The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-02-26
,hrsdrt every mind ,ha, We are pu, into

this word In order 20 grow. We are net
universally interested IN speculaucns about
NiTyana, or about atonsmsnts. or about
the survival Of the ttiest' nor IN the
discussion a. &c the proper aim, whether
for happiness or virtue. Perhaps every
oEe ls interested IN one or another CT
ihese means 10 the END, but We are al M
teTosted ln the oUtCOme-saiVaton tor the
human race. Il - a universal longing IL
.s one OF the permanent things OF relsion,
Then mankind has been universally M
tsr,sted IN another thIng-the incarnation,
Ever since man became man and learned
that there was power outside OF himself
10 which he was boand, he has thought Of
this power as IN some way entering INTO
and becoming the guiding power Of some
ob<ct Of the visible world. AT hrst lt
was mere stick or stone, tree or river
or wild beast that was the chosen dwelling
place OF deity. Then IN good time the ieel-
ing grew that none but man would make
suitable habltatlon for the Creator; 50 we
hear Of th, Greek heroes. descendants OF
the gods Of Druidic and Delphle oraclcs
aud Of prophets IN all lands whose speech
was controlled IN an especial way ty Betty.
We hear ot a perfect incarnation OF Deity
IN Buddha, born Of virgin. with hls dl'
VINE parentage attested by miracles OF va.
rlous kinds and teaching that there are
many InCarHauons similar 10 has own;
that whenever the world has advanced 20
a condition IN which lts needs ar, different
from the old, God ncanGtes Himself IN a
mortal who thereupon becomes great
leader and prophet, Our minds, Of course,
now revert 10 another incarnation, that Of
God IN Jesus, who also taught that there
are many inoarnatons; who prayed that
HE disciples might he one with God a. Tie
Himself was one with Hum. And again We
see the tendency of men. TO obscure the
great truth by the particular example. 4he
truth which has most obviously appealed
10 men Is the incarnation OF God an sln'
gle man, or, formerly, m class Of men,
as prophets or priests. The truth OF that
endures. and that has been pointed out
by Jesus and all the greatest leaders of
men Is that OF perpetual and universal IN.
carnation. God has bfeathed the breath Of
life and has Int the spark of divinity IN
mankind, for we are Has children, made IN
HIS moral image, lnherltors OF HIS divinity
because We are natural sons and heirs.
This ls the tremendous fact toward which
the world II cropping. II explains the now
proven fact that manknd's trend u up
ward rather than downward Ii gives us
the courage for going on. for keeping up
the struggle when 10 our restricted view
the obstacles seem lnsupoiahle Ii com.
pels us 10 believe that this world Is found.
ed upon good, that the coed u hasteElny
on toward Immortality while evil l. self
Gods IN His world as well, the guarantor
Of ITS fundamental integrity. the Inspuer
OF every good thing IN the heart OF man.
Do you not soc how intimately connected
are the two IDEAS the Incarnation Of God
| and the divinity OF man Both ideas are
everywhere reourrent IN the theologIcs If
the world, though their particular expires
| s!on IA one faith is utterly different from
that IN another, and Il Is the difference IN
the isolated expressions Of the truth that
keeps men apart. The permanent thing,
| the larger truth must wait upon our fur
ther enlightenment and broadening of view
before II can bring Us together. We are
learning, It II true The existence OF an
unwonted spirit Of liberation and unity IN
religion, the modern armatlon OF the
| universally Of spirit shows that we are
catching some glimpses OF the larger truth
| that hes behind our lncarnduons and
atonements, our theophanies and oracles,
| our Buddhas and Jesus of past time. III
e. had heard the real message OF Jesus and
the prophets and poets we should long ago
| have discovered this truth. TO be a man
| Is TO be descendant Of God, 10 be de-
| scendant of God IS 10 be His prophet, HIS
| incarnation, the nheritor OF HIS divinity:
this II the larger permanent truth, one
which - prepared for by every religion
that the world has ever known.
After having agreed that TO do right is
the end Of conduct, can we not take each
| other by the hand IN the fellowship OF that
profession, even though we may differ as
TO the adoption of means TO that end? If
we all recognize the fact that the salvation
Of humanity u the permanent object Of all
| religious effort, then our various methods
of attaining salvation will soon take their
| proper places as subordinate c,emepts Of
faith and variable according as the needs
| OF men vary. The creed then VIII be not
| a Shlbboieth by which % save one and 10
exclude another, bat a covenant OF kindred
minds bent upon a common object and
drawn together by the natural sympathy
OF similar beliefs. Religion viii be no
longer made up OF rehglons-some false,
! some true-but will be recognized az fun
damentally a unit wherever man has lifted
mp his head and called on the power that
Is above him. We shall see that the essen.
tlal elements OF religion are not the di'icr-
ences that divide, they are the permanent
| and fundamental things upon which all
forms of religion are founded and which,
If we bat let them. viii unite men IN the
sympathy Of common aspirations and IL.
sDiIallCns