about which the
text speaks, does more than he thinks.
He first charges cruel neglect on him who
made all things, or he lays himself under
obligations to furnish such balance. This
is exactly what Herbert Spencer and
Ernest Hackle have presumed to do-pro-
vide this balance. Read Spencer on Ed
ucation," read his First Principles" and
then read 1.-The Riddle Of the Universe"
by Hoeckle, and the most stupid man will
be amazed, and at once ask himself the
questions: Moses or Ernest HoeckleY