The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-08
4 sERnToN ZOE roDAY.
IN on 80 things.-PhilIppLans II

ThoughtIessness is one of the great
causes of trouble in this world of ours.
We make mistakes and bring all sorts
Of troubles upon ourselves, all because
I'VE didn't think Every day, every
hour we neglect to think Of some things.
and trouble results Nothing serious.
perhaps. but something that might have
been better had we only thought.
Most men are more prone to be
thoughtless about the really great
things than they are about the petty
affairs Of life. Many man strives to
get a little money. or to get ahead Of
some other man. or to ind some easier
way of making a living. without giving
a thought to the Great Hereafter from
one years end to another.
Just now an effort is being made in
Topeka to rivet the attention Of the
people on something else than gain, or
ambition, or pleasure. Men are being
called upon to think-to think of them
selves and their future, of the conse-
quences of doing wrong and the way to
do right. They are being made to think
of their Creator and his claims upon
them, and the Savior Of men and His
teachings; of infnity, and righteous
ness. and sin. and its punishment, suf-
fering.
But, we say. we are not interested in
these things. We do not understand
infnity and all its mysteries, so why
should we think about it?
Do you understand the mysteries Of
space? Can you tell its boundaries
Look I'D into the heavens at night and
pick out the star farthest away. Scien-
fists say it is so far away that the
light which you see started from the
star more than a thousand years ago
Suppose you were to go to that star
millions of miles away, and then a thou
sand times farther. ana on, and on, un-
til you came to the curtain which you
think hangs at the boundaries of space
| Pull it aside and look. Space beyond
/ illimitable. You have scarcely started
in Gods infinite universe! On. forever
on. you might 60 without finding the
end.
Can you understand this mystery Of
space? And yet space is something thai
| concerns you. Every move you make
is through space.
But, we say again. these infinite
/ things are something with which We
have nothing to do. We have no per
/ sonal interest in them.
Haven't we? Listen. Think Of to-
morrow; os next sweek: of next year
of ten years, fifty years hence; Of {
century. Where will we be then-tha
part Of US that really lives? Or do yOl
believe that you have no soul2 Think o
a thousand years hence, six thousand
It has not been that long since the frs
man walked the earth. Think Of I
million times that-and still more, anC
more That is eternity. never ending
as infinite as space. Our lives on thi
earth are scarcely as a lightning's hasl
compared with eternity, and Throughout
it all we viii live-or die. Every maj
is personally concerned in this matte
for himself. He cannot shirk his re
sponsibility on to somebody else.
Perhaps you think that the soul Of tn
wicked man is simply blotted out a
his death; that the drunkard. and tn
Hbertine, and the thief have simpl
stihed their better natures until thei
souls die with their bodies. Suppos
they do: Would you prefer that end t
an eternal existence in the presence 0
your creator2
These are serious matters to ever
man and woman. They demand seriou
thoughts How much more importan
are they than piling up a little wealth
or getting fame for day, or having
little short-lived pleasuret Yet most @
US spend hours and days in plannin
how to get wealth, or how to overthrow
some one else. and give scarcely
thought to eternal things.
The man or woman who seriOusl
I ti,fr,lre- % 4I7aea creator tbine-e ean1o
go far wrong. Such people do not II
the Denitentiaries and jails. They ar
good citizens, dealing justly, helpin
their fellows. and keeping in view tn
time when they shall finish their wor
on earth and go out into eternity. 1t
a personal matter.
Think on these things.
SOME COUNTY OFFTCERS.