The Newtown bee., 1904-08-05
SOCIAL TOPICS.

SOCIAL TOPICS.
 SCIENTIFIC REL1aIoN.-BY o. O
 WRIGHT.
 Let us suppose for the sake of argu- ment that there is no God except our own supreme good; still it seems to me that the Christian religion is the best philosophy of life we have. We are here on the earth; that we know so sure as we can be certain of anything. We are here in this world, and we stand related to the clements, forces, and individual objects of nature. The material world is our home, at least for the time being. We are subject to the common properties of matter, and the laws of the universe.
 In fact we are part of nature. We are of the earth, earthly. We are de- pendent upon the ground, the sea, the air, for our food, comfort and happi- ness. We are hedged about and con- ditioned by our natural environment, in which we live, and move, and have our being. We must conform to the facts of this physical world, or we can- not live in it. Health, strength and activity are necessary to the welfare and happiness of the animal man. Without knowledge of the laws of life we are in constant danger of self destruction. We must not only know what is our chief good, but we must be willing and able to obey the con- mands of Mother Nature. And SO, granting that the universe is a self originating, self-adjusting machine, without any maker or personal govern or, still there must be, as we all know by experience, right way and wrong way in which we may live, and the right way is best for us.
 Now supposing that our religion is purely of human origin, and that Christ our Master is simply what most men are willing to admit; the purest, wisest, noblest man that ever lived; is not Christianity even on such grounds the embodiment of the highest ,princi- ples, and the source of the most de- sirable happiness in the conduct of life, that can be found in the whole history of our race? Is not the Christ the truest interpreter of the natural life? Is not the righteousness of His example the most perfect of all? Is not His obedience the most truly sci entific? Does not His understanding of the material world fill our minds and hearts with the most beautiful and poetic imagery of the meaning of the things of earth? Is not the moral and spiritual significance of His con. duct and character most ennobline and happifying of any we have ever known?
 Suppose, then, that there is no flu. ture life except as we live in our works which follow US, and in the memories of those who love us. Is there any better way in which we could live than that which we find in Jesus of Naza' reth? If the chief object and purpose of our living is to get the most real pleasure we can while we are here, could we do any better than to be en- thusiastic, practical followers of the meek and lowly Saviour? Does sir pay, even if there is no God, and nc hereafter? Does corruption win more than honesty, even though the chie1 end is sour own selfish qualification, Is it not best to be true to our higher nature whether there is any future fol us or not? Look at the wrecks of man hood and of womanhood, and consider the degredation and misery of the vile who have followed sin to their fina self-destruction.
 Edward Peeso has been decorating several rooms at the Grand Centra hotel.
 Miss Lucy Wright.is spending few days at Petersham, Mass. Mrs Edward Clark of Hartford i, with her daughters, Mrs Leslie Mich ols and Mrs John Beardsley, of Sandy Hook for short stay.
 l -<4p
 Miss Edith Botsford has visited friends at New London.
 Miss Maud Ives of Botsford spent , few days recently with MT and MT Lawrence Taylor.
 l Mrs Martin Troy spent Sunday il South Norwalk the guest of Mrs Mich ael Troy.
 Mrs John Sparklin of South Britain was a guest, last week Thursday, O Miss Bernice Booth.
 | Mrs David Northrop is taking com fort in her new invalid chair, purchase' In Danbury.
 Mrs Oliver Northrop and daughter spent few days at the beach, las week.