Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-12-15

We do not Qare nope enough Ine
men of our day have developed strange
timidities. The apprehension that the
sky Will fall-that acme Of absurdity
among the fears Of our Gallo forefa-
thers-has entered our own hearts.
Does the raindrop doubt the ocean,
the ray mistrust the sun? Our senile
wisdom has arrived at this prodigy. 1t
resembles those testy old pedagogues
whose chief office is to rail at the mer-
ry pranks or the youthful enthusiasms
Of their pupils. 1t is time to become
little children once more, to learn
again to stand with clasped hands and
wide eyes before the mystery around
us; to remember that, in spite Of our
knowledge, what we know is but
trife. and that the world is greater
than our mind. which is well, for, be-
ing so prodigious, 1t must hold in re-
serve untold resources, and we may
allow 1t some credit without accusing
ourselves of improvidence. Let us not
treat it as creditors do an insolvent
debtor; we should fire its courage, re-
light the sacred fame Of hope. Since
the sun still rises, since earth puts
forth her blossoms anew, since the bird
builds its nest and the mother smiles
at her child, let us have the courage to
be men and commit the rest to him
who has numbered the stars. For my
part l would I might End glowing
Eords to say to whomsoever has lost
heart In these times of disillusion:
Rouse your courage; hope on. He Is
sure of being least deluded who has the
daring to do that The most ingenious
hope Is nearer truth than the most ra-
tional despair.
Another source Of light on the path
of human life Is goodness. am not Of
those who believe in the natural per-
fection of man and teach that society
corrupts him. On the contrary, of all
forms OF evil the one which most dis
mays me is heredity. But 1 sometimes
ask myself how 1t is that this effete
and deadly virus Of low instincts. Of
vices inoculated In the blood, the whole
assemblage Of disabilities imposed up
on us by the past-how all this has
not got the better Of US. 1t must be
because of something else. This other
thing Is love.
Given the unknown brooding above
our heads, our limited intelligence, the
griovous and contradictory enigma Of
tiInan destiny, falsehood, hatred, cor
mption, suffering, death-what can we
think. what do? TO all these questions
a sublime and mysterious voice has an
swered, 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 10 meet ruse, force. self inter-
est. above all. ingratitude. How Is 1t
thatashQppesses pure and scathless in
the midst OF these dark enemies. like
the prophet OF the sacred legend amcng
the roaring beasts? 1t Is because her
enemies are OF the earth and love Is
from above. Horns, teeth, claws, eyes
full Of murderous fire, are powerless
against the swift wing that scars 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
has seen the wild beasts grow calm,
lie down Mt her feet, obey her law.
At the very heart of the Christian
faith, the most sublime OF It's teach
ings, and to him who penetrates its
deepest sense the most human, IN this:
To save lost humanity the invisible
God came to dwell among us In the
form OF n man and wIlied to make
himself known by this single sign
love.
Healing, consoling. tender to tho un-
fortunate, even to the evil, love engen-
ders light beneath her feet. She clari-
fies, she .simplihes. She has chosen the
humblest part-to bind UP wounds.
wipe away tears, relieve distress,
soothe aching hearts. pardon. make
peace. Yet It IL 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 kind.
would not discourage lofty specula-
tion, dlssuade any one whomsoever
from brooding 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 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
or and the Ignorant are alike unable
TO see clearly. The present age has
often brought US face to face with such
situations. am sure that he who
meets them with our method will soon
recognize Its worth.
Since / have touched here upon reli-
gious ground. ut least In a general way,
some one may ask me to say In q Few
simple words what religion is tho best,
and ! gladly express myself on this
subject. But Il might be better not to
put the question In this form. All re-
ligions have Of necessity certain fixed
characteristics, and each has It's inhcr-
ent qualities or defects. Strictly speak
ing, then, they may be compared among
themselves. But there are always In
voluntary partialities or foregone con-
clusions II Is better to put tho ques-
ton otherwise and ask, Is my own re-
ligion good, and how may know III
To this question this answer: Your ro-
ligion IL good II It is vital and active,
II II nourishes In you confidence, hope,
lovo and n sentiment OF the Infinite
value OF existence; II II IN allied with
whnt IL best In you against what Ia
worst and holds forever before you the
necessity OF becoming new man; TX
II makes you understand that pain In
deliverer; II II increases your respect
for the conscience OF others; IL Il rem
dcrs forgiveness more casy, fortune
less arrogant. duty moro dear. the be
yond less visionary. IL II does these
things II IL good. little matter its name
However rudinentary II may be. when
It fills this office II comes from the true
source; II binds you to man and 10 God.
But does II perchance serve to make
you think yourself better than others,
quibblo over texts. wear sour looks.
domineer over others consciences or
give your own over TO bondage, stlflc