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

AAAAA4kAA4 human destiny, falsehood, hatred, cor Fuption suffering, death-what can we think, what tfo7 To all these questions 3 sublime and mysterious voice has an- bwered, Love your fellow men. Love must indeed be divine. like faith and hope since she cannot die when so many powers are arrayed against her. She has to combat the natural ferocity of what may be called the beast in man. She has to meet ruse force, self inter- est, above all, ingratitude. How is 1t that she passes pure and scathlass in the midst of these dark enemies, like the prophet of the sacred legend among the roaring beasts? It is because her enemies are of the earth and love is from above. Horns, teeth. claws, eyes fu11 of murderous fire, are powerless against the swift wing that SORTS to- ward the heights and eludes them. Thus love escapes the undertakings of her foes. She does even better-she has sometimes known the fine triumph of winning over her prosecutors. She
  lie down at her feet. obey her law.
 At the very heart of the Christian naith. the most sublime of its teach ings, and to him who penetrates it's deepest sense the most human, is this: To save lost humanity the invisible God came to dwell among us in the form of a man and willed to make himself known by this single sign love.
 Healing, consoling, tender to the un- fortunate, even to the evil love engen- ders light beneath her feet. She clari- fes, she simplifes. She has chosen the humblest part-to bind up wounds, wipe away tears, relieve distress, soothe aching hearts, pardon, make peace. Yet it is of love that we have the greatest need. And as we mediate on the best way to render thought fruit ful, simple, really conformable to our destiny, the method sums itself up in these words: Have confidence and hope; be k.Qd.
 I would not discourage lofty specula- ton, dissuade any one whomsoever from breeding over the problems of the unknown, over the vast abysses of sci ence or philosophy; but we have al- ways to come back from these far jour neys to the point where we are, often to a place where we seem to stand marking time with no result. There are conditions of life and social com plications in which the sage, the think CT and the ignorant are alike unable to see clearly. The present age has often brought us face to face with such situations. I am sure that he who meets them with our method will soon recognize its worth.
 Since I have touched here upon reli- gious ground, at least in general way, some one may ask me to say in few simple words what religion is the best, and gladly express myself on this subject But it might be better not to put the question in this form. All re- ligions have of necessity certain fixed characteristics, and each has its 1nher- ent qualities or defects. Strictly speak ing, then, they may be compared among themselves. But there are always tn- voluntary partialities or foregone con clusions. It is better to put the ques- ton otherwise and ask Is my own re- ligion good, and how may l know 1t? To this question this answer Your re- Iigion is good if it is vital and active, if it nourishes in you confidence, hope, love and a sentiment of the infinite value of existence; if it is allied with what is best in you against what is worst and holds forever before you the necessity of becoming a new man; if it makes you understand that pain is a deliyerer; if it increases your respect for the conscience of others; if it rem ders forgiveness more easy, fortune less arrogant, duty more dear, the be- yond less visionary. If it does these things it is good, little matter its name. However parliamentary 1t may be, when it fills this office it comes from the true source; it binds you to man and to God.
 But does it perchance serve to make you think yourself better than others, ouibble over texts, wear sour looks, domineer over others consciences or give your own over to bondage, stifie your scruples, follow religious forms for fashion or gain, do good in the hope of escaping future punishment? = oh, then, if you proclaim yourself the fol- lower of Buddha, Moses, Mohammed or even Chriss your religion is worth less; it separates you from God and man.
 I have not perhaps the right to speak thus in my own name, but others have 50 spoken before me who are greater than I, and notably he who recounted to the questioning scribe the parable of the good Samaritan. I intrench my self behind his authority.
 CHAPTER ".
 SIMPLICITY oF SPEECH.
 "PEECH is the chief revelation of