The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-22
POINTS TG EMPTINESS
OF EARTHLY POSSESSIONS.
nhtrFfa' Expectations Disappoin', hut
Spiritual Relations satisfy. Says
the reverend :. c. Eb;.

a. the Church Of tho Divine Humanity
s"%den5otsianI. yesterday morning. the
!.%vet1Ed : {; Eoy preached on the sub
yet What Is Worth While" taking for his
tlM Luke Xii; l5: A mans life CONSISTENT
not IN the Abundance OF things which ne
rc .:,,% Mr.. Ely said in part:
Many changes have taken place in the
ln:NS and Fashions Of human society since
th-s' words were uttered In the presence OF
che who was anxious about the division Of
an inheritance The machinery oil our age
* more complicated and the pressure of
business - urcommcnly exact:ne: but the
qualities of human lie are rers. ,ently the
same.
Nv neither his environment is quiet and
coro!iiatng or turbulent and eXhaustiEs
man seems the embodiment of desire TO
get something TIA; he has not Even vhor.
wees OF mind which seem TO he the oppo-
site OF those naturally generated by a
strenuous commercial age have as a root
inc spirit oil covstousness. the longing 10
90 am happiness and peace by the grat.fi-
cation Of tn" love of the world and the ac-
QUESTION Of possessions or endOwments ly-
ine outside OF the central springs of being.
our Lord well knew that man WAS so con-
stitutcd that no pursuit of the world. how
ever successful. could crafty the deepest
instincts of his nature.
Hence. in the mode of Oriental imagery
he presents the picture of the man who
built stOrekouses and barns. and Congratu-
lated himself on all that he had obtained.
profited, If he gain the whole world and
lose his own soul?' BY the loss of sorl
our Lord had anything but the common
conception Of an arbitrary or judicial dam
rHiior. y soul is lost only when il fails TO
realize and enjoy those blessings and capa-
tilities which are inherited in its normal
development
I'VE are wOsfu,ly familiar with the fact
Of suicide, with the sslf-indulgence and dis
sipation of those who follow drink and
other vices. and also the unhappy multi
tUGes OF the insane. all of which phsnom-
era attest the dissatisfaction which men
feel with their lot in life. Having wrong
ideas of human happiness and being de-
void of sense of relative values men
seek TO escape from Il consciousness of
their d!sappointmcnts. The weaker part.
those with the least power TO Sustain their
d.sappoirtments become the unfo-tunates
of society For life .or all men and women.
view from enc point OF view. Is Il series Of
Gisenchantments.
We are constantly being disillusonsd in
respect to those things which seemed TO he
our highest good. The pursuit CT wealth
is the commCnest form OF development of
the spirit OF covetousness. but il is only 4
type. Not only does the man who becomes
rich find out that wealth does not bring
happiness. hut the same is true OF every
othsr pursuit and achievement. What IS
expected from marriage is not realized
what one hopes to find in his children does
rot bring satisfaction: what one expects
Gvis!tion Of knowledge. from literary sue
cess from church life. from the pursuit of
rhii"rthrop.c aims. and from the service OF
the State.
Men NAV he admirable and successful
in all these atoms of life. and Vet find
that they DO not bring happiness. No sort
i man the delights Of his life. the genuine
human blesseiness for which he was born:
His life does not consist in any sort of
abundance outside of his inmost heinc. Our
Lord describes this common lot OF man as
being not :ich toward God.
This experience of disappointment and
disllusiOumCnt with the world in all its
phases has been common TO all ages. And
fer this reason men have sought the elixir
Of life the philosophers stone. tn pearl
Of great price which are svnlhollic eN-
preSsions. meaning that happiness can De
found only when the finer fiherS Of tn" 'oui
are adjusted to the corresponding currents
well as outward. and as there are atnos.
phsrss and others suitable 10 the senses or
the body. 30 there are interior others ana
auras that furnish the media for the actiNi-
ties Of the spirit.
"A mans life. his real life. can he found
only as he becomes attuned To iheSe m
Is found when it becomes adjusted III the
environment gcrmane to II. The cSSehc"
Of spiritual life Is the love nf otnetS; ilS
the embodiment or expression Of The love
Of God God being love itself aud mans
spiritual creation consisting IN ms oeiNE
made into the real image and hNe2esS ci
God man has his III" only whr1 ne he-
comes y form Of unseliish. helpful love Ills
life consists in his normal "rca'Ht mar
ruony with God nrd the love ana wisdom
that nov from God
rnn spiritual or new creature. Being
thus 'uvardN changed. r. IS changed 19
as~ociaticr. The thincs which were totally
incompetent 10 give him life or 10 Sausiy
his deepest instincts nov become nlo9es
OF his activity and expression. and inc IN
stri,mcnts OF his delight and use. Marriage.
de nestle relationship. friendship, ouS'nts IS,
rlnnsurr patriotism. religious zeal. an nave
"A new quality, all become new forces. Nfl"
he Is in the world he lives in the things
which he posscsacth because he brings ne