The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-02

~" rises 10 nelsnts OF song tndt eiNr hi'h
place among the immortals OF literature.
In putting our valuation on any process
as on man We are determined by the
best that has been produced The pos
slnilities OF ART are revealed IN the mas. mas,
what they have done We seek 10 md the
means by which they have achieved so
uniquely We are anxious To learn NE
source OF their power. the process OF thef
labor.
The same method in tho field OF science
would lead us 10 search I'm the lives OF
those who have done most for men for
the dynamic influence that has sent them
forth to heal the sick and bind up the
An Impartial seiection OF him who STANDS
out as the ideal type of the servants oi
men would fix the choice upon Jesus OF
and best in this world for ZOO years have
served in His name.
BUT ONE PowDR
70 do this there can be but one. II was
the conscious power OF his fulfilled SON
ship. my. Father worketh hitherto and
y cxe snS the sS% srdS S %s
famed into full blaze In the human
breast and all that was divine in man
was poured forth in behalf OF men.
These qualities were the essence Of his
sonship and tho realization OF that SON
ship meant the fulnllment OF love, for
giveness and tender mercy.
We are wonderfully confused in our
minds today what the essence OF power
IL. II Is the thing We covet. Nothing
than this For Il men daily sell their
souls. Men spend their lives In pursuit
OF political position for the power II
gives Civ them them; Social position is sought for
Men rush here and there seeking wealth
for the power II Will give them.
and men rush TO the schools seeking TO
know the deep things OF the mind let
power itself is III defined. Men speak or
Il az II all power was the same power
There Is the power OF the earthquake
that In the count OF seconds overturns
cities. sweeps countless multitudes into
unnumbered graves and puts a curse for
had been dedicated by mems hands ana
hearts TO great deeds and immortal loves.
There Is the power Of the sun that
draws up the tender sprout and gently
leads forth the bud and paints the petal
with many colors and puts blush upon
is destructive, the ray of the sun con-
structive. yet both are revelations of
Power overturns civilizations. puts less
fools OF men In our cities. degrades man
hood and citizenship at the polls puts in
high onice dems gogues TO fan into fire
and fury the fierce passions OF men.
Power builds on honesty and truth, Gre
ates environments that minister 10 hu-
man good. builds schools and churches
anu SoduS men up 10 nODler
WHAT KIND OF POWER?
What kind of power do We mean? DO
we mean the power that enables one to
soul and In that prison cell help a
weaker brother throw up the windows TO
the light, press back the shut In walls un-
OF the dingy roof until we can look up
higher and see a star OF hope and catch
an inspiration from heaven? Do We
mean the power that will steel our arm
and melt our heart to do deed which
done will give us the warm buoyant con-
sciousness that some solitary soul will
live even after less alone. with more Joy
ana fewer tears because we have done
that deeG7
II this is the power that we seek we
shall not find IL in wealth with all its
plast or trumpet as 10 what IL can 60
II can buy legislatures, IL can change the
decision OF supreme judges, IL can put
bits IN the mouth OF the chief executive,
but II cannot distil one drop OF Joy and
heart.
Knowledge Is not power 1t is to pow
fords the means by which power NAV be
sanely applied. But logic has It's limits.
The syllogism cannot convince. Philos-
ophy may weave Its subtle and profound
thought. 1t may tell US back OF all is a
mind.
1t may furnish us with a rational basis
for belief In God. but philosophy and the
son away on practical funda mental doubt
or lead one soul into the peace that is
worth possessing for that peace passeth
understa nding
Intellect may stand before thousands
and with thought as clear as light and
with logic Irresistible fail 20 convince
when purposeful character hesitating and
stammering vet burning with conviction
will move men and heat them with pas
sion.
The highest power given TO man Is vet
so new. so untried that we do not prize
II. For centuries force. brute force was
power. Then came the rule OF mind Now
dawns the dominion OF character
Character to which thought Is subject
and In whose grip muscle In slave
Character the essence OF which is love.
forgiveness. mercy. Character is the
awakened divine within us
INFINITE POSSIBILITIES.
The infinite possibilities called forth and
made real. 1t Is fulfilled sonship and SON
ship is fulfilled when a man says I will
arise and go 10 my Father.
Men DO not link themselves to natures
power by crying TO the depths or lifting
high their hands to the clouds where the
thunder bolt dwells. BY cunningly devils
ed machine and wonderful invention they
lay hold upon nature and thrust its
strength through the human mought
yoke.
Not by crying Lord. Lord but by the
fulfillment of these latent possibilities
within us do we link ourselves with God
until We are strong I'm his might and In
Us he wtlleth to do of his good pleasure
II Is that power in US that stoops to serve.
and STOPPING lifts. as II did in the life OF
him who laid aside his garments and
girded himself and began TO wash the dis
ciples feet. Until you have that power
know the meaning of that mystery YOU
have no part with me-" says the Master.
Yet as we look at the lives OF individ-
ual men today and the church as a whole
Is IL so much the lack OF power that
keeps us quiet? Haven't we more OF Gods
power today than we have OF Gods In
spiration. How dull and stupid at times
service becomes I'm the lives OF those who
make the effort. There are few results.
Little ~ accomplished We arc misunder-
stood even by those for whom we labor
and I'm the light OF our own experience we
read the small results and the great mis-
understandings in Christs life and we
wonder whence came the inspiration that