Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-06-17

foxes have holes and the birds OF the
air nave nests. and are contented and
satisfied. But the more completely q
man is a man, the more impossible
it is for him to find on this earth rest
for his heart or a pillow for his head
All men feel that if this life is all, it
is not worth living To meet the hun
ger of the soul there must be land
where very appetite viii be satisfied,
and every thirst quenched. We do
not accept the present course OF
events in human society as the perfec-
ton of all We believe that there has
been a better state in the past and
that there will be a better state in the
future. Paradise lost will be follow
ed by Paridse regained.
No tradition has taken a stronger
hold of the human mind than the
story of lost Paradise. Many have
supposed that it might be found by
diligent search or bold adventure and
that the happy discoveries who pass
ed those gates would leave all want
and woe behind. The ancient Greeks
had a legend about a garden in which
grew golden fruit The garden was
far beyond stormy seas and fiery
wastes, and the gate was guarded by
a hundred-headed monster that never
slept. Strong men went forth to gain
possession of the precious fruit, but
they never found it.
Others had a story of a golden
fleece hung upon an oak in park of
beautiful trees in a far distant and
enchanted land To reach the sacred
grove a long and perilous voyage
was necessary. over raging seas and
through roaring storms, and the place
was guarded day and night by
sleepless dragon. But he who posses
sed it should be a king, and riches and
honor should be his forever.
Tradition also tells of a lost island
that ages ago floated away and dis
appeared in the Atlantic. Fruits of
all climes grew in the gardens, foun-
tains of health bubbled in the valleys,
treasures unexhaustable filled the
mountains. And many mariners sail
ed over the dark and stormy main
10 find the islands of the blessed, but
none came back to say they had sue
ceeded. Men have tolled in labora-
tories to discover a panacea for dis
ease. some subtle elixir of life, all in
vain. The Spanish Cavaliers sought
in this land for the fountain of youth,
and persisted seeking the lost Para
disc. All these legends and explora-
lions are but the outgrowth of the
sacred story which tells of a Para
disc lost and a Paradise to be re-
gained
The book of Revelation in its clos
ing verses pictures a future state OF
incompatible splendor. Language al
most exhausts itself in the attempt to
properly portray the sweet by and by.
And there comes time in every per-
sons life when that inspired descrip-
ton fills the soul with satisfaction
and causes the weary and heavy
laden, the sick and sorrowful, the
batfied and defeated, the diseased and
infirm, the prosecuted and oppressed
to feel that here at last is condition
and existence worthy of the immortal
longings which pulsate in the human
breast. That heavenly state is de-
scribed in four significant words It
is a kingdom. it is country, it is
a city. it is home.
The sacred writer dips his pen into
the brightest colors in writing of the
things which will he found there, and
the contrast between the first book
of the Bible descriptive of the Heav-
emily Home is most remarkable. We
open the book on a garden; we close
il on a city. The garden is a house
for one man; the city is a home for
many nations In Genesis the sun and
moon are created; in Revelation the
Lamb is the light. In Genesis we
read of the gathering Of the waters;
I'm Revelation there is no more sea.
In the first book the curse is pro-
nounced; in the last book the curse
is removed Satan appears for the
first time in Genesis; he appears for
the last time in Revelation, sorrow,
suffering and death accompany mans
fall; in his recovery these things pass
away. In Genesis man is driven from
the tree of life; in Revelation he is
welcomed back to It. The marriage
of the first Adam and his bride is in
the first book; the marriage of the
second Adam and his bride is in the
last book Tears fall in Genesis; they
are all wiped away in Revelation.
There are many mansions; room
enough for ALL There are many
gates; and they stand ever ajar for
the wanderer coming home. And the
gates of it shall not be shut at all by
day, and there is no night there" The
tree of life has many fruits; and every
variety of taste win be gratified. Its
leaves are for the healing of the ma
tions: then every kindred and tribe
may live This place. so unspeakably
glorious is prepared by the Father Of
us all, and He stands in the doorway
of the family mansion beckoning us To
come. What a million-yoiced shout
viii reverbrate through the arches OF
Paradise Regained when the Master
of the house at last looks round upon