The Yale expositor., 1904-10-21
AN AGEOF SUNSHINE.
BY REV. HENRY LEWIS, PHI. d.


We are living to-day in an age of
sunshine. Though there are shadows
at times they only serve to make us
realize more wildly the radiance that
so generally brightens our path through
life.
We speak of this twentieth century
as an age of sunshine, because civiliz-
alton is steadily advancing everywhere.
a barbarous age is an age of darkness,
but the spread of civilization means
the advent of an age of light. Under
the pressure of the resistlesS forces of
true civilization dawn is awakening in
the Dark Continent The Islands Of
the sea that were living in the night of
cannibalism are rejoicing in the light
of new era, and those who were sit
| ting in the darkness of ignorance, SUI
perstition and degradation are now
basking in the sunshine of an intellig-
ent, orderly and enlightened manner OF
| life.
This is an age of sunshine, because
Christianity is making rapid and sub
stantial progress. The broad principles
of the gospel are finding wider accept
ance than ever before. The teachings
of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
are being more closely followed than in
any precious age of the worlds history.
Christianity in its truest and best form,
as exemplified in the parable of the
Good Samaritan, and as incarnated in
the matchless life and perfect example
of the Son of Man, is becoming the
predominating religion of the world to-
day.
Once more, this is an age of sunshine,
because in it we are seeing the fulfil
ment of the promise of the prophet of
old-"Unto you that fear My name
shall the sun of righteousness arise
with healing in his wings" (Malachi
Az These are broad congratulations,
but their truth is demonstratable.
When we look at the prevailing con-
ditions of ordinary daily life in the
twentieth century and compare them
with the conditions that existed in earl
Ter ages, we can see that the statement
is abundantly justified that this is an
age of sunshine. The common people,
the artisans, the mechanics, even the
ordinary laborers Of to-day, enjoy COM
forts and conveniences to-day that were
unknown a century ago.
A still more striking proof Of our
statement is sound in the ameliorative
features of human life which exist to-
day. Among these are the hospitals,
the flower missions, the kindergartens,
the day nurseries, the vacation schools,
the recreation piers and the fresh-air
work which are radiating the sunshine
of their blessed influence into countless
lives, which in other ages of the worlds
history would have been left to suffer
to die
But this is prominently an age Of
sunshine in the Sunshine work which is
being done. Many of the junior socie-
ties of Christian Endeavor societies
have their Sunshine committees. Every
Young Peoples Society ought to be, as
it were, reservoir of sunshine. Then
there is the distinctive work of the In
ternational Sunshine Society," work
that exemplifies the spirit of the blessed
Master himself and that it is fulfil
ment of the promise Of the arising of
the Sun of Righteousness with healing
in His wings.
The warrant for Sunshine work is
found in our Christian faith. Christ
himself is the Sun of Righteousness,
and he brings healing to the wounds of
humanity, wherever Hisname is known.
Every one may have share in Sun
shine work. First, by proclaiming the
advent of the Sun of Righteousness.
There are multitudes who do not know
His healing influence. Let us herald
His coming everywhere. Second, we
may aid sunshine work by rejecting
the image of the Sun of Righteousness.
That means to show the spirit of Jesus
wherever we go. Lastly, we may help
the Sunshine work forward by scatter
ing sunshine ourselves in the lives of
the Moor the sick thp SOrr0winO the
tempted and the unbelieving This is
what the International Sunshine Socie-
ty is striving to do. Let us aid it in its
noble, Christian-like understanding
Bulletin.