The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-29
PASTOR SAYS OBSERVANCE
OF LENT BREEDS OPTIMISM
Humanity, According to the Rev.
Mr.. Smith, Requires Cessation
from Worldly Cares.
GOOD DEEDS ENCOURAGED

Taking for theme Aspiration and Con-
tentment," the Rev. J. Cumming Smith de-
veloped a very interesting sermon on the
purpose Of Lent and the practical value de-
rived from it's observance. The main point
he emphasized was that some great force
is needed to prevent men from drifting into
a material life, which is the present tend
ency. and that the proper observance OF the
Ienten season provides such a force. The
text was from Phil. iii. IA, iv, IL.
1.-THE lenten idea" said the minister.
sprung easily out of the universal nature
It's essential reason and practice have flow
cred out in all peoples Mohammedan, Bud
dhist, Persian, as well as medieval. 1t is
simply the souls assertion of it's rights, the
solemn insistence of the diviner life on its
irrepressible claims, which are smothered
by a pressure in lower directions. There
fore, wherever there are souls there will be
a protest against an absorption in temporal
life, and this protest arises not from any
theological reasons, but from the irresistible
wants of human life.
Lent does not mean the suppression Of
our material energy in a cIoistral forceless-
ness. 1t does not imply anything morbid
any more than nightfall sends gloom over
the flower beds: it simply croons the plants
TO rest.
Energy is our normal life: it lies at the
root Of all civilization. Destroy 1t. and you
cease to advance. L press forward-that is
the language of energy. All the inspired
men of the Bible were of the aggressive
type, unwilling to rest content with what
they had accomplished, but ever reaching
out to new fields of labor The more am
bition God has packed away In us, the more
likely we are to amount to something. We
see, therefore, that right ideas concerning
Lent suggest no such passivity as a social
dOrmitOry or a pious meditation on the
graveyard. Perhaps such ideas prevailed
when the world was young and darkness
seemed to lie closer 10 religion than light.
Lent is the joyous summons to men en-
shaved 10 one pursuit or another to rise a
little TO the condition of reflection, of in
spection Of the soul Is not this sane? Is it
not right our energy should be regulated by
some superior opportunity for action? The
man who is willing 10 maks such a refiec-
ton is TO be complimented. 1t shows that
he prefers lofty to a detective gratifica-
ton, that he has an ear for the strains of
the bedam OF sounds of the world out
side.
Now. / hold that this imperial call is an
act of kindness, and society should welcome
such cessation from its cares. No one
who has once enjoyed such music of the soul
can be pessimistic. And optimism is what
we want-a more cheerful sense, more
radiant hope.
ITO enjoy such a prodigal world we must
not cramp ouselves up in petty tasks. God
or nature does not decree IT, ANYTHING con-
trary to such hypothesis would drive us 70
atheism. for history shows that materialism
ana athelsm go together, We must answer
these summonses to higher pleasures and a
better life, else We, too, will fall I'm that
CHASTITY procession of those who assume that
the object OF their days is the pauper's aim. u