Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-12-22

human destiny, falsehood, hatred, cor
ruption, suffering, death-whau can we
think, what do? To all these questions
d sublime and mysterious voice has an
swered, Love your fellow men. Love
must indeed be divine, like faith and
hope, since she cannot die when SO
many powers are arrayed against her.
She has to combat the natural ferocity
of what may be called the beast in man.
She has to meet ruse, force, self inter-
est, above all, ingratitude. How is it
that she passes pure and scathless in
the midst of these dark enemies, like
the prophet of the sacred legend among
the roaring beasts? 1t Is because her
enemies are of the earth and love is
from above. Horns, teeth, claws, eyes
full of murderous fire are poWereSs
against the swift wing that scars to-
ward the heights and eludes them.
Thus love escapes the undertakings of
her foes. She does even better-she
has sometimes known the fine triumph
Of winning over her prosecutors. She
has seen the wild beasts grow calm,
lie down at her feet. obey her law.
At the very heart of the Christian
faith, the most sublime of its teach
ings, and to him who penetrates its
deepest sense the most human, is this:
To save lost humanity the invisible
God came TO dwell among us in the
form of a man and willed to make
himself known by this single sign
love
Healing Consoling, tender to the UNI
fortunate, even to the evil, love engen-
ders light beneath her feet. She clari-
fies, she simplfies. She has chosen the
humblest part-to bind up wounds,
wipe away tears, relieve distress,
soothe aching hearts, pardon, make
peace. Yet it is of love that we have
the greatest need. And as we mediate
on the best way to render thought fruit
full, simple, really conformable to our
destiny, the method sums itself up in
these words: Have confidence and hope;
be kind
| would not discourage lofty specula-
ton, dssuade any one whomsoever
unknown, over the vast abysSes of sci
ence or philosophy; but we have al
ways to come back from these far jour
neys to the point where we are often
to q place where we seem to stand
marking time with no result. There
are conditions of life and social com
plicatiOnS In which the sage, the think
err and the ignorant are alike unable
to see clearly. The present age has
often brought us face to face with such
situations. ! am sure that he who
meets them with our method will soon
recognize its worth.
Since | have touched here upon reli-
gious ground, at least in general way,
some one may ask me to say in few
simple words what religion is the best,
and | gladly express myself on this
subject. But it might be better not to
put the question in this form. All re-
ligions have of necessity certain fixed
characteristics, and each has its inner
ent qualities or defects. Strictly speak
ing, then, they may be compared among
themselves. But there are always in
voluntary partiaIites or foregone con-
illusions. 1t Is better to put the ques-
ton otherwise and ask, Is my own re-
ligion good, and how may | know 1tE
To this question this answer: Your re-
ligion is good if it is vital and active
if It nouriShes in you confidence, hope,
love and Il sentiment of the INFINITE
value of existence; if it is allied with
what is best in you against what Is
worst and holds forever before you the
necessity of becoming II new man; II
1t makes you understand that pain is Il
deliverer; II it increases your respect
for the conscience of others; If 1t rem
ders forgiveness more easy, fortune
| less arrogant, duty more dear, the pc
yond less visionary. If 1t does these
things it is good, little matter its name.
| However rudimentary 1t may be, when
It fills this office it comes from the true
source; it binds you to man and to God.
But does it perchance serve to make
you think yourself better than others,
| bubble over texts, wear sour looks,
domincer over others ConscienceS or
| give Your own over to bondage, stide
your scruples, follow religious forms
for fashion or gain, do good in the hope
of escaping future punishment? - oh,
then, If you proclaim yourself the fol-
lower of Buddha, Moses, Mohammed
or even Christ your religion is worth
less; it separates YOU from God and
man.
| have not perhaps the right to speak
thus in MY own name, but others nave
SO spoken before me who are greater
than |, and notably he who recouhtea
to the questioning scribe the parable
of the good Samaritan. | intrench my
self behind his authority.