The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30
LIGHT ON HIGHER PLANES
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE DIS.
CUSSED BY REV. j.. G. SMITH.
Blessed Are the Ignorant, He De.
cIares, When Ignorance Is Coupled
with Earnest Ambition.

At the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
the Rev. ]. Cumming Smith preached yes
terday morning on The Light on Higher
Plains" He said:
Jesus had begun to wash the disciples
feet when a look of wonderment passed
around the circle Such an attitude seemed
SO undignitied and SO unbefitting a lOrdly
leader. When Peters turn came he re-
fused to let the Master humiliate himself
by so mental an act. Then Jesus said:
What I do thou knowest not now, but thou
shalt know hereafter The key to unlock
this paradox is simply this-that there are
difficulties on lower levels of development
which disappear on the higher attitudes of
discernment and sympathy. We need to
learn In order to grow is but one-half of
the truth. The other half Is that We need
to grow in order to learn.
There are withheld secrets on every side.
In the physical domain, who has found the
clew to the secret wizard which would ban
ish the fatal diseases that thin our race
and multiply our despairs? Where lies the
concealed cure for cancer or dread con-
sumption or the thousand aches or ills
which for centuries have bafled our in
creasing science? Ana yet, if we reason
from the past history of discoveries, there
lies hidden away some cure for these NOR
tai sicknesses. There is a need in this age
of intellectual lust and overstriying for
knowledge to remind ourselves that TO know
everything is an infirmity, If not a disease.
Perhaps our schools are too busy cram
ming. The fever for more storage and ac-
cumulation in young minds is a perilous
and superficial enthusiasm. Let there be
ignorance. Don't ~enlighten everybody on
everything. Be proud TO say that there
are books you have not read and facts you
have not yet known. Blessed is ignorance
when II Is the running mate of earnest am
bltion for truth and wisdom. The pine tree
produces just as many cones and the bush
just as many roses; why try to crowd
cones and roses on tree or bush enough to
kill its growth?
sphere of religious life. The Bible is an
exceedingly simple book. Ii reveals the
love of God and the sacrifice of Christ and
the need of holiness in order TO enrolment
In heaven, here or anywhere. Beyond these
simple, inspiring disclosures there is little
else. 1t is mostly a book of inspired silence.
But there is more light which will dawn on
men as they graduate into higher spiritual
conditions. This constitutes our forecast of
heaven. 1t will be an imperial university,
an utilization Of colleges, an ever-goading
and never-quenched impulse toward light.
But no discomfort. Always faith, but what
lies further or wrapped in the dark will
come out clear when the time calls for it.
When young men are mown down, when
homes are bereaved because of voices silent
forever. when the sorrows engulf our ten
der, helpless souls, let US pillow our restless
minds on the love of our God, and believe
simply, as children believe. that we are not
able. TO understand IL God should try to ex-
plain, but that some day We shall be strong
| enough TO see through His plans and feel
| His love throbbing In every event"