The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-29

divine ends by making 1t dismal 1t is a re-
ligious duty resting on all to cultivate happi-
ness to make this world less sad.
No matter how sincere man may be, II
his sanctity results only III sorrow to others
its satisfaction to him must count for moth
Ing. There is great deal OF piety that needs
operating on to cut the bands that tie Its
heart and reduce the inflammation OF Its
spleen. Happiness is the very health OF religion.
II religion does not give right relations to
the things that determine the tone and color
of life 1t is a failure.
But true happiness can never be selfish. 1t
grows only by giving. No one can eat a feast
mounts Of vision. 1t is fair, refreshing
stream that flows thru the dusty ways of
daily life Its waters are never so sweet and
None ever find it who go with their own
pitchers alone. The reason SO many would-be
saints are sad is because they will not be other
than selfish.
1t is not strange that men who love this
beayen-born life of ours should turn away
from the religion that represented every happy,
| joyous human thing as an enormous ofense
against its God. Once men gathered together
| every dark and depressing thought and thing
and said these constitute the divine in this
world; they looked out thru the smoked glasses
of sanctimony and of every glad, generous
hearty impulse and action they said, these
things must be evil because they are happy.
The old boundary line between the pain
| that was piety and the pleasure that spelt
perdition has almost passed away. Men now
know that there is pain and loss in the way of
| sin, that the way Of the transgressor is hard ;
| they learn by tasting them that the fruits Of
righteousness are joy and peace. The age de-
mands what the ruler of all has ever intended.
| that religion should send men on their way with
the vigor of happier. hearts, with the upwelling
love for men that should drive the squalor.
misery, despair and heartaches Of sin be-
fore it,
Life has its work and it has it's sorrows;
! but they ought both to be for its enriching.
The business Of religion is to teach us that
understanding and adjustment Of life that will
make it feast of fat things, to teach us
that the God of all desires the good of all. The
more true piety-the seeking for the loving
will of the All-Wise and loving-there is in this
world the more pleasure there will be in It.
| This happiness is the cure. for the madness
/ that some call pleasure. Life is mockery
indeed to those whose only hope is for the
hours Of leisure in which to drink at the dead
ening drafts Of excitement, the lethal cup
| that only hides life's misery by paralyzing
| the faculties against the possibilities of real
pleasure. If men might only hear again the
call Of him who babe the weary and heavy
| his way Of life can give strength, rest. peace.
i joy, what an enriching life might have
| Make life happier and you will make 1t
holier. Make it full of pleasure-not that of
a FOOLS paradfse-but that of peace with
heavens plans, with the Joy of knowing that
| over all is infinite love, the strength that
comes from knowing right is invincible the
tender and sweet joys that spring up at the
touch of human love. Go your ways to make
them paths of gladness, to show love Shining
thru sorrow, to give love in the name of the
lord of love and yours shall be religious service
indeed. 5sss-.Es5. . :