The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-26

This man, who had been in his infrm-
ity thirty and eight years was doubtless
jew. As such he accepted the orthodox
teaching OF the times and practiced the
common customs The precepts promul-
gated In the synagogue were doubtless ia
miliar TO him. The commands OF Moses
In regard TO the Sabbath were engraved
OF the tablets OF the heart.
Had he first met Jesus in company with
those Pharisees, who denounced the Mas
ter and His disciples for plucking the
grains of corn on the Sabbath. he would
doubtless have added his denunciations
10 theirs. The Sabbath was made for
man and not man for the Sabbath" was
In his ears, as a Jew, hard saying:
THE Son OF Man Is God OF the Sab
bath" must have sounded to him as a
blasphemy.
This man weighed down by his infirm-
ity and charged with Jewish opinion
hears the voice OF the Master saying:
Arise take up thy bed and walk. And
straight-way the man was made whole
and took up his bed and walked"
The Jews see him and say 1T is the
Sabbath and IL is not lawful for thee 10
take up thy bed" But this Jew. holding
without doubt the same opinions that
they did, believing as strongly as they,
ludA II was lbl ldNlNl 10 idhe up HIS
bed. justifes himself without argument
by simply saying: He that made me
whole the same said unto me. Take up
thy bed and walk"
FROM UNDER LAWS AUTHORITY.
In moment he seems to have slipped
from under the authority OF the Jewish
law and yielded himself TO one whom he
did not even know. He that was healed
wist not who II was This man had
healed him. when others had turned
away the stranger had helped him, and
10 the authoritative command OF the
helpful he yielded himself with all the
readiness and simplicity that a child sur
renders itself TO the friendly hand that
has saved II from peril and like
child that with Its plaything restored
laughs and sings while the tear drops
still linger on its cheeks and the sobs
still choke. so he In the Joy OF the mo-
ment forgot the inhrmity OF thlrty-eight
long years.
This sudden shifting Of authority,
viewed In the true light. is the cause OF
as much wonder as the miracle that oc-
casioned IT, When the authority that
comes with healing Is so potent II de-
mands investigation. II commands atten-
ton. All authority has interest for us for
we are all obliged 10 say. / too am a
man under authority. man can not
serve two masters but he is Obliged 20
SflNf bll' - llhu = lt'fhpHl ptiHlNs tlHl
10 say that he will not serve God.
A LIMIT TO FREEDOM
There is limit TO freedom. however
and the man who refuses 10 serve God is
forced by that very decision TO enroll
himseR under the leadership of the pow
ers that make for evil.
We are all anarchists at times and In
our particular way. We can't prevent
dreams coming. telling us how nice IL
would be II we could do just as we
please. II there were no social customs
and We could follow Emerson's advice
and sit on n chair. or IL we preferred.
on the floor. Laws often prove them
selves irksome and under certain condi.
tions the dream Of the anarchist Is an
expression Of desirable ideal
How uncomfortable our conscences
make us at times and how inconvenient !
they seem 10 us. There are some things.
innocent and harmless in themselves
which we would very much like TO do: |
but which we don't do. because, as Ham /
let SAYS, Conscience makes towards of 4
all of us" II we could only escape the re- /
morse OF the thirg and the sting OF the /
thing and the pain of the thing. which /
overweight the JOY of tho thing, how |
happy We should all be.
FEELING TAKES HOLD.
This feeling lays hold upon us under pc
culiar conditions IL is hard TO conceive |
OF man so lacking I'm humor. which 4
means lacking In humanity. as not TO feel
under the most serious conditions how
close the ridiculous lies To the sublime.
Who has not felt under certain occasions
whore the most decorum was being prac-
ticed and the utmost Journalism carried
out. the we'll nigh irresistible desire to
turn Anarchist and do something posi-
lively ridiculous what speaker following
In the footsteps Of those who have ex-
hausted the resources OF the language IN
eloquent speech and we'll turned phrase.
who has not had the desire 10 appeal TO
the audience from the standpoint Of the
= musing and even ridiculous
The story of Peck's had boy AT the
funeral must seem 10 some scandalous
and even sacrileRious vet I confess that
there is something SO human and so fresh
and so interpretative ~ our natures I'm
the spontaneous outburst of this urchin
laughing at the thought ~ how funny II
would be In the midst ~ all those tears
nd at sadness II tho departed should
~ UP.
We should fail utterly. however. TO in
rpret correctly our true natures IN We
lied on these longings To escape all
and these sudden wild desires To
eak In upon the serious and sublime.
HELPFUL IN STUDY.
These conditions are helpful I'm any
study ~ human nature They are help I
'ul just as certain well defined ard high
y developed mental conditions are 10 the
psychologist
George Fox. leaving his shoes behind
with the sNpherfs And going barefoot in !
he vinteY Nvoush the streets crying