Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-02
shall we think? What nor To all

these questions q sublime and myster-
ious voice has answered: Be good.
1t must be, then, that kindness is
Divine, like confidence, like hope,
since 1t cannot die when SO nan
powers are arrayed against 1t. 1t has
against 1t the native ferocity of what
may be called the beast in man. 1t
has against it deception, force, inter-
est, and above all ingratitude. Why
does it pass white and intact in the
midst Of its dark enemies. like the
prophet of the legend sacred among
the roaring beasts?
1t is because its enemies are things
from beneath, while kindness is from
above. The horns. the teeth, the
claws, the eyes filled with murderous
fire, can do nothing against the rapid
wing which scars toward the heights
n escapes them. Thus kindness
escapes the Vaccinations of it's me
mics. 1t has done still more, in that
1t has sometimes had the beautiful
triumph of winning it's prosecutors.
1t has seen wild beasts grow tame,
lie down at its feet and obey it's law.
At the very heart of the Christian
faith the most sublime of its doctrines
for him who can penetrate the pro-
foundest sense and the most humane,
Is this: To save lost humanity the
Invisible God came to dwell among
us in the form Of man, and He willed
to be known by the sole sign-love.
Healing, consoling, sweet to the un-
happy, to the wicked even. kindness
~engenders light beneath it's steps.
Kindness clarifies and simplifes. 1t.
has chosen the most modest part
to bind up wounds, wipe away tears,
appease misery, soothe aching hearts,
to pardon and conciliate. But it is of
kindness that we have the greatest
need. Therefore, since we are seek
ing the best way to render thought
fruitful and simple, really conforma-
BILE to our human destiny, we will
sum up the method in these words,
Have confidence, hope, and be kind.
l would not discourage lofty specu-
~lations, nor disuade anyone whomso-
ver from leaning upon the problems
of the unknown: the vast abysses Of
science or philosophy. But, we are al
ways obliged to return from those dis
tant voyages toward the point where
we are and often even to the same
place where we walk without appar-
ent result. There are conditions in
life and social complications where
the %savant. the thinker and the ignor-
ant are equally unable to see clearly.
The present epoch has often con-
frOnted us with such situations, and
I guarantee to him who would follow
our method that he will soon recog-
nize that it Is good.
AS I have in all this skirted upon re-
ligious ground, at least in a general
way, some one may ask me, perhaps,
to say in a few simple words which
is the best religion, and l hasten to
explain myself on that subject. But,
might 1t not. perhaps. be better to
put this question as it is ordinarily
put in asking which Is the best relig-
ion? All religions have certain fixed
characteristics, and the qualities or
defects inherent to each. One could,
then, compare them with each other
il necessary, but with that compari-
son are always mingled fixed beliefs
or involuntary Partially. 1t is better
to put the question in another man
ner, and ask, rs my religion good,
and how shall I know that it is good?
To that question here is the answer:
Your religion is good if it is vital and
active; if it nourishes in you the en-
timent of the infinite value of exist
ence, confidence, hope and kindness:
If it is allied with the best part Of
yourself against the worst, and shows
ceaselessly the necessity of becoming
q new man; If it makes you under
stand that pain is a liberator; If 1t
increases your respect for the con-
science of others; if it makes forgive
ness easier to you fortune less AFRO
CANT, duty dearer, the beyond less
obscure. If So, you religion Is good,
no matter what its name. However
rudimentary it may be, when it fills
this office, it from the authen-
tic source and binds o to man and
God!
But will it, by chance, do you any
good to believe yourself better than
others, to frown, to domineer over
another conscience or to deliver your
own to slavery, to stlfle your scruples,
to practice a cult according to the
mode or do good for your own inter
est or through calculation of what
may lie beyond the tomb? Oh, then,
whether you claim to follow Buddha,
Moses, Mahomet or Christ himself,
your religion is worth nothing it sep
arates you from men and God
Perhaps l have not the right tt
speak thus, but others have done so
before me, notably He who answered
the questioning scribe in the parable
of the good Samaritan. l intrench my
self behind His authority.