Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16

begin again; that here we may put Off our
old garments and reclothe- ourselves. we
must not too radically adopt this idea.
am not so sanguine that it is an easy mat
ter to be transformed and renade; l am
not persuaded that geography enters into
heart or m.nd or soul so that by crossing
the older borders into new land we Cd
literate old ties. Here we may dig new
wells, but we shall thirst often, like David,
for drink of water from the well by the
gate of Bethlehem e-s
Wheaton's mind wandered. 1t was a
pleasure to look about over these we'll
groon1ed people; this was what success
meant-access to such cond tons as these.
The fragrance of the vlolets worn by a
girl in the next pew stole over h m; it was
far cry to his fathers Sitting harness
shop in the dull little Ohio town. Ii S
hand crept to the pin which held
his tie in place; he could not give
just the touch to, an Ascot that Wary
Raridan could, but then Wary had prac-
ticed longer. The old bishops voice
doomed steadily over the congregation. It
caught and held Wheaton's attention once
more.
1T is here that God hath made room for
us; but 1t is not that We may begin life
anew. There is no such thing as beginning
life anew; we may begin again, but we may
not obliterate nor ignore the past. Rather
we should turn to it more and more for
those teachings of experience which build
character. Here on the western plains the
light and heat of cloudless skies beat freely
upon us; the soul, too, must yield itself to
the sun. The spirit Of man was not made
for the pit or the garnet, but for the open"
Wheaton stirred restlessly, so that Rari-
dan turned his head and looked at him. He
had been leaning forward, listening intent
ly, and had suddenly come to himself. He
crossed his arms and settled back in his
seat man in front of him yawned. and
he was grateful to him. But again his ear
caught an insistent phrase.
life would he a SimDle matter IL mam-
DRY did not carry our yesterdays into our
todays, and if 1t were as easy as Cain
thought it was to cast aside the past. A
man must deal with evil openly and brave
ly He must turn upon himself with re-
proof the moment he finds that he has been
trampling conscience under his feet. An
artisan may slight work in dark corner
of a house. thinking that 1t Is hidden for
ever: but I say to you that we are all
builders in the house of life, and that
there are no dark corners where we may
God assigns us. I would leave a word Of
courage and hope with you. Christianity
is militant religion: it strengthens those
who stand forth bravely on the battle
line, it comforts and helps the weak
hearted, and 1t lifts up those who fall
pray that God may freshen and renew
courage in discourage not as against
the world, but courage to deal honestly
and fairly and openly with ourselves"
The organ was throbbing again; the
massive figure had gone from the pulpit;
the people were stirring In their seats.
The young minister who had read the
service repeated the ofertory sentences
and the voice of boy soprano stole
TREMENDOUSLY over the congregation. Rari-
dan had left the pew and was passing
the plate. The tin<le of coin treasured
Wheaton; the return to mundane things
brought him relief and restored his conf
dence. His spirit grew tranquil as he
looked about him. The pleasant and
graceful things of life were visible again.
The voice of the bishop rose finally in
benediction. The choir marched out to
hymn of victory; people were talking as
doors. The organ pealed gaily now: there
was light and cheer in the world after
all. At the door Wheaton became sepa-
rated from Rafidan. and as he stood
waiting at the steps Evelyn and her
friends detached themselves from the
throng on the sidewalk and got Into their