The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23

his desire. There was no one with suff-
cient leisure to wait for a sign from the
higher intelligence, Jehovah. On the al
tars sacrifices smoked and the cloud or
incense ascended, but God was silent. The
hearts of the people had turned 10 eVll,
and their ears were dull, so that they could
with the silence OF God. A terrible mo-
notOny of s~elhshness and stupidity OPP
pressed the people. There was a form OF
religion and a cant of patriotism, but there
was neither piety nor heroism in Israel.
for materialism had cankered the heart OF
the nation. On a memorable night the 81
lence Of God was broken. 1t is said the
lamp Of God was burning low in the sane
tuary, and the old priest Eli had retired 10
rest when the voice Of the Almighty broke
upon the stiffness. But it was not TO priest
or statesman that the word came. Then,
as often again, the great things were hid
den from the wise and prudent and re-
vealed unto babes. Samuel, the boy. I'M
sophisticated and pure-hearted, became
the confdant Of God. To him alone the
word was spoken. for he only HAD the
listening ear and the attentive mind.
Shall we say that this phenomenon OF
the old world is impossible to-day? Let a
man on one of our long summer after
Moons take himself away from care and
other men and under some spreading beech
or oak he may hear the sound of many
voices. There will come to him words and
phrases from the forgotten years. Not
only does his own past speak to him, but
the centuries give up their dead and sages
and heroes are his companions. Prophetic
accents Of the coming years, however faint,
may break upon his sense. The soft west
wind has a word for him. The flowing
water sings him a song of joy. Earth and
air lift VI their mystic voices and the
whole world is vocal TO his attentive ear.
Among all these voices why not also the
voice of the Lord God Almighty as in the
primitive times, walking among the trees
in the cool Of the day% II we can hear
and interpret the voices of nature may we
not also hope to have a word from the
great Master OF men and things? Surely
God is sensitive and responsive to the cry
of His children
w of to-day, perhaps, are too much
given to attributing all the phenomena OF
ourselves in by certain notions OF laws,
forces and ~potencies, forgetful that these
are but the methods of the one great Power
who works in all. If we could break away
from the phrases which hold our minds
captive and sincerely interrogate the High
est. saying with Samuel, Speak for thy
servant heareth, we might learn something
Of eternal profit. We. too, are hampered by
materialism. We are by far too much
timid and conventional. The great Father
Is anxious to speak with each one of us.
But we have ears only for other voices. To
that man who is willing to hear and holds
himself in readiness to listen the way is
open TO the treasure house of the eternal
wisdom. We need some great and stirring
word to enliven us. We faint in the OBJ
security and barrenness of our little lives.
We are tripped UP and held fast in the net
ed something of the great oUt-of-doors,
fresh. tonic, youthful. Can we go directly
to the great fountainhead of life, God him
self? Let us believe we can"