Evening journal., 1904-02-16


matte career. Sir Edward Aalo,. who was
member OF the British embassy in
Washington. during Abraham Lincolns
Administration says: "of an the great
men have known. he is the one who mas
left upon me the impression OF a sterling
son OF God straightforward. unnInchins
not loving the work he had to do, but
facing 1t with q bold, true heart; mild
whenever he had a chance; stern as iron
when the public good required IL; follow
ling a bee-line TO The goal which duty SCI
for him"
The victory that overcame az opposition
In the beginning Of the Christian era,
when the disciples in loyalty TO the com
mission Of Jesus went forth TO preach
"tho good news of the grace Of God" TO all
nations. amid hardships and conflicts g.
every description, was faith in the power
OF Ideal truth and love as illustrated in
his teaching and character. This faith
rested upon no illusion: although ii some
times flashed into the consciousness
through the medium of-a vision, as in the
case Of Paul on the way to Damascus.
But it Aas founded on the solid basis OF
OF Jesus hmself-whose ideal influence
was already transmitting the shame Of
the cross into a symbol Of radiant victory
and afterwards. in their own life, in THAI
their acceptance Of the principles of the
gospel enabled them TO sacrifice all sell
fish ambitions and hopes Of worldly sue
cess in order to become preachers of
Righteousness, the teachers and helpers
Of mankind.
The successful issue OF their mission
beautifully illustrates the value Of enthu-
siasm IN altruistic work. In spite Of hard
ships and dangers. such as we can hardly
appreciate in these days Of easy travelling
and peaceful security, but which an apos-
tie portrays as perils by water, perils a,
The hands Of robbers. perils from my own
{ untrymen, perils from the heather. perils
n the city. periis IN the wilderness periis
among false brethren Notwithstanding
all sorts of danger and opposition and con
hict, they succeeded in preaching the gos-
pei everywhere, developing the spiritua
deals Of the Galllean teacher into a uni
versal religion adapted TO all lands and
peoples. For the ideals Of Jesus differed
from those. OF other teachers and founders
Of religious systems in that they were
capable Of universal application. The
lengsh and breadth and height and depth
Of Gods love. as he felt it and taught
others to feel It, not only reached out tC
help-an save all men everywhere regard.
less CT their nationality or condition. but
also implied the ability Of the human sou
to reciprocate the Divine tenderness bs
giving itself in generous service for tn,
uplifting Of the world. II carried with fl
the confidence that good could overcom,
evil that truth was stronger than error
that goodwill. self-sacrince. integrity
we're more enduring and far-reaching IL
their influence than hatred and selhshncs.
and wrong-dolng.
The eternal God has various ways Of ac
compiishing His purpose on earth; man,
methods Of Inspiring men. Let us see how
the soul of Lincoln was set on fire by tn,
conviction that a great work was giver
him 10 do. You remember the story. While
still q young man. without education
without influence known only to a few
fellow-laborers as an expert rall-spiltter
teamster. boatman. hand at all work. he
took q cargo Of produce on a roughly built
raft down the Mississippi to New Orleans
to market it for his employers. After tho
goods We're sold, he went with his fellow
boatmen to see the CITY. By aAd by thes
wandered into slave mart where plant.
ers had gathered together to buy and sci
human heingsv Black men and women anJ
children were there on exhibition, beinf
inspected by possible purchasers as IneT
inspect cattle they think of buying tn,
lauctoneer announced their good qualitie,
and special characteristics as he woul,
those OF mules or COWS. Some Of then
were religious men and women, ana thei
religious virtues were referred 70 by hin
as OF high consideration, something q
command larger price in the market
Again and again, as his hammer fell, hi
proclaimed the word which forever sep
aratea husbands ana wives, parents an'
children. sending each to his doom re
gardless OF all the ties that bind humai
hearts together, whether under black o
white skins.
This 81 was that set Lincoin's soul OF
fire. Here rs where the God within him be
gan tc seek expression. and faith 10 as
sumo the form OF enthusiasm. listen 70
Its first utterance- the first words fron
ltncoiNa = lips 70 Alaih Hlh a. "A Nii'-"
slast "a man under the influence OF God
Turning to his comrade he said, with th
burning pathos OF an ancient prophet, 81
lever ] get a chance to hit that thing.
Twin hit il hard by the eternal God.
who was he. thus TO speak? Where wa
lhe to obtain power to strike, such a blo'
lagainst tho framework OF society? Tn
ching was legalized IN half OF tn
states OF the Union; was the basis Of thei
lcommercial prosperity the keystone
their political integrity, was recognize
land protected throughout the Rcpublis b
the laws Of the land. Who, thon. was th
Abraham Lincon that he should registe
lsuch an oath in Heaven on that day
1.-The city OF New Orleans? All, you ma
ANSWER these questions as you Will, but
lis eternally true that such a man, actin
freely under tho guidance OF the indwel
ling God can (when his hour has come
remove any mountain Of injustice an
wrong which has ever oppressed human
Iity. or crushed tho intuitons and aspire
itlons Of the human soul. One man, file
with such enthusiasm as inspired The heal
lof Jesus-the ideal conviction that he
lin God. and God il in hlm--is q majorit
lin any age OF land and needs only 70 wa
. patiently and let the spirit within hin
have its way and the clock Of deslin
will strike the hour for the victory 4,
truth and love. 81 human freedom an
thep rogress Of the eternal rlsht
II ever there was o mar ~ whom a.
through vhor God worked. Il vas Abr'
ham Lincoln. without unernbershir in an
IT, b.