The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-26
FINAL LECTURE BEFORE
METAPHYSICAL ASSOCIATION.

yet state them with every confidence
that they are true.
II have often heard the question asked,
what is the purpose Of life? The best
answer IL seems TO me. is that life Is for
the purpose OF coming 10 a consciousness
OF the power OF the soul upon the plane
OF matter II would be nothing TO the
soul to possess unlimited power II II
never had the opportunity OF proving IL.
ID Is no satisfaction 10 an athlete whose
strength is never tested. Now IL Is very
important that we should understand
that there are many experiences in life
that appear to be defeat that are not de-
feat There are many Of us who ask
ourselves at some time In life what rea-
son is there for me to rejoice? we
should decide as early in life as we be-
gin To think that life is matter OF JOY
that there Is no such thing as defeat un-
less we admit IL To ourselves and that
no soul can ever lose the good that be
longs to IT,
Now we have reason To rejoice be-
cause all the experiences of life, whether
or not we recognize II at the passing
moment. are experiences that bring us
good We are beginning to get our eyes
open 10 the wonders of the material uni
verse.
1--WE should rejoice because we have the
power OF chosing between dominion ana
doubt. II we choose the dominion OF IRE
upon one mana We SudIl cuiVls WIN ~ -
we doubt and fear on the other hand We
shall suffer
Now the responsibility of suffering is
in ourselves We suffer nothing except
that which we have drawn To ourselves.
Ii we claim the power we must ADMIT
the responsibility; they go together.
Power and responsibility sihio can never e, st ef
the extent that we have the power our
experiences in life simply develop con-
sciousness Of power. Al every point we
shall elect dominion over life, or whether
we shall be the slaves of people, by cir
cumstances. of arbitrary power and
things. There was an old creed years
ago. L am existence absolute. knowledge
absolute, bliss absolute. / know of no
better creed than that. because as we
Tsae H. we pesi1 20 baye gse today ths pos
session OF all things and we suffer only
to the degree that we are unconscious OF
our power.
There is no limit to our endurance.
There is no limit TO our accomplishments.
There Is no real satisfaction In life but
that which comes from the consciousness
~ want to sum up what have said
this afternoon. briefly, i'm these few
words Our daily life is neither strug
gle nor hardship. Happiness is the re-
suit OF character. or what we are. not of
what we have. What we have is due 10
what we are. Health and prosperity are
"All life is privilege and opportunity
I care not what your circumstances. the
present and future hold for us all the good
that we are ready to receive. II is for us
TO choose whether trouble shall make us
better or worse. Life is 10 most people
simply a dark river coming from they
know not where. passing down they
but knew IL, has its source I'm the eternal
| want TO leave with you these beautiful
words OF Walt Whitman.
THE ocean filled with JOY
The atmosphere all joy!
Joy joy in freedom. worship. love! JOY
in the ecstasy of life!
Enough TO merely be, enough to breathe
JOY! JOY! all over joy"
At the close of Professor Newcomb's
address Colonel Taft introduced Rev. MIR
Ferren OF Vermont, who spoke briefly
echoing the thought of the distinguished
speaker OF the afternoon and dwelling
upon the fuller. freer, higher life of the
soul.