The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-08-15
Believing and Doing.

ton to expert for criticism. After
a very careful survey of the mat
ter my friend the expert asked,
"Have you made model?' and
the answer was, unhappily, ono"
"Then,'' said my wise friend, 81
can give no decision opinion. So
far as your theory goes it seems
clear and logical, but it is only
theory. Neither you nor any one
else can estimate the value of
your new idea until you embody
it in wood and metal. That is the
crucial test. Ifyour machine can
do good work, then your fortune
is made. The promise of your
plan is we'll enough, but what |
want to know is whether your ma
chine can make good theprophecy
| of your theory"
That is the rule in religion as
we'll as in mechanics. Your theO-
ry of life may sound well to the
ear, but | cannot tell what it is
worth until you show how it will
work in your daily experience.
If it fails there it fails everywhere.
| If it produces a noble and we'll
developed character, if it stands
by you like an invisible giant,
lending you helping hand in
times Of emergency, then will not
only consider it, but will adopt it
for myself. l want to know how
it will work, what it can do, before
make it my own. In other words,
| | don't care much for your theolo-
. gy or for your professions Of faith,
but if you are living happily and
| generously and when troubles and
sorrows come you can meet them
) serenely and courageously then
! you furnish me with an argument
, which is irresistible. You have
but your ore in the smelling pot,
and when you draw it off see at
r once whether it is lead or iron or
gold.
= The Christian religion must
stand this test, and we must judge
it by the results which are produc-
Il ed. Your arguments are nothing
s more than perfumed air, your ell
oquence is only a refreshing
breeze in August, but l am MOI
II convinced until | see a life which
e is ordered by this religion, anc
n then have nothing further to say
h You may talk to me about the Law
70 of gravitation and l may have m.
~ doubts, but when you throw
III stone into the air and | see witt
n, my own eyes that it always come
20 back to the earth l have demon
% stration of the law and can predic
that if | do the same thing tn
same result will follow.
er Religion is positively good fo
4 nothing as long as it remains
is theory. You must take it int
s. heart, just as you put seed int
the ground. When the seed throw
up its shoots and you can judg
whether it is a thistle Or a ros
you know what you can alway
re depend on when you plant tn;
:, kind of seed. Your belief cor
II corning Christ has very little il
fuence on your life; it is simp]
le, your creed. For that matter, yc
nd may believe everything that
good about Him and yet five mil
ions of miles away-so far, indee
oi that not a ray of His light PEN
OF trates your darkness. But if yt
follow His example, make Il
tes precepts the basis of your actio
N. then you know with perfect ce
- tainty whether He has told "
TUG the truth. No one can ever a
preciate C Christianity until he liv
his it. The world has not yet liv
TX. it, and therefore knows it.
~. Let me illustrate. The earth
full of pain, struggle with circul
stance, bereavement and misu
ION derstanding of the purpose
ent which we are here. 1t is the M
ade understanding which is the cat
tho of nine-tenths of the misery a
encouragement which exist.
could make you believe as firm
en- as you believe in the comp;
an which guides the steamer fir
,ia. shore to shore that God wants y
won to be healthy in body and VIII
~ in soul, and that you can be b.
j when you and He work and WI
OF together, l should produce
Jew change in your whole outlook tt
] at would seem like magic.
Al If l could come to yon WI
YOU dear one is closing her e,
ID. for the last time and convince J
OF beyond the possibility OF a dou
all as you have been convinced t
has a stone thrown into the air '
fall to earth. that the loved on
JILL | z:o~1xr c.o1r~ into orofhoys yof