The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23
OTHERS.
Rev. H.. w. Kellogg shows How 1t Is
the Highest Law of Life.

DR.. II. w. kellogg, Of Central-avenue
Methodist Church, yesterday morning used
for his subject Helping Others, the High
est Law of Life" The text was taken
from Galatians vi, 2: Bear We one an
others burdens and so fulfill the law of
Christ" In part ne said:
Whatever the ideal one may entertain
as the successful life, all are ready to
acknowledge that there is one life that
stands out on the worlds historic page as
pre-eminently superior to all others; il is
that life which alone the masters of the
world are ready to acknowledge the di-
vinest symbOl-the life of Jesus. In purity
and loftiness of purpose. in strength and
permanently, in endurance which the
changes of time only makes more wonder
full and sublime, the Man of Nazareth not
only stands pre-eminent, but alone. L would
have you study with me the law of that
life. How did he reach this perfection?
Everything in these days is assigned to
law. The sovereignty of law is the bold
postulate of science: The life of Jesus is no
exception. 1t is not exempt because of di-
vine claims. We are not uncertain of what
that law really is. His greatest disciples
have united in declaring it. Paul, as well
as John, is clear In tracing II. II Is the law
of unselfishness, looking after the interests
of others. 1t is everywhere published in
His words and work. 1t was the law of the
lived. by this He died, by this He tri-
umphed. He looked not on His own things,
but on the things of others.
The great question for US to consider is:
Is this law a safe one for us to adopt?
Would it not ruin the common man? In
the struggle of life, would not such an at
tempt be disastrous? There is a large class
in the world who declare that ii would.
I'VE cannot. with safety, abandon our
lives to 1t. Jesus was an exception" they
argue. But careful consideration of his life
does not justify the claim. One thing is
certain. We have but two laws open to us.
They are opposite. The one is the law Of
s~elfshness. the other is this law of benevo-
lence. To adopt the one is to reject the
other. The question is, which one shall
Il will argue that for the highest of prac-
tical life. benevolence is the safest. 1t is
the truest law for this life alone, even If
there be no life hereafter. / nave gathered
evidence for, years bearing on this PROPOSE
ton until | am convinced of the truth of il.
"First-We are by nature adapted to this
rule. The very ordering of our relations
is such as to make it imperative that we
obsel We the claims of others. What has
| passed now into a science called sociology
is built up on the nature OF man. He Is a
creature of relations, and can never come to
| realize the best of life without due regard
for this fact We are in creation as a part
| of it. and to ignore it is TO defeat the order
of life. All government and order of society
compel il. Mutual dependence is a recog-
nized law of society. 1t is, indeed. a law of
creation. The fact and process OF evolution
are impossible without it.
"Second.-There is a response In our ma
ture TO the law. We are sympathetic be-
ings. This is true until we have crushed
| the better nature out of US. Our hearts
| respond readily TO the appeals of the weak.
Those representations of suffering which
| nave from time appeared in the worlds lit
| erature ever attract and endure.
'"Third.-But what of the facts? 1t is not
| theory that will convince. DO men who
| adopt this rule of life succeed? Sometimes
a single life is too short to demonstrate
the accuracy Of a principle, but in a ma
tion's life Ii Is demonstrated. The verdict
~ history is clear. Where nations have
adopted benevolence and not selfshness as
their law they have prospered. When this
has been changed for selfishness it has
decayed. l cite the cases of Spain and
America. So with societies and corpora
tions. A remarkable testimony was Sc
cured on this point during the Paris expo
sition of 1867. The Emperor conceived the
idea of having the manufacturers who
made exhibits state what contributed most
10 their success in business. Especially the
relation of workmen and manufacturers
was to be given. And, without exception,
of the many cases examined the law of
kindness prevailed. If you study the indi-
vidual life you will be surprised TO see how
far this law prevails in the lives and con-
full man of to-day. 1 could recite cases
until l should weary you, for / have been
an observer for years and a collector of
these facts. If We bear others burdens
the time comes when others Will bear our
burdens.
the best and richest things of life are found.
But among these best things we find this
law of harvest-fOr increase scatter your
seed. To withhold is TO lose. He that Civ
eth his life shall save It; he that loseth his
i'm sympathy. give Ii; In intelligence. give
It; in faith. give it; in love. give it: enrich
life. give IL for others. AS the ocean, give
forth and beautify the earth, and Won
will receive back by every stream all you
have given.