The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-04

pr restores; one stirs up quarrels. an- sther appeases them; one makes tears to flow, another wipes them away; one lives for evil doing another dies for the right And in the workings of this grieYous law lies salvation. This also is logic but a logic of facts which makes the logic of theories pale The conclusion of the matter is not doubt ful. A single hearted man draws 1t thus Given the evil, the great thing Is to make it good and to set about 1t on the spot. Well indeed if Messrs. the Malefactors will contribute to the rep aration, but experience warns us not to count too much on their aid.
 But however simple duty may be, there is still need of strength to do it. In what does this strength consist or where is it found? One could scarcely tire of asking. Duty is for man an enemy and an intruder so long as it appears as an appeal from without. When it comes in through the door he leaves by the window; when it blocks up the windows he escapes by the roof. The more plainly we see it coming the more surely we fee 1t is like those police, representatives of public order and official justice, whom an adroit thief succeeds in evading. Alas, the officer, though he finally collar the thief, can only conduct him to the sta- ton, not along the right road. Before man is able to accomplish his duty he must fall into the hands of another power than that which says, @Do this, do that; shun this, shun that, or else bewarew
 This is an interior power; it is love. When a man hates his work or goes about 1t with indifference all the forces of earth cannot make him follow 1t with enthusiasm, but he who loves his office moves of himself; not only is 1t needless to compel him, but it would be impossible to turn him aside. And this is true of everybody. The great thing is to have felt the sanctity and immortal beauty in our obscure desti- ny; to have been led by a series of ex- periences to love thls life for its griefs and it's hopes; to love men for their weakness and their greatness and to belong to humanity through the hearts the intelligence and the soul. Then an unknown power takes possession of uss as the wind of the sails of ship, and bears US toward pity and justice. ands yielding to its irresistible impulse, we say, q cannot help 1t; something is there stronger than L" In so saying the men of all times and places have designated a power that is above nu- manity. but which may dwell in men hearts. And everything truly lofty within US appears to us as manifes tation of this mystery beyond Nobl' feelings, like great thoughtsyand deeds | are things of inspiration When tht tree buds and bears fruit it is because it draws vital forces from the soil and receives light and warmth from the sun. If man, in his humble sphere, in the midst of the tgnoranceand faults that are his inevitably, consecrates himself sincerely to his tnsk, it is be- cause he Is in coutact with the eternal source of goodness. This central force manifests itself under thousand forms. Sometimes it is indomitable energy; sometimes winning tenderness; sometimes the militant spirit that grasps and uproots the evil; sometimes maternal solicitude, gathering to its arms from the wayside where 1t was perishing, some bruised and forgotten life; sometimes the humble patience of long research All that 1t touches bears its seal, and the men 1t inspires know that throuQh if we live and have our being. To serve it is their pleasure and reward. They ore satisfied to be it's instruments, and they no longer look at the outward glory. of their cf- flee, we'll knowing that nothing is great. nothing small but that our life and our deeds are only of worth because of the spirit which breathes through them.